how do you go about buying a franchise

How To Buy A Franchise: The Steps

More items

Full Answer

What to know before you buy a franchise?

If you’re interested in franchising, you should explore the following:

• Any and all existing reports: Now’s the time to put your detective hat on. To start, get a Uniform Franchise Offering Circular (UFOC). ...
• Associated rules and regulations: Every franchise is different. ...
• Contracts: The contract between the two parties usually benefits the franchisor more than the franchisee. ...

What are the steps of buying a franchise?

• Matches your financial resources
• Provides you with the lifestyle you imagined
• Uses your particular skills and experience
• Provides a recession-resistant product or service
• Has a majority of happy and successful franchisees
• Employs an experienced and enthusiastic staff of personnel who will help you achieve your dreams of business ownership success

What do you need to know about buying a franchise?

Ten Things To Consider Before Buying A Franchise

• What's the story on the franchisor's business record and reputation?
• Have you spoken to existing franchisees?
• Have you contacted government consumer protection agencies, Canadian Franchise Association and your local Better Business Bureau?
• Is the franchisor's infrastructure comprehensive and stable?

More items...

What is a franchise and should you buy one?

A franchise refers to a system of doing business in which a parent company (the franchisor) sells the rights to a system of doing business to individuals (franchisees). Each franchisee pays a franchise fee in order to buy into the system, then pays ongoing royalties for the right to continue using the franchise’s name and trademark.

How much money do you need to purchase 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.

What is the first step of owning a franchise?

You need sufficient starting capital to purchase or lease space for your business, acquire equipment and starting inventory, obtain necessary business licenses and insurance, and hire and train staff. Start your business with a built in support structure. Franchisors would like to see their franchisees to succeed.

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.

Do franchise owners have to work?

Owning a franchise unit can be demanding, requiring work of 60 to 70 hours a week, but owners have the satisfaction of knowing that their business's success is a result of their own hard work. Some people look for franchise opportunities that are less demanding and may only require a part-time commitment.

Can you get a loan for a franchise fee?

SBA franchise loan options. Business owners can generally choose between two SBA loan options to finance their franchise — SBA 7(a) loans and SBA CDC/504 loans.

Which franchise makes the most money?

What is the most profitable franchise to own? According to the Franchise 500 list of 2021, Taco Bell is the most profitable franchise to own. The food chain has been franchising for nearly 6 decades and is still seeking franchises worldwide. As of 2021, they have 7,567 open units.

Is it better to start a business or buy a franchise?

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.

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.

What is the process of franchising?

Design Your Franchise Model Your franchise agreement term and renewal conditions. The geographic areas you will go into and the specific territory rights for each franchisee. The amount of start-up and ongoing training you will provide. Whether franchisees must buy products or equipment from your company.

How do u become a franchise owner?

Here are the five steps to becoming a franchise owner yourself.Do every last bit of your homework. Just because you want to buy into an existing chain doesn't mean you don't have to do a massive amount of research. ... Incorporate or form an LLC. ... Inquire and apply to the franchisor. ... Obtain financing. ... Everything else.

What qualifications do you need to own a franchise?

Some franchise requirements to take into consideration may include:Credit score. Minimum credit scores vary by franchisor, but most consider a grade of 680 or higher as ideal.Net worth. ... Available cash. ... Previous industry experience. ... Management experience. ... Total investment required. ... Ongoing costs. ... Training and support.

How does opening a franchise work?

A franchise enables you, the investor or franchisee, to operate a business. You pay a franchise fee and you get a format or system developed by the company (franchisor), the right to use the franchisor's name for a specific number of years and assistance.

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.

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 do you need to apply for a franchise?

This initial application will differ from company to company, but it will typically include questions about your work history, plans for your franchise and your personal finances. It may ask you to provide proof of finances, such as bank statementsand deeds. Answer these questions thoroughly.

How many steps are there to buy a franchise?

If you're wondering how to buy a franchise, this article will explain the process. We break it down into seven steps, from analyzing your viability to...

What is the best time to start working with a financial advisor?

Becoming a business owner is a great time to start working with a financial advisor. As you navigate your new role, a number of financial questions likely will come up. A financial advisor can help you get a plan in place to ensure your business and personal finances remain in good shape.

What is a franchise business?

A franchise means buying into a proven business model, one with a market-tested product, branding and an established customer base. When it works, this can be a great way to become your own boss and stay that way. So how to buy a franchise? Here are seven steps that can take you from eating Big Macs to selling them.

Does liquidity matter in franchises?

Liquidity, in particular, will matter because buying a franchise costs thousands of dollars.

Do all companies offer local opportunities?

Not every company will offer local opportunities. Look up the options where you want to build your business and then settle in for the real research. Your goal here is to narrow down the options to just one or two possibilities. Picking the rightone or two can make all the difference between success and failure.

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 is it important to own a franchise?

One of the biggest benefits of owning a franchise is that you’ll already have an established customer base. Not having to build up a brand from scratch will help you save time and money when it comes to marketing.

Why do franchises use software?

Using franchise hiring software can save you time and money while equipping you with all the tools you need to attract and hire the right people for your roles – not just “warm bodies in seats.”. As you start to hire, your new business will begin to feel like it’s coming together.

What is franchise discovery day?

A franchise discovery day can be thought of as an extended recruiting visit. The franchisor is attempting to further gauge a candidate, while the candidate should be feeling out what it would be like to work for the franchise. Make sure to do your research before attending the discovery day.

What is the most common industry for franchises?

The most common industry for franchise ownership is the hospitality sector, but there are franchises available in almost every industry today. Some of the other popular industries to own a franchise are service-related fields (HVAC, Mechanics), retail stores, and wellness-related services.

Is franchise ownership good?

If you want to own a business, but don’t want to take on the risk that comes with building a new brand, franchise ownership may be the best path for you. Franchise owners benefit from having the reputation and resources of a larger corporation, while still being able to run an individual store as their own business.

How do you buy a franchise?

While it may seem simple at first, there are some things you may want to consider to ensure this purchase could be a home run for you.

Review the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD)

If you feel you need an attorney to review the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) then you will want to make sure you are using a franchise attorney that is specially trained to work within this industry and understands what can, and can’t, be changed a franchise agreement.

What is the purpose of buying a franchise?

Buying a franchise lets you skip over some of the early phases of business development, like creating a business plan, branding, and conducting product research. Instead, you can start your business with a market-tested product that is already familiar to your consumers.

How does a franchise work?

Here's how it works: Each and every year , franchisees must pay the franchise a fee equivalent to a percentage of sales. It also means that no matter how successful you are as a business owner and how innovative you are at driving revenue, you'll always have two partners: Uncle Sam and company headquarters.

How much does Burger King charge for franchise?

The unfortunate part is that royalty fees are pretty standard in the franchise world. In fact, Burger King charges its franchisees 4.5% of sales in addition to a $50,000 franchise fee, and Dunkin' Donuts has its franchisees cough up 5.9% of sales each year in addition to a franchise fee that can range anywhere from $40,000 to $90,000, depending upon the location. Subtract payroll, food costs, and taxes—in addition to these royalties—and it's easy to see why being a franchisee may not entail the life of luxury you imagined.

How much does McDonald's franchise cost?

For example, when opening a McDonald's, the franchisee must not only pay money toward the location, they must also pony up a $45,000 franchise fee for the right to operate the business for a period of 20 years. After 20 years, assuming the company agrees to renew the contract, another $45,000 franchise fee is charged.

What is the most important factor in determining the success or failure of a franchise?

You've probably heard many times that "location, location, location" is the most important factor in determining the success or failure of any business. The point is, unless the franchise sets up shop in a favorable location that's going to support the business, the franchisee will have an incredibly difficult time making ends meet.

What is the most popular franchise in 2021?

The most popular franchise in 2021 is McDonald's, followed by KFC and Burger King, according to FranchiseDirect. Outside of fast food, the most popular franchises were 7-Eleven, Ace Hardware, and Century 21. 3.

Why are McDonald's franchises limited?

While most franchises will limit the number of stores they open in a given area because of fears of market saturation and diminishing returns , many franchises will still try to fit as many retail locations into a given area as possible. That's why it's not uncommon to see five different McDonald's locations within a five-mile area—the corporate head is trying to squeeze every last dollar out of the territory. But the individual franchisee is really the one who suffers. Every time a new location opens within close proximity, their potential market is cut.

Buying a franchise starts with brand identification, investment awareness, interview procedures and then an official signing

Buying a franchise starts with brand identification, investment awareness, interview procedures and then an official signing.

By Justin Wick

The first and arguably most important step toward buying a franchise is identifying which brand you want to invest in. This is often discovered organically, whether it be through advertisement or personal association.