Being a franchise owner can make it a lot easier to start your own business than starting one from scratch. That said, even a proven franchise business model and built-in support can’t guarantee success if you’re unsure what it takes to be a franchisee. Thinking like an entrepreneur is a great start, but you also need to be prepared for this exciting career move. Knowing the required skills, mindset, and responsibilities will set you up for success.

So, if you’re prepared to get your hands dirty, there’s a market! Big names in the franchise world include Big O Tires if you can cover the initial estimated initial investment of $380,000 to $1.6 million. If this blows your budget, check out Midas, which has been franchising since 1956, where the initial investment is $104,000 to $886,000.

Download our business model overview to discover if our mobile green cleaning opportunity is your first step to being a franchise business owner.

What It Takes to be a Franchise Owner

Business Instinct

What are the qualities you need to own a franchise? First, you need a good business instinct that tells you which franchise is the best fit for your goals and beliefs. Write down what fires you up. Be honest about what you want to do, not just what you think is going to make you a lot of money. 

One of the best ways to hone this instinct is to gather as much franchise information as possible. Then focus on the type of franchise that you’re drawn to. Is there a sector that will nurture your passion and allow you to find your joy in entrepreneurship?

Doing Research

Your instincts will only take you so far. Next, you’ve got to research the market to find the right opportunity supported by facts and figures. For example, the auto detailing industry has a lot of car wash franchise opportunities for eager entrepreneurs. Therefore, assess your options. For example, what type of franchise will give you work flexibility? What are the franchise fees? How much freedom do you have to pursue your goals? 

DetailXPerts is a business format franchise that offers the best business support from the word go. Moreover, market research shows that environmentally friendly services are the future of the car wash and auto detailing industry. And that is our niche!

Curious Mind and Ambition

• Could you maximize profits with a mobile detailing business franchise?
• Will an auto detailing franchise enable you to upgrade your existing business?
• Are you intrigued by the growing demand for green tech in the auto industry?
• What is the potential to grow your auto detailing business?

Your curious mind will help you seize opportunities. And your drive and ambition will ensure you get the most out of the franchise system. 

Franchise Qualifications

Various franchise qualifications will benefit you. But we’re not just talking about academic achievements. While an education in business or management studies can certainly help you, it isn’t a requirement. Here are some qualities to bring to franchising:

People Skills

Being a franchise owner also means building relationships. Networking helps you gain clients and market your business. So, you need excellent communication skills. And when you connect well with people, they often share their positive experience with your company. This helps strengthen your brand reputation over time.

Trust

Trust is important in any business or franchisor and franchisee relationship. You need to be able to trust your employees to deliver a quality service. Equally important, helping your customers build trust in your product by providing good service goes a long way toward helping your business.

Determination and Positivity

Despite the setbacks or franchise mistakes, it’s important to stay determined and positive. Keeping your long-term goals in mind will help you push through challenges. Dwelling on past failures only holds you back. For tips, tune into the More Details, Please podcast episode on how to bounce back from failure.

Knowing the Ins and Outs of the FDD

You’re required to have attention to detail. For example, the franchise disclosure document (FDD) contains large amounts of information about the franchise you are considering.  Reading this document carefully helps you understand the financial well-being, regulations, and rules of the franchise. If you are new to the franchise world, think about hiring a franchise lawyer or franchise consultant to help you understand the FDD and the franchise agreement.

Confidence and Outgoing Personality

Becoming a franchise takes a whole lot of confidence. So, personality plays a big role being your own boss. You need to be outgoing and go-getting to grab the opportunities that come your way. Furthermore, the auto detailing industry is competitive. Franchisors are coming into the market with different approaches and technologies to win customers. So, you must be confident you have what it takes to make your business stand out.

Understanding How the Franchise System Works

You must understand this type of business model. You’re buying into an existing business with a strong brand identity. So, it means you trade under their name and use their idea. Therefore, be realistic about how much creativity and control you can exercise.

For instance, you can’t be a DetailXPerts franchisee and introduce automatic car wash services to your customers. We focus on green tech and the science behind vehicle steam cleaning. And we trust our franchisees to stay on brand.

Strong Organizational and Leadership Skills

Successful franchisees are highly organized and focused individuals. If you need help in this area, you can hone your organizational strategies with the available tools. For example:

• Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software.
• Online financial tools for small businesses.
• Employee scheduling software.

You also need to be a leader. You are dealing with clients and employees, which involves managing and motivating people. To sum up, a strong leader knows how to delegate. And they communicate well. They also know how to build trust in the workplace.

Keep Learning

Can you be a franchise with no experience? People ask us this a lot. No, you don’t need previous experience in auto detailing. However, if you already own a business, it makes your franchisee journey easier. That said, a responsible franchisor provides training and support. So, our question to you is: are you willing to learn?

If this is new to you, learn as much as you can about running a small business. Even if you already own a business, keep learning how to be profitable, sustainable, and successful. As well as learning from the franchisor, use your initiative. For example, check out the SBA’s (US Small Business Administration) online learning platform.

You Need Financial Qualifications to Be a Franchisee

You need a solid credit score and enough liquid capital to invest in a franchise system. Exploring your franchise financing options early on will help you prepare. When you research how much does it cost to start a mobile car wash, you’ll see the amount varies a lot. However, bear in mind that cheaper does not mean better. Instead, focus on value, brand reputation, and a good return on your investment.

Responsible franchisors should encourage you to invest in your future. For example, DetailXPerts stands out in 3 growing markets: mobile car wash, fleet maintenance, and commercial cleaning. Our franchise costs reflect the support and opportunities available to you.

You Need More Money Than You Think

Think beyond startup costs and the franchise fee.  Do you have enough money for the first few years that you open? Even with franchise support and training, it can take a while to get a return on your investment. That’s why having enough money to pay your living expenses is important. Having a reserve of extra cash will give you peace of mind until you start making a profit.

Working with Numbers

You can delegate and hire an accountant or marketing manager. However, you’ll still need to know where the money goes. For instance, monitoring spending on supplies, technology, marketing campaigns, and more. Overall, being a franchise owner requires you to keep up with regular finances to make sure your business stays afloat.

You’re the Boss

One of the big things to remember is that you’re the boss. And knowing how to be a franchisee includes making tough business decisions. For example, you might have to turn people away when hiring. Making these difficult decisions comes with the responsibility of business ownership. 

Although you’re the boss, you still answer to the franchisor. This means following their way of doing things to maintain consistency through the franchise with its services and products. 

Hard Work and Long Hours

Many people consider owning a franchise because they believe it will make their lives easier. They’ll get to make their own schedule and only have to work as much as they want. However, in reality, they may find themselves working upwards of 80 hours a week. 

Running a franchise, especially a new one, takes a lot of time and effort. Even more so if you do not have franchise partners to help share the workload. Learning how to market, advertise, and run your business correctly will require research. There will be many long nights away from family and plenty of missed events.

Conclusion

To sum up, learning how to be a franchise owner is easier when you’re passionate and committed to giving this experience your best shot. Success requires confidence, attention to detail, strong organizational and leadership skills. Also, be prepared to put in a lot of learning to gather as much business insight as possible.

But no business venture is without risk. So, it is wise to consider your options. The good news is that a franchise can help you take advantage of a proven system and ongoing support. At DetailXPerts, we’ve spend over two decades perfecting our mobile cleaning and car wash system. If you think you’ve got what it takes, partnering with us can help you build the business you’ve always wanted.

Editor’s note: This article was updated in October 2025.

Find out what taking the franchise career path is like when you download our FREE EBOOK on 4 Franchise Owners Who Found Success with DetailXPerts.