About Us
Franchise Experience. Without the Hype.
There is no shortage of franchise marketing telling prospective buyers why a particular opportunity is a great investment.
At Franchise Inspectors, we believe sound decisions should be driven by facts, data, and careful analysis rather than hype or emotional momentum.
Over the past decade, we have helped hundreds of prospective franchise owners evaluate opportunities and make better-informed investment decisions.
Our experience spans single and multi-unit franchising, master and area developer agreements, international franchise development, and franchise opportunities for E-2 and EB-5 visa investors. Whether you are a first-time franchise buyer or a seasoned investment group seeking a multi-unit acquisition, The Franchise Inspectors is here to help you find the most profitable options.
Kevin Kohler
Co-Founder Franchise Inspectors, Broker, MBA, Broker of the Year Award
Kevin Kohler brings a rare combination of franchise development, entrepreneurship, technology, and business ownership experience to The Franchise Inspectors.
Before co-founding The Franchise Inspectors, Kevin served as head of franchise development for two major organizations, giving him extensive firsthand experience with franchise growth, recruitment, sales, and the franchisor side of the industry.
His experience extends well beyond franchising. Kevin has founded and operated three companies across very different industries, including a fertility-treatment software company, a technology consulting firm focused on helping businesses improve their systems and processes, and a professional photography business. That diversity has given him a broad perspective on business models, operations, technology, customer acquisition, and the realities of building a company from the ground up.
Today, Kevin has returned to the franchise industry as co-founder of The Franchise Inspectors, alongside Robert Edwards, founder of Franchise City. Together, they provide franchise research, comparative analysis, and acquisition consulting for individual investors, acquisition firms, and other parties evaluating franchise opportunities.
Kevin's approach combines his experience inside the franchise industry with the perspective of someone who has personally built businesses in multiple sectors. Rather than evaluating a franchise solely on its sales presentation or growth story, he brings an operator's perspective to assessing the underlying business model, systems, economics, scalability, and fit for the prospective owner.
Kevin is also a four-time recipient of the prestigious Franchise Broker of the Year award and holds both an MBA and the Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) designation.
Robert Edwards
Co-Founder Franchise Inspectors, Advisor, Entrepreneur, Author
Robert Edwards has spent more than three decades building, developing, and investing in businesses across a wide range of industries.
After leaving the corporate world in the 1990s to pursue entrepreneurship full time, Robert founded and operated ventures spanning retail, technology, e-commerce, real estate development, and franchise consulting. His businesses have included Toronto-based video store chain Zap Video, an online educational-products distribution company, web design and development firm B-dox, a property development company, and Franchise City, the franchise consulting organization he founded and operated for many years.
That breadth of experience has given Robert a perspective on business that extends well beyond franchising. Having worked through multiple economic cycles, technological shifts, and changing consumer markets, his focus has increasingly centered on evaluating business models, identifying risk, and separating sustainable opportunities from marketing-driven claims.
Today, Robert is co-founder of The Franchise Inspectors, where he focuses on franchise research, industry analysis, strategy, and the development of tools and resources designed to help investors make more informed acquisition decisions.
Robert is also the host of the Franchise Inspectors YouTube channel, one of the most widely watched independent franchise-focused channels, where he examines franchise economics, industry trends, disclosure documents, risk factors, and the realities behind franchise marketing claims.
He is the author of The Dark Side of Franchising, which examines some of the lesser-known risks and practices within the franchise industry and encourages prospective franchise buyers to approach franchise ownership with greater scrutiny and due diligence.
What Our Clients Say
"Kevin made the process of finding the perfect franchise for me incredibly easy. He asked questions such as how I envisioned my life as a business owner. Based on the important questions he had asked during our introductory call, he presented me with several options. Ultimately, he introduced me to the franchise I am now proud to own. I couldn’t have done it without him and Charista. Thank you!"
Matt, Las Vegas
"Charista and the team are fantastic! I felt they really listened to my needs and made recommendations based on my feedback. I appreciated their guidance and support throughout the process and would definitely recommend them as franchise brokers!"
Tasneem Nomanbhai, San Francisco Bay
"In the quest to own or start one's own business - there are a large number of choices and potential risks. It's therefore imperative to seek expert advice to help avoid many costly mistakes that are often made by individuals. Robert Edwards is one such professional who brings a variety of resources and expertise to help one make the RIGHT choice and I encourage anyone to seek out his advice."
Larry Carnell CBI, CFB. Vice President at Benetrends
Schedule Your Franchise Consultation Today
Ready to take the next step in your franchise journey? Our team at Franchise Inspectors is here to guide you every step of the way. Reach out to us to discuss your unique needs and discover how we can help you achieve success.
