What do I need to do to get to the goal line? That’s a favorite client question when it comes to franchise financing in Canada. We’re talking about a franchising business loan to finance your new business (or one that exists already which you’re buying).

Information. Solid info that you want on the qualifications and process involved in getting approved for your franchise investment. Let’s dig in.

To say that franchise finance is a ‘ specialty’ area of Canadian business financing is an understatement. There is a fundamental misunderstanding of how this type of finance works, the processes around it, and the risks that you can avoid by doing things properly… with some expert advice along the way.

Is there a systematic way, or method that Canadian franchisees can use to get the financing they need? We think there is. Essentially it is really two very simpe concepts, planning, and knowing the process. Simple as that.

Many new Canadian franchisee ‘ wannabees’ view financing as an obstacle. We can forgive those clients sometimes because in the last few years any type of business financing has been a challenge, whether you’re General Motors or purchasing a new franchise in the restaurant industry!

Many franchisees (mistakenly so) think the franchisor you are working with is either going to provide you with the financing you need, or in some cases at least steer you in the right direction. They might do a bit of the latter, but let’s be honest here; the franchisors job is selling franchises, not financing them. Even various banks and other franchise lenders probably would like to see franchisors being more involved in the franchising finance business, but we simply don’t think that is going to happen.

Education. And guess what, we are not talking about educating you, we’re talking on your need to be able to educate your franchise lender about why you are the perfect franchise financing in Canada candidate.

And who are the franchise lenders in Canada. That’s probably the main thing you wanted to know, isn’t it? There are 4 key franchise lenders in Canada. They are the Canadian chartered banks under a special program called the BIL/CSBF program , one or two very specialized franchise finance lenders ( they only do very large transactions ) , and thirdly some independent finance firms that offer equpment financing tailored specifically for the franchise industry .

But didn’t we say there were 4 lenders? We did. And we’re pretty sure you know that 4th lender already. It’s yourself, because your own equity portion or down payment into your business is viewed of course as a debt or a loan.

So whats the clear process in qualifying for franchise financing in Canada. Is there a clear road map you can follow? We categorically think there is. And here it is.

Identify the total franchise funding you need. Determine what amount of owner equity you are prepared to put into the transaction. Anywhere from 10 – 40% is typically required. Determine which of the 3 other methods of financing will allow you to cobble together a total solution to finance your new business.

Next step – prepare a package that includes a business plan, cash flow, info on yourself and the franchisor, with a focus on success and repayment of your debt. Along the way don’t forget that you need reasonable personal credit history, and boy does some specific industry experience or general business knowledge help in confirming your future ability to be successful for a franchise finance business loan.

Focus on the best financing that matches your needs; we strongly recommend the BIL program which has great rates, terms, structures, and limited personal guarantees.

Going it alone? It’s possible. A better idea? Speak to a trusted, credible an experienced Canada business financing advisor on information and help on franchise financing in Canada. Next step = ‘ You’re approved ‘!

A franchise is a legal agreement that allows an independent business owner (franchisee) to trade using the trademark, trade name and business format of the franchisor (owner of the original business) in return for a fee and ongoing support fees or royalties.

There are many benefits to buying a franchise. The number one benefit of becoming a franchisee is that you will not be starting from scratch on your own. When you buy a franchise you have two distinct things on your side. First and foremost you can take advantage of the name recognition of the franchise. This alone many times will help you to drive traffic to your business from. And of course, as a franchisee you will receive support from the franchisor. Again, this helps during the start up process because you are not forced to do everything on your own.

Another benefit of buying a franchise is that you will be able to control your start up costs. You will get all the details you need from the franchisor, and from there it will be up to you to come up with the exact amount of money that you need. In many cases this beats starting your own business because your costs will fluctuate more than you care for them to.

There are quite a few benefits that go into buying a franchise. If you are interested in owning your own business, you may want to consider what becoming a franchisee has to offer. The benefits are great, and the potential for success is huge!

In a recent interview Carlos Marquez founder of Tri Tax Franchise, said “I hear and read lots of business opportunity advertisements telling people that starting their own business will allow them to live their ideal lifestyle,” Marquez says. “Ultimately that’s true, but people still need to work. Being in business for yourself is rewarding, and certainly being in the tax preparation industry gives you lots of flexibility year round. But people need to realize that starting and operating your own business is a daunting task. That’s why having the support of a franchise is so important: it takes two.”

There are many ways to research the different franchises that are available in the market place. Perhaps the easiest method is to use the internet to identify the different opportunities that are out there. If you use any search engine and type in ‘franchises’ or ‘franchise opportunities’ or ‘franchise directories you soon start to build a list of possible franchises that you are interested in.