Before you become a franchise owner, no doubt you will want to speak with other franchisees who are knowledgeable about the brand. This should be an important aspect of your research as you determine whether you want to build a future with a franchisor. 

Fellow franchisees can tell you the ins and outs of the business, what the relationship with the franchisor is really like, and what kind of success you can expect. The goal is to determine a franchisee’s satisfaction within the system and validate the information being shared by the franchisor.

Read on to discover important questions to ask franchisees before settling on a new franchise business:

9 Questions for Franchisees

1. What is their background? Generally, a system with people from different backgrounds succeeding is a very good sign. Keep in mind, most franchisees have no experience in the industry before becoming a franchisee.
2. Is the franchisor being honest? The franchisor will give you a multitude of data points to evaluate the brand. Verifying this information will help you determine actual start-up costs and whether you can trust the franchisor.
3. How long did it take to see a ROI? Franchisors are limited in the information they can share with you, so you will likely need to ask franchisees to get a sense of how quickly you can expect to make a return on your investment and become cash flow positive.
4. How effective is the training and support? Responses to your questions about training and support will provide insight into the franchisor’s training and support.
5. How competitive is the brand in local markets? This is important to ask, as you will want to know how similar businesses in an area have affected current franchisees.
6. Were there any unexpected costs? These conversations can help prepare you for costs you were not expecting, both good and bad.
7. What is the time commitment? You want to get a sense of time management. How much time do they devote to daily operations versus growing their business, marketing, training, etc.?
8. Would they buy the franchise again or invest in a different opportunity? An answer to this question will speak volumes to franchisee satisfaction. Be sure to have franchisees not just answer “yes” or “no”, but to explain why in detail.
9. Have the earnings met their expectations? Beware, not all franchisees will be comfortable answering this. If they are comfortable, try to gather information about the cost of starting the business, recovering costs, and profitability.

You should view this as a starter list of questions depending on your motivations and goals. Most importantly, do not be afraid to reach out to franchisees of a system you are reviewing. They have been in your shoes at some point in the past and could be willing to help you avoid a few common pitfalls and setbacks.

Looking to Start A Franchise Business with MassageLuXe?

If you're considering entering the world of massage and spa franchises, MassageLuXe presents an exciting opportunity to do so. With our consistent high rankings among industry experts, proven business model, comprehensive support system, and standout culture, MassageLuXe offers aspiring entrepreneurs a chance to own a rewarding business in the growing wellness industry.

Learn more about franchising with MassageLuXe here. If you’re interested in learning more about the process of becoming a franchise owner, read about our process here. If you're ready to start your journey of becoming a franchise owner with MassageLuXe, fill out our form here, and we’ll be in touch soon to start an introductory conversation.

We look forward to learning more about your entrepreneurial goals and how we can help you achieve them by becoming a MassageLuXe franchisee!