If you’re planning to begin an enterprise one of the main factors and questions that you need to answer is whether you’d prefer to create an independent business or the franchise. There are numerous advantages to franchising, but also disadvantages for both franchisors and franchisees.
If you’re considering whether to join franchising, you must consider all the benefits of franchising, as well as the risk that you may be facing. In this article we’ll discuss the pros and cons of franchising to help you decide whether franchising is the best option for you.
The advantages of franchising to the franchisee
The franchisee is a third-party purchaser who buys the rights to the brand through the franchisor (the proprietor of the name). The franchisee is required to pay an initial annual franchise cost to the franchisor in exchange for the right to use their name as well as regular franchise fees to cover royalties, marketing and much more.
There are many benefits of franchising for franchisees for the franchisee, such as:
1. Assistance to businesses
One of the advantages of franchising is the assistance in business that they get through the franchisor.
Based on the conditions in the agreement as well as the structure of the company The franchisee could get a complete business operation. They could receive the brand name, the equipment, the supplies, and the marketing plan, which is basically everything they require to run the business.
Some franchises might not offer everything but all franchises are able to provide the wisdom and knowledge that the franchisee has. The knowledge they have is either stored in a searchable digital knowledge base or the number that can be used to contact an individual franchisor, the franchisee will have access to a vast pool of assistance for businesses to assist them in the steps of owning and running an enterprise. This information is essential for running a successful company and makes it simpler than starting a new business starting from the ground up.
2. Brand recognition
One of the biggest benefits franchisees get when they open the franchise is recognition of their brand. If you begin a new business from scratch, then you will need to establish your brand and customer base from the bottom starting from scratch, which takes some time.
Franchises on the other hand are well-known companies with loyal customers established. Therefore, when you launch an franchise that has this well-known brand, people automatically be aware of what you do and the services you provide in addition to what customers can anticipate.
3. Lower Failure rate
In general they have lower failure rates than sole proprietorships. When a franchisee invests in an organization, they’re acquiring an established brand and a community which will provide assistance and guidance and make it less likely to go out of the business.
In addition, franchises have proven their concepts for business and you can be confident that the services or products you’ll offer are highly sought-after.
4. Power buying
Another advantage that franchising offers is the dimension that the franchise network. If you’re a solo business and you need to purchase materials or products to make your products, you’ll pay more per item since your order is quite small.
But, a group of franchises offers the chance to buy goods at a substantial discount purchasing the bulk. The parent company is able to benefit from the scale of the networks to strike deals each franchisee gets. Lower costs for merchandise reduces the overall operating cost for the franchise.
5. Profits
As a rule, franchises make greater profits than independently-owned companies. The majority of franchises have well-known brand names that draw customers in a flurry. This popularity leads to higher earnings. Franchises that need the investment of money upfront to pay for franchise fees have a high ROI.
6. Lower risk
The process of starting a business can be very risky. This is the case whether the business owner is starting an independently-owned business or buying the franchise. The risks are lower when you open an franchise.
One of the main reasons franchise owners are less risky than business owners who are independent is because of the franchise network. The majority of franchises are owned and operated by established companies who have tried and tested that the model for business of the franchise in a variety of markets.
This risk reduction could help you access loans, including the most effective SBA franchise loans to aid in the start-up of your own business.
7. Built-in customer base
One of the biggest challenges of any startup is locating customers. Franchises however have instant brand recognition as well as a strong client base. Even if you’re launching the first franchise branch in a small town it is likely that prospective customers already know about the brand through exposure to television commercials or trips across other towns.
8. Make yourself your own boss
One of the most significant advantages of owning your own business is that you are you are your boss. If you decide to start a franchise you can be your own boss and have additional benefits of having assistance from the franchise’s base.
Being a business owner is hard work However, being your own boss, you can set your own hours you can have control in your work and even work at your home.
A franchise offers you the chance to be your own boss, without the danger of setting up your own independent business.
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The disadvantages of franchising for the franchisee
Although there are many benefits of franchising, it’s foolish to assume that there aren’t some disadvantages. Let us discuss them further.
1. Regulating restrictions
Although a franchise permits the franchisee to become their own boss but they aren’t in total control of their own business and cannot make decisions without considering the opinions from the franchisee.
For many franchisees, the most gruelling disadvantage they have to face is that they must adhere to the rules set by the agreement for franchise. The franchisor is able to exert some degree of authority over the vast majority franchise’s business and the decisions made through the franchisor.
Based on the terms of the terms of the franchise agreement the franchisor has the power to regulate the following areas of the business:
Business place
Hours of operation
Holidays
Pricing
Signage
Layout
Decor
Products
Marketing and advertising
Conditions for resales
These restrictions are put in the law to ensure uniformity between franchises as well as the overall brand. However, they can be extremely frustrating and seem to be limiting on the part of the franchisee.
2. The initial cost
Although the initial investment in the form of a franchise cost offers many benefits for those who are franchisees, they could also be costly, particularly in the case of joining a popular and lucrative franchise. Although this can lead into higher revenues, figuring out this amount of money at first can place the financial burden on any business owner.
If you choose an affordable franchise, you’ll still need to invest several thousand dollars. Although this could be viewed as a drawback for franchises it’s essential to consider the potential benefits versus the initial investment to determine the best amount for your business. Keep in mind that there are franchise financing options to help to come up with the initial expense.
3. In-continuing investment
Alongside the initial capital investment you’ll be required to put into an enterprise, franchises have also additional ongoing costs which are specific to franchises. In the agreement for franchises the ongoing expenses of the franchise should be included. The costs could include royalties fees, advertising expenses, as well as a charge of training costs.
It is important to keep these fees in mind when considering whether or not to open an organization.
4. Possibility of conflict
One of the advantages of having a franchise is the support network you can count on, it can be a source of conflict. Any business partnership that is intimate particularly when there’s an imbalance in power is a chance that the two parties may not be able to be able to get along.
Although a franchise agreement outlines that the obligations of the franchisor as well as the franchisor, the franchisee is given little ability to enforce the agreement without having to engage in a expensive legal dispute. If it’s because of a the lack of support or an altercation of personality and personalities, the closeness of business relationship between the franchisor and franchisee can lead to conflicts. A franchisor needs to be sure to screen potential franchisees prior making a decision to do business with them. Additionally, as the franchisor, you must take advantage of this chance to gain a sense about the character of the franchisor as well as their management manner.
5. Insufficient financial privacy
Another issue with franchising is that it does not provide privacy. The agreement between the franchisee and franchisor will state that the franchisor is able to manage the entire financial infrastructure that is associated with the franchise. This lack of privacy in the financial realm is often viewed by the franchisees as a drawback of having a franchise. However it could be less of a concern in the event that you appreciate financial guidance.
The advantages of franchising for the franchisor
The benefits and drawbacks of franchising aren’t only applicable to the franchisee of course. The franchisor must also consider both the advantages and disadvantages prior to making the decision to join this model of business. Before we get started, let’s look at the advantages of franchising the franchisor will benefit from.
1. Capital access
The biggest obstacles for expansion of small businesses is the amount of money required to expand. There are many loans for businesses however, they do not always work out. The process of establishing a franchise for your business requires some time and effort for you However, it also could earn you lots of dollars in franchise fees.
Expanding your business with franchises allows you to expand without debt. The business grows when the franchisees’ capital increases as opposed to taking on debt using loans. The franchisor shares a small amount of risk with the franchisee since the franchisee’s name appears on the deed governing the physical location of the company and reduces the liability of the franchise overall.
2. Growth that is efficient
The first business unit is costly and time-consuming. In the case of a second business, it can be just as challenging. If that responsibility is shared by another business owner this improves the efficiency of the process and relieves the burden off the business’s original owner.
In the case of growing your small business, establishing with a franchise could make opening multiple locations a simpler procedure.
3. The employee’s supervision is minimal
One of the biggest challenges for business owners is managing and hiring employees. As an owner of a franchise, the only assistance you can give to your franchisee is education and knowledge of business. The franchisor generally is not involved in the hiring, management, or firing of employees.
The lack of supervision for employees permits the franchisor to concentrate on the expansion of the company instead of daily operations. instead of worrying whether or not an employee is on time for work or is absent, the franchisee concentrates on the larger picture of business success.
4. Brand awareness is increased
One of the many advantages of franchising is the increased brand recognition. The more franchises the company has, the greater number of people know about the brand. And the more people are familiar with and love the brand greater the chance of being profitable as well as profitable the brand will be. The increased awareness of the brand multi-location franchises is extremely beneficial to the franchisees and the franchisor–a win-win.
5. Risk reduced
One of the greatest benefits for the franchisor when signing an agreement to franchise is the possibility of expanding without a risk increase. Since the franchisee assumes the obligation and debt of opening a new location in the name of the franchisee, the owner enjoys all the benefits of an additional location , but does not take on the risk.
Furthermore, the franchisor is typically protected because the franchise is registered into a separate business organization, thus leaving the initial business of the franchisor to be a separate entity in relation to the franchise. A lawyer for franchises can assist in drafting the conditions to protect this kind of protection in the agreement for franchises.
Advantages of franchising to the franchisor
While franchisors reap lots of benefits when they start the franchise however, there are some negatives to take into consideration.
1. Lack of total brand control
When a business-owner starts an independent company they have total control over their brand and each decision made within the company.
If a franchisor permits an franchisee to establish an enterprise under their name the franchisor is offering (actually selling) some control over their small-business branding. The franchise agreement must have clear guidelines and conditions to guide the choices taken by the franchisee, your franchisees will not be clones of you. They’ll think and behave differently and your brand might end up hurting because of it.
2. The potential for litigation is increased.
When you sign an agreement for business with others that you do business with, you run the possibility of legal battles. Although a properly-drafted and legal-approved franchise agreement can restrict legal issues between franchisees and franchisors However, legal disputes remain feasible.
Legal disputes that need to be settled through mediation or the court system could be expensive in terms of the time as well as money taking away the potential for success for the business.
3. Initial investment
Much discussion is given to the first investment the franchisee has to make in the franchise, it is not considered the initial cost paid from the franchisee.
When a franchisor begins an franchise, it’s necessary to pay an initial cost for getting the company operating. The franchisor should ensure that their franchise contract is clearly written and scrutinized by an experienced lawyer in the field of franchise law. It is also possible to hire a franchise consultant to help throughout the procedure. The process of starting a franchise requires the initial expenditure of time and funds from the franchisee.
4. State and federal regulation
Although it isn’t a huge issue dealing with the federal rules set forth through the Federal Trade Commission for franchises is a headache for franchisors. These rules ensure that franchises are run in a fair manner however, it requires an effort and time from franchisors to adhere to all the requirements.
Although you don’t have to submit your agreement to Federal government officials, you will have to file with certain states. You’ll need to ensure you’re complying to the laws of each state. It can be a lengthy procedure, but it could be made simpler with the help of a professional assistance.
The final word
As with all business decisions making, buying or starting an existing franchise comes with advantages and disadvantages. Not all franchises or franchise agreements are created equal. It is important to conduct some thorough research prior to choosing the right franchise for you, and to fully comprehend the pros and cons of franchising. You could encounter as a franchisee or the franchisor.