| Looking for more information on becoming a franchisee? Here are some common questions that prospective franchisees have asked us. |
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• Franchisor's financial statements
• A copy of the franchise agreement
• A list of existing franchisees to contact
• Cost breakdowns
• Advertising fees, royalties, Initial franchise fees, etc. |
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| 13. What type of training will I have to attend before I open my store? |
| 14. What happens after I submit my online application? |
| 15. Where can I learn more about franchising in general? |
| 16. My question isn't answered here. What should I do? |
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| Answers |
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| 1. What qualifications does Baskin-Robbins seek in its prospective franchisees? |
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| In addition to being in touch with your "ice cream side," Baskin-Robbins candidates must meet the following qualifications to be considered for a franchise opportunity: |
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The desire—and resources—to be selected to be a franchisee |
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Readiness to build your business vs. merely working in your store |
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The drive to maintain operations excellence |
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Ability to create and manage a team that effectively recruits, trains, retains, and motivates people |
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A strong desire to build incremental income through constructing and operating your franchise |
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Passion and leadership skills for delivering a superlative customer experience while maintaining a dedication to Baskin-Robbins' core values of Honesty, Transparency, Humility, Integrity, Respect, Fairness, and Responsibility |
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An understanding of the local "culture" including a commitment to being part of the community and not just a business |
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A love of making people smile while having fun in the process |
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| 2. How much cash or liquid assets will I need? |
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| The minimum financial requirement to be considered for a new, single unit Baskin-Robbins location is $125,000 in liquid assets and a net worth of $250,000. The requirements may be lower or higher for existing locations. |
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| 3. Is there any financing available? |
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| Although we do not provide financing, Baskin-Robbins and our parent company Dunkin' Brands, Inc. has taken significant steps to help you finance your franchise investment. To help you get started, we have developed relationships with several preferred lenders who offer competitive and flexible financing options. These lenders provide conventional lending products and other financial services, including SBA backed loans. They also offer a simplified application process and quick turnaround times. Loan offerings include but are not limited to: business acquisition loans, equipment loans, refinancing, construction loans and real estate loans. More details are provided in the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). |
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| 4. Where are the available sites and territories? |
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| Visiting the "Available Opportunities" page will inform you of the markets currently being developed. The availability for opening a new location in specific areas will be discussed during the personal meeting. However, we cannot predict which locations will be available when the recruitment process is completed. Therefore, flexibility regarding relocation may be required. |
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| 5. What if you're not developing in the area of my interest? |
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| Do you have any other opportunities? Visit our Locations for Sale page, which lists franchise locations for sale. We update the list regularly, so check it frequently for opportunities in your area of interest. Feel free to contact us even though your area may not be listed. It may be coming soon! If we currently have Baskin-Robbins locations in your area, we may consider your area for growth for |
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| 6. I have a perfect location in mind and there are no Baskin-Robbins units nearby. Yet, the state and/or market do not seem to be available for development. Why not? |
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| There are a number of reasons why an apparent "perfect site" remains undeveloped or is not available. |
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It is not unusual for a given area to be reserved by an existing franchisee who will be expanding to the area in the near future. |
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Some areas may appear suitable for expansion and/or development, but our strategies or business conditions may limit our desire to expand into the area. |
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Please keep in mind while it may be exciting to have the perfect site in mind, we must both learn if Baskin-Robbins is even the right opportunity for you. |
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Have a great location for a Baskin-Robbins store? Suggest a site for development. |
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| 7. What should I look for in a store location? |
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| Visit the Site Development section to familiarize yourself with the preferred Site Characteristics and Demographics required for a franchise location. The list is not exhaustive; there are numerous additional steps necessary before we approve a site for development as a new restaurant location. Please keep in mind we all want to make sure that Baskin-Robbins is the right franchise/business for you before you starting investing much time in looking for sites. |
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| 8. May I obtain the funds for a franchise from a relative, friend, or associate? |
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| A single candidate must personally meet the financial qualifications, however if a partnership or corporation is formed, Baskin-Robbins considers the total financial strength of the business partnership or corporation. |
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| 9. Do I need to actually work in my store(s)? |
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This is not an absentee business. While we are not looking for you to just buy a job, you cannot expect the business to run itself. We want you involved in the business, local community and success of the franchise.
We have several franchisees who own multiple units, own other businesses, or have another job that gives them the flexibility to own a franchise. We are looking for people who want to build a business, not just own stores or buy a job. You must keep in mind that whether or not you own other businesses, have a job or other commitments, you must be able to break away when needed. |
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| 10. What is the profitability of the franchise? |
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| There is no simple answer to this question. There are many variables that make it impossible to predict future results with any certainty, including such factors as: sales, location, occupancy and operating costs, the financing terms, your ability to manage and control the business, execute the system and other factors. For these reasons, we do not predict sales, costs, or profits for any store or network of stores, nor can we predict whether or to what extent you may succeed at a particular location. We encourage you to discuss our business with existing franchisees – those that have been in the network for decades or who have just opened a year ago - as well as with an attorney. |
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| 11. What is Baskin-Robbins position on franchising to minorities? |
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| Baskin-Robbins has a track record of actively awarding franchises to individuals who are ideally qualified to become franchisees without regard to their race, color, gender, national origin or religion. We are proud that a significant number of our franchisees are women, minorities, and first generation Americans. |
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| 12. Where can I obtain the following information? |
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Franchisor's financial statements |
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A copy of the franchise agreement |
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A list of existing franchisees to contact |
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Cost breakdowns |
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Advertising fees, royalties, Initial franchise fees, etc. |
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| Once you have completed and submitted your application and it is reviewed by one of our Franchising Specialists, you will be contacted and a initial interview will be conducted. Then you will be given a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), which provides this information. This disclosure process is mandated by Federal and some state laws and is one of several steps within the approval process. |
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| 13. What type of training will I have to attend before I open my store? |
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| You will be required to successfully complete the Baskin-Robbins training program prior to opening your store. The FDD and the Training page of this Web site will further outline our training program. |
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| 14. What happens after I submit my online application? |
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| Upon online submission of your confidential, secure application, you will be e-mailed a confirmation that the application has been received. The email will detail the next steps in the application review process, which are as follows: |
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Your application will be forwarded to a Franchising Specialist for review |
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The Franchising Specialist will review your application and make a decision based on:
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the information you have provided |
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the area in which you have expressed interest |
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the strategy in place for that developing market
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It is vitally important that you fill out the application completely. This facilitates the Franchising Specialist in his/her decision-making process |
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The Franchising Specialist will then notify you of the determination and next steps |
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| 15. Where can I learn more about franchising in general? |
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| For more information on franchising visit the International Franchise Association at http://www.franchise.org/ |
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