Setting Your Franchise Up For Success.

The Paris Olympics are in full swing and, with Team GB currently sitting a respectable sixth in the medal table, we've taken a look at what we can learn from its sporting success and how it can be applied to our business to ensure we stay ahead of the competition.

Teamwork.

If you've listened to the winning Olympians' post-event interviews, you will have noticed that almost all of them emphasise the importance of teamwork, with their coaches, trainers, nutritionists and families often receiving special praise. What you won't have heard is an athlete claiming their success was down to them and them alone.

At Cafe2U, we know that, just like athletes, our franchisees can't succeed without support, so, in addition to providing them with a support network to cheer them on, coach them and challenge them, we also provide them with a comprehensive four-week training course to ensure they have the skills necessary to hit the road as a qualified mobile coffee business owner. From barista training to business processes training, our Franchise Development Managers are always there to help our franchisees reach the top of the coffee podium.

Confidence.

Just like athletes need to believe in their own abilities, entrepreneurs must be bullish about their chances of becoming the best. At Cafe2U, we assess potential franchisees to ensure our business is right for them, so when they start up their mobile coffee business, they can be confident that we have faith in them and will be there to cheer them on, no matter what.

Passion.

Why do athletes limit their calorie intakes and put their bodies through stress, pain and the risk of injury? Why are they constantly looking for ways to improve performance? Because they're passionate about what they do and they want to be the best at it.

The same is true of successful entrepreneurs. Setting up your own business is hard, stressful and demanding, and inevitably involves encountering obstacles. If you're not passionate about the thing you do, you won't be motivated to overcome those obstacles and you'll fail.

Fortunately, many people are incredibly passionate about coffee, including us. From our unique blend, which is sourced from some of the finest growing regions in the world and roasted by small batch coffee roasters, to the expertise provided by our barista trainer, passion goes into every cup of coffee you'll sell. 

Practice, evolve, improve.

In addition to determination, drive and focus, practice is the most important weapon in an athlete's armour, and the same is true of Cafe2U franchisees. 

Practice enables you to learn and expand your skill set, two abilities that are vital for any successful businessperson. Cafe2U has been on the road for more than 20 years and, although we know the coffee industry like the back of our hand, we're constantly creating new avenues for growth and keeping up to date with new trends so we can ensure our franchisees have the latest equipment and are familiar with any new changes in the industry. Our weekly newsletter also communicates new insights to our franchisees that help boost their bottom lines, whether it's news about new discounts that have been negotiated or ways to source weekend events. 

We believe there's no finishing line when it comes to improvement.

If you’re thinking about becoming a Cafe2U franchisee, find out more about the process here.

Tips For Starting Your Own Cafe2U Franchise.

Well over half a million people in the UK work in the franchising industry - circa 620,000 - and, in 2023, an astonishing 97% of franchisees turned a profit. Consequently, the number of people employed in the industry is expected to swell even further over the coming months.

If you're considering starting your own Cafe2U franchise, it's important to remember that there's a lot more to becoming successful than just identifying an opportunity you like the look of and handing over your money. Here are a few things to consider before you take the plunge.

Be passionate about your business.

This may seem obvious but if you're not really interested in the coffee industry, walk away. Not only will your customers and clients quickly pick up on your lack of enthusiasm, resulting in reputational damage to your business, but you're also more likely to lose interest in it in the long-term, which could conceivably end up costing you a lot of money.

On the flip side, if you're truly interested in Cafe2U, your energy and passion for it will naturally come through, resulting in you offering better service to your customers.

While the predicted earnings and the work/life balance on offer are important factors to take into account, if they're the only things that interest you, it's time to think again.

Customer service is vital.

When you launch your own franchise, you ideally want it to gain a good reputation, fast. However, in the age of social media and online reviews, poor feedback from customers can quickly break a business, so you need to remain friendly, knowledgeable and professional at all times.

If you can achieve this, not only will your customers keep coming back, improving your customer retention rates, it will also increase the chances of them singing your praises to their friends and colleagues. There's nothing better than free publicity, especially when it's positive!

Marketing and advertising are important too!

Speaking of publicity, you'll need to spread the word about your new franchise before it launches - to build interest - and once it has launched, to ensure people know that you're there and what you have to offer.

Establishing a social media presence on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram is a must, and putting up posters, making and delivering flyers and advertising in local newspapers are all effective ways of promoting your franchise too. 

Cafe2U franchises are available.

Not only are they available, they're one of the best franchise options for 2024! In addition to a Mercedes-Benz Vito premium van and an exclusive area in which to operate, all our new franchisees receive all the training and equipment necessary to get their businesses off the ground. We also supply them with all the ongoing support and marketing advice they need too.

If you're interested in investing in a Cafe2U franchise, we can assist in arranging finance for you and your personal investment can be as little as £15,000. For more information, click here.

Franchisee FAQs.

According to the most recent report from industry expert Franchise Supermarket, 621,000 people in the UK are employed within the franchising industry, with 97% of franchisee-run businesses turning a profit, indicating that investing in a franchise remains an excellent choice for anyone looking for a career change in 2024.

At Cafe2U, we have a network of circa 100 franchise partners, so we know that deciding to become a franchisee is a big decision, and that those thinking of taking the plunge will have lots of questions to ask.

For anyone thinking of investing in a franchise like ours this year, these are some of the ones we get asked the most!

How much control will I have over my business?

People in the UK are increasingly on the lookout for jobs that offer them the opportunity to take control of their own work destiny and becoming a franchisee does exactly that.

Franchisees are essentially self-employed so, even though you become a Cafe2U partner, you still have the autonomy to make your own decisions on a huge variety of issues, including where, when and for how long you work each week, giving you a flexible job that fits in with your lifestyle and improves your work/life balance. With working from home now the 'new normal', running a business that can adapt to different locations and settings is a great idea and one that is likely to see the franchising industry continue to flourish over the coming months.

If you've ever dreamed of being your own boss, becoming a franchisee will make that dream come true.

How long does becoming a franchisee take?

While results may vary, becoming a franchisee is essentially a simple process that involves an interview between the franchisor and franchisee to ensure suitability, the drawing up and signing of a contract, buying into the franchise and then training for the new role, which may only take a few weeks. After that, you're up and running!

If you want to get a new business off the ground in a hurry, franchising is the answer to your prayers.

How risky is investing in a franchise?

Changing jobs always carries a certain degree of risk but, as we mentioned earlier, the fact that 97% of UK-based franchisees currently run in profit, with fewer than 1% of franchisors closing due to commercial failure, shows that the franchise industry remains a very safe bet for those who choose to join it.

Compare that to the fact that only 40% of new businesses in the UK survive more than three years and it's not hard to see why the industry is so popular.

And the reasons for this are simple. Becoming a franchisee increases your chance of succeeding because your customers are already aware of your brand and its reputation, meaning you have an established customer base that would otherwise take years to build, saving you both time and money on costly promotional activity designed to raise brand awareness.

What is my earning potential?

As we've already mentioned, the franchising industry is a profitable one but 'profitable' could be an understatement. Consistently good performances will see your income increase as a direct result, making your earning potential as big as you make it!

Is a Cafe2U franchise right for you?

If you're interested in becoming the owner of a mobile coffee franchise and a qualified barista operating in your own exclusive area, you can find out more about our franchise opportunities here. 

We'll supply you with everything you need to get your business off the ground, from training and equipment to ongoing support and advice on marketing. What are you waiting for?!