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Ethnic Minorities & Franchising

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Why Ethnic Minorities Make Successful Franchises

Due to the strong working culture of ethnic minorities, franchisors are actively targeting these groups as a main source of future growth.

The largest ethnic groups in the UK are Indian, Pakistani, Chinese and Black Caribbean. It is however Asian communities that have the highest rate of self-employment, even more than the national figure. This is mainly due to a strong motivation to be independent and a keen interest in entrepreneurial activity.

Asians, and Britons of Asian origin, therefore form an entrepreneurial pool of potential in which franchisors can delve into, with many Asians already finding success in the franchise industry.

But what is it that makes Asians such good business people? The close family upbringing and involvement in the family business from an early age helped the second and third generation to become business oriented. The first generation created the stereotype of the corner shop and brought their children up in a house where business was always discussed. This helped steep them in the values of hard work and owning your own business.

Where many white children are taught the value of education in order to get a professional job, many Asian children strive to have their own business, which to them is the pinnacle of success. Doctors, lawyers, dentists are considered lower down the scale than someone who works for him or herself. Asians look up to people like Richard Branson who built their business from scratch and are now highly successful.

Taking risks is a desired trait of an entrepreneur, and by immigrating to the UK first generation ethnic minorities undoubtedly took risks. Making a start from nothing also helped breed a hard work ethic. Many ethnic shopkeepers work around 18 hours a day to help provide for their children's education and build their business. They fear failure and so compensate for this by working ever hour necessary.

The new generation of ethnic minorities consider themselves very much integrated into UK society. The industries that were traditionally associated with ethnic minorities are no longer exclusive to retail, pharmacy, textiles and the restaurant trade but the new generation covers every area of industry and business by demonstrating the marketable skills needed in today's job market. Younger Asians are going for higher education and are not prepared to work long hours.

To summarise…

Franchising is therefore an ideal vocation for ethnic minorities. Why?

  • It requires hard work and long hours both of which are innate to the majority of ethnic groups.
  • The sense of working together and being part of a large family, whilst being your own boss all helps to point ethnic minorities in the direction of franchising as a new opportunity to owning your own business.
  • As ethnic minorities are more likely to go into business for themselves, and thus, as the safest way to owning your own business, franchising for ethnic minorities is therefore a natural fit.
  • The new generation no longer want to rely solely on their family for success, and with traditional sectors slowly declining, they are actively equipping themselves with marketable skills in order to succeed in today's society.

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