Training is a fundamental element of establishing a new franchisee in their business. Each franchise brand will have its own training schedule and focus on what’s most relevant and important for incoming franchisees to learn.

Here we get an insight into the five key areas highlighted by OzSpy, which is right now looking to expand across greater Western Sydney.

1. Online bookkeeping course

A key area in every business is keeping your books in order and complying with tax obligations and this is one of the greatest challenges facing new business owners.

OzSpy provides a registered third party online course that introduces franchisees to MYOB and helps them achieve bookkeeping basics.

This training usually takes place while the fit out and licencing are being put into place.

As back-up franchisees can get help from the head office accounts manager or choose to take up a bookkeeping service that OzSpy delivers from $20 per hour

Craig Mitchell, OzSpy director, says “A good business operator always needs to understand their obligations and what their paid team members are doing.”

2. Two week induction

The all-important quoting and sales tools (plus a little bit of stock management) are revealed in the fortnight that new franchisees spend in the corporate store working with high performing operators.

“During this stage you will meet our head office team and get to see how easy quoting security systems is once you know our simple formulas developed over the last 20 years. But be prepared as this can be a hectic two weeks,” says Mitchell.

3. OzSpy intranet courses

Learning about the basics such as marketing and stock management is done online, based on the company’s intranet set. This allows franchisees to learn in their own time and at their own pace.

Included in the course is a section on selling installed security systems.

Mitchell says the intranet courses are broad based.

“Learn everything from managing your top five profit accelerators to how to handle stress when things get too busy, with each course having PDF documents you can print or keep so you can stay on top of everything you need,” he says.

4. Learning on the job

Once the day to open the business approaches, franchisees have the backup support of Mitchell and the accounts manager on hand to ensure the new skills learned can be applied in the business.

5. Mentoring

Mitchell says within the first few months he is in contact with franchisees every few days to discuss how they can apply all their acquired knowledge you have acquired.

“This mentoring is available as long as you need it, however we find that after a few months, the conversations become more about a casual chat every week or so, rather that the need for training,” he says.