SA Franchise Brands welcomes Wynand Wolmarans, Franchisee for Car Service City for Brakpan and Wadeville to share some aspects on being a Franchisee.

What questions should prospective franchisees ask themselves before buying a franchise?

I believe prospective franchisees should ask themselves the following questions before buying a franchise:

1. Am I really a growth oriented individual with the intrinsic motivation, drive and commitment to make a success in my own business?
2. Am I a customer oriented individual?
3. Have I done sufficient market research and competitor analysis?
4. Do I have sufficient working capital?
5. Is my prospective Franchisor easy to do business with?

What made you decide to buy a franchise?

A franchise has a tried and tested business model, it offers new franchisees support across all dimensions of the business, almost like a personal business coach and it has the economies of scale to do cost effective marketing and advertising.

In summary, a franchise substantially reduces the risk of investing in our own business.

How important is it to investigate a franchise and what criteria did you use?

It is critical to investigate a franchise before investing, I used the following criteria:

1. Can I trust and build a working relationship with the franchisor?
2. Does the franchisor have sufficient experience and business acumen to assist me in making my franchise a success?
3. I interviewed existing franchisees.
4. The maturity of the business model.
5. Open points in the franchise network.
6. The growth potential of the franchise.
7. Return on investment.

What made you buy a Car Service City franchise?

My investment decision was based on:

• The fact that Car Service City is supported by a very established industry, total service and repairs combined accounts for 53.2% of the South African light vehicle aftermarket.
• The total vehicle population of out of warranty vehicles in Gauteng at the time of my investment was exceeding 7 000 000 vehicles.
• The automotive aftermarket in South Africa is growing at a compound annual growth rate of 10.6%;
• The upfront investment versus ROI potential;
• A franchisor that I could trust;
• The fact that I liked the business model.

What early challenges did you face?

I faced the following early challenges:

• Finding the right people (hardworking and ambitious business orientated people);
• Finding a reputable supplier network; and
• Managing customer’s expectation.

What training and support does the Franchisor provide you with?

Invaluable, practical support from the head office ensures that everyone within the branch receives sufficient training to ensure that the workmanship meets the Car Service City standard as well as free on-going training on new products and systems ensure that all franchisees are kept abreast of the car servicing industry.

How important is the Franchisee’s relationship with the Franchisor?

It is one of the most important critical success factors to make a success of your own franchise.

What advice would you give to prospective franchisees?

• Do your research;
• Evaluate your potential franchisor;
• Speak to existing franchisees; and
• Hire the right people, you are as good or bad as your worst performing employee.