Buying a Franchise: What you need to know before you commit.

This session gives prospective franchise buyers a clear, practical framework to assess their readiness, avoid common research pitfalls, and make informed decisions before committing.

What you’ll learn

• Apply the Franchise Fit Matrix™ to assess personal readiness for franchise ownership across system discipline and commercial alignment.

• Understand what rigorous due diligence in UK franchising involves, including what protections exist and do not exist for buyers under UK law.

• Identify the five relationship readiness questions that determine whether a buyer is genuinely suited to the specific demands of the franchisor-franchisee relationship.

Description
The franchise industry is exceptionally good at presenting opportunities.

It is considerably less good at preparing buyers for what franchise ownership actually involves.

This session is the honest alternative. Julie Taylor draws on 26+ years of franchise experience to walk prospective buyers through what a rigorous buying process looks like - from initial research through to signing a franchise agreement.

The session introduces the Franchise Fit Matrix™, a proprietary assessment tool that helps buyers evaluate their readiness across two dimensions:

system discipline
commercial alignment
A challenge affecting increasing numbers of buyers is arriving well-researched but with the wrong questions.

When you research franchising without knowing the field deeply, you cannot know what you have not yet thought to ask, and in franchising, the detail you missed is frequently the one that matters most.

Participants leave with a structured due diligence framework, the specific questions professional franchise advisors ask, and a clearer understanding of whether they are genuinely ready to proceed.

 
Looking to learn something new before your next live event? Explore our on-demand video library and access over 30 bite-sized videos packed with practical advice and expert insights.

Speakers

Julie Taylor

Director, Runo Franchising

Julie Taylor is a Franchise Strategist and Advisor and a Director of Runo Franchising, with over 26 years’ experience in the UK franchise arena. She has worked across a wide range of roles, including sales, business development, and franchise recruitment, supporting both national and international franchise brands.

Julie has extensive hands-on experience of the franchise lifecycle, from early-stage growth through to mature network development. She has also built a successful specialist business with her son focused on franchise resales, giving her practical insight into franchise exit planning, resale value, and long-term network sustainability.

Known for her clear, commercially grounded approach, Julie helps business owners and prospective franchisees make well-informed decisions about franchising. She is particularly focused on ensuring franchising is approached as a structured, disciplined growth strategy and a serious business partnership — not a shortcut to scale or self-employment.