10 Steps For Choosing The Right Franchise

Written on the 15th of September 2011 by Tracey Voyce - Bloomtools

Buying franchises is a daunting task. You have to consider the Industry, the brand, competitors, location, finance and numerous other things. You also have to make sure it fits in with your experience, your skills and your lifestyle. Choosing a franchise is especially challenging job.

To make the process of choosing a franchise easier for you, I’ve compiled this list of the ten steps you should follow.

Step 1 – Start your general research

Use whatever tools you have at your disposal to find out about the franchise industry. A good place to start is the Internet - read articles and reports from the Franchise Council of Australia, search for advice from franchising experts and browse franchise directories to see what’s available. You should also subscribe to some franchising and small business magazines to get their perspective on the industry. Empower yourself with as much knowledge as possible before you start on your franchise search.

Step 2 – Know yourself

So, now that you have an understanding of the franchise industry, you need to have a long, hard look at yourself and why you want to go into franchising. Firstly, brainstorm what you want from a franchise. Flexibility? The option to work from home? A challenge? To work with a strong brand? You also need to honest with yourself about your strengths and weaknesses, your skills and your experience. For examples, if finance isn’t your strong point then you need to make sure you can get adequate financial support from the franchise you choose. It’s important for you to identify these things so you can base your future decision on them.

Step 3 - Assess your financial situation

It’s essential that you are realistic about what you can and can’t afford right from the beginning. Sit down with your accountant and crunch the numbers so you know right from the start what your budget is and also the timeframe you need for accessing finance. Figure out how much you can afford then choose your shortlist based on that, rather than choosing the franchises you like, then struggling to scrape together the money – starting off on the back foot will make it really difficult for you to succeed in the long-term. Once you’ve set your budget, stick to it! Looking above what you can realistically afford will only cause you more stress and confusion.

Step 4 - Shortlist your favourites

You’ve equipped yourself with knowledge of the industry and have established your own position, so now it’s time to find some franchise opportunities that you like. The best way to start is to search online directories, because you can conduct searches based on the industry you want to get into and on how much you want to invest. You should also view the websites of the franchises you like to find out more information about them and the opportunity they are offering. Ideally, the website should have a section dedicated to franchising with lots of information, like on the Australian Franchises website.

Next you should create a simple spreadsheet to help you evaluate these franchises. Put the names of each franchise down the left side of the page and several headings across the top that are important to you, such as ‘professional image’, ‘brand strength’, ‘training offered’ and ‘marketing support’. Then for each franchise, make notes about each area and rate them out of ten. This summary only needs to be very basic to help you get your list down to 3, so you can contact each of these for more information.

Step 5 - Contact your shortlisted franchises

You will now need more information from the 3 franchises on your shortlist. Make contact with each one and arrange to meet or speak with their Franchising Manager. Prepare a list of questions to ask them to get more details on what you have already ranked them on and to work out whether you will be compatible with them. Many potential franchisees that contact a potential franchisor for more information ask questions such as:

  • Who runs the company?
  • What is the target market?
  • How does the franchise system work?
  • What will it cost me to set up a franchise?
  • What kind of training, marketing and support is offered?

Asking questions like this will help you get as much information as possible so you can make an informed decision.

Step 6 – Choose your favourite

Now that you’ve had a chance to speak to someone from each of your shortlisted franchises and been given more information, you should evaluate everything you have learnt and choose a favourite to pursue. Once you choose to contact this franchise again to get more information, you are moving along the franchisee process, but you are not yet locked into anything.

Usually this stage will involve signing a confidentiality agreement, because the franchisor will be giving you information that they don’t want you to pass onto anyone else. These agreements are standard in the industry, but make sure you read it thoroughly before you sign it. At this stage, the franchisor will also want to make sure you are the right type of person for them, so they may ask for permission to do a credit check on you and ask you some qualifying questions. If both parties are keen, you can continue to move onto the next stage which involves you signing an agreement and gaining access to their financial data.

Step 7 – Do your due diligence

Once you’ve gotten this far in the franchisee process, you are obviously pretty serious about investing in the franchise. After you’ve signed an agreement with the franchisor and been given their financial data and other information, you get a period of time to conduct what is called ‘due diligence’. This basically just means doing even more thorough research and seeking professional advice.

Get more detailed information about the company by speaking to their other franchisees and researching more about their products and services, history and directors. Then meet with your lawyer and accountant to go through everything with them and get their expert opinion. Make sure you take advantage of this time to learn as much as you can, then compare it with your experience, skills and financial situation. If you aren’t 100% convinced that it’s the opportunity for you, then now is the time to pull out.

