How Do I Operate a Franchise Business Without Quitting My Job as OFW?

This is a legitimate question.

Aside from the fact that many things can happen in any employment, "there is no place like home". So a Filipino will eventually come home. It would be nice if there is a good business opportunity waiting at home so your hard earned money will multiply instead of vanish. You could also help create employment opportunities in the country.

But let's face it. It's risky to quit your job and start a business at home. What if the business fails? Could you still go back and enjoy the same employment opportunity you enjoy today? I hope so. But what if you can no longer go back? It would be a tragedy indeed. We've seen so many of this happen to our friends and relatives and it was heart breaking.

So I recommend you go ahead and buy a franchise. Statistics show that 90% of franchise businesses in the Philippines succeed while the same percentage fail in start up business within the next 2 to 5 years. This is because a franchise business has already put together a business concept that works, a proven effective system, and a support group among existing franchisees.

But before you buy a franchise, be sure you have a combination of these four factors to succeed:
1. The franchise company should have an online Management Information System to provide you with reports of the daily operation.

2. You should have the commitment to monitor the daily business' results of operation and to frequently communicate to ALL your outlet staff.

3. You should be able to have honest and capable business manager with whom you trust a lot.

4. Your Franchisor's support structure should be strong enough to support your daily business operation.

Information System
Having access to business information everyday will provide you with some level of control in your investment. Remember, knowledge is power.

Cellular City Franchise is an example of a franchise network that provides their franchisees with an information system that automatically sends report on a daily basis through the internet. Since the report is sent automatically, the data that the franchisee or financier receives is unaltered.

Aside from the MIS, the franchisor should also be able to assist you with setting up an Internet Banking account, if you still don't have one, so you can view the daily cash balances.

Commitment to Monitor the Results of Operation
But just like any other tool, the effectiveness of the system lies on how well it is used. If you do not watch the information and analyze them carefully, they're useless. Your commitment to monitor daily sales, inventory, people, and cash is an important requirement.

Aside from your franchisor, try involving other people to check your cash and inventory levels occassionally without telling your staff the schedule. Provide them with some data to base from. Remember that it's not what you expect that happens, it's what you INSPECT. Good system makes honest people honest.

But understand that no matter how many people you involve, the responsibility to monitor your investment lies on you.

If you have trusted people to work with at home coupled with an independent access to business information, you can establish a good investment control. You no longer have to worry about waiting for 6 months or 1 year to find out what happened to your investment, which in most cases is already in bad shape.

Trustworthy Partners or Employees
Fraudulent practices can surely be detected by practising tight control system. But systems are just good at that--detecting fraudulent practices effectively. They do not prevent a theft from stealing. So it is important to begin with honest people with whom you truly trust.

Responsible Franchisor
Your franchisor should be able to provide your frontline staff with the guidance to operate within the business concept and help them establish sales at desired profits. Find out about their franchise support organization and facility. Study their marketing strategy and how well they implement them.

Good franchisor will recommend you do not buy their franchise if you are not yet ready. Why should he do it? Because your success or failure is directly connected with him in a major way, unless the franchisor is only after for your money and doesn't care about your success. Bad franchisor will get you to buy their franchise no matter what.

So spend adequate time to get to know your franchisor. Know their background and talk to their franchisees. Existing franchisees can provide you with unbiased information that will be helpful to your decision to buy or not to buy.

But be careful with whom you take counsel from. I suggest you talk to the best performing franchisees who follow the franchisor's systems and advices. Problematic franchisees who do not follow the prescribed systems normally bad mouth their franchisor and would push you out from an opportunity that might just be best for you.

Be Involve in the Operation
With this set up you can now start your franchise business in the Philippines and be virtually involved in the operation like you were in the country with your staff. Communication to and from the franchisor or your own franchise staff is no longer a problem today, thanks to the internet. Long distance conversation through YM or Skype is now free anytime you want it.

So, yes. Why wait if you can start to build your franchise business now while you still have your opportunities abroad? The opportunity that you had been waiting for may now be knocking at your door.

For more information about Cellular City franchise offering, visit http://www.cellularcityfranchise.com/ .