easier for franchisees to manage their
expenses.
“You can start your new franchise business
as soon as you make your initial investment
because you don't need to hire staff,
purchase equipment, research and lease
storefront locations … All you need is a
computer, a phone line, and internet access,”
saidCruiseOne's Fiorino.
Because low-cost franchises are so often
owner-operated, it's more likely that
franchisees in some fields will actually get to
do what they enjoy—personal training,
work with children, photography, for
example—rather than just managing a
bunch of employees. This is a great attribute
if you're someone who wants to be very
involved in your business, doing something
you are passionate about, but it can also be a
detriment if the business grows to demand
more of your operational oversight.
Along with the pros of a lower-cost
investment, there are many pros to
franchising. Franchisees that invest in a top
franchise get the benefits of an established
brand with a larger consumer pre-
sence/awareness, a proven operational
system, and the expertise, training, and
support of an experienced corporate office.
This kind of franchise support is
particularly important in businesses like
senior care, which require very specialized
skills to coordinate caregivers, manage
elderly care, and follow any state and
national regulations. HomeWell Senior
Care, for example, provides 4 weeks of
training to franchisees before opening, 8
weeks post-opening, and then weekly calls
with the home office to keep franchise
owners up-to-date. CEO Lori Yount says a
project manager is assigned to every
franchise owner that comes onboard.
“We have had a lot of success since we
implemented this training model, and
franchisees are experiencing a much faster
returnon their investment,”Yount said.
Many franchisees appreciate the “plug and
play” nature of franchising – franchisors
provide the technology platforms and
104 | BusinessWorld | August-September 2014
