A business is like a football game played on a vast ground, with each team having an eye over maximum number of goals to attain to win the match. Victory could be celebrated through the absolute contribution of each team member and a striking strategy by the team leader. Can a single player make all of it alone? Certainly not, because the game revolves around the team and how well it perform as a ‘whole’. Business through franchising too goes in a similar direction. It is a course taken up to upsurge the growth of business with several partnerships at different levels.
Here in this phenomenon of franchising, the franchisor who is the owner of the business shares a common vision with entrepreneurs, who are connected to his business as important units in the growth plan. The amalgamation of franchisor’s ambition and franchisees’ hard work if categorised under a single harmonious route, the intended success will simultaneously follow the path. And thus, this concludes that franchising is entirely a bunch of entrepreneurs exploring their marketing abilities at their respective geographical location, along with the franchisor, who bring them an established platform as well as his share of expertise to move forth in order to magnify the scope of success. As victory in objectives is a shared vision of both franchisor and franchisees, for which they join hands in partnership.
To employ maximum strength and capability of franchise partners, franchisor needs to execute certain steps to ensure smooth flow of work, as it is not possible for a parent company to monitor closely the ongoing progress of each of its franchise outlet.
Communication is the best medicine
To empower the current working team management of franchise system, communication is surely a powerful way to do so. In the relationship of franchisor and franchisees, effective communication is a method to achieve designed plan for growth. It doesn’t matter how small or large the working system is, keeping the option for discourse on with franchisees helps to identify glitches, so to tackle it at an early stage itself.
Moreover, timely and healthy communication encourages franchise partners to pour in their creative suggestions in business model, share concerns and issues in building up franchise outlets, feedbacks etc with franchisor. Moreover, franchisees seek assurance whether their issues and ideas are taken seriously, which matters a lot in setting a healthy running atmosphere of entire franchise business. Furthermore, maintaining communication will keep franchisor updated about the status report of the performance of its franchise outlets.
Some effectual tools to let going communication session are E-mails, Phone calls, Individual support visits, Fax, arrangements of timely meetings at various geographical locations respectively etc.
Believe in Franchise partners
The most productive technique to keep up the working spirits of franchise partners is to believe in their potential. In franchise system, franchisees are prime part of a business whether in growth process or goodwill process. This means, if franchisees are given due importance and encouragement, they will surely reap best out of their work, which in turn boost the goodwill of the company, in the marketplace. The results of encouragement will be vital for franchisees’ progress that will ripple a positive impact for the parent company. So if you are a franchisor, never stop believing in the power of motivation.
Place an open desk for feedback/ concerns
Keeping the desk open for feedbacks and concerns in franchise business is always a helpful to fan healthy relationship. It is like after-servicing, which is always appreciated by the receivers (franchisees) and in turn getting valuable feedbacks for modifications by the parent company (franchisors). These things are stepping stones for a company and an opportunity to allow change and showcasing its supportive service to its partners.
Providing essential support and training
Basically, offering support and training to the franchisees are main parts of the franchise business agreement. It is a legitimate support rendered by the franchisor to its newly established franchisees, as the process makes franchisees delve into business more conveniently. It is important to understand the nitty-gritty of a business of which entrepreneurs are becoming crucial part of. The part includes guidelines and strategies to set up franchise outlet, marketing and technical assistance, employment of right staff, basic set-ups that are trademark of the brand etc. Besides, a new franchisee has a lot to do just to get started. For new franchisee owners it’s a big step, and sometimes a scary one. Franchisors can make the process of becoming a franchise owner much easier by providing the right tools and operational guidelines. You, as a franchisor, can provide a “franchise-in-a-box” with the proper software and procedures, so the new franchise owner can hit the ground running and focus on running a successful business, not spending too much time and money setting it up.
All the steps mentioned above are relevant to identify the glitches that may come across franchisees way while establishing business, in partnership with franchise body. And it is to be noted that the failure of one franchise store can badly harm the reputation of the company. It may leave black stains which are definitely not good for future perspective of a business. So being a part of team, vigorous support and influential leadership can robust the company’s magnitude in franchisee’s way.