The Semi-Absentee Franchise Model Guide | Is It Right For You?

Interested in becoming your own boss? An owner of something meaningful to the community? These are both good reasons to get into franchising. Along with becoming your own boss comes new schedule options for you. The semi-absentee franchise model might be exactly what you are looking for with your next new venture.

What Is A Semi-Absentee Franchise Model?

The semi-absentee franchise model is one where you don’t have to be there 40 hours a week. You can have other businesses, jobs, or obligations at the same time. Once it is up and running, you should plan on spending 10-15 hours a week there, but it can be less depending on your model and franchise business type.

This business type is proven and can be very successful. If you want to be successful with this type of franchise, it is important to keep a few things in mind.

Semi-absentee ownership is not a new concept. These franchises typically focus on brick and mortar locations and services in the community. You can think of things like beauty salons, hair styling, car washes, laundromats, arcades, and more. The higher end of investments include businesses like hotels and restaurant chains.

Since its inception, the semi-absentee business model has spread further into more industries than ever before. Many industries in franchising are beginning to support and promote this model as a way of getting new business owners into their networks. Some of the newer franchise opportunities with this ownership type include home cleaning services, boutique fitness studios, and salon suites.

Semi-absentee ownership is possible in any business you can imagine that relies on the work of a manager to handle daily activities rather than the owners directly. If you were opening an accounting or tax preparation franchise, for example, you could want to be there more often. Especially if you are the one with the most experience performing tax returns, preparing books, etc.

Semi-absentee franchise owners characteristics

Here are a few of the common traits you will find in owners of semi-absentee franchises:

• They have other obligations – In general, owners of these kinds of businesses have either a job or many other businesses in their portfolios that are taking up some of their time each week. This is why they seek out a model that allows them to be less involved once everything is up and running. There is always going to be that surge of involvement in the beginning while everything is being built out, training is being done, etc.
  These owners are usually looking to diversify their businesses, make more money, and maintain the schedule they currently have.
• They aren’t big risk takers – Starting a new local business or service is always going to be a risk. Semi-absentee owners, though, tend to like diversification of their business. They have a day job, usually, have a good amount of money coming in, and are looking to diversify their business portfolio. If something goes wrong with their career, it can often be a backup plan or safety chute if they need it to be
• They are new business owners – Semi absentee franchise models are often taken up by people who are just getting started running their own businesses. Since you do have to be there all the time, it allows you to keep your day job while you build out your business and try ownership for yourself. It isn’t for everyone. We always recommend getting your feet wet this way to people just coming out of typical 9-5 employment, especially when they have been used to that for a long time.
• They have income streams – Not always, but usually, these owners have a significant source of income (or multiple) before getting started with this business. They have spent the full time needed to build other businesses or their own career with an employer and are earning a significant amount of money. They usually want to keep their jobs (at least in the beginning) and are looking for something less time to consume that they can do “on the side.”

If you feel that you have some or all of the characteristics we just described, the semi-absentee franchise model could be for you. You should call and talk to someone at Business In A Box. We can help take you from that planning phase into something more real with a real franchise matching session. Our consultations and services are always 100% free.

There are hundreds of different kinds of businesses out there. Find the one that works for you and get started owning your own business today.