From Signing to Opening Day: The Process of Starting Your Franchise | VetFran

Signing your franchise agreement is such an exciting moment as it is what makes your ownership of a franchise official—but between that and opening day, there are still many things to consider!

Of course, your franchisor will be there to provide support every step of the way regarding everything on this list, but it can still be helpful to have an overview of what to expect.

What Comes Before Your Franchise’s Opening Day

Choose your business structure and apply for your license. By default, franchise owners are considered a sole proprietorship, but it can be worth considering registering as an LLC or corporation depending on your needs. Your franchisor should have advice on what typically works best for their franchisees, so consult with them and apply for your business license to make it official.

Stock up on equipment and inventory. To make sure your grand opening goes off without a hitch, start thinking about the equipment and inventory you need early on. Every industry will have various needs, but things like credit card machines, computers and point-of-sale systems are generally a must, as well as any stock you need to start selling from day one.

Start your talent search early on. Even if your opening is a bit away, you can still start advertising your hiring process, reviewing applications and interviewing, even moving toward hiring and training before day one. This can help make sure that your employees are fully ready for their first day of work and prevent you from having staffing issues right out of the gate.

Get your marketing materials ready. Every franchise will have a different structure for what marketing responsibilities that franchise owners take on, but generally they will provide you with some materials such as flyers, business cards, etc. to get you started. You will also likely be responsible for running the social media profiles for your location yourself, so you will definitely want to get those set up and start engaging with local clientele.

If you are ready to find the perfect franchise for you, we are here to help! Get in touch with us so we can get you working toward a grand opening day of your own.