3 Benefits of Building Your Photography Business With a Franchise
When it comes to starting a photography business, it can be a scary proposition.
There's all the expenses - getting the necessary photography gear.
There's also the business expenses of renting an office or studio space, buying computers and other office supplies, and marketing, too.
The time investment is pretty significant as well.
And all that without much of a guarantee that your business will be successful, either.
But it doesn't have to be scary.
In fact, there's a way to build a strong photography business that minimizes all of the issues above - building your business with a franchise.
Let's take a look at three primary benefits of building your photography business in this manner.
You Have Support and Guidance
When you become a franchisee, particularly with a high-end franchise like Spoiled Rotten Photography, you get the benefit of having support and guidance of experts along the way.
There's no worry about how to get your business off the ground, no worry about what to do next.
Instead, you have photographers and people with business savvy there by your side, from start to finish, such that you have a strong foundation upon which to build your business.
From the outset, a franchise gives you the opportunity to learn all the skills you need to be successful.
Franchisees of Spoiled Rotten Photography participate in a two-week training course where they learn all the processes and procedures needed to build a successful business.
That includes training on photography topics like exposure, composition, posing, camera gear, and plenty of hands-on training in lighting techniques.
There is also extensive training in customer care, business basics, accounting, and other essential business topics.
In fact, with a franchise, you have a complete support team that's available to help you with any issue.
In the case of Spoiled Rotten Photography, there are also bi-weekly conference calls and an annual owner's conference to keep you up-to-date on the latest business practices and photography techniques.
In other words, you're in business for yourself as a franchisee, but you aren't in it alone. You have a built-in support network dedicated to your success. Talk about peace of mind!
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Dependable Income
Part of the difficulty of starting a photography business is that you simply don't know if you'll have a steady income stream, particularly in the early stages.
That's due to many factors, not the least of which is getting your name out there for the public to see and hear.
Marketing is certainly key to getting people to call you and book you for a session, but when you start your business as a franchisee, you have a leg up.
Why?
Because you can capitalize on an already-established brand...
Take Spoiled Rotten Photography as an ideal example.
They are known across the country as the premier child portrait company.
And that benefits you because you can immediately draw on their reputation to build awareness of your business in your area.
With that awareness comes more clients, sooner rather than later, and a dependable income sooner rather than later, as well.
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No Experience (Or Studio) Required
As I noted in the introduction, when you start a photography business, two major considerations are if you have the photography skills and the equipment to even start a business.
If you don't, that means spending a lot of time and money getting the gear you need and taking classes to learn how to be a professional photographer.
But when you opt to start your business as a franchise, you don't have to worry about those things.
For example, Spoiled Rotten Photography doesn't require you to have any professional photography experience because they'll train you how to be a photographer and a businessperson, too.
That means you'll know how to get setup for a portrait session, how to pose your clients, how to light the portrait, how to take the photos, and even how to edit them.
What's more, Spoiled Rotten Photography is home-based.
Because they serve high-end schools, franchisees bring their mobile studio right to their clients.
You'll receive fresh, modern studios each spring and fall that you can transport in a mid-sized SUV right to the door of the school that's booked your services.
There's no worry about renting studio space, no concern about your backdrops being out-of-style.
And what's that mean for you?
Higher profits and a more efficient business!
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Putting It All Together
When it comes to building a business for yourself, I think it's clear why a franchise is such a beneficial option.
After all, you have continuous support right from the start, so you're sure you'll be starting your business on the right foot.
It's a means of making a dependable income, too, because you don't have to worry about building your business from scratch. Instead, you have the already stellar reputation of your franchise to help you get clients sooner rather than later.
And, of course, if you partner with a franchise like Spoiled Rotten Photography, you don't even need any photography or business experience. Heck, you don't even need a studio space!
They'll provide all that - and more.
If you're excited about starting a photography business, channel that excitement into learning more about photography franchises. If you ask me, it's the best option to ensure your success!
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3 Ways to Start a Photography Business
I imagine that just about anyone that has a good eye for photography and has had some success in creating gorgeous images has thought at least once or twice about starting a photography business.
After all, if it's something you're good and something you enjoy, photography can prove to be a lucrative business for you.
Of course, not everyone that starts a photography business is successful.
In fact, the vast majority of folks that try to get into the photography business fail for one reason or another.
That means that you need to get started on the right foot, right from the get-go.
Here's a few options for starting a photography business. Some are quick and easy - with questionable success rates - and others offer more security and an improved shot at making it in this highly competitive field.
The "Just Go For It" Approach
Perhaps the quickest way to start a business is to simply go for broke, start the darn thing, and hope for the best.
Though this sounds like a questionable strategy - and, believe me, it is - that isn't to say that some people get lucky.
The same strategy might work well for you. If you have the photography know-how, the business savvy, a place to work, and a team of people like lawyers, accountants, and so forth to help you along the way, you might be able to make the "just go for it" approach work out in your favor
The key word here is might...
You assume a TON of risk when you try to start a business without much planning and forethought. But, hey, some of the world's top companies were started by college dropouts in their garage (Apple, anyone?), so you never know when you might get lucky!
Pro: Get your business started quickly
Con: Building a business isn't a fly-by-night thing. Diving into it too quickly could spell disaster.
Buy Someone Else's Company
Let me use a non-photography example to illustrate this point...
Years ago, I had a friend that was a salesman at a local electronics store. One day, he came into work to discover that the owner of the store wanted out - and fast.
The owner offered my friend a deal to assume ownership of the business, but with the caveat that my friend decide by the day's end if it was something he wanted to do.
Long story short, my friend jumped at the chance, took over the business, and today he's got several dozen such businesses across the state.
That's not a bad result, right?
Now, my friend had the luxury of at least taking over an established business - he didn't have to build it from scratch. He had to build all the subsequent businesses from the ground up, but he certainly got a head start on things by buying out his former boss.
The upside here is obviously having something ready-made for your success (assuming the business is in good shape), including the previous owner's customer base.
The problem, though, is that if you buy someone else's photography business, you'll be assuming their name, their image, and so forth. And just because you take over doesn't mean that the previous owner's loyal clients will stick with you.
Differentiating yourself from the previous owner could prove to be a difficult process, too, especially if the previous owner built a reputation that wasn't as good as it could be.
In other words, buying an existing photography business can get you started sooner rather than later, but there's still plenty of work to do to make it your own and make it a successful endeavor.
Pro: You have a ready-made business for the taking.
Con: The business you take over isn't yours, and it could prove difficult to make it your own.
Buy a Photography Franchise
When you think about it, each of the two methods of building a photography business noted above have their benefits.
In the case of just going for it, you can start your business sooner rather than later, and hopefully, that translates into making money sooner rather than later as well.
In the case of buying out an existing photography business, you get something that's already established - including a list of current clients - but that doesn't guarantee your success in the long-term, especially if you can't get out from the shadow of the previous owner.
A great way to capitalize on the benefits of just diving in and buying an existing photography business is to go a third route - buying a photography franchise.
On the one hand, buying a photography franchise is a brilliant move because you get fast-tracked to establishing your company, much like "just going for it." However, when you buy a franchise, you don't just dive in and hope for the best...
Instead, you're buying into a proven formula for success. There's no guesswork. There's no wondering what you should do or how you should do it - it's all mapped out for you in plain black and white - not unlike if you were to buy an existing photography business.
But again, with a franchise, you don't have to worry about building a reputation for yourself or being shrouded in the shadow of the former owner. You get to capitalize on a strong, existing brand to build your business into something profitable and long-lasting.
Of course, not all photography franchises are built alike, so there's the need to do some vetting.
Though there are plenty of franchise options, a popular choice is Spoiled Rotten Photography.
Why is it popular?
That's easy...
Spoiled Rotten Photography was started by Melissa Tash in Huntsville, Alabama.
As a professional photographer, mother of two, a U.S. Army veteran, a Nike Industrial Engineer, and a Payload Crew Trainer for NASA's International Space Station Program, Tash certainly wasn't lacking in skills and experience when she started the company.
But her hard work is your gain!
Spoiled Rotten Photography franchises use the same systems, proprietary software, marketing materials, and guidebooks that help you build your photography franchise into something special. Learn about just one aspect of becoming a franchisee in the video below:
That means you can hit the ground running, but with the guidance and assistance of the franchise right there with you along the way. In fact, when you opt in to a franchise, you get:
- A business plan that is tried and tested and easy to follow
- A proven strategy for making a profit
- A 2-week training course to get you intimately familiar with running your business
- Opportunities to collaborate with other franchisees
- Business software to manage everything from accounting to marketing to building a website
- Support for marketing your business and building portrait sets
What's more, you benefit from the established name and reputation of Spoiled Rotten Photography, which has built a huge following of clientele for high-end children's portraiture.
In other words, just jumping in is scary. Buying an existing photography business can backfire. If you want the best shot at building a long-lasting, profitable business, buying a franchise is hands down the way to go.
Learn more about becoming a franchisee with Spoiled Rotten Photography.
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4 Mistakes Photographers Make When Buying a Franchise
In a recent post, I extolled the virtues of buying a photography franchise as one of the best ways to start a photography business.
You can catch up on all the benefits of a franchise in that article, but the short version is that you get an established name, a proven strategy for success, and support from the franchise for things like marketing your new business.
And though there are plenty of other benefits of going with a franchise, there are some pitfalls that need to be avoided at all costs.
Let's take a closer look at four mistakes photographers make when buying a franchise.
Not Doing Your Due Diligence
Not all photography franchises are built alike.
By that I mean a couple of things.
First, some franchises, like Spoiled Rotten Photography, are wildly successful, giving you the opportunity to hit the ground running once you buy in.
That means that you're more likely to see success sooner rather than later because of the work that the franchisor has already done.
But, other photography franchises might not have that same kind of established reputation and business model, making it much more difficult for you to make a successful foray into the photography business.
Second, franchises are a lot like people in that there are values that drive the business, just like you're driven by personal and professional values.
If the company has a solid mission like providing an excellent product, respecting each client, advocating for others in the community, and doing so with integrity, then you're in good shape.
But if the franchise is all about money and getting as many people into the franchise as possible, you might find difficulties ahead.
The point here is that it's necessary to do some research on the franchises you're interested in pursuing.
Don't just talk to the folks at the franchise headquarters; talk to franchisees, their clients, and other partners to get a feel for what the franchise is all about and whether it aligns with what you want for your future.
Not Thinking of the Long-Term Investment
Though opting for a photography franchise can certainly be an easy and effective way to get your photography business off the ground, it isn't a one-time thing.
By that I mean that you don't pay a one-time fee, get all the benefits of the franchise, and then say "see you later!"
For example, you still have to pay for things like rent, insurance, gear, commission, and royalties. All of that cuts into your bottom line.
Where some franchises might only offer you about 50 percent of your gross sales, others offer much more - along the lines of 65 percent.
Given that most home studios only operate around the 45 percent mark, that represents a significant increase in money in your pocket.
Again, knowing this sort of information comes from doing your due diligence and will help you make the best franchise decision.
There's also a significant time investment involved in being a franchisee.
You might benefit from things like an established business plan, accounting software, and ongoing training, but you're still running a business.
That means long hours, long days, working on weekends, and doing things that aren't all that fun, like chasing clients for non-payment, returning emails, and other business-related tasks.
Thinking You'll Be Totally Independent
Remember - the benefit of a franchise is that you're buying into an established system.
That means that branding is done a certain way, marketing is handled for you, the accounting software and website design are handled on your behalf, and so on.
That makes it much easier to get your business off the ground, but it also means that you give up a little control over those things.
Some franchisees find this difficult as they want to do some things their own way instead of trusting the franchise system to work on their behalf. Therein is the mistake.
If the franchise is well-established with a solid reputation for providing excellent photography services, why would you not trust that it will work for you?
It's like asking an expert for advice and then totally ignoring it. It just doesn't make sense!
If you want to get the most out of being a franchisee, use the franchise and its broad resources to your benefit.
Trying to Expand Too Quickly
One of the great things about joining a franchise is that you can start one, two, three, or many more separate franchises.
Thinking about building a photography empire is certainly a nice thought, and it's something that's possible with a franchise.
But a common mistake for franchisees is that they try to expand too quickly.
In other words, even though much of the system is set up for you and the franchise will train you, there is still a learning curve.
Rather than diving into multiple businesses too soon, take the time to master the ins and outs of the franchise to ensure the success of your first business.
Only then should you think about expanding because you'll be comfortable with the system and it will be far easier to implement it in another location.
Wrapping It Up
Starting a photography business is no small task, even when you do so by buying a franchise.
There are plenty of mistakes to be made, that's for sure. But if you go into your franchise agreement as an informed consumer, you'll come out the other side in much better shape with a business that's ready to go from day one!
That's especially true if you partner with a franchise like Spoiled Rotten Photography.
These guys and gals do it the right way, putting the customer and the quality of the product above all else.
For well over a decade, this company has been providing parents with adorable photos of their kids. That means they have the proven track record of success you want your franchisor to have.
You get a business plan, ongoing support and training for things like composition, post-processing, customer relations, and marketing, and face no minimum quarterly purchases like other franchises require.
And that's just the tip of the iceberg...
If you want to get a photography business off the ground that's built for long-term success, consider partnering with Spoiled Rotten Photography. Learn more about Spoiled Rotten in the video above.
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4 Tips for Building a More Successful Photography Business
Let's face it...
Starting a photography business is a tall task that requires a lot of time, patience, and commitment to achieving your long-term goals.
