In order for a company to open a single unit, it must look at dozens of sites, determine the best choice, negotiate the lease, arrange for an architect to design the interior, hire a contractor for the build-out, negotiate equipment leases, purchase initial inventory, hire and train managers and staff, and prepare for the grand opening. With a franchise program, a company can depend on its franchisees for most of this—it merely provides the training in how to execute each of these steps.