What I Learned When Finalizing My First FDD: Kika Stretch Studios

Deciding to turn your business into a franchise means taking on the tall task of drafting a franchise disclosure document. Not many people will tell you that this is the most exciting part about the franchising process, but then, they’re not Hakika DuBose.

DuBose, a dancer and actress, is the founder and CEO of Kika Stretch Studios and the creator of the KIKA Method, which is described on the Kika Stretch Studios website as “a gentle assisted stretching process that loosens up tight muscles freeing your body from pain and stress.”

1851 Franchise caught up with DuBose to learn about how she decided to franchise her business, as well as her advice for business owners who are considering growing through franchising.

DuBose’s previous work experiences more than prepared her to launch her franchise. Early on in her career, she began to delegate tasks so she could work on growing the business, and because she hired a team to help her, she began creating systems that would later work as systems within her franchise company, she explained.

She also sought some external help.

“I first considered becoming a franchise in January of 2018,” DuBose said in an email. “The first step I took was looking for a trusted consulting company that could help guide me in the right direction.”

Today, Kika Stretch Studios has seven open locations, most of them in New Jersey, with three more locations opening in the next three months and a larger growth initiative underway.

“I had pretty much all of my systems in place, but I had a consulting firm look over our profile and help us create our FDD,” DuBose said.

For DuBose, the possibilities her business could reach made the FDD process an enjoyable one.

“The most enjoyable aspects of putting together the FDD was seeing what our endless growth opportunities could be,” she said.

Like many a franchisor (and franchisee), DuBose found that reading the FDD cover to cover helped her understand how not only the industry as a whole, but how every aspect of her franchise concept would be run.

“The challenging aspect was making sure I read it over and over, in an effort to truly understand how our franchise would work,” she said.

DuBose’s advice to business owners considering franchising their enterprise is straightforward: “Do your due diligence and get advice from industry leaders who have your best interest at heart,” she said. “If you don’t personally know anyone that can help you, email me and I can refer you to my network.”

DuBose also advises business owners to have fun throughout the FDD drafting process.

“Some of the biggest lessons I learned are that the FDD is not only a legal document, but also something that can make you stand out from other franchise companies,” she said. “Understand the legalities, but also try to have fun with the process, as well. You are creating the baseline of your business, so make sure it represents not only your brand, but also you as a person."