You may be thinking about buying a franchise right now. You like the idea of working with a trusted brand, along with starting your own business. However, being a franchisee is unique from other forms of entrepreneurship. There’s so much that goes into a franchise that you wouldn’t think of if you were to start from scratch. There are a lot of great benefits but also distinct challenges when it comes to being a franchise owner. As a result, you have to consider the special qualities that make a person a good fit for a franchise over starting his or her own business. The Moran Family of Brands, with its proven business model, can help nurture those distinct traits in a way to turn you into a good franchisee. Here are some of the things you have to consider when going the franchise route.
A matter of being fit
There are many different things that go into the makings of a good franchisee. However, the first of these is being a good fit. Now, you may think that just being passionate about a certain industry alone is enough to get you through the process and on the path to success. However, that can be a mistake: Often you’re viewing a business that you like through the perspective of a customer. However, there are some things that are going on behind the scenes that you have probably never thought about, including accounting, sales, marketing and human resources.
All of these processes are important to running a franchise, and having the mettle to take these on is essential. For example, with auto repair franchises like Mr. Transmission or Milex Complete Auto Care, you may just think it’s all about working with mechanics and tuning up cars. While that plays a large role, you’re also building relationships with suppliers and other people to ensure that you have the right parts for the jobs you need at a time that is convenient for both you and your customers. Speaking of which, customer service also plays a major role in this environment. Being fit for a franchise not only means that you like the industry a lot of the time, but that you’re able to perform all the tasks that go with keeping things running. Some of these tasks may look boring, but that represents part of the challenge in running this type of store or repair shop. Maintaining a high level of passion while working on any portion of the business becomes a necessity to be a good franchisee.
More essential to this system is working well with other people, not just the franchisor. Being a people person is a valuable trait to have as a franchise owner, especially in retail or auto repair settings. You’ll be dealing with a lot of different people with varying moods. Delivering an amicable and friendly experience to everyone that walks in the door can make a major difference in the development of your franchise, enough that it’s a core value at all Moran franchises.
A part of the system
It’s important to remember that franchises, even proven ones such as Alta Mere The Automotive Outfitters, are often the product of years of tweaking and development. In other words, they’re systems from which you function. One of the critical points of being a good franchisee is not just understanding this system, but also accepting that you’re a part of it. In this manner, you understand that while you are your own boss, you’re still following some rules and answering to people such as your franchisor and the customers. That requires letting go of your ego and following along. After all, a system that is in place means mistakes are less likely to happen that leave you vulnerable.
What helps with that is having prior experience in a system. Being a veteran, for example, can provide a bevy of experience that goes well with working in a franchise setting. Another great entry point is being involved in a systems-based environment that has done well in that setting but may have had disputes with your boss or the owner. Experience in departments such as sales, marketing and operations can be considered great starting points for being a capable franchisee as well.
Following the traditions
In terms of the type of person you should be as a franchisee, those characteristics can vary. Many people from different walks of life have moved to become franchisees. However, a good starting point is having a personality and attitude that is willing to take critiques and feedback from both customers and franchisors. Seeking to avoid conflict as much as you can is also a nice trait to have as a franchisee. In other words, be a lover, not a fighter.
More importantly, you want to consider following rules as an important asset of being a franchisee. After all, you’re based in a system of business operations that has its own set of proven rules. The first thing you need to consider is being fine with following rules in general. That is often the thing that separates a franchise owner from your standard entrepreneur. If you think that following a set of guidelines is OK while running your own business, then you should do fine as a franchisee. However, if you feel uncomfortable with being bound to some higher authority, or have a history of not toeing the line, then you may want to reconsider franchising as an option.
Finally, something that often isn’t talked about among franchisees is your role in the community involvement. A strong franchise owner isn’t just making a good business out of what he or she is doing. This person is also looking to constantly give back to the community at large. That means becoming an important stakeholder in everything that is happening around you, from local events to simply helping out residents in times of need. Moran especially looks for candidates that are looking to contribute to the well-being of the residents and families not just as customers, but as neighbors as well.
Looking to learn more about franchising? Visit the Moran Family of Brands website!