Franchise FAQ

what is a good franchise to buy into

by Marge Donnelly Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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Full Answer

Which is the best franchise to buy?

Best Franchises to Buy Most Profitable Franchises • Taco Bell. A Taco Bell franchise does not come cheap. Your initial investment can run anywhere from half a million dollars to more than $2.8 ...

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. ...

What is the best franchise to invest in?

The 50 Most Popular Franchises Of 2022: Our Most Popular Franchises to Buy & Own

  • American Business Systems, LLC. ...
  • Blue Coast Savings Consultants. ...
  • FranServe - Become a Franchise Consultant! ...
  • Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning®. ...
  • Allstate Insurance Company. ...
  • College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving. ...
  • Minuteman Press International. ...
  • Skyhawks Youth Sports Camps. ...
  • Chem-Dry Carpet Cleaning. ...
  • Costa Oil – 10 Minute Oil Change. ...

What is the cheapest food franchise to buy?

What are the cheapest franchises to open?

  • Baskin-Robbins: This franchise’s investment could cost the same or less than the above, so it is an excellent option.
  • Jack in the Box: Jack in the Box belongs to Qdoba Mexican Grill. ...
  • MaidPro: On its official website it displays reasonable prices for its franchise.

More items...

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What should be considered when choosing a franchise?

The choosing of a franchise to own should be based on several factors that only you can really answer such as your personal interests, family obligations, how much needs to be invested, location, etc.

What is the draw of being a franchisee?

You have to put in the work to be successful, but part of the draw of being a franchisee is that there is an entity there to help guide you. Within Item 11 of the FDD, there is an overview of the support a franchise gives to its franchisees, including training. Review this section carefully and don’t be afraid to ask the franchisor if you have any questions.

What is the purpose of the list of franchisees in the exhibits section?

Also, in addition to finding out about the franchise brand’s strength as noted above, it’s wise to use the list of franchisees in the Exhibits section to talk with people who are already living the life you want to live as the franchisee of a certain brand.

What is the FDD for franchises?

The FDD, which all franchises are required to give to a potential franchisee no less than two weeks before any contracts are signed, covers different facets of the franchise operation from costs to obligations and more. Items 5 through 7, specifically, cover the initial investment and ongoing costs of a franchise.

How to find out how solid a franchise is?

Beyond researching the brand and marketing aspect of a franchise via secondhand information, you can discover more about how solid a franchise is by speaking with current (and in some cases former) franchisees of a brand. This task is made somewhat easier by the presence of a list containing the contact information for all of a franchise system’s franchisees in the United States in the Exhibits section of the FDD.

What are the pillars of a franchise?

Entrepreneur suggests taking into account five areas that it refers to as pillars: 1) start-up costs and fees; 2) size and growth; 3) brand strength; 4) support; and 5) financial strength and stability.

Is franchising a red flag?

For instance, it’s a red flag if a franchisor is overly aggressive about discounting initial fees and/or royalties (beyond the common discounts for military veterans or those in certain markets or demographic groups desirable to the franchisor for expansion). Although it would be a positive to you initially, franchising is a business system that requires a certain level of monetary capital as fuel.

How long does it take to get a 7-11 franchise?

7-Eleven is one of the most popular convenience stores in the country. Getting started with a 7-Eleven franchise takes a few months and it comes with training. Brand recognition is also strong with 7-Eleven.

Why is UPS a good franchising company?

UPS Stores help people send and receive packages. It is one of the better franchising options due to its financial stability and brand recognition.

How long do you have to provide a franchise disclosure document?

According to the Federal Trade Commission, franchisors must provide this document to a prospective franchisee at least 14 days before signing a contract or accepting any fees.

Is Kinderdance International a good company?

Offering education through dance programs, Kinderdance International is a great franchising opportunity. You can run your classes from places like community centers, allowing you to save on initial startup costs.

Is it good to own a franchise?

Are you ready to be your own boss? Buying a franchise is a great way to start a business. Owning a franchise allows you to get started quickly due to brand recognition and resources provided by the parent company. Exploring different franchising opportunities can help you compare and decide which investment is right for you. In this article, we provide a list that features 45 of the best franchise opportunities of 2021 across a variety of categories. We also offer tips for evaluating franchise opportunities and how to know if you’re ready to become a franchisee.

Is Christmas decor a franchise?

If you're looking for a more seasonal franchise, consider Christmas Decor. Christmas Decor franchises specialize in holiday decorating services. As such, they only operate during the holiday season.

Is Dream Vacations a franchise?

If you want an affordable franchise option and the ability to work from home, Dream Vacations is a strong choice.

What is franchise investment?

All franchises come with some kind of investment, which usually comprises corporate fees, startup costs, real estate, staff, equipment and other expenses, too. Your investment will be contingent on several things, but the two most important are the mandatory expenses set by the parent company to get up and running as well as the regional expenses that dictate costs (in other words, some markets are more expensive than others).

What type of loan do entrepreneurs take?

Many entrepreneurs choose to take advantage of a business loan, including SBA loans, business lines of credit, term loans and equipment financing. To begin, check out the best franchise financing options.

Is Ace Hardware a good franchise?

Ace Hardware is an excellent franchise prospect for providing an antidote to the big-box home improvement store experience, which is typically marked by unhelpful staff and overwhelming product choices. Instead, Ace Hardware locations pride themselves on hiring staff that put customer service at a premium and keeping product choices to a reasonable selection. Their franchises make it easier for local hardware stores to remain competitive against mega-stores by way of their cooperative structure and store-brand products.

Is McDonald's the most expensive franchise?

We’re pretty positive this is a name you know. McDonald’s is one of the more expensive franchises around, but has perhaps the best brand recognition in the world. If you’re able to open a McDonald’s franchise in a well-trafficked area without much competition, you may be able to quickly recoup the initial investment.

Is it hard to find a franchise?

Still, just knowing you’re interested in a franchise is only the beginning; in reality, finding the best franchise opportunities can be a challenge. There are more franchises out there than one can reasonably count and consider, making it tough to figure out which one is right for you.

Is Kiddie Academy a franchise?

There are franchise opportunities throughout 49 states (sorry, Montana) and plenty of room to grow.

Is Primrose a franchise?

Early childhood education is a prime market for franchise opportunities as parents look to give children every opportunity to learn — even within their early years of education. Primrose Schools are a solid franchise because they offer educational programs all year round, are licensed facilities for educational child care and give their teachers continuing education access to keep their skills sharp.

Is Five Star Painting a franchise?

That’s because the established model is designed to run smoothly with subcontractors. Now with nearly 200 franchise owners they’ve become one of North America’s leading painting services brands.

Do donuts pay franchise fee?

You do not pay a franchise percentage or even an upfront licensing fee. All the profits you make are yours to keep. Inquire now to learn more!

Do you pay a franchise fee for daylight donuts?

You do not pay a franchise percentage or even an upfront licensing fee.

Is Oxi Fresh a good carpet cleaner?

Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning is proud to be the world's greenest and environmentally friendly carpet cleaner! Businesses with an explicit environmental focus are in high demand. We're a premier carpet cleaning business highlighting competitive edges such as low ownership costs, home-based environments, and recurring revenues.

Why do people buy franchises?

One of the most appealing reasons to buy a franchise is that you’re buying a proven concept rather than starting a business from scratch. The operating details, marketing plan and advertising campaigns all have been developed and tested by the franchisor, and often you can connect with numerous other franchisees to gauge what it takes to be successful.

How many small businesses are franchised?

According to the International Franchise Association, almost 4% of all small businesses in the U.S. are franchises. It’s an industry that generates more than $ 2.1 trillion and employs 18 million Americans.

How many franchises does Image One have?

Who knew cleaning could be lucrative. Image One is a commercial cleaning service started in 2010. It started franchising the following year and now has 103 franchises across the country. For $15,000, franchisees get training in the proper commercial cleaning methods, equipment, cleaning supplies, billing and paperwork, money collecting, marketing, and on-going support. The company also offers help with obtaining insurance and discounts on additional supplies and equipment.

What is a cruise planner franchise?

Cruise Planners franchisees sell full-service vacation packages, including cruises, land-based vacations, trip insurance and car rentals. The Coral Springs, Florida-based company was started by veteran travel agent Michelle Fee in 1994 and began franchising in 1999. Getting started costs $10,995 and includes a six-day in-person training course in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, ongoing home office support and $1 million in insurance.

How much money do you need to open a McDonald's franchise?

All that convenience, however, can come with a hefty price tag. To open a Taco Bell or McDonald’s franchise, for example, you have to have at least $750,000 in liquid assets. To open a KFC, your net worth has to be at least $1.5 million. The average initial franchise investment is $250,000, excluding real estate, says the IFA, and average royalty fees paid by franchisees range from 3% to 6% of monthly gross sales.

Why do entrepreneurs opt for franchising?

Entrepreneurs opt for this model because they can buy a proven business concept and get marketing, job training and management support from a national franchisor. From the movie “Boss Baby.”. According to the International Franchise Association, almost 4% of all small businesses in the U.S. are franchises.

How much does a realtor charge to sell a house?

Most real estate brokers charge a commission, ranging from 3% to 6% or more , to sell your home based on the sale price. Help-U-Sell Real Estate, established in 1976, has a different playbook. It was the first fee-for-service real estate franchise in the country, meaning that it charges a flat fee for its services to list, market and help close on the sale. Franchises cost $15,000 to get started and include training, front- and back-office support, marketing supplies and ongoing coaching.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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 lack of flexibility a problem for entrepreneurs?

A lack of flexibility may also feel a bit stifling for some entrepreneurs; the corporate framework can be very helpful at times, but if you want to break out of the box with new ideas or offerings, you might not be able to. After all, you’re representing not only your business, but also a larger company as a whole.

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 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.

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 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 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.

Do franchises owe royalty?

In addition to the high costs of entering the franchise space, you’ll also continue to owe your franchise royalty payments for using their name and system, and will have to contribute to marketing and advertising costs at their discretion.

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Start-Up Costs and Fees

Size and Growth

  • Remember: Bigger isn’t always better. Just because the franchise has a lot of locations doesn’t mean it’s going to be popular where you are. Fit is key. Is the area you live in ready to support the franchise you’re interested in? The best franchise for you is going to be one that you not only have an interest in, but has demand where you live too. It’s not going to do you any good to open a cle…
See more on franchisedirect.com

Brand Strength

  • Does the franchise know who they are? “When a franchise prospect interacts with a potential franchise, the brand needs to be well developed with a clear purpose,” says Katherine LeBlanc, CMO for Painting with a Twist. “Part of the benefit of purchasing a franchise is the brand equity that has already been developed, the research on who the core prospect is, and the branding fro…
See more on franchisedirect.com

Franchisor Support

  • You have to put in the work to be successful, but part of the draw of being a franchisee is that there is an entity there to help guide you. Within Item 11 of the FDD, there is an overview of the support a franchise gives to its franchisees, including training. Review this section carefully and don’t be afraid to ask the franchisor if you have any questions. Also, in addition to finding out ab…
See more on franchisedirect.com

Financial Strength and Stability of The Franchise

  • “Opening a franchise is usually a commitment of 10 years or more, so look at the franchisor's history and note how long the franchise has been in business, how well the franchise system has fared through economic changes and how well its business model changes to meet the needs of an evolving consumer dynamic,” says Joe Schumacher, CEO of Goddard S...
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