FIND THE PERFECT FRANCHISE

We help clients structure a franchise strategy based on the uniqueness of their situation and what they find most compelling as to brand, culture and operating models in order to attain their goals.

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Why Franchise Nav

We are with you every step

We will help you navigate through the complexities of modern franchising. The end results are sustainable goals that meet your needs and help you avoid costly mistakes.

There is no obligation, no cost, no fees… just solid information about franchising.

book your discovery call

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diligent approach

With well over 4000 franchise options in North America, investigating your options can be daunting. Working with us as your guide you will understand what to look for in evaluating your options and making what could be a difficult process much more manageable. You will save time, and avoid costly mistakes.

And best of all, our service is completely FREE!

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experience

Franchise Nav’s consultants have experience where it counts the most – from the franchise side. With many years of expert knowledge they bring significant insights to the investigation process. Their main focus is you, and helping you achieve your goals.

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access

You will gain access to Franchise Nav’s network of the best finance partners and franchise attorneys to ensure you are put on the track to success.

Proven Success

Still Open After 5 Years

As opposed to 85% of independent businesses, 50% of franchises opened within the last five years are still open for business.

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INDEPENDENT

Still Open After 10 Years

According to a study by the International Franchise Association (IFA), After 10 years, only 16 percent of existing start-ups are still in business. With franchises, it’s 90 percent.

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INDEPENDENT

OUR PROCESS

Discover. Explore. Launch!

We have a streamlined process that will help take you from where you are now to where you want to be, rapidly…

Franchising is a great vehicle to create the lifestyle you desire. Whether it be wealth, control, or more freedom and flexibility in your day to day. All of these can be found in the right franchise. Finding the best franchise for you is critical to your success and too many try to take this task on by themselves. Your franchise consultant will take you through a decision making franchise process, step by step, without any obligation or pressure. We follow a proven process that will guide you towards clarity and piece of mind.

There are many factors that will come into play before you can decide if business ownership is for you. If you decide that you want to proceed, we will continue working methodically until we can narrow down the businesses that best fits your interests, needs, and financial situation. We will work with you until you can make a fully informed decision.

Each step of the process will build on the previous step, where we have evaluated your desire, abilities, skill sets, interests and other factors. Once we have a complete understanding of you, your driving force, and abilities we will start identifying the best franchise models that fit for you.

There is no set time line for the franchise process; it is up to you how fast or slow you want to travel through the process.

It all starts with a Discovery Call… no cost, no obligation, just good solid information about franchising.

SET UP YOUR DISCOVERY CALL NOW

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1. INTRODUCTION & EDUCATION

One of our business consultants will schedule a convenient time for an introductory phone call to talk about you, your background and the motivational factors for your decision to investigate business ownership. They will explain the process in detail so that you are comfortable and know what to expect.

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4. due diligence & validation

Here is your chance to call a number of existing business owners to ask candid questions. We recommend that you call many existing franchisees. Make sure you are calling owners from the full spectrum of the franchise base; some will be successful and some may be struggling. If possible, arrange to meet franchisees in person at their place of business. This will give you real insight into daily operation.

Franchise Regulations and Franchise Disclosure Documentation

Federal and State law in 13 States require that a person who is considering buying a franchise must receive an updated current copy of the FDD (Franchise Disclosure Document) at the first meeting with a representative of the franchise company. The prospective buyer must also be in possession of the FDD for at least 14 calendar days before the prospect can sign any type of commitment or any monies are given. In addition, the franchise contract must be in the hands of the prospect for at least 5 days before it can be signed.

In this step you may want to contact experts for advice, such as a franchise Attorney and/or your Accountant.

When you have completed this step, you should ask yourself if this is a business that you can see yourself in. Will you enjoy it? Will you be good at it? Can I identify myself with the successful owners? Do I have the right attitude and traits to be successful?

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2. personal assessment

Your consultant will send you a Personal Assessment form for you to fill out and submit. The Assessment Form will ask you questions about your background, lifestyle, financial abilities, goals and other significant factors that will lay the groundwork for proceeding to identify suitable business opportunities for you.

In a scheduled phone call, our business consultant will go over the Personal Assessment form with you verbally. You will get the opportunity to elaborate and explain your answers as our consultant may have follow up questions to your written replies.

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5. discovery day - meet the team

Here is your opportunity to meet the franchisor face to face. You can expect a day full with informational presentations and meetings with the management, daily operating personnel, training department, sales and marketing support teams and accounting personnel.

Ask yourself the question: Does this company seem like a good partner for me?

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3. brand investigation & introduction

Once we have established the attributes that are important to you for your business. We will select and present industries and businesses that match your background and criteria.

This phase allows contact and evaluation of businesses with our guidance.

After we introduce you to the franchisors or an existing business, a representative from each company should contact you within one business day. It is important that you are prepared when contacted; remember they are evaluating you just as much as you are evaluating them! We will help you to prepare a valid list of questions and make sure you receive the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) sent to you by the franchisor.

The FDD is a legal document required by the Federal Trade Commission that provides all pertinent information about the franchisor and a list of the franchisees.

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6. signing the franchise agreement

The decision is made, and the last step is finally here: signing the franchise agreement! Your territory is locked in and the payment for the franchise fee is lined up. Welcome to training and preparations for your Grand Opening! Congratulations!

FRANCHISE BUSINESS CATEGORIES

There are four major categories of businesses and they tend to share similar characteristics
irrespective of the subject matter of what they provide.

If we can understand the
characteristics and how they fit into what criteria are important to you – we can then analyze
different subject matter businesses within a quadrant for best practices and what makes the
most sense to you.

In other words, how is Subway the same as a Supercuts?

BRICK AND MORTAR BUSINESSES

Most of the national franchisors in this category have strong brand recognition

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RETAIL

Pros:

These are scalable annd replicable
i.e. if you open 1 Subway, you can open another. If you can run 2 then you can probably run 10.
Financing tends to be straightforward – banks are lending they tend to like to lend to companies they have heard of.

Cons:

These can be expensive to open and operate.
Fixed costs can be high.
We need people – people cause problems. There is an inverse correlation between how much you pay someone and the level of problems they can cause (not in all cases).

SIMPLE RETAIL

“People need it and come to you”

Examples: McDonalds, Burger King, Subway, Supercuts, Great Clips, HR Block, Jackson Hewitt, Liberty Tax, Snap Fitness, LA Fitness

Any business that is transactional in nature

Customers come, buy something and leave
Simple employee model – think 18 year old kids learning over a few shifts
Range of typical costs (start up fees, build out, marketing $, working capital, fixtures, etc) from about $50,000 – $2,000,000+ (Kiosk business on the low end – McDonalds on the higher end
Lots of options in the $150,000 – $300,000 range
Average facility is 1200 – 2000 square ft in strip mall
Location is very important because most of our clients are going to see us and then come in

SOPHISTICATED RETAIL

“You provide a skilled service that people need”

Examples: Meineke, Midas, AAMCO, MAACO, Hand & Stone, Massage Envy, Fast Signs, Medical Weight Loss Clinics, Urgent Care Franchises

Any business where you semi-customize inventory and need trained people to do the work
Facilities are probably stand alone or in a higher end plaza
Range of costs can vary greatly but there are lots of options in the $300,000 – $500,000 range
Average facility is probably 3000 – 5000 sq ft
Marketing is both reactive and proactive – we can target customers in certain areas
Barriers to entry are higher than simple retail so these businesses tend to stick around longer and have fewer competitors
We look for Brand Recognition as well as marketing, supply chain and operational capabilities here because most people aren’t doctors or mechanics

SERVICE BUSINESSES

You don't know they exist until you need them

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SERVICE

Pros:

You can start these up for less capital upfront because you are providing most of the labor initially
Scalability is efficient because you put people in as needed

Cons:

You have to be good at selling and consulting (or hire someone who is)
Analyzing demand can be tricky
Brand recognition can be low

BUSINESS TO CONSUMER (B2C)

“You go to see them at their home”

Examples: Elder care or child care – ComfortKeepers, Brightstar, Home Instead, Right at Home, Tutoring, Nanny / Day Care

Property Services: Roto Rooter, Certa Pro Painters, Serv Pro, California Closets, Budget Blinds

Any business where you provide services to a residential connsumer usually at their home
You don’t need a storefront – these can be run from a home office, corporate office, or light industrial space
Costs are in the $75,000 – $150,000 range. This can increase depending on the level of equipment and personnel you start out with
As you scale up the business, you keep adding people to provide the services so these tend to be efficient on the costs i.e. when you can’t keep up with demand hire someone and so on

BUSINESS TO BUSINESS (B2B)

“Make your back office someone’s front office”

Examples: JaniPro, Vanguard Cleaning, Express Personnel, ArcPoint Drug Testing, Pride Staff, ATC Medical

Anything that a business needs, there is probably a franchise to provide it
You operate from an office and meet with business owners to sell your services to them
Costs can range dramatically but there are many options in the $150,000 – $250,000 range
Your will need a few employees to start, some equipmennt, office fixtures etc
Typically these owners tend to have white collar management backgrounds
Sales cycles tend to be longer and the accounts that are landed tend to be larger.
Marketing and national accounts, pre-existing relationships with large businesses can be important