Buying an existing franchise: France launches its first national survey

The transfer of franchised businesses to new owners is the focus of a new joint initiative in France. In a publication dated 14 September 2026, Toute la Franchise announces that it is launching the first national survey dedicated to franchise resales, alongside the French Franchise Federation (FFF) and Franchise Expo Paris. The aim is to establish benchmark figures on these sales by gathering input from different parts of the franchise community.

Finding buyers is central to the initiative

The headline figure is striking: according to Toute la Franchise’s introduction to the initiative, 65% of franchise networks struggle to find buyers for existing businesses. This figure relates to the difficulties networks face; it is neither a failure rate for sales nor a measure of the proportion of outlets on the market.

The three partners are launching this survey precisely to build a clearer picture of franchise resales. Their stated aim is to produce the first benchmark figures on the subject, which is also receiving attention from public authorities in France in 2026.

The announcement therefore marks the start of a survey, not the publication of its findings. At this stage, it cannot provide a national picture of how many businesses have changed hands, their sale values or how long the process took. This distinction matters for prospective franchisees and networks alike: the anticipated data has yet to be compiled from the responses collected.

Three questionnaires for three audiences

The survey uses three separate questionnaires, aimed respectively at franchisors, existing franchisees and prospective franchisees. This approach seeks input from groups with different perspectives on a potential resale.

Franchisors are invited to respond directly. Existing franchisees have their own questionnaire, as do people considering joining the franchise sector. The survey is therefore not confined to network head offices: it is also open to established business owners and prospective franchisees.

This division by participant profile is one of the concrete features of the announced initiative. However, the information available does not detail the questions put to each group. It would therefore be premature to suggest that the survey will produce specific indicators on sale prices, financing or the time needed to find a buyer.

For anyone wishing to contribute, the first practical step is to choose the questionnaire that matches their situation. An existing franchisee and a prospective franchisee will not be directed to the same form.

Franchisors encouraged to involve their networks

The organisers give particular prominence to franchisors, describing them as directly affected by the issue and well placed to reach their franchisees. They ask franchisors both to take part themselves and to circulate the questionnaire intended for existing business owners within their networks.

This twofold invitation makes the data-gathering exercise a collective effort. A response from a network’s head office does not replace those of its franchisees: each contributes to a separate part of the survey. For a franchise brand wishing to take part, the proposed approach therefore involves two complementary actions: responding and sharing.

The partners also state that responses will be confidential. This assurance applies to individual contributions. The findings, meanwhile, are intended for publication once responses have been collected. However, the information provided gives neither a closing date nor a detailed timetable for publishing the results.

Conclusions must wait for the results

The value of this initiative lies in its aim to document an issue that many networks identify as challenging. By bringing together franchisors, franchisees and prospective franchisees, the organisers hope to establish a shared evidence base on franchise resales.

The next step will be the publication of the promised findings. When assessing them, readers will need to distinguish between evidence gathered through the survey and the background figure already shared on difficulties finding buyers. For now, the news is about a call to participate, rather than a completed assessment of the market.

Key takeaway: franchisors can respond and circulate the relevant questionnaire among their franchisees. Existing and prospective franchisees each have a dedicated form; the findings will be published after responses have been collected.