Sharon Tattersall – Supa Quick

“You need to accept the fact that you’ll be spending a lot of time at the business — you’ll be eating, sleeping and breathing the business. Prepare yourself for 16-hour days.”

Tim Apostolides – Maxi’s

“I make it a point to remember the names of as many of our regular customers as possible, and I encourage my staff to do the same. There is nothing better than knowing exactly what a customer will order and have it waiting for them before they even reach a table.”

Charlene Chiang – Body20

“A franchise is not a ‘sideline’ business. It is a heart-and-soul, sweat-blood-and-tears business. But it is also the most rewarding thing you will ever do. Be ready for hard work. Be mentally prepared to put your life on hold for a little while and be involved in every single aspect of your business.”

Caryn Neethling – Minuteman Press

“You need to realise that you’ll be working hard. We typically have around 200 jobs in progress at any one time. It should also be mentioned, though, that franchising offers great rewards. It’s hard work, but you get what you put in.”

Carlo da Camara – Chicken Xpress

“I have put managers in place, so I’m not needed in the store every second that it’s open, but I still go there every day to check stock levels and ensure that everything needed has been ordered. You don’t want to disappoint customers by not having items in stock that they want to order.”