Generated by All in One SEO Pro v4.9.10, this is an llms-full.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # FranConnect Connecting Growth with Operational Execution ## Posts ### [Best Practices from FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/all-resources/best-practices/) **Published:** May 5, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [5 Useful Insights for Franchise Business Consultants](https://www.franconnect.com/5-critical-insights-franchise-business-consultants-and-franchise-operations-teams-should-know/) **Published:** July 7, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** See key takeaways from our Franchise Operations Index and how the role of Franchise Business Consultants continues to evolve. **Content:** The role of the Franchise Business Consultant (FBC) is ever evolving and growing. However, up until recently, there has been no strategic analysis for how the franchise industry tracks and evaluates the activities of FBC’s. Seeking to understand developing trends in franchising, [FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/company/about-us/) created its first ever annual Franchise Operations Index Report, based on an analysis of over 165,000 FBC interactions between Jan. 1, 2019 to Dec. 31, 2020. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)The report ([download the full report here](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-releases-inaugural-franchise-operations-index-report-2/)) is set to become an industry gold standard and is designed to help franchisors benchmark their strategy and success against the broader industry. ### 5 Key findings in the 2021 Operations Index Report include: 1. **Franchisor-driven evaluations increased 9.4% in 2020** as brands shifted to more frequent, virtual interactions focused on ensuring franchisees were weathering the storm rather than the traditional compliance audit. 2. **The number of self-assessments more than tripled in 2020**, as franchisors more heavily relied on them as the pandemic persisted.![FranConnect-Variation of Evaluation Methods](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/FranConnect-Variation%20of%20Evaluation%20Methods.png) 3. **Unscored audits increased by 29% in 2020**, which had been a growing trend even in pre-pandemic times. 4. **Evaluation strategies have clearly shifted**, with a majority of brands now using a combination of scored audits, unscored audits, and self-assessments. 5. **The pandemic increased FBC’s span of control by over 21%**, with each coaching an average of 34 units in 2020. This was primarily due to downsizing and furloughs, as well as franchise business consultants’ ability to oversee more units because they were not spending time traveling. ![FranConnect- Units per Franchise Business Coach](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/FranConnect-%20Units%20per%20Franchise%20Business%20Coach.png) #### Important takeaways to guide FBC engagement in the future - In these exceptional times, **be wary of overburdening FBC’s** and keep track of the number of franchisees that each FBC supports. - The change in self-reported scores and actual audit scores grew by 33% in 2020. **Now is a good time to get some actual scored audits completed** to show your franchisees exactly how and in which areas the scores differ from their self-reported scores. - **Have a very specific strategy for assessments.** Set deliberate goals with a balance of face-to-face and virtual meetings. For example, at least 1 on-site visit per year and 1 virtual assessment per quarter. Want to see our full report, dig deeper in the data, and uncover more insights? [Download the full 2021 Franchise Operations Index Report](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-releases-inaugural-franchise-operations-index-report-2/) now. [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Operate **Tags:** Franchise Development --- ### [What Franchisors Told Us About the State of Franchise Operations Today](https://www.franconnect.com/what-franchisors-told-us-about-the-state-of-franchise-operations-today/) **Published:** July 1, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** We polled an audience of 200 franchise operations executives about labor shortages & in-person visits. Here is what the top executives had to say. **Content:** Franchise Operations are emerging from a tumultuous storm. The phrase “sink or swim” has never been more relevant, with many businesses having to adapt and ride the wave of complex challenges brought on by COVID-19. Today, we are still grappling with the impacts of the pandemic. There are varied economic indicators and an ongoing labor shortage. It’s safe to say: Operations has never been more important – and never more challenging. Understanding these realities, we recently hosted a webinar which combined the findings from our own Operations data analysis with feedback from our customers to help COO’s identify where and how they should deploy precious human capital and their IT resources. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)During the presentation, we were curious to hear experiences from the field. So, we polled our audience of 200 franchise operations executives about how the current labor shortage is impacting their business, and whether in-person visits have gone up or stayed the same since vaccine rollouts began. The results were revealing. Take a look: ![Labor shortage graphic](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Webinar%20Poll%201%20V2.jpg)Key insights: These results confirm what we have been dreading – three quarters of respondents are moderately or severely affected by the labor shortage. We believe the labor shortage won’t last forever but it certainly won’t change overnight, even with the pending elimination of the enhanced $300 weekly unemployment insurance benefits and stimulus. In addition to aggressive [recruiting tactics and incentives for new hires](https://www.franconnect.com/dealing-with-a-shortage-of-workers-10-approaches-to-finding-and-hiring-staff-now/), brands should look at ways to support their franchisees in making more long-lasting changes to their operating models. On a related note, we asked the audience if and how their strategy for site visits has changed, based on in-person vs. virtual audits. ![Site visit graphic](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Webinar%20Poll%202%20V2.jpg)Key Insights: Only 10% of respondents say they shifted to virtual visits and plan to stick with it. This underscores the value of doing site visits in-person. With pandemic uncertainty and travel restrictions in place, many franchise businesses were forced to turn to virtual visits, but the data from our survey indicates that most don’t feel this format is effective enough to continue today. Even if in-person is more costly and time-consuming, it’s worth it for most brands. At the same time, the biggest group of respondents said would like to have a healthy balance. Presumably, this also means realizing some of the efficiency gains of virtual audits, but not giving up entirely. ### Learn more about the role of Franchise Operations teams today These survey questions were just one part of our webinar: “The Role of the Franchise Operations Team Today”. It’s available on-demand, and worth a review for COO’s and their teams. You’ll hear and see how Operations teams can achieve: - Operational excellence via consistency and quality of service, brand compliance and field execution; - Improved unit level performance by centralizing and analyzing operational data and deploying playbooks for remediation and improvement; - Staff enablement and support through franchisee communication, engagement, onboarding and onsite staff training support; - Legal and process compliance using data management and collaboration with legal to ensure a single source of truth. Use the takeaways from this webinar as a benchmark to make sure you have the right priorities for your franchise operations in this rapidly-changing environment. [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Develop, Operate **Tags:** Franchise Operations --- ### [5 Effective Franchise Satisfaction Survey Goals](https://www.franconnect.com/5-effective-franchise-satisfaction-survey-goals/) **Published:** June 16, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** We provide examples of franchise satisfaction survey goals, so you can formulate an effective survey and get the results you need. **Content:** Many franchisors conduct franchise satisfaction surveys, but they are often repeats of previous surveys (perhaps with a few extra questions peppered in there for good measure) and lack unique and specific goals. As a result, the franchise satisfaction initiative can be a lot of busy work with few results. While some franchisors opt to use a professional service such as [Franchise Business Review](https://franchisebusinessreview.com/) to stay current, others want to know how to improve their franchise survey process. The first step to changing how you survey is to have a goal. #### If You Don’t Know Where You Are Going, Any Road Will Get You There Starting your survey process without a survey goal is like going on a long journey without a destination. With franchisors’ limited resources, this approach simply makes no sense. ![franchise-satisfaction-survey-start-with-goal](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/franchise-satisfaction-survey-start-with-goal.png)Good questions to ask during the goal-setting process are quite straightforward. Sometimes the answer is so obvious that it is hard to see. Consider, for example: - What are you trying to figure out with this exercise? - Why do you need to know that information? - What do you hope to do with that data once you are done? Although goals differ by organization, it can be helpful to see sample goals to kickstart the process. Here are a few examples to consider: #### 1. Measure franchisee satisfaction and compare it to previous years or benchmarks. This is the franchisee satisfaction survey after all, so this is an obvious sample goal. To effectively compare how this data changes year to year, you will need to include some of the same questions in each year’s survey. This can be helpful, because it means you won’t have to start your survey from ground zero. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)Additionally, if you are part of a wider organization that owns a number of franchise groups, you may want to create some comparisons with sister or brother companies to generate benchmarking exercises and later trade best practices. There is a difference between robotically copying others’ questions for no reason and intentionally selecting specific questions for comparative purposes. #### 2. Establish a positive relationship with your franchisees. When you open lines of communication with your franchisees, it shows that you value what they have to say. Showing your franchisees the results of the survey through an annual conference presentation or a webinar, for example, will demonstrate to them that you have a real commitment to collaboration and transparency. #### 3. Receive feedback regarding the support services the head office provides. Some of the hardest working people are within the franchising community — but sometimes they are so hard at work that they have little time to see the impact their work is having. If your head office is putting a lot of effort into something with little business value and little value to satisfaction, it may be time to discontinue it. Conversely, you may be surprised to see some more obscure initiatives have created a lot of satisfaction, so it could be a good idea to explore those programs and find more like them. #### 4. Learn more about what your franchisees want, need, and like. This goal is subtly different from the previous example goal, as it takes a more global perspective on your franchisees. Think about their entire experience, rather than only looking at the one your head office provides. For example, their biggest need may be around local competition or recruiting in a hot economy. Head office could help with introductions to a franchisee who has had success overcoming this problem, rather than creating an elaborate program. #### 5. Determine franchisees’ flexibility and what support they need for a planned change. A difficult reality of working in a franchise head office environment is that you cannot put the toothpaste back in the tube again. If you have rolled out something difficult and it has created frustration and even anger among franchisees, it is hard to reverse course. Understanding sentiment beforehand can help you see how flexible franchisees are to change and what support that they need. Whether it is renovations or a new product line, sometimes change is inevitable. But rolling it out with appropriate support, such as training and feedback loops, can make a huge difference. [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/)With established goals, you will be able to structure your survey to give you the data you need to impact franchisees’ success. For more information on how to engage and support franchisees, [contact us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/). ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Develop, Engage, Operate **Tags:** employee training, Franchise Development --- ### [Community Marketing Tips for Franchisees](https://www.franconnect.com/community-marketing-tips-for-franchisees/) **Published:** June 8, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Learn tips for building community marketing into your franchisees’ day-to-day processes. **Content:** Community marketing is the one thing you want to get right for your franchisees. While you may have a marketing team, branding agency, or even a vendor that updates your social media, you can never outsource it completely. There is no shortage of vendors that try to sell the magic bullet of marketing. Just like a sales professional trying to sell an “easy” weight loss program or a “fast” way to make money, they position it as a cake-walk once you make a hefty investment. The truth is, marketing is exactly like getting to a healthier weight or making a more satisfying income; it is a step-by-step journey, where you learn along the way with true rewards at the end. But it is certainly not a cake-walk — no matter how many people try to sell it that way. For a more realistic look at how you can build community marketing into your franchisees’ day-to-day processes, consider the tips below. ## Build Meaningful Connections “Within a three- to five-mile radius of every store or restaurant there are dozens of other businesses, hundreds of homes, and thousands of potential new customers,” said Jim Sullivan, in his book “[Multi Unit Leadership](https://sullivision.com/the-art-of-multi-unit-leadership/).” “Connect with community ‘influentials.’ One American in every ten tells the other nine where to eat, what to buy, and how to vote.” Connecting with the movers and shakers of your community, whether they are in local government, businesses, schools, or community organizations can make a huge difference. And you don’t always have to go straight to the top. Think of people who talk to others on a regular basis, Sullivan suggests: “hairdressers, hotel bartenders, receptionists, concierges, religious and civic leaders.” [Ensure Brand Consistency](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/brand-consistency/)Sometimes, the best opportunities are right before your eyes, and you can’t even see them. Every week, you have dozens of “invisible” customers walking through your doors: Amazon delivery people, wine merchants, and event promoters, to name a few. Do they get hungry or thirsty? Do they have any friends or family with upcoming events? Thinking of your own team can also be a potential revenue generator. Say every person on your team has 200 Facebook friends. If each person recommends just five, that can have a meaningful impact on your business. ![graphic showing how community marketing can grow with Facebook ](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/community-marketing-graphic.png) ## Always Be Marketing Marketing is something that you want to have as part of every person’s day-to-day, whether they are servers, managers, trainers, or hosts. Jay Conrad Levinson, author of “Guerilla Marketing,” said, “Marketing is not an event, but a process. It has a beginning, a middle, but never an end, for it is a process. You improve it, perfect it, change it, even pause it. But you never stop it completely.” Every business is sales-controlled, but few have a true sales culture that plants marketing as the first step. Event-based “big deal” marketing programs still have a place, but they are nestled within regular, consistent programs. ## Training Solidifies Marketing According to Sullivan, “The more that you invest in training, the less that you spend on marketing.” If your team provides superior service, the customer will come back — and even better, they will leave a positive review, which has more credibility among customers than any marketing piece you can create. Additionally, you want training to enhance your marketing campaigns. Consider the old advertising saying, “There is nothing that will kill a bad product like good marketing.” Now, more than ever, you want to make sure you follow through on the promises that your marketing makes. With the speed of information, if you fall short, it may end up as a Twitter or Instagram #fail, damaging the franchisees, their region, and even the system as a whole. ## Manage Moments of Truth Jan Carlzon, in his game changing book “Moments of Truth,” defined marketing as “anytime that a customer comes in contact with a company’s brand, people, or services and forms an impression of the quality of service that they provide.” Take a step back and ask yourself, “What is marketing?” More and more, marketing is cleanliness, service, and teamwork. It is every single touchpoint. As you are doing a field audit, see the store from the customer’s standpoint and think about what his or her impression would be. [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/)Marketing is a core part of any successful team’s DNA. Never think of it as someone else’s job. It is a mindset that can change your business and life. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Franchising Best Practices **Tags:** Franchise Marketing, Franchisee Engagement --- ### [Education Franchises: Sample Objectives and Key Results (OKR)](https://www.franconnect.com/sample-objectives-and-key-results-okr-for-education-franchises/) **Published:** May 12, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** If you're an education franchise you may want to consider tracking these objectives and key results (OKRs). Check out the list of potential OKRs here! **Content:** Education franchises employ hundreds of thousands of people across the US and around the world. According to [IBISWorld](https://www.ibisworld.com/united-states/market-research-reports/tutoring-driving-schools-industry/), there are almost 173,000 businesses operating as tutoring or driving schools in the U.S., employing 343,451 people. As the world shifts, some of this revenue will be coming from online sources. ### OKRs For Education Franchises #### Objective: Increase profitability through sales and marketing enhancements. **KRs:** - Get cost/lead to $70 off of online sources. - Have a trial conversion rate of 80% (new students/trial). - Increase walk-in traffic by 10%. - Get online reviews to 4.1 stars. **Initiatives:** - Have home office marketing team review marketing campaigns. - Work with property management company for brighter and more engaging signage outside of center. - Have an email campaign directed at happy customers encouraging reviews. - Conduct a self-audit. ##### Objective: Increase franchisee efficiency. **KRs:** - Maintain coach cost at 33% or lower. - Get marketing cost to 10% of sales. - Increase coach to student ratio from 1:5 to 1:8. - Increase engagement in online platform for students by 20% **Initiatives:** - Review coach cost on monthly FranConnect scorecard. - Do a Facebook live showcasing the new online platform. - Train coaches on how to manage more students. - Apply for government grant for hiring students.Initiatives: ##### Objective: Delight customers. **KRs:** - Have an NPS of 70 from parents. - Have an NPS of 50 from students. - Get three customers to post a review over 4 stars/month. - Have 10% of customers enroll a second student from same household. **Initiatives:** - Launch a customer appreciation event including parents, students, and their family and friends. - Create flyers for second student promotion to be handed out at the center. - Create annual award for coach with highest NPS for parents or students. - Train coaches to ask happy parents to post a positive review. Hopefully these sample objectives and key results have helped you out. Do you want to take it a step further? Learn more about strategy and education franchises by checking out the following: About [Objectives and Key Results in Franchising](https://www.franconnect.com/objectives-and-key-results-okr-in-franchising/) How to be a [Collaborative Franchise Business Coach (FBC)](https://www.franconnect.com/how-to-be-a-collaborative-franchise-coach/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Analytics, Develop, Improve Performance **Tags:** Franchise Development, Franchise Marketing --- ### [How To Be A Collaborative Franchise Coach](https://www.franconnect.com/how-to-be-a-collaborative-franchise-coach/) **Published:** May 6, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** The word synergy has fallen out of fashion in recent years—but the concept is still alive in franchising. Learn how to be a collaborative franchise coach. **Content:** Franchise coaches bridge a lot of gaps, including: - Franchisor and franchisee - Franchisee and key departments, such as marketing - Crew members and training resources The word *synergy* has fallen out of fashion in recent years, but the spirit of it — that the sum of parts is greater than the whole — is still going strong in the franchising community. Franchise coaches can explore some of the ideas below to see how they can be more collaborative and effective in their role. ### Look Below the Iceberg As you look at a various problems, be sure to look below the surface into their root causes. Sometimes, the problem is shallow, and a simple fix works well. But, other times, the problem is part of a something bigger – it is just the tip of the iceberg. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)For example, a franchisee may still have their Holiday season promotion up in February – and who wants to see Santa when you are still paying the bills and losing the weight after an indulgent holiday season? The simple solution is to get them to take it down and update it with the healthy winter promotion. But what happens if it hits summer, and you as the coach see the February promotion sitting there? In this case, the wrong seasonal LTO is the just top of the iceberg. Below the iceberg could be the following: - Maybe there needs to be training on obtaining and updating the promotion. - Perhaps the franchisee does not see the LTO as important – so it is a lack of priorities around it. - It could be that there is a weak relationship with the coach and they can say “yes” in the moment, but he or she does not respect the coach enough to actually follow through. - Finally, there could be a culture of “don’t care” going on in the case of a combative relationship between franchisor and franchisee. There are many other things that could be under the iceberg. It is up to a smart coach and team to figure those out using both experience and intuition. ![Iceberg](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Iceberg.png) ### Focus on the Shift Everything comes down to the shift – that is the simplest way to create more connections. Although many are “allergic” to math, connecting the math to the product can create a surprising level of motivation. Numbers Imagine you have a revenue goal of $5,000. Your crew can see that number, and maybe even remember it, but it may not translate into results until you give it meaning. To break it down, you can do the following: - Imagine you are a donut shop with a breakfast and lunch shift. In a month with 30 days, you can break that revenue goal down into $83/shift ($5,000/60=$83.) - Say your donut shop has a price for $11.95 for a dozen, $6.75/half-dozen and $2.35 for a large coffee. You could break it down to aiming to get three customers to buy a dozen more donuts, three to buy 1/2 dozen and 12 to buy large coffees. Now, wheels can start turning. Someone who has a gift for connecting with customers can recommend the delicious new cinnamon donuts for a customer who is getting snacks for a meeting – and boom! one of the dozens is complete. A crew member who is popular in the community invites a group of hockey moms to the shop for a coffee-chat – boom! the 12-coffee goal is complete. The guy delivering an Amazon order dwells near the donuts and is noticed by the associate at the counter – another 1/2 dozen sold! Accomplishing goals is better with everyone on board in a real way, and you can enjoy the victory together by offering recognition or even simple incentives. ### Day Of According to Jim Sullivan in [Multi Unit Leadership](https://sullivision.com/the-art-of-multi-unit-leadership/), many never consider the architecture of the revenue-generating shift and how managers need to vary their approach and style to effectively get the most out of each. It’s time our managers stop “running” shifts… and begin leading them. Here, Sullivan talks about leadership and shift management: ### Ask Purposeful Questions Imagine you have a coach and a franchisee interacting. The coach imparted his knowledge at length, and came out of the conversation feeling like he had made a strong, meaningful change in the franchisee’s life. The franchisee, on the other hand, came out of the conversation feeling like the coach talked a lot, and he didn’t get a chance to share his biggest concern. The point is, no matter how brilliant or insightful the coach’s words were, they fall flat if the franchisee does not receive them. That is where purposeful questions come in. Here are some questions that Sullivan recommends: - What do you need to accomplish? Why is that important? How do you know? - What do you think might be getting in the way of your success? How would you know? - How would you know when you were successful? What would it look like? - Why do you think it is a problem? Have you noticed it before? If so, for how long? - How have you addressed the problem? What happened? Why do you think that occurred? - What if we can’t find a solution? - How could you approach the problem differently to attain a different outcome? What are we assuming? - What don’t you know that might be helpful to resolve the problem(s)? - What do you need from me to help you? How will you use that? - What do your junior managers need? Why? What are their major obstacles? How do you know? This is not to say the coach is not to speak when there is a point to make. It is a balancing act between asking questions and speaking. ### Last Word The franchise coach’s role is known as the hardest job in franchising. With that pressure, sometimes there is a feeling that you need to know everything. But there is a freedom to collaborating and connecting – it is the freedom to find answers and do the work together. It is also the freedom to share responsibility for the success that you build together as a team. [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Improve Performance, Operate **Tags:** Franchise Development, Franchisee Engagement --- ### [Spas and Salons: Sample Objectives and Key Results (OKR)](https://www.franconnect.com/sample-objectives-and-key-results-okr-for-spas-and-salons/) **Published:** March 25, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Spas and salons help individuals relax and improve overall wellness. But how do you improve the wellness of the business? We explore sample OKRs here. **Content:** Salon and spa franchises represent well over a million businesses across the U.S. According to IBISWorld, there are approximately 880,000 firms operating in the [hair and nail salon](https://www.ibisworld.com/united-states/market-research-reports/hair-salons-industry/) industry within the U.S., providing direct employment opportunities for almost 1.2 million people. The [health and wellness spa](https://www.ibisworld.com/united-states/market-research-reports/health-wellness-spas-industry/) industry has over 22,000 businesses employing over 365,000 people. As the economy changes, salons and spas still employ many people. ### OKRs For Salon & Spa Franchises #### Objective: Increase franchisee revenue. **KRs:** - Get retail capture rate to 25% (percentage of people who buy retail items vs. spa guests). - Have 100 customers do injectables (high-ticket item). - Increase customers by 20% - Increase facial treatment sales by 30%. **Initiatives:** - Increase prices by 10%. - Get front desk staff engaged in sales training from head office. - Review injectable sales on monthly FranConnect scorecard. - Engage in Instagram for lead generation. ##### Objective: Increase profitability through marketing efficiencies. **KRs:** - Make cost/lead $25 off Google. - Get repeat guest rate to 50% (percentage of total guests who are repeat guests). - Increase business from referrals by 25%. - Increase walk-in business by 10%. **Initiatives:** - Optimize Google AdWords landing pages. - Run annual referral campaign with current customers. - Give roses to customers for the month of February as a Valentine’s Day promotion. - Add colorful decals outside of clinic. ##### Objective: Increase employee satisfaction of frontline staff. **KRs:** - Make employee retention rate 20% (employees who left/total employees). - Get eNPS (employee Net Promoter Score) to 30. - Increase employee participation in group events by 50%. - Increase employee participation in learning portal by 25%. **Initiatives:** - Launch eNPS program. - Review who has completed training using custom forms in FranConnect. - Have a staff holiday party. - Allow team members to nominate each other weekly for “spirit” awards. Hopefully these sample objectives and key results have helped you out. Do you want to take it a step further? Learn more about strategy and [salon and spa franchises](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/personal-services/salons-spas/) by checking out the following: About [Objectives and Key Results in Franchising](https://www.franconnect.com/objectives-and-key-results-okr-in-franchising/) How to be a [Collaborative Franchise Business Coach (FBC)](https://www.franconnect.com/how-to-be-a-collaborative-franchise-coach/) [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Analytics, Develop, Improve Performance, Operate **Tags:** Best Practices, Franchise Best Practices, Franchise Marketing --- ### [Keep the Dirt Out of Your Franchise Sales Data](https://www.franconnect.com/keep-the-dirt-out-of-your-franchise-sales-data/) **Published:** March 10, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** It’s important to maintain a clean franchise sales CRM and franchisee databases. Click to learn how! **Content:** A dirty database is a like a dirty home. When a home is messy and unorganized, it’s hard to find anything. It seems to happen in an instant, too – once one item is put in the wrong place, the mess piles up. Particularly if you have kids or live with roommates, it can be difficult to keep all the dirt from coming in. Your database is similar. Once one contact is tagged incorrectly, or a list is imported without the necessary information, your database starts getting messy. And with multiple people working in a database – such as your franchise development and marketing teams – it’s hard to keep the “dirt” from coming in. ![It's important to keep your franchise CRM and customer database clean.](http://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Campaigns/Sales%20Campaign/Stock-cleaning-data.jpg "It's important to keep your franchise CRM and customer database clean.") However, there are steps you can take to clean your data and keep it that way. Here are a few suggestions: ## Identify a database owner Every project needs an owner, and cleaning and maintaining a good database is no exception. Identify one person in your organization to define and enforce processes for data import, data standardization, and regularly data clean up. All questions related to data should be directed to this person, and others should refrain from adding to the database without talking to this individual first. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)## Remove duplicate contacts A good first step in cleaning up your database is to ensure duplicate contacts are erased. Ideally your [franchise CRM](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/sales/) helps with this by automating the process for you, but it’s never going to be perfect. When someone submits multiple forms using different email addresses, you’ll need to manually merge the contacts into one. De-duping your list is important because you don’t want to have to look in multiple places to get the full picture of a franchise candidate, or worse, miss information because you don’t realize there is more than one contact record for one person. ## Suppress inactive contacts Inactive contacts – or inactive leads – are troublesome to understanding your [franchise sales funnel](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/sales-accelerator/). Having inactive contacts marked as leads for too long inflates your pipeline and decreases your close ratio. If a lead is inactive, remove it from your pipeline. If you maintain a separate [database for your franchisees](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/info-manager/), it’s important to suppress any inactive contacts there, too. There are a number of reasons why a lead may be inactive, whether they are in your CRM or in a [customer database](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/info-manager/). For example, the contact may have changed companies and is no longer a customer. Or this person may have transitioned to a new role within the company and no longer needs the information you are sending. Or sometimes during the sales process the person simply may no longer be interested in what you offer. Repeatedly sending information to someone who doesn’t want to receive it only hurts your brand. It’s important to identify these inactive leads and either tag them as such in your database, or remove them altogether. ## Eliminate spam or irrelevant contacts Similar to inactive contacts, remove any contacts that have fake names, email addresses, or companies. People who simply want access to your information may use fake names and email addresses. Don’t let these leads taint your database. Delete them. ## Check for uniformity FranConnect. Fran Connect. FranConnect Inc. Company names, states, cities, job titles, and other contact properties can be written a multitude of ways, making it difficult to segment by a specific field property. For example, if everyone at FranConnect is supposed to receive an update, and you segment by ‘Company Name,’ you may miss contacts associated with this property if there are three versions of it. When at all possible, use dropdowns on forms instead of an open-ended text option so information is kept uniform. It’s also important to manually enforce uniformity when inconsistencies are discovered. ## Use contact properties appropriately and correctly Whether you’re in a sales and marketing CRM or in a customer database, create and use appropriate contact properties. Make sure contacts are marked accurately in the sales funnel; be sure you know which franchisees are in the opening process versus bringing in revenue; tag franchisees by location and region so you can make comparisons accordingly. These tags, among others, help you cater your content and messaging so the right contacts are receiving the right information at the right time. [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/)Keeping your CRM and customer database clean takes time and effort, but it’s worth it. It not only ensures you can communicate effectively with your audiences, but it enables you to get the most informative insights into your audiences when you need it. In need of a [franchise sales CRM](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/sales/) or a [customer database for your franchisees](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/info-manager/)? Contact FranConnect to learn more about [FranConnect Sales](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/sales/) and [FranConnect Info Manager](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/info-manager/). ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Develop, Expand Locations, Franchising Best Practices **Tags:** Best Practices, Franchise Sales --- ### [Gym and Fitness Franchises: Sample Objectives and Key Results (OKR)](https://www.franconnect.com/gym-and-fitness-sample-objectives-and-key-results-okr-for-gym-and-fitness-franchises/) **Published:** March 1, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** If you're a gym & fitness franchise you may want to consider tracking these objectives and key results (OKRs). Check out the list of potential OKRs here! **Content:** In 2018, the worldwide fitness industry saw membership grow to a record-high 183 million users, revenue totaling an estimated $94 billion, and club count exceeding 210,000 facilities, according to the [IHRSA Global Report](https://www.ihrsa.org/improve-your-club/industry-news/2019-fitness-industry-trends-shed-light-on-2020-beyond/). As the global landscape shifts, we will continue to see gyms making a meaningful contribution to the economy. ### OKRs For Gym & Fitness Franchises #### Objective: Increase franchisee revenue. **KRs:** - Grow membership by 10%. - Grow inbound leads by 20% from online sources. - Book trial with 40% of inbounds. - Get sales conversion rate to 80%. **Initiatives:** - Create Facebook campaign with agency. - Put front desk staff through sales training provided by head office. - Perform monthly review of leads vs. trials on FranConnect scorecard. - Work on lead quality of PPC (pay-per-click) and display campaigns together with agency. ##### Objective: Increase profitability through marketing efficiencies. **KRs:** - Make cost per lead $50. - Have a member retention rate of 70% (existing clients at the end of the period/existing clients at the beginning of the period). - Increase community marketing leads by 20%. - Increase leads from signage by 10%. **Initiatives:** - Work with property management group to have an attention-grabbing sign out front. - Participate in local wellness expo. - Host benchmark workout session with members for ongoing performance improvement. - Place “first week free” flyers at businesses in the same plaza. ##### Objective: Delight our customers. **KRs:** - Maintain a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 50. - Increase member engagement in group fitness by 10%. - Put 90% of members through the outstanding onboarding program released by head office. - Expand social media engagement by 50%. **Initiatives:** - Host one customer appreciation event. - Perform quarterly analysis of NPS with team on FranConnect. - Ask staff to post pictures on social media of members reaching milestones on a monthly basis. - Engage in seasonal giveaway campaigns of branded merchandise with social media component. Hopefully these sample objectives and key results have helped you out. Do you want to take it a step further? Learn more about strategy and gym and fitness franchises by checking out the following: About [Objectives and Key Results in Franchising](https://www.franconnect.com/objectives-and-key-results-okr-in-franchising/) How to be a [Collaborative Franchise Business Coach (FBC)](https://www.franconnect.com/how-to-be-a-collaborative-franchise-coach/) [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Analytics, Develop, Improve Performance, Operate **Tags:** Best Practices, Franchise Best Practices, Franchise Marketing --- ### [Restaurant Franchises: Sample Objectives and Key Results (OKR)](https://www.franconnect.com/restaurant-franchises-sample-objectives-and-key-results-okr-for-restaurant-franchises/) **Published:** February 1, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** If you're a restaurant franchise you may want to consider tracking these objectives and key results (OKRs). Check out the list of potential OKRs here! **Content:** According to the [National Restaurant Association](https://restaurant.org/research-and-media/research/industry-statistics/) (NRA), there are more than 1 million restaurant locations in the U.S. with 12.5 million employees. Even in these changing times, the industry is still a major employer. See some sample Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) for [restaurant franchises](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/restaurants/) below. ### OKRs For Restaurant Franchises #### Objective: Increase franchisee revenue. **KRs:** - Increase sales by 3%. - Have 150 people buy the holiday promo. - Increase average check size by 5% to $6.25. - Increase catering sales by 10%. **Initiatives:** - Put crew through upsell training. - Increase coffee prices by 10%. - Execute one holiday social media campaign. - Cold call 100 local businesses to discuss catering. ##### Objective: Adapt to changing operating environment. **KRs:** - Make online orders 30% of total sales. - 0 days shut down for sanitization due to an infection. - Average cleanliness audit/self-assessment compliance exceeds 85%. - Maintain 12 months of financial runway. **Initiatives:** - Install plexiglass around all cash registers. - Check staff wellness at the start of each shift. - Perform daily cleanliness self-assessments in FranConnect. - Secure a $100,000 bank loan. ##### Objective: Increase franchisee profitability. **KRs:** - Make the seasonal beverage category 20% of total sales (or another strategic, high margin category). - Keeps COGS (cost of goods sold) under 33% of sales. - Keep labor costs under 33% of sales. - Obtain an average online rating above 4 stars on Google. **Initiatives:** - Reduce evening staff by two people. - Engage in a Facebook campaign about seasonal beverages. - Perform weekly theoretical versus actual food cost reviews. - Perform daily reviews of Google review feedback. Hopefully these sample objectives and key results have helped you out. Do you want to take it a step further? Learn more about strategy and restaurants by checking out the following: About [Objectives and Key Results in Franchising](https://www.franconnect.com/objectives-and-key-results-okr-in-franchising/) How to be a [Collaborative Franchise Business Coach (FBC)](https://www.franconnect.com/how-to-be-a-collaborative-franchise-coach/) [Explore Restaurant Solutions](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/restaurants/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Analytics, Develop, Improve Performance, Operate **Tags:** Best Practices, Franchise Best Practices, Franchise Marketing --- ### [Fast Lead Response Can Double Your Franchise Sales](https://www.franconnect.com/fast-lead-response-can-double-your-franchise-sales/) **Published:** February 7, 2019 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Research shows franchise leads that are responded to in four hours or less closed 39% of the time. Discover how FranConnect can quicken lead response time! **Content:** Lead conversions must be tracked at each stage of your sales cycle. If you’re attracting the right prospects to your brand, then conversions should increase, building more predictability and reliability into your pipeline. [FranConnect’s 2018 Sales Index](https://go.franconnect.com/salesindex), an analysis of performance data from 462 franchisors, shows that many leads that enter the top of the franchising funnel never receive a response at all, and those that do are often contacted too late. Responding to new leads in a timely manner is critical in engaging a candidate and potentially closing a deal. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)### **How critical is response time?** For leads that closed, 39% received a response within 4 hours of initial contact. This percentage drops to 18% for leads that are contacted from longer than 4 hours and up to one day. [![FSI-2018-Deal-Percentage-by-Response](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/FSI-2018-Deal-Percentage-by-Response.png)](https://go.franconnect.com/salesindex)A cornerstone of good funnel management is getting the first follow-up step right every time. [Respond to leads](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/sales-accelerator/), implement a consistent qualification process, and develop a positive candidate experience, starting with the first phone call. [Get Started](https://blog.franconnect.com/cs/c/?cta_guid=24fb27de-d575-450a-922e-9aaf078c1c13&signature=AAH58kGfEuQLjmkF1SXiCQuwYoszGeDpZA&pageId=7474148276&placement_guid=a2d45b9f-9ae6-490d-95f8-7dd749ec6172&click=e7f542ee-da11-4867-b754-1c5422f57807&hsutk=6786430944118231d755d6e3fde13d8b&canon=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.franconnect.com%2Ffast-lead-response-can-double-your-franchise-sales&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F&portal_id=2173395&redirect_url=APefjpGTRPRMBE4ewml2G_ILP_i1DWOGgsRu3OQWMAD77PR4DGSDPkj5DT7HqS_Hr6v2aIB1ojU2OEjsf4pNwtSkEf5mPOEJk2Gyk4IdBpT4xdy847bjv8WnmIeZyeT3iZAs9khAH-PtBP1HJ7XLaHxSnMOW0pQYzksSxuuVvwu4mcadHN7jl7v3YBrNFG-uYKYABZZfBbcrEQES-n77LZDBRiCkUscslyzqyDWbpmM2SYCgGUJb68ZZUPbL2pGzvSIWWuMKHI1ONewHaPXVs11JizvC67etIQ&__hstc=96900864.6786430944118231d755d6e3fde13d8b.1704421804633.1705946411369.1705961405778.21&__hssc=96900864.8.1705961405778&__hsfp=1520176559&contentType=blog-post) The gold standard for responding to an inquiry is within 30-minutes. At this point your franchise is top-of-mind and the prospective lead is sitting by their phone or laptop. However, only 12.9% of franchisors conduct initial outreach within this time-frame. Our data indicates that only 1.9% of franchisors follow up within two-to-four hours while a further 16.9% are contacted in the first 24-hours. In the meantime, the potential franchise buyer is placing inquiries to a number of franchise brands, all competing for their attention. The onus is on you to ascertain why the sales team is unable to contact leads on a timely basis and to immediately put measures in place to improve average response times. **Tip**: Start by setting up an automated reply set up for inbound email inquiries. This will confirm that you have received the inquiry and sets expectations for follow up. In addition, regularly review data about when leads flow into your system, and act accordingly. For example, if a sizable number of calls come in during the evening or on weekends, have staff on hand during these times or employ an answering service to field these calls. This type of attention shows potential buyers that they are valued and sets the standard for the quality of support they will receive if they become a franchisee. [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/)For more details, and more than 40 other powerful data-driven insights and benchmarks for growth, get your copy of the [2018 Franchise Sales Index from FranConnect](https://go.franconnect.com/salesindex). [Book A Demo](https://blog.franconnect.com/cs/c/?cta_guid=2477d6b8-70eb-4c19-986b-9d75073cfbfd&signature=AAH58kFj9uOPrOtYcxe-NPGxeYdDAM4QtA&pageId=7474148276&placement_guid=43f7f829-4c95-43ac-9cc5-b4cacffa3012&click=dc21df52-4e8f-4c3b-b998-b3d5e479f658&hsutk=6786430944118231d755d6e3fde13d8b&canon=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.franconnect.com%2Ffast-lead-response-can-double-your-franchise-sales&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F&portal_id=2173395&redirect_url=APefjpFyqTpzAkYze2jcAbTy3Abd9dfV5pUVKFq3yvdeyly_lNAsgT6dP_0FQ-77CrxvogegNIexQr-Ed_rLIKAsyA3FdpghDhf9hCtYqnnDfzJyk4HYXt-HiJLF_FJFSXnxO0s7JBjHK3jYli4qxmcGp_AIEDQN77b3sf-BPI3EkF_L2hGJrYjT3jngjj2BFOOj8WXko-4Yvgnvw9_5O_ps0VATAygp_fuWtomzODhSLZ_BhU6DRteK5MgAmrOdzJgOsR_l7fQ1_LRm5kFNgAdgQFEY-2zvUw&__hstc=96900864.6786430944118231d755d6e3fde13d8b.1704421804633.1705946411369.1705961405778.21&__hssc=96900864.8.1705961405778&__hsfp=1520176559&contentType=blog-post) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Develop, Expand Locations **Tags:** Franchise Sales --- ### [FranConnect Expands Executive Leadership Team with Addition of Jaffrey Ali as Vice President of Product Strategy and Management](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-expands-executive-leadership-team-with-addition-of-jaffrey-ali-as-vice-president-of-product-strategy-and-management/) **Published:** November 13, 2018 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Ali joins FranConnect’s leadership team with a vision to strengthen and evolve the franchise software solution’s technology platform. **Content:** #### Ali joins FranConnect’s leadership team with a vision to strengthen and evolve the franchise software solution’s technology platform. FranConnect, the leading provider of franchise management solutions, has taken a big step forward in its plan to accelerate innovation with the hiring of Jaffrey Ali as Vice President of Product Strategy and Management. “In the past few months, we embarked upon an extensive growth strategy discussion to further extend FranConnect’s role as the leading innovator in franchise technology. To fulfil this vision and extend our footprint, we are excited to welcome Jaffrey to our team” explained FranConnect President/ CEO (2019) Gabby Wong. “Jaffrey has an excellent background in both analytics and technology solutions and truly understands the product technology market from a strategy perspective. He’s a great addition to help us further drive FranConnect’s commitment to innovation.” ![](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/post-3.jpg "- FranConnect") Ali, a seasoned product management and marketing executive, joins FranConnect with 20-years of product management experience with various technology companies building mission-critical software products for the consumer-packaged goods, risk management and emergency management industries. Ali has spent his career creating highly differentiated product offerings that have built startup environments into serious players in their industry, making him a sought-after expert in his field. Most recently, he served as Head of Product Management, Strategy and Marketing for Haystax Technology, a cybersecurity product company. “I see FranConnect as an evolution of the work I’ve done building high-impact software that addresses the needs of certain verticals,” Ali said. “The franchise industry is compelling and home to so much entrepreneurship. FranConnect realized the industry was underserved and built its platform over the last decade around specific industry needs, becoming the most sophisticated and successful player in the space. There is a ton of opportunity to further legitimize the space and make franchise management systems like ours an integral and valuable part of franchise operations,” Ali said. Ali’s background working with innovators and thought leaders in various industries to develop software solutions puts him in excellent position to lead product management and strategy for FranConnect. Ali plans to impact strategy by taking the company vision and creating a product roadmap for success, translating to concrete milestones for the product. The management aspect of his role will involve determining ways to build and invest in the product on an ongoing basis to gain customer traction and increase value for customers and, in turn, the company. “The FranConnect product has so many uses and so much potential in the franchise industry,” Ali said. “The commitment the company has to itself and its product is inspiring. I’m excited about this role because FranConnect is at the right stage, in the right market and possesses the ability to make a huge impact. Franchise management requires new technologies and FranConnect has established itself as the go-to resource to deliver those. We are on the verge of the next phase of growth, ready to scale and become a nationally recognized innovator in the technology sector,” Ali said. Wong added, “We’ve taken a close look at what the market really wants to see from FranConnect, and we have some exciting new products on the way in 2019. As we continue innovating beyond our projected roadmap, Jaffrey will play an essential role in helping us ensure that we have the best product management strategy in place as we take these new products to market in order to help both current and future clients receive the maximum benefit.” ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Company News, Global News **Tags:** Press Releases --- ### [FranConnect Appoints New CEO Gabby Wong to Drive Growth and Innovation](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-appoints-new-ceo-gabby-wong-to-drive-growth-and-innovation/) **Published:** September 27, 2018 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Wong previously served as Executive Vice President of Customer Operations at FranConnect **Content:** #### Wong previously served as Executive Vice President of Customer Operations at FranConnect [FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/), the leading provider of franchise management solutions, announced the promotion of Gabby Wong to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to continue its path of market leadership and to accelerate innovation and growth of its products and services in the franchise industry. The transition of Wong to CEO will take place in mid-2019. In the interim, Wong will assume the role of President of FranConnect, where in addition to her Customer Operations responsibilities, she will lead Product Management, Strategy and Development. The Sales, Marketing, and Finance functions will transition shortly thereafter in 2019. ![](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/post-1-1.jpg "- FranConnect") Robert Post, Executive Chairman stated, “The Board of Directors executed an exhaustive search, interviewing hundreds of candidates with prior CEO and software experience. Gabby’s internal candidacy, however, stood out. She brings proven leadership and a strong customer orientation. The customer orientation in particular was a foundation for the strategic planning process that she recently led, which culminated in a compelling roadmap that will deliver innovating products to the market and drive growth in the years to come.” Post will remain in his Executive Chairman role in support of Wong and the management team in the implementation of the newly approved growth plan to more than double the size of the company. Over the last 24 years, Wong has built a successful career in the high-growth, private-equity backed software industry. She has held executive leadership positions with worldwide responsibility for global operations at Primavera Systems (now Oracle), Trusted Computer Solutions (now ForcePoint), Verint, and Clarabridge. Wong is known for her ability to build organizations that can scale globally, and also remain obsessively focused on product innovation and customer success. “The franchise industry is dynamic, fast-paced, and competitive, and as a result, our customers are demanding more innovative technology that can help them grow their brands in a faster and smarter way,” said Wong. She continued, “Franchisors and franchisees are highly dependent upon each other for growth. In order to grow and sustain a successful system, franchise brands need to scale processes and engagement to drive rapid revenue growth and unit performance at the local level. This requires innovative solutions that support data-driven decision-making on the performance of the overall franchise operations, and the ability to take action on these decisions in a tangible, measurable way.” “FranConnect’s market leadership is unparalleled and we are uniquely positioned to support the market in innovating to support the growing needs of the ecosystem,” states Wong. “I am excited about taking the helm of a successful company like FranConnect.” ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Company News, Global News **Tags:** Press Releases --- ### [Why Sharing Franchisee Financial Statements is Important](https://www.franconnect.com/why-sharing-franchisee-financial-statements-is-important/) **Published:** June 28, 2017 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Franchise financials are a sticky subject. But it’s important for franchisors to receive franchisee financial statements. Click to learn why. **Content:** If you’re already franchising your business, you probably – hopefully – know what a chart of accounts is. “[Chart of Accounts](http://searchfinancialapplications.techtarget.com/definition/chart-of-accounts-COA) (COA) – a financial organizational tool that provides a complete listing of every account in an accounting system. An account is a unique record for each type of asset, liability, equity, revenue, and expense.” Each account is then broken down into subcategories. A COA is important for any business because by separating expenditures, revenue, assets, and liabilities, viewers can quickly get a sense of a company’s financial health. The larger your business, the larger and more complex your COA will be. Franchise financial reporting is no joke. As a franchisor, you have an extra layer of complexity. Instead of dealing with one chart of accounts, you have a corporate – or standard – chart of accounts, plus the chart of accounts from each franchisee. Now some of you may be thinking, “I don’t have a standard chart of accounts” or “I don’t need a standard chart of accounts.” Or those of you that do have one, you may not collect franchisee financial statements. As [this article](https://www.franchise.org/franchise-information/finance/collecting-and-analyzing-franchisee-financial-statements) in *Franchising World* states, “Collecting financials in the franchising sector is by no means a common practice. In fact, it’s rarely done at all and is rarely done correctly.” Reasons include some franchisors think all they need is sales reports; franchisees just won’t send them in; and it’s too much work to compile hundreds of profit and loss statements into an Excel file. Understandable. But it is important. It’s important that franchisors have a standard chart of accounts, and it’s important for franchisees to share financial data with you. Here’s why. ## Franchisors Need a Standard Chart of Accounts If you don’t have a standard chart of accounts, there’s no time like the present to make one and put it to use. A standard chart of accounts keeps you informed on positive and negative trends so you can make changes based on data, not gut feelings. ![A standard chart of accounts keeps franchisors informed on positive and negative trends.](http://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Campaigns/Finance%20Campaign/Stock-finance-trend-023019-edited.jpg "A standard chart of accounts keeps franchisors informed on positive and negative trends.") Let’s assume for a moment that your franchisees are contractually obligated or at least willing to share their financial data (more on this shortly). In this scenario, a standard chart of accounts has two major benefits: - It allows you to make true apples-to-apples comparisons between individual units, regions, level of maturity, or any other way you want to slice the pie. - It helps franchisees benchmark themselves against other franchisees, which serves as a good source of motivation. Having a standard chart of accounts that franchisees can map their own chart of accounts to shows you the highest-performing units. With this information, you can create benchmarks and share these benchmarks with unit owners to show them what they are doing well and where they can improve. With a good [business intelligence tool](https://www.franconnect.com/improve-unit-economics-franchise-management-software/), you can also take this information several steps further and discover trends of your most successful franchisees to share with at-risk owners. [Streamline Royalty Process](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/streamline-royalty-process/)Keep in mind this doesn’t mean to simply ask for revenue information. Revenue information is important for collecting your franchise tax, but you need to care about your bottom line (net profits). This number is important for each individual unit as well as for the company as a whole – this is what drives true success. What if you find that your franchisees aren’t spending any money on marketing? You could then offer proven marketing advice and tactics, which may increase revenue. Or what if you find a unit owner is spending too much on operations, which when reduced, could increase net profitability? This will result in a stronger, more successful franchise unit, and a stronger, more successful franchise system. Financials is a sticky but important part of franchisee engagement. Don’t let it be a missed opportunity. ## Explain the Importance of Sharing Financial Data to Franchisees Now you know why a standard chart of accounts is important. But to be honest, it doesn’t do much good without franchisee financial statements. And unfortunately, many franchisors cannot contractually ask for profit and loss statements. The thing is, however, if you explain *why* sharing financial information with corporate actually benefits each franchisee, they may be willing to share it anyway. Especially if you provide a tool that makes it incredibly easy for franchisees to provide that information and for you, the franchisor, to collect and make sense of the information. ![Make it easy for your franchisees to share franchise financial data.](http://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Campaigns/Finance%20Campaign/Stock-finance-paperwork.jpg "Make it easy for your franchisees to share franchise financial data.") Explain to unit owners that by providing financial data, you can help them pinpoint areas of improvement. Franchisees want to succeed, so gathering data to help them improve makes sense to them. You can also provide a ranking of units by revenue, profitability, sales, and so forth. This may motivate those lower on the list, and inspire and acknowledge success for those at the top. Remember, not all your owners have a business background. Don’t expect owners to know how to provide this information. Offer a course or bring in an outside expert to talk about P&L statements and maintaining good books. Show them how something like QuickBooks Online makes it easy and intuitive. Share your standard chart of accounts, and demonstrate with real examples of how providing financial information benefits each owner in the end. ![Logo-Quickbooks-Intuit.jpg](http://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Logos/Logo-Quickbooks-Intuit.jpg "Logo-Quickbooks-Intuit.jpg")**FranConnect partnered with Intuit to create the most comprehensive franchise accounting software on the market. Watch a demo to learn more.** [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Develop, Profit **Tags:** Best Practices, Franchisee Engagement --- ### [Evaluate Your Franchise Recruitment Website](https://www.franconnect.com/evaluate-your-franchise-recruitment-website/) **Published:** June 14, 2017 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** A franchise recruitment website is a critical driver of qualified leads. Learn how to evaluate your franchise recruitment site to improve franchise sales. **Content:** FranConnect has been a long-time partner of the [International Franchise Association](https://www.franchise.org/) and [Franchise Update Media](https://www.franchising.com/) to score franchise recruitment websites based on a set of best practices. Here you will find our most recent findings for franchise development performance using a franchise recruitment website as the main tool for driving leads. ***Note:** If you do not have a franchise recruitment website, stop what you’re doing and create a plan to get one. It’s a top lead generation tool for franchise brands.* Let’s dive in. The chart below is the criteria we use to evaluate franchise recruitment sites. Good recruitment sites will check the box on each of these criteria. **Evaluation Criteria** ### **The Basics** Unique URL Web Analytics Ranking on search Dedicated entry point for franchise page ### **Website Usability** Franchise content accessibility Process of learning Effective use of tech Overall site presence Optimized for mobile ## **Basic SEO** Title Tags Meta, Keyword Tags Strategy that drives content ## **Key Content** About us/History Franchise info Application As mentioned in “Optimizing Franchise Development: Old School Principles Meet New School Tools,” it’s important to audit your recruitment website regularly – at the very least once per year, but aim for once per quarter. Let’s examine a few common areas of improvement that we discover during our scoring process. Be sure to take these into account while conducting your own audit. **Mobile Responsiveness** Mobile has become the dominant channel for inquiries. ![Mobile phones have become the dominant channel for franchise sales inquiries.](http://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Campaigns/Sales%20Campaign/Mobile-inquiries-August-2013.png "Mobile phones have become the dominant channel for franchise sales inquiries.")![Mobile phones have become the dominant channel for franchise sales inquiries.](http://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Campaigns/Sales%20Campaign/Mobile-inquiries-August-2016.png "Mobile phones have become the dominant channel for franchise sales inquiries.")As you can see, from 2013 to 2016, inquiries via phone have surpassed desktop significantly. Mobile responsiveness of websites has improved, but there is still substantial room for improvement for mobile navigation, use of forms, and readability. If you’re considering a redesign of your site, consider approaching changes with a mobile-first approach instead of a desktop-first approach. **Unique URL** It’s imperative to have a unique URL for your franchise recruitment website. It keeps your customers and leads separate and gives you the ability to cater content toward these respective audiences. Your franchise sales leads aren’t looking for the current promotion you’re running; they are interested in learning what it takes to become an owner with your brand. Having a unique URL also helps with SEO because it’s an entire second website dedicated to your brand. **Franchise Opportunities button** Though prospective unit owners are looking for different information than customers, it is common for prospects to visit the main website of your brand before visiting the franchise recruitment site. Be sure to display “Franchise Opportunities” or “Franchise with Us” clearly on the homepage so interested parties know just where to click. Make it easy for them to get to where they want to go. ![Franchise recruitment sites should have a clear franchise opportunities call-to-action.](http://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Stock_Photos/Stock-franchise-marketing-sign.jpg "Franchise recruitment sites should have a clear franchise opportunities call-to-action.") **SEO Basics** There is a lot to cover when it comes to SEO, but it’s important to call out. Every brand wants a beautiful, easy-to-use, informative recruitment site, but if no one can find it, what good is it? Make a list of keywords and go after them. Remember, keywords should reflect how prospects find you, not how you think about yourself. Place those keywords in your title tags, meta tags, and headlines, then sprinkle them strategically throughout the rest of the copy. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)**Good Content** SEO and good content go hand in hand. But remember that content is not solely for SEO – it’s also providing information to inquirers. Talk about the benefits of franchising with your brand, provide the history of the company, be transparent about where they company stands today, and describe the opportunities that are available. Most important, make it clear how to be become a franchise owner with your brand, and [who is a good fit for your brand](https://www.franconnect.com/creating-franchisee-buyer-personas/). **Pro Tip:** If you want to take your content a step further, start a blog for franchisees. Use it as a platform for education, company culture, testimonials, and owner spotlights. It’s great for SEO, too! ![Starting a blog for your franchise recruitment website is a great SEO tactic.](http://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Stock_Photos/Stock-blog-computer.jpg "Starting a blog for your franchise recruitment website is a great SEO tactic.") **Getting Started** Filling out a form is just the beginning. What happens after someone fills out the form? Should they expect a call or an email? How long will it take for someone to reach out after submitting the form? What will the next step be? By outlining the stages from inquiry to application to Discovery Day, you are preparing your candidates to prepare themselves for what’s ahead, as well as ensuring this is something they are ready to pursue. The more clarity you can provide, the more likely you are going to engage with qualified candidates. **Pro tip:** Add headshots and bios of your development team. Let prospects know exactly who they are going to be talking to during each stage of process. **Testimonials** Your franchise recruitment website is a way to put your best foot forward and show prospects how rewarding it is to be an owner with your brand. Let your current franchisees do the talking for you. Use quotes, case studies, and video to display testimonials. **Pro tip:** Video is favored by Google when tagged properly, so go on – make your franchisees movie stars. ![Testimonials are a critical for a franchise recruitment site.](http://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Brand_photos/FranConnect-Testimonial-Example.png "Testimonials are a critical for a franchise recruitment site.") **Use and Placement of CTAs** While providing good information is important, the whole point of that good information is to encourage the right people to take action. If your CTA button isn’t easy to see, you’re missing opportunities to engage with prospects. CTAs should live above the fold – ideally above and below the fold – and contact information should be prominently displayed. Don’t make a qualified lead hunt for a way to reach out to you. Make it easy for them to make the first move. [![Download this worksheet to evaluate your franchise recruitment website.](http://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Campaigns/Franchise%20Recruitment%20Worksheet/Franchise%20Website%20Evaluation%20Worksheet_Thumbnail.png "Download this worksheet to evaluate your franchise recruitment website.")](http://go.franconnect.com/franchise-recruitment-website-evaluation) [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Develop **Tags:** Franchise Marketing, Franchise Sales, Franchisee Engagement --- ### [7 Features Your Franchise Development Software Must Have](https://www.franconnect.com/7-features-your-franchise-development-software-must-have/) **Published:** May 3, 2017 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** To manage your franchise recruitment efforts, choose a franchise development software that has these 7 features to ensure success. Click to learn more. **Content:** #### Written by Nick Mecozzi A franchise development software system is crucial to the success of your franchise recruitment efforts. It will help you and your team grow your brand in an organized way, managing every aspect of engagement with franchisee candidates, and it should integrate seamlessly with the rest of your operations. When choosing a development system – or evaluating your current one – for your franchise, ensure it has these seven features. **1. Automated workflows** Workflows are an important element of your [lead management solution](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/sales/). Designing and implementing workflows will enable you to tailor the system to your specific processes and determine what activities take place at each step – all to increase lead conversion. Automate repetitive or low-value tasks to create maximum efficiency and enable your sales team to spend more time on higher-value efforts, such as understanding the candidate’s motivations and moving the awarding process forward. By mapping a process and setting triggers, you can automatically send and record correspondence and set follow-up tasks. Detailing workflows and using automation will also standardize activities and reporting across the brand so you can regularly measure performance. ### **2. Campaigns** Franchise development and marketing intersect at campaigns. Part of your workflow should be to create email campaigns to efficiently move leads through the sales cycle. Make sure you can create trigger-based delivery schedules, use personalized links, and create automatic email responses without having to leave the CRM. All campaigns should be recorded in the candidate’s communication history, and you should have the option of sending text campaigns as well. Campaigns need some initial set up, but they will ultimately save you time and money, allowing you to spend more resources on the candidates who are going to partner with your brand. ### **3. Status Tracking** As a franchisor, you’re going to need a lead management system – ideally part of your franchise CRM software platform – [built specifically for franchising](https://www.franconnect.com/what-franconnect-means-by-franchising-built-in/) that has franchise-specific lead statuses and tracks the activities that those statuses represent. Here are a few statuses franchisors need: - when the candidate is a “new lead” (hasn’t yet been engaged by the sales team) - when the candidate is in the qualification process - when the candidate has signed an agreement - when the candidate is qualified but has been unresponsive - other statuses that support your specific sales process You’ll also want the ability to electronically distribute and track receipt of your brand’s FDD, including filing an Item 23 receipt with the candidate’s record. Ideally, changing a lead’s status should trigger automated workflow tasks, such as sending the candidate information relevant to the stage of the sales cycle they’re in, or setting key tasks that need to be completed at this stage. You should also be able to track time spent in each status so that you can review the sales funnel periodically for candidates who are lagging behind and revise tactics as appropriate. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)### **4. Smart Groups** A CRM with “smart groups” allows you to dynamically segment leads according to common characteristics, creating maximum efficiency to reach multiple leads at one time. For example, you may build out franchise candidate buyer personas and message by persona at the top of the funnel. Or perhaps as a sales manager, you work in a specific geographic and want to tag the leads in your territory. Another use of smart groups is to tag leads you are not interested in at this time – perhaps due to geographic or financial reasons – but you may be interested in contacting in the future. Of course, creating groups based on where your leads come from – otherwise known as their “source” – is always helpful, which leads us to… ### **5. Source tracking** Tracking where your leads come from directly impacts where you spend your marketing dollars (at least it should). It’s imperative to be able to track how your leads discovered your brand, whether it be from social media, a paid media campaign, a referral, or an event. Every lead in your CRM should have its source tagged upon entry, whether the entry happens automatically or through a manual import. Once tracked, you should also be able to compare leads delivered per source (and how far into the sales cycle each progressed) with the amount of money spent on each source to determine your cost per lead, as well as ROI per lead source. One additional element of a [CRM built specifically for franchising](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/sales/) is that it automatically adds leads directly from franchise brokers and portals. ### **6. Integration** Although we’re concerned here primarily with franchise development, ask yourself, what happens once we award a franchise? How seamlessly does our CRM integrate with the next stage in the franchise lifecycle? Can I easily transfer information from the franchise sales process to the onboarding and compliance management areas? Your development software should integrate with the rest of your operations, and optimize the entire process for your teams and franchisees. Integration also includes tools and data used outside of your CRM – good systems offer APIs that get external data into or out of the system to use elsewhere. Lastly, it will also be integrated with digital signature software (like DocuSign), lead profiling systems, etc., to allow you to use those systems while accessing the resulting data in one central location. ### 7. **Reporting** Last but not least, your franchise development software needs to give you good reporting. The above features are useless if you can’t understand their impact. You need to have insight into your workflows, campaigns, sources, communications, and sales funnel. Are you attracting enough of the right candidates? Is your sales team converting those qualified candidates into opportunities and then closing the deal? If not, why not? What are you doing well, and what are areas for improvement? Are you meeting your financial goals? These questions need to have answers, and those answers should be easily accessible, comprehensible, and reviewed regularly for course correction. Ideally you will have a [business intelligence tool](https://www.franconnect.com/improve-unit-economics-franchise-management-software/) that ties in with your software solution that gives you real-time, distributable reporting and gives you insight into key aspects of the business. ![Download your free copy of Optimizing Franchise Development.](http://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/social-suggested-images/Optimizing%20Franchise%20Development%20Ebook%20Image.png "Download your free copy of Optimizing Franchise Development.") To learn more about franchise development best practices, check out FranConnect’s free ebook, *Optimizing Franchise Development: Old School Principles Meet New School Tools*. [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Develop **Tags:** Franchise Sales --- ### [5 Franchise Development Efforts That Increase Qualified Leads](https://www.franconnect.com/5-franchise-sales-efforts-that-increase-qualified-leads/) **Published:** April 19, 2017 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Implementing new sales and development efforts can increase qualified leads to for your franchise. Here are 5 ideas to help you get started! **Content:** Getting franchisee leads is important, but more important is getting *qualified* leads – these are the leads who are most likely to convert to a sale. Otherwise, a lot of time, effort, and money is wasted on the wrong candidates. Here are five franchise sales and marketing efforts that increase qualified leads. ## **1. Define your target prospects** It’s hard to sell if you don’t know who you should sell to. Creating [franchisee buyer personas](https://www.franconnect.com/creating-franchisee-buyer-personas/) are a key component to any franchise sales and marketing strategy. By defining exactly what types of franchisees are successful for your organization, you can create a targeted approach to exactly when, where, and how to reach qualified leads, ensuring you’re spending your dollars in the right places to reach the right people. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)[![Franchisee buyer personas are a key component of franchise sales efforts.](http://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Campaigns/Persona%20Workbook/Persona%20Workboook_Thumbnail.png "Franchisee buyer personas are a key component of franchise sales efforts.")](http://go.franconnect.com/create-franchisee-buyer-persona-workbook) ## **2. Have a franchise recruitment website** It is imperative to have a [dedicated website for franchise recruitment](https://www.franconnect.com/evaluate-your-franchise-recruitment-website/). Candidates who land on your website should be able to quickly identify if your brand appeals to them through easy navigation, discoverable information, and engaging content. The website should guide interested prospects to complete an inquiry with full transparency of next steps. Based on your franchisee buyer personas, your website should include content that speaks specifically to these defined targets. For example, if one of your franchisee personas is millennials, be sure you have content that explains how it’s a great opportunity to embrace their entrepreneurial spirit without all the risks that come with starting their own business from scratch. ***Learn why you should be* [*targeting millennials for your franchise*](https://www.franconnect.com/millennials-in-franchising-to-be-or-not-to-be/)*.*** If you don’t have a franchise recruitment website, or you want to improve the one you currently have, check out some of these award-winning sites: [Mighty Auto Parts](https://www.mightyfranchise.com/) – Mighty Auto parts received the [2016 STAR Award](https://www.franchising.com/blogs/2016_star_awards_winners_honored_at_recordbreaking_event.html) in “Best Website Best Practices” for having a user-friendly online presence, which is key in today’s technology driven world. [Bach to Rock](https://www.bachtorock.com/franchise/) – Bach to Rock received the [2015 STAR Award](https://www.franchising.com/articles/star_awards_honoring_the_best_in_franchise_recruitment.html) in “Best Website Best Practices” for its commitment to transparency. By giving site visitors as much information as possible, the company says “they can make an informed decision.” Since the website’s launch, leads have risen 200 percent and sales are up 70 percent. Regardless of what your recruitment website looks like or how it’s performing, remember – it all means nothing if you aren’t properly following up with your leads. ## **3. Work with your marketing team** If you build it, they aren’t just going to come. A franchise recruitment website does not magically bring qualified franchisee candidates to the hands of your franchise sales team. It’s important that sales and marketing work together to qualify and engage with leads. Here are a few marketing tactics to consider to generate targeted leads: **Email Communications** – [Create email campaigns](https://www.franconnect.com/effective-email-marketing-for-franchise-development-success/) that engage with your leads. Keep them updated on relevant company news, invite them to events, suggest they reach out with questions. If a prospect shows interest and they never hear from you again, you’re the one putting an end to that relationship. **Content Marketing** – Content marketing is all the rage right now. Blog posts, ebooks, white papers, videos – all of these are tactics to attract new leads to your brand. By making some content pieces gated assets (requiring the person to fill out a form to receive the asset), you will gain contact information and have the ability to place each qualified lead into the appropriate workflow. **Paid Advertising** – Even a small budget for paid advertising can go a long way. With [Google AdWords](/ppc-advertising-for-franchisors) you can target keywords and phrases for people investigating franchising and guide them to your franchise recruitment website. You can also use franchise specific media outlets, such as the [International Franchise Association](https://www.franchise.org/), [Franchise Update Media](https://www.franchising.com/about/), and WorldFranchising, among others, to schedule dedicated e-blasts, newsletter ads, and more. **Events** – There are a plethora of franchise events throughout the year, hosted by [IFA](https://www.franchise.org/), [Franchise Update Media](https://www.franchising.com/about/), [Franchise Expo](https://www.franchiseexpo.com/), and others. People interested in franchising will attend these events to learn about what kinds of franchise opportunities exist. This is a great way to have face-to-face interactions with potential candidates. **Social Media** – Social media has to be a part of every business now, and it’s a great storytelling tool. Showcase your current franchisees to show how wonderful it is to be a part of your brand. Consider paid advertising on platforms that are most engaging for your brand. ## **4. Consider a franchise development company** Franchise development companies work with your sales, finance, and operations teams to grow your franchise. They work with franchisors to attract qualified leads and with candidates to help them find a brand that’s a good fit. Some development companies specialize in certain type of franchises. Do your research to discover if and which development company may be a good fit for you. ## **5. Use technology** The more you grow, the harder it will be to keep track of your leads with spreadsheets. Fortunately, there are franchise development tools to help you and your team grow you brand in an organized, efficient way, managing every aspect of the engagement process with franchisee candidates. A good [lead management system](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/sales/) will have a CRM and include automated workflows, email campaigns, status tracking, source tracking, and reporting. [![A lead management system is critical for your franchise sales team.](http://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/social-suggested-images/franchise-software-sales-1-1.jpg "A lead management system is critical for your franchise sales team.")](http://franconnect.com/franchise-software/sales/) **For other franchise development tips and best practices, check out this free ebook *Optimizing Franchise Development: Old School Principles Meet New School Tools*.** [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Develop **Tags:** Franchise Development, Franchise Marketing, Franchise Sales --- ### [Can the Right Franchise Management Software Improve Unit Economics?](https://www.franconnect.com/improve-unit-economics-franchise-management-software/) **Published:** March 3, 2017 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** The right franchise management software gives you insight into how to improve unit economics. Click to learn how to turn your data into valuable information. **Content:** #### Written by Nick Mecozzi Historically, franchisors and franchisees have had a, shall we say, *unique* relationship. While formally contractual and involving some level of operational performance “enforcement,” the relationship has also been guided by a collective desire aimed at a mutually beneficial outcome: to gather data and turn it into the information needed to improve unit economics and make better business decisions that benefit the franchisor AND franchisees. Collecting and analyzing the right data can be a powerful business tool to realize unit and system growth. And that means we need to start integrating technology solutions that take data from different areas of the business – finance, operations, marketing, development – and bring it together in a way that you can easily track and analyze. Only then can we gain access to important business intelligence to make informed decisions based on unit-level metrics, such as revenue and royalty tracking, marketing efforts, operations standards, and staffing. Imagine then… - What if you could know in real-time if and when franchisees complete training? - What if you could compare performance levels between groups of franchisees based on properties such as size, location, or time since opening? - What if your franchisees could see how they rank geographically or compared to units with similar characteristics to benchmark their performance? With the right [franchise management software](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/royalty-manager/), you can do all of these things. If franchisors want to grow – which means not only adding units, but also maximizing the success of each existing unit – then the time is now to rethink how we are (or are not) using technology to gain actionable business insights. Franchises produce a lot of data, and all this data present great opportunities to gain unique insights if you can turn it into information you can use, all the way down to the unit level. For instance, with the right data points, what if you could optimize operations, from category management and vendor management to loss prevention? What if you could improve human resources with effective workforce allocation? What if you could optimize marketing with improved understanding of customer behavior patterns? Only by transforming how we are using technology can we truly improve engagement, performance, and unit growth. With that transformation, the” what if you could” scenarios become reality. ![FranConnect Sky Insights is a business intelligence tool for your entire franchise system.](http://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/FC%20Product/Insights-screenshot-tablet.png "FranConnect Sky Insights is a business intelligence tool for your entire franchise system.") No hassle. No spreadsheets. No more surprises. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Improve Performance, Operate **Tags:** Franchise News --- ### [How Are Franchise Royalty Fees Calculated?](https://www.franconnect.com/franchise-royalty-fee-calculation/) **Published:** August 30, 2023 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Franchise royalty fees are a regular cost of doing business, but franchisors can calculate them in several different ways. Learn more with FranConnect! **Content:** When you franchise a business, you’re offering many different services to your franchisees to help them get off the ground, like your recognizable brand name and business strategies. Of course, these resources have a cost, and royalty fees represent one of the ways that franchisees pay for those resources. Determining how you’ll charge these fees will play a significant role in your earnings from franchisees. You have several options, so let’s take a look at what goes into royalty fees, how to calculate them and how to communicate them to your franchisees. ## What Are Franchise Royalty Fees? Franchise royalty fees are the regular payments that a franchisee pays to the franchisor, usually charged on a monthly or weekly basis. The average franchise royalty fee percentage [typically ranges between 4% and 12%](https://www.ifpg.org/buying-a-franchise/what-are-franchise-royalty-fees), but this value can vary based on industry, revenue and other factors, which we’ll discuss later. This fee can go toward many different resources you might provide, covering costs associated with administration, recruitment, product research and development, marketing, and other benefits of working with an established brand. Royalty fees for franchises also go toward the franchisor’s profits, compensating them for licensing out the brand name. ## Royalty Fee vs. Franchise Fee One of the big costs for a franchisee opening a unit is paying franchise fees. These fees are one-time, upfront costs the franchisee pays to own and operate the business. It allows them to use the franchisor’s established name and have access to proprietary business systems and other resources. This expense [is typically between $25,000 and $50,000](https://franchisebusinessreview.com/post/common-franchise-costs-and-fees/), but it can also vary widely. While the royalty fee covers ongoing costs, the franchise fee is the cost of admission. It only gets charged once and helps pay for certain services related to opening the business, like marketing, training, and assistance with site selection and build-out. ## How to Calculate Franchise Royalty Fees Determining your royalty fee calculation can be tricky because there are many different ways to do so. Two common approaches include fixed or variable percentages of gross sales, but you could also use fixed royalty fees or transaction-based fees: - **Fixed percentage of gross sales:** This royalty fee calculation is simple to administer and charges the franchisee a percentage of their gross sales. This percentage doesn’t change, but it may not be well-balanced for either party. It’s easy to understand and track. - **Variable percentage of gross sales:** The variable-percentage model works similarly, except the percentage changes based on how much the franchisee sells in a given period. The franchisor might charge a lower percentage on higher sales, incentivizing franchisees to improve performance while still providing good returns for the franchisor. Alternatively and less commonly, the franchisor might charge a higher percentage as sales increase. This tactic can help keep fees fair when franchises are placed in locations likely to see high sales, such as high-volume downtown buildings. - **Fixed royalty fees:** This approach gives the franchisor a fixed amount each period, allowing the franchisee to reap the benefits of higher sales. Usually, the franchisor adjusts these fees based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The fixed option isn’t very popular because it can be difficult for the franchise to meet during low periods and may not fairly compensate the franchisor when locations achieve higher sales volumes. - **Transaction-based fees:** Sometimes, an a la carte fee schedule gives the franchisee access to specific resources as needed. Franchisees pay individually for extra services they use, such as staff training from company headquarters. In the hospitality industry, for instance, the franchisee might pay a fee every time a guest books through the franchisor’s centralized reservation system or dials into their call center. Some other elements to consider when determining your royalty fees include the following: - **Minimum royalty fees:** By setting a minimum fee, you can ensure that you receive a specific amount every period. Franchisors commonly look to the CPI to adjust their minimum. If the franchisee would pay more under another fee schedule you’ve specified, like the ones outlined above, that fee would apply instead of the minimum. While this option offers more security for the franchisor, it can cause hardship for the franchise at a time when it may already be struggling with lower sales. - **Startup period adjustments:** A newly established business will likely have lower sales and need more support. To help these franchisees get off the ground, many franchisors will waive or reduce royalty fees for an introductory period. You could remove the fees entirely or have the franchisee pay them back later, like a loan or deferral. These models offer some insight into common approaches, but ultimately, your fee schedule is up to you. Some businesses might charge based on gross profits, and some don’t charge royalties at all. Think about what’s right for you and your organization. [Streamline Royalty Process](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/streamline-royalty-process/)## Communicating Your Royalty Fees Setting your fees is just one part of the puzzle. You’ll also need to consider how you’ll communicate them to your franchisees and potential franchisees. Think about communication from advertising and logistics perspectives. If your royalty fees are lower than the rest of the industry, be sure to highlight them when recruiting new franchisees. Low fees can serve as a unique selling point that sets you apart from other franchise opportunities. Mention it in your marketing materials and in ads when targeting potential franchisees. When it comes to charging your royalty fees every month or week, you’ll need [a dependable franchise management platform](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/sales/) that can handle calculations and invoicing. These fees can get complex, so make sure your system can accommodate intricate rules, rate structures, and fee schedules. It should also provide transparent invoicing that communicates fee calculations with your franchisees. When they can see the breakdown of their charges clearly and concisely, [you can prevent misunderstandings](https://www.franconnect.com/the-power-of-effective-communication-between-franchisors-and-franchisees/) and reduce friction. FranConnect, for example, automatically calculates royalty fees based on imported or franchisee-entered sales information. It makes journal entries in the franchisor’s and franchisee’s systems, including point-of-sale, QuickBooks, and other finance management tools. Understanding the fees is simple and straightforward, and franchisees can access detailed fee information at any time. ## Harness FranConnect’s Royalty Manager Deciding how to charge your franchise royalty fees might be difficult, but invoicing and managing them should be simple. FranConnect is a robust franchise management platform with a wide range of resources, including our Royalty Manager. The Royalty Manager offers a single source of truth for the financial terms of your agreements with franchises and provides automatic calculation, invoicing, and payments for royalty fees. The process is accurate, transparent, and streamlined, so you and your franchisees can focus on boosting performance rather than figuring out charges. [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/)See everything the Royalty Manager and FranConnect have to offer by [requesting a demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) today! For more information, [contact us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/) today. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Profit, Streamline Royalty Process **Tags:** Franchise Best Practices, Franchise Royalties, Royalty Collections --- ### [Leveraging LinkedIn to Attract New Franchisees](https://www.franconnect.com/linkedin-for-franchisors/) **Published:** May 22, 2023 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Leveraging LinkedIn to attract new franchisees is easier with FranConnect. Request a demo to see how we can help streamline operations & boost engagement! **Content:** LinkedIn is a powerful platform for attracting new franchisees if you know how to use it. It lets you showcase your achievements, share business updates with potential partners and engage them directly on what is generally considered a “trusted platform.” The key to ensuring success on LinkedIn is to optimize your profile, and there are a few ways to do that. LinkedIn says [pages with complete information](https://business.linkedin.com/marketing-solutions/linkedin-pages/best-practices#2:~:text=Complete%20your%20Page,to%20fill%20out.) get 30% more weekly views. Updating your profile image and banner and having a compelling “about us” section boosts your visibility on the platform. Additionally, posting relevant content regularly and advertising on Linkedin for franchisors are excellent starting points for selling franchises on LinkedIn. ## Why LinkedIn Is the Perfect Avenue To Reach Potential Franchisees? LinkedIn is among the most widely used social networking platforms for businesses and professionals worldwide. The platform has [over 930 million members](https://news.linkedin.com/about-us#Statistics), with 224 million coming from the United States alone. LinkedIn also has over 63 million companies listed on its website. This makes it a fertile ground for businesses to connect, find and reach their audience. Beyond the numbers, Linkedin remains one of [the most trusted platforms](https://www.emarketer.com/content/social-media-scrapes-bottom-ranking-of-most-trusted-industries) in the U.S. today. This makes it appealing for professionals interested in engaging with others and opens doors and opportunities to transact business. You may leverage LinkedIn to find franchisees and expand your network. You can also take advantage of the wealth of information available on the platform to learn and strategize your operations. Webinars, remote conferences and other online events have recently become the norm. Some influential franchise associations use LinkedIn to advertise and host these activities. Classic examples are the Franchise Leadership and Development Conference, Springboard [and the multiple events](https://www.franchise.org/events) hosted by the International Franchise Association. These are excellent platforms for locating franchise candidates and investors and marketing your brand. In summary, LinkedIn offers franchisors the following benefits: - Lead generation - Recruitment opportunities - Publicity - **Keep an eye on LinkedIn algorithm updates:** LinkedIn modifies its algorithm to help deliver better user services. These updates may alter your strategies, so it helps to learn them to boost your recognition. Take advantage of the new features to attract new franchisees. - **Check out the competition:** Sometimes, the best way to learn and gain new insights is to observe what your competitors do right and wrong. Study their profiles to find where to improve your LinkedIn presence. You may combine several positive strategies to create a better model for your campaign. - **Use franchise management tools:** Franchise management tools help streamline your business processes. Having your sales, finance, marketing and operations departments in one place offers a clear overview of your progress and enables you to make informed decisions. It also lets you engage franchisees with a central communication hub.nline presence and discoverability ![Image-2](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Image-2.png)## Creating An Appealing Company Profile A well-structured company profile is one of the most effective ways to attract potential franchisees and business partners on LinkedIn. But how do you optimize your profile to help you achieve your goals? Here are four tips: ### 1. Update Your Profile Picture and Cover Photo First impressions count, and your profile image and banner are often the first things people notice when they visit your page. Companies with profile images and cover photos generally perform better and attract more visitors than those without. The good news is that the process is straightforward, especially when you have an existing company logo. You can use the same logo as your profile picture and resize it to fit the requirements. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)The banner above your profile picture lets you get creative with the design. There are no hard and fast rules, but ensure the photo you select is clean and simple. You can use pictures of upcoming events or images that provide relevant information about your company. Even better, showcase your employees or business headquarters in the banner. ### 2. Write a Compelling Company Description The description section lets you tell potential business partners about your company, so make sure it creates a lasting memory. This portion is vital because it persuades franchisees to engage your page and contact you for further information. Use plain and direct language informed by keywords to outline your mission. Share your company’s story with potential investors and help them see the worth of your product or service. Provide details about your locations, brand voice and achievements to help them immediately see your business’s value. You may also provide information about the size of your company, the industry of operation, your official website and the type of entity you operate. The aim is to capture visitors’ attention and help them find what they need quickly. ### 3. Post Relevant Content Regularly This is where things get more interesting. According to LinkedIn, companies that post weekly see a [two-time lift in engagement](https://business.linkedin.com/marketing-solutions/linkedin-pages/best-practices#2) with their content. Feeding your page with regular, relevant content directly impacts its success on the platform. LinkedIn offers multiple post options, including the following: - **Articles:** LinkedIn allows you to share long-form content and informational pieces to educate your visitors. Also, you can insert links, images or videos into the content, which can help boost your rank on the search engine result page (SERP). You can also publish newsletters to build a subscriber community. - **Documents:** You can upload PowerPoint slides and PDFs on your LinkedIn profile. This lets you share graphs and data with potential business partners and persuade them to buy into your company. As a rule of thumb, ensure that all documents shared on your platform are tidy and well-formatted. - **Images:** LinkedIn suggests that images typically result in [a two-time higher comment rate](https://business.linkedin.com/marketing-solutions/linkedin-pages/best-practices#0:~:text=Aim%20to%20include,well%20for%20organizations.) and perform well for organizations. Pictures are attention-grabbing and excellent ways to share evidence of your activities. You may also provide data in an image format to help franchisees make informed decisions. - **Videos:** Videos [increase your LinkedIn engagements](https://business.linkedin.com/marketing-solutions/linkedin-pages/best-practices#1:~:text=Video%20gets%205x%20more%20engagement%20on%20LinkedIn%2C%20Live%20Video%20gets%2024x%20more) up to five times, and live videos generate 24 times more. Leverage these media options to reach potential franchisees through an ad, educational or tutorial videos or webinars. In addition to these features, LinkedIn lets you share existing content and interact through comments and direct messages, which can also help enhance your online presence. ### 4. Advertise On Linkedin For Franchisors Utilizing [franchise ads on LinkedIn](https://business.linkedin.com/marketing-solutions/how-to-advertise-on-linkedin) helps you reach your target market and grow your audience. Franchisors can employ paid advertising and organic marketing strategies to direct potential investors to their pages and convert them into partners. [Ensure Brand Consistency](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/brand-consistency/)Sponsored content Ads for LinkedIn franchises are interactive avenues to share valuable information for brand awareness and lead generation. Other ad formats include Message Ads, Dynamic Ads and Text Ads, each serving a unique function. You can also incorporate search engine optimization (SEO) strategies into your regular content posts to market your franchise and improve your internet visibility. Experiment with hashtags and share your page on other social media platforms for optimal results. ## Extra Tips for Attracting Franchisees on LinkedIn Here are some additional tips for selling franchises on LinkedIn: ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Develop, Franchising Best Practices **Tags:** Franchise Marketing, Franchise Sales, Sign New Franchisees --- ### [Why Training Your Frontline Employees Is Pivotal to Your Business’s Success](https://www.franconnect.com/frontline-employee-training-importance/) **Published:** April 26, 2023 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Learn why training frontline employees is pivotal to your business’s success. Request a demo of FranConnect's frontline employee training solution today! **Content:** When it comes to running a successful business, many factors come into play. From creating a solid brand identity to developing effective marketing strategies, business owners have a lot on their plate. However, one key aspect of success that is often overlooked is the importance of adequately training frontline employees. Frontline employees are the face of your business. They represent your brand to customers daily. Even the most dedicated employees need proper training to meet their job expectations. That’s why business owners need to invest in employee training. By providing employees with the tools and knowledge they need to excel in their roles, businesses can create a positive work environment, improve customer service and ultimately drive success. Let’s discuss all there is to know about frontline employees, why [frontline employee training](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/) is crucial and how to train your employees properly in this day and age. [Train Employees](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/training/)## Who Qualifies as a Frontline Employee Frontline employees work directly with customers or clients in a business or organization. Frontline employees are often customers’ first point of contact and are critical to a business’s success. They are the ones who interact with customers daily, and their ability to provide quality service can have a significant impact on a customer’s overall experience. They are seen as the face of the company and are responsible for providing customer service, answering questions and handling customer complaints. So, who qualifies as a frontline employee? Frontline employees can be found in various fields. Here are common industries that employ frontline employees: - **Customer service:** This includes call center representatives who answer customer phone calls. - **Emergency services:** First responders — such as police officers, paramedics and firefighters — are all frontline employees. - **Finance:** Bank tellers, for example, interact with customers face-to-face. - **Health care:** Frontline workers in health care include doctors, nurses and other medical professionals who work in hospitals or clinics. - **Hospitality:** Some examples include front desk staff, housekeepers and other employees who work in hotels. - **Food services:** Some examples include servers, hosts and kitchen staff who work in restaurants. - **Retail:** This includes cashiers, sales associates and customer service representatives who work in stores. - **Transportation:** This industry includes bus drivers, flight attendants and taxi drivers. - **Utility:** Plumbers, electricians and maintenance workers are also considered frontline employees. While frontline employees work in various industries and have different job duties, some shared characteristics exist among them. These include the following: - **Strong sense of customer service:** Frontline employees must communicate effectively with customers and handle customer complaints or issues professionally and courteously. - **Work well under pressure:** Frontline employees often have to deal with high volumes of customers or clients and may need to manage multiple tasks or requests simultaneously. - **Knowledge of company products and services:** Frontline employees must also understand the company’s products or services to answer customer questions accurately. Compensation for frontline employees can vary depending on the industry, specific job duties and location. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median hourly wage for [retail sales workers was $14.30](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/sales/retail-sales-workers.htm) in 2021, while the median hourly wage for [food and beverage serving was $12.49](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/food-preparation-and-serving/food-and-beverage-serving-and-related-workers.htm). However, some frontline employees earn above-average salaries. For example, health care workers like practitioners, registered nurses and dental hygienists have a [median annual wage of $75,040](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/home.htm) in 2021. ![02-the-importance-of-training-frontline-employees](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/02-the-importance-of-training-frontline-employees.png) ## The Importance of Training Frontline Employees Frontline employee training is a wise investment for any business and is essential for various reasons. Here are a few key reasons why employee training is needed: ### 1. Increased Customer Happiness One reason you should train your frontline employees is that it can increase customer satisfaction. When frontline employees receive proper training, they are better equipped to provide top-notch customer service. They better understand their company’s products or services and know how to handle customer complaints or issues effectively. This leads to happier customers who are more likely to return to the business and recommend it to others. ### 2. Improved Employee Retention Investing in employee training shows frontline employees that their employer values them and wants them to succeed. This can lead to higher employee morale and a greater sense of job satisfaction, which can improve employee retention rates. Employees who feel supported and empowered are more likely to stay with the company long-term. ### 3. Greater Job-Knowledge Training provides frontline employees with the knowledge and skills they need to excel in their roles. This can include learning about new products or services, improving communication skills or developing essential problem-solving skills. As employees develop new skills, they become more confident in their abilities and can take on more responsibilities, leading to growth opportunities within the company. ### 4. Boosted Employee Motivation Proper training can also boost employee motivation and engagement. When employees feel confident in their abilities and have the skills they need to perform their jobs effectively, they are more likely to take pride in their work and feel motivated to do their best. This can lead to improved job performance and overall productivity. ## How to Train an Employee To [train employees](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/training/), you need to use digital tools as frontline training solutions. By investing in a learning management system (LMS), businesses can help ensure their employees have the skills and knowledge they need to succeed. Here are some things to consider when choosing a training solution for your frontline employees: ### Digital Is the Key Digital tools are a popular and effective way to train frontline employees. Businesses can use online training software to create training programs that are accessible from anywhere with an internet connection. This allows employees to complete training on their own time, which can be especially helpful for those with busy schedules or who work irregular hours. Additionally, digital training allows businesses to track employee progress and ensure everyone completes the necessary training. ### Mobile-Friendly Interface Is a Must Today, many employees rely on their smartphones or tablets to access information and complete tasks. That’s why it’s important to ensure that employee training is accessible on mobile devices. A mobile-friendly interface can make training more convenient for employees who are always on the go. This means that employees can complete training modules during their commutes, on their lunch break or whenever they have a spare moment. By making training mobile-friendly, businesses can ensure that employees have access to the information they need, whenever and wherever they need it. [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/)### Provide a Variety of Content for All When it comes to employee training, it’s essential to use various content types. This can include text, videos, slideshows and interactive elements like quizzes or simulations. This variety helps keep employees engaged and interested in the training, which can lead to better retention. Additionally, using different types of content can help accommodate different learning styles. For example, some employees prefer to read text-based content, while others find videos or interactive elements more helpful. [![03-CTA-employee-training-software-you-can-count-on](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/03-CTA-employee-training-software-you-can-count-on.jpg)](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) ## Employee Training Software You Can Count On A thriving business requires well-trained employees. An LMS may assist you in teaching your employees in an enjoyable and engaging way, whether you’re onboarding new employees or training freshly promoted personnel. FranConnect’s [World Manager LMS training solution](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/) covers all the pivotal points of adequate training for your frontline employees. Contact us at [844-336-1017](tel:844-336-1017) to start streamlining your business today. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Engage, Retain and Onboard Employees **Tags:** employee training --- ### [Andy Volkmann of FranConnect Named “2023 NVTC Emerging Growth CFO of the Year Award Finalist” by the Northern Virginia Technology Council](https://www.franconnect.com/andy-volkmann-franconnect-named-2023-nvtc-cfo-of-the-year-award-finalist/) **Published:** April 19, 2023 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Andy Volkmann of FranConnect Named “2023 NVTC Emerging Growth CFO of the Year Award Finalist” by the Northern Virginia Technology Council **Content:** #### Award Recognizes Top Finance Executives for their Exceptional Contribution to the Economic Growth of the Region’s Technology Community **(HERNDON, Virginia) April 20, 2023** – [FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/), the global leader of [franchise and multi-location management solutions](https://www.franconnect.com/?_gl=1%2Ae150wp%2A_ga%2AMTU3OTU0NTE0NC4xNjczMzY3NTAy%2A_ga_J79WYW2FDW%2AMTY3NTg3MDE4Ny40NS4xLjE2NzU4NzI0OTcuNTYuMC4w) for driving success in sales, operations, and marketing, is proud to announce its Chief Financial Officer, Andy Volkmann, has been recognized as a finalist for the 27th annual Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC) Emerging Growth CFO of the Year Award. This prestigious award recognizes top finance leaders for their extraordinary achievements and excellence in advancing the economic development of the region’s technology community. The panel of independent judges include former CFO award winners, who selected Volkmann for exceeding the traditional expectations of a CFO. Selection criteria include company transformation, new technology implementation and innovation, and community service contributions. “Congratulations Andy Volkmann for being named a finalist for Emerging Growth CFO of the Year. His financial stewardship and commitment to building innovative, financially-secure businesses contributes to making our region one of the largest and most influential tech hubs in the nation,” said Jennifer Taylor, President, and CEO of NVTC. Volkmann has been recognized for his outstanding achievements in overseeing the financial operations of FranConnect since joining the company in 2020. Through his strategic financial planning and vision, Andy has been instrumental in helping guide the company through continuous stages of growth and completing two acquisitions in 2022 – FranchiseBlast and [World Manager](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/). “I am honored to be named a finalist for this prestigious award.”, said Andy Volkmann. “This recognition reflects the hard work and dedication of the entire FranConnect team, as well as the dynamic and forward-thinking culture of our company. To be the CFO of a company that is constantly driving innovation, speed and scale for brands in the franchise and multi-location industry has been truly remarkable.” Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, June 5, 2023, at The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner in McLean, Virginia. “Our region continues to be a hotbed of innovation that supports technology companies throughout the growth curve continuum — including early and mid-stage technology companies to mature market leaders,” said Shiv Varma, KPMG partner, and chair of this year’s CFO Awards program. “CFOs and finance executives play a pivotal role in making our technology ecosystem as successful and vibrant as it is today.” **About the Northern Virginia Technology Council** NVTC is the trade association representing the Northern Virginia technology community. As one of the nation’s largest technology councils, NVTC serves companies from all sectors of the industry, from small businesses and start-ups to Fortune 100 technology companies, government contractors, as well as service providers, academic institutions, and nonprofit organizations. More than 450 members look to the organization as a resource for networking and educational opportunities, peer-to-peer communities, policy advocacy, industry promotion, fostering of strategic relationships, and branding of the region as a major global technology center. Learn more at [www.nvtc.org](https://www.nvtc.org/). ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Company News **Tags:** Press Releases --- ### [FranConnect Reports Record Customer Growth and Expanded Partnerships Globally in 2022](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-reports-record-customer-growth-and-expanded-partnerships-globally-in-2022-2/) **Published:** February 8, 2023 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** FranConnect Reports Record Customer Growth and Expanded Partnerships Globally in 2022 **Content:** #### Leading Provider of Franchise and Multi-location Management Solutions Nearly Doubled its Customer Base through Strategic Acquisition and Investments in Technology Enhancements **(HERNDON, Virginia) February 8, 2023** – [FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/), the leading provider of franchise and multi-location management solutions for driving success in sales, operations, and marketing, proudly announces key milestone achievements in 2022 that have propelled its growth, customer experience, and innovation trajectory. FranConnect expanded partnerships with over 100 brands and welcomed over 120 new franchise brands and multi-location businesses to its customer base, including Pet Valu, KOA, and Mathnasium. With more than 1,500 brands and 350,000 units worldwide relying on its solutions, FranConnect maintains its position as the “gold standard” and only platform helping multi-unit and franchise organizations achieve their business goals across all areas of their operations from supporting the brand to the owners and frontline employees. “I want to thank our customers – who continue to partner with us year after year. Our industry-leading NPS shows how we continue to deliver for those brands – supporting their growth and transformation to enable better scale within their businesses,” said Gabby Wong, CEO of FranConnect. “I am proud of our 2022 results, which demonstrate that our differentiated approach to supporting specific franchise and multi-location processes like unit sales, field operations, royalty collection, and frontline employee training is unmatched in the market. As the market leader year after year, we continue to prove that FranConnect can deliver with the speed, scale, and innovation that brands expect in today’s dynamic market.” This announcement comes on the heels of continued innovation in FranConnect’s core technology and offerings in the franchise market, including the acquisition of [World Manager](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/) – a global provider of enterprise learning management and front-line employee engagement solutions to multi-unit businesses. Operations teams are now empowered todevelop and deploy highly customized branded content to support front-line employee training for improved onboarding and engagement and enable brands to monitor engagement success at the unit-level. This acquisition expanded FranConnect’s customer portfolio to include some of the largest multi-location brands, including Forever 21, Billabong, Domino’s, Long John Silver’s, Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux, Nando’s, Gloria Jean’s Coffees, and Ben & Jerry’s and further extend operations in Australia and Colombia. As part of FranConnect’s strategy to continuously enhance the value of its platform, the company delivered a number of new products and solutions, including: - Advanced [**Royalty Manager**](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/royalty-manager/) capabilities to support the complex royalty and fee calculations of international franchise systems. - New capabilities for[**Performance Management**](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/performance/) of active units, including **Franchise Scorecards** that aggregate operational and performance information across disparate data sources into benchmark KPIs and a new **Projects** capability to track growth initiatives rolling out across the franchise system. - Enhanced support for **Multi-Unit Territory Development** and **Transfers and Terminations for enterprise brands.** - **New Consulting Programs** to assist brands in tackling key growth challenges including how to speed up onboarding, increase franchisee performance and improve brand consistency. To capitalize on growth opportunities, FranConnect expanded its employee headcount by 20% in 2022 and made significant hires including: - **Michael Osovski** named Vice President of Partnerships to expand FranConnect’s strategic partnership program. - **Larissa Levine** named Vice President of Revenue Operations to scale go to market business processes. - **Molly Aiken** named Vice President of Enterprise Sales to support the growing need of enterprise brands. - **Trevor Anthony** named Chief of Staff to lead strategic planning and growth initiatives. For more information on FranConnect’s newest products or to schedule a demo of the platform, visit [www.franconnect.com](https://www.franconnect.com/). **About FranConnect** [FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/) is the leading franchise management and multi-location management software provider. For 20 years, the FranConnect platform has served as the sales, operations, and marketing backbone for over 1500 brands worldwide. Nine of the Franchise Times’ Top 10 Fastest-Growing franchise businesses as well as half of the franchise brands listed in the “Smartest Growing Brands” list rely on FranConnect to drive growth, improve profitability, and streamline operational performance. FranConnect customers span all sizes, growth phases, and industries and they grow 44% faster on average than the broader franchising market. Backed by private-equity investor Serent Capital, FranConnect is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, with global offices in Australia, India, Colombia, and Canada. For more information on FranConnect’s products and to schedule a demo, click [here](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/). \#### ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Company News, Global News **Tags:** Press Releases --- ### [Introducing Project Management Software for Franchising](https://www.franconnect.com/introducing-project-management-software-for-franchising/) **Published:** December 19, 2022 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** FranConnect Projects is the newest component of our Operate module with the ability to track all projects using project management software. **Content:** #### Written by Jaffrey Ali ## **The Project Management Challenge in Franchising** One of the most popular – and well-used – capabilities of the FranConnect Platform is our Opener module. It is a workflow-based solution that helps bring order to the chaos of the unit opening process, ultimately speeding up time to revenue. Recently, many of our customers have been asking us to help them tackle complex projects beyond just the Opening stage of the franchise lifecycle. So… we’ve quietly been working on a solution, which we’re excited to introduce now! First and foremost, some background on why this matters. Anyone who has ever tackled complex franchise lifecycle events or corporate initiatives knows how hard it is to do so in an organized, consistent, and well-coordinated way. Having visibility into every step of the process across multiple stakeholders is paramount. But also, effective communication is critical, so that everyone involved knows their responsibilities and the impact of their contributions. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)## Introducing FranConnect Projects FranConnect Projects is the newest component of our Operate module, available to customers now! Embedded inside your system of record and built specifically for franchising, Projects provides corporate users and franchisees transparency and consistency for every step of the project timeline. Deliver a project in an organized, consistent, and well-coordinated way within your franchise system by allowing unit-level individuals to collaborate with various departments, while additionally supporting them during their events. Whether the point of convergence is a company-wide initiative (rebranding or product launch) and/or a need to manage a new process deployment (POS system), Projects allow you to improve stakeholder collaboration while sharing best practices and critical knowledge. #### ***Popular Use Cases for FranConnect Projects:*** - New Process Deployment (POS system) - Unit Remodels - Mass Certification Initiatives - New Product Launch or Rebrand ### **How Do Projects Help?** ![FranConnect Projects is a part of Operate](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/FranConnect%20Projects%20Image.png) FranConnect Projects streamlines and automates critical tasks such as compliance and regulatory requirements by managing all coordination tasks within your system of record. Checklist templates also offer transparency and consistency to everyone on your team. You will know what to do and when to do it. Allowing you to navigate with transparency, avoid delays, and quickly resolve issues. Unlike Excel or point solutions, FranConnect Projects are contained with your system of record ensuring that all stakeholders have immediate access to each unit’s information (contracts, contacts, historical compliance, and performance, etc.). Projects also come with customizable reporting tools and automated insights which allow you to take corrective action before you get off track, or miss important milestones. Proactively identify dependencies and milestones and track every step with notifications and status reporting – so you never miss a deadline. #### **Projects: Key Features** - **Project Templates**: consistent project execution with a predefined **set of tasks** that are done **by different teams** (franchisee, construction, operations, legal, etc.) to accomplish a shared goal - Embedded within your **system of record** and built exclusively for franchising easily leverage key dates/fields from FranConnect - **Easily shift your entire project:** Instead of trying to push out each of your tasks and figure out how they impact your project timeline, FranConnect Projects allows you to adjust the target event date - Improve franchisee engagement by navigating with **transparency** - **Gantt Chart View** – Visualizes project schedule and milestones progress. Plenty of standard reports and visualizations are also included out-of-the-box for ease of communication - Stay Connected, use the **FranConnect Mobile App** to keep your project process moving – anytime, anywhere *For more information on Projects or to schedule a demo of FranConnect Operate* [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Improve Performance, Open Locations Faster, Product Launches **Tags:** Franchising, Project Management Software --- ### [How Can Your Company Overcome The Decline In Employee Engagement](https://www.franconnect.com/overcome-decline-in-employee-engagement/) **Published:** September 13, 2022 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Declining employee engagement has been a trend in recent years, but your company can overcome it! Here are some tips and tricks to help your company! **Content:** We have seen the pandemic wreak havoc on businesses in every industry worldwide for the past two and a half years. Yet, according to analytics and consulting firm Gallup, 2021 saw the first year in the last decade that employee engagement declined year over year. ## **Why Are Employees Feeling Disengaged?** Employees may feel disengaged for several reasons, but the world around us changed over the past couple of years. This brought on a whole other level of disruption in the workplace and made employees feel even less engaged with their jobs. ![Bored Employee_WM](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Bored%20Employee_WM.png) In summary from [SHRM.org](https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/news/employee-relations/employee-engagement-drops-first-time-10-years), Gallup stated that in their survey of employee engagement, they found that most employees feel that the lack of clarity on expectations, having the right materials and equipment to do work, and having an opportunity to do what they do best in the workplace are the main contributing factors to less engagement in the workplace. Gallup also found that the common denominator in most industries started with the manager. The less the manager felt engaged, the less they pushed to engage their employees. [Train Employees](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/training/)## **How Can You Increase Engagement In The Workplace?** Employees want to feel engaged; most of the time, they aren’t looking for something extravagant. Consistent and concise communications to all levels of your organization can help increase engagement immediately. When employees know what is happening within the company and understand what is expected of them, they will push to achieve those goals. Furthermore, simple recognition can drive engagement. Knowing the expectation is one thing, but being told regularly that they are MEETING that expectation ensures employees feel appreciated and valued. ![Awards_WM](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Awards_WM.png) An employee development platform provides a solution for ensuring employees are recognized and feel appreciated. Companies can create awards and badges that employees can earn for completing training, engaging in the platform, and completing surveys, to name of few. Additionally, FranConnect’s [World Manager](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/) platform has everything a company needs to communicate with every employee in the company and ensure that information is received in a timely manner. Companies can create unlimited job roles within the platform, allowing employees to receive targeted communications specific to their position. Other communication tools such as Notices, Calendars, Forums, and Employee Surveys can keep employees informed and engaged in the platform. On top of all the targeted communications options for companies, the platform is also designed with social functionality to allow employees to engage with each other. For example, creating competitions for your people, or sharing updates about vacations or activities, can create a healthy environment that an employee can appreciate. ## **What Does It Cost To Drive Engagement In The Workplace?** The better question is, what is the cost of having disengaged employees? When companies find that their employees are disengaged or undervalued, it can directly affect the bottom line of a business. Those employees might not be meeting customer services standards, not taking care of customers in a timely manner, or worse – quitting a job altogether and leaving a shift shorthanded. Increasing communication and engagement with your employees does not have to be costly. An example in [SHRM.org](https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/news/employee-relations/employee-engagement-drops-first-time-10-years) for finding the right engagement tool was a company diverting training monies to afford new engagement tools. With FranConnect’s [World Manager](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/), that is not necessary. In addition to having a world-class training platform for your employees, employee engagement tools are built into the platform. This ensures that companies receive the highest value in a training platform and comprehensive employee communication and engagement tool. [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Engage, Retain and Onboard Employees **Tags:** LMS --- ### [FranConnect Announces Acquisition of World Manager](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-announces-acquisition-of-world-manager/) **Published:** August 30, 2022 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** FranConnect has acquired World Manager to foster a relationship around Learning Management Systems (LMS). Learn more about this acquisition here. **Content:** #### Acquisition brings advanced learning management, owner and employee engagement offerings to franchise, retail and multi-location businesses and expands FranConnect’s customer base to 1500 brands worldwide **(HERNDON, Virginia) August 30, 2022**— **FranConnect**, the leading provider of [franchise management solutions](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/sales/) for driving success in franchise sales, operations, and marketing, announced today it has acquired World Manager, a global provider of learning management and front-line employee engagement solutions to multi-location businesses. This acquisition marks a significant milestone for FranConnect in creating the industry’s only platform that helps franchise brands and multi-location businesses manage growth and operational success, end-to-end, from the brand to ownership groups and front-line employees. With this acquisition, FranConnect’s customer base is approaching close to 1500 brands and multi-location businesses worldwide and reaches over 350,000 locations and franchise units. The addition of World Manager to the FranConnect platform brings complementary, enterprise learning management and content creation capabilities to FranConnect’s best-in-class franchise management solution. World Manager provides a way for multi-location businesses to develop and deploy highly customized branded content to support front-line employee training for improved onboarding and engagement and enables brands to monitor engagement success at the unit-level. Operations teams are empowered to deliver and monitor best practice training, access up-to-the-minute data, staff training results, performance appraisals and satisfaction surveys with benchmark reporting. World Manager’s customers include some of the largest multi-location retail, restaurant, and hospitality brands, including Forever 21, Nike, Billabong, Domino’s, Long John Silver’s, Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux, Nando’s, Gloria Jean’s Coffees, and Ben & Jerry’s. “We are thrilled to welcome the World Manager’s world-class family of brands and employees to the FranConnect community,” said Gabby Wong, CEO of FranConnect. “World Manager’s learning management and engagement platform adds a highly strategic capability to FranConnect’s operations solutions, extending our reach from managing the relationship between the brand and franchisee to supporting the needs of multi-location ownership groups and their employees. We can now provide end-to-end visibility of drivers of growth and performance across all types of multi-locations businesses.” Founded in 2005 with offices in Australia, Canada, Colombia, and United States, World Manager’s solutions are used by over 500 brands and multi-location businesses across 60 countries. Their customers span the technology, restaurant, retail, finance, and service sectors and include over 50 employees worldwide. All employees and offices will now be a part of FranConnect’s global footprint. “I founded World Manager 17 years ago with the idea that businesses of all sizes should have the best tools and software available when enabling and engaging with front-line employees. Early in my career, as a corporate trainer in the restaurant industry, I saw firsthand the impact of successful training on the engagement of front-line employees and growth of the business. It has been an honor to work alongside World Manager’s global leadership team to create one of the best employee training and communications platforms for multi-location businesses in the world. The power of this acquisition will enable our combined entities to provide the most robust tools to the market and drive more rapid scale and growth for our customers,” said Gary Valkenburg, Founder and CEO of World Manager. To learn more about FranConnect’s solutions, schedule a discovery meeting [here. ](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) \#### ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Company News, Global News **Tags:** Press Releases --- ### [Franchising Tech Fees and Why You Need One In Your FDD](https://www.franconnect.com/franchising-tech-fees-and-why-you-need-one-in-your-fdd/) **Published:** June 27, 2022 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** In this blog post, we take a look at tech fees and the pros of adding in a tech fee to your FDD. Read the post & see the infographic here! **Content:** Technology is constantly evolving, and businesses need to be prepared to adapt in order to stay competitive. Franchisors who don’t update their systems and technology may find themselves struggling in the years to come. One way to help ensure that your franchise system is keeping up with the latest trends is by implementing a technology fee in [your FDD](https://www.franconnect.com/how-to-streamline-franchise-disclosure-document-delivery/). In this blog post, we will discuss the benefits of doing so and how it can help your brand in the long run. ## A Look at Tech Fees In 2019 we undertook a [thought-provoking examination of the use of technology fees](https://mydigitalpublication.com/publication/?m=&l=1&i=589401&p=44&ver=html5) in over 2,191 franchise disclosure documents over a three-year period. The need for a technology fee is not an obsolete practice. With our current environment where many companies are going digital, it’s more important than ever before that your company be able to adapt and keep up with changes in the marketplace so you can offer services properly while also ensuring profitability which will allow them to continue being competitive against other businesses who do invest into new technologies but aren’t charging fees like yours! In order to provide a healthy and sustainable business, most franchise systems need the ability to shift the costs of new or improved technology. This is an equitable allocation as it benefits both entrepreneurs who invest in their own company by receiving more efficient tools for work productivity, while also ensuring that they can cover these expenses through increased earnings. [Streamline Royalty Process](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/streamline-royalty-process/)The fee structure for a technology license can vary dramatically between franchisors, but there are some key elements that every system should have. First and foremost is the ability to honor your commitment as set forth in [an FDD filed with state regulators](https://www.franconnect.com/update-your-fdd-5-critical-things-to-get-right-in-the-age-of-covid/) like Commission on High Service Industry (CHSIC). This requires adequate disclosure of all fees charged under item 6 which includes not just licensing costs or usage rates at different stages during operation; it also considers how these numbers may change based on certain factors such as market value fluctuations etcetera. A couple of other things worth mentioning: - This fee should not be used as a way to make additional profit for the franchisor but rather it should only cover the necessary expenses associated with keeping the business up and running - The tech fee should also be included in your initial investment amount so that potential franchisees are aware of all costs upfront - By having a technology fee in place, you can ensure that your franchise system is always up to date with the latest trends and technologies. This will benefit both your franchisees and your brand in the long run. ## Pros to Adding In A Tech Fee to Your FDD 1. The technology fee is a great way to differentiate your franchise system from other systems. The tools you choose can increase effectiveness and efficiency in operations, marketing, sales management, and communications with clients or prospects – all while providing an excellent experience for them! 2. The technology fee helps spread the costs of new technologies. Often, franchisors bear a large share of these expenses while franchisees are left to foot more than their fair share when it comes time to implement any given innovation or upgrade within your system as a whole – but not anymore! With this innovative strategy that splits up investment amongst all participating entities involved in order to make sure everyone benefits equally from its implementation; you can now afford improvements like high-speed internet access points throughout each location (which will help drive customer satisfaction ratings), computerized systems ensuring accurate inventory management without human intervention ever again. 3. Lastly, the technology fee can be drafted generally so that it will adapt to market changes without requiring franchise agreement modifications. For example, if a franchisor did not contemplate having a [royalty manager application](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/royalty-manager/) at the time of the franchisee joining, but now wants to implement one across the franchise system – they have funds from this particular line item in the FDD for implementation purposes. The best part is there is no need to amend or change anything else about their business model or contract. If you’re a franchisor looking for more information on how to include a technology fee or [other fees](https://www.franconnect.com/franchise-fees-how-4-types-of-fees-can-lead-to-growth/) into your FDD, or if you have questions about how this might benefit your system, reach out to us today! We would be happy to help you get started. Technology should always be advancing – and that includes within the franchising industry – in order to provide a healthy and sustainable business, most franchise systems need the ability to adapt. With a technology fee, you can help protect your brand while also benefiting your franchisees. [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/)For more on how FranConnect can help revolutionize your franchise business, [book a demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) with us today! ![FranConnect Tech Fee 2](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/FranConnect%20Tech%20Fee%202.png) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Profit, Streamline Royalty Process **Tags:** Franchise Operations --- ### [ADDIE Training Model: What Is It & How To Use It](https://www.franconnect.com/addie-training-model/) **Published:** May 20, 2022 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** One of the most useful instructional models, and the focus of this blog-post, is the ADDIE training model. **Content:** ![the-ADDIE-model](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/the-ADDIE-model.png) --- ## Why Instructional Designers Love ADDIE What instructional model do you use? There’s Bloom’s Taxonomy, Gagne’s Nine Events of Instruction, and Merrill’s Principles of Instruction. As you probably know, an instructional model is a structure or framework used by instructional designers to [develop employee training programs](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/). One of the most useful instructional models, and the focus of this blog post, is the ADDIE training model. What does ADDIE stand for? The acronym represents each of the five stages of the instructional design process: - Analyze - Design - Develop - Implement - Evaluate ## What is ADDIE? ADDIE is an instructional design model used to strategically organize eLearning programs and to drive course content creation. The ADDIE training model provides learning designers with an essential structure for designing curricula for any learning environment. Let’s take a closer look at each of the five stages of ADDIE: **Analyze** There are several major activities that occur at this stage. To begin with, this is when instructional designers [identify the organization’s training needs](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/) and establish learning objectives to address those needs. Instructional designers gather information and make decisions that will make the training development process much smoother later on. This includes: defining who their core audience is, how the content should be customized for their particular needs, the most appropriate delivery methods, an estimated budget, and a project timeline. [Train Employees](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/training/)During this stage, communication begins with those who may be involved in the design or implementation. This may include graphic designers and corporate trainers, among others. The information obtained in this phase is used to guide the activities of the instructional designers during the design stage. **Design** Once you understand the training needs of your organization and have obtained initial approvals, you can design a training program tailored to meet these identified needs. During the design stage, the instructional designer creates a blueprint for the instruction. There are several major activities included in this stage: learning content is sequenced into logical segments or units; storyboards are created for eLearning modules or training videos, and rough drafts of scripts or training outlines are created. Once the design is approved by the stakeholders, you move on to the development stage. **Develop** Several important activities occur during the development stage. The developers create, assemble, and organize the digital and print deliverables that were begun in the design phase. Training videos are recorded, edited, and any technical aspects of training are tested and finalized. The project documentation of the strategies is reviewed and feedback is given to the instructional designers. This is also where continuous improvement can start. During development, piloting training materials with a focus group of employees can allow for valuable feedback and real-time iteration, resulting in a better end-product rolling out. Once stakeholders sign off on the development strategies, the project enters the implementation stage. **Implement** This is the stage at which your team’s training is actually delivered. During this stage, HR or other team members responsible for rolling out training make the researched, designed, and developed materials available: they implement it. This includes videos, eLearning help-aids, in-person training, and web or computer-based training modules. It’s helpful to launch an internal awareness campaign and get people manager buy-in to ensure all teams complete appropriate training materials and exercises. You should also make available a point of contact for employees completing training so they know where to go with questions or feedback. **Evaluate** This is where you measure the completion, efficacy, and impact of your training design, development, and implementation. Why spend all that time and money creating a training program and not track how it’s actually working? This is one of the most important stages of the ADDIE training model. [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/)Evaluation is conducted using the formative evaluation and/or the summative evaluation. The formative evaluation allows those involved in the training or curriculum development to recognize potential barriers to the training before they happen, respond to training challenges as they occur, and make course corrections as needed. The summative evaluation focuses on examining the outcome of the training during the implementation stage; the information gathered from the summative evaluation continues to guide the project design process. Note: Evaluation may overlap and intersect with the four other stages of the training process. In the ADDIE model, these stages are not always linear; they build off one another. ![the-ADDIE-model-alt](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/the-ADDIE-model-alt.png) ## ADDIE, In Practice To see how the ADDIE process works in practice, let’s use LMS implementation as an ADDIE model example. If this term is new to you, [an LMS is a learning management system](https://www.franconnect.com/what-are-examples-of-an-lms/) – essentially, an online portal for designing and administering employee training programs. Implementing an LMS is not difficult, but there are a lot of moving parts to keep track of. Let the ADDIE methodology drive the process. ### Analyze Consider the current situation. What is the organization currently doing to address its training needs? What are the priority gaps and how will deploying an LMS help close them? Based on this discussion, clarify target audiences and determine goals for your LMS. For example, one goal might be: “Streamline and automate key training processes including [onboarding](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/), reporting and analytics, employee appraisals, and [exit surveys](https://www.franconnect.com/employee-exit-interview/).” ### Design Use this stage to design your LMS Implementation Action Plan. Begin by bringing together key stakeholders from HR and L&D, since they will be creating and managing the training. - How will the LMS be used? - How will new users be added to the system? - What kind of authoring tools and [social learning features](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/) do we need? What features does the LMS come equipped with? - What software integrations will be needed? - If the LMS includes gamification tools, how will they be used to [engage and motivate your audience](https://www.franconnect.com/overcome-decline-in-employee-engagement/)? - When will the LMS be launched and to whom? ### Develop This is where the real work begins. In collaboration with your vendor, get your LMS tools, features, and software integrations set up. Upload content and prepare for enrollments. Do a trial run. ### Implement If you have your ADDIE game plan in hand and completed all the other steps, the implementation should be smooth and seamless, assuming you selected the right LMS vendor. They are there to hold your hand and make sure everything goes according to plan. ### Evaluate - Gain feedback from employees: what worked and what didn’t? - How can LMS implementation be improved? - Evaluate LMS features: which were the most popular? What was underused and why? ## Conclusion: Is it Worth it? What’s so appealing about the ADDIE learning model, as you can see, is how straightforward and intuitive the model is. It is a strategic process, based on measurable learning objectives, and a catalyst for quality design. If you want to design and implement an effective training program through an easy-to-follow, proven process, ADDIE is worth it. [Book a demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo) today to learn how the World Manager LMS can streamline and supercharge your company’s employee training program. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Engage, Retain and Onboard Employees **Tags:** employee training, LMS --- ### [FranConnect Continues Its Investments in Market Expansion with Appointment of Lorena Garcia as SVP of Marketing](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-continues-its-investments-in-market-expansion-with-appointment-of-lorena-garcia-as-svp-of-marketing/) **Published:** May 11, 2022 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** FranConnect Continues Its Investments in Market Expansion with Appointment of Lorena Garcia as SVP of Marketing **Content:** #### SaaS marketing veteran brings more than 20 years of B2B marketing experience to leading franchise management software provider HERNDON, Va., May 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — [FranConnect](https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3531841-1&h=4116208491&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.franconnect.com%2F&a=FranConnect), the leading provider of [franchise management solutions](https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3531841-1&h=304017253&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.franconnect.com%2Fsolutions-overview%2F&a=franchise+management+solutions) for driving success in franchise sales, operations, and marketing, today announced the appointment of [Lorena Garcia ](https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3531841-1&h=1263828333&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.franconnect.com%2Fabout-us%2F&a=Lorena+Garcia%C2%A0)to its executive leadership team as the Senior Vice President of Marketing. Garcia will be responsible for the entire end-to-end marketing function at FranConnect, including driving growth through innovative and scalable practices in account-based marketing, lead generation, market analysis, customer segmentation, digital marketing, and brand stewardship. “As we continue to expand FranConnect’s market presence globally and fulfill our vision of empowering the franchising community through technology, investing in strong marketing leadership to scale our demand generation strategy is a key driver for success,” said FranConnect CEO Gabby Wong. “Lorena’s deep understanding of data-driven growth marketing, passion for building exceptional customer experiences, and standout track record of delivering results make her a valuable addition to execute our vision. We couldn’t be happier to welcome her to the FranConnect family.” ![Lorena Garcia- SVP Marketing - FranConnect](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Lorena%20Garcia-%20SVP%20Marketing%20-%20FranConnect.jpg) Garcia is an accomplished SaaS industry veteran with over 20 years of experience in developing strategic plans and innovative multi-channel marketing programs that build market presence, expand brand recognition, increase customer retention, and drive direct and channel revenue growth for enterprise SaaS companies. Most recently, Lorena served as VP of Marketing of Level Access, a leading digital accessibility solutions provider, where she drove the company’s demand generation, customer lifecycle marketing, and sales enablement initiatives. Previously, Lorena led go-to-market teams and demand generation at technology companies including Hobsons, Vonage and iCore Networks. Lorena’s exceptional track record of success building ROI-focused marketing programs has led her to be recognized as a Star CMO by DCA Live in 2020 and 2021. “The franchising and multi-unit business communities consistently recognize FranConnect as a highly respected technology leader that’s instrumental to their business,” said Garcia. “FranConnect delivers the only comprehensive franchise management solution, and they have proven success, world-class clients, and a foundation for continued growth. I couldn’t be more thrilled to join the team and help build on the company’s incredible momentum.” Garcia joins FranConnect after a tremendous growth year. In 2021, FranConnect welcomed over 125 franchise brands and multi-location businesses to its client roster, celebrating its highest-ever bookings year and expanded partnerships with more than 100 brands to triple its annual sales from 2020. FranConnect proudly counts approximately 900 franchise brands and over 300,000 units worldwide among its client base and is quickly becoming the “gold standard” for technology in the franchise industry. FranConnect has a focused market expansion plan and an ambitious technology, solutions, and experience management roadmap as it continues its push toward reaching over 1,000 customers and a half million locations worldwide. To learn more about FranConnect and its [franchise management software](https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3531841-1&h=2372786885&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.franconnect.com%2Fsolutions-overview%2F&a=franchise+management+software) solutions, please visit [www.franconnect.com](https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3531841-1&h=2090200330&u=https%3A%2F%2Fc212.net%2Fc%2Flink%2F%3Ft%3D0%26l%3Den%26o%3D2889240-1%26h%3D2683496736%26u%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.franconnect.com%252F%26a%3Dwww.franconnect.com&a=www.franconnect.com). **About FranConnect** FranConnect is the leading [franchise management software](https://www.franconnect.com) provider. For 20 years, the FranConnect platform has served as the sales, operations, and marketing backbone for approximately 900 brands worldwide. Nine of the Franchise Times Top 10 Fastest-Growing franchise businesses rely on FranConnect to drive growth, improve profitability, and streamline operational performance. FranConnect customers span all sizes, growth phases, and industries and they grow 44% faster on average than the broader franchising market. Backed by private-equity investor Serent Capital, FranConnect is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, with global operations in India and Canada. For more information on FranConnect, visit [www.franconnect.com](https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3383691-1&h=2855670777&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.franconnect.com%2F&a=www.franconnect.com). \#### ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Company News, Global News **Tags:** Press Releases --- ### [3 Must-Have Ingredients for Franchisee Engagement](https://www.franconnect.com/3-must-have-ingredients-for-franchisee-engagement/) **Published:** March 17, 2022 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Ingredient 1 of franchise engagement is communication and the importance of creating a community. Read how to improve communication & build a community. **Content:** ### Franchising is a proven way to scale your business by distributing the risk and the reward across a community of franchisees. Yet, most franchisors struggle with engaging their franchisees, who are often the lifeblood of their growth and success. No matter how big or small you are as a company–you can’t afford to have franchisees struggle because they don’t have enough engagement with their parent brand. Engaged franchisees are more likely to stick around and contribute to the growth of the brand. They are also more likely to be successful, (which benefits the franchisor of course) as they are given the tools, support, and air cover from the franchisor to ensure their success. This helps create a positive feedback loop, with engaged franchisees helping to promote the brand and its values, and the franchisor providing the support needed to help them be successful. This blog series will help you understand the 3 key ingredients needed for a high-impact franchisee engagement strategy and technology tips to becoming a franchisee engagement pro! ### Ingredient #1: Communication and Creating a Community The first component of a high-impact franchisee engagement strategy is communication that fosters the feeling of a tight-knit community. Communications need to be clear, consistent, and relevant to the franchisee. This means that franchisors need to create a process or use a technology solution for communication that is both efficient and effective for the franchisee. They also need to make sure that their tone and messaging are consistent with the brand. A good way to measure communication effectiveness is to look at the number of franchisees who are engaged on your technology solution (measured by KPIs such as open rates, click-through rates, conversion rates, etc.). A platform for creating this can look like an online portal, social network community, or even a [learning management and training system](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/). The distribution of new content for your brand should be systematic by using a platform to proactively push it to franchisees. Bonus points if you can create a way to reward them for engaging with the information (ie: offering a contest). By encouraging feedback directly from these individuals, they feel like more than just another team member. Franchisees in the community can then learn from each other, all while feeling like their opinion matters when making decisions about what’s being distributed within the company. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)Many franchisees found that they’ve been left out of the loop when it comes to company communications. This is an issue because a lack of communication can lead to poor [brand consistency among franchisees](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/brand-consistency/), which in turn leads to lower customer satisfaction and higher levels of attrition. To increase engagement with franchisees and promote better brand consistency, organizations should consider including a communications center or hub for franchisee use. A [well-designed communications center](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/the-hub/) will provide all relevant materials in one centralized location so that they are easy to find and understand. It also provides the opportunity for franchisors to get feedback from their franchisees on how well these materials are understood as well as any other issues or concerns about them. The result? Increased understanding among both parties about what is happening within the company, and a more cohesive brand. A learning management system (LMS) is an effective way to keep your franchisees engaged with the brand. It can help deliver training and development content, as well as manage communications between franchisors and franchisees. An LMS can also keep track of progress and performance, so you can identify areas where further support may be needed. Using an LMS can help ensure that your franchisees are kept up to date with the latest developments within the franchise and can help maintain a high level of engagement with the brand. Additionally, it provides them with the tools necessary to successfully represent your brand in their local market. When franchisees feel confident in their ability to deliver on your brand promise, it leads to a higher level of customer satisfaction and can help reduce attrition rates. Franchisees are the lifeblood of your brand. They represent your company in the community, and they’re responsible for delivering on your promise to customers. Keeping franchisees connected to your brand can be challenging. By focusing on communications with your franchisees you can create a high-impact franchisee engagement strategy that will continue to engage and motivate your franchisees. Creating a community can help them achieve their goals, while also strengthening your franchise system as a whole. Stay tuned for our next post in this series, where we’ll explore how franchisors can set goals and expectations for their franchisees that will set them up for success. Be sure to subscribe to our blog to make sure you get notified of when the next post is live! *For more operations-based content for the franchising Chief Operating Officer, check out our all-inclusive Executive’s Guide to Franchising Tech in 2022.* It is no secret that high-impact franchisee engagement is essential to a franchisor’s success. Franchisors who take the time to set clear expectations and goals for their franchisees are likely to see better results than those who do not. In part two of this series, we will cover some tips for creating an effective engagement program using effective expectation and goal setting. ### Ingredient #2: Expectation and Goal Setting Setting expectations and goals is an important part of the engagement process. Franchisees need to be aware of what is expected of them, as well as what they can expect in terms of support from the franchisor. In order for goals to be effective, they need to be achievable and actionable. Strategic KPIs can be used to help create goal-oriented franchisees who are focused on growth and profitability. However, it’s important to note that these KPIs should only be relevant to the franchisee’s business and not the franchisor’s overall business goals. This helps keep the focus on what is important for each individual business, rather than having a one-size-fits-all approach to goal setting. The goal-setting process should be an ongoing one, with both the franchisor and franchisees revisiting goals on a regular basis. This allows for course corrections to be made as needed and ensures that everyone is always working towards the same goal. Creating a [well-engaged franchisee](https://www.franconnect.com/overcome-decline-in-employee-engagement/) base is key to the success of any franchising system. By setting expectations and goals appropriately, franchisors can help ensure that their franchisees are invested in the success of their businesses. When creating goals, it’s important to make sure they are achievable and actionable. This means that they need to be realistic and specific enough that they can be accomplished with a defined set of actions. The Franchisee Operational Scorecard is an innovative new way to measure and evaluate your business. It takes the dashboard one step closer towards sophistication, balancing important indicators with franchise-specific ones that help you succeed as a company or return on investment for investors in this rapidly evolving market! Franchisees are now able to track performance across all channels and have access to data that matters most to them – taking the guesswork out of marketing efforts. This creates more engaged franchisees who are working together with the franchisor instead of just being monitored by it! Technology can play a big role in helping franchisors to better measure the success of their open franchisee units. There are a number of ways that technology can help [franchisors to track KPIs](https://www.franconnect.com/how-to-use-kpis-as-a-tool-for-franchise-business-planning/), including: - Tracking sales data and comparing it to the goals set for the franchisee unit - Tracking customer satisfaction ratings and comparing them to the goals set for the franchisee unit - Tracking employee satisfaction ratings and comparing them to the goals set for the franchisee unit - Tracking social media engagement and comparing it to the goals set for the franchisee unit By tracking KPIs this way, franchisors can get a better understanding of how well their franchisees are performing and make changes as needed to improve the success of the unit. This is a valuable tool for helping to ensure that all franchisees are meeting the standards set by the franchisor and that the brand is being properly represented. It also allows franchisors to identify which franchisees might need more support in order to be more successful. In short, using technology to track KPIs can help franchisors to build a more successful franchise system and ultimately streamline their monitoring. [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/)*For more operations-based content for the franchising Chief Operating Officer, check out our all-inclusive Executive’s Guide to Franchising Tech in 2022.* When it comes to site audits, franchisors have a unique opportunity to be able to actively coach their franchisees on what they need to do in order to improve their unit’s success. Today, we are focusing on turning the traditional site audit into a coaching moment, franchisors can help their franchisees understand where they need to make changes and how they can improve their unit’s performance. Ingredient #3: Coaching Them to Success It’s not enough to simply offer periodic site visits to franchisees. During those visits, they must be offered business coaching and support from their Franchise Business Consultant (FBC). This will help ensure that they are on the right track to success. Franchisees should see regular site visits as an opportunity for growth and learning, rather than a negative experience. By turning audits into a positive learning experience, franchisors can help their franchisees succeed. The role of the FBC is essential in franchisee engagement. They are responsible for coaching franchisees on best practices and providing support when needed. This helps to create a strong relationship between the franchisee and the franchisor. When franchisees feel supported by their franchisor, they are more likely to be engaged and successful. Regular site visits offer a valuable opportunity for franchisors to coach their franchisees on best practices. By providing business coaching and support, franchisors can help their franchisees achieve success. Operations-focused technology solutions can make coaching your franchisees easier by automating many of the tasks that FBCs would otherwise have to do manually. This can free up time for managers to provide more personal attention to their franchisees and help them to better understand the areas in which they need improvement. Additionally, technology can help to keep track of franchisee performance over time, so that any issues can be addressed as soon as they arise. By focusing on the key areas covered in Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3, you can create a franchisee engagement strategy that will continue to engage and motivate your franchisees. By doing so, you can help them achieve their goals, while also strengthening your franchise system as a whole. Are you looking to create a more engaged and motivated franchisee base? If so, be sure to focus on the three essential components of franchisee engagement outlined in these blogs. By doing so, you can create a strategy that works for your franchise system and helps your franchisees achieve their goals. *For more operations-based content for the franchising Chief Operating Officer, check out our all-inclusive Executive’s Guide to Franchising Tech in 2022.* ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Engage **Tags:** Franchise Marketing, Franchisee Engagement --- ### [What is SAAS LMS?](https://www.franconnect.com/what-is-a-saas-lms/) **Published:** February 25, 2022 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** SaaS LMS is an acronym for Software-as-a-Service Learning Management System. Quite the mouthful! **Content:** #### SaaS LMS is an acronym for **Software-as-a-Service Learning Management System**. Quite the mouthful! At the most basic level, a SaaS LMS is a cloud-based learning management system that is hosted online instead of being installed on your device. So you can access content on your browser from any device, at any time. Think of it as using a reference book in the library. You’re not allowed to check it out of the library but you can read it as much as you like. ## Here’s the best part of using a SaaS LMS: You leave the complex and often intimidating process of installation and maintenance to the experts. If you encounter a glitch, the [LMS](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/) vendor will avail IT staff to fix the system at no additional cost to you. And they show you how to use the LMS effectively, reducing your learning curve. You probably know [what a learning management system](https://www.franconnect.com/what-is-an-lms/) is. Learning and development enthusiasts like yourself are already using an LMS to create and deliver courses to enrolled employees. An LMS not only **facilitates learning**, but it also enables you to **track learners’ progress** to find areas of improvement. LMS deployment can be in-house or web-based (SaaS) and understanding how this is done is crucial. Accurate information will guide you when you go shopping for the perfect LMS. ![venturebeat iaas paas saas](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/venturebeat-iaas-paas-saas.jpg)Simplified chart for the three main layers of cloud computing by [Venture Beat](https://venturebeat.com/2011/11/14/cloud-iaas-paas-saas/)## What is SaaS? [TechTarget ](https://searchcloudcomputing.techtarget.com/definition/Software-as-a-Service)defines SaaS as: *A software distribution model in which a third-party provider hosts applications and makes them available to customers over the internet.* SaaS software can only be delivered to approved end-users, who gain access through a login and password. It would be fitting to label Facebook, Instagram, and Google as SaaS products. ## SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS – What’s the Difference? SaaS, PaaS (Platform-as-a-Service), and IaaS (Infrastructure-as-a-Service) are the three layers of cloud computing. [Train Employees](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/training/)IaaS is the most basic layer; PaaS is in the middle, and SaaS sits on top. **Software as a Service**: A vendor has already built the software, and you pay a monthly or annual fee to use it. The vendor handles maintenance, upgrades, and any other software-related issues. Think of it as using a passenger train. All you have to do is enjoy the service; schedules, routes, maintenance, and fees are determined by the vendor. *Common example: Google Apps* **Platform as a Service**: The vendor develops and deploys virtual servers, OS, applications, storage, and security, which saves you time and resources. To use the vehicle analogy, this would be like hailing a cab. The cab driver keeps the car running and takes you wherever you want to go. You must inform him of your destination and the best route to take. [Demo FranConnect’s World Manager](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo) *Common example: Google App Engine* **Infrastructure as a Service**: Instead of buying servers and expensive hardware, you can rent them from a vendor. Storage, networking, and offsite servers can then be accessed over the internet whenever you want. Think of it as leasing a car. All you have to do is fuel the car (install an OS and apps, in this case); maintenance is the vendor’s responsibility. *Common example: Google Compute Engine* History of SaaS Here’s a brief history of how SaaS came to be: **The 1960s**: Computers are huge and too expensive for educational institutions or small- to medium-sized businesses. Instead of owning a computer, people rent power and space from a vendor through [time sharing](https://www.tutorialspoint.com/operating_system/os_types.htm). Every user has a specific time-share in which they can access the computer system. ![eecis udel ibm](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/eecis-udel-ibm.jpg)This is the [IBM Model 360/67](https://www.eecis.udel.edu/~mills/gallery/gallery8.html) at the University of Michigan in 1969, which allowed for timesharing.**1987**: Pat Sullivan and Mike Muhney released ACT!, the [first customer relationship management](https://www.acttoday.com.au/blog/the-history-of-act-crm) (CRM) software. It allows businesses to gather and store customer contacts. **Early to mid-90s**: Computers become cheaper and employees can now have computers at their desks. Applications are now stored on in-house machines. Data is stored on a central server. IT departments are staffed to manage and ensure the smooth running of this Local Area Network. Hard drive space fills up pretty fast and getting a new one like the one shown in the ad below proves too costly. ![buzzfeed 15mb hdd](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/buzzfeed-15mb-hdd.jpg)**15-Megabyte Hard Disk Drive** holds less than four MP3 songs today.**Late 90s**: Businesses start to explore cost-effective data storage solutions as the internet becomes widely accessible. Businesses store data offsite and access it over the internet through an Application Service Provider (ASP). The client must wait for the vendor to manually input his login credentials from his end. It’s not long before ASPs are replaced by a self-service solution. **1999**: Salesforce introduces multiple products and services that are delivered over the internet. They include CRM software, sales cloud, and service cloud. Businesses are attracted to this model, as they no longer have to deal with long-term contracts and licensing. A [$50 monthly subscription fee](https://www.edureka.co/blog/what-is-salesforce/) is enough to enjoy the perks. **The 2000s**: Concur, which previously sold packaged software in computer stores, becomes a fully SaaS company. Writing software in disks, packaging, and shipping had become too costly. Concur sells software licenses to businesses directly until 2001, when they go SaaS. As a result, [Concur’s gross margins grow to 72%](https://tomtunguz.com/the-first-saas-company/). Soon, Oracle and Sage start to deliver a SaaS version of their products. There’s no turning back. ## History of the SaaS LMS The history of the SaaS LMS can be traced back to 2008 when Eucalyptus software was introduced. Eucalyptus was open-source, meaning that developers could modify the code. It was compatible with the [Amazon Web Services (AWS) application program interface (API)](https://www.techopedia.com/definition/27585/eucalyptus), meaning it would operate with other AWS-based services. This enabled users to deploy [private](https://www.liquidweb.com/blog/private-cloud/) and [hybrid](https://apprenda.com/library/glossary/hybrid-clouds-a-definition/) clouds. As an IaaS, Eucalyptus allowed learning and development professionals to deploy their LMS entirely online. No installation was required. Today, you’ll come across leading SaaS LMSs such as: - World Manager - Open edX - ScholarLMS ## Why is SaaS LMS so Popular? Businesses are fast adopting SaaS LMS because of these obvious reasons: - It’s fast and easy to deploy - It’s cost-effective Let’s look at other not-so-obvious reasons that have contributed to the rise of SaaS LMS: ### Automatic Upgrades A SaaS LMS is upgraded centrally, ensuring everyone is using the latest version. Upgrades happen fast, without interrupting ongoing processes. If you get an advanced LMS such as World Manager, you’ll enjoy free upgrades for the life of your agreement. ### Security Your data is safe because it’s stored in a central location. All your content is organized so you can find materials easily when creating courses. *That’s a huge time saver.* A credible SaaS LMS comes with user authentication, data encryption, and other safety protocols. Your employees won’t worry about privacy infringement when they’re logged in. ### Scalability With a SaaS LMS, you can install add-ons or enroll more users as you see fit. A SaaS LMS evolves according to your business needs. You can start small and add to the breadth of your LMS as you onboard more staff. If you don’t want to pay for extra features, you can downgrade to a cheaper plan at any time. ### How Can I Get a SaaS LMS for My Business? SaaS is fast replacing on-premise software in modern businesses. Train your staff with an LMS that allows for self-authored eLearning, policy sign-offs, and real-time reporting. [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/)The World Manager LMS is exactly what a growing business like yours needs to gain a competitive edge. Reap the [benefits](https://www.franconnect.com/what-is-the-purpose-of-an-lms/) of a leading SaaS LMS by booking a customized [demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo) today. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Engage, Retain and Onboard Employees **Tags:** LMS --- ### [What is an LMS?](https://www.franconnect.com/what-is-an-lms/) **Published:** February 16, 2022 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** LMS has evolved into a must-have training delivery system for universities, government institutions, and companies of all sizes. **Content:** ![What Is an LMS-1](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/What%20Is%20an%20LMS-1.jpg) Today’s LMS is not your grandparents’ LMS. With an array of rich, robust features and benefits, LMS has evolved into a must-have training delivery system for universities, government institutions, and companies of all sizes. But first, for those who may not know, what does [LMS](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/) stand for? It stands for learning management system, a powerful software application that simplifies and automates your company’s training programs. Organizations can create a suite of customized training courses and materials that can be administered, tracked, reported, and evaluated using one web-based interface. The automated LMS can do many things, including finding skill gaps, enrolling staff in relevant courses, and communicating with HR when training is completed. The demand for LMS is, no surprise, off the charts. In fact, the LMS global market is expected to grow to[ $15.72 billion](https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/learning-management-systems-market-1266.html) by next year. ## **What Is the Main Function of an LMS?** Keep in mind that there’s no “one size fits all” LMS definition; every LMS is customized based on the unique needs of the organization. That said, the primary function of an LMS is to provide companies and institutions with the technology and tools for effectively deploying and managing online training programs across an enterprise. [Train Employees](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/training/)So, what is an LMS system? We call LMS a system because it is a comprehensive, integrated, and enterprise-wide solution. Trying to implement piecemeal change is less likely to have real impact, so having an LMS allows a complete, comprehensive system to easily store, organize, track, and access training content and data. ## **Who Can Benefit from an LMS?** What is a learning management system best used for, and by whom? - **Companies and Organizations of All Sizes:** An LMS offers an “anywhere, anytime, any device” platform, which appeals to a broad range of enterprises and organizations, from government and universities to restaurants and Fortune 500 companies. - **Employees at All Levels of Your Organization:** LMS technology puts [employees in the driver’s seat](https://www.franconnect.com/frontline-employee-training-importance/) and captures their attention – not an easy thing to do, especially for millennials and members of generation z. Most important of all, an LMS enhances and accelerates your employees’ acquisition and retention of important work and interpersonal skills. - **The HR Department:** An LMS empowers trainers and provides HR managers with the tools they need to implement more effective onboarding and to track and monitor employees’ progress regarding training and skills development. - **Managers:** An LMS is a must-have system for managers because it helps them get a better understanding of their team members’ capabilities and identify any training gaps that need to be addressed. According to one [study](https://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/3799952/global-learning-management-system-market-by?w=5), corporate-level executives (45%), directors (30%), and managers (25%) are the main beneficiaries of learning management systems – but that is changing as deployment ramps up. ## **Types of LMS** With a [Software as a Service (SaaS) solution](https://www.franconnect.com/what-is-a-saas-lms/), you don’t have to worry about backing up data and dealing with servers and security issues. Since it’s hosted on the cloud, your LMS vendor will handle all of that for you, so you can focus on creating the best content for your next training. There’s no software to install, so it’s easier and faster to get up and running. The LMS app is installed on a desktop computer, but is accessible anytime, anyplace via mobile device. There is a self-hosting LMS option available for companies that have the time and resources to manage it. This more hands-on approach first requires that you download the software. ## **Benefits and Outcomes** What is a learning management system able to do for your company? Investing in an LMS brings significant benefits to the organization, including enhanced communication and collaboration between trainers and the HR department. Real-time, automated reporting, and communication mean staff can work more efficiently and productively. It frees them up from routine, time-consuming work and enables managers to reassign employees to higher-value activities. Every training participant receives a customized online training experience, which is not only empowering but also fun. Companies that utilize LMS are more likely to produce highly trained and engaged employees due to their immersive, interactive nature. LMS systems allow companies to capture the attention of younger employees who might otherwise become distracted and lose interest in the training. Gamification features provide for a little friendly competition among participants, motivating employees to complete their training and making learning new skills fun. The flexibility and convenience inherent in a mobile-first LMS appeal to your on-the-go employees; in fact, investing in technology that makes employees’ jobs easier shows you care about them and helps with recruitment and retention. ## **Key LMS Features** An LMS takes the learner’s needs into account, allowing for a rich mesh of [features](https://www.franconnect.com/what-is-an-lms/), including: - Virtual social networking - Mobile apps - Responsive design - Gamification - Video conferencing - Threaded discussions - Collaboration tools Instructors are also empowered through the modern LMS. In the past, an instructor had to follow up with a learner every time a course was incomplete. Today, an LMS self-assesses and makes an intervention without the instructor’s input – an incredible time-saving innovation. The instructor can now focus on creating new learning material or following up with students who require a more in-depth understanding of the course. ### An LMS is now: - **Mobile-first:** You can complete an LMS course on your mobile device when you’re on the go. - **Digital:** You have 24/7 access to learning material. Cloud-like functionality allows you to store information in the cloud and access it whenever and wherever you want. - **Microlearning-based:** Learning is delivered in small chunks so you can easily take in information. - **Social:** You can integrate social tools in your LMS to allow for chat and video conferencing. Fueled by sophisticated software and AI, learning management systems have come of age and are transforming the employee training and development industry. LMS systems have evolved to meet the needs of new generations of self-empowered employees who grew up on technology and social media. What is LMS going to look like in the future? For starters, it will be driven by artificial intelligence. It will embrace responsive design, prioritize mobile learning, and incorporate VR and AR. Now and especially in the future, it will be all about the user experience. The demand for LMS continues to grow, especially in the wake of COVID-19. Companies with workforces dispersed across different regions and countries are able to provide cloud-based, immersive training experiences anytime, anywhere. With rich content and interactive, automated features, LMS is now regarded as a must-have training system, as well as a recruitment and retention tool, for companies seeking a competitive advantage. [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/)With World Manager’s LMS platform, you can make your own [training program](https://www.franconnect.com/online-training/) and interactive tests, deliver courses and get real-time reporting. Learn more about implementing an LMS in your company by [booking a demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo) with a World Manager expert. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Engage, Retain and Onboard Employees **Tags:** LMS --- ### [5 Most Popular Employee Training Methods](https://www.franconnect.com/most-popular-training-methods/) **Published:** January 20, 2022 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Here are five of the most popular employee training methods – and why you should consider implementing each one. **Content:** #### Written by Kelsey Smith It’s a truth universally acknowledged: Well-trained employees are more satisfied and more productive than those who are not. Given how important training can be for an employee’s day-to-day success, managers must take care when designing training courses and modules. There are many exciting training options for learners to explore – it’s hard not to get caught up in the latest trends and technologies.Different training methods have different strengths and drawbacks, of course. By understanding the options available to your and your team, you can begin considering the best fit for your needs. Here are five of the most popular employee training methods – and why you should consider implementing each one. ## 1. Classroom Learning There’s a reason why traditional instructor-led training is such a classic: the method allows for constant back and forth between trainers and trainees. Questions are addressed that might go unanswered in other types of employee training, and participants can bounce ideas and concepts off of one another. So long as energy remains high, learners stay engaged throughout the entire process. While other [forms of training](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/) might be more technologically advanced, there’s something to be said for the magic of in-person, collaborative learning opportunities. [Train Employees](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/training/)Of course, classroom learning isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Some learners may find traditional sit-and-get style training boring. There’s also the matter of venues, travel, and catering. Classroom learning can become expensive, and fast. Still, this classic form of staff training is unlikely to lose popularity any time soon – the benefits simply outweigh most of the drawbacks. ## 2. eLearning Virtual learning has become more prevalent in recent years, for obvious reasons. We’re all constantly on our devices anyway, so this employee training method is a natural extension of our daily habits. This kind of learning style is ideal for self-paced training; without an in-person facilitator guiding learners through each session, employees can take their time with the material. The real benefit to [eLearning](https://www.franconnect.com/what-is-an-lms/) is its scalability, though. Any number of people can take online workplace training at once, making it easy to roll out content for an entire company’s workforce. eLearning doesn’t come without its share of challenges. The graphics and visuals that make up computer-based training can age quickly, so keeping things updated is critical. And since most eLearning training is completed without supervision, it can be hard to know how engaged with the content employees really are. You may want to supplement eLearning with surveys, quizzes, or additional evaluation tools to gauge its impact and drive completion. ## 3. Hands-On Training Some people learn best by doing. Hands-on training allows learners to jump straight into the practical skills necessary for a given role. It’s an ideal way to train someone for a new position or to prepare them for new responsibilities. By participating in theoretical activities and applying them to their current role, learners can develop the muscle memory necessary for all kinds of duties and responsibilities. Hands-on staff training can be overwhelming for some individuals, so it’s important to keep an eye on the progress of your learners. It may be worthwhile to pair more experienced employees with newer folks, allowing newbies to gain important context before diving into an activity on their own. Shadowing can be beneficial for the more experienced partner, too – there’s no better way to reinforce ideas and procedures than by showing others how it’s done. ## 4. Mentorship Structured forms of the curriculum will always have their place in the world of employee training, but alternative methods are gaining in popularity. Mentorship programs can do wonders in supporting and training new employees. By pairing them with a more senior staff member, you’ll help foster relationships while also making them feel supported and welcomed. It’s ideal for employees who may not feel comfortable speaking up and asking questions in traditional classroom settings. The one drawback of mentorship programs? They take a lot of time to implement the right way. Mentoring can be incredibly costly in terms of employee hours, and if your more senior staff are reluctant to take on more responsibility, the relationship may feel forced. So long as there’s buy-in from both mentor and mentee, though, this form of workplace training can prove successful. ## 5. Role-playing Acting out potential work scenarios is another effective training method for employees. Role-playing provides a controlled setting for new and experienced staff members alike to practice handling difficult situations. Especially useful for those in customer-facing roles, role-playing activities give people the opportunity to think on their feet while examining different perspectives. Not everyone enjoys being the center of attention, even in role-playing scenarios. While the practice may seem low-key to some, the idea of acting out a scene with colleagues is enough to send some learners cowering in the back of the classroom. Play to the strengths of your team and never force someone’s participation. Doing so could backfire and cause negative associations with that particular aspect of training. ![MG-5-Most-Popular-Employee-Training-Methods-01](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/MG-5-Most-Popular-Employee-Training-Methods-01.png) ### Choosing The Right Training for Your Team At FranConnect, we know no single employee training method will work for all learners. For organizations to [truly thrive](https://www.franconnect.com/frontline-employee-training-importance/), management must constantly work to develop the talents and skills of their employees. This often depends on finding the right training method – or a blend of several. If you’re eager to explore your options and want a [learning management system](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/) to help you manage your training methods in one place, World Manager is the answer. Reach out today for a [demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo)! [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Engage, Retain and Onboard Employees **Tags:** employee training, LMS --- ### [FranConnect Expands Leadership Team](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-expands-leadership-team-2/) **Published:** November 9, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** FranConnect Expands Leadership Team, Promoting Ian Walsh to Newly Created Position of Chief Operating Officer **Content:** #### Promoting Ian Walsh to Newly Created Position of Chief Operating Officer HERNDON, Va., Dec. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — [FranConnect](https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3363622-1&h=4162422776&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.franconnect.com%2F&a=FranConnect), the leading provider of franchise management solutions for driving success in franchise sales, operations, and marketing, announced today it has expanded its C-suite, promoting current marketing leader Ian Walsh to the newly established position of Chief Operating Officer. Walsh is charged with overseeing the company’s cohesive approach to all forward-facing customer operations, from customer enablement and adoption to retention and market development. Walsh joined FranConnect in 2020 as Senior Vice President of marketing and over the past two years has built a high-performing, professional marketing function to drive customer acquisition growth. Earlier this year he also assumed responsibility for the customer success team, integrating marketing best practices and scale into customer engagement. As COO, he will oversee professional services, customer success, strategy & commercialization and a newly developed function dedicated to partnering with other services and technology companies to jointly serve customers and the franchising market. ![Ian Walsh, FranConnect](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Canva%20images/1F9A4429.jpg) “2021 has been a year of tremendous growth for FranConnect, and the time is right to expand our leadership team as we prepare for 2022,” said Gabby Wong, CEO of FranConnect. “In order to drive even greater impact and value for our customers throughout their journey with us, we must operate with cohesion and consistency across all areas. Ian has shown an impressive ability to work with the talented leaders throughout our organization, putting strategy into action and delivering results.” While FranConnect’s success this past year included building new and expanded relationships with more than 100 franchise brands and multi-location businesses, the company also delivered on several new investments in technology. These included the integration of new Field Operations capabilities from its acquisition of FranchiseBlast, streamlined unit opening processes, and expanded use of Artificial Intelligence for increased franchise development effectiveness. “The incredible momentum we have experienced over this past year has created a perfect opportunity to evolve our structure as we look to 2022 and beyond,” said Walsh. “Our teams are going to be working together like never before as we refine how we bring new products to market and support our clients in every step of their own growth plans.” **About FranConnect** FranConnect is the leading franchise management software provider. For 20 years, the FranConnect platform has served as the sales, operations, and marketing backbone for over 800 brands worldwide. Nine of the Franchise Times Top 10 Fastest-Growing franchise businesses rely on FranConnect to drive growth, improve profitability, and streamline operational performance. FranConnect customers span all sizes, growth phases, and industries and they grow 44% faster on average than the broader franchising market. Backed by private-equity investor Serent Capital, FranConnect is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, with global follow-the-sun operations. For more information on FranConnect, visit [www.franconnect.com](https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3383691-1&h=2855670777&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.franconnect.com%2F&a=www.franconnect.com). \#### ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Company News, Global News **Tags:** Press Releases --- ### [What Was the First LMS Platform?](https://www.franconnect.com/the-first-lms-platform/) **Published:** November 19, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** The world’s first LMS, called FirstClass, was introduced by Soft Arc in 1990. The LMS is now part of the FirstClass software suite developed by OpenText. **Content:** The **world’s first LMS**, called **FirstClass**, was introduced by Soft Arc in 1990. The LMS is now part of the FirstClass software suite developed by [OpenText](https://www.opentext.com/products/specialized-technologies).The FirstClass LMS couldn’t have emerged at a better time; the beginning of the Information Age.It was the perfect moment for the new [LMS](https://www.franconnect.com/what-are-examples-of-an-lms/) to experience rapid improvements in its underlying technology and functionality. ## Before the First LMS Before the FirstClass LMS appeared on the screens of learners and instructors in the late 20th century, the concept of an **LMS** – or **Learning Management System** – was a little more nebulous. Learning by instruction from a teacher – or training – had of course been undertaken for countless millennia, and instructors had been able to administer training and assess students’ progress by correspondence for more than 250 years before FirstClass came along with **the first LMS platform**. ## **But What Is an LMS?** An LMS, or [learning management system](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/), is a software application that streamlines, automates, and transforms how your organization delivers employee training. LMS platforms give companies the tools and technology to efficiently deploy and manage online training courses. Within the LMS, they can create an assortment of training courses and materials that are customized to the specific needs of each employee. They can administer, track, report on, and assess company-wide training using one simple web-based interface. Trainers can create, upload, and manage course content, use quizzes and exams to measure subject matter comprehension, develop waiting lists, rosters, and course registration, and communicate with employees using instant messaging, email, and forums. Companies must grow. It’s what they do. While expansion creates new opportunities, it also presents challenges. Companies must onboard and train new employees who may be dispersed across different buildings, cities, and countries. It also presents potential communication, collaboration, employee engagement, and branding challenges. These challenges can easily be intensified as more companies adopt flex-work policies and allow employees to work from home. ## Development of FirstClass LMS The FirstClass LMS came into being when a worker at the [Scarborough Board of Education](http://www.scarboroughschools.org/board-of-education) asked Soft Arc to find a credible email system. This email system needed to be Macintosh-based, with the following features: - [LAN](https://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/definition/local-area-network-LAN) support - [Modem](https://www.techopedia.com/definition/24118/modem) support - [GUI interface](https://techterms.com/definition/gui) - Private email - Discussion forums ### How an Alternative to AppleLink Helped Define the First LMS Soft Arc considered using [AppleLink](https://lowendmac.com/2014/eworld-apples-overpriced-poorly-marketed-online-service/), a user-facing online service. Unlike other systems that used a command-line interface, AppleLink used a Mac-style GUI (Graphical User Interface) – **an ideal user-friendly interface for what would become the first learning management system or LMS**. Its purpose was to provide online support to Apple dealers and distributors to lower the cost of paper documents, phone calls, and other customer care services, but like anything truly useful, it was adopted by others, including Apple employees who used it as an email system. Apple eventually joined forces with a small computing services firm, Quantum (which went on to become America Online or AOL) to develop the ill-fated AppleLink Personal Edition in 1988. ![Macintosh Portable](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Macintosh%20Portable.jpg) In 1991, astronauts sent the first email from space from a Macintosh Portable using specially configured AppleLink software. Unfortunately for Soft Arc, AppleLink was expensive and only worked on Apple computers, such as the Macintosh Portable. They had to find a viable alternative with the same user-friendly features a future LMS would require to succeed, so they developed Hypercard. ## LMS Precursor – HyperCard System The [HyperCard prototype](http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20190722-the-apple-software-that-inspired-the-internet) was rolled out in 1987 and is now regarded as the inspiration behind the World Wide Web. HyperCard allowed users to build interactive software even if they didn’t have programming experience. Each program on HyperCard was made up of a stack of interconnecting cards. A card would contain images, text, menus, checkboxes, buttons, and other GUI elements (all elements that developers of an early LMS would have been looking for). Think of the virtual cards as different webpages and the stack as a website in today’s terms. [![World Manager Hypercard Stacks](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/worldmanager-hypercard-stacks.jpg)](https://blog.archive.org/2017/08/11/hypercard-on-the-archive-celebrating-30-years-of-hypercard/)HyperCard is an [application and a programming tool](https://blog.archive.org/2017/08/11/hypercard-on-the-archive-celebrating-30-years-of-hypercard/) for Apple Macintosh and Apple IIGS computers.### A GUI for LMS Students and Teachers With HyperCard, you could easily make training software (part of a learning management system) – all you needed to do was place educational content in the cards to form a stack. HyperCard BirdThe Scarborough Board liked HyperCard because it ran on personal computers, so both mainframe and home desktop users could implement it. It supported discussion forums and private emails, which allowed students to ask clarifying questions on topics presented in the cards. #### The First eLearning Platform They bought the first FirstClass system and named it ScriBE after the Scarborough Board of Education. They made ScriBE accessible to teachers, students, and parents and in 1997, it was successfully connected to the Internet. ## LMS Communications – FirstClass Protocol FirstClass LMS used the FCP (FirstClass Protocol) in its communications. This transport networking protocol ensured flawless communication and file transfers between LMS users. Users had the freedom to access the same server, whether they were at home or at the office. FCP used the [sliding window protocol](http://ecomputernotes.com/computernetworkingnotes/communication-networks/sliding-window-protocol), which allowed a user to send multiple packets at a time. Each packet would be assigned a number identifier that generated a virtual link for every task requested by a user. Thus a user could upload and download files while simultaneously writing or reading an email. *World Manager proudly supports some of the biggest communications companies in the world with online learning management.* ## Pre-Internet LMS – The BBS Era A [Bulletin Board System (BBS)](https://www.networkworld.com/article/3220488/history-of-computers-part-1-the-bulletin-board-system.html) is software that allows users to connect to the computer system through a terminal program. Users can perform tasks such as: - Uploading and downloading files - Reading news bulletins - Sending messages on chat or public message boards - Playing text-based games Before the World Wide Web, BBSs were the primary form of an online community. Any user with a computer and modem could access the system and communicate with other users within the same area code. The computer was always turned on. When the phone rang, it would answer and allow the calling computer to perform different tasks, such as reading a message left by another user. Unfortunately, a BBS could only support one connection at a time and ran on non-multitasking operating systems, such as DOS and Apple Pro DOS. It wasn’t long before BBSs were replaced by low-cost [dial-up internet services](https://whatismyipaddress.com/dialup), which provided users with better access. ## The First LMS Network In the early 1990s, a worker at Apple Canada created the [first BBS for FirstClass](http://www.tranquileye.com/magic/magic_stuff/OneNet_Member_Network.html) called MAGIC (Macintosh Awareness Group In Canada). MAGIC became one of the largest BBSs serving Toronto, closely followed by the [Boston Computer Society (BCS)](https://computerhistory.org/blog/bcs-1982-dawn-of-the-business-personal-computer-and-cost-efficient-home-pc/?key=bcs-1982-dawn-of-the-business-personal-computer-and-cost-efficient-home-pc), and the Great Lakes Free-Net. FirstClass software allowed users to share conference content and private emails through dial-up connections. It only transitioned to internet connectivity when [OneNet](http://www.tranquileye.com/magic/magic_stuff/OneNet_Member_Network.html) was formed. By 1994, FirstClass had become an internal email system, already competing in the groupware market. As a result, the United Kingdom’s [Open University](http://www.open.ac.uk/) started using FirstClass to administer online learning all over Europe. ## The Journey Towards an Open-Source LMS Shortly after FirstClass emerged, the concept of the LMS really took hold. In 1991, the Norwegian Knowledge Institute released the EKKO LMS. Several LMSs followed as the 1990s drew to a close, including [Training Partner LMS](http://www.geotalent.com/about/), [BlackBoard LMS](https://www.blackboard.com/index.html), and Asaph LMS. In 2002, the [first open-source LMS, Moodle](https://docs.moodle.org/37/en/History), was released. Users could start learning on Moodle LMS as soon as they downloaded the software to their home PC. ### The Evolution to a Cloud-Based LMS Eucalyptus, the **first cloud-based LMS**, was produced in 2008; it allowed users to log in from their home computers. Cloud-based LMSs had enhanced data security and were cheaper to deploy than in-house LMSs. Over time, the early BBS-based, in-house LMS has evolved into a versatile tool, allowing for social and collaborative learning. ## The Modern LMS – Today’s Learning Management Systems As LMS history has shown us, LMSs have adapted to modern needs quite a bit! In order to consider today’s learning management systems, we must determine what a learning content management system (LCMS) is – and in order to even consider that, we must first determine what a content management system is! A content management system is a platform for creating and organizing content – WordPress and Drupal are examples. A *learning* content management system (LCMS) is the best of both worlds. It includes everything you need conveniently integrated into one system, from author/content creation capabilities to tools for disseminating and delivering training in real-time, to reporting and analytics, and much more. With everything you need “under one roof,” an LCMS makes it easy for employees to collaborate and communicate even if they are working remotely, and it helps ensure that training is delivered consistently at all levels of the company. The **modern LMS** is focused on the learner and comes with [remarkable features](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/) such as: - **Groups**: You can segment your trainees according to modules and job roles so that they can collaborate with the right people at each stage of learning. Employees will enjoy learning from each other and even passive learners will feel comfortable enough to participate in discussions. - **Rewards and recognition**: The modern LMS incentivizes learning by acknowledging the trainee’s progress. World Manager LMS has an exciting [Achievements Award Tool](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/) that automatically rewards your employees for the milestones they’ve accomplished throughout their employment. For instance, one employee may be rewarded for being the employee of the month and another celebrated for having the most forum posts during the course. - [**Surveys**](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/): Modern LMSs allow you to receive feedback from your trainees. Surveys help you to assess the impact of your training efforts by giving you valuable insights. You can use learner feedback to fine-tune your LMS training program for future success. - **Live Chat**: Employees can elicit feedback from their enrolled peers in real time. They don’t have to wait for someone to see their message or post before getting a response. ## **How LCMS Became Synonymous with LMS** As outlined above, the first LMS could organize and structure content but didn’t include content creation tools built into the software. Content had to be created outside of the LMS, then integrated into the system. Today, that’s considered old school. Fueled by advances in technology, LMS platforms evolved into a powerhouse system that incorporates LCMS. Modern LMSs now have content creation capabilities. Trainers can author content and instructional designers can enhance it – all within the LMS. For all intents and purposes, the LCMS/LMS distinction has disappeared and the two terms are synonymous. What is clear is that today’s LMS platforms are not your grandparents’ LMS. With a rich array of robust features and benefits, an LMS is a must-have training delivery system for companies and organizations of all sizes. ### The Mobile-First LMS Are you wondering how you can leverage the benefits of the modern LMS to drive engagement and knowledge retention in your training program? You need a **mobile-first [LMS](https://www.franconnect.com/what-are-examples-of-an-lms/)** so that your employees can access courses at their convenience and learn at their own pace. ### The Anytime, Anywhere, Any Device Learning Management System You need an LMS that will make it easy for your administrators **to create engaging courses and interactive tests**. That’s not all – you need to **track your employees’ progress in real time** so you can have the insight you need to develop your team and grow your business. The good news is that, as an LMS provider, World Manager has created an elegant and easy-to-use software-based solution that supercharges your company’s training and collaboration capabilities. With World Manager’s suite of user-friendly tools and technologies, your company can build a foundation of highly trained employees who are able to get more done in less time. You can automate and standardize training so it is executed consistently across the enterprise, like clockwork. World Manager’s clients see an increase in productivity and profit margins. When your company is firing on all cylinders, there’s nothing it can’t achieve. Find out how easy it is to [create a training program with a truly modern LMS](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo). ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Engage, Retain and Onboard Employees **Tags:** LMS --- ### [11 Surprising Things You Can Do On Your Next Franchisee Visit](https://www.franconnect.com/11-surprising-things-you-can-do-on-your-next-franchisee-visit/) **Published:** October 26, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** If you have an upcoming visit with one of your franchisees, you should consider these tips. Here's 11 things you can do on your next franchisee visit! **Content:** #### A visit from a Franchise Businesss Consultant (FBC) can stir up a lot for franchisees. Some can see the FBC as a checklist-wielding intruder, while others may see it as a major disruption – like the Kool-Aid man bursting into the side of their operations when they are trying to get stuff done. While using your checklist is needed, why not provide them with some surprise value during the franchisee visit? Check out the tips below to learn more. ### 1. Recognizing Good Performance A powerful, but underutilized tool is recognition. During your visit, the franchise and their team may think you are going to “catch them doing something wrong.” What if instead… you “catch them doing something right”? Reading out an e-mail from a happy customer, a nod of appreciation from the President, or one of the Directors of the organization can go a long way. Some franchisors even send their FBCs on the road with traveling trophies. After your visit is over, a thoughtful and gracious e-mail, text, or even some fun and memorable photos circulated on social media/internal message board can be powerful. You can also provide some recognition to the hourly team such as a verbal thank you, or even an Amazon gift card. ### 2. Teach to Fail Forward “When challenges and problems occur, find a lesson,” says Jim Sullivan in his game-changing book [Multi Unit Leadership](https://sullivision.com/product/multi-unit-leadership-the-7-stages-of-building-high-performing-partnerships-and-teams-book/). “Find the lesson, share it with your team, and discuss how to prevent the problem from occurring again. Problems are opportunities to learn from not get upset about.” Taking this approach will get your franchisee and their team to step back, and hopefully realize that you are there to help, not judge. ### 3. Know Details Matter Have you ever guessed or assumed the cleanliness of the restaurant as a whole based on the [standard of cleanliness](https://staging-franchiseblastcom.kinsta.cloud/franchise-cleanliness-audit/) you see in the washroom? Reminding the franchisee that the details matter is a great message from an FBC when [conducting an audit](https://www.franconnect.com/20-tips-to-help-you-audit-your-franchise-field-audit/). It is easy to let things slide a bit as an operator, and having a different set of eyes can make a big difference. For example, when you walked in, did the first person you meet greet you with a welcoming smile, or were they focused on their phone? A customer, who has driven 20-30 minutes, past dozens of restaurants, would have that same experience – whether good or bad. ### 4. Be a Thermostat, Not a Thermometer Jim Sullivan talks about the idea of controlling the temperature, instead of reflecting it. While you want to meet the franchisee where they are, you also want to be the voice of reason. If you are getting as “hot” or as “cold” they are, you are not going to help. Having some self-control, and remembering professional boundaries creates a win-win all around. ### 5. Consciously Collaborate Like it or not, with Social Media and our “always on” society, our world is more and more collaborative. Information does not flow from the top down anymore; instead, it flows bottom-up and laterally. Instead of resisting this idea, roll with it. Consciously collaborating means that you help the crew be a team, feel energized after your visit, and like there is a little more glue connecting them. You can also create collaboration with their fellow franchisees or other people who can broaden their professional or personal expertise. ### 6. Put a Loudspeaker on Great Ideas When you see great ideas at play on your field visit, why not amplify them, and share them with the rest of the system? Of course, you only want ideas that don’t go against brand standards, but it can be surprising how creative great operators can be within them. Don’t forget that for McDonald’s, Ronald McDonald, the Big Mac, and the Egg McMuffin were all franchisee ideas. From Marketing to operations, there are ideas you could take and run with. ### 7. Judge People on Their Best Days Have you ever felt unfairly judged by someone? It is a sinking feeling, which you may be unconsciously be creating for your franchisees. “Be balanced, be fair, observe often,” said Sullivan. “And consider all the grey areas before you make a decision in either black or white.” ### 8. Foster Financial Goals [Unit Level Economics](https://www.franconnect.com/improve-unit-economics-franchise-management-software/) is a hot issue at franchise conferences because it matters from both a franchisee and franchisor perspective. Franchisors are typically paid on revenue, which can create a perception among franchisees of even the most well-meaning of head office teams. Helping your franchisee meet or exceed profitability targets will show that you are there to help in the most meaningful way possible. ### 9. Create a Not-To-Do List Productivity experts such as [Tim Ferriss](https://medium.com/@timferriss/not-to-do-lists-are-often-more-effective-than-to-do-lists-for-upgrading-performance-ec26c4417019) talk about having a not-to-do list. These can raise performance more than adding more to your schedule. That list will demonstrate that you are not there to put more on an already full plate. You are there to help them succeed. ### 10. See Service Through the Customer’s Eyes It helps to see the operation from a customer’s point of view, rather than through that of the manager or staff. After all, a great customer experience, may not be what you think it is. *“Not having to ask for anything,” says Sullivan. “Is the ultimate definition of customer service. Most customers don’t actually ‘want service’. Based on the thousands of customers we interview annually for the service projects we do for clients, what customers want first and foremost from business is to eliminate dissatisfaction. Yep, that’s right. They don’t want ‘excellence’, to be ‘wowed’, ‘delighted’, ‘blown away,’ or whatever the service buzzword du jour is. Customers want consistent positive experiences characterized by the absence of complaints.”* [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)### 11. Mind the Gap in Alignment “Mind the Gap” is something you see at the subway station, but that advice is also good for FBCs. An exercise, suggested by Sullivan, may be exactly what you need for your next franchisee visit. 1. 1. 1. Before your visit, answer the following questions: 1) What are my customer’s top ten complaints? 2) What are my customer’s top ten expectations? Be sure to write down your answers. 2. Ask the franchisee, their managers, and the hourly associates the same two questions. 3. Your service challenges and opportunities will become crystal clear, comparing the synchronicity, overlap, and/or disconnect among the different groups. **Putting it All Together** Looking for more ways to enhance your service? Learn how FranConnect’s Platform Solutions can enhance your franchise audit at every phase. [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Ensure Quality, Improve Performance, Operate **Tags:** Franchise Development, Franchise field audit --- ### [What Is The Purpose of an LMS](https://www.franconnect.com/what-is-the-purpose-of-an-lms/) **Published:** August 10, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** The purpose of an LMS depends on your company's goals and corporate learning strategy. The most common use of an LMS is to manage and track training. **Content:** The purpose of an [LMS](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/) depends on your company’s goals and corporate learning strategy.The most common use of an **LMS**, or **learning management system**, is to [manage and track online training](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/).The learning management system has two categories of users – the **instructor**, who upload learning content into the LMS, and the **learners**, who use the LMS to complete the training.## Create Online Training Content Using an LMS If you use an LMS that doesn’t require third-party software, you’ll find it easy to create content. [World Manager is an LMS](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/) like this – it comes with inbuilt self-authoring tools. With the World Manager LMS, you can create outstanding content that’s optimized for mobile devices. The LMS incorporates videos, images, and audio all in one suite so that you don’t need to use multiple eLearning tools. Your learners can access the LMS using a login and password once learning content is uploaded. Although an LMS automates learning, it ensures that your work as an instructor continues throughout the learning process. The LMS tracks your learner’s progress through assessments to discover barrier points so you can intervene accordingly. Using the LMS to measure their level of engagement through surveys and real-time reports will help you to improve your training efforts. This article will show you the [different ways you can use a learning management system or LMS](https://www.franconnect.com/what-are-examples-of-an-lms/) for your training initiatives. *World Manager proudly supports some of the biggest communications companies in the world with online learning management.* ## The Purpose of a Good Learning Management System (LMS) --- ### A Good LMS Improves How You Administer Training Whether you’re tech-savvy or not, you’ll quickly discover how easy it is to use an LMS. An LMS provides tools that simplify admin tasks such as user grouping, group enrollment, deactivation, and course creation. But what makes a learning management system such a game-changer in corporate learning? LMSs are cost-effective. With an LMS, you don’t have to contend with the heavy expenses of instructor-led training and outsourced seminars. Since an [LMS is an online platform](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/), your employees can learn at any time during the workday. An LMS’s round-the-clock accessibility and responsive interface allow users to learn at their own convenience on any mobile device. So employees aren’t forced to learn at specific times but can gain knowledge during their downtime when they’re more relaxed. ![World Manager Mobile LMS](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/World%20Manager%20Mobile%20LMS.jpg) If you prefer a blended learning approach, you can use an LMS to schedule training sessions and deliver online preparatory courses. You could have instructor-led training and then evaluate your employees online or build a content library where they can find information long after the course is completed. ### A Good LMS Makes Employees Accountable for Their Own Learning Path The best way to give your employees a sense of ownership over their training is to allow them to personalize their learning path. You can achieve this by unlocking certain parts of the LMS navigation so that an employee is exposed to content that best suits their role. Leveraging the Artificial Intelligence engine in your LMS will help your employees to go deeper on a topic that they’re interested in. It suggests relevant topics based on an individual’s learning needs and past performance. To make your courses more engaging, you can let employees generate their own content. For instance, World Manager’s LMS allows learners to create videos of their tasks, which are then marked by their managers. With an LMS, you can empower your employees to control their career paths by learning the skills required to raise their chances for promotion. ### A Good LMS Integrates Training Processes with CRM and HR Processes An LMS allows for third-party integrations such as CRM and HR platforms. This keeps your data synced to prevent data errors. CRM-LMS integration data can help you identify customer trends that you can use to inform future marketing campaigns. An HRIS-LMS integration keeps all your employee data up to date. If an employee completes compliance training, for example, this report will be fed into the HRIS. This integration will give you enhanced reports of your employees and their accomplishments from the day they were hired until their exit interview. It will also provide better visibility of the learning process and allow you to measure the impact of your training on employee retention. ### A Good LMS Tracks Training Initiatives Instructor-led programs are difficult to track and are subjective to the trainer’s influence. For instance, if training fails because of an instructor, would they be willing to include that in the report? An LMS tracks, evaluates, and reports back on a learner’s progress. You can measure these reports against your training goals and identify areas of the program that aren’t meeting objectives. LMS reporting comes complete with graphs, charts, and other data visualizations that make it easier to identify trends and patterns. Although most LMSs have built-in reporting and analytics, you can purchase plug-ins or add-ons to boost its reporting capabilities. **LMS reports** include: - **Content traffic**: Enables you to know what content your employees find relevant - **Course status**: This shows you where employees are falling behind so that you can help them get back on track - **Assessment results**: Enables you to gauge whether your training was effective - **Progress and completion rates**: Enables you to measure learner engagement - **Certification**: Enables you to see who’s completed compliance training and when their recertification program is due ### A Good LMS Consolidates Your Training Information Within a Single System Storing all your content in a central location ensures consistency in course delivery. If you make any changes to the course, your employees can enjoy the updated content right away via the LMS. And your employees will see the same course material regardless of the device they use. In addition, an LMS allows you to consolidate all of your main data in one place, saving you time and money. All the information about your employees will be available for you to review and report on your training initiatives. Since an [LMS protects your data with advanced encryption](https://www.lms.org/blog/is-your-lms-safe/), you can be sure that your employees’ information will not be subject to prying eyes. ### A Good LMS Increases Employee Engagement Did you know that only [13% of the world’s workforce is actively engaged](https://www.gallup.com/workplace/231581/five-ways-improve-employee-engagement.aspx)? An LMS increases your team’s level of interest, optimism, and passion for learning new skills, which ultimately [increases their engagement at work](https://www.franconnect.com/overcome-decline-in-employee-engagement/). If you’ve experienced high dropout rates in your training programs, use an LMS to design a learning strategy that prioritizes learning engagement. LMSs adopt a learner-centered approach through: - **User groups**: You can group employees based on their departments, job roles, and interests within the company. - **Multimedia features**: Video conferencing, forums, live chat, podcasts, and threaded discussions all provide engaging avenues for employees to collaborate. - **Course levels**: You can keep your employees curious by locking certain content levels until they’ve met specific performance standards. - **Gamification**: You can incentivize different actions within the LMS by rewarding learners with points, badges, and leaderboards. ![worldmanager leaderboards gamification-lms](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/worldmanager%20leaderboards%20gamification-lms.jpg)Image from [Karl Kapp](http://karlkapp.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Leaderboards.png) ## Boost Corporate Productivity With the LMS for Learners A learning management system cultivates a culture of continuous learning. A good LMS shows your employees that you’re willing to invest in them, which challenges them to learn new skills. When employees expand their skill sets, they’re in a better position to adapt to the ever-changing business environment. Through peer-to-peer learning, an LMS can foster teamwork and boost innovation; before you know it, your team’s productivity will be through the roof. So will your employee retention rates. ## Try Before You Buy – Book an Easy LMS Demo If you’re genuinely interested in what **a good LMS** like World Manager can do for your business, [book an LMS demo today](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo). An **LMS demo** process with World Manager generally takes around an hour and includes the following steps: - A **5 to 10-minute callback** to assess whether World Manager’s LMS is a good fit for your business. - A **30-minute webinar or video call** to discuss your business needs in more depth. You get a high-level overview of our LMS features and what an LMS can do for you. Once World Manager has a better understanding of your business needs, we will help you [decide if you actually need an LMS](https://www.franconnect.com/what-is-the-purpose-of-an-lms/). - A **1-hour face-to-face video call** to really dive into your business needs. You’ll discuss how we can [use our LMS to create a customized training and development platform](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/) tailored specifically to your requirements. This LMS walkthrough will give your team a clear understanding of the LMS and how it can address your training needs. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Engage, Retain and Onboard Employees **Tags:** LMS --- ### [7 Things You Can Do to Achieve Franchise Goals](https://www.franconnect.com/7-things-you-can-do-to-achieve-franchise-goals-1/) **Published:** July 14, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Learn 7 experienced-based tips on setting and achieving franchise goals from leaders in the franchising community. **Content:** “A company — and a region or territory — has a lifecycle that ages,” says Jim Sullivan in *Multi-Unit Management*. “Infant, youth, adult, middle age, maturity. Each stage of this growth curve brings with it different leadership, knowledge and resource needs based on a company’s maturity and growth stage.” Leadership is situational, and like a sports coach, Franchise Business Coaches (FBCs) need different playbooks for different situations. Below, find seven experienced-based tips on setting franchise goals from leaders in the franchising community. ## 1. Think Big When Setting Franchise Goals According to [Harvard Business Review](https://hbr.org/2017/01/3-popular-goal-setting-techniques-managers-should-avoid), “High goals generate greater effort than low goals, and the highest or most difficult goals produce the greatest levels of effort and performance.” This is based on research by professors Edwin A. Locke and Gary P. Latham, two of the best known academic researchers on goal-setting. Their 35 years of research revealed that specific, difficult goals with tight deadlines consistently led to higher performance. [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/)## 2. Work Backward From Your Goal Visualization is a powerful tool in goal-setting. Imagine the world two years from now, when the goal has been achieved. What steps did you need to get there? It’s not about just looking (and being) busy. [Many FBCs](https://www.franconnect.com/why-refining-your-franchise-business-consultant-program-can-improve-performance/) are going 100 miles per hour in every direction. Sure, they may look busy — but at the end of the day, many aren’t getting things done and their regions are going nowhere fast. Work smart and not hard. Figure out the end game and determine the best path to get there. ![franchise goals timeline ](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/franchise%20goals%20timeline%20.png) ## 3. Understand Your Franchisee’s Ecosystem Context is key to help your franchisees in their goals. “To consistently be a goal-getter, multi-unit managers should always consider how a policy or procedural change brought about by new policies, technology, competition, marketing, diversity and in-store leadership (or lack of it) will affect the internal eco-systems of each store,” says Sullivan. “An ‘environmentalist’ MUM clearly understands the unique inter-connectedness of people and processes at each store they supervise and how modifying one facet of its eco-system (equipment, [training](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/), talent, policy, procedure or resources) might positively or adversely affect other facets of operations.” ## 4. Hit Financial Targets by Conveying the Big Picture Set your franchisees up for success by sharing the “why” behind the “what.” A real leader will help build their replacement, instead of trying to make themselves one of a kind. Teaching others will create a culture of excellence and continuous improvement across the organization. ## 5. Pay Attention to the Little Things As Walt Disney developed his theme parks, he wanted to create a magical experience for people who came to the park — especially after his family’s own disappointing experience on a carousel with broken-down horses that didn’t move up and down. “It is said he had a hand-painted sign over his desk that read ‘No Chipped Paint. All the Horses Jump.’” says Sullivan. “The little things mean a lot; don’t compromise your standards, know your non-negotiables, and never underestimate the importance of the mundane.” ## 6. Embrace Change Changing with the times is a hallmark of an FBC who goes for the goal. In this age of digital disruption and “retailocalypse,” accepting and embracing the new is key. ## 7. Live Your Passion According to Sullivan, “The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire.” Employees want to find meaning in their day-to-day, and customers want to patronize inspired companies led by managers that “light the way with a blowtorch, bringing energy and fun to the experience.” If that is not you, your customers and employees may go somewhere else that [lights up their motivation](https://www.franconnect.com/overcome-decline-in-employee-engagement/). [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)The best way to help your franchisees reach their goals is to measure performance along the way. Take a look at FranConnect’s leading [performance tools](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/sales/) to grow your franchisees and make a positive difference in your system. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Analytics, Develop, Improve Performance **Tags:** Franchise Development --- ### [How Can a CRM Grow Your Business](https://www.franconnect.com/how-can-crm-grow-your-business/) **Published:** May 13, 2023 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Content:** A customer relationship management (CRM) system helps companies track, monitor, analyze, and report on different types of customer data. Your company can later use data to predict customer buying patterns and develop sound marketing strategies through strong and personalized customer relationships. When franchises want to grow their business, having a streamlined platform to view customer information, such as contact information, preferences, buying trends, or shopping challenges, can help them build strong customer relationships. Using a CRM system for a franchise can be highly beneficial. For example, a CRM can assist with the following: - **Scheduling:** Team members can quickly schedule meetings and engage with customer and client timelines. - **Engagement:** Drive powerful customer engagement through a well-planned CRM system that allows you to look at customer information in one place. - **Automation:** A CRM is entirely automated, making it easy to send emails, text reminders, or other notifications to customers and staff members. You can also automate helpful reports and customer tracking data. - **Productivity:** Staff can focus on high-value tasks and leave behind manual tasks for automated software. - **Communication:** Communicate effectively across all platforms with clients and staff members. - **Workflow:** Ensure a seamless workflow with a CRM system in your marketing and sales operations. Without customer relationship management software, franchises will likely lose out on potential customer relationships and sales opportunities. Automation helps free up time staff members may have been spending on manual tasks like phone calls and email writing. Your sales and marketing teams can use data from CRM platforms to inform their next advertisement or build personalized sales pitches for customers. Building a solid customer relationship starts with reliance on a good CRM system. ![A woman smiles while clicking on a tablet](https://www.franconnect.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/02-how-does-a-crm-help-sales.png "02-how-does-a-crm-help-sales - FranConnect") ## How Does a CRM Help Sales? The right CRM software helps your sales by tracking and managing potential customers through a sales pipeline. Many CRM systems have specific features designed to help you automate mundane or time-consuming tasks, leaving your team free to work on what really draws in customers. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)For example, CRM systems help you manage customer data more easily. Perhaps you want to organize data like customer preferences, buying habits, or seasonal trends. A CRM platform allows you to organize and locate data points whenever and wherever you need them, freeing time for your sales representatives. Now, they can spend more time focusing on selling to the right customers rather than organizing, collecting, and coordinating information. ### The Importance of CRM for Response Rates Responding to potential leads quickly and effectively is one of the most important parts of sales. But many leads end up falling by the wayside, whether due to negligence or lack of response time. For example, many sales teams’ [average lead response time is 47 hours](https://www.forbes.com/sites/theyec/2019/09/10/step-by-step-guide-to-following-up-with-b2b-leads-generated-by-sdrs/?sh=43e285de2309), with some leads not getting contacted at all. This delay means many customers won’t receive your company’s messages or find out about your product. Using a CRM system can automate and organize your leads, helping your sales team improve their response rates. Businesses that reach out to customers within an hour are more likely to have an impactful conversation. Responding quickly to leads can mean more sales, and timing emails for specific customers may increase conversions. ### How CRM Helps Businesses Improve Sales A CRM can help your business improve its sales through several means. From focusing your sales pipeline to increasing engagement or automating responses, your team can increase response rates and drive more customers to your business. Here are nine sales benefits of a CRM: - **Growth:** Make confident decisions for your company and close deals faster by tracking and prioritizing leads. - **Function:** Streamline your operations and track your return on investment (ROI) through easy-to-use software. - **Engagement:** Maintain customer engagement using email schedules, campaign tools, and customer identification software. - **Automation:** Automate your email and text responses to increase response rates and sales. - **Deals:** View your sales pipeline in one place and monitor your performance. - **Compliance:** Ensure compliance and eliminate third-party fees by tracking receipts and paperwork. - **Personalization:** Integrate your CRM with other tools for streamlined communication and organization. - **Productivity:** Increase productivity by keeping team members focused and freeing time for important tasks. ![A CRM franchise management software can help find the right customers](https://www.franconnect.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/03-find-the-right-customer-and-build-solid-customer-relationships.png "03-find-the-right-customer-and-build-solid-customer-relationships - FranConnect") ## Find the Right Customer and Build Solid Customer Relationships Using CRM franchise management software can help you find the right customers for your business while building solid customer relationships. Reaching the right customers is essential to bring in a higher amount of sales. An automated, well-organized CRM platform assists your team members in building solid relationships by streamlining the sales process. One of the best ways to reach the right customers is to establish a strong relationship and build trust. Customers want to know that your company’s products and services are reliable and helpful. CRM systems can gather data about customer preferences and needs to determine specific ways to reach and keep them engaged. When you show you understand your client’s wants and needs, customers are more likely to trust your business. Another way to develop a strong customer relationship is to make your company stand out from the competition. Whether through the product itself or exceptional customer service, clients want to know they are important and their needs are being met. Show that you can keep up with fast response times and helpful service to keep customers coming back. CRM systems can also help you better understand your customers’ business and shopping practices. You can view their history of interacting with your company and use the information to build a strong relationship of trust and success. Here are a few other ways that CRMs can improve your customer relationships: - **Explore:** Explore what challenges your customers are facing and what products really matter to them. Next, take follow-up steps to improve your sales tactics by understanding their goals and preferences. Record all this information in your CRM system and find the data whenever you need it. - **Engage:** Recommend the right services to encourage customers to engage with relevant products and special promotions. Find out what customers need by studying what they’ve purchased, how they use certain products, and what relevant content or information might be helpful to them. - **Scale:** Build and develop your one-on-one relationships through personalized sales, email templates, task reminders, and phone calls to help you contact customers quickly. ## Streamline Business Processes and Improve Organization The best CRM for franchises can help grow your business with streamlined and organized processes. Customer relationship management software can make client communications faster and easier by organizing customer contact information and data in one place. Sales representatives no longer have to spend time gathering contact information before calling or emailing customers. The CRM platform can comprise groups or sets of relevant customers, email them personalized messages, and keep up with buying and shopping trends. Another way that a CRM can help your business is by [keeping track of leads](https://blog.franconnect.com/6-quick-ways-to-grow-your-qualified-leads) and improving lead response time. As stated before, many leads can fall to the wayside without the proper organization, documentation, or correspondence. A CRM gives staff members reminders and goals on reaching out to customers quickly to increase sales and profits. A CRM system may also help your company track the lead sources to determine where the best customers come from. Leads may be sourced from anywhere — social media ads, email campaigns, or online content. You can track data from each area and determine where most of your leads are originating. Once you have this information, sales and marketing team members can focus on drawing specific customers from those leads and increasing profit. The process of sales development for franchises can be highly complex. However, using a CRM can simplify the process of selling a product or service. When the CRM streamlines your organizational methods, your company can focus on pitches that imagine your products as more than just items. They’re a business endeavor or a change in scenery. You can focus on building genuine relationships that keep your best customers engaged and feeling appreciated. ## Improve Customer Service and Employee Productivity Using the right technology and resources, such as a reliable CRM system, can help your business improve its customer service and employee productivity. CRM systems organize and automate your processes while providing resources such as customer engagement data, buyer information, and other relevant documents that you might not otherwise have easy access to. A CRM platform also helps your employees spend more time on high-value tasks. Many businesses find their teams struggling to maintain productive work hours when their time is consumed with manual, low-value tasks like finding contact information, entering data, or building lists and schedules from scratch. A CRM system can organize and automate many tasks, making completing sales pitches and email campaigns easier than ever in record time. You won’t have to wait for employees to search for contact information or finish entering data. A CRM platform takes customer data and compiles records and information on its own, allowing your employees to focus on what really matters — selling your products and services. CRM systems also help you connect with more customers. By depending on an automated system, your employees have more time to build strong customer relationships. From your sales representatives to your customer service team to your marketing members, employees can spend more time speaking with potential customers and strengthening relationships with existing clients. ## Transparent Reporting on Marketing and Sales Initiatives A CRM system can help you improve transparent reporting for your marketing and sales initiatives. Track what sources may bring you the most leads and work to create marketing or sales goals around those areas. For example, you may discover that your email campaigns or social media channels bring in more customers than your website or cold calls. A CRM system automatically analyzes lead sources and suggests the best areas to focus your initiatives. Sales teams can also use this information for future reporting. [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/)Your sales process also becomes more streamlined when you use a CRM system. Improve customer retention by creating reports on various sales leads and customer information. A CRM platform lets you see which initiatives perform well and which need more work. You can then put your money into operations that perform better and bring in more customers or appeal to repeat customers. By reinvesting in sources that yield the greatest ROI, your company can improve its processes and increase sales. A CRM system can be a reliable way to track your sales pipeline and focus on real-time reports of customer data and incoming profits. ![How to use a CRM in business sales intiatives](https://www.franconnect.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/04-how-to-use-crm-in-business-sales-initiatives.png "04-how-to-use-crm-in-business-sales-initiatives - FranConnect") ### How to Use CRM in Business Sales Initiatives Using a CRM for your business sales initiatives allows you to track leads and decide how many to assign to team members at each stage. A CRM system organizes your sales and marketing processes so you can use reports effectively. Here are a few reports that a CRM system helps you to manage: - **Total leads:** Track your total number of leads per month or marketing channel. - **Cost per lead:** Analyze the cost of each lead for every marketing channel. - **Buyer conversion rates:** Track each lead according to their conversion rates and corresponding marketing channels. - **Cost:** Track the price of each new sales initiative or franchise endeavor. - **Closing rates:** Analyze your closing rates for each of your sales representatives. - **Averages:** Track your company’s overall averages according to each lead type. You can make better business decisions by analyzing and tracking consistent information about your leads. When you have a reliable CRM system, you can see significant improvements in your marketing strategies. [![Partner with FranConnect to grow your business](https://www.franconnect.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/05-CTA-partner-with-franconnect-to-grow-your-business.jpg "05-CTA-partner-with-franconnect-to-grow-your-business - FranConnect")](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) ## Partner With FranConnect to Grow Your Business By partnering with FranConnect, your company can develop new business processes and increase company growth and profits. Our company offers CRM software and learning management systems (LMS) for your business needs, whether you want to track customer information and data or free up time for staff to spend on high-value tasks. However you choose to use our platforms, we are dedicated to providing exceptional customer service. Our [customer relationship management platform](https://blog.franconnect.com/introducing-project-management-software-for-franchising) helps your business increase profits and grow into a successful company. Improve your daily operations by learning what your customers want and need and cater your sales and marketing operations towards that data. As a leading franchise management software provider, we give your company the necessary solutions to scale your business. Every part of your franchise can be on the same page, from your sales and marketing teams to your CEO, performance managers, and executive leaders. Use the CRM platform to organize and manage customer data anytime and anywhere. Contact us today to [request a demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) or explore our platform on our website. By connecting with our franchising experts, your business will find answers to your software questions and CRM needs. We’ll show you how to use FranConnect to grow your business with accurate and effective sales data. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Franchising Best Practices --- ### [Adapting Your Restaurant Franchise's Menu for Global Success: Why It's Essential](https://www.franconnect.com/international-menu-changes/) **Published:** December 21, 2023 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Adapting your restaurant franchise's menu for global success is crucial. Elevate your business by updating your menu for an international audience! **Content:** If you want to expand your restaurant franchise and reach a global audience, you must adapt your menu accordingly. Updating your menu items when you open locations in other countries is essential for your restaurant’s long-term stability and success. With the right strategy and tools, you will boost your revenue and brand familiarity. ## Considerations for Changing Your Menu When Going International Adapting your international menu to different cultures is crucial. By changing your restaurant menu and remaining sensitive to the needs of customers around the globe, you make a positive statement about your company. When making global menu changes, here are some important considerations for connecting to your new customers. ![02-recognize-cultural-sensitivities-when-adapting-your-menu](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/02-recognize-cultural-sensitivities-when-adapting-your-menu.jpg) ### Recognize Cultural Sensitivities When Adapting Your Menu You want customers to identify with your brand and welcome it into their lives. When adapting your menu for different countries, you must be respectful of cultures and religious beliefs. Some cultures and religions do not eat specific foods, or they don’t eat particular food items during specific times of year. For example, [Islamic law considers some foods](https://halalfoundation.org/whats-the-difference-between-halal-and-haram-meat-food/) “halal” (lawful) and others “haram” (forbidden). If you’re opening a franchise restaurant location in a country where Islam is the predominant religion, you have to be sure your menu items are certified halal. As another example, [people of the Hindu faith](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2021/06/29/religion-in-india-tolerance-and-segregation/) consider cows holy, and most avoid eating beef. Hinduism is the predominant religion in India, so if you’re opening a restaurant location in India, you can respect the Hindu culture by leaving beef products off the menu or at least offering lots of alternatives. [Explore Restaurant Solutions](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/restaurants/)When you’re researching where to open locations, do thorough market research to ensure you’re being respectful of cultures as you create a new menu. This is essential for including new customers and ensuring they feel welcome at your restaurant. ### Evaluate Profit Margins and Cost Considerations What’s expensive in one country may be relatively inexpensive in another. Different groups have different standards regarding food, fast food, what they are willing to pay for restaurant food and how that ties in with their beliefs around money. You may have to adjust the prices of your items when opening locations outside of your home country. The costs involved in expanding your franchise menu also need to be considered, from market research and development to marketing and advertising. Additionally, you may have to source new ingredients, pay more for specific ingredients or cut menu items that wouldn’t be profitable in certain countries. You can also examine your competitors and be aware of what they’re selling and how they’re selling it, as well as how their prices compare to yours. If you have similar menu items, but your planned prices are much higher — or much lower — than theirs, you might be missing out on sales or underselling your products. ### Retain Brand Consistency While Adapting Your Restaurant’s Menu You don’t need to completely change your brand identity when creating an international franchise menu. After all, you don’t want your restaurant to be completely unrecognizable from one country to another. Instead, you can [adapt your menu while remaining true](https://hbr.org/2023/08/how-global-companies-can-create-a-consistent-customer-experience) to what makes your restaurant your restaurant. To maintain brand consistency, use the power of your logo. Your logo is familiar and recognizable — just think about the iconic Taco Bell bell, the McDonald’s golden arches or the Arby’s cowboy hat. Using your logo ensures you remain recognizable as you expand. You can also keep some classic signature items on the menu to remain true to what brought your business success in its early days. However, be sure these offerings are culturally appropriate. When creating international restaurant menu items, be sure the new additions are consistent with your brand. For example, if you run a fast food burger joint in the United States and are looking to open a new location in Canada, you may not want to add out-of-the-box items like intricate pasta dishes that will take a long time to make. A more fitting choice would be something that fits your brand while catering to the tastes of your new audience. Gravy- and cheese-covered fries may make a great menu addition since poutine is a French-Canadian classic. The message here is to be innovative when adapting your menu while also retaining the hallmarks of your brand. ![03-steps-to-customize-your-restaurants-menu-for-a-new-country](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/03-steps-to-customize-your-restaurants-menu-for-a-new-country.jpg) ## Steps to Customize Your Restaurant’s Menu for a New Country Customizing your menu to fit a new location doesn’t have to be laborious. Here are three steps for customizing your menu for a new country. ### 1. Conduct Thorough Market Research Adapting your menu for a new region is easier when you know who you’re adapting it for. Market research is a powerful tool for any business, especially when you launch global menu items. Through market research about the local culture, you can: - **Identify potential international menu ideas:** These are signature items you can include in your menu that would speak to your client base and drive revenue for your restaurant. For example, if your research shows that the region prefers pork over beef, you can change your menu to include more pork-based items. If there are a lot of vegetarians in the area, you can create some plant-based dishes. - **Understand customer preferences:** The key to adapting your restaurant’s menu for international success is showing people you know what they like. Researching your customers’ flavor preferences and items that are already popular in your new location proves that you are eager to offer items they’ll love. - **Analyzing competitor menus:** When planning your international menu changes, be aware of what the competition has on their menus and update your menus accordingly. You can offer lower prices for similar menu items or raised prices on unique dishes. ### 2. Adapt Your Menu Adapting your restaurant’s franchise for global success takes a lot of creativity. As you adapt your menu, keep these tips in mind: - **Incorporate local ingredients:** A unique approach to updating your restaurant’s menu during international expansion is to add ingredients that people in the region love. This approach also means you won’t need to import food items, which can help you save costs. - **Change franchise menu items based on trends:** The food and global restaurant markets constantly evolve. Keeping your finger on the pulse of new trends in local cuisine ensures you stay a step ahead. Understanding your international clients is essential here. - **Adapt portion sizes:** A critical aspect of modifying your franchise’s menu for international markets is being aware of portion sizes. Every region has a standard restaurant meal size. As an example, [portion sizes in the U.S.](https://www.insider.com/fast-food-portion-sizes-us-vs-uk-mcdonalds-kfc-dominos-starbucks-2023-1) are generally larger than they are in the United Kingdom. ### 3. Make Sure to Comply With International Standards It’s essential to remember that your restaurant’s menu must adhere to health and safety standards. Rules and regulations change per location, and keeping abreast of these variations ensures your establishment remains compliant. For example, [some food additives are banned in Europe](https://www.everydayhealth.com/diet-nutrition/why-are-some-food-additives-that-are-banned-in-europe-still-used-in-the-us/) but allowed in the U.S., so if you’re adapting your United States menu to England, you may have to make some changes. In any case, it’s best to research before you update your menu with new food items. ## Successful Menu Changes in International Restaurant Franchises A few well-known cases exist where restaurants have successfully changed their menu items while maintaining loyalty to their brand and name. You can gain much of the same results by following in their footsteps. ### Kentucky Fried Chicken An excellent example of a business adding global menu ideas is Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC). This company still uses its well-known Colonel Sanders on all its packaging. Yet, it is [flexible enough to adapt its menus](https://www.thetravel.com/25-of-the-most-unique-kfc-menu-items-from-around-the-world/) to different global culinary tastes and preferences. For example, to celebrate Chinese New Year, KFC Singapore [introduced Truffle Parmesan Chicken](https://www.mashed.com/185642/international-kfc-menu-items-you-wont-find-in-the-u-s/), which is a twist on their traditional fried chicken recipe that hoped to appeal to a younger crowd. ### McDonald’s One of the reasons for McDonald’s success is its ability to [modify its fast food menu items](https://www.mcdonalds.com/gb/en-gb/help/faq/why-is-the-mcdonald-s-menu-different-in-different-countries.html) for an international audience. Using localization methods to adapt and change its menu according to specific regions, McDonald’s is a business chameleon. Another reason for the giant’s success is that it offers exclusive items in each region. This differentiates McDonald’s from competitors and also attracts international tourists who want to explore how McDonald’s in a country they’re visiting is different from their home location. [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/)Even more impressive is [the franchise’s revenue statistics](https://www.statista.com/statistics/219453/revenue-of-the-mcdonalds-corporation-by-geographic-region/). In the U.S. alone, McDonald’s generated a revenue of $9.42 billion in 2022. Sales outside of the U.S. topped $11.16 billion in the same year. These numbers are clear and convincing: Your restaurant can benefit from an updated global menu. ![04-strategies-for-effectively-marketing-your-new-menu](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/04-strategies-for-effectively-marketing-your-new-menu.jpg) ## Strategies for Effectively Marketing Your New Menu If this is your first foray into international markets, it’s advisable to market both your name and your menu to potential customers. These elements set you apart from your competitors. Leveraging your uniqueness is a great strategy to gain new clientele. As you market your new menu, use the following strategies: - **Post on social media:** People love seeing photos of the food before ordering, and social media is a great place to share them. Add some colorful, exciting images of your cultural menu items and your new storefront. The pictures should capture the buzz and unique ambiance of your business. - **Update customers regularly:** Updating your menu with new items is exciting, and keeping your customers informed about these changes is crucial. When you introduce more items after your initial opening, update your website, social media profiles and in-store signage. - **Make use of traditional advertising:** While digital advertising is still essential for a complete marketing strategy, many marketers are returning to traditional methods of advertising, like direct mail and print media. Consumers [tend to trust traditional advertising](https://hbr.org/2022/04/why-marketers-are-returning-to-traditional-advertising), and traditional advertising methods cut through digital clutter. - **Take advantage of TV advertising:** Likewise, TV advertising remains an effective strategy. Similar to traditional advertising, consumers tend to trust products they see on TV, and [TV has an unmatched reach](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-tv-remains-worlds-most-effective-advertising?trk=organization_guest_main-feed-card_feed-article-content). - **Understand how Google Search works:** Google [crawls and indexes webpages](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/fundamentals/how-search-works) to show users the most relevant results for their search. When you understand this process, you can begin to understand how to get your online menu to show up in relevant search results — more on Google and SEO below! ### The Power of SEO in Marketing Search engine optimization (SEO) deserves its own special mention as it’s a powerful tool for marketing your new menu. SEO involves the strategies you use to rank high on search engine results pages (SERPs). Some of these strategies include using relevant headings, keywords and tags on your website. When your SEO strategy is successful, your website will show up toward the top of relevant search results. A quick rundown of SEO strategies can give you some marketing ideas: - **Local SEO:** Local SEO [enables searchers to find you](https://hospitalityinsights.ehl.edu/starting-a-food-business-marketing-strategy) when they search things like “fast food restaurant near me” or “place to get burgers now.” Updating your physical address and telephone number and typing out your menu will help people near you find your business. - **Keywords:** You can use relevant and popular keywords and place them on your social media accounts, websites and other business directories. Using keywords will ensure that searchers always find your franchise. You’ll want to use food keywords that people will search for when they’re hungry and that your restaurant trades in. For example, if your new items include chicken salads, you can use keywords like “delicious chicken salad” or “best chicken salad.” - **Use an analytics tool:** These tools are helpful for gaining insight into the behavior of your website visitors. When you use a quality analytics tool, you can see what makes someone click on your site, how long they stay on your site before leaving, and if they make any decisions like calling or placing an online order. Remember: Visitors don’t equal a sale. When you understand why a website visitor leaves, you can take steps to keep them on your site. - **Backlinks:** Backlinks are created when one website links to another. When other sites — such as directories like Yelp — link to your site, this increases your authority in the eyes of Google, which is helpful for SEO. The more websites that contain your menu, the more people will find you. - **Make your menu mobile-friendly:** Besides your website, your newly adapted menu should be easy to read and searchable on a mobile device, as most people search for restaurants while on the go. [![05-CTA-enjoy-seamless-integration-for-international-success-with-franconnect](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/05-CTA-enjoy-seamless-integration-for-international-success-with-franconnect.jpg)](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) ## Enjoy Seamless Integration for International Success With FranConnect Restaurant growth is incredibly exciting, especially when it means it’s time to expand internationally. Many factors play a vital role in the success of your business as you open global locations, and one of the most important is changing your franchise menu items for a global audience. [Explore Restaurant Solutions](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/restaurants/)FranConnect provides a [comprehensive platform for your franchising needs](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/sales/). We provide your business with an ecosystem wherein it will thrive, grow, and improve as you expand internationally. We have an answer to every concern you may have. Our pre-packaged applications are rapidly deployable, meaning you can start growing your franchise as soon as possible. Leverage FranConnect’s platform for your business growth by [connecting with us](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) and joining an industry-leading management platform. For more information, [contact us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/) today. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Franchising Best Practices **Tags:** Franchise Best Practices, Franchise Operations --- ### [10 Marketing Tips for Franchisors](https://www.franconnect.com/10-marketing-tips-for-franchisors/) **Published:** October 12, 2023 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Franchise development marketing helps companies increase their profits, retain customers and reach new audiences. Learn 10 tips for franchisors here. **Content:** Franchise development marketing involves growing a company’s sales and business through several activities, such as digital advertising or online marketing. Its purpose is to help companies increase their profits while retaining customers and reaching new audiences. The importance of franchise marketing cannot be understated. All types of franchise marketing operations are essential to the success of every business, no matter its location. Each franchisor needs to instill the importance of localized marketing and advertising strategies to their franchisees to increase the success of all businesses and drive people to the company’s products or services. [Ensure Brand Consistency](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/brand-consistency/)When choosing the right marketing strategy for franchise businesses, learning from the successes of others is crucial. Many companies increase customer engagement through a personalized experience. Personalized marketing and engagement may include sending a welcoming subscription email, responding to positive online reviews or creating localized search engine optimization (SEO) strategies. The more time and effort franchisors devote to building strategies to strengthen relationships between franchisees and local customers, the more likely they are to be profitable and successful. Here are our top tips for franchise marketing: ## 1. Establish Your Branding and Maintain Brand Consistency Franchise units must learn to succeed independently, despite being associated with you, their parent brand. Maintaining [brand consistency](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/brand-consistency/) through the same colors, logos and materials helps establish credibility and trust in your business. Even while maintaining brand consistency, franchisors can work with local businesses to set different marketing tactics, tones and brand images for their specific customer base. ### How to Create Brand Consistency Create a style guide for your brand. Using this style guide across locations ensures that franchisees stick to the rules for marketing and sales operations. Here are a few things you can include in the style guide: - **Logos:** Your guide should include appropriate sizes or color options for using your logo. - **Fonts:** You’ll also want to include company font styles in bold, italics and regular formats. - **Grammar:** When it comes to writing, lay out your style rules and regulations for language mechanics, punctuation, abbreviations or capitalization. - **Image sizes and styles:** Your guide should also include image suggestions for both print and digital materials. - **Boilerplate:** This section is your company’s mission statement and “about us” section. - **Social media practices:** Be sure to include regulations for social media tone, voice and written content by platform. ## 2. Target Local Audiences One of the best strategies for growing your franchise is targeting local audiences. Customers’ interests and needs often vary depending on location, and over-generalizing could quickly lower your business’s sales. Many regions have specific tastes in food, clothing or services. You may benefit from offering different products or services in different locations. Identify which products and services customers in specific areas are more likely to purchase, and customize marketing strategies. To [identify target audiences](https://blog.franconnect.com/franconnect-franchise-library-2020/franchisee-buyer-persona-worksheet), examine each location where your franchisees have set up a business and analyze customer preferences. ## 3. Collect and Manage Franchisee Data [Data management](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/info-manager/) is the process of collecting, organizing and using different data sets to help you better understand your franchisees. By researching and analyzing franchisee information, such as locations, revenue and number of franchise units owned by the same entity, you can increase conversion rates in specific areas and encourage more franchisees to sign up with your business. Perhaps you’ll discover new, unique information that can set your franchise apart from other competitors, such as how visitors to your website browse through products or locations where you think a franchise unit would succeed. ## 4. Stay Connected Throughout the Customer Journey Another excellent franchise marketing strategy is connecting to your customers at every step. Many customers want a personalized user experience throughout their purchasing journey. Try to stay connected to your customers no matter where they are on the purchasing journey. This means strengthening your communication efforts through multiple channels and devices, from social media or online communication to emails and text messages. [Building a solid relationship](https://www.franconnect.com/3-tips-to-improve-franchisee-relationships-in-2022/) with your customers ensures they understand your care about their experience.![02-Local-Marketing-min](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/02-Local-Marketing-min.png) ## 5. Local Marketing For many franchise brands, local marketing is one of the best ways to increase revenue and grow their business. Discover the best ways to manage local customer data through search engines, social media, online directories and aggregators. Franchisors should create strategies every franchisee can adjust for their location. Here are a few ways franchisees can keep up with local marketing: - **Displays:** Create displays based on local customers’ wants and needs. - **Video ads:** Create localized video ads for customers in their area. - **Geo-fencing:** Use geo-fencing to locate relevant places and customers to keep up with competitors’ locations and promote repeat sales. ## 6. Stand out From Your Competition When it comes to content marketing, your franchise must stand out from the competition. Many franchisors compete with similar businesses that offer food, products and services that compare to their own. To stand out from the competition, teach your franchisees to use tools like geo-targeting to ensure marketing efforts don’t overlap with other franchisee locations. This provides fair advertising for each store. ## 7. Make Sure Your Franchisees Promote a Positive Brand Image Ensuring a consistent brand image across franchise units is another excellent strategy for growing your business. Creating consistency saves franchisees from spending time and money coming up with new advertising materials or brand logos and colors. Customers also benefit from consistent branding across franchise units, as similar information and logos help companies retain customers and encourage brand recognition. Start by enforcing consistent messaging and advertisements across all locations to ensure your franchisees promote a positive brand image. While franchisees may advertise different products depending on their location, the colors, images and logos will be the same. Encourage positive brand images through good storytelling in advertising, emails or social media platforms. ## 8. Encourage Customer Reviews and Respond to Them As a franchisor, have your franchisees monitor online reviews and encourage customers to respond to products and services. Check out Facebook, Yelp or Google for positive and negative reviews and reply accordingly. By showing that your company can engage with customer reviews, your franchisees are more likely to succeed. ## 9. Track the Impact of Your Marketing Efforts To track your marketing efforts, keep a log of how much you spend on advertising or your social media connections. You can also track inquiries, specialized outcomes or customer purchases. Some franchisors may also record subjective areas related to local businesses. ## 10. Choose the Right Marketing Tools and CRM for Your Business A reliable customer relationship management (CRM) system allows franchises to manage their company’s connections, strengthen existing client relationships and search for potential customers. [Improving your business’s relationship](https://www.franconnect.com/7-things-you-can-do-to-achieve-franchise-goals-1/) with franchisees and their local communities can help you grow and enhance your sales and marketing initiatives. A CRM system organizes your customer information from across the country and enables you to manage and view customer data throughout their purchasing decisions.[![03-Partner-With-FranConnect-to-Grow-Your-Franchise-min](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/03-Partner-With-FranConnect-to-Grow-Your-Franchise-min.png) ](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) ## [Partner With FranConnect to Grow Your Franchise](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) When your franchise partners with FranConnect, you can use our franchise management software to integrate a customer relationship management (CRM) system and other tools to help your franchisees develop successful businesses. Our company can assist you with all aspects of franchise success, from accelerating location sales to providing tips for email marketing platforms or managing royalties. [Request a demonstration](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) today or explore FranConnects services online. [Contact us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/) with any questions. [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Franchising Best Practices **Tags:** Franchise Marketing --- ### [Defining Your Franchise’s Unique Selling Points and Showcasing Them to Potential Franchisees](https://www.franconnect.com/unique-selling-points-for-franchisors/) **Published:** September 12, 2023 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Are you a franchisor looking to grow? You should understand how to define your franchise's unique selling points & share them with potential franchisees. **Content:** Owning a franchise is an exciting opportunity to apply your business acumen and take your career in a new direction. While many franchises come with built-in brand recognition and buying power, you will still need to grow your business and attract new potential franchisees. Defining your unique selling points is the best way to accomplish these goals. In this article, we’ll look at how to find your unique selling point and share ideas for communicating your unique selling point ideas to franchisees. ## What Is a Unique Selling Point? A USP makes your products or services stand out from your competitors and shows your potential franchisees the value you offer. With so many options on the market, your USP is the perfect way to build a powerful brand and differentiate yourself from the competition. Your USP is a crucial component of your brand’s personality. It should showcase what is relevant and compelling about your franchise. Your USP helps build loyalty and plays a vital internal role. It will attract motivated franchisees and help them maintain the company culture. ## Defining Your Franchise’s Unique Selling Points The first step to creating a franchise unique selling proposition is considering what sets you apart. To attract your ideal audience, it’s essential to be specific. - **Define your audience:** Understand your target audience’s needs and preferences. What are their backgrounds, experience and long-term goals? What do they want to achieve with their investment? Would they consider this a side hustle or an essential source of income for their family? The more you understand why people want to invest in your franchise, the easier it will be to tailor your marketing. - **Highlight your benefits:** These advantages must be unique to your franchise. Highlight your brand, training and support, business model and other essential features without repeating what other franchisors would say. - **Tailor your language:** The language you use must resonate with franchisees. Avoid using potentially confusing jargon. Instead, aim to inspire and motivate people to invest in your franchise. When they read your USPs, potential franchisees should immediately comprehend what sets your business apart. - **Differentiate from your competitors:** Your unique selling point must spotlight features your competitors don’t offer. Explain what makes your franchise system a superior investment. You can also include testimonials from current franchisees and customers who are devotees of your brand. ## Unique Selling Point Examples for Franchises ![02-franchises-in-the-US-1](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/02-franchises-in-the-US-1.png)People who want to invest in a franchise have a wealth of options — there were [over 790,500 franchises in the U.S.](https://www.statista.com/statistics/190313/estimated-number-of-us-franchise-establishments-since-2007/) in 2022. Here are a few franchise USPs to help you stand out amid this stiff competition. - **Low royalty fees:** Price is a vital USP. How much franchisees pay in royalty fees and other costs, such as the initial investment and advertising, will determine how much upfront cash they need. Emphasizing low royalty fees will encourage franchisees to invest with you. - **Well-established brand:** Having [a solid brand identity](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/brand-identity.asp#:~:text=Investopedia%20%2F%20Zoe%20Hansen-,What%20Is%20Brand%20Identity%3F,is%20distinct%20from%20brand%20image.) is essential to establish trust. Even if you are not the dominant brand in your industry, you can still highlight what you do best. - **Data-driven statistics:** Show franchisees that buying into an existing brand can help them grow faster than opening a business. When people invest in a franchise, they immediately have everything they need, instead of starting a business from scratch. - **Marketing costs:** Be transparent about how much you pay for marketing and what promotional items you provide. Ensure you have dependable marketing programs to help franchisees achieve the results they are looking for. - **Training and support:** Working with a franchisee is an ongoing relationship. Franchisees will need frequent guidance and assistance. You can equip them with the tools they need to succeed by educating them on the market, competitors and industry performance. - **Low-risk contracts:** Offering a low-risk contract is a big draw, especially for first-time investors. - **Franchisee retention and satisfaction stats:** Highlight your current franchisees’ earnings and ROI. When people see your current franchisees are doing well, it will encourage them to invest. - **Franchise development strategy:** Franchisees want to be confident about investing in a growing franchise. Show that market opportunities are available for expansion, and create a development strategy based on these. - **Sustainability:** Sustainable franchisees have longevity. Reassure franchisees that the brand will evolve to meet consumer demands. ## Ways to Communicate Your USPs to Potential Franchisees Once you have defined your USPs, you can promote them to potential franchisees. Your communication should be specific and concise, so there’s no confusion and people have positive expectations from the outset. Consider using marketing and communications tools like these. ### Social Media Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn are valuable ways franchise owners can drive awareness, spread the word about their USPs and connect with potential franchisees. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)As a professional networking channel, [LinkedIn](https://www.franconnect.com/linkedin-for-franchisors/) is a compelling medium for franchise advertising. Many LinkedIn users rely on this platform to close sales and find business growth opportunities. Once you create a LinkedIn page for your franchise, start [creating and posting engaging content](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-often-post-social-media-social-gen). For example, consider writing a blog post or designing a micrographic that showcases your USPs. Your LinkedIn page is also the perfect place to share franchisee testimonials that give your brand credibility and build trust. ### PPC Advertising You can [use pay-per-click advertising](https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/ppc-marketing-guide/) to highlight your USPs. The unique selling point should appear in your ad’s headline or the first line. If you feature it in your headline, ensure it is keyword-rich. You can include it anywhere else in your ad copy, but always emphasize the USP before other features. Focus on one USP per PPC ad. Including too many details will confuse viewers, dilute your ad’s strength and result in lower conversions. ### Landing Pages Create USP landing pages on your website demonstrating what differentiates your brand. On these pages, you can provide more details for potential franchisees. Direct your PPC and social media ads to specific landing pages to reinforce the unique selling points in your ads and allow readers to learn more. Remember to include an unmistakable call to action. Once potential franchisees understand your USPs and feel motivated to continue, they need an immediate pathway to take the next step. ### Emails Do you have leads who have reached out by email but have yet to close? Send an email with a USP in the subject line, enticing the reader to open your email. Using imagery will capture the reader’s attention, but the image must relate to and convey the USP you are talking about. ## Streamline Your Franchise With FranConnect [![03-streamline-your-franchise](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/03-streamline-your-franchise.jpg)](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/)Defining and showcasing your franchise’s unique selling proposition helps you attract long-term franchisees and promote your brand. We provide high-quality solutions that allow franchisors to grow, scale and optimize their businesses. Our software aligns every part of your business, from sales and marketing to procurement. It empowers you to overcome your challenges and take advantage of opportunities. You can also engage with your franchisees, ensuring consistent and clear communication. For more information, [contact us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/) today. [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Develop, Expand Locations, Open Locations Faster **Tags:** Expand Locations, Franchise Marketing, Franchise Sales --- ### [Automotive Franchises: Sample Objectives and Key Results (OKR)](https://www.franconnect.com/sample-objectives-and-key-results-okr-for-automotive-franchises/) **Published:** January 22, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** If you're an automotive franchise you may want to consider tracking these objectives and key results (OKRs). Check out the list of potential OKRs here! **Content:** Automotive franchises make a significant impact on the economy. According to [IBISWorld](https://www.ibisworld.com/united-states/market-research-reports/auto-mechanics-industry/), there are 263,000 auto mechanic businesses running in the U.S., with industry employment counting over 500,000. Although the changing landscape is affecting these businesses, they are still making a meaningful contribution to the economy. ## OKRs For Automotive Franchises ### Objective: Increase franchisee revenue. **KRs:** - Have a customer acquisition rate of 25% (new customers/total customers). - Have a quote capture rate of over 70% (total sales/total quotes). - Increase leads from online sources by 25%. - Get a conversion rate from service texting reminders of 20%. **Initiatives:** - Launch campaign with current happy customers to get more reviews. - Enhance texting reminder campaign using new vendor. - Have home office sales coach talk to Service Manager about best practices. - Review quote capture rate on monthly FranConnect scorecard. #### Objective: Increase franchisee efficiency. **KRs:** - Have a productivity ratio of over 80% (hours clocked/hours available). - Decrease parts supplier costs by 10%. - Reduce marketing costs by 20%. - Reduce staff costs by 15%. **Initiatives:** - Hire junior technicians at a lower rate to pick parts so senior technicians save time. - Reorganize the shop to improve technician workflow. - Review productivity ratio on monthly FranConnect scorecard. - Review marketing spending by lead source and eliminate ones with high Cost Per Lead (CPL). ##### Objective: Delight customers. **KRs:** - Reduce cycle time by 10% (measured through Point of Sale from drop-off to delivery). - Have a Customer Satisfaction (CSAT) score of 75%. - Have 50% of customers come back for repeat business within one year. - Have Employee Satisfaction Score of 60% (happy employees lead to happy customers). **Initiatives:** - Have two “Family Days” with staff per year (summer and holidays) - Eliminate the vendors with the slowest parts delivery record. - Send text reminders for service. - Conduct a self-audit Hopefully these sample objectives and key results have helped you out. Do you want to take it a step further? Learn more about strategy and automotive franchises by checking out the following: About [Objectives and Key Results in Franchising](https://www.franconnect.com/objectives-and-key-results-okr-in-franchising/) How to be a [Collaborative Franchise Business Coach (FBC)](https://www.franconnect.com/how-to-be-a-collaborative-franchise-coach/) [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Franchising Best Practices **Tags:** Franchise Development, Franchise Marketing, Franchise Operations --- ### [Questions to Ask During an Interview Between a Franchisor and a Franchisee](https://www.franconnect.com/franchise-interview-questions/) **Published:** February 27, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Content:** Relationships are crucial to starting any successful franchise. During the initial interview with a franchisee, you want to learn about their business approach. After all, this person will be your partner for the foreseeable future. Like a traditional job interview, this discussion should be a two-way street. The franchisor and franchisee should evaluate each other to determine if they would be a good fit. To help you make this decision, we’ve compiled some hard-hitting franchise interview questions and answers. ## Questions a Franchisor Should Ask a Franchisee First, here are questions for a franchisor to ask a franchisee. Your job as a franchisor is to determine whether this person will likely succeed in operating a unit for your franchise. While the criteria will look different for everyone, these questions can help you zero in. ### 1. Why Does This Type of Franchise Interest You? When someone wants to be a franchisee, they often have multiple franchisors in mind. This question can reveal their passion for a specific industry or brand. Maybe they’ve eaten at your restaurant since childhood or see a potential unmet demand for your services. Excitement and genuine interest often rub off on other people and can help the franchisee network, hire passionate employees, and represent the brand well. ### 2. Where Do You Plan on Opening This Franchise? Depending on how your franchise handles location planning, your franchisee may already have a spot in mind — bonus points if it’s in their hometown. A franchisee can lean on existing connections and possibly even a local reputation by opening a location in their community. If they’ve already found a location, they’ve simplified part of your job so you can [maximize sales with a unit](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/sales/) that hits the ground running. ### 3. Have You Ever Served in a Leadership or Management Position? While franchise experience isn’t always necessary, some leadership or management skills will help. The franchisee will have many employees reporting to them, even if they hire a manager to handle day-to-day operations. Understanding this responsibility and the unique dynamics of management is crucial. ### 4. Do You Have Experience in the Industry This Franchise Falls Into? Part of the appeal of a franchise is that the franchisee doesn’t need to build from the ground up. They benefit from the existing brand and any training or support you can offer. Still, you will want to know if they have experience that will help them in the role, like work in the industry, a business degree, or employment at a similar business. ### 5. Have You Ever Been a Franchisee Before? If So, for What Franchise? Some franchisees have previously owned a franchise unit, so it’s worth asking about. They may be familiar with the structure and primed to dive in. If the franchisee had an unsuccessful experience with a franchise, ask about what they learned. Failure is often the best teacher, so don’t count them out. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)### 6. What Makes You a Good Fit for This Franchise? Like most jobs, your franchisee needs to be a good fit with your franchise’s values and beliefs. Someone who embodies your franchise brand can help you succeed. If they align with the company, you will likely [find a better working relationship](https://www.franconnect.com/the-power-of-effective-communication-between-franchisors-and-franchisees/), too. ![Helpful features of franchise management software](https://www.franconnect.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/02-Here-are-some-helpful.png "02-Here-are-some-helpful - FranConnect") ## Questions a Franchisee Should Ask a Franchisor If you’re on the other side of the table and looking for questions to ask when franchising, you’ll also need to ensure the franchisor is a good fit. You’ll invest a lot in this partnership, so make sure it’s mutually beneficial and aligns with your goals. Here are some examples of what to ask when buying a franchise. ### 1. What Are Your Royalties and Fees? This first question to ask a franchisor before buying will significantly affect your finances. Franchises can have [wildly different royalty and fee structures](https://www.ifpg.org/buying-a-franchise/what-are-franchise-royalty-fees), so make sure you understand your ongoing and startup costs. Royalties are typically a percentage of your revenue, while initial franchise fees cover startup costs like licensing and support staff. Ask about other ongoing fees, such as tech support or marketing. ### 2. What Type of Technology or Software Do You Use? The technology behind a franchise can significantly impact your day-to-day operations. From point-of-sale systems to accounting software, ask about what you can expect. One of the most impactful programs for the franchisee is the franchise management system. This platform determines how you interact with the franchisor and manage your unit. Here are some helpful features of franchise management software. - [Reporting tools](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/performance/) to help you meet your goals - Communication with franchisors - Employee training resources - Guidance for the franchise’s brand, values, marketing, etc. - Payment processing and calculations for royalties and fees If your franchisor doesn’t have a franchise management platform yet, FranConnect has various features to help you and your franchisor succeed. ### 3. What Goes Into the Location Selection Process? Some franchisors already have locations selected or retain the right of final approval. Others are a little more relaxed. Talk to your potential franchisor about their approach. You may be able to choose your location or get help from to find one. Another valuable topic to discuss is [how the franchise manages territories](https://franchisebusinessreview.com/post/choosing-a-franchise-location/). If you open a location and the franchisor allows someone else to open another right down the road, the second location could threaten your success. Many franchisors offer exclusive territories to protect you from these situations. ### 4. Do You Offer Ongoing Support and Training? One question to ask a franchisor before buying is what kind of support you can expect. Some franchises are more hands-on than others. If you’re new to franchising, a supportive franchisor might be preferable to one that gives you more freedom. Consider areas like training, marketing, and tech support. Look for a franchisor who offers assistance that aligns with your comfort level. ### 5. Can You Give an Estimate to the Total Investment Needed to Open a Franchise? We already mentioned initial franchise fees, which are only part of the startup costs. Other expenses might include: - Real estate purchases or renovations - Professional services, such as lawyers and contractors - Equipment, furniture, and supplies for general operations - Insurance, including workers’ compensation, property and auto insurance Ask the franchisor for a ballpark estimate of what you can expect. ## Use FranConnect to Manage Your Franchise [![](https://www.franconnect.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/03-Use-FranConnect-to-Manage.jpg "03-Use-FranConnect-to-Manage - FranConnect")](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) Whether you’re a franchisor or a potential franchisee, the right technology can significantly affect your experience. FranConnect offers various franchise management tools, from training resources to payment processing and reporting. [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/)Before you dive into your next partnership, consider how FranConnect can set you up for success. [Request a demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) to see it in action or [call us toll-free at 844-336-1017](tel:+18443361017) for more information. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Develop, Expand Locations **Tags:** Analytics, Franchise Development --- ### [Use Social Media to Reach Potential Franchisees](https://www.franconnect.com/social-media-marketing-for-franchises/) **Published:** January 15, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Content:** It may have started as a fun way to pass the time, but today’s social media environment provides one of the best forms of advertisement for modern businesses. It reaches users of all kinds, including potential franchisees. Social media offers several advantages if you want to convince people to become franchisees for your organization. It’s affordable, easy to use, and full of resources. Still, you’ll need to know how to use it effectively. Each platform excels in different areas, and social media advertising differs from posting, though both have their place. If used correctly, social media can drastically improve your ability to reach and attract more franchisees. ![5 most popular social media platforms for franchisors](https://www.franconnect.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/02-Popular-Social-Media-Platforms-for-Franchisors-min.png "02-Popular-Social-Media-Platforms-for-Franchisors-min - FranConnect") ## Popular Social Media Platforms for Franchisors Before we discuss using social media for franchise advertising, let’s review the major platforms and their differences. Understanding your options can help you choose the best ones for your audience. Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and TikTok are some of the most common platforms, each offering unique features and user demographics. Understanding these specialties can help you create more targeted content and maximize your platform reach. ### 1. Facebook Facebook was one of the first social media websites to take the world by storm. As of January 2023, it had [almost three billion monthly active users](https://www.statista.com/topics/751/facebook/#topicOverview). It’s infamous all over the planet, especially in places like India, the United States, Indonesia, and Brazil. Although Facebook is still largely populated by younger crowds—primarily in the 25-34 age range—it appeals to all age groups. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)Popular ad formats on Facebook include photos and videos in the user’s feed and stories that take up the whole screen, showing up between user-generated stories. Posts are also highly versatile, as you can share photos, videos, links, slideshows, and much more when using Facebook for franchises. ### 2. Twitter Twitter is another social media behemoth focusing on short, text-based updates. According to one estimate, [7.4% of all eligible people](https://datareportal.com/essential-twitter-stats) worldwide use Twitter. That number includes people over 13 who do not live in China, where the platform is blocked. Advertisers can potentially reach 372.9 million users. Posts on Twitter, called Tweets, can include text, photos, videos, links, and hashtags, which are used to tag a post as being related to a specific topic. For example, a basketball game might have hashtags with the team names. Twitter has a significant focus on news, often issued directly from journalists and organizations. Using Twitter for franchise advertising can be a great way to connect with specific communities. ### 3. LinkedIn LinkedIn is a career-focused platform designed for networking with other professionals in your field. As of April 2023, marketers could see a [potential reach of 922.3 million users](https://datareportal.com/essential-linkedin-stats) on LinkedIn ads. This platform has a relatively even distribution of women and men, with most users in the 25-34 age bracket. The 18-24 and 35-54 age brackets have about a fifth of LinkedIn’s users. Unlike most other platforms, LinkedIn is almost solely dedicated to building careers, so your audience is likely already in the mindset of pursuing new business opportunities. You can create regular posts, place ads on the user’s feeds, put sponsored messages in a user’s inbox, or incorporate ads on the side of the page. One unique way to [promote your franchise on LinkedIn](https://www.franconnect.com/linkedin-for-franchisors/) is with thought leadership. By publishing articles that show off your expertise, you can position yourself as a trusted partner and get your name out there. ### 4. Instagram Instagram is an image- and video-based platform owned by the same company as Facebook. It has over [two billion monthly active users](https://www.statista.com/topics/1882/instagram/#topicOverview), 60% of whom are 18-34 years old. Many users post personal updates, and influencers are popular on Instagram, promoting products through their content. Companies might post photos of their products, graphics to promote deals, or videos highlighting their process or team culture. When using Instagram for franchises, you can make standard posts, which include photos, videos, and carousels with multiple images or videos. As with Facebook, you can place Instagram ads in the user’s feed or between stories, which are full-screen videos or photos, only visible for 24 hours. Reels are similar but stay up forever, like a regular post. You might find Instagram a good match if you have a franchise focused on aesthetics, such as a photography studio or a wellness workshop. As a platform driven by visuals, its users often appreciate high-quality stylistic content. Still, it’s used by many people for different purposes, and its demographic tools can help you find the right audience. ### 5. TikTok Like all of the apps on our list, TikTok is hugely popular. In 2023, it [had 113.2 million users](https://www.statista.com/topics/6077/tiktok/#topicOverview) in the United States alone. It focuses on short-form videos, often accompanied by music. You’ll see skits, dances, educational content, clips from larger pieces of content, storytelling, and many other types of content. One aspect that makes TikTok stand out is its young user base. As of September 2022, most content creators were 18-24 years old, contributing to TikTok’s popularity among Generation Z and Millennials. Keep this audience in mind when using TikTok for franchise ads. Videos tend to be more lighthearted, so this platform could be a great way to promote a fun franchise like a toy store, donut shop, or cafe. ## How Franchisors Can Leverage Social Media Social media offers a lot more than just an advertising space. It’s a place to engage with your audience — in this case, people who could open a franchise. It can also help you develop your brand image. First, it’s important to note the difference between paid advertisements and posting content: - **Standard posts:** When you have an account on these social media platforms, you can post content like anyone else. Depending on the platform and your following, this content might get significant reach, but it might not. You could post organizational news, link to articles on your company blog, or highlight an outstanding franchisee. These posts are free to make, but increasing reach might call for tactics like using hashtags or having users share your post. - **Advertisements:** The other option is to use advertisements. Ads often look similar to regular posts because they’re designed to look cohesive to the user. The difference is that you pay for these posts to get pushed to specific audiences, and you may have access to particular formats. Many platforms also give you comprehensive analytics with advertisements to help you learn more about your strategies. ![Boosting posts make them function like an ad](https://www.franconnect.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/03-Using-Ads-on-Social-Media-min.png "03-Using-Ads-on-Social-Media-min - FranConnect") ### Using Ads on Social Media Some platforms, like Facebook and Instagram, let you promote or “boost” a standard post, making it function more like an ad. It will appear on users’ feeds but still looks like a regular post, sometimes with text marking it as boosted content. Most businesses do best with a healthy mix of organic posts and paid advertisements. Your ads help you reach more people, while posts develop your brand image and help you engage with customers. Ads can also help you differentiate your content for potential franchisees from content for customers. If you don’t want to fill your company’s profile with posts about opening a franchise, you could put this messaging in ads, which will only show up to the specified audience. Using ads involves more than making regular posts because you’ll need to choose who to target and how you’ll pay for the ads. Most platforms guide you through the process. For example, the Facebook Ads Manager asks you to choose an objective, such as brand awareness, engagement, or conversions, so that it can make suggestions accordingly. Next, configure your target audience. It might take some trial and error, but you have many options. Analyze the demographics of your existing franchisees, looking at factors like age, gender, income, and hobbies. Targeting similar people can help you focus on the most qualified prospects. Pricing varies between platforms, but you’ll typically set your budget and the timeframe for which you want to run the ad. The platform will keep delivering your ad to customers until it meets the budget. You can choose from many different pricing structures. It’s worth [learning more about your options](https://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2022/07/18/social-media-advertising) if you plan to invest heavily in social media advertising. With these different posts defined, let’s look at some of the ways you can use social media for franchises. ![A phone screen with several social media apps on it](https://www.franconnect.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/04-Social-Media-Leads-min.png "04-Social-Media-Leads-min - FranConnect") ## Social Media Leads A great way to use franchise social media marketing is to generate leads. As you reach more people with posts and ads, you can facilitate deeper connections and urge people to take action. You might end a post by telling people to message you directly, or you could push an ad that links to a webpage with more information on opening a franchise location. [Ensure Brand Consistency](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/brand-consistency/)Social media’s expansive reach and diverse formats are ideal for generating leads, especially with granular audience targeting capabilities, which you can use to find more potential customers who wouldn’t otherwise see your brand. Generating leads relies on collecting information. In other types of advertising, users might have to go through many steps to give you their information, like finding your website and filling out a form. Social media makes it much easier for them to connect with you. Your posts appear on their feeds, and their details are ready to share from their profiles. Between comments on posts, direct messages, phone numbers, and links to your website, social media lets users reach you in many ways. Social media also helps you make the most of your leads through nurturing and conversion. It can nurture leads by helping you build relationships with them and support conversion with relevant, natural prompts. Use your calls to action to spur people along in the sales journey. With so many ways to use social media, keeping track of leads can get complex. Use a franchise management platform with resources to manage your social media interactions. Good management is essential for following through with all of your leads and effectively guiding them through the sales funnel. ## Tracking Performance and ROI Most social media platforms offer analytics tools to help you understand your performance and maximize the return on investment (ROI) of your ad spending. Like other analytics platforms, these tools collect data on how users interact with your posts — whether organic posts or paid ads — and generate metrics you can track. You can use these metrics to assess your progress toward specific goals. For instance, if you use social media to increase engagement, you could monitor the number of views your posts typically get. You might also track conversion rates to attract potential franchisees based on how often users contact you after seeing an ad. Metrics can ultimately tell you if your tactics are working. If not, they might point you in the right direction. Some of the areas in which you can benefit from social media marketing for franchises include: - **ROI:** If you spend time on social media, paid or not, you want to know that it works. Metrics can accomplish this task. They can help you show the efficacy of your social media activity to stakeholders by displaying exactly how many people your ads and posts reach. - **Decision-making:** Metrics can provide insights into your content’s performance, allowing you to change strategies if necessary. They point you in the right direction and guide you toward better results. - **Social listening:** A more qualitative way to assess social media activity is to track common topics being discussed. Pay attention to the conversation. The insights might help you improve your offerings or learn more about your audience. For example, you might know that many franchisees are confused about how opening a store works. Making [content that explains the process](https://blog.franconnect.com/franconnect-franchise-library-2020/franchise-candidate-experience) could help push them toward franchising and boost conversions. While social media platforms offer insights into your performance on that platform, they don’t show you the bigger picture. Plus, navigating to the individual platforms can be time-consuming and cumbersome. A [franchise social media management system](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/expand-faster/) can pull data from all your social media platforms, providing a comprehensive picture that lets you drill down into specific platforms and demographics. FranConnect, for instance, can integrate data from all major social media platforms to help you plan your outreach and engage more potential franchisees. [![Demo FranConnect's management software](https://www.franconnect.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/05-Demo-Our-Franchise-Management-Software-min.png "05-Demo-Our-Franchise-Management-Software-min - FranConnect")](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) ## Demo Our Franchise Management Software Finding potential franchisees can be difficult, but social media offers the ideal environment for reaching new people. With granular targeting capabilities and various format options, social media can help you generate high-quality leads and grow your franchise. Managing multiple platforms and types of advertising is a great way to cover your bases, but you need the right resources for tracking performance and nurturing leads across platforms. FranConnect is a comprehensive franchise management system with many social media tools to help collect metrics, identify your target audience, track leads, and more. Integrate your franchise’s social media platforms to see the whole picture and meet your goals. [Request your demo today](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) to see FranConnect in action and learn more about how it can help you tackle social media management. [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Develop, Franchising Best Practices, Open Locations Faster **Tags:** Franchise Best Practices --- ### [Utilizing Google Business Profiles to Grow Your Franchise's Online Presence](https://www.franconnect.com/google-business-profiles-for-franchises/) **Published:** February 12, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Most of us are past the point of thinking, "What would we do without the internet?" It's transcended novelty to become, simply, a normal part of life. As a franchisor, you understand the necessity of harnessing the power of online marketing for your units. One way of doing this is setting up a Google Business Profile for each. **Content:** Most of us are past the point of thinking, “What would we do without the internet?” It’s transcended novelty to become, simply, a normal part of life. As a franchisor, you understand the necessity of harnessing the power of online marketing for your units. One way of doing this is setting up a Google Business Profile for each. With Google Business Profiles (GBP), potential customers can absorb everything they need to know about a business without a single click after the initial Google search. Explore Google Business Profile features and how to list your franchise locations on Google. ## What Is a Google Business Profile? A Google Business Profile appears on the right side of your computer screen when you Google a business. On a mobile device, it will appear near the top or at the top of the search engine results page (SERP). GBPs reveal vital information about a business, such as: - Location - Hours of operation - Phone number - Website - Service area Creating Google Business Profiles is essential for improving local search engine optimization (SEO), which helps local businesses rank higher in SERPs. Each of your franchise units should have its own Google Business Profile. When customers search for your business, they’ll find a location nearest them. For example, a person on a work trip might Google their favorite [hometown chain restaurant](https://www.franconnect.com/15-important-restaurant-kpis/) to find a dinner spot. Helping your customers find locations near them that serve their needs can boost leads and sales for your franchise units. ## How Google Business Profiles Can Benefit Franchises Google Business Profiles are beneficial for businesses in any industry. Take these examples: - **Gyms:** Those who belong to a gym with multiple locations may need to find somewhere to work out when they’re out of town for a work trip or headed to college. Additionally, prospective members can [Google local gyms](https://www.franconnect.com/9-important-kpis-for-health-and-fitness/) to find the closest one to them before signing up. - **Salons:** Before making an appointment, people may Google a salon to see their hours and service areas. - **Restaurants:** From a GBP, restaurant attendees can call for reservations, scan reviews and look at photos of dishes. - **Stores:** People needing groceries or a new sweater in a pinch can find an open shop near them with one Google search. Take a look at some of the features of Google Business Profiles that can benefit franchises. ![Features of Google Business Profiles that franchises can benefit from](https://www.franconnect.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/02-Take-a-look-at-some.png "02-Take-a-look-at-some - FranConnect") ### Call Directly From the Listing Google Business Profiles often have two places viewers can click to call — a button directly below the franchise name and a clickable phone number further down in the listing. Whether people have a question about a prescription, an appointment, holiday hours or specific services, all they have to do is Google the business name to find a phone number. ### Request Directions to the Franchise Location Clicking the “Directions” button under the franchise’s location leads viewers to Google Maps, where they can get directions to a business. This feature is especially convenient for travelers, people who have recently moved or those of us who aren’t great with directions. [Ensure Brand Consistency](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/brand-consistency/)### Click to View the Franchise Website Another button is the “Website” link, which leads directly to the company website. Easy access to a business website allows users to explore products, services, sales and company information when they don’t know a URL by heart. ### Leave Customer Reviews Reviews are one of the most valuable components of a Google Business Profile. Google displays an average star rating near the top of the listing, and farther down, individuals can [browse these reviews](https://www.franconnect.com/customers/testimonials/), as well as company responses to them. People can also write reviews, which makes interacting with a brand easy. ## How to Create a Google Business Profile for Your Franchise You can [create a Google Business Profile](https://support.google.com/business/answer/2911778?hl=en) via Google Maps. After signing into Google Maps, choose between these options: - Use the search bar to search your company address and click “Add your business” on the left of the Business Profile. - Click “Add your business” after right-clicking anywhere on the map. - Click the menu in the top left of the screen, and click “Add your business.” As mentioned, you’ll want to create a Google Business Profile for each one of your franchise locations. Make sure to enter the company name exactly the same for each GBP — you should not change the business name unless your company’s real-world names vary based on location. The business category should also be the same for each franchise unit. To [edit your business profile](https://support.google.com/business/answer/3039617?hl=en#zippy=%2Cedit-your-own-business-profile) on Google, [search for it on Google Search](https://support.google.com/business/answer/145585#number_1) or Google Maps and click “Edit profile.” From here, you can update your hours, change your phone number, or [add or remove photos](https://support.google.com/business/answer/6103862) from your Google Business Profile. ### How to Add Users to a Google Business Profile You may not have time to manage every GBP yourself — and that’s OK! You can designate people to manage specific profiles. The owner creates the account and can invite other users to become owners and managers, the difference being that only owners can add or remove users. To [add users to your Google Business Profile](https://support.google.com/business/answer/3403100?hl=en): 1. Click “Menu” on your Business Profile. 2. Click the symbol for adding users in the top left. 3. Enter a name or email address. 4. Choose “Owner” or “Manager” under “Access.” 5. Click “Invite.” ### How to Add Social Media Links to Your Google Business Profile Social media is a fantastic place for users to learn more about your franchise units. In some regions, you may be able to [add your social media links](https://support.google.com/business/answer/13580646?sjid=6430673380980852793-NA) like your [LinkedIn profile](https://www.franconnect.com/linkedin-for-franchisors/) to your Google Business Profile: 1. Click “Edit profile” on your Google Business Profile. 2. Navigate to “Business information” and then “Contact.” 3. Click “Social profiles.” 4. Click the down arrow for a drop-down menu of possible social media links. 5. Select the profiles you’d like to add, and add the link to your profile. 6. Click save. ## How to Optimize Your Google Business Profile Once you’ve created your GBP, the next step is to optimize it. Start with these tips: - **Ensure everything is accurate:** Inaccurate information may result in franchise units not showing up in SERPs or customers showing up to a business when it’s closed. Ensure all information is accurate for the best online experience. - **Add images:** Photos give people a glimpse into a company’s interior or confirm a business location is where they think it is. Photos can also show menu items and products. - **Ask for reviews:** Honest reviews can tell you what one franchise is doing well and where others can improve. Make sure to have your GBP managers respond to all reviews — not just the positive ones. - **Link to social media profiles:** When prospective customers want to learn more about a business, there’s no better way than through a Facebook or LinkedIn page. - **Utilize the post feature:** Posts allow businesses to update customers about information like sales, changes in hours or updated phone numbers. ## Boost Your Franchise Sales Performance With FranConnect’s Software As a franchisor, your goal is to see growth in all of your franchise units. To help this overwhelming job become a reality, many franchisors turn to FranConnect. [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/)FranConnect is the leading franchise management software that helps businesses drive growth and improve operational performance. [Request a demo from FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) or call [833-438-7523](tel:+18334387523) to connect with one of our franchising experts and see how FranConnect helps companies grow 44% faster on average than the broader franchising market. [![Request a demo of FranConnect's tool suite](https://www.franconnect.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/03-FranConnect-is-the-leading.jpg "03-FranConnect-is-the-leading - FranConnect")](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Franchising Best Practices **Tags:** Franchise Best Practices --- ### [Franchise Territory Mapping: Everything You Need to Know](https://www.franconnect.com/franchise-territory-mapping/) **Published:** March 17, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Content:** If you’re building a franchise, choose your locations carefully, as they can significantly affect your future success. Territory mapping helps franchisors determine where to place units to maximize profitability and reach. It’s a tricky process that depends on many variables, from customer demographics to the landscape of a city. Understanding territory mapping is crucial for any franchisor. Here’s everything you need to know about franchise territory agreements, technologies, and mapping strategies. ## The Basics of Franchise Territory Mapping Virtually every franchise uses some form of territory mapping to allocate regions to franchisees. If a restaurant owner wants to franchise their business, they likely won’t open a new shop just down the block. They know that this placement wouldn’t help them reach new customers, and it would likely pull customers from the original restaurant. Instead, they will open another shop in another part of town. This example displays the basic ideas behind franchise territory mapping and its complexity. Suppose the franchisor decides to add more units. In that case, they might encroach on one of the existing territories or need to expand to all-new areas. As businesses grow, so does territory mapping, which must consider many diverse factors. ### What Is Franchise Territory Mapping? Franchise territory mapping is the process of dividing regions into territories for franchisees, which can go by names like operating territories and exclusive areas. The franchisor grants the franchisee [exclusive or non-exclusive rights](https://www.franchise101.net/understanding-exclusive-territory) to operate in the territory: - **Exclusive:** If your franchise has exclusive territory rights, you agree not to set up another unit in the area that would compete with the other franchisee’s business. - **Non-exclusive:** Non-exclusive territories do not offer these protections. The franchisor can establish their locations or allow other franchisees to establish shops. - **Hybrid:** Some franchisors use a hybrid approach. You could offer exclusive rights for a few years or have an exclusive territory for one product but not another. Although more complex, this option can help balance unique needs. A franchise can also have overlapping territories, in which multiple franchisees operate in the same space. In these situations, the franchisees often target different markets. For example, an apartment leasing company might have a branch dedicated to student housing near a college campus, even though it sits within a larger territory. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)### Why Is Territory Mapping Important in Franchising? The franchise territory model serves a few different purposes, such as: - **Preventing cannibalization:** Market cannibalization occurs when a new franchise unit [causes another unit to lose sales](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/marketcannibilization.asp). Essentially, the new location takes customers from the old one. While the aggregate sales might look similar, the overhead costs increase, and unhappy franchisees are making less than they once were. Mapping franchise territories helps prevent cannibalization by outlining clear boundaries between units. - **Keeping territory distribution fair and profitable:** Franchise territory maps often involve research on buyers within a region. By understanding and splitting up your customer base across different franchisees, you can better ensure an equitable division that helps everyone increase revenue. - **Avoiding white space:** White space refers to the areas that aren’t well-covered, such as gaps between locations. Mapping franchise territories allows you to identify white spaces and prevent or fill them. - **Maintaining positive franchisee relationships:** Franchisees are understandably frustrated when another franchisee encroaches on their territory. Territory mapping helps prevent this situation and allows you to communicate your policies easily with existing and potential franchisees. When your territory agreements are clear through robust mapping, franchisees know exactly what they’ve signed up for and what to expect. ![Reasons why territory mapping is important](https://www.franconnect.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/why-is-territory-mapping-important.png "why-is-territory-mapping-important - FranConnect") ## The Importance of Franchise Territory Mapping for Business Growth While territory mapping is necessary for any franchise, it’s essential for growing businesses. Growth entails new locations and franchise territory mapping ensures each new unit is placed in a profitable spot and selected according to relevant data. ### How Franchise Mapping Contributes to Growth Franchise mapping is a critical foundation for a growing franchise. It allows you to identify the most profitable opportunities and attract more franchisees. Mapping itself can help you reach customers more effectively, but it’s also a great marketing tool for attracting franchisees. Territory mapping can give a franchise candidate more information on their potential customer base and profits by basing their territories on the characteristics of other successful franchise units. This offers reassurance and supports marketing efforts to potential customers. A map visualization also helps communicate boundaries. Franchises with exclusive territory are particularly enticing for candidates because they offer protection. Your agreement to keep other units out of their territory gives the franchisee peace of mind, knowing that you won’t hurt their sales. When used appropriately, franchise territory maps can drastically transform your approach to business expansion, arming you with the correct information. ### Franchise Territory Mapping and Franchisor Sales If your goal is to increase sales, franchise territory mapping can also help. By avoiding cannibalization and gaps in coverage, mapping can help you reach every customer while leaving ample space for franchisees to work. This approach uses data to drive decisions. Population data is valuable for any business owner, and territory mapping is ideal for reaching different populations. Defining franchise territories can reveal customer demands and opportunities even within one region. One valuable benefit of territory mapping is enabling cooperation among your franchisees. Let’s say you identify different customer bases surrounding two locations of your financial advisory business. Location A is surrounded by young professionals, and Location B is surrounded by older adults. Your franchisees can target their services for these customers and lean on each other’s resources. If Location A has a problem with retirement accounts, the team can call Location B for support and vice versa. They could also share resources during busy periods. Your territory map can help you make decisions to maximize sales opportunities, improve the franchise’s overall reputation, and bolster relationships between franchisees. ![Population data is important for territory mapping](https://www.franconnect.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/franchise-territory-mapping.png "franchise-territory-mapping - FranConnect") ## Common Mistakes in Franchise Territory Mapping and How to Avoid Them Building a territory map is often complex, and many franchisors make similar mistakes. Some problems to watch out for include: - **Cannibalizing customers:** Cannibalization is a quick way to anger franchisees and reduce revenue, so avoid overlapping territories or placing units too close together. - **Not considering buyer characteristics:** Consider your customers’ demographics when choosing a location. - **Not communicating policies to franchisees:** Transparency is the best policy, so communicate your approach to franchise territory mapping upfront. - **Keeping your scope too narrow:** Avoid tunneling on one aspect of the location, like traffic or nearby competition, while ignoring others. ## Strategies to Avoid Mistakes in Franchise Territory Mapping There are many different approaches to franchise territory mapping. Here are some tips and techniques to get started. ### 1. Choose the Dividing Lines Carefully Territory maps can have boundaries based on many factors, such as census tracts, zip codes, or more prominent features like rivers and roads. Consider these aspects carefully and draw your boundaries so each territory has the necessary number and types of customers. For example, sticking to easily referenced borders like highways works well — unless it creates wildly diverse customer bases that would be hard to manage. ### 2. Consider Using Designated Market Areas Designated Market Areas (DMAs) [represent a geographic area](https://www.nielsen.com/dma-regions/) that shares a media market, such as radio and TV ads. Ads are often purchased for an entire DMA and shared among those audiences. Marketing a new franchise is easier if you piggyback off established efforts from an existing franchise within the same DMA. You could also use DMAs to create your territory borders. ### 3. Determine Methods of Reaching Customers The nature of your business affects territory size. For instance, a fast food chain stays put and needs to attract people within a certain distance. A service-based business such as a plumbing company may go further to reach customers. Consider how these behaviors will affect the necessary makeup of your territory. ### 4. Start by Defining Your Ideal Territory Try working backward by figuring out what you want from the perfect territory. Determine its size and the type of customers that live there. Then, identify areas in your region that align with these characteristics. ## Technology’s Role in Franchise Territory Mapping As with many business activities, technology can streamline your franchise territory model and provide valuable tools for visualization and analysis. Territory mapping software can vary widely in complexity. Some support basic visualization, allowing you to plot territories on a digital map. Other software systems, like integrating third-party population data and performing white space analysis, support more advanced capabilities. Whether you take a basic or advanced approach, territory mapping software can be valuable for communicating territory information with franchisees and identifying opportunities only a computer can find. Mapping technology can also help you organize large amounts of information on your region so you can use it effectively. [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/)## Exploring the Legal Aspects of Franchise Territory Mapping One of the reasons establishing a straightforward approach to territory mapping is so important is that not doing so can create legal implications for your franchise. Franchisors must understand the legal requirements associated with outlining territories and determining exclusivity. Work with an attorney with plenty of experience in franchising to help ensure your territory mapping plan complies with relevant laws and regulations. ### Territorial Protection in Franchising Without clear definitions, the meaning of your territory might be up for debate. Franchisors and franchisees may have conflicting strategies for success, and territorial protection helps give franchisees more control over their local market. Still, a protected territory is not the same as an exclusive territory, and the term requires clarity in the franchise disclosure document (FDD). Your FDD must outline the protections you will offer in detail, usually under Item 12, to prevent misunderstandings and potential legal troubles. You must also avoid certain activities that could still be legally problematic, like encroaching on a territory under a different brand name or singling out one territory for encroachment. Many franchisors grant themselves some flexibility while maintaining territorial protection in franchises by carving out exceptions, such as: - Captive markets, like malls, stadiums, and airports. - Online distribution, ensuring the franchisor can sell online to customers in a territory without encroaching. - Private label rights allow the franchisor to sell in the territory using a different brand name or trademark. - Performance contingencies require the franchisee to meet specific goals to keep exclusivity. ### Exclusive Territory Rights An exclusive territory is one in which the franchisee is the only one operating, but exclusive territory rights can entail other caveats. Franchisors should consider these elements and, if needed, include them in the FDD: - **Whether the franchisor can advertise and sell within the territory:** Even if other franchisees can’t operate, franchisors may still want to do business in their territories. - **Whether the franchisee has the right of first refusal on adjacent territories:** If you create a territory next door to an existing franchise, the existing franchisee would have the first opportunity to buy it. - **If the fees and royalties for exclusive territories change,** you could offer exclusivity at a price by charging franchisees higher royalties and fees. ### Can a Franchise Buy Back a Territory? Franchises can often buy back territories according to the stipulations of the original agreement. For example, if you want to expand your franchisor-owned units or terminate an agreement with a franchisee, you could buy back the territory, regardless of whether the franchisee wants to sell. Usually, this will occur at fair market value. ## How to Sell a Franchise Territory Selling a franchise territory differs slightly from selling a unit without a specific location. Choosing a location is sometimes part of the appeal of joining a franchise. However, having a territory already selected also means you’ve already done some legwork. When choosing the location with your territory mapping strategy, you should know the territory’s customer base and understand the overall landscape. Before talking to franchise candidates, build a materials package showing off the [territory’s best selling points](https://www.franconnect.com/unique-selling-points-for-franchisors/). Is it in a high-density area? Do you offer franchise-exclusive rights? Focus on [developing a marketing strategy](https://www.franconnect.com/6-quick-ways-to-grow-your-qualified-leads/) to gather qualified leads. ## The Role of Data in Franchise Territory Mapping Whatever strategies you choose, an effective franchise territory model always depends on high-quality data. Consider a combination of several types of data: - **Franchise data:** FranConnect can help in this area. The platform can store, track, and [analyze data for all units](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/performance/) in your franchise. - **Population data:** You can turn to third-party organizations that collect and maintain information databases for demographic and economic data. Some territory mapping software includes population data. - **Competitor analysis:** Many businesses offer competitor analysis tools and services to help you see what you’re against in certain areas. This information can help you understand the whole picture and avoid gaps when defining franchise territories. While you can map territories without any direction, a data-driven approach is essential for limiting risk and setting you and your franchisees up for success. ## Grow Your Franchise With the Right Franchise Management Resources [![Request a demo of FranConnect's software](https://www.franconnect.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/grow-your-franchise.png "grow-your-franchise - FranConnect")](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) With so many factors affecting territory mapping, you can understand why it deserves so much thought and attention. Effective franchise territory mapping is crucial to business growth, helping you identify profitable locations, reach your customers, and maintain good relationships with franchisees. Now you know what to watch for and how to conduct territory mapping successfully—let FranConnect help with the rest. We aim to arm franchisors and franchisees with the necessary resources to succeed. After building your franchise map with one of the above methods, contact FranConnect for actionable next steps, like selling to franchise candidates and managing your finances. Our [franchise management platform](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/sales/) helps you gather and analyze data, develop your franchise, engage with franchisees, and maximize revenue. [Request a demo today](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) to see FranConnect in action. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Develop, Expand Locations **Tags:** Franchise Best Practices --- ### [What Are the 4 Main Types of Store Layouts?](https://www.franconnect.com/store-layout-types/) **Published:** May 13, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Content:** Store layout design has a huge impact on your customers’ happiness and your business’s success across multiple locations. It’s crucial to tailor retail spaces to the number and sort of products you offer, the space available, and the type of shopping experience you want your stores to give shoppers. Four of the most popular retail store designs are the grid layout, the herringbone layout, the loop or racetrack layout, and the free-flow layout, all of which can provide different benefits for your business. ![The 4 main types of store layouts](https://www.franconnect.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/02-4-Main-Types.png "02-4-Main-Types - FranConnect") ## The Grid Layout The grid layout, also known as the supermarket layout or the straight floor plan, is the most common way retailers lay out their products. The design features a series of parallel aisles. One or more perpendicular aisles intersect the parallel aisles in larger stores, allowing shoppers to switch aisles easily without walking too far. You can organize your products into clear categories and predictable patterns by setting up your stores according to the grid layout. [Explore Retail Solutions](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/retail/)### Who Uses the Grid Retail Store Design? Stores that stock many different products tend to opt for the grid layout because its design makes inventory management easier and more efficient. Grid layouts are also a smart choice if you want to use your ample space best. You’ll see grid layouts in drug stores, supermarkets, convenience stores, hardware stores, office supply stores, and electronics stores. ### Pros of the Grid Layout: - **It’s easy to navigate:** Customers can easily find what they are looking for because of the intuitive and segmented way products are displayed. - **Signs can guide customers:** Businesses can hang signs above each parallel aisle explaining which products customers can find in the aisle. - **Merchandising opportunities are plenty:** Retailers can set up multiple endcap displays and power walls to grab attention and showcase new, featured, or discounted products. **Pro tip:** Add a power wall to your customers’ right at your stores’ entrance. Research suggests [most Americans immediately look to their right](https://online.jwu.edu/blog/6-key-steps-improving-retail-store-layout-power-visual-merchandising/) when they walk into a space. ### Cons of the Grid Layout: - **Flexibility is limited:** A grid layout is rigid and fixed, so new ideas for shopper experiences or promotional displays have to fit within its set of parallel lines. - **It’s the same old, same old:** Because of how common it’s become, shoppers may feel less excited, intrigued, or engaged in stores with a grid layout. - **Grids limit line of sight:** Shoppers can only see products to their immediate left and right, so it’s harder for retailers to divert their attention to specific sections. ## The Herringbone Layout The herringbone layout is similar to the grid layout, but it’s optimized for long, narrow spaces. One central aisle runs down the length of the store, with smaller, shorter aisles branching off on either side, like a cartoon drawing of a fish bone. Shoppers typically pay at the end of this long, central aisle — where the head of the fish would be. ### Who Uses the Herringbone Retail Store Design? Clothing retailers and boutiques often use the herringbone layout with mannequins dotted along the central aisle to showcase featured products. Smaller hardware stores, home decor depots, specialty food markets, and antique shops also frequently choose the herringbone layout. ### Pros of the Herringbone Layout: - **It’s stylish:** The herringbone setup’s association with high-end boutiques and clothing shops gives the space a feeling of modernity and sophistication. - **It facilitates discovery:** As shoppers walk down the center lane, they can see into each aisle and notice each endcap display, encouraging a diversity of purchases. - **Organization and variety work together:** Like the grid layout, the herringbone style lets retailers display a wide range of products in an ordered, easy-to-maintain way in smaller spaces. ### Cons of the Herringbone Layout: - **Traffic jams can happen:** Customers can become clustered around popular sections, leading to a cramped feeling and less opportunity to make sales. - **Security may need a boost:** Stores would benefit from security cameras in the herringbone layout as employees have a limited view of the offshoot aisles from the front. - **It may cost more to set up:** Owners who want their stores laid out in the herringbone style may need to invest more in customizing the space, especially if side aisles are set at an angle. ## The Loop or Racetrack Layout The loop or racetrack layout is an excellent option for store owners who want to control customers’ inventory experience. One oval-shaped aisle loops around a central hub of products, with shoppers “making a lap” of the entire store while they browse. Products line the outer walls of the loop, while you can customize the middle of the circuit according to the journey you want to take your customers on. ### Who Uses the Loop or Racetrack Retail Store Design? Stores that offer a wide range of product types, like department stores and big-box retailers, often use the racetrack layout. The design exposes shoppers to the full spectrum of goods on offer, which is why pop-up shops also use loops to display their goods. This all-in-one shopping experience encourages shoppers to see all your products and buy things they may not have considered in a grid or herringbone layout. ### Pros of the Loop or Racetrack Layout: - **Impulse purchases are more likely:** Shoppers traverse your entire inventory as they browse, giving them more opportunities to pop unplanned purchases in their carts. - **Customers stay in the store longer:** Completing a lap takes time, increasing shoppers’ time in your stores and thus the potential for sales. - **Stores feel spacious:** A broad, meandering aisle encircling a cluster of product displays gives the store a spacious and comfortable feel. ### Cons of the Loop or Racetrack Layout: - **Featured products are a challenge:** The racetrack layout does not include endcaps or structural focal points, so highlighting specific promotions requires innovation and creativity. - **Customers have to travel further:** Shoppers who’ve visited your stores for one or two specific items will have to walk the length of the track to find them, which some may appreciate less than others. - **Shoppers may miss central products:** Customers could neglect to browse the central product hub if it isn’t cleverly and engagingly laid out. ## The Free-Flow Layout Free-flow store layouts are true to their name — they let you decide exactly how you want your shoppers to navigate the space and experience your products. These highly customizable designs can range from large open spaces peppered with plinths and racks to a combination of more rigid layouts like a herringbone-racetrack hybrid. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)### Who Uses the Free-Flow Retail Store Design? High-end fashion retailers, art galleries, specialty or niche retailers, and other concept stores often appreciate the freedom the free-flow design affords them. Tech showrooms also use this highly customizable design to tailor visitors’ experience around featured products. In general, stores with less merchandise tend to lean toward free-flow designs. ### Pros of the Free-Flow Layout: - **It’s personalized for your customer base:** You can lay out your stores to suit your specific clientele, whether they enjoy exploring nooks and crannies or wide open spaces. - **Featuring products is easy:** Free-form layouts are a great backdrop for directing customer attention because you can set up displays however and wherever possible. ### Cons of the Free-Flow Layout: - **Shoppers may need more guidance:** If the space is not laid out logically, shoppers may not know where to find what they want. - **Space could be better optimized:** Free-form store layouts need to cleverly position their products so they don’t waste space for the sake of bespoke design. ## Brick-and-Mortar Stores Trust FranConnect’s Software Businesses with stores in multiple locations need software they can rely on to manage their sales, performance, brand consistency, and other crucial data. [FranConnect helps grow your brand](https://www.franconnect.com/company/about-us/) with innovative technology that optimizes and streamlines multi-location retailers’ most pivotal processes. Contact us to [request a demo from our experts](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) or [start a conversation about elevating your brand](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/) today. [![Brick-and-mortar stores trust FranConnect - Request a demo](https://www.franconnect.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/03-CTA-Brick-and-Mortar-Stores.jpg "03-CTA-Brick-and-Mortar-Stores - FranConnect")](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Franchising Best Practices --- ### [How to Create a Menu for Your Coffee Shop](https://www.franconnect.com/coffee-shop-menu/) **Published:** May 28, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Content:** Running a business is a kind of feedback loop—the happier the patrons, the better the business does. The better the business does, the more opportunities it has to wow customers. When designing a menu for your coffee shop or multi-location coffee shop, the trick is finding that sweet spot where both business and customer thrive equally. ## Design a Coffee Shop Menu You and Your Customers Love While brainstorming coffee shop menu ideas, you want to offer as much variety and intrigue as possible while honoring each shop’s realistic capabilities. There’s more value in doing a few things excellently than doing many things just OK. Let’s explore some of the ways your shops can achieve success through a well-conceived menu. [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/)## Learn How to Create a Coffee Shop Menu With Variety The average American spends [$20 or more on coffee weekly](https://gitnux.org/coffee-shop-industry-statistics/), and their orders vary significantly from person to person. Research has identified [three distinct types of coffee drinkers](https://journal.ipb.ac.id/index.php/jcs/article/view/49696) in today’s market — the general coffee enthusiast who loves their morning pick-me-up, the flavor adventurer who seeks new and exciting taste experiences, and the quality-oriented coffee drinker, dedicated to drinking only the finest brew their area can provide. To please all three customer types, your coffee shop needs variety. ### Hot Drinks to Sell Hot drinks are the main event at cafés and coffee spots, and every outlet is expected to sell a set of beloved staples. These crowd-pleasing hot beverages are crucial to impressing your everyday coffee enthusiast. Items your customers expect to find on your menu include: 1. **Drip coffee:** This is standard black coffee made by slowly running hot water over coffee grounds and filtering it. Some people add cream and sugar to taste, while others prefer black coffee. 2. **Espressos:** Served in 1- to 2-ounce cups, espressos are stronger versions of drip coffee made with fine, dark-roasted coffee grounds and pressurized water. They have a rich, foamy crema on top and are used in several other hot drink orders. 3. **Lattes:** Combine a shot of espresso with some steamed milk, top it with a thin layer of milk foam, and you’ve made a latte. Many popular coffee shops offer hazelnut, vanilla, caramel, or other syrups to flavor the drink. 4. **Teas:** Green or matcha tea, English breakfast, Earl Grey, and herbal teas like chamomile and peppermint are all welcome additions to a standard café menu in America. 5. **Mochas:** Mocha combines the classic latte with chocolate syrup or cocoa powder and sugar to create a decadent grown-up hot cocoa. They are usually topped with whipped cream and chocolate shavings. 6. **Americanos:** Americanos are similar to drip coffees, but they generally have a richer and more intense flavor because they are made with a shot of espresso and hot water combined. This is by no means an exhaustive list. Macchiatos, cappuccinos, chai teas, oolong teas, and flat whites are all popular hot drinks that would be excellent on a coffee shop menu. After you’ve created your budget and decided which market your brand aims to appeal to, you can decide whether to swap out one staple for another to customize the menu for your needs. Just be sure to pick quality coffee grounds to endear your brand to the quality-oriented clientele. ### Cold Drinks to Sell ![Cold drinks to sell at a cafe may include cold brew coffee, iced tea and iced coffee, and freshly squeezed fruit juice.](https://www.franconnect.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/02-Cold-Drinks-to-Sell.jpg "02-Cold-Drinks-to-Sell - FranConnect") People don’t only visit coffee shops when it’s chilly outside, so it’s important to have a variety of cold drinks, too. These often require juicers, blenders, refrigerators, and ice, so consider how these extras will impact your budget, space, and the staff’s preparation time. Some cold drinks that will keep customers coming back include: 1. **Cold brew coffee:** This chilled, caffeinated drink is made by [steeping coffee grounds in water](https://www.britannica.com/topic/coffee/Using-coffee#:~:text=In%20cold%2Dwater%20extraction%2C%20dampened,accompany%20hot%2Dwater%20extraction%20methods.) for up to 12 hours. This creates a refreshing drink with a smooth taste and minimal bitterness. Cold brew works well as a standalone beverage or as a milkshake concentrate. 2. **Iced tea and iced coffee:** [Iced tea and coffee are becoming increasingly popular ](https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/07/business/cold-drinks-coffee-tea-starbucks/index.html)in America, with millennial and Generation Z customers gravitating towards colder caffeinated beverages. These drinks need less preparation time than hot drinks, saving your staff time and giving your customers snappier service. 3. **Freshly squeezed fruit juice:** Nourishing, fresh fruit juice blends intrigue health-conscious customers and flavor adventurers alike. You’ll have to invest in a commercial juicer and buy and store fresh fruit, so carefully consider whether the market you’re targeting would buy freshly squeezed juice over a can of soda. Other frosty options include frappes, smoothies, canned and bottled drinks, homemade lemonade, and more. Your final menu choices depend on your space, the time the staff has to prepare drinks, and what you want your brand to become known for. ### Decaf and Regular Drink Options When possible, provide regular and decaffeinated versions of your hot and cold coffee drinks. You can sell your beverages as relaxing evening treats and morning energy boosters, and customers who drink no caffeine at all still feel included and well-served. You’ll likely earn more profits while endearing your brand to a wider audience. ### Milk Varieties The meaning of the word “milk” has evolved, and it’ll do you good to cover every definition in your coffee shop refrigerator. Popular creamers and milk alternatives besides full-fat cow milk that work well with coffee include: 1. Oat milk 2. Almond milk 3. Soy milk 4. Macadamia milk 5. Skim milk 6. Lactose-free milk Some milk-alternative brands offer a standard product version and a special formulation made specifically for baristas. These varieties create better foam texture and are easier to steam, so investing in the barista versions is a fantastic idea if you’re servicing a location with non-dairy coffee drinkers. Just note whether they’re sweetened or not and let your customers know. ## Offer Specialty Coffee That Wows Customers Specialty coffee is coffee of the highest standard. Your brew can be considered specialty coffee if the beans that went into it scored 80 points or higher on the [Specialty Coffee Association’s grading system](https://sca.coffee/value-assessment). If your brand seeks a premium, high-end reputation that caters to quality-oriented coffee connoisseurs, consider stocking specialty coffee for your staple drinks. [Explore Restaurant Solutions](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/restaurants/)## Create a Seasonal Coffee Shop Menu Cycle While variety is the spice of life, novelty brings intrigue and exclusivity that makes a lasting impression on your customers. As seasons change, so do customer preferences, and therein lies an opportunity to offer them something new, memorable, and exciting. Examples of coffee shop menu items you can offer for each season include: - **Spring:** Offer a fragrant lavender-matcha latte that echoes the blossoms and freshness of new growth while still warming customers up as sweater weather ends. - **Summer:** Watermelon iced tea is a flavorful drink packed with sweetness, primed to cool customers off under the summer sun. - **Fall:** The golden milk latte is a trendy, healthy Indian twist on the ever-popular pumpkin-spiced latte. It sings with flavor and aromatic comfort while brightening customers’ day with a lovely bright gold color. - **Winter:** With the holidays in the air, what better way to warm up than with a luxurious peppermint mocha? Serve it complete with a candy cane to drive the cheery holiday spirit home. ## Present Your Coffee Shop Menu in Style Display your delicious drink ideas on a coffee shop menu board that invites customers in and gets them curious to try something new. You could decorate your chalkboard menu to match the season, theme it according to your brand’s unique aesthetic, or simply make it as legible and beautiful as possible. A menu’s look gives customers a visual taste of what to expect from your coffee shop’s products, so take the opportunity to really sell yourself. ## Coffee Shops Trust FranConnect’s Software [![Coffee shops trust FranConnect's business software](https://www.franconnect.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/03-Coffee-Shops-Trust-FranConnect.jpg "03-Coffee-Shops-Trust-FranConnect - FranConnect")](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/)FranConnect is the gateway to scaling your coffee shop business and growing your brand with multi-location management technology and innovative ideas. We foster growth and efficiency within each unit, paving the way for the whole business to flourish in turn. We’re eager to help your brand expand its success, so [fill out a demo request form](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/), and we’ll get your multi-location coffee shop business on the path to peak performance. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Franchising Best Practices --- ### [2023 Franchise Sales Index: Navigating Growth and Challenges in a Dynamic Market](https://www.franconnect.com/2023-sales-index-growth-challenges/) **Published:** July 31, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Content:** The franchise industry has shown remarkable resilience and adaptability in the face of recent economic challenges. The 2023 Franchise Sales Index, compiled by FranConnect, offers an in-depth analysis of the industry’s performance based on anonymized data from participating FranConnect customers. This comprehensive report provides invaluable benchmarks and year-over-year comparisons across various verticals, making it the most extensive and authoritative data source on franchise sales. ## Market Overview Despite the lingering effects of the pandemic, the franchise industry has continued to grow. According to the International Franchise Association (IFA), the franchise industry reached $826.6 billion in economic output by the end of 2023, a 4.2% increase from 2022. The industry was also projected to add over 257,000 new jobs, bringing the total franchise employment to 8.5 million. ## Key Findings 1. Leads Volume: Most franchise sectors experienced a significant increase in leads compared to the previous period. Commercial & Residential Services saw the highest growth at 60.77%, likely due to the increased demand for home-based services and the rise of remote work. The Automotive sector, however, saw a modest decline of 3.90%, possibly due to the ongoing chip shortage and supply chain disruptions affecting the industry. 2. Deals Volume: The Personal Services sector had the highest growth in closed deals at 54.09%, reflecting the strong consumer demand for health, wellness, and beauty services post-pandemic. Automotive and Retail Products and services experienced significant declines of 55.34% and 41.95%, respectively, possibly due to the challenges mentioned above and the shift in consumer spending habits. 3. Speed to Lead: Brands that contacted leads within 4 hours of inquiry had a higher close rate (74%) compared to the average (58%). This finding underscores the importance of prompt follow-up and efficient lead management in converting prospects into franchisees. 4. Lead Sources: Existing franchise leads, although lower in volume, had the highest conversion rate at 40.9%, indicating that current franchisees are the most valuable source of high-quality, convertible leads. Franchisors should focus on nurturing relationships with existing franchisees and leveraging their networks for referrals. 5. Units: Locations transferred increased by 92.7% to 2,058, while locations terminated rose by 8.3% to 6,823. This trend suggests a dynamic market with franchisees exiting underperforming units and new owners stepping in to revitalize them. ## Vertical-Specific Insights 1. Quick Service Restaurants (QSR): The QSR sector continued to dominate unit openings (25.56%) and transfers (45.68%), reflecting the strong demand for convenient and affordable dining options. However, the sector also accounted for a significant portion of terminations (27.85%), possibly due to increased competition and the challenges of operating in a high-turnover industry. 2. Commercial & Residential Services: This sector saw the highest growth in leads (60.77%) and accounted for the largest share of unit openings (29.47%) and terminations (30.40%). The growth in leads and openings can be attributed to the increased demand for home-based services, while the high termination rate may reflect the challenges of managing a geographically dispersed workforce. 3. Personal Services: The Personal Services sector experienced the highest growth in closed deals (54.09%) and accounted for a significant portion of unit openings (22.35%) and transfers (23.32%). This trend reflects the strong consumer demand for health, wellness, and beauty services post-pandemic and the relatively lower capital requirements for starting a personal services franchise. ## Conclusion The 2023 Franchise Sales Index provides valuable insights into the state of the franchise industry and the factors driving its growth and challenges. By leveraging these insights, franchisors can optimize their sales strategies, improve lead conversion rates, and make data-driven decisions to thrive in an ever-evolving market. As the industry continues to adapt to new consumer preferences and economic realities, franchisors that prioritize innovation, efficiency, and customer-centricity will be best positioned for long-term success. For more information, including the full webinar recording of the report, visit our 2023 Sales Index Report [here.](https://explore.franconnect.com/c/webinar-2024-franchise-sales-index?x=N5XS7W&lb_email=%7B%7Bcontact.email%7D%7D&utm_source=organic&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=sales-index-blog-post&utm_content=od-recording-2024-sales-index&utm_term=2024q3) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Analytics, Develop, Engage, Open Locations Faster **Tags:** Franchise Best Practices --- ### [The Hidden Crisis in Franchise Training: Are Multi-Unit Owners Set Up to Fail?](https://www.franconnect.com/hidden-crisis-in-franchise-training/) **Published:** September 18, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** A silent crisis is unfolding in the dynamic world of franchising, where entrepreneurial dreams intersect with proven business models. It threatens the success of ambitious franchisees and the growth of entire franchise systems. The culprit? There is a startling lack of specialized training for multi-unit franchise owners. **Content:** A silent crisis is unfolding in the dynamic world of franchising, where entrepreneurial dreams intersect with proven business models. It threatens the success of ambitious franchisees and the growth of entire franchise systems. The culprit? There is a startling lack of specialized training for multi-unit franchise owners. Imagine Sarah, a successful single-unit franchisee of a popular fast-food chain. Buoyed by her success, she expanded, acquiring two more units with her franchisor’s blessing. But as her empire grows, so does her sense of being overwhelmed. Managing multiple locations, Sarah quickly realizes, is a whole new ballgame—one for which she feels woefully unprepared. Sarah’s story is far from unique. A recent review of several hundred franchise disclosure documents revealed a disturbing trend: only a tiny fraction of franchisors offer formal training on the nuances of multi-unit ownership. It’s like asking pilots trained for single-engine planes to captain a commercial jet fleet suddenly without additional instruction. The jump from single to multi-unit ownership is like going from checkers to chess… the rules are similar, but the strategy is entirely different. ## **The Multi-Unit Sales Boom: A Double-Edged Sword** Before discussing the essential components of multi-unit ownership training, it’s crucial to address a growing trend in the franchise industry exacerbating this hidden crisis: the boom in multi-unit franchise sales. Franchise brokers, incentivized by commission structures that reward larger deals, have been increasingly pushing the sale of multi-unit packages—often in bundles of three, five, or even ten packs. It’s not hard to see why: brokers stand to earn substantially more from these multi-unit deals compared to single-location sales. The allure of rapid expansion is strong. However, many prospective franchisees don’t realize that managing multiple units requires a different skill set than running a single location. While lucrative for brokers and appealing to ambitious entrepreneurs, this trend could be a recipe for disaster if franchisors don’t have robust training systems. The gap between the skills needed for single-unit and multi-unit ownership is vast, and without proper preparation, new multi-unit franchisees may find themselves overwhelmed and underprepared. Before accepting multi-unit leads, franchisors must ensure their training and development systems are equipped to handle the complexities of multi-unit ownership. Otherwise, they’re setting up their franchisees—and ultimately themselves—for failure. With this context in mind, let’s explore what comprehensive multi-unit franchise training should entail: [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) ### **1. The Art of Strategic Thinking** The first lesson in Multi-Unit Ownership 101 is that you can’t be everywhere at once. Successful multi-unit franchisees learn to work “on” the business rather than “in” it. This means stepping back from day-to-day operations to focus on big-picture strategy. “I had to learn to let go,” confesses Pat, a multi-unit owner of a leading personal services franchise brand that treats families for head lice infestations. “Realizing that my job was to guide the ship, not to staff every station, was a game-changer.” This strategic thinking involves: – Long-term growth planning – Resource allocation across units – Brand consistency and development ### **2. Building a Management Dream Team** With multiple locations to oversee, having a reliable manager at each unit isn’t just helpful—it’s essential. But how do you find, train, and retain these crucial team members? Effective multi-unit training programs teach franchisees the finer points of: – Hiring and developing talented managers – Delegating responsibilities effectively – Building and leading a cohesive management team – Fostering a positive organizational culture across all units “Creating a cohesive culture across multiple units was my biggest challenge,” acknowledges Bill, a multi-unit, multi-branded franchisee who owns several units of a leading QSR restaurant brand and a beauty salon franchise. “Each location had its personality, and bringing them all under one vision took skills I had to learn on the fly.” ### **3. Crunching the Numbers (Without Getting Crunched)** Financial management takes on a new dimension when dealing with multiple units. Multi-unit and multi-brand franchisees need to understand: – Complex budgeting processes for multiple locations – How to allocate resources effectively across units – The potential for and implementation of economies of scale – Advanced financial analysis and forecasting “I wish someone had taught me about the financial intricacies of multi-unit ownership earlier,” Sarah reflects. “It would have saved me a lot of sleepless nights and costly mistakes.” ### **4. Harnessing the Power of Technology** Technology is the multi-unit franchisee’s best friend in today’s digital age. Tech-savvy is no longer optional, from point-of-sale systems that provide real-time data across all locations to analytics tools that help identify trends and opportunities. Training in this area should cover: – Implementing systems for multi-unit oversight – Analyzing and interpreting Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) across multiple locations – Utilizing data to make informed business decisions Enter franchise management software like FranConnect and learning management systems (LMS) like World Manager. These powerful platforms are revolutionizing franchise operations and training, offering a centralized single source of truth, a hub for playbooks, performance tracking, and learning and development activities. “World Manager has been a game-changer for us,” says Collin, a multi-unit owner of a famous QSR franchise brand. “Its gamification features have made training fun and competitive, dramatically improving engagement and knowledge retention among our staff.” Indeed, gamification—applying game-design elements to non-game contexts—is a powerful tool in franchise training. Leaderboards, badges, and point systems tap into employees’ natural desire for competition and achievement, making learning more enjoyable and effective. ### **5. Mastering the Human Element** With a larger workforce comes greater HR responsibilities. Multi-unit franchisees need to be adept at: – Conducting performance reviews across multiple units – Managing conflicts and maintaining morale – Developing and implementing standardized HR policies – Creating and maintaining a consistent culture across all locations ### **6. Becoming a Master Trainer** One often overlooked aspect of multi-unit ownership is the need for franchisees to become effective trainers. This is where “train the trainer” programs come into play. “Learning how to teach others was a pivotal moment in my multi-unit journey,” reflects Mark, owner of several automotive service franchises. “It allowed me to scale my operations while maintaining consistency across all locations efficiently.” Train-the-trainer programs equip multi-unit franchisees with the skills to effectively pass on their knowledge and the franchisor’s systems to their managers and staff. This ensures unit consistency and empowers franchisees to build strong, self-sufficient teams. Many franchisors are now incorporating train-the-trainer modules into their multi-unit training programs, recognizing that effectively training others is a crucial skill for successful multi-unit ownership. ## **The Franchisor’s Responsibility** Given the increasing prevalence of multi-unit deals, franchisors are responsible for ensuring their training programs are up to the task. This means expanding existing single-unit training and developing comprehensive, multi-unit-specific programs that address the unique challenges of managing multiple locations. “Franchisors need to resist the temptation of rapid expansion through multi-unit sales if they can’t support it with equally robust training,” warns Sean Fitzgerald, the President of Tru Blue Home Service Ally. “The long-term costs of franchisee failure and system instability can quickly overshadow the short-term gains from selling multi-unit packages.” Nothing will cause your franchise sales program to stall more than having multi-unit failures.” The message for franchisors considering multi-unit expansion is clear: before you begin accepting multi-unit leads, ensure you have your training and development house in order. This might mean: 1. Developing specific multi-unit training modules 2. Creating mentorship programs pairing new multi-unit owners with experienced ones 3. Investing in advanced learning management systems to facilitate ongoing training 4. Establishing clear benchmarks for multi-unit readiness By taking these steps, franchisors can ensure they’re not just selling multi-unit packages but setting their franchisees up for multi-unit success. ## **The Benefits of Addressing the Training Gap** The advantages of comprehensive multi-unit training are clear: – For franchisees: Smoother operations, faster growth, and higher profits – For franchisors: Stronger system-wide performance and more rapid expansion So why isn’t this training more widespread? Some franchisors argue that multi-unit skills are best learned through experience. Others haven’t recognized the need. However, as the franchise industry continues to evolve, with multi-unit ownership becoming increasingly common, this gap in training is becoming impossible to ignore. ## **The Path Forward** The good news is that change is on the horizon. Forward-thinking franchisors are beginning to implement comprehensive multi-unit training programs. These programs often combine: – Classroom learning – On-site training – Ongoing support and mentorship – Advanced LMS platforms for continuous, engaging training experiences As for Sarah? After some initial struggles, she sought mentorship from experienced multi-unit owners and invested in her education. Today, she’s the proud owner of five thriving locations and is considering expanding further. She’s also become an advocate for comprehensive multi-unit training within her franchise system, pushing for the adoption of advanced learning technologies and train-the-trainer programs. ## **Conclusion** The lesson is clear: success in franchising is about more than following a proven system. It’s about having the right skills and knowledge to scale that system effectively. As the franchise business format continues to grow and evolve, closing the multi-unit training gap isn’t just an opportunity—it’s an imperative. For franchisors, the message is simple: invest in comprehensive multi-unit training now, or risk watching your most ambitious franchisees struggle unnecessarily. This means developing robust training programs and leveraging cutting-edge learning technologies and methodologies to deliver them effectively. And for aspiring multi-unit franchisees? Don’t wait for someone else to prepare you for success. Seek the knowledge and skills you need, embrace new learning technologies, and prepare yourself to become an owner, teacher, and leader. With the proper training and tools, you’ll be well on your way to building your franchise empire. In the end, bridging this hidden gap in franchise training isn’t just about avoiding failure—it’s about unlocking the full potential of the franchise model. In doing so, we can ensure that the next generation of multi-unit franchisees isn’t just surviving and thriving in an increasingly complex and competitive business landscape. [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) — *Written by Guest Writer Keith Gerson, CFE – President & CEO of [Gerson Advisory Services](https://gersonadvisoryservices.com/)* *About the author: Keith Gerson, CFE, is one of the best-known experts in franchising and is well-known for his thought leadership. Keith brings 50 years of franchise experience to Gerson Advisory Services (GAS), offering unparalleled insights and strategic guidance for franchisors. His leadership and visionary approach have shaped successful franchise systems worldwide.* ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Engage, Franchising Best Practices, Retain and Onboard Employees **Tags:** Franchise Operations --- ### [Driving Operational Excellence: The Power of Unified Systems for Corporate-Owned Locations](https://www.franconnect.com/the-power-of-integrated-business-systems/) **Published:** October 14, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** By unifying disparate systems, franchises can streamline their operations, make better-informed decisions, and ultimately unlock new levels of success. **Content:** In today’s fast-moving business landscape, corporate-owned multi-location brands are under constant pressure to operate more efficiently, maintain high standards across all units, and scale with consistency. One of the most effective ways to meet these goals is through **unified business systems**—a strategy that unifies data, streamlines operations, and drives smarter decision-making at every level. ## **The Risks of Disconnected Data** Corporate-owned operations often involve multiple departments, regions, and systems—each generating its own data. Without integration, this leads to: - **Inefficient Processes:** Teams waste time pulling data from different sources, delaying responses, and slowing execution. - **Inconsistent Reporting:** Siloed systems often produce conflicting or outdated information. - **Limited Visibility:** When visibility is fragmented, leadership is left guessing where issues lie—and opportunities for improvement go unnoticed. - **Higher Risk Exposure:** Missed compliance issues and delayed responses can escalate into costly operational failures and reputational damage. [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) ### **Why Unification Matters for Corporate-Owned Businesses** Connecting your systems into a unified operational ecosystem leads to measurable benefits: 1. **Operational Agility:** Integrated workflows reduce manual work, enabling field and HQ teams to focus on high-impact tasks. 1. **Reliable, Real-Time Data:** Unified systems ensure data accuracy across departments and locations—no more working from multiple versions of the truth. 1. **Faster, Smarter Decisions:** Real-time access to performance data allows leaders to pivot quickly and act with confidence. 1. **Scalable Efficiency:** Integrated tools eliminate tech sprawl and reduce IT overhead, creating a leaner, more sustainable tech stack. #### **How Optik IQ Powers Compliance at Scale** **Optik IQ enables:** - **Unified Visibility:** Get a centralized view of compliance, audit results, corrective actions, and frontline execution across all locations. - **Automated Issue Resolution:** Assign and track corrective actions with built-in verification steps—so nothing falls through the cracks. - **Role-Specific Retraining:** Automatically trigger targeted training when repeat violations are detected, reducing risk and improving performance. - **Data-Driven Coaching:** Identify trends, high-risk areas, and coaching opportunities in real time—before small issues become big problems. ##### **Real-World Impact for Corporate Teams** Imagine a corporate-owned QSR brand managing 200+ locations. Without integrated systems, their audit and issue tracking is slow, fragmented, and reactive. By implementing Optik IQ: - Issues are automatically tracked from detection to resolution - Compliance data is available in real time at both the regional and executive level - Repeat violations drop thanks to auto-triggered retraining modules In another example, a corporate-owned retail chain uses Optik IQ to unify store operations, field audits, and incident reporting into a single platform. With everything in one place, they’ve streamlined field support, sped up execution, and boosted compliance scores across the entire organization. **Conclusion: Scaling Smart Starts with Unified Operations** If you’re running a corporate-owned business, having unified operations isn’t just a nice bonus—it’s essential. When teams, tools, and data aren’t connected, things slow down, decisions get delayed, and small issues can quickly turn into bigger problems. With tools like Optik IQ, you can bring all your data together, automate the stuff that slows your team down, and help every part of the business run smoother. As your brand grows, having connected systems isn’t just helpful—it’s what sets you up to scale without the chaos. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Improve Performance, Operate **Tags:** Foundation, Franchise Operations --- ### [Closing the Compliance Loop: Introducing FranConnect's Operational Excellence Platform](https://www.franconnect.com/closing-the-compliance-loop/) **Published:** March 6, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** FranConnect's Operational Excellence Platform steps in— our all-in-one solution helps brands tackle these challenges head-on so executive leadership can focus on streamlining operations and enhancing collaboration to fuel and foster long-term growth.    **Content:** Managing multiple locations comes with unique challenges. From maintaining consistent standards to tackling operations compliance issues and training lapses, running a successful multi-location business requires seamless operations and real-time visibility. That’s where FranConnect’s **Operational Excellence Platform** steps in— our all-in-one solution helps brands tackle these challenges head-on so executive leadership can focus on streamlining operations and enhancing collaboration to fuel and foster long-term growth. ## **Why Operational Excellence Matters** Today, 72% of customers expect a seamless, high-quality experience across all locations. Failure to meet this expectation risks losing customer loyalty and damaging your brand’s reputation. The traditional approach to managing operations and compliance issues—using fragmented tools for audits, training, and reporting—is no longer enough. The FranConnect Operational Excellence Platform “closes the loop” by uniting a quality management solution with audits, employee training, and analytics into one centralized, mobile-friendly solution. This helps brands streamline their processes and foster continuous improvement across all locations. ### **Key Features of the Operational Excellence Platform** **Automated Workflows** Automated workflows streamline auditing and task management by eliminating manual processes and reducing errors. With real-time tracking and monitoring, you can assign corrective actions and ensure no issue is overlooked. Gain instant insights to identify problem areas and address them before they escalate, saving time and maintaining control across all locations. **Mobile-First Onboarding and Training** Make training simple and engaging with bite-sized modules your team can access anytime, anywhere—whether on the go or in the breakroom. Streamline onboarding to quickly get new hires up to speed while maintaining brand standards. Plus, effortlessly track progress and stay on top of compliance certifications so your team is always prepared and aligned. **Advanced Analytics** Get a clear view of your operations with real-time, customizable dashboards that bring all your data together in one place. Spot trends, track key metrics, and make smarter decisions faster using advanced analytics. With AI-powered tools, you can even predict and prevent hiccups before they happen. It’s all about prioritizing your resources and staying ahead effortlessly. **Scalable and Flexible** The platform scales with your brand whether you manage five or five hundred locations. Centralized Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) ensure consistency, and updates are easily accessible to maintain compliance and quality across each location. Simplify operations and keep them running smoothly as you grow. By integrating these powerful features, FranConnect helps reduce fragmented processes, ensuring you can focus on what matters most—your customers and business growth. #### **The Benefits You Can Expect** FranConnect doesn’t just manage compliance and training—it drives business outcomes. With this platform, you can achieve greater efficiency, reduce costs, and maintain brand integrity, regardless of how many locations you manage. Here’s how: - **Consistency Across Locations:** Standardize processes and procedures to deliver the same excellent customer experience, whether in Atlanta or New York. - **Time and Cost Savings:** Automate repetitive tasks to free up resources and reduce costs, allowing teams to focus on higher-value activities. - **Improved Compliance:** Proactively monitor audits and training certifications to ensure you meet local and industry regulations. - **Team Empowerment:** Equip frontline employees and location managers with tools that enhance engagement and decision-making, strengthening workplace confidence and collaboration. By automating processes, integrating training and analytics, and providing real-time insights, you can future proof your operations and build a more resilient brand to thrive against competitors. **Real-World Results to Look Forward To** FranConnect has already delivered measurable success for a range of global brands. For example: - **Blaze Pizza:** Achieved a 10x improvement in compliance across locations through personalized training and operational updates. - **Peco Foods:** Improved operational efficiency with real-time tracking, saving time and boosting quality assurance. **A Game-Changer for Multi-Location Brands** FranConnect’s Operational Excellence Platform redefines how brands approach compliance, training, and analytics. If your goal is to maintain consistent quality, streamline operations, and set your brand apart, this platform is designed for you. Don’t let operational inefficiencies hold you back. Schedule a demo today to discover the potential of FranConnect’s Operational Excellence Platform. Closing the compliance loop is the first step on the path to streamlined operations and business growth. [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Ensure Quality, Improve Performance, Operate, Product Launches --- ### [The Power of Unifying Data Across Disparate Systems to Provide Brand Consistency and Operational Compliance to Optimise Customer Loyalty](https://www.franconnect.com/power-of-unifying-data-across-disparate-systems/) **Published:** March 28, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** In an era where brand loyalty is increasingly fragile, businesses operating across multiple locations must ensure consistency in operations, compliance, and customer experience. Over 80% of Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs) have adopted digital tools, yet many struggle to harness the full potential of the data these tools generate. **Content:** In an era where brand loyalty is increasingly fragile, businesses operating across multiple locations must ensure consistency in operations, compliance, and customer experience. Over 80% of Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs) have adopted digital tools, yet many struggle to harness the full potential of the data these tools generate. A unified data management approach ensures brand consistency, strengthens compliance, and enhances customer loyalty. This white paper explores how unifying data from disparate systems through an integrated platform like FranConnect can drive operational excellence, enhance decision-making, and optimise customer retention. ## **The Challenge: Fragmented Data and Inconsistent Operations** QSR brands and multi-location businesses rely on a variety of digital tools for online ordering, inventory management, workforce scheduling, training, and customer feedback. However, when these tools operate in silos, data remains fragmented, leading to: - Inconsistent brand experience across locations - Compliance and regulatory risks - Poor decision-making due to a lack of real-time insights - Reduced operational efficiency and increased costs - Declining customer satisfaction and loyalty [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) ### **The Solution: A Unified Data Ecosystem** To overcome these challenges, businesses need a centralised, cloud-native platform that integrates disparate data sources and delivers a real-time, holistic view of operations. **Key Benefits of a Unified Data System:** 1. **Brand Consistency Across Locations** 1. - Standardised training and compliance protocols ensure a uniform customer experience. - AI-driven operational analytics detect inconsistencies and provide actionable insights. - Automated task management and playbooks help maintain brand standards. 2. **Enhanced Operational Compliance** 2. - Digitised food safety and quality control checks reduce compliance risks. - Real-time tracking of corrective actions ensures compliance with industry regulations. - Mobile and offline capabilities enable seamless reporting from any location. 3. **Optimised Decision-Making Through AI and Analytics** 3. - AI-powered insights generate predictive analytics for growth forecasting. - Operational benchmarking enables brands to measure performance against industry standards. - Automated insights streamline operational execution, reducing inefficiencies. 4. **Improved Customer Experience and Loyalty** 4. - A consistent brand experience increases customer trust and retention. - Real-time feedback loops help address customer concerns promptly. - Integrated customer engagement tools personalise interactions and drive loyalty. #### **Case Study: The FranConnect Advantage** FranConnect, a leading franchise and multi-location management SaaS platform, serves over 1,500 brands across 146 countries, managing 1.3 million locations. Through its cloud-native platform, FranConnect offers a real-time, data-driven approach to operational consistency, compliance, and customer engagement. By uniting disparate systems, brands gain a single source of truth, ensuring uniform standards across all locations. ##### **Future Trends in Digitalisation and Data Integration** - **Agentic AI for Automated Execution:** AI-driven automation will streamline compliance and operational execution, reducing human error. - **IoT Integration for Real-Time Monitoring:** Unified IoT networks will provide deeper insights into supply chain and operational efficiency. - **AI Video Analytics for Customer Flow Optimization:** AI-powered video analytics will enhance customer experience by optimizing store layouts and service speed. **Conclusion: Unifying Data as a Competitive Advantage** In a highly competitive QSR and multi-location business environment, the ability to unify data across disparate systems is no longer optional—it is a necessity. Businesses that leverage integrated platforms to standardise operations, enhance compliance, and deliver a consistent brand experience will gain a competitive edge in fostering customer loyalty and operational excellence. **Written by:** *Nick Mecozzi, SVP of Solutions*, FranConnect ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Analytics, Ensure Quality, Improve Performance, Operate --- ### [The COO’s Role in Achieving Operational Excellence](https://www.franconnect.com/coo-role-in-achieving-operational-excellence/) **Published:** April 15, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** As the competitive landscape evolves, brands must deliver consistent customer value while optimizing resources, improving reliability, and driving growth. The chief operating officer (COO) is at the heart of this mission. **Content:** # **Operational excellence is more than a business buzzword—it’s a strategic necessity for franchise and multi-location brands.** As the competitive landscape evolves, brands must deliver consistent customer value while optimizing resources, improving reliability, and driving growth. The chief operating officer (COO) is at the heart of this mission. ## **What Is Operational Excellence?** Operational excellence is the continuous pursuit of improved efficiency, reliability, and effectiveness across all facets of the business. While it has roots in manufacturing practices like Lean and Six Sigma—focused on reducing waste and improving quality—it has since evolved. Today, it’s a holistic framework that integrates people, processes, and technology to align operations with strategic goals. For franchise and multi-location businesses, this means building systems that can scale without sacrificing consistency or quality. [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) ### **The Evolving Role of the Modern COO** The role of the COO has changed dramatically over the past few years. No longer confined to managing daily operations, today’s COO is a **strategic partner**—driving innovation, aligning operational goals with broader business objectives, and navigating change in an increasingly complex environment. To succeed, modern COOs must: - Understand and act on real-time data and performance insights - Lead cross-functional collaboration - Leverage technology to improve visibility and accountability - Drive operational strategies that scale Their ability to translate vision into execution makes COOs indispensable in steering long-term brand success. #### **Tangible Impact on Operations** The COO’s influence is most clearly felt in the measurable improvements they drive in three core areas: - **Process Optimization:** Identifying and eliminating inefficiencies across workflows. - **Resource Allocation:** Ensuring the right people, tools, and capital are in place to support priorities. - **Team Alignment:** Keeping everyone focused on the company’s strategic goals. These actions lead to better productivity, lower costs, and stronger customer satisfaction—creating a clear operational advantage. **Balancing Innovation, Efficiency, and Cost** One of the toughest challenges COOs faces is balancing innovation with operational efficiency and cost control. These priorities can often be in tension: innovation demands investment, efficiency requires structure, and cost control can stifle both. The solution lies in strategic prioritization. COOs must: - Foster a culture of **continuous improvement**, encouraging small, incremental gains. - Use **data and KPIs** to monitor progress and justify investments. - Invest in **technology** and systems that offer both short-term ROI and long-term scalability. When done right, this balance becomes a growth engine rather than a constraint. **Building a Culture of Continuous Improvement** Operational excellence isn’t a finish line—it’s a mindset. Successful COOs embed this culture into the organization by: - Empowering teams and location managers to suggest and implement improvements. - Encouraging collaboration to identify inefficiencies and spark innovation. - Recognizing and rewarding initiatives that produce measurable results. This cultural shift transforms operational excellence from a top-down initiative into a shared mission across the organization. **Why Operational Excellence Starts with the COO** The modern COO is no longer just an operational overseer—they’re a **strategic driver of change and innovation**. By fostering a culture of improvement and aligning daily execution with big-picture strategy, COOs help their brands stay competitive and agile. As the demands on multi-location businesses continue to grow, COOs are uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between vision and execution. Their leadership is essential to turning ideas into action and ensuring operational excellence is not just achieved—but sustained. **Operational excellence is a broad concept, and many COOs still have questions about how to apply it effectively in today’s business environment.** Understanding the difference between operational excellence and efficiency, knowing which KPIs to track, and leveraging the right technologies are all critical components. While operational excellence was once seen as a strategy for large enterprises, it’s now just as essential for emerging and mid-sized brands looking to scale with consistency and control. COOs who prioritize continuous improvement, data-driven decision-making, and aligned leadership are the ones best positioned to turn vision into sustained success. **Ready to take your operations to the next level?** Download the [**COO Playbook for Operational Excellence**](https://www.franconnect.com/coo-playbook/)—your guide to proven strategies for driving efficiency, consistency, and scalable growth. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Improve Performance, Operate --- ### [5 Questions Every COO Should Ask About Operational Excellence](https://www.franconnect.com/5-questions-coos-should-ask/) **Published:** April 28, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** In today’s fast-paced, multi-location business landscape, operational excellence has become a key driver of sustainable growth. For Chief Operating Officers (COOs), delivering consistent customer experiences, increasing efficiency, and scaling without compromising quality are top priorities. **Content:** In today’s fast-paced, multi-location business landscape, **[operational excellence](https://www.franconnect.com/the-power-of-integrated-business-systems/) has become a key driver of sustainable growth**. For Chief Operating Officers (COOs), top priorities are delivering consistent customer experiences, increasing efficiency, and scaling without compromising quality. But what does operational excellence *really* mean in practice—and how can COOs lead the way in making it a reality? This blog addresses five of the most frequently asked questions about operational excellence, helping COOs cut through the noise and focus on what matters most. 1. ## **What’s the difference between operational excellence and operational efficiency?** These terms are often used interchangeably, but they represent different concepts. - **Operational efficiency** is about doing things right—maximizing output while minimizing input. It focuses on reducing waste, saving time, and cutting costs. - **Operational excellence**, on the other hand, is about doing the *right* things, *right*—consistently. It’s a strategic mindset focused on continuous improvement, value delivery, and long-term scalability. **Example:** An efficient team might process 100 franchise applications a month. But a brand striving for operational excellence would ensure those applications are not only processed quickly, but also accurately, with clear communication, seamless onboarding, and a frictionless experience for franchisees. 2. ### **What are the key principles of operational excellence?** While the approach may vary by industry, most frameworks for operational excellence share these core principles: - **Customer Focus** – Deliver consistent value at every touchpoint - **Continuous Improvement** – Promote an ongoing culture of innovation and iteration - **Process Optimization** – Streamline and standardize workflows - **Data-Driven Decision Making** – Use KPIs and performance metrics to guide improvements - **Leadership Alignment** – Ensure leaders model and reinforce desired behaviors These principles work together to create a business culture that prioritizes not just performance—but sustainable success. **Real-world tie-in:** Franchise brands that integrate audit data with guest sentiment and operational KPIs are already embodying these principles. They’re using insights to not only fix issues—but to **anticipate them**. [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) 3. #### **What KPIs should COOs track to measure operational excellence?** Tracking the right performance indicators is critical to evaluating your progress. While every brand is unique, here are some **high-impact KPIs** COOs should monitor: - **Operational cost per unit or location** - **Time-to-open for new units** - **Customer satisfaction (CSAT) or Net Promoter Score (NPS)** - **Employee productivity and engagement** - **Compliance and audit pass rates** - **First-time resolution or quality assurance rates** **Example:** Let’s say your goal is to reduce time-to-open by 20%. If that timeline drops from 90 days to 72, you now have a replicable process that improves brand rollout speed—and gives you a competitive edge in market expansion. 4. **How does technology support operational excellence?** Technology is no longer a nice-to-have—it’s the **engine** that drives modern operational excellence. Here’s how it empowers COOs: - **Analytics platforms** deliver real-time insights across locations, revealing performance trends and operational bottlenecks. - **Audit and compliance tools** standardize checklists, track issues, and ensure accountability across the network. - **Training systems** enable location teams to stay current on processes, protocols, and brand expectations. **Practical example:** A brand using integrated audit tools can instantly identify which locations are underperforming and tie it back to training gaps, allowing them to deploy corrective actions at scale. **Bonus:** Automation reduces the manual burden on field teams and improves consistency—especially important for businesses operating across hundreds of units. 5. **Is operational excellence only for large enterprises?** Not at all. **Operational excellence is equally, if not more, critical for emerging and mid-sized brands.** Why? - These brands are often growing fast and need **scalable systems** to maintain quality. - Early adoption of operational frameworks helps avoid costly inefficiencies later. - It ensures that every new location or franchisee receives the same level of support, training, and oversight—regardless of size. **Example:** An emerging franchise with 10 locations that adopts a structured approach to lead management, onboarding, and training is far more likely to scale to 50 or 100 locations successfully than one that relies on spreadsheets and ad hoc processes. **Final Thoughts: Why COOs Must Champion Operational Excellence** Operational excellence is a broad concept, but at its core, it’s about **building a business that runs smarter, not harder**. It’s not a one-time initiative—it’s a long-term mindset that prioritizes data, continuous improvement, and strategic execution. For COOs, the path forward is clear: - Focus on the principles that drive performance - Leverage the right tools and insights - Align people, processes, and strategy across the organization By doing so, you can ensure your brand is ready to **scale with confidence**, **adapt to change**, and **lead with consistency.** [**Download the COO Playbook for Operational Excellence**](https://www.franconnect.com/coo-playbook/)—your guide to proven strategies that help COOs drive efficiency, consistency, and sustainable growth across franchise and multi-location businesses. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Improve Performance, Operate --- ### [Franchise Management System Showdown: Why Growing Brands Choose Enterprise Solutions Over Niche Players](https://www.franconnect.com/franchise-management-system-showdown-why-growing-brands-choose-enterprise-solutions-over-niche-players/) **Published:** June 27, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Discover why growing franchise brands choose enterprise franchise management systems over smaller, fragmented solutions for sustainable scaling success. **Content:** Two hypothetical franchise brands at 50 locations face different realities. The “Patchwork Pizza” cobbles together a dozen different tools, while “Streamlined Subs” operates through a comprehensive franchise management system. Eighteen months later, the results tell a stark story. Patchwork Pizza’s CEO spends weekends reconciling data from five different systems, their newest franchisees wait three weeks for training materials, and two locations failed compliance audits. Meanwhile, Streamlined Subs opened eight new locations ahead of schedule, achieved 98% compliance scores, and their operations team gained five hours weekly for strategic planning. The difference? An enterprise-grade franchise management system designed for long-term growth versus fragmented, smaller solutions. ## **The Scaling Reality: When Small Solutions Hit Their Limits** Patchwork Pizza’s journey illustrates how quickly smaller solutions become growth barriers. What worked at 10 locations created chaos at 50. **The Fragmentation Trap** Patchwork Pizza’s franchise development team tracks leads in a basic CRM while using separate tools for training, compliance, and operations. When a qualified prospect calls asking about training requirements, the sales rep searches through three different systems to find answers. By the time they respond, the prospect has moved on to a competitor. Critical data lives in silos. A prospect’s journey from initial inquiry to signed franchise agreement involves multiple handoffs between systems. Information gets lost, follow-ups fall through the cracks, and teams spend more time managing tools than building relationships. **Hidden Costs Compound Quickly** What seemed cost-effective for Patchwork Pizza at 25 locations became expensive at 50. They pay for multiple software licenses, manage various vendor relationships, and employ a part-time contractor just to reconcile data inconsistencies between systems. Integration challenges multiply when different tools need to work together. Custom development, ongoing maintenance, and data synchronization create expenses that add up quickly without delivering additional value. **The 75-Location Breaking Point** As Patchwork Pizza approaches 75 locations, their limitations become critical barriers. Multi-state compliance requirements overwhelm their spreadsheet tracking system. Complex royalty structures strain their basic calculation tools. Their operations director spends entire days creating reports that should take minutes. Without a robust franchise management system,[ franchise field operations](https://www.franconnect.com/three-franchise-field-operations-models-for-franchisee-support/) become reactive instead of strategic. Teams firefight problems instead of preventing them, and growth stalls when momentum should accelerate. ### **Enterprise-Grade Capabilities That Matter for Growth** Streamlined Subs demonstrates how enterprise franchise management systems transform operations. Their comprehensive platform delivers capabilities that turn operational challenges into competitive advantages: - **Single source of truth** allows their sales team to instantly access prospect information, training schedules, and performance data during calls. - **Real-time synchronization** means when a new location opens, all systems automatically update without manual data entry. - **Multi-jurisdictional compliance tracking** ensures every location meets local requirements without overwhelming the legal team. - **Automated audit trails** provide documentation for regulatory reviews without additional administrative work. - **Configurable workflows** adapt to unique business requirements without expensive custom development. - **Role-based access** ensures franchisees see relevant information while protecting sensitive corporate data. - **AI-powered analysis** identifies performance patterns that manual review would miss. - **Predictive insights** flag potential issues before they impact operations. These capabilities create measurable advantages. While Patchwork Pizza struggles with fragmented data and reactive processes, Streamlined Subs operates proactively with complete network visibility. #### **The FranConnect Advantage: 20+ Years of Enterprise Excellence** [FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/) is an excellent example of what growing brands need in a technology partner. **Proven Industry Leadership** FranConnect’s track record includes 1,500+ brands and 1.3 million locations served globally. The platform processes more franchise data than any other system, providing insights that benefit every customer. When[ 95% of FranConnect’s most active customers appear on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 list](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/sales/), the correlation between platform choice and franchise success becomes clear. **Enterprise-Scale Infrastructure** FranConnect’s 300+ employees globally across multiple continents provide round-the-clock support and continuous development. Unlike smaller vendors that might pivot or disappear, FranConnect’s 5X revenue growth over six years demonstrates the market confidence and financial stability that growing franchises need. **Purpose-Built for Franchising** Unlike generic business tools adapted for franchising, FranConnect was designed specifically for franchisor-franchisee relationships. Every workflow, report, and feature reflects deep understanding of franchise operations. The platform uses franchise-specific terminology and processes, from lead statuses to royalty calculations that handle complex multi-brand scenarios. **Strategic Innovation** Recent strategic acquisitions expand capabilities beyond what smaller solutions offer. The RizePoint acquisition enhanced quality management features. Investment in AI capabilities through Frannie AI provides predictive insights that transform reactive management into proactive optimization. ##### **Long-Term Value vs. Short-Term Savings** The cost difference between Patchwork Pizza and Streamlined Subs extends far beyond software licensing: - **Integration costs** for Patchwork Pizza include custom development, ongoing maintenance, and data synchronization expenses. - **Multiple vendor relationships** require separate contracts, training, and support coordination. - **Administrative overhead** includes the part-time contractor reconciling systems plus staff time managing multiple interfaces. - **Opportunity costs** emerge when teams spend time on administrative tasks instead of growth activities. - **Unified platforms** eliminate integration expenses while providing deeper functionality. - **Single vendor relationships** simplify procurement, support, and training coordination. - **Comprehensive training** on one system proves more efficient than managing multiple interfaces. - **Scalable architecture** grows seamlessly from 50 to 500+ locations without platform migrations Streamlined Subs invested in enterprise capabilities that scale with their growth. Patchwork Pizza pays more over time while receiving less functionality and facing constant integration challenges. ###### **Conclusion: Making the Strategic Choice** The Patchwork Pizza versus Streamlined Subs comparison illustrates a fundamental choice facing growing franchise brands: accept the limitations of fragmented solutions or invest in enterprise capabilities that enable unlimited scaling. Streamlined Subs’ success with FranConnect’s franchise management system demonstrates how the right platform transforms fragmentation into operational flow. With proven franchise expertise, enterprise infrastructure, and a track record supporting the industry’s most successful brands, comprehensive platforms provide the foundation for sustainable growth. The most successful growing brands choose solutions that eliminate operational bottlenecks, ensure compliance confidence, and provide strategic visibility for informed decision-making. [Request a demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) to see how enterprise franchise management systems can transform your operations from fragmented to streamlined. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Ensure Quality, Operate --- ### [Is Your Technology Stack Sabotaging Your Growth?](https://www.franconnect.com/is-your-technology-stack-sabotaging-your-growth/) **Published:** August 26, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** While the successful CEO’s teams work from unified dashboards with automated workflows, the struggling leader’s staff wrestles with disconnected systems and manual processes. Leadership meetings focus on data reconciliation instead of strategic decisions. Expansion plans stall because the operational foundation can’t support growth.  **Content:** Two CEOs, both running successful multi-location businesses. Both planning aggressive expansion. Both confident in their growth strategies. Six months later, one opens twelve new locations ahead of schedule. The other struggles to launch three, each delayed by operational chaos and frustrated teams. The difference wasn’t market conditions, funding, or talent. It was their technology stack. While the successful CEO’s teams work from unified dashboards with automated workflows, the struggling leader’s staff wrestles with disconnected systems and manual processes. Leadership meetings focus on data reconciliation instead of strategic decisions. Expansion plans stall because the operational foundation can’t support growth. **Ninety percent of IT leaders say legacy systems hinder their ability to adopt new solutions**. Yet most business leaders don’t recognise when their technology stack works against them. They see frustrated teams, delayed decisions, and missed opportunities. They attribute these problems to growing pains or market challenges, rarely tracing them back to the real culprit: mismatched technology. The question every growth-focused leader should ask: Is your technology driving your strategy or sabotaging it? ## **The Silent Growth Killer** Mismatched technology doesn’t announce itself with dramatic failures. It operates like a slow leak, quietly draining productivity, morale, and opportunities until the damage becomes undeniable. The warning signs appear everywhere. Teams default to workarounds because the official process takes too long. Spreadsheets multiply because systems don’t connect. Decision-making slows because data lives in silos. New hires struggle because training materials are scattered across platforms. Each inefficiency seems small in isolation. A few extra minutes here, a manual process there, another meeting to reconcile conflicting reports. But these friction points compound. What starts as a minor inconvenience evolves into a major competitive disadvantage. The emotional toll hits hardest. High performers get frustrated when tools slow them down. Managers burn out reconciling data instead of leading teams. Executives lose confidence in insights they can’t trust. The technology meant to empower your people becomes a source of daily frustration. Here’s what makes this particularly dangerous: the multiplication effect. Every new location, every new hire, every new process amplifies the dysfunction. Growth doesn’t solve the problem. It exposes and accelerates it. The cost isn’t just operational efficiency. While you’re wrestling with disconnected systems, competitors with streamlined technology capture market share, attract better talent, and execute faster. Your technology stack isn’t neutral. It either drives growth or prevents it. ### **Most Leaders Don’t See It Coming** The breakdown doesn’t happen overnight. Technology problems disguise themselves as other issues, making them nearly invisible until they reach crisis level. Consider these scenarios: Your team consistently misses deadlines, but you blame workload management. Customer complaints increase, but you focus on service training. New location openings take longer than projected, but you attribute delays to market conditions. What if the real problem isn’t any of those surface issues? What if it’s the technology foundation that’s supposed to support your operations? Smart leaders recognize certain patterns. When your team defaults to workarounds instead of workflows, that’s a signal. When growth feels harder than it should be, that’s another. When you hear phrases like “the system won’t let us” or “we’ll have to do this manually,” red flags should appear. But here’s the challenge: these signals often get rationalized away. “That’s just how business works.” “Every company deals with these issues.” “We’ll fix it when we have more time.” Meanwhile, competitors with properly aligned technology stacks move faster, decide quicker, and scale smoother. They don’t struggle with these “normal” business problems because their foundation supports growth instead of fighting it. The signs are there. Most leaders just don’t know what to look for or how to interpret what they’re seeing. The difference between thriving and surviving often comes down to recognizing these signals before they compound into crisis. #### **The Framework That Changes Everything** Leading organizations use a systematic approach that evaluates technology effectiveness across the areas that matter most to business performance. This framework cuts through vendor promises and feature lists to focus on real impact. The assessment examines seven critical dimensions: - **Data Flow & Decision Speed** – Are insights reaching decision-makers when they need them? - **Process Automation** – Which manual bottlenecks are costing you time and accuracy? - **Operational Integration** – Do your tools work together or against each other? - **Financial Visibility** – Can you track, manage, and forecast performance effectively? - **Team Development** – How quickly can people ramp up and contribute? - **Communication Quality** – Are your tools helping or hindering collaboration? - **Future Readiness** – Is your foundation prepared for emerging opportunities? Each dimension reveals specific insights about where your technology creates value and where it creates drag. The result isn’t just analysis – it’s a prioritised roadmap that connects technology improvements directly to business outcomes. This approach works because it’s designed for business leaders, not IT specialists. You don’t need technical expertise to understand the results or act on the recommendations. The insights connect directly to growth objectives, operational efficiency, and competitive positioning. ##### **Your Competitive Edge Starts Here** Every day you operate with misaligned technology, competitors gain ground. While you wrestle with disconnected systems and manual workarounds, they’re executing faster and scaling smoother. The companies that will dominate tomorrow are making technology decisions today that support their growth ambitions. They use proven frameworks to assess their current state, identify the highest-impact improvements, and create roadmaps that align with their business strategy. Building a foundation that accelerates growth requires systematic evaluation, not guesswork. When your technology stack works properly, teams move faster, decisions happen quicker, and growth becomes sustainable instead of chaotic. The comprehensive assessment framework that leading organizations use to make these critical decisions provides clear insights about where your technology drives value and where it creates drag. You get a prioritised action plan for improvement, designed for business leaders who need results, not technical complexity. Market forces will eventually force you to address your technology stack. You can do it proactively, on your timeline, or reactively, when competitors have already gained the advantage. [**Download the complete Guide to Assessing Your Technology Stack**](/content-downloads/guide-to-assessing-your-technology-stack/) to access the seven-dimension framework that reveals whether your technology drives growth or prevents it. Stop guessing whether your systems serve your strategy. [Download Now](https://www.franconnect.com/en/content-downloads/guide-to-assessing-your-technology-stack/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Analytics, Develop, Engage, Operate --- ### [AI Is Redefining Franchise Sales: Why FranConnect’s Candidate Coach Is Essential for Growth](https://www.franconnect.com/why-franconnects-candidate-coach-is-essential-for-growth/) **Published:** September 15, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** In franchise sales, every minute matters. A motivated lead can arrive at any hour - evenings, weekends, or holidays. The brand that responds first usually wins. **Content:** ## The Challenge: Speed Defines Success In franchise sales, every minute matters. A motivated lead can arrive at any hour – evenings, weekends, or holidays. The brand that responds first usually wins. The *FranConnect Franchise Sales Index (2024)* shows: - Leads contacted within **30 minutes** are nearly **2x more likely to convert**. - Fewer than **13% of franchisors** consistently meet this benchmark. When response times lag, candidates don’t wait – they move on to competitors. ### Rising Expectations in Franchise Development Today’s candidates are informed, selective, and comparing multiple brands at once. They expect: - **Instant engagement** → Immediate acknowledgement when they inquire. - **Accurate information** → Royalties, investment, training, and support, delivered precisely. - **Seamless experience** → Professional, consistent interactions across every touchpoint. Development teams can’t meet this standard manually. Scale requires automation. **Candidate Coach in Action** Candidate Coach, embedded in **FranConnect Sales**, ensures no lead is ever left waiting: - **Immediate SMS & 24/7 Availability** → Acknowledges every lead in seconds. - **Smart Scheduling** → Books discovery calls and manages reschedules automatically. - **Brand-Trained Coaching** → Powered by FDDs, playbooks, and compliance libraries. - **Centralized Recordkeeping** → Logs every interaction in FranConnect Sales. - **Automated Re-Engagement** → Follows up with silent leads and no-shows. The result: faster response, consistent engagement, and more time for teams to focus on qualified candidates. **Powered by Frannie AI** Candidate Coach is built on **Frannie AI**, FranConnect’s proprietary AI platform designed exclusively for franchising: - **Generative AI Engine** fine-tuned for franchise sales workflows. - **Dynamic Knowledge Orchestration** pulls brand-approved content instantly. - **Compliance Guardrails** with A2P 10DLC protections and full audit logging. - **Agentic Workflows** manage the candidate journey end-to-end: acknowledge → qualify → schedule → re-engage. This ensures engagement that is fast, compliant, and aligned with brand standards. **Why Candidate Coach Outperforms Generic AI Bots** **Factor** **Candidate Coach** **Other AI Bots** Purpose-Built for Franchising Trained on FDDs, playbooks, FAQs, workflows Generic automation, limited context CRM Integration Native in FranConnect Sales Detached, siloed tools Brand Compliance Dynamic, approved content Manual setup, ongoing maintenance Engagement Consistency Always-on, AI-driven scheduling & follow-up Inconsistent, configuration-heavy Operational Insights Integrated Analytics in FranConnect Disjointed dashboards **Bottom line:** Candidate Coach connects AI-driven engagement directly to operational execution – something generic bots cannot deliver. Built for Sales Leaders Candidate Coach delivers measurable value across the sales organization: - **Reps** → Focus on qualified candidates instead of chasing cold leads. - **Managers** → Gain visibility into every interaction. - **Marketing** → See which lead sources convert to deals. - **Regional Developers** → Route leads by territory without added complexity. Seamless Deployment, Immediate Impact - **No-code configuration** - **Calendar & SMS integration** - **Full support from FranConnect’s success team** No extra logins. No disconnected workflows. No disruption. From day one, your team engages faster, converts more efficiently, and closes deals before competitors do. The Future of Franchise Sales Speed, personalization, and consistency are no longer optional – they define success. Candidate Coach positions franchisors to win with a solution that is: - **Franchise-specific** - **Fully integrated** - **Compliance-ready** - **Powered by Frannie AI** Every lead gets the right response, at the right time, every time. Sales cycles shorten. Candidate experiences improve. Conversions accelerate [Learn More](/platform-overview/candidate-coach/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Analytics, Develop, Expand Locations --- ### [The Role of Supplier Quality Management Software in ESG and Sustainability Reporting](https://www.franconnect.com/supplier-quality-management-software-in-esg-reporting/) **Published:** September 18, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Strengthen ESG and sustainability reporting with supplier quality management software. Improve compliance, risk management, and supply chain transparency. **Content:** ### Key Takeaways **Supply chains drive ESG risk**: Nearly 70% of corporate ESG risks come from suppliers, including labor, emissions, and compliance. More than 80% of consumer goods emissions also originate in the supply chain. **Software centralizes supplier oversight**: Supplier quality management software unifies monitoring, compliance, audits, and data integration. This creates a single source of truth for accurate ESG reporting. **Audit-ready compliance records**: Digital audit tools generate traceable records aligned with GRI, SASB, and CSRD standards. They reduce regulatory penalties, reputational risks, and investor mistrust. **Industry 4.0 enables predictive insights**: AI, IoT, and cloud tools provide proactive monitoring of emissions, labor practices, and supplier risks. This shifts ESG oversight from reactive fixes to predictive prevention. **Manual tracking creates risk**: Spreadsheets and siloed systems lead to fragmented data, missed compliance gaps, and reporting delays. Modern platforms improve visibility, accountability, and investor confidence. Sustainability has become more than a trend; it is now a standard expectation in modern commerce. Investors, regulators, and end consumers want assurance that supply chains operate with transparency and responsibility. Every link in a global supply chain can influence Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) outcomes. [Supplier quality management software](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions-overview/ensure-quality/) makes it possible to connect sustainability objectives with actual, measurable supplier data, ensuring credibility in reporting. Organizations that rely on traditional tracking methods face mounting pressure from regulatory bodies and market forces. Studies show that nearly 70% of corporate ESG risks originate in the supply chain, including labor conditions, emissions, and compliance gaps. By adopting digital solutions, companies can strengthen supplier accountability, achieve accurate reporting, and align operational practices with sustainability commitments. This transition transforms ESG from a compliance burden into a measurable strategic advantage. **Why ESG and Sustainability Reporting Relies on Suppliers** ESG performance is heavily shaped by supplier actions, making suppliers a critical factor in whether organizations meet sustainability targets or fall short. Procurement networks often span multiple regions and industries, each with different regulations, cultural practices, and operational standards. Without consistent oversight, risks multiply, creating gaps in compliance and credibility. Stakeholders—including regulators, investors, and consumers—demand not just internal reporting but complete visibility into the upstream impact of suppliers. **Supplier-related ESG influences include:** - **Environmental:** Suppliers directly affect greenhouse gas emissions, energy efficiency, water consumption, raw material sourcing, and waste management. For example, the choice of renewable versus non-renewable energy in supplier operations can significantly shift an organization’s carbon footprint. - **Social:** Supplier practices around labor rights, workplace safety, wages, and diversity play a major role in ESG scores. Poor working conditions or unethical labor practices among suppliers often lead to reputational crises and regulatory penalties for the contracting company. - **Governance:** Governance extends beyond internal boards and policies. Supplier relationships must align with anti-bribery regulations, ethical sourcing mandates, and transparent reporting. Weak governance within the supply chain can expose companies to corruption, sanctions, and litigation risks. According to industry benchmarks, more than 80% of greenhouse gas emissions in consumer goods companies occur within the supply chain. Beyond emissions, a 2022 survey revealed that 65% of sustainability risks in large enterprises originated from tier-two and tier-three suppliers, where visibility is often weakest. This demonstrates that ESG reporting cannot rely solely on internal operations; it must account for the extended supplier ecosystem. Furthermore, global regulations such as the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the U.S. SEC’s proposed climate-related disclosure rules require companies to disclose supplier-related data with the same rigor as internal reporting. Non-compliance can result in heavy penalties, loss of investor trust, and even restricted market access. Without accurate and timely supplier data, ESG reports risk being incomplete, misleading, or entirely non-compliant. Supplier quality management software addresses this by enabling systematic supplier performance monitoring, data integration, and compliance validation, ensuring that reporting reflects the full scope of a company’s supply chain impact. **The Impact of Supplier Quality Management Software** Supplier quality management software centralizes and automates supplier-related functions that directly influence ESG reporting. It eliminates the inefficiencies of spreadsheets and fragmented systems, offering a single source of truth for supplier performance and compliance data. Beyond operational efficiency, it empowers organizations with transparent, evidence-based sustainability tracking that meets global regulatory expectations. **Key Functions and Advantages:** - **Supplier Performance Monitoring:** Measure quality, delivery reliability, and corrective actions in real time. This ensures suppliers not only meet contract obligations but also align with ESG commitments. Consistent monitoring reduces risks of late deliveries, substandard materials, or sustainability violations. - **Supplier Compliance Management:** Automate compliance checks against international labor laws, environmental regulations, and safety standards. With sustainability frameworks tightening across regions, compliance management helps organizations stay ahead of new requirements while avoiding fines or reputational damage. - **Supply Chain Quality Control:** Standardize supplier processes across multiple tiers globally. Uniform quality controls ensure that every supplier, whether direct or indirect, contributes to ESG performance consistently. This visibility is crucial for companies with large, diverse supplier bases. - **Supplier Audit Software:** Replace manual inspections with digital audit systems that create traceable records. Audits can be scheduled, executed, and reported centrally, feeding findings directly into ESG disclosures for transparency. This not only streamlines audits but also builds a defensible trail for regulators and investors. By consolidating this information, organizations generate sustainability metrics that are auditable, transparent, and aligned with frameworks like **GRI (Global Reporting Initiative)**, **SASB (Sustainability Accounting Standards Board)**, and the **EU CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive)**. Leading platforms such as RizePoint demonstrate the practical value of these tools. [RizePoint](https://rizepoint.com/platform/) specializes in supplier quality and compliance management, helping organizations collect supplier data, conduct mobile audits, and track performance against ESG goals. Its focus on real-time analytics and corrective action management showcases how supplier quality management software translates complex compliance data into actionable insights. In a market where over 60% of companies cite supplier visibility as their biggest ESG reporting challenge, tools like RizePoint and other advanced platforms bridge the gap between supplier operations and sustainability disclosures. This ensures that ESG reporting is not only accurate but also resilient under regulatory and investor scrutiny. **Strengthening Accountability Through Technology** Transparent ESG reporting depends on reliable supplier accountability, and digital platforms provide the tools to enforce it. Advanced supplier quality management systems allow organizations to evaluate suppliers against sustainability benchmarks in real time, ensuring that reporting reflects actual performance rather than estimates. **Practical Applications:** - **Carbon Monitoring:** Suppliers can submit emission data, validated through integrated systems and IoT sensors. This creates accurate carbon accounting, which is critical since studies indicate that Scope 3 emissions—largely tied to suppliers—can account for 70% or more of a company’s total footprint. - **Labor Practices:** Audit results highlight compliance with fair labor standards, occupational safety regulations, and regional employment laws. Companies using digital audit tools report a 30% faster resolution rate of non-compliance issues compared to manual processes. - **Ethical Sourcing:** Real-time dashboards identify suppliers operating in regions with corruption or high-risk labor practices, allowing organizations to make proactive sourcing decisions. Vendor risk management becomes critical in this context. A recent report revealed that 65% of companies experienced reputational damage from supplier-related sustainability issues within the last five years, while nearly 45% reported financial losses due to supplier non-compliance. By integrating automated alerts, organizations can mitigate these risks before they escalate into regulatory violations, supply chain disruptions, or public crises. When accountability is backed by technology, organizations move from reactive problem-solving to proactive risk prevention, making ESG reporting not only more reliable but also more strategic. **Turning Supplier Data Into ESG Insights** The growing demand for ESG transparency means supplier data must be converted into measurable, reportable metrics. Supplier quality management software ensures consistency across data sources and provides traceability for audits. **Advantages of integration:** - **Framework Alignment:** Data mapped directly to GRI, SASB, and CSRD reporting standards. - **Audit-Ready Records:** Digital trails reduce compliance costs during inspections. - **Investor Confidence:** Transparent supplier metrics reinforce trust with stakeholders. For example, a manufacturing company can use **manufacturing quality software** to measure waste reduction and emission performance among suppliers. These insights are then integrated into ESG reporting, demonstrating quantifiable sustainability progress. **Industry 4.0 and Next-Generation Supplier Management** The adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies is revolutionizing supplier oversight. Supplier quality management software, combined with AI and IoT, provides predictive and proactive insights rather than reactive responses. - **Predictive Analytics:** AI identifies compliance risks before they impact reporting. - **IoT Monitoring:** Sensors track energy consumption and emissions in real time. - **Cloud Collaboration:** Suppliers and organizations exchange sustainability data instantly. According to market forecasts, the use of digital tools in supplier oversight will grow by **20% annually through 2030**, largely driven by sustainability reporting requirements. Integrating these advanced systems ensures that companies remain agile in meeting ESG expectations. **The Cost of Inefficient Supplier Oversight** Without modern supplier quality management software, organizations face significant challenges: - **Fragmented Data:** Disparate systems make supplier performance nearly impossible to track consistently. - **Compliance Gaps:** Manual audits often miss sustainability violations. - **Delayed Reporting:** Aggregating supplier data consumes excessive time and resources. - **Increased Risk Exposure:** Regulatory fines and reputational harm grow in probability. Statistics reveal that **40% of supply chain leaders still rely on spreadsheets for supplier compliance management**, which directly increases reporting errors and delays. **Supplier Collaboration as a Path to Sustainable Growth** Sustainability cannot be achieved without strong supplier collaboration. Digital platforms facilitate transparency and build long-term, trust-based partnerships. With the right **supplier collaboration tools**, organizations can: - Communicate sustainability targets and KPIs directly with suppliers. - Track corrective actions aligned with environmental and labor standards. - Foster innovation in packaging, waste reduction, and material sourcing. This shared accountability creates a sustainable ecosystem where suppliers and organizations grow together while meeting ESG obligations. **Building Sustainable Supply Chains with Technology** Supplier quality management software has become indispensable for organizations striving to meet ESG and sustainability goals. By centralizing supplier performance monitoring, enhancing compliance checks, and digitizing audits, these systems enable transparent and reliable ESG reporting. The integration with Industry 4.0 technologies further strengthens risk mitigation and drives measurable sustainability progress. To achieve credible ESG reporting and strengthen supply chain accountability, it’s essential to adopt modern digital solutions. [FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/) provides supplier quality management software designed to align operations with sustainability frameworks and compliance standards. Call 800-280-8305 (TOLL FREE) today to learn how your organization can transform supplier oversight into a driver of long-term, sustainable growth — or [request a free demo](https://www.franconnect.com/en/request-a-demo/) to see the difference firsthand. [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) **FAQ’s About Supplier Quality Management Software** **Q1: How does supplier quality management software improve ESG reporting accuracy?** It automates compliance tracking, standardizes supplier data, and generates auditable records aligned with recognized ESG frameworks. **Q2: Can supplier performance monitoring help reduce ESG risks?** Yes, it highlights trends in supplier quality and delivery performance that may affect environmental or social compliance. **Q3: Why is supplier audit software important for sustainability reporting?** It digitizes audits, ensures transparency, and provides evidence that suppliers follow environmental and labor laws. **Q4: What role does vendor risk management play in ESG compliance?** It proactively identifies high-risk suppliers, reducing exposure to reputational and financial damage. **Q5: How does Industry 4.0 supplier management change traditional reporting?** By using AI and IoT, organizations gain predictive insights, real-time monitoring, and automated compliance alerts. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Best Practices --- ### [From Onboarding to Leadership Training: Scaling with Employee Development Software](https://www.franconnect.com/build-strong-teams-using-employee-development-software/) **Published:** September 18, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** FranConnect’s employee training and development software helps you build strong teams, boost retention, and scale growth. **Content:** **Key Takeaways** **Onboarding drives long-term success**: A structured onboarding process builds confidence, improves retention, and reduces ramp-up time. Digital platforms ensure clarity, consistency, and compliance from day one. **Continuous training sustains performance**: Ongoing learning keeps employees skilled, compliant, and adaptable. Microlearning, cadence-based programs, and adaptive paths ensure development matches business goals. **Training connects directly to ROI**: Modern platforms link training outcomes to measurable business results. Leaders can track proficiency, safety, and customer satisfaction improvements in real time. **Engagement is critical for retention**: Gamification, flexible access, and collaboration features keep employees motivated. Engaged learners stay longer, perform better, and contribute more to culture. **Leadership training closes growth gaps**: Developing leaders internally reduces costs and ensures cultural alignment. Programs in strategy, emotional intelligence, and decision-making prepare future leaders at scale. **Integrated talent management multiplies impact**: Unified solutions track the entire employee lifecycle, nurture high-potential staff, and strengthen succession planning. This alignment turns training into a growth engine. A thriving organization is built on more than innovative products or expanding customer bases. The real foundation lies in its people — their skills, adaptability, and willingness to grow with the company. For this reason, forward-thinking organizations are turning to [**employee training and development software**](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/world-manager-frontline/) as a central part of their growth strategy. Instead of fragmented training sessions or occasional workshops, these platforms provide a continuous framework that covers every stage of the employee lifecycle. From onboarding new hires to preparing seasoned professionals for leadership roles, **corporate training software** transforms learning into a scalable system that powers performance, retention, and long-term growth. **Why Onboarding Defines Long-Term Success** Onboarding is more than orientation paperwork or office tours. It sets the tone for an employee’s relationship with the company and shapes how quickly they contribute value. A poorly executed onboarding process can leave new hires disengaged, confused, and far more likely to leave within the first year. With **employee learning platforms**, onboarding becomes structured, engaging, and measurable. For example: - **Clarity from Day One** – New hires access digital modules that explain company values, policies, and role-specific expectations. - **Consistency Across Locations** – Training materials remain the same whether an employee joins in New York or Houston. - **Compliance Assurance** – Automated reminders and e-signatures ensure nothing slips through the cracks. When employees feel supported during this critical phase, they become more confident, engaged, and productive. For business owners, this translates into reduced turnover costs and faster ramp-up times. **Continuous Development: Building Skills Beyond Day One** High-growth companies understand that training isn’t a one-time event. Industries evolve too quickly, regulations change too often, and customer expectations rise too consistently for learning to stop after onboarding. That’s where **employee training and development software** proves its long-term value. **How Continuous Training Works in Practice** - **Microlearning**: Short, digestible lessons employees can complete in under 10 minutes keep knowledge fresh without disrupting workflow. - **Cadence-Based Learning**: Monthly refreshers, quarterly certifications, and role-specific updates ensure employees always operate at peak efficiency. - **Adaptive Programs**: Platforms adjust learning paths based on assessments, meaning each employee gets personalized training that matches their growth goals. A marketing associate, for example, might receive continuous lessons on emerging digital tools, while a manufacturing worker cycles through refresher safety modules. This targeted learning ensures every employee, regardless of role, keeps advancing. **Corporate Training Software as a Strategic Business Tool** Executives often question the ROI of training programs. The difference with modern **corporate training software** is that it connects training outcomes directly to business results. - **Data-Driven Decision-Making** – Managers can track course completion, time-to-proficiency, and performance improvements in real time. - **Alignment with KPIs** – Each course can be tied to measurable objectives like reducing safety incidents, improving customer satisfaction scores, or accelerating sales cycles. - **Scalable Standardization** – A company with multiple branches can roll out identical training across all sites, ensuring uniformity without manual oversight. This strategic approach shifts training from being a cost center to being a **profit driver**. **Boosting Engagement with Employee Learning Platforms** Training only works if employees are engaged. Traditional long lectures or bulky handbooks often fail to capture attention. By contrast, **employee learning platforms** use interactive tools to make learning both accessible and enjoyable. - **Gamification**: Points, badges, and leaderboards motivate employees to complete training modules. - **Flexible Access**: Whether on a laptop at the office or a mobile device at home, training is available anytime. - **Collaborative Features**: Discussion boards, peer reviews, and shared resource libraries encourage teamwork and knowledge sharing. This engagement directly impacts retention. Employees who feel supported in their development are more motivated, more loyal, and more productive. **Closing Skill Gaps with Targeted Training** Not all performance issues stem from lack of effort — often, they come from lack of knowledge or outdated skills. **Employee training and development software** pinpoints these gaps through analytics and then delivers targeted training to close them. **Examples in Action** - **Customer Service**: Representatives struggling with conflict resolution can take scenario-based training modules to improve customer interactions. - **IT Teams**: Staff can earn certifications in emerging technologies, reducing downtime and increasing system reliability. - **Sales Departments**: Continuous training on product updates ensures reps handle objections confidently, leading to higher win rates. This targeted approach ensures training dollars are spent where they make the biggest impact. **Leadership Training as a Catalyst for Growth** As organizations expand, leadership gaps often become bottlenecks. Recruiting leaders externally may seem easier, but it’s costly and risks cultural misalignment. The smarter strategy is to develop leaders internally through structured **leadership training programs**. **What Leadership Training Looks Like** - **Strategic Thinking**: Teaching leaders how to set long-term goals and align teams with company objectives. - **Emotional Intelligence**: Helping managers navigate conflict and build stronger team relationships. - **Decision-Making Simulations**: Practical exercises that mirror real-world challenges, preparing future leaders to act with confidence. By cultivating leaders internally, businesses ensure continuity, smoother transitions, and stronger cultural alignment. **Talent Management Solutions: Connecting the Dots** While onboarding, continuous learning, and leadership training all matter individually, **talent management solutions** integrate them into a unified system. With these solutions, HR teams can: - Map an employee’s complete journey, from hire to promotion. - Identify high-potential employees early and nurture them with targeted learning. - Prepare succession plans that ensure leadership pipelines never run dry. This integration ensures training efforts don’t exist in isolation but instead support larger organizational goals like retention, succession, and culture-building. **Industry-Specific Impact of Training Software** To make the value of training platforms more concrete, let’s look at how they play out across industries: - **Healthcare**: Continuous compliance training reduces [HIPAA](https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/index.html) violations, improving care quality and lowering legal risks. - **Manufacturing**: Regular safety refreshers reduce workplace accidents, cutting costs tied to injuries and lost time. - **Sales & Marketing**: Continuous enablement boosts win rates and quota attainment, directly increasing revenue. - **Hospitality**: Scenario-based training improves customer interactions, leading to better reviews and higher repeat business. Each of these outcomes directly ties training investments to measurable returns. **Building Strong Teams Through Training Platforms** Scaling a business isn’t just about market expansion — it’s about building strong, capable teams. FranConnect’s employee training and development software, along with corporate training software, employee learning platforms, and talent management solutions, delivers a system where learning is continuous, performance strengthens consistently, and leadership pipelines stay prepared for the future. By treating training as an operating system rather than a one-time event, [FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/) helps companies safeguard profitability, reduce turnover, and empower employees to grow alongside the organization. Ready to scale smarter? [Request a Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/en/request-a-demo/) today or call 800-280-8305 (TOLL FREE) to see how FranConnect can transform your training into a competitive advantage. [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) **FAQs About Employee Development Software** **Q1: How does employee development software improve onboarding?** It standardizes training modules across all locations, ensuring new hires get consistent, compliant, and engaging onboarding experiences that reduce turnover and accelerate productivity. **Q2: Can training software adapt to different roles within the company?** Yes, adaptive learning paths deliver role-specific content, from frontline safety modules to advanced leadership programs, so every employee gets targeted training. **Q3: What makes training software more effective than traditional workshops?** Digital platforms provide continuous learning through micro-courses, gamification, and analytics. Unlike one-off workshops, they sustain engagement and track progress over time. **Q4: How can companies measure ROI from employee training software?** Leaders can link training outcomes directly to KPIs like reduced safety incidents, improved customer satisfaction, faster ramp-up times, and increased sales performance. **Q5: Does employee development software support leadership training?** Yes, it includes modules for strategic thinking, emotional intelligence, and decision-making simulations. This helps organizations build leaders internally, reducing hiring costs and cultural misalignment. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Best Practices --- ### [How Consistent, Personalised Messaging Elevates Franchise Lead Management](https://www.franconnect.com/elevate-franchise-lead-management/) **Published:** September 23, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Franchise lead management requires more than speed. Learn how consistent and personalised messaging with Candidate Coach builds trust, improves conversions, and drives scalable growth. **Content:** **Key Takeaways** - Speed matters in franchise lead management, but it must be paired with **consistency and personalisation**. - Inconsistent or canned communication erodes trust and slows down deals. - Repetition of clear, branded messages builds confidence — but tailoring them to the candidate’s journey keeps them engaged. - Candidate Coach delivers speed, consistency, and personalised responses within brand guardrails. - This approach improves lead quality, accelerates conversions, and reduces acquisition costs. **Introduction** Franchise lead management has always been a race for attention. Responding quickly matters — but speed alone won’t win the deal. Today’s candidates expect communication that is not just fast, but also **consistent and personalised**. Imagine a prospect who fills out an inquiry form and receives a text within seconds. That first impression is powerful. But if the next message they get feels generic, robotic, or doesn’t match the earlier tone, the trust built in those first moments can unravel quickly. The real advantage comes when brands combine instant responses with **clear, consistent, and personalised communication**. That balance builds confidence, shows professionalism, and keeps candidates moving forward in the sales process. # **The Role of Consistency *and* Personalisation** Consistency ensures every candidate hears the same brand story, sets the same expectations, and feels the same level of professionalism. Personalisation makes that story **relevant to the individual candidate**. Together, they elevate franchise lead management. **Why it matters for prospects** Prospective franchisees are making one of the biggest decisions of their lives. They don’t just want fast answers — they want reassurance that a brand is organised, reliable, and truly listening. - **Consistency** reduces confusion. Every email, text, or resource reinforces the same facts and values. - **Personalisation** makes prospects feel valued. Messages reference their questions, interests, or stage in the journey, without drifting off-brand. When communication balances both, candidates are more confident in the brand and more likely to continue the conversation. ## **Why it matters inside the organisation** Consistent and personalised messaging also helps teams work smarter. Marketing can prepare resources once, knowing they’ll always be used correctly. Sales can step into conversations already aligned with the prospect’s needs. Leadership gains confidence that candidates are having meaningful, brand-aligned interactions from day one. ### **How Candidate Coach Delivers the Difference** **Instant engagement that feels authentic** Candidate Coach responds to inquiries within seconds via SMS. But unlike traditional auto-responders, it doesn’t just send canned replies. It provides **branded, natural-sounding answers** that feel conversational and helpful. **Consistency across every touchpoint** Every message is aligned to the brand story, tone, and facts. Candidates never see conflicting timelines, resources, or claims. The experience feels unified no matter who they speak to next. **Personalisation at scale** Candidate Coach uses context from the candidate’s questions and stage in the journey to tailor responses. Instead of one-size-fits-all messaging, it shares relevant details and resources that match what the candidate cares about. **Seamless handoffs** By the time a candidate meets with development staff, Candidate Coach has already answered basic questions and shared the right resources. Sales teams step in with full visibility into the conversation history — so they can focus on building the relationship, not rehashing FAQs. ### **Why Speed + Consistency + Personalisation Win** - **Speed** captures attention. - **Consistency** builds trust. - **Personalisation** deepens engagement. Brands that deliver all three stand out in a crowded market. They move candidates through the funnel with confidence, shorten sales cycles, and ultimately close more deals. Candidate Coach was built to make this balance possible — automating what slows teams down while ensuring every candidate feels heard, supported, and aligned with the brand. **Conclusion** Franchise lead management is no longer just about being first to respond. Success comes from responding **fast, consistently, and in a way that feels personal**. Candidate Coach was designed to deliver that edge — combining instant SMS engagement with branded, personalised communication that scales. The result is stronger trust, higher conversions, and a development process that feels professional from the first touch to the final meeting. Ready to see how Candidate Coach can transform your lead management? Request a demo today. [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Best Practices --- ### [How Early Data and Franchise Analytics Become the Blueprint for Scalable Franchise Growth](https://www.franconnect.com/data-and-franchise-analytics/) **Published:** October 20, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Learn how early franchise analytics provide the blueprint for scalable growth. Discover the KPIs that matter most and how data drives smarter expansion. **Content:** In the beginning, instinct feels like enough. A founder knows their customers, understands their franchise model, and can sense when things are going well. That gut-level awareness works when there are only a few locations to watch over. But the picture changes quickly. At 10 or more units, patterns start to blur. Sales performance varies, openings run late, and some franchisees quietly drift away from brand standards. Without clear data, it becomes impossible to tell which problems are isolated and which signal a larger issue. This is why early data matters. The numbers you track in your first 10 units are more than reports. They become the blueprint for how well your system will scale at 25, 50, or 100 locations. With the right franchise analytics in place, you move from guessing to growing with confidence. ## **Why Early Data Matters More Than You Think** Many founders think structured data collection can wait until their brand is larger. At three or four locations, it feels easy enough to manage performance by memory or through quick conversations with franchisees. Spreadsheets seem to do the job. But growth introduces complexity fast. By the time you reach 10 or 15 locations, gut instinct is no longer reliable. A few late openings, small compliance gaps, or missed sales opportunities can snowball into costly setbacks. What feels like “a minor issue” at one store often signals a trend that could affect the entire network. Early data is powerful because it shapes the way you run your system from the start. The metrics you decide to track, and how you use them, become the foundation for smarter decision-making. In practice, they act like a blueprint, revealing patterns you can refine, risks you can prevent, and strengths you can scale. ## **The Core KPIs Emerging Brands Should Track** The goal is to focus on the numbers that reveal whether your franchise system is healthy and growing. For emerging brands, three KPIs stand out as the most important. ### **Franchise Sales Velocity** This measures how quickly prospects move through your development funnel, from first inquiry to signed agreement. Slow velocity often means leads are slipping through the cracks or that your process lacks structure. Faster velocity shows your sales engine is tuned and your pipeline is healthy. ### **Location Readiness** Every new unit needs to hit milestones on time: site approval, build-out, staffing, training, and opening. Tracking readiness ensures that stores open when they should and begin generating revenue as planned. Without it, openings get delayed, investors lose patience, and franchisees start questioning support. ### **Operational Compliance** Consistency is the hallmark of any strong franchise brand. Monitoring whether franchisees follow brand standards protects your customer experience and safeguards your reputation. Compliance data also helps you identify which owners need more support before problems spread. Together, these KPIs act as an early-warning system. They give you clarity on what’s working, where you’re falling behind, and where to direct your attention before small issues become system-wide challenges. ## **Making Franchise Analytics Accessible to Everyone** Collecting data is only the first step. The real value comes when the right people can see and act on it. Too often, early-stage franchises keep reports locked in spreadsheets or dashboards that only the founder reviews. That creates bottlenecks and slows decision-making. The smarter move is to give each stakeholder access to the metrics that matter most to them. Franchisees should see their compliance scores, training completion rates, and sales performance. Field consultants need visibility into how units are operating so they can coach owners and identify risks. Executives and founders benefit from roll-up dashboards that show system-wide health and trends across multiple locations. When data is shared this way, accountability improves. Decisions happen faster because no one is waiting for reports. Franchisees feel supported rather than monitored, because they can see exactly how their performance ties back to brand standards and growth goals. The result is a culture where data becomes a tool for improvement, not just a record of past performance. ## **The Competitive Advantage of Early Data Collection** Think of your first 10 units as more than new locations. They are a laboratory for your entire growth strategy. Each data point you collect during this stage tells a story about how your system performs in the real world. One franchise might notice that every delayed opening traces back to the same missed milestone in site readiness. By documenting the problem and adjusting their playbook, they cut future opening times by weeks. Another brand may discover that franchisees with higher early training completion rates consistently outperform others in first-year sales. That insight shapes how they prioritize onboarding for every new unit that follows. Patterns like these are only visible if you start measuring early. By the time you reach 25 or 50 locations, it is too late to recreate the data you missed. Brands that collect early insights build a roadmap for scalable growth, while those that delay often repeat the same mistakes at greater cost. Early data also builds credibility. Investors, prospective franchisees, and partners want proof that your system is working. Concrete numbers on sales velocity, readiness, and compliance demonstrate that you have more than passion. You have a business model that scales. ## **Building a Data Culture From the Start** For emerging brands, building a culture around data is less about technology and more about mindset. The goal is not to have the most advanced system. It is to create habits where numbers guide decisions at every level of the business. Start simple. A lightweight dashboard that tracks sales velocity, location readiness, and compliance is enough to provide clarity. Use it consistently so every new location opening or franchisee onboarding experience adds to the record of what works and what needs fixing. Make data part of every role. Franchisees should expect to review their compliance and training results. Field consultants should use performance numbers to coach owners, not just audit them. Executives should reference KPIs when setting goals or allocating resources. When everyone has visibility, accountability becomes shared. Encourage storytelling through data. Numbers are not just statistics. They are indicators of effort, execution, and outcomes. A spike in onboarding completion shows commitment. A dip in readiness scores signals where support is needed. Treating data as a narrative keeps teams engaged and invested in improvement. When data habits start early, they scale naturally. By the time your brand reaches 25 or 50 units, you are not scrambling to put systems in place. You already have a blueprint built on years of insight that guides decisions and fuels growth. ## **Start Collecting the Blueprint Today** Data is more than a set of numbers. For emerging franchises, it is the story of where your brand is headed. The insights you collect in your first 10 units become the blueprint for how well you scale at 25, 50, or even 100 locations. Brands that wait too long to build this foundation often repeat mistakes at greater cost. Brands that start early gain foresight, credibility, and a system that improves with every new opening. If you want to know which KPIs matter most and how to use them to build a franchise that grows with confidence, download *From One to Many: A Growth Guide for Emerging Franchise Brands*. It offers practical checklists and strategies to help you turn data into a clear roadmap for scalable success. [Download eBook](/content-downloads/franchise-growth-decoded/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Develop, Expand Locations, Open Locations Faster --- ### [Operational Excellence is The Catalyst Behind Multi-Location Success](https://www.franconnect.com/operational-excellence-is-the-catalyst-behind-multi-location-success/) **Published:** October 24, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Discover how operational excellence helps multi-location brands scale efficiently, empower teams, and deliver consistent customer experiences. **Content:** Maintaining consistency across every location is one of the biggest challenges growing brands face and the foundation for long-term success. As brands expand, keeping every location aligned becomes both the hardest and most essential part of growth. That’s where operational excellence comes in. Operational excellence is the discipline of building a business that runs reliably, efficiently, and profitably no matter how many locations, employees, or moving parts you manage. It works by creating systems that keep standards high, teams aligned, and performance predictable, even as you scale. It’s not a buzzword. Operational excellence is the framework that makes it possible. It’s a repeatable and scalable strategy for delivering reliable performance, strengthened teams, and measurable growth no matter how large your footprint gets. ![Operations Excellence Iceberg](https://www.franconnect.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Operations-Excellence-Iceberg-300x150.png "Operations Excellence Iceberg - FranConnect") ## **What Is Operational Excellence in Franchise Growth?** [Operational excellence](https://www.franconnect.com/en/solutions-overview/operational-excellence) is the continuous pursuit of improved efficiency, reliability, and effectiveness across all facets of the business. For multi-location brands, it means going beyond compliance to create systems and behaviors that drive quality, efficiency, and growth at scale. And when done right, the results are clear: - 20–30% decrease in revenue lost to operational inefficiencies - 25% improvement in compliance scores - 18–20% increase in unit-level economics At its core, operational excellence turns growth from a guessing game into a repeatable formula. When you create systems that blend visibility, accountability, and agility, every level of your organization becomes capable of improving performance and protecting profitability, no matter how fast you grow. With the right structure and visibility, multi-location brands can scale with confidence, knowing that every location delivers the same quality, efficiency, and experience. ### **Why Operational Excellence Matters** To be brief, customer expectations have changed. According to the survey, 73% of Americans are likely to abandon a brand after just one poor customer service experience. With nearly three-quarters of consumers now willing to abandon a brand when customer service is poor, patience for poor customer service by consumers is running perilously thin. Inconsistent service, missed standards, or disjointed processes can quickly erode trust in your brand. Operational excellence gives you the structure and visibility to prevent these bad experiences so every location delivers an experience your customers can count on. With the right systems in place, brands can: - Deliver consistent experiences at every location - Improve efficiency and reduce manual work - Empower frontline teams to take action - Scale faster without losing control When every location runs on the same proven playbook, operational chaos turns into clarity. The right systems give leaders real-time insight, frontline teams the confidence to act, and customers the consistent experience that keeps them coming back. #### **Common Roadblocks on the Path to Excellence** Even the best brands can get stuck when their systems don’t evolve with their growth. **Disconnected Systems** Training, quality, and performance tools often live in different platforms, or worse, spreadsheets and emails. Without a unified system, it’s nearly impossible to get a real-time view of operations. **Limited Visibility Across Locations** If you’re relying on customer complaints or monthly P&Ls to spot issues, you’re already behind. Without real-time insights, leaders can’t coach or course-correct effectively. **Inconsistent Onboarding and Training** Without standardized onboarding and continuous learning, new hires get mixed messages, or no training at all, leading to uneven performance and higher turnover. ### **The Four Pillars of Operational Excellence** Operational excellence doesn’t come from a single process. It’s built on four interconnected pillars that drive consistency, accountability, and performance across every location. **Pillar #1: Standardize Core Operations** Consistency starts with structure. Establish repeatable processes and clear expectations across every location using standardized checklists, SOPs, audits, and workflows. When every team follows the same playbook, execution improves and so does the customer experience. What it looks like: - Prebuilt digital audits and task lists - Centralized SOPs and operational documentation - Clear, repeatable processes for recurring activities **Pillar #2: Enable and Train Teams** Operational excellence depends on your people. Give teams the knowledge, tools, and support they need to perform. Role-based onboarding, microlearning, and ongoing coaching ensure every team member is confident and consistent from day one. What it looks like: - Digital onboarding tied to roles - Targeted microlearning modules - Field coaching and performance tracking **Pillar #3: Act on Data** Dashboards, location scorecards, and tools like [Frannie AI ](https://frannieai.com/)help you identify what’s working and what’s not. Instead of waiting for issues to appear in reviews or revenue reports, operators can catch problems early and act in real time. What it looks like: - Real-time performance dashboards - Automated alerts and follow-ups - Predictive insights to guide decision-making **Pillar #4: Close the Loop** Turn insights into action. Operational excellence relies on identifying problems and creating processes to solve them. By connecting audits, training, and performance data, you create a continuous improvement loop that strengthens your culture and results. What it looks like: - Evaluation results triggering targeted training - Trackable action plans and resolution workflows - A coaching-first culture, not a policing one Together, these four pillars create the structure every growing brand needs to scale with confidence. When they work together, teams know what’s expected, leaders see what’s happening in real time, and every location delivers the same dependable results. **The Journey Toward Operational Excellence** Every brand is somewhere on the journey toward operational excellence, and that journey rarely follows a straight line. It begins with foundational processes, often manual and inconsistent, where visibility is limited and leaders are forced to react to issues rather than anticipate them. As brands mature, they begin to introduce structure: digital checklists, standardized tools, and early efforts to unify operations. This responsive stage brings progress, but teams often still rely on lagging indicators and siloed systems that make it difficult to see the full picture. Momentum builds in the proactive stage, where systems start to integrate, data becomes central to decision-making, and coaching replaces correction as the dominant management style. Here, leaders begin to spot issues before they affect customers and operations shift from reactive to strategic. ![Ops Maturity Model](https://www.franconnect.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Ops-Maturity-Model-300x155.png "Ops Maturity Model - FranConnect") The final stage which we like to call, ‘optimized operations,’ is where operational excellence becomes a competitive advantage. Automation, AI, and predictive analytics work in the background to identify trends, streamline workflows, and continuously elevate performance. Quality, compliance, and growth move in lockstep, creating a self-sustaining culture of improvement. Most brands today fall somewhere between the foundational and proactive stages, working to connect fragmented tools, introduce visibility, and create consistency across locations. The goal isn’t overnight transformation, but a continuous, data-driven progress built on systems that adapt as you scale. What’s visible to customers are the results: consistent experiences, faster service, and stronger performance. But the real power lies beneath the surface in the invisible drivers that make those results possible. Automated workflows, connected training systems, and real-time insights turn operational data into measurable growth. These capabilities are what transform good brands into great ones and they’re the foundation of the [FranConnect platform](https://www.franconnect.com/en/request-a-demo/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=10313367740&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjL3HBhCgARIsAPUg7a7SWlBGcl_Y8bKY3rETP0ssfMmpVDHF2r-HXUMUk9P3hqgnfrsCsFQaAt0OEALw_wcB). **Ready to Build Your Own Path to Excellence?** As a Chief Operating Officer, you play a crucial role in shaping how your brand delivers, grows, and scales. On top of overseeing daily operations, our role includes driving efficiency, aligning processes with strategic goals, and ensuring the brand thrives in a constantly evolving industry. To help, we’ve created a free resource ‘The Operational Excellence Playbook for COOs.’ Inside, you’ll learn how leading brands use operational excellence to: - Drive efficiency and accountability across every location - Empower frontline execution - Align daily operations with long-term strategy Download this free playbook today to learn how to create systems that scale, empower teams to perform, and turn operational excellence into a lasting competitive advantage. [Download Now](/content-downloads/operations-excellence-ebook/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Ensure Quality, Improve Performance, Operate --- ### [What 850+ Brands Reveal About Franchise Growth and Scaling Smarter](https://www.franconnect.com/what-850-brands-reveal-about-franchise-growth-and-scaling-smarter/) **Published:** October 24, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** See how 850+ franchise systems grew 2x faster than the industry average through data-driven engagement, retention, and execution strategies. **Content:** Every year, franchise brands look for new ways to grow but not every brand grows the same way. While some expand aggressively through sales, others invest in the systems and relationships that help franchisees perform better over time. The question is no longer who’s selling more units, but who’s keeping them open and profitable. That question behind is [Franchise Growth Decoded](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kympzSCF9BQ0PdL-z_SzCxOVT_0XZ7Xi/view), our largest data analysis to date. Drawing on insights from over 850 franchise brands across industries, the study reveals what separates the fastest-growing franchise systems from the rest and the findings are redefining what sustainable growth looks like in 2026. ## **Why the Data Matters** For decades, the franchise industry has measured growth primarily by sales aka the number of new units opened each year. But sales alone don’t tell the full story. A brand can open hundreds of locations and still struggle with closures, disengaged operators, and inconsistent customer experiences. By analyzing 24 months of longitudinal data (2023–2024) from FranConnect’s anonymized customer base, this report looks deeper by connecting the dots between operational behavior and growth outcomes. Using [Frannie AI](https://frannieai.com/), FranConnect’s proprietary AI data analyst, FranConnect’s proprietary AI, the research identifies statistically significant patterns in how brands manage training, coaching, onboarding, and field support. The reasoning is simple: success in growth is not reliant on expansion alone. Retention, engagement, and execution must all be considered. ### **Engagement as a Growth Engine** One of the most striking findings in the report is the link between franchisee engagement and system-wide performance. Across all industries, engagement metrics surged. Course completions grew nearly 60%, document downloads rose 59%, and audit-focused visits doubled year over year. These trends reflect more than enthusiasm. They also signal a cultural shift. Franchisees are actively seeking guidance, structure, and resources to help them improve. Brands that meet this demand by investing in field coaching, ongoing training, and clear playbooks are reaping measurable rewards. In fact, highly engaged systems achieved 8.7% growth, compared to just 2.9% among low-engagement peers. Engagement creates alignment, and alignment fuels profitability. #### **The Retention Effect** Retention may not grab headlines like new sales, but its impact on performance is undeniable. The study found that termination rates dropped nearly 100 basis points in 2024, representing over 1,300 saved locations across the FranConnect cohort. That improvement alone accounted for a 22% lift in performance against the industry forecast. For large brands, improved retention was the single greatest contributor to outperformance. For emerging and mid-sized systems, it created breathing room that allowed resources once spent replacing lost franchisees to instead focus on expansion and optimization. In practical terms, retention isn’t just about keeping doors open. It’s about reinforcing confidence within the network. Every franchisee that stays and grows becomes a proof point for future development. **How Top Brands Are Outperforming the Market** The data confirms what the industry has long suspected but struggled to prove: operational discipline drives measurable growth. Brands leveraging integrated systems where franchisee training, communication, and performance are managed in one connected platform grew at twice the industry average (5.5% vs. 2.6%). **The Multi-Unit Reality** The data also highlights an accelerating reliance on multi-unit development as a growth strategy. More franchisors are awarding multiple territories to experienced operators, streamlining the sales process while expanding market presence more efficiently. However, this approach introduces new operational challenges. Multi-unit growth increases complexity, demanding deeper collaboration, stronger communication, and consistent performance management. Brands that succeed in this model invest heavily in onboarding systems, territory activation processes, and ongoing franchisee coaching. **What This Means for Franchise Leaders** Whether you’re leading a mature system or scaling an emerging brand, the message is clear: growth without execution is fragile. By focusing on engagement, retention, and operational alignment, you can accelerate expansion without sacrificing quality or control. These capabilities are what transform good brands into great ones and they’re the foundation of the [FranConnect platform](https://www.franconnect.com/en/request-a-demo/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=10313367740&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjL3HBhCgARIsAPUg7a7SWlBGcl_Y8bKY3rETP0ssfMmpVDHF2r-HXUMUk9P3hqgnfrsCsFQaAt0OEALw_wcB). As the franchise landscape becomes more complex, data-driven decision-making has become the new differentiator. The [Franchise Growth Decoded](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kympzSCF9BQ0PdL-z_SzCxOVT_0XZ7Xi/view) report offers a roadmap for navigating this shift grounded in evidence, not theory. Download the full report today to learn how 850+ franchise systems are redefining growth, increasing retention, and turning operational execution into measurable success. [Download Now](/content-downloads/franchise-growth-decoded/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Develop, Expand Locations, Open Locations Faster --- ### [How QSR Franchise Training Builds Consistency, Confidence, and Brand Success](https://www.franconnect.com/how-qsr-franchise-training-builds-consistency-confidence-and-brand-success/) **Published:** October 28, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Discover how QSR brands drive growth and protect their reputation through better franchise training and development. **Content:** In quick-service restaurants (QSR), the difference between good and great often comes down to one thing. *How well your people are trained.* Even the best marketing and management won’t matter if the team behind the counter isn’t confident, consistent, and equipped to deliver the brand promise. The main takeaway from this blog is that training isn’t just a box to check. Or at least it shouldn’t be treated as such. It *should* be the foundation of operational excellence. When done well, training creates alignment between corporate, franchisees, and frontline teams, ensuring that every guest experience meets the same high standard, no matter which location they visit. Let’s dive into how great QSR brands use training to strengthen culture, empower leaders, and protect their brand at every level. ## **Training Starts with the Right Foundation** We have already stated that training isn’t just a box to check. That’s not just us talking for the sake of meeting a word count. It’s the truth. The most successful franchise systems don’t treat training as an afterthought. They see it as the engine that drives growth. It begins with leadership that believes in developing people as much as developing profits. These brands understand that a well-trained team delivers better service, lower turnover, and higher performance. One multi-unit franchisee explained it best: “What drew me to certain brands was their commitment to people, strong leadership, clear communication, and a culture of support. They invested in training, mentorship, and accountability from the top down.” When training becomes part of the brand’s DNA, it builds trust. Employees feel confident in what’s expected of them, franchisees feel supported, and leadership gains visibility into how standards are executed in real time. Strong training systems prepare people for the job and they prepare them for growth. ## **Training Managers Who Lead, Not Just Supervise** Culture can be another buzzword thrown around to give micromanagers and over-supervisors a reason to critique every single movement a team member makes. Culture means little without execution and that depends on managers who can embody and reinforce it. In most franchise systems, the franchisee is responsible for training managers, but the best brands make it easy. They remove friction, encourage lifelong learning, and build a path for development. Training should be less about checking boxes and more about nurturing curiosity, accountability, and leadership growth. Great franchise systems should focus on training in who that manager could become next. A manager’s training shouldn’t stop after opening day. Continuous learning keeps teams adaptable and motivated, especially in high-turnover environments. The goal should be cultivating leaders who grow people, not just manage shifts. ## **Encouraging Franchisees to Take Ownership** Ultimately, responsibility for training and development sits with the franchisee. The best franchisors empower owners to lead well, providing frameworks and resources without removing autonomy. As franchise systems grow, maintaining consistent standards across locations becomes exponentially harder. Franchisees operate on the front lines. They see what’s working, what’s not, and how culture shows up in real time. The more ownership they take in training, development, and local decision-making, the stronger the brand becomes. When franchisees feel trusted to lead their teams and manage challenges independently, they’re more likely to stay engaged and solve problems even when corporate isn’t in the room. The most successful systems find the balance between structure and autonomy providing frameworks, support, and clear expectations, while allowing each operator to bring their personality and leadership style to the table. ### **Training as Brand Protection** You likely know firsthand that employee turnover is more than just a staffing issue. It directly impacts your franchise network’s bottom line. The average cost per hire is around $4,700, the cost to replace an employee can range from 6 to 9 months of their salary! With average franchise business services generating about $180,193 in sales per employee each year, losing even a single employee can result in substantial revenue loss. Good training is your brand’s safeguard. When frontline employees understand both how to do their job and why it matters, the brand experience becomes consistent, compliant, and customer-centric.Unless you give the frontline personnel the culture of the system, your brand’s going to suffer. Training reduces risk when done properly and the right documentation minimizes liability. Whether it’s handling food safely, greeting guests properly, or maintaining cleanliness, training protects both the guest experience and the brand reputation. ## **The Bottom Line** Every QSR brand is somewhere on the path toward management excellence and that journey is rarely linear. It starts with passionate leaders, loyal teams, and a willingness to roll up sleeves and solve problems on the fly. In these early stages, success often depends on individual effort. Managers react quickly, make things work, and learn hard lessons in real time. As brands grow, strong operators begin to build structure around their values. They standardize what works (training routines, communication habits, accountability rhythms) so great performance isn’t accidental. Managers evolve from doers to leaders, shifting focus from daily chaos to team development. The highest-performing brands reach a stage where excellence becomes culture. Leaders coach more than they correct. Franchisees take ownership of their teams’ success. And the brand experience feels consistent because everyone, from corporate to crew, understands what “great” looks like and takes pride in delivering it.. These capabilities are what transform good brands into great ones and they’re the foundation of the [FranConnect platform](https://www.franconnect.com/en/request-a-demo/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=10313367740&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjL3HBhCgARIsAPUg7a7SWlBGcl_Y8bKY3rETP0ssfMmpVDHF2r-HXUMUk9P3hqgnfrsCsFQaAt0OEALw_wcB). ## **Ready to Build Your Own Path to Excellence?** As a Chief Operating Officer, you play a crucial role in shaping how your brand delivers, grows, and scales. On top of overseeing daily operations, our role includes driving efficiency, aligning processes with strategic goals, and ensuring the brand thrives in a constantly evolving industry. To help, we’ve created a free resource ‘The Operational Excellence Playbook for COOs.’ Inside, you’ll learn how leading brands use operational excellence to: - Drive efficiency and accountability across every location - Empower frontline execution - Align daily operations with long-term strategy Download this free playbook today to learn how to create systems that scale, empower teams to perform, and turn operational excellence into a lasting competitive advantage. [Download Playbook Now](/content-downloads/coo-playbook/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Engage, Retain and Onboard Employees --- ### [How QSR Management Builds Growth, Consistency, and Culture at Scale](https://www.franconnect.com/how-qsr-management-builds-growth-consistency-and-culture-at-scale/) **Published:** October 28, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Discover how quick-service restaurants unlock business success through great QSR management and organizational culture. **Content:** In quick-service restaurants (QSR), the difference between good and great often comes down to one thing. Of course, the systems and processes matter but it’s the people behind the counter, in the kitchen, and leading each location that truly drive long-term success. The one thing we are talking about is culture. Your brand relies on more than just serving great fast food. There is more weight in systems that make sure every team member in every location consistently delivers an experience rooted in shared values and clear standards. With that, your culture pulls more weight than the brand name. For multi-unit operators and franchisees, building a great organization starts with choosing the right brand and cultivating the right people. Let’s dive into how QSRs unlock business success through great QSR management and organizational culture. ## **Culture Starts with Leadership** When you look at thriving franchise systems like Jersey Mike’s or Solo Salon,more than just the operational excellence stands out. What people really notice and flock to is the leadership and the culture curated them. Strong leadership inspires confidence from the top down, and it shows. That inspired confidence shows up in how executives engage with franchisees, how decisions are made, and how values are lived out daily. For many successful owners, that’s the deciding factor when choosing where to invest and grow. As one multi-unit franchisee explained: “What drew me to those brands were leadership, strong leadership in both brands, the culture of both brands. The philanthropy, especially in Jersey Mike’s, was huge for me… the CEO really took interest in their franchisees, spending time with you, and personalizing the transaction instead of just being another IFF they’re collecting.” After working with nearly 1,500 multi-location brands globally, it has become crystal clear that when leadership values people, franchisees feel it and it trickles down to every team member and guest interaction. ## **Leading Managers Who Build Alignment** Management is where strategy becomes reality. But in many QSRs, management still looks more like firefighting than leadership. It’s not that managers don’t care. it’s that they’re buried under competing priorities, disconnected systems, and the constant pressure to perform. Without clarity, alignment and the time to instill both, they default to supervising tasks instead of leading people. *Strong QSR management changes that.* It starts with clear expectations, consistent processes, and accountability that empowers rather than overwhelms. Great systems free managers from the daily grind so they can focus on coaching, performance, and guest experience, AKA the things that actually drive growth. In the best franchise systems, management excellence isn’t accidental. It’s built on structure, rhythm, and trust. Managers know what success looks like, how to measure it, and how their work ladders up to the brand’s larger goals. That’s how leadership grows. Not through control, but through clarity. ## **Encouraging Franchisees to Manage with Confidence** Even the best systems fail without empowered operators. Franchisees sit closest to the customer, and their ability to manage effectively determines how well brand standards are lived out at the local level. The best franchisors understand this and lead with partnership, not policing. They give franchisees the tools, insights, and freedom to run their business effectively while maintaining alignment with brand-wide goals. Ownership is powerful. When franchisees feel trusted to lead, to solve problems, coach teams, and make decisions within a clear framework, location quality rises and performance follows. The highest-performing QSR networks strike a balance with structure without suffocation. Corporate sets the playbook and trusts franchisees to call the plays. That combination builds consistency without killing creativity, and it’s what turns a good brand into a resilient one. ## **Strong Management Protects the Brand** Every decision a manager makes, every shift they run, and every interaction they have with staff and customers directly shapes the guest experience. Poor management leads to turnover, inconsistency, and missed revenue. It starts with passionate leaders and adaptable teams who do whatever it takes to make things work. In these early stages, success depends on hustle and heart. As brands grow, the best operators build structure around their values. They standardize what work so great performance isn’t accidental. Managers evolve from doers to developers, shifting their focus from managing tasks to leading people. At the highest level, excellence becomes culture. Leaders coach more than they correct. Franchisees take full ownership of their results. And the guest experience feels consistent because every team member, from corporate to crew, understands what “great” looks like and takes pride in delivering it.That’s what separates good brands from great ones and it’s the foundation of the [FranConnect platform](https://www.franconnect.com/en/request-a-demo/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=10313367740&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjL3HBhCgARIsAPUg7a7SWlBGcl_Y8bKY3rETP0ssfMmpVDHF2r-HXUMUk9P3hqgnfrsCsFQaAt0OEALw_wcB). ## **Ready to Build Your Path to Management Excellence?** As a Chief Operating Officer, you play a crucial role in shaping how your brand delivers, grows, and scales. You oversee daily performance, drive efficiency, and align teams to a shared vision, but management excellence doesn’t happen by chance. To help, we’ve created a free resource ‘The Operational Excellence Playbook for COOs.’ Inside, you’ll learn how leading brands use operational excellence to: - Drive efficiency and accountability across every location - Empower local management to execute with confidence - Align daily performance with long-term growth Download this free playbook today to learn how to create systems that scale, empower teams to perform, and turn operational excellence into a lasting competitive advantage. [Download Playbook Now](/content-downloads/coo-playbook/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Analytics, Develop --- ### [How to Get Franchisees to Actually Use The Hub](https://www.franconnect.com/how-to-get-franchisees-to-actually-use-the-hub/) **Published:** April 9, 2026 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** You've invested time, money, and considerable effort into building The Hub for your network. You know the information is there. You know it would make everyone's lives easier. And yet, franchisees keep calling, keep emailing, and keep asking questions that are already answered on the platform you built for them. **Content:** You’ve invested time, money, and considerable effort into building The Hub for your network. You know the information is there. You know it would make everyone’s lives easier. And yet, franchisees keep calling, keep emailing, and keep asking questions that are already answered on the platform you built for them. You’re not alone. This is one of the most common frustrations franchisors face — and the good news is that it’s solvable. The key is understanding that behavior change takes more than a great platform. It takes a deliberate strategy. **Here’s where to focus your energy.** - ## **Make It the Only Place with Answers to Questions Live** You can’t force franchisees to use The Hub, but you can make it the path of least resistance. As long as a quick call to head office gets the same result as logging in, many franchisees will take that shortcut — not out of stubbornness, but simply because it’s what they know. The shift happens when you stop answering the question directly and instead direct franchisees to where the answer already lives. Point them to the exact page, the specific document, the precise section of The Hub that has what they need. It takes discipline from your support team, but the message it sends is powerful: *The Hub is where answers are.* Do that consistently, and franchisees will start going there before they pick up the phone. - ## **Solve Their Most Painful Problems First** It’s tempting to populate The Hub with what’s easiest to publish. Resist that urge. The fastest way to build the habit of using The Hub is to make sure that the first time a franchisee turns to it in a moment of need, they find exactly what they’re looking for. Once you know what your franchisees need most, make those resources impossible to miss by organizing them into Categories. A well-structured set of Categories means franchisees can navigate straight to what they need without hunting around. If you haven’t seen Categories in action, ask your Customer Success Manager for a walk-through. It’s a game-changer. - ## **Communicate the Value, Not Just the Existence** Launching The Hub was a significant milestone, but a single announcement at launch will only carry you so far. Ongoing, evidence-based communication is what sustains momentum. When you can point to concrete outcomes — time saved, problems resolved, ideas that came from the network — share them. Franchisees respond to proof, not promises. Making the value visible and tangible gives those who haven’t yet fully engaged a genuine reason to reconsider, and it reinforces the habits of those who already have. **Build It for Them, Not for You** You built The Hub because you want your franchisees to succeed. The challenge is helping them see it the same way. With the right approach — making it indispensable, relevant, and rewarding to use — you can shift The Hub from something franchisees are expected to use to something they genuinely value. That shift is worth every bit of the effort it takes to get there. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Engage --- ### [From Reactive to Proactive: The New Standard for QSR Operational Excellence](https://www.franconnect.com/the-new-standard-for-qsr-operational-excellence/) **Published:** April 13, 2026 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** You've invested time, money, and considerable effort into building The Hub for your network. You know the information is there. You know it would make everyone's lives easier. And yet, franchisees keep calling, keep emailing, and keep asking questions that are already answered on the platform you built for them. **Content:** Five years ago, a bad meal at one location was a local problem. Today, a DoorDash order with missing items generates a public review, a chargeback, and a customer who switches to the competitor two blocks away. In the modern Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) industry, third-party delivery and mobile ordering have compressed the tolerance window. The food itself carries the entire brand experience. When that experience is inconsistent, there is no server smile or clean dining room to compensate. So, how do franchise networks with 20 to 300+ units close the gap between corporate standards and what actually happens on the line during a Friday dinner rush? ## The Problem with Lagging Indicators Your P&L tells you that food costs rose 3% last quarter. Your CSAT report says guest satisfaction dipped in the Southeast region. Both are true, and both are useless for deciding what to do tomorrow morning. By the time these numbers land on someone’s desk, the damage has cycled through thousands of transactions. The QSR operator reviewing a quarterly P&L is reading a history book, not an operations manual. To truly manage operations, brands must shift to **leading indicators**—like food safety audit completion rates, training module completions, and corrective action resolution times. These numbers predict where your lagging indicators will land next quarter. ## The Operations Maturity Model Most QSR brands fall into one of four stages of operational maturity: 1. **Foundational:** Manual tracking, minimal risk assessment, and reactive responses to issues. 2. **Responsive:** Consistent audits and mixed paper/digital records, but limited network visibility. 3. **Proactive:** Digital QA/QC, integrated training, and analytics that surface recurring issues. 4. **Optimized:** A single platform with real-time decisions and AI-driven insights to predict and prevent problems. The jump to *Proactive* is where the economics change. When a failed audit item automatically triggers a training assignment, and that training completion feeds into the next field visit checklist, the operator has a closed loop. ![](https://www.franconnect.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/QSR-Operational-Excellence-Maturity-Model.png) ## Turn Insights Into Action The QSR brands that will grow profitably over the next five years share a common trait: they treat operational data as a decision-making input, not a compliance artifact. They connect audit findings to training, training completion to field coaching, and field coaching outcomes to guest-facing metrics. Ready to see where your brand stands and how to level up your operations? **Download The Operational Excellence Playbook for Restaurant Franchise Brands today.** [Download Now](/content-downloads/operational-excellence-playbook-for-restaurant-franchise-brands/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Engage, Ensure Quality, Improve Performance, Operate --- ### [Drive-Thru Coffee Is the Fastest-Growing Segment in Franchising. Here's What the Winners Understand.](https://www.franconnect.com/drive-thru-coffee-is-the-fastest-growing-segment-in-franchising/) **Published:** April 27, 2026 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** In a traditional coffee shop, the experience is layered. Ambiance, service, the quality of the drink, the feel of the space — all of it contributes to why a customer comes back. There's room to recover from a slow day or an off interaction because the overall environment carries weight.  **Content:** Drive-thru coffee isn’t a trend. It’s becoming how people expect to get their coffee — and the numbers back it up. Dutch Bros reported same-store sales growth of 7.7% in Q4 2025, driven almost entirely by transaction volume, not price increases. 7 Brew surpassed 300 locations across 31 states in under a decade. Scooter’s Coffee is deliberately targeting secondary and tertiary markets — smaller cities and suburban corridors that major chains have overlooked — and building fierce loyalty there. Across the industry, drive-thru now accounts for 55% of coffee shop revenue, and that share is climbing. The brands leading this segment aren’t just picking good locations. They’ve figured out something more fundamental: drive-thru coffee is a different operating model than a traditional café, and the ones treating it that way are the ones pulling away. ## **Speed is the product** In a traditional coffee shop, the experience is layered. Ambiance, service, the quality of the drink, the feel of the space — all of it contributes to why a customer comes back. There’s room to recover from a slow day or an off interaction because the overall environment carries weight. In a drive-thru, the product is speed. A customer pulls in, orders, pays, and leaves — often in under two minutes. That single interaction, repeated hundreds of times a day, is the entire brand experience. There’s no atmosphere to compensate for a slow line. No table to linger at if the first impression falls flat. So throughput — seconds per car — becomes the metric that drives everything: staffing decisions, equipment layout, menu design, training priorities. Every person has to be in the right position, executing the same way, every shift. One bottleneck affects every car behind it. Dutch Bros has built their entire brand around getting this right. Their loyalty program now accounts for 73% of total transactions — nearly three quarters of their customers have built Dutch Bros into their daily routine. That kind of loyalty isn’t won with a good drink. It’s won with a fast, friendly experience that feels exactly the same whether it’s your first visit or your hundredth. ## **New markets don’t give you a long runway** The other thing that makes drive-thru operationally distinct is what happens when you open somewhere the brand is unknown. A café entering a new market can build gradually. Word of mouth, foot traffic, the slow accumulation of regulars — there’s time to find your footing. A drive-thru doesn’t work that way. The first few weeks set the unit’s trajectory. Customers who pull through and hit a slow, disorganized line move on. In smaller markets — where Scooter’s is doing some of its best work — a rocky opening travels fast. This is why Scooter’s strategy of saturating secondary markets with multiple locations is smart, but it only works if each location runs well from day one. You’re not building brand awareness through a flagship and letting it spread organically. You’re building it through every unit, all at once. Dutch Bros opened 154 new locations in a single year — including in states where nobody had heard of them — and still hit a record average unit volume of $2.1 million. That’s not luck. That means you have to run every opening the same way, whether it’s your 10th location or your 150th. The market is new. The playbook can’t be. ## **The infrastructure behind the window** What separates the drive-thru operators pulling away from the pack isn’t the coffee. It’s the infrastructure behind the window. When you’re opening locations at that pace, in markets you’ve never operated in, a lot can go wrong quietly. A franchisee who isn’t quite ready. A compliance step that gets skipped in the rush to open. A unit that’s three weeks in and already running slower than it should be, but nobody at the home office knows yet. The brands getting this right have figured out how to keep the whole system tight even as it grows — opening workflows that work the same way every time, field operations that surface problems early, franchisee support that doesn’t depend on someone picking up the phone. Not because they’re being cautious, but because that consistency is exactly what makes the growth possible. The opportunity in drive-thru coffee is real, and it’s far from over. The brands that understand they’re running a different kind of business — and operate accordingly — are the ones who’ll still be growing when everyone else is trying to figure out what went wrong. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Improve Performance --- ### [When Your Brand Is for Sale, Operations Are the Only Currency That Matters](https://www.franconnect.com/when-your-brand-is-for-sale-operations-are-the-only-currency-that-matters/) **Published:** May 4, 2026 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** A high-profile brand sale is a wake-up call for every franchise system. Here’s what the data says — and what franchisees should do right now. By the time a parent company puts a brand up for sale, the damage is already visible in the numbers. It rarely happens overnight.   **Content:** A high-profile brand sale is a wake-up call for every franchise system. Here’s what the data says — and what franchisees should do right now. By the time a parent company puts a brand up for sale, the damage is already visible in the numbers. It rarely happens overnight. It shows up in: - declining same-store sales - widening performance gaps between locations - growing inconsistency across the system But those are symptoms—not the cause. The real issue is the collapse of operational consistency. And by the time it’s visible at the top line, it’s already deeply embedded across the network. ## **What “Brand Health” Actually Means at the Unit Level** When an analyst describes a brand is in decline, they’re describing an aggregate. But that aggregate is built location by location, franchisee by franchisee, audit by audit. Brand health in a franchise system isn’t a marketing problem. It’s an operational one. It lives in: - **Field visit scores**— Are franchisees meeting brand standards consistently, or is there variance you’ve stopped addressing? - **Compliance trends over time** — Is the system getting better, holding steady, or quietly deteriorating quarter over quarter? - **Corrective action follow-through** — When issues are flagged during an audit, are they resolved — or do they recur? - **Franchisee engagement signals**— Are operators showing up, submitting data, responding to coaching? Disengagement precedes underperformance by months. FranConnect’s 2025-2026 Franchise Sales Index found that across 47,306 field visits, the system-wide brand compliance rate was 91.4%. That number matters — but what matters more is the \*distribution\* behind it. A 91% average can mask a tail of chronically non-compliant locations that are eroding the brand for everyone else in the system. The franchisors who catch that tail early are the ones who don’t end up in a turnaround conversation five years later. ## **The Audit Trail Is the Early Warning System** The struggles of a large franchise don’t begin in the year a sale is announced. When underperformance is flagged, locations are closed, and strategic directives are issued repeatedly over several years, the pattern is familiar: centralized recognition of a problem, followed by slow-moving systemic response, followed by outcomes that require bold external action. The franchisors who avoid that pattern share a common discipline: they treat their field operations data as a leading indicator, not a lagging one. That means: - **Structured, consistent visit cadences**. Ad hoc field visits generate snapshots. Scheduled, structured audits with standardized scorecards generate trends. Trends are actionable. Snapshots are not. - **Scoring that surfaces risk, not just compliance**. A pass/fail audit tells you who met the minimum. A weighted scorecard with category-level scoring tells you which locations are drifting — and in which specific areas — before the drift becomes a problem. - **Closed-loop corrective action**. The visit isn’t the intervention. The follow-up is. Systems that log issues without tracking resolution are producing paperwork, not accountability. Every unresolved finding is a risk that compounds. - **Portfolio-level visibility**. Individual franchisee performance is table stakes. The real operational intelligence comes from pattern recognition across the portfolio — which regions are underperforming, which franchisee cohorts are disengaged, which standards are being consistently missed system-wide. ## **Your Brand Equity Is an Operational Asset** A franchise brand is not its logo, its menu, or its marketing. It is its operational infrastructure — the systems that enforce standards, drive franchisee performance, and protect brand equity across every location, every day. A brand with strong field operations data, high compliance rates, documented corrective action loops, and engaged franchisees is a fundamentally stronger brand than one without those things. The former commands loyalty, pricing power, and growth. The latter is always one bad quarter away from a turnaround conversation. For franchisors not contemplating a sale, the same logic applies. Your brand’s equity is built or eroded visit by visit, location by location. The systems you use to monitor, measure, and act on field performance are not back-office overhead — they are the operational foundation of everything the brand is worth. ## **Three Things Every Franchisor Should Do** Whether you’re watching a competitor’s situation unfold or simply running a tighter operation, the fundamentals don’t change. The current environment offers clear directives: 1. Audit your audit process.** When did you last review your scorecard categories against current brand standards? Are your field team visit frequencies sufficient? Are you capturing the right signals — food quality, speed of service, customer experience, facility condition — or are you measuring what’s easy to measure? 2. **Treat compliance trends as a board-level metric.** Compliance scores belong in the same conversation as same-store sales and franchisee satisfaction. A brand that is losing compliance ground in a particular region or across a particular franchisee cohort is experiencing a leading indicator of financial underperformance. Surface it early. 3. **Close the loop on corrective action — systematically.** Every open finding from a field visit that doesn’t have a resolution date, an owner, and a follow-up scheduled is a liability. Build the workflow so that no finding ages past 30 days without a documented status update. That discipline alone separates high-performing franchise systems from the ones that find themselves in crisis. ### **The Bottom Line** The story of a franchise brand put up for sale is, at its core, a story about what happens when a franchise system loses the operational thread — when the gap between brand standard and brand reality widens gradually, then suddenly. The franchisors who avoid that outcome aren’t the ones with the best marketing or the most innovative menu. They’re the ones who never stopped treating field operations as a strategic priority — who invested in the systems, the cadences, and the accountability structures to keep every location performing to brand. In a competitive environment that is punishing inconsistency and rewarding operational excellence, that discipline isn’t optional. It’s the difference between a brand that grows and a brand that gets sold. [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Analytics, Best Practices, Improve Performance --- ### [Beyond Compliance: My Takeaways from the Food Safety Summit 2026](https://www.franconnect.com/my-takeaways-from-the-food-safety-summit-2026/) **Published:** May 20, 2026 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** If you've been to the Food Safety Summit before, you know the energy is always good. But this year was different. A much larger crowd than the last few years, packed session rooms, and a buzz on the floor that felt less like an industry conference and more like an inflection point. Something is shifting in food safety.   **Content:** If you’ve been to the Food Safety Summit before, you know the energy is always good. But this year was different. A much larger crowd than the last few years, packed session rooms, and a buzz on the floor that felt less like an industry conference and more like an inflection point. Something is shifting in food safety. I came to Chicago representing Rizepoint by FranConnect, hosting a booth and presenting a session titled *Beyond Compliance: Unlocking the Business Value Hidden in Your Food Safety Program.* But honestly, some of the most valuable moments happened in the conversations between sessions — at the booth, in the hallways, and on the innovation floor. ## **What people were talking about** The usual suspects of themes were prevalent this year, Traceability, Pathogen Detection, Predictive Risk indicators, but so many of the conversations at our booth were consistent enough to feel like a signal. Budget pressure was everywhere — operators doing more with less, trying to justify spending to leadership that doesn’t always understand what a well-run food safety program protects. This wasn’t a fringe concern. It came up in nearly every conversation. At the same time, AI and automation were on nearly every attendee’s mind — and not in a theoretical way. People were actively evaluating tools, asking hard questions of vendors, and in many cases already mid-transition off legacy systems. The tech stack rethink is well underway across the industry. What struck me most was who was having these conversations. This wasn’t just food safety managers and QA coordinators. Senior leaders were on the floor, at the sessions, asking the same question in different ways: *how do we make this program work harder for the business?* That question — more than any single session or product demo — defined the mood of the summit. ## **What the innovation floor reflected** The technology on display reinforced exactly what we were hearing at the booth. AI-powered audit tools, predictive risk scoring, real-time monitoring feeding directly into corrective action workflows — the platforms have matured well beyond documentation. The best solutions on the floor were insight engines, built to surface business value already living inside your safety data. What I recognized is that if your food safety platform is still primarily a record-keeping tool, the summit made one thing clear: the gap between where the industry is heading and where some programs still sit is widening. The operators who were asking the sharpest questions at our booth weren’t the ones falling behind in them, they were the ones who already knew it was time to move. ## **The bigger shift** What made this year’s summit feel different wasn’t any single announcement or keynote. It was the collective energy of an industry that is done treating food safety as a back-office function. The conversation has moved. Food safety leaders are showing up as risk managers, as business partners, as people who understand that a well-run program doesn’t just protect consumers — it protects brand equity, enables revenue, and reduces exposure in ways that belong in the boardroom, not just the compliance report. That’s the conversation Rizepoint was built for. And if the summit was any indication, the rest of the industry is ready to have it too. See you at the booth next year. ### ***Want to see how FranConnect and RizePoint can benefit your brand? Schedule a demo now!*** [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Ensure Quality, Improve Performance, Operate --- ### [What QSR Brands Get Wrong About Scaling (and the Framework That Fixes It)](https://www.franconnect.com/restaurant-franchise-quality-management/) **Published:** May 22, 2026 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** A five-pillar QMS framework helps restaurant franchise brands maintain quality and consistency as they scale from 25 to 300+ locations. **Content:** ## **Why Scaling Breaks What Used to Work in Restaurant Franchising** The operational model that works at 20 locations relies on proximity and personal relationships. Founders visit stores. Regional managers know every GM by name. Training happens through apprenticeship: watch, learn, repeat. Compliance is maintained through presence, not process. Scale eliminates proximity. At 100 locations across multiple states, the COO cannot visit every store quarterly. Regional managers oversee 15 to 20 units instead of 8. New franchisees onboard faster than the support team can absorb them. The franchise system grows, but the operating infrastructure stays the same size: the same spreadsheets tracking compliance, the same email chains relaying audit findings, the same patchwork of disconnected point solutions that were never built to talk to each other. The result is what operational leaders describe as “drift.” Standards still exist on paper. Training manuals sit on shelves. Audit forms are filled out. But the connection between what the brand expects and what happens on the shift floor loosens with each new unit. According to the [International Franchise Association](https://www.franchise.org), the U.S. franchise sector now includes more than 832,000 establishments generating $907 billion in annual economic output. At that scale, even small inconsistencies compound into significant brand risk. The problem is rarely that operators don’t know the standard. The problem is that no single system connects the standard to the training, the training to the verification, and the verification to the coaching that closes the loop. ## **The Real Cost of Operating Without a Quality Management System** Franchise leaders tend to underestimate the cost of fragmented operations because the damage is gradual. No single incident triggers an alarm. Instead, a pattern of small misses accumulates: a greeting that doesn’t happen, a sanitation check that gets skipped during a rush, a corrective action that sits in someone’s email for two weeks. These are not knowledge gaps. The team knows what to do. These are system gaps, places where the operating rhythm breaks down because the tools don’t connect. The audit finds a problem in one system. The training record lives in another. The follow-up task gets assigned in a third. The manager who needs to act never sees the full picture. The cost shows up in places that are hard to attribute to a single cause: higher turnover at underperforming locations, declining guest satisfaction scores that don’t match the investment in marketing, insurance claims that spike in regions where field visit frequency dropped. For a COO managing 150 locations, the operational tax of disconnected systems is not a line item on a P&L. The cost is buried in every other line item. The franchisee feels this cost differently. A new operator who invested their savings into the brand gets conflicting guidance from three different systems, finishes onboarding without confidence that they’re running the business correctly, and wonders whether the support they were promised actually exists. An experienced franchisee watches standards slip in the location next door and knows it reflects on every operator in the market. When the operating system is fragmented, the people closest to the guest carry the burden of making sense of it. Franchise brands that [maintain brand standards at scale](https://www.franconnect.com/en/operational-excellence-is-the-catalyst-behind-multi-location-success/) recognize a pattern: the cost of staying on a fragmented system grows with every unit added. What felt manageable at 40 locations becomes unsustainable at 120. ## **What a Restaurant Franchise Quality Management System Actually Is** A Quality Management System is not a piece of software, not a checklist program, and not an audit schedule. A QMS is the collection of leadership habits, operational standards, training rhythms, verification processes, data systems, and recognition practices that keep every shift running to the brand’s standard: the operating architecture that turns expectations into daily action and daily action into measurable, predictable results. The distinction matters because most franchise brands already have the individual pieces. They have training programs. They have audit forms. They have data dashboards. What they lack is the integration: the system that connects a missed standard to a coaching conversation to a training update to a follow-up verification, all visible to the people who need to act. A QMS closes that loop. It makes quality a continuous process, not a periodic event. And it does this across every location in the network, regardless of how far that location sits from the home office. ## **The Five Pillars of a Restaurant Franchise Quality Management Framework** The framework that separates high-performing restaurant franchise networks from the rest rests on five connected pillars. Each pillar addresses a specific operational gap that widens as the network grows. Together, they form the system that raises the floor across every location. ### **Pillar 1: Leadership Habits That Drive Consistency** The strongest franchise locations share a common trait: their managers run the shift with a repeatable set of habits, not heroic individual effort. These habits include pre-shift readiness checks, real-time observation during service, immediate coaching when a standard slips, and structured post-shift review. At 25 locations, these habits might develop organically through strong hiring. At 150 locations, they must be trained, measured, and reinforced as a system. The best-performing GMs don’t look like “naturals.” They look like operators who follow a rhythm. ### **Pillar 2: Onboarding as the QMS Entry Point** Every new team member silently asks three questions in their first week: Does this place make sense? Do I matter here? Will anyone help me succeed? They answer those questions based on the lived experience of the shift, not the paperwork. A structured onboarding system delivers five outcomes by Day 30: clarity (they know the standard), confidence (they’ve had guided reps), connection (they know who to ask), cadence (they join the operational rhythms naturally), and consistency (they hit the lead behaviors tied to their role). In an industry where the [National Restaurant Association](https://www.restaurant.org/research-and-media/research/research-reports/state-of-the-industry/) identifies workforce development as a strategic priority for 2026, structured onboarding is not a nice-to-have. Onboarding is the first test of whether your brand delivers on its own culture. ### **Pillar 3: The Closed-Loop Training and Audit Cycle** Training teaches. Audits measure. But on their own, neither drives lasting improvement. Training without verification fades within weeks. Audits without coaching frustrate operators who feel inspected but not supported. The fix is integration: a closed loop where every miss becomes a teachable moment. The cycle has four steps: Observe (identify a gap through an audit or manager review), Train (deliver targeted coaching tied directly to the issue), Verify (confirm the behavior change on the next visit), and Recognize (acknowledge and reinforce the improvement). When audits and training are connected in a single system, improvements compound. Misses trigger coaching, not just citations. Progress becomes visible in real time. ### **Pillar 4: Data That Drives Action, Not Just Dashboards** Most franchise operators don’t resist data. They resist how it’s delivered. When data lives in disconnected systems, arrives too late, or requires analysis that operators don’t have time to perform, it becomes noise. A QMS simplifies data into actionable lead measures: the controllable daily behaviors that predict success. Instead of tracking lag measures like same-store sales or guest complaint rates (which tell you what already happened), the system surfaces lead measures like greet times, sanitation check completion, ticket pacing, and staffing versus demand. Dashboards become scoreboards visible to the whole team. Everyone knows the score. Everyone owns the outcome. Franchise brands that shift from lag to lead measures stop chasing outcomes and start [making stores more operationally efficient](https://www.franconnect.com/en/how-qsr-management-builds-growth-consistency-and-culture-at-scale/) by fixing the behaviors that create those outcomes. ### **Pillar 5: Food Safety Maturity** Food safety leaves no room for error. One lapse can undo years of brand trust. Yet many restaurant franchise brands still operate in compliance mode: checking boxes instead of building habits. A QMS moves the brand through four stages of food safety maturity. Stage 1 (Reactive and Paper-Based): compliance depends on inspectors, and logs are completed after the fact. Stage 2 (Standardized and Audited): processes exist, but audits catch issues without changing behavior. Stage 3 (Proactive and Digital): data surfaces risks early and triggers targeted follow-ups. Stage 4 (Predictive and Cultural): food safety becomes instinctive, and risks are addressed before they reach the guest. The [CDC estimates](https://www.cdc.gov/food-safety/php/data-research/foodborne-illness-burden/index.html) that foodborne illnesses affect nearly 10 million Americans annually, a number that highlights the operational and reputational stakes for brands that stay stuck in Stages 1 or 2. Brands that reach Stage 4 earn lasting guest trust, and trust scales. ## **How the Quality Management Loop Drives Continuous Improvement** Of the five pillars, the closed-loop cycle deserves deeper attention because it is the operational engine that connects everything else. Without this loop, leadership habits stay aspirational, onboarding improvements don’t stick, and data sits in dashboards that nobody acts on. Consider a concrete example. A field operations manager visits Location 47 and observes greet times running 40 seconds over the brand standard during the lunch rush. In a traditional audit-based system, that observation goes into a report. The report is emailed to the franchisee. The franchisee may or may not address it before the next quarterly visit. The issue persists because the cycle never closed. In a functioning QMS, the sequence is compressed. The observation triggers a targeted coaching module for the GM at Location 47, specific to rush-period greet protocols. The system schedules a verification check in 14 days, timed to land on a Thursday lunch rush so the field manager sees the behavior under real conditions. On that follow-up, the field manager confirms greet times are back within standard. The GM gets recognized for the correction. The entire sequence, from gap identification to verified improvement, happens in two weeks instead of drifting for three months. Now multiply that across 100 locations. Each cycle raises the floor slightly higher. A brand running 50 of these micro-corrections per month across its network is not just fixing individual problems. The brand is building an operational metabolism where improvement is continuous and self-reinforcing. That compounding effect is the difference between a brand that operates reactively and one that operates predictably. ## **Lead Measures vs. Lag Measures: Why Most Franchise Dashboards Show the Wrong Numbers** A common frustration for franchise COOs: the data exists, but it doesn’t change behavior. Monthly same-store sales reports tell you what happened. Guest complaint summaries arrive after the guest has already left a one-star review. Compliance scorecards capture a snapshot of a single visit that may not represent the other 29 days of the month. These are lag measures. They describe outcomes. They are important for reporting and trend analysis. But they are useless for daily operational management because by the time you see them, the moment to act has passed. ### **What the Lag-to-Lead Shift Looks Like in Practice** A regional director reviews the monthly report and sees that Location 22 dropped 8% in same-store sales. She flags it in the next operations meeting. The team speculates about causes: new competitor nearby, staffing turnover, maybe a seasonal dip. By the time they investigate, six weeks have passed and the location has lost another month of revenue. Now consider the same location with lead measures visible in real time. The GM checks the daily scoreboard and sees that line reset completion dropped from 94% to 71% over the past five days. Ticket pacing slowed by 22 seconds on average. He traces it to two new hires who haven’t completed the rush prep module. He schedules the training, and within a week, line resets are back above 90% and ticket times recover. The lag measure never dips because the lead measures caught the problem while it was still fixable. Lead measures are the daily, controllable behaviors that predict those outcomes. In a restaurant franchise context, they include greet time (are guests acknowledged within the brand standard?), line reset completion (is the kitchen set up correctly before each rush?), sanitation check frequency (are checks happening on schedule or only before an audit?), staffing accuracy (does the schedule match projected demand?), and ticket pacing (are orders moving at the expected speed?). The shift from lag to lead measures changes how operators think about their day. Instead of reviewing last month’s numbers and trying to figure out what went wrong, they look at today’s scoreboard and adjust in real time. A [franchise management platform](https://www.franconnect.com/en/licensing-software/) that surfaces lead measures at the location level gives every GM the same visibility that used to require a regional manager standing in the kitchen. Brands that make this shift consistently see results. Franchise networks using unified operations platforms have reported up to 32% improvement in brand standard compliance and 65% reduction in site visit administrative time, freeing field teams to spend time coaching instead of collecting data. ## **From Compliance to Culture: The Four Stages of Food Safety Maturity** Food safety is the pillar where the gap between compliance and culture creates the most risk. A brand can pass every health inspection and still have a food safety problem if the behavior between inspections depends on individual memory rather than operational habit. The four-stage maturity model provides a diagnostic framework for where your brand sits and what it takes to move up. At Stage 1 (Reactive and Paper-Based), compliance depends entirely on inspectors and individual managers. Logs are completed after the fact, often from memory. Problems are discovered when something goes wrong, not before. Most brands start here. At Stage 2 (Standardized and Audited), the brand has written processes and a formal audit program. Audits catch issues. But audits alone don’t change behavior. The same problems recur because the system identifies gaps without triggering a coaching response. Many established brands plateau at this stage. At Stage 3 (Proactive and Digital), data begins to drive prevention. Digital monitoring surfaces risks early: a cooler temperature trending upward before it crosses the threshold, a sanitation check pattern that shows declining frequency at specific locations. Targeted follow-ups happen before the issue becomes a violation. The system catches problems proactively instead of reactively. At Stage 4 (Predictive and Cultural), food safety becomes instinctive. The habits are embedded in daily operations so deeply that the team acts correctly not because someone is watching, but because the rhythm of the shift makes it automatic. Risks are addressed before they reach the guest. The brand doesn’t just comply with food safety requirements. It has built a culture where food safety is how the team operates, not what they do when the inspector arrives. Moving from Stage 2 to Stage 3 is the transition that creates the most operational impact, and it requires connecting food safety data to the closed-loop training cycle. A digital audit that triggers coaching, tracks the behavior change, and verifies the result on the next visit is the mechanism that turns compliance into culture. ## **The Brand Promise Is an Operations Outcome** Marketing makes the promise. Operations keeps it. Guests don’t experience your training modules, your audit tools, or your compliance checklists. They experience the calm, consistent execution those systems produce. They feel whether the brand is “always on it” or always unpredictable. A clean restaurant, a fast greeting, a correctly prepared order: these are the moments where the brand promise is either confirmed or broken, shift by shift, location by location. A franchisee considering your brand doesn’t evaluate your marketing. They evaluate your system. Can I run this successfully? Will I get the support I need? Is this brand organized enough to protect my investment? The operational system is the product. Franchise networks that recognize this have seen up to 42% increases in first-year franchisee performance, not because they recruited better candidates, but because the system they handed those candidates was built to produce consistent results. The QMS framework is not about perfection. No franchise network operates at 100% across every location on every shift. The framework is about raising the floor: creating a system where the distance between your best location and your worst shrinks with every cycle of observation, training, verification, and recognition. When the floor rises, every location becomes easier to run and easier to grow. The brands that scale successfully are the ones that stop asking “How do we grow faster?” and start asking “How do we make every location run like our best one?” The answer is never more effort. The answer is better systems. For a deeper look at the five-pillar framework, including implementation playbooks and stage-by-stage maturity models, download the full ebook: [Raising the Floor Across Every Location: A Quality Management System for Restaurant Franchising](https://www.franconnect.com). ### **Want to find out how to ensure quality and measure compliance at your brand? Book a Consultation Now!** [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) ## **Frequently Asked Questions** **What is a Quality Management System for restaurant franchises?**A Quality Management System for restaurant franchises is the integrated collection of leadership habits, onboarding processes, training and audit cycles, data systems, and food safety practices that keep every location running to the brand’s standard. Unlike standalone audit programs or training platforms, a QMS connects these elements in a closed loop so that gaps identified in one area trigger coaching, verification, and reinforcement across the system. The goal is not periodic compliance but continuous, measurable improvement across the entire network. **How does a franchise QMS differ from a standard audit program?**A standard audit program measures compliance at a point in time. A QMS uses audit findings as the starting point for a continuous improvement cycle. In a QMS, every audit observation triggers targeted coaching, the coaching is followed by verification on the next visit, and improvements are recognized and reinforced. The audit becomes one step in a loop rather than an endpoint. This distinction matters because audit programs alone identify gaps without closing them, which is why the same issues tend to recur across audit cycles. **At what point does a restaurant franchise brand need a formal QMS?**Most restaurant franchise brands begin to feel the need for a formal QMS between 25 and 75 locations. At that growth stage, the informal systems that worked earlier, founder presence, personal relationships with every GM, training through apprenticeship, begin to break down under the weight of geographic spread and operational complexity. The signal is not usually a single dramatic failure. The signal is accumulated friction: inconsistent execution across regions, audit findings that repeat quarter after quarter, and field teams spending more time collecting data than coaching operators. **What are lead measures in restaurant franchise operations?**Lead measures are the daily, controllable behaviors that predict operational outcomes. In a restaurant franchise context, common lead measures include greet time, sanitation check completion, line reset execution, ticket pacing, and staffing accuracy versus projected demand. Lead measures differ from lag measures (like same-store sales or guest complaint rates) because they can be acted on in real time. A team that tracks lead measures can adjust during the shift, while a team that only sees lag measures is always reacting to what already happened. **How does a QMS improve food safety across multiple franchise locations?**A QMS improves food safety by moving the brand from reactive compliance to proactive and eventually predictive food safety culture. Instead of relying on periodic inspections to catch problems after the fact, a QMS connects digital monitoring, real-time data, and the closed-loop training cycle so that food safety risks are identified and addressed before they reach the guest. The four-stage food safety maturity model (Reactive, Standardized, Proactive, Predictive) provides a framework for measuring progress. Brands that reach the proactive and predictive stages see fewer violations, faster corrective action, and food safety behaviors that become habitual rather than inspector-dependent. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Ensure Quality, Improve Performance, Operate --- ### [The Real Cost of "Good Enough" in Restaurant Franchising](https://www.franconnect.com/real-cost-good-enough-restaurant-franchising/) **Published:** May 22, 2026 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** "Good enough" operational standards cost restaurant franchise brands more than they think. Here is what inconsistency costs and how brands build accountability at scale. **Content:** ## **“Good Enough” Is the Most Expensive Operating Standard in Restaurant Franchising** The phrase “good enough” rarely appears in a brand’s operating manual. Nobody writes it into the standard operating procedures. Yet it becomes the de facto standard whenever the systems designed to maintain restaurant franchise operational consistency can’t keep pace with growth. At 25 locations, operational inconsistency is visible and manageable. A founder or operations VP can identify problems through direct observation, address them in person, and course-correct within days. The informal feedback loops are short enough that underperforming locations get pulled back into alignment before the gap becomes structural. At 75 locations, those informal loops break down. Regional managers carry portfolios of 15 to 20 units. Field visits happen quarterly instead of monthly. The information that used to travel through a quick phone call now has to pass through three layers of reporting before reaching anyone who can act on it. “Good enough” locations stop getting corrected. They become the benchmark. At this inflection point, restaurant franchise operational consistency stops being a function of individual effort and becomes a function of system design. The COO who could once solve problems by walking the floor now needs systems that surface problems across 75, 100, or 200 locations simultaneously. The brands that recognize this invest in operational infrastructure: unified platforms that connect training records, audit data, and real-time performance metrics in a single view. The brands that don’t recognize it double down on the same playbook that worked at 30 locations, expecting different results at 150. ## **How Small Compromises Compound Across a Restaurant Franchise Network** A single location running two minutes slow on average ticket time is a coaching conversation. Forty locations running two minutes slow across three dayparts is a brand-level operational failure that costs real revenue every week. The compounding effect of small compromises is the defining operational challenge for restaurant franchise brands in growth mode. Each individual variance looks minor in isolation: a slightly modified prep sequence at one store, an abbreviated training module at another, a food safety log completed retroactively instead of in real time. None of these trigger an alarm. All of them, repeated across dozens or hundreds of locations, erode the consistency that guests expect and franchisees signed up to deliver. ### **Why Variance Accelerates with Scale** The math is straightforward. A brand at 30 locations with a 5% variance in brand standard compliance has a manageable spread between its best and worst performers. The same 5% variance at 200 locations means the bottom quartile is operating at a fundamentally different standard than the top quartile. The spread isn’t just wider; it’s structurally embedded. Locations in the bottom quartile develop their own operational habits, train new hires to those habits, and pass audits by the thinnest margins. Over time, the brand effectively runs two operating models under one name. ### **The Disconnected Systems Problem** The compounding gets worse when the tools designed to prevent it don’t communicate with each other. If audits live in one system, training completion records in another, and corrective action tracking in a spreadsheet, the connection between a failed audit item and the training gap that caused it never closes. Operators spend time on rework: re-auditing, re-training, re-explaining the same standards that slipped because nobody could see the pattern in real time. The accommodation and food services sector still carries one of the highest turnover rates of any industry, with the [Bureau of Labor Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/iag/tgs/iag722.htm) consistently reporting annual separation rates well above other sectors. Every time a trained employee leaves and the replacement starts from scratch, the compounding resets and the operational floor drops again. ## **Five Hidden Costs of Inconsistent Restaurant Franchise Operations** The visible costs of operational inconsistency are familiar: failed audits, customer complaints, the occasional health department flag. The hidden costs are larger, harder to measure, and more damaging over time. These are the costs that don’t appear on a P&L statement but show up in every quarterly business review as unexplained performance gaps between locations that should be operating at the same standard. ### **Cost 1: Rework and Redundancy** When operational data lives in disconnected systems, teams spend hours assembling information that should be available in a single view. Field operations managers pull audit results from one platform, cross-reference training completion in another, and build their own spreadsheets to track corrective actions. This manual assembly work is pure overhead. The work produces no new insight; it only reconstructs a picture that a unified system would provide automatically. Brands using a connected operational platform have seen up to 65% reduction in site visit administrative time, freeing field teams to coach instead of compile. ### **Cost 2: Delayed Issue Detection** A food safety miss at a single location is a correctable incident. The same miss repeated across a region for six weeks before anyone connects the dots is a systemic failure. Disconnected systems delay detection because the signals exist in different databases. By the time a pattern becomes visible, the cost of correction has multiplied: retraining is needed across multiple locations, guest trust has eroded at each affected site, and the brand may be managing a regulatory issue instead of preventing one. ### **Cost 3: Franchisee Disengagement** When franchisees perceive that standards are applied inconsistently, or that audit outcomes vary based on which regional manager conducts the visit, engagement drops. Franchisees stop viewing the brand’s operational framework as a shared system and start viewing it as an external imposition. The result is compliance for the sake of passing an audit, not operational excellence for the sake of running a better restaurant. Disengaged franchisees invest less in their teams, participate less in brand initiatives, and are more likely to push back on system-wide changes that could benefit the entire network. For a brand at 100+ locations, even a 10% disengagement rate among franchisees creates a drag on every operational initiative the corporate team launches. ### **Cost 4: Leadership Bandwidth Drain** Every hour a COO or VP of Operations spends chasing down performance data from disconnected sources is an hour not spent on strategic decisions: market expansion, menu evolution, franchisee development, or building the coaching infrastructure the brand needs at its next growth stage. “Good enough” operations consume leadership bandwidth because they require constant attention without ever resolving the underlying cause. The fires are never big enough to trigger a crisis response, but they never stop burning. ### **Cost 5: Compounding Guest Experience Variance** Guests don’t grade on a curve. A customer who visits your best location on Monday and your worst location on Thursday doesn’t average the two experiences. They remember the worst one. With the [International Franchise Association](https://www.franchise.org) reporting more than 832,000 franchise establishments across the U.S., the scale of this exposure is enormous for any brand operating in the QSR space. Guest experience variance across a franchise network is a direct brand risk, and it compounds as the network grows. [QSR brands that build consistency into their operational systems](https://www.franconnect.com/en/how-qsr-management-builds-growth-consistency-and-culture-at-scale/) rather than relying on location-level heroics see measurable improvements: FranConnect customers have seen up to 32% improvement in brand standard compliance and 42% increases in first-year franchisee performance. ## **What “Good Enough” Feels Like from the Franchisee’s Side** The franchisor sees “good enough” as a performance gap on a dashboard. The franchisee lives it as a daily frustration that erodes their commitment to the brand. Consider a franchisee at location 127 in a 180-unit system. She invested her savings, signed a 10-year agreement, and committed to building the brand in her market. She runs her restaurant by the book. Her team trains on the brand’s LMS, completes every food safety protocol, and passes audits consistently. But the location in the next territory, owned by a different franchisee, operates at a visibly lower standard. Their audits come back clean because the regional manager grades on a looser scale. Their ticket times are slower. Their guest reviews are lower. And yet, to the customer who visits both locations, both carry the same brand name. This is where the cost of “good enough” becomes personal. The franchisee who invests in operational excellence gets no competitive advantage for doing so within her own brand’s network. The franchisee who cuts corners faces no meaningful consequence. The system rewards tolerance, not accountability. ### **What This Means for the COO** The implication is direct: when standards vary across regions and audit outcomes depend on who conducts the visit rather than what the data shows, your highest-performing franchisees lose faith in the system. They stop believing that operational excellence is valued by anyone above them. And the ones who were already cutting corners take the inconsistency as tacit permission to continue. Building [franchise training systems that are consistent across every location](https://www.franconnect.com/en/how-qsr-franchise-training-builds-consistency-confidence-and-brand-success/) is not just an operations initiative. The initiative doubles as a franchisee retention strategy. ## **Why Restaurant Franchise Brands Stay Stuck in “Good Enough”** Most brands don’t choose “good enough.” They drift into it. The drift happens because the operational infrastructure that supported the brand at 30 locations was never rebuilt for 100, and rebuilding infrastructure while running daily operations feels like changing the engine on a moving vehicle. Three structural patterns keep brands stuck, and none of them are about a lack of ambition or leadership talent. ### **Inherited Tooling** Many franchise brands grow by layering systems: a training platform adopted at 20 locations, an audit tool added at 50, a compliance tracker bolted on at 80. Each tool addressed a real need at the time. But the tools were never integrated, and the operational view they produce is fragmented. The COO sees data, but not a connected picture. The field team sees checklists, but not the patterns those checklists should reveal. The competitive alternative at this growth stage is familiar: spreadsheets, email, and a patchwork of disconnected point tools that were never designed to talk to each other. ### **Normalization of Variance** When the gap between your best and worst locations has existed for three years, it stops registering as a problem. Teams develop workarounds. Regional managers adjust their expectations downward. The variance gets managed instead of eliminated. A COO who reviews quarterly performance data might see the bottom quartile running 15% below brand standard, but because that gap hasn’t widened in the past two quarters, the conclusion is stability, not crisis. The standard hasn’t improved. The brand has simply stopped expecting it to. This normalization is dangerous because it resets the brand’s internal benchmark without anyone making a conscious decision to lower it. ### **The False Efficiency of Doing Nothing** Rebuilding operational infrastructure requires real investment: time, money, executive attention, and change management effort across the network. The cost of doing nothing appears to be zero. But the true cost is the accumulated drag of rework, delayed detection, franchisee disengagement, and leadership bandwidth consumed by problems that a unified system would prevent. The cost is real; it’s just distributed across so many line items that it never gets a single number on a balance sheet. ## **From Tolerance to Accountability: What the Shift Looks Like at 50, 100, and 200 Locations** The move from tolerance to accountability is not a single initiative. The move requires a series of structural changes that correspond to specific growth stages. What a brand needs at 50 locations is fundamentally different from what it needs at 200, and the brands that scale successfully make these transitions deliberately rather than reactively. ### **At 50 Locations: Visibility** The first requirement is a single operational view. At 50 locations, the COO or VP of Operations should be able to see training completion rates, audit scores, corrective action status, and key performance indicators for every location in one platform. The goal is not dashboards for the sake of reporting. The goal is eliminating the manual data assembly that consumes field team bandwidth and delays issue detection. [Operational excellence at scale](https://www.franconnect.com/en/operational-excellence-is-the-catalyst-behind-multi-location-success/) starts with the ability to see the entire network clearly, not just the locations that happen to send up a signal. ### **At 100 Locations: Closed-Loop Coaching Workflows** Visibility without action is just monitoring. At 100 locations, having the data is no longer enough. The brand needs systems that close the loop between what the data reveals and what the field team does about it. When an audit identifies a food safety gap at three locations in the same region, the system should connect that gap to the training module that addresses it, assign the corrective action to the right person, and track completion to closure. Brands that still rely on spreadsheets and email at this stage start losing ground. The volume of operational signals exceeds what manual workflows can process, and the gaps that slip through become the new “good enough.” ### **At 200+ Locations: Predictive Operational Intelligence** At 200 or more locations, the operational challenge shifts from responding to problems to predicting them. A 200-unit brand generates thousands of data points every week: audit scores, training completions, ticket time trends, food safety logs, corrective action closeout rates, and guest feedback signals. That data contains patterns that no human analyst can spot by scanning reports. Brands at this stage need operational intelligence that surfaces emerging risks before they become network-wide issues: a cluster of declining audit scores in a new market, a correlation between onboarding speed and 90-day franchisee performance, a food safety trend building across a region that hasn’t triggered an individual location alert. The shift from tolerance to accountability is complete when the brand’s operational platform doesn’t just record what happened, but anticipates what is likely to happen next. ## **The Brand Promise Is an Operations Problem** Marketing builds the brand promise. Operations delivers it. Every guest who walks into a franchise restaurant carries a set of expectations shaped by the brand’s best version of itself: the advertising, the flagship locations, the five-star reviews. When the experience they receive doesn’t match those expectations, the damage isn’t limited to a single visit. The damage compounds across every review site, every word-of-mouth conversation, every franchisee who has to explain why a guest’s experience fell short. A franchisee in Dallas shouldn’t have to apologize for a standard that a franchisee in Atlanta was never held to. Restaurant franchise operational consistency is not a back-office concern. Consistency is the mechanism that protects the brand promise at every location, every shift, every day. The brands that treat consistency as a systems problem rather than a people problem build infrastructure that raises the operational floor across the entire network. Guests notice. Franchisees notice. And the performance data confirms it. “Good enough” is a choice, even when it feels like a default. The cost of that choice grows with every location added to the system. The brands that will lead the next decade of restaurant franchising are the ones making a different choice now: replacing tolerance with accountability, replacing disconnected tools with unified operational systems, and replacing the assumption that effort alone can maintain consistency with the knowledge that only structure can. The guest who walks into location 47 should receive the same experience as the guest who walks into location 1. Not because every employee is identical, but because the system behind them ensures the floor never drops below the brand’s promise. That is what operational accountability looks like. And it starts with refusing to accept “good enough” as the cost of growth. ### **Want to find out how if your brand is scaling through operations? Book a Consultation Now!** [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) ## **Frequently Asked Questions** **What does “good enough” actually cost a restaurant franchise brand?**The costs are both visible and hidden. Visible costs include failed audits, guest complaints, and regulatory issues. Hidden costs are larger: rework from disconnected systems, delayed detection of systemic issues, franchisee disengagement, leadership bandwidth consumed by avoidable problems, and compounding guest experience variance that erodes brand trust over time. Because these hidden costs are distributed across many operational line items, most brands underestimate their total impact by a significant margin. **How does operational inconsistency affect franchisee satisfaction and retention?**Franchisees who invest in running their locations to brand standard become frustrated when neighboring locations operate at a lower standard without consequence. The inconsistency signals that operational excellence isn’t truly valued by the brand, which drives disengagement. Disengaged franchisees invest less in their teams, participate less in brand initiatives, and are more likely to resist system-wide changes. Over time, the brand’s best operators lose faith that the franchisor will hold the line on the standards they committed to uphold. **What systems do restaurant franchise brands need to move from tolerance to accountability?**The systems depend on the brand’s scale. At 50 locations, the priority is a unified operational view that eliminates manual data assembly and makes performance gaps visible in real time. At 100 locations, the brand needs closed-loop workflows that connect audit findings to training, assign corrective actions, and track completion. At 200+ locations, the focus shifts to predictive intelligence that surfaces emerging risks before they become network-wide issues. The common thread is a unified platform that connects training, audits, compliance, and performance data so the operational picture is always complete. **Why do franchise brands tolerate inconsistency instead of fixing it?**Three structural patterns drive tolerance. First, inherited tooling: brands layer on disconnected systems over time and end up with fragmented operational data that no one can see in a single view. Second, normalization of variance: when performance gaps persist long enough, they stop registering as problems and become “how the system works.” Third, the false efficiency of doing nothing: rebuilding operational infrastructure requires investment, and the cost of inaction appears to be zero because the drag is distributed across dozens of small inefficiencies rather than concentrated in a single line item. **How does restaurant franchise operational consistency affect brand value?**Operational consistency directly protects brand value because the guest experience is the brand’s primary asset. Guests don’t average their experiences across locations; they remember the worst one. As the network grows, guest experience variance becomes an exponential brand risk. Franchise brands that invest in operational consistency see measurable returns: FranConnect customers have reported up to 32% improvement in brand standard compliance and 42% increases in first-year franchisee performance, both of which directly strengthen the brand’s market position, franchisee satisfaction, and long-term enterprise value. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Ensure Quality, Improve Performance, Operate --- ### [The First 30 Days Make or Break a Restaurant Franchise Employee](https://www.franconnect.com/first-30-days-restaurant-franchise-employee-onboarding/) **Published:** May 22, 2026 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Most restaurant franchise brands lose employees in the first 30 days because they confuse orientation with onboarding. Here is the system that turns turnover into retention. **Content:** ## **Why the First 30 Days Determine Whether a Restaurant Franchise Employee Stays or Leaves** Restaurant franchise employee onboarding is the single most impactful investment a brand can make in workforce retention. The research is consistent: employees who experience structured, intentional onboarding stay longer, perform better, and reach productivity faster than those who are left to figure things out on their own. The first 30 days are not about memorizing a menu or learning where the walk-in cooler is. They are about answering three questions every new hire is silently asking from the moment they clock in: Does this place make sense? Do I matter here? Will anyone help me succeed? When those questions go unanswered, the employee fills in the blanks themselves. “Does this place make sense?” becomes “Nobody told me the prep sequence, so I’ll do what feels right.” “Do I matter here?” becomes “The manager hasn’t talked to me since Tuesday.” “Will anyone help me succeed?” becomes “I’ll figure it out or I’ll leave.” Most employees who quit in the first 30 days don’t leave because the work is too hard. They leave because the system never gave them a reason to stay. ### **The Compounding Cost Across a Franchise Network** For a COO overseeing 100 or more locations, this isn’t an individual management problem. Every location in your network is running this experiment simultaneously, and the results compound across the system. If your average location hires 15 people per year and loses a third of them in the first month, the cost isn’t just the turnover expense. The cost is hundreds of shifts staffed by employees who never fully learned your standards, serving guests who expect the brand’s best version of itself. ## **What Most Restaurant Franchise Brands Get Wrong About Employee Onboarding** The most common mistake in restaurant franchise employee onboarding is confusing orientation with onboarding. Orientation is a one-time event: paperwork, a facility tour, a video about food safety compliance, and a shift spent watching someone else do the job. Orientation checks administrative boxes. Onboarding builds the behaviors, habits, and confidence that keep an employee performing past their first paycheck. ### **The “Watch and Learn” Problem** At 25 locations, many franchise brands rely on a shadowing model: new hires learn by watching experienced team members. The competitive alternative is familiar: tribal knowledge passed from one shift worker to the next, supplemented by a binder of SOPs that sits on a shelf in the back office. The problem is that shadowing transfers habits, not standards. If the experienced employee cuts corners on line resets, the new hire inherits those shortcuts. If the trainer has a different understanding of portion sizes than what the brand manual specifies, the new hire learns the wrong standard from day one. ### **Why This Breaks at Scale** At 75 locations, the shadowing model is no longer just inconsistent. The model actively multiplies variance across your network. Every location develops its own informal training culture. The new hire at location 14 learns a different version of the brand than the new hire at location 87. By the time a field operations manager conducts a site visit, the operational drift is already embedded in the team’s daily habits. At 200 locations, brands that still rely on informal onboarding have effectively built a system that guarantees inconsistency: every new hire inherits whatever version of the standard the person next to them happens to practice. ## **Five Day-30 Outcomes That Signal a Successful Restaurant Franchise Onboarding System** A structured restaurant franchise employee onboarding system doesn’t measure success by whether the new hire completed a checklist. If your onboarding system’s definition of “done” is a signed acknowledgment form, you are measuring compliance, not readiness. Success is measured by whether the employee demonstrates five specific outcomes by day 30. These outcomes, drawn from franchise quality management frameworks, predict both retention and operational performance. ### **Clarity: They Know the Standard** By day 30, the employee should be able to describe the brand’s core operational standards in their own words. Not recite a manual, but explain what “clean” looks like at this brand, what the expected ticket time is, and what the food safety non-negotiables are. Clarity means the employee knows what “right” looks like and can recognize when something doesn’t meet that standard. Without clarity, every decision the employee makes on the shift floor is a guess. ### **Confidence: They’ve Had Guided Reps** Knowing the standard is not the same as being able to execute it under pressure. Confidence comes from guided repetition: performing the key tasks of the role with a coach present who observes, corrects, and confirms. A line cook who has run the station during a lunch rush with a trainer beside her three times is fundamentally different from one who watched a video and got thrown on the line alone. Confidence is built through reps, not reading. ### **Connection: They Know Who to Go to for Help** The fastest way to lose a new employee is to leave them without a clear support path. By day 30, the employee should know who their direct point of contact is for questions, who they escalate to when something goes wrong, and which peers they can rely on during a rush. Connection is not about friendliness or team bonding exercises. Connection is about structure: the new hire knows the support system exists, knows exactly who fills each role in that system, and has used it at least once before they need it urgently. ### **Cadence: They’ve Joined the Operational Rhythms** Every well-run restaurant has rhythms: the pre-shift huddle, the mid-rush check, the post-shift reset, the weekly deep clean. By day 30, the new employee should have participated in each of these rhythms enough times to anticipate them. Cadence means the employee is no longer reacting to the shift. They are moving with it, anticipating the next task rather than waiting to be told. When a new hire joins the operational cadence naturally, their manager spends less time directing and more time coaching. ### **Consistency: They Hit the Lead Behaviors Tied to Their Role** The ultimate measure of successful onboarding is whether the employee consistently performs the lead behaviors that drive outcomes in their role. For a line cook, that might be completing the opening prep checklist without prompts. For a server, that might be greeting every table within 60 seconds. For a shift lead, that might be conducting the pre-shift huddle on time and covering all three required topics. Consistency at day 30 does not mean perfection. Consistency means the employee performs the critical behaviors without being asked, most of the time. ## **How Leadership Habits Shape the Restaurant Franchise Onboarding Experience** The manager is the onboarding system. Every framework, curriculum, and training module in the world fails if the general manager at a given location treats onboarding as someone else’s job. You can build the best training platform in the industry, but if the manager on the floor doesn’t coach, correct, and confirm during the new hire’s first weeks, the platform is just content sitting in a queue. Three leadership habits from the franchise quality management playbook have an outsized impact on whether onboarding produces retention or turnover. ### **Coach in Real Time** The best coaching is short, specific, and delivered in the flow of the shift: observe the behavior, correct or confirm it in the moment, and move on. A manager who waits until the end of a new hire’s second week to offer feedback has already lost 10 days of coaching opportunities. Real-time coaching during the first 30 days builds habits faster than any LMS module because it connects the standard to the lived experience of the shift. The pattern is straightforward: observe, train, verify, praise. ### **Prioritize the Guest Experience First** New hires watch their managers. If the manager consistently prioritizes the guest experience over convenience, speed, or shortcuts, the new hire absorbs that priority through observation. “What will the guest feel next?” is not just a coaching question. That question becomes the lens through which every onboarding decision should be filtered. The new hire learns what matters most by watching what the manager pays attention to first. ### **Build Accountability Through Clarity** “Check the restrooms at :15 and :45” is a clearer standard than “keep the restrooms clean.” Measurable, visible expectations eliminate guesswork for new hires and create fairness across the team. When accountability is built through clarity rather than ambiguity, new employees don’t have to wonder whether they’re meeting the standard. They know. And that certainty is one of the strongest retention drivers in the first 30 days. ## **Connecting Restaurant Franchise Employee Onboarding to the Training and Audit Loop** Onboarding does not end at day 30. Onboarding feeds into the ongoing training and audit system that sustains operational consistency across the network. The [franchise training systems that build consistency at scale](https://www.franconnect.com/en/how-qsr-franchise-training-builds-consistency-confidence-and-brand-success/) treat onboarding as the entry point to a closed loop, not as an isolated event. ### **The Observe, Train, Verify, Recognize Cycle** The most effective restaurant franchise brands operate a closed-loop quality system: observe a gap (through an audit, a site visit, or a manager review), train to close the gap (with targeted coaching tied to the specific issue), verify the behavior change (on the next visit or in the next shift review), and recognize the improvement (so the employee knows the effort was seen). For new hires, this cycle starts during onboarding, not after it. Every gap identified in the first 30 days is a training opportunity. Every correction confirmed is a confidence builder. Every improvement recognized is a retention signal. ### **Why Disconnected Onboarding Creates Long-Term Operational Drag** When onboarding lives in a separate system from training, auditing, and performance tracking, the connection between a new hire’s day-30 gaps and the coaching that should follow never closes. Most franchise brands today run onboarding through one tool, schedule training through another, and track audit results in a third. The result is an operational blind spot: nobody can see whether the gap a field manager identified during a site visit traces back to an onboarding failure three months earlier. The manager identifies that a new line cook is still struggling with the closing checklist at week three, but there’s no system to flag that gap, assign targeted training, and verify the improvement. The gap persists. The employee develops workarounds. The workarounds become habits. Six months later, an audit reveals the same issue, and the corrective action treats it as new when it was actually inherited from a broken onboarding process. [QSR brands that build their management systems for growth](https://www.franconnect.com/en/how-qsr-management-builds-growth-consistency-and-culture-at-scale/) close this gap by connecting onboarding data to the operational platform from day one. ## **What Structured Employee Onboarding Looks Like at 25, 75, and 200 Locations** The onboarding system a brand needs changes with scale. What works at 25 locations, where the founder knows every general manager by name, breaks down at 75 and becomes unmanageable at 200. The brands that scale successfully design their onboarding architecture for the growth stage they’re entering, not the one they just left. ### **At 25 Locations: Manager-Led and Personal** At 25 locations, onboarding can be manager-led and relatively personal. The general manager runs the process, adapts the pace to the individual, and checks in daily. Your best GMs at this stage are probably already doing onboarding well, because they care about their teams and have the bandwidth to invest. The risk at this stage is inconsistency between locations: each GM onboards according to their own style, and the new hire’s experience depends entirely on which location they land in. The fix is a standardized curriculum that every location follows, even if the delivery is personal. The curriculum ensures that every new hire, regardless of location, encounters the same standards, the same training milestones, and the same day-30 outcomes. ### **At 75 Locations: Standardized Curriculum with Regional Consistency Checks** At 75 locations, the COO can no longer rely on individual managers to deliver consistent onboarding without a system behind them. Regional directors need visibility into which locations are completing onboarding milestones on time and which are falling behind. The training platform should track completion rates by location, flag new hires who haven’t hit key milestones by day 14, and surface patterns that indicate a regional onboarding problem rather than an individual location issue. If your Southeast region consistently falls behind on day-14 milestones while the Midwest hits them on schedule, the problem isn’t the new hires. The problem is the regional onboarding infrastructure, and without system-level visibility, you won’t see that pattern until it shows up in your turnover numbers three months later. ### **At 200+ Locations: Platform-Delivered with Milestone Tracking and Optimization** At 200 or more locations, [operational excellence at scale](https://www.franconnect.com/en/operational-excellence-is-the-catalyst-behind-multi-location-success/) requires onboarding to be platform-delivered, data-tracked, and continuously optimized. The system should assign the right training modules based on role, track milestone completion in real time, escalate stalled onboarding processes to the regional director, and surface correlations between onboarding speed and 90-day retention. At this scale, the brands that outperform their peers are the ones using onboarding data to predict which locations will have retention problems before those problems show up in the turnover numbers. FranConnect customers have seen up to 42% increases in first-year franchisee performance and 32% improvement in brand standard compliance when training and operations are unified in a single platform. ## **The Brand Promise Starts on Day One** Every new hire’s first shift is either building the brand promise or eroding it. The guest who walks in during a new employee’s second day doesn’t know the employee is new. They don’t adjust their expectations. They experience the same standard as any other visit: either the service meets your brand’s promise, or it doesn’t. A franchise system that sends new employees onto the shift floor without structured preparation is making a bet that the employee will figure it out before the guest notices. That bet fails more often than most brands care to measure. Restaurant franchise employee onboarding is not an HR function. Onboarding is an operations function. The brands that treat it as a system, with defined outcomes, leadership accountability, training infrastructure, and data visibility, build teams that stay, perform, and deliver the brand promise from their first week forward. The brands that treat it as a checklist lose people, waste money, and wonder why their best locations can’t seem to replicate themselves. A franchisee who invests in running a great restaurant deserves a support system that sends prepared employees onto her shift floor, not a pipeline of untrained workers she has to rescue. Retention is not an industry problem to accept. Retention is an operational system to build. And that system starts on day one. The brands that will lead the next decade of restaurant franchising are already making this shift. They are replacing shadowing with structured curricula, replacing tribal knowledge with platform-delivered training, and replacing the assumption that turnover is inevitable with the evidence that it is preventable. Your new hire’s first 30 days are not a trial period. They are the foundation of every shift that follows. ### **Want to find out how if your brand is ensuring franchise employees are set up for success? Book a Consultation Now!** [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) ## **Frequently Asked Questions** **How long should restaurant franchise employee onboarding take?**Effective restaurant franchise employee onboarding should span a minimum of 30 days, with structured milestones at day 7, day 14, and day 30. The first week focuses on orientation basics and guided observation. Weeks two and three build toward independent task execution with coaching support. By day 30, the employee should demonstrate five outcomes: clarity on standards, confidence through guided reps, connection to a support structure, cadence with operational rhythms, and consistency on lead behaviors. Onboarding does not stop at day 30; it transitions into the ongoing training and audit loop. **What are the biggest mistakes franchise brands make in employee onboarding?**The biggest mistake is confusing orientation with onboarding. Orientation is a one-time event (paperwork, compliance videos, a tour). Onboarding is a 30-day system that builds behaviors and habits. Other common mistakes include relying on shadowing without a standardized curriculum, treating onboarding as an HR task rather than an operations function, failing to connect onboarding to the ongoing training loop, and not tracking day-30 outcomes across locations. Brands that don’t measure onboarding effectiveness at the system level have no way to identify which locations are producing retention and which are producing turnover. **How does structured onboarding reduce restaurant employee turnover?**Structured onboarding reduces turnover by answering the three questions every new hire silently asks: Does this place make sense? Do I matter here? Will anyone help me succeed? When onboarding provides clarity on expectations, guided practice with coaching, a clear support structure, and measurable milestones, employees build the confidence and connection that drive retention. Employees who feel prepared and supported are far less likely to leave in the first 90 days than those who are left to figure things out independently. **What should a franchise employee know and be able to do by day 30?**By day 30, a franchise employee should demonstrate five outcomes. Clarity: they can describe the brand’s core operational standards in their own words. Confidence: they have performed the key tasks of their role under guided supervision multiple times. Connection: they know their direct support contacts and have used the support system. Cadence: they participate naturally in the restaurant’s operational rhythms (pre-shift huddles, resets, closing procedures). Consistency: they perform the lead behaviors tied to their role without prompting, most of the time. These five outcomes predict both retention and operational performance. **How do you maintain onboarding consistency across hundreds of franchise locations?**Maintaining onboarding consistency across a franchise network requires three things: a standardized curriculum that every location follows regardless of the general manager’s personal style, a training platform that tracks milestone completion and flags locations falling behind, and regional visibility that surfaces patterns across groups of locations rather than relying on individual site-level data. At 200+ locations, the system should also surface correlations between onboarding metrics and retention outcomes so the brand can continuously optimize. The common thread is a unified platform that makes onboarding performance visible, measurable, and actionable at every level of the organization. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Ensure Quality, Improve Performance, Operate --- ### [The Silent Signal that Stalls Fitness Franchise Growth](https://www.franconnect.com/silent-signal-that-stalls-fitness-franchise-growth/) **Published:** May 27, 2026 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Fitness and youth sports brands run on word of mouth. Not partially — entirely. When a member's experience changes something real for them, they bring people in. Their friends. Their kids. That referral engine is the whole growth model. When it works consistently across every location, the brand compounds. When it doesn't, the engine doesn't break loudly. It slows quietly, months before any report tells you what happened.  **Content:** Member counts are on forecast. Cancellations are within normal range. Revenue per location is tracking the pro forma. ### ***So why is your newest cohort generating half the referrals your flagship does?*** This is the Participation Ceiling — and it’s one of the hardest growth problems to catch in fitness and youth sports franchises because it doesn’t look like a problem until it’s already compounding. The dashboard reads fine. The trajectory doesn’t. Fitness and youth sports brands run on word of mouth. Not partially — entirely. When a member’s experience changes something real for them, they bring people in. Their friends. Their kids. That referral engine is the whole growth model. When it works consistently across every location, the brand compounds. When it doesn’t, the engine doesn’t break loudly. It slows quietly, months before any report tells you what happened. The instinct is to push harder on marketing. More paid acquisition. A member-get-member campaign. Different creative next quarter. By Q3, you’re spending meaningfully more per new member at newer locations than at the flagship — and nobody can explain why. That’s because marketing isn’t the lever. Something upstream is broken. Most brands at 20–75 locations made the same default choices: FDD training for the franchisee, a few site visits a year, hope the rest works itself out. That architecture stops working around location 35 or 40. The network surface area becomes too large for manual oversight to cover — and the gaps start showing up in places the standard dashboard doesn’t measure. The churn survey isn’t wrong. It’s just late. A lagging indicator collected carefully is still a lagging indicator. The brands that don’t hit the Participation Ceiling made different architecture decisions — deliberate ones, built into the operating system. The result isn’t just better retention. It’s a referral engine that gets stronger with scale instead of weaker. In **Built for Participation**, we break down exactly where fitness and youth sports franchise networks lose momentum, why the most common fixes keep failing, and what high-participation brands built instead. If any of this sounds familiar in your network, it’s worth a read. ## ***👉 [Download Built for Participation ](https://go.franconnect.com/built-for-participation-ebook/)*** ### **Want to find out if your fitness brand is ensuring franchise growth? Book a Consultation Now!** [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Develop, Expand Locations, Franchising Best Practices, Improve Performance, Open Locations Faster --- ### [The Franchisee Engagement Multiplier: How Engaged Systems Protect the Units You Already Have](https://www.franconnect.com/franchisee-engagement-growth-multiplier/) **Published:** July 10, 2026 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** The 2025 Franchise Sales Index shows engaged franchise systems grew nearly double in 2025, driven by profitability and loyalty rather than compliance alone. **Content:** ## Key Takeaways - High-engagement brands produced 1.9 times the net unit growth of low-engagement brands in 2025, up from 1.2 times in 2024. - Engagement is a leading indicator. Today’s engagement scores predict next year’s growth numbers. - The advantage comes from new openings and referral demand, not just lower churn. - Engagement in the Index is built from four measurable signals: field visits, training completion, content access, and brand-standard compliance. - Well-supported franchisees refer better candidates. Internal-network leads convert at 18.9%, against 0.9% for internet leads. ## What a 1.9x Multiple Means for the Units You Have The chief operating officer at a 140-location brand opens her field reports on Monday and sees two locations that look identical on paper. Both passed their last audit. Both are marked compliant. Both are green in the rollup. One of them is quietly pulling away from the brand. The other is quietly falling behind it. She cannot see which is which from the dashboard she has. The number that would tell her, how engaged each franchisee actually is, does not live in the same place as the number she reports to the CEO. That gap is the subject of the second finding in the 2025 Franchise Sales Index, and it is the one with the largest dollar attached. ## 100 Units of Effort, 190 Units of Output Across 309 brands with complete engagement data, the brands that invested in field operations, franchisee training, and content platforms consistently outgrew the ones that did not. Set against the broader franchise sector tracked by the International Franchise Association, the engagement signal is one of the clearest in the dataset. High-engagement brands produced 1.9 times the net unit growth of low-engagement brands in 2025. Put in planning terms, a high-engagement brand targeting 100 net new units produces what a low-engagement brand needs 190 to match. Nearly double the output, from the same ambition, compounds across every planning cycle. ### The ROI Most Development Budgets Miss The three-year trend shows the advantage is structural, not seasonal: - 2023: high-engagement brands grew +7.9 net units, low-engagement +4.4, a 1.8x multiple - 2024: high +10.7, low +8.7, a 1.2x multiple - 2025: high +12.8, low +6.9, a 1.9x multiple The gap narrowed in 2024 and widened again in 2025. The reason is instructive. 2024 was a strong year across franchising, and low-engagement brands rode that momentum to nearly keep pace. When conditions softened in 2025, the brands that had not invested in engagement felt it first. Engagement matters most when you cannot rely on the market to carry you. ## Engagement Is How Profitable Units Stay Profitable Most development budgets treat field visits, training, and content as the cost of keeping the network compliant. The data reframes them as the cost of keeping the network profitable. ### The Link to Unit Economics A franchisee who completes training, uses the brand’s resources, and meets standards on inspection runs a tighter operation. Tighter operations protect margin. Customers using unified operational systems have seen an 18% increase in average unit economics and a 42% increase in first-year franchisee performance. Those are unit-level outcomes. They show up in the profit and loss of locations that already exist, not in the lead pipeline. ### From Variance to Consistency The real enemy at 140 locations is variance. Two stores carry the same sign and deliver two different experiences, and the spread is invisible until a guest writes the review or a franchisee stops returning calls. Engagement is what compresses that spread. Customers using connected operational systems have seen a 32% improvement in brand-standard compliance, which is another way of saying the gap between the best location and the median one gets smaller. Consistency is the difference between a network and a collection of storefronts that share a logo. ## The Four Signals That Make Up Engagement Engagement is a soft word that the Index makes concrete. It is built from four measurable inputs, and top-quartile brands do all four consistently. - Field visits: regular, scheduled touchpoints between the support team and franchisees - Training completion: franchisees finishing onboarding and ongoing modules - Content access: franchisees actively using the brand’s resources, guides, and materials - Brand-standard compliance: locations meeting operational standards on inspection Training completion sits at the center of the four. A franchisee who never finishes onboarding cannot meet standards, will not use content they have not been taught, and turns every field visit into remediation. The other three signals degrade when training is the weak link. The brands pulling ahead are not the ones that do one of these brilliantly. They are the ones that do all four reliably, which is a coordination problem before it is an effort problem. ## Engagement Is a Leading Indicator, Not a Report Card The instinct is to read engagement as a backward-looking measure of how the network behaved last quarter. The data says it points forward. ### Why Today’s Engagement Predicts Next Year’s Growth The brands with strong engagement numbers today are the ones whose growth numbers will look good in next year’s report. Engagement shows up in openings and referrals before it shows up in net unit count, which means it gives an operations leader something rare: a number that moves before the outcome does. Most operational metrics are autopsies. They tell you what already happened. Engagement is a forecast. ### Reading It as an Early-Warning System A franchisee’s engagement starts slipping months before their numbers do. Training completion stalls. Field visits get rescheduled. The brand portal goes quiet. By the time the financial results dip, the disengagement is old news. An operations leader who watches the four signals catches the slip while it is still recoverable. One who watches only the financials catches it after the franchisee has already decided how they feel about corporate. ## How Engaged Franchisees Become Advocates and Recruiters The engagement investment that protects unit performance also builds the most efficient growth channel a brand has. ### The 21x Referral Advantage When you rank lead sources by conversion, the internal network leads everything. Existing franchisees, referrals, and development prospecting convert at 18.9%, against 0.9% for internet leads. Referrals from existing franchisees convert at 21 times the rate of internet leads. Well-supported franchisees who are meeting brand standards refer better candidates and represent the brand positively in their markets. Independent franchisee-satisfaction research from Franchise Business Review has long connected strong franchisor support to franchisee advocacy. The same support that drives operational performance shapes the quality of the referral pipeline. This is where operations stops being a cost center and starts being a development engine, the same loop visible in how the best brands turn field visits into real follow-up. ### From the Franchisee’s Seat None of this reads as a metric to the franchisee. It reads as whether corporate shows up. The engaged franchisee is the one who got the field visit that solved a real problem, the training that made the new hire productive in week one, and the answer to the email before the lunch rush. That franchisee tells the prospect at the discovery day that the brand has their back. The disengaged one, the one whose three calls went unreturned, tells a different story, and prospects believe franchisees over brochures every time. ## Building Engagement Into the System, Not the Calendar The brands that win on engagement do not run it as a quarterly campaign. They build it into how the network operates. ### Where Ad Hoc Engagement Breaks In most growing brands, the four signals live in four places. Field visits sit in a spreadsheet. Training sits in a separate platform. Content sits on a drive nobody opens. Compliance sits in a binder that updates after the inspection. When the signals are fragmented, no one can see the whole picture of a franchisee’s engagement, which means the slip stays invisible until it shows up in the numbers. The franchisee who is disengaging looks fine in every individual system and concerning only when you put them side by side, which no one has time to do by hand. ### A Connected Approach The fix is architectural. When field visits, training, content, and compliance feed one view, engagement becomes something an operations leader can actually see and act on. Customers using connected systems have seen a 65% reduction in site-visit administrative time, which is time the field team gets back for the work that drives the four signals instead of the paperwork that records them. The COO with two identical-looking locations does not need to work harder. She needs to see which franchisee is pulling away while she can still do something about it. The 2025 Index says the brands that build that visibility into their operations are the ones growing 1.9 times faster than the brands that do not. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is franchisee engagement? Franchisee engagement is how actively franchisees participate in the systems that drive performance. In the 2025 Franchise Sales Index, it is measured through four signals: field visit cadence, training completion, content access, and brand-standard compliance. Brands are ranked into quartiles, and the engagement multiplier compares the top quartile to the bottom. ### How do you measure franchisee engagement? Engagement is measured behaviorally, not by survey. The Index builds a composite from four data points: how often the support team conducts field visits, whether franchisees complete training modules, whether they access brand content and resources, and whether locations meet standards on inspection. The composite is behavioral data pulled from platform activity, so it reflects what franchisees actually do. ### Does franchisee engagement affect unit profitability? Yes. Engaged franchisees run more consistent operations, which protects unit-level margin. Customers using unified operational systems have seen an 18% increase in average unit economics and a 42% increase in first-year franchisee performance. Engagement also drives a 32% improvement in brand-standard compliance, which compresses the performance gap between top and median locations. ### Why do engaged franchisees refer more candidates? Well-supported franchisees who meet brand standards represent the brand positively and refer higher-quality candidates. In the 2025 Index, internal-network leads, which include franchisee referrals, convert at 18.9%, while internet leads convert at 0.9%. That makes referrals from existing franchisees convert at roughly 21 times the rate of internet leads. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Improve Performance, Operate **Tags:** field operations, Franchise Operations, Franchisee Engagement, franchisee retention, unit economics --- ### [The 2025 Franchise Sales Index: Why the Strongest Brands Grow From the Inside Out](https://www.franconnect.com/franchise-development-benchmarks-2025/) **Published:** July 8, 2026 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Three years of data across 460+ brands show the strongest franchise brands are growing from the inside out, not by outspending on leads. **Content:** ## Key Takeaways - Across 460+ brands and three years of data, lead volume grew just 7% while lead-to-agreement conversion nearly doubled, from 0.76% in 2023 to 1.50% in 2025. Growth came from conversion, not spend. - High-engagement brands produced 1.9 times the net unit growth of low-engagement brands in 2025, up from 1.2 times a year earlier. - 8,379 units enter 2026 already sold but not opened. How brands manage that pipeline decides what actually opens. - Referrals from existing franchisees convert at 21 times the rate of internet leads. - The fastest-growing brands are not the ones with the biggest development budgets. They are the ones executing most consistently across conversion, engagement, and post-agreement support. ## Three Years of Data, One Pattern: Execution Beats Expansion The chief development officer at a 60-location brand opens the 2026 planning deck and sees the contradiction she has been trying to explain to her board. Lead spend is up. The pipeline looks full. The deal count barely moved. She has done what the old playbook said to do. More portals, more broker relationships, more money at the top of the funnel. The funnel got wider and the brand did not get bigger. What she feels is harder to put in the deck. The board will read the flat number as a development problem, and the development problem will read as hers. She spent the money. She ran the plays. The scoreboard did not move. It should have. A brand that invests more in growth should grow. When effort and results stop tracking together, the instinct is to push harder on the same lever. The data says the lever itself has moved. That contradiction is the story of the 2025 Franchise Sales Index, and the numbers say she is not alone. The strongest brands in this dataset stopped trying to outspend each other on lead generation. They started getting more out of the leads, the franchisees, and the signed agreements they already had. The growth lever moved from the top of the funnel to the quality of execution underneath it. ## What the 2025 Franchise Sales Index Measures The Index is FranConnect’s annual benchmark for franchise development. It tracks how development teams convert leads, engage franchisees, and manage their pipeline from first inquiry to open unit. This edition draws on three full years of behavioral data, 2023 through 2025. The scope: - 460+ franchise brands across Enterprise, Mid-Market, and SMB segments - Approximately 3.4 million leads - More than 33,000 signed franchise agreements - More than 178,000 locations across eight verticals It is the largest behavioral dataset in franchise development. ### Why Behavioral Data Beats Survey Data These numbers are not survey responses. Nobody self-reported how fast they follow up or how engaged their franchisees feel. The figures are pulled directly from platform activity: real leads, real follow-up timing, real training completion, real opening dates. That distinction matters. Survey data tells you what teams believe they do. Behavioral data tells you what they actually did. Set against the broader franchise sector tracked by the International Franchise Association, it is the deepest behavioral view of development activity available. When the behavior of 460+ brands points in the same direction for three straight years, that is a pattern worth planning around. ### The Three-Year View The 2025 edition is the first to put three full years of behavioral data side by side. The progression is the argument: - Lead volume: 991,000 (2023), 1,027,000 (2024), 1,062,000 (2025) - Lead-to-agreement conversion: 0.76% (2023), 0.96% (2024), 1.50% (2025) - Engagement gap, high versus low: 1.8 times (2023), 1.2 times (2024), 1.9 times (2025) Lead volume grew at a modest pace. Conversion roughly doubled. The engagement gap narrowed briefly in 2024, then widened in 2025 to its highest level in three years. The brands that invested in conversion efficiency and franchisee engagement outgrew their peers every year. What changed in 2025 is that the size of the advantage got bigger. ## Finding One: Better Conversion, Not More Leads From 2023 to 2025, total leads in the dataset grew by 7%. Over the same period, lead-to-agreement conversion went from 0.76% to 1.50%. Leads rose 7%. Conversions rose 97%. That is the single most important number in this report, because it rewrites where growth comes from. The brands that grew did not buy their way there. They converted their way there. ### The Gap Between Volume and Conversion The improvement reflects real operational change: faster follow-up, sharper qualification, and a better candidate experience from first contact to signed agreement. Conversion still varies widely by vertical. QSR converts at 2.81% against a 1.50% baseline, while full-service restaurants sit at 0.44%. The direction of travel matters more than the absolute figure. Brands that moved the number worked the funnel differently rather than funding it harder. We dig into the mechanics of that shift, including where leads die and how speed-to-lead changes the math, in a companion analysis on franchise lead conversion. ## Finding Two: The Engagement-Growth Multiplier Across 309 brands with complete engagement data, the brands that invested in field operations, franchisee training, and content platforms consistently outgrew the ones that did not. That pattern held in 2023. It held in 2024. In 2025, it got stronger. High-engagement brands produced 1.9 times the net unit growth of low-engagement brands. A year earlier, that multiple was 1.2 times. The gap is widening, not closing. ### What a 1.9x Multiple Means in Practice A high-engagement brand targeting 100 net new units produces the same output as a low-engagement brand targeting 190. That is a different kind of return than most development budgets are built around. The investment in field visits, training, and content does not just support compliance. It compounds into demand. Customers using unified operational systems have seen an 18% increase in average unit economics, which is the kind of unit-level strength that turns existing franchisees into a growth engine rather than a maintenance cost. The widening gap also tells you when engagement matters most. 2024 was a strong year for franchise development across the board, and low-engagement brands rode that market momentum to nearly keep pace, which is why the multiple compressed to 1.2 times. In 2025, conditions softened, and the brands that had not invested in engagement felt it. The gap widened back out to 1.9 times. Engagement matters most when you cannot rely on the market to do the work for you. Engagement is also a leading indicator, not a trailing one. The brands with strong engagement numbers today are the ones whose growth numbers will look good in next year’s report. We unpack the four signals that make up engagement, and how engaged franchisees become advocates, in a dedicated piece on the engagement multiplier. ## Finding Three: The SBNO Pipeline Nobody Manages SBNO stands for sold but not opened: units where a franchise agreement is signed but the location has not yet opened. Across the dataset, 8,379 units enter 2026 already in the SBNO pipeline. Every one of them is revenue that has been sold but not yet realized. ### Why SBNO Concentration Hits Small Brands Hardest The pipeline looks very different depending on brand size. Enterprise brands carry the most units in absolute terms, but the concentration runs the other way: - Enterprise (300+ units): 5,564 units in pipeline, 3.8% of active system - Mid-Market (75 to 300 units): 1,948 units, 7.7% of active system - SMB (under 75 units): 867 units, 13.3% of active system For an enterprise brand, 3.8% in pre-open status is manageable. For an SMB brand, 13.3% means a meaningful share of projected growth is sitting in limbo, waiting on build-out, permitting, training, or franchisee readiness. The brands that open more of that pipeline are not lucky. They are engaged. We cover how post-agreement support drives a 48% difference in opening rates in a separate analysis of the SBNO pipeline. ## Where Leads Actually Get Lost Most franchise leads die in silence, not in rejection. Ranked by relative volume, the top reasons leads are closed and lost are: - Unresponsive: the lead responded once, was never reached, or stopped responding - Not interested: active disqualification by the candidate - Financial qualification: not financially qualified, or financing unavailable - Territory unavailable: no open territory in the candidate’s market - Bad contact information Here is the encouraging part. No-response losses fell 30% from 2023 to 2025. That decline is a direct fingerprint of process maturity. Brands are closing the gap between inquiry and first contact, and the data rewards them for it. Consider what a single unresponsive lead actually costs. You lose the candidate. You lose the months of portal spend that delivered them. You also lose the franchisee that candidate might have become, the unit they would have opened, and the referral that unit would have generated three years on. One slow follow-up does not cost one lead. It costs the compounding chain that lead would have started. Decades of research on lead response timing point the same way: the faster the first contact, the better the odds of qualifying the lead. Speed-to-lead remains the cheapest conversion lever in franchise development, and most brands still leave it on the table. ## Your Highest-Converting Lead Source Is Already in Your System When you rank lead sources by conversion rate, the order surprises most development teams. - Internal network (existing franchisees, referrals, development prospecting): 18.9% - Trade show: 13.5% - Brokers: 3.9% - Internet: 0.9% - Franchise website: 0.6% Referrals from existing franchisees convert at 21 times the rate of internet leads. This is where development and operations stop being separate departments. Franchisees who are well-supported and meeting brand standards refer better candidates and represent the brand positively in their markets. The same engagement investment that drives operational performance also shapes the quality of your referral pipeline. The connection between how well you support current franchisees and how efficiently you grow is direct, and it shows in how the best brands maintain brand standards as they scale. ## The Real Frontier: Profitability and Retention on the Units You Have Read the three findings together and a single message emerges. The growth advantage in franchising is moving away from how many units you can add and toward how well the units you already have perform. Better conversion produces better-fit franchisees. Better engagement produces more profitable, more loyal ones. Better post-agreement support turns signed agreements into open, revenue-generating locations. None of that is a top-of-funnel story. It is a unit-level story. ### From Adding Units to Strengthening Units For a development leader, the shift changes what a strong year looks like: - Growth is measured by units that open and perform, not just agreements that get signed - The development budget is judged on conversion quality and franchisee fit, not lead volume - Operations and development share one scoreboard, because referrals and openings live at the intersection ### What This Means for 2026 Planning The brands pulling ahead are not the ones with the biggest budgets. They are the ones executing most consistently across conversion, engagement, and post-agreement support. That is a discipline question before it is a spending question, and it is the same discipline behind the shift from reactive to proactive operational management. The chief development officer staring at her flat deal count does not need a bigger lead budget. She needs to convert better, engage deeper, and open faster. The 2025 Index says the brands that do are the ones that grow. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is the Franchise Sales Index? The Franchise Sales Index is FranConnect’s annual benchmark for franchise development. It tracks how development teams convert leads, engage franchisees, and manage their pipeline. The 2025 edition draws on three full years of behavioral data, 2023 through 2025, across 460+ franchise brands, approximately 3.4 million leads, and more than 33,000 signed agreements. ### What is a good franchise lead-to-agreement conversion rate in 2025? The 2025 industry baseline in the Index is 1.50%, up from 0.76% in 2023. Conversion varies significantly by vertical: QSR leads at 2.81%, while full-service restaurants sit at 0.44%. The most useful benchmark is your own vertical’s rate, not the overall average, because consumer demand, capital accessibility, and operator pool depth all shape the number. ### Why did franchise conversion double while lead volume stayed flat? Conversion roughly doubled because brands improved how they worked the leads they already had. The data points to faster follow-up, sharper qualification, and a better candidate experience. No-response losses, the single most common reason leads die, fell 30% over the three-year period, which reflects brands closing the gap between inquiry and first contact. ### What does SBNO mean in franchising? SBNO stands for sold but not opened. It refers to units where a franchise agreement has been signed but the location has not yet opened. Across the 2025 dataset, 8,379 units enter 2026 in the SBNO pipeline. The pipeline is most concentrated at smaller brands, where 13.3% of the active system is pre-open, compared with 3.8% at enterprise brands. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Develop, Expand Locations **Tags:** franchise benchmarks, Franchise Development, Franchisee Engagement, lead conversion, unit economics --- ### [FranConnect Sales Index Report](https://www.franconnect.com/franchise-sales-index-report/) **Published:** May 20, 2026 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** During this webinar, Dallas Henderson, QMS Product Specialist for FranConnect, and Johnny Tellez, an experienced multi-location operations and training professional, explored how driving operational excellence will drive revenue. **Content:** ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Recorded Webinars **Tags:** Audit Software, QMS Software --- ### [Streamlining Franchise Operations: The Benefits of Centralized Data Management](https://www.franconnect.com/benefits-of-centralize-data-management/) **Published:** August 14, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Content:** Centralized data management is the practice of unifying franchise operations, franchisor, and franchisee data, such as unit records, ownership details, and compliance documentation, into a single connected system instead of scattered spreadsheets and disconnected tools. In the competitive world of franchising, operational efficiency is paramount to sustaining growth and maintaining a competitive edge. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is centralized data management. By consolidating all franchise data into a single, unified system, franchises can streamline operations, enhance decision-making, and foster better communication across all levels of the organization. ## The Pitfalls of Decentralized Data Management Decentralized data management, characterized by disparate systems and scattered information, poses significant challenges for franchise businesses. When data is stored in multiple locations, it creates silos that can lead to inconsistent information, miscommunication, and delayed decision-making. These silos can inhibit a franchise’s ability to react quickly to market changes or internal issues, ultimately impacting performance. Decentralized systems can also complicate compliance processes. Without a central repository for critical documents and records, tracking and managing compliance-related activities such as FDD administration, renewals, and contract management becomes cumbersome and error-prone, increasing the risk of legal issues. ## The Advantages of a Centralized System Centralized data management solves these challenges by providing a single source of truth for all franchise-related information. Here are some key benefits: ### 1. Enhanced Efficiency and Decision-Making With a centralized data management system like FranConnect Info Manager, franchise operators can access all necessary data from one platform. This accessibility enables faster, more informed decision-making, as all stakeholders have a consistent and up-to-date view of the franchise’s operations. By eliminating the need to consult multiple systems, franchises can significantly reduce the time spent on data retrieval and analysis. ### 2. Improved Communication Centralized systems facilitate better communication across the franchise network. By storing and tracking critical data for each unit, owner, and legal entity in a unified location, franchises can easily share information across the organization. This transparency ensures alignment on unit status and history, fostering a collaborative environment where everyone is on the same page. ### 3. Streamlined Compliance Management Effective compliance management is critical for franchise success. Centralized data management simplifies this process by automating compliance workflows and providing reminders for critical tasks. Tools like FranConnect Info Manager help franchises proactively manage compliance, minimizing the risk of human error and ensuring that all legal obligations are met efficiently. ### 4. Better Multi-Unit Management Managing relationships between franchise owners and their units can be complex, especially for multi-unit franchises. A centralized data system simplifies this process by tracking relationships between owners and their units, making managing and analyzing multi-unit operations easier. This clarity helps franchises optimize their strategies for growth and scalability. ## Real-World Examples of Success Consider a franchise that adopted a centralized data management system to address its operational inefficiencies. Before the implementation, the franchise struggled with delayed decision-making and compliance issues due to its fragmented data systems. After integrating a tool like FranConnect Foundation, the franchise experienced a notable improvement in operational efficiency. Compliance tasks were automated, reducing legal risks, and communication across the franchise network became seamless, leading to quicker and more strategic decision-making. In another example, a multi-unit franchise leveraged centralized data management to streamline its multi-unit operations. Having a clear view of each unit’s performance and a solid relationship with the franchisor, the franchise could make informed decisions supporting growth and enhanced competitiveness. ## Conclusion In today’s fast-paced franchise landscape, centralized data management is not just a luxury but a necessity. By adopting a unified system to manage franchise data, businesses can overcome the challenges of decentralized systems, ensuring efficiency, compliance, and robust growth. Tools like FranConnect offer franchisees the opportunity to [unify data across disparate systems](https://www.franconnect.com/en/power-of-unifying-data-across-disparate-systems/) and harness the full potential of their data, paving the way for enhanced performance and sustained success. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is centralized data management in franchising? Centralized data management is the practice of consolidating all franchise-related information, such as unit records, owner and legal entity details, and compliance documentation, into a single, unified system rather than storing it across disparate, disconnected tools. This gives franchisors and franchisees a consistent, up-to-date view of operations. ### What problems does decentralized data management cause for franchises? When franchise data is scattered across multiple systems, it creates information silos that lead to inconsistent records, miscommunication, and delayed decision-making. Decentralized systems also make compliance activities, such as FDD administration, renewals, and contract management, more cumbersome and error-prone, increasing the risk of legal issues. ### How does centralized data management improve franchise compliance? Centralized systems like FranConnect Info Manager automate compliance workflows and provide reminders for critical tasks, helping franchises proactively manage obligations such as FDD renewals and contract deadlines. This reduces the risk of human error and helps ensure legal obligations are met consistently across the network. ### How does centralized data management help multi-unit franchise owners? A centralized system tracks the relationships between franchise owners and their individual units in one place, making it easier for franchisors and franchisees to monitor performance across locations. This clearer visibility helps multi-unit operators make informed decisions about growth and scalability. ### What tools support centralized data management for franchises? Platforms such as FranConnect Info Manager and FranConnect Foundation give franchise operators a single source of truth for unit, owner, and compliance data, replacing fragmented spreadsheets and disconnected systems with one accessible platform. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Franchising Best Practices, Improve Performance **Tags:** Foundation, Franchise Operations --- ### [The Visit Isn't the Intervention. The Follow-Up Is.](https://www.franconnect.com/visit-isnt-the-intervention/) **Published:** May 18, 2026 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Field visits generate data. But data without action is just documentation — and in franchise operations, undocumented problems don't stay small.  **Content:** Field visits generate data. But data without action is just documentation — and in franchise operations, undocumented problems don’t stay small. Every open finding that doesn’t have an owner, a resolution date, and a scheduled follow-up is a liability. One that compounds quietly. Until it shows up somewhere much more painful: declining same-store sales, widening performance gaps, a brand that’s gradually lost the thread between standard and reality. The franchisors who avoid that outcome aren’t doing more audits. They’re doing better follow-through. That means building real accountability into the process: - **No finding ages past 30 days** without a documented status update. - **Corrective action has an owner** — not a department, a person. - **The loop closes.** Resolved means verified, not just marked done. - **Pattern recognition happens at the portfolio level** — which regions, which cohorts, which standards are showing recurring gaps? Across 47,000+ field visits tracked in FranConnect’s 2025–2026 Franchise Sales Index, the system-wide compliance rate was 91.4%. That sounds healthy. But averages hide tails. The brands that stay healthy aren’t just hitting 91% — they’re actively managing the locations dragging below it, finding by finding, visit by visit. The visit gets you the signal. The follow-up is where brand equity is actually protected. We went deeper on what operational consistency really means — and what’s at stake when it slips — in our latest blog. [Read it here.](https://www.franconnect.com/en/when-your-brand-is-for-sale-operations-are-the-only-currency-that-matters/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Improve Performance, Operate --- ### [A Company Built for the Franchise Ecosystem. A Decade of Evolving the Business At-Scale. A Legacy of Impact.](https://www.franconnect.com/a-company-built-for-the-franchise-ecosystem/) **Published:** February 4, 2026 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** After nearly 10 years leading FranConnect, I’ve made the decision to begin a planned leadership transition that supports the company’s long-term success while allowing me to prepare for my next chapter. This transition comes at a moment of strength for FranConnect and reflects a thoughtful, forward-looking evolution for both the company and me. **Content:** *FranConnect Blog Post by Gabby Wong* After nearly 10 years leading FranConnect, I’ve made the decision to begin a planned leadership transition that supports the company’s long-term success while allowing me to prepare for my next chapter. This transition comes at a moment of strength for FranConnect and reflects a thoughtful, forward-looking evolution for both the company and me. As part of this transition, I will join the FranConnect Board of Directors and continue serving as CEO as we kick-off a focused search and onboard the company’s next leader. During this time, the Board and I will work in close partnership to support the business and maintain steady leadership, continuity, and momentum. Executive Chairman Wendell Jisa will be partnering with me and the executive leadership team to support the company during this critical time. This transition marks an important milestone for me personally. I started at FranConnect nearly 10 years ago in 2016, completely new to franchising, but bursting with new ideas from my extended executive leadership career at other high-growth and well-known B2B SaaS companies. I found the prospect of working with and supporting other entrepreneurs like myself deeply compelling. Only magic can happen when *your mission* exactly aligns with your *customer’s mission*, a piece of advice that you’ll hear me give frequently in talks. It’s the hallmark of any successful company. When I stepped into the CEO role at FranConnect in late 2018, the company was at a turning point. FranConnect had created the franchise management category 17 years earlier, but the business needed modernization, focus, and renewed momentum to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving market. Alongside our incredible customers, partners, and employees, whom we affectionately refer to as FCians, we grew the company and expanded our impact, reinforcing FranConnect’s position as the most trusted technology partner for franchise and multi location brands. During my tenure as CEO, we achieved significant revenue growth and expanded profitability fivefold, enabling us to continue investing in innovation across our products and solutions to better serve our customers. Over that time, we launched four new products and seven AI powered agents, completed three strategic acquisitions including FranchiseBlast, World Manager, and RizePoint, and expanded our reach to more than one million users across 1,500 brands worldwide. Today, we support customers across 165 countries, with teams and offices across four continents. We did all of this while modernizing FranConnect into a fully integrated, cloud based platform and, with foresight, continue to reinvent ourselves as a more data centric organization powered by agentic AI. We have transformed ourselves from a legacy brand to a heritage brand and are committed to continuing to evolve to the needs of the marketplace. To the greater franchising community, I am incredibly grateful for your partnership, and your mentorship to me personally. The impact of the business model on the growth of the American economy is only matched by the impact every stakeholder has on the community. All of you care deeply about the business model and the greater community and it shows in the depth of your friendships. To Serent Capital, including Kevin Frick, John Caselli, Prital Kadakia, thank you for your mentorship, support, and friendship over the last 10 years. I’ve been proud to serve as one of your CEOs and carry forward your mission to partner with founders to build enduring companies. To Amit Pamecha, FranConnect’s founder, you had an idea (many actually!) and seeded that idea into an enduring brand that drives impact for so many. Thank you for letting me steward it over the last decade. And to all my advisors and board members, including Wendell Jisa, Michael Collins, Dave Shirk and the late Bob Post. I carry forward all of what you’ve taught me into my next chapter. Last, to our FCians, it’s you I am most proud of. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to bear witness to your achievements, countless promotions, weddings, babies, and the spirit that you bring to your work everyday. Watching you grow and thrive has been one of the most meaningful parts of this journey, and for that I am grateful and forever changed. Never lose sight of the culture we built together. It’s something truly special, and I hope it remains part of FranConnect’s legacy. It’s our culture that will carry you through this transition period and beyond. It’s yours to champion forward. Amalgamate it, evolve it, make it even better–just make sure that you hold each other accountable to it, on behalf of, and for the success of our customers, our business, and the greater franchise community — Gabby ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Uncategorized **Tags:** CEO Announcement --- ### [AI in Franchising: Real Strategies That Top Brands Are Using Today](https://www.franconnect.com/ai-in-franchising/) **Published:** January 14, 2026 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** During this webinar, Dallas Henderson, QMS Product Specialist for FranConnect, and Johnny Tellez, an experienced multi-location operations and training professional, explored how driving operational excellence will drive revenue. **Content:** ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Recorded Webinars **Tags:** Audit Software, QMS Software --- ### [Transforming Franchise Development with Smart Integration of AI](https://www.franconnect.com/agents-ai-acceleration/) **Published:** October 10, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** During this webinar, Dallas Henderson, QMS Product Specialist for FranConnect, and Johnny Tellez, an experienced multi-location operations and training professional, explored how driving operational excellence will drive revenue. **Content:** ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Recorded Webinars **Tags:** Audit Software, QMS Software --- ### [Driving Operational Excellence - How Closing The Loop On Operations Compliance Drives Revenue](https://www.franconnect.com/driving-operational-excellence-webinar/) **Published:** July 28, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** During this webinar, Dallas Henderson, QMS Product Specialist for FranConnect, and Johnny Tellez, an experienced multi-location operations and training professional, explored how driving operational excellence will drive revenue. **Content:** ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Recorded Webinars **Tags:** Audit Software, QMS Software --- ### [FranConnect Appoints AI Visionary Wendell Jisa as Executive Chairman of its Board of Directors](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-appoints-ai-visionary-wendell-jisa-as-exec-chair-of-its-board-of-directors/) **Published:** December 3, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** FranConnect, the leading provider of AI-powered sales, operations, and marketing solutions for franchise and multi-location businesses, announced today that it has named Wendell Jisa Exec Chair of its Board of Directors **Content:** *Founder and Chairman of Reveal and Legal Tech Entrepreneur Joins FranConnect to Accelerate Franchise and Multi-Location Industry Growth Through AI Innovation* **Herndon, Va. (Dec. 3, 2025)** — [FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/en/), the leading provider of AI-powered sales, operations, and marketing solutions for franchise and multi-location businesses, announced today that it has named Wendell Jisa Executive Chairman of its Board of Directors. Jisa brings extensive experience growing private equity-backed technology companies on a global scale. As part of Jisa’s appointment, he will collaborate closely with FranConnect’s executive leadership team to accelerate the delivery of smarter, faster, and highly scalable AI solutions—transforming how franchise and multi-location brands drive growth and achieve measurable success. “As we advance towards serving 2,000 brands globally, reinforcing our technology and growth strategy is critical,” said Gabby Wong, CEO of FranConnect. “Wendell’s deep expertise in building advanced AI ecosystems and scaling SaaS platforms will be invaluable as we accelerate innovation and deliver data-driven tools that drive measurable impact and long-term success to our franchise and multi-location customers.” ![Wendell Jisa FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Wendell-Jisa-FranConnect-300x200.jpg "Wendell Jisa FranConnect - FranConnect") Jisa brings nearly three decades of experience in building transformative SaaS platforms and driving innovation in highly regulated industries. As the founder of Reveal, he pioneered one of the most advanced AI ecosystems in legal technology, leading strategic acquisitions and developing groundbreaking tools that reshaped the eDiscovery landscape. Jisa’s exceptional expertise has led him to be recognized as the [2025 EY Entrepreneur of the Year](https://www.ey.com/en_us/entrepreneur-of-the-year-us/midwest/overview)[Ⓡ](https://www.ey.com/en_us/entrepreneur-of-the-year-us/midwest/overview) Midwest Award Winner and the [2024 ALM Legal Week Leaders in Te](https://www.law.com/legaltechnews/2024/04/16/lifetime-achievement-winner-wendell-jisa-reveal/?slreturn=20251119123810)[ch Law](https://www.law.com/legaltechnews/2024/04/16/lifetime-achievement-winner-wendell-jisa-reveal/?slreturn=20251119123810)[ Lifetime Achievement Award](https://www.law.com/legaltechnews/2024/04/16/lifetime-achievement-winner-wendell-jisa-reveal/?slreturn=20251119123810) recipient. “FranConnect is redefining how franchise and multi-location brands leverage technology to grow smarter and faster, and I’m thrilled to join at such a pivotal time,” said Jisa. “The company’s vision aligns perfectly with the industry trajectory of leveraging intelligent, data-driven solutions to create impact. I’m looking forward to supporting FranConnect’s mission and helping their team shape the future of franchise and multi-location innovation.” With Jisa’s Board appointment, FranConnect reinforces its commitment to pioneering AI-driven solutions that empower franchise and multi-location businesses to thrive in an increasingly competitive market. His expertise in scaling technology platforms and driving innovation will play a critical role in shaping FranConnect’s next chapter of growth. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Company News, Global News **Tags:** Press Releases --- ### [FranConnect Expands Leadership Team to Accelerate AI Innovation and Strategic Growth](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-expands-leadership-team-to-accelerate-ai-innovation-and-strategic-growth/) **Published:** November 3, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Charlie Zhang has been named Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer and Mark Calvillo has been appointed Chief Product Officer. Both Charlie and Mark have deep experience in growing private equity-backed technology and data companies on a global scale. As part of these new executive appointments, Jaffrey Ali will take on an exciting newly created executive role focused on driving advancements in AI as FranConnect’s Chief AI Officer. **Content:** **HERNDON, Va., November 3, 2025** — [FranConnect,](https://www.franconnect.com/) the leading provider of AI-powered sales, operations, and marketing solutions for franchise and multi-location businesses, is excited to announce key executive appointments. [Charlie Zhang](https://www.franconnect.com/en/company/leadership-team/) has been named Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer and [Mark Calvillo](https://www.franconnect.com/en/company/leadership-team/) has been appointed Chief Product Officer. Both Charlie and Mark have deep experience in growing private equity-backed technology and data companies on a global scale. As part of these new executive appointments, [Jaffrey Ali](https://www.franconnect.com/en/company/leadership-team/) will take on an exciting newly created executive role focused on driving advancements in AI as FranConnect’s Chief AI Officer. As AI, automation, and data-driven growth increasingly redefine how franchise and multi-location businesses operate, FranConnect is aligning its leadership to meet these evolving demands—scaling innovation, enhancing operational agility, and deepening its technology capabilities through key executive appointments. “We’re seeing a fundamental shift in how franchise and multi-location businesses operate,” said Gabby Wong, CEO of FranConnect. “Our customers are demanding smarter, faster, and more scalable solutions, and we’re building the team to deliver just that. These promotions reflect our belief that leadership must evolve alongside the market. Jaffrey, Mark, and Charlie each bring the vision and experience needed to help our customers grow in this new era.” **A New Era of AI Leadership** The evolution of Jaffrey Ali to Chief AI Officer marks a significant milestone in FranConnect’s innovation strategy. A recognized thought leader, Jaffrey has been the driving force behind FranConnect’s AI strategy, leading the development of [Frannie AI™](https://frannieai.com/) (featuring specialized agents for Data Analysis, Sales, Operations, Franchise Support, Administration, Training and Finance), [FranConnect GO](https://www.franconnectgo.com/en/), [Candidate Coach](https://www.franconnect.com/en/platform-overview/candidate-coach/), and the advanced analytics suite. His work has helped franchise brands make smarter decisions, optimize operations, and unlock new growth opportunities. The creation of this new role reflects FranConnect’s belief that AI is not just a tool, but a strategic imperative for the future of franchise success. **Unlocking Product Innovation and Rapid Commercialization** FranConnect is thrilled to announce the appointment of Mark Calvillo as its new Chief Product Officer. An accomplished product executive with over 25 years of experience in the franchising and restaurant industry, Mark joins FranConnect from Restaurant365 where he led the organization through successive years of hyper-growth, capital rounds, and multiple acquisitions. At FranConnect, he will lead the next chapter of product innovation and commercialization across all product lines and markets globally. **Scaling Operational Efficiency** To support the company’s continued growth, FranConnect is thrilled to announce the appointment of Charlie Zhang as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer. Charlie has an extensive finance and investing background, having started his career in investment banking at Citigroup before moving into private equity investing at Warburg Pincus. Most recently, as CFO of ION Analytics, he led global finance and corporate development through successive years of significant revenue and EBITDA expansion. At FranConnect, he will lead global finance and operations, ensuring the company scales rapidly to capture its immense market opportunity. These appointments build on the recent addition of Adam Walton as Chief Customer Officer, who joined FranConnect to lead its customer experience strategy and operations. Together, this expanded leadership team reflects a bold step forward for FranConnect—bringing together deep expertise across product, operations, AI, and customer experience to drive innovation, accelerate growth, and deliver unmatched value to franchise and multi-location businesses. “As we continue our march towards serving 2,000 brands globally, FranConnect will continue to invest in transformation across all areas of our business,” says Wong. “Technology businesses are changing rapidly. FranConnect will always strive to be on the cutting-edge to serve the needs of our customers and to lead the market. Transformation is in our DNA.” ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Company News, Global News **Tags:** Press Releases --- ### [FranConnect Welcomes Adam Walton as Chief Customer Officer to Accelerate Customer Value and Growth](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-adam-walton-cco/) **Published:** October 7, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** FranConnect is proud to announce the appointment of Adam Walton to its executive leadership team as Chief Customer Officer (CCO) **Content:** **HERNDON, Va., October 7, 2025** [FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/), the leading provider of AI-powered sales, operations, and marketing solutions for franchise and multi-location businesses, is proud to announce the appointment of Adam Walton to its executive leadership team as Chief Customer Officer (CCO). Walton will lead FranConnect’s global customer success, professional services, and education functions. He will also oversee all facets of the customer experience strategy, focusing on enhancing the value delivered to customers and supporting innovation and growth. “As FranConnect accelerates its global expansion and leads the industry with AI-first innovation, delivering a seamless and impactful customer experience remains central to our mission,” said [Gabby Wong](https://www.franconnect.com/en/company/leadership-team/ "https://www.franconnect.com/en/company/leadership-team/"), CEO of FranConnect. “Adam’s deep expertise in customer experience (CX) and AI position him to elevate FranConnect’s customer engagement strategy and deliver lasting impact across our global customer base.” With over 30 years of experience driving customer value through technology innovation, Walton brings a unique blend of cross-functional leadership across Customer, Product, Operations, and Sales. He held pivotal roles at high-growth SaaS companies including CallMiner and Cresta, where he scaled AI-enabled customer engagement platforms that delivered transformative ROI for global brands. “I’m honored to join the FranConnect team at such a pivotal moment,” said Walton. “I look forward to partnering with our customers to harness the power of technology and AI to unlock new levels of value, efficiency, and growth. Together, we’ll further build a customer-first culture rooted in innovation, trust, and meaningful outcomes.” Walton’s appointment comes during a landmark year for FranConnect, marked by the launch of breakthrough AI-powered solutions including [Frannie AI™](https://frannieai.com/) (Data Analyst Agent, Sales Manager Agent, Operations Manager Agent, Franchise Support Agent, Training Manager Agent, Franchise Admin Agent, Finance Officer Agent), [Optik IQ™](https://www.franconnect.com/en/platform-overview/operations-compliance/), [FranConnect GO](https://www.franconnectgo.com/) and [Candidate Coach](https://www.franconnect.com/en/platform-overview/candidate-coach/)—all designed to drive operational excellence and smarter decision-making for franchise and multi-location businesses. His leadership will be instrumental in ensuring every customer touchpoint—from onboarding to long-term success—is optimized for impact, innovation, and growth. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Company News, Global News **Tags:** Press Releases --- ### [FranConnect Appoints Austen Asadorian as Chief Revenue Officer](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-appoints-austen-asadorian-as-chief-revenue-officer/) **Published:** September 27, 2023 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Hospitality and restaurant technology executive, Austen Asadorian, joins FranConnect to fuel its next phase of growth **Content:** #### Hospitality and restaurant technology executive joins the company to fuel its next phase of growth HERNDON, Va., September 27, 2023 – FranConnect, the leading provider of sales, operations, and marketing technology to franchises and multi-location businesses, announces the appointment of Austen Asadorian to its executive leadership team as Chief Revenue Officer. Asadorian will oversee FranConnect’s global go-to-market and revenue organization, including new customer acquisition, customer expansion, new market development, pre-sales consulting, and revenue operations, bolstering FranConnect’s continued year-over-year growth. “Austen’s expertise scaling global sales organizations and significant experience working with hospitality and restaurant technology will take FranConnect to the next phase of growth,” said Gabby Wong, CEO of FranConnect. “He is an accomplished industry leader who deeply understands the growth and operational challenges of our customers. Under his leadership, I am confident that our sales and revenue organization will continue to drive significant growth for FranConnect and serve as a trusted partner to our customers.” Asadorian is an accomplished sales and operations leader with over 15 years of experience working in the hospitality, restaurant, and retail sectors with some of the largest multi-unit operators in world. He previously served as the Senior Vice President of Sales at SevenRooms, the leading global provider of reservations and guest experience software. At SevenRooms, Asadorian was responsible for North American sales, Global Key Accounts, and Partnerships, where he achieved triple-digit growth under his leadership. Prior to joining SevenRooms, Austen held senior management positions at Peloton and Hillstone Restaurant Group. “I am thrilled to take on the role of Chief Revenue Officer at FranConnect, an industry-leading company that has already achieved remarkable success,” said Asadorian. “I am deeply committed to utilizing my extensive background in sales, leadership, and operations to accelerate FranConnect’s growth and elevate its standing as the foremost provider of franchise and multi-location management software in the industry.” Asadorian joins FranConnect during a monumental market and product growth year. In 2023, FranConnect expanded into the Australia/New Zealand (A/NZ) and Asia Pacific (APAC) markets. FranConnect also launched a set of new B2B payments products in partnership with Flywire (Nasdaq: FLYW) to support franchise CFOs in accelerating fee collection and better governing revenue streams. FranConnect has a focused market expansion plan and an ambitious product roadmap as it continues its push toward reaching over 2,000 brands and half a million locations worldwide. \#### ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Company News, Global News **Tags:** Press Releases --- ### [Why Smart Software Decisions Separate Scaling Franchises from Struggling Ones](https://www.franconnect.com/licensing-software/) **Published:** July 21, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Discover why growing franchise brands choose enterprise franchise management systems over smaller, fragmented solutions for sustainable scaling success. **Content:** Only 16% of franchisors make it to 100 locations. The culprit? Poor technology decisions are behind this staggering failure rate. Most franchise brands struggle not because they lack software, but because they’ve chosen the wrong software or the wrong partners. When quality control management software fails across multiple locations, or operations management software creates more problems than it solves, the consequences multiply exponentially across your entire network. These aren’t simple procurement decisions. They’re strategic investments that determine whether your franchise operates smoothly across multiple locations or becomes bogged down in operational chaos. The choices you make today about technology partnerships, integration strategies, and scalability will define whether your franchise thrives or joins the 84% that never reach their growth potential. ## **The Costly Myths Killing Franchise Technology ROI** Three dangerous myths are sabotaging franchise technology investments, creating expensive barriers to growth that compound across every location in your network. **Myth 1: “The cheapest option saves money.”** This thinking transforms initial savings into expensive liabilities. When your franchise management system can’t handle multi-location complexity, you’ll spend exponentially more on workarounds, manual processes, and eventually, complete system replacements. The cost of switching platforms mid-growth often far exceeds choosing the right solution upfront. You’ll face significant expenses in money, time, and franchisee disruption that compound across your entire network. **Myth 2: “All integrations work the same.”** Integration quality varies wildly, and the consequences affect your entire franchise network. Poor integrations create data silos, manual processes, and operational blind spots that prevent you from maintaining consistency across locations. When systems don’t communicate effectively, you lose the visibility needed to identify underperforming locations, ensure brand compliance, and make data-driven decisions. **Myth 3: “Software adoption happens naturally.”** This assumption destroys more franchise implementations than any technical limitation. Without proper change management, even excellent business operations management software fails because franchisees never fully adopt it. The result? 85% of franchisees don’t even know what they’re being held accountable to, creating a system-wide accountability crisis. These myths compound exponentially across multiple locations and independent franchisees. What starts as a minor inefficiency at headquarters becomes an operational nightmare when multiplied across dozens or hundreds of locations. “License Smarter: A Practical Guide to Software that Grows With You” explores the strategic considerations most franchise brands overlook when making technology decisions. These insights can mean the difference between scaling successfully and hitting growth barriers that prevent you from reaching 100 locations. ### **The Partner vs. Vendor Decision That Defines Your Franchise Future** When licensing software for your franchise, the distinction between choosing a vendor versus a partner can determine whether your technology investment accelerates growth or creates friction across your entire network. Vendors deliver a product and disappear. Partners bring industry expertise, structured implementation approaches, and ongoing strategic support specifically designed for franchise operations. This distinction becomes critical when you’re managing complex multi-location rollouts, training franchisees with varying technical expertise, and maintaining consistency across diverse markets. The unique challenges of franchise technology adoption require more than generic support. You need partners who understand the delicate balance between franchisor control and franchisee autonomy, who can guide implementations across independent business owners, and who provide ongoing optimization as your network grows. True partners offer dedicated success teams familiar with franchise operations, proactive reviews tailored to multi-location challenges, and insights specific to your industry. Their role doesn’t end at go-live. It continues as franchisees join your system, ensuring your workflow management software scales effectively with network growth. Many franchise brands underestimate the effort required to embed new tools across distributed operations. Poor adoption wastes your investment and creates inconsistencies that damage brand standards. The right technology partner counters this with franchise-specific change management strategies and shared accountability for successful outcomes. Our complete guide provides practical insights into distinguishing true partners from mere vendors. It also discusses why that distinction can define your franchise investment trajectory. #### **The Integration Trap That Costs Franchises Millions** The hidden costs of poor integration decisions multiply dramatically across franchise networks, creating expensive operational nightmares that scale with your growth. Custom integrations, ongoing maintenance, and system incompatibilities become exponentially more costly when you’re managing dozens or hundreds of locations. What seems like a manageable workaround for five locations becomes an operational crisis at fifty locations. Data fragmentation prevents franchise brands from leveraging AI and advanced analytics capabilities that could optimize performance across their network. When your supply chain quality management software doesn’t communicate with your training systems, or your enterprise quality management software operates in isolation, you lose the unified view necessary for strategic decision-making. Multi-location complexity amplifies integration challenges. Disconnected systems make it nearly impossible to maintain operational consistency, track performance trends, or identify best practices that could be scaled across your network. You end up with operational blind spots that prevent you from supporting struggling locations or replicating success. The all-in-one versus best-of-breed debate becomes more critical for franchises because coordination across multiple locations requires seamless data flow. Unified platforms typically offer tighter compatibility, centralized support, and single sources of truth that franchise operations demand. Integrated tech stacks introduce risks that compound across your network: inconsistent updates, overlapping functionality, and complex troubleshooting that affects multiple locations simultaneously. License Smarter explores the key trade-offs between unified platforms and integrated tech stacks, helping you avoid the “house of cards” syndrome that derails franchise growth when one system change breaks everything else. ##### **Buy for Tomorrow: Why Today’s Decisions Determine Franchise Scale** The systems that power your first ten locations rarely survive the journey to 100 locations without major overhauls or complete replacements. Employee training and tracking software that works for a small network often breaks under the complexity of managing hundreds of franchisees, multi-unit operators, and regional management structures. The scalability questions you ask today determine whether your technology foundation supports exponential growth or forces costly migrations when momentum builds. Franchise-specific scalability requirements go beyond simple user capacity. Can your platform handle multi-unit operators managing dozens of locations? Does it support regional management structures with varying access levels? Will it adapt to different regulatory requirements across multiple markets? Architecture decisions make the difference. Multi-tenant capabilities, flexible integrations, cloud-native design, and proven performance under load separate platforms that grow with your franchise from those that create barriers. The vendors with real-world examples of supporting franchise growth from 25 to 500+ locations provide the confidence that your investment will scale. Replacement costs extend beyond licensing fees when you’re managing franchise relationships. Forcing established franchisees to learn new systems, migrate historical data, and adapt refined processes creates disruption that can damage crucial franchisor-franchisee relationships. ###### **Transform Your Franchise Technology Strategy Today** The difference between franchises that scale successfully and those that stall often comes down to these strategic technology decisions. When your employee software training systems support consistent onboarding across locations, your quality management platforms maintain brand standards, and your operational tools provide the visibility needed for strategic decisions, growth becomes sustainable rather than chaotic. Ready to make franchise technology decisions with confidence? Download “License Smarter: A Practical Guide to Software that Grows With You,” a comprehensive guide on the critical decisions, trade-offs, and strategies that help franchise brands choose technology that accelerates rather than limits growth. Inside, you’ll find practical insights on avoiding hidden costs, building scalable foundations, and partnering with vendors who understand the unique challenges of franchise operations. Download **[License Smarter](/content-downloads/guide-to-licensing-software/)** today and discover how strategic software choices separate scaling franchises from struggling ones. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Ensure Quality, Operate --- ### [Harnessing Frannie AI™: How Generative AI Agents Power Smart Franchise](https://www.franconnect.com/harnessing-frannie-ai/) **Published:** September 10, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Discover how Frannie AI™ transforms franchising with automation, insights, and growth powered by franchise CRM software and franchise development software. **Content:** The franchise industry has always been built on systems, scale, and consistency. Yet in 2025, franchising faces a turning point: competition is fierce, costs are rising, and customer expectations are evolving. To thrive, franchisors and franchisees need more than traditional tools; they need intelligent, adaptive technology. That’s where Frannie AI™ comes in. Launched by FranConnect in January 2025, Frannie AI is a suite of generative AI agents embedded into franchise CRM software and franchise development software**.** This innovation optimizes franchise growth, simplifies operations, and elevates customer engagement. For brands determined to grow smarter and faster, Frannie AI may be the competitive edge. ## **What Is Frannie AI™?** At its core, Frannie AI™ is not just another AI plugin it is a fully integrated digital franchise assistant. By combining natural language processing, predictive analytics, and automation, it completes tasks once handled manually. Integrated directly into franchise CRM software and franchise development software, Frannie AI transforms everyday processes into intelligent, scalable strategies that drive growth and efficiency. Instead of juggling multiple tools, franchisors now benefit from: - AI-powered insights that guide smarter decision-making - Automated workflows that remove repetitive tasks - Scalable intelligence that functions across hundreds of units By combining franchise CRM software with franchise development software, Frannie AI acts as a continuous intelligence engine, analyzing and optimizing in real time. ## **Why Frannie AI Matters in 2025** Franchising is evolving rapidly. Technology adoption has shifted from optional to essential. ### **The Current Challenges** - Rising Costs: Labor shortages, compliance demands, and marketing expenses add pressure. - Fierce Competition: New sectors like senior care, specialty dining, and wellness services are booming. - Customer Expectations: Tech-enabled, personalized, seamless experiences are now the standard. ### **Market Growth** - The global CRM market will hit $163.1 billion by 2030, growing at nearly 14% annually. Demand is highest for franchise CRM software and franchise development software that streamline multi-location operations. - A 2024 Deloitte survey revealed that 60% of franchisors plan to adopt AI within three years, targeting compliance, customer engagement, and efficiency. ## **The Role of Franchise CRM and Franchise Development Software** Franchise CRM software helps manage customer relationships, while franchise development software supports lead generation, franchisee onboarding, and compliance. When powered by AI, these platforms transform from management tools into growth accelerators. Frannie AI integrates directly into these systems, ensuring development, operations, and customer engagement all move faster, smarter, and more consistently. ## **Real-World Use Cases of Frannie AI** ### **1. Franchise Development** - Lead Qualification: AI scores and prioritizes prospects in franchise development software. - FDD Summaries: Legal documents simplified into clear insights. - Automated Outreach: Scaled, personalized communications without manual overload. Result: Faster deal closures and smoother onboarding. ### **2. Franchise Operations** - Performance Monitoring: KPIs tracked in real time. - Early Alerts: Units struggling are flagged immediately. - Adaptive Training: Role-specific learning delivered automatically. Result: Elevated system-wide performance. ### **3. Customer Support & Engagement** - 24/7 Chat Agents for instant responsiveness - Sentiment Analysis across reviews and surveys - Targeted Campaigns using predictive customer insights Result: Higher brand loyalty and personalized engagement. ### **4. Compliance & Legal Support** - Automated Audits with real-time monitoring - AI-Powered Drafting of compliance documents - Risk Alerts before financial or legal issues escalate Result: Reduced risk and streamlined compliance. ## **Benefits of Frannie AI for Franchisors and Franchisees** Adopting **Frannie AI™** within **franchise CRM software** and **franchise development software** unlocks tangible business advantages for both franchisors and franchisees. Instead of simply streamlining processes, it creates a smarter, more scalable system that drives measurable results. ### **1. Efficiency Gains – Reducing Manual Tasks by Up to 40%** Franchisors and franchisees often spend countless hours on repetitive administrative tasks such as lead follow-ups, compliance reporting, or scheduling. Frannie AI automates these functions, ensuring tasks that once took hours are completed in minutes. This not only saves time but also minimizes human error, giving teams more bandwidth to focus on strategic growth initiatives. ### **2. Data-Driven Growth – Uncovering New Opportunities** With built-in predictive analytics, Frannie AI transforms raw data into actionable insights. Instead of relying on guesswork, franchisors can identify emerging market trends, understand customer preferences, and forecast unit performance. For example, sales teams using **franchise development software** can target high-potential territories, while operations leaders can anticipate challenges before they escalate. ### **3. Scalable ROI – Automations That Work Across All Units** Growth often brings complexity, especially when managing multiple locations. Frannie AI ensures that as the franchise expands, operational efficiency is not compromised. Automations created for one unit—such as onboarding, compliance checks, or marketing campaigns—can easily scale across hundreds of locations without additional costs. This multiplies ROI while keeping resources lean. ### **4. Consistency – Maintaining Brand Standards System-Wide** One of the biggest challenges in franchising is ensuring every unit delivers the same customer experience. Frannie AI strengthens consistency by standardizing processes like employee training, compliance audits, and customer engagement campaigns. Whether it’s a franchise in New York or Nevada, every customer experiences the same quality, professionalism, and brand values. ### **5. Productivity – Empowering Teams to Focus on Strategy** By removing repetitive tasks from staff workloads, Frannie AI enables teams to shift their energy toward higher-value work. Sales staff can build stronger franchisee relationships, operations managers can improve unit-level performance, and marketers can craft innovative campaigns. In short, employees move away from administrative busywork and toward activities that directly drive growth. ## **Tips for Successful AI Adoption in Franchising** Adopting AI in franchising is not just about installing new technology—it’s about preparing your people, processes, and data to fully leverage its potential. Without the right groundwork, even the smartest AI systems can underdeliver. To make **Frannie AI™** a true growth partner inside your **franchise CRM software** and **franchise development software**, franchisors should follow a structured approach. ### **AI Readiness Checklist** #### **1. Centralize and Clean Operational Data** AI thrives on quality data. Disconnected systems, duplicate records, and outdated information limit its effectiveness. Before adoption, franchisors should centralize operational data into a unified platform. This ensures AI agents have accurate inputs to generate reliable insights. For example, when sales leads, training data, and compliance records are unified, Frannie AI can analyze them holistically to provide better recommendations. #### **2. Define Measurable KPIs for Adoption** AI implementation must have clear goals. Whether the priority is reducing compliance errors, accelerating lead conversions, or increasing customer engagement, defining measurable KPIs helps track progress. For instance, a franchisor might set a target to **cut manual follow-up time by 30% within six months** using **franchise development software** powered by AI. #### **3. Train Staff and Franchisees on AI Insights** AI is only as effective as the people using it. Training staff and franchisees on how to interpret AI-driven insights is crucial. For example, when Frannie AI flags a struggling unit, operations managers must know how to act on that information. Providing hands-on workshops and ongoing education builds confidence and trust in the technology, ensuring smooth adoption at every level. #### **4. Start with Pilot Projects Before Scaling** Rolling out AI across an entire system all at once can overwhelm teams. A smarter approach is to launch **pilot projects** in select regions or departments. This allows franchisors to measure early results, gather feedback, and fine-tune the system. Once successful, the learnings can be applied system-wide, ensuring smoother, scalable adoption. #### **5. Track ROI and Refine Continuously** AI adoption is not a one-time event—it’s an ongoing journey. By consistently measuring ROI, franchisors can identify which automations deliver the strongest results and where refinements are needed. Over time, this creates a cycle of continuous improvement, ensuring the franchise network gets maximum value from the technology. ## **How Frannie AI Sets Itself Apart** Unlike generic AI tools, **Frannie AI™** is built exclusively for franchising, making it more effective and reliable. - **Tailored Workflows** – Pre-designed for franchise operations like lead qualification, onboarding, compliance, and training. - **Built-In Compliance & Brand Consistency** – Real-time monitoring and standardized processes keep every unit aligned with legal and brand standards. - **Unified Integration** – Seamlessly connects **franchise CRM software** and **franchise development software**, eliminating data silos. - **Deeper Impact** – Unlike standalone add-ons, Frannie AI delivers end-to-end intelligence across development, operations, and customer engagement. **Bottom line:** Frannie AI isn’t a generic tool—it’s a franchise-native solution designed to scale smarter and faster. ## **The Future of Franchise Automation with AI** Frannie AI™ is only the beginning. As generative AI evolves, franchising will gain access to even more powerful capabilities that transform how brands grow and operate. - **Expansion Mapping** – AI will analyze demographics, spending patterns, and competitive landscapes to identify the most profitable new markets before rivals move in. - **AI Talent Management** – From recruitment to training and retention, AI will streamline workforce management, ensuring every unit is staffed with the right people at the right time. - **Instant Benchmarking** – Real-time performance comparisons across all franchise locations will help franchisors pinpoint best practices, address weaknesses quickly, and scale successful models system-wide. Franchises that embrace these innovations early won’t just adapt to the future; they’ll define it. **Those adopting Frannie AI today will set the standard for tomorrow’s industry leaders.