Step 8 - Formal interview

As mentioned, it is just as important to the franchisor that you are the right person for the job. So once you’ve received all the information from them and passed all their checks, it’s time to have a formal interview with their franchising team. This is designed to find out if you are compatible with their business and to discuss all the finer details of the opportunity. Obviously you will still have more questions, so use this opportunity to ask them – don’t leave this meeting without finding out what you want to know. Also, evaluate the key people in the franchise face-to-face – if you don’t like the people, the franchise may not be for you. If the franchisor wants to formally offer you the franchise and you accept the offer, you will have to sign a legally binding agreement and organise to pay an initial deposit (the deposit will vary greatly depending on the company).

Step 9 - Use the ‘cooling off’ period

A ‘cooling off’ period is a certain amount of time that franchisors are legally required to give you to think about your decision to sign with them. This time is required by law because many people change their mind after signing because they got caught up in the excitement of the process or were pressured into it. In this time, you can withdraw from your agreement with them without losing your deposit. However you will be charged for any costs that the franchisor incurred in that time (such as lawyer’s fees), so the best idea is not to sign in the first place if you have doubts. If you do sign, but are then unsure, take advantage of this time to evaluate your decision and seek more advice if necessary.

Step 10 - Become a franchisee

Congratulations! You have now joined the thousands of Australians that own a franchise business and get to be their own boss. This stage of the process involves making payment for the franchise you have purchased and getting your business underway. Firstly you will need to arrange a time to begin the training offered by the franchisor and also organize the location of your business. The process and timelines at this stage really depend on the company you are involved with, so make sure you work this all out with them.

The final piece of advice I can give you is to maximize the opportunity you have been given – take advantage of extra training, engage in lots of local area marketing, build strong relationships with the franchisor and other franchisees and do everything you possibly can to achieve success in your business. If you do this, the results will speak for themselves. Good luck!

Resources

Australia's No.1 business franchise company providing opportunities to start own business with expert franchise advice and latest franchise news. Contact us for business for sale and many other franchise business opportunities in Australia.


Author:Tracey Voyce - Bloomtools
Australian Franchises

10 Steps For Choosing The Right Franchise

Written on the 15th of September 2011 by Tracey Voyce - Bloomtools

Buying franchises is a daunting task. You have to consider the Industry, the brand, competitors, location, finance and numerous other things. You also have to make sure it fits in with your experience, your skills and your lifestyle. Choosing a franchise is especially challenging job.

To make the process of choosing a franchise easier for you, I’ve compiled this list of the ten steps you should follow.

Step 1 – Start your general research

Use whatever tools you have at your disposal to find out about the franchise industry. A good place to start is the Internet - read articles and reports from the Franchise Council of Australia, search for advice from franchising experts and browse franchise directories to see what’s available. You should also subscribe to some franchising and small business magazines to get their perspective on the industry. Empower yourself with as much knowledge as possible before you start on your franchise search.

Step 2 – Know yourself

So, now that you have an understanding of the franchise industry, you need to have a long, hard look at yourself and why you want to go into franchising. Firstly, brainstorm what you want from a franchise. Flexibility? The option to work from home? A challenge? To work with a strong brand? You also need to honest with yourself about your strengths and weaknesses, your skills and your experience. For examples, if finance isn’t your strong point then you need to make sure you can get adequate financial support from the franchise you choose. It’s important for you to identify these things so you can base your future decision on them.

Step 3 - Assess your financial situation

It’s essential that you are realistic about what you can and can’t afford right from the beginning. Sit down with your accountant and crunch the numbers so you know right from the start what your budget is and also the timeframe you need for accessing finance. Figure out how much you can afford then choose your shortlist based on that, rather than choosing the franchises you like, then struggling to scrape together the money – starting off on the back foot will make it really difficult for you to succeed in the long-term. Once you’ve set your budget, stick to it! Looking above what you can realistically afford will only cause you more stress and confusion.

Step 4 - Shortlist your favourites

You’ve equipped yourself with knowledge of the industry and have established your own position, so now it’s time to find some franchise opportunities that you like. The best way to start is to search online directories, because you can conduct searches based on the industry you want to get into and on how much you want to invest. You should also view the websites of the franchises you like to find out more information about them and the opportunity they are offering. Ideally, the website should have a section dedicated to franchising with lots of information, like on the Australian Franchises website.

Next you should create a simple spreadsheet to help you evaluate these franchises. Put the names of each franchise down the left side of the page and several headings across the top that are important to you, such as ‘professional image’, ‘brand strength’, ‘training offered’ and ‘marketing support’. Then for each franchise, make notes about each area and rate them out of ten. This summary only needs to be very basic to help you get your list down to 3, so you can contact each of these for more information.

