Each day we hear of companies entering the franchising industry. This is good news for America, right? Well, yes and know. Yes, because franchising is the closest thing to the spirit of free enterprise as any other method of doing business and because franchising offers small business people advantages that they would not normally have in pursuing their American Dream. However it is unfortunate but true that the average Franchisor failure rate is 5:1 in five years. Meaning they are gone out of business in that short amount of time. This is horrific news really. Why is this? Well most often it is due to over regulation, junk lawsuits, under capitalization or greed. Having played in the franchising industry I have seen it all.
Recently I had, had enough of the crap of beating my head against the wall, sure the money is excellent if you have a good concept and we certainly do; www.CarWashGuys.com ; but we found it was easier to make more money and keep more by not growing thru franchising. In franchising you can grow faster, in a 4-year period we went from 4 states to operations and franchised outlets in over 23 states. My point is that there are just too many lawyers and regulations for one to actually believe that anyone in government actually believes in free enterprise, to think they do is a bogus notion indeed.
In our company we are not currently offering franchises to the public. Our focus is to set up company owned units across the US and eventually the world and since I have retired the team will have to do it on their own, sure a few phone calls here and there for moral support or advice, but it just is not worth dealing with that level of bureaucracy and over lititigiousness. We may franchise in other countries but the United States being regulated by the Federal Trade Commission has their heads up their asses and it makes no sense in America anymore. Generally this business decision was made due to many following factors, some of which are listed below:
Sarbaines Oxley Law and Accounting Reporting Cost Increases,
Over Regulation in Franchising and Litigation,
Multiple State Franchise Registration Laws Out of Sync,
Disclosure Laws Hurting Company Proprietary Information,
Required Disclosures which Might Help International Terrorists,
Disclosure Laws, which Require the Giving Out of Personal Information About Franchisees.
Litigiousness of Franchising and Absence of Tort Reforms in the US and Canada,
Higher Profit Margins for the Company Running Our Own Units,
More Efficiency to Corral Our Competition,
More Latitude to Take on New National Account Business,
Better Service Standards for Current and Future Car Wash Customers,
More Control of Business Model and Less Red Tape
We have chosen a new strategy along the lines of a Starbucks, Home Depot, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Federal Express type scenario where we can exert more control and less red tape to insure higher standards and smoother business operations. Regretfully this does impact the small business community, franchise model and those who dream of owning their own franchise business. Over regulation usually does hurt the little guys and stifle competition and creates barriers to entry.
We are not the only franchisor who feels this way and if the failure rates for franchisors in our country are 5:1 it would behoove new entrants to the franchising industry to think long and hard before getting into the franchise game. If you do not have a million dollars going in, you should not go. If you have not proven your concept in many markets over various business cycles forget it. Additionally you may want to look at alternatives to franchising, because with all this over regulation you are not going to have any fun doing it. Think on this.
"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.worldthinktank.net/wttbbs
professional maid services Glencoe ..Are you thinking of starting a small pressure washer business... Read More
What unspoken message are you sending your clients and customers?... Read More
Think the best way to get more customers is to... Read More
What kinds of things effect mobile service businesses P and... Read More
In the 2003 Auto Laundry News Survey it was determined... Read More
You may be in Mail Order, Direct Mail, or you... Read More
Do you need grant funding for your nonprofit organization? If... Read More
We are noticing an increase in the length of time... Read More
No matter how small your small business is, it is... Read More
While I was hard at work last week, an everyday... Read More
E-mail and Internet use are integral parts of the typical... Read More
TRUTH IN THE LAWN MOWING INDUSTRYWe do not wish to... Read More
Business consulting opportunities might be just what your are looking... Read More
Time. As a small business owner, it's the commodity you... Read More
Support is critical for your small business survival. You may... Read More
I propose this thought on the subject of Franchisee territory... Read More
Doesn't it frustrate you when you've given good service, sometimes... Read More
A corporate shell could be liken to a house that... Read More
Whether your target audience is in your neighborhood or across... Read More
All franchises must meet the legal definition of a franchise... Read More
Top 3 Ways to Maximize Your Small Business Server Consulting... Read More
Data. Most people think it is a term relegated to... Read More
While driving through Pennsylvania farmland, you have probably noticed an... Read More
Franchising Corporations need to maintain an iron fist when it... Read More
Franchising is the fastest way to build small businesses, provide... Read More
last minute cleaning help Lincolnshire ..If you run a mobile car wash, mobile fleet washing... Read More
You make the decision to go into business and for... Read More
Why does consistency in the message have an effect on... Read More
Many ventures are faced with the challenging task of raising... Read More
There is a rather famous true story called "Acres of... Read More
I have to admit, I was curious. When I saw... Read More
-- The One Pager Shortcut Series --People do business with... Read More
As a home business proprietor, you may already realize why... Read More
At first blush this idea might be difficult to wrap... Read More
If you are in the professional car care business you... Read More
How do we keep track of our business deals?If you... Read More
One of the biggest excuses franchisees of home based and... Read More
Some of the very qualities that attract people to the... Read More
As small business managers, we juggle limited resources in a... Read More
Here are seven ways for owners of small businesses to... Read More
Cleaning concrete is tough and there is an easy way... Read More
There are almost as many opinions and views on marketing... Read More
Data. Most people think it is a term relegated to... Read More
In franchising an individual desirous of their own business will... Read More
In the heavy equipment cleaning business you can make good... Read More
Every business regardless of size needs a "Business Image Manual"... Read More
Commonly folks have asked me what the technical difference is... Read More
If I had $1.00 every time I heard someone say... Read More
One of the best ways to make money in the... Read More
The reason we Franchisors call it an exclusive territory is... Read More
Small Business |