05 May 08 Warning Signs When Buying A Franchise
Because investing in a franchise is a life-changing event, every prospective franchisee should thoroughly investigate a franchise opportunity before signing any sort of franchise agreement.
While there are multiple websites and books floating around that outline the steps that ought to be taken in the interests of due diligence, you should take a minute to review the "red flags" we’ve outlined below:
1) Is the franchise salesperson putting on the pressure? One of the traits of a good franchisor is that it wants to make sure there is a mutually good fit before "closing the sale." Should you find yourself being pressured into making a decision but feel like you haven’t been given adequate time to think everything through, don’t sign an agreement. Frankly, the franchisor wouldn’t be hounding you like that if the franchise opportunity were, in fact, spectacular or if there were, in fact, a long line of potential franchisees. What’s more likely in a pressure situation is that the franchise opportunity is not that spectacular, their line is not that long, and, conversely, they need your money in order to make their payroll.
2) Do the salesperson’s explanations not match up with what’s in the UFOC? Is the salesperson making promises and/or commitments above and beyond what’s written in the Uniform Franchise Offering Circular (UFOC)? If so, you should have the contract amended to include those promises. Remember: always get it in writing.
3) Has the franchise salesperson not followed through? Sometimes franchisors lead prospective franchisees through a bunch of hoops so they can better predict how the prospective will respond as franchisees. Just make sure that the franchisor keeps his word during this "courtship" period - if he doesn’t, you’d be wise to not jump into marriage!
4) What do existing and former franchisees have to say? There’s no better way to find out whether a franchisor has lived up to its promises and provided leadership to its franchise network than by conversing with current and former franchisees. Keep in mind that, while there are always those disgruntled franchisees that had unrealistic expectations to begin with, a large number of complaints among a set of franchisees signals a definite red flag.
5) Is there a history of litigation? Litigation is not, by definition, a bad thing - for instance, a good franchisor is willing to litigate in order to protect the brand in question. And there will always be a contingent of disgruntled franchisees that will blame the franchisor for their own shortcomings. However, excessive litigation is certainly a sign of trouble; if this is the case, dig deeper.
15 Apr 08 How Do You Survive Franchisor Bankruptcy?
It takes immense discipline and fortitude to survive a franchisor’s bankruptcy. It’s a good idea to have a plan to minimize any potential losses in revenue and reputation, just in case such an unfortunate circumstance arises. When armed with a plan, you’re more likely to avoid disaster and consequently keep your business afloat.
The following are tips designed to help you get through franchisor bankruptcy:
- Heed warning signs: Hear a rumor? Investigate it. You do not want to find out the hard way - i.e., through a third party like a customer or the paper - that the franchisor is bankrupt, since doing so can compromise your rights and interests. If someone murmurs "bankruptcy," be on the alert. The worst case scenario is that you determine that the rumor is no more than a rumor, and business resumes as usual. Some signs are very subtle, so pay attention. For example, if your franchisor is collecting advertising money from you but you don’t see any advertising happening, be on guard.
- Have a crisis communication plan: Make sure you have a public relations campaign that includes a crisis communication strategy - preferably, a strategy that includes several contingencies. For instance, if your franchisor goes bankrupt, the media and customers will be wondering if the business is in jeopardy. You want to be able to craft a quick response.
- Be sure to stay in touch with the local media: True, newspapers and media generally go straight to corporate headquarters for information - but don’t let that deter you from establishing your own relationships with writers, reporters, producers, and news directors. This way, you’ll be in a better position to field inquiries should disaster strike.
- Keep a list of alternative suppliers: Occasionally the initial problems occur with suppliers who may be nervous about getting paid. Moreover, if the franchisor can’t provide supplies, a franchise must look elsewhere. Develop a list of viable and trustworthy suppliers to prepare for a possible distributer catastrophe situation.
- Maintain a stash of supplies: Your franchisor declaring bankruptcy could very well leave you with an inadequate amount of supplies. By keeping a surplus of items you may need, you can avoid this scenario.
12 Feb 08 Is a Work at Home Job Profitable?
A work at home job is pretty much self explanatory; it’s a job where you work from the comfort of your own home. Thousands of people all over the world are seeking a work at home job that suits their particular circumstances.
Even before the World Wide Web opened its doors in the early 1990s, people were using Bulletin Boards and Usenet to market online with their own work at home job. The web made things a whole lot easier though, and over the years since the early beginnings, the many refinements have meant that having a work at home job can be child’s play.
However, not everyone can make it work. Some struggle for years and seem to get nowhere. They just can’t seem to find a workable plan to follow, or when they do, they can’t seem to make it work for them.
The work at home job market is extremely buoyant nevertheless. New offers and programs come out every week, vying with those already there in what has become a highly competitive marketplace. Unfortunately there is the dark side of the work at home job market too. Scams are commonplace, and many succumb to them and understandably they conclude that nothing works.
Scams are an unfortunate evil that follows any market where people are eager to buy. They prey on the vulnerable, the inexperienced and the gullible that are all hypnotized by the incredible claims of wealth and riches. In many cases, they cover their disappointment over the failure of one program by jumping straight into another one that is equally bad and destined to failure.
