Franchise hunting in India

There are many questions potential franchisees may have before stepping foot into the world of franchising. Naturally, some of those may be asking directly what the best franchise is for them. Of course, what best suits one franchisee, may not necessarily suit another. Prospective franchisees can take heed of some basic starting points to help their franchise hunt in India.

To begin with, the potential franchisee needs to ask themselves what they are quite good at and what they enjoy doing. Friends and family may be best suited to answer these questions for the prospective franchisee.

The potential franchisee should also discuss their decision to start a business with family members, as starting a business will surely make an impact on their lives. It is crucial that family members support the future venture 100 per cent, as this will make a huge difference to the franchisee’s morale levels and a happy franchisee is a hard-working one.

Personal circumstances and the impact the franchise will have on them need to be considered above fiscal questions, such as how much does the franchise cost and what the potential earnings are from the business. If one is unsatisfied with the franchise chosen, it will not perform admirably, or even satisfactorily.

Of course, extensive research must be carried out by the franchisee. The Franchise Association of India site is a very good starting point, and it provides many good pointers.

A shrewd franchisee will ensure the franchise’s product or service is sustainable in the future and not just experiencing a “fad” phase; confirm the status of Franchise Association of India membership, as the franchise then has to operate within the associations’ guidelines; ensure all paperwork is in line with franchising guidelines; consult lawyers, accountants and other consultants prior to signing any agreements; conduct interviews with existing franchisees to determine satisfaction with the system.

It is not realistic to expect existing franchisees to be perfectly happy with the business all the time. If approximately seven out of ten franchisees are reasonably happy with the franchise most of the time, then that is probably a very good business to partner with.

These are just some franchising guidelines. As potential franchisees carry out research, they will discover many other pointers that present themselves. Franchising is booming internationally, and in India it is no exception. Franchising is one of the most successful business expansion methods seen in recent history and it is a safer way to enter into small business, rather than doing it all alone.

The Franchise Association of India is the country peak industry body committed to strengthening and promoting the best practices in franchising. Franchise Association of India members are businesses and service providers united by their common concerns for the wellbeing of the franchise marketplace.

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