How to Franchise a Business in 10 Steps

Franchising is a good investment strategy to diversify your business portfolio and generate more revenue streams. But starting your business franchise requires hard work and meticulous preparation from start to finish. You should be ready for additional costs, fees, and piles of paperwork before getting started.

In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know on how to franchise a business in ten easy steps.

What is a Business Franchise?

A business franchise refers to granting a license to one or more parties for conducting business operations using the same brand and trademark. The franchisor sells rights to use the company name along with its products, knowledge, and other resources to expand the distribution of its goods and services.

Common Types of Franchises

If you’re still choosing what kind of business you want to put up, here are some of the common types of franchises that you can look into:

• Retail – Everything from furniture rental stores to clothing and dry cleaning services is in the retail industry.
• Food and Beverage – Restaurants, small food stalls, coffee shops, and convenience stores are the most common franchises.
• Health and Fitness – Besides fitness hubs and gyms, healthcare is now considered an emerging type of franchise, with some companies providing home nurses or medical consultations.

Benefits of Franchising a Business

Becoming a franchisor lets you gain control over your business growth. Here are the perks of starting a business franchise:

• Earn a regular stream of income
• Gain a wider clientele reach
• Diversify your revenues

Why Nevada is the Best State to Franchise Your Business

While many states offer pro-business registration processes, Nevada is the best state to start a business franchise due to numerous perks. In Nevada, there are no laws requiring franchisors to register as a franchise or to disclose anything beyond what is stated in the Federal Trade Commission Amended Franchise Rule. 

Franchisors in Nevada still need to comply with the FTC Rule, which requires them to provide a legal and valid Franchise Disclosure Agreement (FDD) prior to signing a franchise agreement or accepting payment from a franchisee.

Why Apply for a Nevada LLC to Get Asset Protection?

One of the biggest misconceptions about starting a business franchise is you automatically get personal asset protection. Entrepreneurs risk losing their assets when faced with legal disputes and tax challenges. As a franchisor, you can benefit from guaranteed asset protection by establishing a Limited Liability Company (LLC) in Nevada.

Before signing your franchise agreement, apply for an LLC to avoid your creditor from gaining access to your personal assets. With this, you can limit the scope of possible lawsuits to your business assets.

How Do You Franchise a Business in Nevada?

Here are some initial steps to take when franchising a business in Nevada:

1. Decide If You’re Ready to Take on the Commitment

Getting a business franchise requires careful planning and research. Before leaping into a new venture, ask yourself if you’re ready to take on this huge commitment. As a business owner, you need to engage in management activities and get more involved with your operations.

Franchising a business can be costly and time-consuming. Make sure you’re legally and financially ready before getting into this venture. It is enticing to take a step further, but without proper preparation, your business is bound to fail. To avoid franchise failure, prepare everything you need, including a cash reserve on top of your day-to-day operating expenses, and employ a team of experts to help you with all the legal documents and formalities you’ll need.

If you have further questions about franchising, you can schedule a free consultation with our business experts.

2. Identify Your Business Goals

If you haven’t decided on which business franchise you want to operate, try narrowing your options down by considering different factors about it, such as its type, location, and profitability. You can operate any type, from restaurants to retail stores and more.

After careful consideration, start identifying your short-term and long-term business goals. Make sure you have meticulously laid everything out, from the franchising costs to expansion plans. Focus on how you can make your business profitable and identify if you need to apply for loans for additional funding.

3. Ensure that the Brand Is a Good Fit for You

Securing a business franchise doesn’t mean your business will automatically succeed, especially if it’s a startup or a small business. However, you can avoid further complications by doing market research to identify your competitors and develop strategic plans to reach a wider consumer base.

Before diving right in, you may want to consider other industries that you’re more familiar with or are more relevant to your target market. Prepare enough funds for upfront costs and evaluate your options to avoid wasting time and resources.

4. Register a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD)

You’ll first need to register and secure a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) for your franchise. This document is required by the Federal Trade Commission. The FDD contains the operating manual for franchises, audited financial statements, the business experience of the managers, and other relevant information about your business.

You’ll need a franchise attorney or an experienced franchise consultant to guide you through this process. After submission of the FDD, the authorities will conduct evaluations before the approval of your application. The commission will file your documents immediately, but it can take months before you get state approval.

5. Determine How You’ll Operate as a Franchisor

As a new franchisor, you must decide how you’ll operate. Protecting your intellectual property is key to securing the legality of your business operations. Without it, your trade secrets will be prone to theft or misuse. A solid business plan will also help you express your vision to potential partners and investors.

While there are a lot of growth opportunities, you’ll need to weigh your options because all of your decisions will affect your future profitability. Before operating your business franchise, you’ll need to decide how to manage everything, from staff hires to monitoring product inventories.

6. Calculate the Costs

Once you’ve conducted thorough market research, find out the costs associated with your new business franchise. List your available resources to identify how much more capital you need to get your business going. Startup costs can range from $50,000 to $100,000, on top of other upfront costs.

While you can get a small business administration (SBA) loan or other financial assistance, it’s best to stick with the startup costs you can afford. You may also need to purchase your supplies and equipment on top of your rental expenses.

7. Choose an Ideal Location for Your Business

After securing your finances, look for an ideal spot where you can easily tap your potential customers. Picking the right location will greatly affect the profitability of your business.

Browse commercial real estate listings to find affordable open spaces near public areas. If you’ve decided to franchise a restaurant or coffee shop, consider renting a commercial space near schools, major establishments, public transport hubs, and other areas with high foot traffic and visibility.

8. Hire Staff Members to Fast-Track Your Operations

The next step for starting your franchise is to hire staff members to keep your business running. Even if you’re only running a small business, having someone to help with its daily operations goes a long way.

You’ll also need to train your new employees so that your business can run smoothly. You’ll want your franchises to eventually run with minimal supervision so you can focus your efforts on other aspects of your business.

9. Start Training to Set Expectations

Before the launch of your new business franchise, you will meet with the franchisee relationship manager to discuss all the corporate rules and expectations for the franchise owners.

Use this time to collate your questions related to operational basics, marketing, and management. Most franchisors provide guidelines on important business aspects. You can also talk about how you can improve your sales and marketing strategies.

10. Develop a Sales Strategy

Lastly, you must create an effective sales strategy to generate revenue and continue expanding the franchise system. You’ll need a long-term vision of where you want your business to be before you even begin.

Ideally, you’ll want to focus on building your brand engagement to drive more leads and convert them to customers in your first year of operations. Generate a content marketing strategy to empower your business reputation and build a strong consumer base.

As a new franchisor, start evaluating your target market so you can attract more people to engage with your brand.

Start Franchising Your Business Today 

Follow your dream of becoming an entrepreneur! Go on, grab that opportunity to nurture an established brand name, and enjoy the perks of managing your business operations. 

Franchising a business won’t come easy, but anything is possible with the help of our experts at NCH. We are a leading provider for the formation of Nevada LLCs and Corporations. Book a consultation or visit our website to learn more about our wide range of services.