8 Random and Interesting Franchise Facts

August 8, 2019 | Posted at 5:36 am | by Lucas (Follow User)

Franchises are a fascinating part of the business world. Running them is quite a bit different than running your own original business, but it’s also quite similar in many ways. There are countless franchises out there and they all have their own little quirks and specifics. Here are some random things you might want to know about some of these businesses and franchises in general.

1. The first franchise

It seems like franchises have been around forever and not everyone can agree on how they originated. However, the consensus is that Albert Singer is the original creator of the cultural phenomenon known as a “franchise”.

He created his own franchise contract to help spread models for his new sewing machine all across the United States. Interestingly, he came up with this idea all the way back in the middle of the eighteenth century. He was quite the forward thinker, which is why he is now considered the father of the franchise phenomenon.

2. The owner becomes a jack of all trades

The new owner of a franchise won’t always just sit back and watch the business bloom from afar. When opening up their new franchise, more often than not the manager is going to fill several positions for the time being. This is a fact that is lost on many prospective franchise owners and they are often shocked by the amount of work they need to get into before the business gets going.

Before training and hiring a whole team, it’s not unusual for the owner to fill the shoes of just about every position in the franchise at least once. Of course, this is not a permanent solution and once the proper team is trained, the jobs are filled with adequate workers.

3. Two hundred and fifty thousand guys

You’re probably familiar with the popular franchise restaurant known as Five Guys. At this point, it’s considered a cultural phenomenon that is spread out through dozens of countries around the world.

Despite the relative simplicity of ordering a burger, there are at least two hundred and fifty thousand ways to order one at Five Guys. This includes all the possible combinations of meat, bread, sauces, and spices that are available at the burger joint.

4. The epicentre of Gold’s Gyms

Gold’s gym is considered the gold standard (pardon the pun) of co-ed gym franchises in the bodybuilding world. It’s spread out all over the United States and various other countries, but its origins aren’t all that mysterious.

The original Gold’s Gym in California is celebrated as the “Mecca” of gyms and it stands as a testament to this successful franchise. Every level of professional training is done at these gyms, from complete amateur fitness enthusiasts to Hollywood star trainers. It’s hard to live up to that kind of hype, but the gyms keep doing solid work and remain popular.

5. It’s a long-term relationship

There’s a certain kind of solo reputation that surrounds the task of running a franchise. You probably think that franchise owners purchase the right to the business and are then left to their own device from then on. Even the business owners think that they’ll only get support for a year or two from the headquarters of the franchise before having to take all the responsibility.

However, this couldn’t be farther from the truth. It’s in the best interest of the franchise headquarters to support their business owners, simply because it’s still a part of their brand and their reputation. Besides, they want their percentage of the profits to remain bountiful, so they’ll help you make money. If you’re a franchise owner, you can count on help and training from HQ to the last day of your business.

6. Dunkin’ Donuts delivery

Dunkin’ Donuts has a ridiculously large number of customers every single year. It’s estimated around three million, which means they are definitely making a killing. Their main goal is obvious – sell a ton of doughnuts and a bunch of coffee to the people that walk into each franchise establishment. However, they have a little-known service that is useful for a small percentage of their customers

Did you know that they have a coffee subscription service? Personnel deliver Dunkin’ Donuts coffee blends right to the customer’s doorstep. If they subscribe to this service, they can get their daily cup of joe with a doughnut without having to step out of their home.

7. Loyal-tea for loyal customers

There are benefits to drinking tea that doesn’t just involve health and hydration. If you’re a fan of a certain milk tea business in Australia, you’re probably familiar with the Loyal-tea program.

Anyone that enjoys a good cup of tea has probably visited ChaTime at least once. Loyal tea drinkers get quite a few benefits from the loyalty point system, even so far as getting free drinks every once in a while. It’s a quaint little system that Australian tea enthusiasts regularly make use of.

8. Negotiation works

Running a franchise business seems like a pretty straightforward deal. You adhere to the terms set by the franchise headquarters contract and you do your best to turn a profit. However, you don’t necessarily have to have the same deal that every franchise owner gets in that specific company.

Franchise contracts are perfectly negotiable. If you’re willing to put forward some good points or let your lawyer do it for you, you can easily convince the franchise HQ to make some changes to the contract. These changes can give you quite a few benefits, as long as they don’t harm the HQ in any significant way. After all, you’re going to be the business owner, and the franchise wants you to be as successful and motivated as possible.

Conclusion

When it comes to running a franchise, proper business dealings are only part of the battle. Being unique and having quirks that people can observe sets the place apart from the competition, making the business more desirable.