franchising

29-04-2014

Starting a business can be stressful and taking the plunge to leave the comfort of your job to go it alone takes a lot of courage. In moments of doubt, you might even find yourself thinking that you don’t have enough experience to make it on your own. But we’re here to tell you that when it comes to owning a franchise, prior experience really isn’t necessary.

15-04-2014

If you’re looking at purchasing your own franchise, then it’s safe to say that you’ve spent many hours dreaming of being your own boss. Joining a franchise system can be amazingly rewarding in a myriad of different ways, but if you choose the wrong franchise it can just as easily be a disaster.

Jumping into the first franchise opportunity that comes along, in an effort to gain freedom from your current workplace, is a recipe for disaster. Much more important than making the decision to head out on your own, is deciding which franchise option is the right fit for your unique circumstances.

09-04-2014

It’s no secret that buying into a franchise is a great and low-risk way to start your own business, but finding the right franchise opportunity to suit your skill set, lifestyle and personality is easier said than done. Fortunately, thanks to social media, finding the right franchise is easier than ever before. Social media gives you unprecedented access to business information and can give you valuable insight into everything from customer feedback to staff culture, meaning you no longer have to rely solely on the ‘sales pitch’ provided by the business owner.

06-12-2013

Buying into a franchise can be a great alternative to starting a new business. If you choose the right franchise you can considerably increase your chances of success, but there are a few common mistakes that you should be sure to avoid.

27-09-2013

Have you ever wondered about the difference between licensing a business and franchising a business? It’s a common question and while franchising and licensing do have some similarities, they also have some crucial differences that you need to understand before you can decide which direction you should take in your business career.

Partnering with a successful and established business via a franchise agreement can be a wonderful opportunity, but not all franchises are created equal, and with your business future at stake, it pays to recognise the signs of a strong franchise so that you can align yourself with the best business possible.

18-09-2013

A franchise can be a great introduction to small business ownership, allowing you to leverage the established brand of an already successful business. But how do you decide whether to buy a new franchise (what is known as a Greenfield in the Kwik Kopy system) or buy into an existing one? There are a unique set of opportunities and challenges to both options.

14-06-2013

To help you succeed in your new business, it’s really important to have a business plan. A business plan will help you set the direction for your business, provide focus for your actions and give you something to measure your results against. We recommend you prepare your plan progressively as you investigate the franchise. You will find this provides a structured way to understand the business, clarify what will make it successful and assess the franchise opportunity. This article provides some suggestions for approaching the first three areas above. In our next article we’ll look at the fourth area, the financial aspects and working with your accountant and bank.

15-05-2013

First published in Franchising Magazine, 7th May.
Article by Domini Stuart.
Print and signage are both about communication – and both have been changing fast. In print there was a major shift around five years ago when big, offset printers were replaced by digital alternatives. Suddenly, business owners had no need for a dedicated operator and, as digital machines are also much neater and cleaner, their outlets took on the look and feel of service centres rather than manufacturing plants.

29-04-2013

When people are thinking of buying a franchise, one question they usually ask is “How much money can I make?” But, the answer is, “it depends”. It depends on how good they are at running it.

But that’s not very helpful when it comes to deciding whether to buy a franchise or not. We all need money to pay the bills, so you need to get an idea of whether you can make a decent living from the franchise you’re considering.