Small Business Vs. Franchising Part 2- Which Do You Want?

Franchises: Levels of Opportunity
Franchising offers franchisees a level of opportunity which is not possible in regular businesses. A start-up venture with an established brand, as well as with the support of seasoned professionals, is a tremendous advantage to a business person. Yet many do not realize that varied levels of opportunity are available within franchising. Franchisors can offer the ‘standard’ franchise but there are also additional options for franchisees.
Types of Franchises
•A mini-model – suitable for those with less capital
•An ‘in advance’ option – allowing franchises to take on additional units based on future performance of the first location
•A large territory option – allowing an entrepreneur to become an area developer
•A master licensing option – in which an entire country or State is your playing field
Ideally, franchisees should enter at the most suitable level for their skills. Most franchisors will enjoy a challenge but nobody thrives in a business if they feel overwhelmed by the commitment. When you are exploring and comparing different franchises, understanding yourself is an invaluable asset.
Remember that a franchise is a long term commitment – maybe five or ten years. Although in regards to franchises, ‘commitment’ can be a relative term. Within the contractual commitment, the standard franchise is five years with the possibility of renewal for every 5 years subsequent to that period. The opportunities for renewal can extend up to a maximum of 15 to 30 years (and possibly ongoing) depending on the particular franchise.
Everyone does not have a clear understanding of franchise licenses. Many individuals are under the impression that franchises extend for an exact 15 or 25 years. Some people believe that franchises do not have an expiry date. The first franchise systems in North America did not have an expiry date. As franchisors leaned more about the industry, they realized that having ‘no expiry’ date was not favorable to franchising.
The ‘lifetime’ licenses ran into problems in two specific areas – locations and losses. When locations began to show signs of age, franchisees lost interest and became complacent about their business. Since a neglected franchise can weaken the entire franchising system, the failing business becomes an impediment to future sales on the customer and franchisee side.
In addition, older contracts neglected to enforce rules and regulations about modernization. New locations did not open and the brand could not experience consistent growth. The whole system was affected in a negative manner. The ‘lifetime’ licenses resulted in inadequate regional representation and often in failed franchises. Today’s licenses include guidelines which encourage the franchisee to stay current in the modern marketplace.
If current franchisees let their business run down or do not market it in a proper manner, they need not expect a renewal following the five-year period. Modern ‘renewable-on-conditions’ contracts help protect the investment of the franchisor and the franchisee. These contracts help maintain and increase the value of locations and ensure the health of the franchise. Since franchises are an extremely synergistic setup, the guidelines set up a winning scenario for the entire franchising system. Offering distinct levels of business opportunities, modern franchising is a flourishing industry.

What are the Features of a Business Phone System?

There are many business phone system’s features offered to household owners and small businesses. These features guarantee saving time, resources and hassle in the pursuit of augmenting productivity, flexibility and the caller and receiver’s experience of telephone communication. Most of the commonly used features are discussed in details:

Speed phone dialing is among the more established telephone features generally in most residential and also mobile phone systems enabling one-touch link to normally called numbers. This feature is ideal for saving quality time and avoiding searching through phone publications or listings. Speed calling can even be integrated into more substantial corporations as well as adjusted together with customer relationship management databases.

Speaker cell phone as well as conventional contacting mobile phone features can be obtained on most devices right now permitting numerous speakers, hands-free conversation as well as multi-tasking. This doesn’t only intensify employees’ productivity but also permit all your loved ones to enjoy communicating collectively. This not simply increases productiveness associated with workers but allows just about all associates of a loved ones to enjoy communicating collectively. Series of handset microphones that differ in models must be taken into accounts before purchasing certain feature.

The phone system that you have right now can also be synchronized with other office equipment such as landline handsets, fax machines, mobile phones or even your internet connections.

Voice phone System Features

Among the most commonly used phone features available with small business VoIP phone systems today are the video and audio webinar. Alongside with sending audio, this feature also enables to send data packets between callers through internet connection permitting real-time conversation whereas the caller can’t only hear but also see each other. The mere thing about this feature is that phone users necessitate microphone, speakers or headphones for the whole operation yet expose users to the world of highly personal communication from all sides of the globe.

Digital receptionists or automated voicemail have become one of the most well-known phone features at the present with vast corporations throughout the phone that saves thousands of dollars a year. The auto attendants contain wide range of pre-recorded messages and self transferring alternatives that automatically respond to your calls, meet buyers as well as
walk with them through departmental and employee connectivity alternatives.

Your VoIP phone system offers a selection of call waiting features that actively play both music and pre-recorded Ads to callers on hold that lengthen the silent waiting time and assure that callers will not experience being unattended or disregarded. The productivity of a sales offer or discount special during the time the customer is waiting has a conversion rate of 30% so not only reduces customer dissatisfaction but increases sales and profits of the business.