1851

Providing franchisees with the support they need to execute the brand vision is critical for any healthy franchise system. But that job is a lot easier when franchises are geographically clustered in a specific region or are near the corporate headquarters. Franchisees can then benefit from pooled advertising and marketing efforts, and franchisors can plan site visits more efficiently and cost-effectively.&nbsp;But supporting geographically distant franchisees has recently become a lot easier. That’s due in part to the online communication tools and platforms that became essential during the pandemic.“If there's a silver lining with COVID-19, it’s how we've learned how to support the franchisees much better than we ever did before electronically,” said <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-seid-5424904/detail/recent-activity/posts/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-franchisors-can-support-geographically-distant-franchisees-2716492" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Michael H. Seid</a>, the founder and managing director of <a href="https://www.msaworldwide.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-franchisors-can-support-geographically-distant-franchisees-2716492" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">MSA Worldwide</a>, a franchise consulting firm. “The innovative use of electronics is making us more nimble and actually improving the performance of the support that we're able to give a franchise.”Here are some other methods that franchisors can use to support their more remote franchisees.<h4>Have a Geographic Strategy in Place</h4>“Franchisors should be looking to create a critical mass in order to not be in the position where there is an isolated franchise that’s so far away from headquarters or support centers,” said Seid. In other words, Seid said that before you start opening franchises, you should think about where you want to create a cluster of units. That way, you will be able to deploy support resources more efficiently.<h4>Offer Online Pre-Training Early&nbsp;</h4>Before a franchisee travels to a headquarters or other location for initial training, the franchisor can set the training in motion through online courses. There are benefits to doing online training for both the franchisor and the franchisee, according to Seid. “For the franchisor, it's a consistent training format. It's also less expensive because the franchisor is not away from home and not paying hotel bills,” Seid said. “If the franchisee still has a job, they can get training on a more convenient schedule as opposed to coming out to training in person for a couple of weeks.”&nbsp;<h4>Tap Into Third-Party Training</h4>Determine if there are components to your training that can be provided by local third parties. “For instance, if you take your franchisees through an accounting class, a bookkeeping class or any class dealing with money, those courses certainly can be provided by the American Management Association or local colleges,” said Seid.<h4>Deploy Your Franchise Consultant in Innovative Ways</h4>The job of the franchise consultant has changed. It’s no longer a quick stop and on to the next unit. “We live in an age of Zoom,” said Seid. “Between that and cell phone communications, field consultants should be much more proactive with franchisees. When the field consultant isn't traveling or living out of hotel rooms and instead working from their own offices, they can actually provide much more support to the franchisees than they can by physically traveling.”<h4>Make Site Visits Based on Metrics, Not the Calendar</h4>“For some unknown reasons, there are still franchisors that choose to visit based on the calendar,” Seid said. Instead, he advises franchisors to establish metrics that will determine a store’s performance and trigger a visit. He said he breaks down a brand’s promise into 10-12 measurable criteria, whether it’s costs of goods, customer counts or the effectiveness of advertising or profitability, all of which can be measured online.<h4>Never Lose That Personal Touch</h4>Despite the plethora of online communication and connectivity tools, online vs. in-person should not be an either/or situation. <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/edward-kushell-bb26188/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-franchisors-can-support-geographically-distant-franchisees-2716492" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Edward Kushell</a>, president of <a href="https://franchiseconsulting.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-franchisors-can-support-geographically-distant-franchisees-2716492" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">The Franchise Consulting Group,</a> said that while he believes these digital tools are helpful, franchisors should continue to make in-person consulting trips and inspections. “The bottom line is to do as many things as you can for the franchisee to build up their revenue and their profits,” Kushell said.

How Franchisors Can Support Geographically Distant Franchisees

1851 Franchise

If the pandemic had one upside for the world of franchising, it may be that communicating with isolated territories became easier and more productive.

how-franchisors-can-support-geographically-distant-franchisees

TruBlue Home Service Ally

Why TruBlue is the Ideal Franchise for Multi-Unit Owners: Scalable Growth With a Purpose

why-trublue-is-the-ideal-franchise-for-multi-unit-owners-scalable-growth-with-a-purpose

Onigilly Japanese Kitchen

Koji Kanematsu Turned a 2,000-Year-Old Japanese Staple Into One of the Most Scalable Restaurant Franchise Models

koji-kanematsu-turned-a-2000-year-old-japanese-staple-into-one-of-the-most-scalable-restaurant-franchise-models

Lindora

Celebrating the Nurse Behind the Mission: How Melinda Endricks Is Powering Lindora’s Growth and Impact Nationwide

celebrating-the-nurse-behind-the-mission-how-melinda-endricks-is-powering-lindoras-growth-and-impact-nationwide

Sola Salons

Sola Salons Targets Chicago for Strategic Franchise Growth

sola-salons-targets-chicago-for-strategic-franchise-growth

Melting Pot

Photo of Melting Pot white chocolate fondue

How Melting Pot Franchisees Drive Year-Round Success Through Strategic Promotions and Local Marketing

melting-pot-franchise-year-round-success

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

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands - 1851 Franchise

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands

doordash-acquistions-deliveroo-sevenrooms

Crumbl Franchise Investment - TSG Consumer Partners -  1851 Franchise

TSG Consumer Partners Takes Minority Stake in Crumbl, Signaling Franchise Growth Potential

crumbl-franchise-investment-tsg-consumer

Yum Brands Reports Strong Q1 Results with Big Boost from Taco Bell

yum-brands-reports-strong-q1-results-with-big-boost-from-taco-bell

QSR: McDonald’s Gains Momentum With Chicken Innovation, Value Deals and Franchisee Support

mcdonalds-franchise-recovery-chicken-strategy-value-deals-2025

The Future of Franchising: Trends and Predictions for 2025 and Beyond

the-future-of-franchising-trends-and-predictions-for-2025-and-beyond

Layoffs Surge to Pandemic-Era Highs, Opening Doors for Franchise Growth

layoffs-surge-to-pandemic-era-highs-opening-doors-for-franchise-growth

Franchisee spotlight image with Randy and Sandy Craft, Children's Lighthouse logo on blue background

The Crafts’ Successful Journey from New Parents to Children’s Lighthouse Franchisees

the-crafts-successful-journey-from-new-parents-to-childrens-lighthouse-franchisees

District Taco Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-district-tacos-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Franchisee spotlight image with photo of Robert Trujillo and UWRG logo on blue background

How Robert Trujillo Expanded His Construction Business With UWRG

how-robert-trujillo-expanded-his-construction-business-with-uwrg

Health Care Professional in the Non-Profit Space Brings TruBlue to North Pittsburgh

health-care-professional-in-the-non-profit-space-brings-trublue-to-north-pittsburgh

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: Building Your Brand’s Growth Machine

ultimate-guide-to-selling-franchises

How Franchisors Can Support Geographically Distant Franchisees

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS