The process of finding the perfect franchise is a blizzard of information and decisions for anyone considering the franchising route.
Mac Tools UK Recruitment Manager Paul Clegg has years of experience in franchising and has compiled a list of top tips to help you when evaluating a selection of van franchises.
1. Understand the lifestyle
A van franchise is different to other franchise options in the sense that being out on the road is a definitive lifestyle. You have to be happy with travelling, potentially sitting in traffic jams or coping with roadworks, and maintaining your van as an essential routine – it is, after all, your office.
2. Understanding the costs
How much does the franchise cost and where is this money allocated? Is your van provided, fully sign-written? Are there financing options available or does the company have reliable contacts for bank loans?
These costs should be factored into your personal finance capabilities and measured against the return you will receive.
3. Maintaining standards
Any training offered by the franchisor should be embraced. Regardless of previous experience, you are likely to learn new skills, as well as gaining essential understanding about the company strategy and way of thinking. Some training may be completely new to you such as sales, building customer relationships, placing and tracking orders, and managing stock.
Remember that the initial training is designed to offer all new franchisees an equal chance of success in their new venture.
You should also assess what support is provided during your launch, as this is a critical time for any new franchisee. Talking to the launch support team and associated staff will give a good indication of the resources assigned to this event.
Following the launch, how is contact maintained? Consider what methods are used and how often communication occurs. Face-to-face contact is also important and can build excellent networking opportunities within the franchise to share best practice.
4. Customer communication
You have direct contact with the end-user in their place of work, so your appearance and presentation becomes part of how you are recognised. Attention to detail can therefore become very important as well as sharing common interests to aid conversation and rapport, so you need to be comfortable with dealing with a specific type of customer on a day-to-day basis.
5. Take a ride!
After discussing details with the franchisor, arrange to meet and spend time with existing franchisees. Some of the best insights will come from people that have been through the same process. They can give helpful details and understanding.
