An investigation into independent small business owners’ perception of franchisee relationships
International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management
ISSN: 0959-0552
Article publication date: 10 August 2015
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore independent small business owners’ perceptions of franchisees relationships with their franchisors, their fellow franchisees within the chain, their employees and their customers.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors use a qualitative approach and, more specifically, 26 in-depth interviews conducted with independent small business owners from various business sectors.
Findings
These independent small business owners perceive that franchisees have a dependency-based relationship with their franchisors; a competition-based relationship with their fellow franchisees; a rather complicated relationship with their employees; and a superficial relationship with their customers.
Research limitations/implications
This study contributes to the franchising literature by presenting an outside-chain view of franchisees’ relationships with their franchisors, other franchisees, employees and customers.
Practical implications
The findings may have practical implications for franchisors, enabling them to better understand the concerns of independent small business owners as potential franchisee candidates.
Originality/value
The outside-chain view of franchisees’ relationships is innovative.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Rozenn Perrigot thanks the French National Research Agency (references: FRANBLE – ANR-12-BSH1-0011-01) as well as the Center in Franchising, Retail & Service Chains for their valuable support.
Citation
Perrigot, R., Hussain, D. and Windsperger, J. (2015), "An investigation into independent small business owners’ perception of franchisee relationships", International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, Vol. 43 No. 8, pp. 693-711. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJRDM-01-2014-0010
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited