Step-by-Step Process

Step 1 - Contact Us
There is no time like the present to see what options you
have. Your contact information is kept confidential
and is reviewed by our staff to provide you the best opportunities
for your particular needs.
Step 2 - First Appointment
One of our consultants will contact you to setup an appointment
to discuss your goals in finding the right franchise for
you. This will take about an hour and can be
accomplished over the phone. Understanding your particular
goals and needs will allow us to find the best opportunity
for you. We will set a follow up an appointment to
present you with opportunities that fit your requirements.
Step 3 – Research
We take the information provided by you, research available
franchises and match them with your stated goals and needs.
There are over 1500 franchises and our goal is to
identify the best 3-4 franchises that match your requirements.
Step 4 – Presentation
We present you with the opportunities that we have identified
in our research. This meeting should accomplish two
goals. First, if any of the opportunities are
of interest to you, then we will arrange an introduction
directly to the representative of the franchise. This
will require that you complete and submit a confidential
questionnaire to be supplied to the Franchisor. The
Franchisor wants to know that you are financially qualified
to purchase their franchise, that your timeframe to buy is
within reasonable limits, and that your partners or family
are in complete agreement with you buying a business. This
does not obligate you in any way. It simply shows the
Franchisor that when you find the right opportunity then
you are capable of buying it.
Second, this step will allow us to clarify your goals and
needs identified in Step 2, sending us back through Steps
3 & 4. This may take place several times
throughout the process.
It is important to remember that the Franchise Consultant
is presenting you opportunities, but you must make the decision
that is best for you and your family. Therefore, refining
the criteria for the best opportunity for you is an ongoing
process.
Step 5 - Introduction to Franchisor
For each of the opportunities that you have an interest,
we will introduce you to the Franchisor. The Franchisor
will send materials to help you become acquainted with their
franchise. They will also send the Uniform Franchise
Offering Circular (UFOC), which is a disclosure document
for their franchise opportunity. The UFOC receipt should
be signed and returned immediately.
Step 6 - Review of the UFOC
We will discuss the items that are contained in an UFOC;
in particular items that you should pay close attention. You
should then review the UFOC in complete detail writing down
any questions or concerns for discussion with the Franchisor. The
UFOC will contain a list of franchisees and contact information.
Step 7 - Call Franchisees
The Franchisor should provide you a list of several franchisees
for you to call to ask questions about the franchise. Obviously,
the Franchisor is going to give you a list of franchisees
that are successful and have positive things to say about
the franchise. The reason for calling these references
is that you want to ask them why and how they became successful. Then
you need to determine if you can be do the same things that
they did to be successful.
Step 8 - Consultation with Attorney and Accountant
You should always consult with an attorney and an accountant
before making a decision. It is important to insure
that both people have a good background in franchising. If
they don't, then the process may cost you more that you needed
to pay while they do their research.
Step 9 - Attend a Discovery Day
Most franchisors have a Discovery Day, where they will invite
you to their location. You will not only get crucial
information for your decision, but will get to meet the staff
that will be providing your initial training and continuing
support.
Step 10 - Decision Time
You have taken all of the steps up to the door, and now
you must open it. Decision time. Congratulations
you have decided to buy a franchise. You have become
a “Frantrepreneur”, a cross between a traditional
entrepreneur and a modern franchise owner. A person
that possesses the desire to be a business owner, but does
not want to recreate the wheel.
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