Five skills franchisors really want

Five skills franchisors really want by Sandy Purewal Think you’ve found a franchise that works for you? Time to seal the deal…There’s much more to starting your own franchise than simply selecting a great company to work for. Selling your own skills is just as important in securing the right opportunity for you, and get the crucial backing you need to make your own business a big success.To help you stand out from the crowd, here are five things that every franchisor wants in an ideal franchisee:EnergyFor any new franchisee, the responsibility for business growth should be the number one priority.You will need to be passionate and excited about your venture, so that you can push it forward. Jeremy Neale, Managing Director of Driver Hire has recognised a key skill amongst all Driver Hire franchisees:‘All successful franchisees are energetic. They don’t need to know a lot about the business before they start â€" they can be taught all of that â€" if they have got lots of energy and they are passionate a bout the business, then they will succeed.’Excellent communication skillsStrong conversational and interpersonal skills must feature in every franchisees repertoire.Great communicators are particularly important for anyone looking to build their own business because they can build relationships with customers and forge friendships within the franchise community.Skilled communications also know when to talk and when to listen, whether it’s working on their own or heading up a larger team, ensuring they’re fully equipped to lead their business to success.DedicationTo get your franchise off the ground you will need to work hard, harder still if you are going into franchising full time.Chris Edworthy, Bartercard franchisee, stresses that a good franchise owner should be ‘hardworking, dedicated and should believe in the product that they are selling’. No exceptions.Remember: A short term investment of time and effort, especially when setting up your franchise business, will pay back in the long term, not to mention prove vital in securing yourself the best chance of joining the 92% of profitable franchises in the UK.CreativityFranchising works by following a plan. A plan that has been tried, tested and implemented to give the business the best chance of success. However, never underestimate the importance of innovative thinking in helping to creatively develop your business.Aaron Stewart, franchisee of three Marston’s Pubs with his partner, and the brains behind Marston’s popular new wedding package shares his secret: ‘we always give Marston’s new ideas to think about and they will give you the go ahead if you can prove it will be profitable for both partners’.As a franchisee, having your own ‘light-bulb moment’ could be the key to getting yourself noticed for all the right reasons.Confidence in their own skill setNo matter what industry you’re used to, the skills you’ve gained from work or study will often prove beneficial on the road to becoming a franchisee.Jamie Hickson, Kare Plus Chester franchisee, comments: ‘I worked for a blue chip company for six or seven years and certainly migrated that experience and skill set into the business that I’ve got now.’Jamie advises that you should break down your skillset and ask yourself questions about your own experiences. Are you good at sales and management, for example? If so, how can you demonstrate these skills to franchisors in a tangible way?Be confident in your own skills, and so will your franchisor.