Deciding to franchise your business is a big step in entrepreneurship and there are many factors to consider before doing so. Aside from ensuring that your main business has enough financing to support your overall brand, there are legal processes that need to be completed, hiring that needs to be done, and branding procedures that must be solidified.
Here, 11
Young Entrepreneur Council members note some specific questions to ask yourself when thinking about franchising your company and why you need to do so.
When thinking about franchising your company, what’s one factor you should consider first? Why?
1. Is your business profitable enough to attract new franchisees?
Small-business owners get blinded by the success of their sole location and don’t think about whether their business is profitable enough to support a franchising model. To start a successful franchise, you must have high enough margins to support the franchisee and franchisor. Otherwise, it will be difficult to attract new franchisees. —
Shaun Conrad, MyAccountingCourse CPA Prep
2. Do you have SOPs in place?
SOPs, or standard operating procedures, are important factors to consider when franchising your company. Having SOPs in place help ensure that each franchise location follows the same procedures and provides the same level of service. This is important for maintaining a positive brand image and providing a good customer experience. —
Pratik Chaskar, Spectra
3. What are your financial risks?
You should identify your financial risks clearly before getting into franchising your company. This means taking into account all potential sources of revenue and expense, as well as any debts or other liabilities that could impact the business. By doing this analysis upfront, owners can better understand the potential financial implications of franchising and make more informed decisions. —
Kelly Richardson, Infobrandz
4. How easy is it to replicate your business?
What are people actually buying? Are they buying your processes, logo, recipe, or relationships? How easy is it to replicate your business? Having a true understanding of what makes your business unique will help solidify your offering to a potential franchisee. —
Chase Williams, Market My Market
5. How will you achieve brand consistency?
Quality control [among franchisees] is going to be one of the biggest issues and challenges in franchising your company. You want the [consumer] experience to remain the same across all franchises. What happens at one location affects all the others. This will take careful consideration and planning. It means making sure each of your franchisees has the tools, resources, and knowledge to provide exceptional service and products. —
Blair Thomas, eMerchantBroker
6. Do you understand the regulations governing franchises?
One factor that you should consider first when thinking about franchising your company is the laws and regulations that apply. As a new franchisor, you must learn about the regulations that are applicable in your respective region as they may vary from one state or even one city to another. So, it’s best to do your research first and onboard a franchise consultant to guide you through the process. —
Stephanie Wells, Formidable Forms
7. Will franchising dilute your brand?
Brand dilution is the biggest concern. While margins and revenue sharing are important, you ultimately want to make sure you’ve set up your franchising agreements in a way that allows your brand to grow and thrive. Otherwise, new partners may present your business in a way that’s unfavorable to your brand’s overall image, which could hurt your long-term potential. —
Firas Kittaneh, Amerisleep Mattress
8. How will the franchise be paid for?
The first, and most obvious factor, is the cost. You will need to establish how much it will cost for a franchise to be set up and how that will be paid for. Most people think the franchise owner automatically pays for it, but that isn’t always true. Many companies have financial systems in place that help would-be franchise owners get started with a loan payback system over time. —
Baruch Labunski, Rank Secure
9. How much control do you want to relinquish?
When considering franchising your company, one thing you should consider is how much control you want to maintain over your business. Franchising gives you the benefit of having a larger network and brand recognition, but it also means you have to relinquish some control over your business operations. Make sure you create a set of guidelines that are clear and firm to avoid any issues. —
Syed Balkhi, WPBeginner
10. Where will you find franchisees?
Franchising your company is a big decision. I suggest carefully considering who [will be your franchisees]. For instance, you may want to turn to your professional network on LinkedIn to find trusted people in your industry who’ve shown interest in pursuing new business opportunities. —
John Turner, SeedProd LLC
11. Do you have an established brand?
It’s important to consider the brand. A brand is what customers associate with your company, and it’s how they decide whether or not to do business with you. It’s important to protect and nurture the brand when franchising because it can be more difficult to rebuild once it’s been damaged. —
Blair Williams, MemberPress