Nowadays, everyone’s talking about working from home. One of the more positive lessons we’ve learned from the pandemic is how productive we can be away from the office. While you might think that’s only the case for people working more traditional jobs, it’s also true for franchising. Plenty of franchising opportunities don’t require you to work at an office and can easily be done from home. If you’re interested in opening a home-based franchise, here are three things you should be looking for.
- Choose the right industry. Responsible entrepreneurs know that the due diligence process is an essential part of opening a franchise. If being able to work from home is a priority for you, take the time to research your franchising options before getting in touch with the company. Some franchises – think restaurants, convenience stores, and gyms – require you to operate a brick-and-mortar location. You’ll want to steer clear of those. Most home services franchises are easy to operate from your home.
- Evaluate your space. Although operating your business from home can be more cost-effective than either buying or renting a commercial property, it only works if you have enough space. Owning and operating a franchise involves a lot more than a desk and a computer – at a minimum, there’s equipment, storage, and vehicles to consider. Your house will also serve as home base for your team, which may grow to include quite a few people. For some franchises, you’ll also have customers come by to receive services. If your home can’t support all of those things, you might want to either choose an office-based franchise or pick a home-based franchise that can be run out of a smaller space.
- Be honest with yourself. No two people will thrive in the same environment. Some people do their best work at home, but others are easily distracted and need the order that comes with working in an office. From TV shows and housework to kids and pets, there’s a lot going on at home that you may find difficult to ignore. If you’ve never worked from home before, you might want to see if your current job allows for telework before deciding on a home-based franchise. Understanding your abilities and limitations as they pertain to working from home will put you in a better position to succeed.
Will this impact my relationship with the franchisor?
The short answer is no! Every franchise is different, and there may be some subtle differences when it comes to operating your business, but many franchisors have set up their business models to work just as efficiently as a home-based business. You will want to be upfront about your intentions, though. Be sure to ask the franchising team about their position on home-based franchising, as well as if they have any success stories from home-based operations within their network.
How will DUCTZ support me?
As far as DUCTZ is concerned, there’s no difference between a franchisee that works from an office and a franchisee that works from home. Our model works the same – and can be equally as successful – in both environments. You’ll still receive world-class training at our Ann Arbor facility, still have access to our industry-leading resources and support, and still be connected to our network of franchise owners. We trust you to make the right decision for your business and your lifestyle! As long as you’re willing to work hard and commit to your team, DUCTZ can help you build a thriving company from the comfort of your own home.
Let’s get the conversation started! To learn more about home-based franchising with DUCTZ, give us a call today or fill out this form with your contact information. A member of our franchising team will be happy to answer any questions you may have and set you up with a free copy of our Franchise Opportunity Report. We’re excited to count you as a member of the DUCTZ family.