1. Be Passionate and Believe in Your Concept, Products and Service

It might sound obvious, but if you don’t believe in your brand and your business, then no-one will. So be passionate about what you are doing. If you love your coffee and believe that the food you serve is fresh and delicious, it will translate to better service, better coffee and better food for your clients and customers. It’s about putting love into everything you do. Always. If you build it… they will come.

2. Exceptional Customer Service

Understanding your customers’ needs and ensuring a great experience is the core of running a successful coffee franchise. Having a genuine love for people, making your customers feel welcome and always offering a smile. And it’s not just about you. Having staff that can happily and consistently deliver exceptional customer service with a smile, is imperative to running your business.

And remember, if there is ever a problem, stick to the adage; the customer is always right. Take the time to listen to your customers’ concerns. If they’re unhappy, replace the product or offer it for free. Find solutions that are positive and proactive. In nearly every situation, positive conflict resolution is going to be better for everyone.

3. Consistency, Consistency, Consistency

And then more consistency! Let’s be honest, when it comes to their morning coffee, people want to know exactly what they are going to get. Every. Single. Time. So set your standards high and deliver that standard in every cup. Every day.

Repeat customers are going to be the backbone of your business and consistency is key to finding them and keeping them.

4. Do what you say/advertise

It’s all about integrity, because integrity builds reputation, and a great reputation will translate to long term financial performance.

On a day-to-day level that means never letting the customer down and always delivering what you promise. Whether it’s opening hours, price points, availability of what’s on the menu, milk choices, the temperature of their coffee. There’s no room for short cuts if you want to build and maintain a great reputation.

On a business level integrity means maintaining ethical behaviours throughout your business. Looking after your staff, being accountable and acting honestly in all your dealings. Maintaining good relationships with your employees, suppliers and local regulators are all important to running a successful franchise.

5. Quality and Quality Control

That means the freshest and highest-quality ingredients. No exceptions.

To build your customer base you need to consistently exceed their expectations, so take pride in what you do, and what you serve. If in doubt, chuck it out. If it’s not up to quality, do it again. Be passionate about your products and be proud of what you serve. If your suppliers aren’t delivering the quality you expect, find a new supplier. Every link in the chain matters.

6. Focus on Building Repeat Customers

Coffee businesses need repeat customers to thrive, or as we like to call them ‘regulars!.’ Yes, fantastic products, great service and consistency are all important in building a repeat customer base, but the number one secret to turning a customer into a ‘regular’ is familiarity. At the end of the day, people want to feel like they belong, and if your barista knows your name, knows your coffee order or knows your favourite breakfast treat, you are more likely to feel welcome, and like you belong, and that is what will keep you coming back again and again. That and consistently great coffee. ☺

Thanks for reading,
The Franchise Institute Team
1300 855 435

The post 6 TIPS TO RUNNING A SUCCESSFUL COFFEE FRANCHISE appeared first on Franchise Insitute.

Staffing is often one of the biggest challenges standing in the way of growth for any industry. Everything from recruitment to onboarding to management and retention can cause a lot of stress. And it takes valuable time away from the business owner.

That’s where franchising comes in. By franchising your health and/or fitness business, you’re able to achieve sustainable business growth without the added headaches of staffing multiple locations. Instead, you work with motivated entrepreneurs and business owners just like yourself and give them the tools to replicate your success.

It’s also a practised way of growing ROI without taking on excessive liabilities. You can facilitate rapid expansion without having to dip into your capital or stretching yourself too thin trying to manage multiple businesses at once.

When it comes to the fitness industry, Listen To Your Body (LTYB) is the perfect example of how franchising can help to build a fitness empire. Owner and Personal Trainer Ben Fletcher started with one gym that grew steadily. After more than 200,000 personal training sessions, he came to us to help him grow his business through franchising.

“10 years on, and we are delighted with our decision to Franchise,” Ben says. “LYTB now has 14 studios in two States. But rather than measure our success just in the number of studios, we measure our success in the brand’s growth. Also, the success of our members and the satisfaction of our franchise partners.”

Questions to ask yourself before franchising

#1 Has your business reached a steady  level of success?

A steady revenue stream is the hallmark of a successful business. It indicates that those who join you will be able to make a success of their business. If you don’t run your company profitably, it’s unlikely that others will invest in your franchise because their success is not assured.

#2 How unique are the services or products you offer?

The uniqueness of your products or services is a selling point for a franchisor. Is your product or service in demand most of the time? Do you have a more attractive or appealing set-up than your competitors? Distinguishing factors about your business will help you stand out and attract franchisees.

#3 What steps will you follow to teach franchisees to duplicate your business model?

Franchising a business means you create a brand presence in various other locations. Do you have the teaching ability and readiness to replicate your business model for a new set of customers and business environment?

#4 How well do you know the target market for your product or service?

Having a solid understanding of your target market will help you determine whether or not it’s successful in other locations. It would help if you considered the ability of your business to meet market demands now and into the future, servicing existing clients while also attracting new customers.

#5 Are you confident enough to go it alone?

Starting a franchise can be daunting. There’s the investment, the systematisation and the documentation, not to mention all the legal requirements. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the idea. The truth is, going it alone is tough. However, with franchise advice and assistance from experts, it’s a cost-effective way to expand and grow your business.

If you’re ready to discuss the next steps for franchising your fitness business or want to find out if your idea is feasible, don’t hesitate to reach out.

Thanks for reading,
The Franchise Institute Team
1300 855 435

The post WANT TO GROW YOUR HEALTH AND FITNESS BUSINESS? HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW appeared first on Franchise Insitute.

Many simply outgrow franchises because they feel stifled by them. However, there are some entrepreneurs that become lifelong members of a franchise family, staying with the parent company for decades. Todd Agius from Ferguson Plarre is a good example of this.

Agius started out at Ferguson Plarre Bakehouse very young before he knew much about franchising. He didn’t even work on the business full time for the first year, just leasing it through another company and paying a fee to run the establishment. During this time, Aguis and his wife accumulated experience in hospitality, communication, and customer service, which only helped them later down the line.

When Aguis was 23 years old, the couple negotiated a franchise deal with Ferguson Plarre and established their venture in Melbourne. They become part of a community with young families who liked the familiarity of small, family-owned businesses. Aguis relied heavily on his communication skills but quickly learned everything they needed to know about running a franchise. The local community in Melbourne wanted a familiar face, and they were willing to spend money on it. This helped the franchise remain afloat.

Both Todd and his wife committed 100% to their venture, investing 60 to 65 hours every week to keep it afloat. They only had one staff member who helped them out at lunchtime for more than 4 years, which was another reason why this business was successful. Both of the Aguis were hands-on, creating a personal environment in the bakery.

Around this time, his wife stepped away from the business after having their child. Todd decided to expand by establishing a new franchise at a newly opened shopping mall in Craigieburn, which distracted him from the original store for a bit. Eventually, he shut the original store while focusing on a more lucrative location.

Todd is a natural at hospitality but learning the nitty-gritty of a franchise business took some effort. He gained an understanding of concepts like expenses, profit/loss, bookkeeping, etc., which helped the business grow stronger. Once he started seeing a steady, comfortable income from this franchise venture, there was no reason to quit.

A long-standing relationship with Ferguson Plarre also proved to be beneficial. The company is still a family-owned business with around 72 franchise branches. As a long-term franchisee, Agius has a great rapport with the company’s management. They use him as a sounding board of sorts, introducing him to new ideas or products before launch.

His input is always taken seriously, so he has some influence on the brand. He is also called in to share his perspective with other franchisees. Todd has no plans to leave the franchise and develop his own business. He considers himself a lifetime franchisee.

There are many stories of long-term establishments where most of them are content with their current establishment. If there’s a mutually beneficial relationship between franchisor and franchisee, you have more control and independence. In fact, you can help a parent company grow further by recommending improvements.

Better communication, more support, and consistent performance have a positive impact on both parties. Why start a new business venture when you have all the independence you need with a supportive parent company?

If you want to know anything more about setting up a franchise business or want some sound and professional advice, call The Franchise Institute on 1300 855 435 or fill in this contact us form and we’ll reply as soon as we can.

Thanks for reading,
The Franchise Institute Team
1300 855 435

The post Being a Franchisee for Life appeared first on Franchise Insitute.

The Origin

Subway has a surprising and inspiring origin story; it was established by a 17-year old boy named Fred DeLuca and his partner. Fred had a dream to become a doctor and wanted to find a way to finance his education. A family friend recommended that he open a submarine sandwich shop. He decided to take that advice and with the aid of Dr. Peter Buck and his $1,000 loan, he established the first Subway shop at Bridgeport, Connecticut, on August 1965. At that point, it was called Pete’s Super Submarine.

Start as a Franchise

Fred and Dr. Buck’s original goal was to establish 32 stores in a 10-year timeframe but even for a very fast growing company, that wasn’t a reasonable goal at that time. By 1974, they had only managed to establish 16 shops in Connecticut and were very far away from their goals.

That sparked the decision to turn their submarine sandwich restaurant into a franchise because they knew this would get them the growth they wanted. As proven by their later success, they were right on track, Subway is now the second fastest-growing franchise in the world, and is just a few steps behind McDonalds.

What Lead to Their Success?

The success of a franchise depends largely on how well-established the foundation of the system is. If you plan well and take your industry into consideration, you can reach new heights and help your company become a global success.

Understanding How it Works

Fred and Dr. Buck weren’t experts in this field so they didn’t hesitate to expand their knowledge and learn how to make their establishment a success. Fred spent several months understanding how to run a business, serve well-made and high-quality products, and how to provide excellent customer service. He also learned how to keep operating costs low and find good franchise locations. This knowledge allowed them to lay a good foundation for their company.

Branding

In 1968, Pete’s Super Submarines was rebranded as Subway and later the “eat fresh” tagline was introduced. This along with great logos and design allowed Subway to establish a strong brand image. They didn’t start franchising immediately after they established the company, which allowed the brand to flourish and gain recognition on its own. Once the branding was established and had value, Subway could be marketed to potential franchisees as a good investment. As you might know, branding is vital to create a successful franchise.

Consistency and Adaptability

Subway’s goal is to provide made-to-order, fresh, and relatively nutritious fast food in a world of greasy burgers and fried chicken. That’s what customers expect when they approach a Subway, and that’s what the franchise consistently delivers in all their franchise locations.

As you can see, Subway’s success is due to excellent planning from the outset. If you want to know more about franchising or want some advice, feel free to get in touch with us at The Franchise Institute. You can call us on v1300 855 435 or fill in this contact us form and we’ll reply as soon as we can.

Thanks for reading,
The Franchise Institute Team
1300 855 435

The post Subway from 16 Stores to 44,000 in 110 Countries appeared first on Franchise Insitute.

About Poolwerx

Poolwerx is a pool and spa maintenance network and is considered Australia’s largest. Their tagline “for healthy pool people” tells clients that they work to ensure the pools and spas are clean and safe for swimming. They cater to both commercial and residential clients and offer a wide range of services. Today, Poolwerx has over 330 franchises that cover over 240 franchise locations in 3 countries. The company was established by John O’Brien, who has since won several accolades and awards for his innovative techniques and business practices.

How Did They Become a Success Story?

Poolwerx is so successful because the company had a solid system in place from the beginning. Here are some reasons behind the franchise’s success in Australia and beyond:

Brand Value

Poolwerx has great brand value because everything from marketing to logos and brand design is on point. The company is a very recognisable name and is stable enough to be a part of this industry for over two decades. Because it’s a well-established brand, it’s considered a good franchise opportunity and people purchase it. That in turn increases the influence of the brand so there’s a give and take between the two aspects of the business when it comes to brand value.

Different Revenue Streams

One of the reasons why Poolwerx is so successful is because it offers four different revenue streams to franchisees. That includes mobile pool servicing, commercial maintenance contracts, retail of pools and spa products for DIY customers, and online product sales. Different revenue streams leads to more potential profits and income, which makes the company a coveted franchise opportunity.

Versatility

Poolwerx gives franchisees the opportunity to choose their market and capacity of service. It covers everything from small one-off residential pool cleaning jobs to large commercial maintenance contracts. If you’re a newly established business that doesn’t want to delve into big contracts as of yet, you can purchase a smaller franchise that does only small residential servicing.

Franchising System

Poolwerx is the first company to offer structured Career Path Franchising opportunity to franchisees. This gives them the potential to grow as a business from a single-unit one-area venture to a multi-unit, multi-location business. The potential business size and revenue isn’t limited, which makes Poolwerx a very attractive option.

Training and Support

The company also offers considerable amount of training and support to franchisees with local classroom sessions, online learning modules, and annual business planning sessions. They have Pool Schools and Winter Workshops to help new business owners and offer 24/7 online training so the franchisee and the staff can learn at their own leisure.

Over the course of two decades, Poolwerx established a comprehensive and efficient system that allowed franchises to flourish and grow. The company believes in the reciprocal relationship between the franchisor and franchisee and works hard to maintain it. That’s an important reason for the brand’s success.

