Hey everybody,

This might ruffle some feathers, but I’m going to say it anyway: 

The perfect franchise does not exist.

Not for you. Not for me. Not for anyone.

And if someone tells you they can help you find it, they're either delusional or they're selling you something.

Think about it this way. If I was a horse broker and I called myself "The Unicorn Finder," you'd laugh me out of the room. You know unicorns don't exist. So why would you trust someone claiming to help you find the perfect franchise?

Here's the thing: I don't help people find perfect franchises.

I help people find imperfect franchises.

And that's actually a much better deal. Let me explain.

A lot of first-time buyers come to me looking for a franchise with zero downsides. The one that checks every box. Great margins, low startup cost, flexible schedule, recession-proof, high growth, amazing culture, and a pony.

That franchise doesn't exist.

And chasing it leads you down one of two paths – both of them bad:

1. Analysis paralysis. You keep searching, keep comparing, keep waiting for the one that feels risk-free. Meanwhile, months go by and you haven't made a move.

2. False confidence. You convince yourself you did find the perfect one, and you skip the hard questions. You gloss over red flags because you've already made up your mind.

Every franchise has trade-offs, just like every business, every investment, every job.

And honestly, the trade-offs start before you even pick a brand — the decision to leave a W2 and step into business ownership is itself a set of trade-offs that most people haven't fully worked through. (I wrote about that here.)

The question was never "does this franchise have downsides?"

The question is: "Are these downsides I can live with?"

Because sometimes, the right flaws can actually work in your favor.

My job, as a consultant, is helping you understand exactly where the risks are, so you can decide if they line up with your goals, your capital, and your tolerance for pain.

Let me give you a few real examples so this isn't just theory:

High growth vs. operational maturity. A franchise that's opening locations like crazy probably has strong demand and growing brand recognition. But it also likely has growing pains in systems and support. Meanwhile, a more established brand might be smoother to operate, but you could see slower growth and less territory availability. 

Owner-operator vs. semi-absentee. Running the business yourself helps you reach profitability faster and gives you greater control. But it's a full-time commitment. Semi-absentee gives you flexibility, but it usually means slower growth and higher staffing costs out the gate.

Brick & mortar vs. service-based. Tangible asset value and local presence, vs territory flexibility and lower overhead. 

The point is: none of these are trick questions with an obvious answer. They're genuine trade-offs with pros and cons on both sides. The "right" answer depends entirely on you — your long-term goals, your financial situation, and what kind of business you actually want to run.

(I figure there are seven major tradeoffs to weigh in any business acquisition. I’m talking through all of them with multi-business owner / founder Michael Girdley later this month. Join us!)

When you stop looking for perfect and start looking for fit, the whole process gets clearer. You ask better questions. You spot red flags earlier. And you make decisions with your eyes wide open instead of half shut.

Because you’re actually chasing fit:

(Though I should mention: Don't buy a franchise you're super passionate about.)

If you want help working through this process, I'd love to chat. 

Book a free strategy call here. 

We'll dig into your goals and find your fit.

Talk soon, 

Connor