At the Canadian Franchise Association (CFA), our goal is to help everyday Canadians realize their dreams of business ownership through franchising. As the 12th largest industry in the country, franchising offers a plethora of opportunities to turn those dreams into reality, all with the support and community that a proven brand offers.
If you are one of the many Canadians who want to go into business for yourself, you’ll want to read our cover story for inspiration. In this issue of Franchise Canada, our cover feature spotlights Boston Pizza chairman and owner Jim Treliving. He is the owner of one of Canada’s most iconic franchise systems, and he also spent many years sharing his business expertise as an investor on CBC’s Dragon’s Den. Read on for an in-depth look at his franchising journey and what he’s learned from his many years in business—and if you want to hear even more, be sure to check out the Franchise Canada Chats podcast episode featuring Treliving on FranchiseCanada.Online!
This issue also contains The Franchise Guide, which will take you through everything you need to know to get started in franchising. Whether you’re wondering how to find the right franchise opportunity for you, which professionals you’ll need to help you, or want to make sense of the due diligence process, you’ll find the answers in this guide. We’ve also included a comprehensive checklist of questions you’ll need to ask when considering a franchise opportunity.
Any prospective franchisee will need a franchise lawyer to help them navigate the process of buying a franchise. We’ve created a list of franchise lawyers across Canada to help you. And, lawyer Joseph Adler takes a close look at the legal aspects of franchise resales, sharing what you need to know if you’re considering buying an existing franchise location.
While this issue is packed with resources for putting your franchise dreams into action, we also know about the importance of inspiration. That’s why you’ll also find success stories from other franchisees who have followed their dreams.
There’s Manitoba-based CertaPro franchisee Ken Ferguson, for example, who recently completed his first year in business with the painting franchise and achieved expectation-breaking revenues. Or Brenda Rosati, who hired senior care service business Comfort Keepers to help her own mother and eventually became a Comfort Keepers franchisee. She shares what a typical day in the life is like for a franchise owner with this purpose-driven brand.
We also share the story of Jordan Fox, a young massage therapist who turned to Massage Addict to help him achieve his dream of owning his own multi-disciplinary clinic—a feat he was able to accomplish quickly with the brand’s support.
Franchising is a great path to being your own boss, it’s not a solitary endeavour—in fact, franchising is all about sharing success. In the Iconic Brand feature, you’ll read about how hospitality brand Choice Hotels has supported its community of franchisees through difficult times, from the large-scale crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic to the personal challenge of a franchisee’s battle with cancer. And, you’ll find out how Dairy Queen is giving back to communities all over Canada through its Miracle Treat Day initiative and more.
We hope this issue, packed with information, tools, professional advice, and success stories, serves as your Franchise Guide as you venture out on the first steps of your franchise journey. Be sure to continue your franchise research on LookforaFranchise.ca, where you can search franchise opportunities by industry, investment level, and more. Make sure you’re subscribed to Franchise Canada E-News and follow the CFA on social media for more educational and inspirational content. With the right tools, you can make your business dreams become reality through franchising.
We look forward to welcoming you into our franchising community!
Sherry McNeil
President & CEO, Canadian Franchise Association