---
title: "2019 AFDR Highlights: Recruitment Budgets"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/403c4774-ff57-49a2-8b50-b2f00eb487d5
source: "Franchising.com"
original_url: https://www.franchising.com/articles/2019_afdr_highlights_recruitment_budgets.html
author: "Eddy Goldberg"
category: "Franchisors"
industry: "Franchise Industry"
segment: "Franchisors"
topics: ["Finance & M&A"]
published: 2018-12-03T07:00:00.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T04:11:20.741Z
image: https://imgs.franchising.com/art/articles/4180_plate.jpg
---

# 2019 AFDR Highlights: Recruitment Budgets

**TL;DR:** The 2019 Annual Franchise Development Report highlights the importance of recruitment budgets, with franchisors allocating significant resources to attract new franchisees. The average 2019 budget plan for franchise sales and recruitment was $186,818, with a median of $127,000.

*By Eddy Goldberg, originally published in Franchising.com on 2018-12-03. [Read the original](https://www.franchising.com/articles/2019_afdr_highlights_recruitment_budgets.html).*

## Story

This is the first in a series of highlights from the 2019 Annual Franchise Development Report (AFDR). The 2019 AFDR, unveiled in late October at the 20th annual Franchise Leadership & Development Conference, is based on responses from 109 franchisors representing 34,058 units (26,838 franchised and 7,220 company-owned). Participants in the survey consisted of franchisors that completed an extensive online questionnaire.

Responses were aggregated and analyzed to produce a detailed look into the recruitment and development practices, budgets, and strategies of a wide cross-section of franchisors. The data and accompanying commentary and analysis provide the basis of the 2019 AFDR. Ordering information is below.

Conference attendees received a complimentary copy. **Recruitment budgets:** Average 2019 budget plans for franchise sales and recruitment (advertising and media expenses, not including brokers and employee compensation) among respondents was $186,818, with a median of $127,000. This is a decrease from last year, where the corresponding numbers were $202,462 and $140,000.

While the budget numbers are down, they remain well within the range of planned spending during the previous 5 years. Recruitment Budgets **2019** **2018** **2017** **2016** **2015** **2014** Average $186,818 $202,462 $181,510 $162,821 $166,693 $201,817 Median $127,000 $140,000 $125,000 $120,000 $100,000 $120,000 ***Next time:** Where the money goes, by category.* Ordering Information The complete 2019 AFDR, with analysis and benchmarks, is available for $350.

## Entities

- Franchising.com (publication)
- Franchise Industry (sector)
- franchise development (topic)
- Eddy Goldberg (person)
- recruitment budgets (topic)
- franchisor spending (topic)

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Originally reported by Eddy Goldberg, Franchising.com (https://www.franchising.com/articles/2019_afdr_highlights_recruitment_budgets.html). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/403c4774-ff57-49a2-8b50-b2f00eb487d5).