New or Existing Franchise: Which Is Best For You?


With uncertainties in today\’s economy, many prospective entrepreneurs find themselves wondering, \”Should I by an established non-franchised business, an existing franchise, or a brand new franchise?\” In other words, entrepreneurs must make a tough decision between purchasing an existing business or building one up from scratch.

One of the most important factors to consider is how much a given business\’s current owner will value the business above the projected costs of franchising. Whether it is business-based or emotion-based, most owners will ask for a buying price according to what he or she believes the business is worth. Therefore, careful planning must be made to determine how much it will cost for the franchise to take over the business, and also what you will have to pay out to the current owner. Basically, you will more likely than not pay more for an already established franchise than if you purchased one brand new. Many franchises will also require you to pay a fee of some kind for going through the franchisee approval process. Then there are the royalties, advertising fees, and other ongoing franchise payments which you will have to take on and continue to pay.

On the other hand, for existing non-franchised businesses, the amount you have to pay will be solely dependent on whatever the current owner determines its worth to be. Yet, even if an owner brings out accounting reports and sales figures to back up his price claim, you both will probably negotiate a compromising amount that is mutually beneficial. For this reason, you would be wise to bring along a CPA to evaluate financial documents and assist you in negotiating a fair deal.

Within an established franchise system, there are Franchise Disclosure Documents and other contracts, meaning that the final costs of your franchise purchase will be more concrete and less negotiable. Beyond the primary franchising fee, various other costs like leasing and making improvements on a building, equipment purchases, training, even grand opening costs, may be included in your final purchasing price. Even with the various costs of your new franchise, you will still probably pay less upfront than you would purchasing an existing franchise, although you will be responsible for creating your cash flow from nothing. In the most ideal situations, the best thing about purchasing an existing franchise would be taking advantage of an already established cash flow.

Utilizing the services of a contracts attorney could greatly help you as you evaluate your franchise opportunity. If you are lucky enough to acquire an experienced contract attorney, they are sure to have knowledge of your specific franchise and its contracts and offer you a reduced fee for their services. Successful attorneys and CPAs could be your greatest allies as you explore your business opportunity and enter any possible negotiations.

Being diligent in your research and evaluations, it is best to identify potential issues before rather than after they occur; and this will ultimately lead to much greater success!

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