How a Franchise Agreement and a Franchise Disclosure Document differ
There are two documents that are of vital importance...
A home-based Canadian franchise is appealing to many people, especially those who want the most freedom and flexibility. There are, however, some unique challenges home-based franchisees face and some common mistakes to avoid so you don't end up bogged down by those potential obstacles to your success.
Lacking a space dedicated to work
It's really easy to get distracted in a work-from-home situation. The TV is right there, your kids are home from school or on vacation, and the dog just wants to play. To limit distractions and keep yourself focused, set up a workspace in your home that is solely dedicated to your business and off-limits to everyone else during your work hours. A home office is great, but if you don't have the ability to dedicate an entire room to your business, carve out a space for yourself in a low-traffic area of your home instead, and ask family members to respect your work hours.
Not defining work and home tasks
With a home-based franchise, you will be able to set your own schedule. However, it can be harder to do this when you have laundry to do and dishes to wash right in front of you.
When you work from home, it's important you set a clear schedule for work. Naturally, there may times when you have to deviate from that schedule, but it's better to at least have that plan in place.
Dressing for home and not work
Working from your home has a lot of benefits, and one of them is wearing what you want. However, part of getting into a "work" mindset is dressing as if you are going to work and not staying at home. You don't need to wear full business clothing, but you should consider wearing work-appropriate attire at home during work hours.
Believing meetings are not possible
You can still have meetings with vendors and anyone else for your business if you work at home. With a computer and the right software, you can have remote meetings in your home just like you would in an office. Make sure you are dressed professionally and are in your workspace for these meetings, and let your family know about them ahead of time so you are not interrupted.
Not taking advantage of the extra income
You save a lot in overhead costs when you work from home. There is no location rent or extra utility bills to pay, and there is normally less overhead than a separate physical location would have. Reinvest that money into your business to make it work even more for you.
Working from home can be a great option for some franchisees, but you must be prepared to create a workspace and focus on your business rather than what is going on in your house that day. Keep the mistakes above in mind as you set up your home-based franchise so you are positioned for success from the very beginning.
