A huge amount of effort and resources from the franchisor and franchisee will have been devoted to setting up the business. The last thing either party wants is for the business to struggle because of a lack of support. The franchisor’s top goal is to support their franchisees, making sure they are happy, healthy and secure in order to perform at a high level. If the franchisee gets that support from the franchisor they are going to have no problem going the extra mile, enthusiastically cooperating with the strategy and growth ambitions. Below are a few ideas from the GreenOrbit team that will help cut the number of support calls from the franchisee to the franchise headquarters.

Keeping up to date with the latest news

Communicate key company updates to franchisees through one central system and establish the intranet as the “source of truth”. Keep everyone up to date and on the same page, without communications getting lost, and contributing to overflowing email inboxes.

Generate a knowledge base

Set up a knowledge base to provide 24/7 support and mentoring for your franchisees. A knowledge base is a collection of information that typically includes answers to frequently asked questions, how-to guides, and troubleshooting instructions. Its purpose is to make it easy for people to find solutions to their problems without having to ask for help.

Manage your franchise forms online

Create and manage your franchise’s request forms via your intranet, in one central location. Reduce the need for paper-based forms and processes, and ensure that completed forms reach the appropriate people in “real time”. Revisit the form at any time, instead of trying to track down a paper copy

Create a library of branded materials

It’s near impossible for a franchisee to remain on brand if they can’t find out what it is. The franchisor should have a clear set of procedures covering everything which relates to the brand and its protection; from the brand values to the use of logos, colors, fonts and all visual elements, to style guides and the tone of voice to be used by franchisees in all communication. Franchisors can make life easy for their franchise team and ensure that franchisees remain on-brand by providing a library of brand information that franchisees can access. This saves franchisees valuable time and money and means they can get on with the day-to-day tasks of running and growing their franchise business.

Use the power of the franchise network

Use enterprise social networking to share feedback throughout the franchise community. Feedback loops are essential in helping everyone understand what needs to improve, what delights your customers and what lets them down. Long-term franchisees will have accumulated a wealth of knowledge from years of hard work and perseverance and should be encouraged to share tips, lessons and best practices.

Want to know more about how GreenOrbit can support your franchise organization? Contact a consultant for a personalized demo.