The Franchise Disclosure Document is your friend. Learn why every franchise has an FDD and why it's important to you.

(Tom Scarda is one of only 1,004 people in the world certified as a Franchise Executive by the International Franchise Association. www.franchise.org.

Tom resigned from a government job, purchased a franchise, Built it, sold it within five years, cashed out and now helps others do the same around the country).