Some people consider buying a franchise when they want to start their own business. The advantage is, obviously, that the franchisee has a formula that works. Theoretically, if you follow the formula, you shouldn’t have a problem achieving success.

However, even though there’s a good chance of achieving success with a franchise, some franchises do fail. Fortunately, why they fail is no mystery and there are lessons that can be learned from this. Check out Five Reasons Franchises Fail for some answers.

The article lists the obvious:

-   The business model isn’t easily duplicated
-   Location is bad
-   Poor marketing or advertising – including not being able to sell.
-   Competition
-   Unrealistic expectations

But there are two other important factors that, although touched on in the article, are not given the weight they deserve. These are:

-   Liking people and having the ability to work with different personalities
-   The ability to manage employees

It’s the ‘liking people’ issue I feel is pivotal, and it’s really an understatement. You have to be downright gregarious to achieve success in many franchises. You have to welcome every person that comes your way, and be sincere about it – you really have to want people there.

In fact, when it comes to achieving success with an independent business or a franchise, if it involves servicing people, any inkling of, “Not another customer, I just don’t feel like it right now’ will make achieving success next to impossible.

People instinctively know when you don’t really want them there. If that describes you, go home and let someone else run the place. Otherwise, you will be the biggest barrier to achieving success. Knowing when to stand down and let someone else cover the front lines is also a vital entrepreneurial skill.