Typically, franchisees are more likely to succeed than standalone businesses because franchises provide support and follow proven methods in their operations.
It is not easy to accurately measure the level of franchise failures when compared to solo entrepreneurship. Many variables can cause a business to close its doors.
However, knowing what these reasons are can help us reduce the chances of this occurring. In the franchising sector, weakness could occur within the franchisee-franchisor relationship, causing the business to fail. Sometimes failures also happen due to the following reasons:
Lack of Support and Training from the Franchisor – These aspects are crucial to the success of the franchising business. However, if the franchisor cannot provide steady support and appropriate training, it can contribute to failure. This makes it necessary for you to check what training protocols are in place so that you can hit the ground running in your venture.
Poorly Planned Franchise Models – When you meet with franchises, they will tell you that the model is sound. However, new businesses are more likely to experience failure compared to existing and well-established franchisor networks. This typically happens because their reliability in the long term has not been tested. It is also, why start-up franchise models are less expensive, and the risk is more significant.
Common Mistakes Most Franchisees Make
Franchisees sometimes make mistakes that contribute to the failure of their business. In some cases, they do not have the experience to run the operations well. Some other reasons include:
Inadequate working capital – You must understand your net worth before you dive into the franchising space. Every business needs working capital as a foundation. In the first few years, you need even more money to cover various expenses while building revenue.
Unsound Business Plan – This is one error you can avoid when you work with a good franchisor, but maintain realistic expectations and jot them down. When you have a solid business plan in place, include measurable goals and monitor them regularly. Your franchisor should also help you in this process so that your business can maintain a manageable trajectory.
Not Following Branding Methodologies – Every franchise must understand that running this business is about following free set methods. When you are part of a solid brand with a proven success rate, you must mould yourself to the company’s workings. If you resist the franchisor’s methods, it can result in a breach of contract and lost sales.
Being distracted while running your business – It isn’t uncommon for franchisees to borrow from their revenues to pay for things, which are not part of the business. Sometimes they also move away from the business when they feel that it is doing well. They believe that once things are in place, they would not need to supervise it as much as they did at the outset. However, this is a mistake. You need to be focused and constantly involved with the pulse of your business. Committed management and leadership are the only ways to ensure success.
Some Things To Do
While risk is part of all businesses, when you know where the weak spots are, you can mitigate the risks, increasing your business’s chances of success. Franchising can be a brilliant business move As Long As You:
Discuss your requirements with those who have some experience in the field.
Contact the franchisor and see how proactive they are with providing information.
Make it a point to meet with other franchisees within the network and get their inputs and feedback on how the brand operates.
Being well prepared is one of the best ways to avoid problems from cropping up down the track. Very importantly, you must be consistent, resilient, and attentive and focused while running your business. Regardless of the venture, these aspects are a constant and when you steer clear of the mistake mentioned above, you will be setting yourself up for a brighter future.
For more information, feel free to call the franchising experts at The Franchise Institute. You can call us on 1300 855 435 or fill in this contact form, and one of our experts will contact you as soon as possible.
Thanks for reading, The Franchise Institute Team 1300 855 435
