One of the key messages from the Franchise Forward speaking event I hosted last month was the importance of collaboration in franchising. It’s a message I feel is important to share, as it applies to franchisees at each stage of the franchise life cycle – from the new owner who is just discovering what it means to be a franchisee, to the mature multi-unit owner who may be thinking about retirement. Regardless of where they currently are, franchisees must collaborate to get the most for themselves and their business at each stage.
This theme was just part of my keynote presentation, which I delivered to a roomful of Minneapolis area franchise professionals who wanted to learn more about how to maximize the potential of their franchise businesses. The event was as much fun as it was informative, with both myself and my fellow speakers providing beneficial takeaways related to teamwork, growth tips, human resources issues and the life cycle of a franchise. One presentation, given by two speakers from ADP, discussed the new nuts and bolts of being an employer – from staying compliant with the new 2016 Affordable Care Act rules, to the new paperwork and formulas employers are now required to manage. After hearing them speak, I can’t imagine a small business owner managing all of the payroll and timekeeping without the kind of help outside vendors like ADP and others can provide.
During the event, we also held a moderated “Panel of the Pros” discussion, which gave speakers an opportunity to provide real, practical tips about being a franchisee, as well as risk management and the use of new technologies around scheduling and managing co-workers. There were lots of good ideas and takeaways from the panel discussion.
I’d like to thank everyone for their participation – the wonderful speakers, the moderator, the panel members and other organizers...as well as the audience! It was a great event and I am thankful for the opportunity and help.
Speaking of events, I’m just coming back from the IFA 2016 Convention, which was a busy, fun-filled few days that allowed me to connect with many friends, as well as make new ones - it goes so fast! I look forward to the follow up later this spring as we continue to work and grow together in franchising. Thanks for the friendships as well as the great exchange of ideas and information.
