If we’re all honest with ourselves, we have to agree most small businesses are short-handed. In my 30 years of business consulting, I would estimate 40% to 50% of my client/franchisee interactions have something to do with staffing. Short-staffed, as a condition, can be caused by a number of other conditions, and “short-handed” can come in many forms.

As the president and CEO of a franchise brand, I have been asked for a few thoughts on franchising and how a franchise might be a good or bad decision for a carpet cleaner, restorer, or fire-in-the-belly entrepreneur ready to tell their boss to “pound sand!” and go it alone as a business owner. 

No matter what industry you’re in, you’re bombarded with experts telling you how to grow. Some are partially informative. Some have a few good points. Some…not so much.

We all know how hard it is to find good employees. We’ve all heard it: “People don’t want to work.”; “Don’t hire anyone younger than 30.”; “Everyone has an entitlement mentality.” Blah, blah, blah.