There's no one set path to business success, but franchise owners tend to share some common traits.

Do you see these characteristics in yourself? If so, maybe becoming a franchise owner is the right choice for you.

Eager to learn

Coming on board as a franchisee means familiarising yourself not only with small business basics, but also the larger company you're now a part of.

At ShedBoss, we're committed to quality craftsmanship that shines through in our service every step of the way. It's important for our franchise owners to learn what separates our company culture from the competition, as well as understand how the ShedBoss difference can help them drive business success.

Franchise owners certainly have a leg up over other small-business owners when it comes to support, but it still requires a thirst to learn the ins and outs of a particular company.

Willing to compromise

Franchisees are the masters of their own domain, but at the end of the day, they are also part of a whole. This means it's sometimes necessary to put your own wishes aside to ensure you're in keeping with the overall ShedBoss culture.

There's a difference between being an entrepreneur and becoming a small-business owner, and it's important for franchisees to be willing to work together instead of focused solely on their own desires.

Dedicated to success

Working as a franchise owner means being able to count on the support and experience of the company, but it still requires hard work on your part.

Being dedicated to success means putting in the hours and planning ahead to ensure your ShedBoss franchise is operating at the highest level it can.

As any small-business owner can tell you, if you're not willing to put in the work, owning your own franchise might not be right for you.

Becoming a franchisee can be both rewarding and lucrative. However, it might not be for everybody.

Before you decide to enter the business world as a franchise representative, there are some keys questions you need to get answered.

What is the franchise model?

No two companies are alike, and even though owning a franchise gives you autonomy, at the end of the day, you're still a part of a bigger whole.

With this in mind, it's important to understand how the franchise you're considering is modelled. This means finding out what specific rules are in place to ensure consistency between services, products and brand. This may also include things like opportunity for expansion.

Every company will have its own special franchise model in place, so make sure yours suits you before signing on the dotted line.

What are the costs of the franchise?

Becoming a franchise owner is one of the simplest ways to run your own business and be your own boss. However, even though it can be much more affordable than starting a business from scratch, it will still cost money.

Make sure you understand all the costs associated with running your franchise, from rent to account fees and everything in between. Additionally, keep in mind the cost of hiring employees, such as liability and workers' compensation insurance.

What kind of support will your franchise receive?

Different companies may be more hands on than others, so it's important to know what kind of support you can count on from the home office for your store.

For instance, will the company offer training and professional development courses to help you stay up to date on the latest products and business techniques? Chances are you'll want to be a franchisee who can depend on ongoing support while also maintaining your freedom.

Investing in custom designed sheds comes with many benefits, but the most important generally have to do with the suitability and flexibility of custom designs. After all, there's no point in building custom designed sheds if they don't deliver what you're looking for.

The right space for the right job

How you plan on using your custom designed shed should determine its size and shape.

For instance, commercial sheds used to store equipment will likely have different requirements than sheds used as workspaces.

Other building considerations, such as doors, windows and ventilation, will also need to be taken into account. With custom design, you can ensure you have the right space for the right job. This is part of the ShedBoss difference.

Built for your site

In addition to how the shed will be used, it's vital to ensure your custom designed sheds are suited to your building site.

Different sites will come with unique building requirements, influenced by everything from local regulations to the slope of the land.

The talented designers at ShedBoss will work with you every step of the way to make sure your commercial sheds not only fit how you plan to use them, but where they will be constructed.

Great-looking appearance

While practicality is likely at the forefront of your mind, there's nothing stopping you from building sheds that are attractive as well as functional.

Here at ShedBoss, we're dedicated to quality craftsmanship. This means constructing custom designed sheds that will not only stand the test of time, but also add value through appearance.

Part of this is our commitment to using only premium-quality materials. Another factor is our devotion to working with clients every step of the way, from design to construction. This ensures you're always up to date on how the finished product will turn out.

Business owners around Australia should take note of data coming out of the City of Melbourne.

The Victorian capital reported on March 28 that extreme heat experienced over a three-day period in mid-January cost businesses $37 million in lost revenue. This was partly blamed on discomfort, lack of motivation and reduced morale due to heat.

