Can I buy a franchise with no experience?

Many aspiring entrepreneurs wonder if they can buy a franchise with no experience. Here, we speak to franchise experts to get a clear picture of what really matters when stepping into the world of franchising.

Do I need business experience to run a franchise?

Louise Harris, principal at Franchise Projects, explains that franchisors typically provide a full training programme for new franchisees, meaning prior business experience is not usually essential.

She writes: “Typically, franchisors are offering a franchise package that delivers a training programme to allow ‘inexperienced’ people to run their own businesses. This may include both business skills and appropriate service or product training.”

“While a franchisor may be happy to take someone into the franchise who has no previous experience of running a business, there still need to be levels of capability.”

She emphasises that attitude matters more than experience: “Most franchisors will take the approach that they can teach someone the practicalities. What they can’t teach is attitude.”

Brian Duckett, former chairman of The Franchising Centre, agrees: “Generally speaking you don’t [need business experience], because the job of the franchisor is to turn you into a successful business owner through operating its proven system.”

John Pratt, senior partner at law firm Hamilton Pratt, adds: “The extraordinary thing about franchising is that not only do you not have to be an experienced business person, but you do not need any detailed knowledge about the particular business activity that is being franchised.”

Do I need industry experience?

Experience in the specific sector of a franchise is also often not essential. Brian Duckett notes: “Typically the answer to this question is no, as most franchisors will provide you with all the specific industry and operational training you will need to successfully operate one of their outlets.”

However, he highlights that there are exceptions, such as conversion franchises or certain sectors like hairdressing, where experience may be useful: “We have clients who insist on new franchisees being hairdressers, clients who convert their staff or competitors to franchisees and clients who only take franchisees who cannot cut hair because they are there to manage the business.”

Duckett also points out the risks of prior sector knowledge: “Franchisees with experience of the business sector in which the franchise operates may take less time to train and get going because they ‘know the ropes’. However, they will also know the wrinkles and shortcuts, which may compromise the quality of delivery of the franchisor’s service and therefore the brand as a whole.”

Is management experience necessary?

Management experience is not strictly required, but it can be an advantage, especially for franchises that involve managing staff.

Duckett explains: “You will certainly need management skills, whatever type of franchise you are acquiring.”

He stresses the importance of understanding all aspects of business management: “Even someone who has managed several staff before, in an employed situation, has often not managed a business as such.

“They’ve not had full responsibility for developing and implementing a business plan, nor for the ongoing management of profit and loss and cash flow, for example.”

Could age count against me?

Younger franchisees may face challenges, particularly in securing funding. Brian Duckett reflects on his own experience at 25: “The biggest challenge most people have at that stage of their life is that they won’t have enough money, or the ability to borrow it, to enable them to pay the upfront fees and set-up costs for many franchises.

“Nor will they be able to generate the working capital to pay necessary overheads and keep their personal life going while the business grows.”

However, he emphasises that enthusiasm and low-overhead business models can make youth an asset: “What I did have was the energy and enthusiasm to build a low cost, low overhead, work-from-home mobile service business. There’s no reason why other 25-year-olds cannot do that.”

What qualities make a franchisee successful?

Across all our expert advice, one theme is clear: franchisors value mindset and capability over prior experience.

Louise Harris sums it up: “Business people ‘get up and get on’ - they see every day as an opportunity to drive business, earn money and be successful, whatever that looks like.”

Duckett echoes this, highlighting the importance of demonstrating success in any role: “The experience most franchisors like to see is demonstration of previous success in a job or business-related function, maybe even in a hobby or sporting activity, where objectives were set and achieved.

“Stress your previous successes when discussing franchise opportunities and the details may not matter.”