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
Why do franchise investment levels vary so much?
John Pratt writes:
Franchises, like businesses in general, come in all shapes and sizes. Some envisage franchisees working from home, perhaps on a part-time basis, others may require a franchisee to operate from a van and yet others may envisage substantial retail premises being used for the purpose of the franchise.
You should bear in mind that not only will you have to pay an initial fee to the franchisor, but you will have to buy equipment and possibly a vehicle as well. If you’re operating from premises, you might have to undertake a shop fit and pay a premium on the lease, so you need to know precisely what you’re going to have to pay out and when.
You also need to remember that your business will not be profitable immediately. It may take over a year before it’s in profit, so you will have to have sufficient funds with which to live during that period.
When you have calculated the total initial outlay, you need to establish, with the help of the franchisor and talking to other franchisees, the likely levels of profit to ensure it makes sense to incur that initial outlay.
John Pratt is senior partner at specialist franchise firm Hamilton Pratt and has advised franchisors for over 25 years.
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 Gourmet Sushi franchise
Yes
Find Out More£1,900,000

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

Start your own ActionCOACH UK franchise
Yes
Find Out MoreThis would be discussed at interview...

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

Start your own Post & Packing franchise
Yes
Find Out More£265,000

Request Free Information
Send a free enquiry to Post & Packing for further information!

Start your own Henry Sykes Auctions Franchise franchise
Yes
Find Out More£200,000

Request Free Information
Send a free enquiry to Henry Sykes Auctions Franchise for further information!

Start your own Chop & Wok franchise
Yes
Find Out MoreProfit between 27 to 33% of turnover

Request Free Information
Send a free enquiry to Chop & Wok 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 4 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