Among the things entrepreneurs think about when they consider investing in a franchise is what kind of business owner they want to be – absentee, semi-absentee or owner-operator.

Absentee owners, just as the name implies, are rarely present at their franchise business. They often view ownership primarily as an investment. Because they’re not present, they hire a manager to handle day-to-day operations, including hiring employees. Absentee owners run the risk of employing people who may not be as passionately invested in the success of the business as he or she is.

Semi-absentee owners are a bit more involved in the business than absentee owners, but still typically rely on a manager to run day-to-day operations. Like the absentee owner, the semi-absentee owner usually has other investments that divide their time as they seek to diversify their income.

At SpeedPro, we prefer the owner-operator model. Being an owner-operator of a franchise provides in-depth education on the business concept. You are present onsite most of the time and responsible for the day-to-day operations of the business. You take a hands-on approach and work alongside your store manager and employees. Owner-operators have the most power over their business’s growth because they are deeply involved.

Greater Familiarity

Because owner-operators work at their franchises, they become experts at running a business and are familiar with precisely how their own business operates. That in-depth knowledge will help a franchisee scale their business because they:

• Can ascertain first-hand the quality of customer service provided
• Observe whether employees are following the playbook for operating the business
• Maintain quality control of products and services delivered to customers

The SpeedPro business model was made for owner-operators. It’s focused on growing a single unit at a time, helping franchisees grow with additional equipment and personnel instead of opening multiple locations in a short amount of time. SpeedPro franchise owner-operators start with two employees, so oversight is relatively easy compared to many other franchise concepts. The average SpeedPro studio has two to four employees.

More Control

Being an owner-operator gives you total control over who is hired. Absentee and semi-absentee owners typically hire a manager, who is then in charge of hiring and overseeing employees. Assuming absentee and semi-absentee owners hire managers with as much passion for the business and a drive to succeed, the owner is still one step removed from bringing on the right people.

But, because owner-operators do the hiring, they can bring on board exactly who they want working for them. As the business owner, you are most invested and can select the candidates you deem to be good for business, which will help lead to growth. SpeedPro franchisees possess an incredible work ethic and a high degree of integrity, and therefore have the power to hire like-minded individuals who also emphasize customer service and quality workmanship.

Overseeing day-to-day operations as an owner-operator also allows you to have more control over costs. You can observe exactly how much is being spent in what areas, and come up with cost-cutting measures, if necessary. You can implement efficiencies when you witness time-wasting practices first hand. This will increase workflow and elevate your bottom line. As an absentee or semi-absentee owner, you might not be aware of inefficiencies or bad work habits. You will struggle with figuring out the source of the loss of revenue or not growing how you would like.

Strong Support

As a SpeedPro owner-operator, you will have the support of other owner-operators in the network. Because every SpeedPro franchisee is deeply invested in their business, the camaraderie and owner bonds are strong. Franchisees are happy to share best practices, anecdotes and tips to guide you toward growing your own SpeedPro.

To learn more about what sets SpeedPro apart from other franchise opportunities, visit our website.

In some franchise systems, individual owners operate completely independently, or even competitively.

This setup leads to many missed opportunities for collaboration, troubleshooting and client-sharing. In the printing and graphics industry particularly, studio owners benefit immensely from openly sharing ideas and best practices.

That’s why SpeedPro fosters a community of franchise owners that support and work with one another. We’ve created concrete initiatives that put our franchisees in touch and lets them easily share feedback with each other and SpeedPro corporate.

John Barber, co-owner of the SpeedPro studio in Norcross, Georgia, exemplifies the collaborative nature of our franchisee network. John and his partner Don Neder spearheaded a joint model of studio ownership that other franchisees have since taken up – and for good reason. John and Don doubled their studio’s revenue and tripled its customer count in less than two years after forming the partnership.

After finding huge success by working collaboratively, John has some advice for aspiring business owners looking to leverage a friendly, knowledgeable franchisee network.

“As a SpeedPro studio owner, we collaborate and know that tenured owners can share and mentor new owners, which makes the brand and system stronger – one question, one studio, and one client interaction at a time,” he said.

Achieve More Together

After more than a decade in the franchising industry as an executive vice president of franchise development, chief customer officer, senior vice president of franchise sales and chief development officer for large systems like Orion Food Systems, Focus Brands and Global Franchise Group, John decided to semi-retire.

Well, kind of. For him, “retirement” meant transitioning from the franchisor side of the industry to the franchisee side, and he started working with a franchise broker to find a concept that met his qualifications.

After a few twists and turns, John approached SpeedPro with an idea: He would buy into an existing studio and take the business to the next level. His expertise would help the current owner grow the business, while the co-ownership would give John some much-needed time off.

“I had many choices of brands and industries when I decided to be a franchisee instead of a franchisor, and I am very glad that my first franchise venture was under the SpeedPro brand,” he said.

John’s idea ended up being a huge boon for Don Neder and his already-successful studio. Together, the two employed a “divide and conquer” approach to the business. John handles finance, accounting, risk management, human resources and business development, while Don takes care of operations, project management and client relations.

This ownership model is a good fit for any duo with complimentary core competencies, John said. Shared values are also a must. Both John and Don are firm believers that the needs of customers and employees must come before that of the owners.

John and Don’s partnership is a perfect illustration of the power of collaboration. By combining their skills and expertise, they broke through a sales plateau and achieved a new level of success. Other SpeedPro owners have since reached out to them to glean insight, and John and Don are quick to share lessons learned and mistakes to avoid.

“No individual in a system is as smart as all of us,” John said. “I spent over a decade of my career as the franchisor for 11 franchised brands in the hospitality industry. In that time, I never saw such a collaborative spirit among franchisees to help one another grow and succeed as a system, that I’ve witnessed and am now a part of with SpeedPro. There is no competition among owners here.”

Find a Franchisor that Supports Collaboration

Franchisors play a huge role in developing mutually beneficial franchisee networks. Since the franchise is the tissue that connects all owners in the system, it’s up to that central team to create platforms for networking and information-sharing.

SpeedPro goes above and beyond to help our franchisees benefit from our network’s collective knowledge. Here are some initiatives currently in place:

• Monthly open-topic conference calls between owners and SpeedPro regional developers
• Franchise Advisory Council works with corporate to develop strategic initiatives
• Regional networking groups tailored to specific business topics
• Buddy Studio program connects new studios with established studio owners to ease their launches
• “Ask the Owners” email system, which owners across the continent use daily to consult on various projects
• Monthly training webinars
• Procurement support with suppliers and distribution partners

To learn more about SpeedPro’s model and what sets us apart in the franchising industry, read about some of the perks of being a SpeedPro studio owner.

Every day, 51 percent of American workers wake up and go to jobs they don’t like.

There are multiple reasons for this workplace malaise – difficult bosses, undervalued employees and a lack of work-life balance, to name a few. Whatever the cause, 50 million members of the workforce report feeling resentful and disengaged at their jobs.

With all that negativity surrounding the workplace, it’s no wonder more than half of Americans want to start their own businesses. Beyond its position at the core of the American Dream, business ownership alleviates many of the frustrations that drive workplace dissatisfaction.

Business owners decide when and where they work. They dive into industries they’re passionate about and make time for family, hobbies and travel. And their own drive and determination are the biggest determinants of their success.

SpeedPro is proud of the many franchisees that have used our concept to achieve their dreams of business ownership. Our strong support, systems and brand provide a clear path to entrepreneurship that lets our owners take charge of their careers.

Here’s how SpeedPro can help you become the CEO of your future:

Lifestyle

Unlike retail or food service franchises, SpeedPro owners don’t spend their nights and weekends at the store. Our clients are businesses, so owners keep standard business hours.

During the workday, owners enjoy a fast-paced environment with a huge variety of projects. Our focus on wide-format printing and graphics means not only do our products yield the highest margins in the industry, they keep owners thinking creatively and strategically all day long.

Profitable, Professional and Scalable

Because SpeedPro is a business-to-business company providing top-quality marketing graphics, our clients view us as consultants and business partners. These long-term relationships foster repeat business and larger sales. They also make for a professional work environment that hinges on promptness, quality and communication.

Due to the high demand for wide-format printing and graphics, SpeedPro owners have limitless potential to grow their businesses in their target markets. To scale up, they simply add employees and equipment to their existing spaces.

Support

SpeedPro owners call the shots at their businesses, but they never have to go it alone. SpeedPro provides a best-in-class support system to guide franchisees through each phase of business ownership, from startup to grand opening to ongoing growth.

From the moment owners signs on, we work to set them up for success. Our initial field training is designed to help franchisees ease into their business, completing larger and more complex projects until they are ready to take on a full workload. Going forward, our field consultants offer hands-on help to owners whenever they need it – or simply assist them with setting business goals and creating strategies to get there.

Our franchisees themselves are also a source of support. We foster a collaborative owner network that confers frequently about projects, marketing tactics and more. Some even share and refer clients.

If you’re one of the 50 million Americans who feels unfulfilled at work, it’s time to make a change and build a career that excites you. SpeedPro can help you get there.

To learn more about what sets SpeedPro apart from other franchise opportunities, visit our website.