The profile and characteristics of the winners and losers vary depending on the franchisor and the specific business model used to approach the industry. Some franchisors may only look for a certain personality type to the exclusion of financial and education considerations and experience, others evaluate financial capabilities, and some carefully study past business experience and education. It's readily apparent that Leyman had many of the key characteristics for a staffing industry franchisee. At 39 years old, he already had start-up experience and understood the business of the staffing industry. Although staffing industry experience may be a desirable characteristic for a potential franchisee to have, some franchisors take a different tack.
Entrepreneurial spirit is the key operative, as is the closely related desire to succeed.
Although some franchisors may use strict financial standards to evaluate potential franchisees, others do not. Branch managers and higher level professionals from the staffing industry are very hot prospects, but Dunhill also has specific financial criteria. The company, like most franchisors, is looking to generate corporate revenues not from initial franchise fees but from the continuing success of the franchise in the form of royalties. Both the franchisor and the franchisee lose in the end. Techstaff, with 11 franchises and 3 company-owned offices, requires that the potential franchisee have reserves that will extend well into a year.