(Home based franchise) Important Lessons On Financing A Franchise In Canada – Franchise Business Loan Success

24. October 2012 · Write a comment · Categories: Franchise Consultants, Online Franchise, Top Franchises, Uncategorized

By sprokop

 It might be a proven business model, but funding that model can be a challenge without the right information and assistance. We’re talking about financing a franchise. A franchising business loan done properly is of course what is going to make those franchise opportunities you’ve chose work.

So is there a cost to buying into what most people recognize as a ‘ proven system ‘. The essential cost of course is your own personal investment into the business, as the type of financing that you obtain to acquire, and grow your business.

While many clients come to us with the mindset that financing a franchise is a ‘ start up ‘ type of business that comes with all sorts of risk and challenges the reality is that in many ways financial institutions and other lenders view this business model a safe way to enter into entrepreneurialism. And that translates, when you know what you are doing, into financing opportunities to create success for your vision.

A typical question we get is whether the type of business or brand or reputation of franchise opportunities in Canada matters relative to the finance challenge around acquiring that business. In general we can say it does not. Of course if you have been lucking enough to acquire the rights or an existing unit with an international brand that is already established that’s one step ahead, but the reality is that each new franchise financing opportunity is typically handled on its own merits.

In Canada you can typically be expected to put in a minimum of 10% permanent equity into your business when utilizing one of the most popular finance programs available to franchisees. However to make that transaction work, and get approved realistically you should be prepared to demonstrate the ability, not necessarily the cash, to fund up to 30 -40% of the acquisition.

Don’t forget also that an existing franchise, wherein you are purchasing for a franchisee who is selling is generally financed under the same mechanisms as a new unit. In Canada it always feels like the majority of franchises are Quick Service type restaurants but given that the franchise industry in Canada represents almost 50% of the economy you can be assure there are lots of other industry business models out there offered by Canadian, U.S. and international franchisors.

If there is one ‘ trick ‘ ( can we actually call it a trick?!) to financing a franchise in Canada it probably boils down to being prepared in advance for financing while at the same time working with a franchise financing institution or advisor who has special expertise in this type of finance.

In Canada many of the well known brands in franchising do in fact have relationships and packages available to you with 2 institutions, our chartered banks and one international franchise finance firm. However, we want to make it clear there is certainly no guarantee on financing your new business just because a relationship may have been forged in the past.

A franchising business loan in Canada is most easily accomplished via the federal BIL/CSBF program. This can be complimented by equipment and asset financing as well as working capital solutions that are either entwined or independent of the main financing.

Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor on franchise opportunities that can be properly financing in Canada.

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(Franchise magazine) How to Find the Best Franchise Opportunities in the UK

24. October 2012 · Write a comment · Categories: Franchise Directory, Online Franchise, Uncategorized

By Macro

 The first thing you should do when looking for the right franchise opportunity in the UK is to look for a franchise that is well-known and has an established reputation in the UK. This is important because youre investing thousands of pounds into the franchise for sale and you could lose out on money if you enter into a franchise agreement that has a history of poor revenue and bad customer service. Read different business journals and find out what the best franchise opportunities are and why.

Also consider your budget when looking for franchise opportunities in the UK. If you can only afford 230,000 pounds for a franchise, then avoid franchises that cost more than this amount. If there is some franchises for sale that youre interested in but you currently cant afford it, spend a few years saving up for the investment. Its better to do it this way than to get a loan youll struggle to repay.

Think about the level of commitment youll need in order to purchase and maintain the franchise you want. Some franchises allow you to operate and oversee them on a part-time basis while other franchises require you to put in more time. If you have a full-time job, you should ask yourself if youre willing to cut back on work hours to devote time to the franchise.

Before you apply for franchising opportunities in the UK, you must obtain a list of franchises that are currently available in the UK and spend a month researching each of the parent companies that direct the franchises. Learn about their annual revenue, which services or products theyre best known for and the cost of starting and maintaining the franchise.

Another way to research franchise opportunities in the UK is to look at UK-based online franchise directories and write letters to the companies youre thinking about partnering who youre partnering with also helps to read blogs by UK-based franchisees so you can get an idea of what franchising looks like.

In conclusion, find the best franchise in the UK allows you to own a business without the hassle of building, promoting and maintaining the proper conditions of a business yourself. Having a franchise gives you a sense of accomplishment and youre able to build wealth for yourself and your family.

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(Fast food franchise) How To Kick Start Franchise Financing Success. Funding Your Franchising Loan Needs In Canada

24. October 2012 · Write a comment · Categories: Franchise Consultants, Franchise Directory, Franchise Magazine, Online Franchise, Top Franchises, Uncategorized

By sprokop

 Thousands of Canadian would be entrepreneurs in Canada clearly recognize the trend that franchising in Canada is a major industry and a leading contributor to the economy as a whole. You want to be a part of that trend!

So, that being said how does the entrepreneur translate that opportunity into his or her ability to kick start franchise financing funding in a manner that makes getting a franchising loan a success as a part of their overall entrepreneurial strategy?

Let’s share some solid advice on what type of financing you should utilize to successfully complete your new or existing business acquisition. Yes, existing franchises can be purchased and financed also!

The amount of money that you yourself put into the business is a key factor in your potential sales and profit success. But two questions immediately arise: Do those funds necessarily guarantee you success based on how much you put in, and secondly, where do you access the balance of the finances you require?

One somewhat intangible issue that also always comes up is the ability of the entrepreneur/ borrower to demonstrate how much experience they have in a chosen industry or business. So things like your own outlook on being an entrepreneur / business owner (it’s not as easy as you think) and matching your skills to the type of business you buy and finance are critical.
By the way, we think there are very few executives in even the largest most successful corporations in Canada that have the total skills involving sales, marketing, operations and finance as a total skill set . Those people are the real superstars.

Naturally one of the reasons you purchase a franchise is that you are buying into, hopefully, a proven system of a brand, business model, marketing and advertising assistance, etc.

OPM is important when it comes to franchise financing. That of course stands for Other People Money, which represents the balance o the funding you need for your franchise purchase. In Canada, along with your equity, or we’ll call it a down payment the balance of your financing comes from either a commercial finance company that either specializes in franchise finance, or one that can compliment the financing you need. A good example of that is an equipment finance company that can acquire and lease assets for you such as POS systems, other hard assets, vehicles, etc,

In general anywhere from 10 to 40%, sometimes more is required as a down payment or equity contribution to your business. We quickly add that that doesnt always necessarily mean that money is permanently contributed or ‘ tied up ‘, but you just must show that you have access to liquidity to get the busines off to a good start for working capital and growth purposes.

Two key points for the franchisee – a solid majority of the franchising loan scenario in Canada is done via the government BIL/CSBF program. It offers great rates, terms and structures for the acquisition of your business. Where the program falls down a bit is when it comes to a service type business where there are limited or no assets to purchase / finance.

Our other key point – have a crisp ‘ package ‘ in place when it comes to a business plan, industry overview, financial projections, etc. This isn’t the rocket science it sometimes seems when it comes to getting a good proposal in front of your lender.

You can’t afford to miss out on your business purchase just because of a poor presentation package, and it can also be easily accomplished by using an expert such as a Canadian business financing advisor that is experienced and has success and knowledge of franchise finance.

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(Franchise sales) Important Lessons On Financing A Franchise In Canada – Franchise Business Loan Success

24. October 2012 · Write a comment · Categories: Franchise Consultants, Franchise Directory, Franchise Magazine, Online Franchise, Top Franchises

By sprokop

 It might be a proven business model, but funding that model can be a challenge without the right information and assistance. We’re talking about financing a franchise. A franchising business loan done properly is of course what is going to make those franchise opportunities you’ve chose work.

So is there a cost to buying into what most people recognize as a ‘ proven system ‘. The essential cost of course is your own personal investment into the business, as the type of financing that you obtain to acquire, and grow your business.

While many clients come to us with the mindset that financing a franchise is a ‘ start up ‘ type of business that comes with all sorts of risk and challenges the reality is that in many ways financial institutions and other lenders view this business model a safe way to enter into entrepreneurialism. And that translates, when you know what you are doing, into financing opportunities to create success for your vision.

A typical question we get is whether the type of business or brand or reputation of franchise opportunities in Canada matters relative to the finance challenge around acquiring that business. In general we can say it does not. Of course if you have been lucking enough to acquire the rights or an existing unit with an international brand that is already established that’s one step ahead, but the reality is that each new franchise financing opportunity is typically handled on its own merits.

In Canada you can typically be expected to put in a minimum of 10% permanent equity into your business when utilizing one of the most popular finance programs available to franchisees. However to make that transaction work, and get approved realistically you should be prepared to demonstrate the ability, not necessarily the cash, to fund up to 30 -40% of the acquisition.

