All about franchising and buying a franchise business

Franchise development types

What type of franchise do you want to own and run?

Is franchising right for you?

Everyone is different so it makes sense that not everyone is suited to franchising. Find out the questions to ask to help identify if you are right for franchising.

Step-by-step Guide to becoming a franchisee

In order to become a franchisee you need to go through a number of stages. Our franchise guide will take you through each step.

What's the best franchise opportunity

Is there such a thing as the best franchise? We look at how to identify the best franchise in the UK.

Finding the right franchise opportunity for you

With so many franchises out there, how do you find the right franchise for you? Find out how to approach franchising systematically in order to find your ideal franchise opportunity.

Take the franchise self test

Take our self-test to identify the franchise type that best matches your skills and attitudes.

Evaluating a franchise

How do you decide whether or not a franchise is worth investing in? There are a number of points that should be considered when assessing a franchise.

The cost of a franchise - the franchise fees

Our finance section provides advice on how to raise finance for buying a franchise and how much a franchise costs.

How to prepare a business plan

Everyone looking to buy a franchise, or start any business, needs to prepare a business plan. The business plan not only helps you to outline to the bank your proposal to help you raise finance but allows you to get a better understanding of your own business and your plan for developing and running it.

Evaluate UK franchise market

As you are buying a franchise for the long term, you need to know that the market you will be operating in is stable and offers opportunities rather than threats.

Franchise questions for the franchisor

In order to evaluate the franchise and understand what the franchisor is offering you, you need to ask the franchisor a number of questions.

Talk to existing franchisees

No one else is better equipped to give you the best insight into a franchise opportunity than the franchisee.

What a franchisor looks for in a franchisee

Though all franchises are different and hence look for different skills, traits and experiences in a franchisee, there is a number of recurring characteristics that they all look for.

The Franchise Agreement - franchise legal advice

To become a franchisee you need to enter into a legal agreement known as the franchise agreement. The franchise agreement outlines the obligations of both the franchisee and the franchisor.

Applying for a franchise

You've narrowed down your list of franchises but are you applying for the right franchise for you?

Franchise interview

What to expect at the franchise interview, what questions may be asked.

Franchise disputes

Unfortunately from time to time franchise disputes do arise. This mostly happens when the franchisee does not believe they are getting value for money from the franchisor.

Why use a franchise consultant to franchise your business

If you are looking to franchise your business you must obtain the services of a franchise consultant with a proven track record in helping businesses to franchise. You must never look to franchise your business by yourself as it will only be costly for you in the long run. There are many franchise consultants who are members of the British Franchise Association.

How to franchise a business

We have a dedicated section that will take you step-by-step through how to franchise your business. It will help you to identify if your business is franchiseable, the advantages and disadvantages of franchising your business, the professional help and advice you need to take and the advantages of joining the bfa once a franchise business.

Franchise Definition

Franchising is a complex area of business start-up and so it is important that you understand what the key franchise terms are. Our franchise glossary provides this information.

Useful Links

We have listed websites that may be useful for your franchise research.

Where else to look

As well as whichfranchise, there are other franchise publications and franchise exhibitions that may be useful in your decision making process.

Franchise exhibitions

Franchise exhibitions are the ideal place for meeting face-to-face with franchises of interest to you