When is the Best Time of Year to Open a Franchise?
This is one of the most common FAQs in our arsenal; what’s the best time to open? What’s the best time of year? Is there a “good” season? A “bad” season? The formats in which they are asked can vary greatly, but in essence, future franchisees all want to know the same thing: when should they open?!
Of course, this is a topic that can be changed from one individual to the next, from one industry to another, and so on. To know when will be an ideal opening time for your brand, you have to first understand when you shouldn’t open. Take away the “bad” and what’s left? Your ideal launching time!
You Shouldn’t Open When:
It’s an industry busy season – If it’s your franchising goal to sell canoes, you won’t want to open at the beginning of summer. You’ll be swarmed, which is a good thing, but not before you’ve found your groove. Be sure to give your franchise enough time to get up and running before you hit your busiest time of year. That can mean opening in the winter, fall or even early spring, so long as you’re prepped and understanding of the surge ahead.
Your staff isn’t ready – Yes there will be a learning curve. But make that curve as small as possible by readying yourself and others as much as possible. Put on training events, ask questions, train them day in and day out for upcoming scenarios. You can also do a “cold open” where staff members get their feet wet and learn their new job before the stakes are high.
Your certifications aren’t in place – Even if it’s your opening date, if your permits, etc. aren’t ready, it might not be time to open. (This is especially true when legal issues come to play.) Consult with your franchising firm, a lawyer, or city officials if this should come into play. However, it should be your goal to plan as early as you can and to get everything underway so that this simply isn’t the case.
It’s an advertised date – Consider opening a week in advance to your advertised date, even if it’s for a few hours a day. You can mention to family and friends or a small portion of the public. This will create a small buzz while you and your workers are getting into a routine of making your franchise work as a whole.
Anything else major is in play – Be your own advocate. If you aren’t ready for whatever reason, say something, do something, make yourself ready. Much is dependent on the timelines of others; work hard to ensure you’ve done everything you can to get your franchise open-day ready. However, when something major does arise, don’t be afraid to make the tough call; it’s a move that will only help you in the long run.
So, When Should You Open?
You should open when your brand is ready. When you yourself are ready, and when certifications and trainings are all in place. And you should aim for a time of year that will typically be your “off” season. (Bonus: in years to come boost sales with an anniversary event!) Add these up, divide on the calendar, and you’ve got your range of dates.
Of course, you should also talk to your franchising company about options, contractual timelines, and more. Knowing opening dates from all sides, however, gives you a better idea of what (or rather, when) to look for, and how to work toward the perfect opening season.
Contact your franchise company to learn more about potential dates.