Franchising is often misunderstood. For many prospective business owners, outdated assumptions or surface-level perceptions can create hesitation, or worse, prevent them from exploring an opportunity that could change their lives. At Strategic Franchising Systems (SFS), leaders are working to challenge those misconceptions and show what franchise ownership really looks like today.
“There are so many brands where the entry point is inaccessible, and that is why some people think franchising is inaccessible,” said Peter Eberly, vice president of brand development at Strategic Franchising Systems. “We think of our brands as franchising for all.”
From cost barriers to lifestyle expectations, here are some of the most common myths about franchising.
One of the most persistent misconceptions, Eberly says, is that franchise ownership requires deep pockets. While some large-scale restaurant concepts can demand multi-million-dollar investments, that’s only one slice of the industry.
“Franchising can really be an accessible vehicle for someone to start their own business and pursue their entrepreneurial dreams,” Eberly said. “Our brands do not require millions of dollars in investment, with franchise fees around $50,000.”
He points out that financing options have also expanded access. “You couple that with a wide variety of ways for a franchisee to fund the business. That could be SBA loans, 401(k) rollovers, etc.”
Brand recognition can be powerful, but it’s not the only (or even the best) indicator of success.
“There is also a myth around the big brands. If more people are aware of the brand from a consumer perspective, people tend to think those are safer bets from a business perspective, or the only ones that can be successful,” Eberly said. “Yes, brand recognition matters, but with those bigger brands, there are other challenges, such as higher fees or limited territories.”
Instead, he encourages candidates to broaden their perspective. “There are thousands of franchise brands out there, and many are mid-sized or are emerging,” he said. “Evaluating brands that are on the upswing can be a really rich area for folks to explore. They can offer better unit economics, and they can often outperform a household name.”
When people think of franchising, fast food chains and retail stores are usually the first to come to mind. But today’s franchise landscape is far more diverse, and in many cases, more resilient.
“A lot of people also think only about food and retail when they think of franchising,” Eberly said. “But our brands are senior care brands, home services brands, pet specialty brands. Some of those are some of the fastest-growing categories out there.”
With brands like Fresh Coat Painters, TruBlue Home Service Ally, Caring Transitions, and Pet Wants, franchisees step into recession-resistant industries with affordable models, robust training and a mission-driven approach.
“These services are in demand and will remain so for years to come,” Eberly said.
Another common barrier is the belief that franchise ownership requires years of business experience or industry-specific expertise. “Franchisors are often actually just looking for energy, effort and attitude,” Eberly said. “You don’t need to be an expert; you just need to be able to follow a proven playbook or roadmap.”
That playbook is one of franchising’s biggest advantages. Instead of building a business from scratch, franchisees step into a system that has already been tested and refined.
“The person with the right mindset and focus can follow that playbook and learn from the same lessons. They can take the ball and run with that,” he said. “In order to own a home services franchise, for example, you don’t have to be an expert in that industry up front. Our job is to give you the tools to be successful.”
Some people may assume that owning a business automatically means they’ll no longer have time for their family and will constantly be stressed. While entrepreneurship always takes work, franchising can actually offer a path to greater work-life balance and flexibility.
“There is also the perception that you have to be the ‘chief everything officer,’” Eberly said. “But the reality is that there are opportunities that can help you achieve the lifestyle you want. A lot of the people interested in our brands, for example, want a lifestyle change. They want more flexibility or to spend more time with family. Owning a franchise can absolutely be a vehicle to shape your professional life around your personal life.”
That flexibility is made possible by systems, support and scalability.
“You are rarely a lone ranger,” Eberly said. “You have an opportunity to scale and grow and you are given the tools to help with hiring, managing teams, and scaling the business.”
Clearly, the myths that once defined the industry, such as high barriers to entry, rigid career paths or limited industries, no longer hold up in today’s environment. Instead, as Eberly emphasizes with SFS, franchising is evolving into a more inclusive, flexible and scalable pathway to entrepreneurship.
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/strategicfranchising.
