So you are trying to figure out how do I franchise my business and you get BOMBARDED with all kinds of weird proposals. You think to yourself, “I want to franchise but I don’t want to give away any equity in my business!” Over the years some strange companies have popped onto the scene. Most of them are franchise brokers (basically sales agents) who are not doing so well selling franchises, so they figure they can offer franchise development services as a “sloppy second”. Others are solo franchise companies who have experienced some success in franchising their own business (mostly in selling franchises) and are now looking for ways to grow their own portfolio to incorporate other businesses (like your business) into their system to make them look more powerful and yes they are now claiming to be experts in franchise development. In fact, their websites and marketing collateral are so deceptive because the pictures these solo franchise companies flash of their “team” to insinuate the size of their franchise development department are actually pictures of their franchisees attending a franchise meeting.
Wait a Minute I am Being Asked to Give Someone a Piece of My Business?
It gets better, these companies are saying that it is necessary that you GIVE them equity of your business (part ownership of your business because they will “partner” with you) in order to franchise your business. That means a percentage of your franchise business revenue that you make each time you sell a franchise and EVERY MONTH thereafter, goes to them (in most cases after already paying them a fee), just because they helped you! But that’s not all folks, nope once they have you, they will also require that their team sell your franchises (read more about franchise brokers). So in addition to the equity you already agreed to give them, they also expect to get a large commission from you each time a new franchisee comes onboard. May take a while for you to figure this all out because these things are cleverly camouflaged and they are good salespeople. You really need to peel back the onion and pay attention to uncover the truth (check out our President’s Warning Message about what to look out for when franchising your business).
Giving away equity (making them a partner in your business), now that’s crazy and not right! It’s like having a general contractor ask for a percentage of equity in the house that was built for you. This makes no sense. As the franchisor, you’re supposed to be at the receiving end of all revenues for the deliverables you provide, not giving it away to someone just because they helped you build it! We say: “If someone is asking you to GIVE UP EQUITY, turn around and RUN!”
What’s Really Going on Here?
These brokers, sales organizations and franchise marketing companies (mostly based out of Florida and Georgia) who have experienced some success with their own franchise business are now posing as franchise developers. Basically they are looking for another way to capitalize on the growth of the franchising industry. They may know how to franchise from a general standpoint but as they say the devil is in the details. Ask yourself, “Do these other companies have the depth and range of experience needed to develop a comprehensive franchise program OR are they just proficient in selling franchises”. You really should know who you are talking with and not get too confused by titles (read our article that explains the differences between franchise advisor, consultant and broker and these different titles in the franchise industry). These brokers, sales organizations and franchise marketing companies may be valuable when it comes to franchise sales later but franchise development is a different story. It is like a real estate agent claiming to be an expert in building a home. I don’t know about you but if I am building a home I want a contractor with a track record of building a safe home rather than a real estate agent who wants to build and sell it for me. Why would a real estate agent even offer to build your home for you in the first place, simple it’s called greed. In this equation, The Franchise Maker is the contractor we are NOT the real estate agent. If you wish to tap into the talent of brokers, sales organizations or franchise marketing companies later to help you sell franchises, no problem just be aware it comes with a price (see why you don’t need someone to manage your franchise sales).
The Truth, Plain and Simple
You should know that The Franchise Maker does NOT ask for equity. We DO NOT ask for a percentage of sales or anything silly like that as a residual. In fact, everything we do is a FLAT FEE! It is all laid out up front so there are NO surprises (more on why our franchise development fees are less). YES, that includes EVERYTHING: building the franchise structure, defining obligations, the franchise operations manual, document creation, attorney’s fees, CPA’s fees, etc. (learn about our strategy when guiding you through the franchise development process).
At The Franchise Maker, we are passionate about what we do and feel it is part of our duty to safeguard the industry and YOU from some of these outrageous practices. We want you to be aware of what’s out there. Our clients have told us that it was a breath of fresh air when they discovered us: a company that specializes in franchise development only, had knowledgeable answers, that was not out to rip them off, no surprises when it comes to fees and no hidden agendas (read for yourself what our clients have to say).
The best advice we can give is to be sure you are asking the right questions when exploring the idea of franchising your business. Ask lots of questions! Dig deep and watch out for smoke and mirrors! We have some suggested questions to ask, to arm you as you are doing your research. If you are still thinking, “I want to franchise my business” then call us directly at 1-877-615-5177 and we will be happy to chat with you.
- Why You Should Ignore Cold Calls to Franchise
- Beware of Gimmicks When Franchising Your Business
- Avoiding Scams When Seeking to Franchise
- I Want to Franchise; Do I Need a Local Company to Help
- Uncovering the Truth About Franchising
- Franchising Companies Who Claim to Do It All Including Sales
- Don’t Make a Deal With the Devil When Franchising
