The most consistently successful business is the franchise. Think about it…McDonald’s, The UPS Store, Jiffy Lube, Subway, Great Clips, Super 8, etc. If you want to grow your business, and especially if you want to expand into new locations, you must treat your business the way that franchises do. Which means that you must have business systems!
What is a system? The first definition according to www.dictionary.com is “an assemblage or combination of things or parts forming a complex or unitary whole.” Makes sense, right? Many different tasks or functions make up the whole of your business. It is because of all of these unique ways of doing things that each business is different. It’s like each of us as people – we may look alike, but when you break it down, there are quite a few differences.
It is these differences that we need to build into regular systems and get into a document. Documenting your unique processes is what makes your business something that can function outside of your head…or outside of your employees’ heads. And when you can do that you can take some time off without worrying, expand to new locations, or even franchise. Although it may be a while away, documenting your business systems will also make your company more valuable when you sell it. If someone else can come in and take over your business just the way it is operating now, the value increases dramatically.
You have probably heard the saying, “start with the end in mind.” So even if you’re not going to franchise, pretend that you are and develop systems and an operations manual that is your own. It may take time, but the benefits make it worth every minute.
Tags: document, franchise, operations manual, systems