Understanding the true heart of the franchise relationship – maintaining standards 

When a problem occurs in franchising – if there is one – it comesfrom inaccurate notions about the nature of the franchisor-franchiseerelationship. There has been litigation in the US after fra Read More

5 Tips to improve your working capital

Working capital is the life blood of any business. When you hear of businesses going into Business Rescue – fortunately not franchises to any extent– it’s often because they’re not turning ov Read More

How to overcome your innermost fears and grow your business

If you’ve ever been afraid of failing, it’s time to get over it. Fear is the no.1 reason people don’t ever start living, don’t start their own business. It can also be the reason your Read More

What to research when purchasing a franchise

We’re in a recession, right? Wrong! We were in a recession. The great thing about economic data is that it is historical, and frankly nobody needed the economic data to confirm what everyone knew: t Read More

5 ways to teach an old business new tricks

Do you have hidden gems concealed in your longstanding product offerings? Taking a new perspective on buying and selling patterns established over nearly quarter of a century at Cash Converters Southe Read More

Spring: time to grow your business!

Did your marketing go into hibernation this winter? Spring is the time to shake it up, get moving, and promote your business.Spring is a time for renewal for all of us, but for some franchise busines Read More

Why a franchise owner needs to be in the store

I recently had a conversation with a franchisee of  a popular burger brand, which highlighted the importance of the franchisee being hands-on on the shop floor as opposed to having a manager. She was Read More

Five ways to minimise shrinkage in a franchised business

Shrinkage is not confined to franchises – it is a global epidemic caused by theft, employee fraud, or admin errors. Nor is it confined to South Africa. According to Global Retail Theft Barometer’s Read More

It’s tax filing season again! Are you ready

It is tax season for individuals and entities such as trusts, institutions, boards and bodies and it kicks off on 1 July 2018. To stay on good side of the South African Revenue Service (SARS) here’s Read More

10 questions to ask to avoid a dodgy franchise deal

The promise of franchising is that you’ll be your own boss running your own business. And that is what mostly happens and franchising is arguably the most successful business model around. However, Read More

Franchisee tips on buying a franchise from the experts

Franchising is one of the best ways for successful business owners to rapidly expand their enterprises, and especially in South Africa, buying into a franchise is increasingly becoming a source of bus Read More

How to market locally – the franchisee’s role in marketing the business

Success or otherwise of a particular retail franchise depends primarily upon each franchisee’s local marketing efforts. When a franchisee markets his or her business among the local community, of co Read More

Five Tips for franchisees to adapt to a changing business environment

One often hears the cliché that the pace of business change is fast and getting faster. However, a 2015 report by The Economist magazine found that this was more perception than truth: “Business pe Read More

Don’t strong-arm reluctant heirs to join your franchise – it could backfire

One of the greatest challenges faced by a small business owner is succession planning. Franchise owners often want their kids – the “lucky sperm club”, as Warren Buffett calls it – to Read More

Social media tips for franchisees

According to an International Franchise Association (IFA) report published September 2017, the global franchise sector will grow in 2018 at a rate faster than the overall economy for the seventh conse Read More

How will you start 2018?

Many people commence each new year with a bright and shiny New Year’s resolution. For many, it’s to lose weight or be nicer to the spouse, and for others it’s to get a new job. But have you cons Read More

How to prosper in 2018

If you haven’t met your profit target for 2017 – there are ways to make up for it in 2018.For franchisees, it is often easier to make more profit by controlling costs, than by selling more. I Read More

Differences in personality between Entrepreneurs/Franchisors and Franchisees

There’s a saying that goes like this:“Franchisees speak with their families, co-workers, friends, hire consultants and develop bank-approved business plans to build a parachute before they jump o Read More

Franchise owner operator VS franchise investors

Aspiring business owners seeking to break into franchising are faced with two options: being an owner-operator or an absentee-owner. Franchisors are in little doubt as to which model they prefer – t Read More

Franchisee protection in the CPA

People who buy a franchise often do not have a background in running their own business and buy it with pension or retrenchment money, which is why buying a franchise is regulated by the Consumer Prot Read More

[Opinion Piece] Business essentials for start-ups

You have secured the finance, found the perfect location, and have signed a contract. Congratulations, you are now the owner of a business. For many business owners, the most important part is securin Read More

Tips to find the best location for your franchise

The rules of each franchise will govern the detail of finding a location for a new outlet. It is typically the responsibility of the franchisee to find a location that closely matches the conditions l Read More

The prerequisites to buy a franchise

The most commonly asked question regarding franchising is, “What is required of me to become a franchisee?” We are talking here of the prerequisites – things you will be required to show even be Read More

Meeting the franchisor – what to prepare

When you’re meeting a prospective franchisor for the first time, it’s a chance to have their undivided attention and you want to get the maximum out of the appointment. Here’s how to prepareR Read More

Five-step plan to thrive in tough times

In the likelihood of tough times ahead due to South Africa’s rating downgrade to Junk Status, franchises can do a thorough review of the marketing and branding touchpoints of their business, i.e., a Read More

Franchisee or Entrepreneur?

