An E-Myth Moment: What Is the Franchise Prototype?

According the Michael E. Gerber in his book, The E-Myth Revisited, our Back-to-School featured book of the month, the Franchise Prototype model follows 6 main guidelines:

1. The model will provide consistent value to your customers, employees, suppliers, and lenders, beyond what they expect.
2. The model will be operated by people with the lowest possible skill level.
3. The model will stand out as a place of impeccable order.
4. All work in the model will be documented in Operations Manuals.
5. The model will provide a uniformly predictable service to the customer.
6. The model will utilize color, dress, and facilities code.

Even if you aren't remotely interested in duplicating your business and selling it as a franchise, pay close attention to numbers 2 and 4 above. If you ever desire to step away from your business without it falling apart, say for a vacation, business trip, or an emergency, you will need to have written rules to pass along to someone else.

If you are unwilling to get it all out of your head and onto paper, be prepared to stay chained to your business for life. Is that why you got into business in the first place? To actually have less time off to live your life?

Get the book. Hire a consultant or a coach. But whatever you do, get it in writing in such a way that anyone can understand it.