I want to run my own business around family commitments. Can I do this as a franchisee?

There’s no reason in principle why a franchise cannot be run around family commitments. Indeed, some people are drawn to the idea of running a franchise because it offers greater autonomy and more control over work/life balance, while also being part of an established and successful business model.

However, whether it’s possible to achieve such balance will depend on the nature of the franchise and the amount of time required to manage it.

Most franchise agreements will include a provision requiring that a franchisee dedicates their full time and attention to the operation of the franchise. A franchisee will need to consider whether they will have the time and resources to be able to comply with such a provision, while also making family commitments a priority.

Other points to consider include whether you have sufficient funds to support your family while the franchise is finding its feet and/or whether it’s possible to appoint a manager to assist with running the business or a franchise partner to provide additional funding and share managerial responsibility, allowing you to run the franchise and meet your family commitments.