Tweet

Seasonal franchises

Written by: Diarmuid Kieran

Article Overview: The strong increase in the number of people spending money on leisure pursuits and activities has helped to boost demand for a number of seasonal franchises.

Seasonal franchises

The strong increase in the number of people spending money on leisure pursuits and activities has helped to boost demand for a number of seasonal franchises.

Seasonal franchises can include a vast array of business ideas and models including ice cream parlours, garden services and Christmas gift outlets. However, opting for a business that does not often have a regular monthly turnover can present a number of problems and therefore may only be suitable for someone will good management skills and budgeting experience.

Competent franchisees sometimes run two franchises to help ensure they have a reliable level of income throughout the year. For instance, a swimming pool cleaning franchise is likely to have a stronger turnover during the summer months, but profit will fall as winter arrives.

Therefore, a franchisee could look at opting for a second business that could boost revenues during the winter. A Christmas house decorating operation that attracts clients and money in December could help to offset the less profitable months of the seasonal franchise that sees profits surge in summer.

Potential franchisees are reminded that before committing to any operation they must make sure they do adequate market research and undertake sufficient preparation for setting up their own venture.

The first step for anyone looking to move into the seasonal franchise business is to request information from the leading chains who offer suitable opportunities. This literature can then be used to compare different options as well as assessing possible business structures and the amount of investment required to get up and running. It will also help establish what can be done to help limit the effects of seasonal differences.

Another crucial factor is to calculate how much it will cost to recruit and train staff, especially as they are likely to be employed seasonally and may not return each year. In addition, the storage of equipment that is only used during a few months of the year must be incorporated into any initial business plans.

New franchisees also need to place strong importance on how much support they will receive from the company as it could be vital to ensuring maximum returns and long-term success. This is especially crucial when marketing and publicity is needed to drum up sufficient business during the traditionally busy months to help lesson the impact of slow times.

However, no matter how much training and support is given by companies, franchisees must realise that a lot of hard work and business flair is the key to success within the seasonal franchise market.

Copyright Adfero 2006

Related Articles
  Franchising FAQs
  How Seasonality Affects Commodities
  Which Coffee Franchise is Best for You?
  Low Cost Franchises Offer Way to Own Your Own Business
  Reasons to Consider Franchising

Article Tags:



Related Forum Posts
Re: Hello I am a franchise expert - Will you ever be expanding your franchises world-wide? Here in Australia we seen to get a lot of franchises through America
Re: Which franchise would you buy? - [quote="theFranchiseMarket":2073rca2]I like franchises that I have a personal interest in. I know this sounds redudant, but you hear about people who think they are going to invest in one franchise (or franchise industry), only to go a completely different direction after researching and gathering info. Personally, I like home service franchises - most of these are either mobile or home based (or both) and usually have relatively low start up costs (and there are many many to choose from across the industry).[/quote:2073rca2] Hi theFranchiseMarket, Can you list some of your favorite home service franchises for us and explain why they stand out from the rest? Thanks
Each Franchise is different! - No two franchises are alike. Build the fee structure that makes most sense for all parties involved, franchisor, franchisee, and vendors. Yes vendors, some franchises take the the % that vendors (for example coke and pepsi) give them and contribute those to the advertising fund. Many franchises don't manage the advertising fund by themselves but seek franchisees to have a say in how the money is spent, some times thru regional franchisee groups. Speak to a few of the franchise development companies (franchise mills) be careful for the fill in the blank, one size fits all franchise development companies, those companies seldom produce successful franchise systems.
Re: Re Franchise etc - [quote="bmueller47":e0j0nu4t]Can you see a shift of various types of franchises? What I am thinking about is that today it is more difficult to create franchises, that has great appeal. More and more people want to have their business, but no interference of someone else.[/quote:e0j0nu4t] Not sure what you mean exactly but it is certain that more and more people want to have their own business but not more and more people know what they really want to do, or how to do it. And that's what franchising is all about. Franchising is not for an entrepreneur. An entrepreneur will do his own thing. People who buy franchises want a turn key business, with a proven model. Franchising in the US had never been that good. I don't have the exact numbers in mind but I know for sure that franchising is growing more and more as people are getting more and more aware of this business model.
Re: Which franchise would you buy? - I like franchises that I have a personal interest in. I know this sounds redudant, but you hear about people who think they are going to invest in one franchise (or franchise industry), only to go a completely different direction after researching and gathering info. Personally, I like home service franchises - most of these are either mobile or home based (or both) and usually have relatively low start up costs (and there are many many to choose from across the industry).


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Adjusting Your World

THE “SECRET RECIPES” OF LEADERSHIP

Basic Operating Question (BOQ) for Empowerment

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.