1851

There are many factors in play when you seek to buy into a franchise: the initial financial investment, learning the guidelines set by the franchisor and a holistic look at navigating the world of business ownership. And at the center of the chaos and excitement to join a franchise is an often-overlooked concept: culture.<h2>The Role of Culture in Franchising</h2>Culture plays an important role in every business, and franchising is no different. Cultivated by a brand’s leadership, this can refer to values, behaviors, policies and interactions of a franchise.<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellemonroerowan/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-to-get-a-feel-for-a-franchise-brands-culture-2723757" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">&nbsp;Michelle Rowan</a>, the president of<a href="https://tour.franchisebusinessreview.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-to-get-a-feel-for-a-franchise-brands-culture-2723757" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">&nbsp;Franchise Business Review</a>, noted that culture can have a significant impact on a brand’s potential success, as it has the ability to influence franchisee satisfaction as well as customer perception.“A positive culture significantly and positively impacts business productivity and profitability by enhancing team commitment to the goals of the enterprise,” wrote<a href="https://tour.franchisebusinessreview.com/posts/ebook-ceos-guide-creating-maintaining-positive-culture-franchising/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-to-get-a-feel-for-a-franchise-brands-culture-2723757" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">&nbsp;Rowan</a>. “Conversely, a negative culture disrupts the ‘team spirit’ and significantly reduces cooperation among team members, increases turnover and reduces productivity.”<a href="https://bluerocksearch.com/2020/09/24/how-company-culture-can-improve-your-franchise/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-to-get-a-feel-for-a-franchise-brands-culture-2723757" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Blue Rock Search</a>, an executive recruiting firm, finds that company culture can improve a franchise in a number of different ways.&nbsp;“By creating a positive company culture, you can improve the performance of your franchise, create a more motivated and engaged team, provide a shared sense of purpose, and establish a favorable reputation,” wrote<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancylinked2010/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-to-get-a-feel-for-a-franchise-brands-culture-2723757" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">&nbsp;Nancy Estep</a> of Blue Rock Search.To further support those claims,<a href="https://tour.franchisebusinessreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Top-Quartile-Performance2018-1.jpg?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-to-get-a-feel-for-a-franchise-brands-culture-2723757" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">&nbsp;Franchise Business Review conducted a study</a> and found a direct link between satisfaction and franchise performance. The outlet reports that brands with high franchisee satisfaction “drastically outperform brands with low satisfaction on every key performance metric.” These results showcase just how important a positive culture is in the workplace.But as an outsider looking in, how can you get a feel for a franchise’s culture before deciding to invest?<h2>How to Assess Culture</h2>There are several ways you can get a feel for a franchise’s culture before signing the franchise agreement and officially becoming part of the team.<ul><li>Online Research</li></ul>The most immediate way you can get an idea of a brand’s culture is by scouring the Internet and conducting comprehensive online research. This includes exploring the franchise’s official website, social media profiles and any available marketing materials. Many franchisors, like<a href="https://franchise.teriyakimadness.com/franchisee-testimonials/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-to-get-a-feel-for-a-franchise-brands-culture-2723757" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">&nbsp;Teriyaki Madness</a> and<a href="https://www.carepatrol.com/franchising/testimonials.html?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-to-get-a-feel-for-a-franchise-brands-culture-2723757" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">&nbsp;CarePatrol</a>, will publish franchisee testimonials so you can get a glimpse at what the brand is like behind the scenes.Social media can also give you an idea of how the brand presents itself to the public, while online reviews can offer invaluable insight into the real-world experiences of both franchisees and customers alike. Reviews are a handy resource as they often contain candid feedback on various aspects of the franchise, from its products or services to its customer service and overall atmosphere.<ul><li>Attend Discovery Days</li></ul>Discovery Days serve as a golden opportunity to immerse yourself in a company’s environment. For the uninitiated,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/the-abcs-of-franchise-discovery-days-what-to-expect-2723319">Discovery Days</a> are held by franchisors as a way to provide prospective franchisees with an in-person look at the brand. This opportunity will allow you to see how the franchisor presents itself and how it interacts with its team.&nbsp;&nbsp;<ul><li>Speak with Current and Former Franchisees</li></ul>There are few better ways to get a grasp on a brand’s culture than by hearing it straight from the mouth of those who have experienced it. If you’re considering joining a franchise, we highly recommend you&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/before-you-sign-an-agreement-talking-with-franchisees-2718507">speak with both current and former franchisees</a>. Their firsthand accounts and insights can provide you with valuable perspectives on the day-to-day operations, support from the franchisor, challenges they’ve encountered and much more.<h2>Trust Your Instincts</h2>Culture can still be a hard thing to gauge. Do your best to trust your instincts. If something about the franchise’s culture doesn’t sit right with you or doesn’t align with your personal values, goals and vision, it’s perfectly acceptable to hold off. After all, investing in a franchise is a significant commitment, and finding a franchise that resonates with you is essential for long-term satisfaction and success. &nbsp;

