Accounts
Bank how and when you choose to, with the low fees or extra benefits you want.
Credit cards
Shop online or instore and earn rewards for it, with up to 55 days interest-free credit.
Ways to bank
See how to bank in your own time, 24/7 online, on your phone or on the Money app.
Personal loans
Personalised interest rates for affordable loans from R2,000 to R300,000.
Home loans
Loan up to 100% of the property value or up to 105% if you are a first-time buyer.
Accounts
-
Everyday banking
Safety, convenience and rewards
-
Youth banking
For under 16s, or under 25s
-
Private Clients
For a professional banking experience
-
Digital wallet
Your phone is your bank account
-
Private Wealth
The globally integrated account
-
Goal saving
Easy access to interest earned
- Refugees and asylum seekers
Credit cards
Ways to bank
International banking
Rewards
Accounts
-
On demand
Money available at any time
-
In 24 hours
Cash in your hand the next day
-
In 32 days
Funds ready within a month
-
End of term
Investments left until maturity
Investment services
Personal loans
Home loans
Student loans
Overdrafts
Vehicle finance
Blog
Talk to us
Find us
- Login & Register
- Online Banking
- Online Share Trading
- NetBank Business
- NedFleet
- Nedbank Greenbacks
- Nedbank ID
- Accounts
- Everyday banking
- Youth banking
- Private Clients
- Digital wallet
- Private Wealth
- Goal saving
- Refugees and asylum seekers
- See all accounts
- Get help choosing
- FAQ
- How-to guides
- Everyday banking
- Savvy Bundle Platinum
- Savvy Plus Gold
- Pay-as-you-use
- Youth banking
- Nedbank4Me
- Unlocked.Me
- Private Clients
- Pay-as-you-use
- Young Professionals
- Private Bundle and Private One
- Digital wallet
- MobiMoney
- Private Wealth
- Private Wealth Bundle
- Goal saving
- MyPocket
- Refugees and asylum seekers
- American Express
- Amex Gold
- Amex Platinum
- Ways to bank
- Bill payments
- Bill payments
- International banking
- Rewards
- Save & Invest
- Accounts
- Investment services
- On demand
- Club
- Money Market
- Stokvel
- In 24 hours
- JustInvest
- PlatinumInvest
- Tax-free Savings
- MoneyTrader
- Tax-free Fixed Deposit
- EasyAccess Fixed Deposit
- PrimeSelect
- In 32 days
- Electronic 32Day Notice
- 32Day Notice
- End of term
- Electronic Fixed Deposit
- Electronic Optimum Plus
- Platinum Fixed Deposit
- Fixed Deposit
- OptimumPlus
- Investment services
- Personal loans
- Consolidation loan
- Secondhand car loan
- Home improvement loan
- Exclusive short-term loan offers
- Explore loans
- FAQ
- How to guides
- Consolidation loan
- Secondhand car loan
- Home improvement loan
- Exclusive short-term loan offers
- Home loans
- Building loan
- Switching home loan
- Repossessed properties
- Start your home buying journey
- Solar Energy Finance
- Explore home loans
- FAQ
- How to guides
- Track application
- Building loan
- Switching home loan
- Repossessed properties
- Start your home buying journey
- Solar Energy Finance
- Student loans
- Explore student loans
- Overdrafts
- Vehicle finance
- Insure
- Plan
- Learn
- Blog
- Blog
- Contact us
- Talk to us
- Find us
- Talk to us
- Find us
Buying a franchise, you know certain costs upfront
Buying a franchise, you know certain costs upfront
Staff writer
Posted 15/03/2022 Updated 31/05/2022 4 mins
Knowing the costs in advance can be an easier way to start your own business.
Franchising is one way to achieve the dream of being your own boss while overcoming several barriers that often trip up young businesses. Top franchises offer an instantaneous boost through brand recognition, shared advertising and centralised buying (which lower your costs), and support with contract, legal and administration procedures.
But not all franchises are equal. The more popular brands may have the potential to make you the most money, but they’ll also be the most expensive to buy into. Which doesn’t make them a bad choice, but it does mean they require more start-up capital. Having a rough idea of what your initial and ongoing costs are going to be is one huge advantage that the franchise model offers when starting your own business.
Finding the franchise that best suits your budget and interests is a process that shouldn’t be rushed. You can find information on registered franchises on the Franchising Association of South Africa (Fasa) website.
Here’s what you need to understand about the costs involved when you sign up with a franchise. This information is generally available on the Fasa website, or you can request it from the franchisor.
Initial franchise costs
The following fees and costs are commonly known as your ‘total investment’ when starting up a franchise operation.
How much you’ll need depends on the agreement with the franchisor. The upfront fee, sometimes known as the joining fee, can vary from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of rand. What you get for that fee will vary from one operator to the other, but usually includes the rights to use the franchisor’s intellectual property, access to the approved franchisor manual for training, advice on selecting the best site, and so on.
Once your new business is operational, you’ll continue to receive support from the franchisor
After that, you need to have money to cover the actual set-up costs. This typically covers setting up shop and kitting it out with whatever equipment or décor is needed to run the business.
The final item for your budget is working capital. Without it your business is unlikely to survive very long. Working capital is the amount that the franchisor determines you need in reserve to cover your running costs until you start turning a profit, which is why it’s a key requirement when assessing and applying to join a franchise.
Ongoing franchise fees
Once your new business is operational, you’ll continue to receive support from the franchisor. The type of help varies from one franchisor to the next, with more established brands able to offer more in-depth support.
You pay for this support by way of the management services fee, or ‘royalty’ fee. This is paid every month and is usually calculated as a percentage of your gross sales or turnover, although some operators charge a fixed fee.
In return, you get ongoing support to run your business, build the brand, source products and materials, and conduct research and development. You’re also permitted to continue using their intellectual property – the brand identity – which is the cornerstone of successful franchising.
One final fee that may be levied by the franchisor is for the marketing services fund. This is a contribution every franchisee makes towards a combined marketing and advertising fund. It’s usually calculated as a percentage of your sales but might also be a fixed fee.
No matter how the franchisor chooses to calculate or levy these different fees, you have a distinct advantage over a business that doesn’t have such a clear view of expected costs. This means you can plan more thoroughly and be better prepared to cover these business expenses.
Certainty and clarity go a long way to setting your business up for success.
We have a dedicated franchising financing division that can help you when buying into a franchise. Get in touch today to find out how we can help you.