CHANGING CAREERS?

How can you build a business in a completely new industry? Franchising can help you do just that.

Buying a franchise can enable you to shift not just from employment to business ownership, but from one career or industry to another. As we’ve seen time and time again, in over 30 years of Franchise New Zealand magazine, people switch to franchising with huge success every year. In this spring issue, you’ll find more examples of people changing direction to achieve their goals.

So, how do you learn a whole new business from scratch? The answer is: one step at a time. You might be new to learning the business, but most franchisors will have been through the process of teaching it many times before, and they will know what you need to know, when you need to learn it, and how it is best taught.

In fact, 70-80% of franchisors say ‘no experience necessary’ when they are seeking franchisees – and they mean it. Many actually prefer new franchisees not to have specific experience in the industry concerned, as newcomers can learn a franchise’s systems without having to unlearn conflicting practices first.

Of course, you still need the right skills, even without industry-specific experience. Your chosen franchise may require you to lead a team, or have sales ability, or practical skills. You’ll need to be able to learn and follow systems designed to help you operate your business efficiently and profitably. And you’ll certainly need commitment and enthusiasm for what you do, determination to overcome difficulties, and the support and understanding of friends and family as you focus totally on your business when you first start out.

So, assuming you have the right qualities, what can you expect as you start a new chapter of your life?

Learning the basics

The nature of your initial training will vary according to the complexity of the franchisee’s role and the degree of familiarisation required with new equipment and/or systems.

For example, a training programme designed to help you run a café franchise – where you will be making product, recruiting, training and there is to know about business management, before taking the actual operation into account. But all the systems are in place to help you –your first task as a new business owner is to learn how to use them.

In some franchises, training may be carried out by the franchisor themselves, while established franchises often have a team that specialises in training new franchisees at a purpose-built location. In some cases, new franchisees may be trained overseas. Whatever the training, it will likely include ‘classroom time’ with ‘on-the-job’ experience, possibly with an experienced franchisee.

One thing is certain: no matter how good or thorough the training programme, it will require a new franchisee to take in a huge amount of information in a short period of time. A newcomer may be stunned at all there is to know about business management, before taking the actual operation into account. But all the systems are in place to help you – your first task as a new business owner is to learn how to use them.

Running your own business

It’s important to realise that even after you have completed initial training and opened the doors to your new business, as a franchisee, you won’t be on your own. The franchisor will usually supply an experienced field support person to work with you in your own territory prior to and immediately after opening.

They will help ensure you’re set up properly and can apply your training. Once open, expect the field support person to stay with you until you feel comfortable operating on your own. They are not there to run the business, but to make it easier for you to learn how to run it yourself. The amount of time this takes will vary enormously.

In food or retail businesses, a week or two of on-site support before and after opening is usual. In some franchises, particularly service-based ones, training and opening periods may overlap.

After the initial on-site backup ends, you can still look forward to plenty of ongoing support, including:

• Personal visits from field support / specialist team members

• Phone support

• Online support

• Meetings with, and mentoring from, experienced franchisees

• National conferences

• Ongoing training, online and onsite

Ways to manage change

Something you need to be aware of when buying a franchise is that it will involve constant change, both for yourself and any staff you may employ. Businesses don’t stand still; customers’ tastes change, and new products, equipment and compliance require constant training. This is where the advent of online training has proved invaluable,

Brad Jacobs of The Coffee Club recalls how the franchise used the restrictive challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic to expediate the move to take its training online. “We used the lockdowns to move all our existing Training Academy modules online,” he says. “These cover things like Good Food, Great Service, Excellent Coffee, Health & Safety, etc. Our team handbook and new team induction programme also went online.”

Brad adds, “The move was made for a few reasons. It wasn’t about removing or reducing face-to-face training – that’s still essential. It’s more about efficiency, easy record-keeping, simple compliance checking for councils, safety for franchisees and team members, reduced printing costs, etc.”

Training checks

So, if you’re looking at a franchise opportunity, how can you decide whether it will offer the training you need to help you succeed in a new industry? Here are some suggestions:

1. Speak to existing franchisees and ask them about their training experience.

Was it well-structured and easy to follow? Did it leave them feeling confident that they would be able to manage their business? Did it seem to cover the essentials of what they needed to know in the early stages? Was there further training as they became more experienced, and was it appropriate to their needs?

2. Experience the business from a customer’s perspective.

Visit several outlets and see different franchisees at work. Do they seem confident and well-trained? Are they operating consistently? If there are staff, do they seem well-trained and efficient? Is the franchisee visible in the business? Are they leading their team well?

3. Ask how new franchisee training is delivered, who by and what experience they have.

Find out about the trainer’s experience, both as an operator and as a trainer. If there is an online element, can this be carried out while you are still in an existing position?

4. Ask to see some training resources to see how current and thorough they are.

When were they last updated? If the franchise comes from overseas, have the training materials been modified for New Zealand conditions and experiences?

5. Ask if the trainer is certified to ensure trainees can demonstrate their learning.

Is the training linked to any formal training programme or national standard? Is the trainer assessed, certified and up to date?

6. Find out what ongoing training has been offered recently - verify this with franchisees.

Ask other franchisees if they found it well-structured, practical and useful. See if it fits with what the franchisor says is being delivered.

One of the major reasons for buying a franchise is that offers a lower risk way of going into business than trying to do it alone. The training you will receive from the franchisor is a big part of reducing that risk.

By choosing a franchise that offers excellent initial and ongoing training, you will not only make better return on your investment more quickly, you’ll also be better placed for achieving greater success.