How to Find a Franchise Opportunity
To discover the franchise that aligns perfectly with your interests, it is crucial to embark on a well-established journey known as the exploration process. Below, we present an eight-step approach that can assist you in uncovering franchise opportunities that suit your unique skill set, experience, and aspirations.
Establish your objectives:
What are the underlying motivations behind your consideration of franchise ownership? They might include the desire for independence, achieving a work-life balance, utilizing your skills to enhance your financial worth, or other similar factors. It's crucial to be completely honest with yourself during this phase, delving deep to discover your true aspirations. Setting clear goals serves as a vital foundation for your business.
Many individuals set goals but end up falling short and giving up, leading to negative feelings rather than positive accomplishments. To enhance your chances of success, you can follow these three rules for setting goals:
Your goal should be realistic and attainable. While it's good to have a challenge, if it's unattainable, you'll quickly lose interest.
Your goal should be specific and measurable. Vague statements like "I want to be rich someday" won't suffice. Instead, set a specific target, such as "I will have $1,000,000 in savings by the time I reach 50."
Your goal should be something you genuinely desire. Meaningful goals can only come from within.
Explore potential franchise options:
Conduct thorough research to identify a preliminary selection of franchise opportunities that align with some or all of your criteria. It's advisable to have multiple options for comparison. Look into franchises that capture your interest and envision yourself successfully operating them. Consider the daily activities and responsibilities of franchise operators to ensure a realistic fit.
Most people initially turn to online resources to search for franchise opportunities. However, the vast number of options can make this method overwhelming. Differentiating between various types of franchises can also pose a challenge.
To narrow down your search, evaluate the type of business and investment range that align with your lifestyle before starting your online exploration.
Additionally, you might choose to collaborate with a reputable franchise broker who can help you refine your options and guide you through the discovery process. It's important to ensure that the broker has a proven track record and experience in the franchise industry. They can assist you with aspects such as financing and site selection as you launch your business. If you decide to work with a broker, they should support and advise you throughout the entire discovery process.
Initiate initial contact:
Observe how franchisors handle your inquiries. Take note if you are directed to voicemail, and pay attention to how long it takes for them to respond. Don't hesitate to request conversations with different members of their organizations to gain insight into their company culture. Track the initial communication with franchisors and consider the following:
Did they answer the phone professionally?
Were you able to speak to someone from the franchise sales department on your first attempt?
Did they address all your questions satisfactorily?
Did they request your information?
Were they courteous, professional, and genuinely interested in your needs?
Did they provide the next steps, such as sending you relevant information?
Rate each franchisor on a scale of 1 to 10 based on your experience, with 10 being the highest.
Understand their processes:
When contacting a franchisor, ask them to outline their franchise sales and qualifying processes. This will help you stay focused and ensure progress. Be cautious of companies that lack clear systems or processes for you to follow. A reliable franchise opportunity should revolve around well-defined systems in all aspects.
Evaluate the franchise documents:
Upon receiving the franchise disclosure document (FDD) and franchise agreement from the franchisor, it is advisable to consult with a qualified franchise attorney who can review the documents with you.
Standard business attorneys may have limited experience in franchising, which could lead to additional expenses and time wasted as they familiarize themselves with the industry.
Interview existing franchise owners:
The FDD should include a list of franchise owners. If it's absent, it indicates an incomplete document. Reach out to these franchise owners to inquire about their experiences. Ask them about the advantages and disadvantages they have encountered as franchise owners.
Attend a discovery day:
Most franchisors organize regular discovery or decision-day events. These events provide an opportunity to visit the franchisor's headquarters and meet their team. They serve as a chance for both parties to assess the potential business relationship thoroughly. Keep in mind that the franchisor will scrutinize your personality, appearance, and other social cues during this meeting.
Similarly, you should also evaluate their suitability for your business venture. Remember that you might be in a long-term partnership with them, ranging from five to even 20 years, depending on the franchise opportunity. Therefore, it is crucial for the decision to feel emotionally comfortable in addition to making business and financial sense.
Finalize the franchise agreement.
The last step involves executing the franchise agreement and any associated documents. Ensure that you keep a copy of the executed documents for future reference.