Franchise FAQ

how much work is involved in owning a franchise

by Dr. Bret Emard Published 1 year ago Updated 1 year ago
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Some franchisees find that they're working 80 hours a week while they get their businesses up and running. One owner told us, “I stick with half days — 12 hours.” Few find that they're doing only 40 hours a week. The payoff comes a few years later, when they can relax and enjoy the fruits of their labor.Feb 5, 2015

Can I make money by owning a franchise?

The reality for most franchisees is somewhere in between. Exactly how much money YOU will make as a franchise owner is a difficult question to answer. There are many factors that will influence your potential earnings – the biggest of which include the brand you invest in and your own personal performance as a business owner.

What are the pros and cons of buying a franchise?

The Pros and Cons of Buying a Franchise: Is it Right for You?

  • Advantages of Franchising. Advantage 1: Explore a New Career, Work in a New Industry! ...
  • Disadvantages of Franchising. Depending on which franchise you choose to invest in, the initial investment can be hefty, especially for big-name franchises.
  • Overlooked Realities of Franchising. ...
  • Advantages and Disadvantages of Buying a Franchise. ...

Can you make money starting a franchise?

The franchisor doesn’t actually make much money if any at all from the upfront fee that a franchisee pays to purchase a franchise business. The investment cost of a franchise opportunity is simply there to cover the cost for the franchisor in terms of bringing a new franchisee on board. Making strong investments in new franchisees will ensure they get off to a great start. The following fees are usually covered:

How much money can you make off a franchise?

While a Franchise Business Review study revealed that the average franchisee earns a profit of $66,000 annually, that number varies greatly (from $50,000 to $500,000) and many factors impact those numbers. So, with this great variation, how can you really know how much money you can make?

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How much work does a franchise owner have to do?

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.

Is owning a franchise a lot of work?

Warning. Buying a franchise might seem like easy money, but those royalties and fees will quickly cut into profit margins. The majority of franchise owners earn less than $50,000 per year.

What is involved in owning a franchise?

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 is the failure rate of a franchise?

Pretty much every year the survey has been conducted has shown between 8-12% of franchise businesses left their franchise each year. This is for a variety of reasons, including retirement, selling, ill-health and financial failure.

What is the downside to a franchise?

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.

Do franchise owners take a salary?

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.

Is it smart to buy a franchise?

If you're a fledgling entrepreneur or a seasoned business person wanting to diversify your holdings, you've probably wondered, “Are franchises a good investment?” The simple answer is yes, especially if a great opportunity presents itself. There is an obvious appeal to starting a business via buying a franchise.

Who keeps 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.

What skills do you need to own a franchise?

The following are six skills that you should have if you are looking to pursue a franchise opportunity:People Skills. ... Motivation Driven by Results. ... The Ability to Work with Numbers. ... An Affinity for Hard Work. ... The Ability to Take Advice. ... The Ability to Follow a System.

What are 3 disadvantages of a franchise?

There are 5 main disadvantages to buying a franchise:1 - Costs and Fees. ... 2 – Lack of Independence. ... 3 – Guilt by Association. ... 4 – Limited Growth Potential. ... 5 – Restrictive franchise agreements.

Is owning a franchise stressful?

It's a lot of work It's a hard job with long hours, many weekends and a lot of stress. Running your own business is always a lot of work. It's especially true in a restaurant that is usually open seven days a week and all day at that.

What is the biggest threat facing by a franchise business?

Many businesses fail due to undercapitalization, and the same is true for new franchises. “This is usually a challenge in the first year since the cost of creating the franchise system and the cost of supporting new franchisees usually exceed royalty revenues and franchise fees in the beginning,” says Faulconer.

Is owning a franchise stressful?

It's a lot of work It's a hard job with long hours, many weekends and a lot of stress. Running your own business is always a lot of work. It's especially true in a restaurant that is usually open seven days a week and all day at that.

Is being a franchise owner hard?

Starting a franchise is different from starting your startup, but it is still a business and will require a lot of hard work and time. You might have to work for more than 9 hours a day to achieve your goals. So, make sure you apprehend how much time you will have to invest in a franchise.

Is it worth getting into a franchise?

If you're a fledgling entrepreneur or a seasoned business person wanting to diversify your holdings, you've probably wondered, “Are franchises a good investment?” The simple answer is yes, especially if a great opportunity presents itself. There is an obvious appeal to starting a business via buying a franchise.

Is running a franchise stressful?

Buying a franchise usually starts off as exciting and exhilarating, but franchise veterans will quickly tell you that after the excitement comes stress and more stress. There are so many things to consider when it comes time to buy a franchise (as well as before you buy), and it can be overwhelming.

How much do food franchises make?

They assume food franchise owners are the biggest moneymakers, but according to a Franchise Business Review report, 51.5 percent of food franchises earn profits of less than $50,000 a year and only about 7 percent of food franchises have profits over $250,000.

How much does a cleaning franchise cost?

This model is not to be confused with buying cleaning contracts which is a totally different model with a much smaller investment. Also not to be confused with a MASTER cleaning franchise which is more about selling franchise contracts. A master cleaning franchise is a great business for people with sales experience, and the average gross for a cleaning master franchise is $2,800,000, top earners at $5,800,000 . A master cleaning franchise will have an investment range of between $240k and $400k.

Why do we call Franchise City?

Smart investors call Franchise City because we have all the data on file. But more importantly, not everyone has the skills or background to successfully operate a senior care or staffing franchise. If you are a bad fit, even with the top franchises, you will not make money. A Taco Bell will have people walking in and buying a taco, but it doesn't really matter if you have no business skills, or are not a good communicator. With senior care, staffing and service-based businesses in general the owner is driving that business forward and they need to have specific skills in order to succeed. We provide a detailed skills assessment to all our clients as part of our free service.

What is the highest grossing franchise on QSR50?

The single highest grossing food franchise on the QSR50 is Chick-fil-A. An average Chick-fil-A generates 4.16 million dollars annually and your investment is only $10,000. But keep in mind that Chick-fil-A has a very different franchise model than other franchises and owners do not receive a traditional revenue split, or even ownership of the store. You'll earn a solid six figures, have limited risk, be part of a solid organization with traditional values but you do not own the store or gain any equity.

How much does it cost to buy a McDonald's?

Buying a Mcdonald's will cost you between $1,263,000 to $2,235,000 not including your real estate. Many people think these numbers include real estate, they do not.

What is gross revenue?

For aspiring entrepreneurs' annual gross revenue is the total amount of money that comes into your store for all goods sold. Net income is how much money is left after you pay your rent, your payroll, your royalties, insurance and everything else. Net is really the important number, as 10 million a year gross revenue is not that impressive if your expenses are 11 million! There are other important numbers like discretionary income and EBITDA (earnings before interest taxes depreciation and amortization) we'll cover those in a future article or video. Have you subscribed to us on YouTube? Franchise City YouTube

Do franchises track net revenue?

Franchises collect royalties on gross earnings, so they typically don't track the net. We help our clients gather the net numbers to make a more informed decision.

How much does it cost to start a franchise?

The best place to start is what you have to put in before you get anything out, and honestly, it depends on how much you want to spend! At Franchise.com, business can start as low as $10k, and can go for over $200k. For more expensive franchises, these are more iconic brands that have a lot of recognition and are in more desirable industries, like hotels or fast food restaurants. Franchises that are less expensive can be newer brands or franchises with fewer locations that aren’t as well known, or simply less expensive because of their model. Most franchises come with different levels of support, and the cost of your initial investment may reflect those levels of training and support that you receive. Most franchises require you to have liquid assets in order to invest, but there are usually some financing options that you can explore in order to get started.

How to maximize profits in a franchise?

In order to maximize profits, you will probably need to invest more than just money into your business. Your time and effort will have an impact on your bottom line, and dedicating yourself to the hard work of growing your business will most likely pay off in the end. The inverse can also happen - if you invest your money into a franchise but don’t do the hard work, then profits might shrink.

Why do people want to franchise?

The idea of franchise opportunities is appealing for many reasons, but one of the most common motivations is the idea that you can make a lot of money off of them as a franchisee. While there are other benefits that come with franchise ownership (being your own boss, investing in your community, learning a new business, etc), making a great living is a very appealing idea. Before you put on your top hat and monocle though, let’s ask the important questions to figure out how much profit a franchise owner can realistically expect when investing in this type of business.

When was Franchise.com founded?

A Trusted Industry Leader Since 1995. Founded in 1995, Franchise.com was one of the first franchise recruitment websites in the world. Today, we continue to be the 'go to' place for people beginning their business opportunity search and the journey of franchise ownership as well as for those already involved in the world of franchising.

Which industries have the highest profit margins?

