The Seven Benefits of Running a Part-Time Franchise
Sophie Cole, writer
Published at 29/04/2019, Updated on 04/05/2022 , Reading time: 8 min
One of the most attractive aspects of running a part-time franchise is just how flexible the opportunity is. And, considering three out of every five parents regularly miss out on precious moments like their kids’ bedtime, it’s no wonder that a reported 87 percent of workers crave more flexibility from their jobs (Timewise). Choose a scalable or part-time franchise and you’ll never need to miss another school play, evening out with friends or family holiday because you couldn’t get the time off work.
Besides the conveniently adjustable schedule you’ll enjoy, there are so many amazing upsides to running a part-time franchise. Here are seven of the most exciting benefits of running your very own franchise on a part-time basis.
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- A basic guide to franchising
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- Franchising 101: The basics
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- Cut out the commute
Loads of us cite getting to and from work as the worst part of our day and it’s no wonder, considering our commutes have only gone up over the last decade. Now, the average rail commuter’s journey is a staggering 2 hours and 11 minutes long.
Those who travel by road shave nearly an hour and a half off their commute, but still face a mind-numbing 52 minutes sat in the car every day just to get to work and back again. Meanwhile, if you’re braving the bus, you’re likely to be stuck on the roads for almost 80 minutes (TUC).
We also travel an average of 788 miles per year just to reach our places of work, costing hundreds of pounds in fuel and adding unnecessary CO2 emissions into our already struggling environment. Basically, there’s nothing good about the commute and running your own part-time franchise means you can ditch it – for good.
The majority of part-time franchise opportunities can be operated from the comfort of your own home. Even if you do have to visit the office, you’ll be able to sort your schedule so that you don’t have to get on the road at the busiest times of the day.
- Be the master of your own schedule
We’ve already explained how flexibility is a core aspect of any part-time franchise. But, until you explore just what this could mean for you, it’s difficult to appreciate just how much this could change the shape of your day to better suit you.
Let’s say you’re any early bird. Instead of having to get to work at 9am, hours after you’ve woken up, and staying until 5pm or 6pm, you can crack on with your day as soon as you rise and finish your day’s work by lunchtime. Then, you’re free to do whatever you’d like, whether that means hitting the gym, catching up with friends and family or making more time for your hobbies.
On the other end of the spectrum, you’re also free to become a night owl and run your business during the hours of darkness if this suits you better. No more early starts. No more bleary-eyed commutes following a late bedtime. With a part-time franchise, you can start working when everyone else’s day is coming to an end and still enjoy a very healthy income too.
Stagecoach franchisee Tracey Chatterley explained how, by running a flexible franchise with husband Richard, the pair are able to enjoy a much better work/life balance.
“Our home is a much happier place since Richard has been around more. Our daughter still goes to the village primary school and he walks her to and from school every single day. How many dads can say they get to do that?”
>> Read more:
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- Part time franchises - With a full time job?
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- Manage multiple projects at once
One major advantage of a flexible timetable is just how much more you can squeeze into your day around it. Without set working hours, you can design your week to suit what’s going on in your life, adjusting how much time you spend on your franchise each day (or even week) around other business ventures.
This makes a part-time franchise ideal for those who already have a job that they love or a company that they run. As long as you’re confident you’ve got enough time across the week to commit to the franchise opportunity, you’ll be able to work your new venture around everything else.
Part-time franchises are also ideal for anyone who is studying, as they’re so flexible and easy to run alongside your course. Whether you’re a mum or dad heading back to school but need income to keep the family going, or an ambitious student with few contact hours looking for something more flexible than bar or shop work, a part-time franchise could be the ideal solution.
- Save money on childcare
If you are a parent, the ability to reduce childcare costs could have a significant impact on your choice of career. For some of us, the astronomical costs of childcare can even stop us seeking employment at all, as it’s just not financially viable. This isn’t surprising, considering the average cost of raising a child to 18 is a staggering £75,436 and the average parent spends a whopping £9,100 per year on just 25 hours of nursery time per week.
Part-time franchises give you the option to spend more time looking after your children or running your business during school hours. By doing this, you can:
• Say goodbye to spending hundreds of pounds a week on childcare • Build your very own business • Enjoy loads more precious time to spend with your kids • Generate a healthy income to supplement your household’s spending power
>> Read more:
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- Basic guide to franchising
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- Lower operating costs
Part-time franchises tend to be the most affordable ones out there. Franchises with low start-up and operating costs allow investors to get on board without having to take out a hefty business loan. Eliminating monthly repayments – along with the loan interest – reduces the franchise’s monthly outgoings and, therefore, increases its profit margin.
What’s more, if you are the sole employee in your franchise, you will save the money others spend on recruiting and training staff, and if you don’t have business premises, you will avoid rent, utility, broadband and council tax costs too.
You can even claim expenses for the cost of running your business from home, such as those incurred by utilities, broadband, council tax, office supplies and any other equipment or technology that your business relies on.
Franchises that work particularly well in a work-from-home format tend to be finance businesses. These include businesses in the accountancy, home improvement and travel sectors. In franchises such as these, you should keep an open mind and use your creativity when it comes to business potential. At the end of the day, all you'll probably need to succeed is a phone and an internet connection.
- Take as much time off as you want
In the UK, the average worker gets 28 days of annual leave (based on a five-day week), which doesn’t feel like much when you’re working hard from morning until night. As a part-time franchisee, not only will your time be more flexible, but you’ll be able to take as much holiday as you’d like, as you are your own boss.
Also, many part-time franchises fall into the ‘seasonal franchise’ category, and only operate for a few months of the year. This could be the case if a franchise prepares its Christmas stock up to a year in advance to maximise revenue during the autumn and January sales periods. With this system in place, you will be able to prepare supplies and recruit and train staff well in advance of the operating season.
Having completed your duties, you can enjoy several months holiday every year. Popular ways to spend this time include:
• Travelling • Volunteering • Living abroad • Running a second seasonal franchise to maximise income • Concentrating on other business ventures
Tracey Chatterley of Stagecoach also explained how this is one of her favourite aspects of running a flexible franchise.
“There’s nothing we enjoy more than an incredible family holiday but when Richard was working in IT, we would have to book our trips months in advance. Now we have the time to take the children on wonderful breaks, without having to work to someone else’s schedule.”
- Less stress + better health
All of these factors combine to reduce the overall stress of the franchisee. It all comes down to two factors: more time and more money.
There is no doubt that long working hours can take their toll on mental and physical health. In 2018, Columbia Universal Medical Centre identified a link between long working hours – often characterised by prolonged periods sitting still – and cardiovascular problems such as an irregular heartbeat. If you’re running your own part-time business, you’ll be free to take as many breaks to stretch your legs as you’d like.
As well as improving your overall health, taking on a part-time franchise will give you valuable free time in which to pursue your own hobbies. Spending quality time with friends and family and expanding your mind with a new activity will help you maintain a good work/life balance.
Why should I invest in a part time franchise?
If you’re looking for a way to make money that offers you more flexibility, zero commute time, a better work/life balance and the chance to spend more time doing the things you love, you should definitely look into a part-time franchise opportunity. If you’re not sure where to start, take a look through our franchise directory to find the ideal opportunity for you.
Sophie Cole, writer