In the process of getting ready to launch your own ice cream shop, you may have thoughts about doing it as an independent brand rather than a franchise location. Starting something from scratch and forging your own way can be appealing, but that path involves overcoming many obstacles. Consider the list of advantages below that come with taking the franchise route.
Customers Know What to Expect
Setting customer expectations is a big thing in every business. You want customers to know what they should expect when visiting your ice cream shop. What flavors will they find? Do you offer cones? What other features make your ice cream shop more appealing than the competition? If you open an independent shop, you'll have to set those expectations from scratch, one customer at a time. Of course, it's not impossible to do that, but it isn't easy. With a franchise behind you, many customers will already be familiar with your product offerings, and they'll immediately be excited to come in for a treat.
Start with a Plan
Assuming this will be the first ice cream shop you have owned, having a plan in place from a franchisor is a big step in the right direction. If you were to create your own business plan for this venture, you could make some educated guesses on what to expect – but they'd still be guesses. The franchise you decide to work with will have real-world experience in this market and help you get started with confidence.
Quicker to Market
The faster you get your ice cream shop open and selling treats, the sooner you can bring in revenue to offset the expenses incurred during the startup process. With a franchise, you'll likely be able to get the door open much quicker than you would with an independent shop, meaning the time it takes to turn a profit could be significantly reduced.
