How to Choose the Right Franchisee for Your Club’s Franchise

You’ve got a great business: your classes are going well, you’ve got a great culture, and you’re ready to grow. While growth for some clubs comes from expanding into new locations, for others, growth lies in franchising. If you’ve read [.pink__text]our blog on the advantages and disadvantages of franchising your kids’ activity club [.pink__text], you’ll be ready for the next step: finding the right people for your franchise. Having the right franchisees alongside you as you grow is crucial to your success. Why? Because you want people who are committed to supporting the success of you, your business and their franchise. So, where do you begin your search?

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What Does a Suitable Franchisee Look Like?

Why finding the right franchisees is crucial to success?

While finding franchisees may be easy, finding the right franchisees isn’t. You want to make well-informed decisions about who you’ll award your franchises to because people are the face of your brand. Making the wrong decision with a franchisee can be costly, not only from a financial perspective but also for your brand.

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Top Tip: When it comes to franchising, growing at your own pace is crucial. And when it comes to finding the right franchises, a slow and steady approach will help you succeed.

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[.blue__text]“I’m approaching recruitment slowly and steadily. With my latest franchise hire, I met a few people. But the person that got it had that thing about them that you’re looking for - a bit of spark. I go for character because, at the end of the day, we’re coaching kids.” Matthew Crawley, Prestige Sports[.blue__text]

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While a checklist on the “perfect traits of franchisees” doesn’t exist, there are things that can make your search easier.  

- [.green__text]Do they have a good attitude?[.green__text]

- [.green__text]Do they have the right character for your brand?[.green__text]

- [.green__text]Does their work ethic match yours?[.green__text]

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You want franchisees who will run a franchise based on your model, not reinvent it. Although they might bring their own teaching techniques and character to their franchise, you don’t want them to change who you are and what you offer.

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[.orange__text]“I don’t like to dictate. It’s about trying to find that balance of setting my expectations and standards without prescribing how my franchisees deliver on a week to week basis.” - Martyn Gill, Rugrats Rugby[.orange__text]

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Finding the Perfect Match for Your Club

What are your criteria for choosing a franchisee?

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It’s not as simple as writing a job description, but starting the search for the perfect franchisees starts the same as any [.pink__text]sport club recruitment process.[.pink__text]

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Start by asking yourself questions like:

- [.blue__text]What qualities have served you in your business?[.blue__text]

- [.blue__text]What traits or characteristics is your brand known for?[.blue__text]

- [.blue__text]What practical skills are crucial?[.blue__text]

- [.blue__text]What experience are you looking for?[.blue__text]

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But it’s not just about the type of person you want; you need to be clear about who you are. Knowing the type of franchisor you want to be and your expectations are key ingredients to success. Make these things clear to your franchisees from the beginning so that they know what to expect from you and what you expect of them. This could include anything from attitude and performance to key rules they must follow. Remember to clarify how involved you’re willing to be as the franchisor: when can your franchisees expect to hear from you? Can they contact you weekdays from 9-5 or will you set up a franchise-wide call every week where your franchisees can ask questions and discuss advice?  

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Remember, if your potential franchisees don’t meet your expectations or possess the right qualities, don’t be afraid to say no. If somebody isn’t the right person, don’t settle for second best. You want the best people representing your brand.

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[.green__text]“You can’t just look at franchising solely from a money or growth perspective. Getting the right people is what matters because they are the ones representing you... never be afraid to say no if they’re the wrong person!” - Jenni Dunman, Daisy First Aid[.green__text]

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Setting Franchisees Up for Success

How you can set solid foundations for your franchisees

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Once you know you’ve found a franchisee, it’s important to give them the best chance of success. That’s why finding the right person and setting out your expectations is so important, but it also comes down to what expertise and support you can offer. Here's what it’ll look like if you’re splitting set-up success into two areas: Theoretical and practical.

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[.orange__text]Theoretical[.orange__text]

- [.orange__text]Discuss and go over your ops manual at length (even before recruitment). This is a living document that should be referred to because it sets standards and helps maintain quality across franchises.[.orange__text]

- [.orange__text]Set out your expectations of who you are for franchisees. Do you have a close working relationship? Are you a leader? What do you expect from them?[.orange__text]

- [.orange__text]What do you want franchisees to bring to the business? You may have expectations as a team, but you may want them to bring their own character.[.orange__text]

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[.pink__text]Practical[.pink__text]

- [.pink__text]When it comes to the day-to-day of how franchisees will run their franchise, give them the best chance of success. You may want to try a buddy system to let them shadow other franchisees to experience and immerse themselves in classes.[.pink__text]

- [.pink__text]Allow them to take different classes while working alongside other franchisees for constructive feedback.[.pink__text]

- [.pink__text]Encourage franchisees to maximise the potential of what works for the kids they’re teaching.[.pink__text]

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