Many franchisors pride themselves on having a “proven business model.” The playbook is established, the brand is recognisable, and franchisees are told to “just follow the system and you’ll be successful.” That consistency makes franchising one of the safest ways to start a business—in the UK, an incredible 99.5% of franchises succeed within their first…
More than half of all franchise units in the U.S. are now owned by multi-unit operators. This striking statistic reflects a growing trend: franchisors are increasingly embracing multi-unit expansion as a rapid growth strategy. The allure of signing one franchisee to open multiple outlets is obvious, but it comes with a core controversy: how do…
Franchising is often hailed as a proven path to rapid growth, yet behind the success stories lies a controversial truth: early franchisee failures can threaten the entire network. For any small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) considering franchising, understanding this dark side is crucial. This post dives into why those first franchisees sometimes fail, how it…
“How does a beloved local business become a household name across an entire country?” In Europe’s dynamic post-pandemic economy, this question is top-of-mind for many small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs). Franchising and other scale-up models are experiencing a boom as entrepreneurs seek to replicate local success on a national (or even international) stage. The appeal…
Europe’s franchising boom is creating unprecedented opportunities for business founders. Across the continent, franchised businesses are growing faster than the broader economy – France alone saw franchised outlets surge by 9% in 2023 (reaching over 92,000 locations) and sales jump 15.6% to €88.5 billion[1]. In the UK, the franchise sector has proven remarkably resilient, with 89%…
