AI_GUIDE.md

Using the FranchiseDepth database with AI assistants

This folder works with any assistant that accepts file uploads. Pick the files that match what you want to do, upload them, and give the assistant the instructions in AI_INSTRUCTIONS.txt (paste it as your first message, or into the instructions box of a custom assistant).

Which files to upload

You want to...	Upload
Ask quick questions about fees, earnings, closures or growth across brands	brand_summary.csv
Read about specific brands in one industry	the industry's file in profiles_by_industry/
Run deeper analysis (the assistant writes code)	franchisedepth.sqlite, or the files you need from csv/
Look up every column and method	AGENTS.md

Upload limits depend on each tool and plan. If a file is too big, start with brand_summary.csv, which is small, or one industry's profile file.

ChatGPT

• One chat: attach brand_summary.csv (and any csv/ files you need) with the paperclip, then paste AI_INSTRUCTIONS.txt as your first message.
• Your own GPT (on plans that offer GPTs): create a GPT, paste AI_INSTRUCTIONS.txt into Instructions, upload brand_summary.csv, AGENTS.md and the industry profile files you want as Knowledge, and turn on the code/data-analysis capability.
• ChatGPT's data analysis can often open franchisedepth.sqlite with Python. If it can't, use the CSV files instead.

Claude

• One chat: attach brand_summary.csv or a profile file and paste AI_INSTRUCTIONS.txt.
• A Project: create a project, paste AI_INSTRUCTIONS.txt into the project instructions, and add brand_summary.csv, AGENTS.md and profile files to the project knowledge.
• Claude Desktop with live SQL: connect the whole database with the MCP connector (steps in README.txt). Claude can then query every table directly.

Gemini

• One chat: upload brand_summary.csv (CSV and Excel files are accepted; several files can go in one prompt) and paste AI_INSTRUCTIONS.txt.
• A Gem: create a Gem, paste AI_INSTRUCTIONS.txt into its instructions, and add brand_summary.csv and profile files as its knowledge.
• Google Sheets: import brand_summary.csv into Sheets and use Gemini in Sheets on it.

Grok

• Attach brand_summary.csv (and a profile file if you like) with the paperclip, and paste AI_INSTRUCTIONS.txt as your first message.

Microsoft Copilot

• Upload brand_summary.csv in a Copilot chat and paste AI_INSTRUCTIONS.txt.
• With Copilot in Excel, open franchisedepth.xlsx and ask about the tabs directly.

Perplexity

• Create a Space, add brand_summary.csv and profile files, and paste AI_INSTRUCTIONS.txt into the Space's instructions.

Coding assistants (Cursor, Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI, GitHub Copilot)

• Open this folder as the project. They read AGENTS.md (and CLAUDE.md / GEMINI.md, which point to it) automatically. Ask them to query franchisedepth.sqlite.

Tips for good answers

• Ask for a table: "Compare these five brands' investment, royalty, closure rate and comparable revenue in a table."
• Ask for sources: "Give the FDD year for each figure and the page for Item 19 figures."
• Ask it to say when something isn't disclosed, rather than guess.