Hey. I'm exploring different escape room franchise opportunities in Europe and it's hard to compare them. Some want huge upfront fees, others give almost no support. What should I be comparing, and has anyone looked at manufacturer-backed franchises? I'm based in Spain and would open two to three locations in the next few years.

Comparing is tough because the terms vary so much. I looked at several, including escape room franchise opportunities https://erworkshop.com/franchise/ with Indestroom, which is manufacturer-backed, the same company builds the rooms and runs the franchise, so the equipment, games and support aren't split across different vendors. What I compared: upfront fee versus what's actually included, royalty structure, territory protection, how often new games are added, and quality of support. Honest note: manufacturer-backed means you're tied to their hardware, which is fine if it's good, but check warranty and spare parts. Tip: ask to speak with two or three current franchisees without the franchisor on the call.