Franchise Management for Dummies: Everything You Wanted To Know

We’ll review no book before its time, but it’s long past time for this one, which came out last year: Franchise Management for Dummies. Co-authored by longtime franchise consultant Michael Seid and veteran franchise attorney Joyce Mazero, the A-to-Z (and then some!) book begins with the history and definition of franchising, followed by a discussion of the different variations on the franchise business model, from both the franchisor and franchisee sides.

From there it digs down into most everything anyone needs to know about franchising: for franchisors, from starting one to growing one; and for franchisees, from buying your first to strategies for multi-unit expansion. Robert Cresanti, CEO of the IFA, sums it up well in the foreword: “In your hands is a powerful book that holds essential keys to running a successful franchise business…. a step-by-step approach to establishing, operating, and expanding your franchise.”

The book, he adds, is “applicable to all levels of franchising from a single-unit franchisee to a large franchisor [and] spans the entire life cycle of a business from start to finish.” Topics covered in the book include legal issues, raising capital, site selection, supply chain management, training and hiring, franchisor-franchisee relations, attracting and keeping customers, multi-unit operations, succession/exit strategies, franchisee recruitment, international franchising, and more. There’s also a chapter on social franchising, described in the book as franchises primarily developed to offer “products and services that people need – not simply want – to live healthy and productive lives, including health care, safe drinking water, sanitation, clean energy, and education.”

The book concludes with a section offering 10 keys to franchisee success, and 10 questions to ask before becoming a franchisor. Quick, useful information! This is the second “Dummies” book about franchising for Seid, founder and managing director of the franchise consulting and advisory firm MSA Worldwide.