How Franchise Business Works
Franchising is the running of a business using some or all aspects of another successful business in partnership. In the past, businesses would provide the right to sell a product in a particular market known as distribution deals or distributorship. More recently, however, the concept of franchising has evolved wherein a business allows grants another business the license to operate under the same name and use the expertise of the parent company for establishing a successful business. Some of the most well known franchise businesses in the world are Domino’s Pizza and McDonald’s restaurants. In this article we look at how franchise business works in India.
Franchisor – Franchisee Relationship
The franchisor is the parent business that allows franchisees to operate using the same products or services, trademarks, techniques, etc., in return for an agreed upon fee. A franchisor usually has a number of franchisee’s. A franchisee can have only one franchisor. The relationship between the franchisor and franchisee is governed by the franchisee agreement.
Franchise Agreement
The franchise agreement is a written legal document between the franchisor and franchisee. The franchise agreement is the fundamental document upon which the franchisor-franchisee relationship is based on. The franchisor and franchisee must both sign the agreement. The following are some of the major aspects covered in a franchise agreement:
1. Details about the franchisor and franchisee
2. Appointment of franchisee and grant of license
3. Location of the franchisee
4. Development of the franchisee location
5. Maintenance of the franchisee location
6. Proprietary marks or trademarks the franchisee can use
7. Licenses or permissions the franchisee must obtain or can use from the franchisor
8. Operation standards
9. Quality standards
10. Training and assistance from the franchisor, if any
11. Consideration for granting franchisee
12. Franchisee license fee, if any
13. Marketing assistance from Franchisor, if any
14. Products or Services that can be offered by the Franchisee
15. Franchisee obligations
16. Franchisor obligations
17. Terms of the franchise agreement
18. Tenure of the franchise agreement
19. Renewal of the franchise agreement
20. Termination of the franchise agreement
Benefits for Franchisor
The franchising business model affords a number of advantages for both the franchisor and franchisee. The following are the advantages for Franchisor from creating a franchising business model.
Low Capital
Franchisors typically collect a franchising fee from individual franchise owners at no interest. This money collected from franchisees can be used by the Franchisor to grow the business and brand.
Rapid expansion
Fast expansion is necessary to quickly capture market share in a developing country like India. Franchising business model can help a business quickly expand and garner market share.
Partnering with Entrepreneurs
In a franchising business model, the franchisor partners with Entrepreneurs or Business Owners – who are motivated by their ownership, profits and capital invested by them in the business. This will immensely help the franchisee and franchising model succeed.
Greater buying power
Since franchisors represent a number of franchisee’s they can often negotiate volume discounts from suppliers when buying in bulk. Sharing the savings with the franchisees provides competitive advantage for the franchises over independently operated business.
Brand Building
Compared to independently operating businesses, franchisee business have a better recognition as many locations are opened. In a franchising business since brand building costs are spread over a number of business, there can be tremendous savings on advertising and branding costs.
Benefits for Franchisee
Franchisee’s enjoy a number of advantage by starting a franchising business than starting an independent business. Some of the advantages of starting a franchising business for a franchisee are:
Expertise
To start and manage a franchise business, the promoter do not need any experience or expertise. The franchisor will provide the training and expertise to successfully operate the business.
Higher chance of success
Franchise business usually have a higher rate of success than independent business due to a number of reasons. Franchise businesses have well experience professionals backing the business, lower branding cost, higher brand reputation, etc., – increasing the chances of success.
Independence
Franchise business offers the business owner a chance to operate an independent business while enjoying many of the benefits of a big business.
Easier access to capital
Franchisors typically have a number of tie-ups with banks to provide loans for setting up a franchise business. Therefore, franchise owners can have easier access to bank loan through the franchisor.
Franchising Cost for Famous Brands
The following are estimated cost for obtaining a franchisee of the brand. They are just indicative figures and can vary:
Fab India Franchising Cost
Selling of garments, home products, personal care products, etc.,
Investment: 30- 50 lakhs. ; Annual Brand Fee: 2 – 5 lakhs.
Snap Fitness Franchising Cost
High end health and fitness center.
Investment: Rs.100 – 200 lakhs; Annual Brand Fee: Rs.15 – 20 lakhs.
Naturals Salon Franchising Cost
Health and beauty salon.
Investment: Rs. 30 – 50 lakhs; Annual Brand Fee: Rs. 3 – 7 lakhs.
Sunglass Hut Franchising Cost
Eyewear and accessories retailing.
Investment: Rs.30 – 50 lakhs; Annual Brand Fee: Rs.2 – 5 lakhs.
Classic Polo Franchising Cost
Mens fashion and clothing retailing.
Investment: Rs.5 – 25 lakhs; Annual Brand Fee: NIL – 2 lakhs.
