What Type of Franchisor Support Should Franchise Owners Expect?

Establishing a business of any kind is a high-risk, high-reward endeavor. If you happen to be opening a franchised business, you might expect a safety net of sorts. Franchisors are supposed to offer support and resources to Franchise Owners, right? And Franchise Owners should be able to count on the Franchisor’s business model to jumpstart their success, right? It’s true that Franchisors should support Franchise Owners — especially newly established ones — but what exactly does this support look like? What type of Franchisor support should Franchise Owners expect? Read on for more information on what type of support the Franchisor provides and how to take advantage of it.

Types of Support

The relationship between a Franchisor and Franchise Owner should always be characterized by support, and support can come in a range of different forms. Ultimately, a Franchisor should help Franchise Owners achieve business goals and serve customers effectively. This can be done in a range of different ways, including the following five common forms of support.

Site Selection and Construction

Location is a vital component of any business’s success. Regardless of how great your services may be, if you’re not located within a reasonable vicinity of your clientele, finding success will be an uphill battle. One of the most essential forms of support a Franchisor can provide is assistance with site selection and construction. There are a few different ways that this can unfold:

• New franchises may be given an assigned location
• New franchises may be able to choose from several pre-approved locations
• New franchises may receive aid from the Franchisor to find a new location

Each of these options will involve assistance from the Franchisor in ensuring that a new franchise secures a competitive location. If new construction is required, the Franchisor will further assist in establishing consistent color schemes, details, signage, and quality standards.

New Franchise Owner Training

One of the most important aspects of success for new Franchise Owners is establishing a foundation of knowledge surrounding the business and brand of the Franchisor. This is typically done through new Franchise Owner training that takes place over the course of several weeks. This training includes a combination of classroom learning and on-the-job training so that Franchise Owners can apply the concepts they’re learning in real-time. Some of the benefits of new Franchise Owner training include:

• Eliminate anxiety stemming from lack of knowledge
• Instill a sense of confidence and competence
• Teach Franchise Owners about the essential aspects of the brand
• Minimize avoidable incidents and losses through education

Training should never be a one-and-done deal, though. After new training for Franchise Owners has been completed, Franchisors should continue to offer ongoing training to refresh Franchise Owners’ knowledge. These continued trainings can help Franchise Owners further their qualifications and earn additional certifications. They are most often offered online so that Franchise Owners can easily complete them without interruption to their business. 

Detailed Operations Manual

One of the greatest benefits of buying into a franchise is the wealth of experience and knowledge you gain access to. Rather than starting from scratch, you can learn from those who had gone before you and succeeded — thus avoiding common missteps along the way. All of the information you need to know about company protocol and standards is often contained in one single source — the company operations manual. This resource is one of the greatest pillars of support a Franchise Owner can depend upon. Some of the information that’s typically contained in the manual includes:

• Key contact information
• Organizational hierarchy chart
• Emergency procedural information
• Employee code of conduct
• Supply chain protocol
• Employee job responsibilities

When a Franchise Owner has a question, the operations manual should be the first to find the answer. It should act as a how-to guide for the most essential business practices.

Marketing and Advertising

The name recognition that comes with buying into a franchise is one of its greatest benefits. When you’re backed by a brand that’s known and loved by its customers, much of your marketing will be done by your customers via word of mouth. Still, you’ll need an established plan for marketing and advertising — and every Hounds Town Franchise can benefit from the brand’s marketing efforts. Franchises typically contribute to such efforts by partially funding a large-scale marketing campaign. These campaigns can include any of the following components:

• Social media marketing
• Online advertisements
• Email marketing campaigns
• Public relations campaigns

Franchisors often assist with these efforts by generating publicity for the Franchisor brand and developing community connections that establish the business’ marketing demographic.

Cost Savings and Quality Control in Business Supplies

A major component of franchise success is maintaining consistency across all Franchise Owner locations. The franchise business model is viable because it allows customers to trust an established brand. When your business becomes part of that brand, you need to offer the same level of quality that other locations provide. To this end, Franchisors typically allow Franchise Owners to purchase supplies only from approved vendors. This achieves several objectives, including the following:

Ensures that products are consistent across all locations

• Allows Franchisors to purchase business supplies in bulk
• Usually secures lower prices for goods
• Endows Franchisors with greater buying power
• Reduces losses from breakage, waste, and spoilage

These benefits are passed down to Franchise Owners who can reduce their costs by buying through Franchisor-approved vendors. As an individual business owner, you’re less likely to be able to negotiate the best price — but as a Franchise Owner, you can often get the best prices available.

Get Everything You Need With A Hounds Town Franchise

Since its inception in 2001, Hounds Town has quickly emerged as the top dog boarding, grooming, and daycare establishment. The company now boasts over 100 pet franchise locations and a world-class support system for new Franchise Owners. Hounds Town Franchise support offers assistance every step of the way to ensure that your business succeeds and grows. Entrepreneurs and dog lovers are invited to learn more about owning a Hounds Town Doggy Daycare Franchise. To learn more, you can get started by requesting a Hounds Town Franchise report and scheduling a call with a franchise representative.

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