topfranchise.net » Franchsing http://www.topfranchise.net Find the best franchise and business opportunities for sale with Top Franchise, the UK's #1 franchise database and portal. Discover the latest franchise industry news. Mon, 16 Jan 2012 10:37:45 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Biggest question business people ask us? http://www.topfranchise.net/2011/10/31/biggest-question-business-people-ask-us/ http://www.topfranchise.net/2011/10/31/biggest-question-business-people-ask-us/#comments Mon, 31 Oct 2011 09:59:29 +0000 Centrally http://www.topfranchise.net/?p=4155 SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Biggest question business people ask us?", url: "http://www.topfranchise.net/2011/10/31/biggest-question-business-people-ask-us/" });]]> Would I be able to franchise my business?
  1. Is the business replicable?
  2. Is the business unique?
  3. Is the business scaleable?
  4. Does the business offer unique solutions?
  5. Is the business plan proven and profitable?
  6. Does the business offer unique products?
  7. Can the business format be operated by trained individuals?

If the answers to the above questions 1 through to 7 are yes – then yes!

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]]> http://www.topfranchise.net/2011/10/31/biggest-question-business-people-ask-us/feed/ 0 “Mr Customer I do this (you’re looking for it) and that benefits you this way (which is where you want to be)…” http://www.topfranchise.net/2011/07/09/mr-customer-i-do-this-youre-looking-for-it-and-that-benefits-you-this-way-which-is-where-you-want-to-be/ http://www.topfranchise.net/2011/07/09/mr-customer-i-do-this-youre-looking-for-it-and-that-benefits-you-this-way-which-is-where-you-want-to-be/#comments Sat, 09 Jul 2011 06:52:11 +0000 Centrally http://www.topfranchise.net/?p=3956 SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "“Mr Customer I do this (you’re looking for it) and that benefits you this way (which is where you want to be)…”", url: "http://www.topfranchise.net/2011/07/09/mr-customer-i-do-this-youre-looking-for-it-and-that-benefits-you-this-way-which-is-where-you-want-to-be/" });]]> It’s important when developing your business proposition that it be clear and concise. It’s best to start by focusing on what the needs are of your target group and what they all have in common.
  • What do they all want that your business to do or provide?
  • Esoterically what is the most important to them?
  • What is it about the development of your proposition that will change things for them for the foreseeable future?

Once you’ve found the common denominating need you can determine what it is that they are in search of and develop your value proposition around that need. Keep in mind that your the purpose of your proposition is to identify and satisfy an unmet need that your target market possesses.

The answer to that question is easy. Your value proposition can equip you with the following benefits to your business:

  • Create a strong differential between you and your competitors
  • Increase not only the quantity but the quality of prospective leads
  • Gain market share in your targeted customers
  • Acquire enhancing tools that will help you close more business
  • Improve your operation efficiency

You can get started developing your proposition. Just remember that an effective proposition describes what you do in terms of tangible business results:

“Mr Customer I do this (you’re looking for it) and that benefits you this way (which is where you want to be)…”

It draws interest and shares a success story within a few words. Here is an example of one of the best value proposition that belongs to a sales consultant:

Our clients grow their business typically by a minimum of 30-50% over the previous year. They accomplish this without working 80 hour weeks and sacrificing their personal lives.

Now, that proposition has power and gets the required attention.

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]]> http://www.topfranchise.net/2011/07/09/mr-customer-i-do-this-youre-looking-for-it-and-that-benefits-you-this-way-which-is-where-you-want-to-be/feed/ 0 Franchise Consultants: the questions to ask. http://www.topfranchise.net/2011/07/09/franchise-consultants-the-questions-to-ask/ http://www.topfranchise.net/2011/07/09/franchise-consultants-the-questions-to-ask/#comments Sat, 09 Jul 2011 05:37:34 +0000 Centrally http://www.topfranchise.net/?p=3946 SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Franchise Consultants: the questions to ask.", url: "http://www.topfranchise.net/2011/07/09/franchise-consultants-the-questions-to-ask/" });]]>

Buying a franchise is a huge decision and it’s a complicated process to go through. Finding a franchise business consultant to guide you can seem like a great idea. Here are our top 10 questions to ask a consultant before asking them to help you…

  • What’s the fee structure – how much do they charge? If they say it’s a free service, it means they’re effectively working for the franchisors, because they’ll make nothing unless you buy one. Since starting up in business on your own without a franchise is a very real alternative, if the consultant is commission based, they’re very biased towards you buying a franchise from the moment you start talking to them.
  • How much commission do they earn? Find out what commission they are paid from each franchise that you’re interested in. Also find out the commission from other franchises that they’ve decided to exclude from your search. Should a franchise have been ruled out just because the consultant makes nothing?
  • How do you assess the suitability of clients to franchising – do you offer personality/suitability tests? There are many psychometric and behavioural tests available on the market today for reasonable cost. You can reasonably expect a good consultant to want to make sure you’re a great fit for franchising before trying to offer you a franchise. It’s such a big commitment that you don’t want to make a mistake that you’ll regret for years to come.
  • How many franchisees have you helped in the past? Ask to speak to a few – make sure they’re all from different franchises and talk to people who have been unsuccessful too, if you can. The secret here is find a broad spread of customers from the consultant to find out just how valuable the advice that you’ll soon be paying for has been to them.
  • Are you, or have you been, a franchisor, or working for a franchisor? If the franchise consultant has been a franchisor, or still is one, then she’s from the wrong side of the tracks as far as you’re concerned! The franchisors make money by selling franchises. They do not understand the challenges facing franchisees and will have no real empathy with your position, just a desire to get you to part with your hard-earned cash.
  • Have you been a franchisee yourself? Somebody who’s walked a few miles in your shoes will have a lot better understanding of your needs, your worries and your concerns. They’ll also be in a much better place to ask the tough questions of the franchisors and to help you hammer out a deal that works for you.
  •  Which franchises would he recommend you avoid? A good franchise business consultant will have found franchises that she does not like and will be happy to tell you which ones you should stay away from. That’s a key part of the relationship you’ll have with your consultant – the trust levels must be very high if you’re to enjoy a successful outcome.
  • Are franchise agreements ever negotiable? The right answer to this is yes! Although the bigger and more established franchisors will accept very little, if any, variation in their terms and conditions, newer and less developed franchises are looking to make sales. If they want to make a sale and you’ll only sign when certain conditions are met, that’s perfect conditions for a negotiation! A franchise business consultant who’s not aware of this, and who thinks the franchisor has all the power before the agreement is signed, should be avoided.
  • How will the consultant add value to your buying process? What materials, experience and advice will they bring to the table in order to earn their money? If they’re just acting as a broker and putting various franchises on the table, you can achieve the same ends yourself by going to a franchise show or browsing the franchise directories. They must have something more to offer.
  • What questions should I ask the franchisor? A good franchise business consultant will have a list of carefully prepared questions that help you get to the pertinent facts quickly and accurately. If they’ve just got a page with a few key points on it, the chances are that they’re just sales agents and not a lot more. For example, The Franchise Opportunity Workbook has over 20 pages of powerful questions to help you pull back the covers off your potential franchisors to make sure they really earn your investment.

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]]> http://www.topfranchise.net/2011/07/09/franchise-consultants-the-questions-to-ask/feed/ 0 So you think £100,000 is enough? Friends you need a business and you will find one here. http://www.topfranchise.net/2011/06/20/so-you-think-100000-is-enough-friends-you-need-business-and-you-will-find-one-here/ http://www.topfranchise.net/2011/06/20/so-you-think-100000-is-enough-friends-you-need-business-and-you-will-find-one-here/#comments Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:45:23 +0000 Centrally http://www.topfranchise.net/?p=3915 SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "So you think £100,000 is enough? Friends you need a business and you will find one here.", url: "http://www.topfranchise.net/2011/06/20/so-you-think-100000-is-enough-friends-you-need-business-and-you-will-find-one-here/" });]]> You probably wouldn’t have trouble spending £100,000.

But what looks like a huge sum is not so impressive when you consider what you might need for a comfortable retirement. Today, a pension pot of £100,000 saved throughout a working life would buy a 65-year-old non-smoker an annuity, or annual income, of £6,000 to £7,000 a year (or £580 a month), and that’s before tax.

And don’t forget inflation: as the cost of living rises, a fixed monthly sum will buy less and less. To avoid this, you can take out an annuity that allows your retirement income to rise in line with inflation. However, at least initially, you’ll have to accept a lower monthly pension for this safeguard.

Of course, most people will receive a state pension. In this tax year, the full basic rate – dependent on your having worked for many years – is £84.25 per week. Those on low incomes can also get pension credits. Knowing how much you need to live on in retirement – and therefore need to save – is now more important than ever. In the past, many workers belonged to final salary pension schemes, which guaranteed to pay out a percentage of their final wage. But many companies are now closing such schemes to new entrants and demanding higher contributions from all staff.

The £100,000 example cited above pays an income that, for many, won’t be enough to support their current standard of living. Yet it’s much greater than the average private pension savings pot amassed by Britons: industry estimates of this vary from £25,000 to £32,000.

YOU NEED A BUSINESS.

THAT’S WHAT YOU NEED!

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