What It Takes to Build a Successful Franchise

The obvious presence of a proven, repeatable 'system' is the single most important element in successful franchising. Without a good system in place, there’s just no sense in franchising because there will be no standard to follow.

Everything must be considered for both the short and the long term.

For example, if the business is printing, then simply teaching a franchisee how to hire a press operator and what equipment to purchase does not equate into a good franchise opportunity.

Instead, a quality franchisor would teach everything that takes place both in front of and behind the front counter from customer service to accounting. When there are holes in the system, then there are holes in the franchise and not worth the consideration of a prospective franchisee.

Unfortunately, there are holes in 'most' franchises offered today, but it doesn’t have to be that way. As a franchise consultant, I am contacted by many entrepreneurs interested in franchising their business, and after so many years in this field, I tend to get to the bottom line of the situation without wasting too much time. Once I find out that there exists a 'hole' in the system, I always recommend that it be fixed, and 'proven fixed', before any thoughts of franchising move ahead.