Since starting on the journey of franchising, we’ve learnt a fair bit. I (Sophie) also own a franchise which means I’ve now seen it from both perspectives – as a franchisor and also a franchisee. I thought I’d share my top 7 things that I’ve learnt about starting a franchise.
- Your manual is your bible
This may be a paper / hard copy version that is sent through the post, it might be an online intranet or it may even be a live website with different pages for each section.
Regardless of the format it’s provided in, its job is the same – to help you!
This is your personal ‘how-to guide’ detailing everything you need to know to be successful. This contains the nuts and bolts of what you do and how you do it, therefore giving you all the information you need to run and grow your franchise.
Make sure you ask to see a sneak peek before you buy. I know ours is currently 102 pages and contains everything from our vision and mission, our 15-step process for dealing with our enquiries and also tons of templates (such as a template to hire others).
Whilst we’ve chosen to have an old-fashioned ‘hard’ copy, which franchisees can print out, we also of course have a digital version for copying and pasting those templates!
- HQ will become your best friends
Your new team at HQ will become your best friends. If the manual doesn’t make sense, you’re hitting a brick wall or just need to talk something out, these will become your go-to people you can ask for help. They should be approachable, friendly and knowledgeable about all the different areas of the franchise.
Look at Katie – our wonderful chief chatter. Not only does she know all about the tutoring part (she’s a qualified teacher) but what she doesn’t know about our systems and processes isn’t worth knowing! She’s regularly putting time in with our franchisees to talk them through the ins and outs of software and supporting them as they go.
- You’ll learn to be savvy with socials
So you may have expected this – you’ll need to become familiar with social media! Online visibility is key in this day and age so think Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram as a minimum. This is one way you’ll be able to get your name and brand out there and showcase what you’re offering in your local area.
- There is the BFA and the QFA
How do you judge the quality of a franchise? Well, the British Franchise Association (BFA) and Quality Franchise Association (QFA) try and do just that. Two different franchise offerings but with a similar outlook – to monitor and measure the quality of a franchise.
Side note: As a new franchise, we’re just starting to explore both of these. Anyone reading this who has a more established franchise, I’d love to hear your views!
- If you’re a woman, EWIF is a must
This was an unexpected one for me. I (naively) expected others in the industry to be closed and uninviting based on what someone somewhere had once said about franchises. However, my experience was nothing like this!
Encouraging Women In Franchise (EWIF) is a network made up of women who own franchises. I went along to my very first EWIF meeting in Birmingham about 2 years ago – I figured someone would be able to point me in the direction of specialists to help me get set up! Now they certainly did and I met (and was recommended) some wonderful people – including a specialist franchise solicitor Fiona and the guys at Atlas for my territory mapping.
Without them, I’d have been lost! They were happy to share how they started, what worked and what didn’t.
- Ultimately, you’re in charge
Want that morning off to look after your sick child? You don’t have to beg, plead or swap shifts with anyone. Simply take it off!
Need to attend an urgent Drs appt? You don’t need to ring anyone, or ask for anyone’s permission, just go!
However, let’s say you need to work one evening to catch up on the time you missed… Well that’s on you. Yes, you’ll be guided, supported and encouraged but ultimately you’re in charge.
And for me, that’s priceless.