To many entrepreneurs, their businesses are more than income, they are their grand ideas, their passion projects, and big risks-turned-careers. This is why running a business that empowers you to connect with and celebrate your passions and successes with your local community is so appealing to so many.
One way that you can engage with your community through franchising is through running an arts-based business. For example, buying into a franchise that runs classes in the performing arts gives the ability to engage with people in the local area and share your expertise and fondness for the arts. Plus, speaking to your council and fellow local businesses could open the door to collaborate and engage in local events.
Inclusive practice
One of the key factors to consider when creating community through your arts business is inclusive practice. Ask yourself how your business can truly cater to those in your local community?
The performing arts transcends many barriers. Everyone engages with the arts in some capacity, from the TV shows we watch to the small performances we put on when we share stories and anecdotes with friends, so ensuring that arts businesses are as inclusive and open to all as possible is vital to running a respectable business in this field.
When investing in an arts franchise, speak to your franchisor about the support and guidance they can offer in this area. Discuss what measures other franchisees have taken to ensure their franchise is inclusive and successful. It could be worth reviewing the franchisor’s inclusivity policy and workshopping some potential reasonable adjustments you can make with your franchisor for their feedback and advice.
Running an inclusive business will gain you a positive reputation in the local community and likely will make you, as the business owner, feel like you’ve got a franchise to be proud of.
How to give back to the community
There are many ways to give back to your local community as a business owner, especially with a performing arts franchise. You should start by researching local events and charities that you can support. From offering freebies (e.g. a free class or workshop with your team) for charity auctions or prizes to offering a performance to entertain locals at an event, there are plenty of ways to both offer your help to the community, and to be visible within it. This, in turn, benefits your marketing efforts as by giving back, you’re also cultivating your brand presence in the area – it’s a win-win scenario.
Now you’re a local legend, what’s next?
Once you’ve firmly established yourself and your business in the local community as the first choice performing arts provider through inclusive practice and giving back to the community, it’s time to think about the future. What’s next for you as an entrepreneur?
In the world of the franchising, this is where you can speak to your franchisor about your growth. Maybe there’s more opportunity still where you are, perhaps some untapped part of your franchise territory you haven’t explored yet, or maybe it’s time to take the big step into becoming a multi-unit franchisee. This can be quite intimidating if your business thrives on your good links to the local community, especially if your business is running in the area you live and know best. However, if you’ve done it once, you can follow the same process as before to do it again.
Every local community is different and doing your research to understand the biggest businesses, venues, groups etc. is important in understanding the essence of an area. You can do this through talking to the locals, reading local media and engaging with Facebook groups and community events to gather information on what makes that area tick. Then, you can work out where your new franchise business would sit in this landscape and how you can position yourself and your new franchise as a key part of this community.
The performing arts have a key impact in any community, from helping the locals gain confidence, empathy and courage through building their performing arts skills, to engaging the community with performances. The arts bring people together and investing in a performing arts franchise can give that rewarding feeling to many business owners as they take on the challenge of creating a community with their franchise and interweaving their business with the local community.
This article comes courtesy of Stagecoach Performing Arts whose franchisees run extracurricular performing arts classes for children and young people across the UK and abroad. Enquire in the link above for more information.
