Franchise consultancy If you have been looking around the world of franchising for a while you may have bumped into the idea of franchise consulting. Since this profession is new to most people let me tell you a little bit about what franchise consultancy do and why they might be valuable to you if you are considering starting a new business. What is a Franchise Consultant A franchise consultant represents a large number of franchise companies in a variety of industries. For example, the Business Alliance of which I am an affiliate represents over 240 top franchisors including companies like AAMCO, Molly Maids and Huntington Learning Centers. The consultant helps franchisors find potential business owners for their brand. There is no fee to the potential business owner (you) as the consulting fees are paid by the franchisors. The Consulting Process Franchise Consultants talk with people who are interested in starting a business. Sometimes potential owners have a general idea of what they want to do but most of the time they really don't have a clear vision. The franchise consultancy with them for about twenty minutes about their business goals, their career background, what they want to do in the future and what kind of investment they can make. The consultant takes that information, performs an opportunity search and creates a report with three or four recommendations that line up with what the client is looking for. The search process usually takes about three days. A franchise consultant can help you think through your personal and business goals, strengths and weaknesses as well as investment parameters in a systematic manner. The consultant will narrow the field of potential concepts to the ones most likely to match your needs. In other words, the consultant will help you avoid wasting time and energy on dead end paths. If you get to where you are genuinely interested in exploring business ideas then getting a consultant involved would be a good idea. Don't wait until you have made a decision about what company you are interested in or try to research concepts on your own. Waiting too long will deny you the opportunity to take full advantage of what franchise consulting has to offer. At this point, I would encourage you to evaluate your personal goals. What specifically do you want to achieve? How much money will you earn? How many hours will you work? How many people will work for you? Where will your work be conducted? How will your family be affected? What does your ideal situation look like three years from now? A franchise consultancy can help you evaluate how your answers align with various business opportunities.