No. Working with FranchiseHook is free to you, because franchisors cover our fee. You pay nothing for the questionnaire, the conversations, the research or the brand introductions, and saying no at any stage is always an option.
What you do invest is time. The first consultation costs nothing but an hour, and the rest of the process moves at the pace of your decision.
How is a franchise consultant paid?
Franchisors work with franchise consultants to meet qualified candidates who are ready to act, and they pay the consultant's fee. That is how FranchiseHook is paid, and it is why the consulting costs you nothing.
Because the fee comes from the franchisor, it is fair to ask any consultant how they decide which brands to show you. Our answer is fit. We start with your goals, your budget, how involved you want to be and where you want to operate, and we only present brands that match those answers, with the reason each one is on the list. FranchiseHook is not tied to any one brand, and we will tell you if we think franchise ownership is the wrong move for you.
What happens when you work with a franchise consultant?
Mike Laufer, an IFPG member and Certified Franchise Consultant, runs FranchiseHook discovery in eight steps. Each one gives you more information before you are asked to commit to anything.
| Step | What happens | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Initial conversation | A confidential call about your goals, background and vision | A clear starting point |
| 2. Qualification interview | A look at your experience, finances and goals | Your fit and your franchise direction |
| 3. Research and shortlist | Options drawn from more than 600 franchise brands through IFPG | A focused set of brands that match your answers |
| 4. Brand introductions | Direct introductions to the franchisors you want to learn about | Conversations without sales pressure |
| 5. FDD review | Each brand's Franchise Disclosure Document, reviewed with your attorney and financial advisor | A clear view of what you would be signing |
| 6. Validation | Conversations with franchisees already running the business | Unfiltered owner perspectives |
| 7. Discovery Day | You meet leadership and tour operations | Confirmation of fit before any commitment |
| 8. Decision and launch | Funding, agreements and opening | Your decision, made with your own advisors |
Before the first call, most people complete two short steps: the franchise questionnaire, which takes two to three minutes, and an entrepreneurial assessment, which takes five to seven. Mike reads every answer before your call, so the conversation starts with your situation instead of a sales presentation.
What does a franchise consultant not do?
Knowing the limits of the role helps you use it well. FranchiseHook does not:
- Predict earnings. Where a brand shares financial performance information, it is in that brand's Franchise Disclosure Document. We do not promise results, and you should be wary of anyone who does.
- Give legal, tax or financial advice. Those decisions belong with your own attorney, accountant and financial advisor.
- Prepare visa applications. International buyers work with a US immigration attorney on the visa side, while we help with the business side.
- Lend money. We can talk through how people commonly fund a franchise. Lenders make the financing decisions.
- Make the decision for you. You choose which brands to explore, which to drop and whether to buy at all.
Who usually works with a franchise consultant?
The people who come to FranchiseHook include executives leaving corporate roles, investors and operators, couples and families, first-time owners, multi-unit buyers and E-2 visa candidates. Some arrive through a recruiting conversation with RecruitHook, after realizing that another job would not give them what they were looking for.
What they have in common is a decision that is too big to make from a brand's website alone. A consultant helps you narrow a very large field to the few brands worth your time, then helps you ask the right questions of each one. Our approach is shaped by hundreds of franchise discovery conversations, and by more than two decades of talking with professionals about what they want next.
What should you ask a franchise consultant before you start?
A few questions tell you a lot about any consultant, including us:
- How are you paid, and does it cost me anything?
- How many brands can you access, and how do you choose which ones I see?
- Will you tell me if you think ownership is wrong for me?
- Who reviews the legal and financial side?
- What happens if I decide not to buy?
Our answers: franchisors pay us and you pay nothing; more than 600 brands through IFPG, chosen by fit with your answers; yes; your own attorney and financial advisor; and nothing happens, because saying no is a good outcome too.
Frequently asked questions
Is FranchiseHook really free?
Yes. FranchiseHook is 100% free to you. Franchisors cover our fee.
Do I have to buy a franchise at the end?
No. Saying no is always an option, and deciding that ownership is not right for you is a good outcome.
Will you push me toward one brand?
No. We present the brands that fit your answers and explain why each one is there. You decide which ones deserve a closer look.
What do I need before the first call?
Complete the franchise questionnaire and the entrepreneurial assessment if you can. Both are short, and they make the first conversation far more useful.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.
Curious what ownership could look like for you? Start with the franchise questionnaire or learn more about FranchiseHook.