President – Francorp Pakistan

Evolve: Please share something about yourself, a brief overview of your professional journey? 

Anila Haq: I am happily married from last 25 years, three kids a son and two daughters. I started my career soon after I got married. I have studied electrical engineering from Lahore. For years I have worked with my husband to establish and grow a number of companies under the banner of Haq Holdings. Since 2012, I have been leading the advent of franchising in the domestic economy. Francorp started their Pakistan office in September 2012, in last 4 years we are fortunate enough to have worked with different businesses in our local market. Our clients are satisfied and opening stores not only in Pakistan but also internationally. 

Evolve: Kindly guide our readers about Franchise Development Business and its future scope especially in terms of Pakistan? 

Anila Haq: Franchising is the future of any business in Pakistan. People mostly relate franchising with the food concept only, in my opinion food is a very tricky business keeping the standards and hygiene is a tough job for both parties. Plus, finding the right franchisee that is passionate about one’s concept is hard too. 

On the other hand, a carefully developed franchise business not only helps the franchisee to follow the basic understanding of the business, which they have never done before, but also assures their success. It is proven over the years that Franchise business always generates more revenues than the company owned stores, all because of the systems, which are already tried and tested by the franchisor.

As a franchisor when you develop the right manuals for your concept and it does mapping for the next five years, not only you get to know the loopholes in your existing stores and manage to smooth out your systems but also your franchisee can run the business without much problems.

 Pakistan is the most attractive market for franchising concept, locally and internationally. There are quite a few businessmen who are interested in diversifying their businesses and looking for better opportunities either for their kids or family. We are the one of the few countries with the highest rate in young population aging between 18-35 years. This makes us the most desirable market for franchising. 

The young generation coming back to their homeland after finishing their studies understands the benefits of Franchising and is very interested in starting their own business. Franchising gives them a better chance of success, what better option is there than running a franchise store of an already known brand with some visibility and proven success model. It could be retail, services, food etc. In my view, there is a higher profitability in expanding a domestic brand through the franchise model. There are many businesses in this country that have made a name for themselves with years or even decades of unparalleled customer service and consistently fulfilling their brand promise. Unfortunately, many of these success stories fade away with the passage of time or when handed over from one generation to another. The sustainability of owner-managed businesses into the third generation is a key challenge especially within the domestic market. Think of that famous eatery that was the entire buzz few years’ back, or a bakery that was known for its cakes across town or a doctor’s clinic that was renowned for exceptional patient care. There are a plethora of businesses that have been run exceptionally well for years but their owners never thought of the continuity of the business beyond their individual productive life span. 

Evolve: What type of services do you provide to your clients? 

Anila Haq: Francorp is a Franchise consulting company. We are the only company who are trained professional working in Pakistan’s market; with our head office in Chicago and 40 offices around the world give us an edge over any other company. Our work ethics are same as international standards. Honesty and loyalty to our clients is our top priority. F

Francorp works as a consultant helping the local businesses to expand through franchising; we develop all the necessary documents for a brand “Legal, Business plan, Operation Manuals, and Marketing plan” to help them in their smooth expansion. Advising and guiding the new franchisor during the beginning phase of their brand’s franchise network. 

Francorp also provides a brokerage service in which Francorp help’s the franchisors to find the right fit for their brand, as for the investors we work as the middle man helping them to choose, negotiate and buy the local or international concept in their respective budget. In short Francorp is providing all the services required by a Franchisor or Franchisee in their business expansion.

Evolve: Do you deal only in food related franchise development or also address other sectors?

 Anila Haq: Over the last few years we have work in different areas. 

• Service: 

Hair Club, Waste buster, NGS School, Leadership schools and colleges, Shapes Gym, Chen One, Allied Pharmacy etc.) 

• Food: 

The Halal guys, Steak Escape, Southern Fried Chicken, Manolo Gelato, United King, Bumzees, Rayyan’s, Dixy Chicken, Hot & Spicy, Nisa Sultan, etc. 

• Retail: 

Brands Just prêt, Sheep, Stylo, Imtiaz stores, FAD, Colors, Khas stores etc. 

These are the few we have worked in local market. 

In international clients we have: Mc Donald’s, Jimmy John’s, Budget, AMPM stores, Johnny Rockets, Huffman, Hall Mark Cards, Holiday Inn’s, Church Chicken, etc. 

Evolve: How do you connect the buyer and seller? What is your marketing strategy? 

Anila Haq: Francorp is very well known for its excellent service in Referral work; our clients include local and International brands. We use a mix of everything required in a successful marketing campaign. As we are well known for our services a lot of investors approach us directly too, usually looking for guidance in a sound investment. 

Evolve: Are you planning to conduct regular conferences or seminars in Pakistan to enhance awareness about franchise owning business?

Anila Haq: Since the franchising concept is fairly new in Pakistan, Francorp has been doing a lot of seminars in all the major cities of Pakistan, creating awareness and teaching our fellow countryman the true benefits of franchising. Francorp also arranges the Discovery days and coffee mornings for those who want to meet the team in a smaller setup, at our offices in Karachi and Lahore. We have been to Islamabad, Faisalabad, Lahore, and Karachi. In future Francorp will continue its efforts too, creating a friendly platform for our new franchisors and franchisees.

Evolve: Do you foresee that in future Pakistani brands can also be offered globally? 

Anila Haq: There is a huge demand of Pakistani brands in the international markets, our brand owners just have to be brave enough to learn and jump when and if the opportunity arrives.

Evolve: It is really very difficult to meet and then maintain the standards and then there are certain financial and legal matters, how do you support the buyer and seller in these areas? 

Anila Haq: I feel that a new Franchisee is like a child out in the world to discover the possibilities, he/she is excited and scared at the same time, if the franchisor can develop a strong relationship and be there to help guide and support them when needed plus give them a positive feedback, there is no reason that an investor or franchisee can’t succeed, as per the legal and financial certainty is involve, that’s where the seller/Franchisor needs to have a professional help with the right partner/consultants to help them develop the relationship, calculate the justified financial to prepare them beforehand. 

Evolve: What is your analysis about the success ratio of franchises offered by you in Pakistan? Are your client’s happy and making money? 

Anila Haq: Like anywhere in the world a franchise success depends on different factors, from selecting the right franchisee by franchisor to following the SOP’s by the franchisee, also success depends on Location, Timings, Customer service, Training of the staff, Market demands, Concepts adaptability in that market, competition in the desired markets etc. Francorp has a great track record of satisfied customers not only in Pakistan but all around the world. 

Evolve: Are there any other companies in Pakistan offering franchises or you are the only one? If there are some companies, then what is the difference between you and others? 

Anila Haq: Francorp has some competition in the local market, but they are no match to our professionalism. Francorp has 45 offices in different countries around the world with more than 4000 clients. We have worked with all kinds of business from maternity homes to the funeral homes. Francorp is not working with the food concepts only; this gives us an edge over our competitors. Being in different countries working with all kind of franchisors and franchisee we have not only learned the human behaviors and reaction but also the market growth and adaptability for any specific brand. This benefits our clients in developing their brands strategy, Francorp has a global presence and experience, which cannot be achieved by any local develop consulting company. As far the documentation for a newly formed franchised network is concerned we are the only one doing it with international standards. (“Means” you can use our work anywhere in the world) 

Evolve: What type of companies and businesses impress you and why? 

Anila Haq: Every business is different from one and other, even two BBQ restaurants having same menu are different because of their goals and vision for their brand. That’s what keeps the Francorp’s business interesting. Every time we have a client we customize their work as per their requirements. I travel a lot and a business, which has unique concepts and new approach and can easily blend in our culture, always attracts me. In Pakistan there are many new concepts emerge every day, the problem is they usually don’t have enough guidance and support to achieve their goals. I personally love to work with the brands that are new in the market yet have the resources and potential to be great. 

Evolve: In your view, what is the recipe to achieve long-term success? 

Anila Haq: The brand owner should have the vision to go above and beyond, hard work, patience, and commitment. Success can’t be achieved overnight. 

Evolve: Where do you see yourself and your organization in next 5-10 years? 

Anila Haq: Expanding Francorp’s offices in all the major cities of Pakistan 

Evolve: Any message for the readers of EVOLVE magazine? 

Anila Haq: “So many of our dreams at first seem Impossible, then they seem Improbable and then when we summon the Will, they soon become Inevitable”