This Ice Cream Shop is Closed for the Winter

With the changing of the seasons I think it’s a good time to talk about franchises that do well in different seasons.  With the cooler air upon us ice cream franchises will not be as busy as they were in the summer.  During the colder seasons soup franchises do better.  Other franchises or businesses that do well seasonally are travel and tourism related businesses, outdoor businesses, and some retail.

When you buy a franchise consider the down time before you invest.  Can you afford a large drop in profits during the cold months if you own an ice cream franchise?  If you own a soup franchise how will you get through the hot months?  Do you live in a place that is often cold or hot?  Does it make sense at all to own an ice cream franchise in Alaska or a soup franchise in Key West?  These are things that you must consider. 

With each type of franchise there are pros and cons.  Sometimes the cons can be so significant that they can ruin a franchisee that isn’t ready for the slow season.  Like the old saying goes ‘prepare for the worst and hope for the best.’  Franchising is a risk, but with some preparation the risks can be greatly avoided.