1851

So you&#8217;ve opened up a burger joint as a franchisee. Customers can&#8217;t get enough of what you&#8217;re selling, and you&#8217;ve decided to branch out by opening up two more locations. While more franchise locations certainly open the door to higher profits, they also make the need for a strong, steady vendor relationship that much more vital. Is business booming because of your fresh-baked buns and seasoned fries? Great, but remember this means your operational success is reliant on your suppliers providing you with the right products and enough of them in a timely and cost-effective manner. You may have all your ducks in a row, but unless everything is on the up and up with your vendors, your bustling burger joint could become a flaming failure overnight. It always pays to know how to maintain a positive relationship with vendors, but this goes doubly so for multi-unit franchisees. With that said, here are some tips and tricks to help you make the most of your vendor relationship. Clear up confusion The best way to avoid any misunderstandings down the line is by both parties knowing exactly what their responsibilities are. The ideal way to accomplish this is by getting everything in writing. This way both you and the vendor will know precisely what is expected of each other. Any potential dust-ups can be eliminated by one or both parties referring back to the contract and holding up their end of the bargain. Pay your bills This one should really go without saying, but all too many franchisees make the mistake of thinking a late payment here or there won&#8217;t impact their vendor relationship. Wrong. Suppliers notice this type of behavior, and it drains them of goodwill toward you and your enterprise at an almost supernatural pace. Plan ahead You should know better than anyone what items you&#8217;ll need and when for your franchise locations. Put this information to good use by providing vendors with plenty of lead time on orders. Rushing suppliers with last-minute orders and then getting bent out of shape when they can&#8217;t deliver is almost as bad as failing to pay them on time. Be personable Multi-unit franchisees will be interacting with vendors on a near-constant basis for any number of products. While it can be tempting to rush through these interactions in an attempt to save time, keep in mind there&#8217;s a flesh-and-blood person on the other end of the transaction. A little small talk can go a long toward creating a deeper relationship. After all, who do you think a vendor is going to be more loyal to: the guy who knows the name of his kid&#8217;s Little League team or the guy who didn&#8217;t know he had kids in the first place? Keep your cool Mistakes happen, and as long as businesses are run by human beings, they will continue to. This holds just as true for vendors as anyone else. The key is not to sour your relationship with a vendor over a temporary setback. Is an order running late? Were some products defective? Unless this is a constant issue with a supplier, your best bet is putting a smile on your face, calmly explaining the situation and refraining from any hot-tempered tantrums that will come back to bite you in the behind.

1851 Franchise

There are tried-and-true ways for franchisees to promote positive vendor relationships.

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

How to Maintain a Solid Relationship with Vendors 

how-to-maintain-a-solid-relationship-with-vendors

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

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Amy Lepke and family and Papa Murphy's logo

After 14 Years as a Stay-At-Home Mom, Amy Lepke Returned to Papa Murphy’s — This Time as an Owner

papa-murphys-franchise-amy-lepke

Franchisee Spotlight with Micki Waters and Papa Murphy's Logo

Work Mom: How Micki Waters Became a Mother Figure to Her Entire Papa Murphy’s Team

work-mom-how-micki-waters-became-a-mother-figure-to-her-entire-papa-murphys-team

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

How to Maintain a Solid Relationship with Vendors

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS