[highlight style=”grey”]Article taken from Entrepreneur Mag – JANUARY 2014 Edition. For more info about Franchising, please take a look at their website.[/highlight]
Joburg franchise Rubix Shuttle and Transfer began as the brainchild of Sharon Poyner and Benita Goodwin who both had extensive fleet logistics and management experience at a large corporate. Having started their own separate side-line scholar shuttle businesses, they joined forces in May 2011 after identifying a need in the market: “As parents, we found ourselves under significant pressure to manage our jobs and ferry our kids around, and we weren’t alone,” says Poyner.
Why franchising?
Poyner and Goodwin enjoyed business success but saw the potential in franchising. “Franchising is the fastest growing segment in South Africa and with franchisees’ vested interest plus our experience and support, we could balance growth with controlled quality. So in 2011 we franchised,” says Poyner.
Making it happen
“To merge and finance the franchise conversion, Benita and I made equal contributions from our own capital and personal savings. We hired a franchise consultant, an accountant and an attorney to vet the contracts. It was costly but we wanted to set up the model properly.
We also needed to register our trademark, marketing was costly, and we hired a business coach to set good foundations.
“We fine-tuned all aspects of the business so they were systematised and automated early on and this has let us grow to the point that we’ve seen an ROI through franchises sold. The fee structure also assists us in providing value-added services to franchisees and customers and hiring additional staff at HQ level.”
[custom_blockquote style=”green”] We get lots of enquiries, but people aren’t always as serious as you think. It takes time to find real prospects and sign them up. — Sharon Poyner, Rubix [/custom_blockquote]
First franchisees
“We chose our first franchisee because of transport business experience. Unfortunately it didn’t work out and the franchise folded after 18 months. We learnt a valuable lesson and have had much more success with individuals with no previous transport experience but who are solid business people, proactive and with a lot of entrepreneurial flair. Franchisees need to be open to learning and following procedure. Today we have seven franchisees, including myself and Benita.”
How has your role changed as franchisors?
“We’re now responsible for our own operational businesses as well as the success of our franchisees. We’re thorough in ensuring franchisees are the right fit for the brand. It’s been useful for us to remain operators as it brings us in daily contact with franchisee challenges. We’re also able to test and measure best practices that can be passed on to franchisees.”
[highlight style=”grey”]Article taken from Entrepreneur Mag – JANUARY 2014 Edition. For more info about Franchising, please take a look at their website.[/highlight]
