When I talk with people about franchising, most of the ones who tell me they don’t want a franchise know very little about it. Their mind goes straight to Chick-fil-A, Taco Bell, Subway, or McDonald’s — they picture a restaurant, and that’s the whole image.
But there are thousands of franchises out there, across dozens of industries in every kind of sector. If you keep an open mind long enough to learn what’s actually out there, you’ll find franchising is one of the better ways to become a business owner. Let me walk through the two objections I hear most.
“I don’t want all those fees”
I understand this one — to a point. What most people don’t realize is that the bulk of what they’re picturing as “fees,” both upfront and ongoing, isn’t really fees at all. It’s the normal cost of running any business. Look closely and most of those expenses have nothing to do with the franchise itself; you’d have them no matter what.
The difference is that franchising lays every possible cost out for you in advance, in the Franchise Disclosure Document, so you know about it going in — instead of getting surprised later. That transparency is a feature, not a bug.
“Aren’t franchises risky?”
Here’s an honest look at the numbers, with the caveat that you should be skeptical of anyone quoting precise success rates as fact — there’s no perfect study. Out of curiosity I once asked Google a plain question: what percentage of people who become a franchisee stay in that franchise after one, five, and ten years?
The AI summary it produced said franchises generally show higher survival rates than independent businesses — roughly 92% still operating past the two-year mark and about 85% past five years, with a meaningful share going ten years and beyond. Treat those as ballpark, not gospel.
Starting from scratch tells a tougher story: a significant share of new businesses fail in year one, roughly half fail within five years, and around 65% fail within ten. Buying an existing business is roughly a coin flip at five years. And a job isn’t the safe harbor people assume either — average tenure is about 4.1 years for men and 3.6 for women.
Two honest caveats I always add. Surviving isn’t the same as thriving — staying open and turning a strong profit are different things. And no average predicts your result; that depends on you, the brand, and your market. What the franchise model gives you is better odds and a proven system to start from.
Curious what franchising could look like for you, beyond the burger counter? Take the free Quiz for a personalized shortlist. No cost, no pressure.
More people are taking a serious look
This isn’t a fringe idea anymore. In recent years, interest in franchise ownership has broadened well beyond what people expect — for the first time, more Millennials have been exploring franchise ownership than Baby Boomers, and Generation X has shown some of the strongest interest of all. A large share of the population has thought about business ownership at some point.
If you’re one of them, doesn’t it make sense to at least explore the options that tend to give you the best odds? Just about everyone, at some point, looks back and asks “what if?” It costs nothing to explore the possibilities — so let’s talk.
Key takeaways
- Franchising is far more than restaurants — thousands of brands across dozens of industries.
- Most “fees” are really the normal cost of doing business, just disclosed up front in the FDD.
- Franchises tend to show higher survival rates than independent startups — but survival isn’t profit, and averages don’t predict your result.
- Interest has broadened across Millennials and Gen X, not just Boomers.
- Exploring your options costs nothing.
Frequently asked questions
Are all franchises restaurants?
Not at all. Restaurants are just the most visible. There are thousands of franchises across home services, senior care, pet services, health and wellness, B2B services, child-related businesses, and many more.
Are franchise fees just wasted money?
No. Most of what people call “fees” is the normal cost of running a business — and the FDD discloses all of it up front, which independent startups don’t get.
Is franchising actually less risky than starting my own business?
The data consistently shows higher survival rates for franchises than independent startups. It’s not a guarantee, but the proven systems tilt the odds in your favor.
Ready to see past the stereotype? Take the free Quiz for a personalized shortlist, or book a no-pressure call — or reach the office at 813-333-5553.
This article is general educational information, not financial, legal, tax, or investment advice. Enterprise Franchising does not make earnings claims.
