Diversification

Making the Decision to Franchise

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When looking into franchising opportunities, it’s imperative that you develop a good feel for the company and the brand itself before making your final decision. Franchising is not a get-rich-quick solution, although if you work at it, you can certainly be successful. Just like starting any business, though, it is an investment – one that could change your life. So, do your research and get your feet wet before jumping right in! Here are some tips to review before taking the plunge.

1. Speak to existing franchisees (as many as you can). Even pay them a visit if it’s feasible. Make up a list of questions that could help you determine whether the franchise is for you or not. Ask questions like, ‘Why did you choose to franchise here?’ or ‘What did you do before you started with the company?’ or ‘How has this choice affected your day-to-day life?’ And lastly, one of the best questions to ask is, ‘If you could do it all over again, would you?’ This will allow you to get to know the franchise owner on a personal level, so you can relate to him or her and get a feel for whether or not the franchise brand in question would suit your lifestyle, values, and direction.

2. Next, talk business. Ask about franchise costs and revenue, how long it has taken other franchise owners to get where they are now, how they deal with their employees and what they are paid, etc. These are all questions that you can reference if you decide to buy into the company in the future; and the answers you receive will allow you to get a sense of how successful you could be.

3. Create a rating system. Another way to gauge their experience with the company is to ask franchisees to rate, on a scale of 1 to 10, how they feel about various aspects of the business. This could include anything from how useful initial training was to how effective the systems are. If you speak to a handful of franchisees and their ratings are similar, you can begin to rely on the numbers and develop a well-researched picture of what to expect. You can also do some digging to see if there are any reports, such as this one, where Franchise Business Review rates Weed Man.

4. Use the tools at your disposal. In today’s technology-driven world, the Internet is a great resource for doing research. Aside from speaking with franchisees, get online and check out the company website, customer reviews and how they compare to their competitors. Be thorough when reading over any important documents, such as the business plan and what your investment includes, so you can grasp where your money is going and what you’ll get out of it.

5. Don’t forget to reflect. Lastly, when all of your research is done, take some time to reflect on your findings. Determine whether you can relate to the company and the franchisees, whether you see yourself being successful with the material provided and whether or not you would enjoy owning a franchise with the company. If you are confident that the company can help you achieve your dreams and goals, you’ve got a winner!

If owning a business is something that you’ve seriously considered, or if you already own a business and are looking for an additional profit center, Weed Man is a great option. We would be happy to meet you, guide you and help you form a strategic partnership! For more information on franchising with Weed Man USA, visit http://www.weedmanfranchise.com.

Making the Move to Franchise Ownership

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ImageWe recently had a Q & A with Weed Man sub franchisor Phil Fogarty. Fogarty owned a lawn service company for years before transitioning into Weed Man franchise ownership. Find out why he decided to make the move and how Weed Man’s systems have helped him achieve both personal and business success.

1. Tell us about how, when, where, and why you got into your non-Weed Man business. Why did you want to start your own company?

I think it’s noteworthy to mention that I am in the lawn care business because I was very allergic to grass. To ensure my mother’s lawn didn’t need to be mowed often during the summer, I would cut it as low as I could and never water it. When I had brought it to the brink of destruction, she called in a local lawn guy, Crowley’s Lawn Service, to fix it. Mr. Crowley eventually became a family friend.

Back then I was working nights and going to school for marketing during the day. Mr. Crowley asked me if I wanted to learn the business and buy him out in a few years. So I quit school and started learning how to make grass grow.

2. What attracted you to Weed Man initially?

During my years learning and growing Crowley’s Lawn Service, I realized how difficult it was to create the systems it takes to make a business successful. There was no road map and no support. It was just me winging it as I went along each week. After I attended a seminar, I would want to change everything and try a new process. I drove everyone who worked for me crazy with the latest ideas and wasted a ton of time.

After we sold Crowley’s to a big brand name, I had the opportunity to start all over with a clean slate. The thought of having to create new marketing, admin and technical systems was overwhelming. Like an answer to a prayer I got a call from an industry friend who asked me to check out this company called Weed Man. After the first meeting, I realized the systems that Weed Man had created were the best I had ever seen and far better than anything I would have the time to create on my own. Add a product line that I would never be able to afford to use for my customers independently and I was ready to get started.

3. How has Weed Man helped your franchise succeed?

Weed Man simplifies the process. There is an incredible planning system that creates a road map to success. Step by step, week by week, line by line…all we have to do is work the plan.

Tracking keeps us from duplicating efforts and helps us to focus on what really matters to the customer. The systems make it simple to add new customers as we take great care of our current ones. Everything is scalable and allows us to see continued growth for years into the future.

Without the systems of Weed Man, we would have maxed out a long time ago…way short of the potential our market has.

4. What would you say to candidates considering diversifying with Weed Man? How would you help eliminate their fears? 

As I network with other Weed Man franchisees, there are at least 2 universal thoughts we all share. First, the training and support that we have received from Weed Man has made us better business people. We are better at running not only our Weed Man operations, but our other businesses that may be related as well (we have many landscape and pest control folks who have diversified). Second, we all wished we would have come across Weed Man sooner. We would be that much further ahead.

It’s always challenging to start something new and grow beyond where you thought you could. With a partner like Weed Man, getting to the next level seems like a natural step on your way to realizing your business dreams.

Find out if Weed Man is right for you. Contact us today for your free consultation:
1-888-321-9333