According to Forbes.com, a financial information company reported that hotels, motels, real estate agents and brokers, cleaning services, and beauty salons had the highest profit margins in recent years and are all franchise-friendly industries. The most profitable franchises tend to vary, so looking at industry trends is important to determine what franchise is right for you.

Purchasing the Franchise

The first way that you determine your franchise’s success is the way in which you buy it. One of the main benefits is that you have the backing of the larger franchisor to help you get off the ground. As mentioned before, you don’t have to spend as much time convincing everyone your brand is worth investing in, they’ll just get it.

Startup Expenses

When joining a well-known, successful franchise, you can reasonably expect to pay at least $150,000 in one-time costs. Depending on the franchise, this number can vary, but these expenses are unavoidable.

Franchise Fees

Franchise fees are one of the largest single expenses associated with starting a franchise according to The Balance Small Business. They are the fees that one pays to a franchisor for using its name and brand and opening a business with all those associated items.

Establishing Your Location

After you have committed to buying the franchise, you need to be strategic about its placement. You can’t just plop down your restaurant anywhere and expect it to be successful, you have to take location into account. One of your goals should be to occupy a medium-busy street with convenient parking.

Hiring the Right People

Your next step to “lock-in” your success is to do business with the right people. You need to hire people who are competent at their job and who will encourage people to come back again.

Working Capital

Working capital is the amount of money that a person must have in order to operate as a business before his or her company begins to turn a profit. There are several different formulas that dictate how working capital is calculated, but it is best for you to consult with your franchisor to determine how much working capital you should have.

Starting a franchise

Starting a franchise requires significant financial planning, serious research, and consulting with professionals who work for your franchisor and who will monitor your own financial interest. However, one thing is for certain, when you start a franchise, you cannot afford to be surprised.

When was Franchise.com founded?

A Trusted Industry Leader Since 1995. Founded in 1995, Franchise.com was one of the first franchise recruitment websites in the world. Today, we continue to be the 'go to' place for people beginning their business opportunity search and the journey of franchise ownership as well as for those already involved in the world of franchising.

Why is franchising bad?

The problems with franchising occur when franchisees expect the brand to do the work—immediate business success and monetary gain because the brand already has a committed customer base.

Is franchising a risk?

Business owners play the game of risk and return, and it’s no different for franchise owners. After all, whether you’re starting your own business from the ground-up or taking the reins on a business-unit from a franchisor, there’s always some risk involved. Franchising is different because some of the legwork is already done; you provide an initial investment, and the franchisor provides the business model framework, brand, systems, and marketing.

Can owning a franchise make you rich?

There’s no such thing as a guaranteed, get-rich-quick model—and any franchisor promising this is seeking the uninformed and naïve. Franchising requires calculated risk, timely investment, and a focus on development: how long after opening will it take to be profitable? Can I invest the money I’ve made into purchasing additional franchises? Can I grow a single franchise’s revenue through customer service and increased sales? Are there any depreciating values in my business model? Ignore these, and any hopes of getting rich disappear.

Legal and Accounting Fees

When considering whether or not to buy a particular franchise, a franchise attorney can be a great resource. The attorney will go over the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) with you. Although this massive document may be intimidating, an attorney can walk you through the important parts.

Working Capital

Your franchisor can help you determine the amount of working capital you need to get your business started and running through the first year or so. Depending on the business, it is important to have enough working capital to cover two or three months to as much as two to three years until the business is off the ground.

Franchise Fee

In general, most franchise fees are between $20,000 and $50,000. Mobile businesses or home-based businesses could be less than $20,000. In addition to covering the costs of training, the franchise fee also covers support and site selection.

Build-Out Costs

For brick-and-mortar franchises, build-outs can be expensive. When you’ve decided on a location and the franchise you want to purchase, the franchisor can help you calculate your overall build-out costs. This includes expenses for construction, fixtures, appliances, furniture, signage, and equipment.

Supplies

It depends on the business when it comes to the supplies that are needed. For example, a restaurant needs appliances, salons need sinks and beauty tools, business offices need copiers, computers, and other supplies. The franchisor should have an estimate for you in regards to how much supplies should cost.

Inventory and Overhead

If you own a retail business or sell a specific product, inventory becomes an expense. While every business is different and has different requirements, you could see costs for inventory go between $20,000 and $150,000.

Travel and Living Costs While Training

While training may be covered by the franchise fee, there are added costs including travel and other expenses that fall on the franchisee. The franchisor provides the franchisee with training, but as your business grows, other employees will also be required to take the training.

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