Franchise FAQ

do you buy location first or franchise

by Fredrick Price Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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Simply stated, like this: franchisors invest in securing a location, show it to potential franchisees, and eventually a franchisee likes it and is reasonably familiar with it before making an agreement. Thus, in this case, franchisees know what they are agreeing to well in advance because an established location is already part of the deal.

Full Answer

Should you buy a franchise or start your own business?

Unlike creating your own business, franchisees pay a royalty and initial fee for the right to operate under a franchisor's established brand and business model. Buying a franchise, therefore, can be an advantageous way to start a business, but you'll typically need a large upfront investment to get off the ground.

Why should you consider a location for your franchise?

If your franchise is located out of sight from key roads and highways, potential customers will walk or drive right by. If this happens, you’ll lose traffic that is essential to running a successful business. 2. Accessibility

How do I finance a franchise?

Make sure you take into consideration where the capital to finance your franchise will be coming from. Many entrepreneurs choose to take advantage of a business loan, including SBA loans, business lines of credit, term loans and equipment financing. To begin, check out the best franchise financing options.

Is a franchise opportunity right for You?

Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money. If you’re looking for a new business venture, but don’t want to take on the difficult work of developing your own brand image and identity, a franchise opportunity might be the best fit for you.

How to decide whether to franchise or buy a business?

What is the difference between franchising and buying a business?

What is business format franchising?

What is the most common form of franchising?

What does a franchisor do?

What are the zoning requirements for a business?

What is a franchise business?

See 4 more

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Is it preferable to obtain an existing franchise location or a brand new one?

In general, proven franchises are a safer investment, but if the idea of breaking ground in a new franchise area doesn't faze you (or even appeals to you), then a new franchise might be a better option. To be honest, there's no right or wrong answer to the new versus existing franchise dilemma.

Does the franchisor choose the location or does the franchisee?

On the other hand, good franchisors turn down up to 90% of location applications to make sure the location is profitable for the franchisee. Most franchisors have specific selection criteria for finding an excellent site. This information covers topics such as the following: Demographic characteristics.

Is it better to buy a franchise or a business?

Bottom line, franchises have a higher overall success rate than startups. Franchises operate under a predetermined business model that has already brought success while independent businesses make adjustments and decisions to their business model as they go.

Which is the first step in purchasing a franchise?

1. Research Potential Franchise Opportunities. The first step when buying a franchise is to do your initial research on the different franchise opportunities available. It's important to find the right franchise according to your budget, qualifications, and personal interest.

Who chooses the location of my franchise?

franchisorYour franchisor should be able to provide a great deal of help in choosing the best location for your franchise. They likely already have volumes of information about what locations are best for franchises, and some franchisors even have realtor connections and legal help to make the process easier.

Who selects the location of a business?

There is usually a team approach to finding the location and negotiating and finalizing the lease. The team consists of you, the franchisor, a local commercial real estate broker and a good lease attorney. Most franchisors provide you with specific selection criteria for finding a good site.

Why you should buy a franchise instead of starting?

Franchisors usually provide the training you need to operate their business model. Franchises have a higher rate of success than start-up businesses. You may find it easier to secure finance for a franchise. It may cost less to buy a franchise than start your own business of the same type.

How many franchises fail each year?

9) CurvesYearFailuresFailure Rate201729447.7%201819847.4%201912337.8%Total 3-year (2017-2019)615189.2%

What are the disadvantages of owning a franchise?

Disadvantages of franchising for the franchiseeRestricting regulations. ... Initial cost. ... Ongoing investment. ... Potential for conflict. ... Lack of financial privacy.

What franchise is the most profitable?

Most Profitable FranchisesDunkin'7-Eleven.Planet Fitness.JAN-PRO.Taco Bell.Orangetheory Fitness.Great Clips.Mac Tools.More items...•

How much money do you need to start a franchise?

Franchise startup costs can be as low as $10,000 or as high as $5 million, with the majority falling somewhere between $100,000 and $300,000. The price all depends on the industry, location and type of franchise.

How much do franchise owners make?

When researchers accounted for the inflations caused by the few top franchises, it was established that the average annual income of 51 percent of franchisees is less than 50,000 dollars. The study also found that only 7 percent of franchise owners earn over 250,000 dollars a year.

What are the roles of the franchisor and franchisee?

While the franchisor provides overall support and resources to help franchise partners succeed, franchisees are still responsible for managing their business and ensuring its growth. Taking ownership of a franchise business is the sole responsibility of the franchise partner.

What is the difference between the franchisor and the franchisee?

While a franchisor is an established entrepreneur with a licensed business model, a franchisee is a person or corporation that owns and operates the business using the business model licensed by the franchisor. Franchising describes the business relationship between the franchisor and franchisee.

What are the obligations of the franchisor and the franchisee?

The franchise company is required to offer administrative assistance to the franchisee, and the franchisee is obliged to maintain the recordkeeping and reporting standards of the company. The efficient flow of information between the franchiser and franchisee is what keeps the entire organization running smoothly.

What does a franchisor do?

The “franchisor” is the person or corporation that owns the trade-marks and business model. The franchisor licenses the use of the trade-mark and business model to the franchisee, usually in exchange for an upfront payment and ongoing royalty payments.

How to Get a Loan to Buy an Existing Business - Experian

Getting a loan to buy an existing business is possible with good credit, solid business financials and a basic understanding of the lending process.

How to decide whether to franchise or buy a business?

Quantify your investment: Review your financial landscape and decide how much you’re willing to spend to purchase — and ultimately manage — the business.

What is the difference between franchising and buying a business?

The main difference between franchising and buying an existing business is the level of control you’ll have over your business.

What is business format franchising?

Business format franchising : The franchisor and franchisee have an ongoing relationship. This style of franchising normally focuses on full-spectrum business management.

What is the most common form of franchising?

Two common forms of franchising are: Product/trade name franchising : The franchisor owns the right to the name or trademark of a business, and sells the right to use that name and trademark to a franchisee. This style of franchising normally focuses on supply chain management.

What does a franchisor do?

Typically, the franchisor offers services like site selection, training, product supply, marketing plans, and even help getting funding. When you buy a franchise, you get the right to use the name, logo, and products of a larger brand. You’ll also get to benefit from brand recognition, promotions, and marketing.

What are the zoning requirements for a business?

Zoning requirements : Zoning requirements may affect your business. Make sure your business follows all the basic zoning laws in your area. Environmental concerns : If you're buying real property along with the business, it's important to check the environmental regulations in the area.

What is a franchise business?

A franchise is a business model where one business owner (the “franchisor”) sells the rights to their business logo, name, and model to an independent entrepreneur (the “franchisee”). Restaurants, hotels, and service-oriented businesses are commonly franchised. Two common forms of franchising are:

Why do people buy franchises?

After all, the whole reason why people purchase a franchise is because they want to own and operate a business with an easy-to-follow system that they can do without having to figure it out on their own (more reasons why people buy a franchise).

Do you have to have a certain number of locations to franchise?

While this may seem logical, there is NO criteria or rule that says you need to have a certain number of locations before franchising. Legally speaking (believe it or not), your business does not even need to be in operation in order to franchise.

Can you have multiple businesses in operation?

Having multiple businesses in operation may not necessarily make you a stronger candidate for franchising, because what is really important is how you operate the business and if what you are doing is duplicatable (refer to some of our frequently asked questions).

What happens if your franchise is located in a place that's difficult to access?

If the site of your franchise is located is in a place that’s difficult to access, you’re making it hard for customers to do business with you.

What happens if a franchise is located out of sight?

If your franchise is located out of sight from key roads and highways, potential customers will walk or drive right by. If this happens, you'll lose traffic that is essential to running a successful business.

Why do franchises fail?

However, another equally important factor is choosing the right location. In fact, some studies have shown poor location is cited as one of the leading reasons why franchisees fail.

Where should a daycare be located?

A franchise that relies heavily on impulse purchases, for instance, should be located in an area that’s visible from as many places as possible, especially major roads. On the other hand, a daycare should strike a balance between visibility and neighborhood safety.

Is a business friendly municipality good?

Be sure to do a lot of research on any local licensing requirements and other regulations. Business-friendly municipalities are usually good for your business!

What are the parts of owning a franchise?

There are a few different parts of owning a franchise, including doing your research, getting hands-on, understanding your finances and launching your business. Understanding each is key to picking the right franchise and getting off on a positive foot for future success.

What is a franchise agreement?

Your formal contract is called the franchise agreement, and it’s a document you should review very, very carefully. This is a binding document that lists your fees, obligations and more. If you have any questions, now is the time to ask them.

What is a franchise discovery day?

If possible, attend a Discovery Day. A large portion of franchises, both big and small, offer what’s called a “Discovery Day” in which prospective franchisees spend time at the corporate headquarters or in an existing franchise location.

Why is it important to have a consistent experience across locations?

No matter how well you do, you’ll always be paying some form of franchise fees to headquarters, which means all of the money you make isn’t your own.

Is it possible to start a business from scratch?

Beginning a business from scratch can be a huge undertaking that not everyone is game for — you have to think of everything from beginning to end. With a franchise, customers already know your brand name, operating procedures are established and the greater marketing plan generally comes directly from corporate.

Is it bad to own a franchise?

Potential drawbacks to owning a franchise. Of course, owning a franchise isn’t all roses. First and foremost, there’s the upfront cost. Franchises can be expensive, especially in high net-worth and busy markets, which means a big investment for a business that isn’t established yet.

What to do before buying a franchise?

They recommend you do these 12 things before you buy a franchise. Give yourself a personality test. There’s a reason military veterans tend to be successful franchisees, says Brown. They’re used to following the rules and operating within a highly regulated system.

Why buy a franchise?

Buying a franchise can be a great move for a would-be entrepreneur who doesn’t want to create a new business from scratch. In theory, franchisees acquire a model that already works on every level, from branding to pricing to marketing. A ready clientele eagerly spends on Dunkin’ Donuts, McDonald’s and 7-11. The market has tested the best recipes for glazed crullers, Egg McMuffins and the right combo of energy drinks to stock next to the register. But making a go as a successful franchisee can be a lot more complicated than simply finding an appealing brand and plunking down some cash. For a taste of what can go wrong, see Forbes’ piece about the problems at sandwich franchise Quiznos, which paid $206 million to settle a suit brought by franchisees who claimed the chain had oversold its markets and excessively marked up supplies.

How long does it take for a franchise to become profitable?

The FTC’s guide says it may take a year to become profitable. You should have access to capital that will cover both business expenses for six months and personal living expenses for a year. Beware of franchise consultants. Most franchise consultants are paid salespeople, according to Sean Kelly.

How much does it cost to buy a franchise?

The initial investment in a franchise can be pricey, and range anywhere from a few thousand dollars to over a million. If you're looking to purchase a franchise at a lower price point, there are options for you in a variety of industries.

How much does a franchise cost?

Every franchiser requires an upfront fee. This can range from hundreds to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

What is a franchise?

A franchise is a business in which independent entrepreneurs use the rights to a larger company’s business name, logo, and products to operate an individual location. The franchiser is the owner of the larger company who sells the rights to license their business, and the franchisee is the third-party owner and operator of the business locations.

How long does it take to run a McDonald's franchise?

The franchise term for McDonald’s, for example, is 20 years.

How long does it take to get started with 7-11?

As the #1 convenience store, 7-Eleven is seeing unprecedented growth. Its stores are turnkey and you can get started within three to six months, including application, testing, and training.

Why are companies actively looking for new opportunities?

They’re actively looking for new opportunities because they’re still in the initial stages of expanding their reach.

Is it good to own a franchise?

Owning a franchise has countless benefits. You can profit from the franchiser’s recognizable brand while essentially running your own operation. The most profitable franchises rarely fail, removing the risks typically associated with opening a brand new business.

What is franchise investment?

All franchises come with some kind of investment, which usually comprises corporate fees, startup costs, real estate, staff, equipment and other expenses, too. Your investment will be contingent on several things, but the two most important are the mandatory expenses set by the parent company to get up and running as well as the regional expenses that dictate costs (in other words, some markets are more expensive than others).

How many states does Sonic have?

Sonic is an American fast-food staple with unmissable branding, mostly fueled by their drive-in style of service and unique soft drinks. With franchises in 46 states, Sonic offers a strong franchise opportunity that comes with a cult following for their unmistakable menu items (cherry limeade, anyone?) as well as core staples that customers expect and love.

Is Ace Hardware a good franchise?

Ace Hardware is an excellent franchise prospect for providing an antidote to the big-box home improvement store experience, which is typically marked by unhelpful staff and overwhelming product choices. Instead, Ace Hardware locations pride themselves on hiring staff that put customer service at a premium and keeping product choices to a reasonable selection. Their franchises make it easier for local hardware stores to remain competitive against mega-stores by way of their cooperative structure and store-brand products.

Is McDonald's the most expensive franchise?

We’re pretty positive this is a name you know. McDonald’s is one of the more expensive franchises around, but has perhaps the best brand recognition in the world. If you’re able to open a McDonald’s franchise in a well-trafficked area without much competition, you may be able to quickly recoup the initial investment.

Is it hard to find a franchise?

Still, just knowing you’re interested in a franchise is only the beginning; in reality, finding the best franchise opportunities can be a challenge. There are more franchises out there than one can reasonably count and consider, making it tough to figure out which one is right for you.

Is Kiddie Academy a franchise?

There are franchise opportunities throughout 49 states (sorry, Montana) and plenty of room to grow.

Is Primrose a franchise?

Early childhood education is a prime market for franchise opportunities as parents look to give children every opportunity to learn — even within their early years of education. Primrose Schools are a solid franchise because they offer educational programs all year round, are licensed facilities for educational child care and give their teachers continuing education access to keep their skills sharp.

How to decide whether to franchise or buy a business?

Quantify your investment: Review your financial landscape and decide how much you’re willing to spend to purchase — and ultimately manage — the business.

What is the difference between franchising and buying a business?

The main difference between franchising and buying an existing business is the level of control you’ll have over your business.

What is business format franchising?

Business format franchising : The franchisor and franchisee have an ongoing relationship. This style of franchising normally focuses on full-spectrum business management.

What is the most common form of franchising?

Two common forms of franchising are: Product/trade name franchising : The franchisor owns the right to the name or trademark of a business, and sells the right to use that name and trademark to a franchisee. This style of franchising normally focuses on supply chain management.

What does a franchisor do?

Typically, the franchisor offers services like site selection, training, product supply, marketing plans, and even help getting funding. When you buy a franchise, you get the right to use the name, logo, and products of a larger brand. You’ll also get to benefit from brand recognition, promotions, and marketing.

What are the zoning requirements for a business?

Zoning requirements : Zoning requirements may affect your business. Make sure your business follows all the basic zoning laws in your area. Environmental concerns : If you're buying real property along with the business, it's important to check the environmental regulations in the area.

What is a franchise business?

A franchise is a business model where one business owner (the “franchisor”) sells the rights to their business logo, name, and model to an independent entrepreneur (the “franchisee”). Restaurants, hotels, and service-oriented businesses are commonly franchised. Two common forms of franchising are:

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