FranchiseAir · Centre of Franchise Knowledge
Centre of Franchise Knowledge
Interviews with people who have spent their careers in franchising, saying what the industry usually doesn't, and practical articles on running a network. Published by FranchiseAir.
John Pratt, Liam Wilson, Andy Cheetham, Farrah Rose, Clive Smith, Ken Rostron, Tom Hill.
The interviews
Long conversations with people who've seen a hundred franchises.
Consultants, lawyers, accountants and franchisors, recorded and published with their approval. They say what the industry usually doesn't.
Expert interview
Franchise Disputes: Do a Deal, Don't Send a Message
John Pratt, Hamilton Pratt
Franchise lawyer John Pratt on disputes: where they start, why terminating a franchisee should end in a deal, post-termination covenants after Drain Doctor, and when to settle.
16 min read
Expert interview
The Management Service Fee: Clarity Beats the Percentage
Liam Wilson, Elevate Accountancy
Liam Wilson of Elevate Accountancy on the management service fee: the models, why the rate should come from the network's own economics rather than a competitor's, what 'a percentage of turnover' has to spell out, how to collect it, and why clarity matters more than the rate.
14 min read
Expert interview
Becoming a Franchisor: Franchise What Already Works
Andy Cheetham, Lime Licensing Group
Andy Cheetham of Lime Licensing Group on the decision to franchise: the profitability and replicability tests, what has to exist before franchisee number one, how long it takes, what it costs, and why the first three are your worst three.
20 min read
Articles
Practical notes on running a network.
Revenue
Franchise Quotes: Every Price You Give Out, Chased
Most franchise quotes are lost to silence, not competitors. Jobs360 now handles quotes from site visit to scheduled job, with a follow-up date on every one.
5 min read
Revenue
Non-Chargeable Jobs: Callbacks, Warranty Work, Goodwill
Callbacks, warranty visits and goodwill jobs cost real money and carry real information. Here's why free work belongs in your job system, not off the books.
4 min read
Revenue
MSF Billing Edge Cases: Voids, Exemptions and Mixed Rates
The MSF percentage is the easy part. Voided invoices, exempt franchises and mixed fee rates are what break franchise MSF billing — and how to handle each one.
4 min read
Revenue
MSF Calculation Without the Headache
MSF calculations shouldn't take hours every month. Here's what goes wrong with manual processes and how purpose-built franchise software can fix it.
3 min read
Operations
Brand Consistency in Franchise Service: A Systems Problem
Every operative at a customer's door represents your brand. Brand consistency in franchise service is a systems problem — here's how to build the system.
18 min read
Operations
Seasonal Demand: Escaping the Feast and Famine Cycle
Every jobs-based franchise faces predictable seasonal demand — yet most networks are surprised by it every year. Here's how to plan for the cycle instead.
16 min read
Product
Per-User vs Per-Franchisee Pricing: Which Works Better?
Per-user software pricing wasn't designed for franchise networks. Here's why per-franchisee pricing tracks the right metric as your network grows.
5 min read
Growth
Franchisee Onboarding: Why the First 90 Days Fail
Franchisee onboarding in jobs-based networks is different from retail or food franchises — and most franchisors follow a plan that doesn't fit. Here's why.
17 min read
Operations
Route Planning: The Hidden Fuel Tax on Your Franchise
Poor route planning drains franchise networks through wasted fuel, lost capacity and missed appointments — and most franchisors never see it happening.
15 min read
Operations
Why Operative Satisfaction Drives Customer Loyalty
Happy operatives make happy customers — the link is direct and measurable. The biggest driver of operative frustration isn't pay, it's the admin systems.
16 min read
Technology
The True Cost of Paper-Based Job Management
Paper-based job management feels free. Add up re-entered data, lost paperwork, delayed invoicing and compliance gaps, and the real cost is far higher.
15 min read
Growth
The 15-Unit Wall: What Breaks When Your Franchise Grows
Most franchise networks hit a wall between 10 and 20 units, where the systems and habits that built the network start to undermine it. Here's what breaks.
15 min read
Operations
Customer Retention: Why Franchise Customers Leave
Field service franchises rarely lose customers over bad work. Customer retention fails in the silence between visits — here's how to close the gap.
15 min read
Operations
Real-Time Data for Franchise Decisions
Stale data leads to slow decisions. Here's how real-time visibility changes the way franchise networks operate.
1 min read
Operations
Scheduling Technology for Field Franchises
Manual scheduling costs field service franchises time, money and customers. What a scheduling tool actually has to do for a network of vans, and what it doesn't.
6 min read
Product
Introducing Jobs360: Built for Jobs
Jobs360 is purpose-built franchise management software for jobs-based networks. Schedule jobs, track field teams, and report on revenue — all from one platform.
2 min read
Technology
Digital Transformation for Your Van Fleet
Digital transformation sounds like a corporate buzzword. For a trades franchise network it is the practical question of whether the business runs on real information or best guesses.
5 min read
Technology
Why Franchise Networks Need Purpose-Built Software
Generic business tools weren't designed for franchising. Here's why purpose-built software makes the difference for jobs-based franchise networks.
1 min read
Technology
5 Signs You've Outgrown Spreadsheets
Most franchise networks start with spreadsheets. But there's a point where they cost more than they save. Here's how to know.
2 min read
From the people behind the Centre
Jobs360 runs a jobs-based franchise network from one system.
Head office and your first franchise are free, with no card and no time limit.