As soon as you become a franchisee, your franchisor should outline for the levels of support you will be receiving as part of your turnkey business. Smaller systems may see the franchisor working with them at the franchise level, whereas larger systems will have a number of individuals tending to the support streams required of that franchise business.
Your franchise purchase should include these basic levels of support:
The Operations Manual
If your franchise were a course, the operations manual would be the textbook you’d be required to buy and read to pass the course. The Op Manual is essentially a training guide that outlines all the “how-tos,” instructions, and guidelines to operate your franchise. It should answer every possible question you may have about running the business and offer troubleshooting tips and solutions. The Op Manual should contain the operating standards of the franchise system, your role as a franchisee, and pertinent details about how to use any equipment, computer systems, and other components relevant to the business.
Initial Training
Initial training usually runs from a few days to a few weeks at your franchise and/or at the corporate headquarters. For larger franchise systems, a specialized trainer will be assigned to teach the “ins and outs” of business operations and provide some sales and marketing guidance. The initial training is a live tutorial of the operations manual. Your trainer should also be your contact post-opening to help you make an easy transition info franchisee life.
Advertising
While you will be required to contribute to a regional or national advertising fund, you should receive sufficient guidance into what local channels of marketing you should invest in and how to properly prepare and execute a promotional campaign. Smaller franchise systems may include pre-opening advertising costs into your turnkey investment.
Location Selection
Most franchisors will assist franchisees in selecting a suitable location for their franchise. If the franchisor has already picked out a location for you, consider this a benefit, not a disadvantage; the franchisor has invested a lot of time and money into site planning and will likely have made a viable decision on your behalf.
Additional Support
This level of support is usually in the administrative category where you can call a 1-800 number to receive assistance with such issues as accounting, human resources, and computer support. Depending on the franchise system, additional support can also include off-site training and seminars on such topics as managing a staff, leadership, and sales and marketing workshops.
