Independent Advice Before You Buy a Franchise

Thinking about buying a franchise but not sure if what you're being shown is realistic or fair? We'll give you honest, independent guidance so you make an informed decision, not an expensive mistake.

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THE PROBLEM

How Do You Know If It's Any Good?

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Franchise salespeople make it sound perfect. Low risk, proven model, guaranteed support. But you're about to invest £20k, £50k, maybe £100k+ of your money and you've got questions they're not answering clearly:

Are the profit projections realistic or inflated?
Is the franchise agreement fair or loaded in their favour?
Will you actually get the support they're promising?
Are existing franchisees genuinely happy or just saying what they're told to say?
What are the red flags you should be looking for?

You don't want to hand over your savings and realise six months in that you've bought into something that doesn't work.

WHY FRANCHISING CAN WORK

The Lower-Risk Route to Self-Employment

When franchising is done properly, it genuinely does reduce risk compared to starting from scratch:

The numbers tell the story:
Regular new businesses see high failure rates up to 60%, in the first few years. Franchise businesses fail at significantly lower business failure rates typically as low as 1-2% per year.

Why the difference?
You're buying a proven model with training, support, established systems, brand recognition and someone else's experience. You learn from their mistakes instead of making your own.

But that only works if:
The franchisor is ethical, the model genuinely works, the support is real, and the agreement is fair. That's where it gets complicated, because not all franchises are created equal.

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HOW WE HELP

Independent Assessment Before You Commit

We're not selling franchises, so we've got no reason to push you towards a bad decision. We'll help you work out if what you're looking at is solid or if you should walk away.

Free Initial Consultation
We'll talk through what you're considering, what to look for in a franchise, red flags to watch out for, and questions you should be asking the franchisor.

Detailed Franchise Review (If Needed)
If you want a deeper assessment of a specific franchise opportunity, we'll review:

The financial model – are the projections realistic based on actual franchisee performance?
The franchise agreement – is it fair or weighted heavily towards the franchisor?
The support package – will you actually get what's promised or is it vague commitments?
The franchisor's track record – how long have they been operating, how many franchisees, what's the failure rate?
Warning signs – things that don't add up or feel off

What you get:
Honest answers. If it's a good franchise with solid fundamentals, we'll tell you. If there are problems, we'll tell you that too and explain why you should be concerned.

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WHAT TO LOOK FOR

The Questions We Ask

When we review a franchise opportunity, here's what we're checking:

Is the franchisor profitable and sustainable?
How long have they been trading? Are their own company accounts solid? Have they proven the model works long-term?

Are existing franchisees making money?
Not just the "showcase" franchisees they introduce you to. What about the ones who've been running for 2-3 years? What are their actual numbers?

Is the training and support real?
Vague promises of "ongoing support" mean nothing. What specific training do you get? How many days? What ongoing support is written into the agreement?

Is the agreement fair?
What are you actually buying? What happens if you want to sell? Can they terminate you easily? Are the fees reasonable for what you get?

What are the genuine costs?
Initial fee is one thing, but what about ongoing royalties, marketing levies, required purchases, territory renewal fees? Do the total costs leave room for profit?

Can you actually speak to existing franchisees?
The franchisor should let you contact current franchisees directly and privately. If they won't, that's a red flag.

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RED FLAGS TO WATCH FOR

Warning Signs of a Poor Franchise

They pressure you to sign quickly" This territory won't be available long" or "special pricing ends Friday" are sales tactics. Good franchises don't need to rush you.
They won't share real franchisee numbers
If they only show projections and won't let you see what existing franchisees actually earn, be careful.
The agreement is one-sided
If they can terminate you for minor issues but you're locked in for 10 years with no exit, that's not a partnership.
They promise guaranteed income
Nobody can guarantee income in business. If they're promising specific earnings, this needs further explanation and written guarantees built into the deal.
Existing franchisees seem scripted
When you speak to them, do they sound genuine or like they're reading from an approved script?
It's too new and unproven
If they've only been franchising for a year and have 2 franchisees, you're essentially a test case. That could be an opportunity but is higher risk and needs some guidance before you sign.

OUR APPROACH

Why We're Different

We're on Your Side

While it is true we support the brands we have helped to franchise, we don't represent any franchise brands. We won't steer you towards a brand that is not suitable for you. Our advice is genuinely independent.

We've Seen It From Every Side

Graham has been a franchisor, a master franchisee, a franchise consultant, and has worked with hundreds of franchisees. He knows what good franchising looks like and what bad franchising looks like.

We'll Tell You If It's Not Right

If the franchise you're looking at doesn't fit your skills or ambitions we will say so. Or, if it has problems and issues, we'll explain them clearly, so you can make an informed decision.

Graham joined us when franchising was just an idea. He worked tirelessly to set up the system from scratch to become a strong and significant contributor to the Group. He really knows his stuff!

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FAQ

Common Questions

How much does a franchise review cost?

Initial consultation is free. If you want a detailed review of a specific franchise, we'll quote you based on what's involved. We're not-for-profit, so fees are fair without inflated margins.

Will you tell me which franchise to buy?

No. We'll give you the information and analysis you need to make your own decision. We're advisors, not salespeople.

Can you help me find a franchise?

Yes, we can point you towards reputable sources and talk through what sectors might suit you. We'll help you match your ambitions and skills to similar opportunities

What if the franchise turns out to be problematic after I buy it?

We can't change a bad franchise agreement after you've signed it. That's why it's crucial to get independent advice before committing, not after.

Do you only work with people in the North East?

No, though our roots are in County Durham. We work UK-wide and even Internationally.

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Get Independent Advice
Before You Commit

Book a free consultation. We'll talk through what you're considering and help you understand what to look for, what questions to ask, and what warning signs to watch for.