How to Launch a Floor Coverings International Franchise in 7 Steps: Checklist

FCI’s current public approval page describes approximately $300,000 in liquid net worth and approximately $500,000 in total net worth as its financial screening thresholds. It also describes a Caliper personality assessment, virtual Discovery Day, a virtual interview with eight written and six video questions, BVerify financial verification, and credit and background checks before final review by the Chief Development Officer; some candidates may receive committee review.

Those are current application-screening facts, not contractual promises of approval. The 2026 FDD does not impose a flooring-industry experience requirement, and FCI’s official FAQ says flooring experience is not required. The official franchise-process page separately describes an introductory qualifying call, model deep dive, FDD review, validation, an Operations team interview, an official application, and signing. Because the two current official pages do not present an identical order, a buyer should verify the live sequence with FCI rather than treating either marketing page as a binding timetable.

• Financial screenApproximately $300,000 liquid net worth and $500,000 total net worth on the current approval page.
• Assessment and interviewsComplete Caliper, Discovery Day and the current written/video interview steps when requested.
• VerificationExpect financial verification plus credit and background checks through the process FCI currently specifies.
• Entity ownersIf the franchisee is a legal entity, all partners, shareholders or members must sign the Corporate Guarantee Rider.

Sources: FCI franchisee approval process; FCI franchise process; 2026 FDD, Item 15, p. 34 and Franchise Agreement Exhibit A-2.

The FTC Franchise Rule requires the FDD at least 14 calendar days before the prospective franchisee signs a binding agreement with, or pays money to, the franchisor or an affiliate in connection with the proposed sale. The 2026 FDD cover states the same rule. This is a federal pre-sale review period, not an opening timeline and not a guarantee that the candidate will be approved.

For a new territory, the core contract is the Franchise Agreement and its DMA exhibit. If the franchisee is an entity, owners sign the Corporate Guarantee Rider. Use of proprietary software requires the System Access Agreement. If FCI elects to finance part of the initial franchise fee, a Promissory Note and required guaranties apply. A multi-territory buyer must execute the Additional Territory Option Agreement contemporaneously with the first Franchise Agreement.

Sources: FTC Franchise Rule; FTC franchise buyer guidance; 2026 FDD, Items 5, 6, 10 and 22; Additional Territory Option Agreement §1.2.

The DMA and Studio are different approvals. FCI grants the protected License for the DMA when the Franchise Agreement is signed. The franchisee then remains solely responsible for selecting a Studio inside that DMA. FCI may request site information, must notify the franchisee of acceptance or rejection within 30 days after receiving all requested information, and may review and approve a proposed lease before execution.

Source: 2026 FDD, Items 11–12, pp. 28–31; Franchise Agreement Art. V.H, pp. 10–11.

The contractual gate is successful FCI Academy completion and competency certification. The 2026 FDD describes six weeks of home study and two weeks of in-person training just before opening. All employees, partners or agents who will provide franchised products and services must attend and satisfactorily complete required training. FCI’s public training page describes its broader NFDP onboarding and support program, but the FDD and Franchise Agreement govern required training obligations.

Operational readiness also includes the Studio, an FCI-compliant vehicle, the Opening Package and current samples, approved suppliers, required computer hardware, InspireNet and InspireNet Mobile licenses, internet and communications, insurance, and applicable local licenses. The franchisee must use approved products and suppliers unless FCI approves an exception; FCI states it will make a good-faith effort to decide a complete supplier request within 15 days, with no approval in that period treated as disapproval.

Sources: 2026 FDD, Items 8 and 11, pp. 17–28; Franchise Agreement Arts. IV.B, V.E, V.J, V.K, V.N and V.S. See also FCI’s official training and support overview.

The Additional Territory Option Agreement is not simply a larger protected territory with no development obligations. To exercise the option for a second Franchised Business, the form requires an average of 10 customer proposals per week in 8 of the last 12 weeks leading to the 24th month of business; the threshold for a third is 15 proposals per week on the same test. The agreement makes time of the essence, can terminate when an option cannot be exercised, and references option dates 24 months from completion of initial training, so the actual dates inserted in the signed Option Schedule must be verified.

Sources: 2026 FDD, Items 12 and 17; Franchise Agreement transfer provisions; Additional Territory Option Agreement §§1.2–3.3; official approval page.

• Candidate sequenceAsk which current approval steps are mandatory and in what order, because FCI’s two public process pages differ.
• DMA and StudioConfirm the exact DMA exhibit, available postal codes, Studio criteria, all site information FCI needs and the lease-review sequence.
• Training cohortConfirm the home-study start date, pre-opening FCI Academy dates, required attendees and competency standard before scheduling launch.
• Opening Package and systemsConfirm payment date, current contents, software agreements, vehicle specification and supplier lead times.
• Local approvalsVerify business, contractor, home-improvement, tax, zoning and other requirements with the authorities and professionals applicable to the actual market.
• Multi-territory datesFor an option agreement, verify the 180-day first-opening requirement and every date written into the Option Schedule.

Item 20 and Exhibit F provide current and former franchisee contacts, including a subset that had signed but not yet opened as of December 31, 2025. Those contacts can help a buyer test practical questions about Studio selection, vendor lead times, training scheduling and delays, although their experiences do not amend the Franchise Agreement.

Source: 2026 FDD, Item 20, pp. 51–59. FCI also maintains an official franchise FAQ and a franchise information request page; dated marketing estimates should be checked against the current FDD before being treated as planning assumptions.