The Perfect Franchise Based System

What is it about that business model that first caught your eye? Was it the lure of easy money? The idea that you would be your own boss and not have to take orders from anyone but your significant other? Or maybe it was simply the right time and place to finally go out on your own.

A franchise system must envelope everything you want in a business but more importantly it should be extremely current as it pertains to technology and paperwork of the business. On the technology front, ask yourself if this franchise will need special equipment, or possibly expensive software to operate it. The cost of new machinery and software can be daunting and may not be included with your franchise payment.
The other being the paperwork. You are basically buying into a system that has been duplicated and currently working for the franchisor and his franchisees. If the paperwork is an important aspect of the business as it may pertain to sales contracts or other issues, then it is most important to the sustainability of your new business. If the paperwork falls short, so will your future business.

Have a close look at all contracts, policies, operations manuals and procedure manuals. See that all of these documents are current and include most items that one would expect in the business model you have chosen. They should also be numbered and belong to a system developed by the franchisor. Most new up-to-date franchises use systems like Franchising Magic to control their paperwork making it easier for them to add or edit paperwork on the fly enabling you to operate as you should. With the advent of system like these the franchisor has better control over the document system and therefore will be able to better handle your contractual requests.

Marketing Your Franchise Based System

Until you have sold your first franchise you won’t know the cause and effect of your marketing efforts. As soon as the first franchise is sold and all the paperwork has been signed and the check is in your hand, business starts to make its mark and rear its capitalist head. Funny statement, but nonetheless true.
Think of the process by which you made that first franchise sale. You began with some advertising either by print, media or word of mouth. Still the message you had something for sale made its way to the right person. Often the first buyer is an employee of your newly franchised business. Now the fun begins. With the sale come the after-effects of making sure it is flowing in the proper direction – towards profit.
With franchising, most franchisors won’t see a return until they have sold a number of franchises and this takes some advertising. When it comes to advertising nothing is more effective than doing so in a large enough group. With 10 or more franchises comes a lower ROI when it comes to advertising dollars. If all 10 franchises were putting in a fair portion of advertising costs it then lowers the cost for all members yet increases the market share.

All franchises should have some form of Advertising Agreement and are typically the rules by which to follow when forming an advertising coalition or small media group between franchisees. You as the franchisor grant the right to the franchisees to form an advertising group and use their advertising dollars as they see fit. All of this and more should be in that contract and will often determine final say on verbiage and design. Check your marketing contract contained within your FDD, it speaks volumes on how a franchisor operates and control paperwork.