1851

<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-monson/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=lessons-from-franchise-execs-catherine-monson-president-ceo-of-fastsigns-international-chair-of-the-international-franchise-association-2716752" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Catherine Monson</a> is a franchise fan of the first order, which probably doesn’t come as much of a surprise. She’s a powerhouse within the industry. Currently, the Chair of the <a href="https://www.franchise.org/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=lessons-from-franchise-execs-catherine-monson-president-ceo-of-fastsigns-international-chair-of-the-international-franchise-association-2716752" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">International Franchising Association</a>, she’s been recognized repeatedly for her contributions to the industry throughout her career. She knows what it takes to win at the franchise game.&nbsp;Wry and witty, Monson started in the industry back in 1980, or as she likes to modestly phrase it, “more than 20 years ago.” After becoming CEO of <a href="https://www.fsfastsigns.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=lessons-from-franchise-execs-catherine-monson-president-ceo-of-fastsigns-international-chair-of-the-international-franchise-association-2716752#~40X1114" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">FASTSIGNS International</a> in 2009, she has seen the brand expand to a 762-unit printing giant with a presence in eight countries.&nbsp;Additionally, FASTSIGNS is part of the <a href="https://www.propelledbrands.com/our-executive-team/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=lessons-from-franchise-execs-catherine-monson-president-ceo-of-fastsigns-international-chair-of-the-international-franchise-association-2716752" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Propelled Brands</a> portfolio, with Monson overseeing <a href="https://www.mysalonsuite.com/franchise/?gclid=CjwKCAjwmK6IBhBqEiwAocMc8gJbrr3o9OoQRkY6rpxsyr34mEml8TBQaWxXmdOBroy-ZUwYe3E7pxoCj2AQAvD_BwE&utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=lessons-from-franchise-execs-catherine-monson-president-ceo-of-fastsigns-international-chair-of-the-international-franchise-association-2716752" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">My Salon Suite</a> and <a href="https://www.nerdstogofranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=lessons-from-franchise-execs-catherine-monson-president-ceo-of-fastsigns-international-chair-of-the-international-franchise-association-2716752" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">NerdsToGo</a>.Her passion, wisdom and expertise in the industry makes her insight invaluable for franchisees. And for a franchisor, that insight starts with a rundown of her best practices:&nbsp;&nbsp;<ol><li>Focus on franchisee profitability, first and foremost. “It’s the most important thing any franchisor can work on. It’s number one. It’s foundational. If you have profitable franchisees … they'll even pay royalties happily!”</li><li>Help franchisees grow sales volume. But, she says, they must be profitable sales with good margins. To make that happen, she recommends a concerted effort of good marketing, social media, sales training and great customer service training.&nbsp;</li><li>Improve the value of the brand. Franchisors must focus on system growth, selling more locations and ramping them up quickly. More units in a system help the brand create a bigger ad fund as well as increase brand awareness. Her rule of thumb: It takes about 100 locations up and running to achieve royalty self-sufficiency.</li><li>Focus on communications. “Communicate, communicate, communicate again and again and again,” advises Monson. A weekly email to your franchisees isn’t going to cut it, she says. “It’s email newsletters, it's video calls, it's mail, it's having each of your business consultants or field staff and marketing services managers communicating the same message,” she says. But she says that communication is a two-way street, and franchise advisory council and task forces are crucial, too.&nbsp;</li></ol>To hear about how Monson advises franchisees looking for the right brand, as well as some of the challenges she’s overcome during her career, watch the video above, or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCEubPz7v-U&utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=lessons-from-franchise-execs-catherine-monson-president-ceo-of-fastsigns-international-chair-of-the-international-franchise-association-2716752" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">click here to watch it on YouTube</a>.

Lessons From Franchise Execs: Catherine Monson, President & CEO of FASTSIGNS International; Chair of the International Franchise Association

1851 Franchise

This franchising powerhouse shares the four best practices every franchisor should follow, along with other wisdom from her 41-year career.

lessons-from-franchise-execs-catherine-monson-president-ceo-of-fastsigns-international-chair-of-the-international-franchise-association

Comfort Keepers

Comfort Keepers - Butch and Niki Irwin - Father's Day - 1851 Franchise

A Legacy of Care: How a Father and Daughter Team Elevate Senior Living Across Michigan and Ohio

comfort-keepers-monroe-butch-niki-irwin

Minuteman Press International

Minuteman Press Franchise Owner Corey Sanders at his center in Greenville, SC.

Minuteman Press Franchise Review: From Business Consulting to Printing

minuteman-press-franchise-review-from-business-consulting-to-printing

HomeTeam Inspection Service

Sell Smarter: How Pre-Listing Inspections Give Home Sellers an Edge

pre-listing-inspections-seller-advantage

BoConcept

BoConcept Shares Tips for Homeowners Who Want to Refresh Their Living Rooms

boconcept-shares-tips-for-homeowners-who-want-to-refresh-their-living-rooms

BoConcept’s Carmen Henriquez Shares Tips for Seamless Indoor-Outdoor Design

boconcepts-carmen-henriquez-shares-tips-for-seamless-indoor-outdoor-design

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

Homebuyers Keep Buying — And That’s Good News for Home Service Franchises - 1851 Franchise

Homebuyers Keep Buying — And That’s Good News for Home Service Franchises

homebuyers-keep-buying-and-thats-good-news-for-home-service-franchises

AI Could Push Unemployment to 20% — Fueling a Surge in First-Time Franchise Buyers - 1851 Franchise

AI Could Push Unemployment to 20% — Fueling a Surge in First-Time Franchise Buyers

ai-unemployment-impact-white-collar-job-loss

How To Sell Just One Franchise: What You’ll Learn at FranCamp NJ 2025

how-to-sell-just-one-franchise-what-youll-learn-at-francamp-nj-2025

House Passes Tax Relief Package With Key Benefits for Small Businesses and Franchises

house-passes-small-business-tax-relief-bill-2025

McDonald’s To Hire 375,000 Workers as It Prepares for Major U.S. Expansion

mcdonalds-to-hire-375000-workers-as-it-prepares-for-major-us-expansion

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How To Create a Strong Incentive

how-to-build-strong-incentives-to-attract-prospective-franchisees

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How to Position Your Value Proposition

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How to Position Your Value Proposition — Point of Differentiation

how-to-position-your-value-proposition-with-a-point-of-differentiation

franchise supplier award design with Locate AI logo and 1851 Franchise badge

Franchise Real Estate Services | Locate AI — Emerging Leaders in Franchise Support

locate-ai-emerging-leaders-in-franchise-support

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

ultimate-guide-to-selling-franchises

How Car Sales Taught Buddy's Home Furnishings’ Mitchell Lee the Secrets of Franchise Development

how-car-sales-taught-buddys-home-furnishings-mitchell-lee-the-secrets-of-franchise-development

The Top 20 Handyman Franchises To Invest in for 2025

top-handyman-franchises-to-invest-in

The Top 20 Cleaning Franchises to Invest in for 2025

top-cleaning-franchises-to-invest-in

franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Melissa & Matt Johnson and Pigtails & Crewcuts logo

Building a Family-Friendly Business: How Melissa and Matt Johnson Grew Pigtails & Crewcuts in San Antonio

how-melissa-and-matt-johnson-grew-pigtails-crewcuts-in-san-antonio

Sola Salons Franchisee Grows Salon Freedom Into a Multi-State Powerhouse 

sola-salons-franchisee-grows-salon-freedom-into-a-multi-state-powerhouse

Lessons From Franchise Execs: Catherine Monson, President & CEO of FASTSIGNS International; Chair of the International Franchise Association

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS