The Role and Responsibilities of a Franchisee, DefinedThe Yin to the Franchisor's Yang, franchisees are essential to the functionality of the business model.

ByJeff Cheatham

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

The infrastructure offranchisingis built upon strict adherence to mandated systems and operational controls, which include specific roles and responsibilities for franchisor and franchisee alike. Most simply: franchisors are the brand, and they grant licenses to franchisees to do business under their name and trademark. When a franchisee signs a franchiseagreement, it's crucial that they abide by the roles and responsibilities expected of them to uphold the name and standards of the brand.

Related:Am I a Good Franchise Candidate?

The role of the franchisee

The role of franchisee incorporates a high level of demands in owning and operating a licensed business, and not everyone is cut out for it. The role requires strict adherence to operating within the confines of the brand's provenbusiness modelfor success, and to remain in compliance with the franchisor's recommended procedures – which extend to procedures, systems, presentation and protocols. In essence, the franchisee's job is to "color inside the lines," and failure to do so could jeopardize the joint franchise agreement. In the end, it's the franchisee's role to present the sale of a product or service according to the standards that provide the likelihood of remaining a financially viable and profitable enterprise.

Afranchiseealso assumes a role as the consumer-facing representative of the brand. It requires the franchisee to put in the requisite time and effort necessary to own and operate a successful business, with a constant focus on meetingsales goals, expansion and new opportunities. In franchising's tried and true "hub-and-spoke'' business model, the role of all franchisees requires them to report to the franchisor, as well as collaborate with the peer group of other franchisees in the system.

Related:How Franchisees and Franchisors Can Master Their Relationship

The responsibilities of the franchisee

第一次和emost,franchiseesare responsible for financing the purchase of a franchise. This includes the initial franchise fee, associated costs to elevate the business and ongoing capital to maintain the brand's recurring royalty payments. Franchisees are responsible for the comprehension and understanding of the franchise's business model, and how to operate the business in accordance with the franchisor's agreement and operations manual.

Franchiseesare also expected to attend mandatory training sessions provided by the brand that provide the knowledge necessary to train others and ensure a comprehensive understanding of how the business functions. Franchisees may also be responsible for pooling money towardsco-op advertising, marketing and promotions to fund outreach that attracts consumer interest in the brand's product or service.

Related:A Billionaire Who Operates More Than 2,400 Franchises Knows These Types of Franchisees Make the Most Money

When it comes to representing the brand, it is the responsibility of franchisees to continually protect and defend the brand's reputation, avoiding any behavior and activity that could potentially harm the franchisor's standing.

With the guidance and assistance of the franchisor, franchisees are responsible for attracting and building a customer base, while generatingrevenuein line with the brand's benchmarks for success.

If required, franchisees are responsible for participating in validation sessions, as well as attending organizational meetings, conferences and annual corporate retreats.

Lastly, if required, it's the franchisee's responsibility to provide timely financial reporting on all business activities so the brand can track individual unit progress and profitability.

The roles and responsibilities of individual franchisees are designed to ensure their operations run smoothly and in accordance with thefranchisor'sproven business model. Though owners may come from different backgrounds and varying stages in life, the obligations, roles and responsibilities of the collaborative system of franchisees is designed to ensure the continued success of the franchise brand they represent. Find more resources at Entrepreneur'sfranchise bookstore.

Related:6 Signs That Franchising Is Right for You

Jeff Cheatham

Founder and CEO of Creative Content

Jeff Cheatham is the founder and CEO of Creative Content, a full-service copywriting and public relations firm. He's based in Dallas and works with multiple B2B clients and over a dozen franchise brands to develop proprietary content campaigns for lead generation and sales development programs.


https://creativecontent-llc.com/

Editor's Pick

Related Topics

商业新闻

Taylor Swift Reportedly Pays All Restaurant-Goers' Checks to Clear Out Restaurant For Her and NFL Star Travis Kelce

The star was spotted at Arrowhead Stadium for the Kansas City Chiefs game Sunday night alongside Kelce's mother.

Career

Find Remote and Flexible Work with FlexJobs—Now Just $30

Pick up a side hustle or round out your freelance income.

Starting a Business

Ask Co-Founder of Netflix Marc Randolph Anything: How to Watch

How to watch the new live streaming episode of 'Ask Marc.'

Growing a Business

Devin Eichler of Crafty Cow Explains How to Use Your Personal Brand to Boost Your Business

The founder and CEO of Crafty Cow Devin Eichler discusses streamlining operations with Toast, connecting with customers through personal branding, and never being afraid to ask for help.

Business Plans

10 Simple Tips to Write a Successful Business Plan

In the new book "Write Your Own Business Plan," business expert Eric Butow takes the anxiety and confusion out of planning and offers an easy-to-follow roadmap to success.