How to Hire the Right People as a Multi-Unit Franchisee

The success of any business relies heavily on the efforts of its employees. For multi-unit franchisees especially, hiring the right people is crucial. When operating multiple locations, maintaining brand consistency and quality service is essential. 

1851 Franchise spoke with Anne Huntington, president and board member of Huntington Learning Center, to learn some key strategies and the top qualities to look for while hiring to ensure you bring the right talent on board to support and grow your business.

Commitment to the Mission

A multi-unit franchise requires a team committed to the brand's mission in order to find success. For instance, at Huntington Learning Center, the mission is to provide the best education possible for every student. 

“Employees must be passionate about education and committed to helping students achieve their best,” said Huntington. 

This mission-driven mindset ensures that employees are aligned with the core values and goals of the franchise, and, thus, motivated to help the brand meet them. 

Adaptability and Willingness To Learn

Multi-unit franchise teams often need to be able to adapt quickly and seamlessly, as with multiple locations there is a greater chance of last minute changes.

“Multi-unit operations require staff who can thrive in dynamic environments and adapt to varying situations across different locations,” said Huntington.

Employees should be able to handle the unique challenges that come with different units while maintaining a high standard of service. This flexibility allows them to effectively manage the nuances of each location, ensuring smooth and efficient operations.

Continuous development and support are key to retaining top talent and ensuring long-term success. Look for a team of individuals who are interested in continual learning. For Huntington, this is something that is built into her brand’s culture.

“We strongly emphasize ongoing training and professional growth,” she said. “This helps keep employees motivated and engaged and ensures that they are equipped with the latest tools and knowledge to provide the best possible service.”

Customer-Centric Approach and a Collaborative Spirit

A customer-centric approach is vital in just about every business. Employees should connect with customers, providing the best experience possible and have a genuine desire to support customers in fulfilling their needs and wants. 

“Employees should possess excellent interpersonal skills and a genuine desire to support and engage with our customers,” said Huntington. This approach helps build strong relationships with customers, fostering loyalty and trust in the brand. Not only should employees get along well with customers, but they should also work well with each other. 

“Teamwork is vital,” Huntington said. “Employees should be able to work well with colleagues to create a supportive and efficient work environment.”

Reliability and Integrity

If you are a multi-unit owner, you are not always able to be present at each of your business locations. You’ll need to be able to trust your employees to represent your brand positively.

“Trustworthy and dependable employees are foundational to maintaining the consistency and quality that our brand promises,” Huntington said. 

Ensuring that employees are dependable and uphold the brand's standards helps maintain a consistent experience for customers across all locations. This consistency is crucial for building a reputable and reliable brand image.

Standardized Hiring Process

One of the biggest challenges franchisees face is maintaining a consistent quality standard across multiple locations. Huntington advises putting a system in place to mitigate this challenge.

“It can be difficult to ensure that every unit upholds the same high standards, particularly regarding hiring,” she said. “To overcome this, franchisees should implement a standardized hiring process that includes thorough vetting and comprehensive training programs.”

This ensures that customers receive the same positive experience of the brand regardless of the staff they encounter. 

The Right Team Paves the Way to Success

Hiring the right people as a multi-unit franchisee involves prioritizing qualities such as commitment to the mission, adaptability, customer-centricity, reliability and a collaborative spirit. Implementing a standardized hiring process and encouraging continuous development allows for consistent quality and maintained motivation among employees. 

Every great franchisee had help buying a franchise. Want to learn more about how 1851 helps franchisees find the right franchise opportunity? Visit www.1851growthclub.com and start your journey.