Coming from a corporate job to know taking a change no franchising, it can be challenging to know what to look for when you are on the lookout for a tree service franchise to purchase. It’ll always be a significant investment, and you should take the time to think about it. Whether you want to get a large or a small one, two of the most important things to know before buying a franchise are the requirements and benefits, which you’ll learn with this essential guide.
First of all, think about your personality and talents, and ask yourself questions such as “Why should I want a franchise?”, “Will I be a good manager? “Am I patient?” To make this a more natural process, you can write down your franchise objectives on a legal pad to help you determine which franchise category to buy into, so it can help you connect the dots and have a more precise goal in your head.
To get started on the legal and bureaucratic paperwork after you decide, you can seek the help of a franchise lawyer to clarify the law and legal aspects of the process and who can register you with your state or local franchise regulator. Hiring a franchise lawyer is secure and will help you more than you can imagine.
- What is a franchisor
The owner of the brand or franchise that you will be participating in.
- What is a franchisee
The person who opens one or several new locations of the franchise on behalf of the franchisor.
As a franchisor starting a new franchise, you get many advantages to just expanding on your own; it takes less capital, less risk, and takes up less of your time as well. You gain partners when franchising, but you are still the owner of the brand and parent company.
And as a franchisee (who buys the franchise) you get to join in a successful business without the hassle of starting from scratch and creating processes and branding by yourself. Ponder on all the benefits of owning a franchise and organize yourself to make it happen, so you won’t have to struggle by not knowing the basics of it.
Next are all the elements to consider when buying a franchise:
The Pros of Buying a Franchise
Good Statistics
The numbers in the world of franchising are thrilling, according to the International Franchise Association, with 4% of American enterprises being franchises, and they generate over 2.1 trillion dollars in revenue while employing 18 million Americans. This means that franchising is one of the main components of the American economy and that the advantages of franchise ownership are considerable, or at least more than you might think.
The tree service industry, for example, has been valued recently at $17 billion, which is a guarantee that when purchasing a franchise in the tree service industry, you’ll be buying a reliable and sustainable business model with high revenue. When choosing to invest in a tree service franchise, you can do so without prior experience in it, as work-ethic is what you need the most.
Cover Multiple Territories
When buying a tree franchise, you can be in more than one place. A lot of franchises even offer discounts for opening more than one location. Most franchises also offer exclusive rights to each location’s territory right. This means that the tree service will not place another location in that area. Also, a tree service franchise will help you win the exclusive rights to provide residential, commercial, and government contracts.
Instant Brand Recognition
Some brands, services, or franchises, can become the nation’s best-regarded within less than a decade because you can see it as a regional brand of local experts. By owning a tree franchise, local needs can be met, and the community can grow more than expected. You can join your efforts with the franchise to assist you in negotiating and signing contracts with local governments so that you can ensure a stable income.
Just how much does a brand offer in terms of help starting up? Do they pay for your training? Uniforms? Do they take care of the marketing? Help you with your business loan? Find the franchise that helps with all of this, and make sure you don’t go for the cheapest just for the sake of saving a few bucks. That might cost you more in the long run.
Skip the Start-up Phase
Setting up your own company tends to be a slow process, one that doesn’t assure you success, because there’s a lot at stake, but when buying a franchise, you can skip this part, as it’s ready for the taking. Most of the cost for opening a tree service franchise is, like any other franchise, first the start-up cost, which includes everything from fees to royalties, buying or leasing real estate, and training your new employees.
Easy-to-Replicate Training System
Any good tree service franchise offers comprehensive initial training for the franchisee and their team. Some offer two full weeks of initial training, with one week of classroom and hands-on training followed by another full week of personal, onsite training at your location. These two weeks don’t have to run together, and the sessions conducted by professional staff include lessons on:
- Safety and Equipment Usage
- Public and Employee Relations
- Budgeting and Business Planning
- Supplies and Purchasing
- Bookkeeping and Financial Controls
- Advertising and Sales Strategies
- Operations and Daily Management
- Computer and Internet
Also, Certified Arborists can show you how to provide estimates in hours, and some franchises can offer programs that help you get an edge over your local competition.