If you want to know more about franchising or want some advice, feel free to get in touch with us at The Franchise Institute. You can call us on 1300 855 435 or fill in this contact us form and we’ll reply as soon as we can.

Thanks for reading,
The Franchise Institute Team
1300 855 435

The post The Success Story Behind Poolwerx appeared first on Franchise Insitute.

At The Franchise Institute, we’re often asked how McDonalds became so successful and we always insist that it’s because of some very smart business decisions early on. Here we’ve listed some steps they took that contributed to their success:

They Standardized Their Menu

When you read the history of McDonalds, you notice that the original owners Maurice and Richard McDonalds focused a lot of time and effort on streamlining their cooking process. Their original menu contained hotdogs, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, potato chips, soft drinks, coffee, and apple pie. The offerings were diverse but the brothers still wanted to streamline and simplify the menu.

They removed hot dogs, potato chips and pie and replaced them with French fries and milkshakes. Fries and shakes were easier to make and consume, which made them very popular. In essence, they made a franchise-worthy menu even if it wasn’t their original intension to franchise their restaurant. The standardised system they established worked in their favour and contributed to their success.

Assembly Line Kitchen

In their endeavour to provide quick service, the McDonald brothers created an assembly line system that has now become a staple in many fast-food restaurants. At that time, it was rare and it allowed franchise branches to deliver a consistent product regardless of their location. This assembly line worked well with the altered menu as well because all recipes were simple to execute, easy to learn, and quick to assemble. This was a winning formula that works well even today, after over six decades of existence.

The Fast Food Formula

The original intention of the McDonald brothers was to create an establishment where people would buy their meals and leave. The entire restaurant was designed with that in mind so in the early days, heat would be turned down to prevent people from lingering; angled seating was installed that placed them close to the food, and the placement of the chairs discouraged socialisation. Because of this, more customers walked in and out of the doors, bringing in more business as well. Naturally, McDonald was more profitable than other restaurants because it simply got more business.

Branding

McDonalds also paid keen attention to establishing a solid brand. The first official store looked eye-catching and interesting. All the surfaces were shiny and clean, thanks to the ceramic red and while tiles. The counters were bright sheet metal and the establishment has glass with pulsing white, yellow, red, and green neon lights. The cherry on top was the famous Golden Arches that over the years have become synonymous with the McDonalds brand.

Adaptability

While these early steps helped McDonalds spread throughout the U.S, becoming a global force was a challenge. That’s where their greatest strength came in because McDonalds became adaptable by researching and altering their menu subtly for other countries and cultures. The combination of the four points mentioned above and adaptability helped McDonalds become the global phenomenon it is today.

If you want to know more about franchising or want some advice, feel free to get in touch with us at The Franchise Institute. You can call us on 1300 855 435 or fill in this contact us form and we’ll reply as soon as we can.

Thanks for reading,
The Franchise Institute Team
1300 855 435

The post How McDonalds Went From a Hamburger Shop to a Global Phenomenon appeared first on Franchise Insitute.

It all began in 1982 as a humble lawn mowing business with a starting capital of $24.00. Jim needed part time work while he was undertaking his PHD in History. So he started a part-time gardening business which became full time in 1982 and was franchised in 1989. Today Jim’s Group has more than 2900 Franchisees in four countries, and is growing at the rate of around 200 per year.

Jim is a true entrepreneur when it comes to business because he thinks outside the square and pursues his vision relentlessly. He has done a number of simple things but which have had a huge impact on the growth of his initial mowing business and then subsequently his empire. Here are a few examples

Ready Made Customer Base

Instead of going door to door trying to drum up new business he cleverly realised that if he could buy some existing mowing rounds then he would have a ready-made customer base – which is exactly what he did. In franchising if you can build up the business and then sell that area as a going concern, the sale process will be easier and the amount you sell it for higher. One way to do this is to set up your initial site as a corporately owned franchise. This way it has all the same systems and procedures, it’s just that initially you own it and then you sell it to a franchisee.

Selling by not selling

Jim Penman has many talents but selling skills did not come to Jim naturally. In his book “What will they Franchise Next” The Story of Jim’s Group (2003) he says

“I had never been able to sell. One of my first ‘jobs’ after leaving school was selling encyclopaedias door to door. I was hopeless at it. I tried canvassing for a paint company, and failed. I telemarketer for another business, and failed. I had no people skills. I couldn’t take rejection. I absolutely hated selling. I was a thoroughly awful salesman. But now, for my business to succeed, I had to sell mowing rounds consistently, month after month”

While he tried many ways to improve his selling skills, even outsourcing that role to professional sales people it was actually in another context that he has his sales epiphany. When seeking advice about advertising and marketing his advisor gave him a wealth of valuable information without once trying to sell his services to Jim.  Being the analytical person that he is Jim realised that if you genuinely give without expecting a return you are much more likely to get what you want too.

