EDITORIAL

Showcasing success from franchisors to long term franchisees

Who doesn’t love a great success story? Well, there are plenty to be found in franchising, despite the mainstream media’s focus on the franchise failures. And in this issue Inside Franchise Business continues its series showcasing success, putting the spotlight on long term franchisees who have notched up decades with the one brand.

The super-achiever in this section is our cover franchisee, Brad Peatling, who has turned his love of baking into a career spanning three decades...and still going.

Turn to page 40 to read more about The Loyalists; we hope this inspires you to see the potential of investing in and running a business that you love, all backed up by the support of a professional franchise.

That’s not to say there aren’t mistakes made in franchising, but the best solution to the problem of franchise failure is to understand clearly what’s involved, the responsibilities of the franchisee and the franchisor, and to thoroughly research the business before signing up to a franchise agreement.

The Franchise Basics series in this edition considers what top level research, or due diligence, can involve (before you get into the legal and financial aspects where you need expert insights) from researching the market, doing due diligence on the franchisor, and understanding the brand. You can find all this on page 80. One way to get a good idea of how franchisors present themselves and their brands is to visit a dedicated expo. The Sydney Franchising & Business Opportunities Expo is in March, and provides the chance for would-be franchisees to see a selection of franchise systems in one place, and to access expert advice and hear from franchisees themselves in the free seminar sessions. Find out more on page 56.

Inside Franchise Business will be there - come and say hello.