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  • Writer's pictureSarah Barker

Understanding the difference between franchise opportunities



Part of my initial questioning when working with a new buyer that is interested in buying a franchise is, what is your business preference? What this means is, are you interested in a retail, office or work from home opportunities? Aside from the real estate there are a lot of difference, knowing the difference can help in determining what is best for you.


Retail- Retail options are almost always the highest overall cost when it comes to a business opportunity. A large portion of the business is dependent on constant traffic, so location, location, location. Your overhead will typically be much larger than the other options.


What to expect:

  • Total Investment Range $200K to $600K

  • Hours of operation: usually 7 days a week – early morning to late night, weekends and holidays

  • Type of customer: walk-in consumer, and repeat business

Office Space- Examples of office space franchises will be service based business, such as lawn, cleaning and home improvement. You are typically dealing with consumers and will go to peoples homes. While you still carry the overhead of the office space, it can be significantly less than a high traffic retail location.


What to expect:

  • Total Investment Range $60K to $200K

  • Hours of operation: normal business hours – limited nights, no weekends or holidays

  • Type of customer: homeowner who needs your service or product – you are invited into their home

Home Based- Home based businesses are ideal for someone looking to keep their overhead and overall cost of buying a business low. Typically you have to be OK with working by yourself. Some examples include janitorial, educational, marketing, and consulting.


What to expect:

  • Total Investment Range $60K to $150K

  • Hours of operation: normal business hours – limited nights, no weekends or holidays

  • Type of customer: Small to medium size business

Understanding the different types of businesses when looking for a franchise can help determine what will be the best fit for you and your lifestyle, budget, and preferences.


Want to know more about franchising opportunities, view my website at SSBConsulting.us or contact me at sarah@ssbconsulting.us

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