There are hundreds of systems in the franchise market that have yet to cross international borders. Many U.S. franchise opportunities may be thriving nationally but may not have been introduced into Canada or Europe.

Franchise laws in the U.S. and Canada are quite similar, yet franchisors in the U.S. limit their expansion into Canada for a number of reasons — the most critical being the size of the market: the Canadian population is 1/10 of it’s U.S. counterpart. But it isn’t impossible to be the first franchisee of a foreign franchise concept.

Do Your Due Diligence

Regardless of the country of origin, any franchise opportunity should undergo thorough investigation, also known as the due diligence process.

Is there a demand for the concept in your country?

There is a very good chance that the opportunity you are interested in has a competitive concept in your country, but you should assess the concept beyond the “industry” level. A market research study can address and hopefully fill in the gaps of your franchise assessment. A franchise lawyer or consultant can also be an asset to your investigation. A concept that is too new or innovative may not be successful in a smaller market that lacks foreign influence and persuasion