The franchise business will contact you by means of email and/ or telephone only to the email address and phone number you have provided.
By submitting the enquiry form you are consenting to send your personal information to the selected franchise business.
You also agree to receive further newsletter email marketing from What Franchise.
Close
I want to franchise my business. What are the first steps I will need to take?
Louise Harris writes:
This question is one that many have explored and much has been written on the subject. To summarise it all I’ve tried to give you the headline information.
I recommend that you thoroughly research, starting with the British Franchise Association website, and consider attending one of their courses. A good franchise consultant will also guide you through the process of initial assessment and ultimately create a plan to franchise. It may feel expensive to take this route, but it will increase your chance of success, with less trial and error.
It is critical to understand what franchising is – the legal aspects, relationships and the challenges. It is a full-time business in it’s own right – many fail to launch as franchises because they don’t have the key resources: money and time.
Consider first whether your business can be replicated; are your own systems in place, and is it a well-run, financially viable business that has any form of unique intellectual property (a brand, product or methodology)? A yes to these questions is a good start.
It’s important to know that it is not ‘easy’ but it can be a very successful route to expansion. Just make sure you’re fully informed, since ‘franchising’ will be your new business.
Louise Harris has been in franchising since 2006 and has been both franchisee and franchisor. She runs Franchise Projects, completing critical tasks for franchised businesses.
You might also be interested in

Answered by Vincent Anthony
Vincent Anthony writes: The property market has wide appeal because it is relevant to everyone: we all... read more

Answered by Louise Harris
Louise Harris writes: Richness or wealth is relative. We always want more, I guess. So, what is... read more

Answered by Shelley Nadler
Shelley Nadler writes: A concern that businesses may have when deciding to franchise their business, is the... read more

Answered by Alan Wilkinson
Alan Wilkinson writes: There are two elements to consider here. First is the franchise fee itself, and... read more
Exciting Franchise Opportunities

Start your own The Fat Pizza franchise
Yes
Find Out More£550,000

Request Free Information
Send a free enquiry to The Fat Pizza for further information!

Start your own UK Business Mentoring Group franchise
Yes
Find Out More£90,000

Request Free Information
Send a free enquiry to UK Business Mentoring Group for further information!

Start your own The Fruit and Veg Man franchise
Yes
Find Out More£150,000

Request Free Information
Send a free enquiry to The Fruit and Veg Man for further information!

Start your own Bunsik franchise
Yes
Find Out More£1,165,000

Request Free Information
Send a free enquiry to Bunsik for further information!

Start your own Chicken Cottage franchise
Yes
Find Out MoreN/A

Request Free Information
Send a free enquiry to Chicken Cottage for further information!
Companies to Consider

Get expert franchising news delivered straight to your inbox
Franchise news, advice and new opportunities delivered weekly.
Must Read Articles
-
50 franchise brands with training programmes in 2025
Added 4 months ago | 2 min read
-
Franchise funding: How to beat the banks
Added 3 days ago | 2 min read
-
Franchise agreements: How to navigate territory rights
Added 3 weeks ago | 2 min read
Franchises by Minimum Investment
Find your next business opportunity
Search 100s of UK franchises and become your own boss today.
-
Under 10k
Starting a franchise doesn't have to be costly
Click here -
Under 20k
A mid-range investment for the more experienced
Click here -
Under 50k
If you have experience and more to invest
Click here -
Over 50k
If budget is not an issue, then don't miss these
Click here -
Local Franchises
Find the perfect franchise in a location to suit you
Click here
COPYRIGHT © 2025 ARTICHOKE MEDIA LTD Registered in England and Wales No 14769147 Registered Office Address: Jubilee House, 92 Lincoln Road, Peterborough, PE1 2SN
With the publication of Getting Started in Franchising, What-Franchise.com is not offering legal, financial or any other professional advice or endorsements. Readers are encouraged to seek advice from professionals in specialised fields before acting on any information published herein. The views and opinions expressed in Getting Started in Franchising are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of What-Franchise.com members or staff.
What Franchise Newsletter
Keep up to date with all the industry news