Franchising a business is an excellent way for an entrepreneur to enter the world of business ownership. Franchising has been around in the United States since the 19th century, and there are currently over 750,000 franchises across the nation. The franchise business model has had great success and is designed to set franchisees up with the proper tools for success. However, there are several factors that a prospective franchisee needs to consider before forging ahead. Here, we ask the top eight questions to ask a franchisor before signing on the dotted line.
- What is the background of the franchise and key leadership team members? Understanding the driving motivation behind the founder’s reasons for starting the business, as well as having a clear understanding of the skill set and experience of the leadership team will help to determine whether a cultural fit exists.
- What is the initial investment requirement? Obviously, a thorough understanding of the initial franchise fee, as well as additional investment requirements (including start-up costs, licenses, real estate, etc.) is a must-have.
- Are there any ongoing fees? Beyond the initial investment, there may be ongoing royalty and marketing fees that need to be clearly identified and budgeted for. Oftentimes, this royalty fee is calculated as a percentage of sales, and is payable on a monthly basis.
- What is my earning potential? While a franchisor cannot guarantee projected revenue, they should be able to give a sense of what a franchisee can reasonably expect to earn based on how other franchises have performed.
- What ongoing support will I receive? Beyond the initial onboarding and training, it’s important to know what future support you can count on.
- How is location determined? As part of your franchise agreement, do you have territory protection in place? If the same franchise opens up a block away, this will seriously impact your performance, so it’s critical to understand what your territory is and what exclusivity privileges exist as part of your agreement.
- What marketing and advertising expectations exist? Your franchise won’t be successful if no one knows about it. Marketing and advertising are a necessary business expense, however you’ll want to have it clearly articulated whether you are expected to contribute to any regional advertising efforts, as well as whether you can have input into how marketing dollars are spent.
- Can I get a testimonial from other franchisees? It is highly recommended to speak with other franchisees about their experiences and lessons learned. They should be able to speak honestly to any pros and cons with the franchise experience as well as potential lessons learned.
NutritionHQ is a nutritional and supplement store with current franchising opportunities available. If you are a health and fitness enthusiast who is looking for a way to be your own boss, NutritionHQ may be a fit. The industry has been experiencing steady growth, and investment-wise, this franchise opportunity comes in much lower than many others. Reach out to learn more!