In my over three decades of experience as a franchise consultant, there are questions I am frequently asked about how to franchise your business. In my last blog, I addressed the question: How can I forge a good relationship with my Franchisees when I franchise my business?

Our first three tips in our previous blog were the following:

  1. When you franchise your business, structure the franchise program to ensure it works from the perspective of your target Franchisees. It cannot be totally one-sided in favor of the Franchisor.
  2. Do not make it all about the money.  Be there for your Franchisees when you franchise your business.
  3. Communicate regularly with your Franchisees. Establish a program of consistent points of contact through telephone calls, video meetings, webinars, newsletters, updates and visits to their locations.

Now, here are two more tips for establishing strong relationships with your Franchisees when you franchise your business:

Tip #4: Continue to build on-going added value into your program when you franchise your business.  Appropriate added value programs will depend upon the type of franchise you are offering.  It could be based on combined buying power.  For example, create an insurance program for your Franchisees to enable them to purchase liability, health, life or disability insurance as a group, providing lower costs for all your Franchisees.  Another added value idea when you franchise your business: host an annual meeting for your Franchisees at a fun location.  They could then enjoy some tax-deductible working vacation time. A third idea is to set up a company-wide program to support a popular charity.  This program would provide emotional rewards for your Franchisees and their employees.  Take it one step further and establish a fundraising competition between your Franchisees.  The winning location gets bragging rights for a year.  This suggestion encourages creativity and company spirit.

Tip #5: Never stop trying to improve your franchise program when you franchise your business.  Do not become too bogged down in how you have been doing things.  If you are a restaurant, for example, how can you fine-tune the menu to incorporate emerging ingredients, menu items or cuisines (while still being true to your customer base).  Can you put together a new way for customers to order or receive their food?  Another idea: develop an app to make it easier for your Franchisees to do their jobs or for their customers to do business with them.  Develop new social media campaigns.  Create low-cost marketing campaigns.  However, never tinker with what works just for the sake of making a change.  Be sure the proposed improvement is really going to make things better for your Franchisees, their employees and/or their customers.

Thinking About Franchising?

NFA Franchise Consultants have the experience to help businesses franchise.  Just watch and listen to some of our client case studies and video testimonials.  We can HELP YOU and it doesn’t cost anything to call and talk to us! 

So, if you are still asking the “should I franchise my business” question over and over with no clear direction, give us a call at (706) 356-5637, or contact us through our online form.  We look forward to helping you take your business to the next level and beyond.