Before you make that huge step in taking a franchise opportunity, you need to ask yourself if this is the kind of business you want to get into and if you are ready to take the responsibilities that go along with being a new business owner. Remember that your thoughts of putting up a business are more than just having something to keep you busy, but also making it a successful one that can help sustain your family's needs. After all, we know that being employed may not provide us with the same financial aspects.

Here are the common questions that a franchisor may ask from you before you finally decide to sign that contract:

• What is your main reason for franchising a business?
• Will this be your primary source of income?
• Is it something you will do alongside being employed?
• Do you have thoughts of owning more than one franchise in the future?

There should be careful thought on what you want to achieve. You should identify the importance of building a business before starting one. Do you have the resources to start the business?Are you ready to shell out more money should the need arise? No business can start without any funds. And to start with just a small business, you must still realize that more than paying the franchise cost, there is still a lot more that needs to care. Never expect to be that profitable in the first months of business. Some take 1-3 years, depending on the kind of products or services location, and several other factors.

Do not be deceived by other franchise opportunities having small capital because they are more likely to become expensive in the long run. It may lack the same kind of support from its franchisor as setting your eyes on a more competitive product.

• How long do you intend to have the franchise? On the Franchisor's Agreement, the indicated duration of owning the franchise is there. The franchisee should create strategic planning on how to make the most out of the number of years displayed on the Agreement. Sometimes business owners may not have the same enthusiasm after a few years of operation that they have not created a plan on correctly managing the business or if they would want to pass it on to another group of individuals, like their children.
• How much of a risk-taker are you? Some successful companies today have taken a lot of risks before achieving where they are now.
• How involved can you be with the business? You may be able to find people to work for you. But let's face it, if a business owner does not have much time to check on his business, things may not work the way he expects them to be. Consider the possibilities of some employees taking advantage of your absence which may lead to the total downfall of the business.
• Do you have the right skills to become a good business owner? Thinking of all the skills you may have acquired from your previous job, are you the kind of person that can manage people? Do you think you can talk to other people to convince them how great your products are? Being a franchisee eliminates some of the corporate responsibilities as the franchisor would handle this. You don't need to be an expert. You just need to reinvent yourself in a way that you mold yourself into the business that you plan to put up.

Narrowing Down Your Options

There are a lot of franchising opportunities that you may have crossed out after realizing what you want. More than looking at different well-known brands, try to check the type of business and specific concepts. Think of how it would nicely fit into the criteria you have established regarding your skills, goals, and risk tolerance.

Sometimes narrowing down your options may lead you to choose whether to put up a business that you are comfortable starting with or to learn something new because it is currently in demand. The risk may be a bit higher if you start with a business that you know nothing about, but if you are more than 100% willing to take up training and seminars to be armed with the correct information and develop more skills, then by all means.

Franchisor Disclosure Contract

You may now have a clear thought on which business to franchise. Your franchisor may furnish you with a copy of the Agreement, which you should be able to read and study through.

Be aware of the following:

• Know the initial franchise fee, any ongoing royalty fees, and if there are other fees to be paid for advertising and marketing.
• Know the basic rules and restrictions/limitations. Being a franchise business would require uniformity. Know restrictions on suppliers, products and services, operating hours, the uniform of employees, logo, location set-up, bookkeeping and accounting, rights to termination, renewal, and resale.
• Know the franchisor's business background, the number of years that the franchisor has been in the business, and the management team.
• Check if there are attachments related to the financial reports of the business.
• Identify the inclusion of the franchising fee that you are to pay. Will it include training? How often? How much support can the franchisor provide?

It may be easy to want to earn more than what we have now, especially if we have the funds to start a business. However, one should not just conclude wanting a particular company without sorting out the kind of business that the individual can create. Seeking advice from franchising experts will do a lot of help.

Also read: Level up your business through rebranding 

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