Are you wanting to franchise your existing business opportunity? If so, then you will need to follow practical steps necessary to start the process of evaluating your business to find out if it would be possible to franchise. After you have decided on which route you wish to take, the next step is to produce a clear plan of action.



The first step is to analyze the unique selling point of your opportunity. Think about what makes your business different, and how is it better than your competitors businesses? Decide what the key factors of your business are, and also why would people buy into your concept? If you are able to name your unique selling points, then it is time to take the next step.

Now you need to make sure your name, logos, designs and systems are fully protected. This is where you can call in the help of an expert in trade mark protection. This is really important for any potential franchisees who will not want to risk money backing a business which does not yet have full trade mark protection.

The next step is to learn all about the franchise industry: how does it operate in your business category, and in your country? There are many websites which provide valuable information about franchising, so this shouldn't be too difficult.

It is advisable to make contact with all of the businesses that are franchising a similar concept to yours. It is essential to gain deep insight into their processes, methods of communication and overall approach to the market place. Some ways of doing this would be to request their marketing materials and brochures and actually meet their representatives. You should also analyze their key strengths and weaknesses and evaluate how our own franchise will sit in the marketplace.

After completing the above steps, you should decide if your business opportunity is still viable for taking the franchise route to the market place. If the answer is yes, then it is now time to get some professional advice from a number of franchising experts.

A franchise agreement needs to be made, as well as operator's manuals, brochures, online presentations and marketing programmes. A company that has a long history of advising new entrants to the franchise market will be invaluable at this point, and will ensure that your entrance to the franchise market is quicker, and that it runs smoothly.

Make contacts with the top lenders that specialize in funding, and secure terms and conditions for your potential franchisees. Negotiate the best rates and make sure that penalty clauses are kept to an absolute minimum.

After following all of the above advice, you should be ready to start your franchising business opportunity. It is essential that you take great care in choosing your franchises. The biggest mistake a franchise business can make is allowing anybody with money to buy their franchise. Each application should be treated as though it is an interview process and you should only choose the people who will treat your business with respect and manage your franchise successfully. Obtaining the best market price for your franchise and therefore rapid expansion is your desired outcome and to achieve this, you will want all of your franchisees to be successful.

Many new businesses enter the franchise market for first time and under-estimate the amount of hard work and effort involved before their first franchise is sold. If successful it can prove to be a very lucrative way of expanding your business in a short space of time, with a relatively short outlay.