What you don’t know about being your own boss

Sure, being your own boss is great and comes with a lot of benefits, especially if you are a franchisee, but there are also little-known aspects to being your own boss that many overlook.

If you want to operate a successful franchise, and perhaps even branch out into other franchise operations, it’s important to keep the following tips in mind.

It’s Okay to Say No
Just because you are your own boss, that doesn’t mean you can stretch yourself thin trying to make yourself instantly accessible to everyone. Remember, you have a successful business to run.

When someone says, “But hey, you set your own schedule, so why not take half the day off and we’ll grab a bite and hit the town?” you need to remind them that just because you’re the boss, that doesn’t mean you can just take off whenever you want.

Trust Your Instincts
Being a franchisee comes with a built-in support system, but you should still follow your instincts and trust your gut. Whether it be scouting new locations or hiring a new manager, give yourself a proper “gut check” to determine if you are making the right decision. Listen to your intuition, as it quite often will provide you with the correct answer.

Take a Break
Sure, you just told your friend you can’t take half the day off for a long lunch, but that doesn’t mean you should go and work yourself half to death. As a successful franchisee, it’s very likely you work long hours and take few weekends off.

Stop it. Take a break. Do something nice for yourself. You’re no good to your franchisor, your employees, or your bottom line if you are utterly drained and unable to make hard decisions because you’ve fried your brain. Quite literally, go take a hike.

So, had you heard those tips before? Everyone talks about how great it is to be your own boss, and they’re right, but you’ve got to keep reality in mind. With proper care, your franchise is sure to succeed and expand in ways you might never have imagined. So get out there and go get ‘em!