How to Find a Franchise 

At this point, we’re assuming that you have a very solid handle on whether or not you want to purchase a franchise. You should know your motivation, have an idea what sort of franchise(s) you’re looking for, and feel fairly confident in your ability to handle your own business. 

There’s just one problem: you don’t know where to begin looking! Fortunately, there are literally hundreds of places you can learn about franchise opportunities right now, today! Here are just a few. 

Word of Mouth 

Begin by telling your friends and family that you’re interested in purchasing a franchise. You’ll be amazed how quickly they start to come to you with the information that so-and-so is selling a franchise, or their second cousin twice removed runs a wonderful franchise looking for more operators. Word of mouth is truly a terrific thing. 

Keep your eyes open as well. If you see an interesting service or product, you may find pamphlets or advertisements looking for franchisees nearby. This is especially true for vending machine operators and the like. 

Magazines 

There are many magazines dedicated to connecting franchisors and franchisees, and many of them specifically target UK audiences (which works great for you, because presumably you don’t want to move to Tibet to start your business). These are a few of the better-known publications: 

·  The Franchise Magazine (TFM): The Franchise Magazine offers tons of great information, including franchising articles, business tips, available franchises, and much more. They also provide counseling services for those considering purchasing franchises or franchising their own business. Check out the magazine, and also take a look at their website: www.thefranchisemagazine.net. Both are chock-full of great information. 

·  Franchise World: Franchise World is an extraordinarily informative magazine, with tips on evaluating potential franchises, selecting the franchise that’s right for you, and connecting with franchisors. They also produce the British Franchise Directory and Guide, a detailed list of franchises available in Britain each year. Visit their website for free information and to order a free copy of the magazine: www.franchiseworld.co.uk 

·  Business Franchise Magazine: This magazine is the only official publication of the B.F.A. (British Franchise Association). The Business Franchise Magazine is available by subscription, at newsstands, and at Franchise Exhibitions. It provides useful information for potential and existing franchisees and franchisors. 

·  Franchise International: Obviously not a British publication, Franchise International is dedicated to promoting worldwide franchise opportunities. You may find it a useful read if you’re interested in beginning an overseas franchise in the UK. 

There are many other print sources of franchise information, but these four magazines are a great place to start! 

Websites

We all love the Internet, the twenty first century’s treasure trove of information. Of course, “information” is a broad term, and not necessarily what you want: you need good information, information that is reliable and trustworthy. 

Here are some great websites that will help you on your path to becoming a successful franchisee! 

·  The Franchise Magazine: The magazine is mentioned above, but their website is worth a visit too: it provides a large amount of great information. www.thefranchisemagazine.net 

·  Franchise World: Like The Franchise Magazine, Franchise World’s website contains a lot of useful information. The organization isn’t spectacular, but it’s worth sifting through for the useful connections. www.franchiseworld.co.uk 

·  Dalton’s Business: Dalton’s Business provides a detailed list of franchises available for purchase at www.daltonsbusiness.com. 

·  Franchise Exhibition: Franchise Exhibition provides a detailed list of available franchises. You can search by business name, category, or type, and the listings are thorough and up-to-date. www.franchiseexpo.co.uk 

·  The British Franchise Association: The British Franchise Association is the most recognized name in British franchising. They maintain a list of members, all of whom meet stringent ethical guidelines. The BFA website offers not only a thorough listing of potential franchises, but a good deal of helpful advice for franchisors and franchisees alike. www.thebfa.org 

Franchise Exhibitions 

Franchise exhibitions provide a great opportunity for franchisors and franchisees to get together and examine one another. The nice thing about an exhibition is the single-minded focus: everyone is there for a specific reason. You’ll find many franchises eager for your business, and you’ll have a wide variety of franchises to compare and contrast. You might even find some ideas you never knew existed! 

If you hate the idea of poring over website descriptions, a franchise exhibition is ideal. Even if you’re a sit down and think sort of person, franchise exhibitions are great opportunities because you often get to meet the franchisor in person. Remember, you have to work with this person, not just their business! 

Naturally, the times and locations of franchise exhibitions change yearly, but these are some of the main British franchising exhibitions. Plug their names into a search engine to find the times and locations for this year! 

·  The British Franchise Exhibition: Hosted in association with the B.F.A., meaning all franchisors are B.F.A. members. Usually held in January. 

·  The British and International Franchise Exhibition: Similar to the above, also hosted in association with the B.F.A., but even larger, and usually held in the spring. 

·  The British Franchise Exhibition -- Glasgow: A Scottish counterpart to the British Franchise Exhibition. 

·  The Irish Franchise Exhibition: Presented in association with the Irish Franchise Association, offering excellent opportunities for Irish franchisees. 

The Franchise Magazine also offers an extensive list of upcoming British exhibitions and events on their website, www.thefranchisemagazine.net. 

Find It! 

As you can see, there’s no shortage of ways to connect with franchisors! Get moving, and don’t be afraid to look around. There’s always something new to discover in the franchising world, so take your time, have fun, and start exploring.