Franchising is a business model where a company (franchisor) grants individuals or entities (franchisees) the right to operate a business using its established brand, systems, and support. At Stella Polaris Consulting, we specialize in matching clients with suitable franchise opportunities from our network of over 650 brands.

Franchise businesses can be considered a 'business in a box'. They are brands that have had success in their own business model and have turned to franchising as a method of expansion. While a start-up business has a lot of details to figure out (branding, logos, colors, layouts, suppliers, etc) which may need countless tweaks and re-brands, franchises come with everything figured out. No need to spend time and money re-branding or trying to find a more cost-efficient supply chain, your business is starting as an established business.

Our franchise consulting services are provided at no cost to clients. We are compensated by franchisors when a successful match is made, ensuring our interests align with finding the best franchise opportunity for you. We play a similar role to a buyer's agent in a real estate transaction.

The franchise placement process typically takes 3-6 months, depending on individual circumstances. Our experienced consultants work diligently to guide you through each step, from initial consultation to final franchise selection.

Initial franchise investments can range from $50,000 and up. This number will directly relate to how expensive setting up the business will be (eg. a business run from a home office will cost considerably less than a commercial gym or trampoline park). This expense generally covers franchise fees, setup costs, and working capital. At Stella Polaris Consulting, we help you explore opportunities that align with your investment capacity and financial goals.

Yes, many franchisees explore various financing options, including SBA loans, Rollover as Business Startup (ROBS) plan, traditional bank loans, asset based loans, and franchisor financing programs. Our team can provide guidance and make referrals on potential financing avenues as part of our consultation process.

We use a comprehensive approach that considers your skills, interests, investment capacity, and long-term goals. Our network of over 650 through the International Franchise Professionals Group (IFPG) allows us to find the best matches for your unique profile.

Absolutely. We encourage clients to explore multiple options to make an informed decision and will always present 4-6 brands for each client's initial brand presentation. We do recommend our clients speak to no more than 2 brands at any one time so that they can properly focus on learning about each one - you are not committed to any brand by simply meeting them, if after meeting/reviewing brand economics that brand does not feel like a good fit, we can always go back and explore other brands from the presentation or completely go back to the drawing board to look at more options. Our consultants will guide you through comparing different franchises, helping you understand the pros and cons of each opportunity.

The Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) is a legal document required by the Federal Trade Commission that franchisors must provide to potential franchisees. It outlines crucial information about the franchise opportunity, including fees, obligations, and performance metrics. Our team can help you understand and navigate the FDD during your franchise selection process.

Franchisors offer a comprehensive support system designed to ensure your success as a franchisee. This support typically includes initial training to familiarize you with the business model, ongoing marketing assistance to help you attract and retain customers, and operational guidance to streamline your business processes. Many franchisors also provide access to a network of fellow franchisees, creating opportunities for collaboration and shared best practices. Additionally, some brands generate and book leads for you, significantly reducing the effort required to build a customer base. This robust support network is intended to help you overcome challenges, optimize operations, and achieve sustained growth, allowing you to focus on building and expanding your business confidently.

Yes, most franchisors offer training programs to help you understand the business operations, systems, and customer service standards. This training can include both classroom sessions and hands-on experience at an operational franchise location. A franchise brand's success and reputation is only as good as it's franchisees, so it is absolutely in the brand's best interest to have their franchisees trained up to standard before going in to business. While it differs brand to brand, onboarding will generally integrate a period of training at the brand's HQ, ongoing online training and in some cases the brand's trainer's will even come to your location for a period of time around and during your grand open to help guide you through any initial teething issues.

Franchising provides a lot of protection to investors. Franchise brands are required to produce a document called a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) to the FTC every year. This document is up-to-date and in-depth and will lay out the expectations the franchisor has of it's franchisees, the support franchisees can expect to receive from the brand as well as an overview of expenses incurred by franchisees to set-up their businesses to the point of cash-flow and performance of franchisees, usually broken down by percentile of performance. With all of this information available, and working with an experienced consultant, our clients can determine a realistic idea of what sort of return they can hope to see in order to determine if it is a suitable investment for them or not. Prior to signing an eventual franchise agreement, potential franchisees generally have an opportunity to visit the brand's head office and meet the executive team as well as speak to existing franchisees in the system. These stages are essential as forms of validation and should also be a big help in determining if a brand is indeed a good fit.

While all new businesses inherently carry some level of risk, franchising offers a unique opportunity to minimize many of the common challenges faced by new business startups. Traditional business ventures often grapple with uncertainties such as building brand recognition, developing effective operational systems, and securing a customer base—all of which can be daunting and risky for a new entrepreneur.

Franchising mitigates many of these risks through its established brand and comprehensive support systems. By investing in a franchise, you align yourself with a brand that has already achieved market recognition and customer loyalty. This reduces the uncertainty of attracting customers and allows you to benefit from existing brand equity.

Moreover, franchises come with proven business models and operational guidelines, eliminating much of the trial and error associated with starting a business from scratch. This structured approach provides a clearer path to profitability and growth, helping to avoid the pitfalls that many independent startups face.

Additionally, franchisors offer extensive support, including training, marketing, and ongoing operational assistance. This support helps franchisees navigate challenges and optimize their business operations, further reducing the risks associated with running a business.

However, it's important to acknowledge that franchising is not entirely risk-free. Factors such as market conditions, location, and management decisions can still impact the success of a franchise. It’s crucial for potential franchisees to conduct thorough due diligence, assess their compatibility with the franchise model, and understand the specific market dynamics they will be operating in.

Overall, while standard business risks can still be present, franchising provides a framework that significantly reduces these risks, offering a more secure and supported pathway to business ownership.

Many franchisors offer multi-unit ownership opportunities. In many cases for a larger up-front investment potential franchisees can purchase multiple territories in their chosen brand, while some brands are willing to award neighboring territories to successful franchisees in their system. We can help you explore these options and plan for strategic growth if you're interested in expanding your franchise portfolio.

Multi-unit ownership can lead to economies of scale, increased revenue potential, and greater market presence. However, it also requires effective management and resource allocation, which is why some brands prefer a franchisee to establish their first territory before expanding as they already have the infrastructure in place and an understanding of the system. If it is within a franchisee's investment capabilities, starting with multiple-units can absolutely lead to a considerably faster scale-up.

Options may include selling the franchise, passing it on to family members, or expiration of a franchise agreement. Franchise agreements are almost always for a period of time (often 5-10 years). At the expiration of the agreement the business can simply cease to operate or can be renewed (usually for a heavily discounted franchise fee). This varies brand-by-brand and it is important to understand the expectations of your franchise agreement. We can guide you in developing a viable exit strategy that aligns with your long-term goals.

If you have more questions or need personalized guidance, don't hesitate to get in touch with us! You can reach us via phone at (855) 999-6856 or email at [email protected]. Our team is here to help you navigate your franchising journey with confidence.