Latest Q & A
Franchise fees and tax
Can you tell me if a franchise fee can be counted as a business expense for tax purposes? If not, what should it be recorded on the tax return as?
Getting out of a franchise contract
Can we get out of a franchise that we have been in for a year now, on the grounds of mis-selling? We feel the level of support given in the early months was virtually non-existent and this has resulted in the business taking much longer to get up and running and a further £82,000 borrowing.
Contacting other franchisees
Is it reasonable to ask a franchisor to provide a full list of their franchisees and their contact details so you contact anyone on the list?
Franchise operating manuals
What is a franchise operating manual and what should be in it?
Sole traders and franchising
I'm buying a franchise and setting up as sole trader. I've read that as sole trader I don't need to register a company name but is this different for a franchise when there's an overall group name? Is the process different to register as sole trader? Thanks.
Starting a franchise in the Middle-East
We are establishing a franchise in the Middle-East, mainly for Dubai, Kuwait and the rest of the gulf area. Where can we find information about this niche area and about setting up such a business abroad?
Price limits for franchisor products
Is there a limit up to which a franchisor can set its prices for products that I'm obliged to buy? Our written agreement is silent on the issue but the most recent price list is wholly uncompetitive and sure to lead to ruin.
Asking for case studies
Is it reasonable to ask and expect a franchisor to provide a full list of their franchisees and contact details, and let you contact anyone on the list to hear about their experiences?
Funding a home-based franchise
I am interested in investing in a home-based franchise, and would need to borrow around £10,000. Should I just get an overdraft rather than a specific franchise loan? Am I entitled to see actual accounts that support the financial projections that my prospective franchisor has provided me with?
The lettings market
I am interested in opening a lettings Franchises. How well is the lettings / property management market doing at present for franchisees? Or would you be able to tell me where I can market information on franchises?
Franchise banking
I’m not convinced the bank manager at my local branch is knowledgeable enough about franchising to advise me on financial arrangements – what should I do?
Working from home
My franchisor wants me to move into retail premises but I am happy running my business from home. I want to maintain a good working relationship but I’m worried my franchisor may penalise me for staying home-based. What should I do?
Ongoing franchise fees
Why do some franchisors charge ongoing fees when others only ask for an initial one-off payment?
Protecting your interests
I am looking seriously at buying a franchise. I have received a copy of the franchise agreement and it seems to lean very much towards protecting the franchisor’s interests. Is this typical? Am I right to be concerned or am I being too cautious?
Selling a franchise
I am considering selling my franchise, as I want to retire. How do I go about getting a valuation and what costs will be incurred?
