August 13, 2024 - Franchise Wizards

Every day prospective E-2 Visa investors face the critical decision of whether to invest in a franchise or start an independent business.

This choice often highlights a need — or a desire — for structure and guidance.

While some “true entrepreneurs” may thrive by jumping off a cliff and building the parachute on the way down, franchising offers a much more predictable path—especially important for foreign nationals planning to move to the USA with their families under the E-2 Visa program.

Relocating to a new country is no small effort. When you factor in kids, schooling, finding a new home, and navigating an unfamiliar business landscape, the challenges multiply. Labor laws, operating costs, and the lack of a local professional network can add to the complexity.

Franchising provides a framework where entrepreneurial spirit can thrive with support.

Good franchisors can turn months of effort into days, helping franchisees avoid costly trial-and-error mistakes.

From an E-2 Visa application perspective, a franchise system translates into credibility. It allows investors to present a solid business plan backed by a proven track record documented in the federally regulated Franchise Disclosure Document.

Know someone grappling with this decision? Since 2016, I’ve worked primarily assiting foreign nationals navigate franchise investments for E-2 Visa applications.

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Who We Are

Franchise Wizards is a franchise consulting company located in Carlsbad, CA – USA, and we work with prospective franchisees interested in investing in any market in USA and Canada. We help our clients identify the best franchises for their situations and goals and provide education and coaching on the best practices to evaluate and compare franchise opportunities.

Our Franchise Matchmaking service is offered free of charge for the prospective franchisees, as we are paid by the 700+ franchisors who rely on our expertise to find the ideal franchisee partner. We also welcome E-2 Visa investors.

Schedule now your Free Strategy Session There is absolutely no obligation to invest in any of the franchises we suggest for your consideration.

During the franchise discovery process, we help our clients stand out as strong, qualified candidates, leaving a lasting positive impression on both the franchisor and franchisees.

Why does this matter? Because the franchise discovery process is a two-way evaluation, not a hard sales pitch as many might think. Experienced franchisors are ready to turn away candidates who aren’t the right fit for their system.

First-time prospective franchise investors often don’t realize that, before making any investment decision, they have the opportunity to connect with existing franchisees of the system they’re evaluating through validation calls.

While this step in the discovery process isn’t mandatory, it’s widely regarded as a best practice.

These calls add invaluable “color” to the learning process, offering real insights into the franchise system and firsthand experiences from those already operating the business under evaluation.

Now, about the burning question everyone wants to ask: “How much money do you take home?” Here are my thoughts:

1. Asking this question point-blank to someone you’ve just met can put the franchisee on the defensive.
2. This information alone is useless without context.

How long have they been in business? What was their background before franchising? Where is their franchise located? At what revenue level? Does it take into consideration any debt service?

These are a few examples of critical questions that can completely change the interpretation of the answer provided by the franchisee.

As a prospective investor, it’s crucial to understand how money flows in and out of the business. You don’t need a fancy P&L—just a basic understanding to identify the major cost drivers that impact the bottom line. Factors like occupancy costs, labor, and insurance need to be calibrated to your market.

Simply asking how much money someone takes home—without considering the bigger picture—isn’t helpful.

At Franchise Wizards, we prepare our clients for these critical conversations, ensuring they use their time wisely and stand out as strong, qualified candidates. The image is an update I received from a franchisor today!

Making an informed investment decision is important—let’s make sure you make the most out of the franchise discovery process.

Who We Are

Schedule now your Free Strategy Session There is absolutely no obligation to invest in any of the franchises we suggest for your consideration.