What Does Franchise Mean?
A franchise is an authority that is given by an organization to someone, allowing them to sell its goods or services or to take part in an activity which the organization controls.
A right to sell a company's products in a particular area using the company's name:
Arrangement where one party (the franchiser) grants another party (the franchisee) the right to use its trademark or trade-name as well as certain business systems and processes, to produce and market a good or service according to certain specifications. The franchisee usually pays a one-time franchise fee plus a percentage of sales revenue as royalty, and gains
(1) immediate name recognition,
(2) tried and tested products,
(3) standard building design and décor,
(4) detailed techniques in running and promoting the business,
(5) training of employees, and
(6) ongoing help in promoting and upgrading of the products.
Definition: A franchise is the license to make or sell a product under certain conditions granted by the owner of these rights. In other words, a franchise is the right to produce a licensed product by the owner of the license. In this contact, the franchisee pays the franchiser for the right to use the licensed material.
Example : We often think of restaurants like McDonalds, Subway, and Burger King when we hear the term franchise, but these companies aren’t actually franchises themselves. The way it works is the McDonalds Corporation owns the licensing rights to its product names, processes, and distribution network. No other company can call its sandwich the Big Mac without permission from McDonalds. That is where the concept of franchises comes into play.
In an effort to grow their global business McDonalds found out it would be too costly to actually build buildings and run thousands of restaurants. Instead, they decided to sell the rights to use the name McDonalds along with the products and processes. This way the corporation doesn’t have to invest in new fixed assets, but it can make a profit while expanding the reach of its brand.
A franchise McDonalds store is typically privately owned and must pay the greater corporation an amount each year to maintain its franchise. It must also adhere to specific production and quality requirements. Have you ever wondered why every McDonalds franchise is exactly the same? Well, that’s because each franchise is required to make their burgers, shakes, and fries exactly how the corporation tells them to.