1851

Anyone exploring franchise opportunities has most likely heard of or considered working with a franchise broker. With nearly 4,000 franchise brands in the U.S. recognized by the International Franchise Association, the current landscape can make it difficult for prospects to know just which brand they should be investing their capital in, creating the need for an industry expert to serve as a guide for prospects. This role is filled by&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/franchisebrokerawards">franchise brokers</a> — intermediaries who function as a matchmaker of sorts for franchisors and franchisees.&nbsp;“There are thousands of franchise systems out there, so having someone who can help candidates do the proper research and gather data is a big part of the due diligence process,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreyelias?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=finding-the-right-franchise-opportunity-using-franchise-brokers-2718418" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Corey Elias</a>, founder of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.francaptain.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=finding-the-right-franchise-opportunity-using-franchise-brokers-2718418" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Franchise Captain, an&nbsp;</a>Atlanta-based&nbsp; franchise brokerage. “Brokers know all the systems out there, and we have back-end data on what those systems look like and can ultimately help people narrow down and find the franchises that will be the right fit for them.”To accomplish this task, the broker will&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-working-with-a-franchise-broker-2712131#stories">get to know each candidate</a> and assess what interests them, what skills they bring to the new business, and what their goals are.&nbsp;“I worked with a coach at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.franconnect.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=finding-the-right-franchise-opportunity-using-franchise-brokers-2718418" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">FranConnect</a> during my due diligence process,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-houck?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=finding-the-right-franchise-opportunity-using-franchise-brokers-2718418" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">David Houck</a>, who signed on as a&nbsp;<a href="https://homecleanheroes.com/franchise-opportunity/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=finding-the-right-franchise-opportunity-using-franchise-brokers-2718418" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Home Clean Heroes*</a> franchisee last year after decades in the banking industry. “He walked me through a series of conversations about my strengths, my weaknesses, my passions. It really helped me put into words what gets me out of bed in the morning, and we developed a great friendship.”With this assessment, an experienced broker will be able to funnel down the 4,000 opportunities into a much smaller sample size of franchises to share with their prospects by fully understanding someone's buyer values. “Buyer values can be best described as a wish list,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/top-franchise-brokers-charlie-bever-cfe-the-entrepreneur-authority-2716233">Charlie Bever</a>, CFE, Senior Franchise Consultant with&nbsp;<a href="https://eauth.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=finding-the-right-franchise-opportunity-using-franchise-brokers-2718418" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">The Entrepreneur Authority</a>. “The wish list is everything that is important to the prospect.”In addition to helping candidates develop a clear understanding of their specific entrepreneurial goals, brokers offer&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/5-tips-for-working-with-a-franchise-broker-2138#stories">decades of experience</a> working in the franchising industry, which can be an overwhelming industry for those without any experience.&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/the-great-franchisee-adeola-shabiyi-home-clean-heroes-tampa-bay-2715480">Adeola Shabiyi</a>, a Nigerian-born entrepreneur with a doctorate in business administration, says working with a franchise broker was essential for his process as a first-time franchisee with&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/homecleanheroes">Home Clean Heroes</a>.“As a professional myself, I generally advise people to work with other professionals,” said Shabiyi. “If you have a legal issue, you work with a lawyer. If you have a medical issue, you work with a doctor. If you want to buy a franchise, you work with a broker who has in-depth knowledge of that world and the respective franchises you may be considering. That way, they can guide you appropriately and handle a lot of the heavy lifting for you.”Elias also said that there’s another benefit of working with a broker: “Brokers also have access to funding resources, franchise attorneys, accountant introductions and tools to look at the back-end health of a franchise system.”While franchise brokers usually&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/what-to-expect-when-working-with-a-franchise-broker-2716317">earn a commission</a> from the franchisor when they sell a franchise unit, Elias says it is important to remember that franchising is a highly referral-based business, which means brokers are&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/fran-x-how-can-franchisors-win-with-franchise-brokers-2716841">incentivized</a> to create great matches.“My last 30 clients have signed on with 25 different brands — I’m not just recommending the same brand to everyone,” said Elias. “It requires a lot of digging to understand the individual’s goals and pair them with the right brand based on a whole slew of factors — we leverage our real world experience to help prospective franchisees better evaluate the systems, the&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/what-is-an-fdd-2705192">FDDs</a> and the&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/top-5-fdd-red-flags-2709502">red flags</a>. I own three businesses myself, so I understand ownership. Having that experienced guidance is priceless.”And just like vetting a franchise opportunity, entrepreneurs should do their research on the specific broker they are considering working with.&nbsp;“Not all franchise brokers are the same,” said Bever. “If someone is considering working with a franchise broker, the broker should be a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.franchisefoundation.org/programs/certified-franchise-executives?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=finding-the-right-franchise-opportunity-using-franchise-brokers-2718418" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Certified Franchise Executive (CFE)</a>, should have experience as a franchisee and/or working for a franchisor, should have a minimum of 10 years experience in the industry, should be regularly quoted in franchise publications and should have a physical office to meet with their clients.”Overall, Bever says the very best franchise brokers capture and understand their candidates’ buyer values and then match their values against what the franchise offers. “This is a very important step that is often missed or not utilized by inexperienced franchise brokers,” he said. “They rely on their hunch only and this will only yield disappointment for the prospect and the broker. The best franchise brokers are a ‘coach’ — someone who is debriefing with the prospect all throughout the franchisor's&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/how-to-make-the-most-of-a-franchise-discovery-day-2714732">discovery process</a>. Providing the prospect with knowledge and firsthand experiences, and being a one-stop-shop for them for resources while they complete their due diligence is key. That is why it is just as important to do your research when selecting a franchise broker.”By partnering with an experienced and respected franchise broker, first-time franchisee candidates can start their journey towards entrepreneurship the right way, guided by an expert hand in the field.&nbsp;“If you find a good consultant in the beginning, you can be confident you are setting yourself up for success in the future,” said Shabiyi. “That is the main value brokers bring to the table — they help you find the best business so you can be the best franchisee possible.”

Finding the Right Franchise Opportunity: Using Franchise Brokers

1851 Franchise

The broker community helps candidates narrow down their options by not only assessing their personal goals, skill sets and financial standing, but also by providing in-depth data on thousands of franchise brands.

finding-the-right-franchise-opportunity-using-franchise-brokers

CapitalSpring

Graphic with orange chart and hand pointing at graph

CapitalSpring Closes on Initial $505 Million of $1 Billion Target just Two Months After the Launch of its Seventh Flagship Investment Fund 

capitalspring-closes-505m-fund-vii

Children's Lighthouse

How Families Are Building Brighter Futures Together With Children’s Lighthouse

how-families-are-building-brighter-futures-together-with-childrens-lighthouse

One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning

One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning Franchise - Paul and Will Harris - 1851 Franchise

Keeping the Crystal Coast Comfortable: How a Father-Son Duo Brought One Hour HVAC to Their Community

one-hour-heating-ac-franchise-paul-will-harris-crystal-coast

Caring Transitions

Caring Transitions: A Recession-Resistant Franchise Opportunity for Entrepreneurs

caring-transitions-a-recession-resistant-franchise-opportunity-for-entrepreneurs

Minuteman Press International

L-R: Bob Titus (CEO), Eric Shank (Catonsville, MD), Bob Heimbuch (RVP), and Nick Titus (President).

Minuteman Press Franchise Owner Eric Shank Recognized at World Expo

minuteman-press-franchise-owner-eric-shank-earns-standing-ovation-at-world-expo-for-growth-in-catonsville-md

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 Development Website Builder

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

AI-related job cuts, October U.S. job cuts, American job cut record

AI-Fueled Layoffs Reshape the U.S. Job Market — And Highlight Franchising’s Resilience

ai-job-cuts-franchising-path-forward

Crunch Fitness Franchise - Sixth Street Minority Stake - CR Fitness - 1851 Franchise

Sixth Street Takes Minority Stake in CR Fitness, the Largest Crunch Fitness Franchisee

cr-fitness-crunch-fitness-sixth-street-investment

houses, Why Top Franchises of 2025 Outperform Independent Businesses

Why the Top Franchises of 2025 Outperform Independent Businesses

how-franchises-outperform-independent-business-2025-tech-data

Photo of Happinest Brands teams standing together in front of branded vehicles

Happinest Brands Continues Strong 2025 Trajectory With Major Q3 Growth and Strategic Wins

happinest-brands-q3-franchise-growth

Franchise Owners Step Up To Support Communities During Government Shutdown - 1851 Franchise

Franchise Owners Step Up To Support Communities During Government Shutdown

franchise-community-support-shutdown

image of jerome hanway from right at home Las Cruces, New Mexico 1851 franchise franchisee spotlight

Jerome Hanway Is Building His Right at Home Franchise Around His Mission To Serve

right-at-home-franchise-las-cruces-jerome-hanway

1851 Franchisee Spotlight graphic with photo of Barb Volk and KidStrong logo

Why This Orangetheory Fitness Franchise Owner Is Developing KidStrong Franchises

kidstrong-franchise-owner-barb-volk-2025

image of john oldham from pool scouts franchise in Greater South Fort Worth

New Franchisee Brings Hard Work and Heart to His New Pool Scouts Business in  Greater South Fort Worth

john-oldham-pool-scouts-greater-south-fort-worth

1851 Franchisee Spotlight with photo of April De Jesus and Paris Baguette logo

Real Estate Entrepreneur and Mom of Two, April De Jesus Builds Her Family Legacy with Paris Baguette in Toronto

Finding the Right Franchise Opportunity: Using Franchise Brokers

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS