Franchising can be a profitable business opportunity for those looking to establish a business. However, as a new franchise owner, you must educate yourself on franchising fundamentals. Often, they point the blame on the franchisor. But inexperienced franchisees can also cause misfortune for some reasons. Know why franchises fail here.
1. Bad Business Model
The business model might be the first thing that franchisees would think of as the reason for a failed franchise. But this is not always the case. Embryonic business models are usually found in new, start-up ventures. This should be considered when evaluating the franchisee’s risk of joining.
2. Inadequate Training and Support To Franchisee
Failure due to poor training or subsequent levels of support is also likely to occur in newer, start-up systems compared to mature brands. Training and support typically focus on operating the new brand with little or no general business overview.
3. lnsolvency
When franchisors go bankrupt, their franchisees will likely suffer the impact. It won’t be easy to survive because marketing, logistics, IT, and other core functions will be halted or ceased altogether.
The most significant risk of franchisor failure is among newer, start-up franchisors, but even mature brands, in some instances, can fail.
4. Wrong Business
Sometimes franchisees are not suited to the business, no matter how passionate they are about the product, the brand, or the industry. They may not be dynamic enough to keep up with the company over time.
5. Poor Planning
Many franchisees don’t emphasize preparing a business plan before starting their franchise. Or on the other side, the franchisor neglected this fundamental step in starting a business. A road map should show how to achieve profits at certain stages.
Meanwhile, the franchisor should be involved in the planning and monitoring of business plans prepared by franchisees. The bottom line is to ensure that the franchisee operates their business according to the plan.
6. Insufficient Capital and Reinvestment
A lack of working capital and reinvestment are among the most common causes of all business failure, not only in franchising. Franchisees who start operating businesses without sufficient working capital will be unable to pay their bills on time, given the poor cash flow.
7. Impractical Expectations
The best way to identify whether or not a franchisee has impractical expectations in the future of their business is to revisit their business plan. This will provide an insight into their financial goals and targets. But there may be other unrealistic expectations on training, support, the business model’s flexibility, etc.
8. Lack of Dedication to the Franchised Business
Sometimes the reasons why franchises fail are unrelated to the franchise. It could be something else. When the business goes smoothly, the owner might focus on other things unrelated to his business. Said activities will take too much of his time and money away from the franchised business.
9. Failure to Evolve
The market in which the franchised business operates is ever-changing. The franchisors and the franchisees must also evolve to keep up with the demand.
10. Failure to Follow the System
Despite investing in a franchise with a prescribed way of doing things, some franchisees think they can do it better, and instead of following the franchise system, they buck the system and try to do something. Franchisors are the first to admit that franchisees can develop excellent ideas to improve a whole system. Still, if some of their ideas are completely at odds with the brand offer and values, then the franchisee may as well have bought an independent small business instead.
Conclusion
As a word of advice, you should not buy a franchise if you don’t like people. To succeed, you must devote time and effort to working with people with different personalities. A professional business owner should be able to interact well with people from all walks of life. Managing employees is also essential to the growth of your business. Read this Franchise How article on starting a franchise for more information.
