1851

When deciding to enter into a franchise agreement with a brand, a franchisee is investing in a proven model and system where there are many benefits including brand recognition from consumers, often a built-in customer base, assistance from the corporate team on opening a successful location and less risk and more profit. However, with all the attractive traits of the franchise model that encourage motivated entrepreneurs to pursue their business aspirations backed by a team of professionals, they should also understand the dynamic of the franchisor-franchisee relationship and what they can and cannot do.<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-mcquillan-53390510/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=franchisor-controls-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-rules-of-being-a-franchisee-2718358" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Bob McQuillan</a>, founder and CEO of Avignon Consulting and partner at Body20, says that anyone pursuing franchising should realize that they are buying into a brand’s system and its services and products and that the model is there for them to follow in order to be successful.&nbsp;“Franchise controls are basically guidelines that are set forth by the franchisor in the franchise agreement,” said McQuillan “The franchisee really needs to understand what their obligations are and the guidelines that the franchisor has in place, because that's going to be how they navigate their new business.”&nbsp;Elaborating on some major aspects of a brand that cannot be changed by its franchisees, McQuillan explains that a franchise has a duty to protect its trademark and brand — and this includes everything from the logo to store design to the quality of the products or services sold to how the business operates day-to-day. The franchisee is an entrepreneur and owns their own business in the sense that the location and territory are theirs, but they still have to operate within the brand’s guidelines.&nbsp;“Franchisees shouldn’t strive to reinvent the wheel,” said McQuillan. “Franchisors spend a great deal of money and time protecting the brand and enlisting attorneys a lot of money to draft franchise agreements. It's a pretty strong and hard fast rule that once these brands have the specific nails down and rules in place, they don't want you changing anything.”While the rules and guidelines for each franchise are different, McQuillan advises prospective franchisees to look closely at the FDD and see what their obligations are before signing the franchise agreement to avoid any issues down the road.&nbsp;McQuillan further mentions that if someone doesn’t comply within the franchisor controls set forth, the brand can actually start de-franchising the individual. In order to avoid this, he advises franchisees to do their research and speak with the top operators in the brand’s system to understand their day-to-day life, as well as to consult a franchise attorney when reading the legal terms of the brand to gain peace of mind.“Pick three or four people performing at the top level with the brand and have open, honest conversations with them,” McQuillan said. “Because whatever those top performers are doing, they are following the practices set forth in the system and thriving because of it.”&nbsp;

Franchisor Controls: What You Need To Know about the Rules of Being a Franchisee

1851 Franchise

Bob McQuillan, founder and CEO of Avignon Consulting and partner at Body20, stresses that franchisees should understand they are buying into the brand’s systems and processes and that these controls are in place to both protect the brand and lead franchise owners to success. 

franchisor-controls-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-rules-of-being-a-franchisee

Crust Pizza Co.

Crust Pizza Co. - Technology Piece - CTO Nick Fontenot - May 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Crust Pizza Co. Builds the Future of Franchising With Tech-First Strategy

crust-pizza-co-technology-nick-fontenot-cto

Paris Baguette

Paris Baguette’s Recipe for Expansion: Leadership, Community and A Vision for 1,000 Cafés by 2030

paris-baguettes-recipe-for-expansion-leadership-community-and-a-vision-for-1000-cafes-by-2030

Seniors Helping Seniors®

Franchisee Spotlight with Billy and Anita Clark and Seniors Helping Seniors

Heart and Purpose: Couple Launch Seniors Helping Seniors® Franchise in Northern Arizona

heart-and-purpose-couple-launch-seniors-helping-seniors-franchise-in-northern-arizona

Fitness Premier

Fitness Premier Welcomes Franchisee Back to the Industry With New Pontiac, Illinois Location

fitness-premier-welcomes-franchisee-back-to-the-industry-with-new-pontiac-illinois-location

TruBlue Home Service Ally

TruBlue Home Service Ally Ranked No. 70 on Entrepreneur’s Top Low-Cost Franchises for 2025 List

trublue-home-service-ally-ranked-no-70-on-entrepreneurs-top-low-cost-franchises-for-2025-list

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

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

Restaurant Business: Crumbl Cools Its Expansion, Refocuses on Profitability

restaurant-business-crumbl-cools-its-expansion-refocuses-on-profitability

District Taco Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-district-tacos-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

The Fashion Class Franchise - Deep Dive - Costs, Fees, ROI - 1851 Franchise

The Fashion Class Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

fashion-class-franchise-deep-dive

Photo of Happinest Brands vans and teams standing together

Happinest Brands Closes Strong Q1 With Strategic Growth, System-Wide Enhancements

happinest-brands-q1-2025-growth

DonutNV Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-donutnv-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

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

Layoffs Surge to Pandemic-Era Highs, Opening Doors for Franchise Growth

layoffs-surge-to-pandemic-era-highs-opening-doors-for-franchise-growth

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

How Robert Trujillo Expanded His Construction Business With UWRG

how-robert-trujillo-expanded-his-construction-business-with-uwrg

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: Building Your Brand’s Growth Machine

ultimate-guide-to-selling-franchises

Franchisor Controls: What You Need To Know about the Rules of Being a Franchisee

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS