Transform Your Business
Are you thinking about adding a Ziebart franchise to your existing business, but you're not sure what it takes to succeed as a franchisee? Maybe you're thinking, "All I really need are a couple of new products to turn my business around and make it more profitable." Or you may be asking yourself, "What will my customers think, and will they still be mine?" Perhaps you're wondering what characteristics or skills you may need to increase your chances of success.
There are five key characteristics that, more than any others, determine success as a franchisee. They are:
1. Risk
Many people think that to succeed as a franchisee, you need to be a gambler. Nothing could be further from the truth.
You need to take risks as a business owner in order to succeed. However, successful franchisees are risk adverse. Most of them are willing to take some risk but want the risk as small and controlled as possible. All business start-ups involve some risk of failure, but a strong franchise with a proven track record of success will minimize this risk. Successful franchisees do their homework, so they know what they're getting into. Isn't this how you started your business?
2. A Franchise System
Don't shy away from a Ziebart franchise opportunity because you assume you need a burning entrepreneurial spirit to become a franchisee. You are already halfway there; you just need a proven system that works during the toughest economic conditions. A system that has stood the test of time, one that evolves with economic conditions and consumer needs.
The vast majority of small and large business owners have an almost uncontrollable urge to reinvent the wheel. It is a burning desire, coupled with an incredible confidence in their ability. The stand alone business owner wants to figure out how things should be done in order to maximize results. Ziebart International Corporation's most successful franchisees, on the other hand, want proven systems. They don't want to waste time and additional money trying to figure out the best way to do something. They want a system of operation that tells them the best way to do anything associated with the business. Ziebart franchisees are willing to learn from others to avoid making mistakes, so they can be more successful quickly.
3. Trainability
The motto of franchising is: "In business for yourself, not by yourself." Successful franchisees look for opportunities to learn from others in their franchise system. Their philosophy is: "When in doubt, ask someone before it is too late." They constantly ask advice of the franchisor support staff, whether it's regarding technical, marketing, advertising, sales, or operational issues, and successful franchisees follow the advice they get. They understand that they don't know all the answers and are willing to ask for help when they need it.
4. Good Work Ethic
Successful franchisees have a willingness to do whatever it takes to get the job done and done right. This attitude shows in their every action - putting in long hours and handling multiple tasks. You already know this from running your own business; however, the fact of the matter is we are here to support you and make it easier to accomplish success. The basic logic behind business is: no matter what franchise you're interested in or which decision you make, you can be sure it's going to take work to make it a successful business. The best franchisees know and accept this fact. They work hard and are respected by their industry peers.
5. Strong People Skills
Successful franchisees always have excellent interpersonal skills. They effectively interact with their employees, develop relationships with outside accounts and listen to their retail customers. They use these skills to create loyalty, value, and trust. Although trust listed last, it's the most important of all. We help our franchisees to hone this skill through comprehensive training.
As you review this list of five key characteristics, you need to be honest with yourself. Do you possess each of these characteristics? If not, can you apply yourself toward developing these characteristics and effectively portraying them through your actions? In other words, can you be trained and will you adapt to a new market environment? You obviously have noticed the change in consumers' spending habits today vs. one year ago. Today consumers want to be heard, serviced properly, and expect value for the hard earned money they spend with you at your store. Here at Ziebart International Corporation we understand this and have evolved our business format to meet the wants and desires of today's consumer.
If the answer to either of these questions is yes, you're on your way to becoming a successful Ziebart franchisee in your own right, and we would be proud to have you as a member of our franchise network. We invite you to take the time to thoroughly investigate our franchise opportunity before you make your decision.
