A franchisee must be a sound business person. Even if its about food or cosmetics for a franchise to be a success it is important for the franchisee to have sound business sense and keep the franchise on track.
There are many aspects to running a franchise and the success of a franchise can be assured if mistakes are avoided.
According to people in the industry the most common causes of failure of a franchise business are:
1. Signing a contract without legal counsel or understanding the fine print. It is important to comprehend clearly what clauses 1-23 of the Uniform Franchise Offering Circular or UFOC mean. Be smart read the document and make a list of questions you want answers to. Ensure you are in agreement with everything before you sign and use any negotiation skills you have to your advantage. A franchise business must benefit both franchisor and franchisee.
2. Not doing the foot work to determine whether the franchise has any chance of success or not. Find out all about successes and failures. Ask about litigations and more. Make the effort to contact other running franchisees and ask about problems encountered. Get a clear picture.
3. Miscalculating finances. New franchises need capital to set up things and get the business moving. These include finding allocation, refurbishment, equipment costs, salaries, training, promos and more. When planning finances its important to think of the impossible and include costs of insurance and more.
4. Taking an unviable business loan. Very often its not a good idea to take the first loan offered. There is a need to think of returns, interest, pay back tenure and more. Use expert help to get the best support at the lowest costs. Often paying for a good consultant will save thousands of dollars later.
5. Failing to build a rapport with the franchisor and his /her key personnel. For a franchise to work you need a good relationship with everyone; the sales people, the field representative, the district supervisor, the marketing people and others who hold a franchise of the same franchisor as you. If your instinct tells you there is not much substance below the surface, avoid the business.
6. Analyzing business potential and entering an already saturated market. Study the lay of the land and also find out whether there is a need for your kind of business in the location specified by you. Success needs potential and uniqueness. Being one of many in a small area waters down possibilities of profit.
7. Taking into consideration personal aspects like health and family responsibilities. It is important to know you can burn the candle at both ends until the franchise runs well. You have people you can depend on and are in good health. Thinking the unthinkable makes sound business sense.
8. Ignoring clauses in the contract that refer to breaking the contract etc. pay attention to each and every aspect; consider what will happen to the franchisee if you are hospitalized or die.
9. Taking up a business on an impulse without requisite skills. It is crucial to know whether franchising is for you. A business needs long term commitment and cannot be abandoned on a whim.
10. Not creating a sound business plan. To avoid losses its important to monitor the business from day 1.MIS systems will help nip problems in the bud. Close monitoring and staying ahead of competition are required 24/7.
Use resources provided by the World Wide Web to educate yourself on the franchising business secrets and work models. Be determined to be a pro franchisee.