By Dan Rowe
The American idiom “go big or home” totally encapsulates my view of franchising. When someone buys a single unit franchise, they’ve bought themselves a job, but when someone becomes a multi-unit franchise operator, they’ve built themselves an empire.A multi-unit operator is a franchisee that owns more than one franchise location of the same brand. The only reason someone should consider franchising is to make money, plain and simple. The most lucrative route in franchising is to become a multi-unit franchise operator.
How to Get Rich with Multi-unit Franchising
The way to get rich in franchising is to sway the magic of compounded returns in your favor. Franchisors like Flynn keep growing by using what is essentially house money—meaning that the profits gained from the first location are used to fund the next. Once you have a few stores, you can live on the profits from one and reinvest the profits from the others to grow your franchise business.Once your business is big enough, you’ll have regional management between you and your stores, creating a system that makes money whether you’re onsite or on the beach.
Khurram Burney, a multi-unit franchisee with The Halal Guys, grew his business this way, and his only regret is that he didn’t think bigger from the start. “What I would have done differently was definitely have a bigger territory,” he says. “I have five stores and wish I would have signed up for 10-15 units.”
The more successful units you open, the more opportunities will be presented. Strong multi-unit franchise operators are able to spot underperforming units in neighboring territories and purchase these stores for a bargain. Because of the efficient systems that a multi-unit franchise operator has in place, they’re able to turn around these underperforming stores in short order.
Reduce Your Risk with Multi-unit Franchising
While many people perceive multi-unit franchise ownership to be riskier than being a single unit owner, it’s actually the opposite.Multi-unit Franchising = Lower Costs + More Leverage
Lowering your operating costs starts from the get-go for multi-unit franchise operators, as most franchisors discount the franchise fee when you purchase multiple locations.Many concepts today don’t require a general manager at every location and can employ a super manager over a few stores. This management structure means that instead of hiring three general managers for three locations, each of whom makes $60,000 a year, you can hire a super manager who makes $75,000 to oversee all three.
The more locations you have, the more leverage you have with suppliers. Not only does this reduce the cost of goods, but as a bigger customer you’ll have more bargaining power to get your supplies in a timely manner, a particularly important advantage considering the current supply chain constraints.
The Right Brands for Multi-unit Franchising
For anyone looking to become a multi-unit operator, the first step is to find the right brand. Although it might be tempting to choose a well-known brand like McDonald’s or Subway, the prime time to generate wealth with household names was when they were first getting started.Today, the time it takes to break even with mature brands is a long process, and it’s difficult to recoup your initial investment—let alone generate profit.
Multi-unit franchise operators looking to get wealthy should consider new and emerging franchise brands. Remember, McDonald’s and other famous brands started with just one location before they grew. As a franchisee, you want to ride that growth wave with a brand from the very beginning.
Conclusion
If you’re considering franchising as a road to riches, it’s imperative to plan for the long-term and start as a multi-unit franchise operator. Get in early with a strong emerging brand, commit to opening multiple locations, reinvest initial profits and create a franchise empire that can be sold down the road, setting you and your family up for life.The Epoch Times Copyright © 2022 The views and opinions expressed are only those of the authors. They are meant for general informational purposes only and should not be construed or interpreted as a recommendation or solicitation. The Epoch Times does not provide investment, tax, legal, financial planning, estate planning, or any other personal finance advice. The Epoch Times holds no liability for the accuracy or timeliness of the information provided.