White collar franchises, also referred to as management franchises, are named after the shirt and tie apparel that was once the uniform of a corporate environment. Individuals in a shirt were seen as the leaders of a business and were presumed to be in a position of power. In today's world, an individual no longer needs to wear a shirt, suit or tie to secure a management job, but the term white collar has stuck.

The definition of a white collar franchise can vary slightly, but in general, a white collar franchise is a franchise that requires the franchisee to complete professional or semi-professional work, usually in a management position. For this reason, white collar franchises are usually favoured by investors with a management background or who have experience/education specifically related to the field their franchise is based in. Some of the most popular white collar franchises UK based include hotels, care homes and web design and internet marketing services.

Why have white collar franchises grown in popularity?
There are several reasons why there has been a recent growing trend in white collar franchises, including:

Growth opportunities
Many individuals in the UK find themselves stuck in middle management positions. They may be stuck in such a position because their employer consistently overlooks them for a promotion or because the company they work in favours outside hiring. This can be incredibly frustrating for an employee and can make them feel undervalued. White collar franchise opportunities, therefore, attract white collar employees as they see franchises as a way to progress in their career and take their next career step.

Independence
An individual currently in a management role may be frustrated with the demands and limitations they receive from their superiors. For example, executives within a business may dictate the management style, delegation freedom and roles a manager can take on, leaving a white collar employee in a management position feeling trapped and unable to reach their full potential. For this reason, a manager may see white-collar franchise opportunities as a way to gain more independence and freedom. By starting their own white collar franchise, a manager will be able to have complete freedom over how their business is run and no longer follow constricting orders.

Remote working
Many workers in the UK recently discovered the benefits of working from home due to lockdown restrictions. As lockdown restrictions have lifted, many employees have been asked to return to their workplace, resulting in them missing the independence of remote working. Some workers, for example, may feel annoyed that a large portion of their day is once again being wasted on a commute to work. Work from home franchises allow white collar employees to continue enjoying the benefits of remote working whilst also taking the next step in their career.

Alternative to unemployment
Unfortunately, the UK is entering what experts predict to be its longest recession. Many employees and individuals in middle management positions have already become casualties to this recession and have lost their jobs. Unemployment can be extremely difficult for an individual to cope with, not only financially but mentally also. Instead of feeling upset about being let go or made redundant by a company, white collar franchises offer a lucrative and rewarding alternative to taking out a car title loan or having to pull out equity from your house. Instead of an individual pouring their time and energy into a job application that may be rejected, starting a new franchise gives them complete control over their future and can be a light at the end of an unemployment tunnel.

What are the benefits of starting a white collar franchise?

1. Quick start-up
White collar franchises are quick and simple to start-up, as the franchisee will already have knowledge and experience within the industry they are starting a franchise in. This means there is no time delay whilst a franchisee educates themselves about a particular industry.

2. Low start-up costs
As many white collar franchises can be operated from home or remotely, there are low start-up fees for a white collar franchise as the upfront costs can be minimised.

3. Support from franchise
Although a franchisee has a lot of freedom when starting and running their franchise, they can always rely on the support of the franchisor during difficult times. This is ideal for white collar workers as they have support available when they need it, but their day-to-day management style is not dictated by the franchisor or anyone else.

Interested in starting your own white collar franchise?
If you are interested in starting your own white collar franchise or would like to know what white-collar franchise opportunities are currently available in the UK, there are a wide range of online resources to help you such as franchise directories.