Putting your stamp on your franchise

There's sometimes a fear that, as a franchisee, you don't own your own business, that you've got no autonomy.

Putting your stamp on your franchise

There’s sometimes a fear that, as a franchisee, you don’t own your own business, that you’ve got no autonomy. Take it from someone who’s been in franchising for almost two decades now: it simply isn’t true. Of course, you’ve got to follow a model, you sign up with that knowledge, but there’s no reason why you can’t adapt your business and mould it to fit with your territory. You’re the expert in your local area and know how best to make your business work, so there’s certainly ways you can go above and beyond without breaching your franchise agreement. 

For every single franchisee, customers come in all different shapes and sizes. And with that, their habits do too. Over time, you’ll find out exactly what makes them tick, how best to approach them and what they enjoy getting from you. You’ll begin to create a better picture of what you can do, as a business, to capitalise on that. Your training will equip you with the skills to conduct your day-to-day activities, but there’s nothing stopping you from creating your own process for making things happen with your customers. 

Supporting charities and putting on events is something that most franchisee training will include but only in brief. It’s up to you, as a business owner, to figure out how you can support the local community and raise awareness – not only for your business but for causes that matter the most. A link up with a local charity is extremely common as it shows commitment to a cause and highlights that there’s a heart in your business. Hosting events are an excellent way to get out and interact with your fellow residents, starting conversations and aiming towards a better environment for all. You might set up a stall in the market or put on a networking event, but you’ll certainly be able to see the benefits without breaking any rules. 

Once you’re established, there’s often the opportunity to partner or buddy-up with other businesses in your local area. Those whose products or services are complementary and align, but don’t compete, with your own. In fact, it’s something that we champion at Tutor Doctor. As part of our training programme, we inform franchisees of the opportunity to partner with schools and local authorities as a way to increase their client base and tap into a second revenue stream. Of course, it’s not mandatory but, as an education business, it’s usually a natural progression. What we do, however, is give franchisees information on how best to approach the situation, and they then make an informed decision of whether it’s right for them. Franchisors will offer guidance and support, but the rest is up to you.

The important thing to remember is that your franchise agreement is a partnership. If you’re struck with an idea and want to branch out, here’s the golden rule – ask your franchisor about it first. I guarantee that most will welcome the conversation and take time to consider the options going forward. As long as you’re not trying to reinvent the wheel or do anything that might negatively impact the brand or the rest of the network then, more often than not, you’re likely to get the green light. Your franchisor may even support you in your efforts. And, you never know, the head office team might like it so much and believe that it’s beneficial for the rest of the network to hear about – it could become part of the model for training or development.

All franchisees have the ability to exercise their creativity and autonomy with the confines of the franchise agreement. The key to the most successful and profitable businesses is getting the balance just right. Make the most of your entrepreneurial flair and leverage the proven model, tried and tested systems and ongoing support offered by a franchise to really fly.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Frank Milner
Frank Milner
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