In conclusion, the training for employees is part of a proven system for making money, and you and your professional staff can learn it.
If you and your team still have any doubts, don’t worry, as ongoing support on training is usually given to people at least every month by the franchise.
Marketing and Advertising Help
Your marketing needs to go hand in hand with your initial franchise offering plans. Not all marketing works everywhere, every time or in any way. Nonetheless, you will be aided by the franchisor with branding material, marketing tools, guidelines, and other resources. You as a franchisee will also need to work alongside your new franchisor to teach them about the local market.
More Access To Financing
It depends on the franchisor, but a lot of franchisors work closely with both national and local financiers that will help you gain access to the necessary capital you might need to set up your new location. Once you also enter into an agreement with the franchisor, you can gain access to the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) loan plans, or even be taken seriously by your local bank for a small business loan. Look also for franchise review sites in order to compare.
Consider a Tree Service Franchise!
If you’re ready and set to invest in a tree service franchise, your next step is likely figuring out which one. Just like buying a new car or home, deciding where to invest should not be taken lightly.
For this, you’re going to need all the info you can get, and that includes the financial performance of the franchise’s locations that are already operating. Another essential part of this process will be your financials, how much can you expect to get back on your investment, the benefits the franchise offers (like exclusive territory, discounts, help with training), and other resources.
Look also for franchise review sites in order to compare. The best franchise review sites offer insight into the satisfaction of each franchisee—the performance, and the requirements and cost as well—satisfaction and engagement of your franchisees, employees, candidates, and customers. We can help you look for the best tree service franchise, with full transparency and an explanation of what to do to make it thrive.
Things You Need When You Buy A Franchise
The cost of opening a Tree Service Franchise varies depending on the number of locations you want to operate and how much you need to invest in setting up each area. Some of the details are:
- Franchise fees for one territory.
- Fee for a royalty on monthly profits.
- Other amounts of liquid capital (cash on hand).
- Some net worth.
Usually, the tree service franchise fee is about $40,000 to $60,000 for a single region. You get your exclusive territory, with a population of at least 200,000, with significant discounts.
It takes as little as 3 to 6 months for a franchise to be up and running while paying your royalties.
That might sound like a lot of time, but it is about the same as starting a new business. And it comes at a lesser human and financial cost as well, for both the franchisee and franchisor.
Dig All The Dirt You Can On The Franchise
Digging for relevant information, bad reviews, and so on, will give you the confidence to make the right decision. Surf the web until you’re satisfied with the results, and if you found negative things about a franchise, then feel lucky about knowing and keep doing your research. You’ll find a trustworthy option if you do your due diligence.
Talk To Other Franchisees
Most importantly, get the word straight from the horse’s mouth, or in this case, from the other franchisees. A good franchise will provide you with the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) with information about its other locations, but also with the contact information, so take advantage of that and talk to other franchisees. This document will help you to contact them and request objective brand information.
Master of Your Finances
Your finances will help you determine what kind of franchise is within your control. Don’t overstretch your finances just to get the big, popular franchise everybody wants. You might have to settle for something more manageable like a tree service franchise smaller, but in the long run, it will be much easier to manage, and that means a better return on investment. You have options when it comes to controlling your finances and getting the access that you need.
Even if the franchise fees (money they pay to buy the right to a franchisee) are a certain amount, all franchisees must be mindful of their finances, that you have sufficient capital to support the overall cost of setting up a new franchise site. You will also be asked by the franchise for a minimum net value (what the total wealth is).
You’ll need an average of $100,000 liquid cash to start a franchise, although a tree service franchise might ask you between $100,000 and $400,000. This can very greatly based on such items as equipment, territory size, employees hired. The average royalty fees paid by franchisees can also range from 4% to 12% of monthly gross sales.
Research The Industry You Are Entering
Even before you start picking apart each franchise and their locations, you have to research the industry you’re interested in. Research how many companies and businesses are part of it, it’s worth, growth projections, the needed investment, and the skills to enter it.
The tree service industry, for example, is expected to grow to a $20 billion one soon, it doesn’t take that much previous experience to enter it, but it does require some investment in equipment and good customer service and even interest in knowing more about urban development and housing.
It’s things like that you should be prepared for.
Consider Your Location
Your first franchise location will have to rely on people you already know in an area near your original one, and rely on customers who know the brand you are buying well and want more of it. That new franchise location is going to reel new customers, and then you’ll expand once more, with new franchisees, new market segments, new geographic areas, and more revenue and earnings.
Things To Watch Out For
Your Contractual Agreements
You need to be careful in the making of a contractual agreement, and pay extra attention to all the details, so you won’t end up losing more than you’re gaining. This happens after a franchisor is sure you’re the new franchisee that will help them expand the company, and so you will be offered a contract explaining the obligations of both parties. Its important that you know and understand everything that’s written in the Franchise Disclosure Document that will be sent to you; since this is information that The Federal Trade Commission (FTC; the country’s consumer protection agency) feels imperative that you should. That being said, FDDs are usually 150 to 200 pages long and it definitely poses some difficulties getting through it on your own. Make sure you have a franchise attorney at hand and ready to review the contract.
As most guides will tell you, seeking help from a franchise lawyer is the best course of action. Their expertise in federal law and franchising can not only help you understand the FDD in its entirety but can also help you negotiate changes or point out any red flags before you buy into a franchise. There will be plenty of time to do so since, the franchisor is required to give you the contract with enough time in advance for you to look over it and negotiate even aspects of it.
Franchise Royalty Payments
By owning a franchise, you’re helping a company that is already popular grow. But to make a profit from the success of somebody else’s company, you must pay an entrance fee, and you have to do some work if you want to make money out of the market and share your winnings, i.e., pay royalties.
Paying Your Fees
You have to pay a franchise fee to be part of a successful franchise company, and for this, you will have to pay a fee to any franchisor when you get a tree service franchise—price ranging between $30,000 and $50,000. Although this does not include other expenses, such as inventory, labor, preparation, etc.
Franchise Royalties
Also, you still have to pay royalties to the franchise —mostly every month— once you have paid a fee for having the rights to a tree service franchise and being part of the brand. How much you pay depends on the franchise, but generally is of 4% to 12% of the monthly income, which will also depend on the industry you’re willing to invest.
Other Fees and Discounts
Most franchisees will need you to pay a monthly marketing fee, but it can vary according to the franchise type. Some may even have discounts on whether you are a migrant, a veteran, a female, or if you pay royalties early, before time, or if they want to expand into your market, and provide additional incentives.
Most franchises also have exclusivity and secured territories, which ensures that they will value your land without offering their franchise in your area to anyone else.
The Burden of Sharing a Reputation
When buying a franchise, reputation is everything, as you have to protect the name of the company and your acquisition. If there is something you should watch out for, then that is the burden of sharing a reputation that goes with your work-ethics so that you can provide your franchise and the community an excellent service.
The Qualification Requirements
As with most things in business, qualification requirements are needed, and here we are going to explain to you some of the elements you have to consider during the process of buying a franchise.
Purchasing Required Assets
A franchisor tends to demand you have some net value of assets to your name, which is another way that a franchisor can decide whether to do business with you or not—your products, liquidity, inventory, etc. The net value requirement can sometimes be as high as the start-up costs. In a tree service franchise, a net worth of $350,000 is typically required.
Liquid Assets
The cash on hand or the money you are prepared to invest in the company is called equity or liquid assets. As if a landlord were requesting income proof and a deposit plus the first month’s rental for potential tenants. A tree service franchise could ask for liquid assets of at least $100,000.
