You want to buy a franchise. You’ve done some homework: talked to friends, reviewed your finances, and surfed the web for opportunities. You may even be considering our Allegra franchise as a business to own.
But, you want to be certain you’ve explored all your options and are confident in your decision. After all, buying a franchise can be one of the most important decisions and largest investments you’ll ever make.
One way to ease your mind is to engage a franchise consultant to help you gather information and to narrow your search. Many of our Allegra Center owners were referred to us by consultants because of our track record as a franchisor, our on-going support, and the success of our Allegra franchisees.
Franchise consultants can help and help you well beyond just winnowing choices: they can answer most, if not all, your questions about franchising; ask and answer questions you may not have thought of; objectively help you understand the pros and cons of starting a business; help you determine your goals and what role you’ll play in the business; and, even conduct a personality test to guide you to the best match.
Additionally, the advice and coaching that consultants provide is free. Free because their service is paid for by the franchisor—the franchise system you ultimately choose to join. And while a generous commission might be an incentive to steer a candidate to a particular franchise, our Allegra franchise development team has found consultants to be ethical, objective and genuinely interested in matching their clients with the right franchise business.
If working with a consultant sounds appealing, Allegra Franchise Development Manager, Holly Owens, offers five must haves to help you select the right one:
1) Franchise Experience—The more your consultant knows about franchising and business ownership, the better job he/she can do in finding the best fit for you. Look for a consultant who has been a franchisee or even a franchisor. Any good salesperson can talk the talk, but it’s better if your consultant has actually walked the walk.
2) Industry Reputation—You’ll know a consultant to be reputable when he/she spends more time asking questions and listening to your needs and goals, before ever presenting franchise companies.
3) Product Knowledge—You’ll want to work with a consultant who has carefully pre-screened the franchise companies and has a good variety of industries, investment levels, and business models.
4) Full time Focus—A consultant who has other ventures may not have the time or energy to devote to you. Select an experienced professional who is a fulltime consultant.
5) Proven Results – One way to determine if your consultant is able to help you find the right franchise is to look at their results. Be sure to ask how many candidates they’ve placed over the last few years and to give examples of how they’re former clients are doing as franchise owners.
At Alliance Franchise Brands, we believe consultants provide a valuable service. If working through a consultant leads you to our Allegra franchise network, you’ll know that you’ve made the right decision and have a great opportunity to reach your financial and lifestyle goals.
