prospective franchisees http://www.artwoo.com Returned search results for prospective franchisees Copyright 2008 Sun, 23 Nov 2008 08:40:51 +0000 http://www.artwoo.com/rss/prospective+franchisees Buying A Franchise Opportunity and Getting It Right! http://www.artwoo.com/article/buying-a-franchise-opportunity-getting-it-right http://www.artwoo.com/article/buying-a-franchise-opportunity-getting-it-right#comments Thu, 21 Jun 2007 16:29:53 +0000 buying a franchisefranchise opportunityprospective franchiseesfranchise businessbusiness modelfranchisorguidance http://www.artwoo.com/article/buying-a-franchise-opportunity-getting-it-right Buying a Franchise offers many benefits over starting a business on your own. The franchisees benefit from the training and ongoing support that they receive whilst trying to make their business successful. People starting a business on their own often have no help or in the day to day running of the business!

The franchisees receive guidance on location, fixtures and fittings, marketing and operation of the . This guidance is based on years of experience the has gained not only from running the business model but also from advising other franchisees.

Buying a is at least a five year commitment and as such should not be taken lightly. It is important to make the right lifestyle choice rather than basing the decision to buy purely on profitability of the business model.

A prospective franchisee should always look at the market trends to ascertain whether the need and requirements of the products of the are predicted to grow or decline over the medium and long term. Getting advice from an experienced accountant can help in this respect.

What makes the franchisor's products better than the competition? Is the franchisor continually investing in improving the products to reflect changes in latest trends and requirements of the customers? Analysing which products have been changed and new ones introduced over the last five years will help in this regard.

How are the other franchisees faring? should speak to others who have already bought the franchise to ascertain whether the business model works and it would be suitable for them. This course of action will reveal information that the franchisor does not usually have in his marketing material!

The territory is just as important as the franchise model. Not all franchises work in all territories as each area has their demographics and buying patterns. Decent knowledge of the local area is invaluable and the choice of which type of franchise business to buy should be made with regards to this information.

The franchise agreement is the cornerstone of every franchise and as such should be scrutinised carefully. Many franchisees wrongly make the assumption that they have to accept the franchise agreement in its entirety if they are to buy a franchise business.

In reality a letter of variation can be created fairly easily which deals with the individual requirements of the prospective franchisees without changing the actual franchise agreement. The way this works is that the letter of variation can say that certain clauses in the franchise agreement do not apply in this case and certain clauses are to be treated differently.

It is important when seeking advice that experienced lawyers and accountants are used rather then choosing somebody who has just qualified. They will know through dealing with real cases how to handle the franchisee's particular requirements and still keep the franchisor happy.

Making the right choice of franchise that is based on individual skills as well as the individual requirements of each particular territory should serve to ensure that the business model works both in the short term and the long term. Naz Daud is the Founder of the CityLocal Franchise Opportunity http://www.citylocal.co.uk http://www.citylocal.co.uk/frontend/franchiseinfo.php?cityid=79 http://www.citylocal.ie http://www.ecademy.com/account.php?id=120141 ]]> Franchisee And Franchisor Relations http://www.artwoo.com/article/franchisee-and-franchisor-relations http://www.artwoo.com/article/franchisee-and-franchisor-relations#comments Tue, 01 May 2007 03:34:59 +0000 franchiseescontactfranchisorensure that theycourteous manneraimfranchisee http://www.artwoo.com/article/franchisee-and-franchisor-relations franchisees" rel="tag">franchisees maintain proper relations with their ? A lot has been written about how franchisors can promote positive relations with their franchisees. Franchisors should maintain proper dialogue, reward the best performing franchisees and hold regular meetings. I believe that the duty also lies with the franchisee to help the franchisor achieve his goals of maintaining proper and profitable relationships both parties.

Most franchisors to provide the ultimate in training, support and service to their franchisees. After all if the franchisees are successful then so will the franchisor. It is actually quite amazing how few franchisees take advantage of this relationship and utilise all that is available for them.

Maintaining daily or weekly dialogue with franchisor is essential. After all, they have the expertise and the knowledge to help the franchisee overcome most problems. If the franchisee does maintain regular then the franchisor will always be thinking of new ways to help him or her. They will also be keen to impart their knowledge which has taken them years to acquire.

The franchisees should attend most if not all conference calls and annual meetings. These are usually motivational and help to maintain relationships not only with the franchisor but with the other franchisees. They are also important in keeping up with new product developments and ways of working.

Instead of complaining to other franchisees of any short comings it is vital they are brought to the attention of the franchisor in a friendly and helpful manner. Most franchisors are continuously striving to improve their training, ongoing support and product development. By bringing these matters to their attention in a the right results can be achieved.

Many franchisees are happy to make snide remarks to other franchisees without bringing the matter to the attention of the franchisor in a professional manner. This leads to small petty differences getting out of hand.

It is essential when these discussions are ongoing that they are communicated via email and letter and then discussed on the phone. Written communication can ensure that you the franchisee receives prompt attention to any queries. Franchisors do not want to be seen to not responding to any written suggestions or comments. This way both of you are sitting at the same side of the table trying to find solutions that work for both parties.

It is imperative that a franchisee only resorts to legal action when all other means of communication have failed. Once the matter takes a legal turn then the relationship is usually damaged for all time. When lawyers are involved usually neither party achieves what the set to do and the only sure fire winners are the lawyers.

When relationships fail between both parties it can ultimately lead to depression for the franchisee. A depressed franchisee is unlikely to put the same effort in maintaining and growing sales in his territory. This scenario could in most cases have been easily avoided if lines of communication had been kept open right from the start. It is a as much a duty for the franchisee as it is for the franchisor to maintain a profitable and harmonious relationship. Naz Daud http://www.citylocal.co.uk http://www.citylocal.co.uk/frontend/franchiseinfo.php?cityid=79 http://www.citylocal.ie http://www.ecademy.com/account.php?id=120141 ]]> Why Do Businesses Begin Franchises? http://www.artwoo.com/article/why-do-businesses-begin-franchises http://www.artwoo.com/article/why-do-businesses-begin-franchises#comments Mon, 01 Sep 2008 13:57:31 +0000 franchise holderfranchise conceptcontinuous incomestaff problemsfranchisornew marketingmarketing ideas http://www.artwoo.com/article/why-do-businesses-begin-franchises franchisor. A franchisor is the person whose business idea, process, product, name etc is being used by a or franchisee. Therefore the franchisor creates a business and a proven system and then give's other's who are called franchisees the right to mimic their business by using their name, selling their product or services and their proven system. So, why do people choose this ?

Becoming a franchisor has great benefits. One of the biggest benefits is that they are able to expand quickly and at much less the cost of opening a new location. Having more locations and in many areas will bring greater gains for the franchisor. Also the more locations they have the better they can offer their products and services to a wider variety of consumers. The franchisor will have fewer direct staff and also less . Also they franchisees will pay for the franchise and may also have other fees to pay continually so the franchisor will have from royalties which are based on the franchisees gross sales and/or fixed fees. They also have the benefits of purchasing power and purchasing in larger volumes which can be cost effective. Another big reason to become a franchisor is that are constantly getting new business and marketing techniques from their franchisees. Many franchisors report that they get 90% of their ideas from their franchisees who are dedicated to their franchise and franchisor. The franchisor can get to the point where they can step back and let the franchisees continue to achieve financial and business growth and they can live the lifestyle they so choose with a great income.

The only way this works is if people buy a franchise from them. So, why would someone choose to buy a franchise? There are many benefits associated with buying a franchise business. For example there is less risk involved with buying a business that has already established a name for itself has a proven system and has ongoing training and support. Starting an independent business does not come with those perks! It is also proven that starting a franchise business holds a greater chance for success then starting your own independent business. Also there is less involved with a system that already works especially if you will be provided training on that system. Another great benefit of being a franchisee is you get incredible marketing advantages. Even if your name is well known already, most franchisors provide marketing as part of your deal. If you see a commercial for a franchise business, all the franchisees reap the benefits of it!

Becoming a franchisor is great choice if you want to expand your business and make the money you have always dreamed of!For more information on an automotive franchise, visit BumperDoc auto body franchise and start your path to business ownership.]]> Should I Contact Current Franchises That I am Interested in Pursuing? http://www.artwoo.com/article/should-i-contact-current-franchises-that-i-am-interested-in-pursuing http://www.artwoo.com/article/should-i-contact-current-franchises-that-i-am-interested-in-pursuing#comments Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:08:32 +0000 franchise attorneysfranchisordaily basisfranchiseesgood experienceterm successown time http://www.artwoo.com/article/should-i-contact-current-franchises-that-i-am-interested-in-pursuing franchisor, or even get a advice, but the best thing you can do is contact current franchisee's who own the same franchise you are looking to start. You will hear things from the people who are doing exactly what you want to do, what could be better. So, you should absolutely contact current franchises that you are interested in!

The franchisor may take you to meet certain current so that you can see how they are doing, what they do on a , and how successful they are doing with the franchise. This can be a , but remember the franchisor has chosen those franchisees for a reason. Also in that situation you may feel uncomfortable asking certain questions while the franchisor is there. So, you may choose to go back and visit them on your and ask those questions. This can be great deal of help for you.

But, you can also just select some to go into and ask the owner questions about how they do things, if the franchisors systems work, how supportive the franchisor is, how trustworthy or honest they feel the franchisor is, and their overall opinions of that particular franchise.

Make sure that when you are choosing franchises to visit that you choose different ones. Choose to visit franchises that are in all different areas. What works or sells in one place may not move in another area. Also choose to visit franchises that have been around for some time. They will be able to help you determine the long of the franchise. Also choosing to visit a newly started franchise will help you as well. It can help you to see how well the franchisor deals with new franchisees. Visiting franchises that are doing well can benefit you since they may be able to give you pointers and advice since they are doing well. You should also consider visiting a franchise location that is not doing so well. This may be able to show what does not work so that you can avoid it. But also it will allow you to see if the franchisor is in any way responsible for the lack of success. Or you may be able to see if that franchisor helps or supports those franchisees in a time of need.

It is important that you visit and talk with as many current franchisees as possible. This will be able to give you the best idea of how that franchise and franchisor operate. That way you will not be blinded or mislead in any way. You should know as much as you can before you make such a big decision.For more information on an automotive franchise, visit BumperDoc auto body franchise and start your path to business ownership.]]> Grow Your Business Through Franchising http://www.artwoo.com/article/grow-your-business-through-franchising http://www.artwoo.com/article/grow-your-business-through-franchising#comments Mon, 23 Apr 2007 14:30:03 +0000 franchise feefranchise consultantsbusiness franchisefranchiseesbusiness ownersturnoversignificantly http://www.artwoo.com/article/grow-your-business-through-franchising business owners would like to grow their business. Franchising can be a very effective way to do this with the added advantage that minimal investment in additional premises, business equipment and employees is required. fund this expansion for them. This approach makes franchising a low risk option for business owners providing they have a robust product or service.

A major problem for business owners in expanding their business is finding the right employees to take the company forward. Franchising enables you to find highly committed, capable and motivated franchisees who invest their own capital to purchase your . They are very focused and follow your business systems, quality pricedures and processes.

The types of business that are suitable for franchising are endless too. Many different industries use franchising to distribute their products and services across the market place. If a business has a good profit margin and can teach franchisees to replicate their systems and processes then it is likely that it can be franchised.

The main income streams from franchising a business can include some or all of the following, the , a monthly support fee, a percentage of , the supply of products and services to franchisees, buying power discounts, and increased sales of products and services (both front end and back end).

The Franchise Model is the key factor in the success of a franchise. It's aim is to maximise the income of both the franchisor (the franchising business) and the franchisee. The success of the franchisees will ultimately determine how many franchises the business can sell and at what price it can sell them at.

A robust Franchise Model effectively implemented has the potential to significantly increase turnover and profits. This makes franchising a strategy worth researching for most Business Owners. Research can be done for virtually zero cost and most will offer a Free Evaluation Service. Mark Harris is a Franchise Consultant and Director at Business For Profit Ltd http://www.businessforprofit.co.uk , a business which offers effective and affordable Franchising Solutions to Business Owners. ]]> Find A Great Franchise Opportunity and Plan For Success http://www.artwoo.com/article/find-a-great-franchise-opportunity-plan-for-success http://www.artwoo.com/article/find-a-great-franchise-opportunity-plan-for-success#comments Sat, 19 Jan 2008 05:20:01 +0000 franchise exhibitionsfranchise lawyerfranchise agreementbuying a franchisetooth combinternet franchisefranchise fee http://www.artwoo.com/article/find-a-great-franchise-opportunity-plan-for-success franchise exhibitions and magazines? In this article I examine the key qualities that potential franchisees should look for when evaluating a franchisor and their business model.

Is the business model profitable? This is the number critical issue that should be examined in great detail before any commitments are made. Can you see a market for the products in your territory? Some franchises only work well in areas with a certain type of demographic and in specific locations. If your demographics are wrong or you can not find the ideal location then you might be well advised to consider another franchise.

Is the market sustainable and set to grow? Many franchisees make the mistake of buying into a franchise when the market is already saturated and declining. Just because a lot of franchisees made a great profit in the past it does not mean that the same circumstances apply today. All business markets move in cycles and it is important to get in at the right time.

What do existing franchisees think? The best way to gather information that the franchisor will not tell you is by speaking to the existing franchisees. Do not only call the numbers that the franchisor gives you but call at random at least three people who have bought into the business.

Is the any good? Many great business models are ruined by a poor franchise agreement that does little or nothing to protect your rights. Always get a decent to go through the agreement with a fine and negotiate over any points that you are not happy with.

Is the training and support world class? One major gripe that a lot of franchisees have is that once they have paid their many franchisors forget about them in their desire to sell more franchises. If you already have business experience then perhaps you might be able to do without first class support. For many people this is their first foray into the business world and therefore they are likely to fail if full ongoing support is not provided right from day one.

Buying a franchise opportunity is a great way to get started in business for the first time especially if you find an ethical franchisor. If you take proper care evaluating the business model, get the best advice and are prepared for hard work then there is no reason why you should not succeed. Naz Daud is the Founder of the CityLocal Internet Business Franchise Opportunity. http://www.citylocal.co.uk http://www.citylocal.co.uk/frontend/franchiseinfo.php?cityid=79 http://www.citylocal.ie http://www.ecademy.com/account.php?id=120141 ]]> New Franchise Opportunities http://www.artwoo.com/article/new-franchise-opportunities http://www.artwoo.com/article/new-franchise-opportunities#comments Sun, 12 Oct 2008 23:15:22 +0000 prospective franchiseefranchise consultantsfranchise businessesfranchise feefranchise opportunityfranchise businessfranchise opportunities http://www.artwoo.com/article/new-franchise-opportunities franchise opportunities in the UK are coming available on a weekly basis, with the explosion of on the market franchising your business has never been easier. But what make a good business to franchise and what makes a good franchise to buy into?

Firstly it has to have a proven business model and this is where many franchises fail their franchisees. I call them "Made To Franchise" businesses and these are there to take the + a monthly % of profits or a licensing fee, a lot of the time these ready meal franchisors do not care at all about the franchisee and make claims of huge profits over short periods of time, although there can be certain scenarios where this works it is often the case that the franchisee makes loses and over time the system as a whole will fail with the franchisors leaving the existing zees ridden with debt. Made to es who go in without a proven business model are not a good to buy into.

When a new franchise comes onto the market they should be looking to set up several pilot franchises and run them over the course of a few years, establishing that their system works and working closely with each zee. As a looking at a new franchise on the scene you should be asking some choice questions:

1. How long has this franchise opportunity been on the market?
2. How many existing franchisees are there?
3. Am I one of the pilot franchises?
4. How long was the business model running before they franchised?

The most important question there is number 4. If the business has only been up for a year or less before they franchised then you are buying into a made to franchise business, a ready mealer. This is not necessarily bad news though as with the right people running the operation this could be a new, exciting and profitable opportunity, however in a lot of cases this is not true and you could be buying into a failing business model.

There are many franchises opportunities out there, old and new, when buying a franchise the first thing that comes to mind is that you are buying into an existing, established, reputable business, and most times you are but... In America and Canada they call it "Due Diligence" This is where the onus is on you to do a thorough investigation of each organisation you are looking to buy into. Do not be bullied or conned into buying a franchise by the franchisor, do not be fooled into believing you will make £200,000 in your first year, go away with the facts they have given you and investigate. Contact existing franchisees and use the Internet to search for any bad reviews. Post messages in forums asking what people think and do Google searches. Websites like Rip Off Reports can give you a valuable way of finding any bad reviews by ex franchisees, remembering though that an ex-franchisee may give a bad report where 10 current ones are making a success of their franchise.

When buying a franchise opportunity the choice is yours as to whether you are set up for life or losing your life savings so investigate, investigate, investigate.Matthew Anderson is a franchise consultant and founder of The Franchise Shop, a UK business franchise directory featuring everything from Van Franchises through to Internet Franchises and Dating Franchises]]> Franchise Opportunity - What Questions Should You Ask The Franchisor? http://www.artwoo.com/article/franchise-opportunity-what-questions-should-you-ask-the-franchisor http://www.artwoo.com/article/franchise-opportunity-what-questions-should-you-ask-the-franchisor#comments Wed, 02 May 2007 09:30:00 +0000 franchise opportunitiesfranchiseesfranchisordecision making processbear in mindgive you a chancereceived money http://www.artwoo.com/article/franchise-opportunity-what-questions-should-you-ask-the-franchisor franchise opportunities there are a few questions that all potential should ask of the . that this relationship could last many years and your business potential and your future happiness rests on the answer received. Money whilst important in the is by no means the only important consideration in business.

First and foremost it is important to ask about the franchisors background. Their experience in business and their knowledge of the field that you are about to enter in should be comprehensive. Not only will this to inquire about their knowledge but will also help you understand the people behind the business opportunity that you are about to enter.

How does the franchisor evaluate new franchisees? If this has not been as well developed as it should be then surely it questions the value of the franchise as well. All franchisors should have a clear understanding of the types of people they are searching for and clear guidelines as to how evaluate and score them. Bear in mind that a chain is as strong as its weakest link.

How well do they communicate with you? What methods do they use do communicate? Are they in touch with the latest technology? Technology is changing rapidly and in the future only the business men with their fingers on the pulse will survive.

How fast do they respond to requests for further information? If the franchisor can not be bothered with answering your questions before you they have your money how will they react once the monies have changed hands? When you find a franchise where the lines of communication are not only open but they are also professionally conducted then you can almost be sure that you are backing a winning team.

How many franchises have they sold and how well are the other franchisees faring? Are the franchisees generally happy with their business? Is it what they expected? The moral of each part of the network will be a major factor in the growth potential of the group as a whole. Getting a grip on the profitability of their systems and understanding your chances of succeeding with their business ideas are very useful bits of information to have.

If possible get a full list of their franchisees names and contact details so that you can ascertain for yourself if the facts and figures quoted are reliable and trustworthy. Speaking to other franchisees will also help you to discover the pros and cons of the franchise business.

Finally it is important that you see eye to eye both with the franchisors and their long term plans for the business. Knowing what they hope to achieve and how they plan to do it will affect you and your business plans for many years. Are they receptive to ideas from other franchisees? Do they have a system of logging all the ideas received from their franchisees? Most of the best ideas invariably come from the people who are at the front end and dealing directly with the consumer.

Once you can get a feel for their long term plans and possibly approve of their way of thinking then you stand a better chance of not only living within their requirements and systems but also growing within them.

If you are ready to buy into the dream that the franchisor is selling then you have to be sure that not only the systems are in place to handle your growth but also that this strategic partnership will also develop further due to common ideas shared. Naz Daud http://www.citylocal.co.uk http://www.citylocal.co.uk/frontend/franchiseinfo.php?cityid=79 http://www.citylocal.ie http://www.ecademy.com/account.php?id=120141 ]]> Franchisees - Beware Of The Franchisor! http://www.artwoo.com/article/franchisees-beware-of-the-franchisor http://www.artwoo.com/article/franchisees-beware-of-the-franchisor#comments Tue, 29 May 2007 12:29:53 +0000 franchise agreementfranchise businessfranchise feesfranchise lawyercontactfranchiseesfranchisor http://www.artwoo.com/article/franchisees-beware-of-the-franchisor franchisors seem to act in like highway robbers. They mistreat their and want to take the largest slice of profits. So how can you ensure that you do not end up buying the wrong ?

A franchise business should be like a partnership where both parties gain. But some operators seem to treat their franchisees as cash cows and continuously milk them for all they are worth. They promise everything at the start but fail to deliver.

The first step in determining the franchise is by examining the very carefully. A decent can help here. If it is too much in the favour of the franchisor then stay way from this opportunity!

Bear in mind that often the franchiser can agree a letter of variation to the standard franchise agreement. If after reading the agreement there are only a few points that disturb you now is the time to bring to the table. Make sure that you negotiate hard to remove these clauses or agree a more favourable compromise.

The second check you should do is look at how many lawsuits the franchisor has fought with existing or previous franchisees. This will give you a fair idea of how many disputes have happened or are currently active.

The best people to are existing franchises. They are most likely to know about previous and existing clashes. Most franchisees have minor grievances with their franchisor but if they seem happy and relaxed in their business then this is a good sign.

Ask the franchisor how many franchisees have failed recently. If they hesitate to answer or do not know then this should set alarm bells ringing. If they seem wary of answering any of your questions then walk away.

Larger more established brands tend to demand the highest and ongoing licence fees. They tend to negotiate less and demand more from their franchisees. They are usually more set in their ways and less likely to allow you to run the business your way.

With smaller less established brands, the buyer often has more room for negotiation and can demand greater protection right at the outset. They can help to shape the future innovations and improvements to the franchise business.

Many people make the mistake of assuming that running and managing a franchise business is easier than being in paid employment. This is a big mistake to make as many existing business owners have found out.

Running a franchise (or any other business) often eats into all of your free time and demands discipline, motivation and a desire for hard work. The rewards can be much greater for those who are willing to put the effort in at the start.

Buying into a (franchise) business is a costly way to get started in business. Not only do you have to pay a large sum of money at the start but you have ongoing royalty payments for the lifespan of the business. If you make a mistake by choosing the wrong franchisor to go into partnership with you could end up regretting it for the rest of your life. Naz Daud is the Founder of the CityLocal Internet Business Franchise Opportunity. http://www.citylocal.co.uk http://www.citylocal.co.uk/frontend/franchiseinfo.php?cityid=79 http://www.citylocal.ie http://www.ecademy.com/account.php?id=120141 ]]> How To Franchise Your Business http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-franchise-your-business http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-franchise-your-business#comments Sat, 02 Jun 2007 00:40:04 +0000 franchise lawyerfranchise agreementfranchise feesbusiness franchiseprofitable business opportunitythis means thatinitial franchise fee http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-franchise-your-business franchise fees? If it is profitable and has well defined objectives to exploit the opportunities in the market place then you are ready to move to step two.

Can the business model be easily taught? There is no point in having a if it can not be duplicated by your franchisees. A training package must be devised that assumes that the franchisee has no prior business experience.

Step three is to create a detailed and well laid out operators manual. This should be divided into two parts: one section for the franchisee and one section for the employees of the franchisee.

Step four is to decide on the and the ongoing royalty payments. In the initial stages of launching the , the franchise fee will have to be kept at a very low level to entice the first batch of franchisees. Once you have some franchisees running successfully then you will be able to increase the initial payment.

Step five is to create an ongoing support system for your franchisees. Some will require more support than others. A few will need more training. You will need to decide at this point who is going to actually carry out the training. Many franchisors outsource the training aspect to a qualified training company. they can focus on the critical aspect of running and managing the business.

Step six is to devise your with the help of a decent . There is no point in cutting costs as this will end up being the cornerstone of your business opportunity.

Step seven is to create all the marketing material including brochures and video presentations to market your franchises. You will also need to decide where you are going to market your business opportunity. There are now a multitude of mediums where you can promote your franchise ranging from franchise exhibitions, franchise magazines and franchise websites. Many companies even advertise their franchise offering in the national press.

Bear in mind that the above steps will be under constant improvement as the franchise network grows. All the marketing material, ongoing support and training will have to be developed as weaknesses are discovered.

Some of the franchisees will have to be treated like children as they will never have managed a business before. Not only will you have to teach them how to mange your franchise but in some cases you will have to also train them into how to use a computer and basic accountancy skills.

Finally, a system will have to be created to deal with franchisees that are deemed unsuitable after they started managing their business. No matter how comprehensive the recruiting programme is, it will be very difficult to weed out all the unsuitable candidates until they actually start running their business.

Finding the right franchisees, training them properly in all your systems and providing full ongoing support should reduce the numbers who end up failing as business owners. Naz Daud is the Founder of the CityLocal Internet Business Franchise Opportunity. http://www.citylocal.co.uk http://www.citylocal.co.uk/frontend/franchiseinfo.php?cityid=79 http://www.citylocal.ie http://www.ecademy.com/account.php?id=120141 ]]> The 5 Ks Of Being A Successful Franchisor http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-5-ks-of-being-a-successful-franchisor http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-5-ks-of-being-a-successful-franchisor#comments Tue, 12 Jun 2007 11:14:58 +0000 franchise networkfranchise opportunityfranchiseesfranchise businessconstantly changingfranchisorconcept work http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-5-ks-of-being-a-successful-franchisor franchise business world is as new opportunities are released every month to an already stretched market place. By utilising the 5Ks of being a successful it is possible to keep ahead of the competition.

The 5Ks for being a successful franchisor are:

Keep Communicating Keep Supporting Keep Innovating Keep Investing Keep Positive

Always refer to the 5Ks to ensure that the franchise offering is strong and remains competitive. They will also serve to ensure that the remain profitable in a more ruthless and overcrowded market place.

Keep communicating with the as a whole. Each one of the franchisees is bubbling over with ideas on how to improve the business model. They are invaluable when it comes to new ideas and ways to cut costs.

By having constant communication with the franchisees, many niggles in the franchise network can quickly be resolved before they turn into major problems. If problems are left to fester they can easily develop into major disputes!

Remember to also communicate with your customers who are the ultimate users of your products. Regular questionnaires and surveys will keep you abreast of the latest trends and behaviours of your consumers.

Keep supporting the franchisees especially the ones that are struggling. The franchise network is as strong as the weakest link! By providing constant support to the whole network the team will strengthen.

Many franchisors make the mistake of only supporting the best performing franchisees and leave the rest to get on with it! This is bad practice in my view as the support should be equal for all franchisees with a slight bias towards the franchisees that are having a difficult time making the business for them.

Keep innovating to ensure that your remains viable and profitable. Look at all facets of your business from recruitment, training, operators manual and products.

By constantly seeking innovations it is possible to keep one step ahead of the competitors. The image and brand will also be considerably enhanced further if the public and your franchisees are aware that innovations are constantly being introduced.

Remember to utilise the new mediums like online networks and video marketing to recruit the best franchisees and market your products.

Keep investing in the franchise network, brochures, advertising and training programmes. Never ever forget that new franchises are entering the market place. They are usually fronted by younger and more aggressive marketers who are eager to take a slice of your market share.

The advertising should reflect the latest trends and take into account the fact that consumers are constantly evolving. The public are now demanding safer products and are becoming more health conscious.

Keep positive and let everybody see and feel the enthusiasm from headquarters. This enthusiasm is catching and will filter down to most of your territories if managed correctly. In fact, some studies show that positive companies with strong goals and mission statements are much more likely to succeed than other businesses.



By constantly evaluating your franchise opportunity using the 5Ks it is highly likely to enhance your offering. The whole team will be more confident and the brand image will improve. Naz Daud is the Founder of the CityLocal Franchise Opportunity http://www.citylocal.co.uk http://www.citylocal.co.uk/frontend/franchiseinfo.php?cityid=79 http://www.citylocal.ie http://www.ecademy.com/account.php?id=120141 ]]> Franchise Ownership: A Balanced Look http://www.artwoo.com/article/franchise-ownership-a-balanced-look http://www.artwoo.com/article/franchise-ownership-a-balanced-look#comments Sun, 04 May 2008 06:19:07 +0000 doughnut shopsowning a franchiseprospective franchiseesfranchise operationbuying a franchisefranchise ownerfranchise owners http://www.artwoo.com/article/franchise-ownership-a-balanced-look owning a franchise is, for some people, the ticket out of the rat race and into a world of financial independence and being their own bosses. For others, the idea of owning a franchise means risking not only a regular paycheck, but having to put up their own money and then agree to run the business according to someone else's guidelines.

Both Sides

Somewhere in between those extremes is the reality of being a . No one who knows the franchise business can honestly say there is not a tremendous amount of work involved, and that the success or failure of an individual will depend on how willing the franchisee is to do that work.

On the other hand, because most are pre-qualified before being accepted, and because they will have a good amount of their own finances tied up in the franchise, they are more highly motivated to make the business work than they might have been when working for somebody else.

And, because means they will be entering the business world with a proven product or service, which is already familiar to a large number of people, they will not be faced with trying to find and keep a customer base. As long as they have a good location for their franchise--and many franchisors offer assistance in getting their franchisees located--and provide customer service up to the franchisor's standards, new have an opportunity for early success.

Many Opportunities From Which To Choose

The wide variety of franchise opportunities now available means that franchising is now an option for more people than ever before. Franchising has grown well beyond the fast-food arena and now includes businesses like fitness centers, dollar stores, cellular phone stores, , and apparel stores. So people from many different business backgrounds are starting their own franchises.

Owning a franchise, of course, means that you'll have to run it according to the training and Operations Manual which your franchisor provides, and that you will very possibly be required to pay your franchisor a portion of you monthly sales in fees. You may also have to make time for periodic company workshops, which can mean traveling long distances.

If there are other of your company's franchisees in the area, however, you all might be able to split your local advertising costs. And because you're all selling a branded product, your advertising budget should not be too high. Travel expenses can be written off.

If you are willing to work hard and within the guidelines set by someone else, a franchise could be your ticket out of the nine-to-five world!

However on the other hand, you have no control over the other people who happen to own the same franchise as you in a different part of town. All it can take is one single bad franchisee to bring the good reputation of your business down, causing you to lose sales and have to close the doors of your business franchise once and for all. When all is said and done though, if you want the responsibility of opening your own business but you have no idea where to begin, then a business franchise is totally the way to go. You can also find more info on http://www.startfranchisehelp.com/Franchise_Consultant on Franchise Consultant and http://www.startfranchisehelp.com/Franchise_Opportunity on Franchise Opportunity. http://Startfranchisehelp.com is a comprehensive resource to get information about Franchise. ]]> Buying A Franchise Versus Starting A Business http://www.artwoo.com/article/buying-a-franchise-versus-starting-a-business http://www.artwoo.com/article/buying-a-franchise-versus-starting-a-business#comments Sat, 16 Jun 2007 07:25:01 +0000 franchise businessfranchise businessesfranchise locationbuying a franchisebrand awarenessclientele baseknowledgeable http://www.artwoo.com/article/buying-a-franchise-versus-starting-a-business
Additionally, for those lacking the start-up capital to purchase or rent a location, you can start a business from home with little more than a computer with Internet access.

As attractive as this autonomy seems, however, starting a business from scratch is not without pitfalls.

For instance, there are high failure rates for new businesses. It takes time and effort to develop your business plan, secure financing, acquire the necessary licenses and get a . Indeed, it is wise for new business owners to have six months to one year of income set aside to subsist on while the business gets its footing. And, unless you have a wholly unique business idea, you will likely find yourself in competition with es that enjoy vast and customer loyalty.

This brand awareness is one of the major pros of business. You will be working within a proven system and enjoy instant brand awareness and credibility.

Additionally, a network of support is available to franchisees. This includes technical and managerial support from individuals who are about your specific business as well as the benefit of shared marketing.

And, if another franchisee in your area airs a commercial or sponsors an event, it stands to reason that your would share in the customers purchased by your neighbor's advertising dollars.

All of these facts add up to a quicker return on your investment because your franchise business is recognized from the moment you open its doors for the first time. Also, should you find that you are enjoying great success with your franchise business; expansion is far easier with franchises than with a small business.

Finally, if it's the food, hospitality or retail industry in which you're interested, have a much greater success rate in all of these areas.

Despite all of these redeeming qualities, a new business owner should remember that a franchise business is not a guarantee for success, and the start-up can be quite costly. A franchise business requires the same initial investment as a new business where location, supplies, inventory and employees are concerned, but it has the added cost of a franchise fee which varies widely but can be as much as several hundred thousand dollars.

Franchise Red Flags Entrepreneur.com lists five red flags that should alert a new business owner to a potentially poor franchise choice:

One is the franchise's litigation history, which must be made available to prospective franchisees in the Uniform Franchise Offering Circular, or UFOC. A new business owner should look for how many cases the company has been involved in with franchisees. Anything greater than one or two cases per hundred franchisees is cause for concern.

Second, you'll want to examine the turnover of units in the company, also available in the UFOC. How many franchisees have left the company and why? Was it due to failure or the sale of a successful unit to a new owner? The answer to this question can help determine=97at least partially=97how successful you might expect your unit to become.

Another factor that should disquiet a prospective franchisee is, after sincere research, an inability to come up with any substantial numbers concerning things like sales and profits. If it seems that this issue is skirted around, another franchise may be a better option.

Additionally, before buying a franchise business, you should ask around about the relative happiness of other franchisees. Talk to other franchise owners. Are they happy with the support provided to them by the company? Are they pleased with the success of their own units? A preponderance of unhappy franchisees suggests that you may be unhappy in this franchise as well.

Finally, although it seems simple enough, a brief look into whether your cultural and moral values mesh with those of the franchise might be easily overlooked. Is the franchise run by individuals whom you deem to be honest and that share your ethical guidelines? If not, it may be a difficult system in which to work.

Top Franchises of 2007 The Franchise 500=AE is a list compiled by Entrepreneur.com using the same criteria to judge each company, no matter what the size. These factors are "objective and quantifiable" and include, but are not limited to, the company's financial strength and stability and the growth rate and size of a company.

Entrepreneur.com examines the start-up costs for each franchise, the length of time the company has been franchising, as well as some of the factors on their red flag list, particularly litigation and turn-over rates. They find out whether the company provides financing and use an independent CPA to audit its financial data. They insert all this data into an exclusive formula and assign each company a cumulative score. Then, the companies are simply ranked based on those scores.

Just a few of the franchises you'll find on the Franchise 500=AE are: UPS Store/The Mail Boxes, Etc., Liberty Tax Service, Super Cuts, Two Men and a Truck, Golds Gym, Arby's, Microtel, Beef O'Brady's and Chem-Dry Carpet, Drapery and Upholstery Cleaning.

While the Franchise 500=AE can be a valuable resource for someone considering buying a franchise, Entrepreneur.com does not evaluate subjective criteria, and these areas=97such as franchisee satisfaction=97will need to be researched independently. Find franchises, franchise opportunities and information for entrepreneurs at http://www.franchisegator.com Franchise Gator. ]]> The Franchise Business, Internet and Enhanced Relationships http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-franchise-business-internet-enhanced-relationships http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-franchise-business-internet-enhanced-relationships#comments Fri, 25 May 2007 15:24:49 +0000 franchiseefranchisorfranchise networkthis means thatadequate stockprivate computer networkfranchisees http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-franchise-business-internet-enhanced-relationships franchisor. This communication is mainly by way of an Intranet which is a . This can be done via the internet or via cables interconnecting the and serve to enhance the whole franchise network if done correctly.

The s can place orders online and check delivery dates. Some of the largest fast food franchises operate "just in time" daily deliveries to their franchise network. This has really enhanced the process and meant that the franchisee can afford to carry lower stock at his premises and dedicate more space to marketing the products.

The more advanced systems even allow one franchisee to order goods from another franchisee if the franchisor is out of stock!

The tills can now be connected to the franchisors network and all sales relayed instantly to the franchisor. in some cases most of the ordering functions can be removed entirely from the franchisee!

For the franchisor this is tremendous and means that they no longer need to rely on the keeping . The franchisees benefits because their work load is reduced even further and allows them to spend even more time on marketing and customer relations.

The franchisee can now make online payments both to the franchisor and other suppliers without the need for cheque books, envelopes and postage. Online payment solutions have many advantages over the traditional method. They can help improve cash flow and reduce the risk of fraud.

Some advanced systems now allow view only access to their accountants and make their job of record keeping and analysis very easy. The accountant is able to see every transaction in real time and no longer has to rely on the franchisee to provide him data.

The franchisee can download the latest brochures, watch the latest video advertisement and even help the franchisor by giving feedback on how their marketing material could be improved further. They can also keep their operators manual updated regularly.

Prior to high speed internet access the franchisees were usually running the business on their own computer. This then meant that they were in charge of backups, firewalls and security. This meant that the franchisee had to be trained in the operation and maintenance of their computers.

Franchisors use the web for marketing their franchises and building a brand image. They can also help their franchisee network by generating leads and providing them to their franchisees in real time. People are now just as likely to search for a franchise or business opportunity on the internet as they are to buy franchise magazines and attend franchise exhibitions.

The dangers of using the internet (or intranet) are many. If the main server of the franchisors crashes and they do not have adequate back up facilities and use of other servers, the whole franchisee network could be affected.

Can you imagine how a franchise network of over two hundred franchisees could be affected if the franchisors servers were attacked by an internet worm that corrupted all the data?

Not all franchise businesses benefit from working of central servers. The main criterion in evaluating if setting up an intranet would benefit your franchise network is the amount of data that is handled by each franchisee.

If the amount of data handled is low and there is little need for the franchisees to communicate daily with the franchisor and the other franchisees then the ideal solution is for them to operate a local computer system. Naz Daud is the Founder of the CityLocal Internet Business Franchise Opportunity. http://www.citylocal.co.uk http://www.citylocal.co.uk/frontend/franchiseinfo.php?cityid=79 http://www.citylocal.ie http://www.ecademy.com/account.php?id=120141 ]]> Franchisor Consultants Give 5 Tips For Improving Relationships With Franchisees http://www.artwoo.com/article/franchisor-consultants-give-5-tips-for-improving-relationships-with-franchisees http://www.artwoo.com/article/franchisor-consultants-give-5-tips-for-improving-relationships-with-franchisees#comments Sat, 08 Nov 2008 06:43:39 +0000 franchisor companiesleverage pointimproving your relationshipsfranchise organizationcollective wisdomsource of painimproving sales http://www.artwoo.com/article/franchisor-consultants-give-5-tips-for-improving-relationships-with-franchisees franchise organization, let me just say that I know your pain. From my experience working with franchisor organizations, the biggest potential for internal marketing gurus like you also happens to be potentially your biggest for : the relationships you have with your franchisees.

The value of strong franchisor-franchisee relationships cannot be overemphasized. This is because the franchisees collectively hold in their hands a great portion of the responsibility for the success of the organization. In short, it is important to the health of the organization that they are well-supported!

Improving the relationship between franchisor marketing staff and the franchisees whom they support is not just a matter of having good people skills (although that doesn't hurt!). At its essence, it boils down to an issue of how smooth and efficient are the information and approval flows between you. The bottom line: your marketing staff holds not only information that the franchisee needs, but also the ability to say "go" on key initiatives and requests from the franchisees. And, I have found that there are certain tasks that are actually better to hand off to the decision-making authority of the franchisees (if done properly), resulting in less aggravation and better revenues for all involved.

Drawing upon the I have garnered from working directly with multiple franchisor consultants and heads of marketing at , here I offer you 5 tips for with your franchisees:

Tip #1: Standardize your message formatting, style and frequency:

Overwhelmed by e-mails and phone calls from frenzied franchisees? It may be time to streamline your communications with them. Here's how to get started: first, categorize the top 5-10 reasons franchisees regularly contact your team. Next, determine which of these could be reduced or avoided completely if you were to improve how you communicate with them. The more consistent you are with your message format (e.g., e-mails, letters), message style (i.e., the writing quality and style with which you present the information), and frequency (i.e., when and how often you send out certain types of messages), the more clear the information will become to franchisees - and the less often they will be contacting you with follow-up questions.

Tip #2: Use the KISS principle when creating and rolling out new marketing programs:

The KISS principle (Keep it Simple, Stupid) is a wonderful guideline for getting anything done, especially when it requires getting others motivated and on board! When rolling out new programs, make the rules, processes and procedures exceedingly clear. Minimize potentially confusing elements like unnecessarily complicated procedures, and write everything down in terms of what the franchisee should do (and by when). Charts and diagrams can also be a huge help! Your goal should be that 95% of franchisees will receive your communications and be fully-informed without needing to contact you again with questions.

Tip #3: Pre-approve all promotional materials for no-hassle administration and better brand control:

One of the biggest headaches that franchisor marketing managers grapple with is having to constantly approve a huge range of different promotional materials from different franchisees. Varying font sizes, different shades of red (or green or blue!), disparate offers and even different types of messaging. Approving and/or requesting changes to all of these materials, even if you have a solid style guide in effect, can be maddening and time-consuming for all involved. Instead, create a set of pre-approved materials (postcards, brochures, mailers, in-store displays, banners) and make them available for franchisees to order. If you do, you will eliminate completely the need to field even one more call or e-mail about approving new materials from overly "creative" franchisees.

Tip #4: Unify all branding and direct mail efforts by using a single ordering system:

Direct mail is one of the most powerful tools that franchisees have to promote their businesses. When executed correctly, direct mail is sent only to those prospects most likely to respond. However, putting together an effective mail campaign can prove to be too much for the average franchisee. Questions about how to source a good list, what type of customers to target, and what creative to use can be overwhelming for the typical franchisee. Instead, do everyone in your organization a favor and offer your users a single direct mail online ordering system. Franchisees can run live list counts, customize the creative with their own store address info and choice of offer, and place the order. No hassle, no headaches - and no calling the corporate marketing office for advice.

Tip #5: Help your franchisees analyze their marketing results to keep them abreast of program effectiveness:

One of the best value-added services that the corporate marketing office can offer franchisees in support of their marketing efforts is direct mail response analysis and other customer analytics programs. Most franchisees do not have the ability to accurately scan coupon barcodes, analyze data and then determine whether their recent marketing efforts were a boom or a bust. Also, by aggregating such analyses across multiple locations, your office can look for macro patterns and then share the results with all franchisees.

Franchisees can be your biggest source of pain - potentially your best friends. The secret to making it a successful relationship is to simplify your communication, make it easier for them to make good marketing decisions, and offer value-added services. If you do, everyone stands to benefit with a better quality of life at work - and better revenues for the organization!Visit www.venturemanagersolution.com to view an online demo that shows you how we can implement a custom online ordering system for your franchise network.]]> Franchises Versus Licensed Business Opportunities http://www.artwoo.com/article/franchises-versus-licensed-business-opportunities http://www.artwoo.com/article/franchises-versus-licensed-business-opportunities#comments Thu, 31 May 2007 05:34:49 +0000 franchise ownerfranchise feefranchise agreementbecome a franchiseefranchisorbusiness opportunitybusiness model http://www.artwoo.com/article/franchises-versus-licensed-business-opportunities business opportunity. Anyone looking for business opportunities must understand what a franchise is and what a licensed business opportunity is. This brief overview will help you understand the differences.

First of all, a franchise is simply a that has been proven to be effective. The who created this business model will then sell you the rights to use the business model as well as the services or goods that particular system sells. Once you pay your you will and have a relationship with the franchisor to assist you with the system. A will be signed and this agreement outlines the assistance the franchisee will receive through the franchisor and the business model. A must pay royalty fees to the franchisor. Also, a franchise owner must follow the business plan exactly as it is. If any changes are to be made they must first be approved by the head office. Of course, with a franchise you will get a lot of support and a readymade plan to follow. Some franchises are better than others at helping their franchisees become successful, but most do everything possible because the name of the franchise is at stake. Marketing fees are also paid by most all franchisees to the franchisor. That's because the franchisor is marketing and advertising the product/service to the benefit of all franchisees and they pay a yearly fee towards that.

A licensed business opportunity is a business opportunity not unlike a franchise, but it is set up a bit different. First of all a licensed business does not require royalties nor does it require that you pass off all decisions with the head company. A licensed business opportunity is generally significantly more affordable than a franchise. That's because the license is all that is purchased, not the entire business model so there are no franchise fees, marketing fees, or royalties to pay. Most licensed business opportunities also do not require marketing fees. Many have graphics that may be used with instructions, but no set marketing fee that must be paid.

As you can see franchises and licensed business opportunities are not the same thing. They both offer the opportunity at a new business, but the way that business is managed and the fees that must be paid in association with the new business are significantly different. Keep in mind that there are benefits and drawbacks associated with both franchises and licensed business opportunities. You must weigh the advantages and disadvantages before making a decision to go ahead with any particular franchise or licensed business opportunity. Find franchises, franchise opportunities and information for entrepreneurs at http://www.franchisegator.com Franchise Gator. ]]> 5 Tips For Small Business Consulting: Franchise Marketing Made Easy http://www.artwoo.com/article/5-tips-for-small-business-consulting-franchise-marketing-made-easy http://www.artwoo.com/article/5-tips-for-small-business-consulting-franchise-marketing-made-easy#comments Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:01:20 +0000 mail campaignsfranchise marketingfranchise organizationfranchise organizationsbrand consistencymarketing collateralfranchise locations http://www.artwoo.com/article/5-tips-for-small-business-consulting-franchise-marketing-made-easy franchise organization, you are constantly looking for ways to help your clients improve their marketing efforts in order to increase revenues.

The value of marketing efforts for franchises should be measured by both their cost-effectiveness and their results in terms of increased sales for the organization. Improved cost-effectiveness can be achieved by implementing better marketing systems. Such systems need to be designed to minimize the time required by the corporate office to oversee the management of local franchisee marketing campaigns, while at the same time they need to contribute towards an increase in the corporate office's visibility into the campaigns and towards increased across the organization.

Here are 5 tips for small business consulting made easy:

Tip #1: Unify your brand image across all by using consistent collateral:

Fast-growing often find themselves quickly outgoing their own marketing systems that worked so well during the early stages of growth. The modus operandi for marketing within a franchise organization must necessarily change when the organization goes from 10 locations to 50 or more, but unfortunately many organizations fail to keep pace with their own growth. One of the riskiest consequences of this type of rapid growth is the loss of control over the organization's brand image due to individual franchisees taking on the task of managing their own campaigns using inconsistent . Therefore, it is important to advise your client to find ways to unify the company's brand image across the entire organization.

Tip #2: Put the power of ordering direct mail and promotional goods directly into the hands of franchisees:

By letting individual franchisees control their own, independent direct , you give them the power to mail to whom they want, when they want. However, at the same time by doing so you may be giving up the economies of scale associated with centralizing your direct mail and promotional goods sourcing. The best bet for your client's growing business, then, is for them to continue to empower their franchisees to remain in control of their own direct campaigns, but at the same time you need to help your client find to streamline the fulfillment of direct mail through a single source.

Tip #3: Contract directly with vendors at the corporate level in order to leverage volume buying opportunities:

By advising your client to contract directly with vendors who will fulfill promotional goods and print-related orders, you are helping your client to lower operational costs by giving them the ability to leverage volume buying opportunities.

Tip #4: Centralize mailing list generation for maximum quality control:

Many individual franchisees have very specific ideas about how and to whom they want to mail coupons and other offers. And, by all rights, they should retain control of this process. At the same time, franchisees tend to have varying degrees of aptitude for list management. And, often mailing list data that is locally sourced is of poor quality, full of errors and outdated. By centralizing the generation of mailing lists but at the same time allowing franchisees to choose their list quantities and demographic selects, your client's organization will enjoy better ease of list generation and higher response rates.

Tip #5: Automate the entire ordering process to minimize the delays and errors associated with human interaction:

Finally, your client will also benefit from setting up an Internet-mediated, automated system that enables franchisees to execute customized direct mail and promotional goods campaigns the features only corporate-approved collateral. Such a centralized system gives your client's corporate office full control and visibility into the ordering habits of individual franchisees, but it also safely leaves the decision-making authority about the specifics of each local campaign in the hands of franchisees.

When conducting small business consulting for franchise organizations in the area of marketing, it is important to advise your clients on how to improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of organization-wide marketing. At the same time, your recommendations should find ways to empower franchisees at the local level to run their marketing campaigns on their own terms.Visit www.venturemanagersolution.com to view an online demo that shows you how to implement a custom online ordering system for your franchise network.]]> Why You Should Agree With Royalty Fees http://www.artwoo.com/article/why-you-should-agree-with-royalty-fees http://www.artwoo.com/article/why-you-should-agree-with-royalty-fees#comments Mon, 05 Mar 2007 18:27:06 +0000 franchiseefranchisorfranchise systemroyalty feeroyalty feesbusiness franchise opportunityfranchisees http://www.artwoo.com/article/why-you-should-agree-with-royalty-fees Franchisees need to dismiss the notion that 's' are an extra payment coming out of their pocket; they are a part of the process of partaking in the . It should be looked upon as the 's share in profits derived from the consumer. The Franchisee gathers the royalty fee sum from the consumer along with the rest of the funds that keep the whole enterprise going.

The royalty fee is another aspect of the business and no business would be in business if they were not making their money from the consumer. The consumer pays for the Franchisee's overhead, costs of sales, salaries, and of course the profit. It all stems back to satisfying your consumer who ultimately pays for the business to run.

The Franchisee should be happy to contribute back into the system that feeds them. A Franchisee should know that a stable, dominant, and flourishing Franchisor will only make the 'name' of the franchise stronger creating more of a stir in the business and thus generating more potential consumers. If the root of your business franchise remains strong, the whole system will follow suit including all .

The whole dynamic of the is founded upon the Franchisor initially providing a desirable product and/or service to the consumer. The appeal of the Franchisee to become a part of the franchise is based on the success of the initial Franchisor. The Franchisee makes a solid business decision to engage into the 'family' of the franchise that appealed to them in the first place. The Franchisee carries on the tradition of the Franchisor. It is like an apprenticeship as far as the Franchisee emulating the Franchisor, but thought the Franchisee does have some autonomy, their business still is directly effected by the 'name' of the initial Franchisor and this is why they collect a fee.

Considering how much direct and indirect support comes from the Franchisor, should not be seen as a monumental strain on the Franchisee. Franchisees always have the opportunity to build upon the root of the franchise, but they must not lose sight of how they have been provided with such an opportunity. Lets think about four elements of a franchise: the brand, operating system, support system, and the Franchisee.

The Brand is the name associated with the product and/or services. To be in a position to provide opportunities to branch out, the Franchisor already has made initial strides for Franchisees to come. The Operating System is tied in with the Brand in the sense that there has been a tradition instilled into society that is recognizable and can be replicated in the same memorable fashion over and over again through Franchisees.



The genesis of the Support System is aided by the presence of more and more stems from the initial Franchisor. The Support System helps the Franchisee them selves develop a memorable and stellar system such as the initial Operating System of the Franchisor. The Franchisee is improving their performance based on being a part of the larger system of the franchise.

If a Franchisee evaluates the importance and contribution of the Brand, Operating, and Support Systems then the royalty fee can really be put into proper perspective. The Franchisee is virtually dependent on the initial and continued success of the franchise that they chose to be a part of. Embracing all these insights should change any negative feeling about paying a royalty fee.

Most royalty fees range from 2% to 10% depending on the nature of the business. So even if you're a Franchisor who is paying the 10%, you have to consider if the Brand, Operating, and Support systems are feeding at least 10% into the individualized Franchisee's business, which most likely it is exceeding. FranchiseFetch (http://www.franchisefetch.com) links the public with a multitude of pre-established, successful, money-making franchises. Visit our website to easily choose a franchise based on name or industry. Franchising is a lucrative and exciting business to get into; be sure to check us out! ]]> Is Franchising Right For Your Business? http://www.artwoo.com/article/is-franchising-right-for-your-business http://www.artwoo.com/article/is-franchising-right-for-your-business#comments Thu, 31 May 2007 20:29:48 +0000 franchise agreementfranchise lawyerprofessional franchisefranchise industrypreferablyfranchiseesexpert professional advice http://www.artwoo.com/article/is-franchising-right-for-your-business
Franchising though is not suitable for every business. Analyse your business model and ask yourself the following questions:

Can my business model be taught easily to people with no prior business experience?

How easy would it be and how much would it cost to recruit new ?

What kind of person would make the ideal franchisee?

Who would provide the training and ongoing support?

What are the unique selling points of my business?

If you can answer all these questions then it is time to seek . You will need help in creating a , training programmes, support systems and marketing methods.

A will be able to assist you with creating a agreement which will end up being the cornerstone of your business.

You will have to decide whether you can do the training in house or outsource it completely. There are many training providers who can do an exceptional job of training your franchisees and I strongly advice you to examine them carefully. These providers will not only assist with the initial training but can also provide ongoing support.

A marketing expert from the can give you ideas on how to market your franchise and recruit the best people. It is essential that you do not offer your franchise to everybody who has money. They must also possess the skills required to manage your business successfully.

The services of an accountant will then be required to present your franchise to the banks that specialise in helping franchisees to buy a franchise. Funding agreements must be in place before you start recruiting. Banks are very helpful to have on your side when you start recruiting as most of your franchisees will not have the full funds required to buy your franchise. The franchisees will also require operating capital until their new business can sustain their lifestyle.

To attract the right kind of franchisee you need to present your business opportunity in a professional manner. There are hundreds of franchises on offer and many of them are very good opportunities. The presentation is almost as important as the concept when it comes to recruitment!

Once you have managed to attract the right franchisee it is imperative that they are taken skilfully through the training process. The training must be well thought out and thorough. Many of your recruits will not be coming from either a sales or business background. They will have to be taught basic business and marketing skills prior to learning how to manage your business model.

If premises are required then the choice of location must not be left to the franchisee but rather it should be a joint decision. Even this can be outsourced to professional companies, who specialise in finding the right locations, negotiating favourable terms and dealing with the landlord.

Using the franchising route to expand into new markets can be fraught with dangers but if correctly handled it can lead to successful growth of your business model and ultimately to the profitability of your business. Naz Daud is the Founder of the CityLocal Internet Business Franchise Opportunity. http://www.citylocal.co.uk http://www.citylocal.co.uk/frontend/franchiseinfo.php?cityid=79 http://www.citylocal.ie http://www.ecademy.com/account.php?id=120141 ]]> Doing Your Homework: How to Get the Facts on a Small Business Franchise http://www.artwoo.com/article/doing-your-homework-how-to-get-the-facts-on-a-small-business-franchise http://www.artwoo.com/article/doing-your-homework-how-to-get-the-facts-on-a-small-business-franchise#comments Sat, 13 Sep 2008 21:29:25 +0000 small business administrationsfederal trade commissionsfranchise disclosurefranchise registryprospective franchiseework at home businessesfranchise rule http://www.artwoo.com/article/doing-your-homework-how-to-get-the-facts-on-a-small-business-franchise work at home businesses appear too good to be true, he may have a difficult time deciding which one to choose. That is, unless he has resources at his disposal to confirm that these business opportunities are legitimate. And as it turns out, though many potential franchisees don't realize it, such resources are available; a person just has to know where to look.

The Document

Because it can be so hard to determine a viable home based business from a total scam, all franchisors, by law, are required to have a Franchise Disclosure Document (or FDD) available to any . It provides a complete overview of everything about the business, its goals, its history, and its practices that anyone could ever possibly want to know. In fact, a quick jaunt over to the Federal Trade Commission's website shows exactly how precise and complete a disclosure the government expects from all franchises: they provide a 150-page document to clarify exactly what information a business must supply in order to comply with the law. If there is anything fishy about the franchise you've got your eye on, the FDD will reveal it to both you and the government.

The SBA

Another easy way to spot potential franchise trouble before it hatches is to check out the Small Business Administration's Franchise Registry. The SBA is a very helpful branch of the US government that specializes in supporting small businesses, including franchises, in any way they can, and one such way is by providing financial backing to small businesses that otherwise couldn't get off the ground. In the case of a franchise, the SBA asks for company information to ensure that the business model is a sound one, there is a history of success, and future success is fairly certain before they provide the financial support. What this practice has inadvertently produced is the Franchise Registry: a list of all the franchise companies that have already submitted their businesses for financial support when a new franchisee starts out. If a franchise is on the list, then the government has given it their stamp of approval and their trust, and so can you.

Learn From Other People

This seems like the most straightforward way to get information, and it truly is. If you want to find out what Adventures in Advertising is really like, talk to one of their franchisees. There is no one who will know better what the strengths and weaknesses of the franchise are, how effectively the business runs, and whether or not it's a worthy investment. Of course, talking with only one DVDNow dvd rental kiosk franchisee may not give you a true perspective on things; because if one person has a negative opinion simply because a work from home vending business just wasn't a good fit for him. But if you talk to a dozen franchisees, you should be able to figure out exactly what your future franchise will be like. You don't have to stop at franchisees, the Better Business Bureau can also offer you information on the franchise you're looking at, based on the reviews of concerned consumers. If, in their database, the BBB has 200 negative consumer reports in regard to the internet business that's recently caught your eye as a potential opportunity, you may want to rethink the choice, because that many unique negative reports probably means there is some merit to the complaints.

When you're looking at franchise businesses, there is no such thing as over-researching. Truly, most opportunities that you'll find, especially through franchise brokers, are trustworthy businesses. But even if research doesn't unearth a huge moral or professional flaw in the infrastructure of the business, it might just tell you some things about the way they practically run that won't mesh well with your personality, lifestyle, and goals. There are plenty of factors to consider when starting a new business, and any knowledge you can get along the way will inevitably be helpful.Find more small business franchises, internet businesses and vending businesses at Home Based Business Opportunites]]>