In 2026, the traditional career path looks less stable than ever.
More and more people are discovering that entrepreneurship can be a powerful way to reclaim their working freedom and secure their financial future. But setting up on your own can be a scary prospect, especially if it’s your first time. Where’s the handbook? Who’s going to tell you what to do, and what mistakes to avoid?
Well, that’s where franchising comes in. Buying into a franchise system means starting on the journey of becoming a business owner – but with the support and training of a brand behind you. You’re still running your own business, but you’ve got a built-in network of franchisees you can learn from.
In this article, we’re going to walk you through the whole process of starting a franchise and becoming a franchisee, step by step. You’ll learn about research, acquiring finance, due diligence and much more – with expert advice along the way from consultants Runo Franchising.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Franchisee?
It’s important to get one misconception out of the way first: buying into a franchise doesn’t mean buying yourself a job you can start tomorrow. You still need to finance, launch and run the business, and you’ll work closely with the franchisor of your choice to do so.
The process differs from brand to brand, but you should expect the journey to opening day to take at least six months if you’re operating a premises-based franchise – possibly more. For a home-based franchise, you might be up and running within 8-12 weeks.
How do I Become a Franchisee?
Julie Taylor, Director of Runo Franchising, says people coming to franchising for the first time often misunderstand how much responsibility falls on their own shoulders versus the franchisors. “People come from a job and think that going into a franchise will be a bit like having somebody to tell them what to do,” she says. “It isn’t. You’ve paid your franchise fee, completed the training and now you’re a business owner. The franchisor isn’t going to do it for you – you’ve got to do it.”
Don’t let that put you off, though – all good franchisors will offer in-depth training and support in the lead-up to opening day. On top of that, you’ll usually have an opportunity to pick the brains of other franchisees who’ve walked the same path as you. But you need to be clear about the responsibility you’re taking on, because franchising does require a commitment of both time and money.
So – let’s get you started on that journey. Here are the seven major steps you’ll need to take to become a franchise owner, with a detailed breakdown of each one.
- Find Your Franchise Fit
- Budgeting & Financing
- Selection & Enquiries
- Due Diligence
- The Franchise Agreement & Legalities
- Training
- Opening & The First 100 Days
Step One – Find Your Franchise Fit
Before you start looking at franchise brands and what they offer, it helps to do a bit of thinking about yourself. What sort of franchise brand will suit your lifestyle, and experience? If you’re investing in a food franchise, you might be busiest in the evenings and weekends – are you prepared to work the hours needed?
A franchise may look attractive as a consumer proposition without suiting the life you want as its owner. Make sure you research what an ordinary working day looks like, especially during the first year where you’re getting off the ground. You need to be aligned to the brand in its entirety, not just the potential profits. Looking at examples of franchises across several sectors can help you compare how different ownership models work in practice.
You also need to ensure you have the right skills to thrive as a franchisee. Some systems might require you to contribute your own marketing skills, while others will charge a flat fee for access to high-quality marketing materials that come from the top down. Some systems will be more front-facing, and involve direct interaction with customers, while in others you’ll take more of a back seat in management.
It’s all about understanding your skills and weaknesses, and searching for a brand that aligns with the life you want to build. Remember that franchising is a big commitment, with many contracts locking you in for a number of years. You need to be passionate about making it work.
Step Two – Budgeting & Financing
Once you’ve got an idea of what you want, it’s time to understand your franchise costs and explore your franchise finance options. You can never start thinking about budgeting and financing too early. Franchising isn’t cheap, and you will usually need a chunk of your own money to get started, but there are lots of options out there to help you secure finance.
Banks in particular love franchising: it’s a proven business model with the backing of a successful brand, meaning it’s a safer investment. That also increases the likelihood you can secure a business loan to help fund your purchase. There are also many private lenders offering specialist franchise financing which you can explore.
“A common mistake is seeing a £20,000 franchise fee and thinking that covers everything,” says Julie. “It may give you access to the brand and training, but you could still need to fund premises, a landlord’s deposit, equipment and all the other costs of getting the business open.”
Here’s some of the other costs you should consider when you’re putting together your franchise budget:
| Cost | What you should budget for |
|---|---|
| Franchise fee | Access to the brand, operating system, initial training and initial support. |
| Premises | Lease deposit, advance rent, legal fees, surveys, business rates and utility connections. |
| Fit-out and equipment | Renovations, furniture, signage, machinery, vehicles, technology and security systems. |
| Stock and supplies | Opening inventory, uniforms, packaging and everyday materials. |
| Professional fees | Advice from a franchise solicitor, accountant, finance broker or property specialist. |
| Licences and insurance | Sector-specific licences, registrations and required business insurance. |
| Recruitment and wages | Advertising roles, staff training, salaries, pensions and other employment costs. |
| Ongoing franchise costs | Royalties, management fees, marketing levies, software subscriptions and renewal charges. |
| Working capital | Cash to pay operating expenses while sales and cash flow are still building. |
| Personal living costs | Enough money to cover household expenses until the franchise can provide a reliable income. |
Tip: For a deeper dive into business loans, debt vs equity financing, recourse vs non-recourse loans and more, read How Do You Finance Buying a Business? The Options Explained.
Step Three – Selection & Enquiries
So you know what you’re looking for, and you’ve got an idea of how much money is required. It’s time to start selecting some franchise brands and sending out some enquiries.
You can browse hundreds of different franchise brands here on BusinessesForSale.com, sorting by sector, price, location and much more. If you’re looking for a work from home franchise, or a franchise with a fast return on investment, you can filter your search for those things as well.
Beyond using online platforms to search for franchise brands that are recruiting, one of the most effective methods of discovery is attending trade shows. In the UK, the two biggest are the British & International Franchise Exhibition which takes place at Olympia London, and the International Franchise Show which takes place at ExCeL London. Here you can meet face to face with brands, ask them questions and speak with their existing franchisees, who can fill you in on the journey and the first steps you need to take.
Remember that the franchise application process isn’t a short one, and you shouldn’t think of it like a job interview. Franchisors vet their new franchisees thoroughly to make sure they have the necessary experience, as well as the money required to get off the ground. Be prepared to answer their questions.
Step Four – Due Diligence
Now we’re into the really meaty bit. The due diligence stage is arguably the most important when buying a franchise. It’s where you’ll investigate the franchise brand you’re thinking of investing in, to make sure you know where your money is going.
First off, we recommend you read our Due Diligence Checklist: Buying a Business in The UK 2026, which will give you an understanding of the main steps in the due diligence process. Although this guide isn’t written specifically for franchising, many of the same issues will carry across.
But what about franchise-specific due diligence? Territory rights are an important one. Is your territory exclusive, and how are its boundaries determined? Who approves the site, and what happens if it’s rejected? Ask about supplies – are there mandatory purchasing orders with trusted suppliers?
You’ll also want to investigate how long the franchise system has been running, and if it has a successful track record of supporting new franchisees. Here’s Julie again: “Some new franchisors want to recruit 16 or 20 franchisees in their first year, but they are still learning how to support people at that scale. If a network expands too quickly, the franchisor may struggle to coach its new franchisees, run the pilot operation and provide everyone with the support they need.”
Perhaps the most important thing you can do is to speak to existing franchisees and hear their experiences first-hand. What do they wish they had been told before opening day? What did they struggle with in their first 100 days?
Ask the franchisor to introduce you to a representative selection of franchisees, including newer and longer-established operators. You should also consider approaching other franchisees independently through publicly available business contact details, rather than speaking only to the success stories selected for you. Be respectful of their time and remember that confidentiality clauses may prevent them from discussing proprietary systems or commercially sensitive information.
Step Five – The Franchise Agreement & Legalities
If you’ve crossed every T, dotted every I, stress-tested your budget and your business plan, spoken to your family and friends, and decided that you’re on board – well, it’s time to commit. This is the stage in the relationship where things become official, and there’s a lot more lawyers involved than in the world of dating.
It should come as no surprise that franchisors go to great lengths to protect their brand – that is, after all, what you’re buying into. Franchise agreements can be long and specific, and are often not heavily negotiable.
Tip: For a detailed breakdown, read our guide to Understanding the Franchise Agreement.
You need a legal expert to help walk you through the contracts, but a general commercial or family solicitor might not have the experience needed to point out any potential bumps in the road. Search for a lawyer with specific experience in franchising. Franchise consultants such as Runo or Platinum Wave will often be able to point you in the direction of a good one.
Some of the key things you’ll be looking out for include:
- Length of the agreement
- Renewal rights and costs
- Territory and exclusivity
- Minimum performance requirements
- Training and support obligations
- Marketing contributions
- Restrictions on products, suppliers and pricing
- Transfer or resale rights
- Personal guarantees
- Default and termination provisions
- Post-termination restrictions
- What happens if the franchisor is sold or fails
- Dispute-resolution procedures
Step Six – Training
Before you get to opening day, most franchisors will provide some level of training to get you up to speed on every aspect of the brand and its operations.
For large international brands, this can often take the form of lengthy mandatory training periods. Anyone buying a McDonald’s franchise, for example, must undergo a minimum of 26 weeks of training, where they’ll work in every part of the restaurant. That includes cooking and cleaning, as well as commercial and management training.
Tip: In McDonald’s Franchisees Share their Secrets to Success, two Canadian franchisees discuss the onboarding process at McDonald’s.
If you want to go behind the scenes at a franchise training day, the video below saw us visiting the UK office of international cleaning franchise Molly Maid. We joined two new franchisees, who found Molly Maid through BusinessesForSale.com, during their onboarding. They spoke about what they’d learned, and what their journey to opening day looked like.
Remember that training doesn’t end at opening day – a good franchisor will offer ongoing support around the clock, and you shouldn’t be afraid to ask for a reminder when you need one. Communication is key.
Step Seven – Opening & the First 100 Days
If you’ve successfully navigated all the steps above, that means you’re ready for opening day. Take a moment to appreciate the journey, and take pride in the moment your doors open to customers for the first time. A lot of people start out on the journey of franchising, but not many reach this stage.
Don’t expect everything to be sunshine and rainbows, either. It’s a common experience for franchisees to have a moment of vertigo once they’re in business. It is, after all, a big commitment of time and money, says Julie: “Almost everyone who buys a franchise wakes up at some point in the first few months and thinks, ‘What have I done?’ Some of that uncertainty can be reduced through careful due diligence, realistic territory research and conversations with people who have already been through it.”
Feeling overwhelmed doesn’t mean you’ve made the wrong decision – the early realities of franchise ownership bring new financial, operational and leadership responsibilities all at once. Remember to lean on your network of franchisees, and ask for support from the franchisor when you need it.
“Opening is only one milestone,” says Julie. “You then have to reach the point where the business is successful and making money – and continue building from there.”