Choosing the Right Franchise for Your Personality

There are hundreds of franchise opportunities in the United States and it can be difficult to find the right one for your personal needs. While many people consider factors such as finances, franchise rules and locations, they often fail to evaluate whether a specific franchise will suit their personality. In order to manage a successful business that gives you professional satisfaction, it needs to complement your individual characteristics.

Becoming Self-Aware

Becoming aware of the requirements of a certain franchise opportunity and your personality type can help you match up to the business that you are better equipped for. If you are honest with yourself it will become obvious that there are some businesses that do not mesh with the way you like to work and what you want as far as work environment is concerned. If you would like to open a franchise, but are unsure about the kind that will work for you, then it may be helpful to use your personality as a guide.

Putting It Down on Paper

One method that can help you determine your ideal franchise is making an honest list of your personality traits. You can make an initial list on your own and later ask for the input of others that know you well to make adjustments to the list. You should also jot down your personal interests and expectations regarding your future experience as a franchisee. Some of the questions you might ask yourself include:

• Am I an extrovert or an introvert?
• Do I enjoy work that requires attention to detail?
• Am I more of a hands-off or hands-on person when it comes to management?
• Do I want to interact with many people or focus on other aspects of a business?
• What type of schedule best suits my lifestyle?
• Is the franchise brand something I want to promote?
• Do my skills match up with the requirements of the franchise?

Personality Evaluations

If you are still unsure of the right franchise to choose after your self- assessment then you also have the option of using a personality test. There is a variety of personality tests that can be found online or in books. Two prominent evaluation methods are the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and the Keirsey Temperament Sorter (KTS). There are many websites that provide the MBTI test online, which is based around a series of questions that inform you of your standing in these four categories:

• Introverted/Extroverted
• Sensing/Intuition
• Thinking/Feeling
• Judging/Perceiving

The KTS assessment also uses four categories and sorts people into one of the four temperament groups, which include four subgroups each. This test can be taken online as well and the categories are made up of:

• Artisans
• Guardians
• Rationals
• Idealists

There are many things that should undergo careful consideration before purchasing a franchise and personality is definitely one of them. Buying a franchise can be similar to finding a job that matches up to your specific skill set and desires. The ideal owner of a convenience store franchise will probably differ in many ways from a restaurant or cleaning franchise. Careful consideration and evaluation of your personality and lifestyle can help you determine the franchise that will give you the greatest likelihood of success.

Author Bio: Thomas Hickman is an internet marketing director for 7-Eleven franchising opportunities. He enjoys playing with his Doberman and Chihuahua, Sonny and Spike, and connecting with nature through his outdoor endeavors.