The corporate world isn’t for everyone. It can also prove exhausting, and you may lose interest in a career that once held a lot of appeal for you. Whatever your reason, sometimes a change of occupation is the best solution to a job that’s lost its spark for you. On top of a new occupation, you may also want to try a new position. Instead of becoming someone else’s employee, you might like to try being the employer for a change. Many people with a corporate background have found that becoming a franchise owner is both challenging and rewarding.

Is There Life after Corporate?

It can be a daunting prospect to quit your corporate job and try something new, but many former corporate workers have started franchising. Guidant Financial conducted a recent survey of small business owners in the U.S. and found that 24% of those surveyed started a franchise because they were tired of corporate America. A further 29% started a franchise because they were ready to be their own boss (something that’s almost impossible in a corporation).

If you’re thinking of starting a business solo, know that it’s possible, but may prove a bigger challenge than franchising. Franchising is a great way for you to start a new business without being completely on your own. Franchisors take the guesswork out of investment costs and business models. They also provide a variety of services to franchisees like you to help you in your operation of the franchise  location, such as marketing, advertising, technology services, and even some administrative services.

New Position, Same Skills

While you may quit your corporate job, the skills you learned there will still prove important to running a franchise, particularly if you were in a management or administrative position. Being able to delegate jobs, oversee employees, create a basic business budget, and other managerial/administrative skills like these translate well to business ownership.

While industry experience can be a plus for anyone leaving a corporate job to start a small business, it’s not a requirement. Antioch Pizza founders Art and Karen Wicklein started their Italian restaurant franchise after leaving corporate America. Art had a background in engineering, with experience with supply chains and with business management, while Karen had an education and experience in marketing. Despite neither of them having run a restaurant before, they decided to take a chance, and today their franchise has grown to multiple locations in multiple states, with plenty of room for more.

The Transfer Process

Once you’re ready to quit your corporate job and become a franchise owner, you should start doing the legwork to find the right franchise for you. Research your local markets to see what kind of businesses your local area needs and what the competition is like. Look into franchises that interest you by speaking with franchise owners in those companies, attending trade shows and franchise expos, and maybe speaking with a franchise broker. Find out the franchisee qualifications for your desired franchises.

When you find a franchise you’re interested in and they’ve shown interest in you, expect to have a Discovery Day, an event where you go to meet with the leadership team at their headquarters. You’ll get to ask questions, see how the franchise operates, and you’ll be asked more questions to make sure you’re a good fit for the company, and vice versa.

Once you decide on a franchise and join them, you’ll go through training to make sure you’re familiar with the company’s standards and business model, as well as the day-to-day operations of a location. Your training doesn’t stop there, however. After you select a location and arrange financing (often with franchisor assistance), most franchises provide on-site guidance to see you through the first few months of operations, until you feel confident enough to handle regular business by yourself.

Franchising is a great way for you to get out of corporate life and become your own boss. Your existing skills can apply to business ownership, and your franchisor will serve as a mentor and support system as you make your mark in the franchising world.

Leave the Rat Race Behind with Antioch Pizza

We’re pleased that you want to leave your corporate job to join our franchise. We’re a small, growing company whose mission is to feed people goodness and make everyone a regular. We’re a community-focused company that wants to help you find success as a business owner and be a pillar for your friends, family, and neighbors. Fill out a form today to learn more about your franchising opportunity with Antioch Pizza.