| Buying the right franchise and then running it | | | | Hiring and firing employees |
| successfully go hand in hand. The major franchise | | | | Finding good employees who show up to work on |
| companies have a vested interest in seeing that a | | | | time, do their work with a minimum of mistakes |
| buyer connected with them does well and does | | | | and come to work drug free is the bane of most |
| not have to close the doors in failure.With this in | | | | owners of a franchise business. This is especially |
| mind, they will do every thing they can to help | | | | true in the fast food business. |
| the buyer end up running a successful franchise. | | | | What to look for when hiring potential employees? |
| Here are the key elements to running a | | | | If they have worked somewhere else, good |
| successful franchise. | | | | references are always a good sign. If they have |
| | | | not been employed before look at their high |
| Start with a successful franchiser | | | | school grades. Good students demonstrate two |
| When you buy a franchise and start with one | | | | things by their grades. They are willing to do the |
| that is uniformly successful with new franchises; | | | | work to get them and they have the ability to be |
| then you have increased the odds of being | | | | taught. There is nothing wrong with having smart |
| successful. They know the ropes and they teach | | | | people work for you. If they have real talent, |
| how to do it and what to do. They leave very | | | | promote them as soon as possible to more |
| little to chance or good business luck. With a | | | | responsible work. A good staff will make your job |
| detailed business plan and a willingness on your | | | | as owner and manager much easier to do. |
| part to follow it to the letter, you will be on the | | | | Another way to check out a young person is ask |
| road to success. Their plan will cover every | | | | for any letters of reference they may have from |
| aspect of running a franchise. They will teach you | | | | teachers, coaches or their church. A sincere letter |
| how to manage employees after you have hired | | | | of reference is a very good sign of good |
| them. You will learn about rewards and discipline. | | | | character. |
| They will show you efficient ways to keep your | | | | If an employee is failing at the job, have a |
| paper work so that it can be accomplished with | | | | meeting and let them know where they are failing |
| the least amount of time. You will be directed to | | | | and what they need to do to improve their |
| good suppliers and other business services that | | | | performance. It they correct the problem that |
| will serve the business well. If you have any | | | | should be the end of it. If they do not improve to |
| question they are a remarkably good source for | | | | the point you want, let them go and tell them |
| an answer as they have years of experience and | | | | why. Document every thing about this employee |
| they have probably solved the problem before. | | | | problem including the first meeting and any |
| So, give yourself a leg up and start out with a | | | | subsequent meetings. You may need it later if the |
| proven winner. You will more than likely get to | | | | employee tries to come after you for some |
| your profit range sooner than later. | | | | reason. Being able to prove what you discussed |
| | | | and why will go along way toward proving the |
| Follow their plan and ask lots of questions | | | | firing was justified. |
| They have already invented the wheel. You do | | | | |
| not have to do that again. Their plan has been | | | | Paper work |
| proven successful many times and any | | | | Paper work has bogged down more than one |
| corrections have already been made. It does not | | | | owner and caused problems that should have |
| hurt to ask questions so you can see the reasons | | | | never happened. The use of a computer is worth |
| behind their suggestions, which will help you, | | | | learning, as it will help to organize this least liked |
| understand with more depth. Getting to the basics | | | | activity for most business owners. If you can |
| of the plan will give you more faith in it. | | | | afford it, hire a person that does it for a living and |
| Understanding why they came up with a certain | | | | likes to do the work. This will help a great deal |
| solution to a problem or a potential problem is | | | | with what you have to do. There are certain |
| enlightening and will let you see how smart they | | | | reports that are mandatory for all businesses, like |
| are about the franchise business. Respect for | | | | employee payroll tax, sales tax and disability in |
| their knowledge will come with time as you see | | | | some states. These need to be accurate and |
| their solutions come to resolution. | | | | turned in on time. Bring in a professional and |
| | | | spend your time on marketing and other areas |
| Take advantage of any seminars and owner | | | | that you enjoy. Your business will be better off |
| meetings | | | | for it and you will be happier as the owner. |
| Take advantage of any seminars, training sessions | | | | |
| or owner meetings that come available. These | | | | Conclusions |
| can be gold mines of information and you will | | | | These areas just touch some of the basics that |
| meet other owners who have the same | | | | are needed to run a business in a successful way. |
| problems and have resolved them. Take | | | | There is the whole area of marketing and |
| advantage of a room filled with experience. Ask | | | | advertising to be considered. Listen to what the |
| questions and listen carefully to the answers. This | | | | franchisers suggest or offer in these areas. They |
| suggestion is particularly valuable when you first | | | | know what works and at least in the beginning |
| are in the business and every aspect of it is new | | | | you will be well served to listen to their advice. |
| to you. Later send your assistants to the | | | | Customer relations are an entire area for a |
| meetings and let them get educated. A | | | | seminar meeting. Handling of the customers who |
| well-trained staff should be the goal of any | | | | visit you business is critical to growth. Most |
| owner, as this will improve the overall | | | | businesses depend on repeat customers to grow. |
| performance of the business. Over time it will also | | | | How a customer is treated the first time they |
| let you have some free time, as you know the | | | | have dealings with your business could impress |
| business is in good hands. Reward your staff for | | | | them or sour them on doing future business with |
| doing their job well. A compliment given at the | | | | you. Customers respond to smiling, courteous, |
| right moment can do wonders for the morale of | | | | competent help. They do not like to deal with |
| an employee. Employees like to feel that the | | | | lazy, dolts who could care less. If you have such a |
| owner knows they are doing a good job. | | | | person working for you they should be the first |
| Complimenting on their work is very well received. | | | | person you let go. |
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