Screenmobile: The Best Franchises for Beginners

Starting the journey of owning your own business can be pretty daunting, especially if you’ve never done it before. That’s why many beginners in the business world look to franchising as a ‘safer’ starting option; with plenty of support and a ready-made business system, they can hit the ground running. But what exactly is a franchise, and how do they work?

In short, a franchise system is one where the owner of a company, the franchisor, allows an entrepreneur to use their name, trademarks, patented equipment, and systems in exchange for an initial franchise fee and, usually, ongoing royalty fees. The entrepreneur, the franchisee, will then get all the brand recognition and supply chain access of the main company and get significant training and support, gaining the knowledge of maybe decades of the franchise system’s experience in the industry. Some of the biggest names in North American business, such as McDonald’s, UPS, and Subway, are franchise systems.

Though franchises are among the best places for new entrepreneurs to get started, quite a bit of work is still needed to identify the franchises that will suit beginners. Here we’ll take an in-depth look at everything you need to know to find the best franchises for beginners so you know exactly what you need to be looking for.

Evaluating the Best Franchises for Beginners

There are a vast number of factors that will affect how suitable a business opportunity is for a beginner. These generally focus on startup costs, skills needed, support available and how the business will run. To find the best franchises for beginners, here are some of the most important elements you need to be aware of:

1. Franchise Fees

One significant difference between opening an independent business and starting or purchasing a franchise is the franchise fee. This is an up-front lump sum that a franchisee pays to secure the licensing of the franchise’s trademarks and systems. Usual franchise fees run from $20,000 to $50,000, but some can go as high as $500,000, such as for a large McDonald’s in a prime location. When evaluating the best franchises for beginners, the franchise fee is essential, but maybe not as important as it first seems. Some franchises might provide a large amount of value (in terms of assets, support or training) for a higher price, while others might charge a low franchise fee but a higher annual royalty fee.

2. Set-Up Costs

Franchise fees aren’t the only initial costs to consider when identifying the best franchises for beginners. They may also have to pay a territory fee and training fees to the franchisor. In addition, they will need inventory, premises or vehicles, and running costs (utilities, phone lines, Wi-Fi, etc.) to run their business. If you’re looking at financing options and taking out a business loan to fund opening your business, it’s important to be aware of all of these initial set-up costs. The best franchises for beginners will be very clear with you about what these costs will be (they should know as they’ve seen dozens of franchises start up) so you have a complete picture of what they are, rather than trying to downplay costs so they can make a sale on their franchise fee.

3. ROI

The return on investment of your franchise will naturally depend on how much you put into the business and how much it makes back over a time period. Running a profitable business, however, also depends on it being the right business, the right location, the right time and the right fit for you in the first place. The best franchises for beginners in terms of ROI are not necessarily the ones with the highest margins but rather the ones with a less steep learning curve and help the entrepreneur build themselves up to achieve their goals. Your ROI matters as you don’t want to lose money, but your net worth will also be higher if the business is still running in three years rather than being shuttered for having high margins and being high risk.

4. Training

A major advantage that franchising offers is the training you receive from experts in the field, which will help you make a success of your new business. The best franchises for beginners are those that put great care and dedication into the training they give out, whether the three or 5-day initial training at headquarters, on-site field visits or ongoing online training. New franchisees benefit from as much knowledge as possible so long as it’s delivered the right way. Call the franchises you’re interested in to see what exactly their training involves before committing to any particular one.

5. Support Systems for Franchisees

Closely related to a franchise’s training program is how supportive they are of their franchisees. This can mean having a dedicated helpline to give immediate responses or a support team that can go and visit a franchise to help get things going the way they should be. As a franchisee, the fees you’re paying are supposed to include support and your safety net, so the best franchises for beginners will be those that want to help you through whatever business problems are coming up.

6. Available Territories

While some people might be footloose and willing to move anywhere in the country to open their first business, most others they’ll want to keep it relatively close to where they are now or where they have connections. When searching for the best franchises for beginners, it’s important to note where they actually have franchise openings available. Some systems (think Starbucks) will allow franchises to open up virtually side-by-side, but other systems might grant territorial exclusivity on a major city or even state level.

7. Brand Recognition or Growth

When picking the franchise system, you’re going to open your first business with, naturally, the ones that will first spring to mind are those with national recognition, such as Dunkin’ Donuts or 7-Eleven. These might come with a significant premium on their franchise fees, royalty fees or supplier margins. A counter-proposition to these is a franchise in a high-growth industry or on an upward trajectory as a business themselves. Finding the best franchises for beginners means balancing the benefits of brand recognition with how much you’re paying for that name.

8. Risk

While franchises are supposedly a ‘safer’ option due to the experience and processes honed over the years in the industry, that’s not necessarily always the case. Some faddish concepts, like bubble tea, or franchises in fading industries, like photocopy shops, can have a high level of risk attached. The best franchises for beginners will be those that are involved in solid industries and have a clear pathway for regular revenue. There can also be risks involved with the franchisor themselves, so it’s important to research them in the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) they give you before any deal is signed.

Why Own a Screenmobile Franchise?

At Screenmobile, we believe we are one of the best franchises for beginners out there. We know that starting out can be a trying time, and you’ll have lots of concerns about what you’re investing in, so not only do we try to give you the best support possible we also want to make sure you have a very clear picture about what starting a franchise means, we’re in it for the long haul, not a quick sale.

Why Screenmobile is among the Best Franchises for Beginners

Costs: Our franchise fee and all our costs are very clearly available on our site. We don’t want to keep anything hidden, and we give an idea of the minimum and maximum range you could see. We believe transparency around costs is one of the most important first steps in a franchise relationship, we want you to succeed and be successful, and that means being fully prepared for the undertaking without having any hidden surprises coming out after you’ve signed a contract.

Training: We are big believers in the capacity of training to help franchisees achieve their goals. At our specialist Screen School, new franchisees will undergo a 10-day training course where they will learn theoretical concepts about marketing, sales and customer service as well as the practical side of screening in our screen house.

Support: At Screenmobile, our support makes us one of the best franchises for beginners. We are always available to provide support for whatever questions or queries you may have, as well as having constant service updates in the form of regular calls, webinars, meetings, and field support.

ROI: Situated in a booming industry field, with the home improvement industry in the US worth over $450 billion. Screening is a business that provides a regular income and is always in demand, and we try to keep our products fresh and relevant so the same customer can find something new when they come back to you in the future.

National Brand Awareness: Screenmobile gives franchisees the advantage of having nationwide brand awareness through our advertising campaigns and marketing work over the last four decades while also having no national competitor to your business.

What sets us apart at Screenmobile and makes us one of the best franchises for beginners is how we look after our customers. We make sure to have the knowledge to present them with all the options for their needs and the expertise to deliver on their dream. Our commitment to service keeps people coming back and telling their friends, and it’s what keeps our business (and potentially yours) where it is.