Can I run a franchise part-time in order to establish it before leaving my current job?

There are many part-time franchises available across a variety of industries. Some franchises promote the fact they can be operated at the same time as a full-time job, while others offer the option to become a full-time franchisee at a later date as the business expands.If the intention is that the franchisee will eventually leave their employment, the potential income offered by the franchise once established would have to be explored to ascertain if it was sufficient to meet the franchisee’s needs. A key factor that will dictate whether a franchise may operate on a part-time basis is the format that lies at the heart of the business, ie what is the system required for the setting up and running of it? Some formats do lend themselves to part-time working, for example, those franchises that can be run from home and are predominantly computer based and where hours are flexible will be ideal. However, it may be difficult to build some franchise operations while holding down a full-time job, so it could be necessary to run it with a family member or business partner in order for responsibilities to be shared and it to still operate while the other person is working. This approach would, of course, have to be discussed and approved by the franchisor. Alternatively, some franchise systems allow an absentee owner, where the day-to-day operation is handled by a manager or employee.If a franchisee is considering running a franchise on a part-time basis for an initial period, there are some key things that should be checked. The franchisor should be asked if there are any minimum requirements in the franchise agreement or expectations regarding the amount of hours/ days that should be worked and whether certain operational functions can be delegated to a manager or employee where necessary.