1851

Franchising is a lucrative entrepreneurial venture and with multiple franchises, the rewards have the potential to multiply. To find success in multi-unit franchising, it’s important to have a plan that is well-thought-out, not just aimlessly pursued as opportunities arise. For franchisees who plan their franchising journey carefully, multi-unit ownership can provide exponential returns on investment while allowing them more freedom and flexibility.Here are some of the key strategies successful multi-unit franchisees use when building their empires.<h3>Choose Your Brand Carefully</h3>It’s always important to choose a franchise model that aligns with your needs, values, passions and lifestyle goals, but it’s even more crucial when you’re committing to develop multiple units.&nbsp;There are practical considerations to be made when entering a multi-unit agreement.&nbsp;<ul><li>Are you comfortable with the development schedule you are committing to?&nbsp;</li><li>Are you confident in the franchisor’s ability to support you as you grow beyond a single unit?&nbsp;</li><li>Are there other successful multi-unit owners in the system with whom you can collaborate?&nbsp;</li></ul>These are all good boxes to check, and many successful owners take the evaluation a step further and consider their emotional connection to the concept.When you feel a spark of excitement about a brand, you’ll have even more passion and energy to carry you through the potentially grueling start-up process. And once the locations are operational, a fondness for the brand will help you nurture your businesses and stay involved in the system, even when you aren’t on-site on a day-to-day basis.<h3>Make Your Five-Year Plan Before Beginning</h3>Trying to grow a multi-unit business without a plan is difficult. While there are some aspects of business strategy that can be repeated for future success, there are some unique challenges that come with scaling to multiple units.This plan should include business goals and objectives, market analysis, financial projections, marketing and branding strategies, risk management, sustainability initiatives and even an exit strategy if that’s part of the long-term vision.&nbsp;It’s important to note that this five-year plan can be somewhat dynamic. Finding the balance between committing to the original plan and adapting as circumstances change is important. However, once you’ve made the decision to pursue multi-unit ownership, whether that’s at the start of your franchising journey or after a bit of experience, a clear-cut pathway will be crucial.“It was a blend of foresight and firsthand experience that propelled my journey into franchising. While I had initial expansion plans in mind, I chose not to fully commit until I had established ownership of my first location,” explained&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifercivil/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=planning-for-multi-unit-franchise-growth-2726122" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jen Clarke</a>, a two-unit owner with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ownawoodhouse.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=planning-for-multi-unit-franchise-growth-2726122" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Woodhouse Spa</a>. “My time at The Woodhouse in Red Bank surpassed all expectations. The team embraced me warmly, corporate provided unwavering support, and I made a concerted effort to integrate into the local community. The remarkable support and success I encountered at The Woodhouse in Red Bank instilled in me the confidence to pursue further expansion into additional Woodhouse locations.”<h3>Embrace an Ownership and Leadership Mindset</h3>As a multi-unit owner, it is impossible to be in each unit on a daily basis, so it’s important to make a mindset shift from management to leadership and embrace your role as an owner. You can bring managers on board, but leadership requires an intimate knowledge of the long-term vision — something you know best.&nbsp;“Navigating the transition from a managerial role to one of ownership and leadership was an important part of this journey for me,” Clarke said. “I found that the shift occurred organically as I focused on fostering a culture where my team felt empowered to manage and make decisions in line with the vision and values I aimed to instill in each location.”Building teams who share your vision for the future will enable you to funnel more time and energy into the strategy and business development efforts. While this leap can feel like a big one in the early stages, it is important to remember that these mentorship and coaching efforts are nurturing a team that will serve to drive the whole business forward.“This transformation was rooted in cultivating a group of leaders within my team who shared my aspirations and could contribute meaningfully to our collective growth,” Clarke said. “My mindset evolved to prioritize coaching and developing these leaders, ensuring that they were equipped to embark on this journey alongside me with the same passion and commitment.”<h3>Know When to Grow</h3>An established five-year plan is very helpful here. You can reference your plan and the steps you know you’ll need to take alongside some benchmarks or key indicators that it really is time to move forward.&nbsp;Part of successful growth is taking the right steps at the right time, and with a plan already established, you have something to fall back on that will help you to both avoid impulsive growth decisions and encourage leveling up when it’s time, even if you’re nervous.&nbsp;It is important to find a balance between following your plan blindly and carefully analyzing your market and the economic environment. A lot can change in three years, for example, and part of being a good business owner is knowing when to step back and break the mold for the good of yourself and your business. Other franchisees and support staff at the franchisor level are a great resource for times like these.<h3>Focus On Training, Education and Support for Your Teams</h3>Once you’ve established a healthy network of franchise businesses, it’s crucial that you keep your existing units afloat. Regardless of whether you’re looking to add more units in the future or simply continue driving revenue and creating opportunity through your existing businesses, quality is key.“I prioritize ongoing training and support for my teams to ensure they’re equipped to manage day-to-day operations seamlessly, even in my absence,” Clarke said. “Central to our approach is having well-defined processes for every aspect of our operations, and we hold ourselves accountable to adhering to them rigorously. Open and transparent communication serves as the cornerstone of our teamwork, ensuring everyone is aligned and empowered to excel in their roles.”Building these support networks ahead of time sets all of your units up for success and creates a safety net of sorts so you’re not needed on-site every time the team encounters a challenge.Multi-unit franchising offers a pathway to substantial growth and financial freedom for entrepreneurs. With thorough research, careful planning and ongoing leadership, you can build a strong, adaptable network of businesses that allow you to unlock the full potential of your investments.For more info on successful multi-unit franchising, check out these related articles on 1851 Franchise:<ul><li><a href="https://1851franchise.com/multiunitfranchisees">“How to Succeed as a Multi-Unit Franchisee” (Series)</a></li><li><a href="https://1851franchise.com/why-multi-unit-ownership-takes-a-certain-kind-of-franchisee-2720800">Why Multi-Unit Ownership Takes a Certain Kind of Franchisee</a></li><li><a href="https://1851franchise.com/franchise-executives-share-what-makes-a-successful-multi-unit-restaurant-operator-2720665">Franchise Executives Share What Makes a Successful Multi-Unit Restaurant Operator</a></li></ul>

