| How can franchisees maintain proper relations with | | | | improve their training, ongoing support and product |
| their franchisor? A lot has been written about how | | | | development. By bringing these matters to their |
| franchisors can promote positive relations with their | | | | attention in a courteous manner the right results can be |
| franchisees. Franchisors should maintain proper | | | | achieved. |
| dialogue, reward the best performing franchisees and | | | | Many franchisees are happy to make snide remarks |
| hold regular meetings. I believe that the duty also lies | | | | to other franchisees without bringing the matter to the |
| with the franchisee to help the franchisor achieve his | | | | attention of the franchisor in a professional manner. |
| goals of maintaining proper and profitable relationships | | | | This leads to small petty differences getting out of |
| both parties. | | | | hand. |
| Most franchisors aim to provide the ultimate in training, | | | | It is essential when these discussions are ongoing that |
| support and service to their franchisees. After all if the | | | | they are communicated via email and letter and then |
| franchisees are successful then so will the franchisor. It | | | | discussed on the phone. Written communication can |
| is actually quite amazing how few franchisees take | | | | ensure that you the franchisee receives prompt |
| advantage of this relationship and utilise all that is | | | | attention to any queries. Franchisors do not want to be |
| available for them. | | | | seen to not responding to any written suggestions or |
| Maintaining daily or weekly dialogue with franchisor is | | | | comments. This way both of you are sitting at the |
| essential. After all, they have the expertise and the | | | | same side of the table trying to find solutions that work |
| knowledge to help the franchisee overcome most | | | | for both parties. |
| problems. If the franchisee does maintain regular | | | | It is imperative that a franchisee only resorts to legal |
| contact then the franchisor will always be thinking of | | | | action when all other means of communication have |
| new ways to help him or her. They will also be keen to | | | | failed. Once the matter takes a legal turn then the |
| impart their knowledge which has taken them years to | | | | relationship is usually damaged for all time. When |
| acquire. | | | | lawyers are involved usually neither party achieves |
| The franchisees should ensure that they attend most if | | | | what the set to do and the only sure fire winners are |
| not all conference calls and annual meetings. These | | | | the lawyers. |
| are usually motivational and help to maintain | | | | When relationships fail between both parties it can |
| relationships not only with the franchisor but with the | | | | ultimately lead to depression for the franchisee. A |
| other franchisees. They are also important in keeping | | | | depressed franchisee is unlikely to put the same effort |
| up with new product developments and ways of | | | | in maintaining and growing sales in his territory. This |
| working. | | | | scenario could in most cases have been easily |
| Instead of complaining to other franchisees of any | | | | avoided if lines of communication had been kept open |
| short comings it is vital they are brought to the | | | | right from the start. It is a as much a duty for the |
| attention of the franchisor in a friendly and helpful | | | | franchisee as it is for the franchisor to maintain a |
| manner. Most franchisors are continuously striving to | | | | profitable and harmonious relationship. |