Why Students Should Choose Franchise Careers After They Graduate from College

After graduation, many students face the daunting task of finding a job that aligns with both their interests and career goals. Though often overlooked by young professionals, franchising can be a great way to begin a career. 

With tons of support, low-cost opportunities, financing options and the backing of a well-established brand, franchising is a solid option for college grads. 

Established Brand Recognition

When working for a franchise, you are joining an established company that already has a strong reputation and customer base. This can give young entrepreneurs a head start in building a career within the company. Franchises also already have time-tested processes and procedures that must be followed, meaning most of the trial-and-error has already been done for you.  

Training and Support

Franchise companies often provide comprehensive training programs, as well as ongoing support throughout the progression of your career. This can be especially valuable for new graduates who may not have a lot of on-the-job experience. 

Training for new franchisees typically covers all aspects of the business, from customer service to inventory management. Additionally, these brands may also provide ongoing support and guidance, such as mentoring and coaching, to help newcomers develop the skills they need to advance in their careers.

Clear Career Direction

Many franchise companies have a clear career path, with opportunities for advancement as you gain experience and skills. This can give new graduates a sense of direction and purpose, as well as help determine long-term goals.

For example, a franchise brand may have a clear track for growth within the company, such as starting as a team member and eventually becoming a manager or a district manager. Many franchise owners even often start as employees before investing. 

Flexibility and Options

Franchise companies come in an array of categories and often offer a range of different positions and roles. This provides the opportunity to find something that aligns with your specific interests and strengths post-grad. 

Some popular franchise career options include management, marketing and operations. If a graduate has studied marketing, there may be opportunities for work on a franchise's social media team or to develop promotional materials. If you are more interested in operations, you may be able to work on logistics or supply chain management.

Investment Opportunity

Investing in a franchise can give recent graduates the opportunity to become a business owner and an entrepreneur while having the support and guidance of an established brand. Although the investment may seem daunting for someone right out of college, there are plenty of low-cost franchise brands with an initial investment of $100,000 or less.

However, new graduate or not, $100,000 is still a lot of money. Luckily, there are financing options, such as loans from the Small Business Administration, that can be explored throughout the franchising process. 

With proper training, franchising can provide a level of security and stability that is often hard to find in other career paths post-grad.