Strategic Franchising
SPONSORED
Understanding the realities of franchise ownership can open the door to opportunity, flexibility and long-term success for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Franchising is often misunderstood. For many prospective business owners, outdated assumptions or surface-level perceptions can create hesitation, or worse, prevent them from exploring an opportunity that could change their lives. At Strategic Franchising Systems (SFS), leaders are working to challenge those misconceptions and show what franchise ownership really looks like today.
“There are so many brands where the entry point is inaccessible, and that is why some people think franchising is inaccessible,” said Peter Eberly, vice president of brand development at Strategic Franchising Systems. “We think of our brands as franchising for all.”
From cost barriers to lifestyle expectations, here are some of the most common myths about franchising.
One of the most persistent misconceptions, Eberly says, is that franchise ownership requires deep pockets. While some large-scale restaurant concepts can demand multi-million-dollar investments, that’s only one slice of the industry.
“Franchising can really be an accessible vehicle for someone to start their own business and pursue their entrepreneurial dreams,” Eberly said. “Our brands do not require millions of dollars in investment, with franchise fees around $50,000.”
He points out that financing options have also expanded access. “You couple that with a wide variety of ways for a franchisee to fund the business. That could be SBA loans, 401(k) rollovers, etc.”
Brand recognition can be powerful, but it’s not the only (or even the best) indicator of success.
“There is also a myth around the big brands. If more people are aware of the brand from a consumer perspective, people tend to think those are safer bets from a business perspective, or the only ones that can be successful,” Eberly said. “Yes, brand recognition matters, but with those bigger brands, there are other challenges, such as higher fees or limited territories.”
Instead, he encourages candidates to broaden their perspective. “There are thousands of franchise brands out there, and many are mid-sized or are emerging,” he said. “Evaluating brands that are on the upswing can be a really rich area for folks to explore. They can offer better unit economics, and they can often outperform a household name.”
When people think of franchising, fast food chains and retail stores are usually the first to come to mind. But today’s franchise landscape is far more diverse, and in many cases, more resilient.
“A lot of people also think only about food and retail when they think of franchising,” Eberly said. “But our brands are senior care brands, home services brands, pet specialty brands. Some of those are some of the fastest-growing categories out there.”
With brands like Fresh Coat Painters, TruBlue Home Service Ally, Caring Transitions, and Pet Wants, franchisees step into recession-resistant industries with affordable models, robust training and a mission-driven approach.
“These services are in demand and will remain so for years to come,” Eberly said.
Another common barrier is the belief that franchise ownership requires years of business experience or industry-specific expertise. “Franchisors are often actually just looking for energy, effort and attitude,” Eberly said. “You don’t need to be an expert; you just need to be able to follow a proven playbook or roadmap.”
That playbook is one of franchising’s biggest advantages. Instead of building a business from scratch, franchisees step into a system that has already been tested and refined.
“The person with the right mindset and focus can follow that playbook and learn from the same lessons. They can take the ball and run with that,” he said. “In order to own a home services franchise, for example, you don’t have to be an expert in that industry up front. Our job is to give you the tools to be successful.”
Some people may assume that owning a business automatically means they’ll no longer have time for their family and will constantly be stressed. While entrepreneurship always takes work, franchising can actually offer a path to greater work-life balance and flexibility.
“There is also the perception that you have to be the ‘chief everything officer,’” Eberly said. “But the reality is that there are opportunities that can help you achieve the lifestyle you want. A lot of the people interested in our brands, for example, want a lifestyle change. They want more flexibility or to spend more time with family. Owning a franchise can absolutely be a vehicle to shape your professional life around your personal life.”
That flexibility is made possible by systems, support and scalability.
“You are rarely a lone ranger,” Eberly said. “You have an opportunity to scale and grow and you are given the tools to help with hiring, managing teams, and scaling the business.”
Clearly, the myths that once defined the industry, such as high barriers to entry, rigid career paths or limited industries, no longer hold up in today’s environment. Instead, as Eberly emphasizes with SFS, franchising is evolving into a more inclusive, flexible and scalable pathway to entrepreneurship.
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/strategicfranchising.
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