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Startup Franchisors Need to Preserve Capital
Posted by Franchise Grade Team June 20, 2016
After having recently attended the 2016 International Franchise Expo, I was struck by the number of startup franchisors exhibiting and extolling the benefits of their franchise opportunity and was impressed with a number of the franchise concepts. If some of these franchisors have the proper leadership and necessary capital (emphasis on capital) I believe they can develop successful franchise programs. A number of these startups are built upon a foundation of multiple corporate locations, which is an important predictor of future franchise success. However, an important requirement for a successful startup franchise system is having enough capital to fund the growth of the franchise.
Read moreEstablishing and Maintaining Positive Franchise Relations
Posted by Franchise Grade Team April 15, 2016
One of the most important byproducts of the franchisor-franchisee relationship is the state of franchise relations, which can range from positive to negative. The most common and immediate measure of franchise relations is derived from a combination of franchisee surveys, franchisor-franchisee litigation and feedback from a franchisee advisory committee or franchisee association.
Read moreFranchisors Should Be Confident Yet Candid
Posted by Nate Riggs April 8, 2016
When presenting their franchise concept to qualified prospects, franchisor staff should balance their presentation with their confidence in the franchise and the amount of effort it takes for a franchisee to be successful. Franchisors that follow this advice have a better chance of developing a successful franchisee network.
Read moreFranchisor Franchisee Litigation: Perception versus Reality
Posted by Franchise Grade Team April 4, 2016
When considering a franchise opportunity, one of the most important items, a prospective franchisee should review is the disclosed litigation between a franchisor and its franchisees. Presented in Item 3 of the Franchise Disclosure Document, this component of the due diligence process has been recommended by franchise attorneys and franchise industry professionals for countless years. There is little doubt that the amount and type of litigation a franchisor disclosed in their FDD can provide insight into the state and quality of franchise relations in a franchise system. However, what it doesn’t reveal is the amount of litigation that’s avoided due to a franchisor and franchisee amicably resolving their differences.
Read moreFranchisors Need to Control Their Franchisee Development Strategy
Posted by Franchise Grade Team February 26, 2016
A number of years ago, Subway founder Fred DeLuca was asked to explain his development strategy for Subway. His response was simple: “I want to be where every McDonalds is and to locate as close as possible to them because they have the best site location strategy.” Whether Fred’s comment was serious or not, one cannot question Subways success.
Read morePlanning your Future: A Prospective Franchisee's Exit Guide
Posted by Franchise Grade Team July 16, 2015
A new franchisee must necessarily create a very detailed business plan for getting the new business from a great idea to a functioning, operating, profitable, and successful franchise. A critical but sometimes overlooked component of that plan is an “exit strategy”, which addresses two basic scenarios: Best Case and Worst Case.
Read moreRecords Retention: What To Do As A Franchisee
Posted by Franchise Grade Team July 13, 2015
As a new franchisee, one of the first things you’ll be doing is amassing a physical and virtual mountain of paperwork – documents which comprise the vital records required for your new business. In fact, creating these records begins as early as the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) you receive from the franchisor, and the resulting Franchise Agreement (FA) that seals the deal between you and the franchisor. These two are but a small component of the franchise records you will be required to maintain during the entire lifetime of the franchise and beyond.
Read moreWorking Capital Requirements
Posted by Franchise Grade Team June 10, 2015
A critical but often misunderstood category in the Franchise Disclosure Document is Additional Funds or working capital which is the last category in Item 7 – Estimated Initial Investment. Most franchisors provide an Additional Funds or working capital amount of three months. These funds are estimated to cover expenses to operate the franchise during the initial period of operations.
Read moreAnnualized Costs Of Initial Franchise Investments
Posted by Franchise Grade Team May 12, 2015
One of the leading causes of franchisee failures is undercapitalized franchisees. Being able to more accurately predict the financial requirements of a franchise investment and compare the results to available investment capital can lower the risk of being undercapitalized.
Read moreHow Item 19 FPRs Are Shaping The Franchise Industry
Posted by Franchise Grade Team May 7, 2015
Item 19 Financial Performance Representations (FPR) are a key component in any prospective franchisee's due diligence process. FPRs help them to analyze a franchise investment for the opportunity of a return. They are critical in constructing a pro forma income statement and cash flow projections.
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