Should Your Family Run a Franchise?

Your dream of a family-run franchise is a noble goal, but you must first determine if your family can stand up to the pressures and challenges of everyday business. Keeping a few things in mind, your family may be the next dynamite franchise business team.

Before jumping headfirst into a franchise, carefully consider whether your family can endure the inevitable stress that comes with running one. A family and a business are separate - but equally important - ingredients in your life, and putting them together may not create a very sweet cake. Examine your family dynamics thoroughly before embarking on any kind of franchise-related adventure. When your family argues, do you get over it quickly, or does the anger fester for days? How do you handle disagreements and setbacks? Answering important questions like these could mean the difference between success and failure of your business.

When thinking of your family, figure out the roles of each member in the business. The phrase "too many cooks spoil the broth" was never more accurate than in this situation. Determine who will be running the business early one, and who will take on the supporting roles. Identify each family members' strengths and weaknesses as well, and see how they fit within the fields of work you'll be involved in (IT and tech support, administrative duties, etc.) Everyone will be much happier in roles their talents can handle, rather than getting overwhelmed in a situation they were never suited for to begin with.

Keep your family time as simply that: family time. Keep shop talk to a minimum and always set aside a block of every day to spend time as a family and not as co-workers. Setting clear boundaries between work and family ensures you don't get burnt out and keeps the family happy. It may be difficult at times, especially when your office is inside your home, but setting aside a portion of your day to spend time as a family will save you much unnecessary stress and your kids (and spouse) will greatly appreciate it. It's also important to your franchise that you maintain these boundaries, so things don't get personal at work when you're facing tough issues. If personal problems crop up on the clock, agree to discuss it when the workday is over and your family time begins.

If the problems you're facing at work come from seeing each other twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, maybe you need to work independently of one another for a while. A bit of "away" time can do wonders for your work morale, and help you maintain the peace at home.

No matter how you schedule your work time and family time, make sure you keep the lines of communication open. Allowing everyone to freely voice their opinion will head off any resentment issues that may arise from not being listened to, and being honest with one another will increase the bonds of trust. This can also reveal brewing problems that would have exploded later so you can deal with it before it grows out of control. And don't forget to say "I love you" before going to bed each night, so anyone in your family who might have been put off by something said regarding work (no matter how truthfully) will know not to take it personally.

If you've examined your family and decided they can stand the tests and trials that come with a franchise, be thankful and realize that, if you run your business with respect towards your family both as family members and employees, you may actually come out of this a stronger family. The support that can only come with such a work/home structure will be valuable to you and your children, giving them a strong sense of independence and setting them off on the right foot. The things you learn about teamwork and sticking together is a kind of education you just can't get anywhere else.