And if you are the test-taking type, I have good news! Assessments similar to these can help you as a franchise owner too.
As a franchise advisor, here are three ways I’ve seen skill assessments set franchise owners up for success.
What makes sense for you?
Here’s the truth: sometimes franchise brands and their potential franchisees are simply a poor fit. There is not one single brand I’d recommend for every person interested in owning a franchise, it just doesn’t work that way.
As a franchise advisor, I’ve worked with many clients who have attempted to buy a franchise in the past and become overwhelmed, disenchanted, or simply unable to keep their franchise afloat, so they walk away. Take Steve, for example!
Franchisor Spotlight: Steve
After being downsized from his corporate job, Steve decided to franchise a business based on his love for a brand of tools he had as a young man. His business was doing well, and he was a good salesperson, but after just a short time, the franchise started to feel suffocating.
Steve was a very educated person who had been working in the corporate world for a long time. This new routine of driving a truck all day just didn’t bring the fulfillment he had hoped for and felt monotonous.
He decided to sell his business but wasn’t ready to give up on franchising. After taking a skill assessment, I was able to help him match with a brand that made more sense with his background, lifestyle, and overall business goals. He is happily running this new business today (and this time his wife is on board too!).
Takeaway: Skill assessments help you align passion and interest with your long-term business goals.
What are you good at?
Many people underestimate the amount of work required to build a successful franchise. Starting a business this way lets you hit the ground running with brand recognition, a proven playbook, marketing support, and a built-in support network to help you toward success—but running a business is still running a business!
Understanding and leveraging all the wisdom you have gained in your life, whether from your corporate career, volunteerism, parenthood, or street smarts, is crucial to your success. And, as GI Joe used to say, “Knowing is half the battle.” Just ask Ruby!
Franchisor Spotlight: Ruby
Ruby is an intelligent and visionary person who had found success working for a large non-profit foundation but was ready for a switch. After taking a skill assessment, she realized that while managing people, customer service, and sales were among her core strengths, she had significantly less expertise and experience on the financial side of things.
As she started her franchise journey, Ruby made certain to budget for and find someone who could manage the bookkeeping and accounting for her. She also began training herself to better understand the financial side of the business so she would be prepared for the future. By proactively hiring out these duties, she avoided the pain of struggling through it on her own.
Takeaway: Skill assessments can reveal blindspots that are important to planning how your business will function.
What will make your business stronger?
If you have any previous experience in business ownership, you know that no matter how hard you work, your success is rarely due to your efforts alone. Whether you rely on a large team or just one or two key staffers, finding the right employees can be a challenge!
Skill assessments can help you screen employees to ensure their skills, aptitudes, and even personality types are a good fit for your business.
Franchisor Spotlight: Sherry & Greg
Sherry and Greg are a married couple who decided to franchise a childcare business. Sherry, an elementary school teacher, and Greg, a former accountant, were passionate about bringing quality childcare to their community with a focus on early education.
They soon realized that the grind of hiring, training, and keeping staff was a huge drain on their business. They took a hard look at their business plan and decided to start screening all potential employees for a specific focus that aligned with their core values.
With the help of a specialised skill assessment, they were able to build a core group of talented and reliable teachers and providers. This made it easy to trust they could invest in their people through additional training to further develop their skills.
Takeaway: Skill assessments can help you find the right talent to run a successful business.
Set yourself up for franchise success
There are many benefits to skill assessments, and many specialised assessments to choose from, no matter where you are on your franchise journey! Taking this one simple step can give you the data you need to invest in the right franchise and see that it’s run efficiently and effectively for years of success.
