Getting the Most Out of Your Franchise Consultant

If you plan to work with a franchise consultant in Canada, you need to know how to choose a reliable expert who will help you find the best opportunity possible. There are many, many types of franchise opportunities in Canada, and it’ll be extremely difficult to narrow down your options without a good consultant.

Just like franchise business opportunities, you’ll want to select the right franchise consultant for you. So what should you look for when finding a franchise consultant to work with? Here are some tips to help you with your decision and to ensure you receive the best service possible:

1. Firstly, it’s not necessary to spend a lot of money on a consultant. Some franchise advisors put a focus on business and development in communities across the country. These advisors are paid by the franchisors that they work with once a successful match is made, similar to an executive recruiter. The consultation process, therefore, is at no cost to the prospective franchisee.
2. Your consultant should have good communication skills. They should be genuinely interested in getting to know you and your goals. If you are currently working with an advisor who treats you like a number rather than a person, drop them immediately. You should be able to express your goals and interests, and your consultant should listen and ask questions to learn more.
3. Inquire as to how many other clients a consultant is currently working with. If they are working with several people at once, will they have enough time to help you achieve your goal? It’s going to take some time to help you create a profile and to find opportunities that match your needs – especially if this is the very first time you are investing in a franchise opportunity. Any advisor(s) you work with should be able to spend a lot of time with you.
4. Work with a franchise consultant who has a decent size inventory of franchise companies that has been thoroughly vetted with a proven track record of success. This means more promising opportunities for you. If you’re not sure exactly what kind of franchise you are interested in, a good consultant will help you narrow down your choices.
5. It’s always a good idea to find out what kind of background and experience your consultant has. Did they participate in a comprehensive program for new consultant training? Do they have past franchise or small business experience?
6. Your consultation service shouldn’t end once you’ve identified an opportunity to pursue. The right consultant will help you with the application process, connect you with additional franchise industry experts like franchise lawyers and funding experts, and continue to assist you in your exploration of the opportunity.
7. Finally, you’ll want to know not just the pros of an opportunity that you’re considering but also the potential cons. Your franchise consultant should help you to understand the potential benefits as well as the risks involved in any opportunity that you’re looking at. They will work with you to help you increase your chances of success, but will be open with you about any possible red flags regarding a successful match between you and a franchise opportunity.