Q. What advantages are there to franchising, compared to opening company stores/offices?
A. You won't have to be on leases, you won't have to hire employees at every location, you won't have to make emergency trips to replace a manager, and you will be able to sleep much better at night. Additionally you won't have to raise a large amount of money for company expansion. Franchising is a very good way to expand without a large capital requirement. That is why we say, "Franchise for Growth and Profit."

Q. I have the impression that franchising is costly and difficult. Is this so?
A. Franchise development is indeed complicated. There are many steps and there is a lot of detailed work involved. For the inexperienced, it is easy to make potentially costly mistakes. Our franchise development service is economical, and we will show you through a step-by-step process that it is may not be as difficult as you think. We handle all the development steps for you.  Indeed, one of the reasons our clients are pleased with us is that we simplify the franchising process for them, without taking shortcuts.

Q.  What about franchising vs. licensing?
A. Licensing is an expansion vehicle that is best used for a “process,” or a straight business opportunity. 

Franchising exists when someone:  1) uses the name of an existing business, 2) pays money to the existing business, and 3) operates in a manner somewhat as prescribed by the existing business, providing assistance, or maintaining control.  Thus, name, payment, and assistance or control determine when a franchise exists.

So, one or more of those has to be eliminated to avoid being subject to franchise requirements, and normally it is either “name” or “control.”  However, many people who think that they are expanding by licensing can quickly and inadvertently develop a franchise program without realizing it.  And, many of those who start expanding by licensing soon discover that they really want more control over the business operation of the licensee, and that franchising would be a better expansion vehicle.

Franchising is more expensive, and takes longer, than simply putting together a licensing agreement.  However, rather than thinking: “I want to expand.  How can I do it and avoid franchising?”,  we recommend that business owners work with someone like Biltmore Franchise Consulting that can simplify the process for them and help them “get it right the first time.”  We think that unless you are licensing something like a manufacturing process, franchising can provide a much greater payoff, and higher level of satisfaction (and a better exit strategy) than licensing.

Franchising does not have to be difficult, nor does it have to be costly.  We believe that it is a very good way for a successful business to expand regionally and nationally.

Q. In which states will I be able to sell franchises when you complete your services?
A. There are 36 states where it is necessary to merely give the prospective buyer a Franchise Disclosure Document, or FDD, (Previously referred to as the UFOC).  (Some of these states require that you notify them.) There are 14 states that require registration or filing on a state by state basis. The 14 states are: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Q. How long does it take to be ready to start selling franchises?
A. If you contract us today you can be usually be ready to sell franchises in the 36 states, or be ready to apply to the other 14 states, in about four months, while we complete the support materials including the Confidential Operations Manual.

Q. How long should I allow to complete all the steps that you will handle for me?
A. This depends somewhat on how quickly you want to complete the program. It normally takes about nine months to complete the entire program.

Q. How do your fees work?
A. We work on a reasonable monthly fee, based on time, that pays for our time and expenses. We work as a consultant, and operate carefully without a large overhead. We are a specialized, "boutique" consulting firm, that gives a very high level of personalized services.  For this reason we are able to charge reasonable fees. We will meet with or communicate with over the course of the project to explain what has been accomplished.

Q. Can the development costs be financed?
A. Yes. We offer discounted fees and a financing plan to help you start your franchise development program without delay.  Please see the Fee Plans page, and then call us for a personalized proposal to develop your program.

Q. What is the cost to develop a franchise program?
A. Common wisdom is that it takes $100,000+ to develop a franchise program.  Many franchise consultants charge about $60,000 to $120,000 to prepare your franchise offer for sale, providing the same steps that we do. Sometimes it might cost $20,000 to $40,000 just to prepare the franchise documents and nothing else.  You do not have to spend this much to develop a franchise program.  Our fees are more economical, as outlined. You will probably earn all of the development costs back when you sell your first one or two franchises.

Q. Why are your fees less than some others?
A. When you contract us to help you develop your franchise program, we  will apply our 20+ years of business and franchise experience, resources, and knowledge to your program, without reservation. We will function as an overall business consultant to you, helping you do all the things that are necessary to begin selling franchises.  We operate as a specialty franchise consulting firm, and you don't have to pay for layers of management, nor do you have to pay a sales commission!

