Starting a Franchise with Partners- What Should I be Thinking Of?

Stephen Winterrowd • December 16, 2017

What You Should Think About When Creating Partners

I have several clients that have asked what should I do if I partner with someone in the franchise.

The first thing you should do is really think about the partner and yourself to determine whether or not the two of you would be a good team. Much like when your dating you try to determine whether or not that individual would make a great partner in life you should do that same thing in business. Do you complement each other, does one have sales and one have back office skills. If the business is sales heavy then do you both have sales and so on and so on. Will it be a 50/50 partnership or 60/40. Who will have final say for important decisions and who will mediate an impasse. What you want to be sure of is that the partnership is level headed and you both can work through the issues that will a rise in business. The best way to enter the partnership with level heads is to create what is called a buy-sell agreement or partnership agreement for the corporation you create that purchases the franchise.

When I started my franchise with a partner we worked with an attorney to create a buy-sell agreement that outlined a lot of different scenarios that we could all think of that might arise in the partnership and what would happen to resolve any of those issues. The first item we addressed was the issue of death. How is the deceased owners percentage taken care of? Are you willing to work with their spouse, are you willing to allow them to maintain the ownership etc. In my case my partner was single at the start of the business and I didn't know who he might marry in the future and whether or not we would get along. So we created a clause for the surviving owner to buy out the estate of the other partner regardless of what the spouse wanted to do. We also addressed participation in the business and what if one of us decided to stop working. We had a 50/50 ownership scenario and I did all the sales while he did all the back office. I have heard time and time again that a failure in a partnership was one feeling like they did all the work and the other just went along for the ride collecting 50% at the end. If not laid out in the agreement then there may be no recourse for the working partner.

One thing we missed, as do a lot of partners, was funding the agreement to pay for the scenarios that might arise. For instance the death of a partner, how is the buyout paid for? If you have not secured a life insurance policy on the owner with the business as the beneficiary then you may have to use cash from operations or sell assets to pay for the buyout. What if your home is the only money you can access at the time and you have to use that. The surviving spouse is entitled to the benefits of the partner and you may have to keep them around if you cannot buy them out. Fortunately there are life insurance policies that can be purchased on the owners, but the buyout can also be done by other means. You should consult your attorney along with your accountant to determine the best solution for your partnership and what issues you will need to address.

If you would like to learn more about investigating a franchise and what else to think about with a partnership, please reach out to me at 310-773-7662 or stephen@thefranchiseconsultingcompany.com

Stephen Winterrowd

Franchising Mistakes
By Rusty Rich February 19, 2025
Discover the top mistakes first-time franchisees often make and learn how to avoid them. Get expert advice from The Franchise Consulting Company to ensure your franchise investment is successful.
Franchising Financials
By Rusty Rich February 19, 2025
Dive into the financial side of franchising, from initial investments to ongoing fees. Learn what you need to know to make an informed decision and ensure the success of your franchise business with The Franchise Consulting Company.
Franchise Goals
January 6, 2025
Discover how to choose the right franchise for your goals with expert guidance from The Franchise Consulting Company. Explore key factors, trends, and actionable tips to find your perfect business match.
2025 Franchise Journey
January 2, 2025
Discover why 2025 is the perfect year to start your franchise journey with The Franchise Consulting Company. Explore emerging trends, proven support systems, and expert guidance to achieve entrepreneurial success.
December 16, 2023
"Navigating Success: Unlocking the Potential of Resale Franchise Investments"
By The Franchise Consulting Company December 22, 2022
Here are some of the ways we work with people to evaluate new franchise opportunities.
By The Franchise Consulting Company September 21, 2022
Franchisors use a variety of methods to position their franchise opportunity in front of prospective franchisees. They promote franchising on their website, participate in tradeshows and use franchise consultants to introduce their business to someone who might not otherwise know about that type their opportunity. The 2021 Franchise Sales Index Report shows franchise consultants rank highly in producing solid leads for franchisors, and yet, the consultant works primarily for the prospective franchisee. Effective consultants can explain the franchising opportunity to someone who is new to franchising and perhaps even new to running a business. Some questions to ask a franchise consultant before working with them are as follows:
By The FCC August 17, 2022
When thinking about getting into business ownership, an attractive option can be to purchase a turnkey operation.
By The FCC June 28, 2022
Deciding what you want from franchise ownership is the first step you take in deciding how to buy a franchise that is going to give you a lifestyle you will enjoy.
By The Franchise Consulting Company June 2, 2022
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 !
Show More
Share by: