Of course one of the key benefits of investing in a franchise business is that industry experience is often not a requirement.

Mike Gallagher, national director of Signarama Australia, the largest sign and graphics franchise in Australia, asserts: “Our franchise owners come from a varied background, everything from teachers to corporate executives to labourers. The one common background they share is that they are not from the sign industry.”

Prospective franchisees often worry that they need good design skills to be an effective franchisee. Ross Wade, a Signarama Dandenong franchisee for 11 years, refutes that notion. “Oh no, our production staff have all the skills needed to assist our clients with any creative elements. Our customers certainly don’t rely on me for their design expertise,” says Wade.

So, if design and technical expertise are not required, what do sign franchisees do? Gallagher maintains, “our Signarama franchise owners are the face of the business. They handle the key accounts, ensure the quality of the product, and join the local business networking groups. This allows our owners to work on the development and growth of the business, rather than focusing on the day-to-day operational components.”

By being the face of the business, Gallagher suggests Signarama franchisees can proactively grow their customer database. Additionally, franchisees obtain their customers from a variety of other sources.

“Clients come from our internet presence, our retail locations, our national accounts department, and our marketing initiatives,” Gallagher explains.

“As well, a large portion of every Signarma client list comes from referral and repeat orders,” he adds. “People are often surprised that so much of our business is based on repeat work. It can account for over 70 per cent of a store’s volume.”