The importance of a Franchise Network Healthcheck

by Brian Duckett, Howarth Franchising

We all know how important it is to have a regular check-up at the dentist or the doctor ; we all know that regular servicing prolongs the life of our cars or our essential business machinery ; most of us have our central heating checked before the onset of winter ; but how many franchisors take the trouble to check how well their franchise marketing and management systems are operating, or how well they stack up against the competition?

Franchising is becoming an increasingly competitive business as more and more franchisors chase seemingly fewer and fewer potential franchisees. To recruit the good ones you will need to demonstrate success for those franchisees already operating within your network and only those franchisors with the strongest systems will survive.

So, do you know how you stack up against your competition? Do you know what your franchisees think about you? What are they saying to the potential franchisees who contact them as part of their research? If they are not singing your praises you will be losing recruits and it’s time to do something about it.

The answers to all these questions, and any others you consider relevant to your business, can be revealed by a Howarth Franchised Network Healthcheck, part of which includes a confidential Franchisee Satisfaction Survey. All responsible franchisors should conduct such a survey at least every three years. We can look at, either or both of, your central systems and your franchisees’ businesses – and with the benefit of many years’ practical experience of managing franchised networks, of all sizes and in all sectors, we can help you implement any improvements which prove to be necessary.