Know exactly what you’re signing before you sign it.
I’ve recruited franchisees as a head of franchising, and I run my own franchise today. I’ll help you see the deal the way the franchisor sees it, ask the questions that matter, and understand exactly what you’re committing to.
Independent advice. No commission or referral fees from franchisors, ever.
A franchise is a big commitment. The sales pack only tells half the story.
In the UK there is no law requiring franchisors to give you a standard disclosure document, and membership of the British Franchise Association is voluntary. That leaves you to work out what to ask for, and to spot what’s missing.
My job is to help you make the right decision, not to get you to sign.
The numbers
Are the projections based on what real franchisees earn, including those at the bottom, or on best-case illustrations?
The true cost
Initial fee, fit-out, working capital, management fees, marketing levies, required suppliers and renewal costs.
The agreement
Term, renewal, territory, performance targets, restrictions after you leave, and how you can sell or exit.
The franchisees
Who to speak to beyond the hand-picked references, including people who have left, and what to ask them.
The franchisor
Company filings, director history, openings versus closures, and whether they profit from your success or from selling franchises.
The fit for you
Your skills, hours, family life and appetite for risk. A good franchise can still be the wrong one for you.
Simple, fixed prices. No surprises.
Every engagement starts with a free call. Then choose the level of support that suits you. Each package includes everything in the one before.
Initial call
Talk through the franchise you’re considering, where you are in the process, and whether I can help.
- Your situation and goals
- First impressions of the opportunity
- Which package, if any, you need
Document Review
I review the franchisor’s documents and give you the questions to ask before you go any further.
- Review of prospectus, agreement and financials
- Written summary of red flags and strengths
- Tailored questions for the franchisor
- Questions for existing and former franchisees
- Debrief call to talk it through
Meeting Support
I’m in the room with you, online or in person, for every meeting through to your decision.
- Everything in Document Review
- I attend all meetings with the franchisor
- Discovery days and interviews
- Debrief after every meeting
- Support right up to signing
First-Year Support
Everything you need to choose well, then an experienced franchisee in your corner through your first year.
- Everything in Meeting Support
- Ongoing support to the end of your first year
- Help with launch planning
- Regular check-ins as you grow
- A sounding board when issues come up
All prices are fixed fees [exc. VAT]. In-person meetings may carry additional travel expenses, always agreed with you in advance.
From first call to a confident decision.
Free call
We talk through the franchise and where you are in the process.
Choose your support
Pick the fixed-price package that fits. You know the cost up front.
Review and question
Send me the documents. I find the gaps and arm you with the right questions.
Decide with confidence
Sign knowing what you’re committing to, or walk away knowing why.
When the franchise isn’t working out the way you were promised.
I know what it’s like to run a franchise day to day, and how things look from the franchisor’s side. I’ll help you understand where you stand and find a practical way forward.
- Profits well below what you were shown
- Support not matching what was promised
- Disagreements over fees, suppliers or territory
- Struggling to hit performance targets
- A renewal coming up and unsure what to do
- Thinking about selling or exiting
Tell me what’s going on. In confidence, and with no obligation.
Priced on the level of work needed, agreed before anything starts.
Independent advice, working only for you.
No franchisor fees
I never take commission, referral fees or payments from franchisors. My only client is you.
Straight answers
If something worries me, I’ll tell you plainly, even if it isn’t what you want to hear.
The right specialists
I’m not a solicitor or accountant. I’ll tell you when you need one and can point you to franchise specialists.
Common questions.
When should I get in touch?
As early as you can, and ideally before you pay any deposit or sign anything. The earlier I’m involved, the more questions you can ask while you still have room to negotiate or walk away.
Do you get paid by franchisors?
No. I don’t take commission, referral fees or any other payment from franchisors, so my advice is never influenced by whether you buy.
Which franchises can you help with?
The questions that matter are much the same in every sector. I know children’s sport and activity franchises especially well, from both the franchisor and franchisee side.
Is this legal or financial advice?
No. I give you an experienced commercial view of the opportunity and help you ask the right questions. You should still have a franchise solicitor review the agreement and an accountant check the numbers. I can recommend specialists.
What about travel costs?
Online meetings are included in the fixed fee. If you’d like me with you in person, any travel expenses are agreed with you in advance, so there are no surprises.
What if I decide not to buy?
Then the review has done its job. Avoiding the wrong franchise can save you far more than the cost of the advice, and you’ll be better prepared if you look at another opportunity.
Talk it through before you commit.
Request a free initial call. Whether you’re weighing up a franchise or already running one, we’ll work out what you need and what it will cost. No obligation, no hard sell.
Prefer to talk now? 07960 001150 · neil@garrattgrowth.co
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