Guaranteed Income

Early on in the mowing business Jim found that sometimes when he sold his mowing rounds the new owner would have existing customers drop out from that round. The effect this has was that the new owners had less income then they were first lead to believe. So Jim introduced a six week period of income guarantee – which then became the cornerstone of his business.

The income guarantee was a fundamental game changer and to date is still used by many franchise systems.  Franchisees by nature have a lower risk threshold than the person who is has a vision and turns that vision into a reality (or in this case a business). So by offering a guaranteed income Jim was helping to gap that person’s uncertainty and give them piece of mind. The guarantee doesn’t last forever but long enough to enable the franchisee to get their feet on the ground and establish their business.

No doubt there are many other aspects that have made Jim’s Group the second largest franchise in Australia. I am also well aware that not everybody is a fan of Jim’s. With any success story of course, criticism is often inevitable.

Jim has been accused of being too controlling and out of his depth in regards to running this enormous empire. However my role here is not to judge and nor do I have enough first-hand experience to separate the fact from the fiction. But what I do know from my decade plus experience as a franchise consultant is that Jim Penman is one astute entrepreneur who is driven, passionate about his business and knows a thing or two when it comes to franchising.

For more information on how to start a franchise, contact us and we can explore your options with you. And if you do decide to set up a franchise, we can provide ongoing support to help you get the best out of it, both now and into the future.

Thanks for reading,
The Franchise Institute Team
1300 855 435

The post Love them or hate them Jim’s Franchises are an Australian Success Story appeared first on Franchise Insitute.

It’s also a pretty classic tale of business success – from humble beginnings in a small shop in Adelaide, Boost has grown into a business which now boasts 300 stores in 10 countries. Of course, it took a lot of hard work, passion, drive, and total commitment to the customer base along the way.

The franchise has also won numerous accolades, including the Price Waterhouse Coopers Franchise of the Year award in 2005, the National Retailers Association Supreme Award for Best Retailer in 2007, and the Franchise Council of Australia’s International Franchise Award in 2010. Read on below for some top tips from the Boost Juice Franchising model.

Boost’s founder Janine Allis intended to expand and franchise the business from the outset. Her franchising advice includes:

• Getting the right franchisees is as important as hiring the right employees. Without the right people on board, it can be hard to get started.
• The customer knows best – Janine is ‘110%’ customer-focused, and expects this same standard for all Boost stores.
• Know what your customers want – Janine conducts market research such as focus groups. Customers are also encouraged to provide honest feedback – not just the good stuff!
• Ensure all employees and franchisees are well-trained and good communicators, and are willing to be open and transparent.
• Spend time analysing your business so that you can see where problems are occurring and develop working systems to overcome them. Learn from your mistakes!

Tips from a former ‘Boostie’:

Elizabeth Gillam is an ex-franchisee of the Boost Juice system. As a presenter at the Boost Juice Fiji Conference in 2013, she gave out a number of tips for franchisee success, including:

• Love the brand – after all you are a reflection of it.
• Love your team – you be the one to establish the culture in your store. Be respectful, and firm but fair in relating to your team members.
• Be the best – don’t just expect others to excel. Make sure you are the best worker at the jobs in your business.
• Know your business well – this includes knowing what you want to achieve and by when, and how to go about it. In other words – set goals and plan steps for achieving them.
• Set KPIs – and analyse them. This includes knowing your sales per labour hour, your average transaction value, and your COGS.
• Use available technology – for example set up Google accounts, and sync your contacts and calendars, and make use of Apps.
• Use what works – for Elizabeth this included refreshing menus and pricing yearly, sourcing the best price for products, and designing shop fit-outs with current trends in mind.

Where to from here?

Franchising can be an excellent way to grow your business, but it does need to be done correctly. If you would like to know more about how to franchise your business, we offer a free 30-minute session where we have an in depth conversation about franchising your business, and help you determine if franchising is for you. We can even become your mentor and franchise consultant if you do decide to go ahead.

Thanks for reading,
The Franchise Institute Team
1300 855 435

The post Top Tips From The Boost Juice Franchising Model appeared first on Franchise Insitute.