Would buying a franchise be worth it if you could earn $100/hr doing the work?

anon98210428 · August 30, 2010, 6:06pm

No, it just means youre never locked in. You could walk away anytime.

Infinity · August 30, 2010, 6:08pm

OK, I think I have it worked out in my head- I just edited my last post. take a look and see if I got it correct

anon98210428 · August 30, 2010, 6:09pm

Alex Lacey:

and how are we supposed to keep all profits above the fee, if the fee is a percentage? that’s a little confusing, too…

edit: I’m an idiot… of course you get to keep those profits- cuz its a percentage, as well. #3 just put the notion in my mind that it would be a fixed fee, and #5 contradicted that notion.

edit 2: Let me repeat this back to you and see if I got the idea right…

first, we pay a onetime fee for the company name, logo, etc. I imagine this would come with a fancy website, as well.

second, we pay a monthly fee, based 20% of gross income, for access to this super-duper marketing/managing machine

we pay for 50% of our own marketing costs, which i imagine would only be printing and distribution- as I hope design and consultation would be included in the fee above.

if we choose to opt out of the “machine”, we still keep the name, logo, etc- Correct?

In order for this all to work, I’m thinking that a little more than just the name and logo would have to be included as part of the buy-in, or it would have to be a relatively low fee.

and as has been said before, 20% of gross revenue would have to buy us something that we couldn’t get anywhere else. Not WCR, not even your WCMM site or private consultation.

Yeah it’s not ideally worded

anon98210428 · August 30, 2010, 6:25pm

Yup, sounds like what I would have in mind.

I might kick you out though if you decide to quit. In fact I probably would. If you’re in you’re in and if you’re out you’re out.

anon98210428 · August 30, 2010, 6:46pm

Why did I say “I”?

Sorry, this is all hypothetical

Bruce · August 30, 2010, 9:05pm

so kind of a combination wcmm and wcr print services (including mailing) but with a single brand name/company name?

anon98210428 · August 30, 2010, 10:36pm

Perhaps something like that, yes, bug with a much more scripted experience for the prospect for every single touch point, too. As well as a carefully engineered breakthrough brand. Would something like that be worth “signing up for” if it could deliver industry-leading profitable rates?

Bruce · August 31, 2010, 9:36am

Sure, two things that seem like they would come up

an independent person would have to change over to this new brand, perhaps making one feel they’ve lost their own identity, read: resistance
wouldn’t the brand always be at jeopardy since marketing is all the sizzle and it’s going to take consistent client fulfillment across the nation from umpteen personality types and sometimes complex architecural structures and or products inside (blinds, shades, storms)? Seems like it would lead into heavy policing/monitoring/whatever to be on top of it.

How would/could a service be consistent, with all the architectural styles across the nation(s) and the people performing the service at a customer’s own home working with the customer’s very own property as opposed to a assembling a 6 step product onsite out of customer view and handed to them (McD hamburger)?

Seems even the franchises do not have that extensive of a training porgram, usually 2 weeks

In other words, the power of a service brand of this type seems to be on the wobbliest legs - the vast and varied skill sets and strengths of the individuals in each area. Perhaps the thought is more along the lines of the experience like a restaraunt, but no matter how good the puffery around it, if the “steak don’t taste good”, there’s a problem

What kinds of approaches are you thinking that would circumvent these type of things?

anon98210428 · August 31, 2010, 11:50am

Bruce:

Sure, two things that seem like they would come up

an independent person would have to change over to this new brand, perhaps making one feel they’ve lost their own identity, read: resistance

wouldn’t the brand always be at jeopardy since marketing is all the sizzle and it’s going to take consistent client fulfillment across the nation from umpteen personality types and sometimes complex architecural structures and or products inside (blinds, shades, storms)? Seems like it would lead into heavy policing/monitoring/whatever to be on top of it.

How would/could a service be consistent, with all the architectural styles across the nation(s) and the people performing the service at a customer’s own home working with the customer’s very own property as opposed to a assembling a 6 step product onsite out of customer view and handed to them (McD hamburger)?

Seems even the franchises do not have that extensive of a training porgram, usually 2 weeks

In other words, the power of a service brand of this type seems to be on the wobbliest legs - the vast and varied skill sets and strengths of the individuals in each area. Perhaps the thought is more along the lines of the experience like a restaraunt, but no matter how good the puffery around it, if the “steak don’t taste good”, there’s a problem

What kinds of approaches are you thinking that would circumvent these type of things?

Good points, Bruce.

I don’t think you could ever achieve national
brand awareness. Far too expensive. Just localized branding and business growth.

There would also have to be barriers of entry to allow only qualified participants to be selected, as you said. And yes, the experience and deliverables would absolutely have to be there.

I think a very long selection and qualification process would be essential.

anon98210428 · August 31, 2010, 11:20pm

Well, thanks again to all who weighed in on this question.

I appreciate the candor and opinions.