The whole category in one page.
PROVE THE MODEL WORKS WITHOUT YOU BEFORE FRANCHISING IT, BY OPERATING A SECOND LOCATION YOURSELF
A business that only worked because of the founder cannot be operated by anyone else, and a system existing only in people's heads cannot be transferred.
CHECK THAT THE ECONOMICS SUPPORT TWO PARTIES
Model franchisee profitability at realistic revenue after every fee. If it is not attractive enough to invest in, the arrangement fails regardless of the brand.
FRANCHISING MAKES YOU A PROVIDER OF SYSTEMS AND SUPPORT, WHICH IS A DIFFERENT BUSINESS FROM THE ONE YOU RUN
Build the support capacity before selling a single franchise, because recruiting faster than you can support is the classic failure.
SELECT FOR WILLINGNESS TO FOLLOW A SYSTEM, AND ASK CANDIDATES WHAT THEY WOULD CHANGE
Independent operators who want to do it their own way are the wrong candidates, and a poor franchisee damages the brand for everyone.
ENFORCE STANDARDS CONSISTENTLY, BECAUSE SELECTIVE ENFORCEMENT DESTROYS THE AUTHORITY TO ENFORCE AT ALL
NEVER PROVIDE PROJECTIONS YOU CANNOT SUBSTANTIATE — THEY ARE THE BASIS OF MOST FRANCHISEE CLAIMS
AS A BUYER, SPEAK TO EXISTING FRANCHISEES YOU CHOSE RATHER THAN ONES YOU WERE REFERRED TO, AND ASK HOW MANY HAVE FAILED OR LEFT
REGISTER TRADEMARKS BEFORE GRANTING ANYTHING, AND HOLD DOMAINS AND ACCOUNTS IN YOUR OWN NAME, BECAUSE RECOVERING THEM LATER IS EXPENSIVE
AND PROTECT FRANCHISEE PROFITABILITY ABOVE EVERYTHING, SINCE IT IS THE FOUNDATION THE WHOLE ARRANGEMENT RESTS ON
