Women celebrate their Franchising success
Women celebrate their franchising success
We all love a business success story and in this case there are five of them to celebrate.
Carolyn Dufton principal of franchisingplus consultancy knows a thing or two about franchising. She started the hugely successful Hire for Baby back in 1988, sold it on to one of her franchisees and now consults back to the current Franchisors who boast over 90 franchises Australia wide.
Carolyn has a history of working with successful women but even she is amazed at the number of women who have taken the mammoth leap of franchising their businesses.
“ My last six franchise development clients have all been women and they’re all saying the same thing. They have so much business that they can’t handle it themselves and want to share their great businesses through franchising”.
Dufton predicts that there is at least one 2014 Telstra Businesswoman of the year in her current exciting crop of franchises.
The choice of franchises on offer is diverse. The common denominator is females and mothers with impressive business experience.
Blush Brides is a Bridal Hair and Makeup business headed up by Kim Mc Gann. Kim has fast built a reputation as a Bridal Beauty Expert with her work, and the work of The Blush Brides team, gracing the pages of many bridal magazines and women’s national selling magazines.
Kim is keen to recruit skilled makeup artists or hair stylists to help service their many NSW clients and grow the brand nationally.
Melissa Sanders partner of IC Print and Design already has four national franchises on board and is aiming to expand the franchise further in 2013. This franchise is home based and a flexible business making it perfect for a family focussed individual or couple. Full training is provided.
Dawna Leung had potential franchisees queuing up for an All Language Stars (ALS) franchise before the paperwork was finalised. Within a month of franchise documentation being completed four franchisees were signed up and ready for training. Mandarin is one of the many languages taught by ALS. Franchisees do not need to teach a language themselves and can run a language school with full training and ongoing support provided.
Something Fabulous creates wedding invitations and stationery and is currently interviewing for their first franchisee. This business is headed up by
Lynn Crow an accomplished business woman with marketing and Public relations expertise, a great support for any franchisee in this system.
All of these franchises offer flexible working conditions and will appeal to women and men seeking accommodating business and lifestyle choices.
Franchising and trademarks
The importance of brand protection for franchises – don’t forget taglines as well!
It is a plain fact that the attraction of a franchise is to take advantage of a set of a well-established system and brands that are proven to work.
From a franchisor’s perspective, it is therefore crucial to ensure that they own and protect all intellectual property relating to their business, whether in the form of trade marks, copyright, patents or designs.
Contrary to popular belief, the law does not protect ideas or concepts per se.
However, it does offer protection for the expression of those ideas. For example, you cannot protect the idea of having a cupcake chain, but you can protect the specific images and logos used for that chain.
The menus and the wording of any marketing materials are also protected under copyright laws (as “literary works”). Continue reading
Franchising tip of the week
If you’re looking to buy a franchise use your head not your heart. The decision should be a business decision not an emotional one. It’s great to be in love with your business providing it’s a marriage commitment and not a quick love affair that will end in tears.
© franchisingplus
Author ; Carolyn Dufton Dip.Bus(franchising)
Carolyn is the principal of franchisingplus. franchisingplus is a franchising consultancy advising and mentoring on all aspects of franchising on a national and international basis.
The content displayed is franchisingplus copyright and can only be reproduced or re-published with the acknowledgement of the author Carolyn Dufton. www.franchisingplus.com.au/contact/
As a Franchisor could you be sued?
Reading the court case transcript was a reminder for me as to how easy it is for
intitial discussion between Franchisor and franchisee to be misleading.
In summary, incase you don’t have time or the inclination to read the transcript;
A franchisee couple has been awarded $1.22 million in damages after a successful appeal against franchisor Billy Baxter’s™
The franchisor’s representative, advised the franchise prospects that he anticipated a turnover for the business of $1.3 million, and suggested that the turnover would allow the business to pay the rent and return a profit.
These representations – made during the course of negotiations for the site at Glenelg – drew comparisons with an existing Billy Baxter’s™ outlet in Norwood, another Adelaide suburb.
However, the Glenelg franchise suffered losses, which meant the franchisees were unable to pay the fees due under the franchise agreement. They then terminated the franchise agreement.
The original judgment found in favour of the franchisor, however, a Victorian Supreme Court of Appeal decision has found there were no reasonable grounds for The Franchisor’s representative to make the representations regarding turnover and has awarded the damages payout to the franchisee.
To read the full court transcript click here Billy Baxter Franchising Case
© franchisingplus
Author ; Carolyn Dufton Dip.Bus(franchising)
Carolyn is the principal of franchisingplus. franchisingplus is a franchising consultancy advising and mentoring on all aspects of franchising on a national and international basis.
The content displayed is franchisingplus copyright and can only be reproduced or re-published with the acknowledgement of the author Carolyn Dufton. www.franchisingplus.com.au/contact/
Franchising should be fun!
If franchising is not fun, as a franchisee or a franchisor, identify why not – and then do something about it. 
Today I attended a networking breakfast.
I’ve never met with this group of people before.
As we went around the room and introduced ourselves, I realised that out of 18 attendees the room contained 5 franchisees.
Taking every opportunity available to talk to franchising colleagues, I seized the moment to ask a few of the franchisees about their franchise systems and their individual businesses.
It was heartening to speak to franchisees who loved their businesses and were thriving on the camaraderie that existed in their franchises.
One lady explained that their 2012 annual conference was in Thailand and that all the franchisees were thrilled and excited to be attending this “get together”. She went on to say that the attendance rate to this conference was 80%. Regional meetings were always well attended and eagerly anticipated.
This Franchisor and the franchisees need applauding!
So what happens when franchisees are not having fun? Continue reading
Franchising tip of the week
If you are unsure about whether your business should technically be classified as a franchise or you think you may be treading a thin line, seek expert advice now.
Many businesses are wary of franchising their business and describe their business model as a licence arrangement, a distributorship or an agency. The benefits of franchising are many as are the penalties for not behaving as a franchise if your system suggests this.
Seek sound advice now before The ACCC come and seek you first! It may only be a matter of time.
© franchisingplus
Author ; Carolyn Dufton Dip.Bus(franchising)
Carolyn is the principal of franchisingplus. franchisingplus is a franchising consultancy advising and mentoring on all aspects of franchising on a national and international basis.
The content displayed is franchisingplus copyright and can only be reproduced or re-published with the acknowledgement of the author Carolyn Dufton. www.franchisingplus.com.au/contact/
Franchising tip of the week
Your business does not have to be perfect to be franchised.
No business can ever be perfect or have systems that will not need to be adapted at some time.
Don’t waste a current franchising opportunity by waiting for your business to be perfect.
© franchisingplus
Author ; Carolyn Dufton Dip.Bus(franchising)
Carolyn is the principal of franchisingplus. franchisingplus is a franchising consultancy advising and mentoring on all aspects of franchising on a national and international basis.
The content displayed is franchisingplus copyright and can only be reproduced or re-published with the acknowledgement of the author Carolyn Dufton. www.franchisingplus.com.au/contact/
Procrastination doesn’t grow a business
As a franchising consultant I come across a lot of procrastinating business
owners.
So how does procrastination affect a business?
Can procrastinating be a good thing?
What does it actually mean?
The dictionary states that it is a deferring of action. Delaying something needlessly.
If those definitions were applied to business growth few business owners would consider procrastination to benefit their business nor be a good thing.
There is a huge difference between research, fact finding, due diligence versus procrastination. The fore mentioned words are essential in any business planning or decision making, whereas;
procrastination is purely an avoidance of action.
So let’s consider the opposite to procrastination. Well, there doesn’t seem to be one word that fits the bill.
I have looked at websites that suggest the following opposites;
- Action taker
- Decisive
- Pro-active
- Go –getter
These words resonate with me much more.
These are the sorts of business owners that I love to work with.
When dealing with a crucial business decision they undertake their fact finding, research and due diligence. In the case of deciding whether franchising is suitable for their business they undertake a franchising feasibility study with franchisingplus which provides financial information and an objective report on the reality of franchising.
Once armed with all the facts and information they need to make a decision, they proceed to franchising their business almost immediately OR they recognise that the business is not ready for franchising and follow the recommendations in the feasibility report.
Either way, these business owners have not procrastinated about undertaking a franchise feasibility study, they have taken action in their business which will allow them to grow profitably and effectively.
Meanwhile the procrastinators sit and watch the grass grow……………….
© franchisingplus
Author ; Carolyn Dufton Dip.Bus(franchising)
Carolyn is the principal of franchisingplus. franchisingplus is a franchising consultancy advising and mentoring on all aspects of franchising on a national and international basis.
The content displayed is franchisingplus copyright and can only be reproduced or re-published with the acknowledgement of the author Carolyn Dufton. www.franchisingplus.com.au/contact/
To grow or not to grow? That is the question.
Franchise growth and expansion emerged as one of the biggest areas
of concern, according to the surveys we received back from Franchisors earlier in 2009.
The question is, do Franchisors really have a choice as to whether or not they should grow their franchise network ?
Let us consider;
- How will a potential Franchisee view your network if you have not sold any new franchises in the last year?
This could be seen as being a more high risk venture for them. It could suggest that you are not serious about your role as a Franchisor looking to grow the business for the benefit of all.
- How do existing franchisees perceive a stagnation in growth and expansion? Could they feel more vulnerable and feel that the Franchisor is losing sight of the big picture?
- Ask yourself, why aren’t you selling more franchises?
Is it a deliberate strategy? Are you consolidating? If so, let your franchisees know that this non expansion is only temporary and keep them informed of your franchise growth plans so they’re not left guessing.
- Is there a ”right” number for annual expansion plans?
Although there is no right number, the best expansion policy is gradual and consistent so as not to overwhelm the Franchisor and burdon the infrastructure. The larger the system and managment infrastructure the greater the capacity there is for expansion.
- Franchisors need “new blood” in their system. It’s good for the business. BUT it is vital that Franchisors do not compromise in their new franchisee recruitment process.
Franchisees must meet the necessary criteria to ensure a continuing high standard of franchise and alignment to the current system and people.
Professional advice should be sought to assist with the growth strategy.
© franchisingplus
Author ; Carolyn Dufton Dip.Bus(franchising)
Carolyn is the principal of franchisingplus. franchisingplus is a franchising consultancy advising and mentoring on all aspects of franchising on a national and international basis.
The content displayed is franchisingplus copyright and can only be reproduced or re-published with the acknowledgement of the author Carolyn Dufton. www.franchisingplus.com.au/contact/
Annual Disclosure Document update
If you have not already updated your 2011 Disclosure Document and 
your financial year end was 30 June you are in breach of the Franchising code of Australia.
Under section 6 of the Code, franchisors must update their whole Disclosure Document within 4 months of the end of the financial year, which for most franchise systems is 31 October 2011.
Key points to remember are:
Any franchisee entering into an agreement after 31 October 2011, whether it be as a result of the grant of a new franchise, a resale, a renewal or just as a result of parties entering into an agreement that varies a prior franchise agreement; must have been given the current franchise documentation i.e. updated to at least 1 July 2011, at least 14 days prior to the signing of such documents.
Existing franchisees have the right to request, once every 12 months, that a current Disclosure Document be provided to them. This demand must be met within 14 days of their demand.
The ACCC can as part of their audit powers require a copy of the past and current Disclosure Document and related franchise materials at any time, and franchisors must generally comply within 21 days.
Disclosure Document review
It is recommended that the whole disclosure document should be reviewed with relevant sections updated as required, but pay particular attention to: Continue reading
