Franchisees invest in franchise systems for many different reasons. One reason franchisees universally share is that they are joining something so they will not be alone to solve the myriad of business challenges they will face.
A business owner today needs to understand and deal with issues that just didn’t exist 25 years ago. From complicated tax issues, to complicated labor laws and insurance needs. In marketing alone: advertising, online, social media and public relations have all drastically changed the marketing dynamics.
Many feel franchise systems can provide assistance in these difficult areas. The reality is most franchisors are in a very different business than their franchisees. The business of running a franchised unit is extremely different that running a franchise system. Many of the franchisor’s employees including the C-Suite level have never operated a franchised unit. Most C-Suite’s change every 5-7 years. The institutional memory is lost to the franchisor but remains with the franchisees that tend to be in the system longer that many of the employees of the franchisor.
The reality is franchisors are in a different business and have an entirely different set of challenges that are not a part of running a franchised unit.
Independent Franchisee Associations (IndFA) typically form from the imbalance in the relationship. A single unit franchisee may have a difficult time changing the status quo on their own. Many of the multi-unit franchisees feel they have different needs, yet they also have the same serious concerns about their investment because of the way onerous franchise agreements are.
Most IndFA’s talk about creating one voice, creating more leverage in negotiations, developing resources to defend franchisee from predatory franchisor practices. Franchisees typically don’t have the knowledge on how to set-up an IndFA. Some franchisees were members of a union so they understand that 1+1=3, and the unions empower workers to act as one they could do the same for franchisees. But most franchisees come from the corporate world and have little experience running a small business.
Franchisees run a business and as stakeholders, they are directly affected by the customer’s perception of the brand. Although many of the reasons listed above are all good reasons to form an IndFA. The most important reason to create a franchisee association is the need and power of creating a shared knowledge base of the branded business from the franchisee perspective. That is something very hard to obtain other than forming an IndFA. Most Franchisee Advisory Councils don’t even let franchisees take notes, never mind discussing the matter in full.
Forming an IndFA is easier said than done, but the benefits of Independent Branded Trade Association can help the stakeholders in the brand improve the product, profitability, market share and brand recognition.
Branded Trade Associations can help foster collaboration seek transparency and empower franchisees to have a positive impact on the brand they have chosen and have dedicated their money, heart, and soul.
When I run into a franchisee, and they ask me why they should form a franchisee association my typical answer today is “if you want to succeed, decades to come, you don’t have a choice. You must unite franchisees as an essential part of the successful franchise systems to ensure that the franchisees have as much knowledge of the business and the future risks of running the franchised units.” Otherwise, you are putting your business lifeline in the hands of someone that is in a different business and possess an onerous franchise agreement that offers you nothing more than my way or the highway.
Forming an Independent Franchisee Trade Association will not solve all issues, there are multiple sides in the franchise relationship, vendors, franchisees, franchisor, customers, employees, and suppliers. What matters is the Association will be able to share similar experiences from other franchisees. Independent Franchisee Trade Associations will provide you access to information to help you have a say in the direction the brand and company may take.
At Franchise Perfection we help interested parties to form independent franchisee associations. We provide startup and ongoing management services necessary to establish and operate independent franchisee associations.
For more information contact Jim Coen at jim@franchiseperfection.com or call 617-469-3002.