my home

why my pub life

my business comparisons

my options

my training

looking for my pub

my questions

my contact

NatWest has ten top tips for potential pub business franchisees:

• Take a critical look at your strengths and weaknesses - are you sure you have the capacity, temperament and skills to run your own business franchise
  
  
• Make sure you have the full support of your family - do not underestimate the additional responsibilities and demands on your time. A successful pub franchise will inevitably cause some strain;
  
  
• Ensure you have sufficient capital - you will need at least a third of the start-up costs for your franchise.
  
  
• Speak to existing licensees and visit them where possible, but at the very least ask them how their business franchise is performing and what support and services are being provided;
  
  
• Examine how well known the licence is and its services and or products are. A good reputation is a head start in business;
  
  
• Look at the market as a whole - find out who the main competitors for your pub franchise are and how strong their position is within the current marketplace;
  
  
• Examine costs closely, in particular the licence fee and ongoing fees, including product mark-up and whether they are reasonable and value for money; will the margins be sufficient to support the business after payment of regular fees?
  
  
• Is the franchise training provided sufficient to enable you to run the business successfully?
  
  
• Seek professional advice from an accountant about income and profit projections and from a solicitor about the legal agreement. Both should have a good understanding of licensing and preferably be affiliated to the British Franchise Association
  
  
• Talk to the NatWest Franchise Section about the financial aspects of your pub business and to put you in touch with your nearest specialist Franchise Manager.

If you require more information, contact NatWest Franchise Team on 0800 092 9117