How to Find Success in Multi-Unit Franchising 

1851 Franchise

A multi-franchise operation can be incredibly rewarding and — with the right brand, planning and support structure — success may come even easier.

What You Need To Know When Planning for Multi-Unit Franchise Growth

planning-for-multi-unit-franchise-growth

Preservan

How to Read the Preservan 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document

how-to-read-the-preservan-2025-franchise-disclosure-document

Woodhouse Spas

Why Woodhouse Spas Is in a Class of Its Own: Comparing the Franchise Opportunity Across the Wellness Industry

why-woodhouse-spas-is-in-a-class-of-its-own-comparing-the-franchise-opportunity-across-the-wellness-industry

Shuckin' Shack

Photo of person holding oyster and Shuckin' Shack hot sauce bottle

Shuckin’ Shack Looks Toward Columbus to Grow Georgia Presence

shuckin-shack-columbus-ga

BooXkeeping

Graphic with person sitting on bar chart, surrounded by coins and pie charts

Why Franchise Brokers Should Take a Closer Look at BooXkeeping

franchise-brokers-booxkeeping-investment

Franchise Bookkeeping Mistakes That Put You on the IRS Radar — And How BooXkeeping Helps You Avoid Them

franchise-bookkeeping-mistakes-that-put-you-on-the-irs-radar-and-how-booxkeeping-helps-you-avoid-them

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

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores - Agg - 1851 Franchise

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores

hooters-franchise-model-company-owned-closures

Dave’s Hot Chicken Sold to Roark Capital in $1 Billion Deal to Fuel Global Expansion

daves-hot-chicken-sold-to-roark-capital-in-1-billion-deal-to-fuel-global-expansion

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

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 Budget Properly

how-franchises-can-budget-their-finances-properly

The Ultimate Guide To Selling Franchises — How To Build Webinars

how-franchisors-can-build-effective-webinars-to-reach-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

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

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

Dan Yangas Brings Family Flooring Legacy Full Circle With Footprints Floors Franchise in Naperville 

Dan Yangas Brings Family Flooring Legacy Full Circle With Footprints Floors Franchise in Naperville, Illinois

dan-yangas-brings-family-flooring-legacy-full-circle-with-footprints-floors-franchise-in-naperville-illinois

What You Need To Know When Planning for Multi-Unit Franchise Growth

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS