Every small business person has difficulty finding peers, someone who has a business just like theirs that is nearby to talk shop with. And even if a small businessman does find a nearby similar business, usually it is a competitor and any communication is seen as conversing with the enemy, as that information could be used against them.
Instead they rely on vendors to tell them what they competition is doing, because they sell paper cups or supplies to both. And for this insider information, the same vendor gives out their secrets, not good.
Of course, this is not the case with franchise organizations, especially one with a strong franchisee association. Best of all, you have a peer, someone just like you with the exact same business model as you, with the very same ups and downs as you.
What is that worth? Let me tell you, any small business man will tell you that having someone like that around is like gold.
But, it’s better than that, as you do not have “someone” like that around, you have hundreds or even thousands of “someones” like that around, and only a phone call away. And as they find solutions to challenges in the market place they share them in literally real time with you. The best and most efficient ways of running things, marketing, handling challenges and dealing with government.
This is why I always say that Franchising Companies with strong and active franchisee associations rock. Why? Because they are leveraging the economies of scale to provide solutions thru strategic communication venues and that means they are in it to win it. Think on this.