FR ANCHISING TRENDS IN 2022
Q&A: Franchisee Trends & Transitions
Consultant Angela Coté shares what’s trending in franchising now, the impact of the pandemic, and advice for starting your own business in 2022 BY ANGELA COTÉ, ANGELA COTÉ INC
What categories will be popular in 2022 for franchisees? Which industries/sectors are you seeing the most interest in? The biggest increase is in home services, and I’d say that’s partly because of the pandemic. But also, I really think it’s because of an increased awareness of what a franchised business can be. People who aren’t too familiar with franchising associate it with quick service restaurants, coffee chains, that sort of thing. But during the pandemic, people have started to become more aware of home-based and mobile service franchises that require a lower investment to get into. During the pandemic, home services were generally not locked down because they were deemed essential. That included things like cleaning businesses and outdoor businesses like lawn maintenance companies, house painting—those sectors really picked up. Restoration has also been big. There’s been some really unique, niche concepts that are gaining popularity: barbecue
22 Canadian Franchise Association
cleaning, dryer vent cleaning, closet renos, kitchen renos, pool cleaning, and chimney cleaning. As people realize you can use the franchise model to grow your business, I’m also seeing an increase in momfriendly businesses that can be run while taking care of kids—things like fitness, education businesses, coding, tutoring, even lice removal. It provides an opportunity for moms to make an income, have some purpose, yet still take care of their kids. I think what’s happening is that, as awareness of franchising as a business model increases, more people with successful small businesses are considering using the franchising model for more unique opportunities. What are some big trends you see coming in 2022? What are people looking for in a franchise opportunity? People are definitely thinking about whether a business is “pandemic-proof.” They’ll consider if a business is
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