Step 5 - Contact your shortlisted franchises

You will now need more information from the 3 franchises on your shortlist. Make contact with each one and arrange to meet or speak with their Franchising Manager. Prepare a list of questions to ask them to get more details on what you have already ranked them on and to work out whether you will be compatible with them. Many potential franchisees that contact a potential franchisor for more information ask questions such as:

  • Who runs the company?
  • What is the target market?
  • How does the franchise system work?
  • What will it cost me to set up a franchise?
  • What kind of training, marketing and support is offered?

Asking questions like this will help you get as much information as possible so you can make an informed decision.

Step 6 – Choose your favourite

Now that you’ve had a chance to speak to someone from each of your shortlisted franchises and been given more information, you should evaluate everything you have learnt and choose a favourite to pursue. Once you choose to contact this franchise again to get more information, you are moving along the franchisee process, but you are not yet locked into anything.

Usually this stage will involve signing a confidentiality agreement, because the franchisor will be giving you information that they don’t want you to pass onto anyone else. These agreements are standard in the industry, but make sure you read it thoroughly before you sign it. At this stage, the franchisor will also want to make sure you are the right type of person for them, so they may ask for permission to do a credit check on you and ask you some qualifying questions. If both parties are keen, you can continue to move onto the next stage which involves you signing an agreement and gaining access to their financial data.

Step 7 – Do your due diligence

Once you’ve gotten this far in the franchisee process, you are obviously pretty serious about investing in the franchise. After you’ve signed an agreement with the franchisor and been given their financial data and other information, you get a period of time to conduct what is called ‘due diligence’. This basically just means doing even more thorough research and seeking professional advice.

Get more detailed information about the company by speaking to their other franchisees and researching more about their products and services, history and directors. Then meet with your lawyer and accountant to go through everything with them and get their expert opinion. Make sure you take advantage of this time to learn as much as you can, then compare it with your experience, skills and financial situation. If you aren’t 100% convinced that it’s the opportunity for you, then now is the time to pull out.

Step 8 - Formal interview

As mentioned, it is just as important to the franchisor that you are the right person for the job. So once you’ve received all the information from them and passed all their checks, it’s time to have a formal interview with their franchising team. This is designed to find out if you are compatible with their business and to discuss all the finer details of the opportunity. Obviously you will still have more questions, so use this opportunity to ask them – don’t leave this meeting without finding out what you want to know. Also, evaluate the key people in the franchise face-to-face – if you don’t like the people, the franchise may not be for you. If the franchisor wants to formally offer you the franchise and you accept the offer, you will have to sign a legally binding agreement and organise to pay an initial deposit (the deposit will vary greatly depending on the company).

Step 9 - Use the ‘cooling off’ period

A ‘cooling off’ period is a certain amount of time that franchisors are legally required to give you to think about your decision to sign with them. This time is required by law because many people change their mind after signing because they got caught up in the excitement of the process or were pressured into it. In this time, you can withdraw from your agreement with them without losing your deposit. However you will be charged for any costs that the franchisor incurred in that time (such as lawyer’s fees), so the best idea is not to sign in the first place if you have doubts. If you do sign, but are then unsure, take advantage of this time to evaluate your decision and seek more advice if necessary.

Step 10 - Become a franchisee

Congratulations! You have now joined the thousands of Australians that own a franchise business and get to be their own boss. This stage of the process involves making payment for the franchise you have purchased and getting your business underway. Firstly you will need to arrange a time to begin the training offered by the franchisor and also organize the location of your business. The process and timelines at this stage really depend on the company you are involved with, so make sure you work this all out with them.

The final piece of advice I can give you is to maximize the opportunity you have been given – take advantage of extra training, engage in lots of local area marketing, build strong relationships with the franchisor and other franchisees and do everything you possibly can to achieve success in your business. If you do this, the results will speak for themselves. Good luck!

Resources

Australia's No.1 business franchise company providing opportunities to start own business with expert franchise advice and latest franchise news. Contact us for business for sale and many other franchise business opportunities in Australia.


Author:Tracey Voyce - Bloomtools

Social Media; The Online Future of Your Business

Written on the 24 October 2011 by Zadro Communications

Social Media; The Online Future of Your Business

Have you created your business a Facebook page?

Tweeting daily on Twitter?

Set up a profile on Linked in?

Think you've got social media covered for your business?

Guess again, Social Media is growing faster all the time, let us show you how to use these key marketing tools! The first step to social media is Planning!

Who are you targeting?

What do you want to achieve through these sites?

How do you want your business perceived?

We also recommend that you implement a 'Social Media Policy', with Do's and Don'ts, as a guide line for your employees to follow. Here are some tips to the three big Social Media Sites:

Twitter

A micro blogging site with 1.9 million Australia users; capable of posting text, videos, images or even podcasts, keep in mind it has a 140 character limit. Twitter is excellent for up-to-date news, celebrity gossip and promotions. Following the right people on twitter is key; trade media, influencers, associations to your business, and remember, only follow companies that follow you, if they are relevant!  Start your tweets with these useful tools: 

  •  # Hash Tags - Used to mark keywords or topics in a Tweet. Use them as part of a conversation, create your own and join conversations.
  •  @Mentions - When a Twitter update contains @username in the body, they are talking to you directly. When someone @mentions you then you should consider retweeting their mention or responding to them.
  •  Retweet - Sharing someone else's Tweet with your Twitter following. This is a great way to pass knowledge to your audience and show thought leadership.
  • Tweet times - Recommended times to Tweet are 8.30am, 12.30pm and 5pm. Consider repeating your tweets; the same message just in a different context. 

Facebook

 

An online community with 10.4 million Australian users, providing you with the opportunity create Pages for your business. Facebook allows you to share information, news and promotions via text, videos and images. Facebook is an avenue to connect with your clients and customers, interact and create discussions. Get the conversation started with these Facebook pointers:

  • Post about interesting news stories that are 'on-brand'.
  • Don't make unreasonably long posts unless they are highly topical and informative, many people view posts from mobile devices. Over posting could annoy your audience especially on mobile devices as the news feed displays differently.
  • Recommended posting times: 9am, midday or 5pm. Capturing the working audience and mobile traffic to and from work. Note: It's not advisable for most companies to post 3 times every day; think quality not quantity.
  • Facebook etiquette: Like the pages that are liking you, see what is on their wall and share their news with your audience.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a business-minded social networking site with 2 million Australia users who have the goal of generating solid business relationships. Build your corporate profile and interact with other professionals locally, nationally and internationally. We believe LinkedIn is a site that is being under-utilized; here are some tips to on how to use LinkedIn:

  • Personal Page:  Showcase yourself and your skills.
  • Connect with your peers/people you have worked with.
  • Write recommendations and ask to be recommended. Company Page
  • Set-up or join your company page.
  • Follow companies that are related to your business such as suppliers, associations, ambassadors and business connections, to keep up with their news.
  • Group Pages  Join up to relevant groups in your industry.
  • Participate in relevant discussions offering your opinion and insight.
  • Start a discussion on a relevant business group page.
  • Follow competitors companies to see what they are doing. Real-time marketing tools such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and many others can be overwhelming and confusing at times. However Social Media can be an important marketing channel that you don't want to miss out on. Use these free marketing instruments to convey your existing strategies and messages as an extension of your brand.

Contact the Zadro team and we can certainly put together a strategy for a 10 week plan to get you started. www.zadrocommunications.com.au advice@zadrocommunications.com.au 02 9212 7867 


Author:Zadro Communications

10 Steps For Choosing The Right Franchise

Written on the 15th of September 2011 by Tracey Voyce - Bloomtools

Buying franchises is a daunting task. You have to consider the Industry, the brand, competitors, location, finance and numerous other things. You also have to make sure it fits in with your experience, your skills and your lifestyle. Choosing a franchise is especially challenging job.

To make the process of choosing a franchise easier for you, I’ve compiled this list of the ten steps you should follow.

Step 1 – Start your general research

Use whatever tools you have at your disposal to find out about the franchise industry. A good place to start is the Internet - read articles and reports from the Franchise Council of Australia, search for advice from franchising experts and browse franchise directories to see what’s available. You should also subscribe to some franchising and small business magazines to get their perspective on the industry. Empower yourself with as much knowledge as possible before you start on your franchise search.

Step 2 – Know yourself

So, now that you have an understanding of the franchise industry, you need to have a long, hard look at yourself and why you want to go into franchising. Firstly, brainstorm what you want from a franchise. Flexibility? The option to work from home? A challenge? To work with a strong brand? You also need to honest with yourself about your strengths and weaknesses, your skills and your experience. For examples, if finance isn’t your strong point then you need to make sure you can get adequate financial support from the franchise you choose. It’s important for you to identify these things so you can base your future decision on them.

Step 3 - Assess your financial situation

It’s essential that you are realistic about what you can and can’t afford right from the beginning. Sit down with your accountant and crunch the numbers so you know right from the start what your budget is and also the timeframe you need for accessing finance. Figure out how much you can afford then choose your shortlist based on that, rather than choosing the franchises you like, then struggling to scrape together the money – starting off on the back foot will make it really difficult for you to succeed in the long-term. Once you’ve set your budget, stick to it! Looking above what you can realistically afford will only cause you more stress and confusion.

Step 4 - Shortlist your favourites

You’ve equipped yourself with knowledge of the industry and have established your own position, so now it’s time to find some franchise opportunities that you like. The best way to start is to search online directories, because you can conduct searches based on the industry you want to get into and on how much you want to invest. You should also view the websites of the franchises you like to find out more information about them and the opportunity they are offering. Ideally, the website should have a section dedicated to franchising with lots of information, like on the Australian Franchises website.

Next you should create a simple spreadsheet to help you evaluate these franchises. Put the names of each franchise down the left side of the page and several headings across the top that are important to you, such as ‘professional image’, ‘brand strength’, ‘training offered’ and ‘marketing support’. Then for each franchise, make notes about each area and rate them out of ten. This summary only needs to be very basic to help you get your list down to 3, so you can contact each of these for more information.

Step 5 - Contact your shortlisted franchises

You will now need more information from the 3 franchises on your shortlist. Make contact with each one and arrange to meet or speak with their Franchising Manager. Prepare a list of questions to ask them to get more details on what you have already ranked them on and to work out whether you will be compatible with them. Many potential franchisees that contact a potential franchisor for more information ask questions such as:

  • Who runs the company?
  • What is the target market?
  • How does the franchise system work?
  • What will it cost me to set up a franchise?
  • What kind of training, marketing and support is offered?

Asking questions like this will help you get as much information as possible so you can make an informed decision.

Step 6 – Choose your favourite

Now that you’ve had a chance to speak to someone from each of your shortlisted franchises and been given more information, you should evaluate everything you have learnt and choose a favourite to pursue. Once you choose to contact this franchise again to get more information, you are moving along the franchisee process, but you are not yet locked into anything.

Usually this stage will involve signing a confidentiality agreement, because the franchisor will be giving you information that they don’t want you to pass onto anyone else. These agreements are standard in the industry, but make sure you read it thoroughly before you sign it. At this stage, the franchisor will also want to make sure you are the right type of person for them, so they may ask for permission to do a credit check on you and ask you some qualifying questions. If both parties are keen, you can continue to move onto the next stage which involves you signing an agreement and gaining access to their financial data.

Step 7 – Do your due diligence

Once you’ve gotten this far in the franchisee process, you are obviously pretty serious about investing in the franchise. After you’ve signed an agreement with the franchisor and been given their financial data and other information, you get a period of time to conduct what is called ‘due diligence’. This basically just means doing even more thorough research and seeking professional advice.

Get more detailed information about the company by speaking to their other franchisees and researching more about their products and services, history and directors. Then meet with your lawyer and accountant to go through everything with them and get their expert opinion. Make sure you take advantage of this time to learn as much as you can, then compare it with your experience, skills and financial situation. If you aren’t 100% convinced that it’s the opportunity for you, then now is the time to pull out.

Step 8 - Formal interview

As mentioned, it is just as important to the franchisor that you are the right person for the job. So once you’ve received all the information from them and passed all their checks, it’s time to have a formal interview with their franchising team. This is designed to find out if you are compatible with their business and to discuss all the finer details of the opportunity. Obviously you will still have more questions, so use this opportunity to ask them – don’t leave this meeting without finding out what you want to know. Also, evaluate the key people in the franchise face-to-face – if you don’t like the people, the franchise may not be for you. If the franchisor wants to formally offer you the franchise and you accept the offer, you will have to sign a legally binding agreement and organise to pay an initial deposit (the deposit will vary greatly depending on the company).

Step 9 - Use the ‘cooling off’ period

A ‘cooling off’ period is a certain amount of time that franchisors are legally required to give you to think about your decision to sign with them. This time is required by law because many people change their mind after signing because they got caught up in the excitement of the process or were pressured into it. In this time, you can withdraw from your agreement with them without losing your deposit. However you will be charged for any costs that the franchisor incurred in that time (such as lawyer’s fees), so the best idea is not to sign in the first place if you have doubts. If you do sign, but are then unsure, take advantage of this time to evaluate your decision and seek more advice if necessary.

Step 10 - Become a franchisee

Congratulations! You have now joined the thousands of Australians that own a franchise business and get to be their own boss. This stage of the process involves making payment for the franchise you have purchased and getting your business underway. Firstly you will need to arrange a time to begin the training offered by the franchisor and also organize the location of your business. The process and timelines at this stage really depend on the company you are involved with, so make sure you work this all out with them.

The final piece of advice I can give you is to maximize the opportunity you have been given – take advantage of extra training, engage in lots of local area marketing, build strong relationships with the franchisor and other franchisees and do everything you possibly can to achieve success in your business. If you do this, the results will speak for themselves. Good luck!

Resources

Australia's No.1 business franchise company providing opportunities to start own business with expert franchise advice and latest franchise news. Contact us for business for sale and many other franchise business opportunities in Australia.


Author:Tracey Voyce - Bloomtools

Latest Franchise News


10 Steps For Choosing The Right Franchise

Written on the 15th of September 2011 by Tracey Voyce - Bloomtools

Buying franchises is a daunting task. You have to consider the Industry, the brand, competitors, location, finance and numerous other things. You also have to make sure it fits in with your experience, your skills and your lifestyle. Choosing a franchise is especially challenging job.

To make the process of choosing a franchise easier for you, I’ve compiled this list of the ten steps you should follow.

Step 1 – Start your general research

Use whatever tools you have at your disposal to find out about the franchise industry. A good place to start is the Internet - read articles and reports from the Franchise Council of Australia, search for advice from franchising experts and browse franchise directories to see what’s available. You should also subscribe to some franchising and small business magazines to get their perspective on the industry. Empower yourself with as much knowledge as possible before you start on your franchise search.

Step 2 – Know yourself

So, now that you have an understanding of the franchise industry, you need to have a long, hard look at yourself and why you want to go into franchising. Firstly, brainstorm what you want from a franchise. Flexibility? The option to work from home? A challenge? To work with a strong brand? You also need to honest with yourself about your strengths and weaknesses, your skills and your experience. For examples, if finance isn’t your strong point then you need to make sure you can get adequate financial support from the franchise you choose. It’s important for you to identify these things so you can base your future decision on them.

Step 3 - Assess your financial situation

It’s essential that you are realistic about what you can and can’t afford right from the beginning. Sit down with your accountant and crunch the numbers so you know right from the start what your budget is and also the timeframe you need for accessing finance. Figure out how much you can afford then choose your shortlist based on that, rather than choosing the franchises you like, then struggling to scrape together the money – starting off on the back foot will make it really difficult for you to succeed in the long-term. Once you’ve set your budget, stick to it! Looking above what you can realistically afford will only cause you more stress and confusion.

Step 4 - Shortlist your favourites

You’ve equipped yourself with knowledge of the industry and have established your own position, so now it’s time to find some franchise opportunities that you like. The best way to start is to search online directories, because you can conduct searches based on the industry you want to get into and on how much you want to invest. You should also view the websites of the franchises you like to find out more information about them and the opportunity they are offering. Ideally, the website should have a section dedicated to franchising with lots of information, like on the Australian Franchises website.

Next you should create a simple spreadsheet to help you evaluate these franchises. Put the names of each franchise down the left side of the page and several headings across the top that are important to you, such as ‘professional image’, ‘brand strength’, ‘training offered’ and ‘marketing support’. Then for each franchise, make notes about each area and rate them out of ten. This summary only needs to be very basic to help you get your list down to 3, so you can contact each of these for more information.

Step 5 - Contact your shortlisted franchises

You will now need more information from the 3 franchises on your shortlist. Make contact with each one and arrange to meet or speak with their Franchising Manager. Prepare a list of questions to ask them to get more details on what you have already ranked them on and to work out whether you will be compatible with them. Many potential franchisees that contact a potential franchisor for more information ask questions such as:

  • Who runs the company?
  • What is the target market?
  • How does the franchise system work?
  • What will it cost me to set up a franchise?
  • What kind of training, marketing and support is offered?

Asking questions like this will help you get as much information as possible so you can make an informed decision.

Step 6 – Choose your favourite

Now that you’ve had a chance to speak to someone from each of your shortlisted franchises and been given more information, you should evaluate everything you have learnt and choose a favourite to pursue. Once you choose to contact this franchise again to get more information, you are moving along the franchisee process, but you are not yet locked into anything.

Usually this stage will involve signing a confidentiality agreement, because the franchisor will be giving you information that they don’t want you to pass onto anyone else. These agreements are standard in the industry, but make sure you read it thoroughly before you sign it. At this stage, the franchisor will also want to make sure you are the right type of person for them, so they may ask for permission to do a credit check on you and ask you some qualifying questions. If both parties are keen, you can continue to move onto the next stage which involves you signing an agreement and gaining access to their financial data.

Step 7 – Do your due diligence

Once you’ve gotten this far in the franchisee process, you are obviously pretty serious about investing in the franchise. After you’ve signed an agreement with the franchisor and been given their financial data and other information, you get a period of time to conduct what is called ‘due diligence’. This basically just means doing even more thorough research and seeking professional advice.