It’s not all doom and gloom of course. Good quality work at home job offers are plentiful. You just have to know where to look. Scams tend to be over hyped and incredible. The real work at home job tends to be dull by comparison, but believable. The scam often offers riches for little if any work, while the real thing will always require some dedicated work. There really is no such thing as a free lunch!
If you are seeking a good work at home job, be discerning and careful. Don’t rush in to the first good sounding offer you find. Check out everything you can as carefully as you can. Look for independent reviews, the kind that tells you the warts and all type of details. Don’t be too suspicious or you’ll never get anywhere, but take it slow and steady. You will find excellent work at home job offers with simple commonsense.
25 Jan 08 Build Wealth During A Failing Economy
With every visit to the grocery store, it has become quite obvious that the prices have gone up. The only thing that has not gone up is the amount of money we have to pay for all things we have to buy. pay. So what happens now? Well, its pretty simple. We buy the things we have to have and just dream about the things we want. Its really sad that we have to hang onto every penny we have because we don’t know what tomorrow will bring.Well, tomorrow is a new day! This means that we can start living life to its fullest and stop the constant struggle. Believe it or not, that can be a reality. There are ways to make money that won’t cost you a thing to get started. I am referring to work at home opportunities. They are a great way to make some extra cash and possibly even double or triple your income, but you must be cautious. Know what you are getting into and be serious about it. There is money to be made and who better than you to make it. Having extra cash will sure make life a lot smoother.Here are some tips to help you choose the right program.
First of all, do not fork over your hard earned money to a work at home scam. Unless you win the lottery, you are not going to be rich overnight. If a program offers that, they are liars! The whole purpose to a work at home opportunity is to make you money, but you have to do some work. If the program says you won’t have to do any work, they are also liars. There is always some work involved. How hard you work is up to you. If you are really serious, you will work hard and it will pay off.
Second, know what some of the most popular scams are, so you can avoid wasting your time reading their pitches.Many of these are quickly identified with an internet search. Just type in "work at home scams" and you will have a huge list of things to avoid. Be smart, write these down. Many of these will probably look really appealing right now, but they are just not worth the risk. Some of them may actually be for real, but just way too time consuming. You can literally spend hundreds or even thousands trying to figure this out.
Third, A good way to tell if a program is legitimate is to look at what they offer. If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Also look for a contact name and number. Most of the time a legitimate offer will have a way to contact them. If you have a question, ask them. A legitimate business opportunity will have people available who are more than willing to answer any question that you may have.
Fourth, research, research, research! This is very important. Find an idea, topic or business that interests you and research the heck out of it. Find out all you can about it. Take into account every positive and negative thing that is said. If the positive outweigh the negative my at least 3/4 you are probably making a wise decision.
Fifth, do something you are interested in. If you are not interested in it, you will not stick with it. It will also make it more fun than work if you have an interest in what you are doing.
Fifth, consider affiliate marketing. There are many sites you can market other peoples products and make a hefty profit, usually 55-70% of the selling price. You can choose the product or products that interest you and you don’t have to spend a dime to get started. It just takes a little time on your part for the marketing side of it.This is also really easy to learn. I’ll give you a website for that later.
23 Jan 08 Sales Manager Coaching
If you’re not satisfied with your sales status looks to the coach of your team - your sales managers. Here’s a way to check how good they are.
First, does your sales manager know where his/her sales will come from by account, by product / service for 2008? Or is it about, “Here is my number, let’s go out there and sell, sell, sell.” Ask each one to explain where the sales for 2008 will come from.
Second, does your sales manager know how to motivate each of his/her people? Yes, the key is money, but money goes to the family. Money is about survival but, what really gets the sales person going? See if your sales manager can answer this question about his people.
Third, does your sales manager coach and mentor. Coaching is telling his people what to do, i.e. get to the ultimate decision maker. Mentoring is showing them how to do it, i.e. show how to use your main contact to network you to the ultimate decision maker.
This requires discussing sales call plans and pursuit strategies. Then making calls together - not for the sales manager to sell, but to observe, give feedback and lay-out a behavior modification plan. How often does your manager do this with each sales person?
Fourth, does your sales manager turn-over and recruit effectively and timely? In other words does he purge the bottom 10% each year and constantly seek new recruits. Most managers are reactive. When someone leaves, they then seek a replacement. Unfortunately, because of 1-3 above, the better people (maybe not the best) leave and then the manager starts recruiting. This leaves you with the poorer performers and the new hire becomes whatever was available.
Like a college football coach, your sales manager must be good at recruiting good talent and then showing this raw talent what to do and how to do it. Don’t ever get sucked into the “experienced sales person”. Experience only means someone has been doing it before. It says nothing about how good one is, especially selling your products and services. That’s where the coaching and mentoring becomes critical. As in football and all sports, coaching and practice is critical and ongoing.
20 Jan 08 How to Manage Motivation and Performance
The relationship between motivation and performance is often mentioned, but not many organizations, efforts to study in detail, and ends up in the cul-de-sac, instead of the decision, on the basis of the findings and instigators.
Manager believe that the motivation of students is just psyching employee to give excellent performance. It is not greater than the old method of continuous monitoring, after a time that is no longer a worker is very pleased with the prep talk about the carrot dangling for histrionics or strengthen incentives, such as the organization makes the World to their future career.
The tools for measuring the relationship is also rudimentary, most organizations believe their strategies motivation to work when there are fewer dis-satisfaction of employees and a high turnover rate.
19 Jan 08 Social Franchises
In recent years, the idea of the franchise has been picked up by companies in the sector of social welfare, the hope of achieving simplification and acceleration of the process of creation of new businesses. A number of business ideas which, like soap, the whole food, retailing, the aquarium, the maintenance and operation of the hotel, were found to be appropriate for taking account of social concerns of enterprises employing people with disabilities and disadvantaged people. The best example is probably the CAP Markets, a chain growing neighbourhood on the order of 50 supermarkets in Germany. Other examples are the St. Mary’s Place Hotel, Edinburgh and the Hotel Tritone in Trieste.
The franchiser community offers enormous opportunities for non-profit organizations for the production of income, and the full realization of the objectives of the mission. Some officers skilled work exclusively with non-profit organizations to develop strategic relationships with franchise partners, and negotiate favourable contracts (franchise, rent, lease, etc.). Furthermore, initiate and develop social franchising businesses .
In “social franchise”, the system can volunteer for technical institutions re-modelling more independent and efficient in order to increase the number of institutions, perhaps aided.
The idea of the social aims efficiency and safety methods for replication of all persons in connection with the project CASA CRIAN DA? A similar initiatives to coordinate and their cities.
Thanks to the commitment of Advertising Agencies (in conjunction with the preparation and execution of the announcement on the project) and the help of the mass media, we vehicles capable of disseminating the CASA DA CRIAN Project? A and its partners, sponsors and businesses, products throughout the territory of gifts.
As a result, more and more people have found the possibility of aid agencies in their home town and benefits, as well as for the recognition of their professional skills.
In addition, we are looking for sponsors for a maintenance program called Cia dos Anjos. The programme would be in the formation and maintenance of equipment, hence the project CASA CRIAN DA? Acted, and that the government has no administration, and resource requirements.
16 Jan 08 Choosing Small Business Software
Maybe you the best and the detailed business plan, but unless you have the right software for small business, your business is the lack of profitability and productivity.
Take the example of accounting. Try to you and to all of your accounts and records in hand, and you know, as long job can be. I am not saying that it can not be done. Only in this way that we will succeed in time and requires a lot of discipline.
Contrary to what most people believe, accounting software is not difficult to use. It is also economical. So why should not small businesses in your accounting software?
I heard all kinds of answers to this question. Some say it is too small to choose confusion business software. Others say they do not want investment in staff training on how to use the software.
12 Jan 08 No One Is Listening Anyway
Anything to do with your employment is political anyway and if you have been selected to make a presentation at a sales meeting you can bet your bottom dollar that it is not intended to make you look good it is intended to make the sales manager or one of his pets look good. And remember, by the time you have arrived at the podium every one else from the Managing Direct to the sales manager has done their bit and everyone is waiting to get to the bar so no one is listening anyway.
They say keep it short and start with a joke if you were the star act and being paid several million for the finally then you might just attract someone’s attention. Remember, you are the butt of the joke it was intended that you be embarrassed as you struggle to be heard over several hundred raised voices preparing to leave the room if many of them have not done so already. There are a couple of your colleagues who have been seeded with questions intended to embarrass you so any attempt at making a serious presentation is doomed to fail.
Keeping in mind that no one is listening anyway, that is until you are bushwhacked, start by taking control and asking the sales manager if he would have the decency to stop talking whilst you are making your presentation. Get the mob on your side: The sales manager started this conference with two jokes, he mentioned the commission structure and next years targets I am going to end the conference with one joke and ask the sales manger to close the conference.
12 Jan 08 Improved Business With Communication Skills
Communication is an attempt, the influence of someone with an idea to do or avoid, today, something to do, or at a later date. They may be direct or implied, you can use your message in several ways. Their effectiveness in both open and hidden forms of communication goes a long way in improving your personal and professional success.
Research has shown that 60 percent of One-to-One, the communication is implicit. Your body language is responsible for a large part of that percentage, in a constant flow of voluntary and involuntary, signals, you can learn how to increase your efficiency. Thanks to the improvement of this profession, to the extent of the influence on people and adjust your communication style in their body language. Your Handshake alone speaks volumes about the kind of person that you have to face. This advance is preparing to more effectively manage the maintenance.
The hardest part is the language of communication. I hope that you must overcome this obstacle, like a child who has at least a basic level. When it comes to improving your language skills, it is just one more step in a world of mass communication.
The stage makes a difference. Just as the World Cup is only a few seconds faster than the rest of the box, these are gifts from major professional communicators and intimacy. These people have a few technical unknown dominated their opponents.
You can always others to say YES. More Yes, you have, the more you will be more successful and a more positive attitude of people, customers and business partners in small businesses.
