{"id":9380,"date":"2021-05-14T16:07:22","date_gmt":"2021-05-14T15:07:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/?p=9380"},"modified":"2024-08-12T13:18:40","modified_gmt":"2024-08-12T12:18:40","slug":"the-top-10-steps-to-follow-when-opening-a-franchise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/the-top-10-steps-to-follow-when-opening-a-franchise\/","title":{"rendered":"Franchise Checklist: The Top 10 Steps to Follow when Opening a Franchise"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_89 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #101010;color:#101010\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #101010;color:#101010\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/the-top-10-steps-to-follow-when-opening-a-franchise\/#1-self-examination\" >1. Self-examination<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/the-top-10-steps-to-follow-when-opening-a-franchise\/#2-reach-out-to-an-expert\" >2. Reach out to an expert<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/the-top-10-steps-to-follow-when-opening-a-franchise\/#3-hit-the-books\" >3. Hit the books<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/the-top-10-steps-to-follow-when-opening-a-franchise\/#4-attend-events\" >4. Attend events<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/the-top-10-steps-to-follow-when-opening-a-franchise\/#5-the-inside-job\" >5. The inside job<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/the-top-10-steps-to-follow-when-opening-a-franchise\/#6-location-location-location\" >6. Location, location, location<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/the-top-10-steps-to-follow-when-opening-a-franchise\/#7-find-the-folding\" >7. Find the folding<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/the-top-10-steps-to-follow-when-opening-a-franchise\/#8-sign-on-the-dotted-line\" >8. Sign on the dotted line<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/the-top-10-steps-to-follow-when-opening-a-franchise\/#9-the-legal-stuff\" >9. The legal stuff<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/the-top-10-steps-to-follow-when-opening-a-franchise\/#10-the-people-priorities\" >10. The people priorities<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 4<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Every year, millions of people dream about handing in their notice and branching out on their own.\u00a0 <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">While the visions of freedom can be compelling, for many, this remains a dream due to the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/8-factors-to-consider-before-buying-a-franchise\/\"> risks involved<\/a> in giving up a steady salary and\/or the lack of funds required to get a business up and running. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/how-to-buy-a-franchise-in-7-easy-steps\/\">Buying into a franchise<\/a> is an excellent way of gaining the benefits of your own business with the safety net of having an established brand name behind you. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If you\u2019ve ever thought about opening a franchise but aren\u2019t sure how to go about it, the following franchise checklist which covers the <strong>Top 10 Steps to Follow when Opening a Franchise<\/strong> will set you on the right path to your new career:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1-self-examination\"><\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">1. Self-examination<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Before even starting your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/uk-franchise-directory\/\">search for franchise opportunities<\/a>, you need to look a little closer to home &#8211; yourself. This important first step to follow when opening a franchise involves examining your skills, experience, qualifications and motivations, and your personal circumstances to figure out if franchising is right for you. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>The franchise checklist questions to be answered will include:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">How much (if any) of your personal cash are you willing to invest?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Will you be comfortable with part of your hard-earned profits going to the franchisor?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Will you be comfortable with your professional reputation being linked to the brand?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Will you be happy to follow the brand\u2019s guidelines and protocols?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Do you have the self-discipline to work for yourself?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Are you willing to work long hours (often seven days a week) in order to get your business off the ground?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Will you be comfortable hiring and firing staff?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If the answer to all or most of these is yes, then there\u2019s a good chance that franchising will be a good fit for you.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-9381\" title=\"experts\" src=\"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/experts.jpg\" alt=\"experts\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/experts.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/experts-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/experts-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/experts-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/experts-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/experts-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/experts-696x464.jpg 696w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/experts-1068x712.jpg 1068w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/experts-630x420.jpg 630w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/experts-20x13.jpg 20w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2-reach-out-to-an-expert\"><\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">2. Reach out to an expert<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">While this one is not strictly necessary, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/the-secrets-to-buying-a-franchise\/\">franchise consultant<\/a> can really help to steer you in the right direction if you\u2019re a complete newbie to the franchise business.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Although you will need to pay a fee for the services of a consultant, this will often be a good investment as it can save you a lot of time and money in the long run.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3-hit-the-books\"><\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">3. Hit the books<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">One of the most important parts of the process when opening a franchise &#8211; and one of the most common stumbling blocks &#8211; is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/the-top-10-must-read-books-about-franchising\/\">research<\/a>. It\u2019s vital that you conduct proper, comprehensive research before committing to a franchise opportunity. With this, here are a few things that you should be looking out for:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">What type of business are you interested in &#8211; what are your passions?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">What kind of businesses are successful in your local area &#8211; and how many of these businesses are there?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The idea here is to look for a match between your personal evaluation and the opportunities available. Most franchisors will provide some of this information on request, so don\u2019t be shy about asking for it from the ones who make your franchise shortlist.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4-attend-events\"><\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">4. Attend events<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Many franchisors hold local events, often known as Discovery Days and, if you find that there\u2019s one in your area, these are absolutely worth attending. These events tend to offer a treasure trove of information and go a long way to helping you make a decision.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5-the-inside-job\"><\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">5. The inside job<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If you\u2019re looking to find out exactly what it\u2019s like to run a franchise for a particular brand, you can do no better than to speak with somebody who is already doing just that.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">You don\u2019t need to do anything as formal as a full-on interview but, requesting a chat over a coffee can be a great way of finding out the lowdown on a particular franchisor as well as potentially making a new contact to help you on your way as you get started. Many franchisors actively encourage this, so it\u2019s always worth making an enquiry.