One of the primary benefits of opting for a franchise rather than going it alone is the expertise and support provided by your chosen franchisor.
Franchisors want to see their partners thrive and know how to make it happen. From helping get the initial business off the ground to offering ongoing training and guidance, a good franchisor will support individual franchisees in various ways throughout their journey.
What To Expect From a Franchisor
Exactly what to expect in terms of support will depend on the industry and the specific franchisor. However, while the particulars may vary, there are a few essential areas you can expect to be applied across different franchises.
Whatever the case, the responsibilities of the franchisor (and franchisee) will be laid out in the franchise agreement. The franchisor is obliged to provide the support stated in the agreement, so make sure you fully understand what’s included and whether it’s possible to negotiate what’s being provided.
What Help Does a Franchisor Provide to Franchisees?
You can usually expect a franchisor to give some form of help when it comes to:
- Site selection
- Site design and equipment specifications
- Corporate training
- Direction with products and supplies
- Operations and admin support
- Marketing and advertising
- Ongoing training and communication
1. Site Selection
Location is a key factor that will influence the performance of a franchise. The franchisor will have likely done extensive research into the locations with the most potential, so they will want to set up franchisees with the best possible start. This kind of insight can be invaluable to franchisees starting out in new industries, as they’ll be able to hone in on areas with high profitability and less competition with ease.
A franchisor may already have a list of pre-approved franchise locations, or they may work with individual franchisees to secure the optimum property. When a location is decided on, the franchisor may also offer support with lease negotiation to make the process far smoother.
2. Franchise Design & Equipment
Once the location has been secured, most franchisors will also offer plenty of direction with interior design, visual branding and the necessary equipment. Franchises thrive off of providing a consistent experience across units, especially in the food and drinks sector. This means creating a space that feels familiar and welcoming while also reflecting the identity of the brand.
A franchisor will long have established the most appropriate store design, so while some franchisees may be given the chance to put their personal stamp on things, the overall design style and ambience will be taken care of.
When it comes to fitting the space out with the right equipment and appliances, franchisors may advise on specific models or provide a list of recommendations and essentials before the franchise can get up and running.
3. Corporate Training
One thing all franchisors have in common is that they’ll provide some form of initial franchisee training. This might be a combination of classroom-style training and in-store instruction. Corporate training programmes like this ensure each franchisee is prepared to run their unit according to the franchisor’s standards and expectations.
Crucially, the franchisor will also typically provide ongoing training and additional modules beyond the initial program. This helps build a more proactive relationship between franchisees and franchisors, ensuring expertise is shared and developed.
Franchisees may also be given resources for training their management team and other members of staff to help build knowledgeable teams and increase employee satisfaction.
4. Products & Supplies
Franchisors will give guidance on the necessary stock and supplies required before opening. For food and drinks franchises, they’ll provide menus and recipes, again prioritising consistency across stores.
They may also help with securing favourable vendor contracts to ensure franchisees can continue stocking the best supplies. Franchisors will already have a good network of suppliers that franchisees can tap into, benefiting from the established relationships.
5. Operations & Admin Support
Running a franchise involves lots of moving parts, with the business side and people side of things needing to work in harmony.
Franchisors will provide support with general operational systems, making sure that the individual franchise can function properly and is equipped to work towards particular goals. With tried and tested processes in place, franchisees can be more confident in their journey to success.
Along with the day-to-day operations, franchisors may also offer help with administrative elements. This may mean providing accounting, technical and HR support to ensure all the background mechanisms are working to keep things running smoothly.
6. Marketing & Advertising
As part of a larger franchise network, franchisees will benefit from franchise-wide campaigns. Operating under a recognisable name and trademark already gives franchisees a head start, and with access to high-quality marketing materials, they are given a further boost.
Franchisees might be given in-store promotional material, support with social media marketing and the opportunity to reap the benefits of national advertisements. Franchisors may also provide marketing advice at a local level, helping franchisees develop their stores as individual hot spots in the community.
7. Ongoing Training & Communication
Once franchisees are properly set up and ready to tackle the everyday running of a business, franchisors may take a step back. However, they will still provide a direct line of communication and access to support when questions or concerns arise.
Good franchisors will take an active role in the ongoing training and development of their franchise partners. Franchisees may be invited to conferences or business coaching sessions to further drive their success and ensure they remain up-to-date on industry trends and standards.
What Support Does Esquires Coffee Provide?
As a leading coffee franchise in the UK, we’ve had plenty of experience working with franchisees to find the perfect balance of support and business freedom.
Our franchisees get the opportunity to develop a unique, independent-feel coffee shop while benefiting from support in the areas we’ve covered above.
To find out more about what to expect as an Esquires Coffee franchisee, see our guide below.
Please note that the exact particulars of the support provided will be outlined in your franchise agreement.
Ready to embark on your franchise journey? Start your Esquires application today.
