Picture it: your alarm clock blares to start the day; you jump in the shower and quickly get dressed for work. You rush the kids to get ready, turn on the coffee and take a seat in your office, which is located conveniently in your living room.
Working from home can cut out commute time, keep you snug in your pjs throughout the day, there are few chances of being late and you are available to your family if you have to be. A home based franchise can lead to a wonderful work life balance, a schedule a franchisee creates and has full control over in the comfort of their own home.
It’s a lifestyle a lot of us dream about: no boss, no rush hour, no pressure and nowadays the possibilities are much more realistic and achievable than they ever have been. With technology accessible to the majority of people, communication and connection is easy to obtain with the outside world. In fact, over half of all U.S. businesses are now based out of the home.
Social media, online shopping, emails and texting has made business available from a home office and people are taking full advantage. Though there many different franchises to consider when one is interested in working from home, we will explore a few.
Tutoring
Children and their parents are hyperaware of their children’s learning abilities and disabilities. They want to strengthen their s strengths and help cater to their weaknesses. Parents seek tutoring more often than not to help their kids excel in all subjects at school.
Families with two working parents like to take advantage of after school programs with tutoring services.
Tutoring services is a great consideration for franchisees who are interested in a work life balance. Most hours would be later in the evening or after school, giving them the freedom throughout the day.
Of course, it would be best to have a thorough understanding of the lessons that will be taught and a passion to work with kids. However, some franchises offer tutor recruitment and even lend out the services to the students home. As a franchisee you would be able to organize and prepare tutors and students at a distance, if that is your preference.
Cleaning Services
People are busy and their time is limited. Housework and day to day errands are being thrown to the wayside. However, a lot of people are willing to pay for a cleaning service, to have more time to spare and out of convenience. Cleaning services used to be withheld for large businesses, but it is much more common amongst households than ever before.
This type of franchise is a service that can be managed from the comforts of a home. It does not necessarily need a stationary office, with cleaners being responsible for their own products. Franchisees will not have much responsibility, as marketing and recruitment will either be prepared or completed by head office. It would simply be a manner of keeping on top of the business, implementing leadership and considering the schedule.
Cruise Planners and Travel Agents
People can easily plan a lot of their own trips with research and internet browsing, but when it comes to cruises and large trips, there are so many choices, everyone needs some guidance. People trust in travel guides to help them with their trip and get the best deals.
A travel agent has become more popular as a home based franchise opportunity. It comes with little effort and allows franchisees to plan their own schedule and make a lot of their own decisions.
Some franchises offer travel agent discounts for trips and invite franchisees to take different trips to have a firsthand experience with what they are selling.
If you enjoy travelling and would prefer to work directly from your home, this is a great opportunity and investment. There is usually a low start up fee because there are not a lot of tangibles involved.
Again, a franchisee can choose to be directly involved in the business as an agent, or depending on their choice of franchise, can be recruiting and training agents who will go directly to the client’s house.
With 38 million home based businesses in the states, it is well worth the consideration. A lot more people are transitioning out of the office to be home where a business can be run from the tips of their fingertips. The world is connected globally through technology and we can reach so many more clients and employees while snuggled warmly on the couch.
Though home based franchises allow people to avoid shoveling their driveway and give them more time at home, there can be some downfalls to consider.
This may not be the route to take for those that are extremely social and love working with others. It can lead to a lot of time alone, planning and preparing to ensure that a business runs successfully. However, that type of business approach can be extremely successful for those who are dedicated.
Another consideration is though home based business offer a lot of work life balance and most franchisees create their own schedule, sometimes the business can lead to some franchisees working odd hours. If they have to cater to the needs of the clients and the employees falter, it could lead to unbalanced work hours. That is why it is important to have a great recruitment plan and hire staff who are reliable. Research your choice of home based franchise and see what type of support they offer in talent and hiring.
Home based businesses have a lot of competition nowadays. People have discovered their talents and are selling them on Facebook for a low fee. It can create a greater surface area of competition. However, franchises offer name brands, reputation and tremendous support. Personal run businesses can falter because their owners burn out and are doing everything themselves, while a franchise run business allows for freedom and balance.
Most home based businesses have lower start up fees, because there is no construction or tangible products to provide. It’s usually focused on training and insuring a business plan that will help guide the franchisee to great success on their own.
A home based business can be extremely successful and lead to a wonderful work life balance that most people would only dream of experiencing. However, it’s important to do your research and see how much support and training you will be offered, to ensure you chose the proper franchise. Also consider your personal character and whether or not you are disciplined enough to make a home based business run smoothly.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: After receiving an English Degree, followed by a Journalism Diploma, Gina Gill became a freelance journalist in 2008. She has worked as a reporter and in communications, focusing on social media. She currently works as a community information officer with Epilepsy Society, while pursuing her writing career at the same time.
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