Young Ones To Watch in Franchising: Sean Fitzgerald

Name: Sean Fitzgerald Rank: 1 Age: 41 Position: Senior Vice President of Franchise Development Company: Quiznos Sean Fitzgerald does not believe in luck. If he did, he wouldn’t have worked this hard to get to where he is today. He is on a mission – a mission to constantly improve franchise brands and their opportunities so that would-be franchisees and current operators can thrive in their daily business. Throughout his zor runs, he has rewritten the map multiple times, making simple tweaks to prepare brands for bigger growth. Whether service brand or restaurant brand, Fitzgerald’s fundamentals have continuously proven to work. A fine-tuned blend of communications and processes is how he gets things done. Listen to the industries top players and they will tell you that a blend of results, knowledge and relationships is how you get to the top. Fitzgerald has mastered each. I GOT INTO FRANCHISING: I got into the franchise community when I started a retail business and started thinking about expansion. I didn’t understand franchising as a whole then, but quickly realized it was the best way to grow a brand the right way. At first, I tried to find other operators, not franchisees, but came to realize they didn’t have the same drive and passion that I had. I knew that I had a great system, model and structure, thus I turned to franchising as a way to grow the business through teaching others how to follow my map to success. I LOVE FRANCHSIING: Because I believe that franchising is the best model for business and the multi-unit business model. No one runs a business better than the owner does. Best practices can be replicated. I have people ask me all the time if they should start their own business. I say, "Always look for a franchise first." If there is a franchise in that industry it will be much easier than trying to start a business from scratch. It’s not the mechanics that are challenging—it’s understanding the nuances and formulas for success. With a franchise system, those pieces are already figured out. IN THE FUTURE:  I would like to be a high level executive at a national or up-and-coming brand. I envision myself moving into the c-suite and having a strong voice for helping every aspect of the brand – from operations to franchising to marketing to training and support. Everything needs to work together in order for success to be a reality. DO YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE OPPORTUNITY:  I would say yes they do, however, it is far more challenging for someone just starting out over someone with great experience and network. Franchising is a very challenging industry and it takes a lot of time to develop your understanding. You have to be patient and diligent. Once you cut your teeth, it can be very prosperous. What other industry can you skip around within an industry? I have been in automotive, fitness, wireless, and now QSR. You can really do whatever you want – from working corporately to owning your own business. FUTURE FRANCHISORS SHOULD:  They should seek out advice from experienced franchisors. I am a member of the International Franchise Association’s Franship program where I mentor new and upcoming franchisors. I wish I had that resource when I was starting. I learned it the hard way and had to learn through very costly mistakes. There are so many people who are willing to share best practices with you. You simply have to ask. The one thing about the industry that I am most proud of is the fact that people are willing to share information. FUTURE FRANCHISEES SHOULD: Their success depends on how well they execute the system. Just because you open a location within a successful franchise doesn't guarantee success. You have to be willing to work hard to become successful. It's not just taking the keys and magic happens. Diligence is critical. Talk with franchisees. Understand exactly what you are buying. Do your homework. Hype is one thing. Execution is another.