9. Am I a paranoid franchiser?
Remember, franchisee is not your friend (although they might become one someday). Apart from your common goals, they have their own company and ambitions. That is why there can never be too much control in a franchised company. However, it should be done delicately. You can monitor sales promptly using the software that all franchisees are required to use. If the franchisee’s results are persistently poor, it is worth looking for the reason in either sales – the actual volume might be hidden from the franchiser –, or perhaps the business is not run properly. The two main things that should be monitored about a franchisee are:
- General economic performance
- Customer service
If the turnover is small for some reason, don’t just stand by: Get down to it and determine the cause of the problem! If it is a customer service issue, be there physically and understand what is going on. Every problem with a customer tarnishes your reputation as well.
IN CONCLUSION
Just as you shouldn’t believe the consultants who say that the success rate of franchised businesses is 95%, you shouldn’t believe those who say that franchised business is easy for the franchisee. However, the more franchisee has thought it through, the better the odds of it becoming something big and beautiful.
Something like McDonald’s.
SUPPLEMENTARY READING
Franchise your business. The Guide to Employing the Greatest Growth Strategy Ever. Mark Siebert, John Leonesio Entrepreneur Media 2016
WEBSITE
IFA International Franchise Association
FTC Federal Trade Commission
TEMPLATE
Business plan template: Franchise Business Plan Template
ARTICLE
Best Practices for Franchising Your Business and Achieving Rapid Growth