“Franchises that run by themselves” – what a great idea! Put that idea alongside body wraps that melt away fat while you watch TV and amazing exercise machines that can make you look like the muscular guy in the picture in just 10 minutes a day with no sweating. Amazing!

Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a business that runs itself. Running a franchise, like any business, takes a lot of work. And, if you thought working in corporate America took some time and energy, just wait until you run a small business. Business of any kind, takes effort and time. In the early days, it can take a lot of time to get to the point where things are running the way you would like. Rarely does any company just cruise along without challenges.

There are customers to gain and sell, operational systems to run, books to keep and there are often people to hire and manage. Small business is for those with vision, enthusiasm, some money, and the willingness to make the commitment to being successful. Fortunately, as your franchise consultant can tell you, franchises provide a template and support.

There are three models of franchise ownership – owner-operator, manager and executive. The owner-operator model is seen most often in service franchises, especially those that can be done from home and sometimes done pat-time. In that model, you are it. If it gets done, you are doing it, though in some situations with maybe a small work force. The key is that the owner needs to be present to run the business or at least provide very significant help.

The second model is the manager model. In this setup you hire the workforce and manage them. The success of the business depends on how well you hire and how well you manage both people and systems. This takes involvement on a continuing basis, especially since you are probably going to have some turnover. The advantage is that you can concentrate on your strengths and hire people to handle areas of weakness or that are low-skilled. But, take a lot of time off and you will likely watch things go south.

The executive model is the least hands-on of the three. This has the highest overhead because you hire people to run each area of the business and you oversee the managers. That doesn’t mean you can spend your days playing golf or fishing, though. You need to set things up, hire well, train them well and identify problems and opportunities on an ongoing basis. Even managers need direction and training and few will stay for years and years.

So, contact your franchise consultant about the model that realistically best fits you. It won’t be a business that runs itself, but it may be one that meets your needs and provides for your success.