Buying a Franchise in Ireland: Checking Training and Support

Training and ongoing support are important reasons to join the franchise community. However, a promise of “comprehensive support” tells you little about who will help, when help will arrive or what you must pay. Before buying a franchise in Ireland, turn those promises into a clear schedule of services, costs and contractual responsibilities.

1. Establish what the contract actually promises

Ireland has no dedicated franchise legislation, no franchise-specific mandatory pre-sale disclosure regime and no general franchise registration requirement. You should therefore request evidence of the support package rather than assume a prescribed disclosure document will provide it.

General contract law governs the parties’ promises, alongside intellectual property law and applicable Irish and EU competition law. Section 4 of the Competition Act 2002, as amended, prohibits anti-competitive agreements; Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union may also apply. Other general laws apply according to the business and its activities.

The Irish Franchise Association’s Code of Ethical Conduct, based on the European Code of Ethics for Franchising, provides a self-regulatory framework rather than a statutory disclosure regime. Association membership is not a substitute for independent legal review.

Ask a solicitor experienced in Irish franchise agreements to compare the recruitment brochure, written answers, draft agreement and relevant operations manual provisions. A contractual promise to provide initial training is different from a sales representative saying that someone will always be available.

Identify clauses allowing the franchisor to change its services or manual. Also check entire-agreement and non-reliance clauses: these can affect whether you can rely on statements made before signing. Ask for material commitments to appear in the signed agreement or an expressly incorporated schedule.

2. Test whether initial training prepares you to operate

Request a written training programme, not simply a course duration. It should identify the subjects covered, delivery method, location, trainers and intended participants.

Check whether training covers the practical responsibilities you will carry from opening day:

• Using booking, payment and reporting systems.
• Recruiting, supervising and training employees.
• Handling complaints, refunds and operational incidents.
• Delivering the product or service to brand standards.
• Understanding relevant Irish compliance requirements and when specialist advice is needed.

For a brand entering Ireland from abroad, ask how its training has been adapted for Irish operations. A module based on another country’s employment or customer rules is not enough. Franchisor training also does not remove your responsibility to obtain appropriate professional advice.

Clarify attendance and assessment conditions. Who must pass: you, your manager or both? What happens if someone fails, becomes ill or needs a second attempt? Establish who pays for retraining and whether failure can delay opening or end the agreement.

Ask to see sample materials or a demonstration under suitable confidentiality arrangements. Speak to recently opened franchisees about what they could confidently do after training and what they had to learn unaided.

3. Define ongoing support and its full cost

Separate opening assistance from routine support. A few days of launch help should not be confused with regular operational coaching throughout the contract.

Build a simple support schedule recording each service, its frequency, who delivers it, how it is accessed and its charge. Include site visits, refresher courses, technical assistance, marketing guidance and manager replacement training where relevant.

Avoid relying solely on phrases such as “as required” or “reasonable assistance”. Ask who decides when support is required and whether help is remote or on site. For urgent system failures, establish service hours, escalation contacts and any agreed response targets. A response target is not necessarily a promise to resolve the problem within that period.

Request written confirmation of costs outside the initial fee and ongoing royalty. These might include travel, accommodation, employee wages during training, additional attendees and charges for repeat visits. Ask how additional charges can change.

Have your accountant include these costs in your funding requirements, including the cost of covering staff absence during training. Do not assume that paying a royalty makes every form of assistance free.

4. Verify delivery and agree an escalation route

Speak to franchisees at different stages: a recent opener, an established operator and someone who has replaced a manager. Ask for concrete examples of support requested, response times and whether additional invoices followed.

Check capacity as well as goodwill. Who supports Irish franchisees, where are they based and who covers their absence? If a local master franchisee supplies support, confirm which legal entity owes you the contractual obligation. Access to an international brand does not necessarily create a direct claim against its overseas owner.

Ask your solicitor what happens if promised assistance is not delivered. Review written complaint procedures, escalation, remedies and dispute-resolution terms. Do not assume you can withhold royalties or terminate without consequences.

Practical takeaway: Before signing, obtain a written training programme, a costed support schedule and clear contractual commitments. Buy support you can verify, not reassurance you cannot measure.