Q.  Why are the franchise documents, the Franchise Disclosure Document, or FDD, (Previously referred to as the UFOC) and Franchise Agreement, so important?
A.  You are required by the FTC to provide them to potential franchisees.  You must not ignore this important step if you want to sell franchises. 

Q. Why should I contract you instead of just buying some sample franchise forms?
A. Franchising is complicated unless you prepare franchise programs professionally, as we do. Why take a chance with something that you are going to sell for many thousands of dollars?  Franchising is changing all the time.  We are a full time franchise consulting firm and will include the latest trends and franchising methods in the documents and materials that we prepare for you. Our fee includes a review and approval by a franchise attorney at no extra cost. You need this. You should not take a chance with your franchise program. You might make a simple mistake that could cause the entire franchise program to fail.

Q. How do you provide franchise development services nationwide from Arizona?
A. We will speak several times on the phone until we are comfortable with each other. Then we will travel to your business to meet with you for a personal evaluation. At that time you can make the first payment and contract us to handle the franchise development, with a three day cancellation clause after we meet, if something changes.  We will meet with you several times during the time we work on your franchise program.  There is no additional fee to you for our travel costs.

Q. Why are your services different?
A. We not only prepare the necessary franchise documents for the franchise program, We also prepare all the sales materials, design the franchise marketing program, develop the advertising program, prepare the operations manual, and complete the training manual and program for you. Our franchise development program includes everything necessary to begin selling franchises, training franchisees, and operating a  franchise program. When you contract us you are hiring a franchise consultant with extensive experience in all areas of business structure, operation and marketing. We will not limit our assistance to the contract that we sign, but will help you in any way we see necessary. You will also receive free franchise consulting for a full year after the franchise development program is complete!  This is truly a full-service franchise development program.

Q.  Are you an attorney?
A.  No, but we work closely with a franchise attorney on the required documents.  We feel that our position as franchise consultants gives us a broad perspective and allows us to better help you from start to finish.  In this way we can provide everything that you need to develop your franchise program.  Our attorney reviews and approves the documents that we prepare.  You should also have your attorney review them on your behalf.

Q.  Do I need a business plan?
A.  You only need a business plan if you are going to try to raise money or find investors to pay for your franchise development program.  When you sell a franchise you cannot give the potential franchisee a business plan, any future projections, or make "blue sky" statement.

Q. How will I sell the franchise opportunity?
A. You may sell them yourself, you may hire a franchise salesperson, you can contract with independent franchise sales agents, or we can refer you to business brokers and others who specialize in selling franchises.  As part of our consulting service to you we will show you what other clients are doing, and what is working for them. We will make recommendations for advertising campaigns, and even develop the copy for your advertising program. As a free service to you, we will include your franchise opportunity in our national business opportunity advertising campaign, after your marketing materials are printed. This will develop additional inquiries and leads for you.

Q. What other expenses are there?
A. There will be some expenses for accounting, preparing audited financial statements, and the cost of printing your marketing materials (design costs are included in my service) and for your advertising program. Individual state document preparation, review, and registration fees are additional.  You will need some ongoing assistance from your attorney to help negotiate agreements, etc.

Q. Could I do this myself?
A. It might be possible, but we don't recommend it. You might make a serious mistake. Franchising is indeed complex to the business owner.  And besides, you have a business to run and it will take longer than if you contract us. How many franchises might you be able to sell because we can finish the process more quickly? That will pay for our fee several times over.  We heard of one business owner who tried to do this by himself, and two years later he still wasn't ready to sell franchises.

Q. I am very busy running my business. How much personal time will be required?
A. We don't recommend that you wait until you "have more time," as it may be a long time before that happens, if ever. We ask that you make yourself available for phone/in-person discussions about one to two hours per week. That's all it takes! It can be early in the morning, later in the day, or whenever it is convenient for you. We will do all the work for you. When the franchise program is under way you can hire staff to support the franchisees (paid by the franchise revenues to you) so that your personal time in the business does not increase.

Q.  What is the next step?
A.  Call us with your questions and request a proposal.  When you are ready we will travel to your location, at our expense, and start working on your franchise development program.  This can be one of the best business decisions you will ever make!

We look forward to assisting you! 
Please call or e-mail us today for more information.