What Franchise Payments Should Franchisees Expect to Pay?

There are several one-time and ongoing payments related to owning a franchise. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires franchisors to list these fees in the Franchise Agreement.

• Initial franchise fee. This fee is paid to the franchisor for the right to use the franchisor's trademark and sell its products and/or services. The franchisor has established an operational system and created brand awareness. In return, franchisors request the franchise fee, which can range from a under $10,000 to upwards of $100,000. (Read "How Much Does a Franchise Cost?")
• Legal and accounting fees. Accountants need to review a franchisor's financial statements, while attorneys need to review your franchise agreements to create a corporation, LLC, or other legal entity for your franchise, if necessary. (See "I am looking at purchasing a franchise. Do I need to hire a franchise lawyer?")
• Property/casualty, liability, and other insurance. To get an idea of how much insurance will cost, make a copy of the franchisor's insurance requirements, which are listed in the UFOC, and fax them to your insurance brokers for rate quotes. If you have employees, you may have to offer life and disability insurance and other employee benefits, such as retirement plans. (Read "What Business Insurance Do I Need?")
• Employee salaries. It can take two to three years to make a profit, so in the planning phases you will have to factor in how much you will need for employees' salaries.
• Building/outfitting costs. The costs of building/outfitting storeS vary widely based on the type of business you are opening. Obviously, if you have to build a store from the ground up, the costs will be significantly more. Most often you will only be outfitting an existing location to meet your franchisor's specifications. You will need fixtures and equipment, furniture/seating, lighting, ventilation, décor, signage, and restrooms.
• Rent and security deposits. These fees are for your landlord if you lease space for your business.
• Equipment/software upgrades. Some franchisors require planned equipment and software upgrades.
• Royalties. Royalties are paid on a regular basis, usually monthly, to the franchisor by the franchisee. The fee constitutes anywhere from 4 to 8 percent of a franchisee's total sales.
• Advertising fees. Many franchisors require franchisees to contribute to an advertising fund, which pays for national and/or local ad campaigns, commercials, and other promotions. Other franchisors have co-op programs where the franchisor pays for a portion of the costs and the franchisee pays for the rest on a case-by-case basis.