How many franchisees that fail do so because they have a service they don’t need? Not many. As you run through a long list of potential hazards, one reason emerges loud and clear: You need an effective management team. Why are some more successful than others? Again, whether it’s yourself or someone you hire, make sure whoever runs your business is doing it in the most efficient way possible to make or break your business, so don’t take any chances.

Must BE A GOOD MANAGER, TOO

Even if you’re working more on ownership and building capacity of your business, making sure you’re in control and able to run the franchise yourself is vital to success. If you’re going to hire, train, and work with management in a way that still follows the rules and guidelines set forth by your own franchise, you need to be able to show effective leadership first and foremost. Being optimistic and motivating is part of the puzzle, while maintaining a strict sense of discipline and managing time and money are the other parts.

keep them informed

As the franchise changes the rules, promotions, and the way they do things, you must also evolve the way you communicate with your management team. From there, they’ll follow your lead on how to lead, but also how to communicate with customer service people to ensure everything follows the business plan laid out in your original agreement. Take a very active role in your business and don’t assume your management team is fine working alone. Consistent commitment, even if you’re hiring on a team, is something many fail to deliver, and this can become a big problem. Owners who are involved and who interact seamlessly with both management and staff definitely have an advantage over those who don’t. Being able to get to know your customers, how the staff treats them directly, keeps things running smoothly and helps you maintain production and profits.

practical training

An employee who knows the owner is an employee who knows that his job is safe, yes, but also that things have to be done the way they have been planned. A hands-on owner makes for a much more stable and hands-on management team, and this carries over to every employee in your company. Feeling a sense of camaraderie and pride in a job well done can often mean the difference between a motivated and productive staff and less than optimal performance and customer service.

Staying involved in all aspects of your business will not only keep you on top of things as they happen, but will also let your staff see your own pride and dedication to what you’re doing.