New franchisees left to fend for themselves

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28/11/2006

New franchisees left to fend for themselves
By Monica Porte

Business training firm, TA Fastrack, has lashed out at travel franchisors for failing to provide adequate training to new franchisees who lack industry experience.

“I strongly feel that a franchisee needs to have some industry experience or knowledge of how the industry operates … at the very least they should have an in-house business coach, paid for by the franchisor or included in their upfront franchise fee, for the first six to twelve months of operation,” TA Fastrack ceo Adrian Caruso said.

Mr Caruso told Travel Today his firm received enquiries from a number of travel franchisees who are new to the industry and feel they are not getting enough support.

“Not that I don’t want the business, but I feel it is the responsibility of the franchisor to adequately train any new franchisee for a set period depending on their previous industry experience.

“By doing so, it will guarantee the new franchisee's success and reduce the potential damage to the other franchisees if the new franchisee goes under.”

Jetset Travelworld chief executive Michael Reed said he “agreed entirely” and while franchisees were offered a “depth of training” through Jetset Travelworld, it may still be in some franchisees interests to employ an external business coach.

“Sometimes franchisees become so involved in working ‘in’ their business, that they need that extra bit of help to work ‘on’ their business,” he said.

New JTW franchisees are offered a one-week intensive course, while all franchisees had access to courses on different aspects of the business throughout the year.

Other retail groups were not available for comment.

28 November 2006

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