Frequently asked questions

Franchisors tap into their years of experience to answer some of the most frequently asked questions by people looking at becoming franchise owners

How will the franchisor help me to establish the brand in my territory?

The level of support and training by franchisors tends to vary, therefore you should look for a franchisor who provides a comprehensive training and support programme prior to starting your franchise. The majority of franchisors will also assist you in your business launch and provide you with support in marketing and business development. While franchisors should generally provide you with some marketing materials, it is worthwhile looking at what marketing and business development support is available.

Some franchisors, such as ServiceMaster, have a marketing department and will help you to develop a marketing plan for your business. They will provide you with the latest marketing initiatives and organise activities centrally for national brand awareness, as well as suggesting activities you can do locally. Remember to monitor the results of your marketing campaigns to find out what works and doesn’t work for you to ensure you are maximising your spend.

Marcelle Ingrouille,
Head of Franchising at ServiceMaster Clean & Merry Maids

How will buying a franchise affect my work/life balance?

‘Knowledge is power’ and anyone looking into franchising should do their homework thoroughly before investing. You should not only talk to the franchise company themselves about hours of work, but you should also make sure you speak to current franchise owners and, ideally, spend some trial days out with them to find out what’s really involved.

For some new franchise owners it comes as an unwelcome shock that buying into a franchise doesn’t allow you unlimited holidays and lots of time off. Particularly in the current economic climate, running a franchise is like setting up any other new business – it requires a lot of hard work and dedication from the franchise owner.

Helen Taylor,
Marketing Manager at Snack-in-the-Box