A franchise presentation explains the business model, training and support. It can’t tell you what daily ownership feels like, though. Speaking with current franchisees gives you another view before you commit. The right questions to ask franchise owners can reveal what matched their expectations, what took more work than planned and what still needs checking.

At Youth Athletes United, we encourage prospective owners to speak with franchisees as part of their research. If you're considering a Soccer Stars franchise, use those conversations alongside the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), the franchise agreement and independent professional advice. One owner’s experience is useful evidence, but it won’t predict exactly how your own business will perform.

Start with what the owner expected before signing

Ask what attracted the owner to the franchise and what they expected the business to look like. Their background often shapes those expectations. Someone with coaching experience may have focused on programme delivery, while a career changer may have been more concerned about learning the business side.

Use these questions to ask franchise owners to get beyond a general statement that they’re happy with their decision:

What made you choose this franchise over other options?
What do you know now that you wish you’d known before signing?
Did anything about the role turn out differently from what you expected?
Which part of the decision took the most research?

Listen for specific examples. An owner’s answer may point you towards a detail worth checking in the franchise documents or raising with the franchisor.

Ask what the onboarding experience prepared them for

The period between signing and opening can show how well the preparation matched the work involved. Ask what the launch process covered and where they needed more guidance. Training should help owners understand programme delivery as well as the business responsibilities that come with running a franchise.

At Youth Athletes United, we outline our process on the steps to franchising page, including the opportunity to speak with a current franchisee. Use that information as a starting point, then ask owners about their own experience:

Which parts of the launch process were easiest to follow?
Where did you need more help or clarification?
Did the training prepare you for the day-to-day responsibilities?
How quickly could you get answers when questions came up?

Compare their answers with the information you've already received. If something remains unclear, ask for clarification before committing.

Find out how the relationship works after launch

Ask what communication with the franchisor looks like once the business is running. When a problem comes up, how does the owner get an answer? Can they describe a situation where support helped them decide what to do? Specific examples tell you more than a broad claim that support is “great.”

Ask which decisions they make themselves, too. A franchise system may provide guidance, but local owners still have responsibilities and need to respond to their market. Does the level of direction suit them, and has that changed since launch? These questions to ask franchise owners can help you judge how the relationship works in practice and whether it suits your preferred working style.

Ask about surprises without inviting a sales pitch

Ask what turned out differently from the owner’s expectations. Try an open question: “What took the most getting used to?” or “What do you understand now that you didn’t before launch?” Give the owner room to answer honestly.

If they mention a difficulty, ask whether it was a one-off or still affects the business. Find out how they handled it and what they might do differently. You’re not looking for a flawless story. Each owner’s experience depends on their market and circumstances. These questions to ask franchise owners should help you understand the work involved, not convince you that every challenge will be easy to solve.

Speak with owners whose circumstances differ from yours

Speak with owners whose backgrounds and businesses differ from yours. A former coach may know programme delivery but need time to learn business administration. Someone changing careers may face a different learning curve. Owners at different stages can offer different perspectives, too.

Our franchisee stories archive is a starting point for learning about other owners, but published profiles shouldn’t replace direct conversations. Ask comparable questions across interviews and note where answers line up or differ. Patterns across several owners may deserve closer attention than one unusual experience. You can also ask whether their advice has changed since launch. That context matters.

Use follow-up questions to understand the answer

The first answer may be too broad to help you decide. If an owner says the launch was straightforward, ask which steps made it easier. If the workload is manageable, ask what a typical week involves and which tasks take the most time. Examples beat labels.

Keep notes. Record what the owner said, the example they gave and anything you still need to verify. That makes interviews easier to compare later, especially when one person is enthusiastic and another is more reserved. Strong questions to ask franchise owners invite specific answers. You don’t need to challenge every response, but you should understand what sits behind it before treating it as evidence.

Compare conversations with the available records

Use owner interviews alongside the documents, not instead of them. Compare what you hear with the current FDD and franchise agreement, especially if a conversation touches on fees, financial performance or obligations. An owner’s financial result describes their circumstances; it doesn’t tell you what you will earn.

The Federal Trade Commission’s guide to buying a franchise explains why buyers should review disclosures and ask for clarification. Consider having a franchise attorney and financial adviser review the paperwork. If an interview answer conflicts with the written terms, ask for an explanation before proceeding. Better to resolve an uncomfortable question now than misunderstand a commitment later.

At Youth Athletes United, we want prospective owners to ask direct questions and make decisions with a clear view of the commitment involved. Speak with more than one franchisee, read the documents carefully and get professional advice where needed. The aim isn’t to find an owner who says everything went perfectly. It’s to decide whether the opportunity fits your goals, finances and willingness to take on the work.