Business

MOMpreneur®, Where Two Passions Meet... Business Articles Regardless of the size of your company, your courage, your finesse and your situation will determine how effectively you implement the ideas you garner here.  You know your business best; you know where your business needs help and where the opportunities are.  You also know how quickly you want to grow.   We're here to make sure that between the information and the contextural situations we provide that you have a number of parameters and perspectives to help you make the appropriate decision at the right time.  The future is, indeed, bright for Mompreneurs!

Three Companies ...Two Perspectives

What does it mean to be a franchisor versus a franchisee?

Does your viewpoint of the company change depending on which side of the fence you’re on? Read what these Mompreneur franchisors and franchisees have to say about their respective roles…

The Franchisor

 Dawn Mucci-Gooch,
Founder and CEO, Lice Squad Canada

Reason for starting this business… I was affected by an occurrence of head lice and there was no help available to me. I saw a niche market and decided to become the help.

On making the decision to franchise… The demand for my services was increasing in areas that I could not physically cover. I felt franchising would do three things:

1.     Make Lice Squad services available in more areas. 

2.     Provide others with an opportunity to make a living and have a career. 

3.     Help grow the concept and the business.

I knew in my heart that this business would be successful. I took the risk based on my intuition and utilized every resource I could to get me there. Guts also played a big part as I had very little experience and barely any money. I was actually a single mother on social assistance at the time.

On future plans… I’d like to see a total of 50 locations across Canada.

The best part of being a franchisor is… the opportunity to help others…and to work with like minded people who have as much passion for the business as I do. Being a franchisor also gives me the flexibility I need in my life.

The worst part of being a franchisor is… having to force compliance and deal with all the legal paperwork.  

Advice to a Mompreneur thinking about franchising her business… Go for it but don’t go it alone! Get a good lawyer, accountant and business advisor, and don’t let fear or lack of experience hold you back. You can learn as you go and rely on those who do know the things you don’t. 

On balancing business and family… What I learned to do over the years was to delegate. I wanted to be here to raise my kids and so instead of hiring a nanny, I hired an office manager and assistant. It’s support that matters the most and the ability to recognize when you need to ask for help.

On the franchisor/franchisee relationship… The success of my business is truly built on the relationships that I have formed with my franchisees and staff who I entrust to uphold the reputation, message and brand.

The Franchisee

Caroline Bonham,
Owner, Lice Squad, London/Sarnia, ON

Before becoming a franchisee… I was self-employed in corporate communications. As that career enabled me to set my own hours and work from home, I was able to branch out and become a Lice Squad franchisee as well - I work both jobs now!

Franchising allowed me to walk right into an established business. Clients were already there and familiar with the business, processes and procedures were in place, training was provided, proprietary products were in place – there was nothing to do but incorporate, print my own business cards, set up a phone line and open a bank account with credit card processing!

The best part about being a franchisee is… that you have independence yet you also have complete support from the franchisor and the team of franchisees. The business structure is already established and working; you just step right in and operate the franchise.

One of the most difficult things about being a franchisee is… you aren’t completely independent. You do need to be involved with your head office, giving input and feedback. And, you need to follow policies and directions as they are set out.  

Advice you would give to a Mompreneur who is thinking about becoming a franchisee… If you haven’t run a business before, being a franchisee is ideal. The business is typically already established. There are usually previous and other owners to whom you can ask questions before you buy, and it’s fairly straightforward to understand what you’re getting into.

On balancing business and family… I keep my hours flexible. If I have to get up early to do some work before the rest of the family wakes up, so be it. Likewise, I sometimes work late at night and on weekends. I take care of myself with yoga for relaxation and a workout to stay fit.

Advice on working from home… Make sure you have a separate area of the home that is designated for your business. Communicate with your family to ensure they know your work demands. And know when to turn the business off, which is the toughest part of running a business from home!

 

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