When I work with people who are looking at buying a franchise, I sometimes ask them to name the first five franchises that come to mind. Usually all five are business-to-consumer (B2C) franchises such as restaurant or mailbox type franchises. The aim of this article is to let you know that thereandrsquo;s another whole world out there! Business-to-business (B2B) franchises, which offer services to businesses, instead of to individual consumers, are one of the fastest growing sectors in franchising. Products and services range from temporary personnel placement to commercial window cleaning. They include sign companies, computer support, business coaching, printing, marketing services, logo apparel and on and on.
For a lot of potential franchise owners a B2B franchise may be the ideal fit. Many people who leave behind the corporate world to buy their own franchise have spent years advertising their products and services to other companies or to other departments within their own company. They are comfortable and skilled in this type of environment. They enjoy professional business relationships. They are good at structuring solutions. B2B franchises often need less physical infrastructure than B2C franchises. They are generally scalable and many B2B owners appreciate that the business is generally open Monday through Friday, during traditional business hours. It might be less pricy to get into than other types of franchises and may have lower operating expenses. In many instances, overhead is lower and marketing is more targeted, which is typically less expensive than marketing to the masses.
One item that can keep overhead low is the amount a B2B franchise pays for rent. While retail space may be expensive, most B2B franchises are located in office buildings, where space is less expensive. Some are even home based. For example, an IT firm might actually be an association of high-level IT subcontractors, who travel from their own homes directly to the customerandrsquo;s site.
They do need retail space. For instance, a staffing company that requires to be accessible to numerous potential employees might be located in a retail location; an auto parts store that caters primarily to auto repair businesses could also be open to the public.
As you can realize, there are obvious advantages to owning a B2B franchise. But there can also be disadvantages. If you do not have a solid business background you may have trouble working effectively with business people, who tend to be busy and to-the-point. B2B franchises tend to work with a smaller number of large customers, rather than many individual customers. The loss of one customer can make a large dent in your top line. And since competition in the B2B arena tends to be sophisticated, you have to be at the top of your game.
But if you possess strong business experience and are one the scores of people wanting to take the next step in franchise ownership, donandrsquo;t overlook B2B! It could bring you enjoyment, monetary rewards, and some weekends off!

Add Your Picture

Article Submitted By: rickbisio2008
This Article Has Been Read 203 Times

---

Remember: The article body, title, author bio and links may not be changed or removed. By publishing this article, you agree to all the terms in our Terms of Service.
Get the HTML for reprinting the article to your site

Rating: Not yet rated

--Choose-- 0 1 2 3 4 5

How to Open a Franchise - Leasing Property

Expanding a Franchise with a Little Help

Start Your Own Travel Agency and Reap the Rewards

A Guide on How to Start a Travel Agency

Evolution of Franchising

Franchise Opportunities, the best way to diversify your business

Educational Franchise Businesses Are Sensible and Profitable

How To Open A Children's Franchise In This Economy

Finding a Kid-Centric Franchise That Works For You

Many Ways to Fund Your Franchise Purchase

Top Questions to Ask Before Buying a Franchise

The Best Options to Consider While Buying A Franchise

Consider Pros And Cons of Buying Franchises

The Growth Coach Fuels Economic Development

Franchising around the world

---