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If there’s one thing the pandemic taught professionals, it is the beauty of remote work. The opportunity to work in yoga pants, work when it felt good instead of shoving yourself into a nine-to-five workday, and work from the comfort of your home is something many have hesitated to return from.
Still, now that the world is fully opened up again, we’ve remembered and reconnected with the beauty of in-person experiences. There’s something unbeatable about looking someone in the eye in real life (not through a glass rectangle), shaking hands, and being fully in the moment with that person.
Having the beauty of both worlds is totally possible with certain types of franchises. If you’re looking to start your franchise and want to marry the two worlds of remote work and in-person business, here are a few opportunities to make that dream a reality.
The Freedom of Remote Work
Many franchisees empower you to run your new business from a virtual office – a digital cockpit where you can manage the administrative, marketing, and in some cases, fulfillment side of your business without needing a storefront. It's like having your own Batcave, minus the cape.
With the tools and technology given to you by the franchisee, you can monitor sales, connect with the team and fellow franchisors, and strategize your next move, all from the comfort of your home office or that trendy coffee shop down the street.
To find a fully remote franchise opportunity, check out the variety of home-based franchisesavailable to run and manage from your house.
The Charm of Brick-and-Mortar
Let’s face it. While home is comforting, it can be a little too isolating sometimes. Working exclusively from home can get lonely and cause you to feel distant from your customers or other franchisees.
There's something undeniably exciting about unlocking the door to your own shop, isn't there? Franchises offer the chance to own a physical location without diving into the abyss alone. You not only have the backing of the franchise to help you get all of the right materials, and often get savings on those materials, but you’re also face-to-face with the people you hire and customers you serve.
The Beauty of Both Worlds
Many franchisees wanting to start a new franchise look for the beauty of both remote work and brick-and-mortar to have a hybrid work experience that offers the best of both these worlds. Being able to manage the administrative side of your business from the cozy comfort of a home office is one element, but still having the chance to get out in the field or go into a storefront is another element. This hybrid approach allows you to expand your opportunities and show up exactly as you want to every day.
While many home-based franchises offer this hybrid approach, such as vending machines franchises and in-home care franchises, others might not be as obvious.
Consider, for example, a fitness franchise. Many of these franchises have around-the-clock availability for their clients. While your customers are in the gym working out, you can be in your home office working on the human resources side of your business, pulling together new marketing collateral, or catching up on the latest trainings from your franchisor.
Real estate franchises offer a similar hybrid model. While much of the administrative side of the transactions can be handled from the comfort of a home office, you can shift your day-to-day by buying and selling real estate out in the field.
Entertainment franchises are similar in that you can be in-person for the fun side of the business, the entertainment, and at home for the administrative side of the business.
Local Flavor, No Matter Where
With a franchise, you're not just a remote business overseer. You're the heartbeat of your local community, bringing a valuable service to your area. Franchises provide the structure and support to maintain that neighborhood charm, regardless of physical distance.
Whether offering something new to your local community, collaborating with local artists for your decor, or hosting events that resonate with the community, the essence of brick-and-mortar entrepreneurship stays intact while giving you the freedom to work remotely. It's about having the freedom to work from anywhere while savoring the joy of having a storefront. Remote dreams and the hustle of entrepreneurship don't have to be an either-or scenario – franchises have cracked the code, offering you the best of both worlds.
Kimberly Crossland is the founder of Roadpreneur and Cruisin' + Campfires, two companies designed to keep families together and living in freedom through travel and entrepreneurship. The goal of both businesses is to inspire meaningful change through the power of a strategic, thoughtful approach to life and business. In her free time, you can find her looking for a new adventure together with her two boys.