ex per t advice
Susan Schopp | Founder of Neighborhood News & CEO of Neighbors Choice
Next Level Passion:
6 Things to Consider Before Taking the Leap from Business to Franchise Business Making the decision to begin franchising your business is one that takes time, thoughtful consideration and a variety of resources to ensure that your concept is set up for success. As an entrepreneur who has started a few businesses and long-time owner of Neighborhood News, my experience in journalism has been useful in many endeavors. My interest in writing and advertising along with my desire to serve a greater need in my hometown of San Antonio is what ultimately led to the creation of our new franchise company, Neighbors Choice. Turning your personal business into a franchise can certainly seem daunting, and there’s a lot to consider before taking the leap — who do I target, what do I charge, who can I turn to for help? Here are six key points I’ve learned along the way that can help put your franchising plans in place:
1
Focus on Community Needs
Integrating yourself into your community and searching for ways to enrich the lives of those around you is an absolute must. If you’re able to take your passion and
Franchising USA
leverage it in a way that can assist others in the process, your franchising experience will undoubtedly be fulfilling to both yourself and those that use your services. In my early days as a journalist, I did freelance writing for various publications in San Antonio, and this role allowed me to wear many hats and acquire a keen understanding of communication concerns that needed to be addressed within my own community. I attended city council meetings, interviewed local celebrities and politicians, created gardening guides and worked in graphic design for other special sections as well. I also served as chair of the Neighborhood Resource Center for many years, which is where I really learned the struggles that many neighborhoods face. I saw a bridge that needed to be gapped between small businesses and residents and jumped on the opportunity quickly. When you find what makes your business purposeful to the greater community, others will also see that same value.
2
Leverage Existing Business Utilizing resources, materials and
contacts that you already have in the pipeline will be extremely beneficial
in a variety of facets as you begin your
franchise journey. Be careful to not rely so heavily on achieving goals externally that you forget to start at the drawing board with assets that have already proven to
be successful within your business at the internal level.
There are also many other resources
that most businesses share that can be leveraged, such as relationships with
vendors, customers, business neighbors, your network and the contacts of those
that support you. Additionally, there are
multiple community organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club and other community organizations to
leverage. Word of mouth can go a very long way with the development of your business as well as your franchise.
