Franchise Development Leader: Brynson Smith, Director of Franchise Development at uBreakiFix

Electronics repair brand uBreakiFix began franchising just five years ago, and in that short time, the brand has seen explosive growth, establishing more than 425 locations in markets across North America. Leading the franchise’s perennially aggressive development efforts is Brynson Smith, uBreakiFix’s director of franchise development.

We talked to Smith to learn what brought him into franchising four years ago and why he still loves the industry. Here’s what he had to say.

How did you first get involved with the franchising industry?

In 2014, I actually approached uBreakiFix CEO Justin Wetherill about opening stores of my own. Instead of becoming a franchisee myself, Justin convinced me to join uBreakiFix a different way — as a member of the development team. Today, I serve as Director of Franchise Sales and have gotten to help grow uBreakiFix from less than 100 stores to nearly 450. It has been an incredible ride, and I wouldn't change a thing.

What do you love about the industry?

I love that franchising allows individuals to achieve a better life for themselves. Franchising provides the opportunity to be your own boss while growing your business with a proven model and concept. There is a clearly defined recipe for success, and it is up to the franchisee to execute. The best part of the franchising process is that you are not alone. It is truly a partnership, and you have a whole team of people who want to see you succeed.

Is there anything in the industry you wish you could change?

As an industry, nothing. However, I think there are a lot of things that certain franchise systems can do to be more transparent with their owners. At uBreakiFix, we prioritize communication and clarity. It is extremely important that we set proper expectations for new owners and put everything out on the table. For us, that's the only way to do business.

What’s the biggest change you’ve seen I the industry since you started?

Overall, I think the industry is healthy. Franchising is stronger today than ever before, and more companies are looking to the franchising model in order to grow their brand. In my opinion, franchising is the best way for a company to garner market share quickly.

Today, we're seeing a significant increase in multi-unit franchisees looking to diversify their portfolios. We have also seen increased interest from working professionals. It helps that we have a strong economy right now. When the market is up and rates are attractive, people want to buy franchises.

What do you think makes for a great franchisee?

At uBreakiFix, we're first looking for someone who will be an involved owner and who wants to follow our system. We're looking for them to be a user of tech, though they do not need to have tech repair experience. Finally, our franchisees need to be capitalized.

What is the number-one thing that sells franchises?

I think there are two things: a healthy system and an incredible corporate support team. Franchisees want to know that they're joining a successful organization, and that the team will continue to support their individual success once they join.