Things to Ask The Franchisor About Franchise Promos, Deals and Discounts
Canadian franchises, like many other businesses, use discounts, sales and promos to bring in customers and gain an edge over the competition. Whether it's an occasional two-for-one promo or discounts for students or s…
4 Things All Prospective Restaurant Franchisees Must Do
Must Do List Buying a restaurant franchise in Canada is a serious investment and a big step that will impact your life and your finances for years to come. Before you sign any agreements, you'll need to do some homewo…
Canadian Franchise Disclosures: Why So Big?
The disclosure is one of the most important documents you will receive prior to committing to a Canadian franchise. It's only natural to feel overwhelmed when you're presented with a huge document as a prospective fra…
Franchising Vs. Licensing: What's the Difference?
When you're considering opening a Canadian business via an established brand, you've probably run across the terms "licensing" and "franchising." These two business models are not the same, and it's important to under…
What is a GSA?
Canadian Franchisee Q&A: What is a GSA? When you enter into a Canadian franchise agreement, the number of documents you have to review and sign can be pretty impressive. In most cases, your franchise agreement will co…
Ontario Court Sends Warning Over Franchisor Disclosure Requirements
A recent ruling out of the Superior Court of Justice and Court of Appeal in Ontario shows that franchisors in the area need to be very careful when it comes to disclosure obligations exemptions under the province's fr…
Reporting Revenue to Your Franchisor
As a franchisee in Canada, there are ongoing and regular payments you'll need to make to your franchisor, including royalties, rent, tech fees, ad fund contributions, and other costs. Some contributions, such as royal…
A Closer Look at Canadian Franchise Fees
Franchising is the right path for many Canadian entrepreneurs, but there's a lot to learn about this type of ownership before you make a real commitment to a brand. Money, of course, is usually at the top of the conce…
Relocating a Franchisee
What's the Deal? Location is often a considerable factor in your success as a Canadian franchisee, especially for brands that have services and goods that are normally delivered to the public in the course of typical…
Ontario Proposes Key Franchise Legislation Amendments
Late in September 2017, the government of Ontario introduced a bill that will amend several statutes of Ontario law, with the stated goal being the reduction of regulatory practices and burdens on businesses while pro…
It's Time: Is Your Franchise FDD Up to Date?
A new fiscal or calendar year is a great time for franchisors to think about what updates their Canadian franchise disclosure document (FDD) might need. If you have resales or renewals quickly approaching or you want…
Are You Really in a Franchisee State of Mind?
Being a franchisee in Canada can be immensely rewarding, as long as you are ready to step into this type of role. Before you sign your franchise agreement, here are two things to consider. Know when it's time to buy T…
The Importance of Time, Timelines, and Timing with Your Commercial Lease – For Franchise Tenants
As we emphasize in our new book, Negotiating Commercial Leases & Renewals FOR DUMMIES, the leasing process takes time to complete. Learn more here.
Online Merchandise Sales and the Franchisor-Franchisee Relationship
In Canada and elsewhere, sales are booming online. According to information portal Statista, for example, 10 percent of Canadians made a purchase online once a week throughout all of 2016 (https://www.statista.com/top…
Three Hidden Costs of A Canadian Franchise
Expenses are always at the top of the concern list for prospective Canadian franchisees. Naturally, the exact cost of a Canadian franchise varies by brand, but there are similar expense categories you'll encounter acr…
Canadian Franchising Fast Terms: Definitions 201
The deeper you get into your Canadian franchise research, the more terms you'll come across that you may not be too familiar with. At this phase, you'll likely be comfortable with "franchising 101" terms such as "fran…
Canadian Franchise Laws: Disclosures in Disputes
Disclosures in Disputes: An Evolving Area of Canadian Franchise Laws Franchise law in Ontario has been steadily evolving, but one area that remains relatively unchanged is how cases involving pre-sale disclosure are h…
Canadian Franchisees and the Elusive Banking Relationship
Developing a relationship with a Canadian bank can be very valuable for a franchisee. More specifically, developing relationships with individual banking officers often benefits you in terms of service and satisfactio…
Commonly Overlooked Red Flags in a Franchise Agreement
As a prospective Canadian franchisee, you've got a lot of decisions to make. Chief among these is which brand to go with, and that choice is a tough but incredibly important one. Even with the best product or service,…
About Canadian Franchise Resale Terms
As a prospective Canadian franchisee, you have a lot of options, and this extends to more than just brands and industries. One way you can enter into the franchise world is by a franchise resale, which occurs when you…
What Do Alternative Dispute Resolutions Mean to Canadian Franchisees?
Many Canadian franchisors try to use alternative dispute resolution (ADR) to help them settle differences with franchisees more quickly, more privately and less expensively than going to court. The two most commonly u…
Franchise Relationships in Canada: The Basic Three
As a general concept, franchising is a way for a company to expand and distribute services and products. In a traditional model, a manufacturer uses a distribution system to get products to market, while in format fra…
Franchisee Missteps: A View Into Public Disputes
More than one Canadian franchise has been in the news in the past because of a strained relationship between franchisees and the franchisor that has spilled out into the public. This doesn't happen too often, but when…
Franchise Location Needs to Be Disclosed, Ontario Court Rules
A recent decision made in a high-profile case in the Ontario Superior Court will likely have an impact on franchising in the province and possibly the entire Canadian franchise industry. In this case, the court found…