1851

<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/finerachel/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=guide-to-franchising-your-business-qa-with-rachel-fine-wilson-ceo-of-gigglewaters-2727150" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Rachel Fine Wilson</a> initially hesitated to franchise&nbsp;<a href="https://ownagigglewaters.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=guide-to-franchising-your-business-qa-with-rachel-fine-wilson-ceo-of-gigglewaters-2727150" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Gigglewaters</a> due to her prior experience with the pitfalls of franchising, such as undercapitalized franchisees and rapid, scattered growth. However, after receiving numerous franchise inquiries, she reimagined how franchising could be done differently by focusing on strong infrastructure, careful selection of franchisees and slow, hyperlocal growth to maintain&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/franchise-deep-dive-gigglewaters-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-2725832#stories">Gigglewaters’</a> brand integrity. 1851 Franchise spoke with Wilson to learn more about her decision to franchise&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/the-gigglewaters-franchise-is-ready-to-take-over-the-eat-ertainment-industry-2726264">Gigglewaters</a> and the lessons she learned along the way. Here’s what she had to say.1851 Franchise: Why did you decide to franchise your business?Rachel Fine Wilson: Initially, I was hesitant to franchise Gigglewaters. My experience as the vice president of operations for an international education company — where I was responsible for field support across the U.S. — exposed me to the common pitfalls of franchising: franchisees being undercapitalized, mismatches between franchisees and brands, and the challenges of scaling too quickly and in scattered locations. These experiences made me keenly aware of the responsibility on the shoulders of a responsible franchisor and, frankly, made me wary of franchising in general.What we do at Gigglewaters is truly unique in the industry and as a result, we kept fielding organic franchise inquiries. After many approaches and much consideration, I began to rethink how franchising could be done differently. I envisioned building a system that prioritized strong infrastructure and support, growing slowly and hyperlocally, and ensuring every franchisee was well-prepared and aligned with our values. By slowing down the process and focusing on systems and selection, I believed I could reimagine franchising in a way that maintained the integrity and success of the Gigglewaters brand. We took our time getting started and set extremely conservative growth targets. We’re not in this for explosive growth; we’re in this to build a healthy and happy system, long-term.1851: What advice would you give to someone thinking about franchising their business?Wilson:&nbsp;Understand that franchising is a partnership. It’s essential to have a strong, replicable business model and to be ready to support your franchisees fully. Building a robust infrastructure before you franchise is crucial; this includes training programs, operational guidelines and a clear brand vision. What processes can you simplify? What operations can you streamline? Most importantly, take the time to crystalize your brand values and use them to select franchisees who are truly aligned with you — they’re the ones who will carry your brand’s legacy forward.1851: How many franchise consultants did you look at?Wilson:&nbsp;We’ve worked casually with a few people along the way. Each brought different strengths to the table, and it was important to understand how their experience and approach would align with our goals for expansion, which are different from brands looking for aggressive growth at all costs.&nbsp;1851: What made you pick the consultant that you picked?Wilson:&nbsp;One of our core values is, “What we say and what we do are the same thing.” We’ve had a lot of people make a lot of promises, but ultimately, the people we’ve worked with the longest have shown true integrity. We do a good majority of franchise development on our own in-house, but when we partner with consultants, we look for people with excellent communication, timely follow up and exacting attention to detail.1851: What was one thing you wish you knew about the franchise process?Wilson:&nbsp;One thing I wish I had fully understood from the start is how challenging it would be to find that first trailblazing franchisee — someone willing to take a leap of faith on a brand new franchise. It takes a special kind of entrepreneur to be the first, and identifying that person requires a lot of patience and perseverance. The first franchisee is crucial because they set the tone for future growth and success, so finding the right fit was more challenging than I initially anticipated. Ultimately, we helped our best employee take the leap, someone steeped in our culture who we already loved and respected. I would recommend that strategy to anyone struggling to find Zee number one.&nbsp;Every great franchisee had help buying a franchise. Want to learn more about how 1851 helps franchisees find the right franchise opportunity? Visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.1851growthclub.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=guide-to-franchising-your-business-qa-with-rachel-fine-wilson-ceo-of-gigglewaters-2727150" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.1851growthclub.com</a> and start your journey.

Rachel Fine Wilson’s Approach to Franchising Gigglewaters

1851 Franchise

Rachel Fine Wilson redefined the franchising process for Gigglewaters by prioritizing infrastructure, careful franchisee selection and sustainable, hyperlocal growth.

Guide to Franchising Your Business: Q&A with Rachel Fine Wilson, CEO of Gigglewaters

guide-to-franchising-your-business-qa-with-rachel-fine-wilson-ceo-of-gigglewaters

Paris Baguette

Paris Baguette Franchise - Anusha Jonnala and Swapna Varala - 1851 Franchise

Blending Tech, Hospitality and Health Care: How Three Women From Different Worlds Came Together to Build a Paris Baguette Franchise

paris-baguette-franchise-flower-mound-texas

Minuteman Press International

The Brown Family and team at Minuteman Press in Rancho Cucamonga, CA.

Minuteman Press Franchise Review: 30-Year Legacy in Rancho Cucamonga

minuteman-press-franchise-review-30-year-legacy-in-rancho-cucamonga

Beansquad

BeanSquad Franchise - How BeanSquad Is Taking the Stress Out of Franchise Bookkeeping - 1851

How BeanSquad Is Taking the Stress Out of Franchise Bookkeeping

beansquad-accounting-franchise-bookkeeping

Right at Home

20-Plus Year Right at Home Franchisee Turned Corporate Insights Into a Successful Home Care Business

right-at-home-franchisee-success-gregory-brewer

Crust Pizza Co.

Crust Pizza Co. Builds Major Momentum in 2025 With New Openings, Franchise Growth

Crust Pizza Co. Builds Major Momentum in 2025 With New Openings, Franchise Growth and Smarter Systems

crust-pizza-midyear-growth-2025

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

Design with person in blazer, with laptop, holding sign that reads "LOOKING FOR A JOB"

Uptick in Jobless Claims Points to Continued Instability in Labor Market

jobless-claims-franchise-growth

Extraordinary Brands Acquires CycleBar and Rumble, Shaking Up Boutique Fitness Franchising

extraordinary-brands-cyclebar-rumble-boxing-acquisition

NJCAR v. Ford - New Jersey Supreme Court Limits Standing Under Franchise Practices Act

New Jersey Supreme Court Limits Standing Under Franchise Practices Act

new-jersey-franchise-practices-act-njcar-v-ford

Planet Fitness Franchisees Donate $100K to Support Texas Flood Relief - 1851 Franchise

Planet Fitness Franchisees Donate $100K To Support Texas Flood Relief

planet-fitness-texas-flood-relief

McDonald’s Is the Latest Franchise To Bet Big on Beverages with 500-Store Premium Drink Test

mcdonalds-is-the-latest-franchise-to-bet-big-on-beverages-with-500-store-premium-drink-test

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

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

Top 25 Franchise Marketing Leaders: Cathy Chavenet — Chief Marketing Officer, Paris Baguette

top-25-franchise-marketing-leaders-cathy-chavenet-chief-marketing-officer-paris-baguette

Top 25 Franchise Marketing Leaders: Jack Mashini — Co-Founder, Wing Snob

top-25-franchise-marketing-leaders-jack-mashini-co-founder-wing-snob

The Ultimate Guide To Franchising Your Business – Phase 1: Laying the Foundation – Operations Manual

the-ultimate-guide-to-franchising-your-business-phase-1-laying-the-foundation-operations-manual

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

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

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

Navy Veteran and Professional Artist Couple Open Caring Transitions in Texas

Navy Veteran and Professional Artist Couple Set Out to Build a Purpose-Driven Business With Caring Transitions in Texas

navy-veteran-and-professional-artist-couple-set-out-to-build-a-purpose-driven-business-with-caring-transitions-in-texas

Rising Jobless Claims Could Signal Challenges — and Opportunities — for Franchising

rising-jobless-claims-affect-franchising

911 Restoration Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

911-restoration-franchise-deep-dive

Why This Real Estate Broker Decided To Bring Caring Transitions to Central Texas

Guide to Franchising Your Business: Q&A with Rachel Fine Wilson, CEO of Gigglewaters

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS