Archive

Posts Tagged ‘franchise support’

Secrets of Successful Franchises

December 6th, 2009

Filtafry Franchising

There are many things said about succeeding in franchising, and sometimes, it can be all a bit much to wade through. However, having some insider tips to franchising can be a big benefit to those just starting out in franchising, or for those who may just be considering buying a franchise. Getting a good look at industry insights and the forumulas that others have used to be successful franchisees can be a great way to really get off on the right foot.

Making sure that you have a good cushion at start up is a smart thing to do. Be sure that your capital budget covers the sometimes slow start up times and that there is a sufficiant amount of funds to take care of any period where things may not be as forward moving as you’d like them to be. Many franchisees fail due to not thinking ahead in this respect and this is a vital thing to remember- that in every business there will be slow periods, and usually those at start up are the ones that catch people off guard. 

Having a clear understanding of not only what your customers want, but what they are looking for in advertising can also benefit. Being able to track the way that they spend, as well as the times they spend it and on what is something that you can integrate into any business and see better results for having done so. Showing your customers you care about their opinions and their needs is also something that has been a long proven way to connect with them and to earn their business.

Knowing your customer base and following the trends there is also very important. If you are not getting out there and really making sure you know all the ins and outs about what your customers want- then you may really be setting yourself up for a fall. Being able to not only know how much they spend, when they spend and how they spend but also what they are really looking for and what sort of advertising speaks to them is another area where many franchisees don’t look before they leap and this is a big mistake.

Being able to know when to ask for help, guidence or insight will help you to be more in tune with their way of doing things and better enable you to move forward to the sort of success you would both like to see.

Being able to keep a clear line of communication, suggestions and questions open with your franchiser is something else that is a benefit that many do not avail themselves. Usually, your franchiser has already been tracking the trends, knows what works and what does not- and they are generally open to your input based on what you have also seen.

Being a successful franchise owner does not have to mean going it alone- and that is one of the many benefits of franchising. Often times, people feel like there is a great deal of hype about franchises- but there is a reason, statistically, franchises do fare better than independent businesses. Being able to have not only the backing of a name that people know and trust, but access to the methodology that they have already been using is a great benefit as well. Just take some small things in to consideration as you begin your franchise and you will find that it all works out in a much more smoothly running, profitable business for both you and your franchiser.

Have additional franchising questions? Get more franchise information with a real business example at Filta Fry .  Additionally, you can get more information about an emerging franchise by going to filtafry.

 Mail this post

Franchising , , , , , , , , , ,

Franchise Secrets: ROI Analysis

November 28th, 2009

With any investment it is good to have an accurate estimate on the anticipated return on that investment before committing to any monetary promises.  Franchising ventures are no exception to this general rule.In fact, this projection becomes even more valuable to someone who is interested in investing.

Unlike investments into real estate or stocks, the decision to buy into a franchise deals with not only a substantial financial commitment, but also demands a great deal of time and energy on the part of the buyer.Any expected return on investment should account not only for the amount of money invested into the business, but also compensate for the time spent creating and operating the business.  As such, for a franchise to be viewed as potentially successful the expected earnings from the business should be significantly higher than the returns from a similar financial commitment to a passive investment.

It is important to understand that, when purchasing a franchise, higher initial investment does not necessarily translate into higher returns.  A great deal comes down to the ability of the owner to effectively manage the franchise and the marketability of the franchise in the purposed area of business.  For example, if the community consistently prefers hamburgers, then no amount of money invested is going to move fried chicken.Conversely, if the hamburger market of the same fictional locality is already fairly saturated, it's going to be very difficult to attempt to edge into that niche.

When deciding to explore the earning potential of a particular franchise, there is some very basic and very important preliminary research to be performed.  An excellent first step is to request a copy of the company’s Franchise Disclosure Document.  As a general rule, these documents relate information regarding the earnings of various franchises across the geographical boundaries of the franchise organization and can help in projecting an estimate of ROI for the area proposed for the purchased franchise.

The Franchise Disclosure Document will always give information about current and previous owners.You can estimate your ROI by talking to owners within the similar regions that you are looking to do business.  These same franchise owners can also form a backbone of a vital and invaluable support network for the new owner.

As mentioned above, another major factor in a franchise's earning potential lies in the owners own capabilities to effectively run the franchise.It is always wise to look for a franchise that uses previous experience and existing skills.  A person with an extensive background in restaurant management is obviously going to fare better as a restaurant owner than as a gas station owner.

Above all, it is important to keep realistic financial goals in determining what franchise is most suitable.  Taking into account the market in the proposed area, the earnings of franchises operating in similar locations, the time required to operate the proposed franchise and the owner’s ability to run the franchise in an effect manner can provide a good estimate of what one might expect to see in the way of return on the investment made into the franchise and the overall viability of the business.

 

 Mail this post

Franchising , , , , , , , , ,