Top 5 Questions - Work with a Franchise Broker

What Is a Franchise Broker (and What Do They Actually Do)?

A franchise broker—sometimes called a franchise consultant or franchise advisor—is a professional who helps people explore, evaluate, and ultimately invest in a franchise business. Think of them like a matchmaker between franchise brands and potential owners.

Here’s how it works: franchise brands pay brokers a commission when they successfully introduce a new franchisee who signs on.

For you, the franchise buyer, this service is typically free. You won’t pay them a dime to get help, but that also introduces an important dynamic—because not all brokers are motivated to do what’s best for you. Some are more focused on pushing the brands that pay them the biggest fees.

This is why picking the right broker matters. When done right, a franchise broker can be an incredible resource and advocate, helping you avoid costly mistakes, but when done wrong, they can steer you straight into a bad investment.

Why Working with a Franchise Broker Can Save You Time, Money, and Headaches

Avoid Costly Mistakes and Bad Investments

Franchising is powerful, but it’s not foolproof. The truth is, there are thousands of franchise brands out there—and a good portion of them are not profitable for franchise owners.

Every year, people sink their life savings into a franchise because they were sold on hype, only to find out later that the business model is broken, unprofitable, or poorly supported by the franchisor.

A good franchise broker helps you avoid these traps. They help you match your goals, experience, budget, and interests with franchises that align with what you want and have a real track record of success for their owners.

Get Insider Knowledge You Can’t Find Online

Most franchise brands have slick websites, polished presentations, and glowing reviews. But what you don’t see on the surface are the real challenges behind the scenes: franchisee struggles, poor leadership, low profitability, or systems that don’t work as promised.

An experienced franchise broker has insider information from talking to franchisees, working with franchisors, and placing candidates successfully. They know which brands support their owners, which ones struggle to deliver on promises, and what red flags to watch out for. This kind of access is impossible to get on Google.

Save Massive Time Sorting Through Thousands of Options

If you’ve started looking into franchises, you know how overwhelming it is. Search "best franchises to own," and you’ll get hit with lists of 500+ brands. How do you know which are right for you? How do you know if those lists are even legit? (Hint: many of them are paid placements.)

A franchise broker who does their job properly will narrow down your options to just a few highly vetted brands that match your goals, skills, and budget. Instead of spending hundreds of hours researching and guessing, you get a curated shortlist that makes sense.

Guidance Through a Complex Buying Process

Franchising is not like buying a car or house. You’re reviewing complicated Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs), attending Discovery Days, and evaluating legal agreements that will shape your business future for years to come.

A good broker walks you through every step—from exploring brands, reviewing the FDD, preparing for franchisee validation calls, all the way to understanding the franchise agreement before you sign. They’re your advocate in the process, helping you understand what’s fair, what’s risky, and what needs clarification.

The Problem: Not All Franchise Brokers Are Equal

Here’s the truth most people don’t realize: most franchise brokers or franchise consultants work with hundreds of brands, and they often prioritize the ones that pay them the highest commissions. Some of these brokers are more focused on making a sale than finding you the right fit.

So yes, brokers can add huge value—but only if you’re working with one who puts your interests first.

Red Flags to Watch For in a Franchise Broker

They recommend a franchise within five minutes of meeting you, without understanding your background, goals, and budget.
They push the same few brands on everyone—if they’re recommending the same franchise to a retired executive and a 25-year-old new grad, that’s a problem.
They won’t talk about franchisee satisfaction or failure rates—because they don’t want to scare you off the deal.
They dodge questions about how they get paid or how much they’ll make from your deal.

Signs of a Great Franchise Broker

They have a strict vetting process for brands and work only with franchises that meet specific standards for profitability, leadership, and growth.
They take time to get to know you—your goals, personality, risk tolerance, and skills.
They’re transparent about how they get paid—and make sure it doesn’t affect the quality of advice you get.
They encourage you to speak to franchise owners before making a decision and help you craft the right questions to ask.

How Better Days Franchise Co. Does It Differently

At Better Days, we started this company to fix what’s broken in the franchise consulting industry. Here’s how we’re different.

FranCheck™ Vetting System

Most brokers show you any brand that will pay them. We don’t.We use FranCheck™, our proprietary vetting system that reviews brands for:

Franchisee profitability and satisfaction
Strength and experience of leadership
Industry growth potential (so you’re not buying into a trend that fades)
Proven operational systems and marketing support

Only about 100 brands make it through this process. If a franchise doesn’t meet these standards, we won’t recommend it—no matter what commission they offer.

No Pay-to-Play. Standardized Referral Fees

We standardize referral fees and refuse pay-to-play deals. This keeps us free to recommend brands based on what’s best for you—not what pays us the most. Most brokers can’t say that.

Personalized Franchise Matching

Instead of showing you every brand in our catalog, we start by understanding you—what you want from a business, what skills you bring to the table, what kind of lifestyle you’re after. Then we match you to brands that are a true fit. This isn’t about selling you any franchise—it’s about helping you make the right choice for your future.

When Should You Work with a Franchise Broker?

You should work with a broker if:

You’re serious about buying a franchise but feel overwhelmed by all the options.

You want inside information on what franchises are truly profitable—not just what you see in flashy marketing.

You want a trusted advisor to guide you through every step of the process and help you avoid costly mistakes.

You want an advocate who works for you—not a brand.

Final Thoughts: Should You Work with a Franchise Broker?

If you’re investing in a franchise, you’re about to make a six-figure decision that could change your life. You don’t want to do that alone.

The right franchise broker can help you find the opportunity that aligns with your goals, avoid costly mistakes, and set you up for long-term success. But you need to work with one who’s in your corner, not one who’s just looking for a paycheck.

At Better Days, we’ve helped hundreds of people like you cut through the noise and find the right franchise. We’ll help you evaluate real opportunities—not hype—so you make a smart, informed decision.

‍Ready to find out if franchising is right for you—and what brands actually set owners up for success? Book a free call with our team, and let’s find the right fit together.

why you should work with a franchise broker