Hand-holding as franchisor

Personally I hate book keeping.  I prefer that someone else performs the drudgery leaving me to review the results.  Here is an FCA award winning bookkeeping franchise and based on this article, a rudimentary search and the nice photo of franchisor, Deb Shugg, I'm sure many looking for such a franchise In Australia would feel comfortable partnering up with Award Bookkeeping.  

 ‘It can be a rewarding journey to help other people achieve their dreams. It's true that franchisees need to be responsible for their own success - they need to put in the hard yards as well. They can't assume that just because they've paid a sum of money to you, riches are magically going to appear at their door. However, a franchisor with integrity will operate with robust systems, a strong support framework and will truly care about the people they are selling their ideas to.' SMH Enterprise

For this blog I went looking for a ‘good news story' about franchising and a franchisor that might stand up to scrutiny.  I've never heard a bad word about this franchisor or the model.  I performed a rudimentary search and found no reports of franchisee complaints at all. 

‘Award Bookkeeping Company CEO Deb Shugg said, "With men making up 89 percent of all franchisors and franchisees in Australia, you have to wonder why the model isn't more appealing to women."  Women Under-represented

Now here is the rub; this franchisor is up for telling prospective franchisees that the bad days are now the bad old days.  Franchising is healthy and the few bad apples should be ignored.  In particular, she wants franchising to be more attractive for women to strive to the heights of franchisee. 

"I think it's time we stopped punishing all franchisors for the actions of a few and promoted the primary benefit of a franchise, being that a franchisee is able to be an independent business operator with a strong brand and the support and ongoing assistance of a franchisor who wants that franchisee to succeed." Waggingtongues

SMH: ‘CEO Deb Shugg said she was concerned the actions of a few unscrupulous franchisors was not only the driving force behind ongoing inquiries that create a sense of limbo for both franchisees and franchisors, but their actions continued to perpetuate the misconception the franchise model was inherently flawed and to be avoided.'

"Do I believe the industry has progressed and become a better option for franchisees? Most definitely.

"The Code, associated disclosure obligations and the ACCC's active role have all been instrumental in weeding out dishonest franchisors, and yet the stigma remains - perhaps even more so.'

In reviewing Deb's commendable public speaking performance I am greatly encouraged that she can still find the time to sell bookkeeping franchises to women while promoting the benefits of franchising and educating prospects about the bad old days of franchising.

On a totally unrelated issue: We have all heard about non-refundable deposits and I often find that the small home-based franchise investments should be considered in that vein. 

I am acutely aware that small franchise investments have an up and a down side.  In my opinion the main upside is that the investment is low; the main downside is that if it happens to be a scam then the level of investment does not justify the cost to pursue the lost investment.  Or is that another upside?  Low level franchise investments are the way to go for franchisors with poor models who don't want to be pursued.

Back to Deb: Award Bookkeeping won the 2008 Franchise Council of Australia "Woman of the Year'.  She now joins such illustrious industry leaders like Poolwerx, Howard Storage World, Lenards Chicken, Jumping J-Jays, Bakers Delight, Michel's Patisserie and Jim's Mowing all of whom have won FCA awards and received rave reviews at BMM.   

It makes you wonder how Midas, Kleenmaid, Kliens Jewelry, EzyDVD, Strathfield and some of the other contributors to Australian franchising missed out?

The point of this blog; suckers have stars in their eyes based on the constant of franchisor propaganda and they don't perform serious due diligence and we all wonder why so many get ripped off. Now when do I get my award?  

And now for something completely different: When 'I Accept' is 'Maybe'

‘The discussion paper asks if the unfair contracts provisions should be extended to business to business agreements and not just be restricted to agreements between companies and individuals.'

The Minister has invited comments in response to the paper by March 17, 2009.