One of the aims of setting up the franchise system is to set up a communication platform, where the franchisor can manage all stores and staff as a one unit.

For example, if a franchisor owns 10 stores and has few executives, they would all apply the same rules and procedures in all their stores and more likely; they will work from the same office or at least they meet very frequently.

Compare that with a franchisor, with 10 franchisees. This means that, the franchisor has to deal with 10 Managing directors plus their staff. As a result; the franchisor has to establish a close communication platform; a franchising system, to be able to manage all units and territories successfully.

This means the support & training system, communication and data processing between parties have to be implemented at the top level, and need to be developed all the time to keep the company focused. And the bigger the franchisor, the more they need to keep developing the franchising system to achieve better results.

One of the most effective way to achieve that; is to run a survey to evaluate the franchising system, where the survey can help the franchisor to obtain the following:

• Getting feedback on the effectiveness of the training system to achieve the required standard. Each franchisee can provide a personal feedback about how satisfied they are with the franchisor initial set up stage system, support system and to spot the strength and weaknesses in the services provided by the franchisor.
• The franchisor can evaluate and improve the system to support the current and future expansion to solve the problems and avoid future obstacles.
• Benchmark and compare the franchisees and how good the selection process of the partners and franchisees and the required improvements.
• Make sure the communication between the franchisor and the franchisees is maintained to the required level.
• Obtain a valuable feedback from the franchisees on how the franchisor could develop the business, in terms of production, marketing, sales and management. Because the franchisees are providing the final products, they certainly can provide great suggestions, solutions and can identify the problems.
• Demonstrate to the franchisees that the concept cares about their performance and willing to support them & make them part of the business family.

It is recognised that the Franchisees might not be very frank and open with the franchisor to highlight the weaknesses in the systems, but they would be very open to discuss their problems and opinions through a survey conducted by a Third Party.

MEFranchising can help any franchisor to conduct a franchising survey to develop their business network.

MEFranchising can also highlights the key facts and required tools to build a tailor made survey for each business.

The survey should help the franchisor to build a good decision making system on how to develop the business and expand the network successfully at the local and international levels.