Franchise Careers director Corina Vucic has some suggestions for the questions you should ask a potential franchisor:

1. Is there a training plan that supports ongoing business skills training for the franchisees and their senior team members

2. Is there a percentage of sales which I should consider spending on training my workforce to ensure I retain highly talented and motivated team members?

3. What methods do you use to evaluate my performance as a franchisee? If gaps in skills are identified, what learning programs do you recommend?

4. Is there a formalised Mentoring Program for new franchisees? Are there experienced franchisees who I can call upon as a buddy to help me or to just “chew the fat”?

5. If I am struggling to operate my business in the first three months, what further training is available to me? How do I acquire this?

6. Is there a franchisee management program available which I can attend to further up-skill myself in communication, team management, interpersonal skills, financial management, human resource management, conflict resolution, local area marketing, coaching and mentoring of my team members?

7. Is there a training matrix which provides the pathway to succession planning for my staff?

8. Are there self paced training programs which are available to me that I can administer for my team members — for example, customer service, workplace health and safety, point of sale and stock management?

9. Is there an opportunity for my team members to complete relevant registered certificates in retail, hospitality, warehousing and the like? Is the program easy to access, administer and is it customised to my business needs?

10. Are there regular forums provided for franchisees to be up-skilled in new requirements as a result of legislation such as industrial relations, workplace health and safety and carbon emissions?