1851

When you have been on a roller coaster once, you know what to expect. You know where those drops, the dips and turns are, and you can even expect the big upside down flips. That&rsquo;s because when you come to love roller coasters so much that you decide to go on for a second time, you already know what is going to happen.&nbsp;

When you decide to tackle the roller coaster of franchising for the second time, however, this isn&rsquo;t exactly the case.

Sure, it helps to have been through the process of franchising once. You know where there could be the drops, where you may encounter dips and you possibly have been through a couple upside down flips already, such as a construction roadblock or a delayed opening. But there is no way to fully know what you are in for as you buckle your seatbelt, pull down the safety lock, and start up the slow track to the first big drop.

There is no one better to ask about finding success in the first year of multi-unit ownership than those who have been through it already and keep coming back for more. We spoke with two experienced franchisees to get some tips from the pros.

1. Have a really great team.

Being able to let go of the reigns (even just a little bit) is important when opening a second unit. As your focus is more heavily placed on that second unit itself, the first one has to be in the position to perform successfully without you. A huge part of this comes from having a trustworthy managerial staff in place who you can trust to keep the ship afloat without the captain.

Andy and Caro Johnson were the first ever franchisees with <a href="http://www.toppersfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=taking-the-ring-for-round-two-10625#intro" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Toppers Pizza</a>, so it is safe to say that they have a deeply-rooted passion for the brand. Instilling this love for Toppers into their team was a tactic that they found most effective when preparing to open their second location in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

&ldquo;My team members are as invested in growing the brand and getting to know the community as we are.&rdquo; Caro Johnson said. &ldquo;The food speaks for itself, but if customers are coming in and I am the only one saying how great Toppers is, the message won&rsquo;t come across. My team needs to beat the drum as well.&rdquo;

2. Balance is everything. 
 
While the day to day operations should function alone with the strong team behind that first location, you will still be overseeing its success. This needs to be equally balanced with keeping the work with the second location on pace.

Jeffrey Swackhammer Jr. has opened a handful of <a href="http://wirelesszonefranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=taking-the-ring-for-round-two-10625" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wireless Zone</a> locations across the East Coast, following in the footsteps of his father, Jeffrey Swackhammer Sr. Together, they formed one of the fastest growing franchisee teams in the system, but Jeffrey Jr. still remembers what it was like preparing to become a multi-unit owner.

&ldquo;When you are operating one unit, you tend to operate in the moment. When you move to becoming a multi-unit owner, you are essentially preventing the fires before they even start. You must take the necessary preventative steps to make sure things do not fall off the rails before they even have the chance to.&rdquo; Jeffrey Swackhammer Jr. said.

3. Time management.

In order to achieve this balance, you must manage your time wisely. The excitement for the new location and wanting to spend every waking moment getting it set up cannot overshadow the importance of staying involved at your first one.

&ldquo;It was truly all bout time management. You do it on the basis of need, and must allow the appropriate time for these needs - whether for an operating location or your new one,&rdquo; Swackhammer said. &ldquo;I made sure that I was extremely regimented in terms of how I handled things and in my determination of what needed some extra time and attention on my part and what could be handled by the management staff in place.&rdquo;

For Johnson, it was crucial to balance the time spent instilling the Toppers culture in the first location while also ramping up the opening for his second.

&ldquo;I started off in the new store and Andy managed the first one when we were getting things started. We wanted to allow the time we felt was needed to be there with the staff of our first location and make sure that they would not only understand the culture, but understand it enough to train future employees to feel the same way,&rdquo; Johnson said. &ldquo;We knew this would take a lot of time management on our part to allow the appropriate time and patience needed to get things right and continue to protect the integrity of the Toppers Pizza brand.&rdquo;

Taking the Ring for Round Two 

1851 Franchise

How these multi-unit owners found success in their first year after jumping from one unit to two.

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

taking-the-ring-for-round-two

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

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

ultimate-guide-to-selling-franchises

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: How to Clarify Your Positioning – The “Why You/Why Now”

the-ultimate-guide-to-selling-franchises-how-to-clarify-your-positioning-the-why-youwhy-now

Franchise Financial Reporting, Analytics and Business Intelligence | Qvinci

Franchise Financial Reporting, Analytics and Business Intelligence | Qvinci — Emerging Leaders in Franchise Support

franchise-financial-reporting-analytics-and-business-intelligence-qvinci-emerging-leaders-in-franchise-support

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 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

District Taco Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-district-tacos-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Taking the Ring for Round Two

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS