1851

<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-palmer-874973162/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=frandev-players-chad-palmer-vice-president-of-franchise-development-united-franchise-group-2715057" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><u>Chad Palmer</u></a>, vice president of franchise development at <a href="https://unitedfranchisegroup.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=frandev-players-chad-palmer-vice-president-of-franchise-development-united-franchise-group-2715057" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><u>United Franchise Group</u></a>, has his finger on the pulse of the industry, with more than 1,600 franchise locations in 80 countries around the world under his company’s oversight.&nbsp;</p><p>And according to Palmer, the industry has a massive year ahead of it. Drawing from his experience franchising in every industry, from work-at-home solutions to retail and full-service restaurants, Palmer predicts a strong future for franchising, noting that across the U.S., millions of Americans are reconsidering their careers in light of 2020’s turmoil.</p><p>1851 caught up with Palmer to see what his company has in store for 2021.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><h4>1851 Franchise: Tell us about your firm.</h4><p>Chad Palmer: United Franchise Group has more than 30 years of franchising experience and has grown into a franchising giant with more than 1,600 franchise locations in 80-plus countries around the world.&nbsp;</p><p>Our book of brands includes franchise industry leaders like Signarama, the world’s largest sign franchise; Fully Promoted, the world’s largest embroidery and promotional products franchise; Experimax, the trusted retailer for the sale and service of pre-owned electronic devices; Transworld Business Advisors, the world’s largest business brokerage franchise; Venture X, a retail shared office franchise; and SuperGreen Solutions, a franchise that offers sustainability advisory services.&nbsp;</p><p>Most recently UFG has expanded into restaurants: Jon Smith Subs, an established sub shop; and The Great Greek Grill, our new Greek food restaurant. We also offer a business networking franchise called Network Lead Exchange, we provide outsourcing business solutions through ROI, and we help up-and-coming businesses franchise their brand through our Accurate Franchising brand.</p><h4>1851: How did you get into franchising?</h4><p>Palmer: After working for a decade and a half in the multi-location music instrument retail space, I came to UFG to help advance its digital marketing initiatives. After showing the impact digital marketing and data analysis had for our franchisors, I was moved into the role of director of franchise development and have since recently been moved up into the vice president of franchise development role. Along the way I have met many fellow franchising fanatics, and I am a full-blown believer in using the power of franchising to change people’s lives.</p><h4>1851: Are there any keys to consistent franchise growth?</h4><p>Palmer: Let’s get right to the core of the matter on this one. The best way to have sustained long-term franchise growth is to offer a franchise with a proven and successful business model. Testimonials from successful owners are one of the strongest validation points of our sales process. Build your brand right, and the sales will follow.</p><h4>1851: Biggest hurdles to successful franchise growth right now?</h4><p>Palmer: Any hurdles that franchisors are feeling right now, I believe may be self-imposed. I strongly believe that this next year is going to be huge for us, both as a company and as an industry. More people than ever have had an unprecedented amount of time to do some self-evaluation and are exploring franchising as the best solution to become their own boss and lead their lives into new exciting directions. We are very fortunate that our book of brands covers everything from work at home solutions to full retail, food brands and more, so we usually have a perfect fit for any prospect.</p><h4>1851: How did the COVID crisis affect franchise growth opportunities?</h4><p>Palmer: Operationally, we had to pivot and change gears like many other franchisors. Most notable was a switch to alternate communication methods like virtual discovery days and virtual training. These have worked out so well that we foresee a combination of virtual and in-person training as part of our long-term approach to educating and onboarding our new franchisees.</p><p>Many of our brands stepped up in this challenging time and have experienced their best sales ever. In particular, Fully Promoted was able to source masks, hand sanitizer and other essential supplies early via our vendor networks. Signarama shifted gears toward Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), which included innovative new products and repurposing equipment to create face shields, guards, custom CDC signage and even intubation boxes to protect surgeons when faced with new challenges.&nbsp;</p><p>While Signarama has always been focused on business-to-business, COVID-19 brought about a shift in our customer too.&nbsp; As a result, we have seen many owners crushing it with their largest sales numbers in years,&nbsp;even decades in some cases.&nbsp;</p><h4>1851: Are there any common mistakes you see franchisors making when trying to grow?</h4><p>Palmer: Being afraid or slow to enforce compliance. It is important to remember that making sure franchisees follow the plan is what gives franchisees the best possible chance to achieve their highest profits as soon as possible. There is a reason there are blueprints to follow, and that is one reason why former military personnel do so well in franchising. They trust in the plan, follow the plan and accomplish their goals by utilizing the plan.</p><p>On the flip side of that is that we franchisors must be open and willing to change and adapt when necessary. Often the best ideas can come from newer franchisees who look at problems in a different way or come up with great ways to add value to the existing structured plan.&nbsp;</p><p>These last six months have seen many micro changes made by all our brands that have ultimately contributed to an outstanding sales year. To quote the Japanese proverb, <i>The bamboo that bends is stronger than the oak that resists.</i></p><h4>1851: What are your biggest goals and plans for 2021?</h4><p>Palmer: We are launching a new digital platform called <a href="http://franchisemart.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=frandev-players-chad-palmer-vice-president-of-franchise-development-united-franchise-group-2715057" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><u>FranchiseMart</u></a> to help our fellow franchisors find buyers for their resales and acquire high-quality leads for selling their new franchise units.&nbsp;</p><p>We saw a void in the space for potential franchisees to review both new and existing franchise opportunities in one spot instead of jumping all over the internet. In 2021 we are also introducing our FranchiseMart Resale Assistance Program, which gives other franchisors access to our broker network and support systems to help them sell their resales much faster. New owners come in with new passion and often turn challenged locations into winners in as little as a year. We think finding these new owners for resales quickly and efficiently will be a major factor in the success of UFG and other franchisors in 2021.</p>

FranDev Players: Chad Palmer, Vice President of Franchise Development, United Franchise Group

1851 Franchise

1851 caught up with Chad Palmer to talk about life in franchising and the unprecedented changes 2020 brought to the industry.

frandev-players-chad-palmer-vice-president-of-franchise-development-united-franchise-group

Happy Joe’s Franchising

Why Texas Is the Perfect State To Open a Happy Joe’s Franchise

why-texas-is-the-perfect-state-to-open-a-happy-joes-franchise

Seniors Helping Seniors®

Photo of two people, with white hair, sitting on couch, smiling at each other

Seniors Helping Seniors® In-Home Care Services Expands in Manassas and Fredericksburg, Virginia

seniors-helping-seniors-in-home-care-services-expands-in-manassas-and-fredericksburg-virginia

BooXkeeping

Tech-Driven Bookkeeping: How BooXkeeping Franchisees Are Embracing the Future

tech-driven-bookkeeping-how-booxkeeping-franchisees-are-embracing-the-future

Fitness Premier

Fitness Premier's State-of-the-Art Facilities and Multi-Discipline Approach Fuels Franchise Owner Success

fitness-premiers-state-of-the-art-facilities-and-multi-discipline-approach-fuels-franchise-owner-success

Melting Pot

Melting Pot 50th anniversary photo, featuring three people enjoying celebratory drinks and fondue

Melting Pot Celebrates 50 Years of Fondue Magic With a Year of Special Menus, New Offerings and Unforgettable Moments

melting-pot-50th-anniversary-fondue-celebration

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 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

Yum! Brands CEO David Gibbs To Retire in 2026 After 36 Years With the Company

yum-brands-ceo-david-gibbs-to-retire-in-2026-after-36-years-with-the-company

Hooters Bankruptcy - Chapter 11 - April 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Hooters Files for Bankruptcy, Sells Restaurants to Franchisee Group

hooters-bankruptcy-chapter-11-april-2025

Fly Dance Fitness Expands With First Franchise Location in Georgia

fly-dance-fitness-franchise-expansion

&pizza - Fast-Casual Pizza Chain Begins Franchising - 1851 Franchise

&pizza Embraces Franchising To Fuel Bold New Growth Strategy

andpizza-franchising-ceo-mike-burns

CFOs See Recession as Likely in ’25; Why Now Is the Time To Water the Franchise Buyer Seeds

cfos-see-recession-as-likely-in-25-why-now-is-the-time-to-water-the-franchise-buyer-seeds

franchise supplier award design with Locate AI logo and 1851 Franchise badge

Franchise Real Estate Services | Locate AI — Emerging Leaders in Franchise Support

locate-ai-emerging-leaders-in-franchise-support

Emerging Leaders in Franchise Support: 1851 Supplier Highlights

Emerging Leaders in Franchise Support: List of Franchise Suppliers

emerging-leaders-in-franchise-support

Coffee and Analytics: Franchising and AI — Future-Proofing Your Business in an Uncertain Economy

franchising-and-ai-economic-uncertainty

Coffee & Analytics: The Secret to Attracting Multi-Unit Franchisees

coffee-analytics-the-secret-to-attracting-multi-unit-franchisees

Paris Baguette Ranks Among Top Franchises on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500® for 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Paris Baguette Ranks Among Top Franchises on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500® for 2025

paris-baguette-ranks-among-top-franchises-on-entrepreneurs-franchise-500-for-2025

Florida Franchisee Reflects on Success and Growth with Sylvan Learning

florida-franchisee-reflects-on-success-and-growth-with-sylvan-learning

Franchise Deep Dive: Studio Pilates Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data

franchise-deep-dive-studio-pilates-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Military Veteran and Craft Beer Enthusiast to Bring Voodoo Brewing Co. to Toledo, Ohio

military-veteran-and-craft-beer-enthusiast-to-bring-voodoo-brewing-co-to-toledo-ohio

FranDev Players: Chad Palmer, Vice President of Franchise Development, United Franchise Group

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS