Thinking of Franchising Your Business?
Franchising can be a very effective way to expand your business rather than growing through increasing employee numbers or buying similar businesses. You may argue it’s the best of both worlds in that you don’t need to do either!
How do you build up a business which can be franchised? What sort of things should you focus on? How do you make this attractive to potential franchisees? What are the pitfalls?
As a tax accountant who has franchised her brand for 8 years to other chartered accountants, here are my personal tips to get you started.
- Be clear what you offer
You should provide a clear brand and image with a track record that is easily explainable to a potential franchisee and their customers. What contacts, networks and followers have you built up? Why do you think there is enough business for others? Are you in a growing or stable market? Why should they sign up with you?
- How can your business be repeated?
A franchisee needs to know how they can repeat your success. Will they be able to make a head start because of your procedures, business model, contacts? Is there a big enough market? Is it driven by geography? If so, how do you know another area will work? Does it require a large investment in certain assets? What return should they expect and why? Do they need to be trained from scratch? Are other softer skills needed?
- What will you charge and why?
A franchisee needs to understand what they are paying for. It might be training, branded assets, a website, new clients. Will there be one fixed fee or a menu of options. Will you charge different amounts to each franchisee? Will there be regular add-on charges eg for client leads, email storage, social media support? Or will you simply charge the usual 10% of sales? Are there less tangible benefits implicit in your fee such as a tried and tested business plan, your network of contacts, ongoing training by yourself, email and phone support?
- Appoint a franchise solicitor
General solicitors are likely to be on a learning curve. Franchise solicitors who see these agreements daily can offer invaluable advice on other things to consider, such as how you or the franchisee terminate the agreement, what constitutes a breach of contract, should the agreement run for the usual 5 years? This is quite an investment so make sure you get it right.
Franchise solicitors can also draft the operating manual, if required. The operating manual should be used to reflect changing business needs such as responses to different market conditions.
- Ensure your first franchisee is successful
If s/he is successful, you’ve demonstrated that not only was your own business successful, you’ve managed to train up someone else to repeat your success. This makes your franchise a lot more attractive to the next person. You’ll also learn a lot from the first franchisee. Make sure you amend and adjust your manuals and training accordingly.
- Be prepared to say No!
If a potential franchisee isn’t a good fit don’t let your growth ambitions take precedence. You need to protect your brand for you and other franchisees, so make sure potential franchisees are suitable and will reflect your brand well.
- Don’t overspend
It’s tempting to join franchise organisations, exhibit at franchise shows and produce lots of franchise marketing material. This won’t necessarily make your franchised business a success. You’re likely to find new franchisees from your own contacts and your franchisees’ contacts.