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Buying A Franchise FAQs

Written by: Start Your Business

Article Overview: A franchise may need to be looked at from a product or service comparison prospective. While one franchise’s product or service may be suitable in a geographic area, another may not be. When evaluating a franchise, close attention needs to be spent evaluating: the strength of the franchiser, the franchiser’s long-term goal, the uniqueness of its product or service, the type of consumer response the product or service is achieving, the amount of fees it charges, the type of support it provides: 1) startup 2) operations 3) marketing, and the length of the contract you will be signing.

Buying A Franchise FAQs

Buying A Franchise FAQs


Why should I purchase this particular franchise?

A franchise may need to be looked at from a product or service comparison prospective. While one franchise’s product or service may be suitable in a geographic area, another may not be. When evaluating a franchise, close attention needs to be spent evaluating: the strength of the franchiser, the franchiser’s long-term goal, the uniqueness of its product or service, the type of consumer response the product or service is achieving, the amount of fees it charges, the type of support it provides: 1) startup 2) operations 3) marketing, and the length of the contract you will be signing.

Does the franchise agreement contain a duty of good faith and fair dealing provision?

A duty of good faith and fair dealing provision allows the franchiser and the franchisee to work together in a good faith manner and puts into place a duty to act honestly with each other and observe standards in fair dealing. This provides a degree of protection from false statements and empty promises.

Does the franchise company offer an area of protection (AOP) in writing?

Exclusive Territory means that the franchiser and/or another franchisee will not compete for the same business within the same geographic area; a related issue is encroachment. Is the franchiser limited from placing or licensing another business in unreasonable proximity to an existing franchisee that is engaged in a similar franchise business?

What does it cost to get out of the Agreement?

Many franchise agreements require enormous liquidated damages exceeding several hundred thousand dollars if you try to exit the system before the term expires. Try to minimize your damages in the event you have to exit the system.

Can I sell my business and allow the franchise to be transferred?

There may come a time during your franchise that you would like to sell out to another party. Most agreements limit or outright prohibit a transfer of your franchise to another person or company. Request a provision allowing you to transfer your rights under the franchise agreement as long as the interested party is creditworthy and capable of taking over the business.

Does your franchise limit or restrict the franchisee from joining a Trade Franchisee Association?

Some franchise agreements restrict a franchisee from joining an Independent Trade Association formed by other franchisees like you. These associations are created for the purpose of protecting franchisees' interests and rights and allow franchisees to state a unified voice on concerns and issues.

Does the franchise company restrict you from competing after the franchisee/franchiser relationship ends?

Some franchise agreements restrict a franchise owner or his/her business from competing within the same industry upon leaving the system. A franchisee should not agree to any restrictions that are not directly related to the same place and type of business.

Does the franchiser provide accountability for the advertising marketing fund?

Franchisees within a system frequently pool their money for general advertising and marketing purposes or to handle bookkeeping functions. Some franchisers use these funds at their own discretion, even for purposes not associated with marketing & advertising, without providing a full disclosure of accounting to its franchisee. Requesting audited statements for these fund will disclose where your money is spent.

Does the franchise allow a cure period in the event of a default?

In some franchise systems, when a franchisee fails to comply with system standards the franchiser has the immediate right to terminate the franchisee and demand liquidated damages. However, some franchisers allows the franchisee to cure the default within a period of time (for instance, 30 days) so the franchisee can comply within the required standards. If the default is not cured within the allocated time, the franchisee then may be terminated.

Does the franchiser require me to sign a General Release upon the end of our relationship?

Whether it be a voluntary or default termination, many franchisers require a General Release Agreement to be signed by the franchisee when the relationship ends. While there may be nothing wrong with signing such an agreement, these agreements tend to be one-sided and in the favor of franchisers. They allow the franchiser to be released from any known or unknown obligations and liabilities, yet the franchisee may continue to be responsible for certain obligations and potential liabilities even after the relationship ends. Make sure the release is mutually applicable to both parties.

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  FAQ Facts
  Buying A Franchise
  Buying a Business FAQs
  Franchising with all its Success
  Reselling Your Franchise

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Re: Info for would be franchisers... - [quote="Sebastien":1d29sdv1]Like Franchise Times, Franchise Update is a very practical magazine. There is no blah blah, just straight facts that anyone in the franchise community can relate to. I just want to mention that all these magazines are NOT franchisee oriented. I mean these magazines are for franchise professionals. If you're looking to buy a franchise, you won't find much information in there. To answer your question, getting published in Franchise Times was fairly easy. I don't want to brag too much but I think I am known in the franchise industry. I was the marketing guy at Franchise.com for a few years before joining my new company, the World Franchising Network. So people know me and I have a very good relationship with Nancy Weingartner, the Managing Editor at Franchise Times. I was talking with her at the last Franchise Expo South in Miami and she mentioned she'd like me to be profiled. I was like "ok, sure!". I like this franchise executive profile thing in Franchise Times as it is rarely BS. People are usually really natural in there.[/quote:1d29sdv1] Thanks for the follow up Sebastien! And I can't say that I'm surprised that networking with the right people and managing your relationships with them properly are the keys to being published. I guess the old adage holds true of "it's not who you know, but who knows you" that's important.
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Re: Franchise Surveys - Another good tool to researching a franchise is to speak with their existing franchisees. This contact information is included in most Franchise Disclosure Documents. In order to get a Franchise Disclosure Document or FDD as it is often referred to, you will have to complete a basic franchise application. The franchisor will then usually provide you with the FDD at that time. Included in that book of information is a list of the existing franchisees, the contract, the investment information etc... This information is required by Federal Law to be disclosed to your prior to making a purchase. So be sure to do your research and start with the Franchise Documents to get the initial information.


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