How to know if a franchise is worth joining or not
The franchise model can be attractive to many, and it does have its advantages. However, not all franchises are created equal, and choosing the right one is not always an easy choice. Some people might consider franchises because they actually like a business and its model. Others may choose to go from independent to franchisee and go for the most recognisable name in the business. But there is a lot that should go into picking a particular franchise to represent, and you should take the time to look into each one in detail before you make your decision. Here’s how to know if a franchise is worth your time or not.
Look at the growth
Ideally, you want a brand that shows steady growth. There are some cases when you can go for stability as well, but a rising franchise with great growth opportunity is usually your best bet.
Don’t take the company’s word at face value, however. Some will give some market figures to show growth potential, but you need to do your own research. You also have to consider the opportunities where you are. Even if you join the best window cleaning franchise in the world, it won’t make that much of a difference if you’re in a small or oversaturated market.
Look at unit growth
Another thing you have to do is look at unit growth. This is the number of new franchisees that have joined over a certain period of time. One great thing about buying a franchise with a lot of locations or franchisees is that you’ll benefit from their brand recognition, which is one of the main reasons people decide to join a franchise in the first place.
However, you shouldn’t look at franchise unit numbers only. You also have to know if the company is doing what it takes to prevent franchises from cannibalising themselves. For instance, companies that let anybody open a franchise with little consideration for geographical location essentially open the door to oversaturation. This is why you have to make sure that they have some sort of cap on the number of franchisees that can occupy a certain area.
Look at the management
A new franchise might seem attractive, especially when the original brand is well known and successful. However, while it’s one thing to run a successful location, it’s a whole other thing to run an entire franchise. So, you have to look at the management in detail and see who’s in charge. You want to know how long the company has been franchising, and speak with the franchisee support staff and management to see if you’re on the same page and how you can expect your relationship to be.
If you want to compare franchise opportunities and look at different franchises for sale without having to do too much legwork, we strongly suggest you check find franchises for sale on Franchise Local. This is one of the biggest directories if you’re looking for a franchise UK, and it will give you tons of information such as how much you have to spend to open a franchise, how long it was established, and even how long you can expect before you break even. They will allow you to build a list of competing franchises in specific industries, and get a quick snapshot of which ones you feel would be the best for you.
What kind of support do they offer?
This is one of the most important things when choosing a franchise. The last thing you want is to pay an exorbitant fee to use their name only for them to go missing when you need them. You want to work with a team that will be with you every step of the way, and will help you with sales and marketing. You not only want them to help, but also to be in tune with the latest marketing trends in the industry. You don’t want to have to pay advertising royalties on outdated methods that don’t get you any return, so be aware of that.
Franchisee satisfaction
This one should give you a quick indication of whether a franchise is a good option or should be avoided at all costs. Franchisee sentiment is everything, and if a lot of them seem to be frustrated with head office, then it’s usually an indication that the franchise is not doing well. While the situation may be temporary, if you notice that nothing has changed in a while and franchisees still have the same complaints, then it would be a better choice to look elsewhere.
If you want to know if a franchise could be a winner or not, ensure that you take these factors into consideration. Make sure that you know the general opinion people have of it, how well it’s run, and how invested they’ll be in your success.
