The manual, called the Franchise Buyer's Manual, helps prospective franchisees determine if franchising is a good choice for them (it isn't for everyone), and then gives step-by-step instructions for evaluating franchises to see whether or not a franchise you're interested in could meet your financial goals. It's written by franchise expert, Ed Teixeira, who has more than 30 years of experience in all phases of franchising. The information provided in the manual is truly unbiased (he does not sell or broker franchises) and focused on helping the prospective franchise buyer make the best decision for their needs and goals.

By way of disclosure, I partner with Ed to produce the FranchiseKnowHow.com web site and market the manual. But even if I didn't, I'd recommend this manual because it's got so much information in it that franchisees really need to know before making a decision.