Franchise owner Job Information | National Careers Service

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Franchise owner

Hours

Variable
Starting salary

Variable

A franchise is an arrangement between an established company (the franchiser) and a local operator (the franchise owner, often known as a 'franchisee'). As a franchisee, you would be self-employed and own the business, but you would benefit from your products or services already being familiar to the public. If you are confident, motivated and determined to be successful in business, this could be ideal for you.

To be a good franchisee you should also have good business sense. You should be a good organiser of people. You should also have the maths skills to be able to keep accounts.

You don't need formal qualifications to run most franchises, but you may find it helpful if you have some business skills in areas like people management and basic accounting. You will need access to money to buy the franchise and pay the franchiser's fees.

The work

Many types of business are run as franchises, in particular:

convenience stores
food take-aways
printing
professional cleaning services
hairdressers
parcel delivery
estate agents
recruitment consultancies.

You would pay an initial fee to use the franchise brand and products, and then pay the franchiser a regular management service fee based on a percentage of your turnover. In return, the franchising company would provide you with training, guidelines for running and advertising the business, and any stock, equipment and shop fittings that you might need.

Hours

Your hours would depend on the type of franchise you ran, but you are likely to need to put in long hours to make your business succeed.

Your working environment would also vary according to the type of franchise – you could be running a high street shop, travelling to customers in a mobile business van, or working from home.

Income

Your profits (and therefore your income) will depend on the type and size of franchise, and how much effort you put into making the business work.

Entry requirements

You don't need formal qualifications to run most franchises, but you would be at an advantage with some business skills in areas like people management and basic accounting.

You often do not need any direct experience of the business that you are running (as training is provided), but previous work experience in sales, management and customer service would be useful.

You will need enough money to buy the franchise and pay the franchiser's fees. Few franchises are available for less than £5,000, and the average start-up cost is between £20,000 and £50,000.

If you are thinking of running a franchise and would like some advice, you could contact the British Franchise Association, which runs seminars, provides information and approves franchising companies.

Before you buy a franchise, you may find it useful to take a short business start-up course run by a local college, adult education centre or enterprise organisation. You can also get business start-up advice and training from the Business Link network (in England), Invest Northern Ireland, Business Support Wales or Scottish Enterprise.

Training and development

All franchising companies will offer you some initial training. Some franchisers will also train your employees and provide ongoing training as part of the franchise agreement.

Training is likely to include:

operating the business to the required standard
sales skills
product knowledge, pricing and marketing
finance, administration and customer relations.

You could choose to work towards qualifications aimed at people running their own business, such as:

NVQ Level 3 in Starting a New Business Enterprise
NVQ Level 4 in Developing an Established Business Enterprise.

You can also get ongoing business development support and advice from organisations like the Business Link network.

Skills and knowledge

To be a franchise owner you should have:

motivation and determination
good business sense
excellent organisational skills
willingness to follow the franchise company's rules and guidelines
an understanding of budgets and accounts
the confidence to market and promote your own business
good communication skills
the stamina to cope with working long hours
the ability to manage and motivate employees.

More information

British Franchise Association (Opens new window)
A2 Danebrook Court
Oxford Office Village
Langford Lane
Oxford
OX5 1LQ
Tel: 01865 379892
www.thebfa.org

Franchise Development Services Ltd (Opens new window)
Franchise House
56 Surrey Street
Norwich
NR1 3FD
Tel: 01603 620301
www.fdsfranchise.com

Business Link (Opens new window)
Tel: 0845 600 9006
www.businesslink.gov.uk

Invest Northern Ireland (Opens new window)
Tel: 028 9023 9090
www.investni.com

Business Support Wales (Opens new window)
Tel: 08457 969798
http://fs4b.wales.gov.uk

Scottish Enterprise (Opens new window)
Tel: 0845 607 8787
www.scottish-enterprise.com

Opportunities

Over 700 franchise systems are operating in the UK, including many well-known businesses.

You can find information about available franchises from Franchise Development Services, from franchise exhibitions and The Franchise Magazine.

The Franchise Magazine

Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.

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