Breaking through the entrepreneurial air pocket to sustain and grow a small franchise business

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Small business development and growth is for no one as important as to theentrepreneur at the helm of a small business. Small business is also by no means not a bigpriority when the South African government is concerned. Not only does thegovernment talk about small business developments but has in fact within the recentpast contributed and established many enabling initiatives towards small businessdeveloping.Within the scope of this research report it is empowering to know that the singleentrepreneur is not alone in his or her battle to push their individual businesses tohigher altitudes.This helping hand is even more extended when a small business adapts the form of afranchise. Within such an environment entrepreneurs can expect business support notonly from their local government but also through much more personal and incisiveinteractions from the franchisor. Although this form of conducting a business mightseem like the most logical and safest way to enter into a small business, a few potentialpitfalls are highlighted as well as certain alternatives to the franchise concept.Within the franchise business concept, Postnet is introduced firstly on a national basiswhere after an individual Postnet franchise is exposed to financial growth therapy. Thisis mainly achieved by conducting a thorough industry and SWOT analysis.Finally it is suggested that cost reducing strategies, combined with brand development,avoiding growth hampering factors, marketing initiatives and the continued strivetowards the recognition and early adoption of industry related opportunities can neverbe substituted for any amount of government or franchisor support in order to establishand maintain sustainable growth within a small business.