A non-disclosure agreement (NDA) is a legally binding contract that ensures the protection of confidential business information shared between two parties, such as a franchisor and a prospective franchisee. The NDA restricts the recipient from disclosing any sensitive information related to the franchise system, including trade secrets, financials, and operational procedures. NDAs are commonly used in the early stages of the franchise discovery process to maintain confidentiality before any formal agreements are signed or business transactions are made.