Manual Writers provides honest advice on processes, standards and performance and delivers all the procedures, manuals and training you need - Leaving you free to concentrate on your business,
Manual Writers provides honest advice on processes, standards and performance and delivers all the procedures, manuals and training you need - Leaving you free to concentrate on your business,
Whilst most franchisors offer their franchisees a manual, many fail to develop manuals and training to govern and enhance their own head office (or ‘support office’) operations. Yet it’s just as important to systematise what you and your Team does to support your network and develop your franchise, as it is to regulate franchisees – because:
A manual (and associated training) improves the efficiency of your operation and the induction of new staff at your office – by setting out, for example:
Proven methods to promote the franchise and to methodically manage franchisee recruitment to generate the greatest number of the best applicants.
What support can be offered to franchisees within their fees, what should be charged and when ‘help’ becomes a hindrance because it either interferes with or encroaches on what franchisees should be doing for themselves.
A defined programme (and progression) of support visits with clear quantitative and qualitative goals, structured actions and follow up, useful reporting and distinct measures. (And cost-effective scheduling and routing).
How departments and third-party suppliers must work to properly serve the products and services that franchisees must buy centrally – i.e. to ensure a good service but also to regulate responsibilities, discounts, payment terms etc. so that you are not left out of pocket (or entangled in a dispute between a franchisee and a third-party supplier).
Procedures to positively deal with issues such as: an under-performing franchisee; resales; disputes with franchisees; disputes between franchisees; territorial disputes; breakdown of the uniformity of standards or procedures; an ex-franchisee copying the business format; emergencies at franchisee outlets; etc.
Structured programmes for the induction and initial business development support of new franchisees.
A defined programme of ongoing training for franchisees (and how to run that and ensure attendance) – comprising top-up, optional, preferred and mandatory training and Continual Professional Development (CPD) and career progression training – and mentoring of franchisee employees that want to become franchisees (where agreed with franchisees for mutual benefit).
A defined programme of training and CPD for Support Office staff.
Procedures for the efficient financial management of the franchise network, including: centralised receipts and repayment of franchisees (if operated); collection of fees; recharges; payroll schemes; checks and balances (to prevent fraud in the network/non-payment of fees due); reporting; payment of commissions; regulated procurement; payment of suppliers; etc.
Setting procedures and standards for the support office ensures your Team meets franchisee expectations and your responsibilities per franchise agreements.
(And much more!)
By demonstrating how professional the franchise is to prospective franchisees buying into it.
If you sell your (franchise owner/Support Office) business, buyers may pay more if they’re assured the business can be run without you because everything your Team does is codified in a manual. (Franchised businesses are often bought by existing franchisors that already run a franchisee support office, so don’t want your whole Team with the acquisition).
If you intend to ‘float’ your business (i.e. offer shares in your company on a public stock market) then proper systematisation and documentation of your business would usually be required in the due-diligence process.
Your manuals and training programmes might be considered as an intangible asset.
Without a head office/support office manual and training in place, you might suffer waste, inefficiency and higher costs; recruit fewer franchisees of the right calibre; fail to give a uniform standard of clearly defined support; spend more time ‘firefighting’ franchisee issues instead of mentoring them to do things for themselves; and have a business that might not be as valuable and attractive as others that are systematised.
Learn about our franchisee operations manuals>>
See a list of the manuals we’ve written>>
Because our manuals explain every task in your operation step by step and are written bespoke - we can use the ‘language’ of your brand to create manuals that are easy to follow and that your Team actually use. And we manage the whole process and write everything for you.
Learn about our manual-writing services>>
We are instruction manual and user manual writers and designers. We write and design product user manuals for household name consumer brands around the World, and write and illustrate technical and maintenance manuals for manufacturing and industrial equipment. Our professional user manual copy writers and product illustrators are both in-house; so our excellent instructions are matched with excellent graphics, line drawings and layouts - without the usual additional cost and delay of using separate manual copywriters and designers. Your customers will find the beautiful step by step instruction manuals we create easy to follow.
Find out about our product (instruction) manuals>>
Existing manuals become less useful (even dangerous) without regular review – as they won’t detail changes to procedures and may contain/omit policies contrary to law. We review manuals, manage changes, write updates and help introduce new versions to your Team or franchisees.
Learn about or manual reviews and updating>>
We have served clients in all sectors in the UK and around the World at all stages of development and have the experience to advise you on franchise development, business development, performance improvement, standard operating procedures (SOPs), international expansion, change management and more.
With over 20 years’ experience serving franchises in all sectors in the UK and Worldwide, our franchise manuals reinforce relationships with franchisees, protect your brand and provide clear step-by-step guides for franchisee (and head office) operations to a high standard.
Find out more about our franchise manuals>>
Good training is imperative to support your manuals. We create engaging programmes that your Team will enjoy and your business (or franchise) will profit from – and can deliver them too.
Discover our training services>>
We have an in-house team that can create copy, graphics, technical drawings, flowcharts, booklets, posters, training workbooks, layouts and more in Adobe to enhance your manuals, training and product manuals in Adobe® Illustrator®, InDesign®, and Photoshop® (and other packages) for professional printing. We include this service when writing manuals, but can also enhance existing manuals.
We can offer any of the manuals we write in various interactive and collaborative online and digital formats. (Created in parallel with Microsoft Office® formats and hard copies).
Browse this website to see the sorts of manuals we create.