Knowledge Base

How long is a franchise term?

Contracts & Agreements
Written by
Sam Stawarz
Published on
June 12, 2023

When you're considering a franchise, it's important to understand all of the terms and conditions. That's why we've gone over the basics of how long a franchise term is—and what happens if an owner wants to leave the franchise.

What is a franchise term?

A franchise term is the length of time that you will be required to operate a franchise. The term can vary from one to 20 years, depending on the agreement and how long it takes for you to recoup your investment in equipment and training.

A franchise term is also referred to as an "equity participation period" because it specifies how much money you need to invest in order to own your own business.

How long is a franchise term?

How long is a franchise term?

In most cases, you'll be able to choose between two types of franchise agreements: short-term or long-term. A short-term agreement can last anywhere from one to three years, while a long-term contract will typically run for five or more years. The exact length depends on what the franchisor offers and whether it suits your needs as an owner.

What happens if an owner wants to leave the franchise and not renew their contract? If this happens before its expiration date, then both parties must agree on how much notice should be given by either party before they terminate their relationship in order for them not being held responsible for any damages caused by breaking up early

Asking yourself the right questions can help you choose a franchise term that's right for you.

To help you answer these questions, we've put together a list of things to consider.

  • What are your goals? You need to be clear on what you want from a franchise opportunity before deciding how long the term should be. If it's just something to make some extra money while keeping your day job, then maybe a short-term contract will work well for you. If growth is important and stability isn't as much of a concern, then perhaps longer terms would suit better--but keep in mind that this could mean higher initial costs when buying into an established system with more rules and regulations (and no room for experimentation).
  • How much time and money can I commit? This question goes hand-in-hand with determining if there's enough potential profit at stake for the franchisee; if not enough profit exists within each unit sold by the company itself during its first year of operation (known as its "gross sales"), then some companies may offer shorter agreements so that they aren't stuck paying out royalties forever without seeing any return themselves!

Franchising is a great way to get started in business, but it's important to know what you're getting into before signing on the dotted line. If you're considering a franchise, there are some things you need to know about the term length.

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