The Franchising Decision

When starting a business, a person quickly faces a decision: Do they want to take the franchise route or the independent route?

Here are some questions that a prospective business owner asks when making this decision.

Should I buy into a system that already exists? Or should I build everything from scratch?

Do I want to follow a template? Or should I create my own format?

Do I want the stability and security that comes with running something that’s already been proven? Or do I want the autonomy to prove it on my own?

Should I follow established best practices? Or develop and iterate my own best practices?

Do I want to leverage an existing brand? Or establish and build a new brand?

Do I want to have my marketing done by head office elsewhere in the world? Or control my marketing and run my own experiments?

Do I want to tap into national advertising campaigns, promotions, loyalty, sponsorships, etc.? Or do I want to create a unique brand that I’m proud of?

Do I leverage a supply chain network where decisions have already been made? Or build my own relationships and create my own network of suppliers?

Do I want to put the ideas of others into place? Or should I act on my own ideas?

Do I want a head office to respond to changing market conditions? Or do I want to be free to adapt and evolve the way I see fit?

Do I want to manage a business that is someone else’s vision? Or do I want to create my own vision?

Do I want my business to move at someone else’s pace? Or do I want to move quickly and be on the bleeding edge?

Am I an operator? Or am I an entrepreneur?

Do I focus on making my location just like every other location to ensure consistency? Or do I focus on making my business unique and special?

Do I want to essentially “buy myself a job”? Or do I want to do things differently?

Do I think others have already figured it out? Or do I think there’s a better way?

To each their own. When it comes to what you want to do with your time, we are all different. Some may want the security of a franchise. They may be more interested in running an operation than doing their own thing.

When it comes to where I spend my money, I like the places where someone has made the decision to go independent. I like supporting businesses that have decided to push the boundaries and pursue their vision.

For example, I like that entrepreneurs like Obby Khan decided to go with his own spot, Green Carrot, rather than buying some Booster Juice franchise locations. It’s clear Obby isn’t just interested in operating any juice company. Instead he wants to create his juice company his way. To do things he likes; to make his own success. It’s difficult to choose the independent path, especially when the franchise path offers so much help.

When you’re inside an independent business, remind yourself that you’re seeing the owner’s vision. Everything in there was chosen by them, not decided by a head office in another city. I want to support businesses taking chances and doing things differently. I want to support the original ideas and efforts put forward by the people in our community.

Thumbnail photo from @greencarrotjuiceco Instagram