Are you a foodservice professional thinking of taking the plunge into franchising? Before taking the plunge, it's essential to be well prepared. That's why we've prepared a guide listing 37 key questions to help you assess whether franchising is right for you, and how to maximize your chances of success.

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Matching your profile with a restaurant franchise

Have you assessed your ambitions and listed all your expectations?

Clarify your ambitions and expectations to align your franchise project with your personal and professional goals.

Is franchising with a network compatible with your profile?

Make sure your profile and management style are compatible with franchise operations.

Are you surrounded by people who are experts in their field?

Identify and surround yourself with advisors and experts such as accountants, lawyers, franchise consultants, but also professionals like Innovorder to help you digitalize your establishment. Don't hesitate to talk to other franchisees to benefit from their feedback.

👉 To go further : Franchises: how to accelerate your growth with digital?

Do you follow relevant personalities who are likely to post interesting content on social networks?

Keep abreast of trends and best practices by following franchise and restaurant experts on LinkedIn and other social networks.

Have you considered occasional or foreign travel?

Be ready to travel for training sessions, meetings or new outlet openings.

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Competitor analysis

Have you chosen the right business sector for your future franchise?

Fast-food, upscale, fusion cuisine, identify a sector that matches your skills and a real demand in the local market.

Have you analyzed and studied your franchise's catchment area and development potential?

Take the time to study the target geographic area to determine potential customers and existing competition.

Have you chosen the right location for your franchise?

Select a strategic location that maximizes your franchise's visibility and accessibility.

Where do you see yourself in 5 and 10 years' time?

Project yourself over five years, then 10, to assess your ambitions for growth and expansion.

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Skills and training within the network

Do you have the skills needed to open and manage a franchise, or do you plan to train?

Make sure you have or can acquire all the skills needed to run a franchise. For example: business management, management, knowledge of the sector, etc.

How would you rate franchisee training in the network (network animation, leadership, etc.)?

Check the accessibility, quality and regularity of the training programs and tools offered by the franchise network for you and your teams.

Is your internal organization optimized to ensure effective communication?

Set up an efficient internal organization to facilitate day-to-day communication and management.

Do you receive ongoing support from the network?

Make sure the franchisor offers ongoing assistance and support tools, to maintain harmony within the network and keep teams motivated.

👉 To find out more : How to develop a restaurant franchise?

Questions to ask before starting a franchise

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Your fast-food restaurant concept

Have you chosen the right franchise?

Evaluate franchises on criteria such as financial strength, reputation, support and financial terms.

Are you bringing something new to the market?

Develop a concept that stands out from the competition through its authenticity, technological innovations, menu, entertainment, loyalty strategy and so on.

Does product quality meet market and consumer expectations (seasonal, organic, short-distance, healthy, etc.)?

Make sure the quality of your products meets the expectations of local consumers.

What are the current trends in the fast-food sector?

Stay up to date with current trends to adjust your offer and attract customers. Social networks, guest reviews, newsletters and specialized magazines can help you do this.

What's your plan for staying innovative and in tune with diners' expectations?

Establish a strategy to constantly innovate and meet changing consumer expectations.

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Financial aspects

Have you defined your financing plan (contributions, equity, loan)?

Draw up a clear financing plan, taking into account your personal contributions, loans and borrowings.

Have you determined the prices of your dishes and formulas?

Define a pricing policy that strikes the right balance between profitability and customer appeal.

Are you aware of the financial investment and reduced freedom of action that a franchise represents?

Be aware of the investments required and the reduced freedom of action compared to an independent company.

Do you know how much the entrance fee, royalties and advertising fees are?

Find out about entrance fees, royalties and advertising charges.

Have you set aside working capital for the first few months of business?

Make sure you have enough working capital to cover expenses in the first few months, which are often crucial to the company's survival.

Have you properly assessed recurring costs?

Evaluate all recurring costs to avoid financial surprises, both fixed and variable.

Have you calculated profitability and potential return on investment?

Analyze profitability potential and calculate return on investment to secure your project.

👉 To find out more : Franchising: how to successfully break through the 100-restaurant barrier?

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Legal and contractual aspects

What types of franchises are there?

Find out about the different types of franchises available to find the one that best suits your vision.

What is the legal status of a franchise?

Choose the legal status that best suits your franchise and your objectives.

What are the legal requirements and opening authorizations (license, premises, etc.)?

Find out about the licenses and permits required to open and operate your franchise.

Have you studied the regulations in force (safety, HACCPetc.)?

Make sure you comply with all applicable regulations, especially those concerning food safety.

What are the terms, conditions and termination clauses of the franchise contract?

Carefully read and analyze the terms and conditions of the franchise agreement before signing.

How do you plan to protect yourself legally as a franchisee?

Consult a specialist lawyer to ensure that your interests are legally protected.

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Marketing and communications

How do you promote your franchise?

Use a variety of channels to promote your franchise and raise its profile.

What communication and marketing strategy strategy?

Develop a strategy that adopts market codes to effectively reach your target audience.

Do you have a plan for managing your franchise's online reputation?

Develop a strategy to monitor and manage your franchise's online reputation, essential in the restaurant industry.

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Management of orders, supplies and customer relations

Have you considered Innovorder's omnichannel solution for your franchise?

Adopt omnichannel solutions like Innovorder to optimize order processing and procurement.

Innovorder 's experts will be happy to discuss ordering terminals, online ordering and Click&Serve with you.

👉 Find out more in our webinar How to boost productivity in fast food?

Have you considered customer relationship management (CRM) solutions?

Consider using CRM systems to improve the customer experience and build customer loyalty.

How do you ensure fast, efficient service for an optimal customer experience?

Think about optimizing processes to minimize waiting times and offer responsive service. For example, you can install production screens in the kitchen that will save you a lot of time on preparation.

Thanks to my KDS, I can serve my customers in less than 7 minutes, even during rush hours. Damien Pugeault, BCHEF franchisee in Vannes

👉 Further information : Opening a fast food franchise: the ultimate guide

By answering these questions, and taking every aspect of your future franchise into account, you'll be able to approach your entrepreneurial project with confidence, and increase your chances of success. Innovorder wishes you the best of luck in this new adventure!

Would you like to open a franchise and are looking for a partner to help you digitalize your business? Innovorder is the only player in France to offer a complete ecosystem: order-taking, collection, preparation, delivery and management!

👉 Discover our offer for franchises

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37 questions to ask yourself before launching a restaurant franchise