What Prospective Franchisees Are Looking For
Article Overview: This article gives an overview of a recent FRANdata survey about what potential franchisees are looking for in a franchise.
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Free Download - Transfers vs. New First Time Franchisees By Anne Barr
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What Prospective Franchisees Are Looking For
In a recent survey by FRANdata (an independent research company supplying information and analysis for the franchising sector since 1989) the following reinforced what prospects are seeking.
Out of 100 franchise prospects surveyed:
1) 37% said profitability potential was critical. They consider historical financial estimates or projections the most essential information they need to know about a brand. The unit's ability to generate cash is the primary factor in evaluating the brand.
2) 33% said unique characteristics were important - the way the brand conveys its message.
3) Reputation was important to 32% of those surveyed.
4) 12% considered other factors
5) 9% considered personal experience of the franchisor.
6) Sector (industry type) was considered by 7%
7) Investment level was critical to only 5% of those surveyed.
It was agreed that even when franchisors make Financial Performance Representations, the potential franchisee should research and validate with a minimum of 10-15 existing franchisees.
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Related Forum Posts
Franchise Success Factors
- Evan, I know it's been a while but maybe this will help:
A great piece of information (academic research) that is important to all franchisors and franchisees is that of Scott Shane and Chester Spell who demonstrate that ¾ of all franchise systems fail within the first 12 years, and less than 1 in 4 survives until the end of the contract.
Originally published in the Sloane Management review in 1998 the article is one of the more common sense pieces of writing covering the franchise industry.
They identified a number of important franchise success factors that should be used to assess the likely success of a franchise system. They are:
•Rapid growth (or planned rapid growth) of the franchise means that they can begin to reach a level to compete with existing players in the marketplace.
•Local management support of the franchise aids rapid growth
•Demonstrable trustworthiness and high quality systems
They studied 157 companies in 27 industries and identified that one third of systems stop franchising in their first four years.
They say “The high death rate of new systems suggests that franchising is not an easy business”.
They developed a model called NewFran which points to the contributing factors of success:
•A recognised successful history before franchising. This resulted in a recognised ‘brand name’ that could not be easily copied. Systems, marketing, premises e.t.c could be easily copied by competitors – a brand could not
•Economies of scale i.e cheaper costs because they are larger, in marketing. This was achieved through being a bigger brand.
•Rapid growth of the franchise allowed the brand name to develop quickly and stop competitors from copying or replicating the business idea.
•Using local franchisees to use their local knowledge to determine local business decisions and operate with fewer ‘local field operations’. This means the franchise resources can be concentrated on branding, marketing and growth. The entrepreneurial ‘drive’ of the franchise owner is concentrated on building the business. The opposite of this is by keeping close control on local franchisees by appointing Master Franchisees. This was shown to develop ‘passive ownership’ which undermines the entrepreneurial incentives of outlet ownership. The said “therefore growing quickly, through master franchising, increases the probability of system failure”
The article recommends some things off the back of this that seem to go against some of the ‘industry norms’ of franchising:
•Franchisees should seek franchisors that are expanding rapidly.
•Franchisees should not seek a franchise that promises a lot of field support
•A lean operation at headquarters is a success predictor
•Franchisees should seek franchisors with strong brands or at least a plan as to how they will develop a strong brand
•Franchisees should be a member of a regulatory body
•Franchisees should be wary of franchises that offer master franchising. Whilst this speeds growth it also increases the likelihood of failure.
I would agree with all of the points raised and would like to just clarify that they suggest that in depth field support is bad – not in depth sales and marketing support.
cheers
eBlogging 101: Getting Your Internet Business To Stand Out F
- Since the inception of eCommerce websites there have been a growing number of brick and mortar businesses expanding their sales online. With this growing trend it means more competition and less market share. I have mentioned that eBlogs are becoming more popular as well (an integration of an eCommerce shop with a blog) and I spoke more about it in the post I wrote: e-Commerce With Integrated Blog (e-Blogging). The question Internet businesses face is: how do you stand out from the crowd?
Design and User Friendliness
This is almost too obvious but I still see poorly designed websites lacking user friendliness and easy to use navigations. A well designed website is easy to use, looks professional and instils confidence in potential customers. This reassures them that they can safely buy on your website knowing their products or services will be delivered on time. Furthermore a professional website conveys high quality and strong branding, just how you would attend a business meeting in a proper suit and not a pair of Billabong shorts.
Ease of use of your website is equally important. If a potential customer can not navigate through your website easily and find the information they are looking for, they will go to the next website on the list. It is very easy to lose a sale because of poorly designed navigations. One way to test the ease of use of your website is to watch friends and family while they complete a few simple task of purchasing and finding specific information. A few things to observe are:
* Do they have to keep backtracking through the website?
* Can they find what they are looking for quickly?
* Can they easily click on images to enlarge the product?
* Does the search function work and return the appropriate results?
* Are the images of high quality without sacrificing time to load the website?
* Is it easy to add items to the shopping cart?
* Is the checkout easy to use?
Additionally, ask them for their feedback and thank them for their time. Be sure to take these findings and implement them to your website. Once you get this right, you will have a higher conversion rate.
Show Your Testimonials
Testimonials is a powerful tool for any Internet business. In the past I’ve utilised this tool to promote and market my products for Dragonboating and it increased my sales by two fold simply by having them displayed. Prospective customers will also feel confident to purchase from you because they see positive feedback from others. With the right mix of testimonials including website’s easy of use, quality of product, speed of delivery and fast resolution of issues, it will cover all aspects of the buying process for a prospective customer. So next time when a customer receives their product, follow up with them 7 days later and ask them to write a testimonial for your website.
Help Customers Find Your Delivery And Returns Information
It’s important to show a link to your delivery and returns page which should be displayed prominently on your website. Most customers want to know whether or not you can deliver to their location, how much it will cost them and how you will handle returns if there is a problem. I have had customers tell me how frustrating it is to find the cost of delivery at the end of the check out page, which is why I have it clear displayed on the website. It shows you are transparent and operate with integrity. This builds stronger trust with your customers as well. They will thank you later in repeat and referral business.
Extra eBlogging Tips
With these basic principals in place, your eBlog should start appealing to more customers. We want to give them that extra incentive for them to buy from you because you will be competing with other popular websites in the marketplace.
eblogging101_2Offer Customers To Join Your Loyalty Program: A great way to attract more customers and to keep them coming back for more is to encourage them to be part of your loyalty program. In the past I have set up e-Commerce websites with an option to reward them with 1 point for every dollar they spend. The more points they accumulate, the more chances of earning a nice reward. Your customer will be able to exchange their points for a new gadget - an iPod for example or a product in your range.
Reward Purchases: You can reward customers who come back and order from you by giving them a discount on their next order. The more purchases they make, the more discounts they receive. It encourages them to purchase from you every time.
Bulk Discounts: If you sell products that people buy in large quantities consider offering a bulk discount rate. It’s a great way to encourage larger orders and higher turnover of product for your Internet business. We love to think that we have saved money, even though we have spent twice as much to get that discount. Aldi, the supermarket chain is a classic example of buy in bulk and save, which encourages shoppers to spend more.
The UPOD principle (Under Promise, Over Deliver): This is a principle I practise all the time in my businesses. Let’s say you offer normal delivery to deliver a product, which takes between 3 - 5 days to receive. What if you sent the product overnight via courier and it arrived the next day. Would your customer be ecstatic to receive their product earlier than expected? Of course they would! They would refer it to their friends and family because of fast delivery and good customer service. This is the under promise and over deliver (UPOD) principle that you can apply in your Internet business.
There are a lot of similarities between a brick and mortar business compared to an online business. Businesses that offer good products and excellent customer service are able to capture market share much faster with smarter techniques. They will be the businesses that succeed and do well online. Gone are the days where you just put an eBlog website and hope for the best. You need to implement strategies and be smart to attract good quality customers for your Internet business, then you will reap the rewards.
Tyrone Shum
eBlogging 101
Meet Kim Kleeman - Shakespeare Squared: Named one of Inc.'s
- THIS IS PRETTY INTERESTING. WISH I'D THOUGHT OF IT FIRST!!!!
Meet Kim Kleeman: Shakespeare Squared: Named one of Inc.'s 500 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America.
Recognized as one of Working Mother magazine's 25 Best Small Companies. Awarded the title of Illinois Family Business of the Year. Lofty accomplishments for company founder Kim Kleeman, a woman who just a few short years ago swore she would never own her own business!
Having grown up the child of business-owner parents, Kleeman knew well the stresses and demands that entrepreneurial life can place upon a family. She met her husband, Jay, on the first day of college, and together they earned their teaching degrees and started making plans for a modest but happy life. When Jay's stint as a student teacher strained the family budget, though, they both started doing subcontract work proofing elementary school textbooks. Before long, they were taking on bigger jobs and hiring other teachers to freelance on various projects, and from that point on, they never looked back.
In 2003, the couple founded Shakespeare Squared, an educational development company that employs an army of freelancers to write and edit materials such as textbooks, lesson plans, teacher guides, activity workbooks, and test-preparation materials. Initially a home-based business managed by Kim while Jay continued his work as a high school teacher, the company now has a full-time staff of 20 and is branching out in new directions, publishing its own materials and offering an educational editing certification process. In three years' time, the company has grown by an incredible 815 percent, bringing in $2.3 million in revenue last year.
What we learned from Kim: That the most incredible resource for launching might very well be your own friends and family. Kim started this business with her husband; her best friend since high school is her director of human resources; her sister is a remote project coordinator; her lawyer brother weighs in on various matters; her mom is a managing editor; and her parents are her de facto advisory board, with whom she meets every morning to share a cup of tea and conversation in their backyard.
Words of Wisdom
"Trust your instincts and empower your people."
From Teacher to Tycoon
"I don't know if I had a big 'aha' moment about starting a business; our growth was really organic. After my second child I immediately got pregnant with my third and there was no turning back, because we weren't going to be able to afford day care for two babies on two teachers' salaries. I had been working from home and continuously had one or two projects going, and I set a goal of having 10 projects running simultaneously. So after my son was born, I enacted my own guerilla marketing plan and e-mailed every editorial director at the big publishing companies, looking for projects. We soon landed our first big client, HarperCollins Children's Books."
Not About the Money
"I just wanted to make the best company that I could and be happy doing it. If that included millions of dollars, great, but that wasn't really the goal. I didn't know at first how much work we would end up getting, but I think the extensive classroom experience of our people sets us apart in this field. As teachers ourselves, we understand the needs of our clients and we deliver on that."
It Takes a Village
"We employ over 400 freelance writers. Most are former teachers but we pull from publishing, journalism, and other fields as well. We developed a writing test that covers everything from copyrighting to educational taboos, and prospective freelancers must earn at least a B+. A nice plus with our business is the opportunity we can offer teachers for life beyond teaching. I really promote teachers in the classroom, but if the classroom just isn't your thing and you're still passionate about education, there is a place for you here."
Those Who Can, Teach
"Educators in this country are getting a bad rap. We ask them to perform many roles and yet we're not supporting them as a society. Prospective teachers must student teach to become certified and are expected to not work while doing so, but there are so many people from diverse backgrounds who would love to teach-and who would be great teachers-who can't afford to do that. The Shakespeare Squared Foundation helps pay for prospective teachers to student teach. My passion is to get the right teachers in place, because that makes all the difference for students."
The Best and the Brightest
"It is definitely a challenge to find and retain the best talent, because I am up against large publishers. I have to provide a different culture and be creative in the way I offer benefits. We really believe in the work/life balance and offer such things as flex hours, remote work capabilities, and a working-parents room in the office. We've been recognized for these efforts, and because of them, our turnover is very low."
Networking 101
"You have to go into a networking situation with the idea in mind that there will be one person in the crowd who can make a difference to you, and you have to find that person. You may be talking to someone who makes shoelaces and has nothing in common with your business, but she may know someone in your field or know about an interesting business practice that could translate to your own. But the bottom line is that if it's not the right conversation, you politely cut it short and move on."
Strength in Numbers
"There is so much value in the process of incubating an idea with other women. I am always looking for women who are coming together creatively and collaboratively because things flow from it that you would never dream. When women support other women, we empower each other to take charge of our lives, whether by owning our own businesses or making a career change or making decisions about our families."
Best Advice
"I read in Working Mother magazine that women CEOs need to take the ability that they have in their work life to delegate responsibility and create a management team and apply that to their home life as well. So I really try to think of running my household the same way I run my business; whether it's cleaning ladies or repairmen, I find people I trust and have them take care of tasks that I don't need to spend time on. This has relieved a lot of guilt and allowed me to focus on the things that are really important."
Most Rewarding Moments
"Winning the Working Mother award as one of the 25 Best Small Companies felt pretty great because it showed that having a unique workplace does pay off. But even better is realizing that your message is getting across to your people. I love seeing quotes at my team's desks about goals and achieving your dreams, all of the exact things I say to empower them. It's cool to realize that there isn't a lot of cynicism, and that people are really buying into these ideas and making them their own."
Parting Thoughts ...
"My secret weapon is the news articles that I send to my team."
"I will retire when I have no more dreams to accomplish."
"I will always think of myself as a teacher."
"My greatest strength is my enthusiasm."
This featured lady was profiled by Noelle Pechar Hale, a freelance writer living in Los Angeles.
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