How to Vet a Franchise
A Must-Read Article for Anyone Thinking of Investing in a Franchise.
Truthfully, as I do my research, what I find over and over again is most franchisees are not actually making money. Some don’t even seem to know it. Either that or they just have too much invested (time and money) so denial is their only savior.
Back when I opened my Cold Stone franchise, I had no idea what I was doing. I didn’t know how to vet a franchise or even that I should. I did a little due diligence but I was going through the motions because I didn’t know what I was looking for. I saw the pretty, shiny thing (Cold Stone) and wanted in. Enough said!
Here are the 3 Main Things I did Wrong:
- I let the franchisor (Cold Stone) tell me the franchisees to talk to – I don’t even think that is legal
- When I did speak to actual franchisee’s, I asked really stupid questions – I was unprepared
- When existing franchisees tried to warn me, I didn’t listen.
How to Properly Vet a Franchise
You will start by making contact with the franchisor most likely via their website. They will have some sort of application process whereby you submit a form or talk to a representative to ensure you can afford to invest – before either of you wastes much time.
Once the franchise qualifies you, with capital and experience, they should present the opportunity to you. You can ask questions about locations, build costs, square footage requirements, required capital, loans, royalty percentages, territory protection and so on.
Here is where it gets good – the FDD or “Franchise Disclosure Document”
Once both parties agree there is mutual interest, the franchisor is obligated to send you a FDD (Franchise Disclosure Document).
Chances are it will be enormous and designed to terrify, overwhelm and confuse you.
It is an excellent document, however, and here is what you want to look for right away: (use the FDD index to quickly find these items)
- The pages where it tells you how much it costs to build out the location and/or start the franchise business in its entirety.
- Find the franchise fee is. This is usually a one-time payment the franchisor charges you for the privilege to operate your business using their logos, recipes, formulas, methods, software, etc. This fee can be hefty and I’ve seen them as high as $65,000 so be aware.
- Find out the ongoing royalties. There are usually franchise royalties and marketing royalties that are each a percentage of gross sales but some concepts offer flat fees.
- Find a list of all existing franchisees (This is the super critical stuff and is usually tucked at the back of the FDD somewhere. It tells you ALL existing franchisee’s in the system and you are going to want to talk to as many of them as possible.
- Look for a list of franchisees who have left the system. This is critical information as these people are free and clear of the franchise and so can talk to you openly.
*NOTE: I am not telling you not to read the entire FDD. In fact, should you decide to move forward, I would insist you AND your attorney read every page.
What Does the Franchisor Want?
Keep in mind, the franchisor wants to sell you a business. They are sales people and quite good at what they do. Listen to what they have to say then get your lists of present and past franchisee’s out and call as many as possible. I recommend speaking to no less than 10 and I’d prefer you speak to 20.
Set aside time, call people and be organized. Make a question’s list ahead of time, make 2 dozen copies, one for each franchisee you call. Write their name, location(s), phone number and notes at the top so you can remember who they are and what was said.
I usually learned a minimum of one great tip from every person I spoke to so every call you make is worth your time.
A Warning About Area Development Brokers
Be forewarned, an area development broker or territory broker is not an ordinary franchisee. Their names will be on the existing franchisee list so be sure you check who those people are.
Area brokers are franchisees who purchase a large territory from the franchisor to help sell franchises. In essence, they get paid should you buy in the territory they have purchased. This was not disclosed to me when I purchased my franchise and of course the area brokers I spoke with raved about the concept. Just make sure, if you call area brokers, you know they have a vested interest in your buying a franchise.
Development brokers can provide a wealth of knowledge on operation questions. Just don’t consider calls to them, as a part of your due diligence, legitimate for our purposes here.
TIPS: When you First Call Existing Franchisee’s:
- Tell them you have a few quick questions. People are busy so let them now you respect that and will be quick. They get a lot of calls and will more likely speak with you if you agree to be quick. Once on the phone, they usually take all the time you need
- Mention who you are and say you are looking at a territory far from them. If they think you will be invading their territory they might clam up. For instance, if you live in CA, call franchisee’s in WA, TX, FL & NY
- Get to know them a bit before you ask the HEAVY questions. Introduce yourself and ask where their stores are located, how many they have, how long they have been operating and if they are opening more
- My experience has always been that franchisee’s want to help others succeed. They might be standoffish at first but if you ask good questions and are courteous, they warm right up. Once you get them sharing you have struck gold
- Start out light and airy and let the questions build
- Once you have established a rapport, it’s time to find out if they are making money
- Yes, you can ask that. Ask every franchisee if they are profitable – you need to know
- If they hesitate with a question, ask it again in another way until they answer e.g:
- Do you find the home office to be honest people?
- Are the people in the home office pretty sincere?
- If you have a problem does the home office help you?
- Is there anyone in the home office I should stay away from?
Questions You Need to Ask to Vet a Franchise
- Where are your stores located or what is your territory?
- How many locations or territories do you have?
- Are you planning to open more locations or territories? (If they are it could mean good things or bad). Good if they did not buy a multi-franchise contract as that means they WANT to open more. Bad if they signed up and paid for a multi-store contract and HAVE to open more stores whether or not they want to. To find out, just ask them.
- How did you find out about the business opportunity? (Let them talk and share their story).
- Have was the deciding factor in you deciding to invest? (This can be critical information so pay attention to what they say).
- Have you found the franchise to be honest and helpful when you needed it? (If the franchise is not honest, do you really want to work with them)?
- When you have a problem does the franchise actively help find a solution? (In my experience, they did not. I am a “do it now” kind of person. When something breaks, I want it taken care of same day or ASAP. Solutions from a franchise that need to be committee approved over a 6-month period might not jive with your work ethic).
- Did the training program prepare you to run the business?
- What is the hardest part about the business? (This is a good one. If the business is painful they usually tell you now).
- If you had a do-over, would you invest in this franchise? If they say no make sure you find out why.
- The franchise told me it would cost $95,000 to open the business. Is that correct? If it cost a lot more, they will tell you. Remember, a dishonest franchisor is something to be very wary of.
- Does the franchise protect your territory? This is critical. If they are growing and selling to everyone (think Subway) this is something you need to know.
- Are the other franchisee’s happy or dissatisfied? In a franchise, you really get to know the others in the club. This question is great because it gives you a lot of info of how others are doing without speaking to every one of them. (If they do mention someone in particular with a gripe, it would behoove you to give that person a call).
- How many hours a week are you putting in and are you able to travel? If they work 60+ hour week because they have to, is that really something you want to do?
- Can I ask you how long it really took you to profitable?
- I have looked at a million business concepts and most times I find out they are not profitable. Can you tell me if I can make money in this business? (start asking about money now).
- I have run the numbers and from what I understand, I am planning on year 1 gross sales of $500,000 with 20% to the bottom line. Does that seem accurate?
- Always close the call by thanking them and asking if there was anything critical you should have asked but didn’t. That gives them a chance to tell you things that might be going on that you would not know to ask. Many times they will invite you to call them again should you have more questions. Definitely call them should you need to.
A Warning About Franchises In General
A franchise is a funny thing. Once you buy in, you are invested. For many people, they put their life savings and more into it and they need it to be successful. Therefore, they are not going to easily tell you bad things about the business. After all, they are trying to run theirs and maybe hope to sell it one day soon.
Also, when you buy a franchise, sometimes you get into bed with some powerful (and evil in my case) franchisors and you don’t want to make them mad. For example, at first, my husband and I were careful about what we said to potential franchisees who called us. We were exhausted and growing angry but we had so much invested we had to stay the course. Eventually, however, we saw countless good people come into the system upbeat and happy. Within a year they were stressed beyond belief, had gained weight, looked unkempt, had gone gray and were filled with regret.
Our consciences weighed in and we began to gently tell inquiries the stores were very hard work for very little pay. When word got back to Cold Stone they terrorized us about it. It was an ordeal that all these years later, I am still not quite over.
I tell you this so you will know a franchisee is in a precarious position. When you call them, at first they might be standoffish and un-trusting. They more they warm up to you and learn you are not a franchise shill, the more they will open up to you. I’ve had more than one franchisee, in my investigative work, say to me, “just between you and me,” or, “don’t ever repeat this but.” Usually this happens in the last 5 minutes of the conversation because they want to tell you but they have to trust you first.
All of which leads to the next step, calling former franchisee’s too. They have sold out of the franchise, or closed, and they no longer have any reason to be shy.
Questions for Former Franchisees
Former franchisees are not as easy to get a hold of as existing franchisee’s so you might have to work a bit harder and call more of them to get a call back. I’d call every single one on the list if it were me.
Ask them these 4 questions:
1. Why did you leave the franchise?
2. Did you make good money?
3. Was the franchise honest with you?
4. If I was your family member, would you advise me to invest in the franchise?
If you do that, you should have more than enough information about the franchise to make an educated decision. If you don’t feel you do, call more people.
Why Doesn’t Everyone Start an Online Business?
I whole-heartedly believe in entrepreneurship. I have been self-employed most of my adult life and highly recommend it. I can’t figure out why everyone isn’t starting their own online business. Doesn’t everyone want to:
• Work from home
• Automate their business
• Sleep in
• Spend time with family
• Travel
• Tell their boss to go…
Going Online is the Only way to go.
I speak from firsthand experience. In 2001, after I sold my clothing boutique in Los Angeles, I wrote an e-book entitled, “How to Open a Boutique.” I also created a one page website and sold my e-book for $49 a pop. I used PayPal to take payments and Payloads to deliver the e-book instantaneously. The site was amateurish but my content was great. I helped thousands of people on their way to self-employment.
My Online Business was:
• 100% automated so once I set it up it took me zero time to manage
• Cost me the price of a domain name, so $12, to start it up – that was it!
• What hooked me on the internet and what it can do to change people’s lives
Next, I purchased a Business Opportunity website which I currently own and manage and we offer all kinds of business ideas for people looking to get out of the rat race.
I will tell you though…I think every new business should be on the internet.
All you need is a passion for something, and a little bit of training and you are on your way.
There is so much junk online it can be overwhelming.
You just need to have one or two resources that actually work and don’t pay attention to any of the other noise.
I highly recommend Wealthy Affiliate. They offer FREE training during the trial period on how to develop your niche, give you a Free website, show you how to start your website in under 30 seconds and teach you how to get ranked in the search engines so you can start selling.
You don’t have to have your own products. They also show you how to set up affiliate links so you can start your business immediately, have no inventory or employees and start making money.
I found them a year ago online. Even though I knew the basic of web design, I found their courses and training videos superb. I started with the FREE access and upgraded because I learned so much I couldn’t believe it. If you want to have an online business, their program is pretty great.
One of the Best Things is Their Customer Support
I am one of those people who likes to not be stumped and be able to get support NOW. Wealthy Affiliate offers 24/7 support and a community of givers who answer questions right away. I’m still amazed!
I Will Help You Too
As you can see from the testimonials on my Open a Boutique page, I really want to help others. If you join Wealthy Affiliate via my affiliate link, I will immediately be notified and will follow you. Follow me back and we will have direct access to each other. Contact me with questions and if we need to do a screen share or call I am happy to do that as well.
Conclusion
Am I saying that all franchises are bad? No, of course not. If you want to open one, and want to learn how to properly vet a franchise, this article is specifically for you. I want you to know what questions to ask and to whom. Whatever your dreams are, start living them today. I hope this article has helped you and please feel free to share it if you know someone who may benefit. I appreciate it.
source http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2017/05/07/vet-franchise/
here is another article posted by the same author https://www.business-opportunities.biz/2019/03/13/cold-stone-franchise-best/
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