How it Works

A FEW IMPORTANT NOTES ABOUT THE

Franchise Research Process

  • There are over 4,000 franchises in dozens of categories of business. The process outlined below is intended to narrow down your options, save you time, avoid bad franchise opportunities, and ultimately set you up for success with a business compatible with you.
  • Researching a franchise and interacting with the franchisor should be treated like an interview.  Through this process, we will work to present you in the best light to the franchisor and increase your chances of being awarded an opportunity to invest. 
  • The process outlined below will have nuances depending on your specific situation.  Our guidance serves to anticipate next steps and streamline the process.

What to Expect

We believe that very few opportunities have as much information available to you as investing in a franchise. Through engagement in this process and a few hours a week of your time, we find that most clients have the information they need to make a strong decision on a business in roughly 3 months.

  • Introductory Call 1

    Our first call together focuses on clarifying your motivations and qualifications to own a business. Together, we will decide if exploring franchise businesses has strong potential to help you achieve your goals. A well-defined “Why” will give you clarity and confidence to commit your time to the following process.

  • Zorakle assessment 2

    The Zorakle Spot On is a well known tool in the franchise industry, used to understand the values, skills, communication and work styles of top performing business owners. You will complete this 10-15 minute assessment in preparation for our next call, and we’ll use the results as a starting point to understand which types of franchise business models would be a good match for you.

  • Franchise Research Call 3

    This is our second meeting where we develop your search criteria for an ideal business. It’s important to approach this call with an open mind. Often times clients come to us with interest in a specific brand or category of business, but through this process they’ll discover other options they never expected would help them meet their goals.

  • Funding Consultation 4

    We will connect you with a franchise funding specialist for a free, no pressure consultation to explore options and strategies for funding a business. Depending on your specific financial situation, we’ll decide if this step is appropriate before an introduction to a franchise, or if it can wait until later in the process.

  • Franchise Presentation 5

    We will research franchise options that are a good fit for you as well as for the area you live in and then meet to discuss those brands. We’ll explain the high level aspects of each business and how it fits your criteria. At the end of the call, we’ll prioritize these franchises and create a strategy to dive deeper into exploring 3 or 4 options.

  • Due Diligence 6

    During this step you will receive the franchisor’s Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) that has a wealth of information on the franchise’s history, track record, fees, policies and earnings. You will learn more about the role of the owner, the systems and support, available territory, unit economics and much more.

  • Validation 7

    This is the stage where you verify the information you’ve gathered with existing franchise owners. Many experts claim that validation is the most critical part of franchise research, and we whole heartedly agree. These owners were once in your shoes, researching the franchise and wondering if they could be successful, and they will give you real numbers and personal experiences with the franchise. You will be able to understand what their challenges are and what they do to make them successful and what their backgrounds were and you can decide if you think you can do what they are doing to be successful. With their input, you can determine if this franchise is right for you and that you have proper expectations from the start.

  • Discovery Day 8

    This is your opportunity to meet the franchise team. At this point, your critical questions about the franchise have been answered and you will visit with the franchise leadership team for everyone to mutually decide if this relationship makes sense.

  • Review by Franchise Attorney 9

    Have the FDD and Franchise Agreement reviewed by a Franchise Attorney. You are entering into what is typically a 10 year agreement and it is important that you understand what you are really agreeing to! And we really do mean FRANCHISE attorney – someone who truly knows what is or isn’t “normal” in these documents and who can help you negotiate any changes needed.

  • Franchise Awarded /
    Sign Franchise Agreement     10

    After Discovery Day, the franchise team will communicate their decision to award you territory. Sign the agreement, Pay your franchise fee, and start the opening process!

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