How to Make a Career Change With a Health Food Franchise

If you’re ready to call your own shots and you have an interest in health food, why not start your own business with the support of an established company and become a franchisee in the health food sector? It’s a sector currently experiencing rapid growth, and it’s a career change you wouldn’t regret for a second.

54% of consumers care more about how healthy their food and drink choices are in 2020 compared to 10 years prior in 2010, with this number rising to 63% among the over-50s [Forbes]. With these figures in mind, it’s clear to see that healthy living is an increasing priority in today’s world. If you’re looking to start your own food franchise and benefit from this rising prioritisation, this article will equip you with all the information you need to successfully enter that “good-for-you-but-still-tasty” niche. 

Why consider making a career change with a health food franchise?

From gluten-free to plant based, health food is on the rise as a consumer want in 2021. This is no surprise, given that 93% of consumers say they want to eat healthy at least some of the time [L.E.K. Consulting]. Beyond this rising level of demand, which can be particularly capitalised on at the cross-section between healthy and delicious (something any successful franchise network in this sector has evidently nailed), you’ll enjoy all the following advantages if you choose to start a health food franchise:

• Room to adjust your offerings and respond to changing customer needs
• Room to grow your business and expand in time
• Higher profit margins (generally associated with healthy foods)
• The chance to help the nation get healthier
• The benefits of an existing brand name and customer base
• A community of like-minded franchisees
• Constant access to franchisor support and guidance

How to make a career change with a health food franchise

From Camile Thai to Yakinori, there are a million investment options waiting for you in the healthy food industry. Even without any experience, it’s possible for you to navigate this career change and start your franchise on the right note. You just need to make sure you’ve completed each of the following three steps before you sign that franchise agreement and head into business…

1. Assess your skills and find your healthy food niche 

As already covered, you don’t need (in most cases) industry experience to thrive in the health food industry. Some franchises might ask for it, but most will not. Still, that doesn’t mean that anyone at all can start a healthy food business, and it doesn’t mean that it’s the right move for you, personally. 

Step one of your career change journey should recognise this. It should be all about finding franchise opportunities that appeal to you, in terms of the day-to-day work you’ll be doing, and then determining whether you have the right set of skills to thrive if you choose to pursue these opportunities. Transferable skills that will benefit you in food service, and in the health food sub-sector, include:

• Communication
• Customer service
• Leadership
• Teamwork
• People management
• Time management
• Business management
• Patience

2. Consider the costs 

Having found investment opportunities that suit you, it’ll then be time to get more practical - to fully consider what you’re able to financially commit to, and what you aren’t. If you’re looking to make a low-cost franchise investment at this stage, you’ll want to steer clear of restaurant-style options, as these will be some of the most expensive. 

Shoryu Ramen, for instance, requires a minimum initial investment of £450,000, with franchise fees of £25,000 and a total investment cost of £550,000. For this investment amount, you’ll be supported in the opening of a fast-casual ramen bar, fully staffed and offering customers many different healthy options. 

On the other side of the spectrum, you could choose to invest with a health food franchise like My Local Farm Box for just £5,950, with franchise fees of £4,950 and a total investment cost of £7,300. For this investment, you’d join a subscription box network run by hard-working foodies, delivering healthy ingredients to customers across the UK.

3. Do your research and due diligence prior to investment

Finally, you should reach the stage where you’ve found your ideal health food business and you’re poised to invest. When you come to this point, make sure you fully understand two key things. Number one: The industry you’re about to enter. Is it thriving? Is it growing? What’s trendy? What’s on the horizon? Number two: The franchise investment you’re about to make. Is the company trustworthy? Has everything been fully disclosed? Have you done your due diligence?

Due diligence is an absolutely essential part of the process and, before signing any contract, you should ask plenty of questions, speak to multiple sources associated with the brand (i.e not just the franchisor, but current franchisees, too) and carefully review the FDD (Franchise Disclosure Document), seeking legal advice to ensure that everything is above board.

[The FDD] can run 50 pages or more. Don’t be intimidated. [It] offers a gold mine of information, like bankruptcy filings by the franchisor, litigation involving the company and/or its executives, the type of training the franchisor offers franchisees, and costs that may not seem obvious, like opening day expenses when headquarters may want you to give away free stuff and do special promotions.
- Susan Adams, Forbes

If you’ve ever wondered how to make a career change and start running your own business successfully, a health food franchise might well be your answer

There are many different healthy food franchises waiting for your investment, and if this article has shown you the way forward, it might well be time to take the plunge. If you’re still uncertain, don’t be afraid to keep researching. Maybe your talents lie elsewhere in the expansive food service industry, with anything from a crepe franchise like Crêpeaffaire, to a chicken restaurant like Rooster Shack?