Franchisee Mental Health: Coping with Stress and Burnout in the High-Pressure World of Franchising

Stress and burnout are universal concepts that touch just about every known industry. It’s become a major problem for the U.S. workforce and can affect everyone from employees to top company executives. The world of franchising is no different and is certainly not immune to experiencing the effects of burnout and stress.

But how does someone who’s experiencing stress or burnout handle such a burden? And what are some ways to alleviate the problem?

For some, like Sarah Moore, the vice president of Brand and Marketing at Woodhouse Spas, it’s all about setting boundaries. Moore, who has worked within the hospitality and franchising industries for more than 13 years, is a mother of three who works remotely several days a week. She says setting boundaries has become a part of her daily routine.

“The moment that my kids come home from school, I turn my focus from working to taking care of them,” Moore said. “It allows me to focus better, be a better mom, a better co-worker and a better leader.”

The COVID-19 pandemic introduced many people to the concept of remote work for the first time, and as a result, Moore says, it’s become harder to separate yourself from your work, and really be able to disconnect. This is causing some to experience burnout and stress at an advanced rate, as it’s harder to create a balance between work and home life. In response to this, Moore emphasized the importance of taking breaks and prioritizing self-care.

“It’s about finding time for yourself,” she said. 

Moore also believes it’s vital to recognize the signs of burnout in order to help prevent it. She says you should ask yourself why you’re tired or irritable, and then take the appropriate steps to address the problem. Then, ultimately, take care of yourself.

“Stress is really relevant because expectations in the workforce have grown,” she said. “We’re trying to do more with less.”

As a franchisee, Moore says you should always be monitoring and trying to prevent burnout and stress because if you’re experiencing it, it can funnel down into your team, radiate throughout your business and hurt productivity.

“Set expectations and manage your expectations,” Moore said. “Whether it’s moving project deadlines or responding to emails, make sure everyone is on the same page and make sure there are no fire drills that could increase that stress.”

The practice of setting expectations plays a significant role in coping with burnout and stress. In fact, that sentiment is echoed by Ron Holt, the founder of Two Maids & A Mop. Over two decades, Holt built the Two Maids & A Mop brand into a 90-location franchise network before selling the concept in 2021. 

After the sale, Holt started yet another home service franchise brand called Pink Zebra Moving. He currently plans to open 15–20 new locations per year for the next several years. Needless to say, Holt keeps busy. Throughout his career, he has discovered a method to keep burnout and stress at bay.  

“The best way to manage stress is to ensure that your daily work has a purpose,” Holt said. “Most franchisees open their new business with big goals and grand ideas. Unfortunately, many franchisees lose some of their passion for the business as the day-to-day tasks slowly create an environment similar to their former workplaces.”

Those everyday tasks, Holt said, include everything from paying bills, handling customer service issues and managing employees. While these repetitive tasks have the potential to create a serious headache for a franchisee, Holt said there are five steps you can take to avoid creating any unnecessary stress for yourself. Those steps, in order, are as follows: dream big, make a plan, break the plan into small challenges, celebrate small victories and live life with purpose.

Above all else, Holt says it’s important to have a dream and do everything you can to not lose sight of that dream.

“Keep dreaming big, but make a real actionable plan,” said Holt. “That’s how you live a life with purpose, and that’s also how you prevent stress from taking over your life.”

By recognizing the signs of stress and burnout, taking breaks, seeking support, practicing self-care, and setting realistic expectations, franchisees can cope with the demands of running a franchise while maintaining good mental health. By taking care of oneself and seeking support, franchisees can not only improve their own well-being but also create a more positive and productive work environment for their employees and customers.

“Stress and burnout are not just franchising specific,” said Moore. “I think that makes us all feel better. We’re all in this together.”