Making the Leap from Employee to Business Owner: It’s Really Not About Risk

Interesting perspective on the effect this tough economy is having on prospective franchisee decision making from Dan Archer who, like me, is in the thick of franchisee selection everyday:

http://bit.ly/9XcJ4P

After a handful of his clients chose to “take a job” rather than go into business for themselves in a franchise system because they considered it “more secure at the moment,” Dan makes the argument that taking control of your own future through business ownership IS the most secure route. I wholeheartedly agree, with one caveat: you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. 

In other words, people who instead gravitate toward the employee vs business ownership route, may dream about “being on their own” someday,  but just aren’t yet ready to step out of their comfort zone.  In their mind it’s “less scary” to work for someone else, which translates in their conversations with Dan and I to, “less risky.” Whether or not it truly is less risky is beside the point. (I read about people being laid off from their “secure” jobs everyday.) Trying to talk someone out of their fear, when they just aren’t ready, is simply not going to work; no amount of logic from me will overcome that emotional hurdle.

This realization has become an important part of the selection process I have in place at Koko FitClub. A great fit is critical for our success and the success of our owners; the right business owner mindset is high on my list of “good fit” prerequisites. I make a conscious effort to focus my time on those who have already made the mental leap to business ownership...while leaving the door open to anyone who has change of heart.