Does your franchise have winning qualities? Does it profit the business and the team? We’ve put together the recipe for a successful franchise.

First things first. Does your franchise tap into something consumers haven’t seen before? Great franchise systems acquire a viable market niche with resonating and clear branding, and are supported by proven systems, management, training and support.

Now let’s talk day-to-day business qualities. Successful franchises reflect superior front of house and back of house elements.

Front of house elements include the brand, the idea it represents, the get-up, the trade dress; the things the public sees and on which they make their buying decision.

The back of house features include the underlying systems, formats, arrangements, policies which make the system and its outlets work. A balance between both features is required in the recipe to franchise success.

And what backs it all up is great support from the franchisor.

Smartline Personal Mortgage Advisers has been named as Australia’s top franchise by topfranchise.com.au for franchisee satisfaction for the seventh consecutive year and is a great example of a winning franchise (yes, pun intended). Smartline has held the number one ranking since 2009.

So what’s the Smartline difference?

Smartline took out the overall award having been ranked first in four of the six survey sub- categories:

• Support: examining levels of support offered by the franchisor to franchisees
• Lifestyle: whether franchisees are satisfied with the lifestyle and work-life balance working for the business
• Passion: the passion franchisees have for their product/service and customers.
• Marketing: the strength of the marketing strategy and the support provided for franchisees to undertake their own marketing activities

On a team basis, franchisee expertise through training and support is integral to Smartline. It’s an industry requirement that all brokers are accredited. In addition, it can give a new broker a head start when completing Smartline’s comprehensive training program and becoming accredited with its panel of over 25 lenders.

In terms of day-to-day business requirements, Smartline provides access to industry best systems and marketing tools to help franchisees grow their profile and attract new business. This focuses on using the system’s platforms to deliver the best possible customer experience and marketing the franchisee’s business.

Smartline also offers a combination of upfront and trail commissions which helps grow income faster; another incentive for the franchisee.

Smartline managing director Chris Acret says “Smartline has a unique approach and business philosophy – We’ve been in business for nearly 17 years and continue to evolve. We continue to stay true to our fundamentals but have certainly evolved along the way to capitalise on technology, meet the changing needs of our clients and adapt to regulatory requirements and the like.” Mr Acret added, “It’s a team approach with a very strong team culture and camaraderie and high levels of collaboration amongst franchisees. It’s a key reason for people’s success. Every decision we make as a business is based on whether it’s best for the client and whether it’s best for the franchisee. If something we are considering doesn’t tick both those boxes, we don’t do it.”

To find out more about how to become part of a winning franchise, click here.