Don’t forget also that an existing franchise, wherein you are purchasing for a franchisee who is selling is generally financed under the same mechanisms as a new unit. In Canada it always feels like the majority of franchises are Quick Service type restaurants but given that the franchise industry in Canada represents almost 50% of the economy you can be assure there are lots of other industry business models out there offered by Canadian, U.S. and international franchisors.

If there is one ‘ trick ‘ ( can we actually call it a trick?!) to financing a franchise in Canada it probably boils down to being prepared in advance for financing while at the same time working with a franchise financing institution or advisor who has special expertise in this type of finance.

In Canada many of the well known brands in franchising do in fact have relationships and packages available to you with 2 institutions, our chartered banks and one international franchise finance firm. However, we want to make it clear there is certainly no guarantee on financing your new business just because a relationship may have been forged in the past.

A franchising business loan in Canada is most easily accomplished via the federal BIL/CSBF program. This can be complimented by equipment and asset financing as well as working capital solutions that are either entwined or independent of the main financing.

Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor on franchise opportunities that can be properly financing in Canada.

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(Buying a franchise) What’s The Cost And Return on Franchise Financing In Canada.? Franchising Loans & ROI Explained

24. October 2012 · Write a comment · Categories: Franchise Directory, Franchise Magazine, Online Franchise, Top Franchises

By sprokop

 When we talk to clients about their concerns of getting franchise financing in Canada they also want to focus on whether the cost to finance that franchise is in effect a good ‘ return on investment ‘, in relation to both their own personal investment in the business as well as ongoing returns on that equity based on the ongoing profits of the business and the risk involved in this type of business, i.e. franchising!

The amount of capital you need to raise relative to your franchise loan varies in Canada. Factors that are critical here are the amount of capital that in some cases your franchisor might insist you put into the business. Another key factor is of course the amount of funding you are able to raise based upon your own personal financial situation, one factor of which is your personal credit rating. Clearly the majority of franchises in Canada are regarded as ‘ small business’ so it makes sense that the banks and other firms that participate in franchise financing are focusing on you personally as well as your overall business prospects.

Canadian chartered banks, contrary to popular opinion, do participate in franchise financing in Canada. In fact in our opinion you could call them the major lender to the industry. But what many clients don’t understand when looking for franchise financing in Canada is that the bank lending in the franchising industry is done under the auspices of the Government Small Busines Loan, which is perfect suited to the type of financing you probably need.

So how much do franchises cost. We can safely say that they range in price for very nominal amounts such as 10k or so for a small service based franchise to millions of dollars for such large brand names… think ‘ golden arches’ as an example .

Cost factors of your franchise vary with respect to how well your franchisor is doing in Canada, or perhaps it’s often the case of a franchisor in the U.S. who wishes to expand or introduce their presence in Canada.

We mentioned the government small business loan as a prime source of financing for the cost of your franchising proposal. This loan actually maxis out at $ 350,000.00 but in our experience that amount finances a huge amount of the franchise opportunities in Canada. They are great loans because they offer sensible maturities of 5-7 years, solid interest rates and nominal fees attached to the overall financing. The initial franchise fee itself is not financeable under the program, so typically our clients fund that portion themselves, which of course counts as their overall equity,

It’s important to start sourcing your financing for your new franchise early on in the process. The bottom line, it’s never too late to start looking at your financing options available, including our aforementioned SBL loan.

So where does the capital come from relative to your own investment in the business.

Typically we see these funds coming from a clients own personal savings. That might also come from a severance situation based on the clients exit from ‘ corporate life ‘. In some cases you may choose to collapse savings, registered, or otherwise.

We encourage customers to understand the concept of financial leverage when it comes to R O I, or return on investment. Measure risk against reward; ensure you can withdraw a reasonable amount as a salary from the business, based on your financial projections.

And that ROI! Compute and analyze it just as you would any investment, such as a stock. Let’s say something costs 100% and you earn a 6% dividend. That’s generally a reasonable amount. So if you sell that investment 12 months latter your ROI is 6%. Think of that stock as being your business and the dividend being your business profits. Measure risk and reward and factor in the time and commitment you need to make into the business.

Franchising financing in Canada can be as difficult or easy as you make it. Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who is expert in financing the cost of your franchising. And here’s to your great, hopefully, Return on Investment!

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