Is your Franchise Council working optimally?

Anyone working in franchising will agree: the importance of a well-functioning Franchise Council within a franchise organisation is enormous. Whether it is implementing (new) procedures, adjusting elements of the formula or managing franchise relationships, the Franchise Council plays a crucial role. Provided that it is organised in the right way.

From the personal experience of Marjolein Boshuizen as the chair of a Franchise Council, she knows that several things need to be in good order to achieve effective output. This matters, because a lot of time and energy is often invested in these meetings. It is therefore equally important that the meetings deliver results for both franchisor and franchisees.

Conditions for an effective Franchise Council

First and foremost, a Franchise Council charter, for example, creates clarity about the procedures to be followed. This way, members know what they can expect of one another. 

It is also important to have a fair reflection of the wider franchisee community on the Franchise Council. Think carefully about how members get onto the Franchise Council. Holding elections is a good option, provided they ensure a balanced outcome across any differing interests within the franchise organisation. 

Accurate agenda and minutes management may seem obvious, but practice shows that an overcrowded agenda is time-consuming, energy-draining and ineffective. Proper documentation of what has been discussed and decided does work. Setting up a separate agenda committee can be a good alternative. 

There are various other conditions that support the constructive functioning of this important consultation body.

Synergy between franchisor and franchisee

Personally, Marjolein Boshuizen has always worked to create open communication within the Franchise Council. An atmosphere of mutual trust, where members feel safe to flag their needs and pain points, where ideals and out-of-the-box ideas can be shared, where debate is welcomed and where common ground is found again. Only in this way do you reach the real heart of the matters that drive the organisation. 

And, perhaps most important of all, mutual understanding helps tremendously to achieve the synergy between franchisor and franchisee. And really, that synergy is what franchising is mostly about. 

In short, is your Franchise Council working optimally?