Your Franchise Rep Isn’t a Contractor - Mistakes that Will Cost You
Franchisees are often handed a playbook and told to just “find a local contractor to build it out.” The franchise rep gives them a kit of parts, maybe a floor plan, and a sense of what “others have paid”—and that’s the end of their guidance.
What most franchise owners don’t realize until it’s too late is this: franchise reps aren’t responsible for code compliance, permitting timelines, local building conditions, or budget reality.
We’ve seen this play out too many times. Here's one that still stings—not for us, but for the client.
The Case: When “You’re Too Expensive” Turns into a Hard $ Lesson
We were approached by a new franchisee looking to build out their space. We reviewed the franchise materials, coordinated directly with the national rep, walked the site, and evaluated what it would really take—mechanically, structurally, and financially—to deliver the required buildout as a design-build project in their specific building.
We gave them a budget. A real one. Based on real conditions.
They didn’t like it.
Their franchise rep told them it was too high. Another contractor said they could do it for less.
So they went that route.
The result?
They couldn’t get a permit for over eight months
The contractor/design team hadn’t accounted for code triggers or existing infrastructure
By the time it was built, they were over our original budget
The timeline dragged nearly a year longer than expected
All the things we told them to plan for upfront came true - with substantially more cost and more pain.
The Illusion of Simplicity
Franchise design packages look clean. But they're not construction-ready. They often:
Ignore local building codes
Assume ideal site conditions
Omit structural, mechanical, or accessibility realities
Leave permitting and zoning out of the discussion entirely
Your franchise rep might be helpful, but they’re not on the hook for making your space compliant, functional, or deliverable in the market you’re actually building in.
What Smart Franchisees Do Instead
If you're opening a franchise location, here’s how to protect your time, budget, and sanity:
Have a construction advisor review the franchise kit before you bid the work
Walk the space with someone who understands what’s code-triggering and what’s not
Don’t confuse a polished franchise PDF with an actual set of construction documents
Budget for reality—not for what another owner 3 states away says they paid
HDC’s Role
We don’t just bid the job. We tell you what it actually takes to do it right.
We coordinate with your franchise, evaluate your site, help you avoid permitting disasters, and give you a budget you can trust—not just one you want to hear.
Thinking about opening a new location?
Let’s talk before you get too far down the wrong path.
