expert advice: Danielle Windecker & Kendall Ansell
13 + Marketing Questions to ask before you buy a Franchise
Franchise opportunities are seemingly endless these days! From food trucks to health services and everything in between, if you like the idea of being your own boss, there are many options to explore. Before investing your hard-earned cash in a franchise, there are many questions you should ask of yourself and the company. While prospective franchisees often think to ask about financials and brand reputation, all too often, marketing queries are overlooked. Save yourself from a potential “I wish I’d known that before!” moment. When considering a franchise opportunity, make sure to investigate how marketing and advertising are handled with these handy questions:
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Will I be required to contribute to national marketing and advertising campaigns? Many companies that offer franchise opportunities require franchisees to 36 canadian franchise magazine
Danielle Windecker is a marketing expert and account manager at Jelly Digital Marketing + PR. She is passionate about developing strategic, creative marketing strategies for each of her unique clients.
contribute a percentage of their profits to a fund used for national advertising campaigns. If the company you’re interested in utilizes this method, are you comfortable with the percentage you’re required to contribute? Is it standard for the industry, and will your business benefit from it?
Kendall Ansell is founder and principal at Kendall Ansell Interiors and Belle Construction. She believes that happiness starts at home and loves helping bring her clients’ unique visions to life within their spaces!
Additionally; how often are those assets updated to ensure they’re fresh and relevant? What file formats are logos and template documents created in - do you know how to work with them?
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What kind of input can I have on overall marketing or marketing for my franchise location?
It’s essential to know how the larger corporation will support your local marketing efforts. Do they offer franchisees training or guides on how to market in a new service area? Will they provide you with access to assets like a style guide, quality photos and videos or templates for business cards and flyers?
If the company does provide marketing guidelines and assets to franchisees, it’s also important to know whether you’re required to use them. Are you able to do any customization, within brand guidelines, to make them unique for your location? Can you manage your own marketing campaigns?
What marketing support do you provide to franchisees?