The short answer is yes. And it will save you time and money in the long run. A franchise architect will work with local building departments to get your permits as quickly as possible. In addition, a franchise architect will make sure that your new location includes the unique and defining brand concepts that the franchisor has developed, to help maximize your profits. Each franchise concept has equipment and design requirements that must be included in all locations, no matter what size and shape they are. A franchise architect understands the unique requirements of a franchisor and how best to design a store layout that takes into account everything from table placement to a register height to ADA requirements to A/C for bathrooms.