by Rudolf A. Kotek
If you have to expand your area and add another store, do some preliminary demographic work and a franchising study. Ask your Franchisor to review it and call you to talk. You’ll definitely improve your chances of being approved. Also include a schedule of estimated increased income from royalties and purchases in your package to the Franchisor. Show them how you can help them. If you are in default of your Franchise Agreement, talk with your Franchisor. Develop a time line that you can live with to come back into compliance. Franchisors don’t want to terminate good Franchisees.
Think of the Franchisor as your coach and the other Franchisees as your teammates.
Remember: Team is an acronym
T E A M = Together Everyone Accomplishes More
Whenever you hear anything said about a fellow Franchisee, say positive things. As a matter of fact, no matter which Franchisee in mentioned, say something positive. On rare occasions you may hear something negative. Be sure to down play anything you hear that is negative about a fellow Franchisee. It is important for you to join at least one service club. It helps your business become part of the town. If your neighboring Franchisees belong to certain groups, you should belong to a group, which they do not. For instance, if one belongs to the Rotary you should join the Lions.
In the Philippines, Franchisors should join any of the Franchise Association: the PFA, Philippine Franchise Association, the AFFI, the Association of Filipino Franchisers, Inc.; or the most flexible one, FIFA, Filipino international Franchise Association (http://www.fifa.ph), which allows local and international Franchisors and even Franchisees to join. This writer is a founding member of FIFA and a member of the PFA.
It is important to call up and just say hi to your fellow Franchisees. It will remind them that you are always nearby. You can also talk about the worst customer of the week or the most ridiculous complaint of the year.
If a customer wants service outside your exclusive territory or it’s too far away to shop in your store, try to refer them to another Franchisee in your system. This will strengthen your company’s good will and name recognition. It will also make someone just like you very happy. I’m sure you’ll get referral customers in exchange.
When owning a franchise, you are in business for yourself, but not by yourself. Use this fact to your advantage. Use the resources of your Franchisor, your vendors, and your fellow Franchisees. Make your business great. And no matter what you do don’t ever give up. Communication is the first step. You’re going to do fine.
Rudolf Kotik is the founder of RK Franchise Consultancy Inc, which developed more than 350 Filipino Companies into Franchise Systems. Email: rk@rkfranchise.com; Websites: www.rkfranchise.com, www.franchise.ph
