As franchise consultants, we see pizza business, muffler shops, convenience stores, and carpet cleaners - all franchised. Does this mean that all pizza, muffler, convenience stores, and carpet cleaners are franchisable? No!! Why? Read on!

The franchisability of a business has more to do with how you run your business than the business you are in.

1)	You need a decent concept. It doesn't have to be a genius idea. Look around you at the most successful franchises - they are not rocket science.
2)	You need a great system of operation. The way you run the complete business is the key. Having the business put in the right franchise package for your franchisees will lead to success.
3)	The business must be teachable to a reasonably intelligent person within a reasonably short time. You will need to be able to coach them in the business system.
4)	The business must be profitable. A franchise buyer should be able to earn a decent salary - comparable to that which they would earn if they were the manager plus a 15% return of their invested capital (this doesn't usually occur until after they have been up and running for two years).
5)	Your business should be adaptable nationally. There should be a market for your business not just locally, but nationally as well.
6)	You must have the management skills. You will now be running a company, not the restaurant, the retail, or service business you now operate. Just as you have grown into a good manager, you will grow to be a good franchisor.
7)	Fragmented Industries without mega-companies with huge market dominance are ideal. Opening a burger place in between McDonalds, Burger King, or Wendy's is for the masochists and other people with a death wish.
8)	Point of Difference - Is there something different in the way you operate that contributes to your success? Faster? Better? Juicier? Cheaper? Bigger? It helps!
9)	Financible - The more that the franchisee can get financed, the easier to sell franchises. Buildings, equipment, furnishings, fixtures, inventory and receivables all can be financed and make it easier to create leverage.
10)	Get the Right Help! You know your business but you don't know the franchise business. You need help - legal, operational, marketing, franchise sales, consulting. These are the elements that are needed to create a successful franchise program. Pick your professionals carefully - who are their clients? How successful are they? How long have they been in business? Visit their offices and meet and question their people who will actually be working on your project. What is the background, experience, and success of the senior consultant who will be working on your project? Are you being sub-contracted out to others or is your project being done by an in-house staff who work together, coordinate, and communicate daily on your project?