Six steps to franchising: Nigel Toplis on how to prepare before meeting the franchisor.(Franchise Advice)

Franchising is not always the easiest thing to get into. You have to ask yourself questions such as: 'where do I start? 'who can give advice?' and 'what business can I open?'.

With franchising you receive the benefits of head-office support and are part of a network of people who can share best practice, advice and insights. The franchisor is there to provide both guidance and advice, plus training, marketing tools, programmes and technical and sales support throughout your period in the franchise.

But with almost 900 business format franchises in the UK, how does a prospective franchisee select the right franchise? It can be, therefore, both difficult and confusing at times, and it is certainly something …