WHY ARE FRANCHISE SALES EXPLODING?

By Patrick Laforet

Ihave spent the last 25 years providing expert recruitment search services to many businesses, and one of my favorite groups is the franchise industry.

I have had three recent calls that highlight some of the reasons behind the popularity of the franchise model.

The first individual responded to my LinkedIn outreach and asked if we could jump on a call. He is 52 years old and has three kids, with two already in college. His wife is an early childhood educator and is so burnt out in her work that she plans to resign after 15 years of service this coming September. His income was just over $200K, and he expects an unusually high commission payout for last year that will move his total income over $300K.

However, he has worked for the same company for 20 years, is still trying to figure out what he wants to do, and is unhappy in his current role. He is looking down the road at another 15 years of the same kind of work and finds the thought depressing.

He is grateful for his success and opportunity, but he is starting to wonder what the next 15 or 20 years will look like. He even told me he could afford a reduced income if he could find somewhere he would be happy.

We discussed potential places and roles to move to, and looked at the pros and cons. Then I asked him an odd question: "Have you ever considered purchasing a franchise?" He is a born salesman, and his wife is fed up with her work and can see herself moving to something else. Perhaps they could work together in a franchise environment, and I mentioned there are literally thousands of choices. Surely there is something they could get excited about.

There was a short pause at the other end of the line, and I could almost hear the lights coming on in his thinking. The truth is he had never thought about it, but I knew he was going to start exploring possibilities.

My wife has her own small business managing online reputations. Her best and longest-running client is a franchise broker who represents hundreds of opportunities and is skilled in helping people find the best fit for their interests and skills. Last year was the broker's best year ever, and he is already ahead of those numbers this year.

I have had two similar conversations in the past two weeks. There is another way to spend your energy and build something you can be proud of. Remember the common claim of the franchise world: "You can be in your own business, but in a franchise model, you are not alone."

There is no harm in exploring opportunities; you might be surprised at what you learn. w

Patrick Laforet is a senior recruiter with over 25 years of experience placing sales, marketing and senior management positions all across North America with a particular focus on the franchise industry. He has been described as a trusted advisor by many of his clients. Author of Job Search Secrets 2020: Find Pat at www.stoakley.com/ team/pat-laforet. Email him at plaforet@stoakley.com or visit his site for more free resources.