Terms of Service | FranChat

1. Acceptance

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of franchat.com and the products, features, and AI Copilot provided by Franchat ("Franchat", "we", "us", or "our") (collectively, the "Service"). By using the Service you agree to these Terms and to our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, do not use the Service.

2. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old and able to form a binding contract to use the Service. By using the Service, you represent that you meet these requirements.

3. Accounts & Security

You are responsible for your account, for maintaining the confidentiality of your credentials, and for all activity that occurs under your account. Notify us immediately of any unauthorized use.

4. The Service and AI Copilot

Franchat provides a research platform, franchise database, and an AI assistant that answers questions using information derived from public regulatory filings (including Franchise Disclosure Documents), third-party sources, and our own content.

All franchise data, FDD summaries, and AI-generated answers are provided for informational and research purposes only. They may be inaccurate, incomplete, or out of date, and they are not legal, financial, tax, accounting, or investment advice. Always consult qualified professional advisors and read the official FDD before making a franchise decision.

5. Acceptable Use

You agree not to:

Violate any law, regulation, or third-party right.
Scrape, harvest, or bulk-download data from the Service except as expressly allowed.
Reverse engineer, decompile, or attempt to derive source code or training data.
Interfere with the Service, security features, or other users' use of the Service.
Use the Service to generate misleading, defamatory, or unlawful content.

6. Intellectual Property

The Service, including all software, text, graphics, and content, is owned by Franchat or its licensors and is protected by intellectual property laws. Subject to these Terms, we grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use the Service for your internal research purposes.

7. User Content

You retain rights to content you submit. You grant Franchat a worldwide, royalty-free license to host, use, reproduce, and display your content for the purpose of operating, improving, and providing the Service.

8. Third-Party Content

The Service surfaces information from Franchise Disclosure Documents, which are public regulatory filings, as well as other third-party sources. Franchat is not the author of those filings and does not warrant their accuracy or completeness.

9. Disclaimers

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. FRANCHAT DOES NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, OR TIMELINESS OF ANY DATA OR AI OUTPUT. FRANCHISE INVESTMENT DECISIONS ARE YOUR OWN.

10. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, FRANCHAT AND ITS AFFILIATES WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR FOR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS, REVENUE, OR DATA, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO YOUR USE OF THE SERVICE.

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Franchat and its affiliates from any claim, demand, loss, or damages arising out of your use of the Service, your content, or your violation of these Terms.

12. Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflict of laws principles. Any dispute will be resolved in the state or federal courts located in Delaware, and you consent to their exclusive jurisdiction.

13. Changes

We may modify these Terms at any time. Material changes will be posted here with an updated "Last updated" date. Continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance.

14. Termination

We may suspend or terminate your access to the Service at any time, with or without notice, for any reason, including violation of these Terms.

15. Contact

Questions about these Terms? Email info@franchat.com.