Ethel Nyembe Buying a franchise may seem like a short cut to business success. However, being a franchisee also comes with great responsibilities. As a result, it pays to ask the right questions so that you know exactly what your long-term obligations will be, especially when it comes to ‘freshening-up’ your franchise outlet. “Successful franchised outlets attract a lot of customers. It is inevitable that over time, the kitchen, and its appliances - and most importantly to patrons - the customer service areas will show ‘wear and tear’ and begins to look worn-out. It is when the franchisee is unexpectedly faced with the responsibility of freshening up the outlet, which can often be costly,” says Ethel Nyembe, Head of Small Enterprise at Standard Bank. “Many people who buy franchises, whether they are new or well-established outlets, do not realise that there are often contractual obligations placed on them regarding the refurbishment of their facilities. These can require that a...