For an entrepreneur, restaurant franchises offer a great opportunity to open up a restaurant that is their own. The concept offers several benefits including built in marketing and name recognition. However, it is important to know that purchasing a one is not easy and not as cheap as you would think. Here are a few items to review for determining how to find and purchase a restaurant franchise that is right for you.
What is a Restaurant Franchise?
First of all, not all restaurant chains are franchises. Starbucks for example, a coffee chain restaurant is not a franchise. Starbucks are all owned and run by a corporation. A restaurant franchise business allows individuals to purchase the rights to open and run the restaurant. The owner or franchisee will pay royalties to the franchisor. In return, the franchisor pays for problem solving, menu designs, and marketing for the franchisee.
Your Local Market
There are several types of restaurant franchises including both fast food, fast casual, and fine dining restaurants. When pursuing an opportunity it is important to determine whether or not it will fill a current need or niche within your community. A profile of the community as well as an outline of the competition will be necessary in order to determine if a particular franchise will work. If your community already has five Mexican restaurants, opening up another one may not be a good idea. However, doing a market analysis may determine that the community in fact does need another Mexican restaurant to help meet current demands.
Qualifications and Budget
Opening a restaurant franchise can be an expensive venture. The overall cost will be the most limiting factor among your choices. Another factor that franchisors consider is experience. These parent companies will not simply hand over the key to their business to someone that is not qualified. Most companies will require a minimum of at least five years experience in management. There are franchises that require your net worth to be a minimum of $100,000 on up to over $7.5 million. Your net worth will be a determining factor when it comes to the type of restaurant franchises available.
Business Plan
A sound business plan is necessary in order to acquire the funding you will need in order to purchase and open your restaurant franchise. Business plans will also force you to go over all of the gaps within your franchise concept such as the population base, local economy profiles, and location choices. When investing in a restaurant franchise make sure to look over the company’s franchise history and the current financial status of the company. This is extremely important if the franchise is relatively new.
Legal Aspects
When signing a contract with a restaurant franchise it is important to be sure that you go over it carefully. Take the contract to your lawyer before you sign any of it. Once you have signed the contract you are on your way. Remember it will take patience and hard work to make it a success.