SA Franchise Brands welcomes Ryan Twaits, Franchisee for Chem-Dry SA for Cape Town City Bowl & Advance (Bishopscourt/Claremont/Pinelands) to share some aspects on being a Franchisee.
What questions should prospective franchisees ask themselves before buying a franchise?
Prospective franchisees should ask themselves if they are a people’s person, do I like helping others and how much money do I want to make?
What made you decide to buy a franchise?
I wanted to own my own business and be in business for myself but not by myself.
How important is it to investigate a franchise and what criteria did you use?
Investigating a franchise is extremely important as I had to decide which will be the most profitable and cater for my needs. The criteria that I used were mainly based on the training and support that the franchisor provided.
What made you buy a Chem-Dry franchise?
When I started looking for a franchise, I wanted a business that was:
- Service orientated.
- Something people needed regularly.
- Able to operate without me or that I could set up to operate without me, so everything I did would just add value.
- My own business.
- Flexible from a time point of view.
With all the training and support that I have received from Chem-Dry SA, running my own business has been made easy.
What early challenges did you face?
The early challenges that I needed to deal with was to find the right people for the job; team leaders, technicians, office staff.
What training and support does the Franchisor provide you with?
Chem-Dry SA (the Master Franchisor) offers 4 days of intensive training for all new Franchisees as well as a week’s on the job training with another existing Franchisee before allowing them to start operating. Regular refresher training is also done throughout the year, and all Technicians are on a 5 Star Training Program. All Franchisees also have access to the Chem-Dry University offering Technical, Financial and Marketing courses online.
How important is the Franchisee’s relationship with the Franchisor?
The Franchisee’s relationship with the Franchisor is ultra-important because when you are in business for yourself it can be a lonely time and sometimes a hard slog. With a solid relationship with the Franchisor you know that you are not alone and that support is only a call away.
What advice would you give to prospective franchisees?
Don’t try to re-invent the wheel, do what the others are doing and get the same result. Then look at adding your personal touch to the business. I guarantee you are going to love it!