By Richard Mukheibir, MD of Cash ConvertersIt is fundamental that when you choose to go either the entrepreneur or franchise route, you do so fully aware of how comfortably you fit into either busine Read More

Franchise finance – how your credit record affects your loan application

 If you’re wondering whether you would qualify for a bank loan to purchase a franchise, this article is aimed at you.Lenders look for a few specific things in a franchiseeBrandA bank would look Read More

Traits of a successful franchisee

What if you want your franchise to do more than just survive – but be a top performer within your franchise system? That may take more than just following the proven model. Although most franchi Read More

Is an investment in a franchise better than a passive investment?

The view of any franchisor is that franchises are only successful when the owner is permanently managing the business. Nonetheless, there are many franchisees running multiple stores who have decided Read More

Franchise fees – the ongoing costs of managing a franchise

You can spend a lot or a little for a franchise in upfront or initial fees.  As to whether or not you make money depends to a considerable degree on the level of ongoing fees.Once you’ve bought a Read More

Top tips for buying a franchise: ask loads of questions and be wary

A great brand, a good location, ongoing training – these are some of the factors behind every franchise network success story.However, many prospective buyers seem altogether too trusting when it c Read More

Don’t disregard word of mouth marketing

Franchise marketing departments may spend millions of rands on elaborate advertising campaigns, when what really makes up a consumer’s mind is free: a word-of-mouth recommendation from a friend or c Read More

Ten steps to better negotiation skills

How can you improve your chances of getting your own way at the right price in franchising? A recent blog revealed that franchisees were expecting to take longer for their franchise to break even. Yo Read More

The Dealmaker in a franchise business

by Louis Germishuys, Founder and CEO of Galito’s As an entrepreneur and franchisor you are often called in to assume a number of different business roles –financer,administrator andsales mana Read More

In a turbulent 2016, franchises show stability – but only once they’ve broken even

One of the interesting trends emerging from the Franchise Association of South Africa (FASA)’s recently published annual survey, is that in the current slow economic environment, franchises are taki Read More

Don’t over pay for a franchise

Doing a comprehensive job of homework is the key to success in buying a franchise. Leave the emotions at home – the fact that you’re out of a job and need to find something in a hurry; you’ve fo Read More

Reality check – 8 common misconceptions about franchising

Make sure your expectations of a franchise are based on realityPolls have found many people are attracted to franchising by the promise of flexibility and independence in their work. However, not all Read More

Tips on writing a business plan for your franchise

One of the most important steps to go through in the start-up of a franchise is the creation of a business plan. Many entrepreneurs deride banks for being unwilling lenders, yet banks in turn say they Read More

Spring Clean Your Message to Market

By Louis Germishuys, Founder and CEO of Galito’sThe market is undoubtedly cluttered – so many messages across a number of mediums – and finding the right one that speaks to your target market Read More

6 success tips of successful businesspeople

Successful businesspeople are great sources of advice and tips. It’s typically in the category of too-obvious-to-mention advice, but you know that when several successful entrepreneurs all say the s Read More

10 issues to weigh up in deciding on a franchise or an independent

Choosing to make a career as a small business owner is the tough part – then you need to decide whether you want to operate as an independent business or within a franchise. Both decisions are all a Read More

Building a Franchise Dream

By Louis Germishuys, CEO of Galito’sOne cannot deny the importance of small businesses in terms of economic growth and job opportunities – but more than that, it’s where dreams start. It’s wh Read More

Five proven ways to teach your children about entrepreneurship 

The tough truth is that if you’re not preparing your children for entrepreneurship, you aren’t preparing them for life. Economic crises and a dynamic and less secure work environment means that to Read More

The three factors needed to unleash youth entrepreneurship

Youth unemployment is a major global and local challenge. It’s been labelled a ‘ticking time bomb’ as ‘generation jobless’ struggle to gain and maintain any employment. Some estimate that up Read More

Customer centricity in an always-on age

We live in a connected age where customers expect faster response time than ever before. This applies from the time they walk through the door or visit a website to when they call or email the busines Read More

Fair or foul? Lessons in franchising best practice

Franchising should be a mutually beneficial relationship built on trust and transparency. Franchisors need to remember that franchisees are business partners who have invested hard-earned savings into Read More

Exit Ahead

ResalesMost entrepreneurs build a business in the hope that they’ll sell it one day for a fantastic financial return. Unlike a stand-alone business where success is strongly linked to the talent of Read More

Appropriate Training: the key to empowerment.

By Marius Lubbe, Creative MindsTraining your staff, or for that matter yourself, in computer skills is an integral part of creating a more efficient workforce. The need to train staff in skills that Read More

3 Must know Franchisee steps. Know your rights.

Going into business or acquiring a franchise is exciting and can be very rewarding. But before you sign on the dotted line, it’s essential to understand what exactly you are getting into and have a Read More

False franchising

It’s a cluttered marketplace out there with a quick online search revealing countless ‘business opportunities’. Many of the founders of these business opportunities present what they offer as fr Read More