In last month’s blog, we talked about all the doubts and worries which hold people back from deciding to make a change in their lives – such as starting their own business. In our experience, these worries can be big or small, from general concerns about the economy or how well suited you are to business ownership, to more specific questions about how easily you can make money or learn the technology involved.

Did any of them sound familiar? We’re still very interested to hear about your thoughts and where you are on your journey, of course, but we also thought it would be very helpful to take a slightly different tack this time. Even though we are in constant contact with everyone in our network, we also send out regular surveys to all our franchisees to see how they are all doing so we can decide how best to support them. In the most recent survey, we added an extra question:

“What were your biggest fears when looking at a FASTSIGNS franchise?”

The results were fascinating! Not just because they gave us insight into how our franchisees saw FASTSIGNS before they joined, but because all the respondents are now successful franchise owners. They not only overcame their fears and concerns but have risen to every single challenge they’ve faced.

Here are some of the top answers they gave, as well as more detail on how it all panned out for the franchisees once they’d joined the network:

Tom Gilpin – FASTSIGNS BirminghamFear: Being self-employed and responsible for his own income

Despite having worked for himself since he was 16, Tom still felt a real anxiety around being fully responsible for generating his own income, particularly in the context of running a more structured business like a FASTSIGNS centre. He recognised running a franchise was a long-term commitment with fixed costs and personal financial implications and genuinely wondered if he was up to the task.

This is a common concern, and one we understand. Leaving your current employment, even if you’re a freelancer or contractor, to start a business – often in a new industry – of your own, can feel like a huge leap into the unknown. However, with a FASTSIGNS franchise, you’re never going it alone, which makes all the difference. The structured business model and systems of support we have in place, meant we could help Tom understand exactly what targets he’d need to hit each month and how they’d translate into income for him and his family.

While our business planning tools and guidance have given Tom the confidence to succeed, he’s still very much in charge of his own future. In our recent survey, he also commented that FASTSIGNS was not as rigid as other franchises he’d looked at. While we do provide clear frameworks and expectations, there’s also plenty of space to be your own boss – the perfect balance, really!

Nik Mathur – FASTSIGNS Tunbridge WellsFears: Learning the industry & generating business from Day One

Nik came into FASTSIGNS with a strong business background but admitted two major concerns: How long it would take to properly get to grips with the signage industry, and could he make enough money to justify the risks?

Nik found when he started, we helped him to hit the ground running before he even launched, giving him all the training he need to succeed in the industry and build his own winning team. His first big win was hiring a salesperson who generated leads right away! Then, when their big first day in business rolled around, they already had a strong pipeline of work ready to roll; his revenue has continued to grow steadily ever since.

While the signage industry was very new to him, he found his core training, and our ongoing support along with a mentor from another centre, soon gave him all the tools and confidence needed to succeed. He’s never felt on his own and he knows he can approach anyone in the network at any time, to receive whatever help he needs.

Martin Slater – FASTSIGNS SheffieldFear: Not being a natural salesperson

FASTSIGNS franchisees come from a variety of backgrounds with several complimentary skillsets; and only a few have extensive business experience before joining. This naturally leads to a very common concern: How can I feel confident in attracting and winning customers, especially in an industry which is new to you?

Much like Nik, Martin discovered for himself how the sales and marketing systems we trained him in using, gave him a solid foundation for promoting his new business to potential customers. Alongside the support he received from the mentorship team, his confidence has grown and grown. 12 months on, and his perspective has completely changed. His journey proves sales skills can be learned, especially when you’re backed by a network which genuinely wants you to succeed.

Any of these fears sound familiar?

Feeling fearful is natural, especially when it comes to something as life-changing as starting a new career as a business owner. However, these stories are proof that all these concerns aren’t showstoppers when it comes to turning your dreams into a reality – just bumps in a road which can be overcome with the right support and a proven business model.

These are all people who have been exactly where you are now, but we appreciate there’s a lot for you to think about. So, why don’t we have a chat?