1851

Finding that winning idea, running with it, and turning it into a successful business is definitely not as easy as we&rsquo;d all like it to be. What might make sense to one person, does not translate to others and cannot always be turned into a 100-unit idea. But, for those businesses that can, it&rsquo;s not always smooth sailing from the get-go.

To get a better grasp on pitfalls that happen during the franchising process, <a href="https://1851franchise.com/" target="_blank">1851 Franchise</a> connected with <a href="http://pipfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=five-things-i-wish-i-knew-when-i-decided-to-franchise-my-business-2705291" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pretty in Paint Parties</a> Founder Erica Baatz Bridges and <a href="http://ownasobol.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=five-things-i-wish-i-knew-when-i-decided-to-franchise-my-business-2705291" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SoBol</a> Founder Jason Mazzarone to understand each the journey from turning a winning idea into a successful franchise model.

1. Have the Right Policies in Place

What works for one person does not necessarily work for another. But, when establishing a consistent franchise model, it&rsquo;s important to get as close as you can to a universal model. Policies are the first place to start.

&ldquo;There are a lot of unknowns,&rdquo; said Mazzarone. &ldquo;I wish I knew what it took when growing from one to two units, even from three to four. You can have a system in place for the corporate store, but that might not necessarily work across the franchise system. Take time on those policies and test them out before finalizing the model.&rdquo;

Use the corporate store as a test center and be open to changes. Policies will change, but if they are thorough from the franchise launch, they can always act as a base and continuously be built on.&nbsp;

2. Surround Yourself with the Right People

For franchisors with a franchising background, familiarity with the sector can help with building out the model. For those who don&rsquo;t have that background, like Bridges, it&rsquo;s important to make sure the team behind the franchisor is stacked with people who will have their best interests in mind.

&ldquo;You need good people behind you. I think the best thing we did is hire a franchise lawyer and franchise advisor,&rdquo; said Bridges, who worked with <a href="https://fisherzucker.com/our-practice/our-attorneys/lane-fisher/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=five-things-i-wish-i-knew-when-i-decided-to-franchise-my-business-2705291" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lane Fisher</a> and <a href="http://www.smbfranchising.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=five-things-i-wish-i-knew-when-i-decided-to-franchise-my-business-2705291" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SMB Franchise Advisors*</a> in the launch of Pretty in Paint Parties. &ldquo;Both knew the type of company we were and what we were hoping to be, and we knew they would always be on our journey with us.&rdquo;

Mazzarone seconded the need for a strong support system and also utilized the expertise of SMB Franchise Advisors in the launch of SoBol franchising.

&ldquo;A franchise advisor will tell you if you are ready to launch a franchise model, and they will definitely tell you if your concept isn&rsquo;t at that point yet,&rdquo; said Mazzarone. &ldquo;You don&rsquo;t want your system to grow faster than you can build it, so it&rsquo;s important to make sure all of the different pieces are in place.&rdquo;

3. What Worked for One Store, Won&rsquo;t Work for Ten

Typically, franchisors will build the model based on what was needed to successfully run a handful of corporate locations. Supplies are something that are not often considered in the sense of how the quantity and quality will change when that number turns from two to twenty.

Take Pretty in Paint Parties for example, which is a model in which the supply and demand play a large part in the concept. When operating one or two corporate locations it was easy to gauge the amount of supplies to order based on trends in business, busy season, etc. But, once that number multiplied by ten, it was clear that the ordering process had to change.

&ldquo;We tried to think of a good solution where our franchisees could order the supplies through us, since this is what we were used to and thought should stay consistent,&rdquo; said Bridges. &ldquo;We let go of this whole idea because we realized it wasn&rsquo;t financially benefiting our franchisees. You can get bigger discounts with the big box stores, and ordering was a quicker process when they didn&rsquo;t have to submit orders through us.&rdquo;

4. Staying Focused on the Franchisee

Most won&rsquo;t admit it, but a good number of franchisors get into the business with dollar signs in their eyes. What they don&rsquo;t realize is that without the success of the franchisees, those dollar signs will not turn into actual cash flow.

&ldquo;I think it&rsquo;s easy to focus on what is going to make you, the franchisor, successful,&rdquo; said Bridges. &ldquo;You need to focus on the franchisees. What&rsquo;s going to make them happy and less burdened by stress? I think it&rsquo;s the most important aspect of franchising, especially in the beginning.&rdquo;

5. Teach by Example: The Corporate Store

A successful corporate store is essentially the reason any franchisor decides to franchise their concept. It worked for one location, why won&rsquo;t it work for 500 locations? Once a franchise model is put in place, this corporate store should still act as a model of success to all of the franchised locations.

&ldquo;The corporate store is a great test center to try out new processes before rolling them out to the entire system,&rdquo; said Mazzarone. &ldquo;You don&rsquo;t ever want to be close minded and refuse to evolve the concept, and this is the place to try out these new ideas and see if they will work system wide. It should also act as a model to the other stores on how the well-oiled machine should run.&rdquo;

While the process of establishing a franchise model will never be completely scotch-free, franchisors like Mazzarone and Bridges have been able to learn from their mistakes and unfamiliarity with certain aspects along the way. Whether it&rsquo;s focusing on those core policies, making sure the support team is stacked and the model is scalable, putting the franchisees first and foremost, or leading by example, each and every single unexpected pitfall can turn into a teachable moment. By adapting to these changes and fine-tuning the model, the possibilities for growth are endless.

Five Things I Wish I Knew When I Decided to Franchise My Business

1851 Franchise

Pretty in Paint Parties Founder Erica Baatz Bridges and SoBol Founder Jason Mazzarone revisit the journey of turning an idea into a national concept.

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

five-things-i-wish-i-knew-when-i-decided-to-franchise-my-business

TruBlue Home Service Ally

TruBlue Featured in USA Today as Key Player in Helping Seniors Age Safely at Home

trublue-featured-in-usa-today-as-key-player-in-helping-seniors-age-safely-at-home

Right at Home

Right at Home Marks 30 Years With Continued Franchise Growth

Right at Home Marks 30 Years With Continued Franchise Growth, Tech Advancements, and Strong System Engagement in First Half of 2025

right-at-home-franchise-growth-2025

KidStrong Franchising, LLC

Unlocking Superpowers: How KidStrong Is Building the Next Generation of Confident Kids — and Thriving Franchise Owners

kidstrong-franchise-confident-kids

Image of a kid growing up, developing with kidstrong, high fiving and smiling. 

How KidStrong has Become the Franchise Disrupting Child Development by Partnering with Purpose-Driven Franchise Owners 

kidstrong-franchise-opportunity-child-development

Picture of kids for franchise business Kidstrong which focuses on child development and fitness

KidStrong Is Pediatrician-Recommended for Raising Confident, Capable Kids and Families Can't Get Enough

kidstrong-child-development-program

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

Image of Donald Trump pointing with red stripes in the background

August 1 Tariff Deadline Is Said to Have ‘No Extensions’: What This Could Mean for Franchises

august-1-tariff-deadline-franchise-impact

What June’s Jobs Report Means for the Franchise Industry

what-junes-jobs-report-means-for-the-franchise-industry

Drone Delivery Takes Flight in QSR: The Future of Franchise Operations?

drone-delivery-takes-flight-in-qsr-the-future-of-franchise-operations

Chick-fil-A Tops Customer Satisfaction Rankings for 11th Year as Challenger Brands Gain Ground

chick-fil-a-tops-customer-satisfaction-rankings-for-11th-year-as-challenger-brands-gain-ground

Technomic Releases Annual Ranking of the Top 15 Fast-Food Chains in the U.S.

technomic-releases-annual-ranking-of-the-top-15-fast-food-chains-in-the-us

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How To Create a Strong Incentive

how-to-build-strong-incentives-to-attract-prospective-franchisees

Top 25 Franchise Marketing Leaders: Kelsey McManemin — Vice President of Marketing, HTeaO

top-25-franchise-marketing-leaders-kelsey-mcmanemin-vice-president-of-marketing-hteao

Photo of a large group of people standing in a circle, placing hands together in center

Franchise Opportunities for Minorities: Expanding the Franchise Network

franchise-opportunities-for-minorities

Amanda Evans - Stellar Service Brands - Franchise Marketing Leaders 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Top 25 Franchise Marketing Leaders: Amanda Evans — Senior Vice President of Marketing, Stellar Service Brands

stellar-service-brands-marketing-leader-amanda-evans

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores - Agg - 1851 Franchise

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores

hooters-franchise-model-company-owned-closures

How Vishal Juneja Turned a Family Tradition Into a Paris Baguette Franchise

How Vishal Juneja Turned a Family Tradition Into a Paris Baguette Franchise Built on Heart and Community

paris-baguette-franchise-rockaway-new-jersey-vishal-junjea

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

Multi-Unit Wendy’s Operator Signs 12-Unit Deal With Layne’s Chicken Fingers

ricki-oberoi-laynes-chicken-fingers-growth

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photos of Danielle Rosemond & Usman Khan & TruBlue logo

Family Members of Local Physicians Bring TruBlue Franchise to North Central Nassau, Long Island: A Health Care-Inspired Approach to Aging in Place

family-brings-trublue-franchise-to-north-central-nassau

Five Things I Wish I Knew When I Decided to Franchise My Business

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS