The franchising industry is significant in the United States. According to the Franchise Brokers Association, 18 of the top 20 franchises worldwide are headquartered in the U.S. In addition, 300 companies start franchising every year, leading to one in seven businesses in America establishing as a franchise.
The franchising world is built on relationships where franchisors and franchisees are a good match for each other, making franchise business consultant jobs an in-demand line of work with a great outlook for the future.
How franchise consultants benefit both parties
Franchise consultants evaluate what both parties want from the franchisor-franchisee relationship. For a future business owner, a franchise consultant to explain the types of franchises that may be best suited for the lifestyle a person wants to live and the financial commitment they need to do that. In return, the consultant saves a franchisor time by providing vetted, higher-quality candidates who are more likely to be a good fit for the franchise.
The consulting service is paid by the franchisor in the form of a commission so there is no risk for either party in pursuing the consulting process, making franchise business consultant jobs a preferable line of work for many people.
Flexibility and income-building benefits
As a franchise business consultant, you have the opportunity to do business around the world with people who are pursuing their entrepreneurial dreams. You will be continuously learning about the different details in each franchise model and the franchisee criteria that lend to a certain type of person who would be a good franchisee. In this role, you are a matchmaker of opportunities for people who are looking to run their own businesses. It is a highly rewarding career.
This is also a career where you have a lot of freedom in how you meet your commitments. You will manage your own schedule and determine when you will take appointments, and with the commission system, you exert some control over your work-life balance in terms of time spent and salary earned.
If you are considering a career change, becoming a franchise business consultant might be everything you are looking for - flexibility, salary diversification and a rewarding line of work. To help, there is training that can give you a strong foundation in franchising if you are new to the industry.
Steps to finding good training
There is no formal license for this career, but the International Franchise Association (IFA) offers a Certified Franchise Executive™ (CFE)
designation that provides the most extensive franchising consultancy tool available.
The IFA is the world's largest membership organization for franchisors, franchisees and franchise suppliers. Certified Franchise Executive applicants have three years to complete the program which involves a mix of work experience, event participation and mandatory courses. You learn about business development, franchise management, leadership, franchise strategy and operations.
The International Franchise Professional's Group (IFPG) also provides a Certified Franchise Consultant
designation which can be obtained in four to six weeks. The training includes a mix of online and in-person classes and closes with an exam. The IFPG offers continuing education courses each year so you can earn the required 60 credits per year to maintain your designation.
An appropriate combination of education and experience
In addition to training, your prior education and experience can play a significant role in this line of work. At The Franchise Consulting Company, our team includes previous franchisors, franchise lawyers and investors, executive mentors and others with past professional careers that add to this role. Our consultants are a diversified group which helps in making good matches.
We invite you to peruse the profiles
of our consultants to get a better idea of their certifications, backgrounds and experience.
How to get started in a franchise business consultant job
The IFA has a Getting Started Guide
for their training which provides a good foundation for the technical elements of the franchise business consultant role.
A Forbes article on soft skills
is also a good review. It covers the importance of being able to communicate with franchisors and franchisees and the importance of keeping people on track throughout the process.
You can also review our process
at The Franchise Consulting Company and how we approach building a successful franchisor-franchisee relationship. As the world's leading franchise experts, it has been our experience that problems arise in relationships when one of four key steps is not followed carefully.
Work with The Franchise Consulting Company
We are always looking for the right kind of people who can contribute to our team as franchise consultants. We encourage you to become certified and to consider working with us. If you are investigating franchise business consultant jobs as a career direction that is a good fit for you, then we should
have a conversation
!
