Strong Franchisor- Franchisee Relationship
Building-up an effective franchisor-franchisee relationship is the key to most successful franchises, but it can get lost in all the other aspects of operating a franchise. We’re going to rough out exactly why your franchisee-franchisor relationship should be a major priority and share the best tips for creating a strong one from the ultimate team of Franchise Insider.
When you join a franchise, it means you’re entering into a mutually beneficial agreement. You’ll get the opportunity to get your own business off the ground and be your own boss, while your franchisor expands their brand across the nation and the world. But to get the most out of your franchising journey, it’s important that you can work well with the other party and that both parties stick to the conditions of the franchise agreement.
No matter if you’re a franchisee or franchisor, you’ll come to blows if you’re always butting heads with each other. The present blog enlists five reasons why a strong franchisor-franchisee relationship is so crucial, and how you can fix issues before they affect your business.
- You can resolve problems quickly
The franchisor-franchisee relationship is one of the most incredible business partnerships out there. In general, it will take the form of a mentor-mentee relationship or, if franchise partners are young or novice, a parent-child relationship. The franchisee will seek and require guidance and support from their franchisor, particularly at the beginning of the relationship, but will become more independent with the space of time.
The role of franchisor is to share their knowledge and help the franchise partner avoid absurd blunders. There will come a point of time when they need to accept that it’s time for franchisees to go it alone. However, by forging a strong relationship the right away and highlighting ways to access support, franchisees will feel confident enough to speak to their franchisor about problems before they escalate into a problem.
And from the perspective of franchisor, it’s going to be much easier to address any problems with a franchisee’s performance if you’ve got a harmonious relationship. You’ll be able to sit down for a productive, civil discussion, rather than a screaming match or one-sided conversation that achieves nothing.
- Good communication leading to clear expectations
When communication is poor, it can cause major issues on both sides. Franchisors may not be able to properly explain business strategies or mislead franchisees when discussing the responsibilities of each party. If the franchise partner doesn’t feel like they can talk to their franchisor, their satisfaction and success will get badly affected. In worst case scenarios, it can lead to a complete breakdown of the relationship and the loss of a potentially valuable franchise partner.
Just like any other kind of professional or personal bond, communication is one of the most important parts of the franchisor-franchisee relationship. Even if both parties are completely contented, a harmonious relationship will make it easy to communicate if the need arises. Make sure your relationship with franchise partners stays strong long after the initial training by keeping in touch regularly, via email and phone or video calls.
You can even arrange face-to-face visits once or twice a year from yourself or another member of the franchise support team. Irrespective of their structure, regular conversations will allow both parties to talk honestly about how the franchising journey is going. Franchise partners will not feel like they’re alone and franchisors will get valuable insight into the state of their network.
- Franchisees will feel respected and valued
Some franchisees might struggle in the initial phase on being told what to do, particularly if their primary reason for becoming a franchisee was to become their own boss. But the harmonious franchisee-franchisor relationships will make it clear that the respect is mutual, and that the franchisee is inevitable to the franchise’s success.
While it can be challenging to renounce control to the franchisor and follow strict rules, an efficient relationship shouldn’t make it feel like the franchisee is a lowly employee. Many franchisees are already successful businesspeople in their own right and have a great deal of experience in the industry. If the franchisor treats the relationship like a partnership and entrusts the franchisee to follow the terms of the agreement, both parties are going to be much happier, contented and willing to give their all to making the franchise a success.
Don’t try to put down your franchisees or micro-manage their every move. An overbearing franchisor will frustrate even the most patient franchisees and could ultimately lead to your relationship souring. Instead, set out clear guidelines in your franchise agreement and offer franchise packages to individuals/businesses that are worthy of trust and committed to honor your desires.
- Franchisees are more likely to succeed
Franchising lets you become your own boss, even if you don’t think you’re particularly entrepreneurial. And if franchisors devote a bit of time to forge a great relationship with franchisees, they could be surprised at how successful and ambitious their network can become. Many franchise partners just require a little encouragement to realize their full potential as a business owner.
It’s your job as a franchisor to inspire, lead and educate your franchise partners to get the most out of them. Apart from running their franchised business better, supported franchisees are more likely to look into expansion or to suggest ideas that improve your franchise as a whole. Yes, it can be time consuming to maintain franchisee relationships, but it’s an investment that will pay off for sure in the future.
- Your franchise will improve and evolve
When franchisees are listened, it also helps the franchisor to understand the business from another perspective. It gives them a worthy insight into areas of the business model that might need adjusting. As explained, an efficient franchisor-franchisee relationship is mutually beneficial, allowing the business to grow for the good of both parties. Sign franchise Signarama explains how a good franchisor-franchisee relationship can help with central research and development.
“In order to accumulate accurate data about industry trends, franchisors need to rely on their franchisees to communicate and provide relevant information. In turn, franchisee partners can rely on franchisors to provide reports that they can use to help to build their business.”
When a good relationship is built, it will make it easier for franchisees to offer their insight and opinion. If they don’t know or trust you or the franchise support team, they may be unwilling and hesitant to share their ideas. Leverage regular team events, conferences and causes for celebration to get to know your franchisees better and find out what their day-to-day view of your franchise is.
For any queries, feel free to contact Franchise Insider.
Franchise Insider is one of the leading franchise consultants working across the nation providing the best franchise opportunities to prospective and potential franchisees according to their skill sets and budgets. Interested in buying a franchise? Just fill up our Perfect Franchise Match Form, free of cost.
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