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Bill McPherson | Vice President of Franchise Development | Alphagraphics
TIPS
Multi-unit ownership is on the rise in franchising, and that growth isn’t limited to traditionally multi-unit franchise industries like quick-service restaurants. According to FRANdata, owners who operate more than one location are responsible for 54 percent of all franchised units in the U.S. Just eight years ago, single-unit owners held the majority. Many prospective franchise owners are entering the discovery process with plans to own and operate multiple franchise locations. If you’re evaluating franchise brands and looking to grow beyond a single location, you can be successful by going in prepared for the unique challenges this presents. Everything, from choosing the right franchise opportunity for your skillset to the location of your first unit, should set you up for multi-unit success. We spoke with Ed Rothschild, owner of four AlphaGraphics locations in the greater Denver, Colorado area, and here are some of his tips to help aspiring multi-unit owners achieve their growth vision.
Franchising USA
TO HELP MULTI-UNIT OWNERS SUCCEED 1
Choose the Right Franchise
First, it is key to select a franchise with a model that supports multi-unit owners. Some owners purchase multiple territories right away, while others open a single unit, grow their business, and later decide to open another. If you think multiple units might be in your future, ask questions about multi-unit ownership before you look at territories and sign the franchise agreement. How does the franchisor support owners when they want to expand? To serve multi-unit owners, a franchise network’s software, operational systems, owner training and tools must be more sophisticated. Speak with existing franchise owners who already own multiple units to find out about their successes and challenges. In addition, find out what your role would be within your business. As an owner/ operator, you won’t have time to do it all, especially right away. How many people do you need to hire right away so you can focus on sales and marketing? Whatever you choose, make sure you have a plan with the remaining roles in your business. A great franchisor will walk you through these things during your discovery phase. A great franchise brand will also assess
Bill McPherson
your knowledge and skillsets and steer
you in the correct path for your talents and interests.
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Hire Well To succeed in multi-unit ownership,
you have to hire the best management and operations staff possible. You can’t be in every location every day. That’s why it’s vital to have a great leadership team on
board to manage and run your businesses when you can’t be there. You need to be
able to trust the team you put in place, and they need to have buy-in for your growth vision.
