Franchise operations manuals get bad press.Considered by many to be good for nothing more than door stops or foot rests, they are, in fact, crucial business components serving three primary purposes. Firstly, manuals define, document and distinguish a franchise system.
Secondly, they are the centrepiece for training - both for initial induction training and ongoing guidance. They provide franchisees with the tools and material to instruct and support their staff.
Finally, manuals contain the standards by which franchisee success or non-compliance is quantified and qualified. If things go wrong, coupled with a good franchise agreement, an operations manual provides the tools to efficiently manage, or in the worst case scenario; smoothly exit, franchisees.
To achieve these purposes operations manuals must be clear, comprehensive, accurate and reinforced. They need to be readily accessible and consistent with the corporate image and internal processes. In addition, here are five areas that are often overlooked when assembling and maintaining a franchise operation manual.
FranchiseBrief.com on July 2nd, 2007 at 8:48 pm
The problem with the operation manuals is that many companies now offer to write them for dirt cheap. Result is you have franchisees buying a franchise and running their business with a manual written by someone that may not know anything about the industry.