According to the International Franchise Association’s 2026 Franchising Economic Outlook, U.S. franchising spans roughly 832,000 establishments generating more than $900 billion in annual economic output. Whether you are considering expanding your business through how to franchise a business or looking to enhance an existing franchise system, the decision to hire a franchise consultant is a significant one. Working with an expert franchise development consultant who has a proven track record can be invaluable. Below, we look at what a franchise consultant actually does and how to evaluate one before you hire.
What is a Franchise Consultant?
First, let’s discuss the different types of franchise consultants that are in the franchise space.
There are franchise consultants that focus on brokering franchise sales agreements. These franchise consultants or brokers can provide valuable services for franchisors looking to accelerate their growth by outsourcing some of the lead generation and qualification services, with fees typically paid based on the successful sale of a franchise.
Then, there are franchise consultants that provide franchise consulting services and business development support for franchisors at various points in their growth life cycles. A seasoned and reputable franchise consultant of this type provides expert consulting services to businesses looking to expand through franchising, and to existing franchisors looking to improve their franchise systems.
With extensive experience in and knowledge of the franchising industry, the right franchise development consultant can be an important resource for any franchisor. Their expertise, derived from hands-on experience across various industry segments, equips them with the insights, data, resources, legal acumen, and industry connections necessary to position your business for sustainable growth.
Franchise development firms, and their individual franchise consultants, may specialize in:
- Competitive Research
- Strategic Planning
- Financial Modeling
- Organizational Analysis and Planning
- Operations Manuals
- Training Curricula
- Online Learning Systems
- Primary Research into Buyer Profiles
- Franchise Lead Generation / Marketing Plans
- Franchise Sales E-Brochures
- Website Content and Development
- Franchise Sales Training
- …and more
The breadth of these services as well as depth of experience is important if you’re looking for a long-term relationship with your consulting firm. You need to be confident you are working with a firm that can support your franchise system through franchise development and implementation, quality control, marketing, and sales, both now and in the future.
When Should You Hire a Franchise Consultant?
Timing matters here almost as much as who you hire. Bring a consultant in too late, and you’ve already locked in mistakes that are expensive to unwind. So when does it actually make sense to pick up the phone?
- You’re deciding whether to franchise at all. Before you spend a dollar on legal fees or start drafting a Franchise Disclosure Document, you need an honest read on whether your business model, unit economics, and brand are actually franchisable.
- Your existing franchise system has stalled. Flat unit growth, franchisee turnover, or performance that varies wildly from location to location are all signs your operations, training, or sales process could use a second set of eyes.
- You’re pushing into a new market or category. International expansion or a new vertical calls for franchise-specific strategy, not a generic growth plan retrofitted to fit.
- Your team is stretched too thin to do it well. Franchise development touches legal, marketing, sales, and operations all at once. If your internal team is already maxed out, that bandwidth gap becomes a bottleneck fast.
- You want to build it right the first time. Structuring your program, documentation, and sales process properly from day one is a lot cheaper than fixing it after launch.
The best time to hire a franchise consultant isn’t after a stalled expansion or a franchisee dispute forces your hand, but before you even hit those obstacles in the first place.
Key Factors to Consider Before Hiring a Franchise Consultant:
Not all franchise consultants or consulting firms are created equal. Therefore, it’s essential to conduct thorough due diligence and evaluation before making your selection to ensure that your investment is worthwhile.
Integrity
Assessing the integrity of a franchise consultant is extremely important. For example, if a consultant encourages you to franchise before evaluating your business, goals, and resources, it’s a red flag. They are just looking to land a client and don’t have your best interest at heart. Franchising is a great way to expand a business, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. If they are not diligent in vetting your business for franchisability (try our Franchise Feasibility Quiz to start that evaluation), it’s not wise to put your business into their hands.
Quality
Not only is integrity important, but the quality of people at the franchise consulting firm is as well. The ability to do great work depends on the quality of the consulting team as a whole. Review the firm by browsing their website, and also get answers to the following questions:
- How many consultants does the firm have on staff? This is important to know in the case that your individual project consultant is temporarily unavailable.
- Do the consultants have previous experience working with and for franchise companies? Look for experienced franchise consultants who have hands-on industry knowledge.
- What is their track record, and can they provide client testimonials or industry awards?
- Do they have experience providing franchising services in your industry? Check out their client lists.
- If you are a start-up franchisor, do they have experience with emerging franchise operations?
- Do they possess expertise in franchise marketing and sales? Effectively selling franchises is a crucial component of franchise expansion, and it’s reasonable to assume that lacking hands-on experience in franchise marketing or franchise sales training could hinder their ability to foster your franchise’s growth.
- What is their reputation? Who have they worked with, and is it backed by client testimonials?
- Do they have a strong leadership team? Look for online publications, interviews, social media presence, etc.
Is Hiring a Franchise Consultant Worth the Investment?
It depends on who you engage for services. By interviewing multiple firms, conducting thorough research, and assessing their track record and reputation, you can make an informed decision. When you select a reputable firm with experienced consultants, you can potentially save money and achieve long-term benefits:
- Expert consultants can help you avoid expensive errors.
- Insights from experienced advisors can optimize your franchise program.
- Knowledge of franchise laws and regulations, along with the counsel of your franchise legal team, can prevent potential legal issues. Franchising is federally regulated: under the Federal Trade Commission’s Franchise Rule, franchisors must provide a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) at least 14 calendar days before a prospective franchisee signs a binding agreement or makes any payment. For specifics, consult a franchise attorney.
- With their dedication of time and resources to your franchise program, you are their priority, and can do some of the heavy lifting as you continue to run your daily business.
- They can help reduce the risk of failure in a new franchise business model. Your consultant is dedicated to improving results through strategic implementations of franchise structuring, documentation, marketing, and sales, to increase revenues and lower expenses, to optimize results and help you reach your growth goals.
As Mark Siebert, CEO of iFranchise Group and author of Franchise Your Business, puts it: “The reason to use experts is so that their experience will allow you to avoid mistakes, grow faster, and operate more profitably.”
Why Work With the iFranchise Group
The iFranchise Group has been ranked the #1 firm in the Franchise Consulting/Development category in Entrepreneur’s annual Top Franchise Suppliers survey for seven consecutive years (2019–2025). Our team brings 900+ years of combined franchise experience, has worked with 98 of the Top 200 franchisors, and has supported franchising in 50+ international markets. We also bring hands-on executive experience with 60+ franchisors.
The value of hiring a franchise consultant depends on your selection. Investing in a reputable consultant can yield substantial benefits, including cost savings and improved franchise performance. Careful consideration and due diligence in choosing the right consultant can make the investment well worth it for your business’ long-term success.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a franchise consultant do?
Franchise development consultants provide strategic planning, operations documentation, marketing, and sales support to help a business franchise or improve an existing franchise system. They guide franchisors through structuring, compliance, and growth.
Should you use a franchise consultant?
Working with a franchise consultant is worth it when you select a reputable, experienced firm. A good consultant will also evaluate whether franchising is right for your business before recommending you pursue it.
How will a franchise consultant help your business?
A qualified franchise consultant helps you avoid costly mistakes, structure your franchise program properly, support compliance alongside your attorney, and build the marketing and sales capability needed to attract franchisees.
How do franchise consultants get paid?
Fees vary by type. Franchise brokers are typically paid a commission by the franchisor when a franchise is sold. Franchise development consultants generally charge project fees or ongoing retainers for their advisory and implementation services.
What is the difference between a franchise broker and a franchise consultant?
Franchise brokers focus on brokering franchise sales and lead generation for franchisors. Franchise development consultants provide end-to-end consulting to help businesses become franchisors or improve existing franchise systems.
Ready to explore if franchising is the right strategy for your business?
Start with our free Franchisability Quiz to assess your potential, or watch our How to Franchise Your Business video to learn more about the process.
When you’re ready to discuss your specific goals, our expert franchise consultants are here to help. Call us at (708) 957-2300 or email [email protected].
