I love my franchise owner network. From the time I first became interested in Salons by JC, my fellow franchisees have been a priceless source of support and encouragement. They help me problem-solve, persevere through challenges, and celebrate my successes. And best of all, I get to pay them back in kind.
If you’re a new franchisee (or a potential franchisee who’s thinking about the network aspect of this industry), you may be unsure how the network operates. How do you harness its full potential? There are almost as many options as there are franchise companies, but I have some favorites. Here are my Top 10 recommendations for the best ways to leverage your franchise owner network.
Phone Calls
Phone calls are one of the most obvious ways to leverage your owner network. These can be impromptu or scheduled, ad hoc or conducted at regular intervals. I do recommend introducing yourself by email or getting a referral from the franchisor or a fellow owner before calling someone. Remember to be respectful of the other person’s time, and use phone calls to generate solutions and encourage each other, not complain.
Site Visits
If you operate a brick-and-mortar franchise, site visits are one of the best ways to gather useful information from your owner network. They can work two ways: you can visit other franchise locations, or you can invite other franchisees to visit yours. Use site visits to help you improve your setup, product displays, employee interactions, and other details that can only be evaluated effectively in person. At the end of the visit, sit down with your fellow franchise owner for a feedback or Q&A session, so you can make the most of this opportunity to learn.
Brainstorms
Trying to solve an especially tough problem? Gather a few of your fellow owners for a brainstorming session! Invite a mix of experienced and inexperienced franchisees. The experienced owners will be able to recommend tested solutions, and the inexperienced owners will bring a fresh perspective. To help everyone get the most mileage out of the ideas generated in the meeting, email a summary to the attendees afterwards.
Vendor Recommendations
Franchisors usually provide owners with a list of trusted vendors. But even the best franchise companies don’t always pick the best vendors. Sometimes a vendor is good at first, but a management or employee change may lead to a decrease in quality. Or large franchisors may not be aware of new options in local areas. If you’re struggling to find a good vendor for your business, ask your fellow franchisees for recommendations. Someone in your owner network likely knows of a good alternative.
Employee Referrals
Finding good employees can be hard. If you need a manager or other employee for your franchise, consider asking other franchisees for referrals. I don’t necessarily recommend hiring someone else’s friend or family member. That can introduce odd dynamics into your business and your relationship with your colleague. But fellow franchisees may have too many qualified applicants for a position, or they may know of top-performing employees who need to relocate or are looking for a promotion or other position change.
Joint Marketing
When you’re a new franchise owner, money is tight. Joint marketing can help you stretch your budget. Your franchisor should already be doing some broad-based brand marketing to support everyone, but consider teaming up with a nearby franchise to supplement these efforts. Focus on marketing expenses, like a billboard or trade-show booth, that would be too expensive for you to handle on your own.
Mentoring Sessions
This may take some time to organize, but the payoff is big. If you’re craving meaningful, long-term support from your owner network, see if you can set up mentoring sessions with a fellow franchisee. Not sure what to look for in a mentor, or how to approach one? Your franchisor should be able to help connect you with someone, or try these tips.
Customer Referrals
If you operate a service-based franchise, consider partnering with another owner to share customer referrals. This can be an excellent way to obtain new business while also creating a positive experience for customers you can’t help right away (e.g., because your schedule is full or they are traveling). Reevaluate the partnership periodically to make sure it’s still working for everyone involved, including customers.
Accountability Partners
Got goals? An accountability partner can help you reach them. Accountability partners meet with each other regularly to share and track progress toward agreed-upon goals. With a blend of oversight and encouragement, they are a great way to keep yourself on track. You can also set up an accountability group for mutual support, but keep it small. Accountability works best when the people know each other well and are invested in each other’s success.
Pay It Forward
This is my favorite and, I think, the best way to use your franchise owner network. When you’ve received support, pay it forward. Be willing to take calls from fellow franchisees, sign up to be someone’s mentor, or welcome other owners to visit your business. You’ll get more satisfaction from your work when you take time to contribute to and celebrate others’ success!
Want to learn more about the benefits of being part of a franchise owner network? Schedule a call with me today!
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