Get more detailed information about the company by speaking to their other franchisees and researching more about their products and services, history and directors. Then meet with your lawyer and accountant to go through everything with them and get their expert opinion. Make sure you take advantage of this time to learn as much as you can, then compare it with your experience, skills and financial situation. If you aren’t 100% convinced that it’s the opportunity for you, then now is the time to pull out.

Step 8 - Formal interview

As mentioned, it is just as important to the franchisor that you are the right person for the job. So once you’ve received all the information from them and passed all their checks, it’s time to have a formal interview with their franchising team. This is designed to find out if you are compatible with their business and to discuss all the finer details of the opportunity. Obviously you will still have more questions, so use this opportunity to ask them – don’t leave this meeting without finding out what you want to know. Also, evaluate the key people in the franchise face-to-face – if you don’t like the people, the franchise may not be for you. If the franchisor wants to formally offer you the franchise and you accept the offer, you will have to sign a legally binding agreement and organise to pay an initial deposit (the deposit will vary greatly depending on the company).

Step 9 - Use the ‘cooling off’ period

A ‘cooling off’ period is a certain amount of time that franchisors are legally required to give you to think about your decision to sign with them. This time is required by law because many people change their mind after signing because they got caught up in the excitement of the process or were pressured into it. In this time, you can withdraw from your agreement with them without losing your deposit. However you will be charged for any costs that the franchisor incurred in that time (such as lawyer’s fees), so the best idea is not to sign in the first place if you have doubts. If you do sign, but are then unsure, take advantage of this time to evaluate your decision and seek more advice if necessary.

Step 10 - Become a franchisee

Congratulations! You have now joined the thousands of Australians that own a franchise business and get to be their own boss. This stage of the process involves making payment for the franchise you have purchased and getting your business underway. Firstly you will need to arrange a time to begin the training offered by the franchisor and also organize the location of your business. The process and timelines at this stage really depend on the company you are involved with, so make sure you work this all out with them.

The final piece of advice I can give you is to maximize the opportunity you have been given – take advantage of extra training, engage in lots of local area marketing, build strong relationships with the franchisor and other franchisees and do everything you possibly can to achieve success in your business. If you do this, the results will speak for themselves. Good luck!

Resources

Australia's No.1 business franchise company providing opportunities to start own business with expert franchise advice and latest franchise news. Contact us for business for sale and many other franchise business opportunities in Australia.


Author:Tracey Voyce - Bloomtools
View more Franchise News

Expert Advice


10 Steps For Choosing The Right Franchise

Written on the 15th of September 2011 by Tracey Voyce - Bloomtools

Buying franchises is a daunting task. You have to consider the Industry, the brand, competitors, location, finance and numerous other things. You also have to make sure it fits in with your experience, your skills and your lifestyle. Choosing a franchise is especially challenging job.

To make the process of choosing a franchise easier for you, I’ve compiled this list of the ten steps you should follow.

Step 1 – Start your general research

Use whatever tools you have at your disposal to find out about the franchise industry. A good place to start is the Internet - read articles and reports from the Franchise Council of Australia, search for advice from franchising experts and browse franchise directories to see what’s available. You should also subscribe to some franchising and small business magazines to get their perspective on the industry. Empower yourself with as much knowledge as possible before you start on your franchise search.

Step 2 – Know yourself

So, now that you have an understanding of the franchise industry, you need to have a long, hard look at yourself and why you want to go into franchising. Firstly, brainstorm what you want from a franchise. Flexibility? The option to work from home? A challenge? To work with a strong brand? You also need to honest with yourself about your strengths and weaknesses, your skills and your experience. For examples, if finance isn’t your strong point then you need to make sure you can get adequate financial support from the franchise you choose. It’s important for you to identify these things so you can base your future decision on them.

Step 3 - Assess your financial situation

It’s essential that you are realistic about what you can and can’t afford right from the beginning. Sit down with your accountant and crunch the numbers so you know right from the start what your budget is and also the timeframe you need for accessing finance. Figure out how much you can afford then choose your shortlist based on that, rather than choosing the franchises you like, then struggling to scrape together the money – starting off on the back foot will make it really difficult for you to succeed in the long-term. Once you’ve set your budget, stick to it! Looking above what you can realistically afford will only cause you more stress and confusion.

Step 4 - Shortlist your favourites

You’ve equipped yourself with knowledge of the industry and have established your own position, so now it’s time to find some franchise opportunities that you like. The best way to start is to search online directories, because you can conduct searches based on the industry you want to get into and on how much you want to invest. You should also view the websites of the franchises you like to find out more information about them and the opportunity they are offering. Ideally, the website should have a section dedicated to franchising with lots of information, like on the Australian Franchises website.

Next you should create a simple spreadsheet to help you evaluate these franchises. Put the names of each franchise down the left side of the page and several headings across the top that are important to you, such as ‘professional image’, ‘brand strength’, ‘training offered’ and ‘marketing support’. Then for each franchise, make notes about each area and rate them out of ten. This summary only needs to be very basic to help you get your list down to 3, so you can contact each of these for more information.

Step 5 - Contact your shortlisted franchises

You will now need more information from the 3 franchises on your shortlist. Make contact with each one and arrange to meet or speak with their Franchising Manager. Prepare a list of questions to ask them to get more details on what you have already ranked them on and to work out whether you will be compatible with them. Many potential franchisees that contact a potential franchisor for more information ask questions such as:

  • Who runs the company?
  • What is the target market?
  • How does the franchise system work?
  • What will it cost me to set up a franchise?
  • What kind of training, marketing and support is offered?

Asking questions like this will help you get as much information as possible so you can make an informed decision.

Step 6 – Choose your favourite

Now that you’ve had a chance to speak to someone from each of your shortlisted franchises and been given more information, you should evaluate everything you have learnt and choose a favourite to pursue. Once you choose to contact this franchise again to get more information, you are moving along the franchisee process, but you are not yet locked into anything.

Usually this stage will involve signing a confidentiality agreement, because the franchisor will be giving you information that they don’t want you to pass onto anyone else. These agreements are standard in the industry, but make sure you read it thoroughly before you sign it. At this stage, the franchisor will also want to make sure you are the right type of person for them, so they may ask for permission to do a credit check on you and ask you some qualifying questions. If both parties are keen, you can continue to move onto the next stage which involves you signing an agreement and gaining access to their financial data.

Step 7 – Do your due diligence

Once you’ve gotten this far in the franchisee process, you are obviously pretty serious about investing in the franchise. After you’ve signed an agreement with the franchisor and been given their financial data and other information, you get a period of time to conduct what is called ‘due diligence’. This basically just means doing even more thorough research and seeking professional advice.

Get more detailed information about the company by speaking to their other franchisees and researching more about their products and services, history and directors. Then meet with your lawyer and accountant to go through everything with them and get their expert opinion. Make sure you take advantage of this time to learn as much as you can, then compare it with your experience, skills and financial situation. If you aren’t 100% convinced that it’s the opportunity for you, then now is the time to pull out.

Step 8 - Formal interview

As mentioned, it is just as important to the franchisor that you are the right person for the job. So once you’ve received all the information from them and passed all their checks, it’s time to have a formal interview with their franchising team. This is designed to find out if you are compatible with their business and to discuss all the finer details of the opportunity. Obviously you will still have more questions, so use this opportunity to ask them – don’t leave this meeting without finding out what you want to know. Also, evaluate the key people in the franchise face-to-face – if you don’t like the people, the franchise may not be for you. If the franchisor wants to formally offer you the franchise and you accept the offer, you will have to sign a legally binding agreement and organise to pay an initial deposit (the deposit will vary greatly depending on the company).

Step 9 - Use the ‘cooling off’ period

A ‘cooling off’ period is a certain amount of time that franchisors are legally required to give you to think about your decision to sign with them. This time is required by law because many people change their mind after signing because they got caught up in the excitement of the process or were pressured into it. In this time, you can withdraw from your agreement with them without losing your deposit. However you will be charged for any costs that the franchisor incurred in that time (such as lawyer’s fees), so the best idea is not to sign in the first place if you have doubts. If you do sign, but are then unsure, take advantage of this time to evaluate your decision and seek more advice if necessary.

Step 10 - Become a franchisee

Congratulations! You have now joined the thousands of Australians that own a franchise business and get to be their own boss. This stage of the process involves making payment for the franchise you have purchased and getting your business underway. Firstly you will need to arrange a time to begin the training offered by the franchisor and also organize the location of your business. The process and timelines at this stage really depend on the company you are involved with, so make sure you work this all out with them.

The final piece of advice I can give you is to maximize the opportunity you have been given – take advantage of extra training, engage in lots of local area marketing, build strong relationships with the franchisor and other franchisees and do everything you possibly can to achieve success in your business. If you do this, the results will speak for themselves. Good luck!

Resources

Australia's No.1 business franchise company providing opportunities to start own business with expert franchise advice and latest franchise news. Contact us for business for sale and many other franchise business opportunities in Australia.


Author:Tracey Voyce - Bloomtools
View more Expert Advice
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