{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/brand-standard","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/brand-standard","data_freshness":{"sba_records_through":"2026-05-31","fdic_records_through":"2026-03-31","dealroom_last_updated":"2026-06-15","timezone":"America/Chicago"},"source_summary":["Public SBA 7(a) loan records","FDIC institution data","DealRoom lender and franchise enrichment"],"term":{"slug":"brand-standard","term":"Brand Standard","group":"Reading the business","definition":"Brand standards are the specific rules and guidelines a franchisor sets for how a franchisee must operate the business, ensuring consistency across all locations.","what_it_means":"When acquiring a franchise, you must adhere to its brand standards for everything from store appearance to product offerings and customer service. Your due diligence should include reviewing these standards to understand potential capital expenditures or operational changes required post-acquisition. Non-compliance can lead to penalties or even a mandatory repurchase option.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/brand-standard","official_sources":[],"related":[{"slug":"franchise","term":"Franchise","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/franchise"},{"slug":"franchise-agreement","term":"Franchise agreement","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/franchise-agreement"},{"slug":"due-diligence","term":"Due diligence","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/due-diligence"},{"slug":"capitalize","term":"Capitalize","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/capitalize"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"Are SBA 7(a) loans only for brand new businesses (startups)?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/are-sba-7-a-loans-only-for-brand-new-businesses-startups"},{"question":"Can an SBA 7(a) loan help me start a brand new business?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/can-an-sba-7-a-loan-help-me-start-a-brand-new-business"},{"question":"Can an SBA 7(a) loan be used to start a brand new business?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/can-an-sba-7-a-loan-be-used-to-start-a-brand-new-business"},{"question":"Can I use an SBA 7(a) loan to start a brand-new business?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/can-i-use-an-sba-7-a-loan-to-start-a-brand-new-business"},{"question":"Can an SBA 7(a) loan be used to purchase a specific brand of franchise?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/can-an-sba-7-a-loan-be-used-to-purchase-a-specific-brand-of-franchise"},{"question":"Is the SBA 7(a) loan suitable for starting a brand new business from scratch?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/is-the-sba-7-a-loan-suitable-for-starting-a-brand-new-business-from-scratch"}]},"caveats":["Definitions represent DealRoom's plain-English interpretation for buyers; verify regulatory terms against the official SBA and eCFR sources listed.","Not legal, tax, or financial advice, and not an SBA eligibility determination."],"citation":{"label":"DealRoom.so Glossary — Brand Standard","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/brand-standard","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}