The great thing about a franchise is that training is part of the package. But before you sign up how can you evaluate the training provided?
When you start up your own business, the learning curve is immense, so an ongoing training program is a powerful weapon in your business armoury as a franchisee. There would hardly be a franchise network today that doesnÕt provide a training package for incoming franchisees, and many offer further training opportunities through the life of the franchise.
No template of the ideal franchise training program exists though, so itÕs down to the individual to judge whether the knowledge and method of delivery on offer will meet their needs.
Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses, for instance, has a dedicated training team which takes new franchisees through an intensive induction and training schedule in the month before opening. This is followed by up to three weeks of hands-on, in-store training and regular ongoing support.
Chris Ferguson, retail manager, Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses says one of the best ways to gain insights into a training program is to go straight to the source.
“IÕd recommend people considering a franchise to get in touch with a couple of the groupÕs existing franchisees. The most honest evaluation of an effective training program will come from franchisees who have done the training themselves and seen first hand how itÕs prepared them for running the business. Many of our franchisees have joined Ferguson Plarre after positive endorsements from our existing network,” says Ferguson.
“Our average franchisee has been with the group for over eight years. We feel it is a pretty good indication that our initial training and our ongoing support is effective in helping them not just run their business, but hone it over time for continued growth.
“Organic growth is also a good indicator that the franchise model and the support being offered is working well. If you have franchisees asking for a second or third franchise, you know youÕre doing something right.”
Easy to understand training
The franchise consultancy Sherpa Group suggests franchisees should also evaluate the delivery of the training programs. Look for a balance between practical and theoretical elements in the training, and find out if franchisees have found the program engaging, enjoyable, memorable and easy to understand.
Head sherpa, Vicki Prout, says relevant case studies combined with personal experiences greatly assist in the learning. Franchisors can also include franchisees, suppliers and business advisers in the line-up of training providers, she suggests.
“Bringing in external people for training is also a good idea; it breaks up the sessions and allows the franchisee to interact with different people in the franchise network. This could be a supplier, or software provider, a legal or accountant adviser, or could be another franchisee,” she says.
Franchisees who have an opportunity to meet external partners in the business instantly begin to feel a part of the franchise network, Prout adds.
12 key points to consider
- How intensive is the initial training period?
- Will the training be available when you need it?
- Is the training skills based?
- Will you need to get certification for technical skills?
- Will there be small business training included?
- For a retail business, will there be on-site training?
- Are initial training costs included in the upfront fee?
- How can franchisees source ongoing training?
- What training is available for managers and staff?
- Does the franchisor make training modules available online?
- Who runs the training and how qualified are they?
- What do existing franchisees say about the training?