Making the most of franchising

"Quite simply put, the right franchisor will be with one every step of the way since their success is one's success," explains Bronwyn Oliveira, brand manager of Maxi's, a chain of family restaurants across South Africa. "By buying into the chain, one will be investing in a growing and trusted franchise with a history of quality that it has spent years building and refining."

As one of South Africa's top performing franchise options it has been assisting entrepreneurs to realise their business dreams since 2005. It now has 66 outlets nationwide.

Work still required

While many people see franchising as a quick route to success, Oliveira is quick to point out that it takes just as much work as starting a business from scratch. Even though the mutual goal for both parties is success, the key driver in the business remains the franchisee. It is their determination, hard work and day-to-day management of operations, which contribute to the profitability of their stores.

"Ideally you can imagine that buying a franchise is similar to buying a business in a box, which is great for someone who is new to running their own business. The security that comes with the professional management support makes it easier to build success, but you still need to take the items out of the box, set them up and get them working in order to achieve your goals."

She also encourages interested entrepreneurs to do as much research as possible prior to making an investment and to speak to other franchisees. A brand's best ambassadors are their current franchisees as they can give potential investors great insight into the business as well as the day-to-day operations of running a store, and they can attest to the value the franchisor contributes to the working relationship, all-important aspects to consider before signing on the dotted line.

"Part of what makes this chain so successful is that we walk this journey with potential franchisees as far as we possibly can. We find that by offering entrepreneurs as much information and assistance as possible, they are better able to make an informed decision and more likely to join the 'family'," concludes Oliveira.

For more information, go to www.maxis.co.za.