How long does it take to sell a franchise? Typical timelines and what to expect

Selling a franchise isn’t something that’s achieved overnight.

Typically, the franchise resale process can be quite a long one – it’s a significant undertaking that requires planning, persistence, and yes, a fair amount of patience.

Because of that, it’s important to have a realistic idea of what to expect before starting that journey.

So it’s not surprising that one of the most common questions we’re asked by clients looking to exit their business is, “How long does it take to sell a franchise?”

While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, the current average time it takes for a franchise resale to go from initial advertising, through to completion, tends to be around 18 months.

But it’s important to know every single franchise is different, and the time it takes to sell one is dependent on a wide range of factors.

We’ve seen some in-demand franchises sell in as little as four months, while others may take much longer than 18 months.

In this guide, we:

• Take you step by step through a typical franchise resale process.
• Outline the average time each stage takes.
• Explain what can delay or speed up the process.
• Show you how to maximise your chances of a swift, successful exit.

Let’s get started.

The average franchise resale timeline

Before diving into each step, here’s a snapshot of what a typical franchise resale timeline looks like:

Remember, these are only indicative timelines, and each franchise resale is unique.

Now let’s explore what happens in each of these key stages in more depth, based on our many years of experience of helping hundreds of clients to sell their business and maximise the value they receive at the end of the process.

1. Information gathering (2 weeks)

Before any franchise resale can go to market, the information groundwork must be laid.

This includes collecting all the relevant details about your business, including:

• At least three full years of financial accounts where possible
• Sales trends and performance data
• Key information about operations, staffing, customer base, and franchisor support
• Completion of in-depth franchisee questionnaires
• Discussions about your personal and business goals

Pulling together a detailed history of the performance of the franchise, both financially and operationally, is extremely important.

Whatever situation your franchise is in, our resale marketing plan is specifically tailored to your business.

We help sellers build a clear financial picture, supported by charts and performance trends that tell your business’ story – whether it’s one of growth, stability, or turnaround potential.

This information gathering stage is crucial because it directly influences everything that follows, from your franchise valuation, to how the opportunity is marketed to potential buyers.

• For more information about why your personal goals matter, read our dedicated guide: Why your personal goals are so important to the franchise resale process

2. Creating marketing materials (2 weeks)

With all the vital information about your franchise and resale objectives in place, it’s time to start creating the assets we use to take your franchise resale opportunity to market.

Included in this are two key components: advertisements and a bespoke franchise resale prospectus.

Online advertisements and business listings

As the first thing a potential buyer will likely see about the resale opportunity, these are naturally critically important to get right.

They must strike a good balance between highlighting the opportunity and getting a buyer excited, while withholding any sensitive information which may either be detailed in the franchise resale prospectus, or further along the process.

These adverts are generally fairly short – usually around 500 words – so getting the messaging right in them is very important.

They are carefully crafted to:

• Highlight key selling points of the business
• Showcase growth potential
• Illustrate why this is an exciting opportunity to the right buyer
• Avoid disclosing any sensitive details

Once these advertisements are written, they are most often used on the Franchise Business Brokers business listings page, as well as on trusted portals such as BusinessesForSale, Rightbiz, and other specialist platforms.

They may also be used in various print publications, including relevant trade publications to generate interest from those already within the sector.

Shared alongside some high quality imagery that reflects your franchise, this is the perfect opportunity to get the attention of the right kind of buyers and entice them into enquiring to find out more.

It’s important to note these adverts can also be debranded so as to not identify the franchisor and/or specific franchisee, should you be seeking a more confidential resale.

This part of the process is vital for making the right first impression and setting up the foundation for a successful lead generation phase.

Bespoke franchise resale prospectus

This is a detailed document which is typically between 8-10 pages and is only sent to qualified leads who have enquired about the resale opportunity.

The prospectus covers everything a potential buyer needs to know at this stage in the process, including:

• The business
• Trading synopsis and financials
• Business operations
• Business support
• Staffing
• Customer Base
• Growth Opportunities
• About the franchisor
• Next steps

Typically, a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) will be signed ahead of the prospectus being discussed or shared with an interested party – although this process can be tailored to fit personal preferences.

Essentially, it’s designed to excite serious buyers while protecting confidential data.

• For more in-depth information about our franchise resale prospectuses, please read our dedicated guide: Franchise Resale Prospectus: What it includes and why you need one

For a standard franchise resale, that completes the first month of the process.

3. Lead generation and buyer qualification (1–12 months)

This is typically the longest phase of the resale process – and understandably so.

At this point, your effective marketing materials are in place and advertisements are live on the chosen marketing channels, both on and offline.

During this phase:

• Enquiries come in from listings and email eshots
• Initial conversations help assess interest and fit of the potential buyer
• Qualified buyers sign an NDA and receive the prospectus
• Seriously interested parties make an offer for the franchise

Once your franchise is on the market, the aim is to generate a consistent stream of good quality leads, who will then receive the franchise resale prospectus to find out more about the opportunity.

At this stage, it’s worth remembering success doesn’t just depend on the volume of enquiries, but rather the quality and conversion of qualified leads.

What happens after the adverts go live?

While the exact time it takes to find the right buyer for your franchise can vary significantly, it’s really important to note that the lead generation phase doesn’t just mean putting the adverts out there, then sitting back and waiting around for things to happen.

To that end, constant learning, development, and optimisation occurs throughout this part of the process. Adverts and the overarching messaging of the resale are regularly reviewed and optimised based on performance.

Once we start gauging the analytics of the business listing and level of interest in the opportunity, we can keep asking questions such as:

• Does the messaging need to be altered to attract a different audience?
• Is there anything else we can promote about the business?
• Does the business listing require better imagery?
• Is the asking price putting people off?
• Are there any other marketing channels we can explore?

Essentially, based on the data we are receiving from the listings, we are constantly looking for ways to improve the messaging and generate better qualified leads.

All of this work on continuous improvement of the franchise listing is done in partnership with the selling franchisee, with the aim of achieving the best possible deal for them.

Exploring other marketing channels

Albeit generally the most effective way to get eyeballs on a franchise resale opportunity, businesses for sale portals are only one way to generate interest.

Other methods include:

Eshots

We also craft tailored eshots to Franchise Business Brokers’ own highly qualified database who we know are actively seeking exciting franchise resale opportunities.

Often, we also book in eshots with selected partner channels in order to generate more interest.

Live events

The potential that in-person events cannot be underestimated, either.

Previously we have advertised franchises for sale that we are looking after at hugely popular live events such as the International Franchise Show at Excel London, which has helped generate a high number of qualified leads.

However long the lead generation phase takes, the ultimate goal is to take the lead, but work with you, to find the perfect buyer for your franchise.

Factors that can influence lead generation time

As we keep saying, every franchise is different.

Some businesses sell quickly because they hit the market at the right time with the right message and price.

Others need more time to find a buyer who’s not only interested, but ready and able to proceed right away.

But there are some common factors that can impact how long it takes to find the right buyer, including:

• The sector you’re in
• The asking price and value proposition
• Time of year you go to market
• Broader economic and political conditions
• How actively you are engaging with the process

We discuss more about some of these factors later on in this guide.

The key takeaway is that a long lead generation time isn’t always a problem – it’s simply about finding the right buyer, not just any buyer.

4. Progressing the sale through to completion (2–4 months)

Once a qualified buyer comes forward and expresses serious interest, the franchise resale process enters its final phase.

Our ultimate aim here is to support both the selling franchisee and the buyer of the business to make progressing through to completion as simple, streamlined, and stress-free as possible.

Key milestones when progressing a franchise resale

Essential tasks in this part of the process include:

• Buyer signing NDAs
• Buyer completes the Franchise Application and gains franchisor approval
• An informal offer being made, negotiated, and accepted
• Agreeing Heads of Terms
• Buyer completing due diligence on the business
• Instructing lawyers for legal paperwork, including Sale & Purchase Agreement
• Exchange and sale completion

One significant way we contribute to this critical process is providing the use of our vast network of legal and financial professionals – all of whom specialise in the nuances of the franchise industry.

Often, many of these will also have extensive experience in dealing with franchise resales in specific sectors, such as home care or education, which makes them highly valuable cogs in the process.

What can delay completion of a franchise resale?

Based on our experiences, we have estimated that completion of a franchise resale takes between two to four months.

However, there are a range of factors that can impact this timeline and perhaps even cause it to drag on longer.

The two main ones are:

Due diligence

An extensive due diligence process is one major element of the resale process that can cause delays to get to the next step.

Depending on the size and complexity of the business, as well as the sector it operates in, there could be more documents the buyer and their advisors will want to review.

Delays in accessing important documents, such as contracts, lease agreements, or financial paperwork can slow things down significantly.

• For advice on how to avoid these issues, read our dedicated guide: Why a virtual data room could make or break your franchise resale

Buyer’s circumstances

It’s likely the selling franchisee will be keen to wrap things up and exit the business as soon as possible.

However, even if a buyer is equally as enthusiastic, they may still have hurdles to clear.

Common examples include:

• Existing commitments to their job or another business
• Securing the necessary funding to complete the purchase, particularly if security is required
• Family considerations
• Relocation logistics if this is required to be located near their new business

This is why we always recommend starting your franchise resale process before you urgently need to exit the business, so that time is on your side.

What external factors can affect the overall franchise resale timeline?

Even with the perfect plan in place, some elements are simply out of your control.

The length of time it takes to sell a franchise can be greatly affected by various external factors, including but not limited to:

Market and economic conditions

Interest rates, inflation, and buyer confidence levels can affect demand.

Political landscape

Political turmoil can also significantly impact the economy, and in turn the willingness for buyers to commit to large transactions.

Time of the year

Summer holidays and the Christmas period are typically slower for enquiries and progression.

Changing level of interest the sector operates in

Even a change in regulations for a certain sector – such as home care or financial services, for example – can affect how much of an attractive proposition the business is to a potential buyer.

How to speed up your franchise resale

If you’re in a rush to sell your franchise for whatever reason, there are several key levers we can help you pull to accelerate your resale.

These include:

• Getting organised early
• Setting realistic expectations
• Having a clear handover plan
• Responding quickly to enquiries
• Being flexible with negotiations
• Working with a broker who knows the franchise landscape inside-out

If time is of the essence for you, we strongly recommend reading our guide: How do I sell my franchise quickly?

In summary: The average time it takes to sell a franchise is 18 months

So, how long does it take to sell a franchise?

The short answer is up to 18 months for a typical franchise.

But every business is different, so the real answer is it depends on your business, your sector, your timing, and your approach.

The good news? With the right support, clear planning, and a bit of patience, it’s absolutely possible to achieve a smooth, timely, and profitable exit.

Do you need expert help with selling your franchise?

At Franchise Business Brokers, we specialise in helping franchisees just like you navigate every step of the resale process.

Whether you’re just starting to think about exiting, or you’re ready to go to market now, we’re here to help with:

• Independent franchise valuations
• Professional franchise resale prospectus creation
• Marketing and lead generation
• Buyer screening and qualification
• Legal and financial expertise
• End-to-end support through to completion

Regardless of what our level of involvement looks like in your resale, we are able to call on decades of experience and extensive networks of franchise professionals to efficiently solve any challenge and ensure smooth progress towards completion.

Contact us today for a friendly, confidential, no-obligation chat to learn how we can make selling your franchise a hassle-free experience:

T: 020 8017 2115
E: info@chantry.email