How do I hand over my fast food franchise to the buyer?

Handing over a franchise is different from handing over an independent restaurant, because the franchisor has a say. It usually controls training, system access and the approvals that let the new owner operate under the brand. As the seller, you carry most of the coordination. Write a short plan for possession day and agree it with the buyer and the franchisor.

Line up the franchisor’s training

Ask the franchisor how its new-owner training works, who attends and when it takes place relative to closing. Some brands expect the buyer to finish training before taking over. Others run it alongside the first weeks. Find out early so the closing date, your own availability and the buyer’s schedule fit together.

Introduce the people

Your shift managers and crew are the business on any given day. Introduce the buyer to each manager in person, explain who handles scheduling, ordering and cash, and say plainly what the buyer plans to keep the same. Staff who hear the news from you, with a clear plan, tend to stay calmer than staff who hear it second-hand.

Pass over access and accounts

• Franchisor portal logins, reporting tools and training records, moved to the buyer through the franchisor.
• Point-of-sale, delivery app and online ordering accounts, with changes made by the people who administer them.
• Approved distributor and supplier accounts, with the buyer set up as the account holder.
• Maintenance, cleaning, pest control and drive-thru equipment vendors, with service histories.

Count the cash and stock

Agree beforehand how the cash float and inventory will be counted, and who will be there. Use the same method on both sides so nobody argues about the result later. Our page on what a buyer asks during handover shows the questions to expect.