There’s no denying that franchises are money making machines, some more than others. But the success of a franchise doesn’t always rely on the product or service being sold. Instead, its success stems from one particular area: its systems.
What makes a franchise a franchise are its business systems and the fact that products and services can be replicated with consistency. Take McDonalds for example. No matter what city or state you’re in, a McDonalds hamburger always tastes the same no matter what. That’s because they’ve fine-tuned their business systems with great success.
In the E Myth, author Michael Gerber talks a lot about the franchise model and how all successful businesses run their company like a franchise, whether they actually are or not.
The one way to do this? Implement a series of foolproof systems.
Related: A Pre-Print Checklist Like No Other
Why Systems?
Systems are designed to help disasters from arising and ensure the best experience possible for customers. By documenting your business procedures and processes, your company is better able to run smoothly even when you’re not there.
Systems That Work
Here at Printing Solutions, a Scottsdale printing company, we use all sorts of systems to help streamline our efforts. Our favorites include:
1. Infusionsoft
Infusionsoft is a must have for any local business. We use it to stay organized, track orders and store information on our customers. We track the progress of a client’s item from estimates to orders to graphic design, all the way into production. It even alerts our customers when their product is ready for pickup or if it’s been shipped.
It’s also a great way to stay in touch with referral partners and send them regular communication.
Related: 5 Ways to Stay Top of Mind With Referral Partners
2. Proof HQ
Proof HQ is a product specific to print companies. It’s a sophisticated system where clients can interact with their proofs to make comments and input notes. These notes turn into approvals and go straight to our designers.
3. Quickbooks
It’s crucial to have a system in place for tracking the money coming in and coming out. Quickbooks is a tool which makes this process as simple as can be. Use it to invoice, send out estimates or pay your employees. Financial blunders are virtually neutralized with this highly advanced product.
While we may not be a franchise (yet), we run our printing company in Scottsdale with the precision and accuracy of one. For help perfecting your business systems, consider an Every Door Direct Mail campaign (EDDM) or a door hang campaign, a simple streamlined way to get your name out there. Call us today at 480-596-6300 to get started.