1851

Franchising is becoming more and more popular among entrepreneurs looking to take control of their financial futures; as a flexible and remote work model is also in high demand, mobile franchise concepts are drawing owners in. However, mobile concepts aren’t necessarily the end all be all within the franchising space. It’s important to weigh the costs and benefits of both mobile and brick-and-mortar models before making a final decision.“I think you really need to look at what&nbsp;you want to get out of the business and what your client base will require,” explained&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/uniban-canada/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=pros-and-cons-of-a-mobile-service-franchise-2719444" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Cinzia Marino</a>, owner of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.uniglassplus.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=pros-and-cons-of-a-mobile-service-franchise-2719444" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">UniglassPlus</a> in London, Ontario. “That’s going to feed your decision.”In many cases, a mobile model allows a business to better access its clients in the case that bulk services are needed or a client won’t be able to transport themselves to a retail location. For businesses that take a hybrid approach, this access is expanded even further, allowing for on-the-go service or the option for employees to bring service back to a retail location if necessary.More timely issues surrounding the decision between mobile and stationary models include inflation and staffing challenges. While mobile models are sometimes touted as a more affordable option, that may not be the case anymore.“I think they’re becoming much more on par with each other,” Marino said. “Especially now, outside of fuel costs, vehicle costs as a whole are a concern. You could get a pickup truth for less than $20,000 at one time, whereas now, a properly outfitted pickup truck or van could be $50,000–$70,000. The costs of mobile and brick-and-mortar models are very quickly becoming comparable.”The staffing process can also be challenging for mobile concept owners who do not plan to conduct all of the services.“The training and onboarding process becomes much more important,” she said. “You really have to be careful to make sure that employees are introduced properly to your clients as well as knowing all of the operations and rules that you expect them to be following.”When sent out on a mobile call, employees must know how to wear their uniforms, how to communicate with clients and how to represent the brand. On the most basic level, when hiring an employee for a mobile position, you must be certain that they can be trusted to return the company vehicle to its designated location once a project is over.Marino explained that it can also be more difficult to hire employees for mobile concepts because each employee must be physically capable of working on their own and presenting all the different “faces” of the company. In a brick-and-mortar store, there is a customer service representative, a manager, someone to do the work itself and often multiple other team members, and a single mobile employee must embody all of those capabilities to deliver an equivalent experience.“I really think that, ideally, having both models is a great way to do it — a hybrid, much like we are,” she said. “As I said, there are positives and negatives to both; there’s no question. You really have to find what’s right for you and your market.”

Pros and Cons of a Mobile Service Franchise

1851 Franchise

Is a mobile service franchise right for you? Hear the perks and drawbacks of both mobile and brick-and-mortar models from an owner who has experienced both.

pros-and-cons-of-a-mobile-service-franchise

BooXkeeping

From Ice Cream to Income Streams: How Greg Cox Found His Sweet Spot with BooXkeeping

from-ice-cream-to-income-streams-how-greg-cox-found-his-sweet-spot-with-booxkeeping

Children's Lighthouse

Children’s Lighthouse Named Among America’s Best in Customer Service by Newsweek

childrens-lighthouse-named-among-americas-best-in-customer-service-by-newsweek

KLA Schools

How KLA Schools Is Redefining Early Childhood Education Through a Hands-On, Academically-Rich Approach

how-kla-schools-is-redefining-early-childhood-education-through-a-hands-on-academically-rich-approach

Why Tennessee Is a Strategic Growth Market for Children’s Lighthouse

why-tennessee-is-a-strategic-growth-market-for-childrens-lighthouse

Comfort Keepers

Comfort Keepers Eyes Salt Lake City for Expansion: Meeting the Rising Demand for In-Home Senior Care in Utah

comfort-keepers-eyes-salt-lake-city-for-expansion-meeting-the-rising-demand-for-in-home-senior-care-in-utah

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

McDonald’s Launches New Extra Value Meals as Consumer Demand for Value Continues to Climb

mcdonalds-launches-extra-value-meals

Power Eats: Smoothie King Rolls Out Food Nationwide To Fuel Franchise Growth

smoothie-king-food-menu-power-eats

Keurig Dr Pepper Splits in $18 Billion JDE Peet’s Deal, Creating Global Coffee Giant

keurig-dr-pepper-splits-in-18-billion-jde-peets-deal-creating-global-coffee-giant

McDonald’s Rolls Out Major Value Push To Win Back Customers Amid Inflation

mcdonalds-rolls-out-major-value-push-to-win-back-customers-amid-inflation

Photo of Paris Baguette pastries and beverages 

Paris Baguette Celebrates 250th Café Opening in Frederick, Maryland, Accelerating Expansion and Reviving the Neighborhood Bakery Café

paris-baguette-250th-north-america-cafe

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores - Agg - 1851 Franchise

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores

hooters-franchise-model-company-owned-closures

Wendy's CEO Kirk Tanner Steps Down - Breaking News - 1851 Franchise

Wendy’s CEO Kirk Tanner Steps Down Amid Challenges, Leaving Franchisees Facing Uncertainty

wendys-ceo-transition-kirk-tanner-franchisee-uncertainty

Planet Fitness Franchisees Donate $100K to Support Texas Flood Relief - 1851 Franchise

Planet Fitness Franchisees Donate $100K To Support Texas Flood Relief

planet-fitness-texas-flood-relief

graphic image of a franchisee spotligh aman kaur of voodoo brewing

How This Trio of Friends Is Brewing Up Community With Voodoo Brewing Co. in Prosper, Texas

voodoo-brewing-franchisee-aman-kaur-prosper-texas

Franchise Deep Dive graphic with i9 Sports logo

i9 Sports Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

i9-sports-franchise-cost-fees-profit

Hely and Hiral Patel Bring Their Longtime Dream to Life With The Brass Tap

brass-tap-franchise-pasadena-maryland-hely-hiral-patel

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Ricki Oberoi and Layne's Chicken Fingers logo

Multi-Unit Wendy’s Operator Signs 12-Unit Deal With Layne’s Chicken Fingers

ricki-oberoi-laynes-chicken-fingers-growth

How Vishal Juneja Turned a Family Tradition Into a Paris Baguette Franchise

How Vishal Juneja Turned a Family Tradition Into a Paris Baguette Franchise Built on Heart and Community

paris-baguette-franchise-rockaway-new-jersey-vishal-junjea

Pros and Cons of a Mobile Service Franchise

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS