How a Balance of High and Realistic Standards Helps Erika Lupo Create a Leading Theater Franchise

Education brands have a long history of experiencing success in the franchising industry. So when Erika Lupo decided to take her theater concept—Acting-A-Part—from an independent business to an emerging franchise opportunity, she knew it had potential.

However, Lupo’s brand isn’t your average supplemental education resource. Acting-A-Part is designed to fill the void that’s often left in the fine arts field. She initially launched her own theater program after the New Jersey public school that she was teaching at was missing an after-school program of its own. And after replicating her curriculum at another public school, she realized how simple it was to re-create the process. That combination of consumer demand and a simple business model then led Lupo to franchise.

“I think that people are curious for Acting-A-Part in communities all over the country. Fine arts programs are often overlooked, but they serve such a critical role in a child’s education. That’s where we come in—we offer children the opportunity to explore their creative sides through theater, film, television and beyond,” said Lupo. “After seeing the success of my two corporate locations, I knew that I needed to franchise the business. I had taken Acting-A-Part as far as I could on my own—it was time to build a network of other owners.”

Creating that network of franchisees hasn’t always been an easy process. Because Acting-A-Part is based on a philosophy that combines multiple aspects of theater and fine arts education, Lupo needs to be sure that her franchisees—and their instructors—knew how to tap into every child’s unique sense of creativity and talent.

“People always say that there’s only one you. But in franchising, the goal is to create a clear path to success for multiple business owners. So I had to learn how to replicate not only my curriculum, but the way that I teach my students and train my teachers,” said Lupo. “In order for Acting-A-Part to continue to be successful in communities across the country, I have to be picky while at the same time ensuring that my franchisees are realistically capable of building this business both financially and emotionally. It’s not easy being a business owner, but the experience is incredibly rewarding.”

By adhering to her high standards for prospective franchise owners and working with SMB Franchise Advisors* to launch her concept, Lupo now has franchise owners outside of New Jersey helping to develop the Acting-A-Part brand. Its first franchise location is set to open this spring in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania. And Lupo is currently building another corporate location in California that will eventually be taken over by franchisees.

“Three years ago, Erika had no idea how she was going to turn Acting-A-Part into a franchise concept. But through working with SMB Franchise Advisors, she now has additional company locations and is working with a network of strong and passionate franchise owners to help grow the brand,” said Dawn Abbamondi, director of marketing and brand development for SMB Franchise Advisors. “Acting-A-Part’s concept is something that every community can benefit from, and we’re so proud to see her growing in key markets across New Jersey and Pennsylvania.”

Going forward, Lupo’s goal is to have anywhere from five to 15 Acting-A-Part locations opening their doors for business every year. But in order to make that goal a reality, she knows that she’s going to need to overcome an entirely new set of obstacles.

“We’ve successfully made the transition from independent business to emerging franchise concept. But now we need to take that momentum and build on it so that we continue to grow at a rapid rate,” Lupo said. “My plan is to continue refining and honing my franchise system so that local owners can hit the ground running as soon as they sign on board. By doing my due diligence and continuing to partner with only top quality candidates, I’m confident that 2017 will be a really amazing year for Acting-A-Part.”