Meanwhile, 62 per cent of the 600 local businesses surveyed said they had to deal with extra operational costs, such as increased air-conditioning.

Finally, more than half of businesses (52 per cent) said they were very or fairly concerned about how future heat waves may impact their business.

For its part, the city said it was undertaking plans to reduce the problems associated with heat waves.

"We're doubling tree canopy cover for our urban forest, upgrading drainage infrastructure, funding more energy efficient buildings, implementing planning processes to minimise climate risk and installing various water-sensitive urban design initiatives," City of Melbourne Environment Portfolio Chair and Councillor Arron Wood said.

"Heatwaves don't only impact our city economically, heat related illness also kills more Australian's each year than any other natural disaster so City of Melbourne has identified this as a priority issue we must prepare better for.

While growing trees for extra shade cover is all well and good, many businesses across Australia can't simply plant a shade tree in front of their shop and hope for the best.

In these cases, investing in outdoor awnings can be a great way to reduce heat and save on energy costs.

Window awnings can reduce solar heat, lessening the discomfort of both employees and customers inside your building. They can also help you save on power bills by lessening the need for air conditioning.

Come see examples and talk to the awning experts at your nearest ShedBoss outlet.

As all too many property owners in Australia know, termites can be more than just a pest – they can also ruin buildings.

According to the Australian Termite Research Centre, there are more than 350 species of termites in the country.

While most prefer to eat leaves and dead grass, 10 per cent are drawn to the wood often used in constructing houses and custom deigned sheds.

Termites hollow out timber while leaving a thin layer of the wood intact on the surface. This protects them from being seen and dealing with predatory creatures.

However, the damage they do inside the wood can be costly and unsightly. This may include earthen masses on doors, walls and stairs, as well as blistered or building paint on windows and doors.

More important than the ruined appearance of wood is the danger termites can pose. First, damage to flooring and roof timbers can present a very real physical hazard for individuals working in commercial sheds.

Secondly, termite infestations can lead to electrical failures thanks tot he wiring located in subfloor areas and roof cavities. In turn, this could lead to fire.

While there are plenty of strategies you can use to try to identify, prevent and eliminate termite infestations, the simplest action is constructing your custom designed sheds out of materials that are not vulnerable to termites.

Building with ShedBoss steel

Here at ShedBoss, we're committed to quality craftsmanship, and that includes building with premium materials. Our steel buildings are designed to not only comply with the building codes of Australia, but ensure your commercial sheds stand the test of time.

Steel construction eliminates the danger of termites while also providing you with a building that can withstand extreme weather conditions.

This is just one example of how ShedBoss is dedicated to building strong and building right.

While the type of work being done in your custom designed shed will certainly impact lighting design, there are some general things to keep in mind to ensure your space meets your needs.

Be bright

When it comes to lighting custom designed workshops, too much is typically preferable to too little.

Proper lighting is an integral safety factor, and having a brilliantly lit workshop will reduce the likelihood of accidents occurring in dark corners or shadowy areas.

Also keep in mind that light is essential to whatever work you're performing. If you can't see what you're doing, there's no doubt your work is going to suffer.

Plan ahead

Your lighting needs today may be different down the line. Therefore, when designing the lighting system for custom designed workshops, try to keep the future in mind.

The work you use your shop for may change or expand, after all. Plus, it's a fact of life that light becomes more integral as we age.

Your eyesight will most likely deteriorate over time, requiring more light to perceive the same level of brightness.

This could make investing in dimmable lights a good option. How much light you use can be changed from job to job or increased over the years.

Explore your options

Workshop lighting doesn't just have to be a light bulb hanging from the centre of the ceiling.

There are many unique options available, some more suitable for your needs than others.

For instance, fluorescent overhead fixtures are a classic and relatively inexpensive choice.

Meanwhile, under-cabinet lighting could be used to illuminate specific work areas. This type of lighting can be invaluable for work that requires specific attention to detail in smaller areas.

You might even want to consider portable floodlights that can be used for specific jobs, allowing you to adjust height and direction on the fly.