Yes, in the grand scheme of things this step does feel like a leap. You started out merely curious, interested in the mirage of a future in business ownership. Perhaps you thought about starting up on your own, or did some perfunctory internet research on what the options are before you decided to talk to a professional.
Then you met me, or another consultant, who can answer your initial questions with a personal touch and an understanding of you as an individual. No doubt this stage feels much better than your earlier research, after all, I do have over 20 years of experience in the franchise game including starting, scaling, and selling my own businesses. It definitely pays to have someone on your side who’s won several awards in the industry as voted by peers and competition alike, and I hope I’ve helped to intrigue that curiosity further, and flesh out your goals for the future.
You’ve done the questionnaires, you’ve had a few one on one calls, and you’re pleasantly surprised by the range of business options and industries that I’ve shown you. There are most likely amazing franchise opportunities that you’ve never thought to look up on your own, and consultants like me are trained to find the ones perfect for you. Are your palms getting sweaty? Because the more you realize that this could absolutely be a viable option for you, the more you cross the bridge from curious to serious.
First of all, making that switch is a good thing, even if it feels scary. Your time, and that of your consultant, is very valuable. Get ready to spend a lot of it in RESEARCH MODE to determine whether or not this business really is the one for you. Remember when we talked about the fact that this is a process? You’ve made it a lot further down the path in your switch to serious, but remember that there is still a LOT to do. There is so much education that happens at this stage, so get ready to learn a bunch about the unique qualities of the business you are looking into, as well as franchise law, the franchising process, and so much more.
By this point, you’ve hopefully learned that the internet does not have all the answers. Every single franchise review blog, even those that appear to be offered by a third party, is a marketing tool. So, stay the course, make the calls, listen to real people with real experience and real advice. Keep peeling back the layers of the onion, and know that even now you have at LEAST a month of research, education, and investigation left before pulling the trigger – probably more.
If the hypothetical I’ve lain before you in this article sounds so daunting that you can never see yourself really making that huge decision, then you should stop here. If you aren’t 100 percent certain that the business that first pushed you from curious to serious is right for you after some time in research mode, then keep looking! I promise that what you’ve learned will only help you in your continued search, and as long as you are interested in looking I will be interested in helping you.