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For franchises that sell products online and ship them...
Expanding your business through franchising requires that you build a team of dedicated and passionate entrepreneurs who share your vision and are equally passionate about the success of your brand. Finding the right people can be challenging, however.
Allowing the wrong people to represent your brand can damage its identity and reputation and potentially impact you financially as well. For these reasons, it is essential to assess potential franchisees very carefully to ensure that you only select those with a high chance of helping your business prosper.
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Steps to establishing an effective franchisee network
There are three vital steps to establishing an effective franchise network: Carefully select the right people to represent your brand, be there for them every step of the way, and focus on quality rather than quantity to grow your brand.
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1. Be very selective.
Look for people who have experience in leadership and management and who ideally have some crossover with your particular industry sector. People who are experienced in sales or marketing can usually adapt well to franchising and should not be discounted, even if they do not have a sector-specific background.
Look into their character and find out why they wish to join your brand. Look for those that are passionate advocates of your brand and its products or services, who understand and share your ethos and vision, and who are prepared to go the extra mile to help you raise your brand's profile.
You will get a gut feeling about potential franchisees; be sure to trust it.
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2. Be there for them.
Once you've accepted a prospective franchisee, be there for them. Help them to get established, and offer advice, guidance and direction. Answer their questions and deal promptly with any issues they encounter.
By being there for your franchisees, you will earn their trust and loyalty and they will come to you with problems, allowing you to resolve them in a manner of your choosing rather than risking the franchisee making a move that later proves problematic for the brand.
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3. Quality over quantity.
It is better to focus on quality than quantity, so onboard fewer high-quality candidates rather than accepting a lot of people who you then cannot adequately support. Give them the time they need to establish their businesses and to get up to speed, provide training, and be prepared to spend time with each new recruit in person.
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By focusing on these three areas, you will stay true to your brand identity while expanding in a methodical way.
