Franchise FAQ

should i buy a franchise business

by Barry Torphy Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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Here are a few of the main positives I like to share:

  • A franchise requires a lot less effort to get off the ground. Compared to starting your own business from scratch, a franchise requires a lot less creativity and innovation to get off the ground. ...
  • Established marketing, branding, and networking tools are a godsend. ...
  • Y ou have a greater chance of reaching success with a franchise. ...
  • Training and support resources make the challenging times easier. ...

Full Answer

What to consider before buying a franchise?

What to Consider Before Buying a Franchise

  • Make Sure Your Family is On Board. Owning a franchise—or a business of any kind—is truly a family affair. ...
  • Count Your Cash. ...
  • Reach Out to Other Franchisees. ...
  • Do Some Soul Searching. ...
  • Test the Product. ...
  • Understand What You’re Getting Into. ...
  • Talk to a Franchise Consultant. ...
  • Come Up With an Exit Strategy. ...
  • Consult With Franchise Experts. ...
  • Do Your Due Diligence. ...

How much money do I need to buy a franchise?

How Much Money Do I Need to Buy a Franchise? Investment requirements for purchasing a franchise differ tremendously based on the industry and the type of business the franchise operates. Total start-up costs can range from $20,000 or less to more than $1 million, depending on the franchise selected and whether it is necessary to own or lease ...

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. ...

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.

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What are the advantages of franchises over small businesses?

One obvious advantage that big businesses have over small businesses is their access to increased buying power. The franchise may buy large amounts of inventory and equipment on behalf of their franchisees, meaning you’ll obtain these important assets at a reduced cost.

How do franchises promote their business?

Although you as a franchisee may be required to invest a certain amount of time and resources in marketing and advertising (more on that next), the franchises themselves will promote your business via nationwide campaigns that are broadcast on TV, radio, and online.

What happens when you buy a franchise?

When you agree to buy a franchise, you’ll no doubt sign a contract such as a Franchise Disclosure Agreement, which lists all the things you can and cannot do as a franchisee. Break one of those many requirements and you could lose your business altogether.

How much does it cost to buy a franchise?

The biggest barrier to buying a franchise is, of course, the price tag: The exact costs vary depending on the franchise, but some franchise fees are hundreds of thousands of dollars , and overall investment can easily top $1 million. Some may “only” be tens of thousands of dollars, but even that is a sizeable investment for most people. Then there are royalty fees and other startup expenses.

What is the most difficult part of owning a business?

The most difficult part of owning a business arguably comes in the startup stage, where you have to write a business plan, conduct market research, create a minimum viable product, test that product, and then scale (if testing goes well, that is). Buying a franchise helps you skip this section: The system has already been tested and proven to work. It’s now up to you to apply their system to your market.

Is a franchise a success?

Whereas starting a business often comes with a lot of unknowns, a franchise is proof of a successful model already in motion. That doesn’t mean that buying a franchise equals instant and sustained success. In fact, the mythical “statistic” that says that franchises are less likely to fail than other businesses is just that— a myth.

Is buying into a franchise higher than starting a business?

As mentioned above, the costs of buying into a franchise are high—in some cases, markedly higher than they would be if you started your own business. The franchise fee alone may be out of your reach, and if it isn’t, it will take up a severe chunk of your liquidity.

What does it mean when you buy a franchise?

When you buy a franchise, you are, in effect, buying into a family of other franchisees. You are all working toward the same goal and have all adopted a similar mission on behalf of the franchisor. Some of the best ideas for the franchisor come from the “family”—you become part of a network of franchisees that regularly talk to the home office as well as other franchisees.

How to find out if a franchise is a franchise?

You can find information in a whole bunch of ways: 1 For one, most states require franchisors to file information with them. Some states, like California, require a franchisor to file a good amount of information. Before you invest in a franchise you will want to access this information. 2 You can ask existing franchisors—yes, just walk up to a franchise, ask for the owner, say you’re considering opening a franchise, and ask for their input. But beware: asking one or two franchisors is not going to be scientific. For example, an exceptionally bad or excellent location can totally offset a weak or strong franchise program. So get out and talk with a bunch of owners. I’d suggest talking with at least 10 if not 20! 3 You can ask competitors. Yes, competitors love to talk about the competition, and often they’ll have more to say than the business owners themselves.

Can a franchisor have a foreign office?

If the franchisor has headquarters in a foreign country, problems may arise if you require assistance or need to speak to a company representative in person. Make sure the franchisor has an office in your country or, at least, sends a representative to your country on a regular basis.

Do franchises fail?

Franchising is just like any other business—you must work hard and make sacrifices to achieve a measure of success. And yes, some franchises do fail.

Is franchising a difficult business?

Individuals who have problems taking direction will find franchising a difficult business route to take. Franchisors achieve success through the development of conformity among all the franchisees—from management style right down to ordering supplies. If adhering to rules or functioning in a structured environment bothers you, you should look into some other form of business structure.

Who is Bob Adams?

Bob Adams is a Harvard MBA serial entrepreneur. He has started over a dozen businesses including one that he launched with $1500 and sold for $40 million. He has written 17 books and created 52 online courses for entrepreneurs. Bob also founded BusinessTown, the go-to learning platform for starting and running a 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 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.

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.

What is club pilates?

Club Pilates is one of the top pilates franchises in the United States. Founded in 2007, this group fitness franchise carries out up to 8 million pilates workouts a year.

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 super glass windshield repair?

SuperGlass Windshield Repair has been operating for 30 years and specializes in the repair of rock damaged and cracked windshields. Overhead costs can be kept low due to its mobile option — a physical shop location is not required. It also offers classroom and on-the-job training,

How long does it take to run a McDonald's franchise?

The franchise term for McDonald’s, for example, is 20 years.

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 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.

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Proven Business Model

Experience of The Franchisor

  • A strong argument for buying a franchise is the experience of the franchisor. Franchises such as Burger King, MacDonald’s, Midas Mufflers, and others have been in business for many years, and they have learned what works and what doesn’t. You can take advantage of their consumer recognition and proven business formulas.
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Training

  • Any franchisor that has been successful for many years will, in all likelihood, provide excellent training with ample resources at the home office to get you started in your own franchise.
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Buying and Advertising

  • One of the fastest ways to drain cash is to spend heavily on advertising. As a franchisee, you can take advantage of the public awareness of the franchisor’s name and its national advertising budget. The franchisor will have volume purchasing power for supplies that may or may not be passed on to the franchisee.
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Research and Development

  • The R&D budget for a franchisor will often be substantial, providing the franchisee with new products and services as well as advice on how to introduce the new product or service.
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Business Synergy

  • When you buy a franchise, you are, in effect, buying into a family of other franchisees. You are all working toward the same goal and have all adopted a similar mission on behalf of the franchisor. Some of the best ideas for the franchisor come from the “family”—you become part of a network of franchisees that regularly talk to the home office as well as other franchisees.
See more on businesstown.com

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