1851

While we are all in franchising now, go backwards to when you weren’t. Go back in time to a place where you had not taken the career leap into the industry we all love so much, to a place where you knew very little about&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/chapter-1-introduction-to-franchising-what-every-entrepreneur-should-know-2722554">what franchising is</a>. When back at your pre-franchising place, answer this question:&nbsp;<h2>What is franchising?</h2>What would you have said? For me, I knew franchising was&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/franchise-deep-dive-mcdonalds-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-2720737">McDonald’s</a>, but I wasn’t exactly sure what that meant. Some things I may have not completely understood:<ol><li>That as a franchisee, my dollar is worth 90 cents. This is a big deal, as this dips into profitability. Doesn’t necessarily hurt it, just means I have to hustle to make up for that 10% that I pay in&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/what-fees-can-you-expect-when-purchasing-a-franchise-2720338">fees or royalties</a>.</li><li>Restrictions. That I have to work within the parameters.</li><li>Franchisee support. I have told this story many times. I was in the final stages of being an investor in a franchisee group when Hurricane Katrina hit. The hurricane destroyed a multi-unit franchisee’s operations in New Orleans. I asked the zor what they would do to help. They said: “The beauty of being a franchisor is that we don’t have any liability.” Wrong answer. I didn’t buy. What I wanted to hear was very similar to what happened during COVID: “I have your back.”</li></ol>The list goes on. But what is valuable about thinking back to when you knew very little about franchising is that you can put yourself in the shoes of many NEXT franchise owners who don’t have all of the tools.&nbsp;Thus, the question I wanted to dive into with our&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/rightathome/franchisee">profiled franchisees</a> was:&nbsp;<h2>What is one thing you wish you knew about franchising going into it?</h2><ol><li>There are a lot of ins and outs that we had to learn in the process of owning one. In the first couple of years, there were a lot of rough patches that we had to fix, but once you get it all smooth with corporate, everything is good. There are a lot of things that you won’t understand until you actually own a location and go through it.</li><li>A lot of&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/chapter-11-training-and-supporting-your-franchisees-2722733">training</a> is needed.</li><li>That we wouldn't be doing it alone. The team is super supportive in each and every aspect of the process. Finding good real estate, a good marketing team, etc. Helping us out in setting up all the vendor accounts. They also provide the materials, learning about the franchise.&nbsp;</li><li>I just wished that&nbsp;we had spoken to the corporate team sooner, so we could have made the decision earlier.</li><li>It is a whole lot of work to run a business and&nbsp;you may be surprised by what is required in the day-to-day operations of the business. We all see it from in front of the counter, but you need to know what goes on in the back of the house. You need to have a good handle on both the business side and the operations side.&nbsp;</li><li>I wish I had known to&nbsp;follow the systems rather than trying to think of ways to do things differently.</li></ol><ol start="6"><li>It’s a lot of hard work in the beginning. I have worked 12-plus-hour days. There’s a lot you need to learn, and you have to give 100%.</li></ol>Those are simply a sample of the most recent ones.&nbsp;The reality is every single franchisee can answer what they wish they had known. So, now the question for you.&nbsp;Raise your hand if you have this:<ol><li>A general “What is franchising?” section on your website.</li><li>A general “What is franchising?” white paper.</li></ol><ol start="2"><li>A general “What is franchising?” email campaign for nurturing candidates.</li></ol>The point is, just like me and you, candidates need to understand how franchising works.Give them these tools. It will help them in the process. AND, evolve your content distribution and sales model to include this. You may even consider adding a webinar to the process (film one and use it on your website).Learn more by watching the full webinar, above.&nbsp;

Coffee & Analytics: Helping Candidates Understand How Franchising Works

1851 Franchise

Franchisors should put themselves in the shoes of first-time franchise owners in order to provide them with all the tools and resources they need to make an informed decision about the brand. 

coffee-analytics-helping-candidates-understand-how-franchising-works

Senior Care Authority

How This Senior Care Authority Franchisee Turned Love for His Grandparents Into a Lifelong Calling

how-this-senior-care-authority-franchisee-turned-love-for-his-grandparents-into-a-lifelong-calling

HomeTeam Inspection Service

Hometown News: Like Father, Like Son — Family-Run Inspection Business Blends Generations of Expertise and a Keen Eye for Detail

father-son-home-inspection-franchise-florida

KLA Schools

KLA Schools of Beachwalk Hosts Admissions Kick-Off Celebration

kla-schools-of-beachwalk-hosts-admissions-kick-off-celebration

Good Day Columbus: Home Insurance Expert Reveals Why Central Ohio Premiums Are Rising and How to Combat Costs

rising-home-insurance-costs-ohio

CapitalSpring

Primetime Fitness Expands Crunch Portfolio With CapitalSpring’s Backing

primetime-fitness-expands-crunch-portfolio-with-capitalsprings-backing

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Potbelly to be Acquired by RaceTrac in $566 Million Deal 

racetrac-acquires-potbelly-in-566-million-deal

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities - 1851 Franchise Agg

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities 

health-care-hiring-slowdown-in-home-care-franchise-opportunities

Caribou Coffee Names Scott Kennedy CEO, Eyes Continued Growth

caribou-coffee-names-scott-kennedy-ceo-eyes-continued-growth

McDonald’s Launches New Extra Value Meals as Consumer Demand for Value Continues to Climb

mcdonalds-launches-extra-value-meals

Power Eats: Smoothie King Rolls Out Food Nationwide To Fuel Franchise Growth

smoothie-king-food-menu-power-eats

1851 Keyword - The Secret To Succeeding With a Part-Time Franchise Is Picking the Right Model

The Secret To Succeeding With a Part-Time Franchise Is Picking the Right Model

part-time-franchises-picking-the-right-model

Design with school-aged child standing on pencil with text "Education Franchises" and "<$500K"

Top Education Franchises Under $500K To Explore in 2025

top-education-franchises-under-500k

Photo of "franchise" and "day job" balancing on see-saw

Can You Run a Franchise Without Quitting Your Day Job?

part-time-franchises-with-day-job

Why Buying Into a Franchise Is About More Than Just Brand Recognition

why-buying-into-a-franchise-is-about-more-than-just-brand-recognition

Hely and Hiral Patel Bring Their Longtime Dream to Life With The Brass Tap

brass-tap-franchise-pasadena-maryland-hely-hiral-patel

DevHub - Meet the Supplier - 1851 Franchise

DevHub: Scalable Digital Marketing for Franchises and Multi-Location Brands

devhub-meet-the-supplier

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Ricki Oberoi and Layne's Chicken Fingers logo

Coffee & Analytics: Helping Candidates Understand How Franchising Works

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS