Gone is the 9-5 mentality

Assessing your work ethic could be the single most important element that a would-be franchise owner/entrepreneur needs to address prior to becoming a small business owner. If the thought of becoming your own boss interests you, you might have a misconception as to the amount of time you’ll have to invest at the start of your business to even have a chance to succeed. Even though you are your own boss, you have the toughest boss in town, one who requires that you attend to your business 24-hours a day, seven days per week. YOU!

Misconceptions
If you are coming from a corporate Monday through Friday, 9-5 job and expect your new franchise business to be the same, you are mistaken. The same is true if you have left your cushy government job for a shot at the brass ring small businesses offer. Gone will be the “not my job” mentality and it will be replaced with the mantra of “everything is my job”. But don’t be too worried. You’ll be busy and focused on the things that really matter in your life, your business, you family, and staying healthy.

Consider Your Family and Hobbies
If you have small children and are used to attending or coaching their little league practice and games, dance recital or chaperoning field trips, you probably should rethink starting a small business. If you play time-consuming sports that you are not willing to give up, such as training for a marathon, you could have difficulty with time management problems. One thing that all new successful franchise business owners agree upon is that the 9-5 mentality doesn’t work in franchising, nor does the distractions of raising small children, playing sports or having hobbies. Starting a franchised small business will require at least 60 hours per week and probably more like 100 hours for at least the first couple of years. Plan for it.

Cut Back Don’t Cut Out
The good news is that you should be able to cut back on your business distractions without having to give them up entirely. Rather than coaching your son or daughter’s little league team 3 nights per week, just cut it back to one night per week. The same goes for school functions. You should continue to go to them, just not every one of them. And if you’re training for a marathon that takes 3 hours, 5 times per week, maybe you should cut that back to running a 5k, 3 or 4 times per week.

Plan your Work and Work your Plan
When you are your own boss you are responsible for everything, from the tasks that you enjoy, all the way to those that you loathe. When you make the decision as to what to do at any given time, remember to do the most difficult tasks first and get them out of the way. Take a few moments every day to write down what you need to do and then do it.

Scheduling family and personal time must be an integral part of your franchise plan, since nobody wants to build a successful business but lose your family or health in the process.