Expert Advice
November 12
Seek government help as the first step to growth
Lambasting government has become such a national pastime in South Africa, that people are frequently unaware just how much government support exists for small businesses in terms of subsidies to empl Read More
October 15
Customer psychology – the banks use it, and so should you
There appears to be a whole new science revolving around ‘Irrationalityand Decision Making’ (also known as the herd instinct). It was the subject of arecent Business Day seminar, in whichhead Read More
October 14
5 Tips for preparing your business for the summer/year-end break
Spring is here, and before you know it, you’ll be saying, ‘HappyHolidays!’ It can be hard to think about the holidays after a tough year in aneconomy almost constantly teetering on the brink Read More
August 20
The various ways a female franchisee can balance her life
If you ask any female franchisee why she decided to strikeout on her own in preference to working for a boss, a common reason you hear is‘I wanted more freedom and flexibility’. In a recent Read More
July 24
It’s tax filing season and maybe an opportunity to get something back from SARS
The only good thing about filing one’s tax return is theprospect of getting something back. Anyone usually in that category, may wantto get their ‘claim’ in early – tax filing season fo Read More
June 27
How to save on franchising expenses this Savings Month
Franchises come with many built-inadvantages. But there are also some real extra risks that you wouldn’tencounter with traditional small businesses. These include more start-up debtas upfront fr Read More
May 27
Smart youth
Social research has found that the most vital years in achild’s development are aged one to six. Their exposure to the world in whichthey live, the instruction they receive, and the habits they f Read More
May 27
Millennials at the helm?
Can younger people with relatively little businessexperience or money learn to manage a successful franchise operation?As South Africa celebrates Youth Month in June, there is a lot of inspirati Read More
April 30
What a franchisee should expect from franchise training
When it comes to training,franchisors may look alike. They provide, on average, between one and fiveweeks of training. But what if those five weeks of training consist of no morethan learning the Read More
April 29
Common mistakes franchisors can make that you should look out for
The chief reason for prospectivefranchisees buying into an established chain is that they’re not by themselves.Buyers are placing full trust in the franchisor – so there are some importantfact Read More
March 28
Why supervising and being on the shop-floor is critical to franchising success
‘Do you plan to run the shopyourself?’ is the first question to any prospective franchisee that is asked bySandwich Baron founder and CEO, Sally J’Arlette-Joy. There is a reason why thatis h Read More
February 22
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
January 28
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
October 29
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
September 26
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
September 17
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
August 29
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
July 26
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
July 26
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
June 27
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
June 27
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
June 1
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
April 26
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
March 29
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
March 28
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
February 5
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
December 14
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
November 27
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
November 27
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
July 13
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
June 29
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
June 28
[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
May 15
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
May 15
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
April 25
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
April 25
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
April 3
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
March 29
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
February 28
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
January 31
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
January 31
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
December 14
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
November 29
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
November 29
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
October 31
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
October 25
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
October 25
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
September 21
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
September 21
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
September 16