Though the auto repair industry has evolved immensely in the past few decades, its image dates back to the times cars were first invented. People often think being an auto mechanic means working in an old, dark and dingy garages, breaking their backs over manual labor and arriving at home with grease on your face. While the job still requires some labor, it’s not quite what it used to be back when the Ford Model T was first unveiled.

We have a client that is having a difficult time finding job applicants. Midas, the reputable automotive repair company, has many position openings and offers competitive pay, yet they need more applicants for their job openings.

As we are closing in on Thanksgiving, I wanted to share some of my gratitude with you.

When the National Labor Relations Board decided to consider McDonald’s a joint employer of all workers within the franchise, fears spread like wildfire. This ruling meant that any McDonald’s employee was considered jointly employed with the McDonald’s franchisor, even though individual franchisees hired the employees. So if a problem came up like injustice in the hiring or firing department, complaints could go all the way up to the top.

While employers are liable for the actions of their employees (specifically speaking, they are “vicariously liable”), franchisors don’t have to be – that is, if they have the right provisions written out. Laws vary from state to state but if you are a franchisor it’s a very good idea to check-in with your contractual obligations regarding your relationship with the franchisees, specifically concerning hiring and firing.

As you grow your franchise, it’s imperative that you find the right franchise owners; ones that will help keep your brand consistent, authentic and successful. Selecting the right man or woman for the job can be tricky, as a resume doesn’t reveal anything about an individual’s aptitude or resiliency.

As a franchisor, it's always in your best interest to provide your franchisees with resources to help build the business. The tricky part about franchising is keeping everything -- from bookkeeping to social media to customer service -- the same across all locations. 

As a franchisor it is very important to keep up with trends and happenings in the franchise world. We've been in the franchise industry for well over a decade now and we've found the following resources to be great support:

Franchise Times

Franchise Times is the place to go for franchise news. You can learn about opportunities, trends and basic happenings in the franchise world, as well as find out about conferences and events.

Being that we’re in the industry, we’d like to clear up a common misconception about franchises: they are not just sub shops and McDonald’s! One of the many great things about franchising is that it spans virtually every industry. From personal services to retail to business-to-business, you’ll find a franchise in any field you are interested in working in.

While franchising has increasingly become popular and successful in the US, Dubai is currently the hotspot if you’re looking into buying a franchise. According to Franchise Times, The United Arab Emirates have great government programs that encourage small business ownership as well as existing local companies to franchise.