Franchise Guru Blog

Another school year is in full swing, and another summer is long gone. For some business owners, that means their season is winding down, too. Seasonal franchises have some real pros and a few things to consider before you dive in head-first. 

Seasonal businesses are those that are typically operational only during a short timeframe during the year, like landscaping, holiday lights, and taxes. Some are profitable enough that you only need to operate a few months out of the year and take the rest of the year off. While that sounds great, your team better be ready to hustle in season. 

Some entrepreneurs recognize the benefit of complimentary seasonal franchises that operate in different seasons. For example, a painting company could hang holiday lights, or a landscape company could plow snow. This provides year-round work for employees and fewer peaks and valleys for the franchisee. 

If you want to take off the summers or the winters as a franchisee, a seasonal business may be a good option to consider.  Wouldn’t it be nice to have November through March to spend the holidays with family, while marketing kicks into gear to generate immediate revenue when the season starts?  Equally so, tutoring winds down during the summer months, allowing for full-on fun with the family.

Let’s talk about your options and preferences… this is your time to choose! Click here to schedule a conversation.

Owning a Franchise is not a “one size fits all” type of scenario. Everyone has a unique set of skills and tools for running a business, as well as unique financial conditions and family life.  A franchise can be a great job replacement, or a diversification strategy, but no franchise is the right fit for all.

A growing percentage of franchise owners want to own a business with the goal of keeping their career focus while hiring a manager to operate their business on a daily basis. This means the owner has a semi-absentee role as overseer of execution of a proven strategy, which allows them to hire “industry experts” who have the specific training and experience. This freedom allows the owner (you) the ability to grow other business ventures. They utilized the franchise model to open a business with guard rails and a play book, in order to achieve their Goals and Dreams, while keeping the integrity of outside income.

The growth and demonstrated success of these Investor/Executive franchise business models exists alongside the equally proven model of the Owner-Operator franchises.  Some owners are a great fit for the Technician role, and want a business that they are excited to run every day.  It may surprise you how many industries are represented in franchising, and really the options are endless.  That said, no two owners are exactly alike, and that is why, as franchise concepts evolve, they come to know what personality prototypes and skill sets will be most successful as they expand their footprint. 

When we work together, my goal is to help you assess your preferences, skill sets, aptitude, financial capacity, risk profile, and personal goals.  Maybe your management style is to delegate responsibility to skilled and capable employees.  You would be suited to invest less time in the business, and more time ON building your empire.  Others want something simple, fewer moving parts, and will replace their income from a past job by following the recipe and executing a solid system.  It really depends on you, and how you want to spend your time to become financially rewarded, successful, and happy. 

Thanks to the myriad of franchise business models available, there is likely a potential option available to you that will meet your unique requirements. The key is being open minded, willing to try on different roles and responsibilities, until we land on the right one for your personal and professional success. 

Let’s talk, and I will listen to what matters to you.  Together we will research affordable, essential, successful companies, so that the best business for you is truly allowing you to fulfill the ownership role that you will be happy with for years to come. Click here to schedule a meeting.

Since the start of COVID, which technically began in March 2020, franchise success stories continue to emerge. It is clear that a new category of business description emerged that I call “pandemic-proof.” I used to think that a really solid concept was recession-proof and Amazon resistant, but that clearly isn’t enough.

As a business owner of both franchise and independent opportunities, I immediately felt the pain of the pandemic. One of my investments is a character company, providing on-site entertainment for business and family parties. Anyone holding an in-person event these days? Another past investment was in five locations of Great Clips, a haircare franchise. Again, doors closed. Another one of my companies was deemed “Essential” by the US Government, but Illinois and Wisconsin disagreed and our employees were prevented from working. I know PPP, PPE, and EIDL inside and out!

So where is the Silver Lining?

Now that most municipalities have reopened for business, there are amazing success stories emerging. If you want sexy and hot, get ready. You’ll have to rejigger your thinking to “making money” is sexy.

Here are some of the industries that were already stable and are growing, or growing substantially, during this pandemic:
• Cost Savings for cash-strapped people, like expense reduction of utilities; insulating houses and windows
• Insurance Claims: think Mother Nature storm-related roof, siding or gutter damage; trees down; water damage, etc.
• Human Testing: it used to be random drug testing for work, now it’s COVID testing and antibodies
• Tutoring and Enrichment: young and older, now that in-person education and activities have gone virtual
• Pet care and pet supplies: a lot of dogs were adopted during COVID!
• Junk Removal, Moving, and Storage: for people who cleaned house, or had to downsize
• Home Renovation and Repair: plumbing, electric, HVAC, window treatment, carpeting/flooring
• Outsourcing labor: back-office support has gone virtual; contract and temporary jobs are up.
• Fitness: have you gained the COVID-19? Virtual classes are very effective and memberships are stable.

I run a monthly Franchise Business Owner Networking group that shares best practices. Now that we have moved into a Zoom Economy, I am fascinated to hear how technology has changed the business landscape, how comfortable these owners are leveraging virtual meetings to connect with new and existing customers, and how some of them may not need to go back to in-person meetings in order to remain successful. My owners talk about their Month Over Month, or Year Over Year, growth numbers. When I heard 700-800% year over year gains, I jumped for joy!

It is clear that COVID has NOT disrupted every business, but has strengthened many.

Curious to learn more? #taketheleap