Designing for a franchise

[Nbgrafix]

Hi, I have just been contacted by a new client. They are starting a new business and are thinking of turning it in to a franchise next year.

How do you work with franchises?
What would you put in an agreement?
How much do you take from them money wise?

Any advice as to what to do now since theyre not a franchise yet?

Thanks for any replys, im new to this site so looking forward to chatting for the first time with yous

Siobhan

[Nbgrafix]

Anybody got any thoughts? Or any ideas where I could go for advice or info on this subject?

Thanks

[Amusekd]

I'm going to direct you to this thread and the great link Caroline provided here: Pricing A Project | Blue Flavor.

I think you would you go about the business as you would a regular freelance job. Find out the projects you will be assigned to and calculate a loose hourly total&rate. How much you feel you should be paid per hour is up to you, I have personally never worked with a franchise but would hope that they pay above average. Do they have identity materials or a logo yet? From there honor the franchise's logo and create your materials to match the identity and appearance of the client's business (ie. colors, message, mission statement, etc.).

I hope this helps, it sounds like a potentially long-term client so best of luck!

[zumojuice]

It's tough. I'd be tempted to remain charging fairly since you're more likely to retain the work, but make it clear that you can cope with the work and have contacts/freelancers on hand should you need them to pick up the slack. the client needs to feel confdent you can roll this out.

A franchise is really an amazing identity that can be translated across the country. There is often a certain 'feel' to it that makes it feel like a franchise and not a single store. From there, you need to create brand guidelines to govern everything (and i mean everything)

[Nbgrafix]

Thanks for the replys, im keeping the price fair at the moment as we had already decided on a price before I realised and asked about it being a possible franchise in the future.

I think my main worry at the moment is copyright issues, how much use do I give her. I have only just started writing up a contract agreement between myself and customers. Does anyone know of any drafts of such agreements?

At the moment she is just looking for a logo. Its an under fives play group so not a store though still a good client to have.

Siobhan

[blueocto]

The forum will no doubt, already have answers to some of your questions...

Copyright Question
c-c-c-c-contracts
Online Contract Information

Copyright and You

[Mack]

If they are franchising. My suggestion is to work out an agreement that besides the initial design cost... your probably going to want to add additional franchise landing pages of the main site. I would work in a 1 time charge per new franchise added, and make sure your CMS (cause your gonna want one for something like this) is going to be robust enough to allow users to edit content on each individual landing page while still adhearing to an admin lvl users content.

Contracts aside youll really need to spend some time whiteboarding the "potential" of multiple franchise landing pages.

[Nbgrafix]

Thanks Bluecto I'll have a look at those.

Mack are you speaking about web design? You lost me a little with some of the techie words though i got a few ideas so thanks.

Like I said we're just doing the logo at the mo. Should i put in the contract a charge per franchise that will use each design?

Ive finished the design proofs now so waiting for her thoughts. I'll let you know how it goes. I might just talk to her about what she would expect from a designer when she goes in to franchising and come to an agreement on terms. I kind of know her from another forum so I think I can speak openlyish to her.

Just dont want to under pay myself!

Siobhan

[Cwilk]

Designing for a franchise isn't that difficult. If the franchise isn't a full-blown franchise yet, even though that's what the client wants it to be, you can't really charge-up because they want it to be a franchise.

Design as if it's for the one client, treat them well, and hope from their experience with you that they'll keep coming back to you.

If you charge up because they are trying to make the company a franchise, you may have automatically lost a client because they see you are gouging on their success.

We have helped several start-ups that aren't franchises and those clients keep coming back to us. So, if you don't treat the franchise any different and you may have a life-long client.

[hardworker]

If they are franchising. My suggestion is to work out an agreement that besides the initial design cost... your probably going to want to add additional franchise landing pages of the main site. I would work in a 1 time charge per new franchise added, and make sure your CMS (cause your gonna want one for something like this) is going to be robust enough to allow users to edit content on each individual landing page while still adhearing to an admin lvl users content.

Contracts aside youll really need to spend some time whiteboarding the "potential" of multiple franchise landing pages.

I would do it the way Mack advised - like that you will get additional money out of your job. Other than that I don't think the job will differ a lot from any other graphics design job. good luck!