Are franchise fees negotiable?

In general, no, they are not negotiable.

Most established franchises have fixed franchise fees. This covers their cost of advertising their franchise opportunity, legal and franchise team support and other costs involved in promoting their franchise.

A fixed franchise fee also ensures fairness for all their franchisees.

There are some possible exceptions

• Emerging (newer) franchises may offer discounts to attract early adopters to get their foot in the door.
• Some brands offer discounts for Veterans.
• Some franchisors may waive or reduce the fee during special promotions or in underserved markets.

It is important to note that brands usually publish their franchise fees and their investment ranges on their own sites and on directories such as BeTheBoss.ca. 

Although people new to franchising worry that the franchise fee or franchise cost will go up if they disclose their finances, that is not how it works.  6 of the 10 Canadian provinces require that the brands make available their FDD (Franchise Disclosure Document) which is a legal document that contains the breakdown of costs and franchise fees. This protects franchise buyers by requiring franchisors to disclose all key facts before you invest.