Naz Daud - Owner, CityLocal

As a franchise business, your competitors are just that: competitors. However, the way you treat your competitors may affect how your customers and the media perceive your business, your ethics, and your friendliness. For those reasons, and more, it’s important that you carefully consider how you act with your competitors. It is possible to have a good relationship with competing businesses while limiting the impact they will have on your business success. When customers see you treating your competitors fairly, they will have more respect for you.

Congratulate Their Success

When a competing business does something well, you should be prepared to say so. If for example, a competing franchise business has managed to gain greater traction than you, then you  should point out that they have done really well, and are a good business, while also pointing out the advantages your business is able to offer that your competitors cannot. This is a good demonstration of the strong beliefs you have for your business, and will certainly leave a positive impression. At the same time look at ways of overtaking your competitor in all areas!

Recommend Business Their Way

If you and your competitors are able to cater for different categories of customers, then why not recommend them when you can’t offer the required service to a certain customer? This will make you look good in both your customers and competitors eyes, and they might also be able to do the same for you in return. In the end, both of you will hopefully end up with more business as a result.

Sales & Marketing Strategies

When it comes to sales and marketing, it can be tempting to point out the negative aspects of your competitors. And, in some cases, it may be an essential part of closing the sale. However, rather than criticising your competitor, why not mention both positive and negative points of their service? Such as: “Yes, you are correct, Company A is able to offer lower pricing than we can. For customers that are more price sensitive, and that 100% up-time isn’t essential, they can be a great solution. We cater for more IT-dependant organisations and employ 3 times as many engineers per customer. Company A also use an overseas call-centre, which is a great way to keep costs down, and provide a more efficient service, but we prefer to assign each customer a dedicated account manager to provide better service.”

However, on some occasions your competitors may not provide a good service. In this case, you should be as polite and tactful about your competitors as possible. Rather than voicing your own opinions, you should cite sources, such as articles and media coverage that make your point for you. After pointing out any negative issues, you might also wish to explain how your company responds to the same problems. This will show a certain level of objectivity on your part and will demonstrate that your franchise business has strong ethics and is willing to  appreciate your competitors’ problems.

Don’t Bite

When a competitor speaks negatively about your business, it can be hard to know what to do. Especially when you want to ensure your franchise business appears to be friendly and considerate of others. Although it’s important to respond to any issues in an articulate way, you should avoid getting involved in any tit-for-tat. This will help your business stand out from the crowd.

Naz Daud is the founder of CityLocal. This Franchise Opportunity is for people who would like to work from home and be their own boss – Read more about the CityLocal Franchise Opportunity.

Naz Daud - Owner, CityLocal

Many dream of foregoing their office jobs for one where they can telecommute. Those whose office is located a few steps from their bedroom save the time and fuel wasted in a daily drive to and from the office. Many parents also like to work from home to be closer to their children. Working from home, whether it be a franchise business or traditional self-employment, is also perfect for those who hate to dress in a shirt and tie everyday to report to an office. The decision to work from ones house needs to be carefully weighed, since it is not a viable option for some. With a few tips and ideas in mind, though, almost anyone can alter their environment to be better able to base ones business at home, and this will save money and time on commutes while spending more time with ones family.

Staying Focussed

One of the largest problems with a working from home business or franchise is staying on task. Many people find it difficult to concentrate on their work, especially if they have young children or pets in the house who constantly need attention. The fewer distractions one has, the easier it will be to remain motivated while working from home. It is important that one has a clearly defined office space. When the home office worker is in this area, the family should know to not disturb him. Some have enough space in their homes to devote a spare room to a home office. This is ideal, since the door can be closed against any distractions. Others have to use a corner of a room in which to locate their desk, computer, and other home office needs. If this is the case, one trick to encourage family members to leave one be would be to wear “work clothes”. This can be anything from a specific hat to a shirt and tie. Wearing these clothing will let others know that the person is “at work” and is not to be disturbed. Some find that dressing in business attire even when working out of the house helps to put them into the mindset for work.

Working Hours

Another good method to stay motivated while working from home is to have “office hours”. These might be from 9 am to 5 pm like in a regular office, or they might be from 9 pm to 5 am if one is a night owl. Whatever these hours are, one needs to closely adhere to them. This will let one specify time for work and time for play. During the working hours, one needs to devote oneself to working in the home office and doing nothing else. One method some use is to pretend that they have a boss looking over their shoulder while “on the clock”. If one has difficulty sticking to a schedule, signing a time card daily might help to establish a routine. Once accustomed to working those hours, writing down ones working times can be abandoned. A written record also helps one to review habits over the past month.

Take a Break

Just as having a specific schedule is important, so is knowing when to stop. Some people want to work past their scheduled time. While this might be profitable, it takes away time which might be spent with friends and family. Part of working away from a traditional office building is to balance ones work with fun. In order to prevent burnout and stay interested, it is important to know when to have fun.

Following these tips can help one to stay focused and motivated while running a work from home franchise or business.

Naz Daud is the founder of CityLocal. This Franchise Opportunity is for people who would like to work from home and be their own boss – Read more about the CityLocal Franchise Opportunity.

Naz Daud - Owner, CityLocal

How confident are you when the time comes to close the sale? One of the most consequential factors at play that can contribute to a successful closing (and possibly understanding when you should move on) has to be the leverage
and confidence you posses when going into a sale. Apply the following information to your franchise business effectively and you will be able to build both your confidence and leverage:

Stop emotional attachments when they are clouding your vision

Emotional attachments can reek of desperation whether focused on the ego, the money or the time invested into your sales process. And anyway, many prospects see right through the desperation or need for a quick sale and can even sense that your pitch is now more focused on getting a deal done than it is about the solutions and value you can offer. You need to be able to close the sale with a greater sense of confidence. This, in turn, should eliminate bad deals  altogether from your franchise business.

Manage your pipeline

You need to manage all of your accounts over the entire sales process using an account profile management system (a corkboard will suffice) to post prospect information on as they progress through sales cycle stages. This is a great way to visually follow your sales activity. There are software programs that do the same thing; however, seeing your writing and notations up on your wall is a constant reminder to work harder to make your franchise business succeed. Engaging yourself in activity’s which move you through your sales cycle will give you the power to either close a sale or walk away confidently.

Formulate your value statement

You need to believe in your mission, the products you market through your franchise business, and understand what benefits your customers receiving. And the term, “Value statement” denotes the fact that you need to have a very enthusiastic and confident belief in whatever you are selling. A lot of it can come from the positive results experienced by your clients.

Possess a very stout history and track record

Amassing an impressive track record full of positive testimonials and results is priceless. For your closing ratios to increase, you should be focused on all of the great results that your franchise business can provide to your customers. Ask your prospects what they want to do with your services or products once they are in possession of them. Understand what their specified objectives are and then over deliver those objectives. Because in the future when you need help closing a deal, you can contact these satisfied customers who will gladly help you out.

As so many of us are already keenly aware of, losing a deal that you have put your heart and soul into can be quite demoralizing. Maybe your business activity was lacking or the qualifying questions were lacking something, etc. Whatever your situation is, effectively utilizing the tips in his article will allow you to close more deals with ease and waste a lot less of your precious time. And we all know that time is money!

Naz Daud is the founder of CityLocal. This Franchise Opportunity is for people who would like to work from home and be their own boss – Read more about the CityLocal Franchise Opportunity.

Naz Daud - Owner, CityLocal

Being a successful salesperson isn’t a talent that you are born with. Some people may have the right instincts and personality traits to potentially be good salespeople, but success still depends on learning and putting into practice the right selling techniques. One of the biggest roadblocks to success in business franchise sales is customer  objections. When you are not prepared to deal with them, your prospects for successful sales are bleak. If you take the time to learn positive ways of dealing with and overcoming objections, however, you will see obvious financial benefits.

Let’s say that you have a franchise business selling a certain brand of office furniture. You set up an appointment with and then visit a business owner. Your goal is getting him to replace the office furniture he has with what you are selling. You make your presentation to the customer, laying out in detail the benefits of buying and using your office furniture. The business owner’s first response is that he is happy with the furniture that he has, and none of his employees have ever complained. Almost before he finishes saying this, you jump into how the furniture he has now could actually be physically detrimental to his employees. You tell him that he should replace it with the furniture that you are selling if he cares about the people who work for him. You walk out of there without a sale.

In a slightly different scenario, you make your sales pitch to the business owner, detailing positive facts about your office furniture and why it would be beneficial to him and his employees. He tells you that he and his employees are happy with the office furniture that they have and don’t see any reason to spend money on different furniture. You listen intently to his objection. You ask him to clarify what it is that he and his employees like
about the furniture they are using now. You tell him that you can see why he feels the way he does. You go on to explain that a lot of your customers felt that way at first, but when they bought your furniture they found that
there was a significant increase in comfort and decrease in employee injury. You get the sale.

In the second example of dealing with the customer objection, you show that you are truly listening and not simply thinking about the next thing that you’re going to say. You acknowledge his feelings and empathize with them. You ask him to clarify something to show that you want to make sure that you understand what he’s trying to say. You give him examples of others that have felt the same way, and then you go on to show why other customers ended up preferring your office furniture over what they used before. You can see the difference between this kind of positive interaction and respect for the customer’s feelings, and the negative approach in the first example.

When overcoming objections, customers should always be treated with respect, and their feelings should be taken into consideration. When you think of your customers as people and not potential sales, you are leveling the
playing field and creating a positive atmosphere for successful selling.

Naz Daud is the founder of CityLocal. This Franchise Opportunity is for people who would like to work from home and be their own boss – Read more about the CityLocal Franchise Opportunity.

Naz Daud - Owner, CityLocal

There is always risk involved when you are buying a franchise. It does not mean that if the franchiser is well known, you will also be successful. This is the reason why you have to look into several factors before investing. Think of it as an investment that you can make some profit from if you do the right things.

First of all, you should consider the reputation of the company or the franchisor. This involves the reputation of the franchiser, services, training, support, experience and profit potential. The ultimate reason for franchising a business is its brand and profit potential. You should look at the popularity of the company you are franchising with and find out if it has a registered trademark. This is important because you have to make sure that the franchise opportunity is not just an imitation of another person’s ideas.

You should also find out if the services offered by the company meet your target market needs. The experience of the company is important as well. You have to be aware of the length of time it has been operating or working to know how experienced the franchiser is in the business. Sometimes, the franchiser cannot guarantee close handling of the franchisees needs. That is why it is vital to understand the support and assistance that the company gives to its franchisees.

The training offered by the company is very important, since without adequate training you will not only fail to meet the standards of the franchise, but also be inadequately equipped to run your business properly. A failure of a franchiser to properly train you indicates a weakness, and that could be an indicator for you to get out as soon as you can. Your success depends upon the company’s success, and if the company is based on a foundation of poorly trained franchisees, then the future is bleak.

The franchising disclosure document is important, and you should be provided with a copy of that before signing up. This document will give you valuable information regarding the company, including the business background, the names of the executives, the business processes, the franchising system, and the experience of the company in franchising. Such a document also contains information about the history of litigation, costs, bankruptcy, terminations, restrictions, advertising, and current lists of franchisees. So make sure that you read and understand all the franchising disclosure information, since it will enable you to ask the right questions regarding the disclosure, so that you can get proper clarifications before franchising.

After gathering the information regarding the franchiser, you need to look at other important factors such as the location, market, demand, and competition. The location where you plan to establish the business can greatly affect your venture. Your franchising success will depend a lot on this because these other factors are affected by the geographical location of of the business. A sandwich bar might do reasonable lunchtime business in an industrial estate, but very little at other times.

Selection of the location should be strategic and well planned. Visual inspection is needed to find out if there are competitors in the area that offer the same services. Visit the area you have in mind and have walk around. Knowing the nearest franchisees of the same company is also essential because they can also be competitors. The location of your business should be accessible to your target market. Your market research should tell you which types of location are best for your kind of business; you will want somewhere that provides good exposure and best visibility for your business.

With regard to finance, the cost of the franchise should be well analyzed. Is franchising the ideal route to entry? Can you earn back your investment in a shorter span of time? You need to know how long the return of your investment is. You should also expect additional overhead costs when franchising because earning back your investment usually takes more than a year. This means that you will be spending more before you actually start making profit. There are also other expenses to consider such as the rent, supplies, utilities, and the payroll. Therefore, make sure that you have the necessary funds to sustain the business, so that you will not have to face the risk of bankruptcy.

With all these being considered, costs and benefits of franchising a business should be thoroughly analyzed before making a decision. Some of the factors mentioned above are disregarded by people when they go into franchising, but in order to be successful in the franchising business, you have to consider all these factors and make the necessary effort to ensure that they are in line with your business goals.

Given that you have done your homework and market research, there is no reason why you should not join all those others that are successfully operating a franchise business.

Naz Daud is the founder of CityLocal. This Franchise Opportunity is for people who would like to work from home and be their own boss – Read more about the CityLocal Franchise Opportunity.

Naz Daud - Owner, CityLocal

In today’s unhealthy economy, one can’t help but wonder how small franchise businesses can effectively achieve cash management. In fact, even medium scale and large scale business are struggling to cut back on their expenditure during the current economic situation.

Everyone is tightening their belts, both customers and consumers. Imagine the consequences if no one wanted to purchase goods other than the essentials. What will happen to the restaurant industry? What will happen to the retail industry, particularly those marketing electronics and those gadgets that people can manage without? It’s not just a matter of reducing expenses. Small franchise businesses need to survive and compete with the lower prices that are offered by their competitors, and good cash management is a must.

Here are some tips to help you to save money and manage your business and cash flow. These will also help individuals to better manage their home expenses.

1. Energy Consumption

Electricity is an expense we can’t avoid, but if you are able to keep your energy consumption lower than normal, you can save a fair amount of money. One way to save energy is through the use of laptop computers. Sure, they can be more expensive than desktop computers, but imagine the great savings you’ll get when it comes to energy consumption. A laptop or notebook computer consumes around 90 percent less energy than desktop computers. Most small businesses use computers, and if these are replaced with laptops when the time comes, energy expenditure will be less. The more computers your business uses, the more money you will save.

2. Telephone Costs

The telephone is essential to all small businesses, whether franchised or otherwise, and many use mobiles as well as land lines. Check up on your monthly plan and negotiate a better deal. As competition is increasing, many businesses are stuck on a deal they started off with, and if they renegotiate they can save a lot of money. Use mobiles only where necessary since they are significantly more expensive to use than land lines. Good cash management involves keeping a close eye on communications costs, especially those that are non-essential.

If you use multiple telephone lines in your business, consider VoIP as an alternative. This can allow you to make huge savings, particularly if you have more than one location for your business. Skype offers a completely free service between Skype users, and it is less expensive than normal to phone non-Skype users.

3. Save on Your Ink

Ink for printers can be another expensive item, particularly when calculated over a year. Try to go paperless and print only what is essential. Use recycled cartridges or buy in bulk to save money. Printer sharing on a network can save on the cost of the hardware and also on ink!

4. Save on Lighting

Most people turn off the lights in their homes when they leave the room, but strangely they rarely do so at work. Make a point of doing so. Switching to energy-efficient light bulbs can save a lot of money over a year.

5. Use the Internet

Small businesses should use the internet as much as possible. It is amazing how many tasks can be carried out online, including business calls, sales calls, online business conferencing, video conferencing, live meetings, instant messaging, seminars and so on.

Owning a small franchise business involves almost constant communication with customers, suppliers and other employees. This can be expensive, particularly if it involves travel. It is just as easy to communicate online as by telephone, and video conference is cheaper than a transatlantic flight! Online seminars can be arranged for training purposes, and advertising costs can be slashed through online advertising. Websites are becoming easier and cheaper to put up with every day that passes. The internet offers many opportunities for you to improve your cash management and improve your overall cash flow.

6. Assess your Office Space

Perhaps you have too much office space and you can afford to let some of it out until you have expanded enough to need it. If you are renting, share the rent with another small business that only needs a desk or two.

7. Bulk Buying

A lot depends on your cash flow situation, but it is sometimes cheaper to purchase office items on a quarterly rather than a weekly or monthly basis. This is particularly true if bulk discounts overcome the problem of tying up your capital in stock. You will save on delivery charges, but make sure that you budget the use of such supplies, since there is sometimes a temptation to use more materials or supplies when stocks are higher than normal.

Although times might seem bad, those with the ability and desire to make savings will come through in a much stronger position than small business owners who do nothing. Don’t let that be you, and by following these seven cash management tips for small businesses, you should be able to make significant savings.

Naz Daud is the founder of CityLocal. This Franchise Opportunity is for people who would like to work from home and be their own boss – Read more about the CityLocal Franchise Opportunity.

Naz Daud - Owner, CityLocal

The Technological Revolution

The technological revolution has changed the way we work. People now have the freedom to work from home as the rise of laptop/computer usage and mobile phone communication at low tariffs means that all communications are readily available. The majority of  companies that operate on a large scale are more focused on the results achieved as opposed to the hours put in. Therefore working from home is not seen as a problem but merely an easy solution.

Obstacles

If you choose to follow this path, there can be a few obstacles to overcome as the working environment will inevitably change. It could prove to be rather difficult to hold a business meeting at home. If you have a family and children, there may be significantly more noise or on the contrary, you may feel isolated if you are in a solitary confined space.

You may also encounter distractions as your partner or spouse may need you to run a few errands or take messages on their behalf. They may want more control of the house so you may have to work around whatever else is going on with regards to the daily running of your household. The arrival of unexpected guests may also throw you off track and to accompany this, your family may think that you are no longer in work mode.

Benefits

On the counter argument, running a franchise business from home enables you to take care of your family whilst working so the work against leisure balance becomes more neutral. It can become less stressful to operate from home as it  alleviates the stress of driving to and from work, especially on days when encountering severe traffic jams.

You can feel more relaxed at your home as you do not have to dress in a particular manner, you are able to dress as you see fit. Your time can be spent more productively as instead of travelling to fast food shops to get lunch, you can simply learn to cook at home. This means you have room to exercise if you wish to, as you can take breaks on your own time. There are also no rates or rents, resulting in cost effective working conditions.

Solution

Operating from home is not however, suitable for all jobs and in order to reach a compromise, many large companies now allow you to work from home a few days out of the week, so long as you also attend the office the rest of
the time. This has a positive effect on overall results as you are able to participate in important meetings but can also avoid a few days of traffic mayhem by working from home.

Some companies have not adapted to this newly found working structure and still persist that an employee must be within their view and working coherently at their desk. They fail to recognise that home working can be very powerful in terms of the productivity rate and focus on the project at hand. If employers work together with their employees to integrate both working from home and attending the office, it may prove to elevate the level of success achieved by the entire company.

Naz Daud is the founder of CityLocal. This Franchise Opportunity is for people who would like to work from home and be their own boss – Read more about the CityLocal Franchise Opportunity.

Naz Daud - Owner, CityLocal

In many cases, the fastest route to market for your product is through franchising. International markets like China and India have specific criteria and rules of conduct regarding the rights to business ownership within the country. In order for your business to override these obstacles, it may be most effective and beneficial to franchise your business in these markets.

Franchising offers clear guidelines as to who owns the business and what rights each party is entitled to. The franchisee takes ownership of the business as it is bought under their name and the franchisor is able to take a margin of the franchisee’s profit. Going via this method, there are hardly any litigation hurdles for an established company therefore more time is spent on building and developing a lucrative business as opposed to time wasted on constant trading regulation hassles.

Many national, well known brands have initially started out by using the franchise model in order to reach international markets. Once you have placed your business in a major niche amongst building market trends, your company is more likely to take up a large percentage of the market share before similar companies begin fighting for your spot.

Aside from the USA, the new major markets have become China and more recently, India. China could easily take over the global market in a decade’s time. For the UK, franchising is the best option to enter global markets and is cost effective. The level of financial risk is also reduced as it becomes easier to test emerging trends.

If, your business becomes successful within the market place, it makes sense to invest more money and resources into building brand awareness in order for you to take higher profits and sustain long term income.

Places like China and India are extremely diverse, which is the key for earning potential as many residents do not speak the same language and the extreme divide of wealth in certain areas within these countries varies enormously. This means tastes and interests differ in different sections of society enabling huge buying power to cater to niche markets. Where money is spent is a direct reflection of the range of belief systems across the country.

The safest option is to calculate and evaluate your business proposition in a global arena before directly targeting it. The most strategic way to do this is to use the franchise model as this way the market can be tested and your product can be altered to fit local demand. Through franchising, you are able to analyse what works and what does not and implement the necessary functions into the infrastructure of your business model.

You can still opt for trading independently once you have franchised your business in a few locations. Once you are confident in your business and it has established its place in the market, you can set up your own territories independently. It is in your company’s best interest to understand that market trends are changing rapidly as buying power is starting to lie in the hands of Asian consumers. Europe and USA now have the chance to enter and grow in expanding international markets that are set to compete directly with western economies.

Naz Daud is the founder of CityLocal. This Franchise Opportunity is for people who would like to work from home and be their own boss – Read more about the CityLocal Franchise Opportunity.

Naz Daud - Owner, CityLocal

It is often perceived that when buying a franchise, you are more likely to be successful if you choose to go for a well established company. This however, is not the case. There is always an element of risk involved regardless of the popularity of the franchise. It is extremely important that you do as much research as possible before investing in a franchise business. You are only able to make profit, once you do the right things, given the right tools.

The reputation of the company is crucial to your decision making process including, the history of the franchisor, the marketing materials they use alongside training, support and realistic predicted financial projections. The franchisor should come from a strong business background, as this way they will have hands on experience of what it takes to run a lucrative business. It is also a good idea to ensure that the franchise has a registered trademark as this will prove that the business model is relatively unique.

You must also take into account, the requirements of the target market and see if the services provided by the franchisor meet these requirements. You should find out how long the franchise has been in operation and what has been achieved since, because this will give you an indication of where the business is heading. The support provided by the franchisor must match up to your own needs as sometimes, the franchisor cannot assist you as closely as expected, this is why you must evaluate the support given to franchisees and see if it is up to standard.

Another important factor when deciding on a franchise is the training involved. It must be adequate and comprehensive as without this, you will not be able to perform in the manner expected by the franchisor. You may also find that you are lacking in sufficient knowledge that equates to a healthy business as there is no real training process, in which case you should consider leaving the company as soon as you can.

The location of your business start up can massively impact the overall success you have. It is beneficial for you to understand if there is actually a gap in the market that your business will fill. In addition to this, you should investigate the competition in your area, so you may want to have a good look around your chosen location. Even if there are franchisees from your own network near to where you are, they are still competitors. Your location should expose you to your target market effectively which is the reason why you should choose the most productive area in relation to your business.

Something you will also need to know is the expected return on investment and if this stands coherently with the costs involved, as by year two of your business, you should be able to see your investment pay off. In most cases, the profit kicks in after a year as there are higher overheads when initially starting your business. You should look at your financial position before investing in anything as there are usually other expenses you will need to fund aside from the financial fee. Make sure you have the funds needed as the last thing you want is to face bankruptcy.

Naz Daud is the founder of CityLocal. This Franchise Opportunity is for people who would like to work from home and be their own boss – Read more about the CityLocal Franchise Opportunity.

Naz Daud - Owner, CityLocal

The majority of companies that decide on franchising their business actually end up being unsuccessful. Research on this topic has highlighted that eighty percent of all new franchised businesses encounter failure in some way shape or form however; starting a business on your own is proven to be more dangerous than joining a franchise.

Eighty percent sounds like an extremely high figure but many people fail to recognise how many obstacles they must overcome when the choice is made to franchise their company. Although they may have a good product and idea, this only accounts for a fraction of the process of building a successful and lucrative business model, not only for themselves, but also the people that decide to invest in it.

A lot of franchising a business comes down to remarkable time and effort spent on developing the proposition alongside covering and researching all aspects of marketing. Franchisors should also create sufficient manuals and provide full support to all franchisees, once they become part of the company. Recruitment should be a high priority in order for your franchise to reach levels of success that you believe should be achieved.

The business model is directly affected by the people that are selected to run their own franchise. The selection process can take a lot of time above everything else however the power of the company lies in the hands of the franchisees. They are the single source of proof that provides evidence that the franchise is worth the investment.

The BFA must approve the franchise agreement that is put in place before exhibiting at a Franchise Exhibition even becomes an option. To accompany this, the BFA must also proof all marketing materials ensuring that it is correct in its projections and not misleading in any way.

It takes a lot to franchise your business and becomes very costly. Saying this, most experts charge a fortune for the simplest procedures so, it is important to smarten your approach and look at cutting your costs if you can.

To market your franchise effectively, the initial step is to attend a large Franchise Exhibition and see what is required of exhibitors. It is advantageous to you to act as though you are a potential buyer as you can ask for brochures and all marketing materials. You are then able to assess the level of depth your product must go into in order for it to make sense to prospects who are interested in knowing more about your franchise.

Following this, you should speak to companies similar to your own and ask for their franchise agreements. They will most probably require you to sign confidentiality agreements and in no way should you consider copying their terms as they will have previously placed copyright laws to prevent this from happening.

Your main objective is to evaluate the marketing material and franchise agreements so that you are set in the right direction to produce your own. Legal fees involved can be reduced tremendously if you can do a large portion of the work yourself. You should only approach experts once you have completed this.

Naz Daud is the founder of CityLocal. This Franchise Opportunity is for people who would like to work from home and be their own boss – Read more about the CityLocal Franchise Opportunity.

Naz Daud - Owner, CityLocal

Although franchising or buying a franchise is not a new idea or process of conducting business, it is still proven in most cases to be the most cost effective. It does not seem to matter if you are the franchisee or franchisor, becoming a part of the franchise industry has numerous advantages and can eventually become a brilliant investment for each party, so long as the business model is strategically correct.

For the franchisor, his quickest and most productive method of establishing their business nationally or globally is through franchising as it may well be the brand’s fastest route to market. They are able to profit from the initial level of investment that is constructed within the franchise proposition. The franchisor can also use funds from royalty fees to enhance the product, attracting more business.

Franchisees are at an advantage in a different sense. They are able to build a business that has already been through a series of trial and error, reducing the level of risk. They will be joining an existing network and can run their business under the brand name of the franchise. Franchisees are in a better position than if they went at it alone as the brand will have already been established to some extent, making it easier for the franchisee to break into their new business.

This however does not mean that you can choose any franchise and it will instantly become profitable. It is imperative to do research and find out what makes a good franchise and why it is worth your investment. If the franchise is to work, there should be a pilot study taken place beforehand to outline the overall reception of the product that is being franchised. There is no point in investing in something that has never been run as a business initially as there will be no guidelines or formula to work with.

If you are considering becoming a franchisee, it is important to delve deep into the franchise opportunity and evaluate whether you are getting value for your money. Assessments should be made about the franchise’s place in the market. If you think you will be in the same market position by using the investment capital required towards your own business then there is absolutely no motive for you to join the franchise as it has no commercial value to it. If you think you cannot achieve the market position on your own, it is more than likely that you have come across a viable franchise.

The franchisor should highlight key advantages of their business against competitors who are starting out and are at their early stages of development. The franchisor must ensure that there are unique selling points that differentiate the franchise from other contending franchises in order for it to grow and sell regardless of competition.

The most successful business start ups are businesses that are franchised and are often the most lucrative resulting in global establishment of the company, bringing brand awareness to consumers. Provided there is a winning formula in place from the outset, franchising a business should be financially rewarding.

Naz Daud is the founder of CityLocal. This Franchise Opportunity is for people who would like to work from home and be their own boss – Read more about the CityLocal Franchise Opportunity.

Naz Daud - Owner, CityLocal

A business that has been through a series of trial and error can be translated into a franchise that is replicated in each area. A franchise is simple in its format as its principles and management techniques are noted down into an operators guide.

Franchises come with a price, so, right from the beginning there is an initial start up cost involved, which enables you to run your business under the name of the brand you have purchased for your franchise fee. You will come across a range of confidential information that will help you understand and use the business model effectively.

Aside from the initial franchise cost, there are monthly management fees that are required in order for you to have constant and on-going support from the franchisor. This means that you will have full training right from the outset as the franchiser will walk you through processes in sales and marketing and generally ensure that you are able to overcome any obstacles you may face.

Franchising has a proven higher success rate than starting your own business from scratch. A study has shown that over a 7 year course, 90% of franchisees are continuing with their business profitably (US Department of Commerce). It is a lot safer in many respects, as guidelines have already been presented to you, from choosing the right location for your business to accounts and supply management. If you can mirror the operation instructed in the manual, your business should grow from strength to strength and inevitably become successful.

It seems that there is a huge element of risk involved if you decide to start a business individually as over a 5 year period, it has been calculated that 80% of new business start-ups shut down due to profit failure.

It usually boils down to this, people tend to know their product inside and out however the same does not apply for their understanding of the market, which can only be achieved through experience of tried and tested formulas. If you are not able to fund your business or have a steady flow of income coming through, banks are fast to leave you on your own as predicted financial projections are not depicted into reality.

Investing in a franchise will ultimately throw you into a set of procedures if you are to make it successful. This imposes a restriction on you as you will have to use the system, suppliers and software that are indicated to you by the franchiser. There will also be limits on the location of your franchise business as the franchiser has brand values that he must uphold therefore he will not let you operate in an area where your business cannot reach its full potential.

You will represent the brand therefore your success is a major priority to the franchiser. By becoming a franchisee, you are joining an existing network and entering a company whereby the partnership works hand in hand to make sure you make significant progress and all intentions are achieved.

Naz Daud is the founder of CityLocal. This Franchise Opportunity is for people who would like to work from home and be their own boss – Read more about the CityLocal Franchise Opportunity.

Naz Daud - Owner, CityLocal

Work from home business opportunities seem to be everywhere these days, with adverts and banners, emails and websites all offering miracle get rich quick schemes that get you out of the doldrums and have you reaping millions by this time next year. Of course, many of these business ideas are flawed, and sadly there are many scams. The most difficult part, if you have decided to pursue the idea of working from home is to work out which are the likely businesses to go places, and which are less likely to succeed. Avoid those schemes that seem to offer the world.

As the old cliché goes, if it sounds too good to be true, then it almost certainly is. Make good use of testimonials – find out about those who have already committed to work from home programs, and see what they have to say. Internet technology may have made it easier for fraudsters to try to sell off scam ideas, but it has also made it easier for genuine people like us to share ideas and experiences. Use forums and discussion groups where people discuss home businesses, and take on board their advice and experience.

Remember, working from home isn’t the same thing as staying at home. In many cases those who work from home tend to find themselves working longer hours, working harder, and feeling far more tired at the end of the week than those who simply turn up to an office and clock out again eight hours later. The difference, of course, is that you’re making a real difference to your business, to your customers, and for yourself, with job satisfaction the reward most people never see.

One of the biggest myths is that all home workers are huge risk takers. It is often considered that someone who gives up a perfectly well paid and reliable day job or career to stay at home and become entirely reliant upon their own wit and determination is taking a massive gamble. Certainly it would be true to admit that there is always going to be an element of risk, and no doubt the first Monday morning you wake up and realize you have no commute, no trip to the office, and no boss telling you to work harder or get that report in, it will feel very strange.

Strange, but perhaps not as unsettling as knowing that at the end of the month you won’t have that same pay check arriving in your bank account! But to suggest that these people are reckless gamblers, taking unnecessary risks is quite untrue.

The fact is that the vast majority of people who decide to leave the humdrum life of office work, making money for other people and getting little personal job satisfaction out of the whole deal are very careful planners. Rarely does someone decide (without careful planning) on a Friday to quit their job and work from home, handing in their notice and waking up on the Monday jobless.

That would certainly be a foolish way to enter into such an arrangement. Instead, it is often the case that these people have spent many weeks, maybe months and even years investigating, asking questions, carrying out research, planning their finances, carrying out calculations and worst case scenario exercises. They have investigated the whole idea so fully that by the time they start, they have a wealth of experience and understanding already behind them.

It can often be the case that people who choose this lifestyle have tried it part time for quite a while. This is an excellent way of switching from a daily, normal job to a working at home franchise, and spending a little bit of time each week, maybe during the evenings or weekends, exploring and developing the ideas and methods which have been chosen as the means to earn money will help to prove or disprove any theories and fears, and provide a more substantial means by which earnings and risks can be weighed and calculated.

In most cases people decide to create a transition period, downgrading their normal full-time position to part time, and subsidizing their income with their own earnings. Indeed, all these methods are used to limit unnecessary risks and unknown factors, and this means that those working from home have a much better understanding of just what the unforeseen issues might be, and have put into place methods to overcome those troubles, allowing a smooth transition into their home based franchise business, with no nasty surprises and unexpected issues to worry about.

The only unforeseen matters could end up being seasonal shifts in customer habits, economical matters beyond anyone’s control, holidays, finding time off, and managing your time with discipline and rigor. You may also find having your family on top of you can also be a hazard, and it will be important to involve your entire family in the process to make sure they understand and appreciate the issues involved when you finally choose to work full time at home.

Naz Daud is the founder of CityLocal. This Franchise Opportunity is for people who would like to work from home and be their own boss – Read more about the CityLocal Franchise Opportunity.

Naz Daud - Owner, CityLocal

If customers are not happy with the level of customer service, such as failing to have queries dealt with, having to wait excessive periods of time to wait for a response, having responses which make little sense, offer little support, express little concern or fail to resolve the issue quickly and effectively, then the chances are high that you will lose that customer.

More than this, by losing a customer, you are highly likely to lose any potential sales you may have acquired through recommendation. With so much choice available and so much variety, increasingly we are relying on personal recommendations, and online reviews, to help make up our mind on whether to commit to a retailer or service provider, especially if it is likely to be for a significant sum or a long term contractual arrangement.

Failing to provide adequate customer service can easily result in losing out on personal recommendations, and could easily result in publically viewable reviews advising against your ompany or service. The internet can easily work in your favour, but similarly it can work against you if you fail to meet expectations.

To a large extent, the importance and intensity of customer service is likely to depend on the nature of the business in which you become involved. If you’re seeking to start out as an individual entrepreneur, working from home with little direct contact with customers, then you may consider the importance of customer service to be less of a priority than those entering into a business arrangement which has massive contact with customers and relies heavily on customer loyalty.

This is turn may impact on your decision when it comes to deciding what kind of business to enter into, what kind of franchise opportunity to become involved with, or the nature of any solo business you choose to initiate. Are you a people person? Do you like solving problems and offering a high level of service to customers? If not, then a business model which relies upon this may not be for you, and the issue of outsourcing the service center becomes one to consider.

Ultimately it will be important to think about customer service not from the business point of view alone, taking on board the financing, the time, the means by which issues can be filed, dealt with, followed up and referred back, but also from the point of view of your customers. Happy customers equate to customer loyalty and recommendations, which in turn results in a more profitable and successful business. Get your customer service right and you’re more likely to see the business succeeding where other, perhaps larger companies are losing sight of the very blood which made them successful in the first place.

Naz Daud is the founder of CityLocal. This Franchise Opportunity is for people who would like to work from home and be their own boss – Read more about the CityLocal Franchise Opportunity.

Naz Daud - Owner, CityLocal

Customer service is an aspect of any franchise or business, whether a large corporate organization or small home business run by a single individual. The way a business presents itself to customers, either potential or actual, can make a huge difference in terms of promotion, loyalty and the likelihood of success.

No business succeeds without customers, and in order to attract customers, it is increasingly necessary for franchise businesses to be approachable, contactable, and interested in communicating with customers whenever there are any queries or issues relating to the products or services available.

In the modern world of internet technology, more and more customers today are often beginning to expect that businesses can be contacted at any time, and day, and in a way which is convenient. In the twenty first century we have shed the expectations that we had of only being able to contact a business or company between the hours of 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. With international time zones, more people working weekends, and working hours no longer traditional, we all expect to be able to pick up the phone, or send an email, and have our queries or concerns dealt with promptly.

If you are seeking to buy in to a franchise or business opportunity, it will be important to understand in advance what the customer service arrangements involve. Will you be responsible for any issues that arise, and need to provide a means by which customers can contact you directly, or is there a customer service center or arrangement already in place? If you will be relying on an outsourced service center, then you may find that giving them a call yourself, alleging to be a potential customer, reveals the level of support which your own customers could face.

Although outsourcing of service centers is increasingly common, primarily as a means to cut costs and long term overheads, it can sometimes cause problems for customers who have difficulties communicating with people who do not speak the same language fluently, or have strong accents, limited knowledge of the product or service, or limited access to relevant information about you and your account.

But the issue of providing support for customers will be something you’ll need to approach yourself if the responsibility with a franchise opportunity is left with you and if you are starting out on your own with your business idea as an independent entrepreneur.

Tomorrow we will look at the effects of Customer Service on your business and why its so important to get it right…

Naz Daud is the founder of CityLocal. This Franchise Opportunity is for people who would like to work from home and be their own boss – Read more about the CityLocal Franchise Opportunity.

Naz Daud - Owner, CityLocal

Buying a Franchise is a fantastic way to get yourself out of the humdrum daily toil of your working life and become independent and much more motivated. Today, with the economy as it is, there can be no doubt at all that there is no longer such a thing as job security, and just turning up to work each day can feel a little like a gamble – will you still have a job, or will the company have gone under, or slimmed down, with the loss of your job?

It’s a reality that is hard to face, and increasingly people are worried about their futures, their financial obligations and their security. In addition, many people are increasingly disenchanted with the daily slog of work, feeling very much that work is something which gets in the way of life, rather than seeing work as being a positive part of life.

Which sounds like you? Do you get up in the morning and go to work, thinking about coming home even before you’ve done a minute’s work? Do you get up feeling energized and positive about your day? Would you like to?

Starting a business is an opportunity to inject enthusiasm and personal fulfillment into your working life, at the same time as becoming much more independent and personally responsible for your success and financial security. It puts you in the driving seat, no longer looking at everyone else pass you by, but able to have a hands on understanding of every aspect of life, and this can do wonders for lowering stress and anxiety levels and creating more happy, fulfilled individuals. Your work shouldn’t be a hurdle, but an enjoyable experience which you can be proud of.

A franchise is an arrangement which combines the best of both worlds. One the one hand it’s an opportunity to say goodbye to your boss, and work in a way which suits you, working the hours that suit you, in an environment that suits you, and with personal responsibility for your own salary. At the same time, it takes away the inherent risks associated with entrepreneurism and starting out completely on your own, setting up your own business.

This is because a franchise opportunity allows you to sell and market a product or service which has already been established, the issues worked out, and the advertising and promotion already in place to ensure a confident and interested customer base.

There are so many different franchises available today, largely because of the increased number of us who are turning to such business arrangements as a way of improving our working life. This growing number of opportunities provides a wide range of different opportunities, and if you like the sound of ditching a traditional job working for someone else, but aren’t confident enough to embark on a completely solo venture, then it is well worth looking at the range of franchise models available.

This will require you to have an honest discussion with yourself about why you have become motivated to consider franchising, and what it is that really makes you tick. For some people it is the pleasure of being able to work at home, on your own, without the pressure of hundreds of office workers and managers all around you, the constant ringing of phones and managers shouting to get more sales, work faster or remember the deadlines.

On the other hand, there are other people who choose a franchise to become involved in a people oriented service or retail business, and there are certainly plenty of these available too. You can choose a high street franchise, with an established name and brand, an established business model which has had any problems or issues already worked out, and plenty of advertising and consumer confidence in place. Or you could try an online or work at home franchise that will allow you to work in quieter, more independent way, either carrying out all your work online, or perhaps using the phone to talk to customers. The options are there and the choice is yours.

Once you have thought seriously about whom you are personally, and why you feel that franchising is something which could definitely work for you, and you have had a look at some of the more suitable franchises available, it will be important to look more deeply into the terms and contracts which will form the business arrangement. As long as you enter the arrangement understanding the way in which the business, and your part of it, will work, you can look forward to a more fulfilling and personally satisfying way of working, and one which is far more likely to motivate you to get out of bed in the morning.

Naz Daud is the founder of CityLocal. This Franchise Opportunity is for people who would like to work from home and be their own boss – http://www.selectyourfranchise.com/uk/franchise-features/Home-Based-Advertising-Franchise-UK-CityLocal.html.

Naz Daud - Owner, CityLocal

Have you considered the idea of having your own internet franchise business, able to choose the hours you work, with your own business model, and be your own boss? Have you also decided not to take that step, because of worries and anxieties about the risks involved, the uncertainty, or even because of concerns which you may have regarding how to identify legitimate franchise opportunities from the scams?

If so, then you are certainly not alone, and there is an increasing number of people who are now turning to internet technology to help create a better work life balance and distancing themselves from the increasing uncertainty of the workplace and job security. It seems that people now want to take charge of their own lives, their own careers and their own independent financial security.

Whilst it would certainly be misleading to suggest that there were no scams or untrustworthy internet franchise business models and ideas available online, there are enough genuine, and proven ways of earning either a part time or full time income online to make it well worth a proper investigation if the idea appeals to you. If this sounds like you, then here are some basic pointers to ensure that whatever steps you take, and whatever decisions you make, you are more likely to emerge from the experience in a positive frame of mind.

Legitimacy
We’ve all seen those online business offers and adverts suggesting that the author made tens of thousands of dollars in the first week, is now a millionaire a few months on and generously giving all his money making secrets away for about fifty dollars a time.

The point to bear in mind is that if it sounds too good to be true, it almost certainly always is. Yes, the internet has spawned many millionaires, and yes, some people have made a fortune in a very short space of time. But when you consider the millions of people using the internet, this isn’t surprising. In all honesty, you have as much chance of making a few million dollars overnight through an online franchise business as you do winning a state lottery.

If you start to read an internet franchise business proposal or scheme, and you realise that most of the description centres on the single individual case of the person who started it, offering no guarantees or assurances of your success, then it may well be best to move on. The best, and most promising online business schemes and ideas tend to focus more on what is involved, what you will need to do, how the financial model works, and present realistic, rather than fantastic targets and expectations.

Support
If you find a few franchise business ideas which sound interesting, drop a direct line to the owner. Unless you’re thinking of starting up your own completely independent, unique business yourself, without taking on board a basic model idea of franchise project already in place, then the chances are high that you’ll need to communicate with this person quite frequently in the first few days, weeks or perhaps even months. So email the person, and see what happens.

Do they reply? How quick is the response? Is it written personally, or just an automatic reply? Is the message written in a way which sounds pleasant, helpful, and supportive and actually seeks to answer your question? This can reveal a lot about the validity of the business model and the likelihood of your success with it.

Suitability
Another thing that you need to bear in mind is the nature of the franchise business itself, and any opportunity to adapt or extend it in ways which suit you and your personality. It’s too easy to pick a web based or home based business opportunity based purely on its reliability, legitimacy or likely financial expectations. Since you could well be looking at the idea as being a long term career opportunity, you need to be honest with yourself about how you see this idea developing.

Are you an extrovert? You might prefer to look at online franchise businesses which involve a great amount of service related work, communicating directly with consumers in various ways. Perhaps you are more of an introvert, and would prefer a business which sees you working in a much more private, solo fashion, focussing more on the product or service than on the communication with customers. Think about how you see yourself and the franchise business in twelve months time. Is it possible to see yourself happy, progressing well and with a business which is both succeeding at the same time as providing you with fresh challenges and opportunities?

Research
One advantage of considering an online or internet franchise opportunity is that you will be in good company. There are thousands of people who have already taken the plunge, learnt from mistakes, discovered successes, and who are more than willing to share those with you. Sign up to forums and discussion boards where people can share these ideas and experiences, and don’t be afraid to ask people for advice, and listen to their responses.

Naz Daud is the founder of the CityLocal franchise,  a franchise opportunity for people who would like to work from home and be their own boss… Read more about CityLocal

Naz Daud - Owner, CityLocal

The concept of online advertising is one that will be very important for any small business, whether franchised or otherwise, to consider very carefully. The trouble is that when a business considers advertising in any form, it can often be the case that traditional methods are given priority. But the truth is that Internet technology has resulted in a variety of advertising and promotional methods which are not necessarily considered traditional, yet at the same time, they are highly effective.

When you consider the sheer scale of the number of websites, with many millions of other businesses competing with yours, just attracting any hits or visits can be a very difficult task. Many new franchise businesses make the mistake of trying to reach as many people as possible in order to maximize the number of people who come to their web page or site.

But sheer numbers isn’t the way to success. If your business is attracting huge numbers of people, but the sales aren’t representing this, then your online advertising is clearly targeting the wrong people. Internet advertising and promotion is about reaching the people who are most likely to buy your products or services, and this requires a clear understanding of who your customers are.

Once you have a good idea of who your potential customers are, you need to consider their habits online, and how best to reach them. There are a number of different methods and types of media, and in most cases it will prove preferable to include a variety of types of media and different versions of online advertisement.

When you think of advertising your franchise business or organisation online, what methods immediately spring to mind? If it’s banner advertisements, then welcome to the nineties. It’s true, that banner adverts do have an influence, and are still proving to be successful, but with most modern browsers including ad blocking software, the days of pop up adverts, and flashy banners on pages is limited. I’ve used banner adverts myself, yet have addons installed in my browser which, by default, switches off adverts and banners from major advertising networks, and this is a way of surfing the Internet adopted by an increasing number of people. Even flash banners and advertisements’ can be blocked.

So what are the most successful methods of online advertising that can be employed on the Internet to help promote your franchise business? Firstly, consider what the biggest and most important resource is when it comes to the Internet and the content of the World Wide Web. Would you consider this to be the cables, wires, computers and servers that comprise the hardware? Or would you be thinking of the software, utilities, search engines and other virtual commodities?

In fact, if you thought of either of these things, you’d not only be wrong, but you’d be overlooking the critical way in which you can help to maximize your online business promotion strategies. The truth is that the greatest resource that the Internet has to offer is the millions of people using it each and every day. At the end of the day it is the people who use the Internet each day who decide what succeeds, and what doesn’t, what gets shared and promoted, and what gets blocked, banned or buried on page 497 of Google’s search results.

So, as far as your online advertising is concerned, reach the people, entertain, interest or attract the people, and you are more likely to succeed. But isn’t that what traditional advertising is about? Again, if you’re thinking of traditional billboards and magazine adverts, these rarely work when taken into the virtual world. Remember, Google’s search results will help to promote your site massively, but the rank your site achieves is based on its popularity; how many people are visiting your site, and how many people are linking to it?

External links, coming from social networking sites, forums, bulletin boards, discussion boards and blogs help to make a fantastic difference in terms of getting the major search engines to see your site as relevant and interesting.

For this reason, your online advertising is likely to be more effectiveif managed through back-links and optimized posts in blogs, social networking sites and forums than by paying large sums of money for flashy banner adverts to be posted on a random selection of vaguely related websites, many of which will never be seen anyway because of the software now designed to remove them from your customers’ screens.

Naz Daud is the founder of the CityLocal franchise,  a franchise opportunity for people who would like to work from home and be their own boss… Read more about CityLocal

Many people can often find the day to day routine of office life tiresome and somewhat repetitive. It becomes a difficult task to remain motivated and look forward to work in the current economic downturn therefore in many cases people are looking to become independent as they are no longer able to rely on their jobs.

Every day we hear how various companies have gone under and how there was nothing anyone could do to stop it from happening. When you go to work, do you feel paranoid about the possibility of redundancy? If you are made redundant, will you be able to find a job that matches your salary? The general consensus indicates that work is seen as a burden as opposed to a source of fulfillment and productive part of your life.

If you have always wanted to try your hand at running your own business then this may be the perfect time to start. This way, your success and earnings depend entirely on you so you have every reason to inject passion and enthusiasm in your work life. This may seem surprising but starting your own business can actually be stress relieving, as every decision you make will be your own choice and you have nobody else to answer to or worry about.

Starting your own business may seem daunting at first however, if you are to opt for a franchise, the risk is reduced significantly. Certain practices are put in place so it is easy for you to focus on sales and profit as the franchiser will deal with all new developments and marketing methods. Nevertheless, you are still your own boss as you can work at the speed you want to, start and finish at the time you wish to and work in a way which is comfortable for you.

There are a vast range of franchises available especially in current times where people are looking for a solution to eradicate work life stresses. It is definitely worth looking into franchise opportunities particularly if you have a desire for entrepreneurialism but are not willing to go at it completely alone.

For a lot of people, a traditional working environment is no longer appealing due to constant pressures from surrounding colleagues and management that seem to have no end of regular demands. Whatever the reason, you must seriously think about the choices that are available to you and ask yourself why you are considering investing in a business in the first place.

There are plenty of franchises out there it just comes down to finding one that is suitable for you and your personality. If you enjoy being around people in a customer orientated environment you could go for a retail business. On the other hand, if you prefer working alone in a quieter environment, then maybe you should look at online businesses as you can speak with customers by phone and maintain all business transactions from home. Whatever you do, make sure you go for a franchise that is part of a growing market so you have every chance to succeed.

Naz Daud is the founder of CityLocal,  a franchise opportunity for people who would like to work from home and be their own boss… Read more about CityLocal