10 Reasons Franchise Owners Chose Their Brands

In the competitive world of franchising, there are seemingly endless opportunities for  business ownership. Between deciding what industry to pursue and choosing where to open your business, potential franchisees face many challenging decisions. 

Perhaps one of the toughest choices comes when picking between two competing brands in the same industry. Maybe the decision is between an established franchise with high brand recognition and an emerging franchise with strong growth opportunity. Or it could be between a brand that requires a significant real estate footprint verse a brand with no brick-and-mortar locations.

1851 Franchise chatted with franchisees from a variety of industries to learn how they selected the best brand for their personal and professional goals. 

A strong corporate team

Franchise success starts with franchisors who grow and develop the brand with franchisees who buy into the established model. Without strong leadership, a brand will falter. In many cases, the first meeting with the corporate team can be the difference between choosing one brand over another. 

“We came across a few childcare franchises but the one that grabbed our attention was Big Blue Swim School* as it was the perfect mix of sports, health and childcare. When we met with the Big Blue Swim School corporate team,  it was different than all the other meetings we had. The management team is superior which makes us feel very confident as first-time business owners that they will be there to guide us in the right direction and build a thriving franchise brand.” — Abhay Shinde, Multi-Unit Franchisee, Big Blue Swim School

“The corporate team was so good to us. It didn’t feel like a first meeting to us. It felt like family. It felt like home. Needless to say we were beside ourselves when Cheba Hut*’s Chief Development Officer called us and said they wanted to partner with us.” — Darcie Fletcher, Franchise Owner, Cheba Hut

Feels like family

As a business owner in a franchise system, the “all in this together” mentality of being part of the team can make a franchisee connected in all aspects of the business. From the corporate team, to other franchise owners, to employees of the franchise location, a feeling of family can provide a lasting impact that can result in a significant financial investment. 

“The staff at Lightbridge Academy* became our extended family to us and our children. They really cared and nurtured our children, who excelled in their early development and were well prepared for Kindergarten. Last but not least, knowing our children were in a safe and secure place, helped us as parents stay committed and advance in our careers.” — Ramkumar Jagadeesan, Franchise Owner, Lightbridge Academy

Advanced technology

These days, regardless of the industry, technology integration is a key factor for any business. Cutting-edge tech offerings can position a brand as forward-thinking and allows the customer to have powerful several touchpoints with a brand. With prospective business owners looking to buy into a franchise business model, technology is often at the center of their decision. 

“We were very impressed by the technology offered at Lightbridge Academy compared to other franchises. From the Parent-View cameras to view the children any time of the day, to the biometric doors to keep the premises safe and the use of tadpoles to receive constant updates and pictures of the child's day was second to none.” — Ramkumar Jagadeesan, Franchise Owner, Lightbridge Academy

Philanthropy 

For many brands, philanthropy can offer a key point of differentiation from other franchises. Having a tie to a specific foundation or letting individual franchise owners choose organizations they want to give back to allows brands to play a more personal role in their community. 

Growth opportunity 

Franchises provide a great growth opportunity for business owners looking to become multi-unit owners. The ability to own several franchise locations quickly is one of the biggest benefits of buying into an established or emerging franchise. 

“I saw Mighty Quinn’s BBQ as an opportunity to join a growing brand at an early stage. I worked in tech and startups for a long time so I always liked building companies and helping them grow. I saw being Mighty Quinn’s’ first franchisee as an opportunity to become a business owner and help grow a brand at the same time.” — Jason Wotman, Multi-Unit Franchise Owner, Mighty Quinn’s BBQ

“Bringing a new concept to Arkansas was actually why we chose Cheba Hut. Arkansas needed something new that wasn’t the status quo as we wanted to shake the market up!” — Darcie Fletcher, Franchise Owner, Cheba Hut

Customer experience

Perhaps one of the strongest validators for a brand are the customers who turn into franchisees. A brand that is in a constant state of preparedness and offers consistently high-quality customer service can find that one inch of difference over a competing brand. First impressions are still king, and the opportunity to make a lasting impact should never go underestimated. 

“Erica and I have been friends since high school. After college we both ended up in Charlotte and started taking classes at Burn Boot Camp. Both of us fell in love with the concept after taking a couple classes. Before moving to the west coast, we signed a franchise agreement with Burn Boot Camp.” — Allison Bradley, Franchise Owner, Burn Boot Camp

“I have been a fan and customer of Mighty Quinn’s BBQ since they opened their first restaurant in the East Village. I actually went there the week they opened and was amazed at how good the food was and how much it reminded me of the quality when I lived down south.” — Jason Wotman, Multi-Unit Franchise Owner, Mighty Quinn’s BBQ

Financials 

As potential franchisees are exploring different franchise opportunities, one common theme on their mind is the investment. As a franchisor, it is crucial to provide this information upfront along with a breakdown of expected costs. Being forthright allows for full transparency and can lead to a more detailed and productive conversation about the franchise opportunity. 

Superior product

When prospective franchisees are looking to buy into a specific franchise, many of them want to believe the product they are offering stands out from their competition. The point of differentiation could be anything from internal technology, taste or even unit size. Factors like these are how many franchisees weigh the pros and cons when considering different franchise opportunities. 

“The food was absolutely incredible. I had a Sticky Icky and Hunter had a White Widow. Honest, it was love at first bite.” — Darcie Fletcher, Franchise Owner, Cheba Hut

“I knew I had to love and believe in the food if I was actually going to quit my corporate career to get into the restaurant business. High-quality barbecue with a well-executed fast casual twist seemed to be screaming out to me.” — Jason Wotman, Multi-Unit Franchise Owner, Mighty Quinn’s BBQ

Existing franchisees as validators

One of the most important assets any franchise system has is franchisees who are willing to validate the franchise opportunity to new franchisee prospects. Having franchisees that are able to help grow your brand from the inside out and generate leads is a major advantage. 

“I’m great friends with two GYMGUYZ franchise owners from college who both own territory in Connecticut. They knew I was looking to get into the fitness space and told me to look into the franchise opportunity with GYMGUYZ. Everything fell into place perfectly.” — TJ Sundberg, Franchise Owner, GYMGUYZ

Core Values

The core values of any business should be lived by the leadership team and flow all the way down to entry-level positions. When potential franchisees are able to see how these values come to life, it can encourage them to become part of something bigger than themselves and choose a brand that stands true to their foundation.

“Through our experience with Lightbridge Academy, we felt the company was truly built on its core values with children at the center of the business. We want to give families the same experience we received at Lightbridge Academy.” — Ramkumar Jagadeesan, Franchise Owner, Lightbridge Academy