How to Get a Feel for a Franchise Brand's Culture

1851 Franchise

Discovery Day events and meeting with experienced franchisees can help potential investors get a glimpse of a brand’s reputation and team interactions.

how-to-get-a-feel-for-a-franchise-brands-culture

Mellow Mushroom

Art and Economics: How Mellow Mushroom’s Local Commitment Helped Secure Franchise Times Top 400 Spot

mellow-mushroom-franchise-times-400-rank-growth

Sola Salons

Photo of interior of Sola Salons location

How Much Can I Make as a Sola Salons Franchise Owner?

franchise-earnings

SweatHouz

Memberships That Matter: SweatHouz’s Recurring Revenue Model Explained

sweathouz-recurring-revenue-model

Pigtails & Crewcuts

Pigtails & Crewcuts National Convention Spotlights a Business That Builds More Than Just Revenue

Why Franchisees Are All In: Pigtails & Crewcuts National Convention Spotlights a Business That Builds More Than Just Revenue

pigtails-and-crewcuts-national-convention-2025

Pet Wants

How Pet Wants Offers a Franchise Opportunity That Feeds Both Pets and Passion

how-pet-wants-offers-a-franchise-opportunity-that-feeds-both-pets-and-passion

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

Authority Brands Enters Q4 with Record Momentum

Authority Brands Enters Q4 with Record Momentum, Surpassing 200 New Franchise Owners in the First 10 Months of 2025

authority-brands-enters-q4-with-record-momentum-surpassing-200-new-franchise-owners-in-the-first-10-months-of-2025

Franchises, work-life balance, millennials in franchising, millennials work-life balance

The Best Franchises for Millennials Wanting Work-Life Balance

best-franchises-millennials-work-life-balance

Photo of Papa Murphy's Take 'N' Bake Pizza franchisee Lily Wilford

Entrepreneur: This 18-Year-Old Saves Babysitting Money for College — Then Decided to Buy a Business Instead

18-year-old-franchise-owner-lily-wilford

Amazon outage, AWS outage, Amazon AWS logo

The Day the Cloud Stalled: How Amazon's Outage Impacted Franchise Economy

amazon-aws-outage-franchise-impact-travel-dining-failure

Thursday 1851 Franchise Agg - NASAA’s Noncompete Push

NASAA’s Noncompete Push Puts Franchise Growth on Uncertain Ground

franchise-noncompete-nasaa-advisory-reasonableness-standard

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

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities - 1851 Franchise Agg

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities 

health-care-hiring-slowdown-in-home-care-franchise-opportunities

A Practical Playbook: Who To Call First When Franchising Your Business

franchising-your-business-who-to-call-first

image of jerome hanway from right at home Las Cruces, New Mexico 1851 franchise franchisee spotlight

Jerome Hanway Is Building His Right at Home Franchise Around His Mission To Serve

right-at-home-franchise-las-cruces-jerome-hanway

image of michael panos and michel panos, owners of mellow mushroom in Atlanta

The Panos Family’s Role in Preserving Mellow Mushroom’s Character — and Expanding in Atlanta

mellow-mushroom-franchise-panos-restaurant-group-metro-atlanta

image of franchise deep dive from 1851 franchise on doody calls franchise authority brands

DoodyCalls Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

doodycalls-franchise-deep-dive

Graphic with arm, holding graduation cap, coming out of stack of books

top-tutoring-test-prep-franchises

How to Get a Feel for a Franchise Brand's Culture

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS