 |
|
|
||||||
  |
||||||||
       |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
|
FRANCHISING STRATEGIESFranchise Development Project Working with the Government of Ghana and the World Bank to establish the country as a gateway to West Africa, Sibley International worked to improve the private sector environment of the country to support the development of the small business sector. Sibley consultants carried out financial sector analysis and conducted seminars for bankers and business community, trained local consultants and legal specialists, and developed curriculum for franchise development for local consulting capacity building. All of these strategies helped to solidify the franchise concept as a development tool for small business creation in Ghana. Technical Assistance to the New Enterprise Development (NED) As part of USAIDs New Enterprise Development project, Sibley International explored ways of opening up private sector opportunities to the general population in Morocco and established an educational resource for SME development through franchising. Sibley identified existing Moroccan businesses with the potential and the resources to be packaged as franchises as well as potential Moroccan licensees with interest in contracting with American or South African franchisors. We also designed and implemented a franchising training program and one-day workshop for Moroccan businessmen and designed a curriculum for a follow-up training program. Technical Assistance to the Black Integrated Commercial Support
Network USAID South Africa succeeded in creating several hundred SME opportunities for formerly disadvantaged black entrepreneurs through a franchise development program managed by Sibley. Through standardization in training and operating systems, these firms upgraded financial controls, staff training, and marketing practices. Pilot programs operated in a range of sectors, including telecommunications, personal services, automotive services, construction, and entertainment firms. The project established over 200 franchise businesses and trained hundreds of local small entrepreneurs in all aspects of franchise development including contracting, operations, training, expansion, marketing, franchisee relations and accounting. Franchise Development for Indigenous Malays Sibley International was engaged to review a franchise program sponsored by the Malaysian Government with the specific aim of increasing investment and SME ownership opportunities for the ethnic Malays, mainly through developing or acquiring franchises. The project entailed reviewing the understanding of franchising within the financial, business, and academic communities in Malaysia, and identifying indigenous businesses for which franchising would be a suitable development strategy. Sibley conducted financial sector analysis and assessed the viability of Franchise Association as a self-regulatory body; trained trainers and consultants; and conducted workshops for the business community and the professional staff within the Ministry. Franchise Development Drawing from the experience elsewhere in the NIS, Sibley introduced franchising as a business development strategy for Russian investors and entrepreneurs, financial institutions, and the government. The purpose of the project was to test the concept of franchising in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan by developing pilot enterprises. The goal was to produce viable, replicable franchise businesses that are indigenous to the respective countries. In the process of enterprise development, Sibley International built consulting capacity in the Kazak business community. This support and consulting extended from overall management and business techniques to actual operations procedural development. The latter part of the project concentrated in formulating the Franchise Packages into applicable modules to enhance the implementation process. A legal review of the environment as well as a financial sector analysis were also completed and included surveys of commercial bank and lease financing mechanisms. In addition, the Sibley team conducted educational workshops, created operational, financial, and accounting procedures, and distributed an SME Handbook with guidance on equipment financing, business planning, and licensing and regulatory requirements. Franchising: Pilot Projects and Training Initiative Under a USAID Program Sibley introduced franchising as a business development strategy for investors and entrepreneurs, financial institutions, and the government. These pilots introduced franchising and other licensed distribution strategies to Russia as a means to create large numbers of small-scale, start-up enterprises that mobilize primarily Russian capital and can expand in the absence of large-scale foreign investment. The program trained Russian investors and entrepreneurs, financial institutions and government representatives. Sibley estimates that the number of franchised businesses in Russia grew from 70 in 1994 to over 600 in 1997, representing nearly 200 percent annual growth. The Sibley Team also organized workshops and seminars in 10 cities throughout Russia. Development of the Russian Franchise Association In order to promote the continuation of the franchising initiative, in 1997 Sibley assisted in the formation of the Russian Franchise Association (RFA). Sibley experts trained a full-time executive director, created investment promotion and educational programs, and established a resource center with technical and reference materials for the franchisee and potential Russian and foreign investors. The Sibley Team succeeded in fostering a consensus among a diverse pool of international and Russian-based franchise companies, including AlphaGraphics, McDonalds, Baskin Robbins, Dunkin Donuts, Mother Care, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Rostik Chicken. The RFA, now more than five years old, it is the largest franchise association in Eurasia and provides a full range of training, investment promotion, and advocacy services. Franchise Finance Sibley, in collaboration with NatWest Bank, designed and implemented a training program for bankers in Russia. The goal of the program was to assist Russian banks in better understanding financing options for small businesses, in particular financing for franchises. Bankers learned how to develop a department and product specifically to be able offer finance to franchise operators. Franchise Development Project In this innovative SME creation program, Sibley applied international franchising and licensing methodologies that enabled pilot firms to rapidly expand distribution networks and restructure their financial control, operations, management training, and marketing systems. These pilots demonstrated that working through a structured distribution system, business skills can be transferred and SME growth enhanced using commercially viable distribution strategies. After assessing the small business environment in Ukraine, Sibley International targeted 21 pilot enterprises. The enterprises were also supported by workshops and an improved legal and regulatory framework. |
||||||
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
