Franchise Operations Manuals

We are award-winning independent Franchise Operations Manual consultants who have helped hundreds of franchisors to create an Operations Manual for their first franchisees and mature networks. Franchising is about replicating a proven business model uniformly across a franchise network and setting measurable standards. So, if you are a franchisor or are planning to become one, our editors can advise and coach you on how best to document your Know-How and Business System.

At Manual Writers International, we believe that a well-written Operations Manual is the starting point to providing franchisees, Master Franchisees and Area Developers with all the information, tools and resources they need to set up, run and grow a successful business and keep ahead of the competition year on year.  A fundamental requirement of the Franchise Agreement, an Operations Manual will need to be developed in line with the contract, be incorporated into a comprehensive training programme, and be made available to the Franchise Owner/Manager for the contract term.

The Operations Manual must be current and up-to-date. As a franchise develops, additions and modifications to the business system are inevitable if the franchise is to grow successfully. These must be reflected in The Manual in real-time because when franchisees operate with outdated information – e.g. legislation and regulation –  this can lead to severe penalties for a franchise – and harm the Brand. It is essential to review your manual annually, as you would your Business Plan, or when market forces dictate a modification to the Business System – as they did during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Therefore, due consideration must be given to how content can be updated quickly and effectively.

A poorly thought out Operations Manual does enormous damage to a franchisor – and the franchise industry. Suppose you give a franchisee a sub-standard Operations Manual. In that case, they’ll interpret what they believe their business should be, not as a faithful replication of their franchisor’s proven and successful system. So, if you cut corners, this can lead to breaches of the Franchise Agreement – and failure of a franchise in the longer term.

Profitable Procedures

We have successfully delivered consultancy, development, and professional editing services to franchisors for over 30 years. Our team members work as part of your team to ensure that you provide your franchisees with expert content that will give them the very best opportunity to run a successful and profitable business from day one.

We have over 35 years of experience working with some of the world’s iconic franchisors and hundreds of small start-ups that have become well-known brands. Similarly, we have worked with companies that have converted to a franchise or licence model to customise robust and informative management documentation. See Our Clients.

Our simple modular system for creating Operations Manuals has been developed over many years. Evolving in consultation with our clients in the 1980s and the British Franchise Association (bfa), hundreds of franchisors have adopted our three-step system, helping them set clear goals, reduce errors, increase customer retention, and protect their Brand. Documenting internal and external audits leads to continuous improvements – and improves profitability, so we incorporate mechanisms to measure, analyse and improve all processes. Our Operations Manuals have also been carefully written to encourage engagement, be user-friendly, easy to follow, and translate.

Whether you are starting from a blank sheet of paper – or need to reflect amendments or modifications to the business model, we can create the Operations Manual your franchisees need to succeed – and become profitable.

Ethical Franchising

Three years after launching Manual Writers International in 1986, Penny Hopkinson became an accredited British Franchise Association (bfa) Professional Advisor. One of the first accredited Affiliates to join the Association, she passionately believes in ethical franchising. In the early years, she worked with the bfa to establish a ‘gold’ standard for the Franchise Operations Manual.

Penny also worked with the bfa to relaunch the Association’s Franchisor and Franchisee Guides. Later, she worked closely with the bfa to develop a layman’s version of the bfa Code of Ethics and the bfa Members’ Rule Book. She then reviewed and updated the Content for the first relaunch of the bfa’s website.

Appointed a Companion of the British Franchise Association in 2011 for an ‘outstanding contribution to franchising in the UK and the BFA’, Penny supports and promotes ethical franchising in the UK and overseas.

Please don’t hesitate to contact Penny at +44 (0) 7956 315750 or email me at ManualW@aol.com.