"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.
So what doe it means that you are leasing and not purchasing? This might not influence your decision to become a franchisee, but you should definitely keep this in mind while you are analyzing your choices and negotiating with potential franchisors.
There are other important considerations as well. First, you must determine if you would function well as a franchisee. If so, you then have to choose the right franchise among the 3000+ franchise opportunities out there. That’s only the beginning. After you whittle your franchise choices down to, maybe, a half dozen, you must then thoroughly investigate each opportunity. Once the choice is made, your job is to analyze and understand the franchise agreement and, if possible, negotiate the agreement so it is satisfactory for both you and the franchisor. Finally you need to put together a financial package to fund your franchise investment.
We put together this site to help you understand the ins and outs of the franchising process and to help you identify the perfect franchise for you. Click below to start exploring the franchising process.
The Best Home-Based Franchise Opportunities in the USA
Other major advantages of home-based franchise opportunities are low start-up costs and overhead expenses.The initial investment required for an at-home franchise is typically much lower than a conventional franchise, often in the $15,000-$30,000 range. Some home-based businesses can be started with just $10,000. Since franchisees do not need commercial space, work-from-home franchises also have low overhead costs and require little to no inventory.
Franchising and the Economy Infographic
In all the talk about deficits,unemployment, and the precarious state of our nation's economy, one of America's most powerful engines for recovery is often (and foolishly) excluded from the conversation -- a classic case of missing what's right under our nose. Developed and perfected right here in the U.S., the franchise business model represents the ideal blend of national heft and local business, accounting for hundreds of thousands of stores, millions of jobs, and billions in annual output.
Protect Your Brand: Trademark Monitoring for Franchisors
Almost all franchisors own at least one federally registered trademark (and if they don’t, they should). As a general principle, brand owners are required to monitor and enforce their trademark rights in order to retain the exclusivity afforded by federal trademark registrations. This takes on additional complexities for franchisors—who need to make sure not only that no one is using their trademarks without authorization, but also that franchisees are making proper use of their marks.
