4 Do’s and 5 Don’ts When Exploring Franchise Concepts

Be a professional, not a rookie

The McDonald's Flagship Restaurant at Frankfurt International Airport in Frankfurt am Main, Germany on March 30, 2015. Hannelore Foerster/Getty Images

By Jeff Cheatham

Let’s assume we’ve already accepted that keeping an open mind when exploring franchise concepts is a sound strategy. Remember—it’s not about an emotional connection to the product or service your offering, but rather a quest to find a franchise concept that checks the boxes of your entrepreneurship goals.

Employing an advisable strategy is a great start, but to put the finishing touches on your search, here are 4 do’s and 5 don’ts when exploring franchise concepts. We’ll start with the Do’s, and follow up with the Don’ts:

1. Do—Review Multiple Franchise Concepts

Searching for a franchise is no time to “stay in your lane,” so to speak. Get out of your comfort zone and investigate a couple of concepts you might never have considered. You may not go with those choices, but the experience in evaluating something completely different has fringe benefits.