If you’re getting serious about franchising your business, the Franchise Feasibility Study is the essential first step.
Before committing to a full franchise development plan, most business owners choose to start here – it’s the most strategic and cost-effective way to assess whether franchising is the right move for your business.
The study gives a clear picture of your business’s potential as a franchise. Moreover, it helps to avoid costly mistakes in the future.
Our consultant Rob Hall explains more about the Franchise Feasibility Study in this short video.
What’s included in a Franchise Feasibility Study:
- Initial business assessment from an experienced franchise consultant
- Franchise strategy – a look at your model and how it could work as a franchise
- Financial planning – both for you as franchisor and your future franchisees
- Five-year financial forecast – grounded in real-world franchise performance
- SWOT analysis – strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats
- Competitive positioning – understanding demand and differentiation
- Fee structure – outlining initial and ongoing fees
- Franchise model design – what your future franchise might actually look like
- Business resource review – assessing your internal capacity to franchise
- Actionable recommendations – a clear route forward, with honest advice
- A detailed written report with findings, insights, and next steps.
Why this step matters
Many franchise failures occur not because of poor products or services, but because the business model wasn’t properly tested or prepared for franchising.
The feasibility study ensures:
- Your franchise will offer worthwhile returns to both you and your franchisees
- You’re fully prepared — financially, operationally, and strategically — for expansion
- You make informed decisions before investing further in development
Not every business is ready to franchise — and that’s okay
One of the benefits of this study is that it helps you understand if and when your business is ready to franchise. Some businesses complete the study and choose not to proceed — either because it isn’t viable right now, or because the model needs refinement. In either case, this insight can save thousands of pounds and months of work.
If your business isn’t quite there yet, you’ll receive clear guidance at no extra cost on what to improve so that it can become franchise-ready.
What happens next?
Once the feasibility study is complete and your model is proven viable, we can map out your Franchise Development Plan. This takes your feasibility findings and begins shaping your operational systems, legal frameworks, marketing tools, and everything you’ll need to launch successfully.
Ready to explore your franchise potential?
Franchise Business Planning starts here – with the Franchise Feasibility Study.
Get in touch to arrange a no-obligation discussion with one of our expert consultants.
The Risks of Franchising
There are risks in expanding any business and in franchising; your responsibility is to create a win-win strategy so that both you and the franchisees succeed.
Moreover, creating a franchise offer is entirely different from normal trading activity in relation to your original business. You are about to embark on running a completely new business, focusing on helping others to succeed. That means using your model, with your support, training and ongoing development. It is very much a people and organisational centred operation. For that reason, we do advise that you take professional advice at the outset. We find that companies frequently underestimate exactly what will be involved in creating and developing a successful franchise. Creating a franchise offer is entirely different from normal trading activity in relation to your original business.
There is no substitute for real experience – hence the phrase ‘fail to plan’ then ‘plan to fail’ is often proven accurate!
Franchise FAQS
How Much Should I Charge Franchisees?
Determining how much to charge franchisees involves considering various fees that cover the resources and infrastructure needed to support a franchise network. Common franchise fees include an initial franchise fee, Management Service Fees (MSF), marketing fees, and potentially other fees like technology or renewal fees. The initial franchise fee is a one-time payment for the rights to use the brand and operating systems, while MSF are ongoing charges based on sales revenue for continuous support. Marketing fees contribute to national or regional marketing efforts managed by the franchisor. When setting fees, conduct a detailed analysis of business and operational costs and benchmark against industry standards to ensure competitiveness. Clearly explain the value and support provided in return for these fees to potential franchisees.
Head over to our FAQs page for a further breakdown of franchisee fees.
What Franchise Support Do I Need to Provide to Potential Franchisees?
In essence, franchisor support safeguards smooth operations. Support should include training programmes, operational support, premises selection, design & fit out, marketing & promotions, technology, financial guidance & reviews, quality control, supply chain management, R&D, new innovations, new products or services, audits & standards compliance. Supporting franchisees creates a collaborative culture, so maintaining open & regular communications is a key aspect of support. For example, regular meetings with franchisees, recognition & awards events, and conferences are important in creating successful franchise networks. Supporting & empowering franchisees to succeed is an essential element of franchisors responsibilities, and creates a motivated, profitable network that will attract new franchisees to the brand.
Click through for a full list of franchise support.
How Can I Protect My Business Ideas When Franchising?
To protect your business ideas when franchising, implement several key strategies. Use robust legal agreements like Franchise Agreements and NDAs to safeguard your intellectual property and confidential information. Register trademarks, patents, and copyrights to legally protect your brand, products, and materials. Create detailed training and operational manuals, limiting access to sensitive information. Monitor franchisee compliance through regular audits, meetings, and possibly mystery shoppers, and appoint a franchise manager when possible. Carefully screen and train franchisees to ensure they uphold your brand standards. Finally, gather customer service feedback to identify areas needing improvement and take legal action against any franchisees who violate agreements to protect your brand reputation.
Learn more about protecting your brand.
We Can Help You
To find out how Ashtons Franchise Consulting can help you transform your business into an established national franchise with a Franchise Development Business Plan, call 0330 016 0028, email enquiry@ashtonsfranchise.com or complete our online enquiry form.