Category: Training and Coaching

MANAGING PART-TIME EMPLOYEE SCHEDULES

Posted on by Franchise Strategist

Photo by Jessica Lewis on Unsplash

There are several reasons why shift scheduling is a critical part of managing your workforce. For one thing, if you have part-time employees who aren’t able to work every day that you need them, it’s vital that you have some system for organizing their schedules. In addition, consistency will help make things easier for everyone involved.

Managing Part-Time Employee Schedules
By Dom Hemingway

If you’re managing a part-time employee schedule, you know how important it is to be organized and prepared. Managing a part-time employee’s schedule can be tricky because you must keep your team member’s other priorities in mind and ensure that their work hours fit into those priorities accordingly. These priorities may include school, taking care of children or an elderly parent, and another part-time job. It’s essential that your employees can balance multiple aspects of their lives while still working for your company successfully!
Here are a few tips to consider:

Know Your Labor Needs In Advance
First, consider the business’s needs and how many employees you will need to cover the shifts. Next, consider how many shifts you need to cover each week and month (not just in specific time slots). Finally, be sure that all your available times are covered.

An excellent place to start is by creating standard templates for when employees will be working each week (e.g., every Monday afternoon). In addition, these templates should include what shifts are available and any special days off that might change weekly (such as holidays). Once set up, these templates let employees know their schedule via phone or other digital notification so they can plan accordingly!

Use A Scheduling Tool
A scheduling tool can help you organize your employees’ schedules, set up shift swaps, and more. There are numerous scheduling tools used by companies like Google, Red Bull, Spotify, and LinkedIn. Using A Scheduling Tool Is Simple. First, set up templates for days off and specific shifts (like the weekend). Next,use those templates as needed by dragging them onto the calendar view. Templates allow you to see your schedule at a glance so that you don’t have any surprises when it comes time for each person’s next shift. Include Shift Swaps. Shift swaps allow employees to trade shifts with each other. Swapping a shift is a great way to balance work and personal life, prevent burnout, and get the days off you want. If you have an employee self-scheduling system, it will also help avoid turnover by allowing employees to pick their schedules.

Managing Days Off
The first step in creating an employee schedule is to set up templates for each day off. You can do this by setting up a template that applies a specific day off for each employee. If you have more than one part-timer working simultaneously, ensure their days out are consistent, so they don’t conflict. Also, when setting up their days off, consider their work schedule and personal life—not only will this make things easier for them overall, but it’ll also ensure that they can attend family events or plan fun activities outside of work! Finally, if an employee is sick or needs time off during the week, consider how long they’ve been working before approving any requests. This flexibility will help ensure they get enough time away from work while still staying productive at home without having too much downtime.

Let Employees Select Their Shifts
It may be a good idea to allow employees to select their shifts. Self scheduling gives them the freedom to choose when they want to or can work, which can help them be more productive at work and happier overall. Many part-time employees also have multiple jobs and might need a schedule that works with another. For example, let’s say you have an employee who is also a freelance writer; he might need his schedule to include Friday off, so he has time to write articles for other publications. Allowing him to switch shifts with other employees in your organization makes it possible for him (and others) who may need this flexibility to have multiple jobs simultaneously! To ensure your part-time employees are scheduling themselves most efficiently, it’s important to know your needs before you begin.

Employee self-scheduling is a great way to reduce employee turnover and keep employees accountable for their schedules.
Employees pick their shifts based on availability and job needs with self-scheduling. This method also allows you to see how many hours each employee works, which can help you track attendance and make sure they’re adhering to policies regarding overtime or sick days.

Create Weekly Schedules At Least A Week In Advance
The weekly schedule prepared in advance is the best way to track employee hours and manage payroll. It also helps you plan by clearly showing the shifts to be covered according to sales and other projects.
Employees can quickly see how much time off they have next week, making planning life events easier (and more likely).
Managers can see what projects are due around the same time or when an employee will be out sick or on vacation. They can also use this information to choose who should help cover each other’s shifts if someone suddenly needs time off unexpectedly.

A Consistent Scheduling Process Is Critical
There are several reasons why shift scheduling is a critical part of managing your workforce. For one thing, if you have part-time employees who aren’t able to work every day that you need them, it’s vital that you have some system for organizing their schedules. In addition,consistency will help make things easier for everyone involved. For example, employees can plan their personal life around this schedule. In addition, employers can ensure that they always have enough employees working during each shift.You will also be in a better position to manage labor costs by scheduling team members in advance and according to projected sales for the week.

Additionally, if your company has full-time employees with varying schedules—such as those on-call or night shifts—it’s important to keep track of how many people you schedule during any given time. For example, suppose one employee misses two days in a row due to illness. In that case, it might be necessary for another coworker with flexible hours to cover those shifts instead, so nothing falls through the cracks!

Conclusion
Finally, an organized schedule will make things easier for everyone involved in ensuring there aren’t any scheduling conflicts within teams or departments because everything has been planned out ahead of time rather than being handled on an ad hoc basis.”

When managing part-time employees, it’s essential to consider their needs in advance. After all, they’ll be working with you regularly. Hence, you want them to feel comfortable and empowered in their work environment.

THE IMPORTANCE OF A WRITTEN BUSINESS PLAN

Posted on by Contributing Writer

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio

Starting a new business can be a daunting task, but it can be easier if you have a plan. A written business plan is an important tool that helps manage your company and keep you on track with your goals. It will help you determine what type of company you want to run and how best to reach those goals. A good plan should also analyze the financials, operations, and market conditions. It’s not just about writing down numbers – it’s about understanding them so that you can make informed decisions about how best to move forward!

The Importance of a Written Business Plan
By Dom Hemingway

You’ve got a great idea for a business, but you need funding. Or maybe you want to keep your company on track by establishing an established plan? Either way, no question that having a written business plan will help propel your venture forward.
A written business plan is a must-have for any new business.

The first step in starting any new business is creating a business plan. A good business plan will help you define your goals, strategies, and objectives for your company’s future. The right business plan can be a roadmap to help achieve those goals.
A written business plan is also essential to secure funding from investors or lenders! In addition, a well-written document can help convince people that you are serious about taking risks and making changes to grow their investment as quickly as possible.Starting a new business requires a lot of thought and research. A well-written business plan is an essential element that can help you reach your goals, so it’s important to give this document the attention it deserves.
The following steps will help you create an effective, comprehensive plan:

Research the market. Before committing to your idea, make sure there’s room for growth in the industry and that there are no existing competitors who could undercut you or drive away customers.

Write down all ideas for how your company will operate and how it will make money (i.e., what kind of product or service do you want to offer customers?). This section of your plan includes information about who will be running the company, where funds will come from, how much money you need to start up operations, and whether there are legal issues related to registering as an LLC or other business entity). It also includes information about what kind of employees are needed for specific tasks–and whether those people currently exist within your network!

A written document acts as a road map for your company’s future.
A business plan helps you make early decisions about the future. It also allows you to make better decisions and avoid mistakes, problems, and pitfalls.

A good plan analyzes the financials, operations, and market conditions.
A good business plan should include a financial analysis of the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement. It should also include an operations analysis outlining the business’s marketing strategy, sales plan, and distribution channels. This section will help you understand how to conduct these analyses successfully.

A good plan must also analyze market conditions—what they are and how they might change over time. Understanding market size is essential to your success: If there’s not much of a market for what you’re selling, then it won’t matter how great your product or service is because no one will buy it. So, in addition to analyzing current market conditions (size), predict future trends that may affect these conditions so that you can adjust accordingly for future changes in demand for your goods or services.

The executive summary
The executive summary should introduce critical players in the venture. In addition, it should include a description of the business, the business plan, and how you will implement it.
The executive summary should be able to stand alone and give investors an overview of your company’s goals, methods, and management team.

Identify your customers
It would be best to outline who your customers are and describe your brand. What do you want your business to be known? What type of person is your catering customer? For example, what image comes to mind when someone looks at your work if you’re selling artwork? Are they buying it to hang on their wall, or are they buying it as an investment piece?
You can answer these questions by creating a brand profile that describes your qualities and those who buy from you.

You must include information on financing requests, use of funds, and exit options.
If you’re seeking funding for your business, it’s crucial that you include your financial request in your plan. The financial presentation will give potential investors an idea of how much money is needed to get the company up and running. You should also include a breakdown of where you intend to use the funds and the percentage allocated for each plan section.

Return on investment (ROI) is another aspect you will address in a written business plan. This term refers to profitability, or how much profit a company can generate after considering expenses. It’s essential for investors considering putting money into your company to know how much return they’ll receive on their investment compared with other opportunities available at the time. This information will help them make an informed decision about whether or not they should invest in yours specifically.
It should also discuss challenges and opportunities, projections, and more.

A business plan should also discuss opportunities and challenges. Then, it should explain how you plan to overcome those challenges or exploit those opportunities. Finally, the plan should also include projections—a forecast of what your company’s performance will look like in the future. If you are seeking funding, you may need to provide more detail in the financial section than you would if you were using it internally as a planning tool. A business plan differs from an investor presentation in that a business plan focuses on how your company will succeed. In contrast, an investor presentation focuses on how much money investors will make. The financials should be detailed and quantitative if you are trying to raise capital from angel investors or venture capitalists. On the other hand, if you are only trying to obtain financing from friends or family members for your startup idea, then having more of an overview may suffice.

Executive Summary
The executive summary should be able to stand alone and give investors an overview of your company’s goals, methods, and management team. The executive summary is a summary of your business plan. It should be able to stand alone and give investors an overview of your company’s goals, methods, and management team. It should not include any confidential information or data.
The executive summary should be no more than two pages in length. If more information is needed, you can expand in later sections of the plan, such as the market analysis or financial forecasts section.
It’s important not just for investors considering investing in your company but also for potential partners or employees who may read through it before deciding whether they want to work with you or invest their time (and possibly money) into helping you succeed as an entrepreneur.

Operations Explanation
You need to be able to explain how your business will operate at the most basic level to get funding and grow your company.
A written business plan is a fundamental tool that helps you to explain how your business will operate at the most basic level. The document should include: An overview of the company, its products or services, the market, and whether there are any competitors. As a new company, it’s crucial to clearly define who your customers are and how you will reach them.
A description of each part of your operations — finance, marketing, sales, operations (production) — with details on how each area supports others within the organization in achieving goals for growth and profitability.
Use of funds: How much money do you need? How long before investors get their returns? What exit options do they have? Challenges and opportunities: Is there room for growth within this industry or niche market? Projections: Financials (income statements/profitability ratios)

Conclusion
Starting a new business can be a daunting task, but it can be easier if you have a plan. A written business plan is an important tool that helps manage your company and keep you on track with your goals. It will help you determine what type of company you want to run and how best to reach those goals. A good plan should also analyze the financials, operations, and market conditions. It’s not just about writing down numbers – it’s about understanding them so that you can make informed decisions about how best to move forward!

CONTROLLING LABOR COSTS IN A RESTAURANT

Posted on by Franchise Strategist

Photo by Charlie Firth on Unsplash

Controlling Labor Costs In A Restaurant
By Johnny Day

Labor costs are a critical part of the restaurant business. The labor costs in your restaurant will vary depending on how much you staff your business, what kind of benefits you offer, how large your staff is, and how much turnover there is. If your labor costs are too high, it can cause issues with profitability. However, if they’re too low, then you may not be able to meet customer demand or provide the level of service that customers expect. Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution for controlling labor costs; every restaurant will have unique factors affecting its labor expenses. The best way to manage these costs effectively is by creating an action plan based on data from previous years’ budgets and actual payroll figures from those same periods. Here are a few tips as an overview to labor cost management.

Control Staffing Costs
Staffing costs are typically the most significant expense in a restaurant. Hence, it makes sense that controlling labor costs is one of your biggest priorities. You can do this by hiring the right people, ensuring you have enough staff to cover shifts and peak times, ensuring you have the right staff for the job, and keeping your team happy and engaged.

As you can see, payroll cost is one of the largest expenses in a restaurant. The good news is that they can be controlled by carefully planning how team members are scheduled according to past sales trends. In other words, if you control your staffing levels and manage employee benefits and turnover while keeping an eye on labor-related taxes, you’ll be well on keeping your payroll costs under control.

Control Employee Benefits
Employee benefit costs can be a significant part of your labor costs. Health insurance and retirement benefits are usually the most expensive. Still, you may also offer additional perks such as vacation time or sick pay. As a business owner, it’s essential to understand what is covered under each employee’s benefits package. In addition, it’s critical to keep these costs in line with your budget and ensure that employees have everything they need to perform their job well. Also important is communicating these details clearly with employees. Take the time to ensure there are no misunderstandings about what they can expect from their benefits package.

Create A Management Staff That Must Multitask
To keep labor costs low, you must have a management staff who can multitask. A manager should be able to manage multiple employees and tasks simultaneously. This means they must be able to effectively prioritize and delegate tasks, as well as address any issues that arise from the execution of those delegated tasks.
To do this effectively, managers need a solid understanding of how their business works. They need to know what positions are required for optimal performance. For example, what duties each requires and how these roles relate to the greater operation (i.e., if an employee is late or leaves early). With this information readily available, managers can quickly decide which tasks they should assign where they’re needed most—and whether or not an employee might need training before taking on new responsibilities.

Optimize Your Team Member Schedule
Optimizing your team member’s schedules is essential in controlling labor costs. Optimizing your schedule ensures that every shift has the correct number of workers and that no worker is over or underutilized. You’ll want to define the problem before starting on a solution, however, so here’s how:
Figure out how many labor hours are used for each shift in your restaurant. Then track this number each day across all shifts
Review the duties performed by each employee during their shift(es), and allocate labor costs per job type (e.g., food service or dishwashing) according to industry standards or best practices
Determine how many hours each job takes based on its nature.

Software Helps Manage Labor Costs
As a business owner, you want to ensure that your business stays profitable. One way to do this is by software designed to help you control staffing costs. Labor management software can help you accomplish this goal by keeping track of time, attendance, and scheduling in one place.
You’ll want to use the right labor management software for your business. Find one that’s easy and efficient to use so that it doesn’t create more work for yourself or your employees (who are already busy enough). It also has to be affordable and reliable to provide accurate data about when employees start and stop working each day.

Conclusion
A successful restaurant can positively impact the local economy, but not if it’s not profitable. Therefore, controlling labor costs in your restaurant is one of the most important aspects of restaurant operations. Follow these few tips and see how they improve your bottom line.

Mindset Over Muscle – Building A Solid Business

Posted on by Franchise Strategist

Photo by Andreas Klassen on Unsplash

As you can see, the mindset will get you to the top. It’s not about the muscle. While you may need some physical strength to push through a rough patch, your mindset will ultimately determine whether or not you succeed.

Mindset Over Muscle – Building A Solid Business
By Dom Hemingway

The world is changing, and you should also change… But if you’re looking for a way to stay relevant, you first need to change how you think. It’s not enough to go with the flow anymore; that can get your business stuck. Instead, it’s time for you to take charge of your future and start thinking like an entrepreneur. This means learning to build a solid business from scratch by developing the right mindset and skillset. This blog post will explore how changing your mindset can help grow your business by overcoming challenges and taking charge of your destiny as an entrepreneur!

The Growth Mindset
Mindset is the driving force behind your success. So if you want to build a solid business, you need to be able to think in ways that will help you succeed.
A strong belief that you can develop your mindset through dedication and mindset practice is called the “Growth Mindset” and is based on three core ideas:

* Your talents and intelligence can grow with effort

* You can develop skills through practice and instruction.

* The brain is like a muscle; it gets stronger with use.

The best way to improve is to stretch yourself and work on challenges slightly beyond your current abilities. The Growth Mindset is about continually expanding your capacity to be more effective in whatever you do and achieve more of the desired results.

Mental Mastery
Mental Mastery is the ability to control your thoughts and emotions. It’s the key to success in any area of life because it allows you to remain calm and focused. Mental Mastery works even when things don’t go your way, or others are trying to distract you from your goals.

The more you practice Mental Mastery, the better you will become at it—and there are many ways to do so: meditation, affirmations, reading self-help books, and journaling. But here’s a straightforward exercise you can do anywhere. First, close your eyes and imagine yourself having already achieved whatever you want (e.g., being a successful entrepreneur). Then describe what it looks like in as much detail as possible (i.e., how does your business look? How do you feel about yourself?).
This exercise will help you visualize your future and activate the Law of Attraction. Plus, it’s fun!

Mental Mastery is the ability to control your thoughts and emotions. It’s the key to success in any area of life. Mental Mastery allows you to remain calm and focused, even when things don’t go your way or when others are trying to distract you from your goals. The more you practice Mental Mastery, the better you will become at it—and there are many ways to do so: meditation, affirmations, reading self-help books, and journaling. Here’s a straightforward exercise you can do: close your eyes and imagine yourself having already achieved whatever you want (e.g., being a successful entrepreneur). Then describe what that looks like in as much detail as possible. Selling is an Attitude, Not a Skill Selling is an attitude, not a skill.
The more you sell, the better you will get.

I remember sitting in my office on my first work day at a small company. I was nervous but excited to start my new career as a salesperson! I remember thinking: “If they only knew how bad I was at selling!” However, it didn’t matter how good or bad a salesperson you were; what mattered was whether or not your attitude towards selling was positive or negative. It is all about mindset and being determined to succeed no matter what obstacles appear in front of you along the way!

The first day of work was a little nerve-wracking. I was very nervous and had no idea what to expect. I remember walking into the office that morning and being introduced to my manager and other salespeople in my territory. Everyone seemed much older than me, making me feel a little out of place at first. But after talking with them for some time, I realized that we had more in common than not—we all liked sports, cars, travel, and meeting new people!

The Law of Abundance
The Law of Abundance says that the universe is abundant and infinite, and you are a part of it. The energy of your thoughts creates your reality. The more you think about money, the more likely you will attract more money into your life.
The Law of Abundance works because when we focus on what we want in life (for example, wealth), we put ourselves in a positive mindset. It attracts things like opportunities, good luck, or others who share similar goals. So if you want to attract abundance into your life, start thinking about everything related to making money!

The Law of Attraction
The Law of Attraction is a theory that states you attract circumstances, events, and relationships into your life based on your thoughts. This isn’t new information, but it has gained popularity in recent years thanks to the book The Voice of Your Soul.
It’s not magic. It doesn’t mean that if you wish for something hard enough and it happens without any work on your part (other than wishing), then it’s The Secret at work. There are still steps to take for your wish to come true!

The Voice of Your Soul teaches us three steps:
1. Ask – Ask yourself what you want. What do I need? Think about what would improve my life and long-term goals that could benefit me now or down the road.
2. Next, believe – Believe that this will happen or already has happened, even though there may be no evidence.
3. Finally, receive – Be patient while waiting for the manifestation of what we asked for–it may take a while depending on how big of an issue we’re dealing with–and celebrate when something finally happens!

The Secret is a great way to interpret what is happening in your life. If you’re not getting what you want, ask yourself how you can change your thoughts to attract the right circumstances into your life. It may take some time before anything happens, but if it doesn’t, change your wish one more time until you get exactly what you want!
mindset, leadership, the law of attraction, entrepreneur Mindset, leadership, and the law of attraction are three things every successful entrepreneur has in common. These elements can be learned and mastered by anyone. Understanding these concepts will help you to build a solid franchise business.

The challenge for most people is that their minds have been programmed for years by teachers, parents, friends, or society. For example: “Don’t think about it too much; just do it!” “Be practical! You can’t change the world!” Or my favorite one: “How could you possibly make money doing what you’re doing? It’s not realistic!”

These messages may seem harmless enough, but they keep us stuck and prevent us from taking action on our goals because they make us feel like we cannot achieve them. They also create fear around our capabilities which stops us from trying new things and having fun in life – all potent tools for success!

If this sounds familiar, then take some time today to create new beliefs around your ability to achieve whatever goals you set yourself this year. Whether they’re small or big, you must start somewhere.
You can do it! Take one step at a time, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Follow your dream, and don’t allow anyone to steal it!

Conclusion
As you can see, the mindset will get you to the top. It’s not about the muscle. While you may need some physical strength to push through a rough patch, your mindset will ultimately determine whether or not you succeed.

Maximizing Employee Retention

Posted on by Franchise Strategist

Photo by Desola Lanre-Ologun on Unsplash

Maximizing Employee Retention
By Johnny Day

An engaged employee contributes to the organization and feels valued by it. In addition, an engaged employee can be more productive, loyal, and energetic than a disengaged one. And when employees are happy at work, they tend to stay longer with their employer. For this reason, companies are increasingly focusing on improving employee retention rates. However, not all companies have the same needs or resources, and there are no simple solutions that apply across industries or countries. So here we will look at some strategies for maximizing your company’s retention rates:

Stop focusing on the costs of retention.
One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to focus on the costs of retaining employees. The price may be slightly higher than recruitment, but it’s a good investment for your business.
Retention rates are typically 20% higher than recruitment costs, so if you can retain just one good worker for an extra year, you’ll have saved more money than you spent on hiring that person in the first place!
Retention can lead to increased productivity and morale within your company, which helps ensure everyone stays motivated at work. It also means less turnover and improved efficiency during work hours because everyone knows what they’re doing now.
The reasons above don’t even include all the additional benefits of employee engagement when people like their jobs.

Create a retention strategy
The first step in creating a retention strategy is ensuring it aligns with your overall business strategy. A solid retention plan should be implemented at all levels of the organization, from executives down to frontline employees. Additionally, it should use data related to turnover rates and reasons for leaving—to shape its strategies and methods. Once you have decided on how you want to approach employee retention (and are ready for action), several tools can help:
Surveys are great tools for gathering information from employees about their work environment, including areas where they feel happy and satisfied and where they see room for improvement. You can use them to determine why employees choose one company over another when deciding between job offers. This information will give you insight into what matters most when making offers yourself!

Exit interviews: Though exit interviews don’t always happen before an employee leaves a company (sometimes managers ask them after someone has already left), they’re still valuable because they provide feedback directly from former employees who have new insights into what made them decide to leave their old jobs or departments within their organizations.*
If you can’t think of anything else to do, then focus on improving the employee experience. You want to ensure that your employees are happy with their work environment, coworkers, and tasks.Exit interviews allow you to find out what employees liked best about their work. They will also help you understand why they chose to leave; they also help you identify ways to improve your current practices or create new ones. These interviews can be conducted face-to-face or over the phone; some companies even use an online survey tool to gather information from departing employees.

Audit your human resources workflows. The first step in improving your retention is determining where you fall short and how. You can do this through an audit of your HR workflows, which will allow you to identify areas where there are gaps, bottlenecks, or redundancies. To do this, ask yourself:
* Are our new hires being onboarded properly? Are there any areas that need improvement (e.g., training) or opportunities for streamlining (e.g., documentation)?
* Do we have an effective method for recognizing and rewarding employees for their contributions? Is it efficient enough that we won’t lose valuable employees because they don’t feel appreciated quickly enough?
* How does our performance management process work from end to end? Does it provide timely feedback so employees can improve their performance and stay engaged?

Speak with your employees
To retain employees, you need to listen. Your employees are the experts on their well-being, so invite them into the conversation about how the work environment can improve things at work. Ask what they like about their jobs and what they would change if given a chance. Ask if they are happy where they are in their careers and whether or not they feel successful in their roles. Ask them if there is anything that the company could do differently to improve morale or make life easier for them at work. If someone feels valued at a company, they will happily recommend it to others who might also benefit from working there.

Retaining good workers can save you time and money as long as you care for them.
Retaining good workers can save time and money in today’s competitive business world. Here are a few tips to help you keep your employees happy and productive:

Appreciate them! Giving praise and showing appreciation for their work shows that you value their contributions, encouraging them to continue doing great things for your company.
Please give them the tools they need to succeed! If an employee is struggling with something they’re working on, helping them out or getting different technology might be enough to get them back on track again. If not, having a dedicated mentor on hand may be helpful too!

Encourage team bonding activities like group lunches or outings (always keeping safety in mind).
How do we measure and evaluate our employees’ performance? Is it timely enough to make an impact on their career development? How do we ensure that all employees receive regular feedback on their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? If you can answer these questions effectively, you can create an HR strategy that keeps your best talent. Many happy companies have taken to social media to understand their customers better. They are listening and responding to the needs of their audience. If you want your employees to feel valued, you should do the same thing. Ask them what they like about working for your company and what changes could be made to improve things even more. These questions will help your employees feel closer to each other and their workplace, which may encourage them to stick around longer. Offer growth opportunities! If an employee has been with you for a while, consider giving them more responsibility or training on something new to expand their skill set.

Conclusion
We hope this guide has been helpful for you and that it’s helped you think about employee retention in a new way. While most HR professionals know retention is essential, many don’t spend enough time planning for it or taking action to improve their retention strategies. But by following our tips here—and making sure your own company is prepared to do its part—you can help ensure that your employees feel valued and appreciated at work, which will lead them to stay longer with your organization. And if all else fails? Try giving out some nice bonuses!

When Not To Franchise Your Business

Posted on by Franchise Strategist

Franchising is not for everyone, but if you are willing to put in the time and effort required to make it work, it can be an excellent way to grow your business. However,let’s suppose you are considering franchising as a way of expanding your current business.

When Not To Franchise Your Business
By: Gary Occhiogrosso – Managing Partner FranGrow & Adjunct Associate Professor at New York University

Franchising is a great way to expand your business and grow your customer base, but it’s not for everyone. So before you get started on your path to becoming a franchisor, here are some things that you should think about:
You don’t have a proven business model.

If you don’t have a proven business model, franchising can be a hard way to go. You’ll have to invest a lot of money upfront and spend time managing franchisees, who may not see the potential in your product or service as clearly as you do. In addition, if your idea isn’t unique or doesn’t appeal to people outside of your local area, it won’t take off as you might expect.

There are plenty of success stories about companies that started franchising their businesses and became household names—but there are also plenty of horror stories about companies that began franchising only to have things collapse within a few years. For example, suppose your goal is to ensure that your company stays afloat and continues growing after its initial launch phase (and believe me: it should be). In that case, franchising may not be suitable for you at this stage in its growth process—or ever!

You’re still refining your product/service offering.
If you still need to test your product or service offering, then franchising isn’t for you. Franchising takes time and money, so it’s essential that you know your business model works before you start expanding it. The last thing a franchisee wants is to spend their hard-earned money on a product or service that doesn’t work.

These are some things you should consider before embarking on the journey of franchising:
* Are you offering the right price?
* Do the features meet customer expectations?
* Is the product reliable?
* Is it easy to use?
If you can’t answer these questions confidently, franchise expansion may not be for your business yet.

You can’t afford it.
Suppose you cannot invest in the necessary costs associated with franchising. In that case, it’s probably not a good idea. The price of franchising can be pretty high. You’ll have to pay for all the administrative and legal work required during the process, along with continuing support and other services. You’ll also need cash on hand for marketing purposes and regular payments into an escrow account (if applicable) that will help fund your franchisee’s initial start-up costs.
This is especially true if you don’t already have an established brand or product line; it takes time for those things to develop organically and build momentum among customers. As such, it may take longer than anticipated before any revenues start rolling in from new franchises—and those initial expenses will continue relentlessly until then!

You don’t have a strong brand presence in your local market.
Branding is essential, but it’s not a short-term strategy. On the contrary, branding is a long-term effort that requires a lot of work, money, and time. So if you’re looking for something quick and easy to get immediate results, don’t bother with branding. Branded businesses are built on solid foundations that take years to develop.
Brands are more than just logos; they express who you are and what makes your business unique. A brand can be as simple or complex as necessary (or both). Still, suppose it doesn’t convey the essence of your company in some way. In that case, it falls short of its potential value in building customer relationships over the long term.”

Your business is not scalable.
There are two basic requirements for a business to be scalable:
* The company has been successful in the past.
* The company can be run with minimal costs.
If you do not meet these criteria, your business will not be able to scale without additional investment. You need market research before deciding whether or not franchising is right for you!

Franchising is not for everyone; will it work for you?
Franchising is not for everyone, but if you are willing to put in the time and effort required to make it work, it can be an excellent way to grow your business. However,let’s suppose you are considering franchising as a way of expanding your current business. In that case, it’s crucial that you consider whether or not this type of growth is appropriate for what you’re trying to achieve with your company. As a franchisee, there will be times when you disagree with management decisions or feel like we’re not listening to feedback from our restaurants. To ensure that these situations don’t become roadblocks in our relationship, we strongly encourage all stakeholders (franchisees and management) to communicate openly about the issues before they become conflicts.

Conclusion
Franchising can be a great way to grow your business, but it is not for everyone. If you are still unsure if franchising is right for you, we recommend considering other options, such as starting from scratch or hiring an employee. Many factors need to be considered before making any significant investment. We hope this article helps guide you through those decisions!

SIX TECH TRENDS IN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY BORNE OUT OF THE PANDEMIC

Posted on by Franchise Strategist

Photo by Austin Distel on Unsplash

Technology and innovation have helped and in some instances saved restaurants as they changed their way of thinking about the overall guest experience. Many thrived by staying connecting and engaged with their customers with this new worldwide operating model and mindset.

SIX TECH TRENDS IN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY BORNE OUT OF THE PANDEMIC
By: Gary Occhiogrosso – Managing Partner Franchise Growth Solutions, LLC.

As a New Yorker in the restaurant and franchise business, I’ve seen the industry go through difficult times over the last two years. From total closure to outdoor dining in the wintertime to mandated “proof of vaccination” rules imposed on citizens. Some moves made by the restaurant industry in response to the pandemic and the government orders resulted in numerous changes.

From an optimistic viewpoint, there have been innovative changes that will remain in place. The good news is we are nearing the end of the pandemic and learning to live in a mostly vaccinated society as guest are returning to restaurants in droves. One of the more forward thinking initiatives is the restaurant industry’s embrace of technology in a way that many restaurateurs had not considered or even shunned before the global pandemic. There is no doubt the COVID-19 pandemic forced many industries to shift to digital mode. The restaurant industry is no exception as it steered toward the use of technology by introducing digital menus and online ordering options to keep its business alive, just to name a few.

Technology and innovation have helped and in some instances saved restaurants as they changed their way of thinking about the overall guest experience. Many thrived by staying connecting and engaged with their customers with this new worldwide operating model and mindset. Everything from online orders to self-checkout, contactless payment methods, and home delivery, the restaurant industry could not afford to ignore the latest trends set in the food industry if they were to remain relevant and competitive.

Here are six tech trends in the restaurant industry borne out of the pandemic. I believe they are here to stay:

Online Ordering
Before the pandemic hit the world, many restaurants were waiting for the right time to introduce online ordering options for their customers. However, the strict lockdown forced the restaurant industry across the globe to close their cafes, QSR’s as well as dine-in services and shift to the digital medium of ordering, payment adn pick-up.

Many online platforms helped the restaurant industry to continue their business by collaborating with them. A study reveals that almost one in three Americans use online food ordering systems once a week. They introduced digital menus for the customers to check what the restaurants are offering.

Contactless Payment
Another mainstream trend in the food industry is contactless payment. It is not only about placing online orders but also about receiving payments through smartcards, smartphones, and smartwatches. Contactless payment originally gained momentum slowly with the global food industry. However, the pandemic gave it a big push to accelerate the concept industry wide.

Ready Contactless Dining
Logo for Ready Contactless Dining app with QR code and text reading Pay Here visible, at a restaurant in the Silicon Valley, San Jose, California, December 18, 2021. Photo courtesy Tech Trends. (Photo by Gado/Getty Images)GADO VIA GETTY IMAGES

It is a more hygienic and safer means of placing an order with no personal interaction and no cash handling. Moreover, it is a quick and convenient way of receiving payment from customers for the orders placed. Restaurants wishing to stay competitive in the handheld device era must design plans that create digital payment methods for a better experience.

Restaurant Reservation Software
For the full service space, automating restaurant reservation schedules, not only increases efficiency in a time of ongoing labor challenges, it also conveys an updated image to your diners. Moreover, it reduces the chances of over or double booking. Short staffed restaurant with extra busy staffers often make mistakes disrupting a great guest experience. Therefore, the reservation software reduces or eliminates the need to attend calls to reserve tables or assign employees to handle the customers.

Drone Food Delivery Systems
With the high cost of third party delivery services, restaurateurs are seeking alternatives. Drone delivery in certain parts of the country are beginning to become popular. Automating the delivery process may eventually lead to some restaurants doing away with the delivery person’s existence entirely. With the advancement of technology, drones soon may completely replace drivers to ensure contactless, timely delivery. Moreover, they can also film the surroundings and offer many avenues for marketing initatives. Having food delivered through drones would eliminate the cost of hiring delivery people and reduce the environmental effects caused by the vehicles while at the same time lessen the need for expensive third party servies.

Chatbots
A newer trend taking hold in the food industry is the use of website Chatbots. Restaurants can easily create chatbots. They do not require much investment and can easily integrate with different communication mediums. While interacting with customers, a chatbox may:

* recommend dishes
* suggest food
* pair drink options
* process payments
*ask for feedback
*offer promotions
*announce events
*and even crack jokes

Air purification:
To increase health security, air quality and purification enters the minds of some guests. As a result, restaurants are focusing on upgrading air purification systems to improve air quality inside their restaurants. Some restaurants opt for filter systems that trap pollutants and neutralize contaminants in the air. Although these concepts are still emerging in the restaurant industry, they are becoming an integral part of safety measure and you can expect to see more of it as we continue to learn to live with the threat of viruses. These air purification measures are in addition to customers expectations that the staff sanitize the restaurant regularly and thoroughly before serving meals.

My “Take Away”
As technology changes everything from the guest experience to the ordering process to the functionality of the kitchens, restaurants must continue to evolve, innovate and monitor consumer trends if they expect to survive and thrive. Embracing the use of technology and digital solutions as a way remain competitive is undoubtedly here today and the future of our business.

3 Trends Poised For Growth In 2022 And The Tech Startups Helping To Fuel Them

Posted on by Franchise Strategist

3 trends poised for growth in 2022 and the tech startups helping to fuel them

(BPT) – The past year has brought a flurry of changes for many people. Maybe you’ve embraced online shopping and want to start to incorporate meal planning into that experience. Perhaps you’ve gotten into selling things from the comfort of your home or you’re now working remotely with people around the world.

Digital solutions meet modern needs so you can do these types of things successfully, whether you’re a consumer or an entrepreneur. Three of the top digital trends of 2022 showcase the growth of technology solutions by innovative startups focused on making life better.

Trend 1: Simplified online grocery shopping

The food marketplace is an evolving space with two trends poised for continued growth: online grocery shopping and meal planning. Grocery Shopii is the solution for shoppers who want to integrate meal planning into a customized online shopping experience.

Today, meal solutions are helping consumers tackle meal fatigue and save time. Not only are Shopii recipes curated by top bloggers, they’re hyper-personalized to each client’s preferences, offering suggestions that align with existing shopping habits. Plus, Grocery Shopii utilizes machine learning to expedite meal planning and online grocery shopping to 5 minutes or less.

Grocery Shopii is free for shoppers and helps grocers provide a tailored experience, which in turn builds customer loyalty. Learn more at GroceryShopii.com.

Trend 2: Interactive fashion resale marketplace

What people choose to wear defines who they are, and today more people than ever want to stand out in their own unique way. That’s why interest in vintage clothing, upcycled fashion, and handmade accessories is soaring, and Galaxy is connecting passionate sellers with engaged buyers.

Galaxy is the first platform of its kind to fuse live shopping and fashion resale, creating a truly social, entertainment-geared shopping experience with sustainable fashion at its core. With Galaxy, shoppers can have conversations while buying, allowing them to make more informed decisions and understand the stories behind the pieces they’re browsing.

Galaxy enables the next generation of fashion entrepreneurs to find and build their community, plus, unlike other platforms, takes no commission or fees. Visit Galaxy.Live for more information.

Trend 3: Symbiotic solutions to labor needs and economic empowerment

The labor shortage crisis, the Great Resignation, diversity challenges — job economy topics continue to capture headlines. Companies of all sizes are struggling to fill roles with quality candidates who meet their needs.

Meaningful Gigs is one solution that solves many issues that companies are facing today. This tech-packed platform connects skilled African designers with companies seeking high-quality digital design work. Their vision is to create 100,000 remote skilled jobs in Africa by 2028.

Meaningful Gigs provides companies with a way to tap into global diversity while also delivering critical design solutions for their businesses for creative, product and marketing teams. By supplying people in Africa with skilled jobs, the company focuses on continuous economic empowerment and socioeconomic advancement. Discover more at MeaningfulGigs.com.

2022 is sure to be a year of continued change as people increasingly rely on digital solutions. Explore these trends to see how they impact your life, and consider new technologies to meet your needs.

HOW TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN EMPLOYEES AS WE EXIT THE PANDEMIC

Posted on by Franchise Strategist

Some of the causes of the great employment disruption of 2021 are beyond the influence of employers. However, there are a number of initiatives that can be implemented by employers to retain employees and attract those who are looking for a change in what they do. So, how do you retain and attract employees? 

HOW TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN EMPLOYEES AS WE EXIT THE PANDEMIC
by Stan Silverman
Article originally published in the Philadelphia Business Journal on November 15, 2021.

Due to the effects of the pandemic, 2021 will be known as a year of immense employment disruption. This is especially acute in the restaurant, hospitality and other service industries, where employees now have higher-paying employment alternatives. 
The cause of the Great Resignation is not limited to dissatisfaction with pay. Many employees who are nearing retirement have decided to leave the workforce earlier than they had planned. Other employees have reevaluated their lives and decided what they were doing was not for them. 

Some employees are burned out dealing with hostile customers and working to meet pent-up demand. Others have left the workforce because they cannot afford childcare. There are those who point to governmental assistance as the reason people are not working, but that assistance ended in September.

Some of the causes of the great employment disruption of 2021 are beyond the influence of employers. However, there are a number of initiatives that can be implemented by employers to retain employees and attract those who are looking for a change in what they do. So, how do you retain and attract employees? 

Employees come before customers

In my columns for the Philadelphia Business Journal, I have emphasized the importance of delivering a great customer/client experience as a way to become the preferred provider in the marketplace. It’s your employees who deliver a great customer/client experience. 

Quoting Sir Richard Branson, co-founder of Virgin Group, “Clients do not come first. Employees come first. If you take care of your employees, they will take care of the clients.” Treat your employees well. They will help you become a preferred employer.
Nurture a culture in which your employees develop a sense of ownership in what they do. Listen to their ideas. Value their contributions. Never micromanage. Set expectations, empower them and cut them loose to do their thing. 

Compensate employees so your company is an attractive employment alternative

For years, many have advocated raising the federal minimum wage to $15/hour, with little success. Today, many businesses need to pay $20/hour or more to attract employees. Why? Employees have alternative employment opportunities not only within the same industry, but also within other industries that are rapidly growing. For example, an employee working at a restaurant can quit and go to work for Amazon instead. Pay employees competitively with their alternatives to keep them and attract others.
Will increasing the compensation of employees require companies to raise prices? Yes. The economy will adjust as it did after the dramatic increase in oil prices during the 1970s. 

Differentiate your company and its culture 

Just as you differentiate your company so customers/clients want to buy from you instead of your competition, differentiate your company so employees want to work for you rather than their alternatives. 
Treat all employees as important to your success. Show your appreciation for what they do. Where practical, depending on the job, institute a hybrid model, giving them flexibility to work remotely or at the office. There are companies that have been operating 100% virtually with great effectiveness for many years without adversely impacting employee collaboration. Saved commuting time is spent working on business issues, as well as taking care of personal matters, which reduces employee stress and increases morale.

Differentiate your company from others. Treat your employees as you would like to be treated. Make it part of your brand. Your reputation will attract the employees you need to run your business. 

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About the Author
Stan Silverman is founder and CEO of Silverman Leadership and author of “Be Different! The Key to Business and Career Success.” He is also a speaker, advisor and widely read nationally syndicated columnist on leadership, entrepreneurship and corporate governance. He can be reached at [email protected].

KEY TIPS FOR LAUNCHING A SUCCESSFUL RESTAURANT

Posted on by Franchise Strategist

Owning a restaurant can be personally rewarding and profitable. Many people have built great restaurant companies following these simple guidelines. Desire and passion will only get you so far. Create your business plan as a road map. Your plan will help you stay on track when dealing with the many moving parts of launching and successfully operating a new restaurant.

Key Tips For Launching A Successful Restaurant.
BY Gary Occhiogrosso Contributor

For many people, opening a restaurant is a dream. One of the many things I find so interesting about the restaurant business is the blend of creative artistry and the detailed and challenging business aspects necessary to be successful. As an Adjunct Instructor at NYU’s School of Professional Studies, I teach restaurant concept development and business planning. On several occasions, I have been asked by my students to summarize the top issues that one must consider when planning to open a restaurant. Generally, regardless of the type of restaurant, the planning and considerations are the same. I’ll cover a few of the top line elements here.

At the beginning of the process, you should write a simple business plan. It would help if you thought about the many pieces of the puzzle connected to a successful outcome. Many novice restaurateurs, very often chefs, only consider the food component, but there is so much more. A well thought out business plan will include creating a unique concept, a competitive analysis, site selection, financial projections, equipment needs, staffing, and of course, the menu.

Let’s start with a concept

It’s essential that your restaurant offers a unique experience. It could be a Wine Bar with small plates, or a BBQ theme or a Create Your Plate concept. Whatever you decide, it is critical that the environment and “vibe” within the restaurant places the guest firmly inside the experience you’re attempting to create. Don’t confuse the guest with a concept that’s disconnected. As I often remind my clients, “everything touches everything else.” For instance, you wouldn’t use elegant tableware in a fried chicken restaurant or disposable plates in an upscale steakhouse. As obvious as this may seem on the broader elements, it’s essential to take that idea to every detail of the restaurant concept, no matter how small. Everything from the paint color to the music to the tabletops to the wall hanging must work together. The decor elements, the menu, and the service level need to provide the guests with a seamless experience that, when done well, goes almost unnoticed because it’s natural and authentic.

If You Build It, Will They Come?

Building a clientele is never as easy as hanging a sign over the door. It takes smart planning, execution of marketing, and living up to the promise in your mission and brand position statement. You should never assume, “if you build it, they will come.” Questions to ask yourself are; how will my restaurant connect with people? Why does my restaurant exist? What type of people am I looking to attract? What do they read or watch? How do they spend their spare time? What is the best way to reach them? Your concept should appeal to a particular, selected audience. There is no such thing as “everyone is my customer.” Knowing why and for whom your restaurant exists is crucial to success. Your marketing plan should offer compelling reasons why that guest base should frequent your establishment regularly. Is the concept created for health-conscious people? Is it aimed at Millennials or Baby Boomers? It is a full menu or dessert brand or a convenient, fast food, value-based concept. Your social media, print ads, and community outreach should focus on one single audience with one single message. Once you’ve built a loyal base of customers and repeat business, then you should consider expanding your base by marketing to others in the area with a proposition that appeals to them.

Your People Plan is Key

A great team will help you win everyday. Hiring great people is the first step in delivering service excellence and a consistent product to your guests. Your mission statement “the why” along with a corporate culture that emphasizes respect for employees, commitment to your guests, service to the community, and concern for the environment will guide you when selecting your staff. It’s not enough to hire people with restaurant experience; they should also understand and be excited about the mission of the restaurant. If not, they will go through the motions with an inauthentic approach and often fail at exceeding guest expectations. Examine your corporate core values and hire people that match it. Next, supply your staff with comprehensive, ongoing training and the proper tools so can they carry out the day to day tasks flawlessly. Hire for qualities, train for skills.

The Market and Competition

Understanding the market area where you’d like to open your restaurant is a crucial element to the plan. Carefully research the demographics to ensure there are enough people in the area that match whom you believe will embrace your concept. When looking for your location, work with an experienced commercial broker that can supply you with data to help you choose the area and the site correctly.

A full competitive analysis is also essential. For example, check the pricing of your competition. Be sure you’re not over or underpriced for the market. Check other services they offer, such as delivery and online ordering. Spend time in the market area, dine several times at as many competitors as possible, and position your restaurant to address the missing needs in the market. Having a unique value and selling proposition will keep you ahead of the game. Remember, everyone is vying for the same consumer dollars, so you need to create points of differentiation that will help your establishment stand out from the competition.

Consistently Great Food

Your menu must not only be relevant to the concept and the market but should be prepared and served perfectly every time. Restaurant guests expect dishes they grown to love to have the same flavor and high quality each time they visit. Inconsistent products can lead to disappointed guests, bad reviews, and slumping business. Your menu should be not only delicious but also simple to execute. The more straightforward the menu, the less chance of mistakes in preparation. Consistency increases guest satisfaction. Some chefs and “foodies” create menu items that are too complicated and require a highly skilled professional in the kitchen. This approach is fine if you intend to open a high-end restaurant staffed with high price personnel, but not in a fast-casual or family restaurant setting. A winning menu is simple, fresh, relevant, and great tasting. A competent chef can assist in developing dishes that are unique and great tasting that are also simple to produce with less skilled labor. If you have aspirations of owning more than one location, then simple execution, and consistent products are a must to achieve the goal of operating multiple restaurants.

Cash Is King

There are many reasons why restaurants fold. It could be the wrong concept, poor choice of location, not correctly researching the competition, poor service, an uninspiring menu, or bad food, to name a few. That said, the negative impact of undercapitalization may be the most frequent cause of restaurant failures. Knowing how much money you need to launch the restaurant is only the tip of the iceberg. You must assess ongoing cash needs while the restaurant is newly opened and gaining momentum. It may take many months for a restaurant to break even and then eventually become profitable. Being able to support the financial needs during this phase is often the “make or break” challenge that many new restaurateurs cannot overcome. A well thought out projection model that you create with the help of a professional financial advisor can save you from the frustration, negative financial impact and heartbreak of a failed restaurant. Considering capital needs for the first twelve to fifteen months is not only prudent but essential to the success of any new restaurant. You must be prepared to cover the operational costs and expenses as the restaurant “ramps up.” Carefully consider your cash needs and how much working capital you must have on hand, ready to deploy.

Have A Plan And Follow Your Dream

Owning a restaurant can be personally rewarding and profitable. Many people have built great restaurant companies following these simple guidelines. Desire and passion will only get you so far. Create your business plan as a road map. Your plan will help you stay on track when dealing with the many moving parts of launching and successfully operating a new restaurant.
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About the author:
Gary Occhiogrosso is the Founder of Franchise Growth Solutions, which is a co-operative based franchise development and sales firm. Their “Coach, Mentor & Grow Program” focuses on helping Franchisors with their franchise development, strategic planning, advertising, selling franchises and guiding franchisors in raising growth capital. Gary started his career in franchising as a franchisee of Dunkin Donuts before launching the Ranch *1 Franchise program with its founders. He is the former President of TRUFOODS, LLC a multi brand franchisor and former COO of Desert Moon Fresh Mexican Grille. He advises several emerging and growth brands in the franchise industry. Gary was selected as “Top 25 Fast Casual Restaurant Executive in the USA” by Fast Casual Magazine and named “Top 50 CXO’s” by SmartCEO Magazine. In addition Gary is an adjunct instructor at New York University on the topics of Restaurant Concept & Business Development as well Entrepreneurship. He has published numerous articles on the topics of Franchising, Entrepreneurship, Sales and Marketing. He was also the host of the “Small Business & Franchise Show” broadcast in New York City and the founder of FranchiseMoneyMaker.com 

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LEARN MORE ABOUT STARTING YOUR RESTAURANT: www.frangrow.com www.frangrow.com