There is a reason that owning your own business and working for yourself is considered the ultimate business success: working for yourself means making your own decisions, meeting your goals, and becoming truly independent. An increasing number of people are looking for the right way to gain this independence, which leaves many of them wondering which is better: franchising or entrepreneurship?
The answer to that question is not an easy one; it depends mostly on you and what you are looking for. Take a look at these benefits of both franchising and starting a business from scratch, and see which fits what you are looking for.
Stay Creative
A common misconception with franchising is that the individual franchise owners have no creative control over anything they do. This is untrue in most franchise systems, where the franchisees are the ones who come up with the big ideas. A McDonald's franchisee famously invented the Big Mac, which then became the primary product for the chain; this kind of creative control is typical of most franchise systems.
Enjoy a Flexible Schedule
We don't want to sugar coat it: owning a business is a lot of work. Whether you start your business from scratch or invest in a franchise, you are going to be working long weeks while you perform all the duties of a business owner. However, because you are the boss, you will have the flexibility to make your schedule however you see fit.
Meet Your Goals
When you own a business - whether through franchising or entrepreneurship - you have the pleasure of working toward your own goals, NOT someone else's. There is no feeling as satisfying as knowing that you are working every single day toward something you want to accomplish; this feeling can come from franchising or entrepreneurship equally.
Learn from the Experts
When you invest in a franchise, you have the benefit of working with a group of people who have been in your shoes before. These people are experts in their field, and they pass on their knowledge to the people who invest in franchises. Starting your own business from scratch does not afford you this kind of guidance and support.
Grow with Professional Marketing
A huge perk of working within a franchise system is that you will have the benefit of dedicated marketing teams to help you build your business. Most franchise systems have dedicated marketing teams who help new franchisees with their grand openings and benefit the whole brand with widespread marketing initiatives. If you start your own business, the marketing department is you!
Gain Customers through Brand Recognition
Probably the biggest reason to invest in a franchise instead of starting a business is brand recognition. To establish their brand, a company has to spend years gaining customers, creating a reputation of excellence, expanding into new locations, and proving that it provides superior products and services. When you invest in a company with a strong brand, you have automatic brand recognition, which attracts customers to your business.
If you are looking for a way to work for yourself, own a business, and create a career that you can be proud of, franchising may be the way to do it. Investing in a franchise gives you the support you need with the freedom you crave, so the decision is a no brainer.
At Pillar To Post, we have built our business around creating amazing franchise opportunities all over the United States and Canada. We have the expertise, brand recognition, flexibility, and creativity that you have been looking for. Learn more about our franchise opportunity, and see if you are a good fit for our company!