10 Questions to Ask Yourself and Your Future Franchisor
When considering prospective franchise opportunities, it’s important to know the right questions to ask to get all of the details necessary to make an informed decision about your purchase. Researching the background of your franchisor, and determining the support and assistance they will be able to offer you as you get started are just two key elements that you will want to consider before you sign any contracts.
- Have you and your lawyer looked over all of the
franchise documents, and feel that the terms and conditions
are fair and equitable? Do you understand all of the terms and conditions set
out in the contract? Do you feel comfortable signing the contract?
- Will you have exclusive territory rights for the duration of your
contract, or is there a risk that your franchisor will allow other businesses
to start up within your chosen area?
- What will happen if you want to end your contract? Are there penalties
involved, or are there circumstances under which this is acceptable?
- Are there any requirements within your contract that would encourage you
to engage in illegal or questionable practices? This is a huge red flag that
you shouldn’t be involved with the business.
- How many years has your franchisor been in business, and how many other
franchises do they have within their chain?
- What kind of support will you receive as a new franchisor, and then as an
established franchise? Is there training, upgrading, and emergency support
available? Are there a series of scheduled visits throughout the year?
- Have you had an accountant review all of the figures released by the
franchisor, and have these numbers been independently verified?
- What kind of reputation does the franchise have within the business
community? Also, can you speak with other franchisees to see how they feel
about working with the company?
- How much money will be required to purchase a franchise, and keep it
running until it turns a profit?
- Has the franchisor investigated franchisees thoroughly enough? You will
want to ensure that they are doing their part to hire qualified people on
their teams to maintain brand standards before buying a franchise from the
company.
Franchise Disclosure Document for Dummies – Part 6
The key disclosure in Item 15 states whether the franchise owner is obligated to participate in the direct operations of the franchised business. For prospective franchisees looking for a pure investment rather than a business opportunity, this disclosure might be the first (and only) provision they read in the FDD. Although, an experienced franchise investor may be able to negotiate an exception with the franchisor.
It’s Good to Be Popular (But Not Too Popular)—Choosing a Trademark for your Franchise System
For new franchisors, standing out from the crowd can be a task of epic proportions. Selecting a strong and memorable trademark is certainly an important (indeed, critical) first step, but for the relatively unknown, picking a trademark that is too abstract can occasionally be viewed as a step in the wrong direction—you want to stand out, but you also want people to actually know what you do or sell.
"Buying" A Franchise
Here at FranchiseHelp we’re constantly asked about the opportunity to buy a franchise. Unfortunately I’m going to have to tell you something that might disappoint you. You can’t “buy” a franchise. In reality you are engaging in a “leasing” transaction rather than a “purchasing” transaction. Why is it a lease? In any franchise deal, the franchisee receives the assets up front, but only for a period of time - the term of the franchise agreement. The term of the agreement may run for five to ten years, or in some cases it may run for as little as a year or two. At the end of the day the renewals of these agreements are at the option of the franchisor, and the reasons for not renewing an agreement should be completely spelled out in the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and franchise agreement.
