Franchising: The key to unlocking the perfect work-life balance

Introducing The Franchise Balance Guide, a must-read report covering everything from what a healthy work-life balance actually means, to how it is achievable through the franchise model

You only need to open LinkedIn now, to be confronted with a flood of articles focused on work-life balance. Opinions are many and varied on how this issue has been affected by the events of the last year, with some maintaining that the pandemic has triggered a new era for remote workers, liberated from the daily commute, and faced with more time than ever at home. Others have pointed out that this new remote working lifestyle can encourage longer hours spent at the desk, with no escape, as the office is now sat in your home – an ever-present reminder of that email you need to send, or that task you didn’t get around to.

Whatever your thoughts, there is no doubt that this situation has prompted many to reconsider their paths. Some have struck out on their own as contractors and freelancers, many have ramped up their side-hustles to become their primary source of income. Apocryphally, many more still have begun to explore franchising as an option.

And why not? The franchise sector is now a vibrant, diverse, and eclectic community of businesses, brands, and entrepreneurs, buzzing with excitement and delivering consistent growth through the most challenging of times. There truly is something for everyone within franchising, whether that is running dance schools for children, coaching senior-level executives, running a gym, a restaurant, or providing care, the list of options is as long as the myriad of sectors that make up the colourful business landscape, in which we all operate.

Most importantly the choice and diversity does not stop with the type of business that franchisees opt to explore, but also the WAY in which they work. Franchising offers an unparalleled opportunity for those who have had enough of rigid time schedules, to reclaim control over when, where and how they work. Whilst the 9 to 5 has, historically, carried with it stability and long-term benefits, for many these elements have been eroded over time, and for others they simply don’t carry the same appeal as they once did when compared with the option to be the master of your own destiny.

Achieiving a healthy work-life balance: Know your options

When weighing all of these factors up and assessing one’s future, it is always advisable to have an overview of the types of businesses that sell themselves on this angle, and for that, it is well worth having a look at the recent guide to work-life balance through franchising that has been produced by the British Franchise Association.

The Franchise Balance Guide explores everything from what a healthy work-life balance actually means, to how it is achievable through the franchise model. The guide also covers financial and legal aspects to consider, when looking into franchising, and a helpful series of FAQs. The main body is then composed of 22 separate case studies from different brands, highlighting the ways in which they encourage their franchisees to have control over their lives, and show-casing individual business owners who have done just this.

As the future of how we work becomes increasingly important to more and more people, we believe that work-life balance will continue to be at the forefront of that debate, and franchising has a golden opportunity to lead the charge for working to live, rather than the other way round.

To download and read the full bfa Franchise Balance Guide, please click here.

About the author

Terence Corness is Head of Brand and Innovation at the British Franchise Association