How Does Franchising Work?

Franchising works by having a company sell its concept to other entrepreneurs who agree to follow the business model in exchange for paying fees and royalties to the franchisor. It is a mutually beneficial strategy — entrepreneurs choose to franchise businesses to raise capital and grow market share, while prospective franchisees choose to invest in a franchise because it provides a path to business ownership that’s significantly de-risked.

A company becomes a franchise by filing a Franchise Disclosure Document and licensing its branding and operational model to other entrepreneurs, who open, own and manage their own locations with the brand. 

McDonald’s, for example, is 93% franchisee-run and is one of the world’s largest franchised brands. That means most McDonald’s are owned not by the McDonald’s corporation, but by entrepreneurs — or franchisees — who handle the day-to-day operation of their stores while the larger corporation — or franchisor — provides operational guidance, marketing support, vendor contracts and other resources. McDonald’s has established a brand name, reputation and processes of service that make it profitable to own and easier to launch than starting a business from scratch. 

Chipotle, on the other hand, is a chain restaurant, meaning every single Chipotle location is owned by the Chipotle Mexican Grill corporation, not individual franchisees. Unlike chains, franchised brands have greater flexibility in how they staff their stores and engage with their communities. Usually, a franchised business is owned by a local entrepreneur with ties to their geographic location.

If you are interested in franchising with a company in 2021, check out 1851 Franchise’s list of the top franchise brands right now.