Blog | Franchise Grade Team (18) | FranchiseGrade.com, Inc.

Item 20 in the FDD Deserves Your Full Attention.

July 7, 2014

Individuals considering a franchise opportunity need to review and analyze the Franchise Disclosure Document, commonly referred to as the FDD. Every franchisor is required to have an FDD and provide a copy to qualified franchise candidates. The FDD consists of 23 items or questions and although the responses to each item may differ, the 23 items are the same whether it’s McDonald’s or a new franchisor.

Should You Buy A Master Franchise?

June 19, 2014

Consider this scenario: You have been investigating the purchase of an outlet in a new franchise system. After some discussion, the franchisor asks you if you are interested in buying a master franchise for your state. Should you consider the offer?

Top 5 Tips For Choosing The Right Franchise

June 16, 2014

Each day countless individuals embark on a journey where the final destination is a franchise opportunity that will lead to a successful franchise business. The path to finding a franchise that most closely fits the profile of the individual can be arduous and difficult. It requires focus, determination, attention to detail and objectivity. The Internet is replete with articles and advice that present the steps one should follow when considering a franchise opportunity. There are articles on the FranchiseGrade and FranchiseKnowHow websites that provide guidance on the franchising process. Whichever steps you choose include in your franchise selection and evaluation process, there are certain ones that should be followed. I’ve outlined five tips that every franchise candidate should use when selecting and evaluating a franchise opportunity.

The Best Reward And Loyalty Programs For Your Catering Customers

June 11, 2014

When it comes to catering out of restaurants, our industry still has trouble defining who our target customers are. At a surface level we continue to think of our catering customers as professionals, such as sales representatives, administrative assistants and pharmaceutical representatives, that are all in need of an exceptional off-premise catering experience where they live, work and play.

A 6-Step Approach to Planning Your Franchise Social Media Strategy

June 9, 2014

While I’m a complete believer in franchise-wide social media systems, you simply may find that you buy into a franchise without something in place.

How To Manage Your Financial Business Goals

June 2, 2014

Most franchise owners and managers get a monthly profit and loss and balance sheet statements from their accountant. These are important statements to have and understand. They indicate what happened, but do not indicate why the results were what they were. In other words, most business owners simply don’t know what caused the results. Not fully understanding what caused the results severely limits an owner’s ability to manage effectively.

How To Lead A Team To Success

May 28, 2014

Time and time again, I meet entrepreneurs who've spent so long chasing the “self employment” dream that they sometimes overlook the fact that – somewhere along the way – they've become employers.

Are SBA Loans A Problem For The Franchise Industry?

May 26, 2014

Getting access to credit is a major issue for franchisees, particularly those first buying outlets. So franchisees and prospective franchisees need to understand what different lenders are looking for in potential borrowers.

Understanding the ROI of Social Media Marketing

May 24, 2014

Before assuming you know that social media is where every franchise needs to be, let’s take a look at some numbers:

Why Every Small Business Should Follow The Franchise Model

May 14, 2014

Ok, I get it. You have no interest in franchising your business or in buying a franchise. You want to grow your business organically, with a local grassroots effort. You don’t want to pay royalties or a large up front fee. And you certainly don’t want to incur the cost of transforming your business into a franchise. It’s just not you.