Operating A Franchise
By Judy Briggs
Franchise partner in Framingham and Worcester for 1-800-GOT-JUNK, an international junk removal service.
As told to Cory S. Hopkins, Worcester Business Journal Staff Writer.
10. DO THE DUE
Interviewing to be a franchise owner is just like interviewing for a job.
9. KNOW YOUR TURF
I approached the company with a defined area I wanted to serve.
8. THEY MAKE A LIST. YOU CHECK IT TWICE.
I didn’t need a business plan, but they did give me a 10-page startup checklist of things to do before I opened.
7. CORPORATE SAVINGS
Company-approved vendors supplied to each franchisee offer much lower prices than otherwise available because of their economies of scale.
6. GET ADVICE
I have a “field advisor” assigned to me that acts as my business coach. It’s a service I’d probably pay a lot for otherwise.
5. CONTROLLED CREATIVITY
All of our advertising has to meet company requirements, but we try to be as creative as possible.
4. SHARED RESOURCES
All of the Massachusetts franchise owners pool their money for advertising. We get more bang for our buck.
3. GOTTA GET PAID
Because I have to pay royalties to corporate, I do have to charge a little more.
2. BE PROFESSIONAL
A lot of franchisees start out of their home. I did. But this is a real business, and I moved into an office. Nobody wants to have staff meetings in their dining room.
1. THAT’S MY NAME TOO
My name and reputation IS 1-800-GOT-JUNK. What’s good for them is good for me, and vice versa.