But that doesn't mean that building something successful has to be overly difficult, either.
In fact, armed with the right information, tools, and support, you can actually build a solid photography business a lot faster than you might think!
Let's review four top tips for starting and building a photography business the right way.
Don't Forget About Education
Just because you're ready to start a photography business doesn't mean there's nothing left for you to learn.
In fact, you might be the most brilliant photographer on the planet, but if you aren't well-attuned to the intricacies of running a business, failure is a serious possibility.
So, you need to stay at the forefront of education when it comes to photography and business.
For example, you might be a master with Photoshop CC, but what happens when the next iteration of the program comes out?
Rather than sitting on your laurels, snag a book, read a tutorial, or watch a YouTube video to learn what's new.
The same goes for other photography skills - composition, lighting, posing people for portraits, and so on.
There is a wealth of knowledge out there, and you need to take advantage of it!
When it comes to business practices, follow the same procedure.
If you're not all that confident in bookkeeping, buy a book, enroll in a seminar, or ask a knowledgeable friend for help.
Again, the success of your business depends not just on your current knowledge and skills, but on the ones you acquire along the way.
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Work on Your Workflow
Time is money, and the more you can clean up the way you attack the day and your daily tasks, the more time you'll have to devote to making money!
A great way to work on your workflow is to document your daily activities and note the amount of time you spend on each.
I'm willing to bet that there will be some surprises in there, too.
For example, when I outlined what I spent my time doing, I found that one of the biggest draws on my time was simply checking and returning emails.
Granted, this is an important task, but I was constantly checking my email and responding immediately, no matter what I was doing at the time.
So, I streamlined that process and now check and respond to email at designated times of the day.
That's made my email procedures far more streamlined, and it also means that I am more efficient with my time completing other tasks because I'm no longer stopping to check email in the midst of another task.
When you work on your workflow, don't just consider the things that cause you interruptions.
Also think about things you can do to streamline necessary activities.
For example, rather than posting your images to each of your social media channels individually, look into something like Hootsuite that can automate the process.
It might sound like an insignificant change, but believe me, every minute you save over the course of the day is incredibly valuable when you're in business for yourself!
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Find Ways to Stand Out From the Crowd
Being a photographer is a popular profession, and that means that wherever you are, you'll have competition for customers.
As a result, you need to find ways to get your name out there and differentiate yourself from all the other photographers in your area.
This needs to be done on multiple levels, too.
On the one hand, you need to develop a photography style that's unique to you and you alone.
That doesn't mean that you have to specialize in a certain type of photography, either.
It just means that when people look at your portfolio, they should see a consistent product from one image to the next.
On the other hand, you need to tackle branding your business in a way that sets you apart from everyone else as well.
That might mean coming up with a unique business name, developing an interesting and eye-catching logo, using your social media channels and blog to promote your unique brand, and so forth.
In other words, you can't just open up shop and expect people to come knocking on your door.
You have to do the work of developing your unique brand and promoting it in order to build up a clientele and continuing to build that clientele over the long term.
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The Easiest Way to Find Success
If you're a little overwhelmed at this point thinking about everything that's involved in building a successful photography business, it's understandable.
It's a lot to think about and a lot to execute...
However, there's an easier way to ensure your business has the best chance of long-term success - building your business with a franchise.
There's a lot to like about photography franchises.
For example, Spoiled Rotten Photography offers their franchise owners ample opportunities to get the education they need to be a successful businessperson.
Not only do they offer an intensive two-week training course on photography topics like composition, studio and outdoor lighting techniques, camera gear, and exposure, but they compliment that education with real-life, hands-on training.
That means that if you aren't confident in an area of photography, you'll get the guidance you need to build that confidence.
What's more, there's training on the business side of things, too, including topics on accounting, customer care and management, and general business operations.
I also noted earlier that you need to work on your workflow such that you squeeze every ounce of time out of the day to get done what needs to get done.
Working as part of a franchise will help you do that, too.
Not only does Spoiled Rotten Photography offer you all kinds of training, but they stick by your side for the duration of the franchise agreement to offer guidance and assistance along the way.
That means you have photography and business experts at your disposal to answer questions and provide insights regarding how you can more efficiently use your time and manage your business.
What's more, you get access to proprietary software that helps you manage your daily workflow from accounting to online sales, blogging and website needs, email marketing and customer management.
And when it comes to standing out from the crowd, Spoiled Rotten Photography has you covered there as well.
You get the benefit of an internationally-known photography brand to help you build your business.
Remember as well that you have a support system to help you along the way, too.
It's really the perfect solution to building a photography business that can be successful in the short and the long-term!