Choosing a social franchise
or Business in a Box
Keith Richardson
ESFN, CoRE and Economic Partnerships
1
Social Franchising defined
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The social franchisor
A social franchisee
A common brand
Interchange of knowledge
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Why take up a social franchise?
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Why take up a social franchise
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Reduces cost
Speeds up development
May be impossible without it
Share development costs
Proven model
Established brand
Strength in Unity
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Advantages in practice
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An established and credible brand;
CoRE website & Network
ESCoRE, CoRE’s Energy Supply Company,
Support and expertise from existing CoREs;
Joint purchasing and links to technology providers;
Shared development models
Shared equipment eg Met Mast
Shared documentation – eg land lease
Technical expertise
Training courses
5
Advantages in practice
But retain
1. Local control,
2. Local knowledge,
3. Local credibility,
4. Enthusiasm.
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Other examples
Advantages in practice
1.
Known brand – known buss-model
2.
Acces to group and railway company-benefits
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Location
# bicycle racks
Secured parking (hardware, software, orgware)
…
Financial benefits
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Financial return from Holding
Lower Renting prices
Smart business-plan/model
Communication
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2.
3.
Website
Railway stations
Brochures/flyers/…
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Advantages in practice
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Extra - Services
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Knowledge
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Tourism: B-dagtrip
Blue-bike
Only possible as network
Learning network
Network notes
Example-contracts, pricing,…
Joint purchasing and links to hardware providers;
Shared development (ex. Blue-bike)
Shared documentation
Technical expertise
Training courses
New partnerships are possible
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What to look for in a social
franchise
1. Operates in a local growth area
2. A well developed model
3. Capacity of social franchisor
4. Tangible benefits at the right price
What to look for in a social
franchise
5. Adds credibility
6. Successful profitable franchisees
7. Internal quality systems for monitoring
franchisees
8. Growth benefits all
Resources
• ESFN - Opposite’s Attract, Case Studies,
Directories
• Social Enterprise UK
• Social Innovation Exchange
Group Exercise
• Select a social franchise
• What are the advantages
• What are the disadvantages?
Key lessons learnt?
Contact
• www.socialfranchising.coop
• keith@socialfranchising.coop
Key points from group 1
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Need strong model first
Importance of the brand
Franchisees must be allowed flexibility
Innovation also comes from franchisees
Range of working approached that is very
developmental to fixed model
Don’t need a licence
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Social franchise s happens to people
Key points from group 2
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How can we all get involved in social franchising?
How do we all get involved in starting up social
franchising – not just for social franchisors
Ensure jargon free plain English
Social franchising brings independence – it does not
increase dependence