SA Franchise Brands welcomes Karen Dorfling, Franchisor of LINK South Africa.
.
What has been paramount to LINK South Africa’s success?
LINK South Africa prides itself in the fact that we work to demanding standards and have an entrenched culture of professionalism. Our services have become a much sought after, reliable and vital tool to Sellers and Buyers of businesses ensuring that we remain in the forefront of the business brokerage industry. We also pride ourselves in the fact that we provide the same level of client service and professionalism irrespective of the circumstances, including the magnitude of the sale or purchase.
What challenges do you face at present?
Our biggest challenge is growing our national footprint in South Africa. We have various franchises for sale and opportunities available for individuals who want to take up business broking as a profession and a career. We are a young brand in the business brokering industry and the success stories of our existing franchisees and brokers speak for itself.
With a network of franchises nationwide, how has your franchise model worked in favour of the group?
We have built our franchise model to propel existing business brokerages to a significantly higher level. We provide our franchisees with tools, resources and support that have cost us many millions of dollars to create and are realistically unfeasible for independent operators to compete with.
A business brokerage that becomes a LINK Partner will instantly have access to a system that will make them more competitive in any market place and set the barriers to entry at a staggering level for newcomers. LINK Partners also enjoy exceptional retention rates and recruitment of brokers due to our powerful offering.
The bottom line; we deliver a proven system to increase both the performance and the profit for shareholders of business brokerages.
What are some of the attributes required from franchisees?
We are looking for a person who wants to own their own career, business and financial future. Someone who sees themselves as a professional business person and who can engage with other people. The ideal franchisee is someone with confidence, drive and enthusiasm, with a high standard of ethical conduct. Someone who is adaptable and who can think on their feet – which are self-motivated and practical and results focused.
How would you describe the overall relationship between the group and its franchisees?
LINK offers its Partners the use of a proven format and comprehensive systems for the conduct of a business brokerage, supporting all key elements of the business. It provides an on-going relationship which includes the product service and trademark, as well as the entire business concept itself, from marketing strategy and plan, operational standards, systems and formats, to training, quality control and on-going assistance, guidance and supervision. In short, it provides small business (the Partner) with the tools of big business (provided by LINK).
The combination of manuals, models, the LINK brand name, plus our own promotional publications and initiatives, website and database together with hard work and commitment will result in a successful business sales agency in the shortest possible time.
What kind of training and support can franchisees expect?
The combination of manuals, models, the LINK brand name, plus our own promotional publications and initiatives, website and database together with hard work and commitment will result in a successful business sales agency in the shortest possible time.
The LINK Franchise head office will provide on-going training regarding improvements and additions to the BOSS System as well as other areas that may impact on the overall operation of a franchise office.
LINK’s own online training tool, is adapted for each country individually and certified through our Head Office.
Which factors are paramount for sustained future growth within the group with specific reference to its present and future franchisees?
LINK’s marketing strategy is supported with a comprehensive range of tools. When combined, these elements form an active and highly effective communication platform aimed at achieving the objectives of increasing the LINK profile, establishing awareness of business broking as a service, and establishing LINK as the leading brand in terms of authority and the customer experience.
Where to from here and into the future?
LINK is the fastest growing Business Broking network in the Southern Hemisphere, known for our confidentiality, integrity, marketing and our innovation in the technology we use.
The difference between LINK and our competitors must be the unquestionable ethics of our Brokers, and their high degree of professionalism and SUCCESS. LINK will become the largest global brokerage, although we will always look to be better before bigger. LINK is a vibrant, growing entity founded on strong service and caring principles, with a non-negotiable philosophy of ethical dealings. It follows the reporting disciplines of a larger company but without the bureaucracy.