Skills & Experience
Of course, net worth and wealth is also a sign of excellent financial governance skills and expertise. Still, every franchisor is primarily interested in the excellent management of a potential franchisee, followed by local market knowledge, which is why companies want franchising in the first place.
Note also that the franchisee’s not only telling others about their background in the tree service business but also learning from the franchisor. The franchisor could also benefit from an experience in creativity and risk-taking.
Credit score
To cover certain expenses, including maintenance, equipment, training, etc., you need to qualify or show that you can be eligible for lending and credit lines. Without being even a nominee for a franchise, a good credit score is a must. You can also support the franchisor by approaching local lenders, or you can ask the Small Business Administration to help you apply for a franchise loan from banks or other lending institutions. Learn more about it here. Having partners is always a good option if you don’t want to take all the risk yourself.
Net worth
In addition to cash on hand or assets, a franchise usually asks you for minimum net value (total wealth to your name). For example, a tree service franchise typically demands anywhere in net-worth from $250,000 to $500,000.
Net value is another way a franchisor can choose to do business with you—money, liquidity, inventory, etc. Your net worth for a tree service franchise will, on average, be around $350,000.
Cash on hand
For any franchise, most franchisors require a minimum amount of capital to start up or to take you seriously. They will check the liquidity, which is the cash on hand, or the money you have to invest. Like when a landlord is asking prospective tenants for proof of income. The average liquid capital a tree service franchise requires is around $100,000.
Outside income
It will always be of great help that you have an additional source of revenue outside the franchise, as it will give you the chance to prevent any situation that may hinder your progress as a franchisee.
Industry experience
It’s always preferable to have some sort of experience in the tree service or even landscaping industry, but it’s not a prerequisite. The main skill any franchisor requires is good management and experience with the local market, which is why companies are primarily interested in franchising.
However, note that the franchisor’s expertise is not only in the Tree Service franchise business but also in the franchise company. The franchisor could therefore also have an ability to innovate and take risks.
Workforce & Labor
You have to hire, train, and maintain your labor force. You’ll be in charge of payroll, severances, legal expenses, everything (unless the franchise specifies they will handle your salaries).
Supplies
Buying a franchise will require you to comply with their supply rules. Most do require you buy from specific suppliers or contractors. If you are offered more freedom in choosing suppliers that sell the good or product you need, you still have to abide by strict requirements, like maybe buying only electric vehicles, organic ingredients, or American made products.
Some franchises, like a tree service franchise, have their marketing programs where you can easily buy signage, print ads, direct mail, videos, business cards, and other marketing materials without going out and searching on your own.
Administrative Legal & Accounting
A good franchisor is always well protected against the risks of trusting someone else with their franchise. They will go through with the legal requirements before you even start, and also be protected against any mistakes you make. You will incur the cost of signing the contract (unless otherwise stated by the franchisor) and other necessary legal fees for opening the business in your city or state. If you get a franchise attorney (which is recommended), you will also incur this cost by yourself. The typical price for a franchise attorney is between $1,500 to $5,000.
Taxes
Do franchises even pay their taxes? Yes, like any small to medium size business, they have to pay local and state taxes. As a franchise owner, you are merely paying for the right to use the brand, along with the know-how of another established business. However, you are still a business with legal rights and responsibilities.
Management experience
If the brand’s products or services go with your own personality and goals, go for it. Managing a restaurant franchise is not the same as managing a tree service franchise, not in terms of sales, customer service, investment, and more.
It’s going to be hard to convince a tree service franchise to take a risk with you if you don’t have any experience or proven skills with business management, either as an employee, supervisor, or owner of a previous business. Having the required capital and net worth won’t be enough if you’ve never proven to be a good manager or part of another small business in any way. A degree in business management certainly helps, but proven real-world experience is even better.
