The first steps to buying a franchise

A franchise is a great route to take if you want to be in business for yourself, but not by yourself. A franchise offers the benefit of an established brand, a proven business model and support in the areas where you need it.

There are almost 1,000 franchise systems in the UK to choose from and with that in mind, we’ve put together a few pointers to help you on your way.

Why are you looking at a franchise?

It’s important to know what your ‘why’ is. Why do you want to go in to business?

Here are some common why’s;

  • ‘I want to be my own boss’
  • ‘I’ve noticed a gap in the market’
  • ‘I can do it better than they do it’
  • ‘I want a better lifestyle for my family’
  • ‘I want to invest my redundancy/inheritance’

Once you know why, it’s easier to find something suitable.

What are your options?

Your options are generally narrowed down by the available territory, cost of franchise, commitment required and credentials needed to join. Taking all of those in to account, you’ll still be left with many options, you just need to choose the one most suited to your ‘why’.

Research  

Online research is a good place to start. Take a look on franchise directories, read published franchise articles, check associations such as the BFA (British Franchise Association), visit franchisor websites and follow social media channels for a broad and varied spectrum of opportunities.

For offline research, speak to franchisees, ask for advice from respected sources and where possible, utilise the services of the franchise opportunity for a real insight in to the business.

Enquire & Engage

Once you have narrowed down your search, enquire with the franchise brands that you feel most suit your ‘why’. Here’s your opportunity to continue with deeper research and to form a relationship with the franchisor.

Merry Maids Franchise are committed to helping you with your research to ensure that any decision made to join our franchise, is the right one.