Before making that all-important decision to transition from an employee to a franchisee, you need to be 100% certain that this is the right step for you. The differences between being an employee and a franchisee are huge. Employees are not in charge of their workload and how much should be done, are required to work regularly unless on leave, and cannot refuse to work. But when becoming a franchisee, you’ll notice a massive difference. There is more flexibility, improved creativity, and plenty of other benefits, but also a lot more responsibility!
So, what checks do you need to make before transitioning?
- Are You Sure You’re Ready To Make The Transition?
The differences between being an employee and being a franchisee cannot be understated. That’s why you need to question whether or not you’re ready to make that all-important jump. Any doubts creeping into your mind have to be taken into account, and you need to really think about your motivations for becoming a franchisee, ensuring that they are realistic before committing.
When running a franchise, it will be a lot of work, and it can be high pressure at the start, but the benefits can far outweigh the negatives if you put the effort in and stay focused. To be a successful franchisee, you must be able to anticipate challenges, be prepared to adjust, not be afraid to learn, and have fun! Is this something you’re currently experiencing as an employee? If it’s finally time to move on after a number of years, then take the leap and never look back. You’ll definitely know when it’s time to make the transition.
- Do You Have The Required Finances?
It may be all well and good to think about transitioning from being an employee to a franchisee, but do you have the required finances to do so? Depending on the franchise you end up joining, there may be particular fees you have to pay in order to get started. It’s worth investigating the initial franchise fees and ensuring you understand what is included in the cost.
It is also important to understand the service fees. This is where you have to pay an ongoing fee, either weekly or monthly, to receive the licensing name for your particular franchise. Although these types of fees are easy to deal with, any upfront costs need to be considered first before finalising that transition. This could be a deal-breaker.
- Will The Change In Flexibility Really Benefit You?
One of the main reasons why people go from being an employee to being a franchisee is the difference in flexibility. As an employee, you don’t usually get to dictate when you start and finish work every day (although there are companies which do offer this). But as a franchisee, you get to be much more flexible with your everyday work routine.
With franchising, you have the ability to take back control of your time management to create a work-life balance that’s right for you and your family, but you do need to have some restraint and be sure that you do not tip the scales either way – working too much or too little.
- Do You Have The Skills & Expertise?
Franchisees need passion, a willingness to learn, good communication skills, leadership skills, to be a team player, and the financial acumen to run a franchise business successfully. Are these skills you have in your locker? It’s essential for you to be able to have a good understanding of how businesses operate. Lacking any of the above traits could work against you, and it is worth investing time in developing these before becoming a franchisee.
There’s no need to have previous experience in running a business or a deep knowledge of the industry your desired franchise focuses on. What is important is having good people skills, customer service skills, a very quick learning ability, organisational skills and a drive for success. Having these at your disposal improves your chance of becoming a successful franchisee.
- Are You Able To Follow The Rules That Are Being Set
Freedom and flexibility are two amazing benefits that come with being a franchisee. However, there are some ground rules that need to be followed at all times, which will be set out by the franchisor before you join the business. Typically, these have to do with the day-to-day running of your franchise business, ensuring consistency with all your fellow franchisees
At Jackson Fire and Security, for example, we have a number of steps you need to take before becoming a franchisee. Once completed, you will be ready to launch and run your very own fire and security business! As you’ll be representing Jackson Fire and Security officially, we’ll discuss how exactly things are run throughout the company so you can get a good understanding of how we operate!
Build Your Future With Jackson Fire!
Running a Jackson Fire and Security Franchise is made so much simpler thanks to our comprehensive business systems, manuals, and ongoing business/tech support! We’re passionate about helping our franchisees achieve their goals and are proud to have become a nationally-known brand offering fire and security systems support across the UK. If you would like to learn more about our franchise opportunities, then get in touch for more.
