Craft Franchise vs. Independent Craft Business: Pros and Cons for Moms

I'm just creating this quick video because I get so many questions about starting a Craft Franchise versus starting your own independently owned Craft Business, so I thought it would be helpful to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of investing into a Creative Franchise.

Many women that I speak to are desperately seeking more feedom and flexibility in their lives and looking for Creative Home Business and Work from Home Franchise ideas. But, they often don't fully understand the implications of investing into Franchise Opportunites versus starting their own independent Creative Business.

So, let's look at the pro's and con's of investing into Creative Franchises for Moms and Working Mums Franchise Opportunites here.

Let's take this recent enquiry, from Amy, who asked me: " What are the benefits of starting a business on your own versus investing in a Franchise?"

Amy told me that she had been researching, whether she should buy a Jewellery Franchise or set up on her own independent Jewellery Keepsake Business by attending our Silver Keepsake Jewellery Training Courses.  She says that it seems more daunting starting on her own, without the support of a Franchise.  Although if she was to make a success of it she feels that it will be more satisfying.

Amy had all sorts of questions about, "Should I become a Franchisee?," but said said that her main consideration was time.  She is a busy Working Mum and is considering low cost franchises and Working Mums Franchise Oppportunities. She would like to know, if a Franchise would allow her to get her Creative Business set up quicker than by attending our Silver Keepsake Jewellery Courses and setting up, independently on her own.

To answer this, let's first, talk about the benefits and limitations of investing into a Craft or Jewellery Franchise versus other independent Craft Business Opportunities.

Benefits of a Craft Franchise:

Proven Business Model - one of the main benefits of franchising is that you are normally investing into a proven business model. This means that the Franchisor has been successfully trading for a certain number of years, with effective systems, processes and marketing plans in place, which should, in theory, help to increase your chances of success.

Established Products and Services - buying into an Art and Craft Franchise, gives you access to the Franchisors established products and services, providing reassurance over potential sales and demand. Whether you are buying into a brand new territory or buying an existing territory from an established Franchisee, you should be able to review a copy of the Franchisors Sales Forecasts, Projections or the existing Franchisees Accounts.

Recognized Brand Name - one of the biggest benefits of investing into a Creative Franchise, is that you are buying into a recognized brand name, which should, in theory help, when you begin the process of promoting your franchise to acquire new customers.

National Advertising and Marketing Support - many Franchises embark upon National Marketing and Advertising Campaigns, which, as a Franchisee you could benefit from.  However, this is not always the case.  There are many Franchises,  where you would be required to invest a large sum of money, but with little done in the way of Advertising, by the Franchisor at a National level. Regardless, you would need to invest time, money and resources into your own local marketing, to increase the success of your Franchise, regardless of what happens at a National level.

Disadvantages of a Craft Franchise:

Higher Start Up Costs-  When investing into a Creative Franchise, there will usually be higher start up costs, meaning a slower return on invesment.

Ongoing Costs - you've also got to consider that, as a Franchisee, you will have to pay ongoing costs, such as sales royalties management/franchise fees ete, therefore your ongoing costs will be higher.  

Territory Restrictions - when buying into a franchise, you will have postcode or territory restrictions, so you'll be restricted from operating your business outside of your area. This may be fine for you at the moment, but it may cause problems in the future, if you wish to move, or transfer location, as your Franchise would not be portable.

Sales targets - most franchisors set strict sales targets, which may put you under pressure. The Majority of women that I speak to, who are searching for work from home franchise ideas,  are doing so, because they want more freedom and flexibility in their lives.  They desire the opportunity to earn money, with the flexibility of working around their children.  Therefore, you may resent being put under pressure by the Franchisor's specified sales targets, rather than having the flexibility of building your business on your own terms.

Lack of freedom and flexibility - Franchisees must work within the Franchisors strict guidelines and framework, meaning thaat you will have less freedom and flexibility to run the business in the way that you may want.

Conculsion on starting a Craft Franchise versus starting your own Creative Home Business:

So, that's that's my quick overview on the advantages and disadvantages of Franchising versus starting your own independently owned and manged Creative Home Business.

From my own perspective, what I can say, is that when I first started my Baby Casting  and Keepsake Jewellery Business, almost 20 years ago, when my children were born, there wasn't anybody doing anything like this back then.  I was approached by a lot of Franchise Consultants, who suggested that I should Franchise my Business, but I didn't want to and here's the reason why.

I wanted The Craft Ecademy to be a business that would inspire, educate and empower women, to start their own Creative Home Businesses, without the high start-up costs and restrictions of a Franchise.  The reason for this, as I share in my Time and Freedom Webinar, is because, like many women, before finally escaping the rat-race, I was trapped in a job that I hated for too many years, wasting my life and feeling like my soul was dying from the inside. Then, at one point I got fired from my job for being pregnant and was forced to take my employer to an Employment Tribunal.  I ended up loosing my Baby and consequently, my physical and mental health suffered, as did my relatiionship with my husband.  It was one of the most awful period's of my life.  I remember feeling desperate to find a Business Idea that I felt passionate about, that I would enjoy doing and most importantlly, would allow me to work from home around my children.

I share this journey of triumph over adversity and how I started my entrepreneurial journey in my Time and Freedom Webinar.  If you can spare 60 minutes to watch it,  I think you'll begin to see why I'm so passionate about Entrepreneurship, Female Empowerment and helping women (particularly Moms) to start in Business.  I know how important it is to earn a flexible living around your children, so that you have enoguh quality time to nurture them and watch them grow!

This is the reason that I never Franchised The craft Ecademy, depsitre recommendations from many Franchise Consultants to do so.  Instead, I invested time and energy into creating a flexible, low-cost,  Business Model, to help aspiring Creative Business Owners start in Business. What I have created, is a Creative Business Opportunity, which draws on my 20 years Marketing and Business experience, to provide the benefits of a Franchise, without any of the high start up costs, franchise fees, sales royalties or restrictions. 

Through my series of Life Casting Courses, Silver Keepsake Jewellery Making Courses and Ceramics Courses, I can provide you with all the Training and Support that you need to learn how to make and sell Craft's that make Money.  

I am often asked, is this suitable for mums with no experience, so let me reassure you; You dont need any prior Creative or Business knowledge or experience to succeed. The most important thing is that you understand the correct techniques and processes to create high quality Products that sell. I teach you all of this in my Life Casting Courses and Keepsake Jewellery Courses, all backed by 20 years Business and Marketing in the Creative Business Sector.

The other thing that you need to consider when starting a Creative Business and deciding whether to invest in a Craft Franchise or start your own independent Craft Business, is your Business Branding and Marketing.  This is hugely important.  One of the main benefits of investing into Franchise, is because you are licensing the right to work under their Brand and Website, so all of this is done for you.

However, if you are starting your own independent Craft Business, there is absolutely no reason why you can't create a beautiful Brand  and website for your Business, independently.  

I do realise that this can be daunting for many aspiring Business women though, which is why I've put together a 'done for you Business Start-up and Marketing package, which includes Brand Development, Logo Design and Website Development.  So if you want help with your Business Branding and Marketing. I've got you covered too!  

In terms of whether you should start your own Creative Home Business or invest in a Craft Franchise,  I'd suggest that you research closely what you are going to get for your invesment into a Franchise. Check all of the Franchise Agreements and small print and firmly establish what you're tied into before you invest.

Altenatively, if you have decided not to go down the Franchising route, but instead start your own Creative Home Business, if you are interested in attending our Life Casting or Keepsake Jewellery Business Courses, to start your own Indpendent Craft Business, I'd recommend that you register for my Time & Freedom Webinar, where I discuss the various Training Courses and Business Opportunities in much clearer detail than I am able to here. 

Whilst each of my Life Casting Courses and Keepsake Jewellery Business Courses are available to purchase independently through my website, I have a special offer, which is exclusive, to registrants of my FREE Time and Freedom Webinar, wherby, all of my Life Casting Courses and Keepake Jewellery Courses are packged together into a bundle, at a big discount.

With regard to the Tools and Equipment that you will need to Start your Creative Business, we have all of that covered too.  Everything that you need, regardless of whether you are starting a Baby Life Casting Business or a Keepsake Business, is all available within the Starter Kits section of our e-shop.  Plus, you have the reassurance of knowing, as a repected Amazon Affiliate and Influencer, you can get all of our recommended ongoing supplies via our e-shop.

The price of the Tools and Equipment that you will need to start your Baby Casting or Keepsake Business, are comparatively low, when you consider the potential return on investment. However, if you would like more detailed information on Costs and Potential Earnings, I invite you to register for my FREE Time and Freedom Webinar, where I demonstrate the cost of making the various products, recommended retail prices and potental profit margins.  I even take you through the process of creating a cost and sales forcast, so you can see EXACTLY, how many products you would need to make and sell to achieve your desired income!

If you would like more information on starting your own Creative Home Business, please follow the links below to download my FREE Guide and register for my Time & Freedom Webinar.