RUDOLF Kotik is one of the country’s most experienced franchise consultants with more than 20 years of experience. He has developed 800 global brands into franchise systems with a total of 30,000 franchisees under these brands.
As the founder and chief executive officer of the RK Franchise Consultancy Inc., Kotik said his knowledge of the industry guarantees businesses that are setting their sights on franchising to succeed.
“There are huge markets out there for franchising and you have to consider also that the world is shrinking. Today, you can easily get franchise outside of the Philippines,” he said.
His company, which was established in the early 1990s in Cebu, has expanded its horizons to global markets in the Middle East, Australia, New Zealand and other countries in Asia, developing franchise businesses.
Kotik got his education at the Hotel Fachschule, a hotel management school in Vienna, Austria.
In 1996, the franchise consultancy firm started to develop homegrown brands like Thirsty?, which is now one of the leading franchise brands offering fresh fruit juice and shakes in Cebu.
“My whole life is practically in franchising,” Kotik said.
The company has brokered almost a thousand franchise deals in the last 10 years in the Philippines.
Thirty-six franchisors have also started to get franchisees from outside the country through a master franchise system developed by Kotik’s company.
“We’re not limited to our own shores. Franchising has no wrong timing. If you feel like you want to get out of your barangays, franchising should be the way, business-wise, he said.
Kotik is also the president of Filipino International Franchise Association.
What was your first job?
I worked for a company called McDonalds in Europe from 1978 to 1984. At that time, they started franchising in Europe and I was one of the first people whom they hired. After that, I joined a hotel chain were I became the franchise director for Europe. After that stint, I joined a franchise consultancy firm and, when I came to the Philippines, I opened my own company, which is RK Franchise Consultancy.
Who inspired you to get into business?
It was simply because I was working in the franchise division that brought me into this industry and since then, I never left.
Why did you pick this type of business or industry?
My previous job boosted my knowledge in franchising so I’m here taking advantage of the limitless opportunities in this industry, while helping entrepreneurs succeed in their chosen franchise ventures.
How many times did you fail before you succeeded?
I haven’t failed big in business because I don’t do something I don’t have the know-how.