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Support in a Franchise (Part I)

What to Expect Before Opening a Franchise

9 July 2026

Starting a franchise business offers many advantages, and one of the most valuable is the support of an established brand. However, it is important to understand the level of support provided by the franchisor, as this can vary depending on the industry, the size of the franchise network, its financial resources, and other factors specific to each franchise.

Que saber antes de abrir una franquicia

We have previously explored the key questions to ask before investing in a franchise. In this article, we focus on the support entrepreneurs should expect to receive both before opening their franchise—during the franchise application process—and after their business is up and running.

It is worth noting that the journey to becoming a franchisee varies from one franchise to another. However, it typically includes several stages, such as understanding the business model, assessing the candidate’s profile and financial capacity, and evaluating the overall feasibility of the project.

  • Franchise systems often have established relationships with banking partners that are already familiar with and have confidence in the business model, making it easier for franchisees to secure financing.
  • While some franchisors select the business location themselves, others—such as Mail Boxes Etc.—provide expert guidance to help franchisees find the right location for their business.

Financial Support

The pre-established agreements that a franchise has with financial institutions—many of which have already assessed and approved the business model—can make it much easier to secure business financing. Although applicants must still meet certain lending criteria, these partnerships help streamline and speed up the funding process.

Another way a franchisor can make the investment more accessible is by offering equipment leasing solutions for selected items included in the initial investment, particularly those that depreciate over time. By paying a regular leasing fee, franchisees can significantly reduce their upfront investment, making it easier to launch the business and reach break-even sooner.

At Mail Boxes Etc., more than 40 years of franchise experience have enabled us to establish financing agreements with several leading banks, including BBVA, Banco Sabadell, and Cajamar. These agreements are available exclusively to candidates who wish to invest in a Mail Boxes Etc. franchise and can help finance part of the initial investment and/or the working capital required to start the business.

Regardless of the type of financial support available, every prospective franchisee should carefully understand the terms and prepare a detailed financial forecast to assess the overall viability of the project.

Choosing the Right Business Location

Depending on the franchisor’s business model, a physical location may or may not be required to operate the business. When premises are needed, selecting the right location and preparing it for operation should be an essential part of the support provided by the franchisor. Some franchisors choose the location themselves, while others—such as Mail Boxes Etc.—offer expert guidance throughout the process. Key factors include analysing the competition, conducting a demographic study to ensure the area matches the target customer profile, and considering the proximity of other franchisees within the same network.

At Mail Boxes Etc., during the initial franchise application process, we carry out a tailored feasibility study of the area selected by the candidate. Using advanced analytical tools, we assess the volume and profile of potential customers, as well as the exclusive trading area assigned to each MBE franchisee, helping to ensure the long-term success and sustainability of the business.

Selecting and Preparing the Premises

Once the ideal area has been identified, the next step is finding the right premises. The location must meet the operational requirements of the franchise, which is why the Expansion team is typically involved in both the approval of the premises and the launch process. This includes ensuring that the site complies with the brand’s standards for layout, interior design, signage, furniture, equipment, and overall appearance.

Most franchise systems also provide some level of support with the fit-out process. This may include construction planning, recommendations for trusted suppliers, assistance sourcing equipment and furnishings, and even logistical support for ordering and delivering materials. At Mail Boxes Etc., we guide candidates throughout the site selection process and, once the ideal premises have been secured, our dedicated team works alongside the new franchisee to manage the fit-out and pre-opening preparation of the business.

Conclusion

The franchise recruitment and onboarding process varies from one franchise system to another, but this guide provides a good overview of the level of support you can typically expect from a franchisor before, during, and after launching your business. If you would like to learn more, explore our in-depth guide on franchise support throughout your journey as a franchisee.

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MBE SPAIN 2000 S.L.. • Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 129-131 planta12 • 08014 Barcelona • Tel. +34 933 624 730 • Fax +34 933 624 731• mbe@mbe.es

Los Centros MBE son gestionados por franquiciados, emprendedores independientes, que operan bajo la marca MBE por un contrato de franquicia. Mail Boxes Etc. desempeña a través de su Red de negocios en franquicia, servicios de soporte a las empresas y particulares. Los principales servicios que ofrecemos son de logística y envíos, llevados a cabo gracias a los acuerdos de los que se benefician los franquiciados firmados por MBE con las principales empresas de mensajería nacionales e internacionales, y de diseño e impresión realizados bien sea directamente como a través de acuerdos con grandes centros reprográficos. La promoción de los servicios MBE a empresas y particulares se produce gracias a la actividad comercial desarrollada por el franquiciado MBE tanto en el interior como en el exterior del punto de venta (farming), específicamente, esta última, representa obligación contractual a cargo de cada franquiciado. Mail Boxes Etc. y MBE son marcas registradas y utilizadas por concesión de Fortidia - una marca registrada de MBE Worldwide S.p.A. - (todos los derechos son reservados). No todos los servicios y productos ofrecidos por MBE están disponibles en cada punto de venta. El material disponible en esta web, la información y datos contenidos en la misma no pueden ser copiados, distribuidos, modificados, republicados, reproducidos, descargados o transmitidos a terceros por cualquier medio, sin el consentimiento previo por escrito de MBE Spain 2000, SL. No aceptamos ninguna responsabilidad con respecto a la utilización del material, información y/o datos no autorizados, contenidos en este sitio web.