In the world of franchising, certain stories immediately strike the imagination: an entrepreneur who owns three bakeries in the same city, another who manages both a hair salon and a restaurant, or a young investor who has bet on several cosmetics stores. Behind these apparent successes lie the notions of multi-franchise and multi-franchise, two concepts often confused but essential for understanding new forms of entrepreneurship.
In 2025, these models will develop at high speed in France. They appeal to entrepreneurs looking for diversification, security and performance. But behind the success, there are also human, financial and organizational challenges that few articles really explain.
1/ Multi-franchise vs multi-franchise: what’s the difference?
Let’s start by clarifying the terms:
- Multi-franchise concerns an entrepreneur who owns several points of sale of the same brand. For example, a restaurateur who opens three cafes of the same chain in different cities.
- Multi-franchise consists of owning several franchises of different brands. An entrepreneur can thus manage a ready-to-wear store, a restaurant and an organic products store.
The distinction is important. Multi-franchise allows you to capitalize on a well-known brand and pool certain resources. Multi-franchise plays on diversification: if one sector weakens, the other activities compensate.
2/ A trend that is becoming more and more popular
The numbers speak for themselves. The French Franchise Federation (FFF) reveals that in 2024:
- 25% of new franchisees chose multi-franchise, compared to 18% in 2019,
- Multi-franchise represents 15% of creations, compared to 9% five years ago.
Young and more experienced entrepreneurs alike see these models as a way to secure their income while accelerating their growth.
3/ The advantages: diversification, security and growth
These models have several obvious advantages:
- Secure your income : multi-franchise makes it possible to compensate a less efficient sector with another, reducing risks.
- Optimize management : in multi-franchise, certain costs can be shared, from communication to logistics.
- Accelerate development : an experienced franchisee can launch into a new store more quickly thanks to their know-how.
- Gain credibility : banks and partners place more trust in multi- or multi-franchisees, because they already master the management of a point of sale.
For brands, these entrepreneurs are an asset: more committed, more experienced and capable of strengthening awareness at several points of sale.
4/ The challenges of multi- and multi-franchiseeing
But success has a price. Behind success lie human and organizational challenges:
Manage your time and your teams
Having several points of sale or brands requires flawless organization. Management software helps, but nothing replaces presence on the ground.
Complex financial monitoring
Multiple franchises mean multiple financial flows, different costs and sometimes varying tax rules. Loose tracking can quickly lead to difficulties.
The mental load
Working on multiple projects at the same time can be exhausting. A study by Bpifrance Le Lab in 2024 reveals that 42% of multi-franchisees report feeling greater psychological pressure than traditional franchisees. Between meetings, inventory management, performance monitoring and relations with the parent company, the stress is constant.
5/ Who succeeds in this model?
Successful profiles share certain traits:
- Previous experience in management or franchising,
- The ability to delegate and manage effectively,
- A clear strategic vision,
- A taste for reasoned risk-taking.
We often find entrepreneurs in their thirties or forties, already accustomed to responsibilities and the field, sometimes from commerce, catering or services.
6/ Finance multiple franchises
Financing remains a key issue. The good news: banks are often more inclined to support experienced multi- or multi-franchisees. According to the Franchise Observatory, 70% of banks consider a multi-franchisee as a more reliable borrower.
Public aid also exists: honorary loans, support schemes for creation or takeover, support from chambers of commerce and industry. But a solid business plan and rigorous monitoring are essential before embarking on expansion.
7/ A trend that continues over time
Multi and multi-franchise is not a fashion. It meets deep needs: diversification, financial security and optimization of skills. According to the FFF, by 2030, nearly a quarter of franchisees could manage several points of sale or brands, which is profoundly transforming entrepreneurship in France.
Franchising becomes an art, where the entrepreneur is no longer content with reproducing a concept, but becomes the conductor of several projects, sometimes in very different universes.
