Franchisor sentiment toward general business conditions and growth prospects declined this quarter according to a survey of over 400 New Zealand franchisors and franchise service providers. While franchisee sales perceptions remained stable, franchisors expressed concern over rising franchisee operating costs and access to suitable franchisees. Sentiment around availability of suitable staff and locations showed slight improvements. Overall, the survey found franchisor confidence weakened in the latest quarter.

1. October 2018 Quarter Results
FRANCHISOR BUSINESS SENTIMENT CHALLENGING

2. • Franchize Consultants is the first point of contact for
companies considering franchising their business
• Franchize Consultants helps established franchised
(and other network format) chains review and improve
performance for both franchisors and franchisees
• Franchize Consultants conducts specialist research for
franchising insight and practical application
• Franchize Consultants builds franchisor executive and
franchisee capability and performance through focused
training and education programmes
About Franchize Consultants

3. Key Survey Highlights
• Franchisors’ sentiment towards general business conditions dropped,
after lifting very slightly last quarter. Other research sources also
showed drops.
• Franchisor sentiment toward franchisor growth prospects remained
in positive numbers, although reduced from last quarter.
• Whilst franchisee sales perceptions are stable that sentiment is not
extended to Franchisee Operating Costs.
• Franchisors’ sentiment towards Franchisee profitability levels, which
are a strong indicator of the economic climate, have remained
relatively stable over the past five quarters.
• Franchisor outlook, for availability of suitable staff and suitable
locations showed slight improvements.
• Sentiment towards sales levels per franchisee was relatively stable
and positive on balance.

4. Background
• Quarterly survey of more than 400 New Zealand
franchisors and 100 specialist Service Providers (e.g.
consultants, banks, accountants, lawyers and
publishers) to the franchising community.
• Explores confidence in key measures critical to the
success of franchising, including the wider
environment, growth determinants, and franchising
health attributes and franchise system growth
prospects.
• This survey represents the views of 27 Franchisors
and 13 Service Providers.

5. The Focus
GENERAL QUESTION AREAS
1. General business conditions
2. Franchisor growth prospects
3. Franchising growth drivers
• Access to capital
• Access to suitable franchisees
• Access to suitable locations
• Access to suitable staff
4. Franchisee growth & profitability prospects
• Franchisee sales levels
• Franchisee operating costs
• Franchisee profitability
5. How are things looking for franchisors and
Franchisees in their respective sectors?
Respondents indicate
whether they expect
the following aspects
to be better, the same
or worse over the
next 12 months
(compared to the
previous 12 months)

6. The Results
Franchisors’ sentiment towards
general business conditions
dropped, after lifting very slightly
last quarter, from net negative 9%
to net negative 22%.
Service Providers sentiment
showed a mirror effect dipping to
net negative 23% from a net
negative 7%.

7. The Results
•Franchisors (net 46%) remained stable about prospects for franchisor growth. These results are in line with the net 45% in the previous quarter.
Franchisor sentiment toward
franchisor growth prospects
remained in positive numbers at a
net 7% - albeit reduced from the net
18%, in July.
Service Providers sentiment followed
a similar trend, dropping from net 7%
previously to a net negative 17% this
survey.

8. The Results
Franchisor sentiment toward access
to suitable franchisees remained
challenging - at a net negative 48%
down from net negative 36%.
Service Providers sentiment
indicated a softening in this area
improving to a net negative 15%
from net negative 21%.

9. The Results
Franchisors and Service Provider
sentiment toward the availability
of suitable staff saw some
buoyancy despite comments of
continued concern.
Franchisors improved from a net
negative 34% to a net negative
31%, whilst Service Providers
improved more positively from a
net negative 43% to net negative
31% this quarter.
.

10. The Results
This quarter’s Franchisors and Service
Provider sentiment towards accessing
suitable locations, saw a decided
improvement at a net 13%, up from net
0% for Franchisors.
Service Providers’ sentiment was similar
at a net 8% up from net negative 7%
•

11. The Results
Franchisor and Service Provider
sentiment towards franchisee sales
levels, whilst fluctuating, has
remained the most consistently
positive area over the past 12 months.
Overall sentiment remains positive,
despite Franchisor expectations
declining very slightly from net 33% to
net 30%, and Services Providers
improving from net 7% to net 15%.

12. The Results
Whilst franchisee sales perceptions
are stable that sentiment is not
extended to Franchisee Operating
Costs. That area continues to
create concern, currently at a net
negative 70% down from net
negative 42%. Clearly there is huge
concern. Service Providers show
equal concern in sentiment at net
negative 54% down slightly from
July’s net negative 50%.

13. The Results
Finally, Franchisors’ sentiment
towards Franchisee profitability
levels, which are a strong indicator of
the economic climate, have remained
relatively stable over the past five
quarters, at a net negative 4% after a
previous increase to net 3%.
Service Providers sentiment remains
stable although at a lower level of net
negative 31%, down from net negative
29%.

14. The Results
Franchisor sentiment toward access
to financing is continuing to fluctuate
quarter to quarter dipping to net
negative 30% from a net 0%
previously.
Service Provider sentiment had
previously remained in the positives
but dipped to a net 0%.

15. More Information
www.franchisingconfidence.co.nz
Including:
• More detailed and complete results and analysis
• All charts and illustrations

16. Franchize Consultants
• The Franchising Confidence Index, is founded, designed
and operated by Franchize Consultants, New Zealand
specialists in franchising and licensing network
development. Founded in 1989, Franchize Consultants
have a long and supporting association with New Zealand
franchising.
• For further information contact Dr Callum Floyd
• Ph. (09) 523 3858
• Mob. 021 669 519
• Email. callum@franchize.co.nz
• Web. www.franchisingconfidence.co.nz
• Web. www.franchize.co.nz