SA Franchise Brands welcomes Ingrihid Povey, Franchisee for The Tax Shop for Lanseria (incl. Kya Sands to Cradle of Mankind) to share some aspects on being a Franchisee.
What questions should prospective franchisees ask themselves before buying a franchise?
Price, support, location, is this something I would really like to do?
What made you decide to buy a franchise?
I was nearing retirement and wanted to keep going in my retirement years.
How important is it to investigate a franchise and what criteria did you use?
Very important. I asked the normal questions about price, location and viability. I then contacted several franchisees for their experiences of the franchise and based on the feedback from both the franchisor and franchisees I took my decision.
What made you buy The Tax Shop franchise?
I really liked the product and felt I was able to do the job with my experience. I was also very impressed with the feedback I received from the questions I asked.
What early challenges did you face?
Getting my name out there – advertising – particularly being in a rural area. The challenges are ongoing. I also found it very daunting in the beginning as there was quite a learning curve, especially with regards to systems and I am not naturally a ‘systems’ girl .
What training and support does the Franchisor provide you with?
Their on line day to day support is fantastic. The introductory course was also very detailed and informative. As time has moved on, when new systems were introduced e.g. Accounting – the training was practical and usable – not to mention the ongoing personal and individual support given when necessary.
How important is the Franchisee’s relationship with the Franchisor?
To me it is vital. I am NOT a qualified professional such as a Chartered Accountant and when I need more in depth information I need to feel free to ask.
What advice would you give to prospective franchisees?
I think it is a good way to go because of the support one gets. You are not entirely left to your own devices. There is good governance and guidance which reduces your risk of loss due to the help you receive.
