In 2003, the University of Connecticut and the Level Playing Field Institute made a collaborative effort to perform a national survey to determine what is commonly considered the most important factor to getting ahead in the workplace. Named HOW-FAIR (How Opportunities in Workplace and Fairness Affect Intergroup Relationships), the study discovered that among all possible traits necessary to attain personal success, the average American considers "being a team player" the most important.

To the surprise of some, "being a team player" outranked all other factors, including "leadership skills," "merit and performance," and even "intelligence." What this tells researchers is that although the eat-or-be-eaten mentality of social Darwinism often seems to be the predominant philosophy of corporate America, it may in fact not be as widespread as it has been given credit for. Though they may still not be driven by pure altruism, people have recognized that working for the common good is often a better tactic for overall business success and personal advancement than "looking out for number one."

For the sake of the study, this conclusion was reached in reference to work relationships between individuals within the same organization. But practically, it doesn’t seem unreasonable to extrapolate from this research that two different businesses can also achieve a similarly enhanced level of effectiveness by working together instead of against one another. If that’s the case, then business service franchises have an innate advantage over other kinds of businesses because, by design, they survive by helping others succeed, and that is the only way that they see success for themselves.

If making your profit from helping other businesses achieve their purposes is an appealing business opportunity to you, here are a short handful of work from home businesses that offer just such a prospect.

Vehicle Tracking Solutions
When client car fleets run at optimum capacity, Vehicle Tracking Solutions franchisees have effectively done their jobs as the number one provider of GPS auto tracking solutions. Franchisees provide clients with everything necessary to keep tabs on their vehicles, including onboard tracking units, monitoring equipment, and constant access to web-based tracking and mapping software. The system allows companies to keep track of where their vehicles are, how time-effective their delivery drivers are, and which routes work the most efficiently. Currently, only about 7% of American business vehicles are equipped with tracking equipment, which leaves a huge number of clients yet to be approached with the opportunity that this franchise business offers.

L & W Investigations
To date, 30 offices in 23 states are building a name for themselves as one of the premier providers of insurance fraud investigation and surveillance. Franchisees primarily spend their time finding clients, overseeing a staff of trained investigators, and managing the office-based administrative end of this home based business, while employees hit the streets to investigate the claims of clients. Every step of that process is streamlined by a custom piece of computer software that simplifies everything from the filing of surveillance footage to in-house payroll services. Still a relatively new business, L & W Investigations has already been included in Entrepreneur’s top 100 list for its exceptional service and profitable business model. It’s one of a very small number of franchises in which an entrepreneur works not just to make a paycheck, but to seek justice.

WSI Internet
This franchise is, hands down, the top name in the business of internet marketing consultation. According to Entrepreneur Magazine, WSI Internet is the #1 computer and internet franchise, and has been for the last 7 years. Known as the "white collar franchise," this business works with small and mid-sized companies to maximize the effectiveness of their online marketing. There are WSI franchises of all shapes and sizes, ranging from the one-man home business to the full-scale office that takes 30 employees to successfully run, and as a franchisee, there is no need to have previous marketing experience; all that you need is a passion for helping clients and the drive to succeed.

Virtuoso Music
Offering business opportunities to business clients is the name of the game with this low-overhead, work at home franchise. With a computer-based administration suite designed to take the headache out of work, franchisees serve as the liaisons between those looking for musical instruction and the independent instructors who can provide it. They work with instructors in all musical disciplines, serve students of all ages, and connect the two in a variety of settings including classrooms, homes, private retail locations, and public places like community centers. Making the job even more interesting, franchisees also coordinate events like recitals, festivals, and performances. In his own territory, each franchisee becomes a sort of musical hub, serving clients, teachers, and the community at large.

Truthfully, teamwork isn’t the only way to turn a profit. But if mere money isn’t the only scale on which you determine the success of a franchise business, then working for the benefit of others may be more necessary. Of course, almost any business must address someone else’s needs in one form or another, but there is a special opportunity as a business service franchisee to work with another business toward mutual profit, and there is undoubtedly something rewarding about that.


December 18, 2008