How to Buy an Existing Franchise (60-Second Video) Here are three strategies for buying an existing franchise rather than starting from scratch.

By Diana Falzone

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Sometimes buying an existing franchise can be a fast track to making a profit. Here are three steps to take to effectively launch this strategy.

  1. Ask. Finding existing franchisees who are willing to sell is simply a matter of asking the parent company what's available. You can also check resources like Franchising.com which lists thousands of businesses for sale.
  2. Research. Since this is an existing business, you should have access to detailed financial information about its health. Ask for audited financial statements and review them with your CPA.
  3. Assess. If the franchise you're considering isn't doing well, try to ascertain if it is because the current owner isn't putting in the required effort or properly following the parent company's system. If you are sure that the problem is something you can fix, and that you'll be able to get the location up to speed fast, you could get an amazing deal.

Watch the next 3 Things to Know video

Diana Falzone

Journalist

Diana Falzone is a journalist. She is an anchor for Bold TV. Previously, she was a reporter for Fox News Channel and a talk show host for SiriusXM Radio.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Starting a Business

The Hardest Parts of Being a Solopreneur (and How I've Learned to Handle Them)

Solopreneurship is on the rise, offering us freedom and independence — but lasting success depends on tackling its unique challenges with strategy.

Business News

Anthropic Is Now One of the Most Valuable Startups of All Time: 'Exponential Growth'

In a new funding round earlier this week, AI startup Anthropic raised $13 billion at a $183 billion valuation.

Science & Technology

How AI Is Turning High School Students Into the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs

As AI reshapes education, students are turning school problems into products and building the future economy.

Leadership

My Business Hit $1 Million — Then a $46,000 Mistake Exposed the Biggest Bottleneck to Explosive Growth

How a costly mistake forced me to confront the real barrier to scaling and the changes that unlocked explosive growth beyond $1 million.