Understand the role of a franchisee.

As a franchisee, you’ll be tasked with following rules and implementing the franchisor’s vision and practices. It’s unlikely that you’ll have the creative freedom to experiment with product ideas, displays, signage, or any other part of the business—even if you think those moves would boost your sales.

Inventory your strengths.

Depending on the franchise you choose, you may need to demonstrate sales savviness, people skills, and technical know-how in order to succeed. Consider whether you have those strengths and the experience you’ll need to run a business and manage a team of employees.

Assess Your Skills, Interests, and Goals Before Searching for a Franchise Opportunity

Franchise ownership can be an exciting opportunity for people with a variety of skills, backgrounds, and experiences. By understanding the unique qualifications that you offer, you’ll be prepared to explore franchise units you’ll enjoy and excel at operating.   What are your skills? Think about the kinds of work you do best. Are you a […]

Build a substantial reserve of money to buy a franchise.

Franchise startup fees can cost tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars, but those aren’t the only costs you’ll need to prepare for.

You may need to save up for equipment fees and inventory and have enough working capital on hand to survive the first 3-6 months of operations.

And, because franchises are seldom profitable in the first 12 months, you should also plan to have enough cash to cover your personal income needs for the first full year of operations.

Investing in a Franchise: What It’ll Cost and What You Can Afford

When you're buying a franchise unit, cost may be one of your biggest deciding factors. But what you may not know is that the asking price of a unit is only the beginning. Here are eight costs you'll need to consider when evaluating and comparing franchise units: 1 Initial franchise fee. Most franchisors charge tens […]

Home in on a franchise that interests you and talk to other franchisees.

Commit to speaking with other people who have opened a franchise with your target franchisor. Ask about their experiences in funding and building the business, their costs, and the level of support they receive from the franchisor. Their insights can help you decide whether buying a franchise (or any one franchise in particular) is the right move for you.

Connect with your target franchise.

Visit the franchisor’s website to learn about becoming a franchisee. Then, ask for their franchise information packet, and inquire about the prequalification process.

Read the franchise's financial disclosure document (FDD).

Study every part of the FDD to learn about the costs of running a franchise, any litigation that’s pending against the franchisor or key executives, bankruptcy information, and other data that could impact your success as a franchisee.

Your Guide to Reading a Franchise Disclosure Document

When you are evaluating a franchise for purchase, one of the documents the franchisor will share with you is the franchise disclosure document (FDD). This document, which is also known as a uniform franchise offering circular (UFOC), is a 50-plus page legal disclosure that describes the roles and responsibilities of both the franchisor and franchisee. […]

Meet with an accountant and small business attorney who can help you buy a franchise.

Hire a certified public accountant (CPA) to ensure you’re in a good financial position to buy and maintain a franchise.

Here are a few accounting firms other owners recommend. Check them out here (and be sure to click the logo to learn more about them):

Then, hire a small business attorney to help you review the requirements spelled out in the franchise contract.

Need help finding an attorney? Consider working with Contract Counsel. Check out their website here.

Consider working in a local franchise before you buy a franchise of your own.

Think about taking on a short-term position at another franchise location before agreeing to purchase your own. Your time within the business will help you gain an inside perspective on the inner workings of the business and the pain points of operations.

Evaluate whether buying a franchise is the right move for you.

Compile what you’ve learned from your experience within the franchise, the information you’ve read, and the other franchisees you’ve spoken with. Decide whether you feel comfortable moving forward with the franchise you’ve chosen, or consider restarting your search to include other franchises or business ownership opportunities.