Q. What is the Business Alliance program?
A. A thorough combination of TRAINING, FRANCHISE CONTACTS, and ONGOING SUPPORT, teaching qualified individuals to be profitable consultants to franchise buyers in their market.

Q. What is my role as an Affiliate Consultant?
A. To help people who want to own a franchise but are confused by all the options available. You will gather information about their goals for business ownership, focus them on several franchises that best fit these goals, and then get them in touch with representatives from each of those franchises, who will provide them with the detail information necessary for them to make a well-informed decision.

Q. What type of franchises will I represent for sale?
A. You will have available for referral- a variety of different franchise categories to choose from small to large, and known nationally and internationally.

Q. How do I earn money as an Affiliate Consultant?
A. You are paid a commission, referral fee, or finder's fee when a candidate you introduce to a franchise company consummates a purchase. These fees can range up to as high as $35,000 for a single transaction.

Q. How and when am I paid my fees?
A. Under our referral agreement, your fee is due and payable at the time the franchise fee is paid in full, not when the business finally opens.

Q. Does it cost the franchisee more money if he goes through me?
A. No, the franchise seller absorbs your commission as part of his marketing cost. The buyer pays the published purchase price, just as if he had gone directly to the Franchise Company.

Q. Why do buyers come to a Consultant rather than directly to the franchiser?
A. If a buyer knows exactly what franchise he wants, he will probably go directly to the company. The buyer that wants to look over several concepts can come to the Consultant for one-stop shopping and the convenience of prescreening franchises before spending research time on any one.

Q. What is the advantage of dealing with a Consultant?
A. Like the travel agent or the real estate agent, the Consultant is able to save the buyer time. The Consultant will introduce the buyer only to those franchises that meet his exact needs, saving the buyer hundreds of research hours and wasted effort, all at no cost to the buyer.

Q. Do I need exceptional sales skills?
A. No. The real "selling" is done by the Franchise Company, as only they can be experts in every facet of the business for sale. The Consultant should have good organizational and communication skills to match up buyers with sellers.

Q. Is a business broker or real estate license required?
A. Affiliate Consultants act in a similar capacity to a company representative working as an independent contractor for sales referrals. However, licensed agents may benefit from their experience.

Q. Why represent franchises?
A. Over 43% of all retail sales in the United States last year went through franchised outlets, although only 12% of businesses nationally are franchised. This remarkable statistic, along with the incredibly high success rate for new franchised outlets, has led to an explosion in franchise sales nationally. Today's prospect needn't be "sold" on buying a franchise, only assisted in finding the perfect franchise for them.

Q. How important are Business Alliance's training and franchise contacts?
A. Very important. Business Alliance provides everything needed to enter the lucrative franchise field at once, eliminating the long learning curve and barriers to entry in representing quality franchises.

Q. What kind of ongoing support can I expect?
A. Unlimited consulting from an experienced staff, whose extensive training will minimize costly startup mistakes. As a Business Alliance Affiliate Consultant, you have continued access to updated systems and methodology.

Q. Can I operate as an Affiliate Consultant on a part-time basis?
A. Yes, without question. It would be possible to maintain full-time employment while pursuing long term goals as a franchise consultant.

Q. With no experience in franchising, what are my chances for success?
A. The Business Alliance, Inc., will provide you the tools, training, franchise contacts, and ongoing support to be successful in this business. You should bring to the equation motivation, education, business experience, organizational skills, and the ability to communicate well.

Q. Do I pay ongoing royalties to The Business Alliance, Inc.?
A. No fixed royalties. Our network of Affiliate Consultants are not franchisees, and are paid directly by the franchisers. We earn a small 10 percent override paid directly by the franchisers, meaning your success is our success.

Q. Do I incur any liability when a prospect buys a franchise through me?
A. No. You are not an agent or employee of the franchise company, merely a conduit to introduce buyer and seller. Your commissions are final and non-refundable regardless of the outcome of the business transaction.

Q. Do I need an office?
A. Many Affiliate Consultants operate right from their home with a phone, fax, and computer. Although most of our consultations are telephone, meeting clients at their home or business can also be perceived as an added service.

Q. Why does the Franchise Company deal with the Affiliate Consultant?
A. The Affiliate Consultant brings the franchiser prospects who are interested, qualified, and whom they would never have met otherwise. It is a very cost effective marketing tool for the franchiser.