Setting up a franchise package - advice please!

paulwf

SarahLou wrote: »

Thanks again, paulwf. All very good points raised. From what I can see of the vast majority of other pet sitting type companies out there who offer franchises, they seem to be bringing in a lot of franchisees. (Which I was very surprised to see when I first considered this 12 months ago). I was baffled as to why people were paying to set themselves up under their various business trading names. Maybe they're all fibbing about having these fanchisees all over the country (but then when I've looked into them as individuals they do all seem kosher).

I enquired with the CRB people - I could get it done apparently if anyone registered as a franchisee. (Although I've never done it before so I'm not 100% sure on that one).

After having a look at the franchises out there it is quite simply unbelievable! They all seem to have the same theme with a clip art logo and generic website and promises of wonderful things such as personalised stationery, website listing, uniform and handbook.

Given that all their branding and marketing efforts at best seem poor and the benefits of low value (a few letterheads knocked up by Vistaprint and some free accountancy software really isn't that appealing) I think a lot of people have wasted a lot of money. Anybody with a week to spare and £500 could produce something better.

I suppose business logic says go for it, if people want to pay you the money then let them. If you actually create a recognised brand and do some marketing you'll be ahead of all the rest. To me it doesn't sound very sustainable though (most of the franchises seem very new), and I would worry as a franchisor about the business acumen of the franchisees you attract.

To me the ethical approach is to set up a consultancy where you offer a couple of days training and a handbook and a package with preferred suppliers of logo creation, websites, uniforms etc and let your customers set up their own businesses.

I'm just off to create something in clipart with the word "paw" or "pal" in it somewhere then set up a 4 day training course on how to walk a dog...

SarahLou

Hehe, I suppose thats where my logic failed me - I saw what others were doing and thought "why shouldn't I cash in on this too?" (as I'm sure you can appreciate!) From what you've seen now too, lots of people are doing it and indeed lots of people are paying them the big-bucks to set themselves up doing it too. Amazing really!