Is Franchising suitable for your Business
What is Franchising
A business ‘partnership’ in which one party permits the other ‘partners’ to replicate a proven business system, operating under a common brand, in return for initial and ongoing fees. It allows a third party to legally copy your business in exchange for an upfront payment and ongoing management services fees.
To franchise a business you need the following factors:-
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Sufficient development capital to establish a franchise system
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High enough margins to share
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Existing business network or ‘pilots’
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Easily transferable knowledge
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Identifiable brand or trademark
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Expansion requires investment into property, equipment and staff
The Benefits
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Franchise fees will generate a stream of capital income and ongoing revenue
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A loss of profit margin will be offset by much larger overall revenues
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Motivated franchisees ‘running their own businesses’ will generate higher per unit income than employees
What can be franchised?
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Very diverse range of businesses
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Proven business systems capable of replication
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Profitable businesses financially viable for both parties and financially secure
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Steady or growing demand for your products or services
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Simple business formats that are easy to learn
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Identifiable brands and trademarks with your own distinctive image or concept
Undertake a SWOT Analysis of your brand
Trading History
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How long have you been in business?
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What is proven?
Profit Margins
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Are these above average industry benchmark?
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Is there enough margin for two?
Market
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How big is your market?
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How volatile is your market?
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Does it have mass appeal?
Products
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Is there consumer acceptance of your product?
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Is your product or service easy to sell and deliver?
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Quality record?
Brand
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Is your Intellectual Property protected?
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Is there a unique and distinguishable marketing approach?
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What is your reputation in the market place
Business Management
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Do you have the management skills and capacity to create a new culture?
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Is your business professional and well presented?
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Is your management financially skilled?
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Do you have well documented processes and systems in use?
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How is Information Technology used in your business?
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What is your attitude to risk?
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Is there a commitment to research and development?
Franchise Opportunity
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Do you have sufficient access to development capital to fund growth?
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Are there similar franchises already on the market?
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Will the franchisee be able to control their costs?
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What will be the minimum term?
Reasons for failure
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Growing too fast too soon
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Franchising for the wrong reasons
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Lack of planning
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Selecting the wrong franchisees
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Lack of infrastructure and support
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Failure to take proper advice
Review your SWOT
Do you have the key criteria you need to franchise
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Developed systems of operation and staffing
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Defined image and clear market position
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Proven and successful business model
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Sustainable market and source of ongoing clients
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Easily duplicated management systems
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Profitability for both parties
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Mutual respect and support – partnership
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Will your operating experience and culture allow you to develop a franchise operation?
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Are your products or services suitable for franchising?
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Is your Brand sufficiently well developed and strong enough to deliver a worthwhile advantage to a franchisee?
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Is your financial position strong enough to support a franchise network?
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Is your business system proven, robust and capable of being learned by a franchisee?
Information supplied by the Create Project
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