Buying a Franchise: What Kind of Support Can You Expect to Get From the Franchisor?

Joel Libava
Tue, 22 Oct 2013 00:00:00 +0000

A big question potential franchisees ask is what type of support or help they will receive from franchisors. The franchisees that you’ll be calling as part of your franchise research know the answer to that question.

That’s because they’re already living the dream. They’re already in business. And soon, you may be too.

Getting support from franchise headquarters

I want you to remember what the franchise development director told you about the support you’d be getting from headquarters if you ended up becoming a franchisee of their brand. Actually, I want you to , write down what was said.

Words like these may have been used:

Amazing

Exceptional

Unprecedented

Ultimate

Matchless

Prompt

Professional

Cutting-edge

24/7

You may want to refer back to these words when you’re a franchisee and you need well, support.

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The 3 Basic Ways To Get Into Your Own Business

Can Franchising and Innovation Go Hand in Hand?

Go to "the source" to find out if a franchisor offers the support it promises

The support you get from the team at franchise headquarters may be all that was promised. I hope so. But, the really great thing about doing franchise research correctly—what I’m teaching you how to do right now—is that you don’t have to believe anything that franchise company employees tell you. That’s because you can actually call/visit the people who are (or aren’t) getting the promised support.

The people who already invested the money that you may be about to; the people that are already living the dream—the franchisees.

Here is a question that I want you to ask every franchisee you get a hold of during your research: “How do you feel about the franchisor’s support?” And, as an added bonus, ask this one: “How long does it take to get a response when you ask for help . . . for support?”

The answers you get from those questions will give you a good idea of what kind of support you can expect to get as a franchisee.

If you go into franchise ownership with your eyes wide open, surprises will be minimized.

RELATED: Buying a Franchise vs. an Independent Business: What Are the Pros and Cons?