Buying a franchise

Buying a franchise FAQs

• What is a franchise resale?

  A franchise resale is an existing franchise business for sale by its current owner. Completion of the sale usually requires the franchisor’s approval and a transfer of the franchise agreement to the new owner. Unlike a new franchise, a resale typically comes with existing customers, trained staff, equipment and revenue already in place so you’re taking over an operating business rather than opening a new one, with real financial history you can review before you commit.

• What does Franchise Flippers do?

  Franchise Flippers runs a marketplace dedicated to franchise resales and offers advisory services to franchise buyers and sellers. Owners list existing franchises for sale on the Franchise Flippers Marketplace and buyers search them by brand, industry, state and price range. Resale Advisors help sellers with pricing strategy, exit planning and marketing, while Buying Experts help with choosing the right franchise, lender introductions and deal support. Franchise Flippers also runs the Resale Broker Network for franchise consultants and resale plans for franchisors.

• Does Franchise Flippers charge a commission?

  No, Franchise Flippers does not charge percentage-based commissions. However, the 3rd party franchise consultants and business brokers we work with do where applicable. Listing a franchise for sale on the Marketplace is commission-free and costs only the listing fee. The Marketing Assistance Program has an upfront fee and a fixed success fee when the sale completes. If a seller has opted-in to the Resale Broker Network, they pay a finder’s fee to the consultant who introduces the successful buyer (which is a percentage of the sale price), and a fixed success fee to Franchise Flippers when the franchise sells. With the Fully Managed Broker Solution, the seller pays Franchise Flippers an upfront Marketing Services fee to build the campaign and then a success fee (which is a percentage of the sale price), to the broker who manages the transaction when the franchise sells.

• Does Franchise Flippers work with franchisors?

  Yes, Franchise Flippers offers resale services specifically tailored to franchisors. The Resale Partner Plan gives a brand an outsourced resale team for its franchisees, and the Resale Promotion Plan gives brands that manage resales in-house volume pricing on listings. Both plans allow the brand’s listings to be enrolled in the Resale Broker Network.

• Where does Franchise Flippers operate?

  Franchise Flippers is based in Fort Collins, Colorado, and serves franchise buyers, sellers and franchisors across the United States and Canada.

• Can I finance a franchise resale?

  Yes. Most buyers use a combination of personal funds and a loan — SBA 7(a) loans are the most common route, and many lenders have franchise-specific programs that move faster than standard business loans. Our complete guide to franchise financing walks through every option in detail. You can also find out your borrowing potential before you start shopping, so you know your range going in.

• Do I need a franchise broker to buy an existing franchise?

  No. Franchise Flippers is a self-service exchange – you can browse listings, contact sellers directly, and work through the process without involving a broker. If you want support, our franchise buying experts offer free consultations to help you find the right franchise and answer any questions you may have.

• Do you sell new franchise territories?

  To help your business stand out from the new franchise and non-franchise business crowd, Franchise Flippers only lists operating franchise businessesfor sale or individual territories that are being re-sold by a franchise owner. If it’s not a franchise, we don’t list it.  Only franchises, only resales!  However, if you are looking for a new franchise to start, we can help you find the right franchise to buy.  Request a free consultation here.

• How do I find franchises for sale?

  Browse by state, brand, industry, or price range right here on our Exchange. We list hundreds of existing franchise businesses for sale across the US and Canada, updated continuously as new resales come to market. If you’d prefer a guided search, our franchise buying experts know the market well and won’t charge you for the conversation.

• How long does the buying process take?

  Most franchise resale transactions close in 60 to 120 days from accepted offer. The timeline is driven by three things: how fast the franchisor approves the transfer, how clean the seller’s financials are, and how quickly financing comes together. Budget for three to four months from your first serious inquiry to getting the keys.