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-9384\" title=\"Location location location\" src=\"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Location-location-location.jpg\" alt=\"Location location location\" width=\"1200\" height=\"827\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Location-location-location.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Location-location-location-300x207.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Location-location-location-1024x706.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Location-location-location-768x529.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Location-location-location-150x103.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Location-location-location-218x150.jpg 218w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Location-location-location-436x300.jpg 436w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Location-location-location-600x414.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Location-location-location-696x480.jpg 696w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Location-location-location-1068x736.jpg 1068w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Location-location-location-609x420.jpg 609w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Location-location-location-100x70.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Location-location-location-20x14.jpg 20w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6-location-location-location\"><\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">6. Location, location, location<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">When it comes to your franchise journey, finding the right site and location is half the battle.\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Again, you may be able to get guidance from the franchisor on this, so do always ask. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">When looking at sites for your franchise, there are a few things to keep in mind:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Size<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0&#8211; Is the building the right size for your needs, and does it contain all of your requirements, for example, a staff kitchen and bathroom?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Parking<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0&#8211; Is there customer parking close to the location?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Low traffic<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0&#8211; Is the site in a low traffic or traffic restricted area?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Surroundings<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0&#8211; What kind of businesses are in the same location? Will the customers of these businesses be interested in yours? For example, if the location is primarily home to discount and pound shops, your high-end clothing store is unlikely to do too well there.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Your ideal location will be one that receives lots of relevant foot traffic, which is likely to lead lots of potential customers to your door.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7-find-the-folding\"><\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">7. Find the folding<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If you\u2019re lucky enough to already have the funds required to power ahead with your franchise, that\u2019s great but, otherwise, now\u2019s the time to make a start on getting the funding that you need. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">To do this, you\u2019ll first need to draw up a business plan in which you\u2019ll lay out all the pertinent financial information regarding your business; including what you have, what you need, what you expect to make, how much you will need to withdraw for yourself and, finally, when you expect to be able to repay the funding. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/writing-a-franchise-business-plan\/\">business plan<\/a> is important as you\u2019ll pitch this to potential lenders\/investors to secure your funding. Start by asking for advice from your franchisor and by researching your options. Funding options can include government grants, bank loans and crowdfunding resources.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"8-sign-on-the-dotted-line\"><\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">8. Sign on the dotted line<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Once you\u2019ve chosen your franchise, found a site and secured funding, it\u2019s time to seal the deal by signing your franchise agreement. As with any contract, it\u2019s recommended that you have this looked over by a solicitor before going ahead and committing to the deal.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-9383\" title=\"the legal stuff\" src=\"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/the-legal-stuff.jpg\" alt=\"the legal stuff\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/the-legal-stuff.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/the-legal-stuff-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/the-legal-stuff-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/the-legal-stuff-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/the-legal-stuff-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/the-legal-stuff-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/the-legal-stuff-696x464.jpg 696w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/the-legal-stuff-1068x712.jpg 1068w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/the-legal-stuff-630x420.jpg 630w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/the-legal-stuff-20x13.jpg 20w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"9-the-legal-stuff\"><\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">9. The legal stuff<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">When starting out in business, it\u2019s incredibly important to make sure that you\u2019ve dotted all your i\u2019s and crossed all your t\u2019s in order to avoid getting into hot water when it comes to the law. With most franchise businesses, you\u2019ll be subject to permit and insurance laws and, it\u2019s vital that you know what these are and that you make sure that they\u2019re in place before you even think of opening up for business.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"10-the-people-priorities\"><\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">10. The people priorities<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Now that you\u2019ve got all your ducks in a row and you\u2019re getting set to launch your business, it\u2019s time to start hiring the staff that you\u2019ll need to make it work. Ensure that you adhere to the franchisor\u2019s guidelines when hiring employees to avoid starting out on the wrong foot. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">When looking for staff, local newspapers and local area groups on social media are always an effective and inexpensive way of finding employees who live in the local area. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Once you have your workforce, you\u2019ll want to seek guidance from the franchisor in terms of training, as most brands will have methods and processes which you\u2019ll need to follow closely.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Finding, acquiring, and setting up your franchise can often be a pretty long-winded process. Still, it\u2019s really important to take your time and avoid skipping any of the points from our franchise checklist if you\u2019re committed to making your business a success.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Finally, once you have a launch date for your business, don\u2019t forget to shout about it on social media and in local media. You may even want to think about holding a welcome event to lure those all-important customers to your door.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Every year, millions of people dream about handing in their notice and branching out on their own.\u00a0 While the visions of freedom can be compelling, for many, this remains a dream due to the risks involved in giving up a steady salary and\/or the lack of funds required to get a business up and running. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":9382,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9380","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tips-advice"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Top-10-Steps-to-Follow-when-Opening-a-Franchise.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9380","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9380"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9380\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9382"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9380"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9380"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9380"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}