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There is a long list of benefits that come with becoming a franchisee, not the least of which is established brand recognition. Franchises also get a predetermined and proven business model, which means less risk than starting a business from scratch. Foundationally, franchisees are supported by the franchisor to tackle and overcome key business challenges.
Still, making a franchise profitable requires a significant amount of work, as Pamela Butera can attest. Butera is a distinguished realtor with more than three decades of experience serving the Greater Philadelphia area and Jersey Shore, where she and her dedicated team consistently achieve annual sales of $30 million. Butera is also the owner of Greater Philly Cyberbacker, a franchise that provides world-class virtual administrative support services.
“Real estate has been my passion for my entire life,” Butera shares. “In 2020, however, I made a big change when I transitioned the administrative side of my real estate business to an all-virtual model, utilizing the expert services of great individuals I connected with through Cyberbacker. I was so impressed with how they empowered my business, that I launched my own Cyberbacker franchise to help other business owners. Today, my other day job is running operations for the Greater Philly Cyberbacker franchise.”
Cyberbacker was launched in 2018 to empower growth-minded emerging business leaders with world-class economic leverage. It connects those looking for administrative help with vetted and trained Cyberbackers from all around the world. Cyberbackers handle paperwork, accounting, marketing, IT, and other tasks essential to business success, all at a fraction of the costs incurred when working with local talent.
Butera’s career has been marked by a steadfast commitment to excellence and a passion for innovation. By stepping into the role of a Cyberbacker franchise owner, she now offers other realtors a solution for elevating their efficiency. Her work with Cyberbacker is redefining the standard of support services in the real estate profession while making significant contributions to her community’s growth and vitality.
In addition, Butera’s work has also provided her with an education on what it takes to run a franchise successfully. The following are some of the insights she has gained during her franchising journey.
A solid reputation helps a franchise succeed
The brand recognition that franchises provide helps bring customers in, but it won’t keep them if the service is subpar. Franchisees must build and maintain a solid reputation by delivering excellence.
“In my case, having a great reputation in the real estate industry helps tremendously,” Butera shares. “I not only have Cyberbacker’s reputation working for me but my own as well. When you have a good reputation among the people you are hoping to serve, you gain instant credibility.”
Butera has built on her reputation by taking a hands-on approach to her management of Greater Philly Cyberbacker. She is very relational with her clients, letting them know from the start that she is local and very involved.
“I call and personally thank each new client that signs up with us,” Butera shares. “During that call, I let them know I am very accessible and always willing to help if they have a need. I make myself available as a resource for them to brainstorm ideas so they can grow their business.”
Providing ongoing support helps a franchise to succeed
Butera’s goal goes beyond simply connecting clients with a quality cyberbacker. She strives to make sure the businesses she serves maximize the impact of their cyberbackers, leveraging the years of experience she has had working with a virtual assistant in the real estate industry to guide them.
“I physically visit offices that utilize our cyberbackers to meet with clients, collaborate, and share ideas that will help them utilize their cyberbacker and grow their business,” Butera explains. “Our client’s success directly reflects on our franchise, so it’s a win all around when they excel.”
Along with her office visits, Butera also regularly schedules mastermind meetings that bring her and her clients together to share ideas on how to utilize their virtual assistants to their maximum potential. She also provides a weekly video via email that offers fresh teaching and tips on business growth.
“In addition to resourcing clients, we also provide training for the cyberbackers they have hired,” Butera says. “My personal virtual assistant meets with our client’s VAs via Zoom to do extra training designed to help them become an even more valuable resource.”
Ultimately, the success of any franchise is found in its ability to deliver value to its clients and customers. Butera’s experience with Cyberbacker before becoming a franchisee convinced her that her new business endeavor would excel in that area.
“The efficiency of Cyberbacker’s virtual assistants is unmatched,” Butera attests, “and, of course, the cost is as well. Those two features combined are already revolutionizing the industry. Agents are realizing they can get admin help for a fraction of the cost, which enables them to grow sooner and faster. Our Cyberbackers deliver consistently and go above and beyond to meet clients’ expectations, which empowers the franchise to succeed.”
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