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What support should you get for your franchise

Written by: Ian Macleod

Article Overview: One of the most enticing reasons to buy into a franchise is the support the franchiser is able to offer. But just like any other industry, differences exist between organizations, and learning what to look for when shopping for a franchiser will be invaluable. Good franchise organizations offer a wide range of support, while weak ones do not. Whether it’s offering new buyers lengthy and detailed training or having access to franchisee owner organizations, finding a good support structure is a good sign the franchise is doing well. Here is a list of a few things you can look for when trying to determine if the franchise you’re interested in is committed to supporting new buyers.

What support should you get for your franchise

WHAT YOUR FRANCHISER SHOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE

When you are looking for a franchise opportunity, being able to spot a strong franchiser is important.

One of the most enticing reasons to buy into a franchise is the support the franchiser is able to offer. But just like any other industry, differences exist between organizations, and learning what to look for when shopping for a franchiser will be invaluable. Good franchise organizations offer a wide range of support, while weak ones do not. Whether it’s offering new buyers lengthy and detailed training or having access to franchisee owner organizations, finding a good support structure is a good sign the franchise is doing well. Here is a list of a few things you can look for when trying to determine if the franchise you’re interested in is committed to supporting new buyers.

1. Training. It goes without saying that a new franchise will have to have employees that know what to do. Franchisers always train new franchisees, but there is a wide range of training styles. From simple manuals to expensively produced DVD’s to seminars and in-person sessions, knowing how the franchiser trains new buyers is important. A strong training program is a good sign, while a weak one doesn’t bode well.

2. Site preparation. Whenever a new franchise sets up shop, well…it needs a shop. Your franchiser should be able to help you scout a good location or at least give you advice on what kinds of sites you need to look for. Help with securing the lease or getting specific terms is also possible. You can expect to get details on fixtures and equipment that need to go into the site, and maybe even help securing contractors to put them in.

3. Marketing. The hallmarks of a good marketing plan are details. Your franchiser’s marketing plan should be able to lead you through the steps you need to take and what advertisers you should use. A superb organization may even secure the advertising on your behalf.

4. Availability. As you never know when a problem will arise, your franchiser should be open to communication whenever you need them. That doesn’t necessarily mean a 24-hour hotline, but being able to talk to organization executives and support staff is important. Also, if the franchise has an owner association or advisory committee that you can join, this is a good sign. A strong franchise usually has owners who are able to talk to one another freely and openly, without having to hide anything from each other.

5. Complete agreement. A strong franchise agreement is one that leaves nothing unsaid. Territory, rights, duties, fees and everything else need to be spelled out and fully detailed. However, don’t let the length of a franchise agreement fool you. The details of the agreement need to be specific and clear, not just long. Having a franchise specialist look over the franchise agreement is always advisable, as they’ll know how to spot the differences between a long agreement and a complete agreement.

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Article Tags: advertisers, franchise opportunity, franchise organizations, franchisee, franchisees, franchiser, franchisers, good marketing, hallmarks, marketing plan, owner organizations, person sessions, seminars, shopping, support structure



Related Forum Posts
Franchise Support - I agree with all of the questions and like the franchise support ones in particular. It's easy to get excited about a franchise and then realize that they aren't going to give you much support when you get into it. Make sure to talk to a few existing franchisees before you get started!
Franchise Support. What is it to you? - I do a lot of due diligence on franchises that we work with. Most of the time I call up existing franchisees and act like I am interested in buying a franchise in their system. I ask a ton of questions just like any normal buyer, they do not know that I am an experienced franchise consultant. My question for this forum is: What do you consider support from the franchisor? Is it: - Communication? - Brand growth? - Advertising? - Assistance? - Or something else? The reason I ask this is that some franchisees tell me that they don't get enough support from the franchisor and when I ask them what support they would want, they don't have an answer outside of "helping me get more business". So I thought I would throw this out to the group and ask you what you consider would be support to a franchisee. .
Re: Franchising? Why pay franchise fees? - I have found that most true entrepreneurs will never buy a franchise because they don't see the value of the franchise system. Bill Gates would probably never buy a franchise right? He created the system, he doesn't want to follow a system. A Franchise is a system. Bottom line is the bottom line. If you can't see where the name, system, training, support, products, & services will make you more money than opening your own business then open your own. It is a known fact that 90% of all small businesses close within 2 years. It is also a known fact that over 90% of all franchises are still open after 2 years. So franchising may not be right for everyone, but someone must be doing something right to have one open every 8 minutes in the US.
Re: Avoid Franchise Mistakes - Performing the proper due diligence is critical. When ever I am working with a client, I require that the agree to call at least 10 existing franchise owners at an absolute minimum. Most of the time, people only call 1 or 2 and they miss out on what I call the "consistency" information. We look for consistency in franchise models. No franchise has 100% success and that should not be expected. If you are talking to 10-15 owners chances are 1/3 of them are doing extremely well, 1/3 are doing so/so and the other 1/3 are in the middle. It is important to hear consistent themes on support, training, ROI, increased revenues & profitability etc...If you don't hear consistent themes then a red flag should go up quickly.
Hello I am a franchise expert - Hello, I recruit franchise owners for successful franchise concepts based in the USA. Many of my franchises are looking to expand north to Canada in all major centers. I enjoy networking and answering questions about franchising. If anyone is interested in the franchise world or looking to buy a franchise then contact me. I have a wealth of information and like to help. Thanks for your time. Michael Somer


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