Comments on: Talk to Franchisees Before You Join their Club! http://www.franchiseperfection.com/blog/?p=94 Providing valuable insight and information regarding franchising and franchise opportunities. Wed, 08 Sep 2010 14:43:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Talk to Franchisees Before You Join the Club! at http://www.franchiseperfection.com/blog/?p=94&cpage=1#comment-2195 Talk to Franchisees Before You Join the Club! at Sun, 17 Jun 2007 22:58:18 +0000 http://www.franchiseperfection.com/blog/?p=94#comment-2195 [...] Cross Posted at Let’s Talk Franchising [...] [...] Cross Posted at Let’s Talk Franchising [...]

]]> By: amitheonlyone http://www.franchiseperfection.com/blog/?p=94&cpage=1#comment-1387 amitheonlyone Mon, 21 May 2007 01:35:08 +0000 http://www.franchiseperfection.com/blog/?p=94#comment-1387 Interesting discussion, however, franchisees are often intimidated or told not to respond to inquiries. As for calling open franchisees, first find out how new they are - if less than a year old, they tend to believe any hipe their franchisor gives them, and will most likely repeat it to you. Many are afraid to let you know when they are not doing well. Try calling closed stores, however franchisors quite often list them incorrectly or not at all on the UFOC. WHY franchisees close is a VERY important question! Speak to 5-10 of them at least, and remeber they do not ALL have an axe to grind. Previous owners (transfers) are a good source too. Regarding Associations-most BAD franchisors do not want their franchisees really talking to each other, so there are no organizations other than the Corp controlled ones-THIS IS A DEAD GIVE AWAY that the franchisor has issues! Most likely NOONE will talk money, so go to work for one of them for a week or so to get a real feel. Good luck! Interesting discussion, however, franchisees are often intimidated or told not to respond to inquiries. As for calling open franchisees, first find out how new they are - if less than a year old, they tend to believe any hipe their franchisor gives them, and will most likely repeat it to you. Many are afraid to let you know when they are not doing well. Try calling closed stores, however franchisors quite often list them incorrectly or not at all on the UFOC. WHY franchisees close is a VERY important question! Speak to 5-10 of them at least, and remeber they do not ALL have an axe to grind. Previous owners (transfers) are a good source too.
Regarding Associations-most BAD franchisors do not want their franchisees really talking to each other, so there are no organizations other than the Corp controlled ones-THIS IS A DEAD GIVE AWAY that the franchisor has issues!
Most likely NOONE will talk money, so go to work for one of them for a week or so to get a real feel.
Good luck!

]]> By: Jim http://www.franchiseperfection.com/blog/?p=94&cpage=1#comment-1370 Jim Sun, 20 May 2007 18:47:57 +0000 http://www.franchiseperfection.com/blog/?p=94#comment-1370 Michael, I agree not all franchisees will answer all questions objectively. Though the subjective answer can sometimes be very revealing. Franchisee Associations and Advisory Councils are good places to obtain information and gauge the collective sense of the franchisees. I advocate for candidates of a franchise to go visit the franchisees at the franchised business, meeting face to face with a franchisee is one of the best ways to judge their feelings about the franchises business. I’ve advised candidates that when neccessary it is worthwhile to get on a plane and visit franchisees to validate the opportunity. Michael,

I agree not all franchisees will answer all questions objectively. Though the subjective answer can sometimes be very revealing.

Franchisee Associations and Advisory Councils are good places to obtain information and gauge the collective sense of the franchisees.

I advocate for candidates of a franchise to go visit the franchisees at the franchised business, meeting face to face with a franchisee is one of the best ways to judge their feelings about the franchises business.

I’ve advised candidates that when neccessary it is worthwhile to get on a plane and visit franchisees to validate the opportunity.

]]> By: Michael Webster http://www.franchiseperfection.com/blog/?p=94&cpage=1#comment-1366 Michael Webster Sun, 20 May 2007 15:07:29 +0000 http://www.franchiseperfection.com/blog/?p=94#comment-1366 Jim; The question here is how to make this both effective and representative. Many franchisees are not going to answer, and the ones who do will have an axe to grind one way or another. I would approach the franchisee association or advisory council first to get some insight on how the collective felt about the positives and negatives. Jim;

The question here is how to make this both effective and representative. Many franchisees are not going to answer, and the ones who do will have an axe to grind one way or another.

I would approach the franchisee association or advisory council first to get some insight on how the collective felt about the positives and negatives.

]]> By: Franpro http://www.franchiseperfection.com/blog/?p=94&cpage=1#comment-1210 Franpro Thu, 17 May 2007 13:52:07 +0000 http://www.franchiseperfection.com/blog/?p=94#comment-1210 Jim, Nice list for potential new franchise business owners to use. I will add one really important thing to the list: If you are ONLY calling franchisees to find out how much you can make, they will sense and resist. Get to know them with some of these other questions first. Establish a bond! Franpro Jim,
Nice list for potential new franchise business owners to use.
I will add one really important thing to the list:
If you are ONLY calling franchisees to find out how much you can make, they will sense and resist. Get to know them with some of these other questions first.
Establish a bond!
Franpro

]]> By: the Franchise Pundit http://www.franchiseperfection.com/blog/?p=94&cpage=1#comment-1152 the Franchise Pundit Wed, 16 May 2007 10:48:37 +0000 http://www.franchiseperfection.com/blog/?p=94#comment-1152 [...] Cross Posted at Let’s Talk Franchising similar posts:10 Common Mistakes of Prospective Franchisees [...] [...] Cross Posted at Let’s Talk Franchising similar posts:10 Common Mistakes of Prospective Franchisees [...]

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