How to start a franchise business
Look to these dozen steps that can guide you from conception to opening day.
- List your top companies or businesses. When putting together a list of franchises you’d like to own, start by thinking about your favorite businesses.
- Research the franchise market. Turn your eye to the market in your neighborhood or the community you intend to operate in. ...
- Evaluate investment and franchise costs. After you’ve pinpointed a market, research...
- Step 1: Prepare Your Franchise for Sale. Start by contacting your franchisor. ...
- Step 2: Market Your Franchise for Sale. Most business brokers use online portals and their own proprietary databases to market businesses for sale. ...
- Step 3 – Negotiate and Close the Deal.
How much can you make selling a franchise?
According to a survey done by Franchise Business Review involving 28,500 franchise owners, the average pre-tax annual income of franchise owners is about 80,000 dollars. However, this number should be taken with a grain of salt bearing in mind that it could be inflated by high incomes of a few top performers.
Is it profitable to own a franchise?
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.
How much do a franchise owner make?
Franchise Business Review found that the average annual pre-tax income of franchise owners in America is $80,000. Only 7% of franchise owners make more than $250,000 annually, and 51% earn less than $50,000. Legally, franchisors cannot give income amounts or forecasts of future income.
What franchise is the most profitable to own?
Most Profitable FranchisesDunkin'7-Eleven.Planet Fitness.JAN-PRO.Taco Bell.Orangetheory Fitness.Great Clips.Mac Tools.More items...•
Are franchise Owners Rich?
The bottom line is that while a franchise can make you independently wealthy, it isn't a guarantee. Choosing the right business in the right industry, and going in with preexisting entrepreneurial experience and/or existing wealth can help, but your income-generating potential may still be somewhat limited.
What is the failure rate for 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 most profitable franchise to own in 2022?
Top 14 Most Profitable FranchisesMcDonald's. Units in operation: 39,360. ... Dunkin Donuts. Units in operation: 12,800. ... Taco Bell. Units in operation 12,800. ... Subway Franchise. Offers Financing: Yes. ... Anytime Fitness Franchise. Units in operation: 4,904. ... Sonic. Royalty: 2.5% - 5.0% ... Planet Fitness. Royalty 7.0% ... Orangetheory Fitness.More items...
Is owning a franchise a full time job?
Buying a franchise doesn't have to mean making a full-time commitment. Believe it or not, there are many franchises that can be run on a part-time basis, especially when you first start out.
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.
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 does it cost 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.
Is owning a franchise passive income?
Using the definition above, yes, a franchise can definitely be passive income! In fact, many franchises are set up with the goal of passive income in mind. That's why some franchisees end up owning multiple locations of the same franchise, with a separate staff and minimal oversight to run each one.
What are the disadvantages of owning a franchise?
Disadvantages of FranchisingLimited creative opportunities. ... Financial information is shared with the franchisor. ... Varied levels of support. ... Initial investments and start-up costs can be expensive. ... Contracts aren't permanent. ... You're your own boss, but you have less individual control.
How long before franchise is profitable?
One common misconception when it comes to operating a franchise is that once you sign on the dotted line and open for business, the customers and revenue will start flowing. This is typically not the case. It normally takes a year or two to become profitable.
Is owning a franchise a full time job?
Buying a franchise doesn't have to mean making a full-time commitment. Believe it or not, there are many franchises that can be run on a part-time basis, especially when you first start out.
How much money does a 7-Eleven franchise owner make?
The estimated total pay for a Franchise Owner at 7-Eleven is $140,208 per year.
How much does it cost to start a franchise?
Franchise costs vary widely depending on the industry and business you choose to invest in, not to mention where you live or plan to do business.
What to do if you don't have a franchise?
If you don’t have the initial investment costs at the ready, you may need to tap into outside financing to launch or run your franchise. Many banks, the SBA and franchise-specific lenders offer financial help for would-be franchisees. Other options include crowdfunding or lenders based entirely online.
How long do you have to get a copy of your FDD before signing a contract?
The franchisor is required to provide you with the FDD at least 14 days before you sign a contract, though it’s a good idea to request a copy earlier in your initial phases of research. You can typically download a PDF of the FDD, though some franchisors might be willing to send you a hard copy. 5.
How to get a copy of a franchise disclosure document?
Reach out to the franchisor for a copy of its franchise disclosure document (FDD), which contains detailed legal information about its franchise group along with financial data like the average gross revenue of its locations.
Why do you need a business plan?
A business plan is necessary if you plan to apply for a loan to help with startup costs. Lenders want to know that you have a viable plan for turning a profit and sustaining your business over the long haul, because it helps them evaluate whether you’ll be able to pay it back.
How long does a franchise contract last?
Franchise contracts come with terms of five to 20 years. At the end of the term, you can often choose whether to renew the contract or discontinue your franchise. At contract signing, you’ll likely need to also pay any upfront fees or initial investment expenses.
Why is my business being audited?
There’s also a higher chance than usual that your business will be audited, because the IRS views ROBS as a tax strategy — basically, a way to avoid paying taxes.
Selling an existing franchise
For franchisees who are ready to sell their established businesses, here’s a piece of good news: According to a study conducted at Palm Beach Atlantic University’s Rinker School of Business, franchise resale prices are higher than those of non-franchise businesses.
Step 1: Prepare Your Franchise for Sale
Start by contacting your franchisor. There is no reason to keep the sale confidential from your franchisor who is accustomed to their franchisees exiting at some point. Ask if they can help you with a resale or transfer. Find out the extent of assistance they offer. The process varies significantly from franchise to franchise.
Step 2: Market Your Franchise for Sale
Most business brokers use online portals and their own proprietary databases to market businesses for sale. If your franchisor does not aggressively market the sale of your business, a business broker can do this for you.
Step 3 – Negotiate and Close the Deal
Once you’ve found a buyer who is interested in both your business and the franchise model, you can negotiate a price and begin with the closing process.
Selling your franchise opportunity
Every franchisor knows that the success of a franchise system is dependent on franchisee success. So simply selling a franchise is not enough. It really comes down to awarding a franchise to the right person. For franchisors who want to grow their brands with quality candidates, here are three simple ways.
Step 1 – Work with Quality Franchise Brokers
Working with quality franchise brokers is an effective and popular way for franchisors to find ideal candidates. In fact, franchise referral consultants (a.k.a brokers) have been found as the top source for lead conversions.
Step 2 – Exhibit at Trade Shows
Exhibiting at trade shows is a great way for franchisors to get in front of potential candidates face-to-face. Trade shows allow franchisors to market their brands to a large number of qualified prospects at one time. This in-person opportunity gives both parties a chance to get to know each other in a casual setting.
What is a franchise flipper?
Whether you are simply gathering information about selling your franchise or need to sell a franchise business quickly, Franchise Flippers can help you determine and execute the best strategy for selling your franchise so you can find the right buyer when the time is right .
Can our experts create your listing for you?
Save Time! Our Experts Will Create Your Listing for You if You Wish
Is selling a franchise a big decision?
Selling a franchise is a big decision. Franchise Flippers offers a free phone consultation to discuss if, when, and how to sell a franchise business.
1. Get your ducks in a row
Before you start to advertise it for sale, ensure your business is neat and tidy.
2. Create a prospectus of sale
In order to sell your business, you’ll need to create a prospectus of sale. This is a document that details everything about it and sells it to a potential buyer.
3. Appoint a solicitor
It’s necessary to appoint a solicitor to complete the legal transfer of the business.
4. Franchisor approval
Before you agree a sale with a potential buyer, they will need to be approved by your franchisor.
6. Non-disclosure agreement
Before you give any candidate the prospectus or disclose sensitive information about your business, you’ll need to ask your potential buyers to sign a non-disclosure agreement.
For aspiring franchisors, one of the biggest and most stressful challenges is selling that first franchise. Here are five tips to make it easier
Selling your first franchise is a little like landing your first job — it’s all about getting someone to believe in you and to invest in you.
By Kerrie Kennedy
Selling your first franchise is a little like landing your first job — it’s all about getting someone to believe in you and to invest in you.
What is a franchise agreement?
The franchise agreement that is executed by the franchisor and the franchisee contains, among a lot of other detailed requirements, strict and copious rules and restrictions for the transfer of the franchise rights. Specifically, if you own a franchise – whether it be for burgers, healthcare, fitness, hotels or any other franchise system – there ...
Why do franchisors have in-house programs?
Some franchisors have in-house programs designed to assist their franchisees in selling their existing units. This is particularly true for a mature brand. One reason for this is that most franchisors award territorial franchises; that is, each franchisee, for as long as it meets minimum operating standards (including sales targets, inspection scores, etc.) has the exclusive right to operate that franchise in a specific territory (subject to the other terms of its franchise agreement). If the franchisor has another qualified candidate for that specific territory, the franchisor is likely to assist its existing franchisee in selling its franchise rights.
How long do franchise rights last?
Franchisors typically award franchise rights to a franchisee for a minimum of five years and many times quite a bit longer. Most sales of existing franchised units happen in more mature franchise systems rather than in very young ones; though occasionally, a new franchisee realizes early on that they are in over their heads and need to be bailed out – usually by the franchisor.
What is the importance of knowing what the other fees a buyer will be obliged to pay?
This is particularly pertinent when establishing a price for your business.
Can a franchisor sell a franchise?
Some franchisors will contract with unrelated firms such as Worldwide Business Brokers to sell existing franchise units. This does not eliminate or reduce the resale restrictions in the franchise agreement but only takes the franchisor out of the re-sale business. The existing franchisee that wants to sell and the potential franchisee that wants to buy still need to meet all the requirements outlined in the franchise agreement and the franchisor still needs to approve the sale.
Do you vet a potential buyer before selling a franchise?
All of this means that you would be wise to vet your potential buyers early on – before you even disclose any financial information – by finding out what your franchisor’s requirements are; or enlist the assistance of a business broker with experience in the sale of franchises. Such experienced brokers know the ropes, understand the FDD ( Franchise Disclosure Document) and work with legal counsel that specializes in franchise law, all to your benefit.
Do you have to have the same training for a franchise?
The buyer and its managers will have to meet the same educational requirements, meet the same financial and net worth qualifications, attend the same training classes, go through the same franchisor vetting process, sign a new, current and possibly more onerous franchise agreement and essentially meet all the franchisor’s standards that you did; and maybe more, if those standards have changed which, if your franchise is more than a couple of years old, is probably the case.
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.
