As a driving force of Québec’s economy, franchising generates annual revenues of more than 25 billion Canadian dollars, offering opportunities for French entrepreneurs wishing to set up in La Belle Province.
Adèle, Copper Branch, Planète Poutine, Presse Café, Première Moisson… With nearly 500 franchise networks and 12,000 locations, Québec offers numerous opportunities for French entrepreneurs who want to start a business without having to build it from scratch. “Becoming a franchisee means benefiting from an established brand, proven know-how, and ongoing support throughout the contract,” notes Laurent Delafontaine, president and co-founder of Axe Réseaux, a consulting firm specializing in franchising.
Franchise owners themselves, Gaétan Migneault and Julie Bergevin, respectively president and vice-president of Adèle—the largest Québec company specializing in residential cleaning—confirm their commitment to supporting each of their franchisees (both in Québec and in France, where the brand has also expanded). “During the first nine months, sometimes even up to a year, we are there to assist the entrepreneur and make their journey easier,” explains Julie Bergevin.
Franchisees training one another
It is also the franchisor who takes care of training new franchisees. “In addition to the initial theoretical and practical training, we meet with the franchisee once a month to ensure that they deliver the best service to clients,” adds Gaétan Migneault. Beyond this ongoing support, franchising provides entrepreneurs with a brand that is already well recognized locally.
Adèle is a household name in Québec, which ensures a solid client base right from the start,” emphasizes Gaétan Migneault. He points out that of Adèle’s roughly one hundred franchises, nearly 30% are run by foreigners—including many French entrepreneurs—most of whom started with an investment of no more than 30,000 Canadian dollars (about 20,000 euros).
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« The other advantage of franchising in Québec is that it is a very well-structured sector,” observes Laurent Delafontaine. Organizations such as the Conseil québécois de la franchise, Franchise Directe, Québec Franchise, and Look For a Franchise in Canada publish directories of all franchise networks. “There are many industries—such as restaurants, gastronomy, luxury goods, and fashion—where French expertise is highly valued, which gives franchisees an additional edge,” adds Laurent Delafontaine. Representing 7.5% of Québec’s GDP and generating annual revenues of more than 25 billion Canadian dollars, the franchise industry (known locally as franchisage) is clearly an attractive option.