how do i franchise my business

What are the Steps to Take to Franchise a Business?

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 successfully franchise your business?

• Present Your Business to Potential Franchisees. After identifying your goals, you may now sell your franchise business model to your prospective franchisees.
• Provide Hands-On Training. If you have a vision for your franchise business, your franchisees must share the same objectives with you.
• Work On the Ground. ...
• Implement The Organizational Culture. ...

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 succeed in franchising your business?

• The success of any business is linked to the level of enthusiasm you bring to the job.
• Enthusiasm brings a level of excitement and energy to the operation that everyone can feel-including your customers and staff.
• Let your staff in on the fun. Acknowledge their good work with recognition or a raise.

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...

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

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

Does My FDD Have to Be Registered or Filed?

The answer depends on where you will be offering and selling franchises. At the federal level, the FDD is not registered or filed with a government agency. Although your FDD must comply with federal law and the Federal Franchise Rule, compliance is self-regulating, which means that it’s up to you and your franchise lawyer to make sure that your FDD is properly prepared and issued. At the state level, in the franchise registration states, your FDD must be registered with the designated state regulator before you can offer or sell a franchise in that state. In the franchise filing states, you must make certain filings with the designated state regulator before offering or selling a franchise in those states. In all other states, you may offer and sell franchises as long as your FDD is current and in compliance with federal law.

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.

Do I Have to Work with a Franchise Lawyer?

If you are going to franchise the right way, you need to work with a lawyer who specializes in franchising and who is experienced in working with new and emerging franchisors like you.

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.

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.

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.

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!

Is franchising the only way to grow your business?

Franchising is not the only way to grow your business. You will need to weigh the pros and cons of franchising before you learn how to franchise your business.

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.

What is editorial disclosure?

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What is the IFA?

The IFA compiles information on franchises, lobbies for legislation favorable to franchises, and provides resources and aid to businesses looking to become franchises. The association also publishes reports on the legalities involved in franchising, including one titled An Introduction to the Law of Franchising.

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 did the Silicon Valley legend talk about?

The Silicon Valley legend talked with Inc. about the road to fast growth and the land mines along the way.

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 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.

Why do you need to have strong systems and processes before franchising?

Your business also needs to have strong systems and processes in place before franchising because the transition to franchising means adopting a replicable model. As an example, you may think you’re in the pizza business, but once you decide to franchise your concept, you’re no longer making pizza in the shop—instead you’re running a franchise that happens to sell pizza. You’re now required to teach other people how to make the pizza, approve real estate sites, help your franchisees with construction and establish back-of-house operations, meaning the days of exclusive kitchen work, for you, are over.

How many pages are needed for a franchise operation manual?

While most people who have entered into the process have a strong grasp of their business and have overall systems documented, almost no one has a detailed , 200-page, step-by-step manual required to support your franchisees.

How many hours do you work in franchising?

As you continue through the process of franchising your business, it is imperative that you remain focused. This doesn’t necessarily mean working 10 hours per day, but it does mean being organized and ready to answer any and all questions.

When evaluating whether franchising makes sense for you as a business owner, it’s important to do some?

When evaluating whether franchising makes sense for you as a business owner, it’s important to do some self-reflection to help determine if your business is in a place where you can mentally and physically commit to stepping out of the daily operations and into more of a management role.

Is franchising a good growth vehicle?

If you're not willing to extricate yourself from the day-to-day operations of your business, then franchising isn't the right growth vehicle for you. In order to prepare yourself for entry into this new industry, you must move beyond unit-level management into a role where you’re overseeing operations and training in a systemic way that supports your franchisees. This means everything—every recipe, every preparation step, how to treat customers—is all documented in a way that allows the team you’ve brought on to operate in accordance with your vision.

Is it a good time to franchise when sales are down?

Simply put, it’s the wrong time to franchise when sales are down. Franchising isn’t a means of turning your business around—the ideal time to grow through franchising is when things are heading in a positive direction. Your business also needs to have strong systems and processes in place before franchising because the transition ...

Is franchising a realistic idea?

That being said, franchising isn’t a realistic means of expansion for every business. Entrepreneurs interested in dipping their toe in the franchise waters should consider several key factors before diving in.

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 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 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:

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.