Fitness For Franchising: Are You Cut Out To Be A Franchisee?

By Pamela Gold

Do you dream of owning your own business? Is a successful entrepreneur what you aspire to be? If so, read on to find out if you're cut out to own and operate a franchise.

The perfect franchisee

If you've always wanted to own a business of your own, but you cannot even imagine coming up with a unique idea that will sell, and formulating your own business plan seems like a massive endeavor - franchising might be for you. Franchisees must be leaders and business-people, but if you're not bursting with ideas for a successful business, it might be a great choice for you to buy a franchise.

Success can never be guaranteed when opening any business, but a huge majority of franchises will succeed. Franchises are proven businesses and often entrepreneurs who may not be extremely confident risk-takers will flourish in the franchising environment.

Many franchisees are first-time business owners. When you buy a franchise, you are buying the product idea, and the business process and model. You are typically taught how to run your business and how to succeed. Many franchisors offer a toll-free help line for their franchisees to call. Often you will buy a complete business, product and process, and you will be helped along your journey. If you enjoy belonging to a team, franchising is a perfect business option for you.

The key to being a happy franchisee

In franchising, the relationship between franchisor and franchisee is key. Like the effort a husband and wife must give to their relationship, the franchisee and franchisor's relationship is one that is complicated and intense. Communication is essential. When a franchisee has good communication skills, they will not only have a strong relationship with their franchisor, but they will also have sound relationships with their customers and possess effective management skills as well. Are you up to the task of forming a relationship with a franchisor? This is a huge question and one which you must honestly answer before you decide to buy a franchise.

The profile of a franchisee

To reach a level of success in your new business endeavor, you must be a happy franchisee. This means, you must closely fit the franchisee profile. First, you must have the support of your friends and family to back you up. Your spouse must agree with your decision to buy your own business and he/she must understand the financial risks involved with doing so. When your family life is not settled, your work responsibilities will suffer. Make sure you thoroughly discuss the possibilities of success or debt, flexibility in schedule, or very little time for a personal life: All of these factors can and probably will occur at some point in your career as a franchisee.

As a franchisee, you are required to have sufficient financial resources. Buying a franchise entails paying for many fees, from leasing a retail space to buying office equipment and paying franchise ownership fees. You must have enough capital available to not only pay for start-up fees, but also to support yourself for at least a year as your business builds up customers and begins to bring in an income.

A great candidate to become a franchisee is someone who not only has the skills and aptitude required for the particular business, but one who knows where his/her weaknesses are and is able to hire people to compensate for those weaknesses. Are you capable of seeing your own faults, while still possessing the capabilities to exercise initiative and take risk in order to take advantage of opportunities in front of you?

Not fit for franchising

There are people who are simply not cut out for franchising. If you have experience running a specific business and over the years, you've come up with unique ways to better the business, or a unique concept to incorporate into the industry you work in, you probably should not buy a franchise. Why? The reason is simple: Franchises are tested and proven business models. Typically, you will have a specific product or service to sell and an exact way of doing business, which you must follow. Those with their own unique ideas and those who do not always like to color inside the lines may not be suited to buying a franchise. If you are not the type of person that enjoys belonging to and working for a team, franchising may not be right for you.

Also, you will often (but not always) have to pay royalties or fees to the franchisor for as long as you own the business. This thought may not appeal to all business owners.

From a franchisor's perspective

What exactly does a franchisor look for when deciding on whether to sell a franchise to a potential franchisee? Commitment and excitement about the product or service is the number one factor that a franchisor will look for in a candidate. As stated above, competency is another major factor. Do you have the skills necessary to run a particular business? A good work ethic is also vital. The franchisor will look for a person that is hardworking. The franchisee must be willing to follow the exact business plan and business procedures of the parent company. If a candidate likes to draw outside of the lines and comes brimming with new ideas for how to better the company's way of doing business, they will not be an ideal franchisee and may not be chosen. Finally, a franchisee must have a great desire to succeed.

To summarize

If you enjoy being part of a team, the paramount project of creating an original business concept and then acting upon it is a bit overwhelming to you but you have the drive, skills, and enthusiasm to own your own business, and you have enough liquid capital, then you are fit to be a franchisee. Enjoy the journey and welcome to the world of franchising.