In the previous article published under this heading, it was suggested that having a comprehensive operations manual is an essential prerequisite for franchising. In this issue we examine what it takes to produce an operations manual that delivers on its potential. By Kurt Illetschko Essential preparations Having decided to produce an operations manual, starting to write it is the logical next step, right? Wrong! Before writing commences, several issues should be addressed. Take shortcuts and the manual won’t be worth the paper it’s written on. The following questions must first be asked and answered. ●           What do we want to achieve? This may seem obvious but I advise you to arrange a brainstorming session and record the findings. It will clarify expectations and avoid the need for rework in the end. ●           What should the manual look like? You need to decide on t...