For the 22nd consecutive year, Banque Populaire revealed the results of its “Annual Franchise Survey” a few days before the Franchise Expo Paris show., carried out in partnership with the FFF and Kantar. This study sheds light on the profile of franchisees and that of franchisors, and also on their concerns about the future.
The annual survey firstly confirms the marked interest of the French in entrepreneurship : 30% of them would like to create their own business. Among them, more than half (51 %) are considering doing it as a franchise. The appetite is even more marked among young people (65% among 18-24 year olds). If the franchise is so attractive, it is because of the secure environment that it provides to future entrepreneurs thanks to the support and the means granted to develop the activity. More than a third of franchisees (35 %) state that they would not have created their business without this model.
A path to reconversion
Beyond economic considerations, the franchise meets personal expectations. For a quarter of future creators, it represents an opportunity to restore meaning to their professional life (26 %) by offering more freedom, autonomy or control of the living space. Pour 24 %, it is a lever facilitating a career change. The study finds a relatively high proportion of female franchisees (40 %), as well as a diversity of sectors of activity represented (55% in commerce). Franchisor side, supporting franchisees is a pillar of the model. Nearly 7 out of 10 favor coaching or sponsorship of new franchisees.
The issue of transfer-transmission
Nearly half of franchisees aged at least 55 are considering or have taken steps to prepare for the transfer or sale of their business, with varied scenarios : 30% plan to sell it to another franchisee in the network, 28% to an external buyer, and 23% to a loved one. For 73% of franchisors, transmission or resumption represents a challenge for their network : 65% of them say they encounter difficulties in ensuring the transmission of certain points of sale. To facilitate transmission within their network, 49% of franchisors have put in place support systems : 81% offer personalized support to the seller, 63% support for the buyer in the financial package, and 59% of targeted communication campaigns to attract buyers.
Source : “22nd Annual Survey of the Banque Populaire/FFF Franchise”.
