how can i make my business a franchise

12 steps to launching your own branch of a popular brand or business.

• 1. List your top companies or businesses. ...
• 2. Research the franchise market. ...
• 3. Evaluate investment and franchise costs. ...
• 4. Request a franchise disclosure statement. ...
• 5. Consider forming an LLC or corporation. ...
• 6. Write a comprehensive business plan. ...
• 7. Get the financing you need. ...
• 8. Apply for the franchise and an interview. ...

Full Answer

Should I buy a franchise or start my own business?

Buying a franchise is very different from starting a mom-and-pop business. Since there is an already established system in place, there is a higher likelihood of success. If you invest in a proven franchise opportunity and follow the system the franchisor has put in place, you should be on your way to running a successful business.

How to turn your business into a franchise?

• Set Realistic Goals. Franchising is more of a marathon than a sprint. ...
• Research Your Competitors. ...
• Develop Your Franchise Offering for Both Individual and Multi-Unit Sales. ...
• Make Sure Your FDD Is Compliant for Every State. ...
• Learn Franchising and Get Involved in the Franchise Community. ...

How much will it cost to franchise my Business?

There are currently 14 registration states with franchise registration fees ranging from $250 to $750 plus additional legal fees leaving you potentially $15,000 to $25,000 out of pocket. A Federally Registered Trademark will set you back $1,750 to $7,500.

How to start a small business franchise?

When purchasing a franchise, there are four main cost parameters to consider:

• Franchise fee - Virtually every franchise opportunity requires the business owner to pay a one-time, upfront franchise fee.
• Initial investment - Your initial investment covers the materials, labor, and resources you'll need to launch. ...
• Ongoing investment - This is the money you'll need to run the franchise on an ongoing basis.

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How much does it cost to turn a business into a franchise?

How much does it cost to start your own 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.

Can any business be a franchise?

Restaurants and stores might be the first businesses that pop into mind when you think about starting a franchise — but you can operate most types of businesses, including art studios, education, healthcare, and many others.

How is a franchise created?

A business owner can start a franchise by filing a Franchise Disclosure Document, which allows the company to sell the concept to qualified entrepreneurs who then replicate the established business model and follow the guidelines in exchange for the payment of fees and royalties to the franchisor.

Do franchise owners get paid?

How do franchise owners get paid? Franchise owners can pay themselves a salary or depending on their business entity, they may be able to take a draw from their accumulated equity.

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...•

Can a private company be a franchise?

The two main forms of business registration for franchises are either as a sole trader/partnership or as a private company. For a general overview of what a franchise is, click here.

What are the 4 types of franchising?

The four types of franchise business you can invest inJob or operator franchise. These owner operator franchises are usually home based, which keeps overheads down to a minimum. ... Management franchise. ... Retail and fast food franchises. ... Investment franchise.

What are the disadvantages of franchising?

Buying a franchise means entering into a formal agreement with your franchisor. Franchise agreements dictate how you run the business, so there may be little room for creativity. There are usually restrictions on where you operate, the products you sell and the suppliers you use.

What is an example of a franchise?

Examples of well-known franchise business models include McDonald's (NYSE: MCD), Subway, United Parcel Service (NYSE: UPS), and H&R Block (NYSE: HRB).

Do franchise owners pay taxes?

States charge businesses franchise taxes for the privilege of incorporating or doing business in the state. Franchise tax is different from a tax imposed on franchises. And, it is not the same as federal or state income taxes. Business owners must pay franchise taxes in addition to business income taxes.

Who gets the profit in a franchise?

The franchisee will make money through profits gained through sales. Although a percentage of this will be paid to the franchisor through royalty fees, the successful franchisee can make a significant amount of money by selling the brand's products or services.

How often do franchises fail?

A five-year study by the franchise consulting firm FranNet reported that 92 percent of their franchise placements were still in business after two years and 85 percent after five years. Because yes, sometimes franchise businesses can rise and fall like independently owned companies.

What are the legal requirements for a franchise?

Generally, the offer and sale of franchises find legal basis in laws such as:The Indian Contract Act, 1872.The Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA).The Competition Act, 2002.The Trademarks Act, 1999.The Copyright Act, 1957.The Patents Act, 1970.The Design Act, 2000.The Income Tax Act, 1961.More items...

Can you franchise a Starbucks?

You can't. Starbucks Coffee doesn't franchise. Even though franchising is a classic, successful growth strategy for myriad beloved, familiar brands, Starbucks does not grant franchises.

What type of business entity is a franchise?

A franchise that's incorporated enjoys the same legal protections as any incorporated business. A franchise is owned and operated by an entity but operates under license from the parent company. A corporation runs all of its business outlets. Both types of businesses seek continual growth but utilize different means.

What are the basic requirements of the franchise Rule?

The Rule requires franchisors to provide all potential franchisees with a disclosure document containing 23 specific items of information about the offered franchise, its officers, and other franchisees.

Do franchise owners make money?

Although franchisors cannot forecast income, as a franchisee, you can definitely make money. It’s important to assess your costs regularly and make...

Are franchise fees paid yearly?

Franchise fees are usually on a monthly basis. The fee is a percentage of your revenue, and the royalties can range from 4% to 12% per year.

How much does the average franchise owner earn per year?

In a study from Franchise Direct, the average franchise owner makes $80,000 a year before tax. However, the range of income is quite large: anywher...

What kinds of franchises are available?

In general, there are three types of franchises available: business, management and product distribution. A business franchise gives you the rights...

How Long Should It Take to Franchise My Business?

Typically, franchising your business takes from 90 to 120 days. Depending on unique factors related to your business or industry, there could be variations. A lot also depends on who you are working with and your internal team.

What does it mean to franchise a business?

When you franchise your business it means that you have taken the necessary legal and business steps to sell franchises, support franchisees, and grow your brand. First and foremost, your franchise lawyer will have to prepare and issue a Franchise Disclosure Document that complies with federal and state law.

What Are the Franchise Laws and What Is a Franchise Disclosure Document?

Franchising is regulated and requires compliance with federal and state franchise laws.

Can a Franchise Developer or Consultant Prepare My FDD Instead of a Franchise Lawyer?

No. Your FDD is a legal document that requires the integration of federal and state-specific franchise laws and regulations and should only be prepared by a qualified franchise lawyer.

How Do I Get Started?

By reading this guide, you’ve already taken the first step! Now that you have a solid foundation as to what franchising is all about and the steps involved, start building the right team to help support and guide you in franchising your business .

How long do you have to give FDD to franchisees?

It’s required by federal and state law and is the legal foundation for your franchise. You are required to give prospective franchisees your FDD no less than 14 days before signing any agreement with a franchisee or accepting any payments from a franchisee.

What is the first stage of franchise development?

Stage 1 – The Franchise Development Stage is the franchise development stage where you take the legal and business steps necessary to call yourself a franchisor and start selling franchises. During the franchise development stage, major milestones include developing and issuing your FDD, preparing your operations manual, and competitively benchmarking your franchise offering relative to your competitors.

Why Should I Franchise My Business?

Your business is strong and thriving, so it is natural to want to expand it . Opening new locations is a lot of work , and it takes time and energy to do it right, which is why many business owners are turning to franchising. Below are the two biggest advantages when you decide to franchise your business.

What can a franchisee do?

A franchisee can spend the time dedicated to building a strong business unit, marketing, finding a site, negotiating a lease, hiring and training staff, and so on without worrying about how other locations are faring. Their focus is on their own business!

Why is franchising important?

The above advantages to franchising prove that it can lead to a more sound and economic expansion, a stronger dedication of franchisees as opposed to managers, and above all a greater potential for growth by having individuals running each location and not having to manage each location .

What is accurate franchising?

Accurate Franchising consultants provide strategic planning, sales support/training, marketing, operations, legal, financing and real estate assistance – all designed to help business owners grow. To provide the personalized and time-intensive consultation required, Accurate Franchising currently limits the program to five clients at a time.

What is the roadblock to expanding a business?

A huge roadblock to businesses that are looking to expand is finding and training a qualified management team. With franchising, you substitute training a manager for training an owner. Franchisees are motivated to work hard because they have made an investment and have a stake in their business’ profits.

Is franchising a good strategy?

Starting a second (or third, or four th) location is a great expansion strategy, but it costs money, man hours, and time. Franchising your business can help you save on these three hot commodities in ways that starting a new location on your own cannot. We certainly do not mean to suggest that franchising is free or easy, but it is a growth strategy that can cost considerably less.

Is a small business a good place to start?

A thriving small business is a good place to start! Your business also needs to be easily replicated in a variety of locations, appealing both to consumers and to potential franchisees. On top of that, it needs to be profitable for the franchisee as well as you, the franchisor.

What is the success of a business?

The success of any business is linked to the level of enthusiasm you bring to the job.

How to treat your employees?

Treat your employees with respect. Don't allow employees to be disrespectful to any other employee.

When to alert franchisor?

Alert your franchisor when you need additional training.

Is franchising training continuous?

In franchising, training should be continuous. Employees are you front line.

Can a franchisee change their business?

Franchisees often get their business up and running and then begin to change , add or modify existing products, advertising, hours, services, and even the quality and consistency they are licensed to deliver. This violates the franchise agreement and puts you in jeopardy of having your franchise terminated!

How much did franchises make in 2007?

Franchises accounted for $1.3 trillion in revenue and $153.7 billion in payroll disbursed to 7.9 million workers.

What did Farid do to open a franchise?

To see what might be involved in opening a franchise, Farid decided to do a test run himself, in the form of a second store. He found a building, filed the documents, and went through all the minutiae himself, from interior decoration to training the staff.

How many flower shops did Tariq Farid own?

Tariq Farid had owned four flower shops by the time he was 19. He remembers sitting with his mother, who helped him around the shop, when he was making sixty dollars a day, and he’d tell her of his dream to someday make seventy. When he reached his goal, he turned it in for another dream.

What does Mulgannon say about franchising?

Mulgannon says that if everything's not in order in a company's Item 19, he'll decline to work with them. These legal complications are an area in which the hopeful franchisor may want to seek out professional help. Farid wouldn’t exactly advise anyone to go about franchising their business without expert advice.

Does Farid recommend franchising?

Farid wouldn’t exactly advise anyone to go about franchising their business without expert advice. "I was mostly doing it myself," Farid says of his early efforts to raise money, cut through the legal thicket, and build his trial franchise. “We had no money, and it was tough to go to a bank with a basket of fruit.

Do franchisees have to be precise?

The directions provided to each franchisee will likely have to be precise. Business owners, however, are frequently accustomed to running their companies on intuition, and it may be difficult for them to itemize all the infinitesimal but important obligations they fulfill every day.

Is franchising a good idea?

Franchising your small business may be a good way to grow fast. Figuring out whether or not franchising will work for you is a matter of knowing your business and yourself. The idea of growth is appealing, but a small business owner wants his or her company to scale at a reasonable rate.

What is franchise infrastructure?

Franchise infrastructure includes everything your franchisees will need to open and operate a successful business, including a franchise disclosure document, franchise agreement, operations manuals, brand policies, training and support, and more.

How many years of experience does accurate franchise development have?

Accurate Franchising has thirty years of experience in franchise development. Contact us today to find out how to convert your business to a successful franchise.

Do I need a business plan to expand my franchise?

Don’t forget that you’ll need sound financing to convert a business to a franchise, or to expand an existing franchise. You’ll need a business plan to show prospective investors how you will use their money to provide a fair return, and you may also need access to reliable funding sources. AFI helps our clients craft clear, comprehensive business plans that can be presented to private investors or to our qualified financing partners.