1851

1. I express interest. &ldquo;The procedure is pretty much the same,&rdquo; said Dan Doulen, Director of Franchise Development with <a href="http://ownabuffalo.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-things-that-typically-happen-when-i-first-inquire-about-owning-a-franchise-2705250" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings</a> during an interview with 1851 Franchise. The &ldquo;process&rdquo; Doulen is talking about happens when a perspective franchisee inquiries about buying a franchise. &ldquo;Much of the time, the inquiry is completed through a form on the franchise&rsquo;s website,&rdquo; he later explained.

2. The franchisor responds. After the franchise receives the notice about a candidate&rsquo;s interest, the candidate should expect a quick response from the brand via phone call or email. Paul Pickett, Chief Development Officer at <a href="https://franchise.wbu.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-things-that-typically-happen-when-i-first-inquire-about-owning-a-franchise-2705250" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Wild Birds Unlimited</a>, explains &ldquo;the call is to make sure the basic foundation is understood.&rdquo; That basic foundation consists of a financial understanding of what it takes to open the business, understanding of the market or territory the candidate is inquiring about, and understanding the franchise&rsquo;s culture and whether the candidate is a right fit. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a tennis match in conversational form,&rdquo; says Pickett as he explained how a productive, two-sided conversation is needed.

3. We validate each other. After the primary phone call, the candidate and franchisor enter a &ldquo;validation process,&rdquo; as Pickett calls it. The validation process consists of many important meetings and conversations to make sure the candidate and the franchisor are on the same page. The most important part of a franchise&rsquo;s validation process is going through the FDD (Franchise Disclosure Document). Barry Maring, who is currently a franchisee for <a href="https://www.rightathome.net/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-things-that-typically-happen-when-i-first-inquire-about-owning-a-franchise-2705250" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Right at Home*</a>, but has history with brands like Del Taco, Pizzeria UNO &amp; DUE and Subway, says the FDD contains &ldquo;&hellip;A plethora of other important information about the franchisor. Part of this information will be list of existing franchisees, and how many franchises there are by state and how many have opened or closed within the timeframe given.&rdquo;

4. We go through more due diligence. Throughout the FDD review, the candidate must go through a due diligence step in which, &ldquo;a prospective franchisee should align themselves with a lawyer. We recommend they get an attorney with franchise experience,&rdquo; explains Pickett. On top of that, if the brand uses brick and mortar locations as its franchise, it is helpful to talk to a real estate lawyer.

5. I speak with existing franchisees. The list of existing franchisees within the FDD is also critical to the validation process, Maring mentioned. Many brands make the candidate speak with a number of franchisees before moving onto the next step. Wild Birds Unlimited &ldquo;requires they speak to a minimum of 10 existing franchisees,&rdquo; says Pickett. Aligning yourself with the right people is key to success within the franchising world. Getting advice from people who have already been through the process can give light to ideas and problems that the franchisor did not spend time on, which can ultimately make or break the decision. From connecting with existing franchisees, a candidate can get a true understanding of the day to day tasks he or she will potentially encounter as an operator of a franchise.

5. I decide if this franchise is for me. The process between the inquiries to the sale varies depending on the franchise. A franchise with a simple business model may take up to thirty days, but the recruitment of a complex franchise and system can last up to a year.&nbsp;

5 Things That Typically Happen When I First Inquire About Owning a Franchise

1851 Franchise

You’ve done the work of looking through potential franchises to buy. You’ve got a list, and it’s time to reach out. Then what happens?  

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

5-things-that-typically-happen-when-i-first-inquire-about-owning-a-franchise

TruBlue Home Service Ally

TruBlue’s Home Maintenance Plans: Peace of Mind for Homeowners

trublues-home-maintenance-plans-peace-of-mind-for-homeowners

Caring Transitions

Caring Transitions Targets Peoria, Illinois, for Franchise Growth

caring-transitions-targets-peoria-illinois-for-franchise-growth

Caring Transitions Celebrates a Strong Start to 2025 With 19 New Franchise Sales and Momentum-Building Training Events

caring-transitions-celebrates-a-strong-start-to-2025-with-19-new-franchise-sales-and-momentum-building-training-events

Right at Home

Right at Home 30th Anniversary in Home Care with Right at Home Logo

Celebrating 30 Years of Excellence and Future Innovations in Home Care

celebrating-30-years-of-excellence-and-future-innovations-in-home-care

Why TruBlue is the Ideal Franchise for Multi-Unit Owners: Scalable Growth With a Purpose

why-trublue-is-the-ideal-franchise-for-multi-unit-owners-scalable-growth-with-a-purpose

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands - 1851 Franchise

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands

doordash-acquistions-deliveroo-sevenrooms

Crumbl Franchise Investment - TSG Consumer Partners -  1851 Franchise

TSG Consumer Partners Takes Minority Stake in Crumbl, Signaling Franchise Growth Potential

crumbl-franchise-investment-tsg-consumer

Yum Brands Reports Strong Q1 Results with Big Boost from Taco Bell

yum-brands-reports-strong-q1-results-with-big-boost-from-taco-bell

QSR: McDonald’s Gains Momentum With Chicken Innovation, Value Deals and Franchisee Support

mcdonalds-franchise-recovery-chicken-strategy-value-deals-2025

The Future of Franchising: Trends and Predictions for 2025 and Beyond

the-future-of-franchising-trends-and-predictions-for-2025-and-beyond

Franchisee spotlight image with Randy and Sandy Craft, Children's Lighthouse logo on blue background

The Crafts’ Successful Journey from New Parents to Children’s Lighthouse Franchisees

the-crafts-successful-journey-from-new-parents-to-childrens-lighthouse-franchisees

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Amy Lepke and family and Papa Murphy's logo

After 14 Years as a Stay-At-Home Mom, Amy Lepke Returned to Papa Murphy’s — This Time as an Owner

papa-murphys-franchise-amy-lepke

Franchisee Spotlight with Micki Waters and Papa Murphy's Logo

Work Mom: How Micki Waters Became a Mother Figure to Her Entire Papa Murphy’s Team

work-mom-how-micki-waters-became-a-mother-figure-to-her-entire-papa-murphys-team

Franchisee spotlight image with photo of Robert Trujillo and UWRG logo on blue background

5 Things That Typically Happen When I First Inquire About Owning a Franchise

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS