Franchising experts. Started in 1979, Franchising Unlimited has been navigating clients through the franchise development process. We are considered experts in franchise development and have successfully helped over six hundred companies enter the franchising market. Franchising Unlimited operates offices in Canfield, Ohio and Dublin, Ohio and services clients in the mid-Atlantic region. What separates us from other firms is we are committed to the advancement of small business versus the expansion of large national chains. In short, we enable the small business owner to compete in commerce with the “big box stores.” We look for businesses that have something unique to offer, want to expand, and have the ability to replicate their business by training others. Franchising Unlimited is the only firm in the region, and one of the few nationally, that provides clients with a complete franchise package. Besides drafting the necessary franchise documents, including state and federal disclosure documents, we assist business owners in the financing and sale of their franchises.
Throughout the above-mentioned process, we specialize in site selection, lease negotiation and all franchise marketing/advertising. As opposed to national firms, we would serve as your on-site sales team. Please feel free to contact us and meet our team of franchise experts.
Finding the help you need
Few companies, however successful, are equipped to assess their franchise potential and put together all the pieces required for franchise development without outside assistance.
Even so, some companies try a “do-it-yourself” route to franchising. First, they research the franchise field themselves; then they make critical business decisions in a vacuum or by comparing themselves to a company that may or may not be a suitable model. Finally, they contract separately with various professionals to assemble the necessary documentation: an attorney for legal documents, an advertising agency for marketing materials, and perhaps a technical writing firm for operations manuals.
But lack of coordination among the contractors and insufficient overall understanding franchising often jeopardizes the successful completion and implementation of such programs. At best, the do-it-yourself approach is likely to be slower and far more costly in the long run than getting help from a full-service franchise consulting firm with a complete staff of multi-disciplinary professionals who limit their practices to franchising.
In assessing the qualifications of such a consulting firm, several criteria should be examined closely:
1. Expertise. A well-staffed franchise development firm should have a strong blend of expertise in the strategic, legal, marketing, operational, and financial areas of franchise planning to assure that each discipline is given needed attention during the structure, documentation, and implementation of the franchise program.
2. Track record. The firm should be able to point to years of experience in providing franchise development services.
3. Services. The firm should be capable of offering a wide range of services essential to franchise development in the first year and beyond. It should have both the capabilities to serve both new and established franchise companies in all critical areas of growth.
4. Efficiency. To assure consistency of documentation and to avoid the time and cost of unnecessary duplication, all franchise development tasks should be coordinated and completed under one roof.
5. Value. The company should be able to provide a firm quote for the specific services it proposes to supply, and a realistic estimate of other costs that the franchisor will incur.
