The three biggest challenges faced by service-based businesses - and how franchising solves them

Most service businesses start the same way – one person, one van, one big dream. You’re great at what you do, but suddenly you’re also the marketer, the admin, the bookkeeper and the customer service team. It’s rewarding work, but it’s relentless – and it can feel like you’re building the plane while flying it.

Franchising takes the pressure off. With proven systems, training and ongoing support, it gives new business owners the structure to grow sustainably and the confidence to deliver a consistently professional service from day one.

Here, My Property Pros (MPP) founder and CEO Karen Prewer explores the three biggest challenges faced by service-based businesses – and how franchising helps turn service novices into confident business owners.

1. Managing the workload – and knowing when to grow

In the early days, most service providers wear every hat. You’re doing the work, managing bookings, replying to enquiries and squeezing in admin after hours. For many, this all-consuming stage is where enthusiasm starts to waver. There’s only so long one person can sustain that pace.

The challenge is knowing when – and how – to make the leap from solo operator to business owner. Too soon, and you risk taking on costs before you’re ready. Too late, and burnout sets in.

That’s where a franchise like MPP makes a real difference. Franchisees start with a clear roadmap for growth. They’re shown how to structure their time, when to hire help and how to use automation to remove repetitive tasks. MPP’s tech-led systems streamline everything from customer communications to invoicing, giving franchisees the breathing space to focus on the work that really drives success.

With this structure in place, growth stops being a guessing game and becomes a guided process – one backed by experience, data and ongoing support.

2. Maintaining customer service standards as the business scales

Customer experience can make or break a service business. When you’re small, it’s easy to maintain standards because you’re personally involved in every job. As demand grows and you take on staff, keeping that same level of care becomes harder.

This is where many independent businesses struggle. Great technical work isn’t enough if communication slips or follow-ups are forgotten. Customers remember how they felt, not just what you did.

MPP’s model builds customer service excellence into every step. Franchisees follow a proven system for managing client relationships, supported by technology that ensures no enquiry is missed and every customer is kept informed. Automated responses, branded templates and feedback tools make professional service easy to deliver – every single time.

“In a service business, reputation is everything,” says Karen. “We’ve built processes that help our franchisees deliver consistently high-quality experiences from the first call to the final invoice. That’s how you turn one-time customers into loyal advocates.”

By making great service repeatable, MPP helps franchisees build the kind of trusted reputation that independent operators often spend years trying to establish.

3. Recruiting and retaining the right people

Once the business gains momentum, people become the next big challenge. You can’t do it all forever, but finding staff who share your standards and attitude isn’t easy. Recruitment and management are skills that most new business owners have never had to learn before.

Inconsistent hiring or unclear expectations can quickly lead to high turnover and uneven service – both of which can damage a growing brand.

MPP supports franchisees every step of the way. They’re guided on when to recruit, how to identify the right people and how to build a positive, accountable culture. From job descriptions and interview frameworks to onboarding tools and HR support, the structure is there to help franchisees build reliable, motivated teams who take pride in their work.

That support means franchisees can focus on developing people, not just managing them – creating strong, stable businesses built on shared values and professionalism.

Support creates confidence

For Karen, the real power of franchising lies in the confidence it gives people. “People join MPP because they want the freedom of running their own business but don’t want to feel lost in the process. We show them what good looks like – from managing finances and growing a team to creating a customer experience that keeps people coming back. It’s not just about systems. It’s about confidence.”

That confidence changes everything. With expert guidance, marketing support and a recognised brand behind them, franchisees can grow with assurance rather than fear. They gain the tools to make smart decisions, the credibility to win customers and the structure to keep things running smoothly – even on the busiest days.

Proven results

It’s an approach that’s clearly working. MPP’s commitment to supporting its franchisees has earned it a finalist spot in the 2025 WorkBuzz Best Franchise Awards (B2C category) – national recognition for outstanding systems, service and results.

By combining technology, communication tools and a culture of collaboration, MPP helps everyday people build professional, scalable service businesses that feel established from the very beginning.

As Karen puts it: “Franchising has always been about opportunity. You don’t need experience to succeed – just the right attitude and a willingness to learn. We give you everything else: the tools, the systems and the support to make it happen.”

Interested and want to know more about My Property Pros?

The My Property Pros profile outlines all aspects of their franchise opportunity and allows you to contact them for further information or to ask a question.

View franchise profile