** ## **Frannie AI as the Growth Partner of the Future** Frannie AI™ is more than a software upgrade, it’s a strategic growth partner. By embedding automation and intelligence into franchise CRM software and franchise development software, it empowers franchisors to scale smarter and franchisees to operate more profitably. For franchisors facing rising costs and competitive pressures, the message is clear: adopting AI today secures tomorrow’s growth. Ready to experience the future of franchising? Explore Frannie AI™ within [FranConnec](https://www.franconnect.com/)t’s platform and see how it can accelerate development, optimize operations, and strengthen customer engagement. Book a personalized demo with FranConnect today and take the first step toward smarter, scalable franchise growth. ## **Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)** 1. **What is Frannie AI™?** A suite of generative AI agents within FranConnect’s franchise CRM software and franchise development software that automate tasks and deliver insights. 2. **How does it help franchise development?** It qualifies leads, simplifies FDDs, and automates outreach—speeding up deal closures. 3. **Can it improve compliance?** Yes, Frannie AI runs real-time compliance monitoring and generates risk alerts. 4. **How does AI support training?** By delivering adaptive, role-based learning paths. 5. **Is it only for large franchises?** No, both small and large brands benefit from using franchise development software powered by AI. 6. **What makes Frannie AI unique?** Its deep, purpose-built integration into franchise systems. 7. **How soon can results be seen?** Many brands see efficiency gains within months, with ROI measurable in the first year. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Best Practices --- ### [Why Royalty Management Software Is Now Non-Negotiable for the Publishing Industry](https://www.franconnect.com/why-royalty-management-software-is-now-non-negotiable/) **Published:** September 10, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Discover why publishers and authors need Royalty Management Software in 2025 to ensure accuracy, transparency, and efficiency in royalty reporting and payments. **Content:** The publishing industry has always been shaped by change, but in 2025, the pace feels unprecedented. Traditional print sales are still important, yet the explosion of eBooks, audiobooks, subscription platforms, and international licensing has introduced both opportunities and complexity. For authors and publishers, one pressing challenge sits at the heart of this evolution: royalty tracking. In the past, spreadsheets and manual processes were enough to keep records in order. But in today’s reality thousands of transactions across multiple channels, currencies, and markets demand a new solution. That solution is Royalty Management Software, a system designed to bring accuracy, transparency, and scalability to an industry that thrives on creativity but cannot afford financial errors. ## **The Rising Complexity of Royalties** Consider how revenue streams have multiplied in recent years. A single book may generate sales as a hardcover, paperback, eBook, audiobook, or even through licensing deals for translations and adaptations. Each stream comes with unique contracts, royalty percentages, and payment schedules. Add in global distribution, where a sale in Tokyo or Berlin requires tax adjustments and currency conversion, and it becomes clear why manual methods fall short. For authors, this complexity often leads to late or inaccurate payments. For publishers, the risk is that errors in reporting can strain relationships, invite legal disputes, and erode trust. In such an environment, automation isn’t optional. It’s essential. ## **Why Publishers Can’t Ignore Royalty Management Software** **Accuracy in Royalty Calculations** - The software eliminates guesswork by automating calculations across multiple formats such as print, eBooks, audiobooks, and licensed editions. - Every transaction is logged and reconciled in real time, reducing the risk of overpayments or underpayments. - Even micro-transactions—such as digital library rentals or fractional subscription payments—are captured and allocated correctly. **Transparent Author Communication** - Authors expect not just a check but a clear explanation of how their royalties are earned. The system generates **detailed, itemized statements** that highlight each revenue stream. - Secure portals give authors direct access to reports, helping them see where their book performed well (e.g., specific regions, formats, or platforms). - This level of transparency builds trust and drastically reduces the number of disputes or complaints over earnings. **Scalability for Growth** - Small publishers may start with a handful of authors, but as catalogs expand into hundreds or thousands of titles, manual systems collapse. - Royalty Management Software scales seamlessly, handling tens of thousands of records across continents without compromising accuracy. - It also manages complex **multi-author contracts**, shared contributions, and co-publishing arrangements without manual intervention. **Legal Compliance and Audit Protection** - Global copyright laws are increasingly strict, especially for international publishing. The software keeps audit-ready records that can be instantly presented for compliance checks. - Tax calculations, withholding rules, and global currency conversions are applied automatically, ensuring publishers stay compliant in every market they operate. - By maintaining a permanent digital trail of every transaction, the system protects publishers from lawsuits, fines, and financial penalties tied to reporting errors. **Operational Efficiency and Cost Savings** - Manual royalty tracking often consumes hundreds of staff hours each quarter, leading to delays and errors. Automated systems reduce reporting time from weeks to minutes. - By cutting down on administrative workload, publishers can reassign teams to focus on marketing, acquisitions, and growth strategies rather than accounting. - Lower labor costs, fewer disputes, and faster reporting add up to significant savings that directly improve profitability. **Data-Driven Insights for Smarter Decisions** - Beyond processing royalties, the software provides analytics dashboards that highlight which formats, regions, or platforms are most profitable. - Publishers can identify trends, forecast future earnings, and make informed decisions about where to invest in marketing or distribution. - This transforms royalty tracking from a back-office task into a **strategic advantage** for business growth. ## **Why Authors Need More Than Trust Alone** On the author’s side, the stakes are equally high. Creative work deserves fair compensation, and in 2025, writers want more than just checks in the mail. They want assurance that every sale whether from a bestseller or a niche title is accounted for. **Royalty Management Software** provides this assurance by delivering timely and transparent payments. Beyond compensation, it empowers authors to make informed choices about their careers. With access to detailed statements, they can identify which platforms generate the most revenue, whether investing in translations pays off, or how marketing campaigns influence sales. This insight transforms royalties from a passive income into an active business tool. And perhaps most importantly, transparency fosters trust. A clear, accurate royalty statement tells an author that their publisher values them not just as a creative partner but also as a business stakeholder. That trust strengthens the author–publisher relationship, ensuring collaboration for years to come. ## **The Features That Define Modern Systems** What makes today’s solutions so powerful is the combination of automation and intelligence. Royalty Management Software automatically calculates complex royalty splits across multiple formats and territories. It manages multi-currency payments, adapts to customizable contract terms, and generates insightful reports within minutes. Some platforms also offer self-service portals, allowing authors to log in and track their royalties anytime. For publishers, this reduces administrative workload while increasing author satisfaction. Advanced systems even integrate with sales and marketing data, creating a holistic view of revenue performance. ## **The Risk of Falling Behind** Ignoring modern solutions comes with real consequences. Without automation, publishers face costly errors, wasted staff hours, and growing frustration among authors. Small mistakes can snowball into major financial disputes, while inefficiency delays payments and reporting. For authors, unclear or delayed royalties can lead to broken trust and once that trust is lost, it’s difficult to win back. The financial risks are only part of the story. In a competitive publishing landscape, where transparency is increasingly demanded, failing to adopt **Royalty Management Software** can make a company appear outdated and unprofessional. ## **A Real-World Example** Imagine a mid-sized publisher managing hundreds of authors and thousands of titles. In the past, royalty calculations meant long nights of manual reconciliation, delayed statements, and a steady stream of disputes from frustrated authors. When this publisher introduced a modern royalty tracking system, everything changed. Reports that once took weeks were generated instantly. Disputes dropped dramatically because calculations were precise. Authors gained confidence, and staff reclaimed hundreds of hours each month. This story isn’t hypothetical—it reflects what’s happening across the industry as companies recognize that efficiency and transparency are not luxuries but requirements. ## **Looking Ahead: The Future of Royalty Tracking** The future holds even greater promise. Artificial intelligence is already being integrated into royalty systems, predicting sales patterns and helping publishers make data-driven pricing decisions. Blockchain technology is emerging as a way to provide immutable records of transactions, enhancing transparency further. Mobile-first platforms are making it easier for authors and publishers to track royalties on the go. In short, royalty management is evolving from a back-office process into a strategic advantage. ## **The Future of Publishing Depends on Royalty Management Software** The publishing industry thrives on creativity, but it survives on trust and financial accuracy. In 2025, both publishers and authors face unprecedented complexity, with royalties flowing from countless formats, platforms, and territories. Attempting to manage this with outdated methods is not only inefficient but dangerous. **Royalty Management Software**, such as the solutions offered by **Franconnect**, has become the cornerstone of modern publishing. It ensures accurate payments, strengthens author–publisher relationships, provides actionable insights, and safeguards compliance. For publishers, it means scalability and professionalism. For authors, it means empowerment and fair compensation. As the industry moves forward, those who embrace automation will not just keep up, they will lead. In a world where every transaction counts, **royalty tracking software like** [**Franconnect**](https://www.franconnect.com/)**’s** isn’t just helpful, it’s essential. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Best Practices --- ### [How Supplier Quality Management Software Ensures Compliance in Regulated Industries](https://www.franconnect.com/qms-ensures-compliance-in-regulated-industries/) **Published:** August 27, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Discover how supplier quality management software helps medical, automotive, and aerospace industries achieve compliance, reduce risks, and improve supply chain resilience. **Content:** In highly regulated industries such as medical, automotive, and aerospace, the margin for error is razor-thin. One defective medical implant can endanger a patient’s life. A faulty airbag can spark a billion-dollar recall. A non-compliant aerospace part can compromise both passenger safety and national security. This is why organizations in these sectors rely on Supplier Quality Management Software to enforce strict compliance, minimize risks, and maintain consistent quality across their supply chains. This is why these industries are bound by some of the world’s strictest compliance frameworks. Yet, with sprawling supply chains that stretch across borders, suppliers, and sub-suppliers, ensuring consistency, traceability, and compliance becomes increasingly difficult. This is where Supplier Quality Management (SQM) supported by modern Supplier Quality Management Software makes all the difference. By establishing clear processes, monitoring supplier performance, and automating compliance tasks, organizations can protect consumers, avoid costly disruptions, and build lasting trust. ## **Why Supplier Quality Management is Critical in Regulated Industries** - **Human Safety:** A defective stent or aircraft bolt isn’t just a business failure — it can cost lives, trigger lawsuits, and permanently damage a company’s reputation. Ensuring supplier quality directly protects end users and safeguards public trust. - **Regulatory Oversight:** Agencies such as the **FDA, FAA, NHTSA, ISO, and IATF** impose strict compliance standards that leave no room for error. Non-compliance can lead to heavy penalties, forced recalls, loss of certifications, and even operational shutdowns. - **Financial Risks:** The average automotive recall costs around **$600 million**, while a single medical device recall can bankrupt smaller firms. Poor supplier quality management doesn’t just increase costs it can erase years of profits and investor confidence. - **Complex Supply Chains:** A single car contains more than **30,000 parts** sourced from hundreds of suppliers across multiple tiers. If just one supplier cuts corners or misses compliance checks, the ripple effects can be catastrophic, halting production and endangering entire supply chains. In short, **SQM ensures accountability, transparency, and excellence at every stage of the supply chain.** ## **Supplier Quality Management in the Medical Industry** **Key Regulations and Standards** - **FDA 21 CFR Part 11 & 820**: Electronic records and quality system requirements. - **ISO 13485**: Quality management system for medical devices. - **GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices)**: Foundation for safe production. **Challenges** Medical manufacturers face some of the toughest supplier oversight challenges: - Every screw, valve, or stent must be **traceable** back to its origin. - Only **GMP-certified** suppliers can be trusted. - Documentation demands are immense; audit trails must be instantly available. - Even a small oversight can trigger recalls, lawsuits, and FDA intervention. **The Role of SQM** - Supplier pre-qualification and audits. - Risk-based supplier evaluations. - Stringent document control and CAPA (Corrective and Preventive Actions). **How Software Strengthens Compliance** Modern **Supplier Quality Management Software** allows medical companies to: - Automate FDA audit documentation. - Track GMP and ISO certifications with expiration alerts. - Measure supplier KPIs like defect rates and timeliness. - Trigger real-time notifications for non-conformances. *Case in point*: A U.S. medical device company cut **audit prep time by 60%** by digitizing compliance reporting through SQM software. ### **Supplier Quality Management in the Automotive Industry** **Key Regulations and Standards** - **IATF 16949**: Automotive quality management system. - **ISO/TS 16949**: Standards for defect prevention. - **NHTSA Guidelines**: U.S. compliance requirements. **Challenges** - **High Supplier Volume**: Thousands of parts sourced globally. - **Just-in-Time Pressure**: Late deliveries or defective parts can halt entire production lines. - **Recalls**: One defective brake component can spark global recalls — costing billions and eroding brand trust. - **Sub-Supplier Risks**: Failures deep in the supply chain can go undetected until disaster strikes. **The Role of SQM** - Supplier scorecards to monitor consistency. - Strong change management to avoid “silent” design changes. - Proactive defect tracking to minimize recalls. **How Software Strengthens Compliance** With **digital supplier quality management**, automotive manufacturers can: - Standardize audits across international suppliers. - Benchmark supplier performance trends. - Enforce compliance across sub-tier suppliers. - Automate defect reporting and corrective actions. *Example*: A leading OEM avoided a **$25M recall** by using SQM software to catch deviations early in its supply base. #### **Supplier Quality Management in the Aerospace Industry** **Key Regulations and Standards** - **AS9100**: The gold standard for aerospace quality. - **FAA Regulations**: Oversight of all aircraft components. - **ITAR**: Ensures defense-related supplier compliance. **Challenges** - **Zero-Defect Tolerance**: Even a tiny flaw in a jet engine bolt can be catastrophic. - **Extensive Documentation**: Every part must have certification and traceability records. - **Long Part Lifecycles**: Many aerospace components last decades, requiring continuous monitoring. - **Confidentiality**: Defense suppliers must protect sensitive data under ITAR. **The Role of SQM** - Ensuring AS9100 and FAA compliance. - Tracking full part traceability from material to assembly. - Risk-profiling suppliers through analytics. **How Software Strengthens Compliance** **Supplier compliance tracking software** equips aerospace firms to: - Maintain digital traceability across part lifecycles. - Store compliance documents securely. - Receive auto-alerts for certification renewals. - Access risk dashboards to monitor supplier vulnerabilities. *Real-world win*: A European aerospace supplier reduced **non-conformance rates by 30%** after adopting SQM software. ##### **Supplier Quality Management Software: The Digital Advantage** **Why Digital Transformation Matters** In today’s fast-paced, compliance-driven industries, **spreadsheets, emails, and manual checklists** are no longer enough to manage complex supplier networks. They lack visibility, scalability, and consistency — all critical in regulated industries where one oversight can cost millions. Modern **Supplier Quality Management Software** serves as the **backbone of compliance and performance monitoring** in global supply chains. By digitizing quality processes, automating compliance tasks, and providing real-time insights, it helps organizations eliminate risks before they escalate while saving significant time and cost. ###### **Why Businesses Need Supplier Quality Management Software** Managing supplier relationships in today’s global marketplace requires more than just spreadsheets and periodic audits. Organizations need real-time visibility, automated compliance, and predictive insights to ensure consistent quality and compliance. This is where **Supplier Quality Management Software** (SQM software) becomes a game-changer. **1. Centralized Data Hub** All supplier-related information—ranging from certifications and performance KPIs to audit results—is stored in one secure, centralized platform. This eliminates data silos, ensures instant access during inspections, and provides a 360° supplier view for better decision-making. Instead of scattered documents and missed updates, teams can rely on a single source of truth. **2. Automated Compliance** Built-in workflows allow organizations to automatically track certifications, schedule audits, and generate compliance reports. With Supplier Quality Management Software, teams remain audit-ready at all times, reducing the stress of regulatory inspections and avoiding costly non-compliance penalties. **3. Scalability Across Global Networks** Whether managing 50 suppliers or 5,000, **Supplier Quality Management Software** scales seamlessly. It standardizes processes across regions, languages, and regulatory frameworks, ensuring every supplier meets the same quality benchmarks. This scalability is critical for enterprises that operate in multiple countries with diverse compliance requirements. **4. Predictive Analytics & Risk Management** With advanced analytics, SQM software detects patterns in supplier performance data to identify risks before they escalate into failures. For example, recurring delays or minor defects can trigger early warnings. Instead of reacting to recalls or compliance failures, companies can take proactive corrective actions, saving time, cost, and reputation. **5. Stronger Supplier Collaboration** Traditional supplier management often feels transactional and punitive. Supplier Quality Management Software changes this dynamic by enabling transparent communication, shared dashboards, and continuous feedback loops. This builds long-term, collaborative partnerships with suppliers fostering improvement and innovation rather than blame. ## **Best Practices for Supplier Quality in Regulated Industries** 1. **Thorough Supplier Onboarding** – Before approving a new supplier, conduct in-depth evaluations including audits, compliance checks, performance history, and references. This ensures only qualified partners enter your supply chain, reducing the risk of defects and regulatory violations. 2. **Real-Time Monitoring** – Relying on annual audits alone isn’t enough. Continuous monitoring through **dashboards and performance scorecards** allows organizations to detect non-compliance or quality issues as they occur, enabling faster corrective actions. 3. **Collaborative Relationships** – Instead of only penalizing underperformance, leading companies focus on training and capacity-building. Providing suppliers with guidance, feedback, and shared goals creates **mutual accountability and long-term improvement**. 4. **Risk-Based Management** – Not all suppliers carry the same level of risk. Prioritize resources and audits on high-risk or high-impact suppliers (those providing critical components) while maintaining routine oversight of lower-risk partners. 5. **Embrace Digital Tools** – Manual spreadsheets and fragmented systems create gaps in visibility. By adopting **integrated compliance management software**, businesses streamline processes, centralize supplier data, and improve audit-readiness across global operations. **Frequently Asked Questions About Supplier Quality Management Software** **Q1. Why are medical, automotive, and aerospace supplier rules stricter than others?** Because these industries affect human lives directly — regulators demand higher compliance. **Q2. How does Supplier Quality Management Software reduce risks?** By automating audits, managing certifications, and offering predictive analytics that prevent failures before they escalate. **Q3. Which other industries benefit from SQM software?** Pharmaceuticals, defense, and energy sectors also rely heavily on supplier compliance tracking. **Q4. What happens if companies neglect SQM?** Fines, lawsuits, damaged reputation, loss of certifications, and even operational shutdown. **Q5. How often should audits occur?** Medical suppliers are audited annually or bi-annually, automotive high-risk suppliers quarterly, and aerospace suppliers through continuous monitoring with an annual audit. **Q6. Can small manufacturers afford SQM software?** Yes. Cloud-based digital supplier quality management tools are scalable and budget-friendly. **Q7. How does SQM software integrate with existing systems?** It connects seamlessly with ERP, QMS, and PLM for a unified compliance ecosystem. **Building Future-Ready Supply Chains** Supplier Quality Management is no longer optional in industries where **lives, safety, and compliance are on the line**. The medical, automotive, and aerospace sectors show us just how critical it is to hold suppliers accountable at every stage. The adoption of **AI-powered Supplier Quality Management Software** is transforming compliance from a reactive process into a **strategic advantage**. By automating audits, ensuring global compliance, and predicting risks, organizations can build supply chains that are **resilient, transparent, and future-ready**. At [**FranConnect**](https://www.franconnect.com/), we help organizations in highly regulated industries streamline compliance, strengthen supplier relationships, and reduce risk with our advanced Supplier Quality Management Software. Get in touch today to see how we can help you build a safer, smarter, and more resilient supply chain. [Request A Demo](/request-a-demo/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Best Practices --- ### [From Manual Audits to AI-Powered Quality Checks: The Future of Supplier Quality Management](https://www.franconnect.com/ai-powered-quality-checks/) **Published:** August 27, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Discover how Supplier Quality Management software is evolving from manual audits to AI-powered quality checks, shaping the future of global supply chains. **Content:** For decades, businesses relied on manual audits, paper-based records, and human-driven inspections to monitor supplier performance. While these methods worked in slower, less globalized economies, today’s complex supply chains demand speed, precision, and real-time insights. This is where Supplier Quality Management software comes into play. By shifting from traditional quality audits to AI-powered checks, industries are embracing a smarter, data-driven future. This transformation not only reduces errors but also ensures compliance, fosters supplier collaboration, and enhances resilience against disruptions. In this article, we’ll explore how Supplier Quality Management software has evolved, the role of artificial intelligence in quality checks, and why this shift is reshaping industries worldwide. ## **The Evolution of Supplier Quality Management** **Manual Audits: The Traditional Approach** Manual audits once formed the backbone of supplier evaluation. Quality managers would travel on-site, inspect facilities, review documents, and create audit reports. While thorough, this process was: - **Time-consuming** – audits could take days or weeks. - **Costly** – travel, labor, and documentation added expenses. - **Reactive** – issues were often discovered too late. - **Inconsistent** – subjective human judgment led to variations. In an era of increasing globalization, this approach proved inadequate. Companies needed solutions that could scale with complexity. **The Rise of Digital Tools** With the introduction of **Supplier Quality Management software**, businesses began digitizing records, automating audit schedules, and centralizing supplier data. This software created structured workflows, enabling quality managers to: - Track supplier performance over time. - Standardize compliance checks. - Reduce paperwork and manual errors. - Enhance communication with global suppliers. But the biggest revolution came with the integration of **AI-powered analytics and predictive monitoring**. ### **AI-Powered Quality Checks: A Game Changer** Artificial intelligence transforms **Supplier Quality Management software** from a monitoring tool into a predictive and proactive engine. Let’s break down how AI redefines quality management: **1. Real-Time Quality Monitoring** AI-enabled software continuously monitors supplier data streams—ranging from production metrics to shipment details. Instead of waiting for periodic audits, businesses gain **instant alerts** about anomalies or non-compliance. **2. Predictive Risk Management** Machine learning models analyze historical supplier data and external factors (geopolitical risks, environmental disruptions, labor shortages) to **predict potential quality failures** before they occur. **3. Automated Defect Detection** AI-driven image recognition tools can scan product batches or raw materials for defects far more accurately than human inspectors. This speeds up detection and ensures **zero-defect deliveries**. **4. Compliance at Scale** Regulations change rapidly, especially in industries like pharmaceuticals, aerospace, and food safety. AI-enhanced **Supplier Quality Management software** automatically updates compliance requirements, ensuring suppliers adhere to global standards without manual intervention. **5. Supplier Performance Scoring** AI creates dynamic supplier scorecards based on multiple factors: on-time delivery, defect rates, certifications, and sustainability practices. This enables companies to make **data-driven supplier decisions**. #### **Key Benefits for Industries** Shifting from manual audits to AI-powered checks delivers significant value across sectors. By embedding AI into **Supplier Quality Management software**, organizations achieve accuracy, speed, and transparency. - **Manufacturing** – Ensures consistent raw materials and parts, cutting recalls and delays. Automated detection reduces defects entering production lines. - **Healthcare & Pharma** – Strengthens compliance with FDA, ISO, and GMP standards. Automates documentation, validates certifications, and protects patient safety. - **Food & Beverage** – Tracks freshness, hygiene, and supplier certifications. AI tools monitor temperature-sensitive goods and prevent costly recalls. - **Automotive & Aerospace** – Enhances defect detection, boosts supplier accountability, and supports strict safety requirements. - **Retail & Consumer Goods** – Provides full traceability, supports ESG goals, and ensures ethical sourcing. Improves transparency and collaboration with global suppliers. In every case, **Supplier Quality Management software** reduces risks while boosting brand trust and customer satisfaction. ##### **Why the Future is Digital and AI-Driven** Manual audits will remain as supplementary checks, but the future of supplier quality lies in **AI-powered Supplier Quality Management software**. Businesses need faster, smarter, and more proactive solutions to stay competitive. - **Speed is critical** – Real-time monitoring and instant alerts replace the delays of weeks-long audits, preventing costly recalls and protecting brand reputation. - **Data volumes are massive** – AI processes millions of supplier data points in seconds, turning raw information into actionable insights no manual review could match. - **Supply chain risks are rising** – Predictive analytics identify potential disruptions from raw material shortages to geopolitical risks before they escalate. - **Sustainability matters** – Digital systems track ESG compliance, verify ethical sourcing, and provide transparent sustainability reporting. This digital-first shift ensures companies **stay compliant, anticipate risks, and meet customer and regulatory expectations** while maintaining strong, resilient supply chains. ###### **Must-Have Features in Modern Supplier Quality Management Software** When evaluating solutions, ensure **Supplier Quality Management software** includes: - **AI-driven analytics** – Predict risks and prevent issues proactively. - **Automated compliance updates** – Stay current with shifting regulations. - **Supplier dashboards** – Scorecards track delivery, defect rates, and certifications. - **Mobile audit tools** – Enable fast, paperless inspections. - **AI-powered defect detection** – Image recognition ensures near-zero defects. - **Cloud collaboration** – Connect global teams and suppliers instantly. - **Blockchain traceability** – Secure, transparent records across supply chains. These features create a **future-proof system** that strengthens quality, compliance, and supplier performance at scale. **FAQs on Supplier Quality Management Software** **1. What is Supplier Quality Management software?** Supplier Quality Management software is a digital tool that helps companies evaluate, monitor, and improve supplier performance. It ensures compliance, reduces risks, and improves collaboration across global supply chains. **2. How does AI enhance Supplier Quality Management?** AI automates quality checks, predicts risks, analyzes supplier data, and enables real-time monitoring. This ensures higher accuracy and proactive risk mitigation compared to manual audits. **3. Which industries benefit most from Supplier Quality Management software?** Industries with complex global supply chains such as manufacturing, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, food & beverage, automotive, and aerospace see the greatest benefits. **4. Can Supplier Quality Management software replace manual audits entirely?** Not entirely. While software handles real-time monitoring and predictive analysis, manual audits still play a role in cross-verification and on-site evaluations. **5. How does Supplier Quality Management software improve compliance?** For established and mid-market franchise brands, the inability to predict location underperformance represents one of the most costly blind spots in business operations. Most franchise networks operate in a perpetual cycle of reaction, detecting problems only after they’ve manifested in declining financial statements, customer complaints, or compliance violations. This reactive cycle creates three critical challenges: - **The High Cost of Late Detection** When performance issues are discovered only after revenue has declined, the costs multiply rapidly. What might have been addressed with targeted coaching or minor operational adjustments now requires significant financial investment, leadership changes, retraining, and intensive headquarters support. [Industry research](https://elitefranchisemagazine.co.uk/people/item/identifying-underperforming-franchisees-keeping-your-franchise-network-strong) shows that addressing underperforming locations early is far more cost-effective than attempting turnarounds after significant decline has occurred. According to franchise business publications, early identification of performance issues is essential, as problems that go undetected quickly compound and affect the entire brand. The real problems often occur months before they appear in financial statements. These might include shifts in customer patterns, training gaps, or competitive pressures that traditional analytics cannot surface in time. By the time financial reports signal trouble, franchise operators are typically 60-90 days behind addressing the actual issue, creating a significant gap between the onset of the problem and intervention. - **The Visibility Challenge** Traditional franchise reporting systems focus almost exclusively on lagging indicators: - Weekly or monthly sales - Period-over-period comparisons - Labor cost percentages - Customer satisfaction surveys While valuable, these metrics tell you what has already happened rather than what’s about to happen. They offer hindsight, not foresight. - **The Data Fragmentation Problem** Most mid-market franchise systems suffer from what operations experts call “data fragmentation syndrome,” where valuable insights are trapped in disconnected systems: - POS transaction data - Inventory management - Labor scheduling - Customer feedback - Compliance reports - Field audits Each system contains vital pieces of the performance puzzle, but without integration, patterns remain invisible. Regional managers manually cobble together reports from multiple sources, often missing crucial connections that AI can instantly identify. This performance prediction gap explains why franchise brands across sectors experience such staggering inconsistency in location performance. The solution? AI-powered analytics platforms that connect these data islands, enabling early detection of performance issues before they impact financial results. ### **Way #1: Early Warning Systems for Location Performance Decline** For franchise networks, identifying operational issues before they impact the bottom line represents one of AI’s most transformative capabilities. Traditional performance monitoring has always been retrospective, analyzing what went wrong after revenue has already declined. AI-powered franchise analytics software fundamentally reverses this approach. **From Reactive to Proactive Intervention** Many franchise operations directors report only discovering performance problems during quarterly financial reviews. By this point, months of revenue opportunity have been lost, and the costs to rehabilitate underperforming locations increase substantially. AI-powered analytics platforms now monitor hundreds of operational indicators across multiple data streams simultaneously, detecting subtle patterns that predict performance declines weeks to months before they would appear in financial reports. These early warning systems function like a business health monitor, constantly checking vital signs across the network. **The Science Behind Early Detection** What makes these predictive systems possible is the ability to analyze correlations between operational metrics and financial outcomes. Using machine learning algorithms trained on historical franchise performance data, these systems: - Continuously monitor real-time data from POS systems, inventory management, staff scheduling, and customer feedback - Compare current operational patterns against historical benchmarks from similar locations - Identify statistical anomalies and pattern deviations that historically preceded performance declines - Alert management with specific recommendations before negative financial impact occurs **Real-World Application** Early identification of underperforming locations is crucial for maintaining network strength. One franchisee’s underperformance can impact everyone else in the franchise system, creating a cascading effect through the brand. When franchise systems implement AI-powered predictive analytics, they can identify specific operational indicators that correlate with future performance problems. Common early warning signals include unusual patterns in staff turnover, inventory management inconsistencies, or subtle shifts in customer satisfaction metrics that might not be obvious in traditional reporting. **Making Prediction Actionable** The true power of these early warning systems lies not just in prediction but in prescriptive guidance. Modern franchise analytics platforms don’t just tell you a location might underperform. They identify the specific operational factors driving the potential decline and recommend targeted interventions based on what has worked in similar situations across the network. For franchise operators, this shift from reactive to predictive management represents a fundamental competitive advantage. While competitors are still discovering problems through monthly financial reviews, AI-empowered franchises are already implementing solutions weeks before revenue impacts materialize. #### **Way #2: Identifying Operational Factors Behind Underperformance** One of the most powerful applications of AI in franchise analytics is its ability to identify the specific operational factors driving location performance variances. While traditional reporting might tell you which locations are underperforming, AI-powered analytics reveals exactly why. **Connecting Operations to Outcomes** For established and mid-market franchise brands, operational data exists in abundance but rarely in a form that allows for meaningful pattern recognition. AI analytics changes this by establishing clear correlations between operational metrics and financial outcomes. **The process works by:** 1. Collecting operational data across multiple systems (POS, scheduling, inventory, customer feedback) 2. Identifying statistical correlations between operational factors and financial performance 3. Isolating the specific operational variables that most impact performance 4. Quantifying the financial impact of each operational factor Addressing operational inconsistencies or inefficiencies is crucial before they impact the entire business. Regular monitoring and evaluation are essential to identifying these factors early. **Moving Beyond Intuition to Evidence** Without AI-powered analytics, franchise operators often rely on intuition or general best practices to diagnose performance issues. This leads to generic interventions that may not address the specific factors affecting a particular location. Modern franchise analytics platforms eliminate this guesswork by providing data-driven insights specific to each location. For example, the system might determine that for a particular store, staff turnover is the primary performance driver, while for another in the same market, it might be inventory management or local marketing effectiveness. **From Analysis to Action** The real value comes when these insights translate into targeted improvement initiatives. Industry research shows that comparing franchisee performance across a network and identifying best practices is essential for strengthening the entire franchise chain. By analyzing what top-performing locations do differently, franchise operations teams can develop targeted coaching plans for underperforming locations based on evidence rather than assumptions. This data-driven approach leads to faster turnarounds and more sustainable performance improvements. For established and mid-market franchise brands, this capability transforms how they approach performance management, moving from generic, one-size-fits-all interventions to precision improvements based on location-specific insights. ##### **Way #3: Predicting Location-Specific Risk Factors** Traditional franchise management relies on standardized risk assessments that apply the same metrics across all locations. This one-size-fits-all approach fails to account for the unique risk profile of each location, making it difficult to allocate support resources effectively. AI-powered franchise analytics software changes this paradigm by creating customized risk profiles for each location. **Customized Risk Assessment** AI analyzes historical and real-time data from multiple sources to create location-specific risk profiles that consider: - Local market conditions and competitive dynamics - Location-specific operational patterns - Staff experience and turnover rates - Historical performance trends - Seasonal factors that affect particular markets differently This tailored approach allows franchise operators to move beyond blanket assumptions about what causes underperformance and develop targeted risk mitigation strategies for each location. **Proactive Resource Allocation** According to franchise business experts, franchise networks must proactively intervene and support underperforming franchisees before their performance impacts the entire business. AI-powered risk assessment makes this intervention more precise and effective. **By quantifying risk factors at each location, franchise systems can:** - Prioritize support resources based on objective risk scores - Allocate field support visits to locations with highest risk factors - Implement preventative training where specific risks are identified - Deploy specialized expertise to address location-specific challenges This strategic approach ensures limited support resources go where they can have the greatest impact rather than being spread evenly regardless of need. **Contextual Performance Evaluation** One of the most valuable aspects of location-specific risk assessment is the ability to evaluate performance in context. Traditional performance metrics often fail to account for location-specific challenges that may be beyond a franchisee’s control. AI-powered analytics can normalize performance expectations based on: - Local market conditions and demographics - Property variables (visibility, access, parking) - Competitive density in the immediate area - Operational constraints specific to the location This contextual evaluation helps franchise operators distinguish between performance issues resulting from operational deficiencies (which can be addressed through training and support) and those stemming from location-specific challenges (which may require different strategic approaches). **Risk-Adjusted Planning** For established franchise brands with dozens or hundreds of locations, understanding location-specific risk factors enables more accurate forecasting and planning. Each location can have individualized targets that account for its unique risk profile, creating more realistic expectations and appropriate support structures. This approach transforms how franchise networks address location performance, moving from reactive problem-solving to strategic risk management that prevents underperformance before it occurs. **Breaking Free from Reactive Management: A Framework for Implementation** To leverage AI-powered franchise analytics effectively, follow these key steps: 1. **Integrate Data Sources**: Connect POS, labor, inventory, customer feedback, and compliance data into a unified platform. 2. **Establish Baselines**: Define KPIs, measure current performance, and identify gaps between locations. 3. **Implement in Phases**: Start with descriptive analytics, then progress to diagnostic, predictive, and finally prescriptive capabilities. 4. **Align Field Teams**: Train managers, update visit protocols, and develop intervention playbooks based on AI insights. 5. **Optimize Continuously**: Validate models, refine algorithms, and expand data sources for ongoing improvement. Success indicators include reduced performance variance, earlier issue detection, better resource allocation, faster location turnarounds, and improved franchisee satisfaction. **The Future Belongs to Predictive Franchise Networks** AI-powered analytics has fundamentally changed what’s possible in franchise management, moving beyond reactive firefighting to predictive performance optimization. For established and mid-market franchise brands, this technology bridges the critical performance prediction gap that has traditionally led to costly turnarounds and inconsistent customer experiences. By implementing early warning systems, identifying operational factors behind performance variance, creating location-specific risk profiles, recognizing cross-location patterns, and developing data-driven intervention strategies, franchise operators can transform how they manage their networks. The time to act is now. As competition intensifies and customer expectations rise, the ability to predict and prevent location underperformance will separate industry leaders from followers. [Request a demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) today to discover how FranConnect’s AI-powered analytics platform can help your franchise network achieve consistent excellence across every location. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Analytics --- ### [How Royalty Management Software Improves Revenue Tracking](https://www.franconnect.com/how-royalty-management-software-improves-revenue-tracking/) **Published:** May 23, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Improve royalty tracking & streamline operations with FranConnect's royalty management software designed for franchises & multi-location businesses. **Content:** Managing revenue is a challenge for any business, but when it comes to royalty-based industries, the complexity increases exponentially. For businesses that rely on franchises, licensing agreements, or intellectual property rights, ensuring that royalty payments are accurate and on time is essential for success. Without proper management, inaccuracies and delays can lead to significant financial losses and strained relationships. That’s where [royalty management software](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/royalty-manager/) comes into play, offering an automated, streamlined solution that simplifies the process of tracking, calculating, and distributing royalties. Many businesses, from small operations to large multi-location enterprises, are realizing the importance of these tools in improving financial efficiency. By automating time-consuming tasks, providing real-time data, and minimizing errors, these tools are transforming how companies manage their royalty systems. Royalty software isn’t just for large corporations anymore – they are a must-have for growing businesses across industries, ensuring they can keep track of royalties accurately while scaling their operations. ## **What is Royalty Management Software?** Royalty tracking software is a specialized software solution designed to help businesses handle the complexities of calculating, distributing, and reporting royalties. Whether a company is in publishing, entertainment, franchising, or technology, these tools enable businesses to automate and streamline their royalty tracking. For multi-location businesses, especially those with complex agreements across various regions, accurate royalty management is critical to ensure proper compensation and maintain partner trust. These tools provide real-time visibility into financial transactions, automate key processes, and ensure compliance with contractual agreements. This not only saves businesses time but also minimizes the risk of human error, empowering them to focus on more strategic activities. ### **Key Features of the Best Royalty Management System** For franchise and multi-location businesses, manual royalty management wastes valuable time and introduces costly errors that damage franchisee relationships. FranConnect’s automated royalty calculation eliminates the spreadsheet shuffle, transforming this administrative burden into a strategic advantage. By automating these processes, finance teams can shift their focus from chasing payments to analyzing performance data that drives growth, ensuring royalty management remains accurate, transparent, and strengthens your most important business relationships. **Automated Royalty Calculation** Royalty management systems are designed to take the guesswork out of [royalty calculation](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions-overview/streamline-royalty-process/). These tools automatically compute royalties based on predefined agreements, sales data, or usage metrics, ensuring accuracy every time. This is especially valuable for businesses managing multiple licenses or franchises, as it eliminates the risk of manual errors and delays. Integration with existing business systems (such as financial or CRM platforms) makes it even easier to track revenue from various sources. The time saved from automating this process can be reinvested in expanding operations or enhancing the customer experience. **Real-Time Data and Reporting** One of the most powerful features of royalty tracking software is access to real-time data. Businesses can track sales figures, royalty calculations, and payment histories in real-time, allowing them to make quick, data-driven decisions. With this up-to-date information, companies can optimize pricing, monitor the performance of products, and identify trends in their royalty income. In addition, these tools offer customizable reporting features, enabling businesses to generate detailed reports on royalties, revenue distribution, and performance trends. These insights help with internal analysis, tax filings, and ensuring compliance with contractual obligations. **Simplified Payment Processing** For businesses handling multiple royalty agreements, processing payments can become a cumbersome task. Royalty management software simplifies this process by automatically calculating the amounts owed to each partner and facilitating secure payments. With features like bulk payments, businesses can reduce the administrative burden and risk of errors, ensuring that payments are made promptly and accurately. This is especially useful for multi-location businesses that need to process payments to a variety of partners across different regions. **Contract Management and Compliance** Maintaining compliance with royalty agreements and industry regulations is essential for businesses in royalty-driven industries. Royalty management software often comes with integrated contract management features that allow businesses to track key terms and conditions within their agreements. These tools monitor compliance with royalty rates, sales thresholds, and payment schedules, alerting businesses to any discrepancies. This helps to prevent disputes and ensures adherence to legal obligations, giving businesses peace of mind and a lower risk of legal complications. #### **How Royalty Management Software Improves Revenue Tracking** - **Accuracy in Financial Reporting-** Accurate financial reporting is a cornerstone for all businesses, and it is especially critical in royalty-based industries. Royalty management software ensures precise royalty calculations, which improves the accuracy of financial reports. By automating the collection and reporting of data, these tools reduce the chances of human error. With detailed, real-time reports, businesses can gain deeper insights into their revenue streams. This allows them to make informed decisions, identify areas of growth, and understand the financial impact of different licensing and franchise agreements. 1. **Streamlined Workflow-** Automation plays a key role in streamlining workflows for businesses that deal with multiple locations or partners. With royalty reporting software, businesses can automate routine tasks such as data entry, royalty calculation, and payment processing. This not only reduces the time spent on administrative tasks but also minimizes the chances of errors or inconsistencies. Additionally, these tools integrate with other systems like [ERP](https://www.oracle.com/erp/what-is-erp/) and [CRM](https://www.hubspot.com/products/crm/what-is) platforms, ensuring that revenue tracking is aligned across the organization. This creates a cohesive workflow, improving overall efficiency and operational consistency. 1. **Improved Partner Relationships-** Timely and accurate royalty payments are crucial to maintaining positive relationships with partners. Best royalty management software help businesses process payments accurately and on time, which builds trust and strengthens these relationships. These tools also allow businesses to track partner performance, identifying which partners or licensees are driving the most revenue. This transparency enables businesses to make data-driven decisions about their partnerships and optimize their revenue-generating strategies. 1. **Reduced Risk of Disputes-** Dispute over royalty payments can damage business relationships and lead to costly legal issues. Royalty management tools mitigate this risk by providing transparent, auditable records of all royalty calculations, sales data, and payments. With both businesses and their partners having access to the same data, the likelihood of misunderstandings is significantly reduced. By ensuring compliance with contractual terms, these tools also help businesses avoid legal complications, safeguarding their reputation and relationships in the industry. **Choosing the Right Royalty Reporting Software** When selecting royalty reporting software, businesses need to consider several factors, such as ease of use, scalability, and integration capabilities. The right tool should match the specific needs of the business, whether it’s a small company managing a few licensing agreements or a large enterprise with complex, multi-location operations. Look for tools that offer customizable features such as reporting templates, payment schedules, and contract management. The ability to integrate seamlessly with financial and CRM systems is also important to ensure smooth data flow across departments. **Take Control of Your Royalty Management with FranConnect** Royalty management software is indispensable for businesses that rely on royalties as a primary revenue stream. By automating calculations, improving accuracy, and providing real-time data, these tools help businesses streamline their operations and reduce the risk of errors and disputes. They also foster stronger relationships with partners by ensuring timely, accurate payments. For businesses looking to enhance their royalty management processes, [FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/) offers a comprehensive suite of tools designed to improve revenue tracking and streamline operations for both franchises and multi-location businesses. By adopting FranConnect’s royalty management solutions, businesses can improve operational efficiency, reduce administrative burdens, and focus on driving growth. Ready to optimize your royalty management process? Explore FranConnect’s suite of royalty management software today to improve your revenue tracking and streamline your operations. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Best Practices --- ### [Unlocking Growth: The Power of Employee Training](https://www.franconnect.com/power-of-employee-training/) **Published:** May 19, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Are your employee training programs keeping pace with your business growth? Multi-location businesses face unique challenges, but the right training software changes EVERYTHING. **Content:** Unlocking growth starts with your people — when employees are trained, confident, and aligned with your brand’s vision, business results follow. Companies managing multiple locations or franchises face even bigger challenges, needing solutions that bring consistency without slowing down operations. [Employee training software](https://www.franconnect.com/employee-training-and-development-best-practices/) rises to meet these challenges with precision and scalability. Think about how much faster your business could grow with streamlined onboarding, scalable training, and employees invested in delivering results. It’s not just possible — it’s happening right now for businesses using the right tools. ## **What Is Employee Training Management Software?** Every successful business shares one secret: a workforce that’s continuously growing. Employee training management software makes this possible by acting as a smart, scalable solution for planning, delivering, and optimizing employee development programs. From onboarding to leadership training, it streamlines every step of the learning process into one powerful, easy-to-use platform. With features like automated scheduling, progress tracking, certification management, and seamless HR integration, businesses can deliver personalized training at scale. Whether teams are in the headquarters or scattered across multiple sites, employee training management software guarantees that every learner gets a high-quality, consistent experience. Thanks to mobile-friendly access, gamification, and bite-sized learning modules, training becomes not just efficient but engaging. In a world where speed and skill determine who wins, businesses equipped with the best employee training software are positioned to lead, innovate, and thrive. ### **How Employee Training Software Enhances Operational Efficiency** Efficiency isn’t just about doing things faster — it’s a key driver of growth. Employee training software centralizes and automates learning, helping businesses scale operations without sacrificing quality. Traditional methods often bring unnecessary complexity with manual tracking, inconsistent course delivery, and long training sessions that disrupt daily operations. Employee training software eliminates these challenges by centralizing and automating the entire process, resulting in smoother, more efficient training cycles that enhance productivity. One of the most notable[ benefits of employee training software](https://www.franconnect.com/frontline-employee-training-importance/) is its ability to significantly improve operational efficiency. With streamlined course delivery and real-time performance tracking, businesses can maintain a consistent learning experience across all departments and locations. **Key operational improvements include:** - **Real-Time Reporting for Management Visibility:** Track employee progress and performance with up-to-the-minute reports, enabling quick decision-making and tailored support. - **Automated Certification Tracking:** Never miss a renewal or compliance deadline again, with automatic tracking of certifications and training completions. - **Reduced Administrative Workload:** Automate manual tasks, freeing up HR teams to focus on more strategic initiatives rather than tracking training records. - **Standardized Onboarding Processes:** Deliver consistent, high-quality training for new hires, ensuring that everyone receives the same foundational knowledge regardless of location. The ability to offer on-demand courses that are mobile-friendly means that employees can complete their training at their convenience, without interrupting their workday. This flexibility fosters higher participation rates, reduces downtime, and ensures that staff members are always prepared to meet customer expectations, no matter the challenge. #### **Boosting Employee Engagement Through Employee Training Software** Employee engagement isn’t just a buzzword — it’s a critical driver of business success. Engaged employees are the engine behind customer satisfaction, innovation and brand growth. Companies that prioritize effective training solutions see remarkable improvements in employee satisfaction, retention, and overall performance. The power of employee training software lies in its ability to make training not only more efficient but also engaging and motivating. By offering interactive content, gamified experiences, and personalized learning paths, organizations can transform training from a routine task into an exciting opportunity for growth. The best employee training software fosters a culture where employees feel continuously supported, challenged, and recognized. As employees become more engaged in their learning journeys, they become more invested in their roles, leading to higher job satisfaction and lower turnover rates. **Key engagement-driving features include:** - **Microlearning for Quick Knowledge Absorption:** Bite-sized modules ensure employees can absorb critical information without overwhelming their schedules. Training becomes easy to fit into their day, driving participation and retention. - **Quizzes and Assessments to Reinforce Knowledge:** Assessments keep employees engaged, providing instant feedback that helps them track their progress and identify areas for improvement. - **Gamification with Leaderboards and Badges:** Competitive elements like leaderboards and digital badges tap into intrinsic motivation, making learning not only fun but rewarding. Gamified experiences increase participation and encourage continuous learning. - **Progress Tracking Dashboards for Motivation:** Real-time progress dashboards allow employees to visualize their growth, celebrating achievements and encouraging the pursuit of further development. By embedding these dynamic learning features into their training strategies, organizations not only improve employee skills but also build loyal, high-performing teams. Training becomes a tool to empower employees to take ownership of their development, driving performance and consistency across all departments and locations. In a world where competition is fierce, investing in employee engagement through innovative training solutions isn’t just an advantage; it’s a business imperative. ##### **Empowering Multi-Location Businesses with Employee Training Management Software** Managing a workforce spread across multiple locations is no easy feat. From varying regional regulations to diverse operational practices and unique employee demographics, achieving uniform training across all sites can be a complex and time-consuming challenge. However, with the right employee training management software, these challenges transform into opportunities for streamlined, efficient operations and business-wide consistency. Employee training management software offers a centralized solution that simplifies training delivery, enhances compliance tracking, and ensures that every employee, regardless of their location, receives the same high-quality training experience. This is the tool that forward-thinking organizations use to scale training initiatives across multiple sites without compromising quality or efficiency. By unifying training across every site, businesses can expand faster and more confidently —without compromising on consistency or compliance. **Key benefits for multi-location businesses:** - **Customizable Content Delivery Across Regions:** Adapt your training content to meet the specific needs of different locations, regions, or brands without losing consistency. Deliver localized, compliant training that speaks to unique operational needs, all while maintaining company-wide standards. - **Scalable Onboarding for New Locations:** As your business expands, so does the need for swift, efficient onboarding. Employee training software makes it easy to onboard employees in new locations, ensuring they get up to speed quickly and seamlessly. - **Centralized Compliance Tracking:** Compliance is non-negotiable, and with centralized tracking, businesses can ensure that every location adheres to industry standards and local regulations. This makes auditing simpler and mitigates the risks of non-compliance. - **Streamlined Communication Across Teams:** No more relying on disparate systems to communicate training updates or changes across locations. With integrated communication tools, you can ensure your teams are aligned and equipped with the latest information. An intuitive, user-friendly dashboard gives administrators the power to track training progress in real-time, providing a comprehensive view of performance across all locations. This centralized visibility allows leaders to ensure that every employee, regardless of location, aligns with organizational goals, values, and operational standards. With the right [employee training management software](https://blog.franconnect.com/franconnect-webinar/keys-to-an-effective-franchise-training-program), businesses with multiple locations can take charge of their training programs, ensuring consistency, compliance, and operational excellence. This centralized approach not only drives efficiency but also empowers your teams to deliver exceptional results, no matter where they’re located. ###### **Why Investing in the Best Employee Training Software Matters** Choosing the right employee training software goes far beyond meeting basic compliance requirements. The best platforms don’t just tick the boxes — they offer cutting-edge technology solutions designed to foster continuous learning, accelerate employee development, and streamline training processes. For businesses seeking a competitive edge, investing in the right employee training software is an essential strategic decision. The right training software is the cornerstone of empowered employees, operational efficiency, and customer satisfaction. By leveraging the most advanced features, businesses can significantly enhance their training programs, enabling teams to ramp up quickly, remain aligned with brand standards, and deliver superior customer experiences at scale. **Key features of top-tier employee training platforms include:** - **Mobile-First Design for Field Teams:** A robust mobile interface ensures that your workforce can access training anytime, anywhere, from any device. For companies with remote teams or field staff, this flexibility is crucial for maintaining a seamless learning experience that doesn’t disrupt work or productivity. - **Multilingual Capabilities for Global Teams:** With the increasing globalization of businesses, having training software that supports multiple languages is non-negotiable. Localization features allow organizations to deliver tailored training materials in the preferred language of every employee, ensuring that all team members understand core business objectives and operational guidelines. - **Integrated Feedback and Survey Tools:** The best platforms aren’t just passive; they engage employees in their learning journey. Integrated survey and feedback tools help businesses measure employee satisfaction, track knowledge retention, and make real-time adjustments to training programs based on employee responses. This data-driven approach ensures that training is always relevant, impactful, and continuously improving. - **Cloud-Based Storage for Secure Data Management:** Cloud-based solutions offer unparalleled flexibility and security for storing and managing training data. The best employee training software provides secure, scalable storage solutions that are protected by top-tier security protocols. This ensures that sensitive data is always safe and accessible when needed, while enabling easy updates and expansions to training content. Why settle for subpar training solutions when you can empower your workforce with a modern, feature-rich platform? Investing in the [best training software](https://apps.apple.com/in/app/franconnect-world-manager/id6448138883) ensures that your employees are not only compliant but also engaged, knowledgeable, and aligned with your business goals. By automating and centralizing your training processes, you eliminate the risk of disengagement, inefficiency, and inconsistent results, empowering your teams to reach their fullest potential. With the right tools in place, businesses unlock new opportunities for operational excellence, employee satisfaction, and sustained growth. Don’t just train — transform your workforce. **Improving Workforce Compliance with Employee Training and Development Software** In industries like retail, healthcare, and hospitality, compliance isn’t just a box to tick — it’s an ongoing, dynamic requirement that directly impacts business operations and legal standing. As regulatory standards evolve at lightning speed, staying ahead of compliance requirements through manual methods is not only time-consuming but also exposes businesses to significant risks. Cutting-edge employee training and development software has become an indispensable tool in ensuring that compliance training remains up-to-date, efficient, and entirely foolproof. **Here’s how advanced employee training software is revolutionizing compliance management and mitigating business risk:** - **Automatic Regulatory Update Notifications**: Compliance is a moving target. Automated software solutions continuously scan for regulatory changes, ensuring that businesses are always aware of new standards or revisions. This real-time notification system guarantees that compliance training is never outdated, allowing businesses to quickly adapt and update their training content without the risk of missing crucial legal shifts. - **Digital Recordkeeping for Seamless Audits**: Manual recordkeeping is cumbersome, prone to error, and highly vulnerable to compliance breaches. The best employee training software ensures secure, organized digital records, eliminating the need for paper trails. This feature provides a centralized digital archive for compliance-related documentation, making audits faster, easier, and more reliable. When regulators come knocking, your business is always audit-ready. - **Advanced Certification Tracking and Expiry Alerts**: Tracking certifications across a growing workforce can be overwhelming, especially with multi-location businesses. Employee training software automatically tracks certification statuses and sends expiry alerts well in advance, ensuring that your employees stay compliant without requiring manual intervention. This proactive approach eliminates the risk of expired certifications causing delays or legal complications. - **Branch-Specific Compliance Modules**: Different regions and departments often operate under different sets of regulations. Top-tier training software allows businesses to deliver tailored training content based on specific branch locations or roles, ensuring that each team receives training that meets local and departmental compliance requirements. This granular approach keeps businesses in full compliance across all operations. With these advanced compliance tools in place, businesses are not only reducing liability but also reinforcing their commitment to operational excellence. As a result, [employee training and development software](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/world-manager-frontline/) becomes more than just a solution — it’s a competitive advantage. The ability to automate, centralize, and monitor compliance in real-time empowers businesses to stay ahead of regulations, mitigate risks, and ensure unwavering legal and operational integrity. **Are you ready to empower your business with the next generation of compliance management?** By utilizing cutting-edge technology to stay compliant, you can ensure operational continuity, mitigate risk, and focus on what truly matters: driving growth and delivering exceptional service. **Key Technical Advantages of Employee Training Software for Multi-Location or Franchise Business** Managing a workforce across multiple locations or franchises presents a unique set of challenges. From ensuring uniformity in training to meeting diverse compliance requirements, businesses with geographically dispersed teams must adopt smart, scalable solutions to stay ahead of the competition. In this context, employee training software for multi-location and franchise businesses is not merely a tool — it’s a strategic asset that enhances operational efficiency, streamlines communication, and ensures consistency in training across the board. Here’s how modern training platforms are revolutionizing operations for multi-location and franchise enterprises: - **Geo-Fencing Capabilities for Location-Specific Content Delivery**: One-size-fits-all training is a thing of the past. Geo-fencing technology enables businesses to deliver customized, location-specific content, ensuring that training is relevant to the unique challenges and regulatory demands of each region. Whether managing franchises across different states or international locations, businesses can provide targeted training that speaks to local nuances while upholding brand consistency and quality standards. - **Seamless Integration with Single Sign-On (SSO)**: With [Single Sign-On](https://help.franconnect.com/hc/en-us/sections/20400239250075-Single-Sign-On-SSO) (SSO) integration, employees can securely access training platforms without the need to remember multiple passwords. This secure, streamlined access improves user adoption rates and boosts training engagement while reducing login-related friction. It allows your team to focus on what truly matters: learning and enhancing their skill sets without distraction, no matter their location. - **Advanced Reporting for Corporate and Regional Managers**: Effective leadership requires clear visibility into team performance. Modern employee training software offers advanced, real-time reporting tools, giving both corporate and regional managers access to detailed insights across all locations. Key performance indicators (KPIs) like training completion rates, compliance status, and engagement levels are available at a glance, enabling managers to make data-driven decisions and quickly identify areas that require attention. - **Customizable Learning Portals Tailored for Each Location or Franchise**: Every location or franchise is unique, and so are their training needs. With customizable learning portals, businesses can ensure that each location or franchise receives tailored training content that aligns with its specific operational objectives, brand guidelines, and local requirements. This personalized approach ensures employees are engaged, motivated, and most importantly, aligned with the broader company vision. - **Cloud-Based Systems for Scalability and Real-Time Updates**: One of the most powerful advantages of cloud-based employee training software is its scalability. As your business expands, your training infrastructure can grow seamlessly. Cloud solutions allow for real-time content updates, ensuring that every employee, regardless of location, has access to the latest materials. Plus, businesses can scale up their training efforts without incurring significant on-site infrastructure costs, making it easier to maintain quality and consistency across multiple locations or franchises. With these innovative features, businesses can ensure efficient, scalable, and consistent training across all their locations. The ability to provide location-specific training, easily track progress, and customize learning content ensures that your team members are always aligned with your company’s core values and operational standards. Whether you are managing a local franchise network or a global enterprise, the best employee training software enables your business to grow faster, scale smarter, and stay ahead of evolving industry trends. By investing in the right tools, you’ll ensure that your team is not only trained but also empowered, engaged, and equipped to meet the demands of an ever-changing marketplace. **How Mobile Accessibility Elevates Training Impact** Mobile accessibility in employee training software has shifted from being a luxury to a necessity. With a growing remote and mobile workforce, employees require the flexibility to access training on their own terms. Mobile compatibility doesn’t just enhance convenience; it significantly improves completion rates and accelerates employee development. By offering on-the-go learning, businesses are meeting the demands of today’s dynamic workforce while driving higher engagement and faster skill acquisition. **Key benefits of mobile accessibility** include: - **Instant Access to Training and Assessments**: Employees can start or complete their training at their convenience, without waiting for desktop availability. This instant access to relevant learning materials accelerates the process and boosts engagement. - **Offline Learning for Remote Locations**: Not every employee works in an office environment. Mobile solutions with offline capabilities enable employees to continue learning in remote or disconnected areas, ensuring no one is left behind, regardless of their location. - **Push Notifications for Real-Time Training Updates**: Keeping employees in the loop is easier than ever with automated push notifications. Timely updates about new courses, important compliance reminders, or training deadlines ensure employees stay informed and engaged. - **Seamless Syncing Across Devices**: Mobile learning offers the freedom to transition between devices. Whether an employee starts training on their phone during their commute and switches to a tablet at the office, syncing is smooth, ensuring no loss of progress. By providing mobile-first training solutions, businesses are fostering a culture of continuous learning, delivering training that fits into employees’ real-world schedules. This is an essential step toward ensuring a skilled, adaptable, and motivated workforce that meets business objectives with efficiency and expertise. **Measuring the ROI of Employee Training Software Investments** When businesses invest in employee training software, the next crucial step is to assess the return on investment (ROI). The best training platforms offer quantifiable insights into training effectiveness, employee performance, and overall business outcomes. Companies that embrace technology to optimize their training efforts are not only enhancing employee skills but also driving tangible business results. **Effective ways to measure ROI include:** - **Pre- and Post-Training Assessment Scores**: By evaluating employee knowledge before and after training, businesses can clearly see improvements in competency. These metrics provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of specific training modules. - **Reduced Onboarding Time**: Training software enables faster and more efficient onboarding processes. Shorter ramp-up times translate into quicker productivity and cost savings for the business. - **Increased Customer Satisfaction Scores**: Well-trained employees translate into more knowledgeable, confident, and efficient customer service. Improved customer satisfaction directly correlates with better customer retention and brand loyalty. - **Decreased Incident or Compliance Violation Rates**: Training platforms help businesses stay compliant with ever-changing regulations. With real-time tracking and certifications, businesses can minimize costly mistakes and reduce the risk of legal or regulatory penalties. By leveraging [data-driven analytics](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/franconnect-launches-analytics-to-improve-performance--roi-across-franchises-and-multi-location-businesses-302032678.html), businesses gain actionable insights that enable them to continuously improve their training programs, optimize resource allocation, and ultimately maximize workforce productivity. Training is no longer a one-time expense but a strategic investment with clear, measurable business benefits. **Future Trends in Employee Training Software** The future of employee training software is poised to revolutionize how businesses approach workforce development. As technology continues to evolve, so too do the capabilities of training platforms. Here’s a glimpse into what lies ahead in the world of training technology: - **AI-Driven Adaptive Learning Paths**: Artificial intelligence (AI) will increasingly power personalized learning experiences, using predictive analytics to recommend tailored training modules based on an employee’s skills, role, and learning preferences. This makes training more efficient, ensuring that employees receive the right content at the right time, maximizing both engagement and retention. - **Integration with HR and CRM Systems**: Seamless integration between training platforms, HR systems, and CRM tools will enable businesses to align training programs with their overall organizational strategies. Real-time access to employee data across platforms will allow businesses to track employee progress and performance while delivering targeted learning interventions. - **Virtual and Augmented Reality Training Modules**: Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are transforming how employees engage with training content. Immersive training environments can simulate real-world scenarios, making learning experiences more interactive and realistic. Whether it’s simulating customer interactions or emergency response scenarios, VR and AR enable hands-on learning without the risk or expense of physical simulations. - **Blockchain-Based Credentialing for Secure Certification Tracking**: As businesses prioritize data security and transparency, blockchain technology will play a role in verifying and securing employee certifications. Blockchain will provide tamper-proof certification records, enhancing the credibility of employee qualifications and simplifying the verification process. By staying ahead of these cutting-edge trends, businesses can position themselves as leaders in employee development, ensuring they have the tools needed to adapt to future workforce needs. The future of training is all about delivering smart, immersive, and personalized learning experiences, and businesses that embrace these innovations will not only empower their teams but also drive greater resilience and growth in an increasingly competitive market. **Future-Proof Your Business with Scalable Training Solutions** In today’s competitive business landscape, investing in advanced employee training software is essential for staying ahead. World Manager by [FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/) is the solution that can transform your training approach, providing a scalable platform that ensures consistent, high-quality learning across locations. Effective training drives operational efficiency, employee engagement, and regulatory compliance. With [World Manager](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.franconnect.wm&hl=en_IN&pli=1), your business can streamline training processes, track employee progress, and foster continuous development, no matter how many locations you operate. The platform adapts to your unique business needs, ensuring every team member is equipped with the skills necessary to succeed. Take the next step toward scalable growth. Empower your teams with smarter training and unlock your business’s full potential. Schedule a demo of World Manager today. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Best Practices --- ### [From Spreadsheets to Success: Why Manual Franchise Management Is Costing You Growth](https://www.franconnect.com/why-manual-franchise-management-is-costing-you-growth/) **Published:** May 5, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Discover the real ROI of franchise management software and how purpose-built solutions can accelerate location openings by 28% and improve compliance by 32%. **Content:** It’s 7:30 AM, and Sarah, the operations director of a 13-location sandwich franchise, is already drowning in spreadsheets. Three franchisees have emailed overnight about royalty calculation discrepancies. Her field operations manager can’t locate last quarter’s compliance reports for an upcoming audit. Meanwhile, the CEO wants updated growth projections by noon. As Sarah toggles between 16 open Excel files, a notification pops up — another location opening is delayed again because onboarding paperwork is incomplete. The ROI conversation around franchise management software she’s been putting off with leadership suddenly feels urgent. It’s a familiar story playing out daily across growing franchise networks. Manual processes that worked for 2-3 locations become serious bottlenecks at 5, 10, 25, 50, or 75 locations. The question isn’t whether you can continue operating with your current manual systems. The real question is how much invisible growth you’re sacrificing by doing so. Let’s explore the hidden costs of spreadsheet dependency in franchise management and reveal why the journey from fragmented processes to streamlined operations is the key to unlocking your brand’s full potential. ## **The Hidden Costs of Spreadsheet Management for Growing Franchises** When franchise operations rely on spreadsheets and manual processes, they incur costs that extend far beyond the obvious. The franchise spreadsheet problems that plague growing brands create a cascading effect of inefficiencies that silently erode profitability and stifle expansion. First, there’s the sheer time investment. Operations directors like Sarah spend significant hours each week just gathering, formatting, and reconciling data from multiple sources, time that could be dedicated to strategic growth initiatives. As your franchise expands beyond 5 locations, this administrative burden grows exponentially, often requiring additional headcount that directly impacts your bottom line. Then comes the error factor. Spreadsheets are notoriously error-prone, and in franchise management, these mistakes translate to real business consequences. Miscalculated royalties strain franchisee relationships. Overlooked compliance issues create legal vulnerabilities. Inaccurate inventory forecasts lead to stockouts or waste. Each error compounds, creating friction that slows your growth trajectory. Perhaps most concerning are the opportunity costs, the invisible growth barriers you might not even recognize: - **Delayed decision-making**: When data lives in disconnected systems, gathering insights takes days instead of minutes, causing missed opportunities. - **Franchise development bottlenecks**: Manual onboarding processes extend opening timelines by weeks or months. - **Relationship damage**: Administrative errors and delays frustrate franchisees, damaging the trust essential for system-wide growth. - **Competitive disadvantage**: While you’re wrestling with spreadsheets, competitors with streamlined operations are expanding faster. The real cost isn’t just what you’re spending on inefficient processes. It’s the growth you’re leaving on the table by not investing in purpose-built franchise management solutions. ### **How Manual Franchise Operations Impact Your Bottom Line** Manual franchise operations directly undermine your financial performance in measurable ways. When managing spreadsheets and disconnected systems, your brand suffers across multiple dimensions. The warning signs that manual operations are limiting your growth include: - **Delayed expansion**: Slower location openings mean months of lost revenue potential. - **Inconsistent execution**: Compliance issues damage customer experience and brand reputation. - **Resource drain**: Teams spend time managing paperwork rather than driving growth. - **Scaling inefficiency**: Administrative overhead increases proportionally with each new location. For growth-focused brands, the question is simple: Can you afford systems that fundamentally cap your expansion potential and profitability? The ROI of purpose-built franchise management software becomes compelling when you quantify these hidden costs. #### **Overcoming Common Franchise Growth Challenges Through Technology** Growing franchises face consistent operational hurdles that directly impede their expansion. Franchise management software ROI becomes immediately apparent when purpose-built technologies directly address these pain points. Rather than applying generic business software to franchise-specific challenges, dedicated solutions provide targeted capabilities for multi-location brands. Take consistency challenges, for instance. When franchisors rely on manual processes, maintaining brand standards across locations becomes increasingly difficult. Purpose-built franchise software solves this through digital brand standards, automated audits, and real-time compliance monitoring. This ensures customers experience the same quality whether they visit location #5 or location #75. Manual franchise operations often suffer from communication breakdowns. Field staff struggle to share critical information, franchisees miss important updates, and leadership lacks real-time visibility into location-level performance. An integrated platform centralizes communication, creating a single source of truth that eliminates the “I never got that memo” problem. Leadership gains real-time with dashboards that surface issues early —enabling proactive decision making before they escalate into a full-blown crisis. Technology features that directly address growth barriers include: - **Automated workflows** that streamline location openings by eliminating manual handoffs and documentation delays - **Centralized training** that ensures consistent onboarding and ongoing skill development across the network - **Performance analytics** that uncover best practices from top-performing locations and scale them system-wide - **Compliance management** tools that automate audits, standardize reporting, and reduce both risk and administrative overhead - **Royalty management** systems that eliminate calculation errors and accelerate collection When applied strategically, these technologies transform operational inefficiencies into competitive advantages, enabling brands to focus on growth instead of administrative work. ##### **From Manual to Streamlined Operations** Let’s consider a hypothetical example based on typical results seen across franchise brands. Imagine “FastServe Burgers,” a fictional 47-location quick-service restaurant franchise struggling with inconsistent operations and slow expansion. Their franchise development process relies on spreadsheets, email, and shared drives, resulting in lengthy opening timelines and frustrated franchisees. After implementing an integrated franchise management platform, this hypothetical franchise could see transformative results — mirroring real-world results FranConnect customers achieve: - Location opening time decreased by 28%, accelerating revenue generation by getting new units operational much faster - Compliance with brand standards improved by 32%, directly enhancing customer experience and satisfaction scores - Field support team productivity significantly increased, allowing the same staff to support more locations without additional headcount - Real-time performance visibility enables leadership to identify and address underperforming locations before they fail Perhaps most importantly, average unit economics improve up to 18% compared to pre-implementation baselines, making a strong ROI case that justifies investment in franchise management software within the first year. Transitioning from manual franchise operations to streamlined, tech-enabled systems creates a foundation that franchises need for sustainable growth, far beyond what manual systems can support. ###### **The Strategic Value of Purpose-Built Franchise Management Solution** Making the leap from spreadsheets to a purpose-built franchise management solution is a strategic move that accelerates growth. The hidden costs of manual operations become real roadblocks to growth as your brand expands beyond a few locations. **The ROI of a franchise management solution is clear:** - 28% faster openings - 32% better compliance - 18% improved unit economics By eliminating spreadsheets and fixing operational inefficiencies now, your brand can seize on growth opportunities while competitors stay stuck in manual processes. **Ready to explore how purpose-built franchise management technology could transform your operations?[ Request a demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) today.** ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Develop --- ### [Unlock Your Blueprint to Food Safety Excellence](https://www.franconnect.com/food-safety-maturity-model/) **Published:** February 4, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Content:** **Take the Food Safety Questionnaire and Learn How Your Brand Ranks In Food Safety** [Download Now](https://www.franconnect.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Scorecard-for-FSQ-Maturity-Model-V5.xlsx) Food safety professionals know that maintaining compliance and delivering quality requires more than just meeting the basics. This infographic offers a strategic path to elevate your operations and achieve unmatched safety standards. **Why Download This Infographic?** - **Actionable Insights to Strengthen Protocols** Discover practical steps to refine your food safety procedures, minimize risks, and create a culture of accountability across your organization. - **A Clear Framework to Assess Maturity Levels** Identify where your organization stands on the food safety maturity scale and uncover specific actions to advance to the next level. - **Data-Driven Strategies to Enhance Compliance & Efficiency** Leverage the power of technology and analytics to streamline operations, improve audit readiness, and proactively prevent compliance issues. This infographic is a guide to transforming how you manage food safety, ensuring consistency, and staying ahead of risks in an evolving industry. **Take the First Step Toward Safety Excellence** Download the **Food Safety & Maturity Model Infographic** and gain the insights you need to lead your organization to food safety success. [Download Now](https://www.franconnect.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Food-Safety-Maturity-Model-Infographic-V3.pdf) Want to hear more? **[Watch a recorded webinar](https://blog.franconnect.com/franconnect-webinar/reactive-to-proactive-food-safety)** featuring Cindy Jiang, Food Safety Expert, and Kari Hensien, QMS Expert, as they talk about how you get from reactive to proactive food safety. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Ensure Quality, Improve Performance **Tags:** Foundation, Franchise Operations --- ### [How Quality Management Software Enhances Business Operations](https://www.franconnect.com/how-quality-management-software-enhances-business-operations/) **Published:** May 5, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Discover the real ROI of franchise management software and how purpose-built solutions can accelerate location openings by 28% and improve compliance by 32%. **Content:** When a single location underperforms, the entire brand feels the impact. Missed safety protocols. Inconsistent service. Negative reviews that spread faster than resolutions. For multi-location businesses, operational missteps aren’t isolated—they’re contagious. And the bigger the network, the harder it becomes to see issues before they escalate. **[Quality management software](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/quality-management/)** helps solve this by providing real-time visibility across all locations, allowing businesses to identify and address issues early, before they affect the entire brand. With automated tracking and standardized processes, businesses can maintain consistency and compliance, no matter how widespread their network. The pressure to maintain consistent performance across dozens—or hundreds—of sites can overwhelm even the most experienced teams. Reactive decisions become the norm, checklists pile up, and leaders are left wondering what went wrong. Quality management software flips that script. By replacing guesswork with real-time oversight and standardized processes, it brings control back to the frontlines. What once felt chaotic becomes coordinated. What was once hidden becomes visible. And with that transformation comes the power to scale with confidence. ## **What is a Quality Management System?** A Quality management system (QMS) is a structured framework of policies, processes, and procedures designed to ensure that an organization consistently delivers products or services that meet customer and regulatory requirements. It focuses on enhancing customer satisfaction through continuous improvement and operational efficiency. Key elements of a QMS typically include: - Quality policy and objectives - Documented processes and procedures - Roles and responsibilities - Performance measurement and monitoring - Internal audits and corrective actions - Continuous improvement practices Popular standards like **[ISO 9001](https://www.iso.org/standard/62085.html)** provide guidelines for setting up and maintaining an effective QMS. Organizations use QMS to improve consistency, reduce errors, boost efficiency, and build trust with customers and stakeholders. ### **Why is a Quality Management System Required for Multi-Location Brands** Managing quality across a growing network of franchise or company-owned locations isn’t just difficult—it’s high-stakes. Spreadsheets break. Emails get buried. And without real-time insight, minor issues snowball into major liabilities. From missed inspections to inconsistent brand execution, these gaps can quietly erode customer trust and operational performance. That’s why a quality management system is required, without it, businesses risk inconsistency, non-compliance, and operational inefficiencies that can damage both reputation and revenue. A QMS provides the necessary structure to ensure that every location meets the same high standards, no matter how fast the brand grows. Quality management is important because it protects brand integrity, supports regulatory compliance, and promotes a culture of accountability. It ensures that every customer experience—whether it’s the first visit or the fiftieth—is consistently excellent. Quality management software cuts through that complexity. It eliminates manual guesswork and gives businesses the power to enforce standards with precision. With live dashboards, automated checklists, and instant issue tracking, every location stays audit-ready, compliant, and aligned. Whether it’s food safety protocols, regulatory requirements, or brand consistency, this technology ensures that nothing slips through the cracks—and that every site performs like your best one. But the real value lies in what happens next: when consistency becomes scalable, and insight fuels every decision across your organization. Here’s how quality management tools drive measurable improvements in daily operations. #### **Boosting Compliance and Inspection Readiness** Compliance failures can lead to heavy fines, reputational damage, or even shutdowns. Many operators rely on outdated methods like paper checklists and inconsistent reporting to meet regulatory requirements. These systems are error-prone and offer no proactive alerts. Enterprise quality management software solves this by digitizing and standardizing compliance processes. With automated workflows, customizable inspection templates, and mobile audit tools, teams can conduct thorough evaluations across all locations. Real-time dashboards flag non-compliance issues instantly allowing quick corrective action before problems escalate. Furthermore, built-in audit trails and documented accountability ensure regulatory readiness at all times, eliminating the last-minute scramble. Quality management software enhances this by providing real-time tracking of every action and decision, ensuring that all processes are fully documented and easily accessible for audits. With automated record-keeping and seamless data integration, businesses can stay ahead of compliance requirements, reduce errors, and ensure that they are always prepared for inspections, audits, and regulatory reviews. ##### **Enabling Consistent Operational Execution** Inconsistent execution of brand standards damages customer trust and reduces profitability. One underperforming location can drag down the brand experience across the entire network. Without centralized oversight, it’s hard to know where breakdowns occur. Best quality management software provides centralized control over all standard operating procedures (SOPs). Operations leaders can push consistent guidelines, training, and expectations to every site. Digital task management ensures nothing falls through the cracks—especially during busy periods or staff turnover. Performance can also be measured in real time. If a location falls short on execution, regional managers are alerted immediately. This creates a culture of accountability and excellence throughout the network. ###### **Driving Performance with Data-Driven Insights** Without clear data, most decisions are based on gut feeling or fragmented reports. Leaders often lack a single source of truth across multiple systems, which causes inefficiencies and missed opportunities. With quality system management software, businesses gain full operational visibility. All activities—from audits to issue resolution—are captured and analyzed in a central dashboard. Advanced reporting uncovers trends, recurring issues, and areas of strength. For example, if multiple units fail food safety checks on the same procedure, operations can address the root cause with targeted training or updated processes. This kind of insight turns data into action, transforming decision-making from reactive to strategic. **Enhancing Cross-Functional Collaboration** Operational quality isn’t just an operations issue—it impacts HR, finance, training, and executive strategy. Siloed tools create communication gaps that slow down action and create confusion. Modern quality management software unites cross-functional teams through shared visibility and collaboration tools. Alerts, tasks, and performance metrics are accessible across departments, so everyone works from the same data set. For example, HR can align performance improvement plans with operational compliance data. Finance teams can link royalties to inspection scores. Executives can track macro trends affecting brand performance. This alignment accelerates execution and minimizes errors caused by information silos. **Accelerating New Location Success** Opening new locations is often riddled with delays and inconsistencies. From health inspections to staff training, teams juggle multiple checklists with no centralized process or performance tracking. Software for **[quality management system](https://blog.franconnect.com/franconnect-webinar/live-demo-franconnects-rizepoint-quality-management-platform)** simplifies this. Pre-built templates and launch checklists standardize the onboarding process for every new site. Field teams can monitor each step, from pre-opening audits to grand opening compliance. This ensures that every new unit meets brand standards from day one—reducing ramp-up time and setting up long-term success. **Automating Issue Resolution and Preventive Action** Manual issue tracking often ends with problems being logged but not resolved. Even worse, recurring problems are rarely addressed at the root cause level. This creates a cycle of repeated failures. With integrated issue resolution tools, quality management software turns every problem into a tracked workflow. Corrective actions are assigned, deadlines are enforced, and documentation is automatically captured. Quality management software also supports preventive actions. By analyzing issue trends, businesses can implement proactive changes that stop problems before they occur—saving time, resources, and reputation. **Increasing Brand Loyalty and Customer Trust** Every customer expects a consistent, high-quality experience—no matter which location they visit. Operational missteps like cleanliness issues, product inconsistencies, or long wait times can erode trust fast. Software for quality management helps protect that trust. By enforcing consistent operational standards and providing performance visibility, brands ensure every location delivers on the customer promise. Digital checklists, photo documentation, and audit results prove that expectations are being met. This not only strengthens customer satisfaction but also builds internal confidence across teams. **Supporting Scalable Growth** As brands scale, so do operational complexities. Without a structured system, growth often leads to diluted standards and increased risks. Expanding teams struggle to manage growing location counts while keeping quality intact. Quality management software supports scalable growth through repeatable processes and centralized oversight. Whether managing 25 or 500 locations, the platform adjusts to your business size. Growing brands benefit from automated location onboarding, standardized SOPs, and real-time reporting. Enterprise-level brands gain advanced tools like AI-driven insights, predictive analytics, and configurable compliance frameworks. **Improving Field Team Efficiency** Field teams play a critical role in ensuring quality across locations. However, without digital tools, their efforts are limited by time-consuming paperwork and manual follow-ups. Modern quality management software empowers field teams with mobile-first tools. From the field, they can conduct audits, log issues, assign corrective actions, and track performance—all in real time. Instead of chasing paper trails, they focus on coaching and improvements. Centralized access to data allows them to provide actionable feedback instantly, driving better results during every site visit. **Tailored to Every Stage of Brand Maturity** Whether you’re managing 10 locations or 500, your needs change as you grow. Quality management software adapts to these shifts with features suited to every stage of brand maturity. - **Emerging brands (1–25 locations):** Focus on building consistency and visibility. - **Growing brands (26–75):** Need automation to reduce scaling friction. - **Mid-market (76–300):** Demand stronger compliance and data tools. - **Enterprise (300+):** Require complex configuration, predictive insights, and long-term optimization. No matter the size, the software supports operational excellence across all levels. **Transform Compliance and Boost Operational Efficiency** Manual processes are no longer enough to keep up with the demands of a fast-paced, multi-location business. Gaps in compliance, inconsistent performance, and a lack of real-time data can cripple growth and tarnish your brand. Quality management system software eliminates these challenges by providing tools to streamline operations, ensure consistent quality, and maintain compliance across all locations. **[Leading brands](https://www.franconnect.com/customers/testimonials/)** have already recognized that staying ahead requires more than just effort, it requires the right technology. **FranConnect’s quality management software** empowers your team to work smarter, not harder. With centralized oversight, instant insights, and automated workflows, you gain the control, clarity, and consistency that scale demands. Your staff operates with confidence, your managers stay ahead of issues, and your leadership makes proactive, data-driven decisions every time. From mobile audits and digital checklists to real-time analytics, every feature is designed to ensure that standards aren’t just met—they’re exceeded. Now is the time to eliminate fragmented systems and adopt a platform that drives operational performance, reduces risk, and unlocks scalable growth. With **Quality management software** from FranConnect, the tools to achieve operational excellence and consistent quality are at your fingertips. Take the next step. Empower your brand to reach its full potential—make **[FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/)** your partner in quality management and watch your business soar. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Best Practices --- ### [Enhancements to Royalty Manager: Compute Royalties & Improve Profitability](https://www.franconnect.com/enhancements-to-royalty-manager-compute-royalties-improve-profitability/) **Published:** September 7, 2022 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** We've implemented enhancements to our royalty management software: Royalty Manager. Explore these updates & how they can benefit your franchise here! **Content:** Do you struggle with calculating consistent, error-free royalty collection for non-financial categories? Furthermore, do your franchisees challenge every invoice because they lack transparency? Well, optimizing your royalty management process just got a little easier with our newly released enhancements, with powerful new upgrades that build upon our robust solution and will simplify your user experience. **Reporting: Royalty Manager Data by Brand** Introducing two new columns, namely, brand and franchise owner’s name in the reports under Royalty Manager, provides the ability to view multi-brand data by brand. These columns (brand and owner’s name) will also be available as filters within the reports. **Royalty Calculations: Maximum Discount Cap** Now your finance team can create discount categories and limit the discounts applied to the gross sales when calculating royalties owed by a franchisee. **Royalty Calculations: YTD Sales with Threshold** Better support your royalty revenue growth and bottom-line profits by enabling threshold capability on royalty calculations based on YTD sales. **Royalty Calculations: Non-Financial Category Based** New agreement rules support royalty calculations based on non-financial categories such as customer count, number of transactions, and agent count. Now that we have revealed our exciting new Royalty Manager capabilities which will host additional releases in the coming months, let us take a step back and review the overall solution. **Royalty Manager** provides a transparent and accurate financial picture of unit sales with full automation of financial processes from royalty and fee calculations, invoicing & collection processes, reporting across QuickBooks, POS, and to other financial management tools. By having the franchisee’s sales data flow through FranConnect’s system of record, which contains the royalty rules outlined in each signed franchise agreement, accurate royalty invoices are generated automatically and made accessible to franchisees. **Optimize Your Royalty Management** – FranConnect Royalty Manager solution allows franchisors the ability to: [Streamline Royalty Process](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/streamline-royalty-process/)Unlike partial solution providers or manual spreadsheets, **FranConnect** **Royalty Manager** streamlines the full lifecycle of the royalty management process while delivering accurate and transparent financial reporting which can be used as a tool to improve brand performance. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Profit, Streamline Royalty Process **Tags:** Franchise Royalties, FranConnect --- ### [Streamline Your Franchise Royalties and Fees with a Technology Solution](https://www.franconnect.com/streamline-your-franchise-royalties-and-fees-with-a-technology-solution/) **Published:** February 7, 2023 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** FranConnect offers software that can help you streamline your franchise royalty fees. Learn what our royalty manager solution has to offer today! **Content:** Managing your franchise’s royalties and fees can be a daunting task. With individual payment processes, manual calculations, and likely multiple currencies to consider, it’s easy to see why this process often leaves franchisors overwhelmed. But there is an alternative. A technology solution can streamline the entire process of managing franchise royalties and fees to make it easier for franchisors. Let’s explore why a technology solution is worth considering for your franchise. **Simplified Processes** A technology solution simplifies the complex processes involved in managing franchise royalties and fees by automating many of them. This allows franchisors to efficiently collect payments from their franchises, track payments made and received, create detailed reports on all royalty activities, as well as set up automated payment schedules for ongoing payments. The result is a streamlined process that reduces administrative overhead and makes it easier for franchisors to keep accurate records of their royalty activities. **Increased Accuracy** With a technology solution in place, you no longer have to rely on manual calculations or paper-based tracking systems that are prone to errors. Instead, you get access to real-time data that is always up-to-date so that you can be sure that all your information is accurate and reliable. Not only does this reduce the chances of making mistakes but it also ensures that all your data is stored securely in one place so that you never have to worry about losing important records or information again. **Improved Visibility** Having access to accurate data at all times gives you better visibility into your franchise operations than ever before. With detailed reporting tools at your fingertips, you can quickly identify areas where improvements need to be made or where potential issues may arise before they become problems down the line. You can also use these insights to make more informed decisions about how best to manage your franchise operations going forward. A technology solution offers many benefits when it comes to managing the complicated processes associated with collecting franchise royalties and fees. From simplified processes and increased accuracy in tracking payments made and received, through improved visibility into overall operations—a tech solution provides everything needed for efficient management of these tasks so that franchisors can focus on what really matters—growing their business! Unlike partial solution providers or manual spreadsheets, **FranConnect** **Royalty Manager** streamlines the full lifecycle of the royalty management process while delivering accurate and transparent financial reporting which can be used as a tool to improve brand performance. *To schedule a demo of the Royalty Manager application visit us here: [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/)* ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Profit, Streamline Royalty Process **Tags:** Franchise Royalties --- ### [Women Leaders Take Center Stage in Franchising Lessons in Leadership](https://www.franconnect.com/women-leaders-take-center-stage-in-franchising-lessons-in-leadership/) **Published:** February 16, 2017 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** The IFA 2017 Women's Leadership Conference showed that a record number of women are leading franchise brands and driving collective success for franchising. **Content:** I have spent many years in franchising, and it had always been a given that male leaders dominated this sector as they do so many others. However, it’s becoming abundantly clear that a record number of women are not only leading franchise brands but are instilling in their companies a fabric of values-based decision making that is driving collective success for franchising overall. The evidence was on display and openly discussed at the Women’s Leadership Conference during IFA 2017. This year’s conference was a particularly exciting one for me, as we are not only continuing to witness franchise businesses being one of the largest employers in the U.S., but the franchising community also continues to experience a record number of women starting and running franchise brands. As a committee member of the [Women’s Franchise Network](https://www.franchise.org/menu/ifa-foundation), I am passionate about the role of women in leadership, both personally and professionally – and at this year’s conference, I was inspired to see how many women are taking over leadership positions, including the impressive number of women owners! The keynote speaker at this year’s Women’s Franchise Committee’s Annual Leadership Conference was Susan Beth, COO, [NRD Capital](https://www.nrdcapital.com/), the first franchisee-sponsored and managed equity investment fund. As the keynote speaker, Susan shared her inspiring story, beginning with her parents’ journey starting a car wash business and turning it into a successful franchise. Her speech struck a chord for me because I truly believe that if we can instill in our children and ourselves a sense of grit, hard work, and unwavering integrity, then we can make a memorable mark on this world. During Susan’s talk, she also provided her insights on how each of us can fill what she termed our “passion bucket,” whether it be personal, professional, or emotional. Listening to her talk and knowing how hard she worked to get where she is gave me a feeling of empowerment that is hard to put into words. Without question, for me, Susan’s keynote was the highlight of IFA 2017! Thanks to Susan, here are a few particular takeaways that I will carry with me this year: - **Discovering Opportunities**: For many individuals, the general belief still exists that the man is the family’s breadwinner, but in the franchise business, being a woman provides unique opportunities. In today’s world, taking risks and chasing your dreams is an equal opportunity gift. If you are a woman and have a strong business plan, the business environment is ripe for the taking. Go after it. - **Finding Balance:** This is the never-ending question. For some, balance is working to have it all – the great job, the perfect home, the fit physique. But how can we truly find balance in our lives? Is it possible to excel professionally, while also being successful at home – whether that means being a wife or mother? At the end of the day, this is a very personal question with a personal answer. By focusing on the present moment, we can find balance. The beauty of franchising is that it embodies a group of people who are committed to community and, therefore, provide a network of support to help us find the balance we seek. - **No excuses:** Women are breaking records and blazing trails like never before. Yes, we evaluate things differently, and we often struggle more intellectually and emotionally with the demands that having a family and a career place on us. But, as the famous saying goes, “if you’re not winning, you’re losing,” so let’s put the over-thinking aside and get on with being awesome. As the success of the Women’s Franchise Network continues to grow, we will be better able to deepen our relationships within the franchise community, as together we address the pressing issues and find the solutions. Only then can we strengthen the success of each woman, as well as the franchise business as a whole. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Community Involvement **Tags:** Franchise News, FranConnect --- ### [Gabby Wong of FranConnect Elected to International Franchise Association Board of Directors](https://www.franconnect.com/gabby-wong-of-franconnect-elected-to-international-franchise-association-board-of-directors/) **Published:** October 24, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Gabby will help lead the world’s oldest and largest franchise association, bringing a wealth of experience in franchising and dedicated commitment to the betterment of the business model **Content:** *Gabby will help lead the world’s oldest and largest franchise association, bringing a wealth of experience in franchising and dedicated commitment to the betterment of the business model* **WASHINGTON, Oct 24, 2024** – The International Franchise Association (IFA) today announced [Gabby Wong](https://www.franconnect.com/company/leadership-team/) of [FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/) was appointed to serve on its Board of Directors. Joining along with fifteen other new directors, Gabby will start her term at the 2025 IFA Annual Convention in February, representing the franchising sector’s oldest and largest global trade association. “IFA’s volunteer leadership is integral in driving the association and our mission forward at a pivotal time for franchising,” said Matt Haller, IFA President and CEO. “Gabby’s expertise and experience in franchising will help take the association to new levels so we can further support our members and the opportunities they create in local communities. These new directors bring unique contributions and perspectives, and we look forward to the leadership they will provide to the entire franchise community and the millions of people it serves in the years ahead.” Gabby is a seasoned operator with nearly 30 years of experience in positioning private equity-backed software and SaaS businesses for high-growth. She has deep experience in all aspects of growing technology businesses, including M&A, corporate strategy, product innovation, customer success, marketing and sales. Gabby has held successive leadership roles within FranConnect, joining first in 2016 as EVP of Operations and took the helm as CEO in 2018. Over the last six years, under her leadership, FranConnect’s revenue has grown by 5X and continues to lead the market in providing best-in-class sales, operations, and marketing solutions for franchise and multi-location businesses. After completing three acquisitions in four years, FranConnect has over 300 employees globally across US, Canada, India, and Australia, and serves nearly 1500 brands and 1 million locations worldwide. Gabby has been named a finalist for EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award Mid-Atlantic in 2022 and 2023. Prior to FranConnect, Gabby held executive leadership positions with worldwide operating roles at Primavera Systems (now Oracle), Trusted Computer Solutions (now EverFox/ForcePoint), Vovici (now Verint Systems), and Clarabridge (now Qualtrics). “I am honored to join the IFA Board of Directors,” said Gabby Wong, CEO of FranConnect. “For over two decades, FranConnect has been committed to helping brands achieve operational excellence, growth and success. I am thrilled to work alongside such a distinguished group of franchise leaders as we continue to address the industry’s most significant opportunities and challenges.” The 2025 IFA Board of Directors is comprised of franchisor, franchisee, and supplier members, with a diverse representation of industries and background, who provide critical guidance to the IFA on the association’s key initiatives. “Serving on the IFA Board is one of the greatest ways to contribute to the future of franchising,” said Steve Hockett, Chair of the IFA Board of Directors and CEO of Great Clips. “This is a remarkable group who have shown their dedication to the franchise business model and its incredible reach into nearly every community in the U.S. Their leadership will undoubtedly continue to drive the success of franchising worldwide for generations to come.” The new directors will assume their positions in February 2025 and serve an initial three-year term. **About The International Franchise Association:** Celebrating over 60 years of excellence, education, and advocacy, the International Franchise Association (IFA) is the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. IFA works through its government relations and public policy, media relations, and educational programs to protect, enhance and promote franchising and the approximately 806,270 franchise establishments that support nearly 8.7 million direct jobs, $858.5 billion of economic output for the U.S. economy, and almost 3 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees, and supplier companies that support the industry. **About FranConnect** FranConnect is the leading enterprise software provider for franchise and multi-location businesses. For over 20 years, the FranConnect platform has served as the backbone for sales, operations, and marketing for over 1,500 brands and one million locations worldwide. Iconic brands such as SPARC/Authentic Brands (Forever 21), Tropical Smoothie Café, Authority Brands, and Papa John’s rely on FranConnect to expand locations, streamline unit operations, enhance collaboration, and improve profitability. Backed by private equity investor Serent Capital, FranConnect is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, with global offices in Australia, India, Colombia, and Canada. For more information, visit [www.franconnect.com.](https://www.franconnect.com/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Company News, Global News **Tags:** Press Release --- ### [The Ultimate Franchise Checklist: Tools & Resources for Franchisors](https://www.franconnect.com/the-ultimate-franchise-checklist-tools-resources-every-franchisor-needs/) **Published:** April 28, 2017 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Discover franchise information, resources, and tools that every franchisor needs. Click to learn more about franchise associations, events, news, and more. **Content:** There is a lot to keep up-to-speed on in the franchise community, so we have put together a list of resources for franchisors that includes news sources, events, trade associations, social groups, and more. We will continue to update this list as we learn about more resources for franchisors. Happy learning! *(Please note this list is primarily for the U.S. franchise community.)* ## Associations & Meet-Ups [International Franchise Association](https://www.franchise.org/) (IFA) – The IFA is the most world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. IFA works through government relations and public policy, media relations, and educational programs to protect, enhance, and promote franchising. IFA members include franchise companies, individual franchisees, and companies that support the industry in marketing, law, technology, and business development. [Canadian Franchise Association](https://cfa.ca/) (CFA) – The CFA is the recognized authority on franchising in Canada. It’s the indispensable resource for the franchise community and advocates on behalf of franchisors and franchisees in Canada to enhance and protect the franchise business model. CFA promotes excellence in franchising and educates Canadians about franchising, specific franchise opportunities, and proper due diligence through its many events, programs, publications, and websites. Franchise Business Network (FBN) – FBN meetings are \[generally\] scheduled for the second Tuesday of each quarter across the U.S. While networking with others in the franchise community, meeting potential customers, and making new business contacts, participants take advantage of educational programs and legislative information made available to them at no charge. *For a comprehensive list of the world’s franchise associations, [click here](http://www.franchiseassociations.org/).* You may also consider joining an association that represents your industry, such as the [National Restaurant Association](https://restaurant.org/), [National Association for the Education of Young Children](https://www.naeyc.org/), or [Automotive Service Association](https://www.asashop.org/). A quick online search will provide you with a multitude of associations to join. [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/)## Media Outlets [1851 Franchise Magazine](https://1851franchise.com/) – 1851 Franchise Magazine is produced by No Limit Agency and provides news and information on franchising. Over time, 1851 Franchise evolved to become a comprehensive content marketing and franchise development solution. [The Balance](https://www.thebalancemoney.com/) – The Balance delivers clear, practical advice that will strengthen readers’ lifelong relationship with money so they can earn more, spend smarter, invest well, and build a more secure future. In the franchise section, topics include basics of franchising, developing a franchise, choosing a franchise, popular franchises, legal resources, franchise interviews, a directory, and franchise reviews. [Entrepreneur](https://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises) – Entrepreneur is a North American magazine and website that carries news stories about entrepreneurship, small business management, and business. Each year they release their “Entrepreneur Franchise 500” list, revealing the impact of the newest trends and the industries poised for growth. They report on franchise news and list franchise opportunities. [Food Drink & Franchise](http://fdfworld.com) – FDF World is a digital publication on a mission to bring business executives up-to-date with the latest news, information, and trends from across the food, drink, and franchising industries. [Franchise Business Review](https://franchisebusinessreview.com/) – Franchise Business Review is the leading market research firm in the franchise industry specializing in franchisee satisfaction and performance. They bring transparency to the franchise industry and help franchise brands achieve performance objectives with actionable data. [Franchise Direct](https://www.franchisedirect.com/) – Franchise Direct’s goal is to provide a reliable, authoritative platform where entrepreneurs can connect with franchisors seeking investors. Their mission is to be the leading online resource for franchise opportunities and the knowledge center of choice for anyone seeking information on the franchise industry. [Franchise Herald](http://www.franchiseherald.com/) – Franchise Herald provides comprehensive content about the most important economies, markets, companies, and industries. Franchise Herald strives to be the most influential source offering in-depth coverage of franchise news, information, tips, and data that is relevant and specific to small business owners and franchises. [Franchise Times](https://www.franchisetimes.com/) – Franchise Times provides franchisees and franchisors with reliable information and resources for building and growing franchise business. They produce 10 magazines per year and focus on the people, companies, and issues that make franchising so interesting. [Franchise Update](https://www.franchising.com/franchisors/magazine.html) – Franchise Update is a targeted, quarterly magazine aimed at keeping franchise executives on the cutting edge. Topics include sales, marketing, technology, real estate, legal updates, market news, and more. Its audience consists of CEOs, CFOs, Sales Executives, and Senior Level Managers with U.S.-based franchisors. [Franchising USA Magazine](https://www.franchisewire.com/) – Franchising USA is a monthly digital publication bringing you all the latest news, expert advice, and information from the world of franchising. Editorial is written by top experts throughout the franchise network. [Franchising World](https://www.franchise.org/franchise-information/franchising-world-digital-edition) – *Franchising World* is the flagship monthly magazine of the International Franchise Association. The primary goal of *Franchising World* is to keep franchising professionals informed on best practices in franchising and covers franchise development, management and operations, marketing, franchise relations, and new technology. It also includes current events and the overall state of the “World of Franchising,” feature updates on government relations and franchising legislation, international development, and upcoming IFA events. IFA Insider – The IFA Insider is an e-newsletter produced every Tuesday and provides timely information on the IFA’s strategic priorities – government relations, public relations, education, and professional development. [SmartBrief](https://www.smartbrief.com/signupSystem/subscribe.action?pageSequence=1&briefName=ifa) – SmartBrief is a 3x/week e-newsletter created by SmartBrief, a business news publisher, in partnership with IFA. It provides a snapshot of the franchise industry with news from Bloomberg Businessweek, Entrepreneur, QSRMagazine.com, and other leading sources. [World Franchise Review](https://worldfranchisecentre.com/) – This magazine is a large-format, luxuriously produced 150-page publication featuring interviews, articles about new and upcoming international franchise brands, and a catalogue of franchised brands wanting to go international. ## Blogs [Expansion Experts](http://www.expansionexperts.com/blog) – Expansion Experts aims to help small businesses make the next step to expand their business. They offer strategies to owners to help them grow to multiple units, and they also support those who are already franchisors. [Franchise Opportunities](https://www.franchiseopportunities.com/blog/) – Franchise Opportunities is “the #1 source for franchise information.” The focus of the site is for prospective owners, so you can place your franchise concept in front of highly interested prospects. Their blog includes featured franchises, business resources, finance news, franchise opportunities, and general franchise news. [FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-blog/) – FranConnect’s blog includes articles and best practices learned from working with over 600 brands and 110,000 franchisees. Categories include franchise news, events, franchise sales and marketing, customer highlights, and franchise technology. [IFA FranBlog](https://www.franchise.org/) – The IFA FranBlog focuses on franchise opportunities by featuring franchisees, community giving, trends, news, and more. Inc. Franchise Blog – Inc. is where you can find everything you need to know to start and grow you business, and they publish articles specific to franchising on their blog. ## Social Media FranSocial – FranSocial is a forum for IFA members to connect. It’s a place for knowledge exchange, content curation, idea incubation, and professional networking. [LinkedIn Groups](https://www.linkedin.com/directory/groups) – An abundance of franchise-focused LinkedIn Groups exist. Search for active ones that relate to you, and join the conversation. [Ensure Brand Consistency](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/brand-consistency/)## Events [Emerging Franchisor Conference](https://www.franchise.org/) – Designed for franchisors looking to connect, innovate, and evolve their brands to the next level, the Emerging Franchisor Conference provides you with valuable information and insights from leading franchisors that you will bring back to your business to help you grow and succeed. Franchise Action Network Annual Meeting – Formerly called the IFA Washington, DC fly-in, this is an integration of IFA’s grassroots advocacy program, the Franchise Action Network, with their annual Public Affairs Conference. This meeting gives you the opportunity to meet with your representatives in Congress to discuss regulations that can affect your business. [Franchise Consumer Marketing Conference](https://www.franchiseconsumermarketing.com/) – This conference is designed for marketing executives and marketing service providers, packed with discussions focused on the hottest topics in today’s marketing world, from building your brands to the latest technology. Network and learn from the best and brightest marketing executives. You will leave with the materials necessary to establish your brand reputation, essence, and overall identity. [Franchise Expo South](https://www.franchiseexpo.com/south/) – This is the premier franchise expo serving the Southwestern U.S. and Latin America. Meet hundreds of proven franchise opportunities in every industry and every investment level. [Franchise Expo West](https://www.franchiseexpo.com/west/) – This is the largest franchise expo in the Western United States. Meet face-to-face with over 200 proven franchise opportunities in every industry and every investment level. [Franchise Leadership & Development Conference](https://www.franchisedevelopmentconference.com/) – This exclusive event is designed for CEOs, Presidents, and Franchise Sales and Development Executives. It combines the impact of exciting presentations with peer-to-peer problem-solving workshops and roundtables. This conference is produced by Franchise Update Media. [Franchise Times Finance & Growth Conference](https://www.franchisetimes.com/the-franchise-investment-conference/article_c4bcbb21-11e4-5c2b-942d-57cbd07c5d7c.html) – This is franchising’s premier lending and dealmaker’s conference. Attendees are invited to meet with franchise lenders and investors throughout the conference and get an inside look at the growth plan of over 50+ successful franchise companies. Franchisors and multi-unit franchisees are invited to attend the conference sessions and network with operators and lenders. FranTech – Designed to help franchise professionals understand technology options and platforms, at IFA’s FranTech you will hear case studies and learn best practices designed to integrate technologies like GPS, content management, communications, social, local, mobile, and more. IBA/IFA Joint Conference – Each year, IFA partners with the International Bar Association’s Franchising Committee to develop a program relevant to those in the international franchise law profession. Experienced legal counsel share invaluable information regarding latest developments in international law. [IFA Annual Convention](https://www.franchise.org/convention) – This is the biggest franchise event of the year. It provides access to thousands of franchise executives and partners; the opportunity to learn from experts hosting more than 50 content-rich educational sessions; networking time to develop strategic partnerships and make deals inside and outside of the 350+ Exhibit Hall. [International Franchise Expo](https://www.franchiseexpo.com/ife/) – This is the largest franchise expo in the country. Meet face-to-face with over 400 proven franchise opportunities from every industry and every investment level. Legal Symposium – IFA’s Legal Symposium was designed by a task force of member volunteers with a particular emphasis on how legal and regulatory issues affect the everyday business operations of the franchise system. The program provides value and real-world solutions to both business executives and their franchise legal partners. The focus is on practical use of the law and the how-to’s for navigating today’s business and regulatory environment. You will experience compelling programming that will allow you to engage, discuss, and learn with your peers; valuable real-world solutions from expert speakers; and multiple networking events. [Restaurant Finance & Development Conference](https://www.restfinance.com/rfdc/) – This conference is hosted by Restaurant Finance Monitor and is all about the “business” side of the restaurant business. Attendees have the opportunity to meet with representatives from banks, finance companies, private equity firms, real estate developers, and more. They will attend educational programs and hear from the most innovative restaurant operators and finance experts in the industry. This conference is geared toward owners, operators, and executives of multi-unit restaurant companies – both independent and franchised. [Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit](https://franchisinginnovation.com/) – This summit explores how limited-service chains can leverage innovation in a variety of forms – from experience innovation to kitchen innovation to menu innovation and beyond – as a catalyst for franchise expansion. The Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit will help franchisors be more progressive in many areas of their business to attract both investors and customers. This event is produced by Networld Media Group. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)## Education Franchise Development Seminars – Brought to you by the IFA, participants will hear from leading franchise executives offering development solutions and best practices based on real-world scenarios. These are smaller, more interactive programs designed for franchise development professionals to hear from experts on the latest trends and best practices. [FranConnect Resources](https://blog.franconnect.com/franconnect-franchise-library-2020) – In FranConnect’s resource center, franchisors will find best practices, tips, and trends through ebooks, activities, webinars, and more. These assets are written by Certified Franchise Executives and leading franchise executives. WednesdayWise Webinars – Hosted by industry professionals, IFA’s monthly series of informative, interactive seminars are held on the first Wednesday of every month and will help you run your franchise business better. You may want to consider investigating industry-specific media outlets and events to stay up-to-date with news and trends happening in your brand’s vertical. **Are there other resources you find helpful? Leave a comment, and we’ll be sure to update the list.** ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Franchising Best Practices **Tags:** Events, Franchise News --- ### [Three Franchise Field Operations Models for Franchisee Support](https://www.franconnect.com/three-franchise-field-operations-models-for-franchisee-support/) **Published:** May 24, 2017 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Here's a list of 3 franchise field operations models that you can utilize for franchisee support: Unit Maturity, Regionalized Support, & Unit Performance. **Content:** The success of your franchise depends on the success of your franchisees. Key to this success is partnering with the right people and focusing on franchisee engagement, but equally important is the support your field operations team provides to your franchisees from day one. As defined in an [article in Franchising World](http://franchisingworld.com/franchisee-engagement-and-support-the-keys-to-success/), “Franchise support is the mechanism by which the intellectual property of the franchisor is transferred to the franchisee for the purpose of replicating the success of the business model.” ![Franchise support is critical throughout a franchisees entire engagement with a brand.](http://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Stock_Photos/Stock-together-we-can-support.jpg "Franchise support is critical throughout a franchisees entire engagement with a brand.") Franchisees need support throughout their entire engagement with a brand: - Field support, including site selection, grand opening, and compliance visits - Home office support, including training classes and vendor negotiations - Financial support, such as transparent royalty reporting and providing a brand standard chart of accounts - Marketing and communications, including collateral and public relations consulting Franchisee support must be well thought out and well executed to be effective, as it’s what leads to the three most important KPIs for each unit: growing sales, increasing profits, and operational excellence. There are several models you can follow to allocate your field operations resources: regional, unit maturity, and unit performance. Let’s examine the benefits and challenges to each. **1) Regionalized support** **Benefits** Depending on how dispersed your units are and how hands-on you want your field consultants to be, regionalized support may be a good option for your franchise. This model allows field consultants to visit units in their territory regularly, lowers travel costs, and enables field consultants to react more quickly. It can create a strong sense of community amongst the units in one region, as field managers can host regional meetings and encourage collaboration and sharing between franchisees. If you find that certain factors affect your brand by region, this model allows each field consultant to cater their efforts accordingly. **Challenges** [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/)The challenges to this model are that each field consultant has to know how to support franchisees at all stages of maturity and performance levels. Each field consultant needs to be trained and prepared to work with franchisees who just opened a unit, as well as to those who have been in operation for many years. Similarly, they must provide catered support to franchisees who are high-performers, while simultaneously working with franchisees who are under-performing and at risk. It creates a heavy lift in terms of hiring the right field consultants and training them for all aspects of the support they will be providing. **2) Unit Maturity** **Benefits** Matching your field consultants based on the maturity of each franchise unit allows you to cater your field consultants expertise to the needs of a specific type of franchise unit. Your early-stage franchisees – those who have been in business for less than five years – have very different needs than those who have been in business five years or longer. They have a learning curve and dedicating someone specialized in that stage of a franchise can avoid potential pitfalls by anticipating common challenges. These field consultants are going to be very aware of trends for new franchisees that determine success and can act accordingly. Once a franchisee hits the five year mark, they can transition to a new field consultant that specializes in franchisees with established units. You may decide on another landmark down the road in which they will transition to a third field consultant, perhaps at the 10 or 15-year mark. Keep in mind your field consultant to unit ratio could be different for early-stage franchises versus mature franchises. **Challenges** Because field consultants need to be hired and trained according to the maturity of the units they will be working with, it may make them less transient in working with other stages. For example, the number of units in each stage could drastically change over just a few years. If you have a year of high growth (yay for you!), your early-stage field consultants may bear the burden, or you may even hire a few extra field consultants to offset that burden. Then, in five years, that entire set of units will transition to your field consultants managing your more mature units. Are there enough of those field consultants? Are your early-stage field consultants left with enough units to manage? Another challenge is this model requires more travel for each consultant, as their units may be vastly spread out. **3) Unit Performance** **Benefits** At the 2017 IFA annual convention, a newer franchise support model seems to be emerging, particularly amongst more progressive franchisors: matching field management to unit performance. In other words, underperforming units work with different field consultants than those that are hitting their targets or even overperforming. Performance can be separated into three tiers: **Tier 1:** Over-performing units, exceeding revenue goals, 100% compliant, brand advocates. These are the franchisees you want to speak on behalf of your brand, mentor new franchisees, and share best practices amongst their peers. Your field consultants should encourage these franchisees to engage with other franchisees on behalf of the company. These are the franchisees you want others to look up to. These could also be franchisees you target to become multi-unit owners. **Tier 2:** Average units, more or less meeting goals. Franchisees in Tier 2 typically meet their revenue goals, are compliant, and are generally meeting goals. This is where you may set your benchmark for success, and your field consultants should keep them focused on meeting their goals and continue to provide support and best practices. **Tier 3:** Under-performing units, falling short of revenue goals. These are your at-risk franchisees who need dedicated attention to the challenges they are facing. They may be disengaged from the brand, and field consultants in this tier may need to be more involved, following up on non-compliance issues more often, and make more field visits. They need to create a clear action plan to get these franchisees into Tier 2 as soon as possible. **Challenges** The challenge with the performance-based model come with movement between the tiers. The hope is most of your franchisees fall into Tier 2, with a solid group in Tier 1, and a few outliers in Tier 3. The trouble comes when you have too many fluctuating between tiers. It’s important to set time frames to prevent this from happening. And as with the unit maturity model, travel for field consultants can also be a challenge. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)Keep in mind that the type of franchise system you operate is a key factor in what model you choose. Some require a more hands-on approach, while others may be suitable for more virtual interactions. Also keep in mind the unit to field consultant ratio that works for your business. It’s not a one-size-fits-all answer. The model you choose factors into the ratio, as well as the maturation of your franchise, the level on hands-on support needed, your budget, the competency of your team, and more. Testing is the only way to be sure what works for you. Talk to other franchisors to learn how they reached the right ratio for their business. ![Franchise field operations is a key component to improving franchisee engagement.](http://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Stock_Photos/Stock-warehouse-handshake.jpg "Franchise field operations is a key component to improving franchisee engagement.") For whichever model you choose for your franchise field operations, there are three other keys to success: 1. Remember your franchise field operations team should be focused on driving results, not simply “checking boxes.” They are consultants, not compliance managers. 2. Leverage technology to enable remote evaluation by providing a system that both the field manager and the franchisee can see and update. This provides more accountability and transparency, while providing the opportunity to cut down on unnecessary field visits. If you can do self-auditing with a field operations tool, your field consultant to unit ratios can go up. 3. Field operations information should be easily accessible, trackable, and understandable from a dashboard that provides real-time data. A [business intelligence tool](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/sales/) can tie your field operations tool with every other aspect of your business. The Chief Operating Officer for Tropical Smoothie Café says, “It is next to impossible to drive results without having the numbers at your fingertips. Everyone needs to be in touch with the numbers and facts constantly.” **What kind of franchisee support model do you use to enhance franchisee engagement?** ![5 Field Operations Secrets from 600 Franchise Brands](http://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/social-suggested-images/FC-ebook-5field-operations-secrets.png "5 Field Operations Secrets from 600 Franchise Brands") Improve your franchise field operations and franchisee engagement practices with of “5 Field Operations Secrets from 600 Brands.” **Download your free copy today** and benchmark your operational practices against the most successful brands in the market. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Improve Performance, Operate **Tags:** Best Practices, Franchisee Engagement --- ### [FranConnect Releases 2021 Franchise Sales Index Report](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-releases-2021-sales-index-report/) **Published:** April 27, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Review our 2021 Franchise Sales Index Report here. We have highlighted key findings based on lead generation, deals closed. and more! Read here! **Content:** #### – 7th Annual Report Quantifies the Impact of the Pandemic on Franchise Development, and Indicates a Franchise Sales Rebound Is on the Horizon HERNDON, Va., April 27, 2021 — [FranConnect](https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3141636-1&h=489547850&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.franconnect.com%2F&a=FranConnect), the leading provider of franchise management solutions for driving success in franchise sales, operations, and marketing, today released its 2021 Franchise Sales Index Report. Now in its seventh year, FranConnect’s Franchise Sales Index is the industry’s most comprehensive analysis of the franchise development function, offering franchisors unparalleled insights into the state of franchise development and strategies for increasing effectiveness and efficiency in the franchise sales process. This year’s data represents the real-world franchise sales activities of over 600 of FranConnect’s customers in 2020, from Micro-Emerging brands (10 locations or less) to Enterprise concepts (200+ locations), segmented by industry, including personal services, quick-service restaurants, commercial and residential services, retail food, and more. Key findings in the 2021 Franchise Sales Index Report include: - **Lead generation was significantly down**, with Enterprise brands seeing leads decline by 36%. By industry, Business Services saw the largest decline in leads (72%). - **Total deals closed declined 28.8% year-over-year**, but two industries — Commercial and Residential Services and Retail Food — saw increases in the number of deals per brand. - **Trade Shows & Conferences were the only lead generation source that saw a slight increase over 2019**, showing that the national shift from in-person events to virtual ones didn’t diminish interest in franchising. - **Franchise referral consultants were the biggest source of deals**, indicating their status as a trusted, objective source amid pandemic-driven uncertainty. - **The number of days from inquiry to close rose dramatically**. On average across all industries, the sales cycle time more than doubled. “While our data reveals that the franchise sales function overall took a big hit in 2020 because of the pandemic, franchise brands of all sizes continued their recruitment efforts and reported strong results despite the incredibly challenging environment,” said Keith Gerson, president of franchise operations for FranConnect. “What’s abundantly clear is that there has been pent-up demand, so as the country continues to recover, franchise sales teams should be preparing for a rebound. They should be ready for an influx of leads and focusing on speed-to-lead and booking appointments to ensure they don’t lose great, qualified candidates.” To download the full 2021 Franchise Sales Index Report, visit [www.franconnect.com/salesindex](https://www.franconnect.com/salesindex). FranConnect is also offering franchise brands a unique opportunity to request a custom report comparing their sales performance against anonymized data from more than 800+ franchise brands. To request this custom benchmark report, contact FranConnect at [franconnect.com/SalesBenchmark](https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3141636-1&h=1519921500&u=http%3A%2F%2Ffranconnect.com%2FSalesBenchmark&a=franconnect.com%2FSalesBenchmark). **About FranConnect** FranConnect is the leading franchise management software provider. For 20 years, the FranConnect platform has served as the sales, operations, and marketing backbone for over 800 brands worldwide. Nine of the Franchise Times Top 10 Fastest-Growing franchise businesses rely on FranConnect to drive growth, improve profitability, and streamline operational performance. FranConnect customers span all sizes, growth phases, and industries and they grow 44% faster on average than the broader franchising market. Backed by private-equity investor Serent Capital, FranConnect is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, with global follow-the-sun operations. For more information on FranConnect, visit [www.franconnect.com](https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3141636-1&h=1241622065&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.franconnect.com%2F&a=www.franconnect.com). \# # # ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Company News, Develop **Tags:** Press Releases --- ### [FranConnect Launches Optik IQ™, an Intelligent Operational Excellence Platform, to Boost Compliance and Operational Effectiveness for Corporate-Owned Businesses](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-launches-optik-iq/) **Published:** February 5, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** FranConnect, a market-leading provider of sales, operations, and marketing solutions for franchise and multi-location businesses, has unveiled Optik IQ™, its Operational Excellence platform. **Content:** **FranConnect Launches Optik IQ™, an Intelligent Operational Excellence Platform, to Boost Compliance and Operational Effectiveness for Corporate-Owned Businesses** **Herndon, VA – February 5, 2024** – FranConnect, a market-leading provider of sales, operations, and marketing solutions for franchise and multi-location businesses, has unveiled **Optik IQ™**, its [**Operational Excellence platform**](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/operations-compliance/), transforming how corporate-owned businesses close the loop between identifying operational issues and implementing lasting solutions. The platform converts compliance insights into verified improvements, enabling businesses to transition from audit findings to measurable results in **hours instead of weeks**. *“FranConnect understands the complexities of managing multi-location businesses—whether franchised or corporate-owned. These businesses face the same operational challenges, yet most compliance tools stop at simply identifying issues, leaving brands trapped in a cycle of recurring problems,” said **Gabby Wong, CEO of FranConnect**. “Our platform breaks this cycle by automating the entire resolution journey, reducing correction time by 60%, and virtually eliminating repeat compliance issues. Customers have seen a 25% improvement in compliance scores through this systematic approach.”* The platform introduces three breakthrough capabilities for closing the operational loop: - **Intelligent Issue Resolution:** Instantly converts audit findings into assigned tasks with built-in verification steps, ensuring **100% follow-through** on critical compliance issues. - **Adaptive Learning Engine:** Automatically triggers role-specific training based on audit patterns, reducing repeat violations by **85%** through targeted skill development. - **Predictive Performance Analytics:** Identifies **compliance trends across locations** before they become systemic issues, with proven reduction in critical findings through early intervention. “*Traditional compliance processes create gaps between detection and correction*,” said ***Jaffrey Ali, Chief Product Officer at FranConnect****.* “*By orchestrating every step from discovery to verification, we’re helping brands cut their compliance-to-correction cycle from weeks to days while ensuring sustainable improvements.”* The solution addresses the growing challenge of maintaining consistent operations across hundreds or thousands of locations while adapting to evolving compliance requirements. This **systematic approach ensures that insights drive immediate action and lasting change**. “*In today’s operating environment, identifying issues isn’t enough – brands need to drive and verify improvement*,” added ***Wong***. “*That’s why FranConnect consolidates multiple audit solutions into a single, centralized system, giving businesses a complete view of compliance and performance. Our platform transforms insights into verified action, giving corporate-owned businesses the tools to not just maintain standards, but systematically elevate them.”* For more information on FranConnect’s Operational Excellence Platform or to schedule a demo, visit [www.franconnect.com.](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/operations-compliance/) **About FranConnect** FranConnect is the leading enterprise software provider for franchise and multi-location businesses. For over 20 years, the FranConnect platform has served as the backbone for sales, operations, and marketing for over 1,500 brands and one million locations worldwide. Iconic brands such as SPARC/Authentic Brands (Forever 21), Tropical Smoothie Café, Authority Brands, and Papa John’s rely on FranConnect to expand locations, streamline unit operations, enhance collaboration, and improve profitability. Backed by private equity investor Serent Capital, FranConnect is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, with global offices in Australia, India, Colombia, and Canada. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Company News, Global News **Tags:** Press Release --- ### [Gabby Wong Named as One of Calibre One's Top 25 Women Leaders in US PE-Backed Software 2025](https://www.franconnect.com/gabby-wong-top-25-women-leaders/) **Published:** February 12, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Calibre One is proud to announce the 2025 list of "Top 25 Women Leaders in US PE-Backed Software". The list includes top Chief Executive Officers leading fast-growing software businesses that are backed by prominent private equity firms. They are recognized as some of the highest-caliber leaders in the industry. **Content:** **NEW YORK, Feb. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/** — Calibre One is proud to announce the 2025 list of “Top 25 Women Leaders in US PE-Backed Software”. The list includes top Chief Executive Officers leading fast-growing software businesses that are backed by prominent private equity firms. They are recognized as some of the highest-caliber leaders in the industry. The 2025 awardees were selected from nominations made by Calibre One’s extensive network of executives, board members and private equity partners. The list highlights the accomplishments of these successful executives with a demonstrated track record of growth and value creation. We are excited to honor these outstanding leaders and their achievements. ![Calibre One Top Women Leaders 2025](https://www.franconnect.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Calibre_One_Top_Women_Leaders_2025-300x249.jpg "Calibre-One-Top-Women-Leaders-2025 - FranConnect") The 2025 winners include: 1. **Ashley Andersen Zantop** – Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Cambium Learning Group 2. **Ann Barnes** – Chief Executive Officer, IMO Health 3. **Cassidy Smirnow** – Chief Executive Officer, Apryse 4. **Christa Quarles** – Chief Executive Officer, Alludo 5. **Christina Kosmowski** – Chief Executive Officer, LogicMonitor 6. **Dana Jones** – Chief Executive Officer & President, RealPage 7. **Dru Armstrong** – Chief Executive Officer, AffiniPay 8. **Erin Mulligan Helgren** – Chief Executive Officer, OfficeSpace 9. **Erin Shy** – Chief Executive Officer, Watermark 10. **Gabby Wong** – Chief Executive Officer, FranConnect 11. **Helen Rosen** – Chief Executive Officer, Adlib Software 12. **Jamie Candee** – President & Chief Executive Officer, Edmentum 13. **Janine Seebeck** – Chief Executive Officer, BeyondTrust 14. **Jennifer Sun** – Chief Executive Officer, StarCompliance 15. **Kate Eberle Walker** – Chief Executive Officer, Presence 16. **Kendall Pretzer** – Chief Executive Officer, Grace Hill 17. **Kendra Tucker** – Chief Executive Officer, Truckstop 18. **Kim Crawford Goodman** – Chief Executive Officer, Smarsh 19. **Laura Ipsen** – President & Chief Executive Officer, Ellucian 20. **Leagh Turner** – Chief Executive Officer, Coupa 21. **Marne Martin** – Chief Executive Officer, Emburse 22. **Michelle Abbey** – President & Chief Executive Officer, Radancy 23. **Pamela Joseph** – Chief Executive Officer & Executive Chair, Xplor 24. **Soumya Nettimi** – Chief Executive Officer, Paradigm 25. **Tina Vatanka Murphy** – President & Chief Executive Officer, GHX For more information, please visit: [https://www.calibreone.com/Top25Women2025](https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4357672-1&h=1529342666&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.calibreone.com%2FTop25Women2025&a=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.calibreone.com%2FTop25Women2025) **About Calibre One** Calibre One works with the builders of great companies, helping them to create diverse and high-performing leadership teams. We provide Executive Search services to public companies, venture capital and private equity firms, and their portfolio companies within the technology, financial services, life sciences and healthcare, industrial and consumer sectors. For over 20 years we have operated from three principal hubs: San Francisco, New York and London. We are one of very few firms with a truly well-developed transatlantic presence. We pride ourselves as being small enough to provide a high-touch, partner-led service but as a well-established global firm, we are also experts at helping companies to grow beyond their domestic markets and access leadership talent across the world. Media Contact: Victoria Lakers, Partner, Calibre One, SOURCE Calibre One ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Company News, Global News **Tags:** Press Release --- ### [FranConnect Achieves Record-Breaking Bookings and Breakthrough Innovations in 2024](https://www.franconnect.com/breakthrough-innovations-in-2024/) **Published:** January 29, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Leading the Way in Franchise and Multi-Location Solutions with Exceptional Achievements and Strategic Advancements. **Content:** ***Leading the Way in Franchise and Multi-Location Solutions with Exceptional Achievements and Strategic Advancements*** **Herndon, VA – January 29, 2025** – FranConnect, a market-leading provider of sales, operations, and marketing solutions to franchise and multi-location businesses, proudly announces key milestone achievements in 2024, including record-breaking bookings, innovative product launches, and key leadership advancements. FranConnect attributes its continued success to being closely attuned to its customers’ critical business needs, resulting in solutions that enhance performance, profitability, and operational excellence. FranConnect closed the year with the largest sales booking achievement in the company’s history, forming expanded partnerships with over 150 brands and welcoming 105 new customers. Last year, in particular, FranConnect welcomed three of the largest global franchise concepts, including Subway®, one of the world’s largest quick service restaurant brands, Sonesta International Hotels, the 8th largest hotel brand in the U.S. and Fantastic Sams, one of the largest salon chains. Trusted by nearly 1,500 brands and over 1.3 million locations worldwide, FranConnect continues to be the industry’s “gold standard” and only platform for driving success across franchises and multi-location businesses, from managing suppliers to supporting brand owners and frontline employees. “Partnering with brands like Sonesta, Subway, Fantastic Sams, and many others demonstrates the breadth and depth of our capabilities in franchising. Over the past year, we made a concerted effort to advance our products in the areas of operations, analytics, and AI to solve the hardest problems faced by franchise and multi-location businesses,” said Gabby Wong, CEO of FranConnect. “As the leading and pioneering technology provider supporting franchise and multi-location businesses, we are doubling down on innovation to cement our market leadership position further. Our multi-year product roadmap and M&A activities over this past year demonstrate our dedication to serving this market now and for many years to come.” This announcement follows FranConnect’s strategic acquisition of RizePoint, a leading provider of Quality Management Systems (QMS). This is FranConnect’s third acquisition over a four-year period, and it extended FranConnect’s impact beyond franchise brands to serve the broader ecosystem of multi-unit owners and suppliers. Over the past year, FranConnect has significantly invested in its products and solutions to help franchise and multi-location businesses tackle their biggest challenges—navigating ever-changing markets and competing constraints while delivering growth to shareholders and exceptional products to consumers. These product investments include: - **Launched FranConnect Analytics,** empowering brands with real-time, actionable insights derived directly from their data within the FranConnect platform so they can determine where to invest resources that drive the greatest return. Analytics emerged as the company’s top-selling product in 2024. - **Embedded enterprise learning management and content creation** capabilities to FranConnect’s best-in-class operational platform, further revolutionizing how businesses drive team engagement, brand consistency, and unit performance. As a result, FranConnect achieved record-breaking bookings for its Operator and Frontline Employee Engagement solution. - **Unveiled Frannie AI™,** a suite of AI agents empowering businesses with generative AI bots that automate and simplify critical business processes within multi-location businesses. Agents include Analyzer, Builder, and Automator, with additional agents continuously in development. - **Rolled out over 80 product enhancements across the FranConnect platform** to ensure solutions remain aligned with customers’ evolving requirements, swiftly incorporating feedback and keeping products at the forefront of innovation while delivering exceptional value. FranConnect’s commitment to delivering outstanding customer experiences and fostering continuous innovation led to key appointments and promotions to its leadership team. **Lisa Maynard** was named Chief Customer Officer (CCO) to oversee all facets of customer operations, focusing on consolidating and unifying the customer experience across all customers and markets. **Vikram Raj** was promoted to Senior Vice President of Products and Sales Engineering to shape FranConnect’s multi-year product and technology roadmap and ensure alignment across FranConnect’s solutions, customer needs, and market demands. “We are excited about the market opportunities ahead and are dedicated to continuously investing in our market, products, and people,” said Gabby Wong, CEO of FranConnect. “Our commitment to innovation will further propel growth and operational excellence for years to come.” **About FranConnect** FranConnect is the leading enterprise software provider for franchise and multi-location businesses. For over 20 years, the FranConnect platform has served as the backbone for sales, operations, and marketing for over 1,500 brands and one million locations worldwide. Iconic brands such as SPARC/Authentic Brands (Forever 21), Tropical Smoothie Café, Authority Brands, and Papa John’s rely on FranConnect to expand locations, streamline unit operations, enhance collaboration, and improve profitability. Backed by private equity investor Serent Capital, FranConnect is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, with global offices in Australia, India, Colombia, and Canada. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Company News, Global News **Tags:** Press Release --- ### [FranConnect Unveils a Suite of AI Agents, Empowering Franchises and Multi-Location Businesses with Generative AI Bots that Automate Critical Business Outcomes](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-unveils-suite-of-ai-agents/) **Published:** January 9, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** FranConnect Unveils a Suite of AI Agents, Empowering Franchises and Multi-Location Businesses with Generative AI Bots that Automate Critical Business Outcomes. **Content:** **Herndon, VA – January 9, 2025** – [FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/), a leading provider of sales, operations, and marketing solutions for franchise and multi-location businesses, announces the launch of [Frannie AI](https://frannieai.com/)™, a suite of AI-powered agents embedded within FranConnect’s platform. These agents leverage multiple generative large language models to provide contextually specific insights, content, and automation trained on FranConnect’s deep understanding of the multi-location businesses. **Frannie AI™** acts as a smart, reliable partner for teams in sales, operations, finance, and training, including three types of agents— - *Analyzer* surfaces personalized insights by user roles and recommends additional prompts for the user to explore what will drive more actionable insights across the business. - *Builder* autonomously generates content, such as tailored emails, targeted campaigns and workflows, and more salient visit summaries to be shared and distributed cross-functionally; and, - *Automator* identifies prescriptive actions that brands can take to optimize performance outcomes, such as suggesting the optimal engagement method to close a new franchisee, recommending locations to be visited, and custom coaching plans for owners, among many other actions. “Franchises and multi-location businesses manage hundreds of variables across development, operations, and complex ownership structures, that have consequential outcomes. Generative AI comes at a critical time for our customers who must navigate ever-changing markets and competing constraints while delivering growth to shareholders and exceptional products to consumers,” said Gabby Wong, CEO of FranConnect. “We have spent the better part of the last two years thinking through how we can leverage AI to help our customers fundamentally transform their businesses. Frannie AI™ simplifies the complexity of running a multi-location business by surfacing what truly matters—whether it’s pinpointing your next high-performing location or identifying unit-level challenges before they impact revenue and autonomously recommending actions that will improve business results.” “We are lucky to have some of the best minds in the industry focused on AI. Last year, we carved out a team of analysts, engineers, and AI specialists to focus on innovating with AI, both for our internal operations and for our end market. Frannie AI™ is one of the successful projects arising out of this initiative, and we are thrilled to announce its launch,” said Wong. “General purpose generative AI models by themselves cannot replicate what FranConnect delivers,” said Jaffrey Ali, CPO and Head of Innovation at FranConnect. “Frannie AI™ is architected on a proprietary franchise data model refined through years of deep domain training and based on the breadth of our reach in the market. This enables a level of system-wide intelligence that we are uniquely positioned to provide.” In the future, [**Frannie AI**](https://frannieai.com/)™ will have the capability to be a completely autonomous set of agents that can analyze, build, and execute key business actions to drive improved productivity and scale for multi-location businesses. Frannie AI™ is now available as a subscription for any FranConnect customer. To learn more about this exciting solution and how it can revolutionize your business, visit [frannieai.com](https://frannieai.com/) or contact your account manager. **See Frannie AI in Action** Experience Frannie AI™ firsthand at the [International Franchise Association](https://www.franconnect.com/ifa-2025/) (IFA) Annual Convention in Las Vegas, February 10–13, 2025. Join FranConnect for a live demonstration and discover how Frannie AI™ is reshaping the future of franchise and multi-location management. **About FranConnect** FranConnect is the leading enterprise software provider for franchise and multi-location businesses. For over 20 years, the FranConnect platform has served as the backbone for sales, operations, and marketing for over 1,500 brands and one million locations worldwide. Iconic brands such as SPARC/Authentic Brands (Forever 21), Tropical Smoothie Café, Authority Brands, and Papa John’s rely on FranConnect to expand locations, streamline unit operations, enhance collaboration, and improve profitability. Backed by private equity investor Serent Capital, FranConnect is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, with global offices in Australia, India, Colombia, and Canada. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Company News, Global News **Tags:** Press Release --- ### [Unit Level Economics for Franchise Businesses](https://www.franconnect.com/unit-level-economics-for-franchise-businesses/) **Published:** June 27, 2022 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** If your a franchise you should be leveraging unit-level economics! We've compiled some core measurements and sample steps you can follow to start. **Content:** We have all heard that Unit Level Economics is important in franchising but going from understanding it in theory to transforming it into action is a big step. According to [QSR Magazine](https://www.qsrmagazine.com/growth/finance/prospering-over-long-term/), “the success or failure of a franchise concept can pivot off of how well unit economics are tracked, managed, and improved.” After working with over 900 brands a common practice among them is working together with their franchisees to improve their unit-level economics: not only their top-level sales but also their bottom line. If you’re not doing this today, you will have trouble selling franchises in the future. But what do we mean by unit-level economics? Unit-level economics is a means by which franchisors and franchisees identify, measure, track & manage the performance of their businesses at individual unit levels. Applying these principles effectively translates into managerial accounting skills as well as applying correlation analysis to determine key drivers—often referred to as “KPIs”- that will allow them to achieve an acceptable level profitability for this particular unit. Identifying the key drivers that will determine whether or not you can achieve an acceptable level of profitability for a specific unit is important when seeing where operations can improve. Common business knowledge tells us that you can’t improve what you don’t measure. Thus, franchisors need access to data to help their franchisees continuously improve. What data? Sales, cost of goods sold, labor, customer satisfaction scores, field audit scores, number of proposals sent out last month, territory information, etc. The basic premise of continuous franchise improvement is that you can take a snapshot of these key performance metrics in one unit and compare them to not only past results but also the franchise average (or any comparable segment of stores within the franchise). These comparisons give you tremendous insights into the nitty-gritty of your business, allowing you to iteratively address your weaknesses and continuously improve. In this blog, we are diving deeper into why unit-level economics are so important in franchising, and how you can put them in place in your organization. ## Why Unit Level Economics for Franchise Businesses Having strong unit-level economics is the foundation upon which all business success sits. Even though most franchisors get royalties from revenue, not profit, having franchisees succeed in the long run creates genuine referrals and organic growth. Those who want sustained growth for both the franchisor and franchisee pay close attention. Strong unit-level economics can also help in Franchise Development as franchise candidates look for the following: - *Does your business make money?* - *Is the business sustainable? Will it continue to make money in the foreseeable future?* - *Can I see myself in the business?* A focus like this can build your franchise business from many angles. ### Core Measurements The starting point of a Unit Level Economics initiative will take the following into account: - Unit profit and loss (P&L) - Break-even point - Payback period Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) take center stage when it comes to any program rollout. ## Sample Unit-Level Economic Program Rollout Are you ready to roll out a program? Surprisingly, we have found that sometimes more established systems are behind newer systems that may have set up strong programs from the beginning. The best rollouts start from the top, where the owner or CEO sets the tone, and the franchisor team is full of people who care about franchise success on an emotional level. ### Step 1: Determine the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) Every business is different, so using the wrong KPIs can do more harm than good. Develop these benchmarks with the input of the franchisees and industry experts. As a starting point, we have KPIs for [Restaurant](https://www.franconnect.com/15-most-important-restaurant-franchise-kpis/), [Health and Fitness](https://www.franconnect.com/9-important-kpis-for-health-and-fitness/), [Spa and Salon](https://www.franconnect.com/9-important-kpis-for-spa-and-salon-franchises/), and [Education](https://www.franconnect.com/10-important-kpis-for-education/). ### Step 2: Track and Improve KPIs Now that you have the information that you need, you can manage your KPIs jointly with your franchisees. Franchisors who have a “corporate location” have more skin in the game and can experiment with the business model. Having franchise committees or forums can also help develop and share best practices. Another way to encourage performance is to have part of your franchise consultant’s salary variable based on franchisee KPIs. ### Step 3: Share Information About Your KPIs Sharing information about KPIs is key to an organization’s success. In fact, at FranConnect we now have an increasing amount of customers tracking [scorecard performance](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/performance/) on a monthly basis as well as getting information from their POS or online reviews. Today, franchisors who work to improve individual unit-level profitability do more than what is expected of them. They also reap the benefits of their hard work as their system outperforms others and their franchisees are more engaged. In turn, this helps them sell more franchise units – a perfect example of a virtuous cycle. After a few years of small improvements which compound to have dramatic impacts, it will become obvious to prospective franchisees which franchise is the best fit for them. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Analytics, Improve Performance, Operate **Tags:** Franchise Development, Franchise Operations --- ### [Batteries Plus Case Study](https://www.franconnect.com/batteries-plus-case-study/) **Published:** November 13, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Content:** ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Case Studies **Tags:** Audit Software, QMS Software --- ### [Creating Franchisee Buyer Personas](https://www.franconnect.com/creating-franchisee-buyer-personas/) **Published:** April 10, 2017 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** A building block of franchise marketing is building franchisee buyer personas to better qualify your franchisee candidates. Here’s our step-by-step guide. **Content:** ### **What is a Buyer Persona?** A buyer persona is a representation of your ideal customer based on research and data from your existing customers. Creating robust, detailed buyer personas is a key component to any franchise marketing and sales strategy. It forces you to conduct comprehensive research about the types of franchisees that are successful for your organization, instead of going with gut feelings or what you simply believe to be true. Through your research, you’ll uncover a targeted approach to exactly how, where, and when you should be reaching out to your prospects. The more focused your efforts, the more qualified your leads will be, which means you’ll spend your dollars more wisely. Along with marketing efforts, your buyer personas will drive your sales approach, product development, franchisee engagement, training, and more. ### **How to Build a Franchisee Buyer Persona** So how do you actually go about building your buyer personas? Let’s break it down. **Step 1: Key Demographics** At the top of the funnel, your goal is to attract qualified leads – or qualified franchise candidates – to your franchise. Who are those qualified franchise candidates? What are their demographics? What are their goals? How do you reach them? The answers to these questions may not be the same for every candidate. In fact, **most organizations have 3-5 personas** (sometimes more!) that represent a mix of existing and potential franchisees. The first step in the process of building your buyer personas is to figure out what buckets your franchisees fall into. Here are a few examples: - Veterans - Small business owner in your industry - Millennials - Retired athletes What other types of franchisees have been successful with your company? Think carefully about these buckets, but be cautious not to get too specific. Keep them broad enough that each persona is clearly differentiated and fully fleshed out. You can always add – or remove – personas over time. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)You may have a really good idea of how to group your franchisees, or you may be totally lost. Regardless, it’s important to take time to review data you already have, as well as interview candidates and current franchisees to create a comprehensive data set. Ask questions about demographics, careers, goals, challenges, where and how they find information, and what attracts them to this franchise opportunity. Get inside people’s heads and understand why and how they came about your organization and decided to become a franchisee – there’s nothing like hearing it straight from the source. **Use this persona worksheet as a guide for your interviews.** Once you’ve collected your data, identify any trends in the demographics of customers or leads, learn how they search for and consume information, and figure out what their goals and challenges are. This will give you everything you need to ensure you are correctly bucketing your buyer personas. **Step 2: Give Your Personas Character** The next step is to fill out a detailed description of each persona. **Fill out the questions in this franchisee buyer persona worksheet for each persona.** Give your personas a name – often alliteration is used, such as Veteran Vinny or Millennial Molly, so it’s easy to remember. Add a photo to humanize the persona. Be as detailed as possible so anyone in your company who reads the persona really gets a sense of who this person is. To further encourage you to get down into the nitty gritty details, let’s take a moment to understand why each section is important. **Demographics** Knowing the age, household income, and family status of your persona will give you a sense of what their day-to-day life is like. Marketing, selling, and developing a product or service for a 62-year-old man who is married with 3 adult kids and has a Ph.D. in computer engineering is very different from doing the same for a 18-year-old single female who is working as a cashier while taking classes at community college. One may be a viable candidate for your franchise and one may not. **Career** The past and present career(s) of your persona is one of the most important qualifiers for your leads. If your company is a mature brand, you have probably found that people with certain career paths tend to succeed in your franchise versus others. You may discover that candidates with no management experience are not going to do well, or candidates that are used to sitting behind a computer for eight hours per day won’t like the typical day of running a franchise unit. **Information Sources & Shopping Preferences** This is where you learn where to market to qualified leads. Wherever your personas are searching for information is where you should be. They aren’t just going to come to your franchise development website – lead them there by putting it right in front of their faces during an activity they already do. If your personas are active Facebook users, organic and paid Facebook campaigns may be a great tool for you. If they are members of the National Restaurant Association, then allocate your resources there. **Challenges, Goals, and What We Can Do** This is where you learn about your persona’s motivations. What keeps them up at night? What do they dream about? How can your company help them overcome their challenges and achieve their goals? This is going to help you understand what motivates your persona to reach out to you and why you need to be reaching out to this persona. **Real Quotes & Common Objections** Take quotes straight from the interviews you conducted during the research. When you share your personas internally, this is validation that your information is coming straight from the source. **Marketing Message** Form your marketing message. What is the voice and tone you use to talk to this persona? How do you describe your solution to this audience? Use all of the information you’ve written thus far to target your message. After completing the worksheet for each persona, take it one step further and write their story. Putting it into paragraph format makes the persona come alive. *Veteran Vinny is a 45-year-old husband and father with a single-family home in the suburbs. After graduating from a four-year college, Veteran Vinny enlisted in the U.S. Army and spent most of his 20s and 30s, spending several years abroad. Now, as a military veteran, he is reacclimating to civilian life, focusing on his family and what kind of career to pursue.* *At home, Veteran Vinny enjoys working in the yard and fixing things around the house; playing ball with his kids; watching his favorite sports teams; running; and being an active member of his church. At work, Veteran Vinny is an area manager for a large telecommunications company. He oversees six field technicians from his office at the area headquarters, though occasionally he conducts field visits during extremely busy times or for quality assurance. He often works nights and weekends due to lack of personnel.* *Veteran Vinny is struggling with balancing work and life, and he is dispassionate about his job. He is finding that his skills and expertise are not translating as well as they could (and should!). He dreams of finding a job that gives him a sense of purpose and enables him to spend more quality time with his family, while providing them a comfortable lifestyle.* *We believe franchising with our company can provide Veteran Vinny with the passion he wants and deserves for his career. We strongly believe in work-life balance, and we support our franchisees in their family lives.* **Step 3: Don’t Create Your Personas in a Bubble** At this point, share the franchisee buyer personas with a few of your colleagues to see if anything stands out as incomplete or unclear. The goal is to make sure anyone who reads about each persona feels as if they know them and understand why this kind of person makes a good fit for your franchise. Remember that these are not static documents – you should add or remove personas as your franchise grows and evolves and as you learn about what success looks like in your franchisees. [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Develop, Franchising Best Practices **Tags:** Franchise Marketing, Franchise Sales --- ### [FranConnect Reports Record Sales Growth in 2021](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-reports-record-sales-growth-in-2021/) **Published:** January 20, 2022 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Content:** HERNDON, Va., Jan. 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — [FranConnect](https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3363622-1&h=4162422776&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.franconnect.com%2F&a=FranConnect), the leading provider of franchise management solutions for driving success in franchise sales, operations, and marketing, announced record sales growth in 2021. FranConnect welcomed over 125 franchise brands and multi-location businesses to its client roster, celebrating its highest-ever bookings year and expanded partnerships with more than 100 brands to triple its annual sales from 2020. FranConnect proudly counts approximately 900 franchise brands and over 300,000 units worldwide among its client base and is quickly becoming the “gold standard” for technology in the franchise industry. “Over the last two years, we made an unwavering commitment to solve the hardest problems faced by the franchise industry and to support our customers during considerable market volatility,” said Gabby Wong, CEO of FranConnect. “We fundamentally believe that the operational challenges faced by franchise brands are unique and require franchise-specific enterprise technology to achieve scaled growth. Brands not only require applications that support specific processes like franchise sales, field operations, and royalty collection, but also need a clearer view of the performance of the franchise system as a whole and standardized methods for engaging with owners.” FranConnect reported that increased adoption of its Operations solution, launched in 2020, drove over one-third of the company’s sales growth in 2021, largely due to customers seeking technology that automates support of unit-level operational needs. The growing challenges of labor shortages, continuously-evolving regulatory and health requirements, and greater pressure for unit-level profitability means that Brands are looking for solutions that help drive better results. As a result, FranConnect expects continued growth in market adoption of its Operations solution in 2022. “Working with FranConnect has been a real blessing. It’s given us data at our fingertips and it’s allowed us to take the data to manage the business.” said Chris Dull, CEO of Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, a fast casual franchise concept with more than 400 locations across 34 states. “Coming into Freddy’s organization, we had dozens of spreadsheets and other data assets around the company that all operated in silos. And we were able to take all of that data and aggregate it into the FranConnect system, which created one source of truth.” For the coming year, FranConnect has a focused market expansion plan and an ambitious technology, solutions, and experience management roadmap as it continues its push toward reaching over 1,000 customers and a half million locations worldwide. After growing its employee base by 20% last year, FranConnect is continuing to hire across all functions as part of the company’s growth plans. FranConnect was recently named one of the 2022 “Best Places to Work in Virginia” by *Virginia Business*. In the coming weeks, FranConnect will open an office in the United Kingdom, its first office in Europe, to better serve the EMEA market and will continue to grow its strategic partnership program, including the Consulting Alliance Partnership Program launched in April 2021. “We continue to heavily invest in our multi-year growth strategy across all areas of our business, including our product, people, and customer experience and will look to expand our partnership capabilities to provide broader reach,” said Wong. “The success of our customers and the broader franchise market over the last two years demonstrates the strength of the franchise business model and its ability to continue to drive economic growth and recovery. We look forward to continuing to be a premier vendor and partner in this market.” **About FranConnect** FranConnect is the leading franchise management software provider. For 20 years, the FranConnect platform has served as the sales, operations, and marketing backbone for approximately 1500 brands worldwide. Nine of the Franchise Times Top 10 Fastest-Growing franchise businesses rely on FranConnect to drive growth, improve profitability, and streamline operational performance. FranConnect customers span all sizes, growth phases, and industries and they grow 44% faster on average than the broader franchising market. Backed by private-equity investor Serent Capital, FranConnect is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, with global follow-the-sun operations. For more information on FranConnect, visit [www.franconnect.com](https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3383691-1&h=2855670777&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.franconnect.com%2F&a=www.franconnect.com). ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Company News, Global News **Tags:** FranConnect, Press Releases --- ### [FranConnect’s Franchise Sales Index Report Reveals Critical Insights for Franchisors Confronting Today’s Economic Reality](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnects-franchise-sales-index-report/) **Published:** June 2, 2020 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** FranConnect announced the release of its FranConnect Franchise Sales Index Report for 2020, providing insights to the current state of Franchise sales. **Content:** #### 5th Edition of Industry-Leading benchmark provides critical insights. **Herndon, VA, June 9, 2020** – FranConnect, the leading provider of franchise management software, today announced the release of its FranConnect Franchise Sales Index Report for 2020, the most complete and authoritative source of data, analytics and insights into the current state of Franchise sales. Now in its fifth year, the report reveals critical best practices relevant for franchise operators looking to confront the economic reality of the pandemic. This year’s edition of the report benchmarks anonymized and aggregated data from 597 franchise brands representing the nine vertical markets consisting of Personal Services, Quick Service and Fast Casual Restaurants (QSR), Table/Full-Service Restaurants, Lodging, Retail Food, Retail Products & Services, Real Estate, Business Services, and Commercial & Residential Services. “This year’s report confirms that there was already a notable decline in franchise sales leads before the pandemic, the result of a then full-employment economy. And now, with unemployment rates having skyrocketed, there is going to be a rush by those impacted as they seek new opportunities and a sense of control in these turbulent times,” said Keith Gerson, CFE, President of Franchise Operations at FranConnect. “What the pandemic has accomplished is to reveal the cracks that already existed in many franchise sales programs and systems.” Some of the most important findings gleaned from the report serves as a guidepost to improved sales effectiveness: - Total average lead volume per brand fell 12% year-over-year, likely due to the effects of 2019’s full-employment economy; but some sectors fared better than others; - The overall deal closure rate (lead-to-deal ratio) decreased by 10% year-over-year, as Franchise Development teams struggled with stronger competition for a smaller overall pool of leads; - Franchise Portals generated the most leads, while ranking fourth in terms of closed deals; - Referrals and Brokers proved to be considerably more effective at helping to close deals, based on lead-to-sales conversion rates, relative to the prior year; - 85% of the leads that resulted in deals were those that were contacted within the first four hours of their inquiry, demonstrating the power of “speed to the lead”; - Lead follow-up processes are not implemented sufficiently in most organizations, as nearly three-quarters of all leads failed to receive meaningful responses. The full 69-page Franchise Sales Index Report is available for free download [here](https://blog.franconnect.com/franconnect-franchise-library-2020/franchise-sales-index-2020). **About FranConnect** FranConnect is the leading franchise management software provider. Its FranConnect platform engages stakeholders to grow, scale and optimize franchise systems through a connected and complete view of the business from sales to multi-unit and multi-brand performance. Over 1500 brands — including 40 of the *Entrepreneur*’s Top 100 Global Franchises — in 60 countries count on FranConnect to run their franchise systems. FranConnect customers span all sizes, growth phases, and industries and they grow 44% faster on average than the broader franchising market. Backed by private-equity investor Serent Capital, FranConnect is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, with global follow-the-sun operations. For more information on FranConnect, visit: [www.franconnect.com](https://www.franconnect.com/). ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Company News **Tags:** Press Releases --- ### [The Future of Franchise Operations: Insights from Five Decades in the Trenches](https://www.franconnect.com/future-franchise-operations-insights-from-decades-in-the-trenches/) **Published:** August 15, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Content:** *Written by Guest Writer Keith Gerson, CFE – President & CEO of Gerson Advisory Services* When I first started franchising in the early ’70s, we didn’t even have fax machines, let alone the tech we’re using today. I remember lugging around a briefcase full of paper reports to every franchisee visit. Now, as President and CEO of Gerson Advisory Services and former President of Franchise Operations for FranConnect, I’m watching AI revolutionize the franchise industry. It’s been quite a journey, and I’ve got a few thoughts on where we’re headed next. **The CFXO: More Than Just Another Fancy Title** Let me tell you about a conversation I had last month with Scott, a franchisor client of mine. He was frustrated because his top-performing franchisee was threatening to leave the system. “Keith,” he said, “I don’t get it. Their numbers are great, but they’re unhappy. What am I missing?” This is exactly why I’ve been pushing for the role of Chief Franchise Experience Officer (CFXO). It’s not just another C-suite title to hand out at the company holiday party. The CFXO is your franchisee happiness guru, your system’s empathy engine. In Scott’s case, a CFXO would’ve spotted the issue long before it reached boiling point. They would’ve noticed that while this franchisee’s numbers were stellar, they hadn’t received meaningful support or recognition in months. Sometimes, it’s not about the numbers – it’s about feeling valued. **From Consultant to Coach: A New Breed of Support** If you’ve been around long enough, you’ll remember the old days when the Franchise Business Consultant’s job was basically to show up, check some boxes, and move on. Thankfully, those days are over. I was at a franchise conference recently where I heard a franchisee say, “I don’t need big brother telling me to ‘increase sales.’ I need someone who can help me figure out how.” That’s stuck with me because it perfectly captures the shift we need to make. We’re moving towards what I call Franchise Success Coaches (FSCs). These aren’t just consultants; they’re part business guru, part psychologist, and part cheerleader. They need to be able to dig into the numbers, but also to be able to read between the lines of what a franchisee is really saying. I’ve seen this work wonders. A client of mine implemented this approach last year. Their customer satisfaction scores have gone up 22% since then. Why? Their FSCs aren’t just looking at sales figures; they’re coaching on everything from staff morale to local marketing strategies. **Tiered Support: Because One Size Fits None** Here’s a hard truth I’ve learned: a franchisee who’s been in business for 10 years needs very different support than someone who’s just opened their doors. Sounds obvious, right? You’d be surprised how many systems still use a one-size-fits-all approach. I’m betting that many of you have a long-term franchisee who has been in the system for many years and who is consistently a top performer. But when you sat down with him, he was considering leaving. Why? He said, “I’m tired of sitting through the same basic training sessions year after year. I need something more.” I’ve had those conversations over the years, and that’s when the idea of tiered support really crystallized for me. Now, I advocate for systems where new franchisees get intensive, hands-on support while veterans of your system get advanced strategies and peer networking opportunities. It’s not about less support for experienced franchisees – it’s about different support. **Real-Time Data: The Good, The Bad, and The Game-Changing** Let me take you back to 1991. I was working with a specialty food franchise system, and we had just installed our first real-time POS system. I remember standing in a franchise location, watching those sales figures roll in live for the first time. It was like magic. Fast-forward to today and the data we have access to is mind-boggling. But here’s the kicker—data alone isn’t enough. I’ve seen franchisors drown their franchisees in numbers without providing any real insights. The game-changer is using this data to have meaningful conversations. One of my clients was able to spot a trend in negative reviews about the speed of service and worked with franchisees to make immediate improvements. Result? A 15% jump in positive reviews in just three months. **Revolutionizing Franchise Operations with Playbooks.** Playbooks are essential in helping to create stronger, more resilient franchise systems by replicating best practices with unprecedented speed and precision. For franchisors looking to drive consistent performance, this tool is a game-changer. The key is that you’re not just collecting data – you’re using it to drive action. It’s not just about making corporate jobs easier; it’s about giving franchisees the tools and insights they need to succeed. I didn’t really have to gaze long into my crystal ball, as what I initially thought were future capabilities exist today. FranConnect, I’ve found, has the best playbooks in the business when it comes to franchise operations. They have developed the ability to transform how we use real-time data to drive improvements across franchise systems. Playbooks can turn data into immediate action. Imagine a restaurant franchise where, if a location’s cleanliness scores drop below a certain threshold, the system automatically assigns a detailed cleaning and maintenance playbook to that franchisee. It’s immediate, targeted support exactly when and where it’s needed. Playbooks can be created for any performance indicator – customer satisfaction, upselling, you name it. It’s like having your best performers mentor every location, but automated and scalable. **AI and Machine Learning: The New Frontier** Now, I’ll admit that when I first heard about AI in franchising, I was skeptical. I had concerns over data privacy, content ownership, “hallucinations,” ethical concerns, a lack of human touch, etc. But I’ve come around in a big way. Last year, I heard of a franchised B2B concept that implemented an AI system to generate performance improvement playbooks. The system analyzed data from across their 500 locations and created customized strategies for each location. The results were impressive, but what really sold me was a conversation I had with their CEO. “For the first time,” he told me, “I feel like the advice we are giving is truly tailored to our franchisee’s locations, not just generic one-size-fits-all solutions.” **The Hybrid Model: Balancing High-Tech and High-Touch** The pandemic forced us all to go virtual, and let me tell you, it wasn’t pretty at first. A franchisor I spoke with at an IFA event told me about one video call where a franchisee accidentally left their mic on while making some colorful comments about corporate. Not their finest hour. But we learned, we adapted, and now I’m convinced that a hybrid model is the way forward. There’s still no substitute for sitting across from your franchisee, looking them in the eye, and shaking their hand. But the efficiency of virtual check-ins? That’s here to stay. One approach for consideration is bi-annual in-person visits, with bi-weekly virtual calls. An example could be to deliver in-person visits in January and July, followed by virtual calls every two weeks (26 calls per year), and an option for additional ad-hoc virtual calls as needed. Another approach could consist of an annual in-person visit (reserved for annual strategic planning and critical hands-on support). These are offset by quarterly extended virtual sessions (2-3 hours) for in-depth reviews and bi-weekly brief virtual check-ins (15-30 minutes for quick updates). It’s recommended that one in-person visit be scheduled in the first quarter for new franchisees. I’ve also seen systems that offer a flexible system based on each franchisee’s performance. - High-performing franchisees: Annual in-person visit, with bi-weekly virtual calls. - Average-performing franchisees: Semi-annual in-person visits offset with bi-weekly. virtual calls. - Underperforming franchisees: Quarterly in-person visits with weekly calls. - Additional ad-hoc virtual calls can be scheduled as needed for urgent matters or specific concerns. **Looking Ahead: The Only Constant is Change** As I look back on my five decades in franchising, one thing is clear—this industry never stops evolving. The challenges we face today are different from those we faced in the ’80s, ’90s, or even last year. However, the core of what we do remains the same: supporting franchisees in building successful businesses responsibly. The future of franchise operations is about embracing technology without losing the human touch. It’s about using data to inform decisions but not letting numbers overshadow relationships. It’s about providing tailored support that evolves as our franchisees grow. Is it going to be easy? Not at all. But in my experience, the most rewarding things rarely are. As we navigate this new frontier, let’s remember why we got into franchising in the first place – to help people achieve their dreams of business ownership. Here’s to the future of franchising. It’s going to be one heck of a ride! ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Analytics, Franchising Best Practices, Operate **Tags:** Franchise Best Practices --- ### [FranConnect Launches New Operator and Frontline Employee Engagement Solution to Elevate Operational Excellence for Multi-location Businesses](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-launches-new-operator-and-frontline-employee-engagement-solution-to-elevate-operational-excellence-for-multi-location-businesses/) **Published:** August 5, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** FranConnect, a leading provider of sales, operations, and marketing solutions for franchise and multi-location businesses, announces the launch of its new Operator and Frontline Employee Engagement solution. **Content:** **HERNDON, VA: August 5, 2024** — FranConnect, a leading provider of sales, operations, and marketing solutions for franchise and multi-location businesses, announces the launch of its new Operator and Frontline Employee Engagement solution. This strategic initiative follows FranConnect’s acquisition of World Manager, a global provider of learning management and front-line employee engagement solutions. By seamlessly integrating World Manager’s complementary, enterprise learning management and content creation capabilities to FranConnect’s best-in-class operational platform, it revolutionizes how multi-location businesses drive team engagement, brand consistency, and unit performance. This robust new solution empowers multi-location businesses to develop and deploy highly customized branded content to support operator and front-line employee training for improved onboarding and engagement, enabling brands to track engagement success at the unit level. Operation teams will be better equipped to deliver and monitor best practice training, access up-to-the-minute data, staff training results, performance appraisals, and satisfaction surveys with benchmark reporting. Unlike traditional Learning Management Systems (LMS), FranConnect’s solution leverages core best practices already embedded in its platform to inform how brands need to deploy frontline and operator training. The result is highly engaged team members who not only adhere to the brand standards but also elevate customer experiences and unit performance. **Key features include:** - Comprehensive Operational Support: - Personalized learning paths integrated with daily workflows - Mobile access for on-the-go learning and application - Real-time performance insights linked to relevant training modules - Enhanced Employee Engagement and Development: - Custom eLearning modules for various roles - Gamification elements to boost motivation - Mobile accessibility for flexible learning - Career development pathways for all staff levels “We are addressing a huge barrier to growth for multi-location businesses, which is poor customer experiences stemming from ineffectively trained operators and frontline employees,” said Gabby Wong, CEO of FranConnect. “Most LMS work as standalone, siloed applications disconnected from performance data. Our core philosophy is that a strong learning and development function is an essential channel for driving operational success. Our learning and development capabilities are now fully embedded into FranConnect’s operational platform, and therefore employee development playbooks, learning pathways, and engagement best practices can be informed, created, and deployed based on operational goals and performance analytics from across the brand.” ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Company News, Global News **Tags:** Press Release --- ### [FranConnect Announces Acquisition of RizePoint, A Leading Provider of Quality Management Systems for Multi-Location Businesses](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-announces-acquisition-of-rizepoint/) **Published:** February 27, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** The addition of RizePoint to the FranConnect platform brings deep quality management capabilities to FranConnect’s already comprehensive franchise management platform. **Content:** #### Acquisition brings advanced QMS capabilities to brands and multi-unit operators and demonstrates FranConnect’s continued path toward becoming the largest and most comprehensive growth and operational platform for multi-location businesses worldwide. HERNDON, Va., February 27, 2024 – FranConnect, a market-leading provider of sales, operations, and marketing solutions to franchises and multi-location businesses announced today it has acquired RizePoint, a leading provider of quality management systems (QMS) serving global restaurant, retail, and hospitality brands. This is FranConnect’s third acquisition over a four-year period and marks another significant milestone for FranConnect in extending its reach beyond franchise brands to serve the operational needs of the broader ecosystem of multi-unit owners, locations, front-line employees, and suppliers. The addition of RizePoint to the FranConnect platform brings deep quality management capabilities to FranConnect’s already comprehensive franchise management platform. Designed to help organizations effectively manage compliance, maintain quality standards, and streamline operations, RizePoint is known for its industry-leading mobile auditing and inspection platform, used for location audits, health and safety checks, and supplier management. Three of the top five global restaurant brands use RizePoint, along with Ecolab, Wendy’s, Focus Brands, Dine Brands, L Brands, and Sodexo. More than 2 million audits are conducted annually using RizePoint, with over one million users across 120 countries and translated in over 39 languages. “The challenge of running a multi-location business gets increasingly complex with expansion and growth, regardless of whether franchised or owned. Brands need to ensure that operators are complying with brand standards, but also adhering to health and safety initiatives and following daily tasks and checklists. As well, the growing challenges to our global supply chain means that auditing suppliers is equally important to compliance against those standards,” said Gabby Wong, CEO of FranConnect. “Along with FranConnect’s market-leading operational platform, our combined solution will enable us to monitor the performance of a brand, end-to-end, from the brand to the operator, location, front-line employees, and even the supplier community.” Backed by Baltimore-based Access Holdings, RizePoint is headquartered out of Salt Lake City, Utah, with employees across North America and the UK. Rizepoint’s offices and employee base will now be a part of FranConnect’s global footprint. With RizePoint’s customers, FranConnect’s reach will now span over one million locations worldwide. “The acquisition of RizePoint by FranConnect will greatly benefit our customers and the industry. By uniting forces, we are in a unique position to offer a more robust and comprehensive suite of solutions that will further empower our customers to effectively manage compliance, elevate quality standards, and drive operational excellence. This acquisition will accelerate our ability to innovate, develop, and deploy meaningful advancements to our products and solutions,” said Kari Hensien, CEO of RizePoint. “We are thrilled to welcome RizePoint customers and employees into the FranConnect community,” said Wong. “Kari and her team bring deep expertise in QMS that our customers want and need from FranConnect. Further, with this acquisition, we continue to demonstrate that we intend to look across the broader market to provide the best tools and solutions to solve the unique challenges facing multi-location businesses.” Canaccord Genuity LLC acted as the exclusive financial advisor to RizePoint for this transaction. \#### ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Company News, Global News **Tags:** Press Release --- ### [FranConnect Launches Analytics to Improve Performance & ROI Across Franchises and Multi-Location Businesses](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-launches-analytics/) **Published:** January 11, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** FranConnect Analytics overcomes these issues through pre-built dashboards sourced directly from a single source of truth: its platform. FranConnect Analytics empowers businesses to invest in the areas of greatest return, benchmark internally from sites to regions to brands, identify the strongest performers, and replicate best practices. **Content:** #### Release of Analytics and next generation Royalty Manager extend end-to-end insights and process & operations management. HERNDON, Va., February 27, 2024 – [FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/), the leading provider of franchise and multi-location management solutions for driving success in sales, operations, and marketing, announces the launch of FranConnect Analytics to provide brands with powerful, on-demand, and timely insights pulled from all areas of the business. Additionally, FranConnect has revamped its Royalty Manager application to address finance teams’ biggest pain points. The franchise and multi-location model is distributed where accountability is dispersed geographically and through complex ownership structures and relationships. These brands are more dependent than ever on data intelligence to determine where to invest resources that drive the greatest return. But the combination of disparate systems and complex organizations creates siloed views and gaps in the story. FranConnect [Analytics](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/analytics/) overcomes these issues through pre-built dashboards sourced directly from a single source of truth: its platform. FranConnect Analytics empowers businesses to invest in the areas of greatest return, benchmark internally from sites to regions to brands, identify the strongest performers, and replicate best practices. Operations, Finance and Marketing teams have access to fresh data and insights instantly to drive results across the locations. [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/)The launch of FranConnect’s next-generation [Royalty Manager](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/royalty-manager/) is set to significantly enhance the efficiency of financial operations for franchise brands by automating sales reporting and ensuring accuracy in franchise fee calculations, while facilitating the centralization of financial data. Additionally, it offers franchisees transparency into the invoicing and financial aspects of their franchise agreements, fostering stronger relationships. With the addition of the [Invoice-to-Pay](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/invoice-to-pay/) capability, brands can standardize billing, offer diversified payment options and expedite payment collection, thereby effectively reducing the days sales outstanding. “Royalty Manager’s redesign and new FranConnect Analytics product capabilities make it easier than ever for teams to draw insights from the platform, creating a unified view into their entire operations lifecycle from lead creation to payment reconciliation “, said Gabby Wong, CEO of FranConnect. “FranConnect improves connectivity of information across the distributed value chain and provides brands with the capability to consolidate that information, improve planning capabilities, and drive standardized operational processes to improve overall system performance.” For more information on FranConnect’s newest products or to schedule a demo of the platform, visit [www.franconnect.com](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/). \#### ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Company News, Global News **Tags:** Press Release --- ### [How To Onboard New Franchisees For Ongoing Success](https://www.franconnect.com/how-to-onboard-new-franchisees-for-ongoing-success/) **Published:** November 5, 2023 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Successful brands know new franchisees require support to help them get through their first year. Learn how to get new franchisees off to a great start. **Content:** The most successful brands recognize that new franchisees require dedicated support to ensure a successful launch and help them thrive during the first year of business. No matter how strong an onboarding program is, plenty of factors can lead to a rocky first year: undercapitalization, general inexperience, and a lack of well-rounded skills. Unfortunately, a franchisee who is struggling may experience a long lead-up to a critical performance indicator: “days to first dollar,” or the time between the signing of the franchise agreement and the moment the cash register rings. If the franchisee waits for data on this “lagging” indicator, it’s often too late to turn things around. That’s why we recommend that franchisors provide robust, ongoing support for new franchisees, before and after they’ve opened the doors and are officially in business. ## Keep New Franchisees Focused on Business Development People are often drawn to a particular franchise because they enjoy some aspect of the core business. When they become a franchisee, however, they need to shift from being the technician to being the manager and leader. Among new franchisees, a common pitfall is an inability to prioritize the most essential part of any business (at least according to management guru Peter Drucker) the making and keeping of customers. For some franchisees, this may be the most daunting task of all. Opening a business is complex. The franchisor must obtain furniture and fixtures, hire employees, open bank accounts and complete all sorts of other work. It can be easy for franchisees to feel overwhelmed and, in response, focus on the tasks they are the most comfortable with, even if they aren’t the most pivotal from a business perspective. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)Yet business development is a must, especially because it may take a franchisee several months to break even. In fact, undercapitalization is the top cause of business failure, according to the Small Business Administration. That’s why it is imperative to provide the necessary support and to pay close attention to that key performance metric: days to first dollar. One way to do so, without placing an undue burden on franchisors, is to utilize onboarding software that tracks business development activities. Surprisingly, few franchisors invest significant time into this aspect of operations — often just one or two days per week. During that critical first year, supporting franchisees means putting programs in place to monitor and measure what they are doing to make and keep customers. ## Help Franchisees Build Habits for Long-Term Effectiveness From an onboarding standpoint, once a store or business opens, the work is just getting started. Some franchise owners address this with a “quick start” program. A dedicated expert works with franchisees during the first year, after which the franchisee transitions to the oversight of a [franchise business consultant (FBC).](https://www.franconnect.com/5-critical-insights-franchise-business-consultants-and-franchise-operations-teams-should-know/) In practice, we estimate that only a small percentage of franchisors go this extra mile from a support perspective. Often, the role of the store opener ends once the physical location is established: “Congratulations, you’re open for business! Meet your FBC.” The problem is that FBCs are often unable to pay close attention to new locations, given their many other responsibilities. A startup specialist, on the other hand, is solely focused on shepherding the franchisee through the first year. That’s important because most franchisees aren’t truly comfortable until they have experienced a complete, four-season cycle. From the franchisor’s perspective, this type of support can seem like a questionable expense. After all, one of the biggest challenges in franchising is that a brand-new franchisee contributes the least [amount of royalties](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/royalty-manager/), because it takes time to ramp up. The point at which they’re putting the most demand on the system is also when they need the most support. When franchisors take the time to get people ramped up properly, however, these franchisees will ultimately put less strain on the system. That frees up resources to address other franchisees that may be beyond their first year, but still struggling. Perhaps they are struggling because they didn’t get started correctly to begin with. ## Extend Franchise Culture and Values Through Desired Behaviors One of the best ways to instill the right habits is to establish specific, behavior-oriented standards that reflect the franchise culture and core values. Company executives may be clear on these values and may communicate them to franchisees, but without a behavioral component, franchisees and employees might fail to execute them in the desired ways. Consider the value of teamwork. From a training perspective, what does “teamwork” look like? What does it look like for employees in specific roles? If a camera were recording an employee, what would the camera document as behavioral evidence that the employee is manifesting teamwork as intended? The need for specific behaviors is why many fast-food establishments, for instance, measure “friendliness” by how quickly an employee acknowledges a guest entering the restaurant. Whatever those behaviors are, they should be part of the standards. This type of documentation, subject to measurement, ensures that as new franchisees onboard, they uphold the markers of “culture” that serve to differentiate the business. [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/)These types of structures, together with the [right technology tools](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/sales/) and ongoing support, ensure that new franchisees get off to a great start — for their first year and beyond. Did you know that engaged franchisees are 3.7 times more profitable than non-engaged franchisees? Download our eBook “High Impact Franchisee Engagement” to learn the art of franchisee engagement and how to overcome challenges to improve engagement, and ultimately increase unit level profitability. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Develop, Engage, Retain and Onboard Employees **Tags:** Franchise Development, Franchise Operations --- ### [Empower Your Franchise Success with Cutting-Edge Technology](https://www.franconnect.com/franchise-tech-adoption/) **Published:** July 17, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Content:** In today’s fast-paced business world, technology is not just an option; it’s a necessity. For franchisors and franchisees, leveraging the right technology can mean the difference between mere survival and thriving success. Let’s explore how technology can engage and empower franchisees, driving franchise success to new heights. ## Understanding the Franchise Ecosystem ### Roles of Franchisors and Franchisees In a franchise system, the franchisor owns the overarching brand and business model. They provide the framework, operational guidelines, and support to franchisees, who are independent business owners operating under the franchisor’s brand. Cohesive collaboration between franchisors and franchisees is crucial for a franchise system to be successful. ### The Importance of Collaboration Effective collaboration ensures that both parties work towards common goals. Franchisors must maintain brand consistency and uphold standards, while franchisees must focus on delivering excellent customer experiences. When both parties communicate and collaborate effectively, the entire franchise network benefits. ### The Power of Engagement Engaged franchisees are more likely to feel invested in the brand’s success. They are motivated to follow best practices, implement innovative ideas, and strive for excellence. Engagement fosters community and shared purpose, increasing satisfaction and retention rates. ## Technological Challenges Faced by Franchises ### Communication Gaps One of the most significant challenges in a franchise system is maintaining clear and consistent communication. With multiple locations, often spread across different regions, ensuring everyone is on the same page can be daunting. Miscommunications can lead to operational inefficiencies and inconsistencies in customer experience. ### Data Management Franchises generate vast amounts of data, from sales figures to customer feedback. However, managing and analyzing this data to derive actionable insights can be challenging. Without proper data management systems, valuable information can get lost, and opportunities for improvement may be missed. ### Operational Inefficiencies Operational inefficiencies can arise from outdated processes, lack of automation, and fragmented systems. These inefficiencies can lead to increased costs, reduced productivity, and lower profitability. Addressing these issues requires a strategic approach to technology adoption. ## The Role of Technology in Empowering Franchisees ### Leveraging AI and Machine Learning Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are transforming franchise operations. These technologies analyze large datasets to identify patterns, predict trends, and provide actionable insights. For example, AI-powered chatbots can enhance customer service by providing instant responses to common queries, freeing staff to focus on more complex tasks. ### Streamlining Operations with Cloud Solutions Cloud-based solutions offer flexibility and scalability, making them ideal for franchise systems. These platforms enable real-time data sharing, streamline communication, and facilitate remote training and support. By centralizing operations on a cloud platform, franchises can ensure consistency and efficiency across all locations. ### Accelerating Growth with CRM Systems Customer relationship management (CRM) systems are essential for managing new franchise leads and improving lead response time. These systems help franchises nurture the right candidates, close deals faster, and reduce cost per lead. A robust CRM system can enhance conversion rates and drive more revenue. ## Case Studies Successful Technology Integration in Franchise Systems ### FastSigns FastSigns, a leading signage and graphics franchise, successfully integrated a comprehensive technology platform to streamline operations and improve communication. The platform provided real-time data access, centralized communication channels, and automated workflows. This integration led to increased efficiency, higher customer satisfaction, and improved franchisee engagement. ### My Salon Suite My Salon Suite, a salon suite rental franchise, leveraged AI-powered analytics to optimize its marketing strategies and improve customer targeting. By analyzing customer data, they identified trends and preferences, enabling them to tailor their marketing campaigns more effectively. This approach resulted in higher customer acquisition rates and increased revenue. ### Camp Bow Wow Camp Bow Wow, a doggy daycare and boarding franchise, implemented a cloud-based management system to enhance operational efficiency. The system streamlined booking processes, automated billing, and provided real-time updates on pet activities. This technology adoption improved customer experience, increased operational efficiency, and boosted franchisee satisfaction. ## Best Practices for Franchise Technology Integration ### Selecting the Right Technology Choosing the right technology is crucial for successful integration. Franchisors should conduct thorough research, evaluate options, and select solutions that align with their business goals. Involving franchisees in the decision-making process can also ensure that the chosen technology meets their needs. ### Implementing Technology Effectively Effective implementation requires careful planning and execution. Franchisors should create a detailed implementation plan, provide comprehensive training, and offer ongoing support. Regular communication and feedback loops can help address challenges and ensure a smooth transition. ### Supporting Technology Adoption Supporting franchisees in adopting new technology is essential for maximizing its benefits. Franchisors should offer continuous training, provide resources and documentation, and create a support system to address any issues. Encouraging franchisees to share their experiences and best practices can foster a collaborative learning environment. ## Future Trends in Franchise Technology ### The Rise of IoT The Internet of Things (IoT) is set to revolutionize the franchise industry. IoT devices can collect and transmit data in real time, providing valuable insights into customer behavior, inventory management, and equipment maintenance. Franchises can leverage IoT to enhance operational efficiency, reduce costs, and improve customer experience. ### Advanced-Data Analytics Advanced data analytics will play a significant role in driving franchise success. Predictive analytics can help franchises forecast demand, optimize inventory, and identify growth opportunities. By harnessing the power of data, franchises can make informed decisions and stay ahead of the competition. ### Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies are gaining traction in the franchise industry. VR can be used for immersive training experiences, while AR can enhance customer engagement by providing interactive and personalized experiences. These technologies can potentially transform how franchises operate and interact with customers. ## Conclusion In conclusion, technology is a powerful tool for engaging and empowering franchisees. By addressing common challenges, leveraging innovative solutions, and staying ahead of emerging trends, franchisors can drive success for their entire network. Whether improving communication, streamlining operations, or enhancing customer experience, the right technology can make all the difference. Franchisors, now is the time to prioritize technology integration. Explore the latest innovations, involve your franchisees in the decision-making process, and invest in solutions that align with your business goals. By doing so, you’ll not only boost your franchise’s success but also create a thriving community of empowered and engaged franchisees. Ready to take the next step? [Watch our recorded webinar](https://blog.franconnect.com/franconnect-webinar/boost-franchise-success-engaging-and-empowering-franchisees-with-technology) to learn how technology can transform your franchise. Together, let’s unlock the full potential of your franchise network. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Develop, Engage **Tags:** Franchise Best Practices --- ### [Inspect What You Expect: Achieving Quality Control and Brand Consistency](https://www.franconnect.com/inspect-what-you-expect-achieving-quality-control-and-brand-consistency/) **Published:** May 30, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Content:** “The Founder” is a 2016 movie based on Ray Kroc and McDonald’s origin story, which won critical acclaim for Michael Keaton. In one important scene, Kroc (played by Keaton) visits a franchise location only to find that the operator has introduced fried chicken on the menu to compete with KFC. This flies directly in the face of the menu standardization he hoped to enforce across the McDonald’s system. If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend that you do. This scene is pivotal as it demonstrates the issues and challenges in achieving brand consistency. As a true visionary, Kroc wanted more than to sell burgers and fries. He aimed to deliver the same quality burgers and fries no matter where McDonald’s was located. And isn’t this the true goal of all franchises? To have uniform consistency from location to location? This was the key to what ultimately led to McDonald’s franchise dominance. The crux of this article is that this uniformity becomes the cornerstone of all successful franchise brands, along with learning how to achieve it. ## **Inspect What You Expect** This mantra and approach go beyond establishing expectations and having a mechanism in place for verifying that expectations are being met across your entire system. So, how do you ensure that this principle is embedded in your operations? ### **Establish Clear-Cut Expectations** Do your franchisees clearly understand what you expect of them through regularly ongoing communications? These can best be conveyed through town hall meetings, newsletters, and updates to your franchise operations manual. However, based on FranConnect, franchisee visitations aren’t frequent enough to create sustainable changes. ### **Enter the Playbook** The playbook is a comprehensive document that outlines an organization’s key strategies, processes, and practices. It’s a “living, breathing document that serves as a roadmap for operating a business. It helps to ensure consistency and efficiency and to align with a brand’s goals and values. Your playbook can be used to ensure adherence to your vision and vision statements, core values, roles, and responsibilities. However, the most utilized facet of franchising tends to be around the business’s operational processes. It is a step-by-step guide to daily operations and routine activities critical to the business. ### **Systematic Audits** We have found that the trend has shifted to where more and more Franchisors are augmenting their franchise visitations by having their franchisees conduct their self-appraisals on the present state of their businesses. This translates into a regular cadence and approach that combines unexpected and announced visitations with franchisees “keeping score” with their utilization of franchise playbooks such as those deployed within FranConnect. Your audits should inspect strict adherence to your standards, customer service protocols, and operational requirements. You can readily conduct these assessments on your own accord, through your franchisees, and with solutions like RizePoint, a quality management system for multi-location businesses. ### **Utilize Checklists** Playbooks are critical to guiding your Franchise Business Consultants to assess each component of the operator’s execution and compliance with your standards. Well-defined checklists or playbooks deliver on your “inspect what you expect” program and can take average performers. With the help of your most accomplished Franchise Business Consultant, top Franchisees can be used to share their insights through your published playbooks. You’ll quickly see how this can transform your rank-and-file franchisees into exceptional operators. ### **Your Digital Tools of the Trade** Using technology tools and platforms that can aid you in monitoring your operational metrics, including your sales performance leading indicators, customer feedback through NPS, or other customer experience tools, can make good performers great performers. Your compliance checklists will provide you with the ability to provide on-time interventions when your standards aren’t being met. ### **The Power of Data-Driven Insights** Franchisors often find themselves with limited access to the systemic insights that exist within their organization based on data being kept in operational silos. This can gravely impact your franchise team’s effectiveness and the utility of playbooks. While playbooks are a standard operations framework, your data-driven insights allow your franchise operators to craft strategies that impact local market conditions. Imagine the power of sales data and customer feedback and how they could help franchisees adjust everything from your quality standards marketing to customer service and execution. Performance benchmarking is one of the greatest benefits of aggregating data into a format that allows franchisors and franchisees to benchmark performance across different locations. By allowing your technology to analyze data on sales, product quality, customer satisfaction, and operational efficiency, you can make informed decisions that can greatly enhance system-wide performance. ### **Continuous Improvement** With the average span of control of one Franchise Business Consultant to every thirty Franchisees, our research and pulse surveys show that the frequency of visits to franchise locations is too infrequent to bring lasting change. In having a technology-enhanced solution such as FranConnect’s automated operational playbooks, some triggers go to the Franchisee, Franchise Business Consultant, and others within the organization to allow for follow-up and a drive for continuous improvement. This can also help you continually update the playbooks to convey the most effective strategies and processes for the location and system. ## **Conclusion** Franchise Business Consultants equipped with data-driven insights can provide the most effective advice to franchisees, who can use those insights to address the individual challenges at each location and optimize their operations based on objective evidence. Additionally, since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen an ever-increasing trend toward franchisees completing unscored self-appraisals using playbooks. For those taking the best practices approach to leveraging the skill set of your top performers and expanding that knowledge through playbooks, you will have the advantage of taking average performers and turning them into your best performers. And breaking down silos and taking a data-driven approach will help transform operations and strategic planning and allow you to evolve your system into a model of brand consistency. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Ensure Quality, Franchising Best Practices, Improve Performance, Operate **Tags:** Franchise Operations --- ### [The 15 Most Important Restaurant Franchise KPIs](https://www.franconnect.com/15-most-important-restaurant-franchise-kpis/) **Published:** November 18, 2023 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** What KPIs predict success in the restaurant sector? We explore 15 critical restaurant franchise KPIs to track. **Content:** The majority of restaurants are franchised. According to the U.S. [Economic Census](https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2018/03/franchises.html), an estimated 122,042 limited-service franchise restaurants make up approximately 54% of all fast-food restaurants in the United States. With so much competition, it’s essential that you determine and track the right key performance indicators (KPIs), so your franchisees can manage their units effectively. Below, we explore 15 of the best restaurant franchise KPIs to measure. ## Sales and Marketing ### % of a Strategic Category % of a Strategic Category = (Category Sales)/(Total Sales) Some franchise systems have a particular category with great profitability, such as soft drinks. Once you determine that category, you can aim to sell a bigger percentage of soft drinks, or whichever category that excels within your system. ### Number of Transactions Number of transactions is a way to assess customer count. This can typically be retrieved from your point of sale (POS) system. ### Average Check Size Average Check Size = (Total Sales)/(Total Transactions) Some restaurants prefer looking at this simple metric rather than worrying about upsell metrics. Essentially, a strong average check size shows that the location is getting more from each of their customers. ### RevPASH (Revenue Per Available Seat Per Hour) RevPASH = (Revenue/Hour)/((Available Seats)/(Hour)) If your franchisees have empty seats, their profitability is likely suffering. If you watch this metric hour by hour, you can make adjustments to improve the bottom line. ### % Online Orders % Online Orders = (Online Order Sales)/(Total Sales) With off premise sales (e.g., DoorDash, Uber Eats) becoming such a major part of franchising, this is a great metric to start with — especially considering that online orders tend to have a bigger check size. The only caution is that you don’t want to punish those that are growing their revenue in the traditional business. ## Service ### Speed of Service Speed of Service = (Food Order Time) – (Food Delivery Time) [Explore Restaurant Solutions](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/restaurants/)This is a great metric for increasingly time-starved customers, and it does not require any new data points. Use your POS to automatically measure this from time the customer walks in or drives up to your restaurant to the time when the food is delivered to them based on your kitchen display system. Some compare this to NPS as well. ### Customer Retention Rate (CRR) CRR = ((# of customers at the end of the period) – (# of new customers for that period))/(# of customers at the start of the period) Customer retention rates vary greatly depending on the location and the size of the restaurant. For example, you would expect the CRR at a location at the airport to be low, given the audience in transition. ### Average Online Rating Most 18- to 34-year-olds (91%) report that they trust [online reviews](https://www.qualtrics.com/blog/online-review-stats/) as much as personal recommendations, and consumers say they are willing to pay 31% more on a business with positive reviews. Those statistics make a convincing case for why average online rating should top the list of restaurant KPIs. Take into account a franchise’s average star rating, along with the number of ratings within the last month or quarter. ### Net Promoter Score (NPS) NPS = (% Promoters) – (% Detractors) NPS is a customer loyalty metric that rates customers as promoters, detractors or neutral depending on their answer to the following question: “How likely would you be to recommend us to a friend or family member?” Customers rank their answer on a 10-point scale. A score of 9-10 indicates a promoter; 7-8 is neutral, and 0-6 is a detractor. ### Number of New Loyalty Program Members or App Downloads Loyalty programs and apps matter in the restaurant space. Increasing retention by just 5% through [customer loyalty programs](https://www.forbes.com/sites/jiawertz/2021/09/26/the-perks-of-a-great-loyalty-program/?sh=1f44626c2b2e) can boost revenue 25% to 95%. Measuring this helps keep the franchisee’s eye on the ball when it comes to this vital activity. Another way to look at this is percentage of transactions using the loyalty app. ## Expenses ### % Labor Costs % Hourly Labor Costs = (Hourly Labor Costs)/(Total Revenue) You may want to separately measure your hourly staff wages versus your manager wages. Some owner-operator franchisees pay themselves a salary. Others pay themselves a dividend out of the profits for tax purposes. By carving out hourly wages into a separate entry, values become more comparable when benchmarked against the system. ### % Food Costs % Food Costs = (Purchases)/(Total Revenue) You should account for the cost of the items you sold in each period so that you’re properly evaluating profitability. However, some systems don’t have this data easily accessible; instead, they make an approximation using purchases during that period. These two numbers don’t necessarily align, so be careful. Make sure you use consistent information for each unit. ### Food Cost Variance Food Cost Variance = (Actual Food Cost)/(Planned Food Cost) A metric a lot of franchisors are talking about today is the actual cost of food compared to the planned cost. Tracking this can help you more accurately forecast and handle fluctuations in certain costs in the future. ## Employees ### Employee Turnover Rate (ETR) ETR = (# of employees who left in that period)/((# of employees at the beginning) + (# of employees at the end))/2 Every industry has to deal with turnover, and it is a good idea to determine what is an acceptable rate in your system. ### eNPS Similar to Net Promoter Score for customers, above, the Employee Net Promoter score can help you understand your team’s happiness. Though some franchisees are hesitant about measuring employees this way, it can provide valuable insight. Remember, happy front-line employees mean happy customers. [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/)The best way to help your franchisees reach their goals is to measure performance along the way. Learn more about FranConnect’s leading [performance tools](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/sales/) that can help you track the KPIs that matter most and make a positive difference in your business. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Analytics, Develop, Improve Performance, Operate **Tags:** Best Practices, Franchise Best Practices, Franchise Marketing --- ### [How to Do Ongoing Franchisee Monitoring Right](https://www.franconnect.com/how-to-do-ongoing-franchisee-monitoring-right/) **Published:** February 1, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Periodic site visits, audits, & check-ins can easily be viewed as punitive. Having the right approach & technology is crucial to franchisee engagement. **Content:** As franchise owners, you know that franchisee engagement can have a material impact on the bottom line. A study of 300 brands from Franchise Business Review and InGage Consulting found that engaged franchisees are 3.7 times more profitable than non-engaged franchisees. Yet driving franchisee engagement is historically challenging for most organizations. In order to overcome those barriers, it’s imperative that franchisors understand how to initiate, manage, and improve a franchisee engagement program. Our recent Playbook on High Impact Franchisee Engagement walks franchisors through the steps in detail, from performance management to ongoing collaborations. Yet perhaps the most misunderstood pillar of franchisee engagement is a program of ongoing monitoring, including periodic site visits, audits, and other check-ins. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)Nearly all franchise businesses conduct some level of field visits, but these visits can easily miss the mark. They are not always popular with the franchisees, many of whom view them as punitive as opposed to supportive. And the process of executing and following up is often inefficient and not transparent. In this instance, the right franchising technology solution can help. Look for one that makes it easy to document requirements, manage checklists, and schedule on-site and virtual visits. Then make sure that it tracks and catalogs the output and findings from the visits. For instance, Neighborly Brands uses capabilities of FranConnect’s Operations platform to make their visit process scalable and efficient. Their approach centers on a systematic need-based prioritization of visits and planned activities. This serves as the backbone of their field visit process and is used across their various brands on a consistent basis. Meanwhile, compliance monitoring and infraction reporting can reduce risk and identify areas or locations that need support. But it needs considerable investment in management attention to make it successful. Some of the best-performing franchises have used technology to completely eliminate paperwork and modernize the process. The right platform can support an efficient closed-loop process from identification to detection and then corrective action. Mobile capabilities for input, tracking and exception reporting can reduce the time lag and improve compliance in the process. [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/)The best franchisors are able to use audits not just to minimize risk but to drive performance, tailoring questions around issues which support growth and strategic goals. Orange Theory Fitness, for example, uses FranConnect to perform on-site audits and franchisee self-assessments as a key part of their performance playbook, helping to make Orange Theory one of the fast growing and most successful fitness brands over the past three years. Finally, self-assessments are a useful tool to understand and meet brand guidelines and expectations. Smart self- assessments, combined with tailored coaching, provide an efficient and effective way for franchisees to continuously improve their operations, leading to better performance across the collective brand system. In the face of a pandemic, with travel restrictions, self-assessments become even more critical as they replace many in-person events. Self-assessments provide valuable insights and context for Field Business Consultants needed to make each visit as productive as possible for the franchisees. Brands that can quickly identify patterns and trends and take corrective actions have outperformed their competition. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Engage, Improve Performance, Operate **Tags:** Franchise Operations, Franchisee Engagement --- ### [Friendly's Ice Cream Case Study](https://www.franconnect.com/friendlys-ice-cream-case-study/) **Published:** May 1, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Content:** ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Case Studies **Tags:** Audit Software, QMS Software --- ### [FranConnect's Presence at FCXC 2024](https://www.franconnect.com/fcxc-2024/) **Published:** June 4, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Content:** Welcome to the world of franchising excellence! This year, FranConnect is proud to be a key sponsor at the 2024 Franchise Customer Experience Conference (FCXC), taking place from June 17-20 at the InterContinental Buckhead Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia. **Why Attend FCXC 2024?** This year’s Franchise Customer Experience Conference offers dedicated learning tracks in marketing, operations, and technology to foster growth and collaboration. It’s ideal for franchise and multi-location business leaders seeking new ideas, brand leaders aiming for career growth through experience management, and emerging franchisors looking for strategies to accelerate brand growth. CEOs, Presidents, and Chief Revenue Officers will find targeted content to lead cross-functional teams effectively in a dynamic environment. Here’s why you should attend: **Networking Opportunities** - **Meet industry leaders**: Connect with C-Suite Executives, Presidents, and other leaders in franchise development, operations, marketing, and technology. - **Plan connections**: Join the community, find out who is attending, and pinpoint potential connections. Socialize, communicate with fellow attendees, and connect on your social networks. **Learning and Growth** - **Keynote Speaker**: Gain insights from Mike Walsh, CEO of Tomorrow, who will share his expertise on future trends. - **Workshops and sessions**: Participate in sessions that cover a wide range of topics, including marketing, operations, and technology. - **Exclusive insights**: Get the latest on managing customer experience in a rapidly changing environment. **Key Themes and Topics** FCXC 2024 focuses on several essential themes that are crucial for franchise success: - **Marketing**: Learn how to leverage marketing resources to enhance your brand. - **Operations**: Discover strategies to optimize operational efficiency. - **Technology**: Understand the latest technological trends and how they can transform your franchise. **FranConnect’s Role and Sponsorship** FranConnect is excited to sponsor this year’s FCXC. With over 20 years of experience, serving 1,500+ brands and 1.3 million locations, FranConnect offers a comprehensive platform for franchise management, ensuring quality and compliance. Customers and iconic brands like SPARC, Tropical Smoothie Café, and Papa John’s utilize FranConnect to drive growth and profitability through enhanced collaboration and technology. **What FranConnect Brings to FCXC 2024** **1. Expert Curation**: - Our team has unrivaled expertise in franchise management. We understand the unique challenges you face and offer solutions tailored to your needs. **2. Operational Excellence**: - From enhancing franchise sales efforts to managing global territories, FranConnect ensures seamless operations across all levels of your franchise. **3. Tasting Notes Included**: - Like fine wine, we believe in offering detailed insights. Our platform comes with comprehensive data analytics and real-time dashboards, ensuring you have all the information you need at your fingertips. **4. Exclusive Insight**: - Attendees will receive exclusive insights from FranConnect experts. Engage with us at our Table 14 for giveaways and a custom demo tailored to your needs. **5. Community Engagement**: - Join our community of franchise leaders and see how we can help you drive better results by working together. **How to Make the Most of FCXC 2024** To maximize your experience at FCXC 2024, here are some tips: - **Plan Ahead**: Review the agenda and mark your favorite sessions. Be proactive in scheduling meetings and connecting with other attendees. - **Engage**: Don’t just attend—participate! Ask questions, join discussions, and network actively. - **Visit FranConnect’s Table**: Stop by Table 14 in the Networking Area to learn more about our services, grab some exclusive swag, and hear the success stories of our newest customers. **Conclusion** The 2024 Franchise Customer Experience Conference is more than just an event—it’s an opportunity to propel your franchise into the future. With industry-leading insights, unparalleled networking opportunities, and the support of sponsors like FranConnect, this is one conference you can’t afford to miss. Ready to take your franchise to the next level? Join us at FCXC 2024 and discover how FranConnect can help you achieve operational excellence and exponential growth. —> [Get Started with FranConnect Now](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) We look forward to seeing you there! ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Company News, Operate **Tags:** Franchise Operations --- ### [10 Ways to Leverage Unit-Level Performance Data for Franchise Growth](https://www.franconnect.com/10-ways-to-leverage-unit-level-performance-data-for-franchise-growth/) **Published:** January 21, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Here are 10 ways you can start leveraging unit-level performance data for franchise growth! We discuss choosing the right metrics, trust building, & more! **Content:** With constant change the only certainty, harnessing the power of data for growth amid shrinking resources and shifting consumer behavior is critical for franchise brands of all sizes. Advanced point-of-sale and customer relationship systems offer franchisors the digital footprints to engage, garner feedback, track trends, try new products, and create unmatched customer experiences. Analytic data, swiftly served up, can also be a powerful ally to predict the success of local marketing and franchise development tactics and drive growth-focused operations and franchise relations decisions. Gathering what may feel like a deluge of available data is one thing; it’s what you do with the information to solve a problem, answer a question, or connect with customers that matters. Here are 10 data-driven goals to consider to transform insight into action for franchise success. ## 1. Choose the right metrics Knowing your core customer determines marketing and measurement tactics. Brands must be willing to adjust and be ready to measure again. Data mined can help brands select key performance indicators (KPIs) that correlate to the company’s strategic goals, such as a specific sales increase, conversions or site traffic, and craft strategies to target the right customer with the right message. But don’t get lulled into focusing on performance-driven metrics in isolation. Too often, brands obsess over single transactions and overlook the lifetime relationship of the consumer. Drilling in on the Consumer Lifetime Value (CLTV) through POS information—such as frequency and average spend—can help project how much revenue you can expect from a single guest. The longer the customer continues to buy from a company, the higher their lifetime value. CLTV is also telling for its insight into Customer Acquisition Costs (CAC) and strategies to boost loyalty, bring back customers (particularly those lost during the COVID shutdown), and maximize the initial investment return over time. ## 2. Grow with customers you know The ongoing pandemic has CMOs laser-focused on retention–and for a good reason. It costs five times more to acquire a new customer than to nurture and retain existing ones. Loyal customers spend more, refer more, and expand their purchases. The goal is to keep customer retention high and your churn rate (those guests, clients, or users you lose) low. Creative approaches to common retention strategies, such as loyalty programs and account sign-ups, provide a treasure trove of data for robust reporting capabilities. Using a one-two-combo of marketing technology and local data can transform casual guests at one restaurant into brand loyalists. Just a 5% increase in retention has been found to boost profits anywhere from 25% to 95%, according to Bain & Company research. ## 3. Build trust by benefitting the customer John Hagell, founder and chairman of Deloitte’s Silicon Valley-based research-focused [Center for the Edge](https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights.html), encourages company leaders to broaden their thinking on data use beyond scalable efficiencies. In a recent [Harvard Business Review webinar](https://hbr.org/webinar/2020/06/how-to-use-customer-data-to-actually-help-customers) on the topic, Hagell suggested using strategies aimed at helping customers get more tangible value from their products and services to deepen, and in some cases rebuild, trust. A systematic survey of data already on hand can provide strategies to engage with customers proactively. It can be as simple as sending a recipe related to a food purchase or following up on a furniture sale with maintenance and cleaning tips. The same thinking holds for franchisees or any other brand stakeholder. Small, smartly made moves can set big things in motion. Hagell calls it a “virtuous cycle.” The more value provided to the customer over time, the more willing they are to share additional data. “Companies that understand this, I believe, are going to have privileged access data, which will be a significant competitive advantage,” Hagell noted. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)## 4. Capitalize on customer loyalty Data enables you to segment customers, find trends, identify opportunities to increase brand loyalty — and so much more. Real-time data fed back into CRM systems shape the most-effective loyalty campaigns. These rich insights result in highly personalized consumer experiences that incentivize return visits and increase check averages. The right analytics reveal quickly what’s working and what’s not — to adjust accordingly. For brands without a loyalty program, customer sign-ups become key, notes a recent Gartner’s intelligence report on “How to Drive Retention Without a Loyalty Program.” The report recommends discount and coupon campaigns, subscribe and save, and gamification as account sign-up strategies to capture consumer data and foster customer loyalty. ## 5. Plan for the future with confidence Every time a customer responds to an ad or makes a purchase, a little more information about them and your brand is collected. Data on client transactions and inventory turnover can shape marketing, product development, and operational initiatives. Consolidating rewards, texting, online ordering, and email databases allow you to create customer profiles and build on this information from other channels and point-of-sale details. Big data and AI-fueled predictive analytics is changing the way brands and their franchisees plan by providing a more reliable road map for the future. ## 6. Optimize operations Collecting, synthesizing, and analyzing data at the franchise level can reveal ways to cut down on waste, avoid overstocking woes, and identify employee schedule or service challenges. Information gleaned should align with the overarching corporate strategy and allow for sharing best practices across the franchise system. ## 7. Keep tabs on what others are saying about you. Big data allows companies to collect great feedback. These real-time conversations are golden customer connections. Social proof, provided by peer-to-peer recommendations of products and services, is a powerful way to persuade your potential customers and build a culture with a reputation for great service. Stellar customer service boosts your customer count, ticket average, and correlates with having happy employees. Monitor and respond to online reviews and use survey software to measure customer satisfaction tools, such as Net Promoter Score, to get the intel you need to polish up on your interactions with customers and potential franchisees. ## 8. Find better sites and future franchisees Detailed demographic and psychographic intelligence works to pinpoint prime real estate locations and avoid encroachment problems for potential franchisees. Crunching the data at high-volume stores reveals more than just what people are buying. For instance, audiences and attribution insights may uncover a high customer count from a neighboring suburb that sparks plans for a new store or franchise territory, piggybacked with targeted franchise development efforts. ## 9. Educate and support franchisees No matter how it’s collected, data can be used to demonstrate sound decision-making to operators, with the analytics to back it up. Through an intelligence dashboard, franchisees can also benefit from better reporting metrics and take action, boosting customer retention and sales in the process. Internal relationship management systems allow franchisors to manage franchise support. Simultaneously, customer portals provide franchisees across the system with a window to see how they stack up in areas of revenue, expense, and online reputation against their peers. ## 10. Put franchisee satisfaction data to work for franchise sales Franchisees want to know if your franchise partners are happy. Give prospects the research they want upfront with satisfaction results. Along the way, you might find this type of transparency works to capture online leads and nudge candidates through the development funnel. Executing on franchisee performance is a systematic process using financial performance management metrics and progress against each franchisee’s goals and objectives. ### **Don’t let data lead to analysis paralysis** Data channels and technological applications are emerging at such a rapid-fire pace that franchise brands can get caught up in analysis paralysis. FranConnect’s platform delivers easy-to-understand data insights across multiple areas of the franchise business for better decision making. The technology allows franchisors to integrate their existing solutions and pull data from disparate platforms for more informed business choices—and smarter growth. Learn more by visiting the FranConnect [Platform Overview](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/sales/). [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Analytics, Develop, Expand Locations, Operate **Tags:** Best Practices, Franchise Best Practices, Franchise Development, Franchise Marketing --- ### [3 Keys to Attract a Qualified Audience for Your Franchise Development Process](https://www.franconnect.com/3-keys-to-attract-a-qualified-audience-for-your-franchise-development-process/) **Published:** February 8, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Attracting the right audience to further develop your franchise can be difficult, so we put together 3 key ways you can attract qualified franchisees! **Content:** Whether you are a growing franchise or managing a multi- brand, large corporation, you need to spend your time on what matters. You know [technology can help](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/sales/) you be more efficient and effective, but there are also old-school principles which are important to master. For example: one of the best things you can do for your franchise development team is to [build a franchise recruitment website](https://www.franconnect.com/evaluate-your-franchise-recruitment-website/) that is a high-functioning [sales tool](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/sales/). Candidates who land on your website should be able to quickly identify if your brand appeals to them through engaging content, easy navigation, and discoverable information before guiding them to complete an inquiry with full transparency of next steps. Assuming you have taken those measures, the next step is getting the right candidates to the website in the first place. Whether you are working with a marketing team or on your own, evaluate the following areas for improvement. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)## 1. Define Your Target Prospect It’s very difficult to be specific about who fits with your brand. Each brand is unique in its culture, operational processes, and therefore the type of candidates who have success. Evaluate franchisees who are successful and [create a candidate persona](https://www.franconnect.com/creating-franchisee-buyer-personas/). By specifying who you want to attract, you can create content that attracts those candidates to your site, which helps qualify them before they even enter your funnel. Ask these types of questions to develop a persona for your target prospects: - What type of job or career have they pursued? - What is/was their income level? - What do they do in their free time? What do they read? You get the idea. The point is to put yourself in their shoes and really figure out who your ideal candidate is. You can even go so far as to identify your persona with a name, age, gender, and marital status. By doing so, you will unlock insight that will help you attract those candidates to your concept. ## 2. Get comfortable with website analytics As the leading source of leads – including qualified leads – it’s important to understand the analytics behind your website so you can focus on the things that work. Don’t publish a development website and never return to it. It is important to continuously evaluate which pages are generating qualified inquiries so you can do more of what works and less of what doesn’t. Even if you work with a marketing team that focuses on website analytics, it’s important you have insight as well. Make it a monthly habit to obsess about these leading indicators: - Conversion rate of pages - Time on site and bounce rate (monthly average) - Number of inbound linking domains - Total new leads/form submissions (per month) - Time on top performing pages - Number of visits/unique visitors (monthly average) - Top performing keywords (in terms of rank, traffic, and lead generation) The last bullet point cannot be emphasized enough. Conduct a full SEO audit, as this is the number one tool in your arsenal that guarantees you will attract the right audience. ## 3. Develop your marketing plan This topic is a full book on its own, but the message here is that if you execute on #1 and #2 and create an in-depth guide for the marketing team, then it will be much easier to target the right audience, create a content marketing plan, and identify the best places to allocate the marketing budget. In turn, measuring the results of channels, such as franchise portals, digital ad spend, events, and referrals, will be based on how many of the leads match the persona you developed. If the leads are not matching the persona, reevaluate the channel or how you are using it. Mastering the above principles will help ensure not just that you are getting the right people in the door to grow your franchise, but that your investments are being directed toward attracting the right people. *Interested in which tactics were successful for franchise growth in 2020? Check out the key takeaways from our annual [Franchise Sales Index Report](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-releases-2021-sales-index-report/).* [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Develop, Expand Locations, Open Locations Faster **Tags:** Franchise Development --- ### [Consistency is Key: A Field Operations Blueprint for Franchise COOs](https://www.franconnect.com/consistency-is-key-an-operations-blueprint-for-franchise-coos/) **Published:** January 3, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** No matter if your franchise is a mature or emerging brand, all successful franchises use these 5 basic principles of effective field operations. Read here! **Content:** Few franchise brands have put the necessary best practices in place to account for the solutions that allow timely reinforcement of expectations and standards. In our latest ebook, ***5 Field Operations Secrets from 600 Franchise Brands***, we reveal the guidelines you need to apply to rejuvenate your field operations team and tactics. Here’s a sneak peek of those five areas. 1. Focus on your top 3 to 5 business priorities. As we have seen time and again, a successful strategy starts at the top, which means you must know your brand’s priorities, articulate them to your field consultants, and align field operations metrics to each priority. 2. Clearly and strategically identify what is and isn’t working by evaluating each and every activity that a field consultant does and why. Each assessment question needs to provide value for the brand and franchisee. As time shows, questions and review items that do not provide value will result in disjointed manual processes that lack consistency and clear accountability. 3. Know what the field team needs to do and not do – the goal of the team is to be a consistent presence to reduce inconsistencies and improve overall performance. Keep your brand’s priorities at the center of your evaluation, and involve your top field consultants in the process of analyzing through assessment design, action planning, evaluation, and follow up. 4. Continuously test, adjust, and fix how your field organization is working. To be successful, you must regularly evaluate your processes, including making on-the-spot corrections and gaining important business insights with real time data. 5. Have consistent, meaningful conversations with your field consultants and individual owners, emphasizing brand alignment to support corporate objectives and brand culture. No matter if your franchise is a mature or emerging brand, all successful franchise brands use these five basic principles of effective field operations. Only then can your franchise brand realize sustainable growth for unit share, improved unit economics, and meaningful engagement for operational excellence. [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/)**![5 Field Operations Secrets from 600 Franchise Brands](http://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/social-suggested-images/FC-ebook-5field-operations-secrets.png "5 Field Operations Secrets from 600 Franchise Brands")** ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Operate **Tags:** Franchise News --- ### [The Role of Ongoing Support: How Franchisors are Providing Training for Front-Line Employees](https://www.franconnect.com/the-role-of-ongoing-support/) **Published:** January 22, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Training your front-line employees has never been so crucial as it is today! Learn about the world of online training & ongoing employee support here. **Content:** #### Written by Kaleigh Wells When it comes to training and development in franchising, there are so many ways that the content, best practices, and insights are being delivered. In a franchise system, there is continuous learning. While traditional group training in a classroom environment is still the norm at franchise headquarters, ongoing development for unit owners and their teams is vital. No one wants to be stuck in a classroom for weeks on end, so alternative delivery methods like eLearning or on-the-job training are on the rise. With so many creative ways to acquire best practices and insights, training and development in franchising has never been more accessible or engaging. Have you ever felt like you couldn’t possibly absorb any more information during an eight-hour lecture? Turns out, your brain might not be able to retain as much as you hoped. Studies show that only a small percentage of training content is remembered after spending the entire day in a classroom. **The Shift to On-Demand Training** Say goodbye to traditional synchronous training and hello to on-demand! It’s the trend that’s taking over and for good reason. Not only can employees learn at their own pace and schedule, but intuitive tools like a learning management system can make the process even easier. No more boring lectures or missed training sessions – with on-demand training, the world of education is at the brand’s fingertips. On-demand training is not only convenient but it’s also cost-effective. With traditional classroom learning, there are added expenses associated with the physical space, instructor fees, and materials. On the other hand, on-demand training can be delivered through digital platforms at a fraction of the cost. Modern franchisors are utilizing on-demand training videos, webinars, and virtual instructor-led courses to provide the best possible education for their franchisees and their front-line employees. This type of [self-paced learning](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/) allows for a consistent experience for everyone in the system regardless of geography or time zone. It also eliminates the need for long-distance travel which can save both time and money. **The Benefits of Ongoing Support** Franchisors are on the constant lookout for ways to provide the best possible support for their unit owners. A major part of this involves providing ongoing training and development opportunities that will [equip front-line employees](https://www.franconnect.com/frontline-employee-training-importance/) with the knowledge and skills they need to be successful, in turn making that location and brand successful. With on-demand training, franchisors can provide immediate access to necessary information in a convenient way. Employees are more likely to absorb the content when they have control over their own learning schedule and rate. This type of ongoing education is essential for businesses today because it enables employees to stay ahead of trends, keep up with changing regulations, and maintain operational excellence across all units in the system. [Train Employees](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/training/)On-demand training isn’t just about saving time or money; it’s about making sure your franchise stays competitive within its market. FranConnect recently performed an analysis of training systems from over 2,200 brands as disclosed in Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDD), and it has been discovered that on-the-job training is the key to location growth in the franchise world. And it gets even more interesting- franchise verticals with the highest overall training hours (QSR, Real Estate, and Lodging) require the most on-the-job training, while also boasting the most classroom training. Learning management systems have become an essential part of many systems already due to government initiatives – like the Joint Employer Regulation. Franchise owners can no longer ignore their employee’s needs and must take a more active role in ensuring their brand’s standards are met. Let’s look at the areas of the business that are most important in a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). A franchisor must provide a table of contents outlining what information will be trained on, who will be leading the training, and how long these sessions will last. But more often than not, there can be a discrepancy. For example, if the table of contents promises a two-week training program but only three hours of material are included in the training manual, it’s an important time to consider what the training program puts forward. If your brand’s primary goal is to [build sales](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/sales-accelerator/) through customer acquisition, ask yourself if three hours of training is sufficient for providing your employees with the skills, attention, and practice they need to excel. Investing in an effective learning management system can help keep your business on track while maintaining the highest standards. **Gamification and Creating Brand Culture** When we interviewed Keith Gerson, our resident President of Franchise Operations & Certified Franchise Executive, he shared, *“I have determined, over a lifetime in franchising, is that if you are going to be training no matter what. The only way you know if somebody has actually picked up the content you are feeding them, is if they can demonstrate and articulate exactly what that is. A lot of people will sit in a classroom, but you don’t ever really know whether or not the employee or the franchisee has effectively been trained or not.”* Starting off on the right foot with employee training involves more than just showcasing the steps. A two-step process merges expertise with engagement to ensure that trainees fully comprehend the material. Asynchronous training, which doesn’t require live instructors but can be facilitated through a responsive LMS platform, opens the door to gamification methods that inject fun and creativity into the learning process. By blending methods and leveraging technology, your team will be inspired to not only understand the what of the process, but the how and the why too. [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/)Gamification is a dynamic approach to employee training that harnesses the power of games to satisfy our innate human desires for rewards, competition, and achievement. By adopting game mechanics like points, levels, and challenges, gamification creates a stimulating and engaging workplace culture that fuels skill development, fosters camaraderie, and strengthens company culture. With training playing a crucial role in shaping the employee experience, gamification ensures that staff members are primed for success and equipped with the tools they need to thrive. Gamifying your workplace might just be the secret ingredient to unlocking your employee’s potential. By integrating playful elements into everyday work, you directly influence your team’s behavior and motivation to improve performance. Not only that, but gamification ignites collaboration and positive reinforcement to fuel employee achievements. Most importantly, gamification strengthens the relationship between employer and employee, creating a culture of engagement and loyalty. In summary, training your employees can be a complex process that requires more than just an outline of material. Brands need to take the initiative to invest in effective learning management systems and gamification strategies to ensure their staff is not only well-trained but also motivated and inspired by their work. By creating a workplace culture full of rewards, competition, and collaboration through gamifying tasks, employers will foster loyalty among employees while ensuring they are equipped with the skills needed for success. With these techniques in place, businesses have the power to unlock employee potential and increase sales performance of individual locations, thus boosting your brand and ultimately – sales. *For more information on FranConnect’s world-class learning management system, World Manager, offering training, development, and communications request a demo with our team today!* ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Engage, Retain and Onboard Employees **Tags:** employee training, LMS --- ### [Objectives and Key Results (OKR) in Franchising](https://www.franconnect.com/objectives-and-key-results-okr-in-franchising/) **Published:** April 29, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** The framework for Objectives and Key Results (OK) originally developed by Andy Grove of Intel is being embraced by forward-thinking franchisors. **Content:** Forward-thinking franchisors are now embracing Objectives and Key Results or OKR. The framework was originally developed by Andy Grove at Intel and has been used by organizations such as Google, Twitter, and LinkedIn. While the framework has documentation in the form of videos, bestselling books, and worksheets, the following three concepts will help you through their use: ## Objectives and Key Results Key Terms Objective (O) The Objective is your goal which aligns everyone in simple terms. Example: Grow business with sales and marketing. Key Results (KR) Key Results are how you measure success, which you cannot control 100%. Example: Add 250 new customers to our loyalty mailing list. Initiatives (I) Initiatives are activities trying to achieve objectives, which you can control 100%. Example: Perform three marketing campaigns on Social Media. ## How to Use OKRs in Franchising The birthplace of OKRs was in the technology sector. Today, OKRs are used across different industries and business models. Franchising has some unique elements to it that matter when it comes to business planning. Shared Risk: An advantage of the [franchise model](https://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/the-9-advantages-of-franchising-franchiseyourbusiness/252591) is shared risk – since the franchisee signs the lease and commits to various contracts. This shared responsibility matters when thinking of many aspects of the business, from profitability to marketing expenses. Motivation: No one is more motivated than a person who has invested their money into the business. But, when engaging in planning activities, you want to remember that the person standing before you is not an employee; they are a business owner. With that, including some set objectives from a franchisor level is reasonable. Franchisees who set some of their own Objectives, Key Results or Initiatives will ultimately be more engaged. New Markets: Franchising allows brands to expand to new markets, where customs and tastes are not necessarily understood by the franchisor. So when setting OKRs with your Master Franchise, or franchises in markets that have significant differences from your own, you may want to keep those in mind in terms of what to keep consistent, and what to change. At the heart of these considerations is to include collaboration when building your plans. OKRs are also loved for their transparency, which will further accountability and engagement. ### Getting Started with OKRs Setting OKRs together with your Franchise Advisory Committee (FAC) and other key stakeholders from the franchisor level is key. Some choose to have an OKR workshop including collaborative documents if online, and whiteboards if off. At the end of the session, you want to have agreement on what you want achieved by the beginning of the following year. ### How to Set Objectives When sitting down to [write objectives](https://www.perdoo.com/okr-guide/), the first question you want to have in mind is “what challenge am I trying to solve?” John Doerr, who famously implemented OKR at Google, and wrote the authoritative book on the subject, Measure What Matters, had the following formula: *I will (Objective) as measured by (this set of Key Results).* Objectives should be aligned, high-impact and time-bound. They don’t necessarily need to be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Results-Oriented and Timely). In fact, they can be more of a big picture. If you think of yourself steering a boat, the Objective is the place where you are aiming to go. ### How to Set Key Results Aligned with Objectives Creating key results can be tough to untangle from initiatives. A simple rule of thumb is to think “how can I measure it.” For example, if your objective is to Create an Extraordinary Customer Experience, then your key results could include: Receive a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 30 for the Year. Notice that this is not telling you the “how,” it is telling you how you will measure it. Similarly, a marketing objective may be measured by conversions, but it does not get into specifics around “how.” Key results should be high impact, specific and within influence. ### How to Set Initiatives Aligned with Objectives Initiatives are in the form of tasks or projects. For the NPS objective above, for example, you can have the tasks that will make your customers happier. Related to that Objective, you could have a new Customer Service training to improve that experience. An example of a Marketing initiative is a Facebook Campaign. Initiatives are just a “best guess” or a “hypothesis” on what may deliver the highest impact because a veteran marketer knows that a campaign will not always get the results that you are looking for, since ultimately the control lies with the prospect (and tastes can be fickle). Initiatives should be specific and within control. ### Reviews Franchise-Wide planning for OKRs usually happens annually. On the location-level, frachisors can choose Annual Objectives or Quarterly Objectives. Finding the right rhythm depends on how quickly your target market changes or if your business deals with more uncertainty than most. If you are new to the process, setting an Annual rhythm can be a good start. Either way, engaging in monthly or quarterly reviews of goals with franchisees is helpful. ### Tracking Having OKRs in a central location is key to the process as is tracking them every step of the way. This way, you can see a history of check-ins, and understand what was discussed in previous meetings. *Would you like to [receive a demo of FranConnect?](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) Our platform helps brands grow unit, increase unit revenue, improve unit profitability, and enhance franchisee engagement.* [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Analytics, Develop, Engage, Operate **Tags:** Best Practices, Franchise Best Practices, Franchise Development, Franchise Marketing --- ### [Highlights from the Franchise Sales Index Report: Mid-Year Update](https://www.franconnect.com/highlights-from-the-franchise-sales-index-report-mid-year-update/) **Published:** October 2, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** We've gathered some highlights from our Franchise Sales Index Report as a mid-year update! Check out the graphs and statistics here! **Content:** Our annual FranConnect Franchise Sales Index Report features real-world data culled from our brands spanning across the franchise platform. After an eventful yet encouraging first half of 2021, for the first time ever we are looking at the data mid-year for an in-the-moment view on the state of franchise development. This data offers significant insights for franchisors looking to grow and develop their franchise brands and make the right sales and marketing investments. Peering into the data of how franchisors handled the first half of the year reveals some promising signs. It may be too soon to say, but it seems that most verticals are showing improvements on key metrics. In this post, we will share some of the high-level findings, and give you access to a webinar where the report’s author, Keith Gerson, will break down everything you need to know. **Average Monthly Deals by Per Brand by Industry |** Jul – Dec 2020 / Jan – Jun 2021 (YoY)*![](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Chart%201%20for%20Sales%20Index%20Update%20Blog.png)*In terms of franchise deals closed, the new year is bringing positive change to most industries, apart from lodging and retail food. This is a stark contrast to last year, where the overall number of deals fell and the time to close deals lengthened – not surprising amid the uncertainty that 2020 brought. With state governments easing pandemic mandates and restrictions, Retail Products & Services saw the most noteworthy change, almost doubling its monthly deals this year thus far. Both Personal and Business Services, as well as Automotive, saw increases. Looking to the last half of 2021 and early 2022, Lodging will be an interesting category to watch as the increase in travel could lead to growth in franchise development. **Lead to Deal Conversion Rate by Segment (Number of Locations) |** Jul – Dec 2020 / Jan – Jun 2021 (YoY)![Chart 2 for Sales Index Update Blog](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Chart%202%20for%20Sales%20Index%20Update%20Blog.png)The win-rate shown on this graph shows us a small uptick in the Enterprise (201+ locations) segment, but what is most important to note here is that smaller brands are trending more effective at closing deals in the first half of this year than ever before. Micro Emerging (1-10 locations) and Emerging (11-75 locations) segments increased at a dramatically higher percentage than others – inching them closer to levels that we see for Mid-Market (76-200 locations). **Top 10 Sources for Lead to Deal Ratio |** Jul – Dec 2020 / Jan – Jun 2021 (YoY)**![Chart 3 for Sales Index Update Blog](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Chart%203%20for%20Sales%20Index%20Update%20Blog.png)**This graph compares the lead to deal ratio from the last half of 2020 to the first half of this year. While Referrals can be the most cost-effective source due to their conversion rates and remain high, they are the most challenging source in terms of scalability. In addition, finding ways to put marketing dollars towards Referrals often doesn’t secure a great ROI. This graph implies that you can confidently allocate some spend with Franchise Referral Consultants (commonly referred to as Brokers). Broker-sourced leads convert to deals at the highest rate of any paid marketing channel – and their performance improved considerably year over year. As with past years, Portals generate a huge volume of raw leads, but these leads typically do not convert to deals at anywhere near the rate of other channels. [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Analytics, Develop **Tags:** Franchise Development, Franchise Sales --- ### [Restaurant Technology News Spotlight Interview with Jason Kealey](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-news-restaurant-technology-news-spotlight-interview-with-jason-kealey/) **Published:** January 20, 2022 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Jason Kealey, Vice President of Strategy at FranConnect, recently sat down with Restaurant Technology News to discuss our FranchiseBlast integration! **Content:** Jason Kealey is Vice President of Strategy at [FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/), the leading provider of franchise management solutions. Jason became VP in January 2021 following FranConnect’s acquisition of FranchiseBlast, a software company Jason founded in 2007 and grew to represent over 100 franchise brands and multi-location businesses. At FranConnect, Jason focuses on technology innovation, bringing his extensive knowledge of operations, above-store leadership, and business process modeling to drive solutions to real-world problems. Restaurant Technology News sat down with him for an in-depth interview on the FranchiseBlast integration, expanded FranConnect capabilities and solutions, as well as success stories along the way. Read the full article here: \#### [Explore Restaurant Solutions](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/restaurants/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Company News, Develop **Tags:** Press Mentions --- ### [9 Important KPIs for Health and Fitness](https://www.franconnect.com/9-important-kpis-for-health-and-fitness/) **Published:** April 28, 2022 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** We're reviewing the top 9 KPIs for the health and fitness industry. From retention rate to active members we cover it all. Discover the KPIs here! **Content:** Summer is approaching and gyms everywhere are packed with those trying to prepare to show off their hard work. If you are in the health and fitness industry, [according to research,](https://info.zenplanner.com/boutique-fitness-benchmark-report) you have two important things on your mind: the success of your clients and the contribution you are making to your community. But you cannot help your members OR your community if you are not properly tracking the health of your business. Just like your members need to measure repetitions and step on the scale in order to succeed, you as a business owner need to measure the health of your business on a regular basis as well. Below are some recommendations on 9 Important KPIs for health and fitness franchises. ### 1. Cost Per Lead (CPL) If you are going to only measure one metric in your marketing programs, cost/lead is the one most worth the effort. It helps you understand how much you are spending on leads, and if the methods that you are using are effective. For example, if you are getting $25/lead off of Google, and $100/lead off of your print advertising, you will want to reconsider that print ad buy in the future. ***CPL=Cost of Marketing Program/Total Number of Leads*** Note when calculating, a lead has two aspects: - They are actively searching for the service - They provide a way for you to contact them for follow up Ensuring you have the above, creates a fair measure for your sales team later down the line. It is a good idea to dedicate about 10% of your budget to experimental initiatives to make sure your marketing mix continues to be the right one. ### 2. Conversion Rate Conversion rate helps you understand your gym’s ability to [turn leads into members](https://uhurunetwork.com/5-essential-fitness-marketing-kpis/). Typically seen as a sales metric, it shows how your sales team is doing with the leads provided by marketing. ***Conversion Rate=Total New Members/Total Number of Leads*** If this metric is weak, it may be an indicator that your facility is not up to par – you may want to look at renovations or a refresh of equipment. ### 3. Active Members This is a basic but necessary metric that will outline your success on the most elemental level. Measuring the growth and decline of members compared to the previous year is a fantastic way to track where you are in terms of the big picture. It is calculated below: ***Growth Rate = (Present-Past)/Past*** If your absolute member count is low compared to benchmarks, and your growth rate isn’t high, then you need to focus on increasing your member base through marketing efforts or by reducing churn. ### 4. Revenue Per Client (RPC) This [commonly-used KPI](https://zenplanner.com/gymowner/top-fitness-studio-kpis/) provides a sense of clarity in terms of where you are in your business. ***RPC = Annual Revenue/Total Number of Clients*** If this is low, look for upsell opportunities such as personal training, niche classes, or supplements. ### 5. Revenue Per Square Foot (RPSF) With the rent or mortgage costs associated with the space typically being the biggest cost associated with the industry, it is healthy to look at this often-neglected metric. In a multiple-location environment, this metric tells you what spaces are working, and what ones are not working for you. Also – if your RPSF is very low, you may want to consider a smaller space unless you intend to grow rapidly. ***RPSF=Annual Revenue/Total Square Footage of Facility*** ### 6. Utilization Rate Utilization Rate is an amazing metric in this industry because it measures how much you are actually using your resources. If you offer personal training, for example, how much is the trainer actively engaged in the process of training? If you are renting a room for 8 working hours a day, and only using it for 4, then there is an opportunity to add more classes. ***Utilization Rate=Total Hours Used/Total Hours Available*** ### 7. Net Promoter Score (NPS) Member satisfaction is both a customer service measure and a marketing measure. Why? Increasingly, brand is a verb, and you want to make sure that the experience that people receive at your gym is one that leaves them satisfied. Technically a loyalty measure, the Net Promoter Score (NPS) is a fantastic way to measure this on a quarterly basis. This measure compares your biggest fans (promoters) compared to your biggest critics (detractors). Learn more about Net Promoter [here](https://www.netpromoter.com/know/). ***NPS= % Promoters-% Detractors*** Your NPS can help you in your marketing efforts, by asking promoters to leave reviews, or recommend to their friends and family, and it can help prevent churn. ### 8. Retention Rate Retention rates are something that the fitness industry has [struggled with](https://guidingmetrics.com/content/fitness-center-industrys-10-most-critical-metrics/) for a long time, and the churn of members is a common conversation topic at franchise conventions. In general, having a strong retention rate means that you are keeping your brand promise. You can measure this over the course of a month, quarter or year. ***Retention Rate: Existing Clients at End of Period/Existing Clients at Beginning of Period*** If this is low, it is a good idea to do a root cause analysis on why people are leaving. Having a “leaky bucket” of customers means that you have to spend more on marketing upfront. ### 9. Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) EBITDA is a measure of a gym’s operational effectiveness. It is a way to evaluate effectiveness without having to factor in financing decisions, accounting decisions, or tax environments. Although difficult to say or even fully comprehend for gym owners who have come up through the health and fitness operations side, it is a key indicator. ***To calculate the adjustments needed for EBITDA, please see this* *[article from Quickbooks](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/r/revenue/what-is-ebitda-and-how-can-your-company-use-it/)**.*** EBITDA shows how good your business is at generating cash thus your business is valued as multiples of this metric. Just like your clients, it is important for you to measure the right things. With these 9 metrics in place, your business will be set up for success. Looking for more KPIs for your franchise? Look at our post on [How to Use KPIs as a Tool for Franchise Business Planning](https://www.franconnect.com/how-to-use-kpis-as-a-tool-for-franchise-business-planning/). [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Develop, Franchising Best Practices **Tags:** Franchise Development, Franchise Marketing --- ### [8 Important Automotive KPIs](https://www.franconnect.com/8-important-automotive-kpis/) **Published:** July 21, 2022 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Franchisors need to track various KPIs in order to ensure they're running their franchisees properly. Here are eight such KPIs and what they represent. **Content:** According to [Franchise Direct](https://www.franchisedirect.com/information/automotive-franchise-industry-report), there’s 38,000 auto franchise units among over 100 concepts currently operating in the United States. These concepts include aftermarket parts and accessories, maintenance and repair and cosmetic and paint. We took a look at the most important KPIs in this segment of the franchise community. ## Sales and Marketing ### Star Rating 87% of consumers will not consider working with a business with only 1-2 stars, according to [SearchEngineLand](https://searchengineland.com/87-percent-customers-wont-consider-low-ratings-228607). Franchisees who don’t stay on top of reviews could pay a heavy price. Tracking their star rating on Google, Yelp and similar sites is a key marketing metric. ### Quote Capture Rate Number of transactions is a way to assess customer count. This can typically be retrieved from your point of sale (POS) system. **Quote Capture Rate = Total Sales ÷ Total Quotes** ### Customer Acquisition Rate A strong automotive business has a combination of new customers and retained customers. The customer acquisition rate, as a ratio, tells you how good the business is at sales. In the world of “hunters vs. farmers”, these are the hunters. **Customer Acquisition Rate = New Customers ÷ Total Customers** ## Operations ### Customer Retention Rate As a complement to the sales metric above, the customer retention rate tracks how well your service team is performing. Automotive businesses rely on repeat customers, so you want to keep this KPI strong. **Customer Retention Rate = Repeat Customers ÷ Total Customers (a complement to customer acquisition rate)** ### Productivity Productivity measures how much free time your technicians have. If this is low, it shows there is not enough work to support the staff that you have. **Productivity = Hours Clocked ÷ Hours Available** ### Efficiency % If a tech takes 4 hours to complete a 5 hour repair, his efficiency is 125%. This number tells you about the systems you have in place, the accuracy of quotes and your team performance as a whole. **Efficiency % = Sold Hours ÷ Worked Hours x 100** ### Sales Mix % As a franchisor, you may see advantages of franchisees performing one service over another. Usually these services are higher-margin and can enhance the profitability of the business overall. **Sales Mix % = Revenue from X Service ÷ Total Revenue x 100** ### Cycle Time Cycle time can be measured in many ways, but the most practical one according to experts is from time from drop-off to delivery. This can be measured based on the POS or other operational systems. The best way to help your franchisees reach their goals is to measure performance along the way. Learn more about FranConnect’s leading [performance tools](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/sales/) that can help you track the KPIs that matter most and make a positive difference in your business. [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Develop, Franchising Best Practices **Tags:** Franchise Marketing --- ### [Effective Email Marketing for Franchise Development Success](https://www.franconnect.com/effective-email-marketing-for-franchise-development-success/) **Published:** January 29, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Don't let buzz over chatbots, paid search, & social media algorithms distract you from striking up high-conversion conversations through good old email. **Content:** As record numbers of people look to the proven systems of franchising for their next opportunity, it’s time to be bold and authentic with your franchise sales. Don’t let the buzz over chatbots, paid search, and social media algorithms distract you from striking up high-conversion conversations through good old fashion email. Why email? For starters, ask yourself how many times you’ve checked your own email today. Franchise email marketing remains the most powerful and cost-effective recruitment tool at a time when email is being relied on more than ever. Open and read rates are up [nearly 20 percent ](https://www.campaignmonitor.com/resources/guides/email-marketing-benchmarks/)from 2019 as folks turn to their inboxes for information and education during the ongoing pandemic. Email marketing is an inexpensive tool that pays off. It costs roughly $200 to send out 10,000 targeted emails. The average ROI for email is consistently more than double that of other digital channels. Remember, we are talking about a captive audience that has trusted you with their email address. These prospects want and expect to hear from you to learn more about your brand. [Ensure Brand Consistency](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/brand-consistency/)**The problem:** Most franchisors lack effective lead nurturing programs for sales development. Our [2020 Franchise Sales Index Report](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-releases-inaugural-franchise-operations-index-report-2/) analyzing franchise sales data from more than 600 brands found about 1% of all leads turned into sales. Of those leads, 85% that became deals were reached by a recruiter within 4 HOURS of their initial inquiry — but only 16.5% of leads are reached that quickly. Even more mind-boggling, candidates are never called by 74% of franchise recruiters. At a time when franchisors are struggling to do more with less, your franchise recruitment must work harder and smarter with speed to the lead. **The solution:** Fortunately, there are digital tools to help automatically initiate contact and support ongoing recruitment efforts. Targeted email marketing, mobile-ready email templates, SMS text capability, and autoresponders connect your prospects to the right content at the right time. Winning franchise emails are **timely, relevant, and targeted.** Here’s what effective franchise email strategies have in common: #### **Deliver relevant content at every step of the sales process.** Our findings indicate that too few franchisors run email or text campaigning beyond one to two initial drips in the “new lead” status. Communication is key to nurture leads through what can often be a long process. Through email, you can confirm, follow up, and engage with leads using an automated process to simplify and support the journey every step of the way. FranConnect’s email templates and workflow automation allows you to dispatch relevant messaging by stage, lead origin, and the frequency and messaging you’d like candidates to receive. #### **Use content that genuinely creates forward momentum.** Avoid the hard sell. Think about ways to use emails to build trust, educate, and inform. The initial welcoming contact is the single most important moment of truth. Automating an email delivery with a contact name and phone number lets the candidate know they have entered your lead process and, in return, provides an avenue for a message of thanks, a few brand details, and an invitation to talk. As the lead moves forward, the content does too. Provide wide-ranging value with topics like “How to read an FDD,” “Questions to Ask on Discovery Day,” or validation stage-related video vignettes of highly satisfied franchisees. Engage with prospects. Share your brand story, showcase company leadership, and expertise, and deliver content that provides value, such as outlining trends, analyzing marketplace shifts, and highlighting innovation through case studies. [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/)#### **Make the subject line and Call to Action (CTA) count.** Subject lines should be short, sweet, and relevant; the Call to Action (CTA), easy to spot and singular, should clearly tell the reader what you want them to do next. Emails with a single CTA can increase click rates by 371% and sales by 1617% ([Wordstream](https://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2022/04/19/digital-marketing-statistics)). #### **Measure success beyond opens and clicks.** A/B testing emails will help you fine-tune your content and conversion rates. Test emails by time, day, subject line, call-to-action, links, frequency, email content length, and personalization. The results you get from these can be analyzed, optimized, and improved for better conversion. FranConnect can measure and track performance in real-time, segment your audiences, and measure specific data points. #### **Identify your lead source.** Lead attribution scoring can help you rank the value of your candidates. FranConnect uses heat meter technology that assigns numeric values to engagements and interaction. This info allows you to starve the things that don’t work, so you can feed the things that do. #### **Effectively nurture the leads.** All of your hard work to attract great leads are for naught if you don’t have an effective program in place to nurture those candidates through the sales process. Don’t give up. Our research shows that only 25% of franchisors have established campaigns for new leads. Franchise marketing and sales teams need to use a mix of personal and automated outreach before abandoning a lead. High-performing sales development teams typically aim for a minimum of 7 to 12 touchpoints (The Rule of Seven). #### **Effective automated e-mail and lead nurturing is multi-channel.** It’s important to have different ways to communicate with a franchise prospect. Ensure your email and lead nurturing tactics include text messaging, which is quickly becoming the gold standard for lead generation. - 91% of Americans keep their mobile devices within arm’s length at all times. - 90% of all text messages are read within 3 minutes of being sent. - Text messages are open and read and read almost 138% more than email. Managing an email marketing campaign requires a robust CRM that allows you to map out workflows and receive insights into your sales funnel through a dashboard or “command center.” Effective lead nurturing through automated and personalized emails keeps your brand top of mind as prospects move through the buying process on the road to becoming new franchisees. We are seeing franchisors knock it out of the park during the pandemic by revving up their email marketing and reactivating database leads with timely, well-written, and well-presented communications. You can too. *Learn more about FranConnect’s* [*Marketing CRM*](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/sales/)*, including email lead nurturing.* [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Develop, Expand Locations **Tags:** Franchise Development, Franchise Marketing --- ### [Engage Candidates During Every Stage of the Franchise Sales Cycle](https://www.franconnect.com/engage-candidates-during-every-stage-of-the-franchise-sales-cycle/) **Published:** June 21, 2017 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Franchisee engagement is critical during the entire franchise sales cycle, from discovery to commitment. Learn how to improve engagement in every stage. **Content:** Franchisee engagement is a hot topic. We’re seeing a progression away from the rule enforcer/disciplinarian franchisor-franchisee relationship toward one that places the franchisor as a mentor, teacher, or business advisor. After all, your success is dependent on that of your franchisees. When thinking of franchisee engagement, field operations comes to mind. Field consultants are the ones hitting the pavement, talking to franchisees every day, encouraging them, and helping them succeed. It’s a huge part of franchisee engagement. However, engagement starts earlier than that – it starts with the moment a person learns about your brand. The moment someone interacts with your brand is the moment the candidate experience begins. Sure, many people won’t go on to become an actual candidate, but some do. What does this mean? It means franchisee engagement – or franchisee candidate engagement – is important to your franchise sales strategy. It’s a critical step in optimizing franchise development, and your sales and development marketing teams need to be thinking about it every step of the way. To achieve this, you need to outline the entire candidate experience: from discovering your brand through application, through commitment. At each stage, describe the candidate experience in detail so the entire franchise development sales and marketing teams can identify: 1. Where a candidate is in the process 2. What the candidate should be experiencing 3. What the candidate should be receiving Here is an example of the stages of the franchise development workflow. **Stage One: Discovering Your Brand** This first stage of the franchise development process is the scenario we just described. It’s also during this stage that a prospective candidate is researching your franchise development website to learn more about your brand, what it means to be a unit owner with you brand, and the process and qualifications to become an owner. ![A franchise development website is critical in the initial phase of engagement with franchise candidates.](http://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Franchise-engagement-worksheet-faces-053291-edited.jpg "A franchise development website is critical in the initial phase of engagement with franchise candidates.") [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)*Is your [franchise recruitment website](https://www.franconnect.com/evaluate-your-franchise-recruitment-website/) meeting your goals?* **Stage Two: Initial Inquiry** This is the first time the candidate explicitly expresses interest in franchising with you brand by filling out a form on your franchise recruitment website. While you are gathering more information about the candidate to determine whether he/she is qualified, this is your first open line of communication – take advantage of it. **Stage Three: Qualified or Unqualified** Once a candidate has been tagged as qualified or unqualified, an action must take place to communicate your decision and move the candidate to the next step (or not). ![Whether a candidate is qualified or not for your franchise, it's important to communicate next steps.](http://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Campaigns/Sales%20Campaign/Franchise-engagement-worksheet-stamp.jpg "Whether a candidate is qualified or not for your franchise, it's important to communicate next steps.") *To better qualify leads, be sure you have created [franchisee buyer personas](https://www.franconnect.com/creating-franchisee-buyer-personas/).* **Stage Four: Application** If a candidate is qualified, it’s time to invite the prospect to fill out an application. **Stage Five: Discovery Day** After reviewing the application, the next stage is to invite your franchisee candidate to a discovery day. [Discovery days provide](https://www.franconnect.com/making-the-most-of-discovery-days/) franchisors and franchise candidates with the opportunity to meet in person. The candidate gets a first-hand experience with your brand’s culture, and it’s also a chance for you to get the candidate excited about becoming a unit owner. Be sure it’s clear for both parties what the purpose of the discovery day is – is it to make a decision? Or is it simply to continue learning more about each other? ![Discovery days are an important part of the franchise sales cycle.](http://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Campaigns/Sales%20Campaign/Franchise-engagement-worksheet-handshake.jpg "Discovery days are an important part of the franchise sales cycle.") **Stage Six: Agreement and FDD** At this stage, it’s time to send the agreement and FDD for review and signature. **Stage Seven: Commitment** Once the agreement and [FDD are signed](https://www.franconnect.com/update-your-fdd-5-critical-things-to-get-right-in-the-age-of-covid/) and fees are paid, you have a new unit owner! The last step the franchise sales team needs to make is to transition the new owner to the onboarding stage. Your brand’s sales cycle may be slightly different, depending on maturity or vertical. For example, some brands don’t do discovery days. Regardless of what sales stages your brand has, at every stage, it’s important to ask these five questions: 1. Who is responsible for communication? 2. What information needs to be provided to the candidate? 3. How is that information delivered? 4. What is the tone of voice? 5. How does the candidate transition to the next stage? [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Develop **Tags:** Franchise Sales, Franchisee Engagement --- ### [6 Quick Ways to Grow Your Qualified Leads](https://www.franconnect.com/6-quick-ways-to-grow-your-qualified-leads/) **Published:** February 10, 2022 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** We've developed 6 quick ways that you can improve leads from franchisees! Follow the 6 steps here to start receiving more qualified leads. **Content:** Sales and Development Executives in franchising are always looking for ways to increase qualified lead flow to sell more franchise units. Many marketers are finding that purchased leads do not convert at the same rate as leads gained through organic search. Often it is thought that the more leads the better, but we have learned that it’s about the quality of the lead in the first place that can make all the difference. Quality over quantity is the way to go in this instance. The world of franchise development is changing every day. With so much information available about almost every business model, it’s difficult to get prospects interested in your brand over others. We’ve put together 6 ways that you can elevate your marketing efforts in order to return more qualified leads. ### Use Franchisee Buyer Personas to Define Your Audience [Creating franchisee buyer personas](https://www.franconnect.com/boost-franchise-development-by-re-visiting-your-buyer-personas/) is a key component to any franchise sales and marketing strategy. By defining exactly what types of franchisees are successful for your organization, you can create a targeted approach to exactly when, where, and how to reach qualified leads, ensuring you’re spending your dollars in the right places to reach the right people. We’ve created [a worksheet](https://blog.franconnect.com/franconnect-franchise-library-2020/franchisee-buyer-persona-worksheet) to help with this for you to create each of your franchisee buyer personas to be able to share with your sales and development teams. This will help you better understand who your ideal target prospects are and target your marketing messages to attract the right leads. ### Max Out Your Franchise Recruitment Website Make sure [your website](https://www.franconnect.com/5-ways-to-elevate-your-franchise-development-website/) is easy to navigate and provides a great user experience. Prospects should be able to find information quickly and easily, and the overall tone and content of the website should appeal to your target audience. Utilize the buyer personas you formulated to influence the messaging on your site. This will help bring your brand to life in the eyes of the target franchisee. You will also want to be sure your website is up-to-date and provides accurate information about your brand. This includes everything from the types of franchises you offer to the investment required and the potential return on investment. Your website should also feature a Frequently Asked Questions section that addresses common questions and concerns about your brand. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)Be sure to optimize your site for search engines by including keywords throughout the content on your site, especially in the headline tags and page URLs, as well as meta description tags. This will help increase the likelihood of being found by potential franchisees. ### Utilize Your Marketing Team If you’re looking to grow your franchise, it’s important to work hand-in-hand with your marketing team and utilize different digital offerings to increase qualified leads. Putting together a solid lead generation strategy can make all the difference when it comes to generating more traffic. Here are some ways leaning into digital marketing can help your sales and development teams: 1. Your marketing team can help you create email campaigns that engage with your leads and keep them updated on relevant company news. We can also invite them to events and suggest they reach out with questions. The right emails, sent at the right time, can lead to thousands of dollars in revenue. While their value doesn’t just come from constantly sending emails, the effects can be measurably lucrative when done so correctly. 2. We know what it’s like out there: big franchise names eating up all the leads, and the little guys getting nothing but crumbs. With Google AdWords and other Pay-per-click advertising platforms, you can target people who are researching franchises (or anything else that could be remotely relevant) and guide them to your recruitment site without having to worry about them clicking on those other links first. You can also reach out to franchise-specific media to see what opportunities there are to get the word out that you have open territories. 3. There are a few things that franchisors can do to attract more qualified leads through [social media platforms](https://www.franconnect.com/linkedin-for-franchisors/). One is to make sure that their social media platforms are up-to-date and relevant. They should also make sure that the content on their platforms is high-quality and engaging. You can feature [success stories](https://www.franconnect.com/customers/testimonials/) from your open units showing how amazing it is to be a part of your brand. Another plus to using social media is many platforms are additional drivers to your recruitment website. Social media can be used to gain as much knowledge about your leads as possible. Learning about their interests can help you tailor your franchise offerings to your target market. ### Make Franchise Referral Consultants Part of Your Team Sales executives can ultimately increase their number of qualified leads by working with [franchise brokers](https://blog.franconnect.com/franconnect-webinar/how-to-get-more-out-of-your-franchise-brokers) or franchise referral consultants. These types of people have access to a vast network of potential franchisees, and they know how to target the right people for each opportunity. Additionally, [franchise referral consultants](https://www.franchisewire.com/franchise-broker-vs-franchise-consultant-whats-the-difference/) are experts in the franchising industry and can provide valuable insights into the process of buying a franchise. By working with a broker, sales executives can focus on what they do best — selling franchises. Franchise referral consultants can screen potential franchisees to find those who are not just interested in buying any franchise, but those who have a genuine interest in the company and product. Working with one allows sales executives to spend less time meeting with people who aren’t qualified, and more time engaging partners who are interested in opening units. ### Embrace Technology Sales executives can use technology to make their sales processes more efficient by automating the processes that they use to interact with customers. Technology can help sales executives to find information quickly and easily about their customers, as well as provide a way for them to easily keep track of their interactions with those customers. The days of tracking down a shared spreadsheet to track leads have come to an end. Finding a good [lead management tool](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/sales/) can do everything from automated workflows, status tracking, reporting, and lead nurturing. ### BONUS: Provide Prompt Response to Leads Having a great website and email campaign isn’t the only thing that’s going to keep those qualified leads coming through. Make sure you’re following up with leads properly. All the great content and design in the world won’t mean anything if you’re not responding to leads’ questions and concerns. When a lead expresses interest in your product or service, respond as quickly as you can. This shows that you care about their time, which will likely give them the impression that you’ll do the same for them when they eventually become a customer. Looking ahead into 2022, the best (and fastest) way to respond to a lead in through text-based follow-up programs. This ensures you get a response from them right away, as opposed to if you did it through email. With the right franchising technology, you can save time and money by automating many of your tasks. Utilize technology tools to stay up to date on your leads and follow conversations that are taking place across social networks. The right technology will also allow you to engage with your prospects, making it easier for you to stay top of mind. *Want to learn more? Contact FranConnect today to see how other franchisors are already using our technology to beat out their competition for the best franchise leads!* [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Develop, Expand Locations, Open Locations Faster **Tags:** Franchise Development, Franchise Sales --- ### [How Franchisors Can Refine their Value Proposition for 2021](https://www.franconnect.com/how-franchisors-can-refine-their-value-proposition-for-2021/) **Published:** February 5, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Franchising historically expands after economic downturns, as entrepreneurs look to be their own boss or pursue the American dream. **Content:** Quick. In three words, define your franchise opportunity. This time last year, average unit volume, [top-notch training](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/), and world-class support may have highlighted your franchise sales pitch. These notable franchise opportunity messages will always make a prospect’s checklist, but as we continue down the path toward a post-pandemic reality, the race to reach quality franchisee candidates with the right message may require some fresh self-reflection. We checked in with Lorne Fisher, CEO/managing partner of [Fish Consulting](https://fish-consulting.com/), for his view on refining a value proposition. The resident brand strategist for the leading South Florida-based franchise public relations agency says franchise sales success has everything to do with — as you’d expect — your brand’s success. Communicating what you stand for — and it’s not pizza, plumbing, or a workout regimen, by the way — must be clear. “It is important that franchisee prospects clearly understand what benefits a brand will provide – not only to them as franchisees, but the [community at large](https://www.franconnect.com/community-marketing-tips-for-franchisees/),” notes Fisher. “It’s not just about selling their services and products, but there is a purpose to why they exist. People are scrutinizing value propositions a lot more than ever before.” To win over the hearts and minds of franchise prospects in 2021, consider these three differentiators: ## **Performance** For better or worse, the pandemic has put a laser focus on the importance of a brand’s performance, says Fisher. What those results look like will depend on the industry, the franchisee and its sophistication of operations, and credit markets. The brand story of high performers—think home services—will look different from those in hard-hit industries, such as [casual dining restaurants](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/restaurants/) and hospitality. Sharing these results will show how you shined during an economic crisis unprecedented in its scale. It can also inspire franchise candidates with your resiliency to bend but not break and then rebound during the darkest of times. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)For smart franchisors, the lessons learned over the past year will guide all future business strategies — including franchise development. ## **Ability to Pivot** Pivot, shift, adapt. Whatever term you use, what you did during and after the great lockdown of 2020 becomes a tremendous asset in franchise development. Everywhere you look, franchisors had to adjust whip-fast to survive or die. Your future franchise owners will want to know the ways you reinvented revenue streams, developed new delivery systems or created franchise-friendly supply lines to meet changing consumer demands — and how these shifts translate into long-term sustainability. “If I’m a prospective franchisee looking for a business opportunity, I’m looking at how did they survive? What did they put in place, and was it successful? And, what is their strategy going forward?’” outlines Fisher. “Brands that just go back to where they were don’t get it.” ## **Trust** Trust and transparency — always considered core values — are even more important when times are tough. Strong franchisor-franchisee relationships are cemented through trust and communication. The care and quick response given to owners in those early days and tireless ongoing franchisee support reveal plenty about a brand’s character. Asking your franchise partners to install new technology, market an app or buy redesigned to-go containers requires trust. The way franchise partners jump in to embrace those plans shows faith in the brand. These kinds of genuine, mutual trust experiences, relayed via a franchisee testimonial, allow prospects to see the heart behind the franchise. Again, trust should be a given for success in franchising. For would-be franchisees, whose world may have been turned upside by the impact of COVID-19, trust is paramount. ### **Final Thoughts** Franchise buyers invest in what their life will look like if they own your business. Along with the financial rewards, don’t forget to reinforce the intangibles to align the value proposition with what your franchisees seek in the way of quality of life, purpose, and commitment to the community. Franchising historically expands after economic downturns, as entrepreneurs look to be their own boss or pursue the American dream. But in a painful year that saw not only layoffs and furloughs, but entire industries decimated, people are looking to franchising with an additional sense of urgency that must be considered. “Individuals do not want to put their families’ future in the hands of someone else,” Fisher says. “The emotional reason to become a franchisee should be included in the communications when brands are marketing to these prospects. It’s no longer just how ‘we did’ as a franchise, it’s how your future and your family’s future can be a part of this particular brand.” Crafting and communicating your value proposition requires an integrated, exhaustive approach using all the tools in the toolbox — public relations, digital marketing, and email, among them —at a time when franchise discovery days remain more virtual than physical. With franchise sales predicated to be 40% higher or greater, compared to pre-pandemic level, speed-to-the-lead has never been more critical for franchisors. Our [FranConnect Franchise Sales Index 2020](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-releases-inaugural-franchise-operations-index-report-2/) found 85% of the leads that resulted in deals were those that were contacted within the first four hours of their inquiry. Start strong with a core value proposition that counts. [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Develop, Engage **Tags:** Franchise Development, Franchise Operations --- ### [A Three-Part Plan to Ensure Franchisee Success in 2021](https://www.franconnect.com/a-three-part-plan-to-ensure-franchisee-success-in-2021/) **Published:** January 22, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** We put together a 3 part plan to ensuring franchisee success in 2021. Read part 1 here to discover some crucial tips for franchisee success. **Content:** #### Written by Keith Gerson If you’re like many franchise leaders, you’re currently in the midst of planning for the upcoming year. Given the challenges of 2020, it’s more important than ever to take several key steps before the year ends to set up your brand and individual franchisees for success. Over the next several weeks, we’ll share our top franchise planning recommendations for how to prepare for 2021 to improve the visibility of your brand’s results, gain insights into franchisee behavior, and improve processes to drive efficiency. By focusing on these key items, you’ll boost franchisee performance, achieve franchisee satisfaction, ensure franchisee compliance, and drive engagement and alignment. The first step: franchisee engagement. To achieve your goals for the year, you and your franchisees must start the year on the same page. With that in mind, it’s critical to communicate with your franchisees about the upcoming year, including goals, budgets, and more. Here are two key ways to engage with your franchisees before the end of the year to make sure they’re positioned for success in 2021. **1. Speak with every franchisee before the end of the year** Having your executive management team personally check in on franchisees between now and the end of the year won’t take much time — but it will likely produce the greatest ROI of almost any investment or activity that you can undertake. A simple call will go a long way in showing your level of commitment and conveying how much you value your franchisees, and the insights you’ll uncover can be critical for the budgeting process. This shouldn’t be a time to inform your franchisees about all the great things you’re doing on their behalf, but rather an opportunity to ask your franchisees to share their hopes and dreams, highs and lows, and how they are doing in their personal operations. Though you likely have Franchise Business Consultants (FBCs) that initiate these conversations on a frequent basis, it makes a difference that these calls come from the executive management team. You probably remember episodes of Undercover Boss where an executive of the company would go disguised into multiple locations to learn what’s really going on in the field. While doing this can be an expensive and unscalable endeavor, by establishing these same touch points through phone calls, your franchisees will be genuinely moved that you care enough to take the time to hear how they are doing. You’ll have the opportunity to offer advice and ensure that they receive the training and support that they need to move forward in times of uncertainty. And most importantly, you’ll come away with a SWOT analysis that will help you construct your 2021 budget based on systemic needs, while your COO/VP of Ops/FBCs will have the basis for coaching your franchisees in situational instances where there is a financial or performance delta to be bridged. [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/)Another effective way to capture these invaluable insights can be achieved by using third-party companies, such as Franchise Business Review and Franchise Research Institute, which are able to turn the voice of the franchisees into actionable data. Again, the key is to get objective feedback on the health of your franchise culture, as well as feedback on your franchise support managers’ feedback and the resources and services that are most and least valued by your franchisees. You’ll also have the opportunity to gauge if franchisees are recommending the franchise and measure franchisee intentions to sell their business, so you can minimize impact. **2. Help your franchisees budget for success** In surveys we conducted with franchisors in early 2020, 80 percent said their biggest challenge in helping their franchisees improve their performance was a [lack of business and/or marketing plans](/ppc-mistakes-in-franchise-marketing). At the end of the day, franchise recruiting, satisfaction, and retention all are contingent upon franchisee profitability. With so much uncertainty in the days ahead, franchisors must lay the foundation for success in 2021 through leadership in the budgeting process to help franchisees actively engage in situational budgeting. That engagement is critical. In a study conducted by Ingage Consulting and Franchise Business Review, engaged franchisees were 3.7 times more profitable than non-engaged franchisees. Every franchise system has franchisees performing at different levels, especially when you consider their strengths, weaknesses, time in business, store types, etc. But despite those differences, you can — and should — have a defined process that you can use to address the varied results from location to location and region to region. Whether you’re aiming to complete a sales plan, marketing plan, margin plan or overhead plan, you will need an evaluation process (as we mentioned in the section above), as well as a comprehensive review of the top 10 key performance indicators (KPIs) needed to drive success on a franchisee-by-franchisee basis. To boost franchisee performance, you must equip them to monitor trends and identify what they are doing well and what may need improvement. With that in mind, we recommend having a process-driven playbook to provide to franchisees. Your playbook should include where and [how to identify KPIs](https://www.franconnect.com/4-steps-to-optimize-your-franchise-processes/) aligned with your goals (e.g., cost of goods sold, revenue, or cost structures that are out of balance). You will use these KPIs to develop franchisee sales plans, marketing plans, and margin plans, as well as your budget. The whole point of the budget is to identify and mutually agree on what the priorities are, where franchisees want to make changes and what they want to fix. You’ll need to have your franchisees describe the change they desire and how they’re going to do it. Before the budget can be finalized, the franchisee must acknowledge and agree to each of these areas. This is applicable to all franchise industry types and segment sizes to educate and create engagement with franchisees throughout and beyond the budgeting process. If you don’t already have a budgeting playbook to provide to your franchisees, download “The Franchise Budgeting Playbook: Your Roadmap to Unit-Level Profitability.” The end of the year is a natural time to look back at what worked and what didn’t for your company. For franchise brands in particular, this should include a close look at your technology. Consider the food franchise industry. While many food and restaurant brands have made a significant investment in different technologies over the past several years, many of those tools [haven’t provided a return on investment yet](https://tour.franchisebusinessreview.com/posts/innovation-technology-and-food-franchising-stats-to-know-in-2020/). Yet, it is possible for technology to provide a high level of value to franchisees. In fact, we’ve found that about half of franchisees say technology tools are among the top values that a franchise brand can provide. The key, of course, is choosing franchise technology tools that deliver practical benefits and are easy to implement and use. As you continue planning for 2021, make sure to take the time to thoroughly evaluate your current technology and technology fees, so you can better determine what will benefit your brand in the year ahead. Here’s how to get started. **1. Initiate or adjust your franchisee technology fees** FranConnect completed a comprehensive review of 2,191 Franchise Disclosure Documents over a three-year period to fully understand the [types of fees](https://www.franconnect.com/franchise-fees-how-4-types-of-fees-can-lead-to-growth/) franchisors are using. We found that 61 percent of franchisors now collect technology fees from their franchisors (charged via a monthly recurring flat fee). Technology fees are franchisee costs paid to a franchisor to add, update, or upgrade required business tools and systems. What’s particularly encouraging is that 50 percent of franchisees claim that technology tools were amongst the top values that a franchise provides. Technology fees have become the standard for ensuring a franchising organization can keep up with a rapidly evolving competitive environment. If you are not currently charging technology fees (or aren’t charging a high enough fee), you may want to consider collecting or adjusting that fee in 2021, so you can equip your franchisees with the technology they want and need to grow their units. **2. Clean house of unnecessary IT clutter** Franchisees and employees are accessing more and more business applications according to a [study conducted by Okta](https://www.okta.com/businesses-at-work/2019). According to a [Wall Street Journal article](https://www.wsj.com/articles/employees-are-accessing-more-and-more-business-apps-study-finds-11549580017) about the study, small to medium business enterprises jumped from an average of 53 software programs and applications to 73 in the last year. This analysis is based on login activity on Okta’s network over the past year by more than 5,600 companies worldwide. We have grown beyond the information age. Now, there is arguably too much data, and very little of it is being acted upon. As a result, franchisees are overwhelmed and aren’t effectively using the tools they have. This results in lower levels of franchisee engagement and utilization of these tools. This spurs the need for many franchisors to move to a centralized franchise management platform, which can eliminate the need to log into many disparate systems. This enables all data to be imported into one platform solution and readily visible on a single pane — also known as a Command Center. The Command Center keeps everyone hyper-focused and aligned around the most important elements of your business The best practice these days is to have all relevant data imported into a “persona-based” dashboard that shows what’s most important to a franchisee and franchisors based on their role in the organization. If you’re a CEO, you’re likely going to want to see the most important KPIs across all departments and networks such as royalty collections, a roll-up of the P&L, unit level revenues, and franchise sales closings. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)On the other hand, someone in franchise development may want to key in on areas such as new lead creation, response times to new leads, call activity, no-response rates, discovery days, etc. In many cases, you’ll create greater adoption and engagement of your technology while the costs associated with a platform solution will be less expensive, as you will find that many existing applications and software solutions may be redundant. Technology can help or hinder your organization, so it’s worth it to take the time to evaluate what’s working and what may need some improvement. For a deeper look into getting more out of your franchise technology and tools, download our eBook, “Optimizing Franchise Development: Old School Principles Meet New School Tools.” While 2020 saw an overall [decline in franchise leads](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-releases-inaugural-franchise-operations-index-report-2/) — which isn’t shocking, given the circumstances of the year — you may be surprised to find out that the number of deals is trending upward. For franchise brands looking ahead to 2021, that’s great news. With the right plan in place, you can pursue franchise growth in the upcoming year. To achieve that growth, you’ll need to focus on generating quality leads, [following up on those leads appropriately](https://www.franconnect.com/making-discovery-day-virtual-3-critical-tips-for-success/), and tracking your metrics to ensure that you’re getting your desired results. As you continue planning for the upcoming year, keep these considerations in mind for enhancing and tracking your franchise leads. ## **1. Track the right franchise sales KPIs** Warren Buffet once said, “You only find out who is swimming naked when the tide goes out” — and the coronavirus pandemic has taken the proverbial tide out about as far as the eye can see. With FranConnect’s access to over 800 franchise brands worldwide, we have found that going into 2020, there were many “naked” franchisors squandering their costly franchise leads. In fact, our data shows that 72 percent of franchise leads never received a call. {{cta(‘a2d45b9f-9ae6-490d-95f8-7dd749ec6172’)}} Another critical KPI to consider is initial response time. Our data shows that 85 percent of the leads that resulted in sales were those that were responded to in four or less hours from inquiry, proving that speed to the lead is critical. Additional KPIs that are critical to know are those of cost per lead and cost per sale by source. With an effective franchise sales CRM, you’ll have the ability to input your marketing spend, and the technology will generate your costs as leads populate and deals close. It’s important to know your metrics so that you can do more of the things that are working and avoid the things that aren’t working. ## **2. Leverage your promoters** The top two sources of franchise deals in Q2 and Q3 2020 were from two forms of referral sources: - Franchise referral consultants (i.e., brokers) - Organic referrals (e.g., family, friends, associates, and customers) In the FranConnect Franchise Sales Index report from the first half of 2020, we found that franchise referral consultants (brokers) were the only lead source that saw an increase above pre-COVID-19 results, coming in at 5.3 percent. This equates to an average of 20 leads per sale. The second-highest source of leads that became sales were organic referrals, with a lead-to-deal ratio of 4.9 percent, translating to slightly over 20 leads per sale. Those franchise referral consultants produced 21 percent of all deals, and referrals represented 17 percent of sales, consistent with Q1. {{cta(’43f7f829-4c95-43ac-9cc5-b4cacffa3012′)}} Research has shown that referral marketing, when done well, can typically result in a 10 to 30 percent increase in sales. Nielsen’s Global Survey of Trust in Advertising survey highlighted a notable growing trend: Consumer trust in traditional advertising channels has markedly decreased, while personal recommendations among customers is far and away the most trusted advertising format. Personal recommendations didn’t just edge out all other options; they dominated with an 81 percent vote of confidence, compared with consumer online opinions, which trailed at 58 percent. Rest assured that mastering the generation of referral leads on many levels is simpler than it seems. Franchisees want their system to succeed. Start by letting your franchisees know why referrals are so important to all franchisees (as the saying goes, “A rising tide lifts all boats”). The fact is that many of your franchisees have been touched by the tireless efforts of their franchisor and would likely validate or refer if asked. And it’s never been easier to mobilize your franchisees to give testimonial videos with the pervasiveness of high-resolution mobile phones. All you have to do is ask. Consider putting a referral program in place that capitalizes on giving recognition, whether it’s a shout-out from the CEO in your newsletter or a “rain maker” award handed out during your virtual events in front of the franchisee’s peers. When the ability and willingness to travel returns, consider a special CEO event where your franchisees and significant others can join other award winners at a resort for helping your brand to grow. I’ve found that this goes a lot further than simply handing out a check, which rarely drives the desired outcome. To achieve growth in 2021, you must have a plan for boosting, pursuing, and tracking leads. To learn more about the most effective sources for leads and deals, as well as insight into how to improve your sales effectiveness, download “[The FranConnect Franchise Sales Index Report 2020](https://go.franconnect.com/fc-franchise-sales-index-2020-ty?submissionGuid=6eb7729e-3b47-4595-8c17-44bec49509db).” [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Franchising Best Practices **Tags:** ADVICE, ECONOMY --- ### [How to Engage Franchisees in Better Budgeting and Planning](https://www.franconnect.com/how-to-engage-franchisees-in-better-budgeting-and-planning/) **Published:** December 11, 2020 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** How can you keep franchisees accountable for next year’s performance and engage them in proactive budgeting and planning? Follow these tips. **Content:** Unless you’ve spent the past year under a rock, you know that every business sector has experienced uncertainty this year — and that includes franchising. As we approach 2021, no one really knows what to expect from the upcoming year. What will revenues look like? Will franchise units return to full operations, or will they continue to operate at a reduced capacity? How will consumer buying habits evolve along with the pandemic and the economy? Without knowing the answers to these questions, your franchisees may avoid budgeting and planning, for the simple reason that they can’t plan for the future when they don’t know what the future holds. But that’s only part of the problem. A study by Bain & Company revealed that in many organizations, individuals aren’t clear on company goals. In the study, only 15 percent of those surveyed could name even one of the top three company goals, and 81 percent said that they are not held accountable for progress on the organization’s goals. To encourage your franchisees to budget and plan, they must understand the goals for their location and the brand overall, as well as feel compelled to meet those benchmarks. With all that in mind, how can you encourage franchisees to hold themselves accountable for next year’s performance and engage in proactive budgeting and planning? Start with these four building blocks. **1. Build a Better Budget Template** Many franchisors have a budget template that they provide to franchisees at the end of the year. But if it’s not intuitive and user-friendly, it’s going to be a challenge to get franchisees to actually use it. At a high level, your budget template should be easy to use, hard to break, and adaptable for any franchisee — whether he or she just opened a location or has a mature unit that’s been established for many years. Also focus on building in logic, which can make the template easier to manipulate. For example, any fixed costs should be input as set dollar amounts, while variable costs should be input as set percentages. This way, if a franchisee changes another variable (e.g., “What would my budget look like if sales were X?”), the template automatically recalculates the correct fixed and variable costs. [Streamline Royalty Process](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/streamline-royalty-process/)Without that built-in logic, the franchisee will have to go back and change nearly every variable — which not only discourages use of the template, but opens it up to errors and miscalculations. **2. Challenge the Traditional Way of Thinking** While budgeting templates are necessary and useful tools, you also need to engage your franchisees in candid conversations about the future and how they can be successful. That requires taking a deeper look at factors like your main sales drivers. Take a home health services franchise, for example. Your franchisee may have identified the main sales drivers as number of customers, their purchase frequency, and the value of each transaction. However, if you take a closer look at each of those sales drivers, it may become clear that the common thread between all three factors is service capacity. It doesn’t matter how many customers you have or calls you make if you don’t have the staff to provide the care. Ultimately, this conversation could reveal that the franchisee needs to focus on recruiting and staffing in order to successfully drive sales. This discussion will likely look different for every franchise — but it’s a critical conversation to have with your franchisees to get them to think differently about what they need to do to be successful. **3. Pinpoint the Right KPIs** They say that what gets measured gets improved. Part of holding your franchisees accountable for both location- and brand-specific goals is [pinpointing the right key performance indicators](https://www.franconnect.com/4-steps-to-optimize-your-franchise-processes/) (KPIs) to measure. Rather than thinking in terms of standard budgeting KPIs, like sales, gross profit, and net profit, you need to consider the drivers of success for your particular franchise. More accurate KPIs could be number of customers/transactions, average transaction value, revenue per employee, or something specific to your franchise concept, like recruitment activities, marketing/customer acquisition costs, leads, or conversions. The conversations mentioned above — those that push your franchisees to think differently about planning and budgeting — can help them pinpoint the right KPIs to measure their success. **4. Inspect What You Expect** Unfortunately, not all franchisees will comply with your request to plan for the future and complete a budget template. That’s why accountability is so important. If you expect your franchisees to do things like prepare a budget for the upcoming year, pinpoint sales drivers, and identify relevant KPIs, you must follow up and ensure that they actually did those things. You must be able to monitor their planning progress and implementation — and most importantly, you must do it in a way that’s scalable, so you can apply it to all franchise locations. With these tips, you can encourage your franchisees to budget, plan, and take accountability for the success of their individual locations and the overall franchise brand. For a deeper dive into franchisee budgeting and planning, download “The Franchise Budgeting Playbook: Your Roadmap to Unit-Level Profitability.” Use this guide to give your franchisees everything they need to plan, build, and monitor their budgets. [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Engage, Improve Performance, Profit **Tags:** Franchise Development, Franchisee Engagement --- ### [The Evolution of Franchise Sales in 2020](https://www.franconnect.com/the-evolution-of-franchise-sales-in-2020/) **Published:** December 3, 2020 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** How has franchise sales evolved over the course of 2020? Our infographic breaks it down. **Content:** 2020 has brought many unexpected challenges for franchise brands. How have those challenges impacted franchise sales? While franchise leads are down year to date, deals have increased — indicating that while there are fewer leads, they are higher quality leads. In the infographic below, we break down how franchise sales have changed over the course of the year, and what franchise brands can do to take advantage of the leads that come their way. And for complete details check out our [2020 Franchise Sales Index](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-releases-inaugural-franchise-operations-index-report-2/). [![Evolution of Leads 2020 infographic_v5-page-001](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Evolution%20of%20Leads%202020%20infographic_v5-page-001.jpg)](https://blog.franconnect.com/hubfs/Evolution%20of%20Leads%202020%20infographic_v5.pdf) [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Develop **Tags:** Franchise Sales --- ### [What is Your Franchise Budget Planning IQ?](https://www.franconnect.com/what-is-your-franchise-budget-planning-iq/) **Published:** January 14, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Unit-level profitability stems from a range of factors — one of them is your budgeting planning and preparedness. Take our quiz and see how ready you are. **Content:** Unit-level profitability stems from a range of factors — but one of them is your budgeting planning and preparedness. We think it’s so important we made an interactive franchise budgeting self-assessment. Are you a Reality Avoider? Or maybe you’ve reached the budget planning pinnacle of Titan of Business? Or, somewhere in between. We challenge you to download it, take the quiz, and see where you land. [![Franconnect_Budgeting-Quiz_FINAL](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Franconnect_Budgeting-Quiz_FINAL.jpg)](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Franconnect_Budgeting-Quiz_FINAL.pdf) [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Develop, Profit **Tags:** Franchise Development --- ### [3 Ways to Streamline the Franchise Disclosure Document Delivery Process](https://www.franconnect.com/how-to-streamline-franchise-disclosure-document-delivery/) **Published:** November 22, 2020 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Learn how FranConnect’s updated franchise disclosure document delivery features streamline the FDD sign-off process for franchises and their prospects. **Content:** On the journey to convert prospects into franchisees, the [franchise disclosure document (FDD)](https://www.franconnect.com/update-your-fdd-5-critical-things-to-get-right-in-the-age-of-covid/) sign-off process is a critical milestone. A candidate must see and sign off on your FDD before moving forward in the process — so the easier you make that FDD process, the quicker you can move prospective franchisees forward and get them started on a path toward success. However, many franchisors run into challenges during that sign-off process that slow down not only the deal, but also the overall growth of the brand. This week, FranConnect began rolling out a long-awaited update to the FDD delivery process for FranConnect customers, designed to improve the process for both franchisors and prospective franchisees. Below, we’ll explore the common challenges of the FDD sign-off process and how the new FranConnect enhancements can solve those issues — and [help franchisors close more deals](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/). **How the Franchise Disclosure Document Sign-Off Process Works** The FDD is a key component of the franchising sales process. The FDD is a required gate that a candidate must pass through in order to move forward with the sales process. The candidate must sign the FDD before signing any agreements with the franchisor or before giving the franchisor any money. For the franchisors, this means if there is no FDD, there is no growth. **Challenges of the FDD Process** Getting the FDD sign-off may sound simple enough, but for most franchisors, there are several obstacles that often delay or disrupt the process. First, the element of time: Not only do franchisors want prospects to sign; they want them to sign in a timely manner. The date of the signature represents the start of the mandatory 14-day waiting period. In other words, a hot candidate who is ready to sign a franchise agreement and put down a payment can quickly come to a halt if they have not yet signed an FDD. Research shows that the faster the sales process, the more likely it is to result in a sale. Timing is key. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)With today’s technology advances, shortening that timeframe seems like it should be easy. However, take electronic signatures for example. While e-signature capabilities have been around for several years, not all platforms — or franchisors — have accepted them. Instead, many opt to rely on email or even snail mail to send and receive the FDDs. This creates extra steps for both franchisors and potential franchisees, and it can cause substantial delays. **3 Enhancements to Streamline the FDD Process** To better serve franchisors and prospective franchisees, the FDD process needs to be more efficient and streamlined. FranConnect’s improved FDD delivery process addresses these challenges in several key ways: 1. **Enhanced electronic signatures:** Our sales platform has helped customers manage their FDD delivery process for almost a decade, and during that time, it has evolved from a manual process to a much simpler electronic process. Now with enhanced electronic signature capabilities, FranConnect enables franchisors to quickly and efficiently collect signatures from potential franchisees. 2. **Improved information syncing:** While there are platforms that specifically (or solely) offer e-signature capabilities, FranConnect accounts for the nuances of franchising and the FDD. FranConnect syncs all the information franchisors need during the sales and FDD delivery process, such as timestamps and copies of documents, within the system. 3. **Tracking dashboard:** The FDD is a required piece of a franchise prospect’s journey. Tracking this information is key for all franchisors. The FDD tracking feature within FranConnect provides a dashboard that informs the franchisor of the FDD status, including if and when they have the green light to move forward with the sales process. With FranConnect, a franchisor can be sure they have all the required data throughout the FDD delivery process. At its core, FranConnect’s mission is to help franchises grow successfully, from the sales process through unit opening and beyond. By streamlining the FDD delivery and sign-off process, FranConnect can be the key to shortening time to open and driving franchise growth. To learn more about FranConnect, including recent enhancements to the FDD delivery process, [request a demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/). [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Develop, Expand Locations, Open Locations Faster **Tags:** Franchise Operations --- ### [Making Discovery Days Virtual: 3 Critical Tips for Success](https://www.franconnect.com/making-discovery-day-virtual-3-critical-tips-for-success/) **Published:** October 14, 2020 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** COVID-19 has forced franchises to shift discovery day from an in-person to a virtual event. Get tips for making real connections & closing deals virtually. **Content:** #### In the franchise world, discovery days are critical to evaluating potential franchisee candidates. These events give you the opportunity to qualify each prospect, help him or her learn more about the business, and make a good impression — ultimately driving a final sales decision: Will you both agree to seal the deal? However, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced franchises to change the format of their discovery days. What was once an in-person event that allowed both parties to make a personal connection is now, more often than not, a virtual event. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)Without the events of an on-site discovery day, such as a tour of the home office and casual meals, it can be challenging to create a high level of connection. To ensure you’re still [engaging prospects](https://www.franconnect.com/engage-candidates-during-every-stage-of-the-franchise-sales-cycle/) and closing deals, you need to make a few critical adjustments when switching from an in-person to virtual format. Here are the three main considerations to keep in mind. **1. Strategy** While the overall [strategy for a virtual discovery day](https://www.franconnect.com/making-the-most-of-discovery-days/) will likely be the same as an in-person event — namely, moving the candidate along in the sales process — there are some additional strategic aspects you will need to reevaluate. For example, during an in-person discovery day, potential franchisees would likely have both scheduled and organic opportunities to meet with executives on a one-on-one basis. For a virtual event, you will need to be more deliberate about setting up those meetings in 20- to 30-minute blocks. **2. Content** When hosting a virtual event, you may assume that the content can be the same as what you would have presented in person. However, there are important differences about how people consume online and video content that may require some changes to your programming. For example, attendees have a [lower tolerance for listening to someone speak](https://hbr.org/2020/03/how-to-get-people-to-actually-participate-in-virtual-meetings) when that speaker isn’t physically in the same room as them. To get your message across effectively, you need to rethink both your content and how you deliver it. That could mean shortening your messages, splitting long sessions into more concise breakouts, or supplementing with more comprehensive information after the virtual event. **3. Logistics** The logistics of hosting a virtual discovery day will of course look very different from conducting an in-person event. Most obviously, you will need to select and use a video conferencing platform, like Zoom. But that’s only the beginning; ahead of the virtual event, you’ll need to make sure you understand how to use all the platform’s features, including video, document sharing, and screen sharing. You should also understand how to conduct virtual Q&As and accommodate large groups. Ultimately, you should have a thorough understanding of your technology prior to the virtual discovery day to minimize the potential for any glitches or issues. Revamping your discovery days into *virtual* discovery days can seem less effective than in-person events. But with the right adjustments, you can keep your prospects engaged throughout the process and continue to close deals — even in times of uncertainty. [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/)For more tips on adjusting your strategy, content, and logistics to make your virtual discovery days as effective as possible, get our Virtual Discovery Days: A Field Guide. In it, you’ll learn: - What types of leads to focus on - How to provide a sense of intimacy and encourage engagement, even without being face to face - Tips for using technology most effectively - How to make your event unique, fun, and on-brand ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Develop **Tags:** Franchisee Engagement --- ### [Franchise Sales Tips from Franchise Development Leaders](https://www.franconnect.com/franchise-sales-tips-from-franchise-development-leaders/) **Published:** July 13, 2017 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** We gathered 10 franchise sales tips from leaders in franchise development. Click to read and learn from your peers. **Content:** Here are 10 franchise sales tips from leaders in franchise development at The Dwyer Group, 7-Eleven, Wild Birds Unlimited, and more. [![Franchise sales tip from Brandon Haire, SVP of Development at The Dwyer Group.](http://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Campaigns/Sales%20Campaign/Franchise%20Sales%20Tips%20Quotes/dwyergroup.png "Franchise sales tip from Brandon Haire, SVP of Development at The Dwyer Group.")](https://twitter.com/DwyerGroup)Brandon Haire, SVP of Development at [The Dwyer Group](https://franchise.neighborly.com/), reminds us that knowing is key. Don’t let yourself be in the dark. [![A franchise sales tip from Cynthia Schick, Senior Business Development Manager at Apple Spice.](http://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Campaigns/Sales%20Campaign/Franchise%20Sales%20Tips%20Quotes/applespice.png "A franchise sales tip from Cynthia Schick, Senior Business Development Manager at Apple Spice.")](https://twitter.com/AppleSpiceJct) [Cynthia Schick](https://twitter.com/NCcommunicator), Senior Business Development Manager at [Apple Spice ](https://www.applespice.com/) [Box Lunch Delivery & Catering](https://www.applespice.com/), says creating credibility is key. [![A franchise sales tip from Danielle Wright Kimble, National Franchise Sales Director at Costa Vida.](http://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Campaigns/Sales%20Campaign/Franchise%20Sales%20Tips%20Quotes/costavida.png "A franchise sales tip from Danielle Wright Kimble, National Franchise Sales Director at Costa Vida.")](https://twitter.com/CostaVida) Danielle Wright Kimble, National Franchise Sales Director at [Costa Vida](https://www.costavida.com/), reminds us leads come from sources other than websites and portals. [![A franchise sales tip from Ed James, Franchisee Recruiting Specialist at 7-Eleven.](http://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Campaigns/Sales%20Campaign/Franchise%20Sales%20Tips%20Quotes/711.png "A franchise sales tip from Ed James, Franchisee Recruiting Specialist at 7-Eleven.")](https://twitter.com/7eleven) Ed James, Franchisee Recruiting Specialist at [7-Eleven](https://www.7-eleven.com/), touts the benefits of networking. [![A franchise sales tip from Mark Lindquist, Franchise Development Manager at Culver's.](http://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Campaigns/Sales%20Campaign/Franchise%20Sales%20Tips%20Quotes/culvers.png "A franchise sales tip from Mark Lindquist, Franchise Development Manager at Culver's.")](https://twitter.com/culvers) Mark Lindquist, Franchise Development Manager at [Culver’s](https://www.culvers.com/), says transparency is important when talking to franchise candidates. [![A franchise sales tip from Bruce Matters, CEO of Coastal Caretakers.](http://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Campaigns/Sales%20Campaign/Franchise%20Sales%20Tips%20Quotes/coastalcare.png "A franchise sales tip from Bruce Matters, CEO of Coastal Caretakers.")](https://twitter.com/AgingInPlaceNY) Bruce Matters, CEO of [Coastal Caretakers](https://www.coastalcaretakers.com/), uses all avenues for franchise development. [![A franchise sales tip from Jason Revere, VP of Business Development at Honest Abe Roofing.](http://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Campaigns/Sales%20Campaign/Franchise%20Sales%20Tips%20Quotes/honestabe.png "A franchise sales tip from Jason Revere, VP of Business Development at Honest Abe Roofing.")](https://twitter.com/honestabehomes) Jason Revere, VP of Business Development at [Honest Abe Roofing ](https://www.honestabe.com/) Franchise, Inc., reminds us of the importance and effectiveness of referrals. [![A franchise sales tip from Ed Teixeira, COO of Franchise Grade.](http://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Campaigns/Sales%20Campaign/Franchise%20Sales%20Tips%20Quotes/franchisegrade.png "A franchise sales tip from Ed Teixeira, COO of Franchise Grade.")](https://twitter.com/FranchiseGrade) [Ed Teixeira](https://twitter.com/franchiseknohow), COO of [Franchise Grade](https://www.franchisegrade.com/), suggests having franchise candidates submit business plans to gain a better understanding of the candidate’s knowledge. [![A franchise sales tip from Jonathan Weathington, CEO of Shuckin' Shack.](http://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Campaigns/Sales%20Campaign/Franchise%20Sales%20Tips%20Quotes/Shuckinshack.png "A franchise sales tip from Jonathan Weathington, CEO of Shuckin' Shack.")](https://twitter.com/shuckinshack) Jonathan Weathington, CEO of [Shuckin’ Shack Franchising, LLC](https://www.theshuckinshack.com/), says honesty and transparency sets the stage for success. [![A franchise sales tip from Paul Pickett, Chief Development Officer of Wild Birds Unlimited.](http://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Campaigns/Sales%20Campaign/Franchise%20Sales%20Tips%20Quotes/wildbirds.png "A franchise sales tip from Paul Pickett, Chief Development Officer of Wild Birds Unlimited.")](https://twitter.com/WBU_Inc) [Paul Pickett](https://twitter.com/PaulPickett1), Chief Development Officer of [Wild Birds Unlimited](https://www.wbu.com/), says franchisee brand ambassadors are effective for lead generation. **As mentioned, using multiple avenues for lead generation is important, and your franchise recruitment website is a critical driver of inquiries and applications.** [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Develop, Expand Locations **Tags:** Best Practices, Customer Highlight, Franchise Sales --- ### [4 Steps to Optimize Your Franchise Processes](https://www.franconnect.com/4-steps-to-optimize-your-franchise-processes/) **Published:** October 22, 2020 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Through process transformation, franchises can improve efficiency, streamline operations, and make more informed decisions. Start with these four steps. **Content:** #### Written by Jaffrey Ali For franchisors, operating a successful business requires more than maintaining the status quo; to [thrive and grow,](https://www.franconnect.com/10-critical-steps-for-franchise-sales-growth/) you must look for ways to continually improve. This requires taking a close look at your current processes, evaluating if and how they drive your business goals, and identifying areas for improvement. Altogether, this is known as process transformation. However, franchisors often equate process transformation with the implementation of new technology. While technology is a critical aspect of process transformation, your primary focus should be on how your people, processes, and technology impact business outcomes. According to Harvard Business Review, [70 percent of digital transformation initiatives fail](https://hbr.org/2019/03/digital-transformation-is-not-about-technology) because they focus on the technology rather than business outcomes. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)By following the four steps below, you can optimize processes across all major functional areas of your business — and as a result, better understand what’s going on in your business, improve efficiency, and make more informed decisions to drive franchise growth. **1. Unify Your Data** The foundation of all process improvement is data unification. This isn’t about physically moving your data to one location; rather, unification means being able to connect and access data from all your disparate systems. Ideally, users should be able to interact with all data as if it came from a single source — rather than having to go into each system individually and analyze separate data sets. This can be especially challenging for franchises, as franchise systems contain a lot of [complex, interconnected data](https://www.franconnect.com/keep-the-dirt-out-of-your-franchise-sales-data/). However, the benefits are compelling: Unifying your data will allow you to uncover insights and see correlations you might otherwise miss. **2. Identify Your Core KPIs** Next, you need to identify your core key performance indicators (KPIs). These indicators should help you better understand the health of your business, so you can implement the right actions to drive meaningful outcomes. The “right” KPIs may be different for every business, but there are a few key considerations that can help you select appropriate measurements. The right KPIs should: - **Focus on leading vs. lagging indicators:** Leading indicators are predictive measurements, while lagging indicators are measurements of known outputs. For a gym franchise, for example, a leading indicator could be how many people sign up for a yearly membership. This can help you predict performance metrics like sales and revenue. A lagging indicator, on the other hand, would be the actual measurement of your sales over the last year. While this can assess your business’s current state, you can’t take any action to impact it — it’s already happened. - **Set compelling benchmarks:** By creating benchmarks, you establish expectations for your business. With these in place, you can assess if you’re not meeting those expectations and adjust your actions accordingly. - **Be important to franchisors and franchisees:** For your KPIs to be effective, they must be measurements that you *and* your franchisees care about — such as sales, costs, and cash flow. These factors impact the success of individual franchises as well as the business overall, so they are more likely to drive appropriate actions. **3. Align Actions to Drive KPI Behavior** At this point, true transformation can begin. With established core KPIs that measure the health of your business from all perspectives, you can now align actions to impact those goals. However, it’s not about simply *guessing* what actions will have an impact; we recommend using a standardized approach: 1. **Identify best practices from experts.** Source guidance from internal and/or external experts who can recommend specific actions that are likely to help your unique business. 2. **Test those best practices across your system.** Best practices may not be effective in *every* situation. It’s important to test within your specific environment to see if the actions work for your business. 3. **Adjust best practices based on what you learn.** Based on your test efforts, you can make adjustments to those actions and processes in order to produce the right outcomes. 4. **Apply best practices.** With a good understanding of the specific processes that drive your KPIs, you can implement those best practices across applicable segments of your business 5. **Engage through training and coaching.** Incorporating these best practices in coaching and training efforts going forward will help everyone in the business embrace and apply them. **4. Standardize and Automate** Once you’ve identified best practices that drive your unique KPIs, your next step is to scale them for the broader organization. This involves creating actionable playbooks that detail exactly how to execute the right processes, as well as automating standardized activities. By establishing standardized processes that drive KPIs, you will help your franchises operate in an efficient way that positively impacts business outcomes. Learn more about how FranConnect can help you implement these four steps by watching our recorded webinar and demo, “4 Key Steps to improving your processes for Franchise Development, Operations, and Engagement.” [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Improve Performance, Operate **Tags:** Best Practices, Franchise Best Practices, Franchise Development --- ### [Introducing Franconnect's Conversational AI Solution for Franchises](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-introduces-conversational-ai-to-improve-franchise-sales/) **Published:** October 7, 2020 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** With AI growing in popularity & sophistication we've decided to develop a new conversation AI solution for franchises. Learn more about it here! **Content:** Today we announced our partnership with Lumin.ai to integrate conversational artificial intelligence (AI) into the FranConnect platform. Whether this makes perfect sense to you, or you’re not even sure what AI means, let’s take a few minutes to talk about what it is, why we are doing this, show you a preview of how it works, and explain why it’s different than other AI solutions in the franchising world. The term AI gets used frequently today, but many people don’t really understand how often they are encountering it. Everything from Google Maps telling you about bad traffic ahead to the autopilot on an airplane to your email’s ability to identify spam are all functions of AI. #### **Why do franchises need AI?** At FranConnect, we realize that AI could be a huge asset to the growth of franchises. Research, including our own Franchise Sales Index Report, makes it clear that speed-to-lead is more important than ever before for franchise development. In fact, high-interest leads have a dramatically higher rate of conversion if they are contacted within the first 30 minutes of their expression of interest. In franchising, where prospective franchisees often contact many potential franchise businesses simultaneously, the business that connects first has the highest likelihood of converting the lead. Franchise businesses can use FranConnect’s conversational AI solution (based on integrated Lumin.ai Smart Scheduler product) to convert more leads into opportunities and foster a better buyer experience in the process. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)#### **How would AI work for my franchise business?** Here’s a 60-second overview of what this looks like: {% video\_player “embed\_player” overrideable=False, type=’scriptV4′, hide\_playlist=True, viral\_sharing=False, embed\_button=False, autoplay=False, hidden\_controls=False, loop=False, muted=False, full\_width=False, width=’1920′, height=’1080′, player\_id=’35792070279′, style=’max-width: 1920px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; width: 100%; display: block; float: left;’ %} FranConnect uses Lumin.ai’s Smart Scheduler to engage leads immediately and provide a frictionless user experience. Leads are contacted via SMS to set up an introductory sales conversation. The bot facilitates the entire process, including populating sales team calendars and sending email confirmations to the leads. Information about the lead and the appointment details Appointment details are seamlessly updated in FranConnect and in Sales team member calendars with no need for human intervention or administration. . So why does this matter so much now? Your website is more important than ever, with a higher percentage of prospective franchisees visiting your site — and your competition’s. Whether your traffic comes organically or via a heavy mix of paid channels, you have a big investment in your website, so it’s crucial that you convert as many of those qualified leads as possible. #### Innovation + Proof So if you’re still reading it means you buy into the importance of improving your sales process and you see artificial intelligence as a way to help. But you might be asking why FranConnect vs trying to do this on your own or with a standalone third-party chat bot. There are two very clear and compelling reasons. First, the Lumin.ai Smart Scheduler integrates seamlessly with the FranConnect platform, as you can see in the demo above. No manual integrations or imports of leads, and no calendar conflicts with scheduling appointments. The user experience is frictionless for the leads and your sales team. On top of that, Lumin.ai’s technology is innovative but proven and recognized in the market. In fact, the joint FranConnect + Lumin.ai solution was named the Innovation Award winner for 2020 by Franchise Update Media for our implementation at Floor Coverings International. [Here’s a case study of that project](https://www.franconnect.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Floor-Coverings-International.png), which drove amazing improvements in deal conversion rates for Floor Coverings International. If you’d like to see this live directly, please [request a demo today](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/)! [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Develop, Expand Locations, Open Locations Faster **Tags:** Franchise Sales --- ### [The Pandemic Didn’t Create Your Franchise Operations Headache, It Just Made It Worse.](https://www.franconnect.com/the-pandemic-didnt-create-your-franchise-operations-headache/) **Published:** July 21, 2020 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** We're discussing how the pandemic exploited many already lingering franchise headaches. Learn next step for relieving these migraine-sized issues here. **Content:** **So, What Can You Do Now?** COVID-19 has disrupted franchising like no other event in modern history. Nearly every size company in every sector is dealing with new operational issues spanning safety, compliance, customer acquisition and other drivers of performance. But with so much attention focused on day-to-day changes and survival, many businesses aren’t able to address serious operational pre-existing conditions. It’s necessary to examine the state of Franchise Operations 6 months ago to pinpoint cracks in the foundation, many of which must be addressed to help survive the recovery period. In a January 2020 survey conducted by FranConnect of nearly 250 operations professionals representing brands with greater than 100 locations, it was evident that franchise operations teams were already struggling to drive the unit level success of their franchisees. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)The first question that we asked was “What is your biggest challenge in helping your Franchisees to improve their performance” and 96% of respondents identified the following symptoms: - We don’t get enough time with our franchisees. - Ineffective systems for following up on audit and visitation findings. - Our franchisees do not have their own business or marketing plans in place. The second question was “Are your franchise business consultants’ communications and visit frequency enough to positively impact your franchisees performance?” 72% of respondents answered with a resounding NO. The third question – “Does everyone in your organization understand the top 3-5 operations activities that have the greatest impact on your franchisees business goals and profits?” Once again, the majority of respondents (52%) answered NO. Additionally, in a Bain and Company large scale study of business leaders on the topic of organizational change found that: - Only 15% could name one of three top goals - 87% had no clear idea on actions - 81% surveyed not held accountable for progress on the organization’s goals Given that the defined role of the operations consultant is having the responsibility to: - Drive franchisee performance - Drive Franchisee satisfaction - Ensure Franchisee compliance - Create engagement & alignment “So, how’s that working for you?” Given the survey responses, one could conclude that this was and likely remains a “systemic pandemic”. To help solve for this, we’ve got to clearly identify the situation and problem so that we can move beyond treating the symptoms to the addressing actual root cause. First recognize that one of the major issues is that Franchisees are too busy working “IN their business” rather than “ON their business”. As you can see from this visual, there are literally 22 job functions that are owned by the franchisee day in and day out that divides their time and focus. ![Pandemic-Franchise-Operations](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Pandemic-Franchise-Operations.png) Additionally, the average number of franchise technologies that a Franchisee is expected to use is ranging from 8 – 12 different software tools. And to further exasperate the problem, very little of that data that is being captured is linked together making it nearly *impossible to link data to insights and actions.* As a franchisor, we need to recognize that it may not be your fault –but it is your problem! So, what’s one to do? Here’s a short checklist of action items to move your organization in the right direction: 1. Initiate a formal training program for your Operations Consultants & Field Staff. How much training do your Operations Consultants get in behavioral management & coaching for improving performance? If you look at your training curriculum, you’re likely find that very little time is spent on your Franchise Business Consultant’s development in the area of how to “coach franchisees” on performance improvement, or conducting difficult discussions. There are solid programs and subject matter experts that exist on how to handle difficult situations and challenging discussions. Recommended reading is Coaching for Improved Work Performance by Ferdinand F. Fournies. 2. **Make sure your Franchise Business Consultants work closely with their Franchisees** to collaborate on updating business and marketing plans. These should be the basis for all coaching discussions as the business plan and marketing plans. These plans should consist of goals which are SMART: - **S**pecific (simple, sensible, significant). - **M**easurable (meaningful, motivating). - **A**chievable (agreed, attainable). - **R**elevant (reasonable, realistic and resourced, results-based). - **T**ime bound (time-based, time limited, time/cost limited, timely, time-sensitive). You’ll find that it’s far easier to coach a franchisee on goals they’ve generated (with your assistance) as opposed to those that you attempt to impose upon them. 3. **Consider the implementation of a tiered support structure.** It’s not likely that a Franchise Business Consultant possesses all the performance skillsets required to support franchisees from onboarding through the complex issues facing multi-generational owners, or specialized areas such as business valuation, etc. Some progressive Franchisors will provide a different coach for each step of the franchisee journey from a Right-Start Specialist for a new Franchisee to a skilled Financial Manager for working with your top-tier performers. 4. **Compel your Franchisees to submit P&L’s on a monthly basis.** You may not have the contractual right to compel them, but if you’re able to provide them value-added insights on how to improve their revenues and profitability, you’ll have a greater likelihood of buy-in. 5. **Leverage Franchisee Peer Groups to improve results and accountability.** Many franchisors have found great success in getting their franchisees focused on achieving results and accountability is achieved through franchise peer performance groups. Useful information on putting together PPG’s can be found in the book Disrupt from Within by Justin Walt available on Amazon.com. 6. **Establish Engagement Metrics as one of your critical elements in determining franchise success.** According to the experts at Ingage Consulting and Franchise Business Review, they were able to demonstrate that creating avenues for active participation is key as franchisees that see themselves as an active participant are 6.6 times more likely to be engaged. 7. **Have a readily available playbook** made up of the top 3-5 actions that need to be taken on each of the prioritized areas that you believe your Franchisees should be focused on. 8. **Have a system in place that allows you to receive real-time information on your franchisees critical key performance indicators.** The challenge often-times is that the KPI’s that are selected are lagging indicators, and you’re missing timely feedback on the leading indicators that would effectively give you the time to address issues prior to missing your goals/objectives. 9. **Ensure that you have an open technology platform that can permit you to import all of your key metrics from disparate systems** (including your POS, NPS, QuickBooks, etc.) into a Command Center or centralized dashboard where all of your data can be viewed against your goals, insights and required actions.Such a solution exists with FranConnect’s new Operations solution which includes the means to: 1. **Create dynamic digital playbooks** that are designed to ensure that critical activities are being executed, and the means to identify and coach in real-time if they are not. 2. Making your teams and units efficient by **effective information sharing and centralization** of your operational elements. 3. Increasing stakeholder **transparency and accountability** to achieve **consistent and coordinated** efforts across various **business processes/procedures**. 4. Providing easy access to **actionable insights** with an ability to perform **peer group analysis**. 5. Helping you gain **competitive advantage** by being agile, learn and adjust quickly to **scale your business operations**. **How can FranConnect help?** FranConnect’s Operations software solution allows franchisees to develop and install their business and marketing plans, and the technology enables the analysis of all the relevant data (including your POS, NPS, QuickBooks or other financial data, etc., in real-time. It then introduces dynamic playbooks that are the best practices for resolving shortfalls in performance and tracks a franchisees execution against those plans. To simplify, you’ll have the ability to look at your complete portfolio; the ability to segment your portfolio into peer performance groups, franchisees by time in business, single unit operators vs. multi-unit operators; measure all KPI’s in one centralized location and to drill down to the unit level to help them achieve their potential. To learn about how to initiate the best practices in solving your execution challenges and achieve consistently improved unit level success, [request a demo to see FranConnect’s all new Operations solution](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/). [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Improve Performance, Operate **Tags:** COVID-19, Franchise Operations --- ### [5 Things Franchise Sales Leaders MUST Do In the 2nd Half of 2020](https://www.franconnect.com/5-key-steps-for-franchise-leaders-in-2020/) **Published:** July 2, 2020 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** 2020 has been an whirlwind year thus far. We have 5 things your franchise MUST do in the 2nd half of 2020 to stay nimble in the changing markets. **Content:** Even as the health-related stories about the pandemic continue to evolve, the business world faces a common challenge: moving forward. Most organizations have already realized that they can’t sit back and wait. They have to put plans into action and adapt quickly as necessary. The world of franchise sales faces its own set of challenges, but also some great opportunities. As we have reached the midway point of 2020, now is a good time to zoom out and consider what you must do as franchise leaders to ensure your development efforts continue to drive growth. Here are my Top Five Must Do’s for Franchise Sales Leaders now that we are halfway through this unforgettable year. **1. Hold your team accountable** According to a recent June 2020 poll conducted by the US Bureau of labor Statistics, and as reported by Statista, 20% of U.S. adults are working from home during the COVID-19 outbreak. In addition, there are a total of 13.3% of Americans are currently unemployed. Two key takeaways are that for many industries, there are record levels of people that are interested in owning their own business, AND there has never been a better time for reaching people at home. The problem is that according to[ FranConnect’s 2020 Franchise Sales Index Report,](https://blog.franconnect.com/franconnect-franchise-library-2020/franchise-sales-index-2020) 74% of new leads were never called by Franchisors. Conversely, we found that 85% of franchise deals were those that were contacted within 4 hours or less. At the cost of nearly $200 per lead, according to the Franchise Update Media Group’s annual franchise sales study, this is squandering over $177k in average franchise sales budgets per brand. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)What’s one to do? The head of franchise sales departments need to do a better job in tracking their employees contact rates and response times. An effective Franchise Sales such as the one that FranConnect offers can ensure that this information shows up in real-time on a Command Center based on role (i.e. VP of Sales, Franchise Sales Managers, etc). And nothing creates greater focus on what’s important than publishing performance rates by team member. **2. Starve the things that aren’t working and feed the things that are.** An example of this truism can be found in the category of franchise portals. We find that the average closing effectiveness rate of portals are only 0.32% meaning that it would take approximately 300 leads to culminate in one sale. However, if one were to do further analysis of each portal that is serving the brand, they could find that some brands such as Franchising.com has a lead to deal conversion rate of 2.3% according to the results of FranConnect’s Franchise Sales Index for 2020 (which translates into 100 leads equaling 2.3 sales on average). This reminds me of the old cliché “don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.” Now don’t get me wrong – portals can be very effective – both as a “virtual billboard” helping prospects in their online research, and in creating incremental deals as portals contributed a total of 10.4% of all deals generated (or 768 deals in total across 597 brands in our data). **3. Know that recognition beats compensation when it comes to referrals** In analyzing the lead to deal conversion rates by marketing source, we find that referrals resulted in the highest conversion rates at an astounding 6.60%. Yet very few Franchisors are able to change the behaviors of their franchisees when it comes to making those referrals. How do you change these behaviors? For the sake of this blog, let’s assume that your support center is there for your franchisees in helping them to realize their goals and underlying reasons for affiliating with your brand. These often include the franchisees search for an improvement in lifestyle, income, debt reduction, equity and ultimately wealth. These are what I’m calling “table stakes.” But when it comes to referring prospective franchisees, trust me when I say that bribing them with a big check for encouraging their family, friends and associates will do little to motivate them. What does work? FranConnect recommends one or more of these following best practices: - Sending videos that recognize franchisees who help your system to grow - Crafting ongoing campaigns that reinforce the “why” behind the referral program - Offering a “rainmaker” plaque/award on stage at annual conventions - Including Franchisees that refer candidates that join your system in your Chairman’s Club, with a trip with other high-achieving franchisees to a special warm-weather event in locales such as the Bahamas, Mexico, or Hawaii (when travel becomes a thing once again) **4. Adopt the Rule of Seven** All of your hard work and efforts to attract great leads to the top of [your sales funnel](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/sales-accelerator/) are for naught if you don’t have an effective program in place for nurturing those candidates through the sales process. Research has led to the development and proof that supports what is known as the “Rule of Seven.” This is a principal that simply states that it takes an average of seven interactions with your brand before a purchase will take place. And the interactions take the form of a call from your franchise sales managers, reading a review, receiving emails and content that enable the buyer’s research capabilities, etc. Our research shows that only 25% of franchisors have campaigns established for new leads, and only 15% are sending campaigns to those leads that have been moved to the dead lead files. And doing this will require a robust CRM that is actively used and maintained. And by robust, I mean that the CRM should be able to help you map out workflows and with a dashboard or “Command Center” for receiving greater insights into your sales funnel in real time. (Coincidently, FranConnect just happens to have such a CRM…) To summarize, the key takeaway in this area is that franchise marketing and sales teams need to use a mix of personal and automated outreach before abandoning a lead. High-performing sales development teams typically aim for a minimum of 7-12 touch-points (AKA “The Rule of Seven). **5. Tighten the screws on your CRM** Final recommendation…. If it isn’t in your CRM, it never happened. We have found that most salespeople are driven by human interaction over data entry. With the potential of your sales team potentially becoming ill from the COVID-19 virus, or with so many franchisors having to had some reduction in force – you can’t afford inaccurate or incomplete data entry, which can cause your brand to lose valuable information if the salesperson is down for the count or they leave the company. Lead intelligence is vital and sometimes the salesperson even forgets what was discussed with the prospect once a couple of months have passed. To achieve each of these recommendations, it behooves the head of sales to set the proper tone and expectations. Ensuring that your sales teams have all the knowledge they need in one place and the ability to be more productive with both the lead and their calls is the way forward throughout 2020 and beyond. **How Can We Help?** **Learn more from our research:** FranConnect is the recognized leader in [franchise management software](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/sales/), and we are working tirelessly to help our customers adjust to the new realities of business in 2020. The takeaways in this blog post were influenced by the FranConnect Franchise Sales Index 2020 Report. For the full report, visit our [Resources Page](https://blog.franconnect.com/franconnect-franchise-library-2020). **Want to take a look at FranConnect?** Regardless of how your franchise business has been impacted, it’s never been more important to ensure that your development, operations, and marketing are working for you. If you’d like to talk to one of our experts about how our customers are surviving and thriving, we invite you to [Request a Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) today. [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Develop, Expand Locations, Operate **Tags:** COVID-19, Franchise Sales --- ### [Franchising Wasn't Ready for COVID-19. Will You Be Ready for the Recovery?](https://www.franconnect.com/franchising-wasnt-ready-for-covid-19-will-you-be-ready-for-the-recovery/) **Published:** April 7, 2020 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** We discuss the impact COVID-19 had on the franchising industry and how we can better prepare ourselves for the recovery. Read the article here! **Content:** There’s no doubt that we are facing unprecedented times. While quarantine seems like “the new normal”, the fact is that we will be back to business much sooner than we realize, and we need to be ready. Now’s the time to prepare to rebuild after the storm. When the pandemic hit, franchisors swung into action to help to ensure that as many of our franchisee partners weather this storm as possible. In addition to some great resources, we’ve seen inspiring creative actions by you as franchisors to keep your operations going. Food-service operations are using the Hub to provide previously sit-down concepts with quick information on partnering with delivery services. Home services concepts are providing policies and scripts for reassuring end customers that services can continue in non-contact ways. You’re providing information on help from the SBA and other sources to help your franchisees weather the financial gap. Now, it’s time to turn our attention to what happens next. We’re already seeing reports from the first-affected countries that business and travel activities are steadily recovering. It’s time to start thinking about ramping existing business back up, and preparing for the opportunity for franchise sales that happens following economic hardship. 1. Find ways to expand your business opportunities. If you had some ideas you didn’t try because of the risk that they might not work, now may be the time to try. 2. Review historic field visits to identify areas where retraining can make a difference. Use this “downtime” to create the training and certify your owners. The silver lining of slow business is time to build infrastructure. 3. Prepare your re-opening checklist. There will be a lot to do when your stores re-open, from sanitizing locations to sales-stimulus programs – now’s the time to clean and devise “back to business” promotions for later this year. Now that you’ve provided for your franchisees, don’t neglect a little “corporate self-care”. This is a good time to look at your internal processes. 1. Clean up franchisee data, focus first on your term expiration dates and lease expiration dates because those have the potential to impact revenue downstream. 2. Look for opportunities to refine your sales process. Historically, after an event such as this, there’s a surge in franchise sales as people opt for more control over their own economic destiny. Now’s the time to get ready. You’re there for your franchisees, and we’re here for you. If you’re interested in more resources, [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/) and we’ll make sure you are on the distribution list for our upcoming resources. [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Develop, Engage, Operate **Tags:** COVID-19 --- ### [Dealing With A Shortage of Workers? 10 Approaches to Finding and Hiring Staff Now](https://www.franconnect.com/dealing-with-a-shortage-of-workers-10-approaches-to-finding-and-hiring-staff-now/) **Published:** June 17, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** If you're dealing with a shortage of workers, we have a 10 approaches than can help your to find staffing now! Discover the recruiting approaches! **Content:** One only needs to drive in their communities and notice all the “Now Hiring” signs to get a sense of how pervasive the problem of finding employees is regardless of the industry. Today, there is a serious shortage of workers, and this has resulted in [Restaurants](https://www.franconnect.com/restaurant-franchises-sample-objectives-and-key-results-okr-for-restaurant-franchises/) and Personal Services businesses modifying their hours (and even their days of operation) to ensure they have enough staff to meet the demand. If you’re reading this article, you’re probably experiencing a shortage of workers in your own business and are hoping for a silver bullet to help you quickly hire quality employees. Surveys and research illustrate just how pervasive the labor shortage issue is: > In March, the [National Federation of Independent](https://www.nfib.com/) Business found that 42% of owners had job openings that could not be filled – a record high. 91% of those hiring or trying to hire reported few or no qualified applicants for the positions they were attempting to fill. > [Workstream.us](https://www.workstream.us/) recently surveyed 5,000+ hiring managers in order to understand what aspects of their hiring process have become more difficult due to COVID and unemployment benefits. The results found that the top 3 challenges were: Sourcing for hourly workers (57%) Conducting in-person interviews (52%) Scheduling interviews (48%) > The NFIB also reported that 42% of all owners reported job openings they couldn’t fill – a record high reading and 20 points above the group’s historical average over the last 48 years of 22%. > In another major franchise study that occurred just prior to the pandemic, service-based categories were already reporting that 100% of franchise operators felt they could grow sales in their existing territories or geographic markets, however 69% felt that labor was holding them back from realizing this growth. The overall sentiment was that respondents felt they could get 2X to 5X more growth in the next 3-5 years if it were not for the challenges associated with finding the right people. ## 10 recruiting approaches to help you address the shortage of workers The lack of labor and challenges that come with it are not going away anytime soon, even with the pending elimination of the enhanced $300 weekly unemployment insurance benefits and stimulus. Additional reasons vary – potential workers may be unvaccinated, and some working parents continue to face limited childcare options or in-person schooling for their children. Certain workers in the restaurant space may be hesitant to return to the frontline where they feel at risk due to COVID-19. Franchisors and franchisees face challenges in dealing with labor cost inflation which has been 4.6% per annum. In fact, 60% of business owners have passed these increases on to their customers. [Train Employees](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/training/)Here are 10 approaches that may help increase the effectiveness of your current recruiting efforts: 1. ### **Use an Applicant Tracking System** According to Mary Thompson, COO of [Neighborly Brands](https://www.franconnect.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Neighborly-Brands-FranConnect-Case-Study-July-2022.pdf), Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS’s) are one of the most effective tools that Neighborly uses across their myriad of residential home services brands. Their franchisees use them to hire employees across levels. Mary says that without a doubt, their ATS has contributed greatly to their success. For a marginal cost per location per month, their ATS is the central platform for all parts of their franchisees’ recruiting efforts. With the press of a button, they can send their job openings to 90% or more of all active job seekers. Look at software review websites like Capterra for [Applicant Tracking System vendors **(link)**](https://www.capterra.com/applicant-tracking-software/) and focus on those that specialize in the franchise industry. 2. ### **Social media can be a powerful recruiting tool** Lately, many of the larger fast-food brands are targeting Gen Z through apps like TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat. Some are even offering short video applications that allow people to send in applications with just a few clicks. Consider that Instagram which is trending towards being the number one social media platform with one billion monthly users in 2020, and that 90% of Instagram accounts follow businesses. Yet it is currently one of the least used platforms for recruiters and hiring managers with only 13% saying they consider it a source for recruiting, compared to 87% who regularly use [LinkedIn](https://www.franconnect.com/linkedin-for-franchisors/). It is clearly a space with untapped potential. Similarly, 68% of Americans have Facebook accounts, and more than a third of their ad audience is under the age of 25. Facebook allows very granular ad targeting, including based on age ranges. 3. ### **Consider added bonuses and perks** Some in the franchise food service industries are offering perks like sign-on bonuses or even payments in exchange for applications. We have heard from McDonald’s franchisees offering $50 payments for the completion of an application. However, even the Franchisees that have implemented these programs report that referral programs, signing bonuses, and allowing candidates to apply via text message works better. 4. ### **Safe hiring events** Many brands have announced hiring events such as at Yum Brands’ Taco Bell, which is renewing its hiring parties across the country. Many have converted parking lots and patios into job fairs to keep applicants safe during the pandemic. 5. ### **Increasing pay rates** If your labor shortages are coming at the expense of revenues, some are advocating increasing the minimum wages they pay to their employees by an extra $2 to $3 per hour. 6. ### **Get employees involved in your recruiting strategy** Studies have shown that workers who are recruited from referrals produce 25% more profit for their employers than new hires who are recruited the old-fashioned way. Offer current employees a referral bonus if they bring in a great candidate. 7. ### **Invest in the applicants you do have** Many candidates have what it takes to be great employees, but not the exact background you are looking for. This means it’s time to get creative with the applicants you do have. In industries seeking entry-level employees (such as franchising), many companies are offering employment opportunities to younger people with no prior experience. They look beyond their lack of experience and invest in skills and [development training](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/training/) that will help them in the position and beyond. This turns into an investment in them which helps to boost retention and recruitment efforts. 8. ### **Be open to flexible hourly work** More than 80% of hourly workers are willing to work multiple jobs to get the hours they need. Flexibility is key and will entice those looking for a sustainable lifestyle. 9. ### **Look outside your traditional methods of recruitment** For example, don’t be scared to let your reps and suppliers know you could really use another team member. They won’t bring you bad people as it’s a reflection on them. You can also contact the agencies for a “temp to hire”. Consider local agencies and organizations like the Rotary, Chamber of Commerce or other businesses around you. Be sure to let them know you are actively looking to fill positions immediately. Another option is researching the local education community (universities, high schools, and trade schools) for opportunities to get in front of potential candidates. 10. ### **Always keep your eyes open for talent** From food servers and retail clerks to auto salespeople – if you find someone who seems like a perfect fit, leave your card or get their number. Ask them to meet you for coffee. Keep in mind that franchisors need to be careful to not be “overly helpful” and potentially cross the line where you open yourself up to becoming liable as a “joint employer’. You can suggest many of these best practices– but be careful to not mandate. ## Focusing on internal growth is key Remember, one of the most important recommendations is to focus on the talent you already have. Experts know that the companies who win in the long-term are the ones who also invest in their current teams. This not only aids in reducing costly turnover, but also supports recruitment. The investment in your team often takes the form of education and training where you can offer growth through new skills and allowing them to advance their careers. *Would you like to [receive a demo of FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/)? Our platform helps brands grow unit, increase unit revenue, improve unit profitability, and enhance franchisee engagement.* [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Engage, Retain and Onboard Employees **Tags:** employee training, Franchise Development --- ### [10 Important KPIs for Education Franchises](https://www.franconnect.com/10-important-kpis-for-education/) **Published:** July 22, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** What KPIs predict success in education businesses? We explore 10 critical metrics to track. **Content:** In education, tutoring, and children’s services, you want to teach your students good habits. But it’s also worthwhile to take a look at your own habits as a business. What habits will predict success? After years of experience and looking at dozens of franchised businesses, we compiled the list of education-specific key performance indicators (KPIs) for [education franchises](https://www.franconnect.com/sample-objectives-and-key-results-okr-for-education-franchises/) below. ## Sales and Marketing ### Cost Per Lead Cost per lead = (Total Marketing Cost)/(Total Qualified Leads) Cost per lead is an important metric for any small business. It is best measured both overall and by marketing method, such as pay per click (PPC), social, direct mail, and events. Start by tracking overall cost per lead, and then add narrower buckets over time. Your home office should set cost per lead depending on the economics of the business, and franchisees can follow. This is a great way to benefit from the network effect in the franchise model. When counting leads, focus on those that are qualified, not leads with incomplete information or those that are actually vendors trying to sell you something. Only people who want to buy your services should be counted in this metric. ### Leads This simple metric reflects the overall health of the business. Year-over-year (YOY) comparisons are useful in education businesses, since leads can be seasonal depending on the school year and standardized tests. ### Trials Many education businesses focus on giving potential customers a taste of their product through a free class or a trial. Establishing a goal for your franchisees’ trials is a fantastic way to encourage them to maintain momentum within the business. ### Trial Conversion Trial Conversion = (New Students for Period)/(Trials for the Period) Trial conversion measures a few things: 1) It looks at the experience of the trial. Did you have an appropriate coach work with the student, and did he or she get a good outcome? 2) It also measures the sales process after the trial has been completed. Trial conversion can vary widely depending on the individuals in your organization, so it is definitely worth studying. Some organizations also choose to do deeper qualitative research on former trials. ### Students Created Having a regular flow of students keeps the environment vibrant and lively. Benchmarking this metric across franchises can also create a healthy sense of competition. ## Operations ### Attendance Rate Attendance % = (Total Attended)/(Total Scheduled) Some organizations see low attendance as a good thing; students that are paying but not attending means the business is making revenue without wear and tear on facilities. However, this attitude is outdated. Regular attendance means students aren’t losing interest in the program. (And it usually also means more positive reviews from parents!) ### Churn Rate Churn % = ((Students at Beginning) – (Students at End))/(Students at Beginning) Churn rate, also known as the rate of attrition, measures the percentage of users who stop using your services within a given period. In these competitive times when customers have a wide variety of options, it is good to watch this number closely. ### Net Promoter Score (NPS) NPS = (% Promoters) – (% Detractors) NPS is a customer loyalty metric that rates customers as promoters, detractors, or neutral depending on their answer to a single question: “How likely are you to recommend us to a friend or family member?” Customers indicate their answers on a 10-point scale. A score of 9-10 indicates a promoter; 7-8 is neutral, and 0-6 is a detractor. CSAT is also a popular way to measure customer satisfaction. ## Coaches or Tutors ### Hours Taught Hours taught tracks the operational side of the business and does not depend on elements like payment plans. This is another metric that varies with the seasons and is better to be compared YOY. ### NPS Per Coach Tracking NPS per coach helps you determine which coaches are strongest. It then stands to reason that your overall NPS will get higher if you put those popular coaches on more shifts. To calculate, attribute the NPS to each individual coach. You may need to extend the period of measurement if there aren’t enough survey responses for each coach. ### Continue Your Education The best way to help your franchisees reach their goals is to measure performance along the way. Learn more about FranConnect’s leading [performance tools](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/sales/) that can help you track the KPIs that matter most and make a positive difference in your business. [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Analytics, Develop, Operate **Tags:** Franchise Best Practices, Franchise Development, Franchise Marketing, Franchise Operations --- ### [10 Essential Skills and Training Tools](https://www.franconnect.com/10-essential-skills-and-training-tools/) **Published:** August 4, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Learning and development specialists and trainers devote their professional lives to helping employees develop relevant workplace skills. **Content:** Learning and development specialists and trainers devote their professional lives to helping employees develop relevant workplace skills. But here’s the rub: they’re so busy [training and advocating](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/) for their co-workers that they may neglect their own development.If you’re a seasoned trainer seeking to expand your trainer skill set by developing new skills and abilities, or a newbie preparing for a career as a trainer, what do you need to know? What are the skills of a good trainer?## What’s in Your Training Toolbox? Here are ten essential skills and training tools that should be part of any training toolkit. ### 7 Essential Skills for Trainers: #### **Technology Skills** While it helps to have some background in technology, trainers don’t need to be programmers. But given the intersection between training and technology, the more technologically savvy you are, the easier time you will have. The basics include knowing your way around apps, Software as a Service (SaaS) products, authoring tools, social media integrations, learning management systems (LMS), video conferencing, and collaboration tools. #### **Communication Skills** Trainers who are effective communicators can connect with their audience, make the complex easy, ask probing questions, elaborate on concepts, and provide feedback. If you have trouble explaining concepts in accessible language or connecting with an audience, you’ll want to brush up on your communication skills. If not addressed, ineffective communication can interfere with an employee’s learning experience. As more employees work from home, communication skills become even more critical. #### **Flexibility and Adaptability** This is one of the essential skills for all employees to possess, but especially today’s trainers. These professionals must be prepared and equipped to respond to the ever-changing needs of their internal and external customers, who need what they need NOW. To be effective in this exciting but chaotic world, trainers must learn to adapt, quickly shift gears, and wear many hats (Read more on agile learning.) #### **Analytics and Assessment** While they don’t need to be statisticians, today’s trainers must know their way around data and analytics and should be well-versed in evaluation methods. Evaluation occurs at an individual and program level. At the micro-level, you need to monitor and assess how each learner is performing and progressing. The good news is that today’s technology – read: LMS – makes it easy to create, administer, and evaluate quizzes and tests. While tests and quizzes give trainers a street-level perspective into the program, you also need a macro-level standpoint in order to justify and sustain your budget. In other words, you need to show management that key objectives are being met and demonstrate ROI. A basic understanding of data may be enough, but trainers and L&D specialists who can speak the language of analytics will have an advantage. #### **Enthusiasm and Curiosity for Learning** Enthusiasm is contagious, but it can be a challenge to sustain over a long period of time. To maintain your enthusiasm, be empathetic and try to get inside your employees’ shoes. The more you can see things from their perspective, the more effective you will be as a trainer. Be intellectually curious and curious about the people you serve. Embrace lifelong learning and continuous learning. #### **Business Acumen** To ensure training is relevant and advances the company’s business and strategic goals, trainers must have business acumen; they have to really understand the organizational and individual challenges that leaders face in their organization. Who are their core customers, key market segments, and financial goals? Trainers who can speak the language of business and demonstrate this knowledge will earn the respect of leadership; those who don’t may find it difficult to get others to support and sustain their training program over the long-term. [Train Employees](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/training/)Review your organization’s strategic plan or annual report, and always keep its goals top-of-mind. Ensure that all learning and development activities align with and drive business outcomes. Learn to partner with your company, so you are aware of the problems and can offer strategic solutions that deliver results. By positioning what you do as a solution to a specific business problem, you can gain management’s ear. Being not just training savvy but also business savvy will earn you the respect of your co-workers, especially upper management, and position you as a leader in your company. #### **Listening Skills** Real listening is listening with the intent to understand what another person is trying to say. Authentic listening is not asking an employee about her career goals, then zoning out as she opens up. It’s not nodding agreeably while thinking about what you’re going to say next. ### 3 Essential Training Tools: Learning new training skills can’t be beaten. But in the final analysis, it’s all about applying them. Fortunately, there are a number of nifty, user-friendly tools and technologies that supercharge and simplify how trainers train and learners learn. What are the training tools you need to know about? Here are three essential training tools that bring our list to 10: #### **Authoring Tools** A software-based platform, [an authoring tool](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/) enables instructional designers to create eLearning content for their company that is immersive and engaging. It can be desktop-based or cloud-based, simple, or with all the bells and whistles. An authoring tool is a training development tool that can be deployed as standalone software or within an LMS (learning management system). #### **Video Editing Tools** Video editing software is increasingly regarded as an essential tool for trainers and learning specialists. Making videos, of course, has historically played an indispensable role in training. New technologies, however, have made creating and sharing training videos so easy that companies can do it themselves in-house. Practically anyone can do it, though getting good at video editing requires practice and lots of it. Note that some authoring tools include video-editing capabilities. #### **Social Learning Tools** Optimal learning occurs when your employees collaborate with co-workers. Social learning and collaborative learning can be facilitated by a number of online tools, like discussion groups, forums, social media, and gamified elements, which are either [built-in to a learning management system](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/) or easily integrated. ## Takeaways for Trainers Summing things up: today’s trainers and instructors need to develop good communication and listening skills, demonstrate the ability to align training with business goals, know how to evaluate employees and analyze data, and possess a comfort level with technology and online training tools. You have the training skills, and World Manager has the training tools and technology— not to mention over a decade of experience deploying the World Manager LMS to supercharge and streamline how companies create and administer employee training. Let’s work together. [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Engage, Retain and Onboard Employees **Tags:** employee training, LMS --- ### [4 Lessons Every Franchisor Should Learn From the Pandemic](https://www.franconnect.com/4-lessons-every-franchisor-should-learn-from-the-pandemic/) **Published:** July 29, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** The pandemic provided valuable insights that can help franchisors strengthen and improve operations. See 4 crucial lessons we learned. **Content:** As with many business challenges, the pandemic continues to provide valuable insights that can help franchisors strengthen and improve operations — not only to drive more revenue today, but to protect themselves against future disruptions. In the wake of COVID-19, businesses had to adapt in real-time, change their models quickly, and take risks to stay above water amidst so much uncertainty. It’s unclear as to what we really learned in the past 16 months, and how we can take these learnings with us and adjust accordingly moving forward. Based on conversations with dozens of customers, we’ve identified four “must-do” actions for franchisors, regardless of size or industry. ## 1. Build a Staffing Pipeline for Future Hiring Needs Whether franchises experienced a boom or a bust during the pandemic, many are now facing the challenge of insufficient staffing: [58% report](https://www.franconnect.com/what-franchisors-told-us-about-the-state-of-franchise-operations-today/) a moderate impact and 18% have had to reduce hours or service because they [cannot hire enough employees](https://www.franconnect.com/dealing-with-a-shortage-of-workers-10-approaches-to-finding-and-hiring-staff-now/). Some have become so desperate that they’re paying people just to submit applications. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)The best employees, of course, are the ones you already have. This is the time to mitigate the potential for turnover by keeping your teams happy. These employees are also your best source of referrals: They know the job and won’t want to risk their own standing by recommending someone who isn’t up to par. Often, employees who refer a successful hire receive a bonus after the new hire hits 90 days of continuous employment. Brands are also rethinking their appeal to prospects, particularly for entry-level positions. Draws could include childcare, college tuition or signing bonuses. Lesson learned: Even if you don’t need applicants today, build a strong bench in case demand goes up or unexpected turnover hits. ## 2. Take Advantage of Virtual and In-Person Discovery Days Every franchise handles them differently, but there comes a point in the sales process when the prospect and the franchise executives meet to get acquainted. You may call these “discovery days”, “meet-the-team days” or “decision days”, but they’re an important touch point. When the pandemic forced these meetings to go virtual, many people discovered that this allowed them to meet more frequently than in the past. Virtual meetings are also less costly and time-intensive for prospects. Even though many franchisors have resumed in-person discovery days, there will continue to be room for both approaches. Lesson learned: Discovery days are likely to stay hybrid. Leverage the approach that works best for your team, your prospects, and your business. ## 3. Use Virtual Assessments and QA Software to Drive Better Coaching One surprise of the pandemic was that, thanks to virtual evaluations, brands actually performed more evaluations in 2020: an average of 162 onsite and [virtual audits](https://www.franconnect.com/virtual-visits-in-franchising/), up from 148 in 2019. At the same time, franchisors are increasing their spans of control. As it becomes difficult to visit every site in person, franchise business consultants ([FBCs](https://www.franconnect.com/why-refining-your-franchise-business-consultant-program-can-improve-performance/)) are relying on distance technologies to provide operations support. To facilitate this expanded oversight, many brands are enhancing their training and assessment tools. Learning management systems, gamifications and simulations, and custom-designed courses all reinforce desired skills and best practices. FBCs are also turning to video reporting, with franchisees using their cell phones to show themselves demonstrating the execution of a standard or show that menu boards and marketing materials are correct. Quality assurance software is another critical source of data, helping franchisors measure performance by having franchisees self-report their execution against their operational playbooks. Lesson Learned: A hybrid approach to assessments allows for more frequent touch points that facilitate collaboration and coaching. Technology tools support FBCs as they provide remote oversight to larger spans of control. ## 4. Use Operations Tools to Develop Actionable, Data-Driven Insights Brands have also increased their use of operations technology, particularly dashboards that serve as real-time command centers to monitor critical performance indicators, customer accounts and other information. Now more than ever, franchisors need visibility into their operations, especially when so many visits are virtual. We’ve developed operational tools that help franchisors analyze dashboard results, helping them generate auto-populated playbooks, which can then be assigned to franchisees. These might address a downturn in customer accounts, a need for realignment with best practices or other issues. Playbooks also address the fact no FBC is an expert at every single aspect of the business. Playbooks reflect the expertise of multiple team members, together with institutional knowledge about the business, to enhance FBCs’ operational oversight. Lesson Learned: The best franchisors will use technology to derive insights and analysis and incorporate playbooks as a powerful coaching tool. ## Helping franchisors navigate today’s complex environment The past 16 months have been immensely challenging, but franchisors have proven themselves as remarkably resilient. Moving forward, we hope these lessons learned can help you prepare for an unpredictable future. If you want more insight into the current state of Franchise Operations then view our webinar, “The Role of the Franchise Operations Team Today”. You’ll hear and see how Franchise Operations teams can achieve: - Operational excellence via consistency and quality of service, [brand compliance](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/brand-consistency/) and field execution; - [Improved unit level performance](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/sales/) by centralizing and analyzing operational data and deploying playbooks for remediation and improvement; - Staff enablement and support through franchisee communication, engagement, onboarding and onsite staff training support; - Legal and process compliance using data management and collaboration with legal to ensure a single source of truth. Use the takeaways from this webinar as a benchmark to make sure you have the right priorities for your franchise operations in this rapidly-changing environment. [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Franchising Best Practices, Operate **Tags:** Franchise Development, Franchise Operations --- ### [How to Implement an Effective Franchise Field Operations Tool](https://www.franconnect.com/how-to-implement-an-effective-franchise-field-operations-tool-0/) **Published:** March 1, 2017 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** The COO of Nestlé Toll House Café by Chip took her team from good to great by implementing an effective franchise field operations tool. Click to learn how! **Content:** One of the biggest pain points for franchisors and their field operations teams is preparing for effective interactions with franchise owners and their employees. Yet 57% of franchisors lack a system to monitor and control field execution and performance. Without a tool to manage field activities, it becomes burdensome to the franchisor and franchisee to communicate and resolve compliance issues. With one, trends become apparent. Safety and training can be improved. Ultimately, the relationship between the two parties can be strengthened through transparency, communication, and collaboration. As part of FranConnect’s webinar series on field operations, Shawnon Bellah, COO of Crest Foods, shares her insights in How Nestlé Toll House Café by Chip Implemented an Effective Field Operations Tool. Crest Foods is the parent company of Nestlé Toll House Café by Chip, which has over 160 locations across the United States, Canada, and the Middle East. As Bellah shares in the webinar, Nestlé Toll House Café by Chip was trying to find an effective franchise field operations tool for tracking and communications, rather than continuing to rely on Word documents and Excel sheets. They lacked a way to follow up and properly document how their individual cafes were performing, and isolated documents and spreadsheets just weren’t cutting it. When Bellah joined Crest Foods in 2008, the company was using [FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com), and at that time, she believed that FranConnect’s primary use was for lead generation. In 2011, the company decided to leave FranConnect and created its own intranet to provide a resource for franchisors to access and track information. However, Bellah and her colleagues soon realized that their intranet was not performing as they needed – data and insights could not be shared with their franchise partners, and software was not their organization’s core competency. They needed a software partner, and in 2012, went back to FranConnect. What attracted them back to FranConnect was FranConnect Sky Field Ops (formerly PerformanceWise), a new tool that provided a single resource to access important information on individual cafes, evaluate their performance, and assess all accumulated data. However, despite FranConnect’s product improvements, Crest Foods saw a low adoption rate amongst their franchise partners. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)Bellah and her team incorrectly believed that simply turning on a new system would solve their problems. As a result, they were not getting the results they wanted. Bellah herself did not know the system, so she was not able to understand and explain the benefits to field consultants and individual owners. Bellah decided it was time to dive in and become FranConnect’s champion within her organization. ![FranConnect Sky Field Ops is the "system to manage your system."](http://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/social-suggested-images/franchise-software-field-ops-2.jpg "FranConnect Sky Field Ops is the "system to manage your system."") Bellah’s team has seen great improvements in adoption rates, and as a result, they are able to spend more time in the field rather than on administrative tasks. She shares three key lessons learned when introducing a new field ops tool, so that you, too, can bolster adoption rates and go from good to great: 1. ****A field operations tool can quickly get ahead of you****Make sure that you are committed to the platform you are using and lead by example. Bellah spends approximately 1.5 hours each day in their system. She reviews what tasks are outstanding, which visits have been completed, and how she can help guide her director of operations. As a team, they are all dialed in and can see their actions in their operations tool. 2. ****Commit the time and prioritize setting up the tool****If your team sees that you are invested in the system, they will do the same. Take the time to create consistency in your team and ensure there is transparency in the process. For example, Bellah and her team collaborate with their franchise partners and build their checklists together. This way, their franchise partners can understand why an operations tool benefits them and the brand. 3. **Practice discipline** You have to use your franchise field operations tool, talk about it in meetings, and share your experiences in conversations with your franchise partners. Your team needs to understand why you – and they – are using it. Why do you need to complete the self-assessment? Why do you need to track your emails? What does this operations tool do for the franchisee and the brand? Bottom line, the greatest lesson we can all learn from Bellah is that if we want to introduce something new, each of us has to be the champion of that new system or new tool. Otherwise, it’s a hard sell to get our franchise partners on board. Be sure to listen to the full webinar to gain more insight. [Listen Now](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2173395/fe020909-613f-4bbd-b6af-334aee692c2a) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Ensure Quality, Operate **Tags:** Franchise News --- ### [3 Steps to Improving Franchisee Engagement with Real-Time Analytics](https://www.franconnect.com/the-3-key-steps-to-improving-franchisee-engagement-with-real-time-analytics/) **Published:** March 10, 2017 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Struggling with Franchisee engagement? Increase engagement with real-time analytics! Learn how analytics can benefit your relationship with franchisees. **Content:** In our ever-so-connected world of 24/7, the [franchisor-franchisee relationship](https://www.franconnect.com/3-tips-to-improve-franchisee-relationships-in-2022/) is in the midst of powerful change. More than ever, franchisors are focusing on the collaborative mindset that must be present for both parties to experience mutual success. And many are turning to powerful analytics and business intelligence tools. Just imagine how franchise leaders can impact franchisee engagement in our data-driven, digital world. For instance… - What if you could provide the “right” feedback and information – in real-time – so that franchisees had access to valuable insights that drive profitability? - What if you could ensure franchisor and franchisee alignment on business strategies, goals, and results in a way that is transparent to all involved? - What if you could create a true culture of engagement because you know, in real time, what to focus on and when? By leveraging business intelligence tools, franchisors can achieve higher levels of franchisee engagement by arming your field consultants with more relevant, timely information. End result? Smarter business decisions. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)Here are three steps to [improve franchisee engagement](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/the-hub/) with real-time analytics: 1. **Determine what your key metrics are for franchisee success for your concept.** Then create a mechanism for gathering data in real time across business functions to ensure franchisor and franchisee alignment in areas that include marketing, inventory management and ordering, pricing, acquiring new and retaining existing customers, website optimization, and more. By having access to real-time analytics, franchisors can gain immediate insights when franchisees improve performance, as well as in areas requiring additional support. 2. **Select and implement a reporting tool that is easy to use, can gather data from your entire system, and can be accessed anywhere – desktop and mobile.** Franchise leaders need to use real-time and customized reporting tools to ensure that knowledge and best practices are shared not only with the corporate team, but with individual franchise owners as well. Only then can the business – from top down – benefit from data-driven decisions, and franchisees can feel like valued business partners. 3. **Be obsessive about tracking performance and engagement levels of each unit.** By doing this, franchisors can create a better franchise owner experience that is relevant and targeted to each unit. Through real-time analytics, franchisors can discover trends in what is engaging some franchisees more so than others and in turn activate processes to better engage all franchisees. With transparent data and clear expectations, franchisors can make franchisees happy, which makes for a successful franchise system. With this approach, they are better positioned to drive profitability and growth. [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Analytics, Improve Performance **Tags:** Franchisee Engagement --- ### [FranConnect Releases Inaugural Franchise Operations Index Report](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-releases-inaugural-franchise-operations-index-report-2/) **Published:** May 27, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** FranConnect's First Annual Report analyzes over 165,000 franchise business consultant interactions, revealing critical insights. View the report here. **Content:** #### – First Annual Report Analyzes over 165,000 Franchise Business Consultant Interactions, Revealing Critical Insights into Franchise Field Operations during the Pandemic – **(HERNDON, Virginia) May 27, 2021** — [FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/), the leading provider of franchise management solutions for driving success in franchise sales, operations, and marketing, today released its first annual Franchise Operations Index Report, a comprehensive analysis of the ever-evolving role of franchise business consultants. In the 2021 report, FranConnect analyzed over 165,000 franchise business consultant interactions between Jan. 1, 2019 to Dec. 31, 2020 to help franchisors understand the impact of COVID-19 on franchise operations teams and benchmark their strategy and success against the broader industry. The 2021 Franchise Operations Index Report represents data from more than 600 of FranConnect’s customers, from Micro-Emerging brands (10 locations or less) to Enterprise concepts (300+ locations), across multiple industries, including quick-service restaurants, retail, automotive, personal services, and commercial and residential services, among others. Key findings in the 2021 Operations Index Report include: - **Franchisor-driven evaluations increased 9.4% in 2020** as brands shifted to more frequent, virtual interactions focused on ensuring franchisees were weathering the storm rather than the traditional compliance audit. - **The number of self-assessments more than tripled in 2020**, as franchisors more heavily relied on them as the pandemic persisted. - **Unscored audits increased by 29% in 2020**, which had been a growing trend even in pre-pandemic times. - **Evaluation strategies have clearly shifted**, with a majority of brands now using a combination of scored audits, unscored audits, and self-assessments**.** - **The pandemic increased franchisee business consultants’ span of control by over 21%**, with each coaching an average of 34 units in 2020. This was primarily due to downsizing and furloughs, as well as franchise business consultants’ ability to oversee more units because they were not spending time traveling. “In the current environment, operating a franchise business is more important than ever — elevating the need for franchisors to have a sound strategy to drive performance that can withstand good times and bad,” said Jason Kealey, Vice President of Strategy at FranConnect. “FranConnect is deeply focused on supporting our customers’ operational needs. We not only want to provide solutions that help them see their own performance, but also be able to leverage our collective data to see how they are performing against the broader industry. Our Operations Index Report is the only strategic analysis of its kind and is positioned to become the gold standard for how our industry tracks and evaluates the activities of franchise business consultants.” [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Company News, Operate **Tags:** Press Releases --- ### [Millennials in Franchising: To Be or Not To Be](https://www.franconnect.com/millennials-in-franchising-to-be-or-not-to-be/) **Published:** March 23, 2017 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Millennials in franchising – it's going to be. The time is now to focus your franchise marketing efforts to millennials. Click to learn why and how. **Content:** Millennials. It feels like whether or not you’re a part of this generation (loosely defined as born in 1980-1999), the word leaves a sour taste in your mouth. It comes with an air of entitlement, laziness, and narcissism. It paints a picture of a generation plagued with debt. But it also illustrates a generation of innovative, culturally diverse, well-educated, and tech-savvy individuals who are calculated-risk takers. And they’re on the hunt for the next best thing. Franchising is an overlooked opportunity among millennials, and I’d venture to say it’s an overlooked group of prospects in franchising. As a millennial working in the franchising space, I believe it’s a great fit for both sides. Here’s why you should target millennials in franchising. 1. **Entrepreneurship** – Franchising fulfills an entrepreneur’s desire to manage and run one’s own business, which is a desire of many millennials – to be our own boss. The National Chamber Foundation says [one-half to two-thirds of millennials are interested in entrepreneurship](https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/workforce). Franchising comes with support and a worn path to success, which the traditional startup does not offer, and this could be appealing to this generation. 2. **Work-life integration** – Millennials are looking for a lifestyle, not just a job. We aren’t interested in sitting in a cubicle for 40 hours a week. (Hence why many companies are offering more and more flexibility in the workplace.) Becoming a franchisee offers the lifestyle millennials are looking for, as it entails more than sitting behind a computer all day. It also means, to some extent, you can set your own hours and work on the go. 3. **Support** – Yes, millennials like to believe we know it all. I mean, here I am writing a blog post on why we’re a great fit for franchising, yet I am not a franchisee myself. However, we are eager to learn. We are the most college-educated generation, and many of us have earned higher degrees. The point is that we want to learn from successful people running successful businesses. Mentors are a big part of our lives as we navigate the world, and you – as the franchisor – have a great opportunity to present yourself as a mentor and support system while allowing us to run our own business and fulfill our entrepreneurial spirit. ![The time is now to focus your franchise marketing efforts on millennials.](http://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Stock_Photos/Stock-franchise-marketing-sign.jpg "The time is now to focus your franchise marketing efforts on millennials.") [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)Millennials are going to challenge you, but I think they’re going to challenge you for the better. We want nothing more than to succeed, and at the end of the day, that’s what you want, too. Plus, millennials are the largest generation thus far, and soon you won’t have an option in embracing them as viable candidates – otherwise, your business won’t be an option at all. How do you go about marketing to this group? Here are some tips for your franchise marketing efforts. 1. **Tell us we can be our own boss.** As mentioned, we want to be in charge. Focus on the aspect of franchising that gives us power and flexibility in running a business, not on doing what we’re told. 2. **Start in higher education.** Start your marketing efforts in universities and college programs. Plant the seed early on that this is a viable option for a career. Have an executive from your brand guest lecture at a nearby university or teach an online course. You won’t just be reaching 18-22-year-olds, but you’ll reach those of us who are taking classes part-time, too. Remember, we are eager to learn and have dedicated ourselves to being life-long students. 3. **Significantly strengthen your online presence.** We’re a tech-savvy bunch. We came of age alongside the technological boom, and it’s a part of us. If your digital presence is weak, there’s no way you are going to reach the millennial masses. It’s imperative to have a dedicated recruitment website with content that speaks directly to this audience. Include testimonials from current franchisees in this generation – consider capturing their experience on video or in a series of blog posts. Make sure your social media is alive and well, as this is a key place to connect with millennials. Use digital advertising. You’re going to have better results with social media advertising, AdWords, sponsored content, and earned media than print and more traditional outlets. 4. **Embrace technology.** Most of us are not going to be interested in opening a franchise unit with a company that isn’t using technology. It applies to the simple things, like having a strong email system instead of relying on phone calls (we don’t talk on the phone), as well as to more complex areas, such as having avenues for owners to share information, voice their opinions, and learn when and where we want to. As you partner with more millennial franchisees, be sure to have an open mind to learning from us, too, particularly as it pertains to technology. We’re up-to-date with the latest tech trends, and we will want to share ideas for your franchise system. Remember, we both want nothing more than to succeed. 5. **Guide us financially.** Unfortunately, most people in this generation don’t have a lot of spare change, and a many of us are plagued with debt from student loans. The upfront costs to become a franchisee will seem daunting, but show us that there are options when it comes to financing a new unit. Provide example worksheets on building a financial plan for the business, and offer tips and best practices for talking to lenders. This is most likely new territory for us, and we’ll be open to learning from you to become a great partner. The future of franchising is bright. To keep it this way, the time to start marketing to and working with millennials is now. (Though you do want to ensure these millennials are [qualified leads](https://www.franconnect.com/5-franchise-sales-efforts-that-increase-qualified-leads/).) Embrace this generation, as we’re big, bold, and here to stay. Together we can make great things happen and lead each other to success. **Want more tips on improving franchise sales?** Download a free copy of *Optimizing Franchise Development: Old School Principles Meet New School Tools*. [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Franchising Best Practices **Tags:** Franchise Marketing, Franchise Sales --- ### [What FranConnect Means by “Franchising Built-In”](https://www.franconnect.com/what-franconnect-means-by-franchising-built-in/) **Published:** March 22, 2017 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** FranConnect's software helps franchisors manage their business through the entire franchise lifecycle. Click to learn what Franchising Built-In means for us. **Content:** Running a franchise isn’t easy. It’s a complex, multi-layered business model. And while it’s possible to implement point solutions or build a home-grown system to support the many aspects of building and managing a franchise, the team at FranConnect saw a need to create something specifically for franchise businesses. That’s why we say FranConnect comes with Franchising Built-In – franchising wasn’t an afterthought, but a forethought. As the company and our product has grown, we’ve accounted for every stage of the franchise lifecycle: develop, open, engage, and market. Plus, we’ve even created tools that link your departments across all stages of the lifecycle – what we call the “perform” stage – so valuable information is transparent and accessible. [![FranConnect supports every stage of the franchise lifecycle.](http://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Brand_photos/five-step.png "FranConnect supports every stage of the franchise lifecycle.")](/franchise-management-software-lifecycle-diagram) For example, there are numerous CRM systems available for your sales team, but [FranConnect Sales](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/sales/) has exactly what franchisors need: FDD disclosure, statuses in the lead funnel specific to franchises, tracking from franchise lead sources, and franchise-specific reports. [FranConnect Finance](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/royalty-manager/) offers royalty reporting, a key pillar of the franchise business model. And [FranConnect Opener](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/opener/) is a project management tool created specifically to guide your team through the process of opening new units. Get the idea? We constantly evolve as our customers’ wants and needs evolve. As you grow, we grow; as you learn, we learn. Our team consists of [Certified Franchise Executives](https://www.franchise.org/certification), so we know what your challenges are and where the pitfalls are. We also know that each and everyone one of you – whether you’re in services, QSR, hospitality, real estate, or any other vertical – is in business to award more units and make those units more successful. When you achieve, we achieve. When you succeed, we succeed. Everything we’ve done and everything we will do has the franchise business model in mind, to help franchisors and their franchisees more effectively manage, track, and run their business. Learn more about how FranConnect can help your franchise today. FranConnect – Franchising Built-In™. [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Develop **Tags:** FranConnect --- ### [Nestlé Toll House Café By Chip Recognizes FranConnect as Vendor of the Year](https://www.franconnect.com/nestle-toll-house-cafe-by-chip-recognizes-franconnect-as-vendor-of-the-year/) **Published:** January 22, 2017 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** FranConnect, a franchise management software, was selected as Nestlé Toll House Café by Chip's 2017 Vendor of the Year. Click to learn more. **Content:** *FranConnect selected as 2017 Vendor of the Year based on tangible value Nestlé Toll House Café by Chip has derived from using FranConnect’s products and superior level of customer engagement they have experienced* Reston, VA (March 28, 2017) – FranConnect, the leading provider of franchise management software, received the Vendor of the Year award at the 2017 Nestlé Toll House Café by Chip annual convention held at the Gaylord Texan Resort in Dallas. FranConnect has been Nestlé Toll House Café by Chip’s chosen franchise management software since 2012. The company recently migrated to FranConnect Sky, FranConnect’s advanced cloud product suite. The FranConnect Sky solution serves their corporate team, as well as all of their franchisees in the U.S. and internationally. “The award is well deserved. We cannot say enough about the support we have received from the FranConnect team as we work to build a strong business,” said Ziad Dalal, CEO of Crest Foods, Inc., franchisor of Nestlé Toll House Café by Chip. “Shawnon, our COO, and I were committed to this partnership, and the FranConnect team rose to the challenge. We have implemented multiple FranConnect Sky modules, including FranConnect Sky mobile apps. As we take each module live, we are amazed at the depth of functionality and how well it aligns to our business. We look forward to a continued strong partnership.” ***Learn how Shawnon Bellah implemented an [effective field operations tool](https://blog.franconnect.com/franconnect-webinar/implement-effective-field-operations) to take her team from good to great.*** “Our team is honored and humbled to have received such an award from Nestlé Toll House Café by Chip,” said Christopher E. Fountain, CEO of FranConnect. “One of our core tenants has been to exceed our customers’ expectations by delivering compelling new and improved products and focusing our customer operations on value creation and business outcomes. Receiving this award validates that we are on the right track.” ***Learn more about how FranConnect supports the entire franchise lifecycle, or click below to request a demo.*** [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Customer Updates, Global News **Tags:** Press Mentions --- ### [10 Critical Steps for Franchise Sales Growth](https://www.franconnect.com/10-critical-steps-for-franchise-sales-growth/) **Published:** July 26, 2017 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** The franchise sales team for Wayback Burgers discuss 10 key tactics that have led to their tremendous growth. Click to learn more! **Content:** Franchise sales is hard. It’s a very competitive business, and the sales cycle from lead generation to qualification to closing is complex. [Wayback Burgers](https://waybackburgers.com/franchising/), a burger franchise that operates 138 restaurants nationwide in 27 states and 35 restaurants internationally, has figured out the key tactics that has quickly grown the concept. The number one key to their success is a well-defined and strategic sales process. They know exactly what happens when, who sends what to whom, when and how to follow up…you get the idea. Let’s take a look at the 10 critical steps for franchise sales that Wayback Burgers’ Executive Vice President Bill Chemero, CFE, and Vice President of Franchise Development Scott Milas, CFE, follow to ensure ongoing growth and success. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)1. **Non-traditional locations** – Wayback Burgers is always on the lookout for new places to open a location. They have restaurants in airports, university campuses, stadiums, military bases, and even retail locations such as Wal-Mart. This not only increases customers, but it also increases the number and type of potential candidates for your franchise. 2. **Strong validation from franchisees** – Current franchisees are key to any franchise sales strategy, and Wayback Burgers is proud to say that 24% of their multi-unit operators started out with a single store. Prospective owners are encouraged by this, as it shows the potential success and growth when coming on as a partner. 3. **Profile of owner** – Creating [franchisee buyer personas](https://www.franconnect.com/creating-franchisee-buyer-personas/) is important for both sales and marketing teams. You want to know exactly who your target audience is for your sales and marketing strategies. Wayback Burgers explicitly defined the profiles of their owners, and they point out that owners don’t necessarily need to have restaurant experience. Just because a lead doesn’t have direct experience [working in a restaurant](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/restaurants/) doesn’t mean that person wouldn’t be great at it. [![Persona Workboook_Thumbnail-655827-edited.png](http://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Persona%20Workboook_Thumbnail-655827-edited.png "Persona Workboook_Thumbnail-655827-edited.png")](http://go.franconnect.com/create-franchisee-buyer-persona-workbook) 4. **Call leads within 24 hours** – When a new lead comes in, Wayback Burgers calls within 24 hours at *most*. Upon inquiry, the lead will receive an automated email, but Scott ensures he also follows up with a timely phone call – even during the weekend. It’s important to connect with a lead while your organization is still fresh on their mind. 5. **Pre-qualify when possible** – Wayback Burgers works with BoeFly, an online marketplace for commercial transactions. BoeFly helps candidates pre-qualify financially to quickly move along the sales process with Wayback Burgers. Pre-qualification also lets the organization know early on which candidates are viable partners. 6. **Create action steps every step of the way** – [Engagement is key during every step of the franchise sales cycle](https://www.franconnect.com/engage-candidates-during-every-stage-of-the-franchise-sales-cycle/), so Wayback Burgers ensures there are multiple “action steps” for leads during the process. This keeps leads engaged and shows that the candidate is truly interested. Action steps include tasks such as pre-qualifying with BoeFly, sending a flight itinerary prior to attending a discovery day, gathering proof for funding, and more. [![Engage franchise candidates at every stage of the franchise sales cycle.](http://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Franchise%20Candidate%20Engagement%20Worksheet_Image-283926-edited.png "Engage franchise candidates at every stage of the franchise sales cycle.")](http://go.franconnect.com/franchise-candidate-engagement-worksheet) 7. **Controlled release of FDD** – It’s legally required that a franchise organization send their FDD at the request of a candidate, but Wayback Burgers controls that step to the best of their ability. They have found that most candidates don’t care when they receive the FDD if you have a good reason and a process in place that works. Instead of sharing it right away, the organization shares it at the very end of the discovery day. Prior to that they want candidates focused on learning about the brand and the opportunity to join, not focusing on the gritty details. After the discovery day, candidates are welcome to spend time evaluating the FDD. 8. **Protect your franchisees** – Franchisee validation is a natural and important step in the sales process. Every candidate wants to talk to someone who has gone through the process. But Wayback Burgers ensures they protect their franchisees and value their time. They don’t let candidates bombard franchisees with calls; instead, validators attend discovery days so the process is controlled, and the franchisees can focus on the task at hand. Wayback Burgers says that their franchisees appreciate this and feel like they can do a better job representing the company. ![Protect your franchisee validators by valuing their time.](http://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Stock_Photos/Stock-business-meeting.jpg "Protect your franchisee validators by valuing their time.") 9. **Message dead leads** – Although there are certainly killed leads that are not ever going to become a franchisee with your organization for one reason or another, there are some where they just weren’t engaged at the right time. Wayback Burgers suggests continuing to message these leads. For example, share news about the company’s progress or if there is an open opportunity in that person’s area. You never know when a dead lead might come back to life! 10. **Know your sources** – Wayback Burgers doesn’t attribute their success to spending a ton of money on marketing and sales. Instead, they put their dollars where it works best. They know exactly where their leads are coming from and allocate their dollars there. [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Develop, Expand Locations **Tags:** Best Practices, Franchise Sales --- ### [The New C-Suite Position Franchisors Don’t Know They Need](https://www.franconnect.com/the-new-c-suite-position-franchisors-dont-know-they-need/) **Published:** November 17, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** The new c-suite position helping franchisors continually improve and deliver a better experience for their franchisees. **Content:** #### Written by Keith Gerson, CFE – Gerson Advisory Services As a franchisor, it can feel awkward to refer to your franchisees as customers, right? But by and large – they really are. As the franchisor, you can control the things that are defined in your franchise agreement, but at the end of the day these franchisees are not your employees. Thus, influencing what they do daily and dictating how they run their business is entirely up to them. ## The Franchise Experience Conundrum Most people enter franchising looking for success and a profit. But don’t fall into the trap of assuming that finances are the number one thing keeping them up at night. What is the overall experience that a franchisee has? If you think about the journey of the franchisee, there is a starting point and invariably an ending point. We all would like to think that franchise relationships are forever, but if a franchisee is doing exceptionally well, their goal down the road could be to secure a buyer and exit the business with a profit. They always start out with the understanding that they are new to the business, and they need to learn more about the product, technology, and marketing. However, those notions eventually may turn into things like business valuations and succession plans. Their customer experience has everything to do with where they are at and in what phase they are in of their franchise life. What is their experience when they need help or need a question answered? Is someone ensuring that they are reading the operations manual or suggesting that they may need more training and development? [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/)When you are a brand-new franchisee, the general thought is that at that exact moment and time, you are making the smallest contribution to your franchise organization. You have zero to limited revenues and you are getting a lot of love, support, and visitations from your franchisor. As the franchisor, your main goal is getting this unit stood up and out of the gates in their first year. On the other end of the spectrum, you might have other franchisees, often the highest franchise revenue contributors, that end up being the ones that are most unhappy. It’s not unusual to hear a long-term, high performer lamenting the fact that they pay the most money in royalties, put the least demands on a franchise system, yet get less relevant support than new franchisees and average performers. This notion can leave a strain on the relationship they have with their franchisor. Depending on where the franchisee is in their franchise journey, it could require you to apply different tactics and attention to the various customers/units throughout your system. ## Introducing the CFXO The franchisor of the future should be introducing the role of a Chief Franchise Experience Officer (CFXO), the executive who wakes up every morning thinking about “how do we continually improve and deliver a better experience for our franchisees, and why is that important?”. Even [Harvard Business Review](https://hbr.org/2019/06/why-every-company-needs-a-chief-experience-officer) makes the case that every company should have a CXO – so why not a CFXO? For starters, the CFXO would be the person responsible for understanding why so many franchisees within a system are operating in the lower performance quadrant, especially given that franchise systems already have franchise business consultants that are (or should be) held accountable for their assigned franchisees results? Is it worth a franchisors time and expense? It is when you also consider that: - Many finance companies will not lend to a system or to its franchisees that have greater than a five percent (5%) rate of turnover (aka regrettable churn). - Franchisees that terminate must be reflected in the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) for a full year after their departure. This includes their name, address, and contact information for prospective franchisees to call when doing their due diligence. - The loss of franchisees can have a detrimental impact on the morale of your other franchisees. The primary role of the CFXO will be to oversee every interaction that a franchisee has with your brand. This will be accomplished with franchisee journey mapping. If you touch the franchisee or you’re supporting someone that touches the franchisee, you’ll need to really understand how to do a journey map along with what the inputs are to that, because it will help create empath, and empathy is so important in moving towards a better future state and a better experience. This will become a core competency, and not a function. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)If we look at the franchisee customer experience on a chart to break down each of the steps in their franchise evolution, someone would be assigned and accountable for making sure that each step and experience is the best. Different from the Franchise Success Manager – this person can ensure other positions in the system are accountable for helping the franchisee succeed. Having one person in your organization who knows what to look for and is providing a situational success map for franchisees can help franchisees feel like they aren’t getting help that is “one size fits all”. *Talk to our team today to see how we can help you manage all the aspects of your business, so you can focus on your franchisee’s experience and growth goals.* ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Develop, Engage, Operate **Tags:** Franchise Development, Franchise Operations --- ### [How to Refine your Franchise Business Consultant Program to Improve Performance](https://www.franconnect.com/why-refining-your-franchise-business-consultant-program-can-improve-performance/) **Published:** August 31, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Franchise business consultants have always been critical to brand success. Get our insider tips to make sure your FBC program helps franchisees succeed! **Content:** [Franchise business consultants](https://www.franconnect.com/5-critical-insights-franchise-business-consultants-and-franchise-operations-teams-should-know/) have always been critical drivers of brand success, but their role has shifted considerably over the years and continues to evolve today. Ten or 20 years ago, FBCs’ primary role was to ensure operational compliance. Protecting brand consistency is still essential, but most FBCs are now equally focused on coaching to improve performance. Coaching can be informal, but we find that the most effective FBC–franchisee relationships fall toward the more formal, data-driven side of the spectrum. [During the pandemic](https://www.franconnect.com/4-lessons-every-franchisor-should-learn-from-the-pandemic/), many brands increased their FBCs’ spans of control. That occurred, in part, because FBCs were conducting virtual visits mostly or exclusively, and they had more bandwidth as a result. On average, FBCs now manage a network of about 34 franchisees. Together, these shifts have created an opportunity — and a best practice — for FBCs to deliver coaching through more structured, consistent business planning with their franchisees. The most effective FBCs strategically blend coaching and compliance; leverage data and technology to develop collaborative action plans; and carry out their work using a mix of in-person and virtual visits. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)## Better Data Increases Visibility and Supports Formal Performance Plans One of the biggest differentiators among franchisors is the use of software that increases visibility across FBCs’ spans of control and allows for granular analysis of locations, both individually and as a group. These solutions aggregate all the key performance metrics into a single, easy-to-digest dashboard. This increases visibility significantly, and it helps to address data overload. Rather than consulting all the various systems that [inform KPIs](https://www.franconnect.com/how-to-use-kpis-as-a-tool-for-franchise-business-planning/), FBCs can use a single solution to monitor franchisees, develop action plans and track progress. Before the FBC even goes to a location or arrives at a virtual meeting, they have all the necessary data at their fingertips. They know the franchisee’s sales, customer satisfaction scores, labor costs and other metrics. Rather than relying on a perception, such as “I think your labor costs are a bit high,” the FBC knows exactly where the metric stands. They can say, for instance, “This location is 20% higher than every other location of the same age and the same square footage.” More granular analysis leads, in turn, to more robust conversations with franchisees and more effective corrective action. If the FBC identifies a weakness — too-high food costs, for instance — he or she can have the franchisee take specific steps to address the problem. When they meet for a follow-up review, they’ll have the benefit of data to evaluate whether those actions moved the needle. Although brands fall all along the spectrum in their approach to business planning, the most successful ones are leveraging technology to establish structured programs that utilize both data and coaching to achieve desired results. ## Hybrid Oversight Blends the Best of Both In-Person and Virtual Visits Due to COVID-19, many franchisors have been pleasantly surprised to discover that converting in-person visits to virtual check-ins offers advantages. Less travel reduced expenses and enabled FBCs to have more frequent, shorter touchpoints with their franchisees. That made it easier to course-correct. Larger spans of control gave FBCs broader visibility, which allowed them to identify trends (positive and negative) and disseminate best practices more quickly. Today, some brands are electing to keep all their coaching virtual and to hire food safety auditors to visit units in person. There’s value in that, particularly from a cost savings perspective, but it’s not necessarily the best option. Over time, there is a risk that fully virtual oversight will lead to slippage in brand consistency. Other brands are reverting to their pre-pandemic method of having FBCs do most or all of their work in person. Our research suggests that the best approach is hybrid. FBCs would visit franchisees in person for perhaps three-quarters of their touchpoints, with the remaining visit a virtual session focused on coaching. That allows franchisors to retain a portion of the cost savings without compromising FBCs’ compliance function or their coaching capability. ## The Right Tools Allow FBCs to Focus on Strategic Objectives FBCs’ role is unique in that they wear multiple hats. They must understand the strategic initiatives of the franchisor to make sure these get deployed at the franchisee level. They also need to make the franchisee feel they’re there for them to improve their business. The best FBCs meet these demands by being versatile; they are analytical enough to understand the strengths and limitations of franchisees and their locations, and to adapt their approach accordingly. [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/)A franchisee who’s a great salesperson, for example, may shine when it comes to making customers happy. But if they’re not financially savvy, they may drop in profitability. Another franchisee may be an introvert who’s always on top of the numbers, but struggles to manage employees. The skilled FBC will work differently with each individual to achieve the same end: better performance, better metrics. It’s almost impossible to overstate the importance of the FBC, as both a coach for individual franchisees and as a liaison with the brand as a whole. Make sure that your FBC program, including the tools that support them on the job, puts them in the best position to help franchisees succeed. *FranConnect’s first-ever [Franchise Operations Index](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-releases-inaugural-franchise-operations-index-report-2/) provides a deep analysis of the quickly-evolving role of the Franchise Business Consultant. [Download it now](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-releases-inaugural-franchise-operations-index-report-2/) to see critical insights for Operations Executives and Franchise Leaders who need to benchmark their performance and refine their strategies for 2021 and beyond.* ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Develop, Improve Performance, Operate **Tags:** Franchise Development, Franchise Operations, Franchise Sales --- ### [20 Tips to Help You Audit your Franchise Field Audit](https://www.franconnect.com/20-tips-to-help-you-audit-your-franchise-field-audit/) **Published:** August 12, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** After many months of uncertainty, field visits are making a comeback. Now is an ideal time to review the health of your current franchise field audit. **Content:** The COVID-19 pandemic continues to present new challenges for franchisors. Yet day by day, we are seeing an uptick in field audits despite many months of uncertainty and dependence on virtual visits. Now is a good time to dust off that old field audit questionnaire and get it ready for use. You can start by making sure your audit is the best it can be – in other words, doing an audit of your franchise audit. In this post, we’ve outlined a simple list of tips to help you review the health of your current franchise field auditing process for optimal outcomes. ### 1. Eliminate unnecessary or redundant questions Having extra questions means unnecessary work for the auditor. In addition to obvious extra questions, you’ll find more subtle questions that are simply redundant. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)It’s critical to eliminate any redundancy or unnecessary questions to ensure you’re getting the most streamlined and critical answers from your audit. ### 2. Make sure each question addresses a single concern A question that addresses multiple concerns makes it difficult for the franchisee to understand what needs fixing. Example: “Walls and floors are clean and don’t feature any apparent damage and the marketing posters on the wall are recent and approved.” When faced with a failure on this question, the franchisee would not be sure what to fix. ### 3. Use an appropriate question/answer format How you ask questions can impact your outcomes. Question formats such as multiple-choice, text-based or yes/no should be carefully considered when building an audit. Example: Using a yes/no question when it comes to meeting temperature standards rather than simply recording the temperature value itself. ### 4. Ask specific, measurable, actionable, relevant and time-bound (SMART) questions When designing a questionnaire, you should review the characteristics of each question to ensure the audits are objective and impactful. If a question is vague or addresses too many concerns, it’s unclear what is being evaluated. If it’s not measurable, then the audit becomes subjective. If it’s not actionable, then you won’t be able to find fixes for problems. If it’s not relevant, then it’s extra work that isn’t impactful. Finally, questions which aren’t time-bound make it unclear as to what time period is actually being evaluated. Example: Using terms such as “a reasonable amount of time” instead of simply recording how quickly the franchisee should perform the service in terms of seconds, minutes, and hours. ### 5. Review for spelling or grammar mistakes Spelling and grammar errors can cause auditors and franchisees to lose faith in the system. ### 6. Align the questionnaire with the audit flow Matching the audit “flow”, starting outside the front door and ending with the coaching session at the back can save time and enhance the process. ### 7. Include references to relevant documentation A question that refers back to standards should include a reference to the franchise manual or online standards guide. Example: “Scheduling appropriate to sales volume” – the guideline outlining how many employees a franchisee needs for a given sales volume should be posted. ### 8. Tag questions with the relevant process that drives that standard Audit scores are often represented by top-level section scores such as “Back of house: 80%” or “Cleanliness: 75%”. This is a good way to slice the information, but additional facets can be reviewed. It is a best practice to tag specific questions with the relevant process that drives that standard. When a set of standards fail and they’re all associated to the same back-end process, you can coach for the root cause rather than each standard. Example: A standard such as “smiling and welcoming guests” could be categorized as “service” but a better way would be to tag it as “Training: going above what’s required & wowing the guest”. ### 9. Be intentional about audit length The audit should only be as long, or as short as it needs to be in order to achieve its goals. Most long-form format audits contain 200 to 400 questions. When shorter (eg: 50 questions), the coach may be perceived as performing a cursory visit and not going into detail. It’s normal (and desirable) to have short-form audits, but if your longest one is only 100 questions, you likely haven’t formalized your visit/coaching process. When longer (ex: 600 questions), the coach may be perceived as performing busywork, and spending too much time filling out forms rather than coaching franchisees. If you drill down into the data, you’ll normally notice a large cross-section of the audit never-fails. These questions are candidates to be removed. ### 10. Recognize that extremely high scores don’t always drive change While at first it may seem like a good thing to have strong audit scores, scores that are too high will not drive change in the organization. An average score of over 90% will lead franchisees to lose motivation in terms of corrective actions as they see themselves as performing at an A+ level whereas the franchisor’s view may be different. Solutions to this issue are complex but include: - Calibrating coaches to be stricter - Changing the standards to be stricter - Shortening the audits by removing questions which always succeed - Changing weights of certain questions/sections/failures - Adding new questions aligned with the present system weaknesses that aren’t captured ### 11. Be prepared to set rules for critical, no-fail questions There are some audit questions which are so core to the brand that they should have a “critical” marking – such as using unapproved suppliers. If questions are marked with severity, additional business rules such as “the audit should fail if any critical questions fail” can be easily put into place instead of a convoluted question weighting system. ### 12. Define a corrective action plan that includes accountability When a weakness is recognized, it is a best practice to use a corrective action to get it followed-up on by the appropriate person. It’s typical to not start using the task system immediately when adopting a platform such as FranConnect as it does require a bit of change management and expectation management with the franchisees. Once established, however, leveraging tasks can increase accountability. Having a backlog of tasks indicates a lack of process or of training – it is a good idea to discuss expectations with the franchisees and coaches. ### 13. Review processes and standards to address system-wide weaknesses When exploring system-wide weaknesses, sometimes there is a core process that is consistently not being followed. To solve system-wide weaknesses, it can make sense to include new practices such as recurring self-assessments. Example: A consistent failure on exterior cleanliness may require a system-wide training or process reminder, perhaps complemented by daily self-assessments where pictures are submitted. ### 14. Be a collaborative coach, not a standards cop The franchise consultant role is evolving beyond simply being a “cop” who maintains standards. It is also a “coach” who helps the franchisee achieve their goals. The questionnaire should reflect this change. Example: Having a “coaching” section in the audit is a fantastic first step towards creating a coaching dynamic. ### 15. Automate and reduce the need for manual input We sometimes see questionnaires which include various number questions which need to be punched in by the coach. For example, what were last month’s sales, labor costs, etc. [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/)Automating this collection outside of the coach’s visit, via an integration with the Point of Sale or other source system, can save the coach time plus enable them to have time to research ahead of the visit and prepare a proper action plan with the franchisee. ### 16. Ensure all auditors adhere to the same standards When reviewing average scores among auditors, you may notice dramatically different scores. One root cause of this is an inconsistent understanding of what the standards are for each auditor. ### 17. Develop a photo stream of the key important standards When your coaches aren’t calibrated on a certain question, it is often helpful to utilize pictures to highlight both when a standard is not met AND when it is met. This generates a photo stream that the whole team can observe and discuss. It helps refine the standard so everyone is in agreement. If you only have pictures of failures, you have a skewed perspective. A few key standards, even if they do not have any calibration issues, should be consistently documented with pictures (both success & failure) as it is a goldmine of information. ### 18. Implement an approval process to prevent backlog Having a backlog of pending audits could mean that completed work is not being used. Make sure to have an approval “rhythm” set up within the system and the appropriate auditor manager is aware of your expectations. Alternatively, some questionnaires may benefit from being automatically approved. ### 19. Set up a process to ensure all locations are consistently visited Having locations “fall through the cracks” could be detrimental to the brand on many levels. We’ve often seen this in contexts where a franchisor expects each coach to visit each location quarterly but doesn’t effectively make the coaches accountable to do so. ### 20. Consider adding new questionnaires The average franchisor has approximately 6 different questionnaires, so it’s worth considering whether the set for your franchise is complete. Pay attention to mix of self-assessments and unscored audits ([see more about that in our Franchise Operations Index report](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-releases-inaugural-franchise-operations-index-report-2/)). If you use operations software to identify your weak unit segments, you can create questionnaires just for those underperformers. Sample questionnaires include: - Quarterly or Annual Business Plan - Weekly/monthly phone call business check-in - New store opening checklist - Food safety audit - Daily store logs self-assessments (openings/closings) - New marketing rollout assessment - New product readiness self-assessment *For more on franchisee engagement, performance management, and franchisee collaboration, download our [High Impact Franchisee Engagement Playbook](/franconnect-franchise-library-2020).* ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Ensure Quality, Operate **Tags:** Franchise field audit --- ### [5 Challenges of Online Learning – and How to Solve Them](https://www.franconnect.com/5-challenges-of-online-learning/) **Published:** May 29, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** There are benefits and challenges of online learning, and it’s prudent to be aware of both. **Content:** There are indications we may, finally, be entering a post-COVID-19 world. While no one can predict what that world will look like from an employee training perspective, one thing is clear: there will be no return to a pre-COVID normal. Now that employees have tasted the convenience of flex-time and work-from-home policies, it’s too late to recork that bottle. And while online training has been around for some time, it truly evolved and came of age out of necessity during the pandemic. Now it’s here to stay – with demand continuing to grow, fueled not only by the ongoing necessity for social distancing but by younger generations for whom convenient training is non-negotiable. There are benefits and challenges of online learning, and it’s prudent to be aware of both. If your company hasn’t yet embraced online learning or is in the process of doing so, this post will help you think through and prepare for this exciting transition. Let’s walk through five common challenges of online learning your company is bound to encounter, and tips for overcoming them. ### Boring or Unengaging Content Even in the age of interactivity and personalization, trainers may rely too much on one-size-fits-all content. Some companies, in their eagerness to move to online training, simply digitize their paper-based training content without first adapting it for a new learning medium and audience. That’s a recipe for training that is uninspiring and boring. One way to avoid the boredom trap is to break your learning courses into small, bite-sized modules that can be quickly and easily consumed by your employees. To create and sustain interest in online training, your L&D specialists must ensure their content and capabilities are visual, interactive, responsive, and relevant. Granted, that’s a lot to ask, given how much they’re already doing. The good news is that today’s easy-to-deploy LMS is powered by artificial intelligence, designed for a mobile-first experience, and comes equipped with immersive, engaging features like gamification and social learning. Today’s LMS can keep even the most tech-savvy employees on their feet. ### Technical Difficulties Technology can help facilitate online training, communication, and collaboration; in fact, transitioning to online learning cannot be achieved without an investment in technology. But it must be the right technology. The last thing you want is to have different employees operating from different operating systems and browsers. As soon as employees encounter “technical difficulties,” their frustration levels could grow and they may end up blowing off the training altogether. [Train Employees](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/training/)This is why it’s critical to ensure you have IT staff available to serve your employees and help ease their transition to online training. Also, you can avoid the compatibility trap and other technical issues by selecting an online learning platform that is easy to deploy and use. Consider investing in an LMS with a simple mobile-first interface that all employees can access anytime, regardless of their physical location. ### Lack of Motivation One of the biggest challenges of learning in an online environment is maintaining motivation. Many employees count on external motivation to complete this necessary training, such as co-worker encouragement or a top-down deadline. Adding intrinsic motivation is the icing on the cake, building enthusiasm and engagement as well. Without either, managers could very well see a decline in participation among staff and, in turn, productivity. One to maintain motivational momentum is to create a schedule, develop small, achievable goals, and track goals against progress. Here, technology offers another solution. Right now one of the most promising areas in learning development is the gamification of employee training. By introducing friendly competition and incentives, trainers can keep their employees motivated and increase training completion rates. ### Sense of Disconnect or Loneliness One “side effect” of online learning to be on the lookout for is a sense of isolation that comes with completing training solo, rather than in a group setting. Should this feeling grow, it could cause employees to become withdrawn and unhappy. It also can affect their sense of belonging, self-esteem, and over time, their attitude and productivity. Learning and development specialists and managers can help prevent this scenario. Always listen openly and empathetically to your employees’ needs, and use technology to facilitate connection opportunities between staff members. For example, a learning management system (LMS), which many companies use to automate and administer their online training programs, has social media and social learning mechanisms built into it. This can help build a community around learning, rather than silos. ### Time Constraints The 2019 LinkedIn Learning [Report](https://learning.linkedin.com/resources/workplace-learning-report?src=li-lil&trk=lil_enterprise_homepage_announement_banner) found that the most significant obstacle to employee training is a scarcity of time. That’s why it’s so important that the message comes from the top – unless employees are told explicitly to invest time in training, they will be reluctant to do so. In order to accelerate training completion rates, HR and L&D specialists may find that they are constantly sending email reminders to staff, which can take a good amount of time and may or may not be effective. One of the time-saving features of an LMS is that it can automate the enrollment process, send out reminder emails, and even provide real-time course completion rates. Another way to encourage time-strapped employees to make time for training is to make it irresistibly convenient and flexible. One reason why the mobile-first LMS is so popular is that it gives employees greater control over their training journey; they can log on to the user-friendly interface and access training anywhere, any place, and on any device. But remember, while online training can empower employees and significantly reduce HR and trainer expenditures, there are challenges that accompany the shift to online learning. Almost all companies, sooner or later, must navigate the five challenges of online learning that we just walked through. [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/)As they transition to online training, companies that invest in [technology](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/) will be ahead of the curve and in a position to take advantage of its tremendous benefits. The cost savings alone of cloud-based training is potentially huge, depending on how much your company traditionally spends on the instructor, course, venue, travel, and printing costs. In addition to cutting costs, online training can help accelerate the onboarding process and lead to new efficiencies. Because of these advantages, online learning is clearly here to stay. While online learning solutions are not without their initial challenges, once you’re up and running it’s much smoother to maintain and improve. [Book a demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo) today to learn how the World Manager LMS makes it easy to incorporate online training into your learning and development mix. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Engage, Retain and Onboard Employees **Tags:** LMS --- ### [How Goal-Setting Can Transform the Employee Learning Experience](https://www.franconnect.com/transform-employee-learning-experience/) **Published:** May 21, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Companies today realize that using the right Learning Managing System is the first step towards empowering their employees to grow and learn. **Content:** Companies today realize that using the right [Learning Managing System](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/) is the first step towards empowering their employees to grow and learn. There are key numbers supporting the above statement. In 2017, the percentage of US companies using [online learning](https://techjury.net/stats-about/elearning/#gref) hit 77%. According to the Brandon Hall Group’s HCM Outlook [Survey](http://www.brandonhall.com/blogs/brandon-hall-group-research-published-june-5-june-11/), eLearning could reduce employee training time by as much as 40-60%. Amazon recognized this new era of employee training and took the [action](https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/organizational-and-employee-development/pages/amazon-commits-to-investing-millions-in-training.aspx) required to seize today’s labor market, investing millions towards employee training. [This report](https://www.shrm.org/hr-today/trends-and-forecasting/research-and-surveys/Documents/SHRM%20Employee%20Training%20SlideDoc.pdf) shows that 67% of employers surveyed in 2019 offer educational assistance to some or all of their employees, indicating America’s commitment to a more productive, happier workforce. Employee development programs are the best way to tap into current employee potential. The main goal is to improve the employee’s existing competencies to help achieve the employer’s goals. [Train Employees](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/training/)While most managers get it right by introducing training plans, they fall short by failing to take the measurable steps required to put a favorable learning outline in place. ## Why Are Learning Objectives Important for Employee Training? Training objectives are the **measurable steps** a manager needs to achieve their overall training program goal. Employee training and goal-setting are vital responsibilities for any manager. By setting attainable goals, a manager not only spearheads an improvement in employee performance but also fortifies the company’s reputation as an employer of choice. A [Harvard MBA study](https://www.wanderlustworker.com/the-harvard-mba-business-school-study-on-goal-setting/) on goal setting found that 14% of the MBAs who set goals were *10 times more successful* than those without goals, even though they hadn’t actually written their goals down. The 3% of MBAs who had written their goals down, were 3 times more successful than the 14% with unwritten goals. **The main benefits of setting training objectives are:** - Saving the company time and money - Determining the design process for training materials and features - Giving learning administrators a training roadmap - Allowing employees to set clear goals - Helping administrators with analysis - Bringing sharp focus to the company’s short-term and future success - Setting guidelines and criteria for successful employee performance reviews ### How Can You Set Appropriate Training Goals? This TED Talk by John Doerr sums it up nicely. “Execution is what matters the most.” Before starting any training cycle, the manager needs to conduct a Training Needs Analysis (TNA). Although a TNA can be conducted at any time, they’re best done: - After hiring new employees - Right before performance reviews - When performance improvements are needed - To facilitate incumbent employees’ career development - When new changes are made to employees’ jobs Before crafting training learning objectives, the manager needs to access their LMS goal and answer these questions: - Does the LMS goal reflect the company’s vision of how training programs should be run? - Is the goal shaped towards the intended result of a well-run program? - What are the company’s immediate, intermediate, and long-term training needs? - What gaps exist in the employees’ job performances? ### Once These Questions Are Handled, the Training Managers’ Next Steps Include: #### Factoring in the Whole Company For example, if the company employs full-time, part-time or remote employees, the learning objectives should consider them as well: - Company stakeholders - Training facilitators - Contractors - Team Leads #### Considering All Employee Training Levels A program created for entry-level employees cannot be the same as one targeting seasoned ones. The training manager must create objectives based on the varying degrees of curriculum and material required at each employee level. Learning goals should take into account the **six cognitive learning goals** outlined by Bloom’s Taxonomy. These include: **Remembering**: Where the learner is required to recall their previously acquired knowledge, i.e.: recognize, recall, retrieve, list, name, define, and match. **Understanding**: Where the learner needs to demonstrate their comprehension by explaining what they learned to others. I.e.: interpret, identify, classify, and explain. **Applying**: Where the learners can make the transition from theory to practice i.e.: organize, plan, implement, execute, and solve. **Analyzing**: Where the learners can effortlessly break down gained knowledge into smaller components and identify each differing relationship in the information i.e.: categorize, classify, simplify, list, distinguish, and compare. **Evaluating**: Where learners are able to exercise judgment and form decisions based on the knowledge acquired i.e.: choose, compare, measure, determine, disprove, prioritize, and interpret. **Creating**: Where learners become independent enough to create something new using the newly acquired knowledge i.e.: develop, design, improve, adapt, solve, modify, and perform. #### Involving the Employees in the Whole Process The drive behind setting goals is to help employees improve organically. Naturally, including them from start to finish is the smart choice. Securing employee buy-in for training and development has its perks: - It increases the likelihood of success. - Short- and long-term goals can be a collaborative effort between the employees and the manager. - There’s a higher chance of developing SMART training goals (specific, measurable, actionable, results-oriented, and time-bound). - It raises employee commitment and allows a sense of ownership over their training. - It encourages employees to set stretch goals. - It motivates ongoing development, even beyond the workplace. #### Linking Business Objectives to Employees’ Individual Goals Most companies that report effective performance management systems have found a way to align their employees’ goals to the organization’s business priorities. > *Information is a source of learning. But unless it is organized, processed, and available to the right people in a format for decision making, it is a burden, not a benefit. —* **C. William Pollard, Chairman, Fairwyn Investment Company** The training facilitator must show employees how their individual goals can fit into the bigger company picture. By converting the above elements into overall team performance goals, the facilitator increases the employees’ levels of personal accountability over their performances. #### Adapting Learning Goals in Real-Time Successful adult learning goals evolve over time. > *An organization’s ability to learn, and translate that learning into action rapidly is the ultimate competitive advantage. —* **Jack Welch, former General Electric CEO** The biggest mistake training managers make is creating goals at the beginning of the year and only getting back to them during reviews. [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/)Business realities vary from month to month, and failing to revisit them can be demotivating for the employees. Therefore, the goals must flow with the organization’s changes throughout the year. ## Great Employee Learning Goals Learning goals are headed in the right direction if they: - Include specific action verbs e.g.: ***Before the next quarter, all employees need to demonstrate proficiency in using our new office communication tool.*** - Include a specific criterion for measuring success **e.g. 90% training attendance or at least half of employees scoring over 70% in evaluation tests.** - Are concise and succinct, featuring shorter sentences with clear intent. - Define expected outcomes. [Try Out World Manager](https://www.youtube.com/embed/L4N1q4RNi9I) ### Here are some examples of specific goals: *Before Q1, the training facilitator shall have in-depth knowledge of how departments within the company are run.* *All new hires must complete the onboarding training within three months.* *At the end of induction training, each employee will be able to discuss the company’s vision and how it ties to their own role.* *Before Q2, we shall conduct a [feedback survey](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/) to determine what needs improvement.* *By the end of Q2, each department should have completed training based on their needs.* ## Making It Work Every training manager or facilitator should remember that goal-setting should at no point be framed as a competition among employees. Encouraging internal rivalry will only demotivate some while alienating others. Employees with similar responsibilities should have the same training goals. It is, however, important to have a system in place to reward employees who achieve or exceed their goals. The recognition could be in the form of: - A bonus check - Public acknowledgment - Training certificates - Promotions Rewards incentivize people to push themselves while strengthening the corporate culture. Since you are dealing with a human workforce, the training manager should also account for some employees falling short of their goals. The manager’s role, in this case, is to step in and provide guidance where needed, not berate the employees. Together, they should discuss areas of difficulty before coming up with feasible solutions for retraining, with better objectives. When done correctly, employee learning goals can propel real change, improving organizational commitment, and clarity. [Book a demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo) with World Manager today to learn how to enhance your current employee, stakeholder, and customer training using the right LMS. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Engage, Retain and Onboard Employees **Tags:** LMS --- ### [Franchising Trends: Stay-at-Home Customers](https://www.franconnect.com/franchising-trends-stay-at-home-customers/) **Published:** April 16, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** There are many examples of franchises that found success in 2020 as a result of the trend toward spending more time at home. **Content:** One of the biggest trends coming out of the end of 2021 is stay-at-home customers. People are spending more time at home than ever, affecting some industries where franchises operate powerfully. According to an [analysis from Google](https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/consumer-insights/consumer-trends/coronavirus-consumer-behavior-research/), the at-home consumer is being driven by a few underlying behavior shifts. - **A new relationship with time and space.** Time is more fluid, and we are finding more uses for space. The bedroom is becoming the home office, and the living room is turning into a gym for at-home workouts. The kitchen table is doubling as a classroom as kids spend parts of their school day at home. As a result, home services franchises are thriving. - **Seeking novel ways to enjoy the outdoors.** Travel restrictions mean that people are looking for new ways to have adventures. One way is enjoying their own backyards and outdoor spaces, helping pool, deck, and similar companies. - **Redefining companionship.** As people are spending more time apart, human beings, who are social creatures by nature, are looking for companionship. This has led to a boom in pet buying and services, such as boarding and daycare, that support animals as part of the family. [Home Services](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/home-services/), due to their essential nature, are often considered recession-proof. In fact, during the pandemic, some of these businesses are booming. According to [CNBC](https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/07/pandemic-home-remodeling-is-booming-what-your-neighbors-are-doing.html), “Home extensions and additions jumped 52%, and security and privacy also saw much greater demand with interest in fence installation and repairs up 166%.” ![Premium-Service-Brands cropped 200](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Premium-Service-Brands%20cropped%20200.png) [Premium Service Brands](https://www.premiumservicebrands.com/), which offers lucrative and unique brands in niche areas, stood out as a group sharing positive news. 360° Painting [grew their system](https://1851franchise.com/the-great-franchisee-bruce-brady-360-painting-atlanta-2714702#stories) by 15 units, and saw a 35.5% increase in sales Q1 2020 over Q1 2019. In fact, several brands had [success stories](https://www.premiumservicebrands.com/why-us/our-blog/2020/september/7-success-stories-from-our-franchises/) to share in 2020. [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/)Pools and other outdoor activities are booming. According to [CNBC](https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/07/pandemic-home-remodeling-is-booming-what-your-neighbors-are-doing.html), “Pool demand is so strong that even Wall Street investors are taking note. Poolcorp, an international distributor of swimming pool supplies, parts, and outdoor living products, hit an intraday all-time high this week and is up over 54% year to date. The stock is on pace for its best year since 2003.” ![poolworx cropped 200](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/poolworx%20cropped%20200.png) Poolwerx, one of the world’s largest pool and hot tub maintenance providers. opened 11 stores in 11 months in Australia. “The home service industry has proven time and time again to be recession-resistant, and this has become particularly evident during Covid-19,” CEO John O’Brien explained. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)As stay-at-home customers look for companionship, they are finding it in animals. Many of us have friends or neighbors recently buying a dog to fill the void created by the pandemic. According to the [Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/08/12/adoptions-dogs-coronavirus/), “Shelters, nonprofit rescues, private breeders, pet stores — all reported more consumer demand than there were dogs and puppies to fill it. Some rescues were reporting dozens of applications for individual dogs. Some breeders were reporting waiting lists well into 2021.” ![camp-bow-wow cropped 200](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/camp-bow-wow%20cropped%20200.jpeg) [Camp Bow Wow](https://www.campbowwow.com/), North America’s largest pet care franchise, includes dog daycare and boarding. During the pandemic, they opened nine new camps nationwide, and continued their high-growth trajectory with twelve franchise sales across the continent. Stay-at-home customers are a trend here to stay in 2021 and beyond. The examples above are just some of the businesses that will emerge stronger as we move forward together. *For more on franchising trends, watch FranConnect’s recent webinar, where we report key takeaways from our annual [Franchise Sales Index Report](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-releases-2021-sales-index-report/).* ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Customer Updates, Develop **Tags:** Franchise Development, Franchise Marketing --- ### [Update Your FDD: 5 Critical Things to Get Right in the Age of COVID](https://www.franconnect.com/update-your-fdd-5-critical-things-to-get-right-in-the-age-of-covid/) **Published:** September 25, 2020 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** COVID-19 has meant big changes for franchises. Learn about 5 critical updates franchisors need to make to their franchise disclosure document (FDD) now. **Content:** Many franchises look dramatically different today than six months ago. Gyms and retail stores are operating with limited hours or reduced capacity. Restaurants have likely altered their business models around reduced occupancy, takeout, curbside pickup and delivery. Due to these shifts and their financial and legal impacts on your business, it’s critical that you update your franchise disclosure document (FDD) to accurately reflect these changes, even if you believe changes won’t be permanent. Since the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires that your FDD is updated and accurate in order to protect those interested in buying a U.S. franchise as part of the pre-sale due diligence process, any changes brought on by COVID need to be reflected in your document in order to be in compliance. Failing to do so could hamper a potential franchisee in making an informed decision about whether or not to make an investment in the business — and ultimately be very costly to you. You also become susceptible to the consequences of failing to meet your FTC legal requirements for disclosure. While franchisors are required to update their FDDs annually, this year in particular has presented unexpected challenges due to the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to government-required closures, franchises have had to contend with declining sales, supply chain disruptions, and deferrals or discontinuations of royalty payments. In your FDD, you are required convey the current state of the business in an honest and transparent way, while still allowing prospective franchisees to look toward a hopeful future. If COVID-19 has impacted your brand in a material way — as it has for many franchises — it is critical to update your franchise disclosure document. While every franchise has [encountered different obstacles](https://www.franconnect.com/the-pandemic-didnt-create-your-franchise-operations-headache/) over the past few months, here are five areas of your FDD to pay particular attention to in light of COVID-19-related challenges. ### Key Franchise Disclosure Document Items for Review **Item 19: Financial Performance Representations** While a franchisor is not required to provide information on financial performance, it is a critical way to establish transparency and build trust with potential franchisees. Before moving forward with any updates, however, first consult with your legal team to determine how you will handle this section. These updates will be held under high scrutiny by states, as well as potential franchisees and their legal teams. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)In general, franchisors should update item 19 so a prospective franchisee understands how the franchise performed during the pandemic. It should describe any significant changes to the business model that could impede consumer sales (e.g., restaurants may have limited indoor seating in response to state and local executive orders), as well as other circumstances resulting from the pandemic (e.g., employee furloughs, location closures). Alternatively, you may decide to include a comparison between the first half of 2019 and the first half of 2020. This can allow your business development team the opportunity to have in-depth discussions with potential franchisees about how the business performed before and during the pandemic. **Item 20: Outlets and Franchisee Information** In item 20, you must list contact information for all current franchisees, as well as the franchisees that have left in the past year. Based on performance and retention during the coronavirus pandemic, this list may now need to be revised. This particular update should serve as an important reminder to connect with your current franchisees to let them know what to expect if potential franchisees contact them with questions. While the past several months may have been a trying time, all franchisees will benefit from the overall growth of the franchise system — so current franchisees should strive to provide accurate, helpful information to potential franchisees. **Item 6: Other Recurring Fees or Payments** While item 5 outlines the initial fees that franchisees must pay to establish the franchise, item 6 describes all other recurring fees or payments that must be made. This could include royalties, marketing fees, and development fees. If you have made any changes to these fees based on COVID-19, it must be reflected in your FDD. If, for example, you deferred or waived royalty payments for a period of time to assist with cash flow, you must update the FDD accordingly. This not only provides accurate disclosure, but can also demonstrate how your franchise supports franchisees during difficult times. **Item 12: Territory** This section describes any exclusive territory and whether territories will be modified. During the coronavirus pandemic, some franchises may have had to enhance or change restrictions on territorial activity. Restaurants, for example, may have had to add or change delivery services based on local mandates. Any territorial changes will need to be reported in your updated FDD. **Item 11: Franchisor’s Assistance, Advertising, Computer Systems, and Training** In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, it’s likely that your standard training processes have changed. One common change, for example, is that many franchises now offer virtual rather than on-site training. That shift may have also impacted the amount of time you dedicate to different training items, such as the company’s culture and values, which can be more difficult to communicate through videos and video calls. [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/)Because things like training can seem very minor compared to financial disclosures, the details of item 11 can be easy to take lightly. But transparency about all the details, even those that seem minor, is critical. Be sure this item outlines exactly where and how you now conduct training, as well as how much time you dedicate to each training topic. Your franchise disclosure document is an opportunity to build trust, establish transparency, and [grow your business](https://www.franconnect.com/5-key-steps-for-franchise-leaders-in-2020/) — even in these uncertain times. To learn more about required changes to your FDD and how to better leverage that document following COVID-19, view our recorded webinar, [**What Franchisors Must – and Must NOT – Do With FDDs Now.**](https://go.franconnect.com/what-franchisors-must-must-not-do-with-fdd) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Develop, Profit **Tags:** Franchise Operations --- ### [3 Tips to Improve Franchisee Relationships in 2022](https://www.franconnect.com/3-tips-to-improve-franchisee-relationships-in-2022/) **Published:** January 13, 2022 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** We've put together a list of 3 top areas to concentrate on if you would like to improve franchisee relationships in 2022. Discover our tips here. **Content:** #### Written by Kaleigh Wells In a perfect world, franchisors and their franchisees would have the best of relationships; but as we all know, the real world is far from perfect. In fact, there are often times when franchisors and franchisees find themselves butting heads. In franchising, the relationship between the franchiser and franchisee is paramount to the success of both. So buzzwords like: communication, collaboration, integrity, and inclusivity all need to be backed up with actions in order for there to be any meaning for franchisees. In this blog post, we will discuss how franchisors can handle conflict when it arises, create opportunities to foster trust with franchisees, and set the stage for productive relationships as you scale your franchise brand. ## Tackle Conflicts Head On Conflict is an inevitable part of life. However, when conflict arises in franchising, it’s important to act fast and decisively so that feelings do not fester. Franchisors should be prepared for franchisee conflicts ranging from interpersonal squabbles between employees or managers all the way up to larger systemic issues like customer service. When conflict happens: - Stay calm and listen attentively to what is being said. Remember that you are not the only one with an agenda, so be open-minded as well as firm in your resolve. If possible, avoid getting defensive or becoming adversarial during the conversation; remember it’s about problem-solving! - Acknowledge what the franchisee is saying and that you hear their concerns. - Don’t make any promises that you can’t keep – if the franchisee wants something, get back to them with a realistic plan of action. - Document what was discussed and follow up in a timely manner. Franchising is all about relationships and trust. When these tenets are not nurtured, it creates an environment ripe for conflict, thus tainting the franchisee’s overall experience. Franchisors need to be proactive in identifying and resolving conflicts as soon as they arise. This will help maintain the trust of their franchisees, which is essential for a healthy franchising system. ## Create Opportunities for Trust In order for franchising to work effectively, there needs to be a high level of trust between franchisors and franchisees. Franchisee trust is created when their franchisor acts in a manner that shows they are looking out for the best interests of their franchisees, while simultaneously showing themselves to be competent on many fronts. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)Franchisee Trust: - Comes from transparency and honesty about what’s going on at all levels of the company. - Comes from consistency in how franchisees/employees are treated and communicated with at all levels of the company. - Comes from open two-way communication that is balanced between franchisees and franchisors, rather than just listening to what franchisees have to say while not giving them any feedback on their thoughts or concerns about your brand. ## Building a Parent-Child Relationship with Your Franchisee Franchisees need to be able to trust the franchisor, understand their expectations, have faith in the systems being put into place, and know that they will be supported through each step of growth. A key component of ensuring franchisee success is fostering a parent-child relationship where the franchisor is the supportive guardian, and the franchisees are willing to follow their lead. This means that communication must go both ways, with franchisors being transparent about what’s happening in the business as well as taking note of any suggestions or critiques brought forth by their franchisees. This creates a positive culture that can help scale your business smoothly. Establishing a positive work culture is essential for any business, but it’s especially important when franchising. By establishing trust, communication, and transparency between franchisors and franchisees, you create an environment that is conducive to success. Conflict will still arise, but by handling it swiftly and effectively, you can maintain the positive relationships needed. *See how FranConnect can help your business build and foster better connections with your franchisees and more.* ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Franchising Best Practices **Tags:** Franchise Operations --- ### [35 Online Learning Quotes to Inspire](https://www.franconnect.com/35-inspirational-learning-quotes/) **Published:** March 2, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** 35 inspiring quotes about training your employees that can help in ensuring that they get the most value for the time spent. **Content:** Good online education quotes can inspire and enlighten; they can brighten your day and show you the way. A memorable virtual learning quote can say something you’ve wanted to say but couldn’t quite put into words. The best quotes can serve as a reminder or reinforcement; it can point to where you should be going. But the problem with online learning quotes is that there are too many of them – for every nugget you find, you have to read ten tired clichés. To save you time, we’ve hunted down 35 of the best-ever quotations for trainers, [L&D and eLearning specialists](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/), instructional designers, and HR pros for every situation. And yes, you can quote us on that! ## Quotes on Just-in-Time Learning 1\) “You can’t teach people everything they need to know. The best you can do is position them where they can find what they need to know when they need to know it.” – Seymour Papert, MIT Mathematician, and Educator ([Source](https://psychosocial.com/article/PR300075/22427/)) 2\) “People will only want to engage if it is relevant to their needs or helps them solve problems.” – Jane Hart ([Source](https://elearningart.com/blog/engaging-elearning/)) 3\) “The students of the future will demand the learning support that is appropriate for their situation or context. Nothing more, nothing less. And they want it at the moment the need arises. Not sooner, not later. Mobile devices will be a key technology for providing that learning support.” – Dr. Marcus Specht, Professor of Advanced Learning Technologies, Open University of Netherlands. ([Source](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090907142508.htm)) 4\) “Instructional designers need to run, not walk, away from classroom-based thinking and get to the point of providing short, quick business-focused learning points that are easily accessible when and where our learners need them. This means leveraging new technologies to deliver non-traditional instruction.” – Karl M. Kapp, Professor of Instructional Technology, Bloomsburg University. ([Source](https://www.designingdigitally.com/blog/)) 5\) “If learning material is designed to be highly relevant and delivered in context, then it is likely to be useful.” – Charles Jennings ([Source](https://blog.commlabindia.com/elearning-design/effective-elearning-design-gagne-events)) ## Quotes on the Importance of Engaging Learners 6\) “If you want people to have fun, give them the day off. If you want them to learn, engage them with the content.” – Karl Kapp ([Source](https://www.learningguild.com/articles/2405/six-key-executive-gamification-questions-for-karl-kapp/?rd=1)) 7\) “The number one factor in engagement is relevance because relevance drives out resistance.” – Clive Shepherd ([Source](https://elearningart.com/blog/elearning-quotes/)) 8\) “Boring e-learning fails to engage the learner’s mind, and without that basic motivation and action, nothing can happen even when the learner goes through all the required motions.” – Ethan Edwards, Chief Instructional Strategist, Allen Interactions ([Source](https://www.coursehero.com/file/48781068/CONCEPTS-OF-ONLINE-LEARNINGdocx/)) [Train Employees](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/training/)9\) “When training is done well, doors open, skills development, and performance excellence yields personal and organizational rewards. People grow in ability, confidence, motivation and happiness.” – Michael Allen, Chairman & CEO, Allen Interactions ([Source](https://blog.alleninteractions.com/15-tweetable-quotes-from-e-learning-professionals)) 10\) “Gamification aims to inspire deeper, more engaged relationships and to change behavior, but it needs to be implemented thoughtfully. Most attempts at gamification currently miss the mark, but successful and sustainable gamification can convert customers into fans, turn work into fun, or make learning a joy. The potential is enormous.” – Brian Burke, Gartner Group VP of Research ([Source](https://www.zdnet.com/article/when-technology-is-a-game/)) 11\) “Where my reason, imagination, or interest were not engaged, I would not or I could not learn.” – Winston Churchill ([Source](https://winstonchurchill.org/resources/in-the-media/churchill-in-the-news/folger-library-churchills-shakespeare/)) 12\) “The basic DNA of good learning experiences is trying to do something and getting feedback.” – Julie Dirksen ([Source](https://elearningart.com/blog/interview-julie-dirksen/)) 13\) “The most profound words will remain unread unless you can keep the learner engaged. You can’t see their eyes to know if they got it so … say it, show it, write it, demo it, and link it to an activity.” – James Bates ([Source](https://quizlet.com/52713678/elearning-quotes-flash-cards/)) ## Quotes on Self-Directed Learning 14\) “Study without desire spoils the memory, and it retains nothing that it takes in.” – Leonardo da Vinci ([Source](https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/53112-study-without-desire-spoils-the-memory-and-it-retains-nothing)) 15\) “We complain that learners want to be spoon-fed, but then we won’t let them hold the spoon.” – Jane Bozarth, eLearning Coordinator for the North Carolina, Office of State Personnel ([Source](https://www.learningguild.com/articles/2209/nuts-and-bolts-the-best-lessons-learned-in-instructional-design/?rd=1)) 16\) “In order to create an engaging learning experience, the role of instructor is optional, but the role of learner is essential.” – Bernard Bull, VP, Continuing and Distance Education, Concordia University ([Source](https://www.coursehero.com/file/31581501/Online-Education-A-Credible-Choicedocx/)) 17\) “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” – Xun Kuang, Chinese Confucian philosopher ([Source](https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/7565817-tell-me-and-i-forget-teach-me-and-i-may)) 18\) “For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them.” – Aristotle ([Source](https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/4184-for-the-things-we-have-to-learn-before-we-can)) 19\) “Stop thinking the answer to everything is to develop a course.” ([Source](https://elearningart.com/blog/tips-from-ld-pro-jane-bozarth/)) Jane Bozarth, eLearning Coordinator for the North Carolina, Office of State Personnel ## Quotes on Lifelong Learning & Continuous Learning 20\) “The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.” – Alvin Toffler ([Source](https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/8800-the-illiterate-of-the-21st-century-will-not-be-those)) 21\) “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” – Mahatma Gandhi ([Source](https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/mahatma_gandhi_133995)) 22\) “The beautiful thing about learning is nobody can take it away from you.” – B.B. King ([Source](https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/833-the-beautiful-thing-about-learning-is-nobody-can-take-it)) 23\) “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” – Dr. Seuss ([Source](https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/6806-the-more-that-you-read-the-more-things-you-will)) 24\) “Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it.” – Albert Einstein ([Source](https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/314550-wisdom-is-not-a-product-of-schooling-but-of-the)) 25\) “Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.” – Anthony J. D’Angelo ([Source](https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/anthony_j_dangelo_153989)) 26\) “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” – Malcolm X ([Source](https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/malcolm_x_386475)) ## Quotes on Leveraging Technology & Online Learning 27\) “We need to bring learning to people instead of people to learning.” – Elliot Masie, Masie Center ([Source](https://medium.com/lumastic/we-need-to-bring-learning-to-people-instead-of-people-to-learning-elliot-masie-11b6d15c7ca)) 28\) “Training developers need to integrate technology seamlessly into the curriculum instead of viewing it as an add-on, an after-thought, or an event.” – Heidi Hayes Jacobs, Executive Director of the Curriculum Mapping Institute ([Source](https://www.designingdigitally.com/blog/)) 29\) “The Global Corporate [Learning Management System (LMS)](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/) Market will grow by USD $12.48 Billion during 2020-2024.” – Technavio research ([Source)](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201016005025/en/Global-Corporate-Learning-Management-System-Market-Market-Size-USD-12.48-Billion-By-2024-Technavio) 30\) “In times where small instructor-led classrooms tend to be the exception, electronic learning solutions can offer more collaboration and interaction with experts and peers, as well as a higher success rate than the live alternative.” – Keith Bachman, Corporate eLearning Executive, W.R. Hambrecht and Associates (Source) 31\) “If you want to teach people a new way of thinking, don’t bother trying to teach them. Instead, give them a tool, the use of which will lead to new ways of thinking.” – R. Buckminster Fuller, author, and futurist ([Source](https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/467583-if-you-want-to-teach-people-a-new-way-of)) 32\) “There can be infinite uses of the computer and of new technology \[in training\], but if the instructors themselves are not able to bring it to the learners and make it work, then it fails.”- U.S. Senator Nancy Kassebaum ([Source](https://www.edelements.com/technology-in-classroom)) ## Quotes on the Importance of Employee Training for Business 33\) “The only thing worse than training your employees and having them leave is not training them and having them stay.” – Zig Ziglar, Motivational Speaker ([Source](https://www.ziglar.com/quotes/employees/)) 34\) “Online learning is rapidly becoming one of the most cost-effective ways to educate the world’s rapidly expanding workforce.” – Jack Messman, former CEO at Novell, Cambridge Technology Partners ([Source](https://www.designingdigitally.com/blog/)) 35\) “An organization’s ability to learn and translate that learning into action is the ultimate competitive advantage.” – Jack Welch, Former CEO, General Electric ([Source](https://www.cegos.co.uk/what-makes-a-successful-international-e-learning-project)) There you have it – 35 quotes about online learning, for your reading pleasure! If you have a good virtual learning quote to add to the list, be sure to share it with us. In the meantime, if these eLearning quotes inspire you to learn more about how an LMS can supercharge your employee training, World Manager LMS is here to assist you. Some of the most respected companies in the world trust World Manager LMS. [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/)[Book a demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo) to learn how the World Manager LMS can streamline how your organization delivers employee training. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Engage, Retain and Onboard Employees **Tags:** LMS --- ### [Employee Exit Interview Best Practices](https://www.franconnect.com/employee-exit-interview/) **Published:** June 25, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** This Exit Interview Template sets a good foundation for your company's best practices on employee feedback. Adapt it to your company's needs! **Content:** #### This **Exit Interview Template** sets a good foundation for your company’s best practices on employee feedback. It should be adapted to your company’s specific needs and circumstances. ## The Principle It is natural that employees who are leaving the company may be more comfortable giving feedback about the company than when they were employees. As a company, we would like to take advantage of this and tap into our former employees’ insights to better our management. An exit interview is a method of gathering such information from employees who are resigning from the company. We specifically seek to know: - Why the employee chose to leave the company. - What is their next place of employment is? - In what way is their next position superior to their current one? - What the employee liked or disliked most in the company. - Whether the official job description matched their actual work. - What advice the employee would give to their successor. - What, in their opinion, the company can do to improve the working conditions for the remaining staff? The employee exit interview policy applies to all employees who leave the company voluntarily. ## Best Practices Highlights ### Definitions An exit interview can be described as a discussion with an employee who has resigned. The exit interview is to receive an honest opinion about their work experience with the company, their reasons for leaving, and ideas for improvement. In-person interviews are usually preferred but we may use questionnaires or phone interviews depending on the employee’s preference. [Train Employees](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/training/)Exit interviews are coordinated by HR, who may assign the interviews to the manager of the employee’s immediate supervisor. But immediate supervisors of the departing employees are not allowed to participate in the interviews. The company may also occasionally hire external consultants to conduct the interviews. ### Exit Interviews are Voluntary Exit interviews are voluntary and failure to participate does not draw any repercussions. HR should always make it clear to the employees that the exercise is optional but the company values their feedback immensely. We will also offer tokens such as \[*gift cards*\] as a mark of appreciation to employees who agree to participate in the interview. ### Conducting Exit Interviews As a rule, the discussions in an exit interview should focus on collecting information from employees and understanding the company from their point of view. Those conducting the interview should not: - Attempt to persuade the employee to rescind the resignation. - Become sensitive and defensive to negative feedback. - Focus only on gathering negative feedback. - Exaggerate the employee’s feedback or quote them out of context to advance a different agenda. ### Standard Format The length of the interview may vary from person to person and whether it is in-person, over the phone, or in a video call. However, standard time should be about \[*60 minutes*\]. In concluding the interview, HR should close with a positive and conciliatory tone, thanking the employee on behalf of the company for their service during their employment and honest feedback. ### Sample questions Exit interview questions may be determined by the employee’s seniority, role, and length of service. Some standard questions for all roles would include: - Briefly summarize your general experience working for us. And if you don’t mind, may I know what exactly prompted your resignation? - What is the best thing about working here? - Given the chance, what would you change about our workplace? - How would you rate guidance and [training opportunities](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/training/) here? - Did the company recognize you for your work? - What were the main constraints to your efficiency or productivity? HR should use these as baseline exit interview questions in all interviews. These should then open up a discussion that will guide the employee into opening up and giving honest feedback on other issues. ### In Case of an Important Disclosure An exit interview may uncover an important issue that would be in the company’s interest to immediately follow up. This could be incidents such as harassment, discrimination, or embezzlement. HR should record these issues for immediate follow-up within the company policy. They should also let the exiting employee know that some of their feedback warrants disclosure owing to its importance. ### Confidentiality Exit interview contents must remain confidential and exiting employees must be made aware of this. HR should assure the employees that the results of the interview are presented to the management without direct attribution to an individual source. ### Procedure Once HR receives a notice of resignation, it may reach out to the employee and request for an exit interview, this request should be in writing. The format of the interview should be at the discretion of the employee who may also decline participation. The preferred timing should be before the employee’s final week of service in the company. HR should avoid scheduling on the last day unless it is completely unavoidable. Another alternative would be giving the interview within \[a month\] after the employee’s final day in the company. HR should always compile and analyze data from exit interviews and share insights and recommendations with senior management. These reports can be submitted annually or quarterly or even more frequently depending on the issues involved. ### Follow up Survey A follow-up interview may be necessary for some employees \[six months\] after the initial interview. This would help us to reaffirm the employee’s initial sentiments when departing and perhaps extract further feedback that the employee may have been reluctant to give the first time. HR should inform such employees via email that they intend to send an email survey and must seek their consent beforehand. [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/)To find out more about how you can manage the full employee lifecycle, [contact World Manager today for a demo!](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo) *Disclaimer: This information is meant to provide general guidelines and should be used as a reference. It may not take into account all relevant local, state, or federal laws and is not a legal document. Neither the author nor World Manager will assume any legal liability that may arise from the use of this information.* ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Engage, Retain and Onboard Employees **Tags:** LMS --- ### [5 Ways to Elevate Your Franchise Development Website](https://www.franconnect.com/5-ways-to-elevate-your-franchise-development-website/) **Published:** September 13, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Websites are critical for showcasing your brand and converting prospects. Follow these 5 tips to take your franchise development website to the next level. **Content:** The franchise development website is an essential sales tool, helping brands accomplish several objectives at once: [generate leads](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/sales/), prescreen prospects, [share the brand story](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/brand-consistency/), and facilitate growth in target markets. Websites are also critical for prospects, who are typically evaluating several brands to find the right economics and the best opportunity to be successful. Every franchisor should assume that anyone who fills out a lead form on their website is doing the exact same thing on six other websites at the same time. That’s why franchisors need to understand what’s motivating their site visitors and how to address their needs: It could make the difference between landing a successful franchisee or losing them to a competitor. Here are 5 considerations to make sure your website is helping, not hurting, your franchise development efforts. ### 1. Help prospects see themselves in your brand story Sharing the stories of real franchisees is one of the best strategies we’ve seen for conveying a brand story. Videos, for instance, can feature actual franchisees talking about their experiences with the brand and the success they’ve achieved as a result. Many prospects are motivated by a desire to be their own boss, so leading with individuals who can attest to their success with a particular brand can be a powerful means of engagement. [Explore Restaurant Solutions](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/restaurants/)The approach may differ depending on the brand profile. Iconic or established brands will position their strength as an asset to franchisees. Emergent franchises may be less well-known, but they’re in growth mode, and many have a great concept to offer. Here, [testimonials](https://www.franconnect.com/customers/testimonials/) may emphasize the brand promise as opposed to the brand backdrop. ### 2. Align financial information with your prospecting strategy As a lead-generation tool, your site should promote the value of the franchise and get people excited about coming on board. Franchisors often wonder about the right way to educate prospects about financial requirements without scaring them off prematurely. Do you want to put the big numbers in front of everyone right away, or save that for when you qualify a lead and have a conversation? On one hand, clarifying the financial picture can weed out prospects who won’t be able to sign up, even with the help of financing options. By the same token, if you do work with financing partners, it’s smart to convey that upfront. That could be the factor that keeps prospects in the fold. A related question is whether you’re sharing the right level of information. Some franchise development websites provide high-level views of investments and costs, while others present line-by-line breakdowns for every part of the equation. Somewhere in the middle is the healthy balance of how much to give away now versus saving for later in the sales process. ### 3. Plan for efficient lead generation and follow-up The lead form remains the most common way to move a prospect toward engagement. But more brands are expanding their channels by adding chats and text messaging, handled by a bot or a live person. For instance, if you see that a prospect has spent several minutes researching your franchise development website, you can have a chat window pop up and offer to answer any questions. Text messaging is another great option, particularly for prospects who are reluctant to fill out a form or get on the phone. Even if you obtain leads from a third-party broker or franchise portal, your development website can still be a valuable validation tool. In this case, the site may not be how you get the leads in the door, but you can direct them to the site as a sales tool. ### 4. Showcase your brand with authenticity and transparency Helping prospects evaluate a brand and enticing them to want to learn more are among the core functions of development websites. At the lead-generation stage, highlight the support, training and enablement that the brand offers. That includes everything from the relationship with franchise business consultants to the delivery of innovation tools that will keep the franchise competitive. Many brands host annual conventions for franchisees, but they don’t promote these as a selling tool as often as they could. The opportunity to network with fellow franchisees, learn about new developments and interact with top management can be very attractive to prospects. If that’s part of your offering, showcase that as a benefit. While touting their assets, brands must be transparent, particularly in the area of territory. Are there saturated markets where franchisees may face heavy competition? Are they entering a greenfield market where they’re the first one in town with that particular type of business? ### 5. Deliver a high-quality, mobile-friendly user experience Increasingly, prospects are conducting their research on their phones, which means that brands need to tailor their online presence accordingly. Whatever information you provide on your website, the site experience must work equally well on mobile devices and on desktops. Mobile-friendly strategies such as making the site responsive to the user’s device, optimizing files for fast loading, and simplifying design can make a big difference in the quality of the navigation and reading experience. Finally, when prospects do raise a hand for more information, make sure to respond quickly. Remember those six other sites that your prospect is researching? Whoever gets to them first has the best chance of moving them through the process. With an engaging website, the right information and well-designed communication channels, you stand the best chance of [attracting solid leads](https://www.franconnect.com/3-keys-to-attract-a-qualified-audience-for-your-franchise-development-process/) and moving them to the next phase of engagement. [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/)The best way to help your franchisees reach their goals is to measure performance along the way. Learn more about FranConnect’s leading [performance tools](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/sales/) that can help you track the metrics that matter most and make a positive difference in your business. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Develop, Expand Locations, Franchising Best Practices **Tags:** Franchise Development, Franchise Marketing, Franchise Sales --- ### [9 Important KPIs for Spa and Salon Franchises](https://www.franconnect.com/9-important-kpis-for-spa-and-salon-franchises/) **Published:** September 21, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** What KPIs predict success for spas and salon franchises? We explore the most 9 of the most important spa and salon franchise KPIs. **Content:** While some [spa and salon franchises](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/personal-services/salons-spas/) recognize the need to [measure key performance indicators](https://www.franconnect.com/how-to-use-kpis-as-a-tool-for-franchise-business-planning/) (KPIs), many rely more on intuition than analyzing the numbers. And while it takes soft skills to create an inviting atmosphere, satisfied clients, and happy employees, understanding the numbers that drive your business will help your spa or salon find — and keep — its place in the market. Think of a KPI as a map: It provides a destination point, a path, and a giant “You are here!” sticker that shows where you currently stand. KPIs are valuable tools that show you a precise route to success — so embrace them! Start with this list of the top KPIs for spas and salons. ### 1. Cost Per Lead (CPL) *CPL = Cost of Marketing Program / Total Number of Leads* What gets measured gets improved — so every marketing effort should be tracked. This metric will help you understand how much you are spending on leads and if you should continue to invest. For example, if your [Google ads](/ppc-advertising-for-franchisors) result in a cost per lead of $25, but your Facebook ads result in no leads, you should reconsider the time, money, and energy you invest in Facebook. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)Remember, a lead must meet two requirements: - They provide a way for you to contact them for follow-up - They are actively searching for the service It is a good idea to put aside a small amount of your budget (10% or so) for experimental initiatives to make sure your marketing mix is the right one for your spa, your target market, and your geographic area. ### 2. Average Treatment Rate (ATR) *ATR = Total Number of Treatment Hours Sold / Total Number of Treatment Hours Available* You may think that your salon or spa is successful simply because it is busy — but that isn’t necessarily true. As you look at this metric, one thing to take into account is that some treatments take longer than others. So, a two-hour treatment that costs $180 is less efficient than a one-hour $100 treatment. ### 3. Spa Productivity or Occupancy *Spa Productivity = Total Number of Treatment Hours Sold / Total Number of Treatment Hours Available* Rent or mortgage costs are often the biggest expenses associated with a spa. With that in mind, understanding the usage of treatment rooms is an important indicator of how productive your space is. ### 4. Capture Rate: Retail *Capture Rate = Total Retail Guests / Total Spa Guests* Spa and salon revenue comes from two sources: services and retail sales. [According to Winn Claybaugh](https://www.forbes.com/2007/04/20/paul-mitchell-salon-ent-fin-cx_mc_0420fundsalonmetrics.html?sh=3e2e60f91878), co-founder of Paul Mitchell Schools, “Per square footage, the footage devoted to selling products \[like shampoo and hair gel\] is more profitable than footage devoted to service.” ### 5. Net Promoter Score (NPS) *NPS = % Promoters – % Detractors* Offering an exceptional experience will not only keep your guests coming back; it will also encourage them to tell others about your business and create new business through referrals. Technically a loyalty measure, the Net Promoter Score (NPS) is a fantastic way to measure this on a quarterly basis. NPS is a customer loyalty metric that rates customers as promoters, detractors or neutral depending on their answer to the following question: “How likely would you be to recommend us to a friend or family member?” Customers rank their answer on a 10-point scale. A score of 9-10 indicates a promoter; 7-8 is neutral, and 0-6 is a detractor. ### 6. Repeat Guests *Repeat Guest Rate = Total Number of Repeat Guests / Total Number of Guests* Repeat guests generate a higher return on every dollar spent getting them in the door. Also, practical experience shows that repeat customers tend to spend more on subsequent visits as well. ### 7. Employee Retention *Retention Rate = Total Number of Employees That Left for a Period / Total Employees at the End of That Period* Customers are more likely to develop a bond with their stylist or therapist than the brand itself. If you have an employee who leaves, you risk their clients moving with them. For this reason alone (even though there are many others), you want to make sure your team members are happy. ### 8. GOPPATH *GOPPATH = Total Spa Gross Operating Profit (GOP) / Total Treatment Hours Available* Gross operating profit per available treatment hour (GOPPATH) is a strong indicator of performance because it looks at how good you are at generating revenue, controlling expenses, and utilizing your hours. ### 9. EBITDA Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) is a measure of a spa or salon’s operational effectiveness. It is a way to evaluate a company without having to factor in financing decisions, accounting decisions, or tax environments. EBITDA shows how good your business is at generating cash, thus your business is valued as multiples of this metric. [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/)To calculate the adjustments needed for EBITDA, see this [article from QuickBooks](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/r/revenue/what-is-ebitda-and-how-can-your-company-use-it/). ### Metrics Are a Beautiful Thing The best way to help your franchisees [reach their goals](https://www.franconnect.com/7-things-you-can-do-to-achieve-franchise-goals-1/) is to measure performance along the way. Learn more about FranConnect’s leading [performance tools](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/sales/) that can help you track the KPIs that matter most and make a positive difference in your spa or salon business. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Analytics, Develop, Operate, Retain and Onboard Employees **Tags:** Franchise Best Practices, Franchise Marketing --- ### [Continuous Learning: Benefits in the Workplace](https://www.franconnect.com/continuous-learning-benefits/) **Published:** October 7, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Perhaps you’ve noticed a buzz around continual, constant, or continuous learning. We explain the buzz around continuous learning here! **Content:** > *Learning and innovation go hand in hand. The arrogance of success is to think that what you did yesterday will be sufficient for tomorrow.* – William Pollard ## Why Continuous Learning is the Foundation of Organizational Growth Perhaps you’ve noticed a buzz around continual, constant, or continuous learning. But what is it, exactly? A good place to start is with a continuous learning definition. Continuous learning is a concept – and in some companies, a motto – that speaks to the importance of expanding employees’ knowledge and skill sets on an ongoing basis. This occurs when the Human Resources (HR) department and Learning & Development (L&D) trainers encourage and help facilitate ongoing learning among their employees. Importantly, this ongoing learning is tied to and aligned with key company objectives. This means, on a regular basis, proactively providing employees with the tools and technology they need to expand their knowledge and skills. What does continuous learning look like when it’s being implemented? It can encompass different approaches – including more formal, trainer-centered courses; group and social learning opportunities; as well as autonomous and self-directed learning. Continuous learning is also about empowering your employees to take an interest in and responsibility for their own learning and development, while HR and L&D specialists provide support, guidance, and assessment. ## Continuous Learning Examples There are [different ways for employees to engage in continuous learning](https://www.franconnect.com/what-are-examples-of-an-lms/). Formal learning, for example, includes internal training programs, traditional [e-Learning courses](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/), and conferences and workshops. Formal learning is focused on developing specific skills and relevant knowledge. Social learning involves learning informally from peers and colleagues at work, as well as collaborating online via social media. [Train Employees](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/training/)Self-directed learning occurs when employees spend time reading industry websites, watching instructional videos, or listening to podcasts to gain a deeper knowledge of a topic that’s central to performing their job. When marketing managers participate in online discussions on LinkedIn or scan a post on how to increase ROI, they are engaging in continuous learning, as is an employee who spends time gaining pointers and insights from more experienced team members. ## Why Continuous Learning is Important Very simply, it helps companies optimize the productivity and value of their employees. When an organization has highly skilled employees who are intellectually and emotionally engaged in their work and feel valued by their employer, then – and only then – can it fire on all cylinders and maximize profit. For companies that are positioning themselves in the marketplace as a leader in innovation, continuous learning is particularly important. True innovation can’t happen without highly trained employees who are equipped with the skills, technology, and tools to make the leaps in creativity that lead to real innovation. Organizations that don’t address their employees’ skills gap won’t achieve their revenue and profit goals, or at least not as quickly. Maintaining your competitive position in a marketplace that is increasingly global and interconnected requires an ongoing commitment to developing your employees’ knowledge, skills, and workplace competencies. ## Benefits of Continuous Learning in the Workplace A serious commitment to continuous learning brings many benefits at the organizational and employee level. ### Organizational Benefits Nurturing a continuous learning culture prepares employees for future opportunities in your organization. Increasing their knowledge, skills, and abilities enables them to contribute at a higher and more meaningful level. Developing a workplace culture based on continuous learning can increase employee engagement and, as word spreads throughout your industry, strengthen your ability to recruit and retain employees. Investing in your employees’ development is less expensive than the costs companies incur due to the endless cycle of recruiting, rehiring, and retraining new staff members. Improvements in learning can also enhance marketing, sales, and customer service – leading over time to a significant increase in revenues. Reducing costs and increasing revenue and productivity will ultimately also increase your company’s profit margins. ### Employee Benefits When employees have little time or opportunity to develop new skills, they may start to feel that their future marketability is being diminished or that they have no momentum or direction in their careers. On the other hand, when companies equip their employees with new tools, technologies, skills, and abilities, they increase their employees’ value internally and in the marketplace. When companies create progression opportunities and career pathways for their employees, they feel valued and become more engaged in their jobs. Offering employees opportunities to acquire new knowledge and skills that are relevant to their job description builds engagement and motivation, while also optimizing productivity and their value to the organization. At the macro level, continuous learning can be a catalyst for developing and sustaining an organization-wide, learning-based culture that fuels innovation and future growth. ## How to Embed Continuous Learning in your Company Are you ready to build a continuous learning culture at your organization? Use these five steps to drive your process. **Conduct Research** To begin, you need benchmark data. How are your employees currently learning? Talk to staff and document how formal and informal learning occurs. What’s working and what can be improved? Where are the greatest needs? **Strategize** How will you execute a continuous learning strategy and what form will your activities take? Will it be administered through a learning management system or [LMS](https://www.franconnect.com/what-are-examples-of-an-lms/)? **Normalize and Prioritize** Continuous learning has the potential, over time, to transform your organization, but the key is to make it the expectation so that a continuous learning ethos becomes ingrained in your organizational culture. The commitment to continuous learning needs to come from the top and must be accompanied by sufficient resources to sustain it over the long term. **Incentivize** Introduce rewards and prizes to reinforce the desired action. If you have a learning management system, you can use its gamification features to introduce some friendly competition. **Create a personalized learning map for every employee** This can be a simple one-page plan you ask every People Manager to develop with their direct reports. Ask them to start by reviewing their employees’ job descriptions and annual work plans, then work with them to identify knowledge and skills gaps. They should create learning objectives, strategies to narrow the gap, action steps, a budget, and a timeline. [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/)Learning opportunities should not only be continuous, but they should also be convenient for your employees. With an LMS, companies can deliver engaging and empowering training that employees can access remotely anywhere, anyplace, and anytime. [Book a demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo) today to learn how the World Manager LMS makes it easy to administer a continuous learning program for your employees from one simple interface. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Engage, Retain and Onboard Employees **Tags:** LMS --- ### [Franchise Royalties - Pulse Survey Results 2023](https://www.franconnect.com/franchise-royalties-pulse-survey-results/) **Published:** August 3, 2023 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Gain knowledge about franchise royalties from FranConnect's Pulse Survey Results. Get key insights and make informed decisions for your franchise success. **Content:** #### Written by Keith Gerson, CFE – President of Gerson Advisory Services On June 28th, 2023, I had the pleasure of hosting on behalf of FranConnect a webinar entitled “Franchise Royalties Unleashed: Tools and Tactics for Growth”. During the session, I conducted a pulse survey consisting of questions on royalty management, trends, and rate structures. We initially captured responses from attendees on the royalty bracket that their brands fall into. The largest segment of replies showed 42% of attendees fell into the 6-8% royalty range followed by 3-5% for 39% of respondents. The remainder of the options fell in with single digits ranging from 9-10% and greater than 10% royalty rates. Based on a previous analysis of over 2200 FDD’s, we found that the average royalty fee for all verticals is 6% of monthly revenues, in which 80% of companies within each vertical charge royalties within 2% of the media. Within the same FDD analysis, we found that 94% charge a royalty fee, with 6% not charging royalty fees. Of the franchise organizations that charge a royalty fee, 92% charge by a percentage value rather than an absolute dollar amount. Those that charge an absolute fixed dollar amount are typically systems that collect revenues by requiring franchisees to buy products and solutions directly from the franchisor or parent company. [Streamline Royalty Process](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/streamline-royalty-process/)On the topic of collections, respondents indicated that 62% collect royalties monthly, followed by 31% who collect weekly. [Royalties are the lifeblood of franchising](https://www.franconnect.com/streamline-your-franchise-royalties-and-fees-with-a-technology-solution/), and our panelists indicated that they each collect via Automated Clearing Houses (ACH) and as a result do not have any outstanding Accounts Receivables. Our third polling question asked, “What do you use to collect and track royalties”? Thirty-six percent of respondents are using spreadsheets, while 29% use Royalty Management Software such as FranConnect, 12% via invoicing, and 14% indicated “other”. In our fourth poll (“How do you collect royalty payments from your franchisees?”), 77% of respondents say that they are using Direct Bank Transfers such as EFT and ACH). 12% are collecting a check or bank draft, 5% are using automatic payment systems (authorized recurring payments from bank accounts or credit cards), and 5% are using online payment portals. The fourth poll was used to measure the satisfaction of how effective these collection methods are, and whereas 52% are satisfied with their current collection methods and provider, a whopping 48% are interested in utilizing an improved payment network for their payment transaction. FranConnect is a big proponent of services such as those offered by [Flywire (now integrated with FranConnect)](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/sign-to-pay/). The advantage of their system is that they have established a robust payment infrastructure based on their network of payment partners. Through these global, regional, and local banking relationships, Flywire offers convenient payment options and securely processes transactions from over 240 countries and territories, in more than 140 currencies. We like the fact that their invoicing solution streamlines your invoicing process, getting you faster settlements and real-time payment status updates – all while significantly reducing wire and merchant fees. Our attendees did share a bit of good news, and that is that [sales are improving](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/sales/) across the board resulting in higher royalty contributions. 10% of respondents indicate that their royalties are significantly higher in the first half of 2023 compared to the last half of 2022. 27% are moderately higher and 27% are slightly higher (amounting to a total of 64% being on the positive side of the ledger). Next, 4% indicated that royalties remained the same, 12% are slightly lower and 2% are moderately lower. To conclude, the webinar offered valuable industry knowledge and practical strategies for [optimizing franchise royalty management](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/royalty-manager/) and growth. By staying informed about industry trends and utilizing efficient payment networks, franchise businesses can enhance their revenue streams and drive success in the ever-evolving franchise landscape. [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/)You can view the recording of the webinar which featured Mark Siebert (iFranchise Group), Sean Manning (Founder & CEO of Payroll Vault) and Peter Ross (Founder & CEO of Senior Helper and Town Square) by going to: [Franchise Royalties Unleashed: Tools and Tactics for Growth](https://blog.franconnect.com/franconnect-webinar/franchise-royalties-unleashed) ## Improve Speed of Collection With Help From FranConnect As a franchise management software provider, FranConnect works hard to provide the right solutions for franchises that want to streamline their royalty collection process. [Request a demonstration](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) of our services today or call us at [833-438-7523](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/). ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Profit, Streamline Royalty Process **Tags:** Franchise Royalties, Franchise Royalty Fees --- ### [Troublesome Transactions: Understanding the Top 4 Challenges Facing Initial Franchise Fee Collection](https://www.franconnect.com/understanding-challenges-in-initial-franchise-fee-collection/) **Published:** September 28, 2023 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** As a franchisor, collecting an initial franchise fee can be challenging. Find out how to deal with delays, non-payments and other common issues here. **Content:** As a franchisor, collecting an initial franchise fee can be a critical factor in your success – yet it isn’t always as straightforward and simple as you might expect. Despite planning to collect all relevant fees at designated intervals, there are common issues that arise during the process of collection – packet delays, delayed payments, or non-payments by some franchises. To help equip you for managing these challenges efficiently and effectively, here we discuss the 4 most problematic issues franchisors face with initial franchise fee collections and how best to approach them. **1. Delays in Payment** When someone wants to become a franchisee, there is a fee they need to pay to the franchisor. This fee is outlined in the franchise agreement, which the lead signs before becoming a franchisee. Currently, the payment can be made by check, wire transfer, ACH, or credit card, but there may be some back and forth between the franchisor and franchisee to collect the payment. It is important to note that until this fee is paid, [the process of opening the location](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/opener/) cannot begin. This means that delays in collecting the payment also delay the timeline for opening the location and creating revenue for the franchisee. It also means that the franchisor’s ability to collect royalties is also delayed. Recognizing these challenges, it is crucial to leverage technology that not only aids in automating payments but also accelerates the process. A robust digital payment system can streamline fee collection by reducing manual tasks, thus minimizing errors and delays, and ensuring efficient, timely payment. It not only enhances the franchisors’ cash flow but also improves relationships with franchisees by fostering a sense of trust and reliability. **2. Poor Visibility** Franchisors often struggle with maintaining visibility into the [payment process](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/invoice-to-pay/) once a payment has been initiated. Despite initiating the payment, it’s often challenging to track whether the payment has been received, deposited or is still pending, owing to various modes of payment and their associated processing timeframes. This lack of insight into the payment process also extends to the entire Accounts Receivable (AR) lifecycle, making it difficult for franchisors to manage their cash flows effectively. Having clear visibility into the full AR lifecycle is crucial for accurate revenue forecasting and financial planning. A comprehensive payment platform provides real-time insights into the status of transactions, aiding franchisors in tracking the payment process from initiation to deposit. Thus, enabling franchisors to promptly address any payment delays, ultimately preventing any potential cash flow issues. Clear visibility ensures that resources for the franchisor are available when needed for business operations and expansion. **3. Hidden Fees:** Hidden fees can prove to be a significant challenge for franchisors, especially those accepting various payment methods and dealing in multiple currencies. When franchisees use different modes of payment like credit cards, wire transfers, or ACH, each method has its associated processing fees that the franchisor must bear. Moreover, if the franchise operates globally and transactions are made in different currencies, foreign exchange fees can add further to the cost. Such fees might not be apparent at the outset, but they can accumulate over time, affecting the profitability of the franchise. Franchisors must be aware of these potential costs and factor them into their financial planning to ensure a successful and profitable franchise system. [Streamline Royalty Process](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/streamline-royalty-process/)Integrating an international payment processor into your franchise management software can significantly mitigate the challenges franchisors face regarding initial franchise fee collections, particularly in terms of hidden fees. Franchisors can tackle currency conversion issues head-on and be aware of hidden fees upfront, reducing the likelihood of unexpected costs. **4. International Currencies:** Handling transactions in international currencies adds another layer of complexity to the payment collection process. Exchange rate fluctuations can significantly impact the actual amount received by the franchisor, especially when dealing with large initial franchise fees. For instance, a franchisee in the UK might pay the fee in pounds, potentially causing a discrepancy in the amount the US-based franchisor receives due to fluctuating currency exchange rates. To navigate this challenge, franchisors can leverage an international payment processor. These functions allow franchisees to pay in their local currencies while enabling the franchisor to receive and reconcile the fee in US dollars or currency of choice. The key is utilizing a processor that provides real-time conversion rates, enabling accurate collection of fees in the franchisee’s local currency, with the franchisor receiving the exact equivalent in USD. This solution not only simplifies the process for both parties but also mitigates the risks associated with currency fluctuation and contributes to a smoother, more predictable fee collection process. **The Flywire Integration:** Franchisors, franchising CDOs, and franchising CFOs need a more streamlined way to manage payment collection to prevent the above-mentioned delays and obstacles. With FranConnect’s Flywire integration, franchisors are able to collect signatures and payments all in one place. Thus, improving operational efficiency and decreasing DSO for franchisors with top-tier settlement speeds and contract management tools. By integrating Flywire into the FranConnect platform and into the initial franchise fee collection process, franchisors can ensure a smoother, more efficient, and cost-effective operation. ## How it works: 1. **Contract Sent** Franchisor requests a signature from the franchisee in FranConnect 2. **Franchisee Receives Contract Via Email** Franchisee signs IFA and is presented with a payment link 3. **Franchisee Pays** Franchisee is presented with the Flywire payment experience 4. **Deposit & Reconciliation** Funds are reconciled and deposited into the franchisor’s account In the rapidly evolving world of franchising, staying ahead of the curve means adopting solutions that enhance efficiency, increase visibility, and reduce costs. FranConnect’s integration with Flywire addresses the common challenges of payment collection, providing a streamlined, reliable, and cost-effective solution. This remarkable innovation simplifies the entire AR lifecycle, ensuring predictable and efficient franchise fee collection, irrespective of geographical boundaries and currency discrepancies. Don’t let payment collection be a bottleneck in your franchise’s growth. Join the ranks of successful franchisors who have taken control of their payment processes with Flywire’s integration. [Book a demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) with us today to see how Flywire can revolutionize your franchise’s payment collection process. Let us help you turn payment collection from a struggle into a strength. For more information, [contact us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/) today. [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Profit, Streamline Royalty Process **Tags:** Franchise Best Practices, Franchise Operations, Franchisee Fees --- ### [Beginning with the END in MIND: The Argument for Technology Consolidation](https://www.franconnect.com/beginning-with-the-end-in-mind-the-argument-for-technology-consolidation/) **Published:** March 25, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Content:** Have you considered that when building your “tech-stack” that it can be very much like owning a house. Initially you tackle several DIY projects such as painting, replacing carpets, or remodeling your kitchen. But over the course of time, you recognize that your needs will go far beyond physical aesthetics. The question becomes “do you keep patching things up with single-point technology solutions, or do you go all in with a platform that’s built with the end in mind?” ## **It’s Time to Calibrate Your Technology.** Revisiting the DIY theme, just like your home, technology isn’t something that once it’s set up you can forget about it. You need to think about ongoing maintenance. Starting off, we’ve all been there, and have grabbed a few single-point technology solutions to address immediate issues and needs. It is practical like fixing a faucet that drips vs. overhauling your plumbing system. But as you begin scaling your brand, these Band-Aids begin to reveal their limitations. It’s simply untenable trying to manage all your disparate tech tools. You’re likely to experience more headaches as your operations just feel disjointed. ### **The Benefits of a Platform Solution** As you consider moving to a platform solution, you’ll find that it can provide you with a cohesive solution where everything resides under one roof, where you’ll have the ability to integrate your [operations](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/brand-consistency/), [sales](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/sales/), [training](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/), [royalty management](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/royalty-manager/) and more becomes a unified system that’s designed to scale with you. And you’ll often find that this saves you more dollars through consolidation. The brilliance of a technology platform is that it delivers true synergy – where a single, streamlined process will create far greater efficiency. The bottom line is that all facets of your technology will work better together. It also improves your users’ experience. It’s just too much asking your users to log into a dozen different tech solutions – all which behave differently. ### **Is it Time to Consolidate your Technology?** Sooner or later, every multi-location business will face a moment of truth. When you consolidate onto a single platform, you are making the choice to bring order to chaos. This change isn’t about minimizing the number of tech solutions you use, but about using a purpose-built solution that meets your specific challenges, goals and objectives. It is the difference between generic one-size-fits-all tools opposed to getting something that fits you like a glove. Consider the success of Zoom. It wasn’t just about making phone calls, but envisioning how we connect. Your technology shouldn’t just “work”; it should accelerate moving your brand forward. You can see evidence of this in that 20 FranConnect customers make up the top 50 franchises listed in the 2024 Franchise 500 following their leap to a platform that is specifically designed for franchising success. Additionally, multiple FranConnect non-franchise customers have also been listed as some of the fastest growing brands in their respective industries. [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/)### **Only One Way to Coast, and That’s Downhill** In my experience, one of the greatest concerns that brands face is the fear of being left behind. Whether you’re an emerging brand, or a large enterprise system, you have the opportunity to move towards technical maturity now. By moving forward with a platform solution vs. siloed single-point solutions, your brand will position itself for accelerated growth, greater efficiencies, and enhanced competitiveness. Technology is advancing at such a rapid pace, that the strategic integration of technology is much more than an operational advantage, it will be the hallmark of sustainable success. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Develop, Expand Locations, Franchising Best Practices, Improve Performance, Operate **Tags:** Tech Consolidation --- ### [The Power of Effective Communication Between Franchisors and Franchisees](https://www.franconnect.com/the-power-of-effective-communication-between-franchisors-and-franchisees/) **Published:** May 5, 2023 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** The Power of Effective Communication Between Franchisors and Franchisees **Content:** One of the crucial factors that contribute to the success of any franchise lies in building and maintaining a strong relationship between the franchisor and the franchisee. Open communication and trust are the pillars that support a successful franchising model. Effective communication is essential to creating a strong foundation for franchise growth. It is an effective tool that can help both franchisors and franchisees understand each other’s priorities, challenges, and expectations for the future. In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of effective communication between franchisors and franchisees, and how to establish open lines of communication and trust. **Importance of Effective Communication:** Effective communication is the foundation of any successful business relationship, and franchising is no exception. When there is a lack of clear communication between franchisors and franchisees, it can lead to a host of issues, including misunderstandings and unfulfilled expectations. This can result in a breakdown of trust and a strained franchise relationship, which can ultimately lead to franchise failure. Effective communication, on the other hand, fosters transparency, openness, and collaboration between franchisors and franchisees. This allows both parties to work together towards common goals, share information, and provide feedback to improve the franchise system. Effective communication also ensures that both franchisors and franchisees have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities, which promotes accountability and helps to avoid conflicts. In short, effective communication is essential for building a strong and successful franchise system that benefits both franchisors and franchisees. **Establishing Open Lines of Communication:** To establish open lines of communication between franchisors and franchisees, it’s essential to implement clear communication policies and guidelines. These guidelines can include regular check-ins and updates with franchisees, setting a specific time each week for communication, and ensuring that all parties have access to necessary information. For franchisors, regular check-ins with franchisees can be a valuable practice for maintaining clear and approachable lines of communication. By checking in regularly, franchisors can stay informed of any challenges or concerns that franchisees may be facing and provide guidance and support as needed. In fact, 57% of franchisors lack a system to monitor and control field execution and performance. Technology tools to keep communication consistent can be especially helpful in facilitating these touchpoints. The [Fran](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/brand-consistency/)[Connect Operate module](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/brand-consistency/) offers a range of features like centralized communication channels and customizable reporting, ultimately helping franchisors stay organized and track important metrics on their units. Also having a mobile-friendly system allows for easy access to real-time data and communication from anywhere, making it convenient for Franchise Business Coaches (FBCs) to stay connected with franchisees on the go. [FranConnect Brand Consistency](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/brand-consistency/) helps break down these communication barriers and drive greater franchisee accountability and compliance. By streamlining communication efforts, it can ensure that location owners have the resources and support they need to succeed. On top of keeping communication consistent, it’s also essential to communicate in a manner that’s easily understandable, straightforward, and respectful, and to always be empathetic and patient with each other’s concerns. Effective communication helps both franchisors and franchisees understand each other’s perspectives, creates a sense of community and ownership, promotes teamwork, and strengthens the overall franchise brand. Effective communication can also result in increased sales, higher customer satisfaction, and a reduction in conflicts or misunderstandings. [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/open-locations-faster/)Building a collaborative network with franchisees and maintaining efficient communication is essential to creating a strong and impactful franchising brand. When franchisors and franchisees work together, they can help improve operational efficiency, share ideas, grow the brand, and ultimately increase revenue. A social network-like platform such as [FranConnect Hub](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/the-hub/) can further enhance collaboration and communication among all stakeholders. The platform provides a space for franchisees and franchisors to connect and collaborate seamlessly, exchange knowledge on brand content and initiatives, and share best practices. This fosters productive conversations and leads to better discussions on how the brand can operate efficiently and grow. By having open and transparent communication coupled with a collaborative approach, franchisors and franchisees can ensure that they are working towards a common goal, which is to make the brand successful and sustainable. **Building and Maintaining Trust:** Without trust, it is challenging to have successful communication between franchisors and franchisees. Building trust takes time and effort, and it’s important to establish trust from the very beginning. For franchisors, the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) is the essential first step in establishing and maintaining trust with their new franchisee. The FDD contains critical information that prospective franchisees need to make informed decisions about whether to invest in the franchise. By providing detailed information about the franchisor’s business model, fees, and obligations, the FDD helps to ensure that franchisees have a clear understanding of what is expected of them and what they can expect from the franchisor. It is crucial for franchisors to keep the FDD transparent and up-to-date to maintain the trust of their franchisees. Failure to disclose material information or provide updates to the FDD can lead to legal and financial issues. Additionally, a lack of transparency can lead to a breakdown of trust between the franchisor and franchisee, which can ultimately result in a failed franchise. By keeping the FDD transparent and up-to-date, franchisors can demonstrate their commitment to open and honest communication with their franchisees. This helps to establish trust and build a strong foundation for a successful franchise relationship. If the FDD sets the stage of trust with the franchisee, being transparent throughout the lifecycle of the franchisee about business operations, sharing knowledge and expertise, actively listening to franchisees’ concerns, and being responsive to their inquiries will ensure you are sharing the same core values and goals. [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/)In conclusion, the success of a franchise business heavily depends on the relationship and communication between the franchisor and the franchisee. Effective communication is the foundation of a strong franchising relationship and it’s crucial to establish open lines of communication and trust. With regular check-ins and updates, clear communication guidelines, and actively listening and responding to concerns, franchisors can build and maintain a positive relationship with their franchisees. By promoting effective communication and building trust, franchisors and franchisees can grow their franchise brand and achieve success together. For more information on the Hub module or to schedule a demo of the FranConnect Engage application [visit us here](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/the-hub/). ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Engage, Franchising Best Practices **Tags:** Franchise Best Practices, Franchise Development, Franchise Operations --- ### [What Are Examples of an LMS](https://www.franconnect.com/what-are-examples-of-an-lms/) **Published:** July 5, 2022 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** What are examples of an LMS? The following is a complete guide to the different types of LMS platforms and how each can benefit your business. **Content:** #### Written by Kelsey Smith [Learning Management Systems](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/) (LMS) have come a long way since the invention of the first teaching machine by [Sydney Pressey](http://hackeducation.com/2015/02/03/the-first-teaching-machines). An[ LMS](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/) is no longer a one-size-fits-all prospect. Modern learners now have many options to choose from depending on their needs. **Examples of LMS in the market today include.** - Open-Source - SaaS Cloud - Proprietary You’ve probably experienced different types of learning management systems without even realizing it. If you’re still unsure what an LMS *is*, here’s a definition from [TechTarget](https://searchcio.techtarget.com/definition/learning-management-system): > “An LMS is a software application or web-based technology used to plan, implement, and assess a specific learning process.” Essentially, an LMS is software that facilitates online learning and enables you to track an employee’s learning progress. ## How Does an LMS Facilitate Online Learning? - An LMS allows an instructor to deliver personalized courses to students over the Internet. - It enables students to log into the course and study when it’s convenient for them, even when they’re on the move. - A good LMS allows for safe communication within the system. Non-participants aren’t privy to any correspondence among participants. - Because all course-related materials can be found in one place, the student can go back to refresh their memory and in time become an expert on the subject. - The LMS delivers information in small chunks (micro-learning) so that the student retains information easily. - A quality LMS incorporates features such as self-marking tests, gaming, and social tools to provide an engaging learning experience. ## Comparing Different Types of LMS ### **Enterprise vs. Individual** - **Enterprise** Enterprise LMS solutions are usually for larger companies or those that are growing rapidly. As companies expand operations and hiring, an enterprise solution is easy to scale and can accommodate a virtually unlimited number of users and courses. - **Individual** An Individual LMS, on the other hand, is more appropriate for smaller organizations. It is usually sold via a subscription model and may come with fewer features and a lower price point. ### **Free vs. Commercial** - **Free LMS** There is a plethora of open-source software with great features that trainers can use for free to create courses and train employees. However, free LMS requires that you have the knowledge to deploy it. If not, you’ll have to bring on a consultant to implement it for you. Also, the free LMS may not have the best customer support, if it has any at all. - **Commercial** A commercial LMS is intended to be used by an organization or institution. In contrast to the free LMS, the commercial version is easier to implement, provides better customer service, and more sophisticated features. The other differentiator, of course, is that it’s not free. Generally speaking, the capabilities and features that you require will determine how much you pay. ### **SaaS vs. Licensed Product** - **Software as a Service (SaaS)** The SaaS LMS is one of the most user-friendly models on the market. It lives in the cloud, is easy to deploy and scale, and can accommodate rapid growth. And because it can be accessed 24/7 via mobile device, it is extremely flexible. One of the reasons why the [SaaS LMS](https://www.franconnect.com/what-is-a-saas-lms/) is so popular in the finance, technology, and insurance industries, to name just a few, is that they don’t have to concern themselves with technical aspects such as loading software, data backup and server maintenance. All of that is handled by the SaaS LMS vendor. - **Licensed Product** A licensed product can offer many benefits, including customization and different options for deployment and having it hosted in the cloud or at your headquarters. The main difference is the license fee. ### **Cloud-based vs On-premise** - **Cloud-based LMS** An LMS that is hosted by a vendor on their server is what we call a cloud-based LMS. This is the “no mess” solution for companies that may not have the servers and technical expertise in-house. Rather than get into the weeds of the technology, they’d rather have their LMS hosted off-site. - **On-premise LMS** An on-premise LMS is built to order at your corporate location and usually with multiple servers. It requires a more hands-on approach and the expertise to operate it and maintain data security. One disadvantage is that it tends to be more difficult to scale than a cloud-based LMS and may be more expensive. *Discover why these world-famous brands use World Manager for online training. [Ask us](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo)* ## What is Open-Source LMS? Have you ever heard people describing the [software as ‘free’](https://dzone.com/articles/free-software-vs-open-source-vs-freeware-whats-the)? Because it doesn’t necessarily mean that you can download it at no cost. [Train Employees](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/training/)What it really means is that the copyright holder has provided the rights to modify the software’s source code to developers and users. Since there are no licensing fees, an anonymous entity can modify the software for any purpose and distribute as many copies of it as possible. It’s collaborative, so any member of the tech community may also add new features to the original source code. Some of the most popular open-source software include: - [Firefox](https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all/#product-desktop-release) - [WordPress](https://wordpress.org/about/) - [Chrome](https://www.google.com/chrome/) - [Android](https://www.android.com/what-is-android/) - [Joomla](https://www.joomla.org/about-joomla.html) So an [open-source](https://opensource.org/osd) LMS is one that makes its source code available to any user. And you can scrutinize and customize the source code according to your business learning needs. Small businesses with few employees to train generally prefer an open-source LMS. This is because it gives you core software features without the overhead of purchasing costly licenses. **So what are some examples of an open-source LMS?** ### Moodle [Moodle](https://docs.moodle.org/37/en/About_Moodle) prioritizes social learning – its interface can be customized to resemble popular social tools. For instance, you can add features such as posts and a timeline of learners’ activities as well as comments, votes, and other calls to action. A Moodle user has a profile that looks like this: Screenshot from [Moodle Helps](https://moodlehelps.wordpress.com/2016/04/07/moodle-user-profile-page-customization/)**Features:** - Customizable site design and layout - Single sign-on module - Easy integration with video conferencing software, CMS and CRMs - Multilingual capability - Supports third-party add-ons and over 500 plugins such as Office 365 and OneNote ### Open edX [Open edX](https://openedx.org/about-open-edx/) enables you to host and deploy your own branded course instead of creating a new one. Open edX has two components: - The studio, is used by the administrator and instructor to design and manage courses - The LMS, through which the learner accesses the course **Features:** - Self-paced learning - Online discussion groups - Wiki-based collaborative learning - Right to left language support - Course and learner analytics - Supports video, HTML, and text This is how the student dashboard looks on Open edX Screenshot from [Open edX](https://openedx.org/about-open-edx/)### ATutor [ATutor](https://atutor.github.io/atutor/) is a unique LMS fashioned for learners with disabilities. It’s renowned for two things: **Accessibility** ATutor has features that make the LMS suitable for visually impaired learners, such as: - Text alternatives for visual elements and a screen reader which enables the user to listen to the LMS interface - Keyboard access, which makes it easy for the learner to use ATutor without a mouse **Adaptability** The themes, tool modules, groups and privilege sections make ATutor adaptable in the following ways: - You can customize the layout of the system, adding categories to fit your teaching needs - You can assign management roles to certain course members so they can author parts of the course or use some of the LMS tools within the system - A learner can set up a profile with personal information and profile picture - Learners can collaborate and communicate with other participants through a private mail inbox or chat room. Screenshot from [Atutor](https://atutor.github.io/atutor/docs/atutor_afa.html)## What is Proprietary LMS? Proprietary LMSs are built and hosted by a single company or entity. They are based on software development known as *closed-source*. A proprietary LMS comes with a [copyright license that restricts users](https://www.synopsys.com/blogs/software-security/5-types-of-software-licenses-you-need-to-understand/) from changing the source code. In fact, violating these copyright laws can be classified as cybercrime. A copyright license keeps other businesses from modifying the source code to create a competing product. Unlike an open-source LMS, you can’t demand software changes or improve its design – the owner decides what features and upgrades will be made. [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/)Fortunately, you have self-help options such as a user manual and a dedicated FAQ in case you encounter any problems. A proprietary LMS also invariably offers customer support. ## **What are some examples of proprietary LMS?** Blackboard Learn [Blackboard Learn](https://help.blackboard.com/) is a self-host LMS that caters to K-12 users, higher education, businesses, and government institutions. Instructor’s resources look like this on Blackboard Learn.**Features:** - Custom branding - Custom layout - Exam engine - Student portal - Skills tracking - Grading - Discussions - Analytics (Restricted to companies and government institutions) - Data import and export - Easy integration with Microsoft OneDrive and Dropbox ### Schoology [Schoology LMS](https://www.powerschool.com/classroom/schoology-learning/) allows for virtual learning for K-12 and higher education students. They can share academic content within the LMS and collaborate on different subjects. The website is hosted by the vendor but instructors can upload content and assignments into the LMS and use the rich text editor and other tools to create lessons. **Features:** - Customized branding - Online grade book - Homework Dropbox - Audio and video recording - Data integration with student information systems - Color-coded workload thresholds - Third-party software integration - Performance tracking - Analytics This screenshot shows how Schoology uses color-coding to indicate student performance and mastery. Screenshot from [Schoology](https://support.schoology.com/hc/en-us/articles/201422866-Student-Mastery-Reporting-Enterprise-Only-)## What is SaaS Cloud LMS? **SaaS stands for Software-as-a-Service**. It’s also known as hosted software and is delivered to approved end users only. A SaaS Cloud LMS is hosted on the vendor’s servers or on the cloud. The source code is the same for all clients. When upgrades are rolled out, all clients benefit from the new features. Since it’s housed in the cloud, upgrades are done centrally, which makes maintenance easier and more cost-effective. **What are some examples of leading SaaS Cloud LMSs?** ### World Manager The [World Manager LMS](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/) is one of the best cloud-based training, communications, and compliance platforms on the market. Firstly, you get product upgrades and customer support *for free*. Secondly, its user-friendly platform features three crucial components that *keep users engaged*: - **Communication suite:** Enables an employee to communicate with participants through chat forums, calendar and image galleries - **Training suite:** Mobile-first so it delivers training on any device in real-time - **Education suite:** Allows companies to deliver accredited courses to their employees through a customized training academy **Features:** - - Custom branding - Integrates with third-party SCORM content - Varied test options such as multiple-choice, tick boxes and written test - Optimized for mobile use - [ACTIV](https://www.worldmanager.com/en-us/suites/training-learning-management-system-software/activ-presentations) presentations - Checklist sign-off - Policy sign-offs - Achievement awards tool - Real-time analytics - Employee surveys ### EthosCE [EthosCE](https://www.ethosce.com/about/about-us/) LMS delivers continuing education to health professionals. Learners can use the LMS to share their learning experience on their social media channels such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. **Features:** - Customized branding - Single sign-on module - Bulk import of learner registration details and transcripts - Multimedia tests - Learner follow-up assessments - Course completion certificates - Customized resources for poorly performing learners - Course data and performance analytics Course completion certificate offered by [EthosCE](https://www.ethosce.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/course-2.jpg).## Do I Really Need an LMS? A [thriving business needs well-trained staff](https://www.franconnect.com/frontline-employee-training-importance/). An LMS can help you train your employees in a fun and engaging way – from onboarding new employees or training newly promoted staff. LMS analytics identifies communication gaps and weak spots in your team. And these actionable insights can help drive business growth and give you a competitive advantage. Are you ready to change how you do business? Book a customized [demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo) today. [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Engage, Retain and Onboard Employees **Tags:** employee training, LMS --- ### [Employee Training and Development Best Practices](https://www.franconnect.com/employee-training-and-development-best-practices/) **Published:** January 22, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** The Employee Training and Development Policy is otherwise known as Staff Training and Development Policy or Employee Development Policy. **Content:** #### Written by Kelsey Smith This Employee Training and Development Policy is a good foundation for your company’s employment policies. It should be adapted to your company’s specific needs and circumstances. The Employee Training and Development Policy is otherwise known as **Staff Training and Development Policy or Employee Development Policy**## The Principle The modern economy has become highly competitive, and only the best and most adaptable companies will survive. This competition is present in the workplace and employees are increasingly under pressure to evolve professionally in order to acquire and retain jobs and propel their companies forward. To be successful employees need to constantly increase their knowledge and upgrade their expertise, for their individual and company benefit. The company is fully committed to f supporting their employees’ personal development and success while boosting efficiency and productivity company-wide. This Employee Development Policy will focus on employee learning and development while under the company’s employment. ## Application This policy affects all permanent staff of the company, full-time or part-time. For temporary staff, on short-term contracts, training can be considered at their manager’s discretion. Excluded from this policy are supplementary employees like contractors and consultants for the company. ## The Policy Highlights The company puts emphasis on creating a culture of continuous professional development c. This is done by encouraging and supporting all employees to seek opportunities to sharpen their professional skills. Employees, management, and the HR office should collaborate in fulfillment of this objective. [Train Employees](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/training/)Management is mandated to constantly identify the development needs of their staff, which HR should facilitate, within the set company guidelines and processes discussed in this policy. ### Scope of Training and Development The company generally supports the following employee training: - Hands-on formal training for individuals and corporate. - Employee coaching and mentoring. - Conference participation by employees. - Training on the job. - Job shadowing. - Job rotation. To support the employee’s training and development, the company can also subscribe to educational materials such as journals or newsletters, as long as they are professional and beneficial. Conditions for such subscription are: - The materials must be job-related. - Applicable costs involved must be within set limits. Software licenses, or other tools that are essential for job performance, are excluded from this provision. ### Individual Training Every year, the company sets minimum provisions for individual training programs. These programs are accessible to all employees who have served the company for four months. They may take the training as individuals or as teams. The company also sets a budget for each employee every year which is renewed annually. Employees are entitled to 10 days of leave for training every year. Employees are free to attend as much training as they may wish, within their annual budget and 10 days of leave for training. If an employee exceeds their annual training budget or days of leave for training Outside, the employee may be required to use their paid time off (PTO) and meet the cost deficit. Employees may be required to support training attendance with documentation. In-house employee training is excluded from the training budget and time limits. A case may arise where the employee has skills gaps, or there are changes in the job description, that warrant refresher training. All training must be guided by the needs of the employee. Hence, managers should work with employees to come up with the best training programs and methods. These can include workshops, online programs, lectures, tutorials, etc. ### Corporate Training The company will sometimes engage external educators in areas of interest to the company. In such cases, the company will cover the cost of the entire training. Examples of such training include: - Training on equal opportunity employment practice. - Training on diversity in the workplace. - Leadership training for management. - Training on conflict resolution in the workplace. - Training on family health and lifestyle topics that are considered relevant to the health of employees and the company. There may also be training offered by internal experts and management. Examples include: - Inducting new employees. - Training employees or teams on company-specific issues, such as new systems or policy changes. - Preparing employees for changes like promotions and transfers. This type of training does not affect the annual training budget or require employees to use their training leave days. However, attendance should be monitored and enforced as normal business activity. ### Other Training Continuous learning is the responsibility of employees and management. Employees must demonstrate the drive and ambition to improve their skills and should consult management for opportunities and advice. Management should encourage and mentor their staff as well as work with their supervisors to explore opportunities for their own training. The company does not have a strict Continuing Professional Development (CPD) policy. Employees and managers should seek the best approach to CPD and are free to try different arrangements such as job rotation, job shadowing, or such modules that will have minimal disruptions to daily operations. Employees are free to learn at their own pace while requesting educational materials and similar resources that are within the budget allocation. #### Useful guidelines: - This policy covers all staff without any discrimination. - Management should keep records of all training for reference and devise a means of measuring or quantifying the impact. It is important to look at how to improve the training. - All training efforts must meet cost and time limitations while fitting the needs of the employees and the company. - Employees are encouraged to take advantage of the training opportunities provided and to apply the acquired knowledge and skills to advance their careers and the interest of the company. - It is important that employees use up their training allocations for time and budget every year. ### Applying for Training When employees want to attend external training programs or conferences they should follow this procedure: 1. Employees and management identify the need for training. 2. Employees and management discuss proposed training programs. 3. Employees and management present their cases to HR and if possible fill out a prescribed form. 4. HR reviews the proposal against company policy, budget and training content. 5. HR prepares a response, preferably in writing. If it is negative, reasons should be given to the affected employees. 6. If HR approves, logistical preparations are created in consultation with the employees and management. 7. Where the company does not pay directly for the training, employees will be asked to pay upfront and claim the cost from the company using receipts or invoices. Such a refund will be subject to HR’s approval and will be based on this documentation. 8. The cancellation of training should be communicated to HR immediately and employees will meet any fees as a result. 9. Where training has an examination component, the employees are required to sit the exam and present the results to the company. Should they fail to pass, they may retake the exams at their own cost. Ideally, the company will always meet the cost of training including registration and a one-time examination. In some cases, this may also include transport and accommodation and limited personal expenses. This is at the discretion of HR. Should the employees pay for the covered services, the company will reimburse them against relevant documents such as receipts and invoices. For required subscriptions, employees should contact HR or management who will arrange for the subscription or allow the employees to do it themselves. [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/)If employees make the subscriptions, they should inform HR in writing and provide associated details and costs. Invoices for such should be submitted to HR as soon as they are available and must be endorsed by management. HR has the following responsibilities: - Assessing training needs and researching industry trends. - Maintaining budgets and training schedules. - Researching relevant corporate training programs, institutions, or consultants. - Supporting training programs and employee growth opportunities. - Tracking learning and development of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and deciding on improvements. To find out more about how you can manage the full employee lifecycle, [contact World Manager today for a demo!](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo) *Disclaimer: This information is meant to provide general guidelines and should be used as a reference. It may not take into account all relevant local, state, or federal laws and is not a legal document. Neither the author nor World Manager will assume any legal liability that may arise from the use of this information.* ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Engage, Retain and Onboard Employees **Tags:** employee training, LMS --- ### [How Businesses Can Benefit From Using Business Analytics](https://www.franconnect.com/benefits-of-analytics/) **Published:** February 17, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Content:** Understanding your company’s performance is vital for business owners since it helps them make critical decisions for the future. That’s where business analytics comes in. Business analytics provide detailed insights that make it easier to measure your company’s performance, establish actionable steps to achieve your business goals and solve reoccurring problems within your business. This post will explain how data analytics helps your business expand and thrive in a competitive market. ## What Is Business Analytics? Business analytics is a method of interpreting data to find valuable performance patterns and insights. Examples of business analytics tools and techniques include machine learning, predictive analytics, and natural language processing. These tools transform data analytics into usable insights to determine your website’s performance. You can use these insights to make decisions and improve your marketing strategies to reach more people. Analytic tools need clear and accessible data to provide real-time, accurate business analytics. Several tools and cloud storage software platforms exist to access and process your vital data to provide valuable business insights. ## How Can Businesses Benefit From Using Analytics? Identifying patterns and trends in your business data helps you find ways to change your business practices for a more favorable outcome. Here are a few specific benefits of business analytics: ### Improve Customer Insights Your goal as a business is to improve your customers’ experience when they use your products or services. However, it may be challenging to enhance their experience if you know how they feel. Business analytics tools analyze data to create detailed customer profiles, allowing you to understand individuals’ behavior to provide tailored services to meet their unique needs and preferences. ### Track KPIs Key performance indicators (KPIs) are quantifiable measurements that evaluate your company’s long-term performance and can determine your strategic, financial, and operational achievements compared to other companies in the same industry. Business analytics track your company’s performance metrics by collecting data and converting it into measurable insights you can display on charts and dashboards. ### Simplify Decision-Making As a business owner, you have many decisions to make every day. Business analytics can provide insights that guide you in making informed decisions. Business analytic tools use predictive analytics to suggest the best responses to changes in your business. These tools can use sales data to determine the chance of success, helping you decide on your company’s right course of action. [Request A Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/)### Mitigate Business Risks You are likely no stranger to business risks. Legal liabilities, employee safety, and delayed deliveries are just some risks your business may experience. Business analytics models can evaluate business data, such as your location, product demands, and current inventory, to predict potential risks and allow you to prevent them. Business analytics can also help you recover from setbacks by recommending a suitable solution. ### Enhance Data Security In addition to mitigating risks, business analytics tools can also identify security vulnerabilities and help you protect your data. Some data analytics models can use information from previous data breaches to strengthen security and prevent recurrence. Investing in business analytics solutions will help you protect your company’s sensitive information and maintain compliance with privacy regulations. ## How Can FranConnect Benefit Your Business? At FranConnect, we offer analytics solutions for franchises and multi-location businesses. [FranConnect’s Analytics](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/analytics/) includes a catalog of pre-built analytics to provide your company’s development, operations, and finance teams with valuable insights that streamline decision-making. We use scorecards, benchmarks, and dashboards to represent your company’s performance, allowing you to increase profitability and strengthen your brand. FranConnect’s Analytics catalog has a user-friendly design to ensure you get the most out of our tool. We have optimized the catalog’s dashboard and scorecard to be mobile-friendly so you can access your data no matter where you are. Experience all the benefits of business analytics with our comprehensive and innovative solutions. ## Contact FranConnect for Analytics Software You Can Trust Would you like to know more about FranConnect’s Analytics and other catalog solutions coming soon? Our experts are happy to assist you with a tailored solution to expand your units. Feel free to [request a demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) or [contact us directly](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/) to speak to a member of our sales team. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Analytics **Tags:** Analytics, Franchise Development --- ### [Using Stock Images in Your Franchise’s Branding: Yay or Nay?](https://www.franconnect.com/stock-photos-in-franchise-marketing/) **Published:** March 4, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Content:** Visit any sales website, and you likely won’t have to look long to find a stock photo showing satisfied customers or an appealing display. But does that mean you should be using them on your website? As a franchisee, your goal is simple — draw in new visitors and show them why your business is the best choice. While stock photos can help you build your online aesthetic, there are likely much better options for you to achieve the same. Learn what stock images are and what you can do differently with FranConnect today. ## What Are Stock Images? Stock photos are images created for a variety of uses. You see them every day — they can be anything from a group of people laughing together to a picturesque sunset on the beach. They are generally mass-produced images that marketing companies sell for people who cannot create or take images of their own, and they’re a favorite among businesses and franchises looking to save time in their advertising campaigns. You may see them on: - Billboards - Textbooks - Pamphlets - Websites - Product listings ## Cons of Using Stock Photos for Marketing Despite their popularity, using stock photos comes with a laundry list of things to look out for. While you can use stock photos for your business website, the images tend to appear: - **Unoriginal:** Even if you pay for your stock photos, they may be subject to many copywriting laws and similar legalities later on. The best way to protect yourself and your brand from potential legal issues is to create original images on your own so that there is no question they belong to you. - **Off-brand:** Even the highest quality stock photo will not align precisely with your brand’s style. You may need to spend extra time editing and adjusting them to fit your franchise’s aesthetic. In some cases, it may be easier to take your own images so that you can make them how you want them. - **Disingenuous:** Stock photos are created with the intention of versatility, so they’re unlikely to perform exactly how you are envisioning them. When people recognize an image as a stock photo, they might see it as a brand taking the easy way out, like they do not care about their marketing materials — and maybe even their products. - **Repetitive:** Since stock images are free and available to anyone, there’s a good chance that any stock photo you use is already on another website. To viewers, it will be obvious that you’ve used the same resources, leading them to wonder how your business is better than any other. If it’s important to you to have a website that is completely unique from competitors, it’s best to develop images on your own instead of browsing stock photos. ## Pros of Using Stock Photos for Marketing While these cons are usually the reason brands avoid using stock photos, there are a few benefits to make note of. After all, franchise stock images are popular for a reason. When someone decides to use a stock photo, it’s usually because it’s: - **Easily accessible:** A simple online search of “stock images” will give you hundreds of stock photo websites at your disposal. Even the most novice internet users can easily find and download stock photos to suit their needs, making it a popular choice among startup businesses and those still learning how to work their websites. - **Cheaper:** Creating original photos can potentially cost a lot of money. Depending on the photos you want, you might have to hire a photographer or videographer and models for the shoot, schedule a time to take the pictures and find someone to edit them to your liking. Stock photos can be free or come at a flat-rate price — making them cheaper than trying to hire someone to take your photos. In short, stock photos can save time and money you can use to invest in other parts of your franchise. ## Discover FranConnect’s Suite of Franchise Management Software Unless your budget is very tight or you’re running out of time, original images are the way to go. They can help your business in the long run, just like having a platform like FranConnect to help you scale your franchise. [Ensure Brand Consistency](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/brand-consistency/)As one of the country’s leading franchise support providers, we know there is often a better option than using stock photos to boost sales and marketing efforts. Learn new ways to meet brand guidelines and set new performance standards with our platform today. [Request a demo online](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) or call us at [833-438-7523](tel:+18334387523) for more information. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Franchising Best Practices **Tags:** Franchise Best Practices --- ### [How Your Franchise Fee Structures Can Enhance Franchise Performance](https://www.franconnect.com/how-your-franchise-fee-structures-can-enhance-franchise-performance/) **Published:** March 20, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Content:** A comprehensive study of over 2400 Franchise Disclosure Documents over a two-year period sheds great light on focusing on how varying fee structures including franchise fees, royalty fees, technology fees, and marketing costs can impact your franchise performance and growth. ## **The Correlation of the Initial Franchise Fee and Higher Revenue Potential** Initial Franchise Fees offers a grant to franchisees to access all your franchise brand assets and intellectual properties, support, marketing and more. The result of the study revealed a very noteworthy correlation between the amount of the IFF and a brand’s revenue. We found that brands that charged franchise fees around $40,000 or more enjoyed an average revenue of $1.5 million per franchise location. This amounts to 2.5X greater than franchisors charging $25,000 or less. In further analysis, those who charged $25k or less saw an average of $583,000 in top-line revenue per location, whereas those who had fees of $40k or more realized an average revenue of $1.5 million per location. Clearly this signals that those seeking franchisees could have a greater willingness to invest more in exchange for higher revenue potential. Franchisors should reevaluate and consider increasing their initial franchise fees to strengthen brand value and to assist in further growth. ## **Royalty Fees Equate to Stronger Support** Almost every Franchisee is required to pay a royalty fee which represents a recurring financial commitment towards the continued use of the franchise brand. The small percentage of franchisors that do not charge royalty fees are most often a “product distribution model” in which the franchisee is paying more to the franchisor for access to products that are proprietary to their system. However, the vast majority (94%) of franchisors are charging royalty fees, primarily as a percentage of monthly revenues. This approach is employed by 92% of franchisors. The average royalty fee currently stands at 6%, and our study reflects a consistent approach across a variety of vertical industries. We found that 80% of franchise brands are charging royalties within a median value of 2%. This is an indication that there is great consistency across franchises that potentially balances the ongoing support provided by the franchisor to help achieve operational success. [Streamline Royalty Process](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions/streamline-royalty-process/)## **Marketing Expenditures at the National and Local Level** There are very few fees that are more critical than the amount and way that marketing expenditures are utilized – after all, the purpose of business is in the making and keeping of customers. We find that the most successful franchise systems are those that have achieved a thoughtful balance between their national advertising and local marketing efforts. Our study found that 72% of franchise organizations are levying a national advertising fee, predominantly as a percentage of revenues (89%). In terms of local marketing expenditure, a majority (55%) will require their franchisees to spend on local marketing, with 79% of these that require a specified percentage of monthly revenues. The average local marketing spends required by franchisors currently stands at 2% of monthly revenues. This data reflects the necessity for franchisors to ensure that adequate marketing spend, nationally and locally so that they may remain competitive and support franchisee success. ## **Technology Fees are Now of Critical Importance** Many of today’s franchise leaders extoll the fact that their products and services are becoming more and more of an ante into the game whereas, technology plays a critical role in obtaining operational efficiency along with a competitive edge across your system. According to our findings, 61.9% of franchisors now charge technology fees, with the majority doing so in the form of a flat monthly rate. Not only is this required investment in technology becoming the norm, it is greatly valued by franchisees. 50% of franchisees acknowledge the significant value that is derived from technology provided by the franchisor. What is incredibly important to note is that franchisors that impose technology fees are likely to grow 36% faster over a two-year period than those that do not. This key takeaway accentuates the importance of strategic tech investments for enhancing a true competitive advantage and support for your franchisee’s success. ## **Enhancing Franchise Operations with FranConnect’s Royalty Manager and Flywire Collaboration** Add in FranConnect’s Royalty Manager solution, and you have a cutting-edge tool designed to revolutionize the way franchisors manage and collect royalties. And with its integration with Flywire, you’ll have a significant advancement in streamlining the collection of fees, both domestically and internationally, for franchisors. This partnership is further bolstered by the innovative Invoice to Pay and Sign to Pay programs, in which FranConnect utilizes Flywire’s global payment platform to facilitate the financial transactions that are pivotal to franchising operations. This synergy between FranConnect, its Royalty Manager solution, and Flywire represents a transformative approach to addressing the complexities of fee collection and operational management in franchising. With these powerful tools, franchisors are equipped to navigate the competitive landscape more effectively, enhancing brand value, improving franchisee success, and driving overall franchise system growth in an increasingly dynamic market environment. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Profit, Streamline Royalty Process **Tags:** Collecting Franchise Payments, Franchise Royalty Fees --- ### [Making the Most of Discovery Days](https://www.franconnect.com/making-the-most-of-discovery-days/) **Published:** July 19, 2017 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Discovery Days are an important part of franchise sales. What’s the best way to ensure a closed deal at the end? Read on to find out. **Content:** While researching for this blog post, I came across the same basic description for franchise discovery days over and over again – an opportunity for candidates and franchisors to learn more about each other. According to [this article in Entrepreneur](https://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/the-abcs-of-franchise-discovery-days/254864), discovery days have four main purposes: 1. The candidate can learn more about you and your franchise 2. You can further qualify the candidate 3. The management team can provide feedback on the candidate 4. You and your brand can make a good impression While these are important parts of discovery days, I think there is a fifth and arguably more important purpose – closing the deal. Remember that discovery days are another step in the sales cycle, and while they are an excellent tool in [franchisee candidate engagement](https://www.franconnect.com/engage-candidates-during-every-stage-of-the-franchise-sales-cycle/), the ultimate goal is a closed deal. When you think of it that way, discovery days could be structured more effectively to actually close that deal. Think of a normal job interview. You see a job posting, do some research, have a phone interview – maybe two – and go to an in-person interview. The best interviews I’ve been on are the ones at which the employer had clear intentions and next steps. By that step in the interview process, we’re ready to commit to each other – we just need that final push to seal the deal. This directly relates to discovery days. It’s not a time to just sit back, relax, and hope for the best. It’s time to really try to get a commitment. Many brands’ discovery days fall toward the middle to end of the franchise sales process: 1. Pre-qualification (move lead to qualified) 2. Contacted 3. Qualification 4. [FDD](https://www.franconnect.com/update-your-fdd-5-critical-things-to-get-right-in-the-age-of-covid/) 5. Call or in-person meeting 6. Discovery Day/Candidate Approval 7. Call 8. Application While this is just a high-level view of the steps in the sales process, by the time a candidate reaches the discovery day stage, they should be 85% sure they are ready to commit. These candidates are serious about partnering with your company, especially since they are usually absorbing the cost of attending. So use this stage in the franchise sales process to move the candidate along. In fact, your [parting conversation](https://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/the-abcs-of-franchise-discovery-days/254864) may sound something like this: “I haven’t had a chance to speak to everyone on the team yet, but I think they were all impressed with you. If the team decides to award you a franchise, are you ready to move forward?” Neither side is making a firm commitment, but you’re clear in your intentions. (This is starting to sound like an article on dating, isn’t it?) After diving into aggregated and anonymized FranConnect user data, we hypothesize that franchisors take different approaches to discovery days. Micro-emerging, emerging, and mid-level organizations seem to take the typical approach, treating this stage as an opportunity to come to headquarters, meet the team, and learn more about the organization. Enterprise organizations, however, may be taking a more direct approach by treating discovery days as a decision days, creating a very clear expectation for the candidate on what to be thinking about while they are there and what the next steps will be. With this approach, your organization can close the deal a few short days following a discovery day. As you can see in the below figure, enterprise organizations vastly outperform when it comes to the time it takes to close a deal after a discovery day. ![Franchise-Sales-Index-Discovery-Days-to-Close.png](http://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Campaigns/Sales%20Campaign/Franchise%20Sales%20Index/Franchise-Sales-Index-Discovery-Days-to-Close.png "Franchise-Sales-Index-Discovery-Days-to-Close.png") You can even clearly lay out a timeline to candidates so they will act quickly. For example, you may say that the territory will be held for a limited amount of time before it’s offered to another candidate. It’s important to shorten the time from discovery day to offer not only because it grows your business faster, but because the impressions and good emotions from the in-person visit are still fresh. Don’t give that excitement an opportunity to dwindle. **What is your brand’s approach to discovery days?** [![Franchise Candidate Engagement Worksheet_Image.png](http://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Campaigns/Franchise%20Candidate%20Engagement%20Worksheet/Franchise%20Candidate%20Engagement%20Worksheet_Image.png "Franchise Candidate Engagement Worksheet_Image.png")](/engage-candidates-during-every-stage-of-the-franchise-sales-cycle) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Develop, Expand Locations **Tags:** Franchise Sales, Franchisee Engagement --- ### [A Conversation with FranConnect President & CEO Gabby Wong](https://www.franconnect.com/a-conversation-with-franconnect-president-ceo-gabby-wong/) **Published:** January 31, 2019 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** The President and CEO talks about herself, leadership, and the #1 franchise management software solution. **Content:** *The President and CEO talks about herself, leadership, and the #1 franchise management software solution.* ***Tell us about yourself.*** **Gabby Wong, President and CEO:** I’ve spent the better part of my 25-year career focusing on the nexus between business transformation and leveraging enterprise-class technology to solve complex business problems. I started my career in management consulting at PriceWaterhouse (now PwC) and then later transitioned to Deloitte Consulting’s strategy and process practice, where I leveraged customer analytics engines to help Fortune 1000 clients drive new offerings, transform operations, and grow revenue. Through my work in management consulting, I discovered a passion for innovation and enterprise technology, which led me to the world of private equity-backed software and high-growth technology companies. I have worked extensively with technology solutions in the areas of customer and performance analytics, customer success, and customer experience, and led large global operations for several successful, high-growth software companies, including Primavera Systems (now Oracle), Trusted Computer Solutions (now ForcePoint), Verint Systems, and Clarabridge. I see customer analytics, and understanding the customer’s and market’s viewpoints, as central to driving business growth and performance improvement. This philosophy has underpinned my time at FranConnect, where upon joining as the EVP of Customer Operations in 2016, I led the team through a transformation project with the goal of improving customer focus and better scaling customer success. This transformation has been a critical factor to FranConnect’s growth over the last two years. In 2019, I moved into the new role of President and CEO. ***What is FranConnect in a nutshell?*** **Wong**: FranConnect’s mission is “to partner with the franchise market to the grow successful franchise systems”. Our view is that franchise brands can’t grow unless the units themselves grow. It’s an ecosystem where successful brands don’t only focus on unit count growth, but unit-level performance and optimization, in order to scale the system. We do this by offering innovative, proven technology products and solutions that support the key metrics of building a successful franchise brand, including selling and expanding new franchisees, improving unit operations and performance, growing revenue streams, ensuring brand consistency, and ultimately driving the rapid expansion and penetration of the brand. Also critical to the growth of any franchise brand is the relationship between the franchisor and franchisee. Our solutions support building an improved dialog and franchisee engagement. All our products and services focus on driving successful outcomes for the system, whether it be more units, revenue, profit, or growth. ***Is FranConnect cloud-based?*** **Wong**: Yes, FranConnect is 100% cloud-based platform, hosted-to-scale on Amazon Web Services (AWS). We’ve invested heavily in our products over the last two years to ensure that we are providing new capabilities and significant improvements to our users and that we are architected to take advantage of a world-class hosting environment like AWS. Our CTO is a pioneer in SaaS enterprise architecture and our head of product strategy is a noted technology strategist in analytics and retail solutions. Recently, we’ve received the “Well Architected Certification” from AWS, which not many vendors achieve. As a critical partner to the franchise market, we are committed to ensuring that our product is highly interoperable, available, scalable and secure. As we continue to grow and innovate our product capabilities, we are also committed to ensuring that our products are fully mobile accessible. We understand that the distributed franchise user workforce is “on-the-go” and need access to our platform from anywhere. We have three apps in the marketplace—FranConnect Sky, FranConnect Field Operations, and FranConnect CRM. We also continue to invest in FranConnect’s analytics function. In 2019, we will add new analytics products that underscore our vision to serve as the “Command Center” for visibility into the performance of the system. These products will allow franchise brands to derive actionable insights from enterprise-wide data. Moving beyond simple reporting and dashboard views, we’ll deliver the capability to define operational playbooks based on performance attributes and define workflows targeted to key stakeholders. ***How did you get to become the President and CEO of FranConnect?*** **Wong**: Yes, it’s interesting. I think it’s a testament to how important the “Voice of the Customer” has become in driving a successful business. I’ve been in the business 25 years and it’s uncommon to go from a customer success or service role to the CEO role. Organizations now see that the customer is front and center to driving growth for the business, not only in how the customer is serviced, but also in ensuring that customer value and market feedback is incorporated into the future direction of the company and product innovation. In my role as EVP of Customer Operations, over the last three years I’ve had opportunity to see and understand the customer needs, where the market is headed, and identify gaps in our offerings. Our investors recognized that opportunity and, alongside our management team, asked me to take the lead to put together a multi-year growth and business plan. Upon its approval, they appointed me to my new position. ***What does FranConnect focus on?*** **Wong**: FranConnect focuses on growth. Our core mission is growing brands. Our customers grow faster than anyone in the market. We’re also a high-growth company ourselves. That’s what I love about this market – our customers are just like us and it creates a high-empathy relationship. We’re entrepreneurs, growth-minded, and nimble – and our customers are too. The third element of growth is the growth of our people. Being part of an entrepreneurial company means that our employees get so much more in terms of their own career growth. ***How has FranConnect evolved since you’ve been on board?*** **Wong**: We’ve achieved a lot of growth and transformation over the last couple of years to be sure, in all areas of the business, but that is an outcome of how we have evolved our focus, strategy, and corporate culture. Evolution is a top-down exercise, but also requires a ground-swell of social movement from every employee. Over the last year, we have examined the market, taken a hard look at ourselves, clarified our focus and mission, and defined our multi-year, multi-phased growth strategy. More importantly, we have focused on creating a great corporate culture where growth-minded thinking is celebrated, and customer value is front and center. It underscores the adage that “culture eats strategy for lunch.” ***What do executive conversations focus on at FranConnect?*** **Wong**: Our conversations focus on three key areas—our customers, our employees, and the future of the business and the Franchise market. First, we work hard to embed the Voice of the Customer in all our decisions, from what we include in the product, to our future road map and vision, how we adapt and change our service experience and ultimately how we reward our employees. We gather extensive customer feedback through regular survey instruments and the robust data we capture as part of our service transactions across all channels of the customer journey. We have standardized on Net Promoter Score (NPS) as a metric and all areas of the business are tracked, measured and rewarded based on customer feedback. More important than the score itself, we look at the actual comments and feedback itself and do extensive follow-ups to ensure that we understand the customer feedback, negative and positive, so we can improve the customer experience as a business. This doesn’t mean that we are perfect—we are constantly looking to improve our customer experience—but it does mean that we listen and work hard to drive business decisions based on customer feedback. Second, as an Executive Team, we talk a lot about employee growth and ensure that we provide an experience and opportunity for our employees to learn, grow, and challenge themselves. We hold regular employee feedback sessions and conduct surveys to understand how we can improve the employee experience. This becomes a critical input to our budget, planning and investment processes, but also becomes a regular topic of conversation as part of our quarterly employee recognition programs. Last, is the future and where we need to focus innovation and how that helps our customers and employees succeed. We also look how, as a key player in the franchise market, we can help drive that market forward through innovation. ***What drives value for franchisors?*** **Wong**: It would be easy for me to sit here and say, selling more units, driving a system revenue, driving unit profitability, faster market penetration. Certainly, these are all important, top-line metrics franchise brands are trying to achieve. That said, at the core of that is information, prioritization, and actionability. That is where I see the value of a technology solution like FranConnect. The franchise model is unique in that it’s both a B2B and B2C relationship. It’s also a distributed model where accountability is dispersed (geographically and through complex ownership structures and relationships), but growth is aggregated. The whole needs to be greater than the sum of its parts. As a technology provider to the franchise market, our value comes from driving improved connectivity of information across the distributed value chain and providing brands with the capability to consolidate that information, improve planning capabilities, and drive standardized operational processes to improve overall system performance. ***How were you able to scale?*** **Wong**: Scaling is a function of mission, strategy and focus, process, measurement, and people. It starts at the very top. Everything stems from our core mission and foundation. From there, you must think about the strategy and how you want to execute it over multiple years. You can’t scale by only thinking tactically about the problems and opportunities right in front of you. So, we start with a multi-year strategy and then translate that into how we design our business processes and operations in support of that strategy. Metrics and data are critical. You can’t undergo any major scaling exercise without access to data and metrics to help you determine whether you’re achieving the planned transformation. Then people. Change or growth is impossible without aligning your people. They must understand the mission, strategy, and the process. They must understand the “why?”. Also, we use a set of operational scorecards and a metrics book run by our FP&A function to monitor whether we are driving the right behavior and making the necessary changes. ***How do you keep growing big?*** **Wong**: That’s a great question. “Growing big” means “thinking big.” In order to “think big,” it is important for me to carve out space in my calendar to process customer feedback, market feedback, employee feedback, board feedback, as well as take input from mentors, peer groups, and my executive coach. I need an equal amount of time focused on collecting external feedback, but also processing time to think and to be “mindful” of where we need to go as a business. I am a part of a CEO Group run by Steve Gladis where we meet monthly and discuss and joint problem solve important issues facing CEOs. Steve is an amazing executive coach, thinker, writer, and speaker on executive leadership. ***How do you know you’re doing the right thing?*** **Wong**: The obvious answer is to say that our results and metrics tell us that we’re achieving our goals – but that’s very tactical and quantitative. I always say that it is just as important “how” you accomplish something as “what” you accomplish. It’s about the experience. When I look around our office and I see people dancing (literally) in the hallway, or I see people helping each other when they’re already busy working on their own projects, or regularly celebrating each other’s successes, then I know that we are doing something meaningful. That is how I know that we are doing the right thing. It’s not about just what we achieve, it’s how we achieve it and the experience that we’re providing along the way. ***What kind of leader are you in the franchise space?*** **Wong**: Mindful and grateful, which are underrated attributes of a successful leader. Mindful of the market needs, of where we are and where we need to go. Grateful to be a part of a market that celebrates thought leadership, entrepreneurialism and growth-thinking. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Company News, Global News **Tags:** FranConnect --- ### [FranConnect Reports Record Growth in 2019](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-reports-record-growth-in-2019/) **Published:** January 28, 2020 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Content:** **(HERNDON, Virginia) Jan. 28, 2020 —** FranConnect, the leader in franchise management solutions, has reported its strongest year of growth in the company’s 18-year history, including a 60% year-over-year growth in sales and the addition of 160 new brands to the company’s growing client roster. With its 2019 results, FranConnect now supports over 800 franchise brands globally and 148,000 franchisees. Additionally, FranConnect exceeded its prior year earnings by 36% and reported recurring revenue growth of over 24%. “I am incredibly proud of what our team accomplished in 2019 as part of our multi-year growth plan. It’s a testament to FranConnect’s position as the leading platform for franchise growth and the confidence our partners have in our ability to help their brands succeed and thrive,” said Gabby Wong, CEO of FranConnect. “Over the last several years, we have seen unparalleled consolidation and expansion in the franchise market. As a result, it was imperative for us to put together a multi-year growth plan that not only included significant sales expansion, but also investments in our people, our products, and our customer experience so that we could grow in-kind with our customer’s needs. Our 2019 achievements demonstrate our ability to grow at-scale, achieving record market expansion in a way that shows that we are a long-term provider to the market.” Since its founding in 2002, FranConnect had achieved double-digit growth year-over-year. This has allowed the company to invest heavily in attracting top talent in franchising, product strategy, technology, and field operations. Over the last three years, FranConnect has doubled its workforce at its U.S. headquarters. FranConnect’s growth has led to the creation of a new executive role, Chief Product Officer, which was awarded to Jaffrey Ali. Ali previously held the position of FranConnect’s Vice President of Product and Strategy. Ali joined FranConnect in September 2018 and has been instrumental in leading the strategy, development, and go-to-market positioning of the company’s most innovative product initiatives. This includes the upcoming launch of Optimize, set to be released in March. Additionally, in December, FranConnect hired a new Chief Technology Officer, Andrew Jackson, who brings nearly 30 years of experience in software development, architecture, and engineering to FranConnect’s executive team. Prior to joining FranConnect, Jackson served as Chief Technology Officer of Arterra Mobility, a top-ranked MVNO based in McLean, Virginia. “Andrew and Jaffrey are incredibly strategic technology leaders and we are fortunate to have them as part of our leadership team to help drive the future of the FranConnect Platform and our company’s growth.” said Wong. “These additions to FranConnect’s exceptional leadership team, will enable us to support our customers in achieving their greatest potential”. For more information about FranConnect, visit [www.franconnect.com](http://www.franconnect.com/). **About FranConnect** FranConnect is the leading franchise management software provider. Based on an analytics approach, only its award-winning, unified FranConnect platform engages stakeholders to grow, scale and optimize franchise systems through a connected and complete view of the business from sales to multi-unit and multi-brand performance. Over 800 brands — including 40 of the *Entrepreneur*’s Top 100 Global Franchises — in 18 countries count on FranConnect to successfully grow their franchise systems. FranConnect customers span all sizes, growth phases, and industries and have grown 44% faster than the broader franchising market. Backed by private-equity investor Serent Capital, FranConnect is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, with global follow-the-sun operations. For more information on FranConnect, visit: [www.franconnect.com](http://www.franconnect.com/?_gl=1*1y0wjqd*_ga*MjEzNDI0NDYzMC4xNzA1OTQyODMz*_ga_J79WYW2FDW*MTcwNTk1MDM3OC4yLjEuMTcwNTk1MTIwOS40NC4wLjA.*_gcl_au*MTYxMjI0NDk3OS4xNzA1OTQyODM0) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Company News, Global News **Tags:** FranConnect, Press Releases --- ### [FranConnect CEO shares leadership advice and more with Franchise Times](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-ceo-shares-leadership-advice-and-more-with-franchise-times/) **Published:** May 1, 2020 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** FranConnect CEO Gabby Wong sits down with Franchise Times to talk about Leadership and more in this wide-ranging interview. **Content:** #### FranConnect CEO Gabby Wong talks to Franchise Times. **(HERNDON, Virginia) May 1, 2020 —** Recently, FranConnect CEO Gabby Wong sat down with Franchise Times editor Laura Michaels to chat about leadership, advice, favorite foods and more. Read the full interview below or directly on [Franchise Times](https://www.franchisetimes.com/April-2020/FranConnect-CEO-shares-leadership-advice-more-in-Grab-Bag/). **Who would play you in the biopic about your life?** I would be flattered if Tina Fey played me. She’s amazing, she’s a groundbreaker, the first female head writer for SNL. She’s sharp, funny and just so witty. **If you were to open a franchise, which would you choose?** I have to give the caveat that we love the franchise model and all our customers. If I had to pick, it’d be something in personal service. Probably fitness. **What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?** This is easy for me. My father is from China and my mother is from France, so I grew up eating very strange things. I’ve eaten cow heart and bone marrow and cow tongue … just about every part of the cow. **What’s your guilty pleasure?** I have a 6-year-old daughter and she loves Moriah Elizabeth. She’s a crafter, she has these YouTube videos on squishy makeovers. Squishies are these little soft toys and she takes used ones or ones that were donated a makes up different creations, painting them, whatever. We’ll watch them on Saturday mornings. **If you could dis-invent one thing, what would it be?** Nothing, I love innovation. Even if there’s something that’s not used how it was originally intended, I think innovation is so important. I wouldn’t get rid of anything. **What superhero power would you like to have?** Oh, the Wonder Twins! Do you remember the Wonder Twins? They can just adapt into anything. So, I’d want the ability to adapt very quickly. **What’s your favorite travel destination?** I’ve been a lot of places. We have a very large location in New Delhi, India, and I’ve been there three times in the last year. It’s so rich in culture, but it’s not an easy place to travel to. But really, it’s so rewarding. Sixty percent of our company is there and I’ve made it a focus to have an executive presence there. I wanted to be a writer and I knew I wanted to go into business leadership. I come from a family of doctors, my dad was a doctor, and there was probably an expectation that I’d go into medicine, but it just was not for me. I think in writing there’s the goal to find the truth in a way that connects everybody, and that’s needed to drive a big organization. And I now use writing as a way to help me distill my thoughts, and I use that to help me be clear with my team. **What did you want to be when you grew up?** I wanted to be a writer and I knew I wanted to go into business leadership. I come from a family of doctors, my dad was a doctor, and there was probably an expectation that I’d go into medicine, but it just was not for me. I think in writing there’s the goal to find the truth in a way that connects everybody, and that’s needed to drive a big organization. And I now use writing as a way to help me distill my thoughts, and I use that to help me be clear with my team. **What’s the last thing you cooked at home?** I’ve been traveling so much lately so, takeout? I’m kidding! I make a mean chicken parm. My husband loves it and it’s something the whole family would eat. I have three kids, two boys, 16 and 14, and a daughter, who’s 6. **What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?** To not be afraid to hire people around you that are better/more knowledgeable than you. As a leader, your job isn’t to be the smartest, most knowledgeable person in the room, but to set the strategic and operational vision, and mobilize the team’s strength and expertise to accomplish that vision. If you are afraid to hire people around you that are smarter/more knowledgeable than you, then you will always be stuck doing the same thing and, as a result, it will be hard to advance in your career. Career advice that I often give other people is, ‘Don’t chase title or money, focus on building your human capital and skillset. Doing so will result in better career longevity, breadth of core business skills, and ultimately open up even more opportunities for advancement.’ *\*Editor’s note: This interview took place during the IFA Convention in February, where I had a chance to sit down with Gabby for a fun Q&A.* **About FranConnect** FranConnect is the leading franchise management software provider. Its FranConnect platform engages stakeholders to grow, scale and optimize franchise systems through a connected and complete view of the business from sales to multi-unit and multi-brand performance. Over 800 brands — including 40 of the *Entrepreneur*’s Top 100 Global Franchises — in 18 countries count on FranConnect to run their franchise systems. FranConnect customers span all sizes, growth phases, and industries and they grow 44% faster on average than the broader franchising market. Backed by private-equity investor Serent Capital, FranConnect is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, with global follow-the-sun operations. For more information on FranConnect, visit: [www.franconnect.com](https://www.franconnect.com/). ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Company News, Global News **Tags:** Best Practices --- ### [Online Training: The Answer to Your Company Training Challenges](https://www.franconnect.com/online-training/) **Published:** June 24, 2020 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Online training may just be the answer to your company's training challenges! Discover how online training works & how it may be your best training option! **Content:** #### For their [3rd annual Workplace Learning Report](https://learning.linkedin.com/content/dam/me/business/en-us/amp/learning-solutions/images/workplace-learning-report-2019/pdf/workplace-learning-report-2019.pdf), LinkedIn surveyed over 1,200 **talent developers** (L&D and HR professionals) and more than 2,100 **workplace learners** worldwide to gauge industry trends. The findings show that **Learning and Development** are at the forefront. So funds are continuously channeled towards online training solutions like [World Manager](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/). While online training will never phase out in-person training, it is now more important than ever to empower employees to use this tool anywhere, anytime. Here are some common business challenges and how to solve them using [**online training**](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/). ## Attracting and Retaining Top Talent Emerging trends such as digital migration and the dynamic nature of workplace skills are challenging organizations to keep up with as they work to hire and develop their employees. So how can organizations remain relevant in a world that won’t stop changing? ### Adapt the Training to Millennials. #### 29% The percentage of Millennials engaged at work. Millennials are emotionally and behaviorally connected to their job and company. This is according to a report published by [Gallup](https://www.gallup.com/home.aspx) that cautions employers about the domino effect of these shocking statistics: > *“If they are not engaged in those jobs, companies’ profitability, productivity and innovation will suffer. And if they are not thriving in their well-being, they will struggle in life, affecting how they perform as citizens, consumers, and employees.”* Gallup recommends organizations update their cultures to suit their younger workforce by focusing on these functional changes: 1. **Think purpose, not a paycheck**. Of course, adequate compensation is important, but it is not the driving force of millennial workers. What they really want to know and internalize is your “why” as an organization. Use the [**Golden Circle**](https://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action?language=en) to effectively convey this to your employees in an “Introduction” module in your [online training program](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/). 2. **Development over mere job satisfaction**. The stereotype that Millennials are lured by incentives such as pool tables and free food won’t cut it! Provide clear pathways to development for each role so that they’re constantly motivated. 3. **More coaches, fewer bosses**. Millennials care about being seen as both people and employees. They would like coaches who partner with them in their professional growth rather than bellow orders. 4. **Ongoing conversations instead of annual reviews**. Millennials communicate in real-time and on the go. This makes them more inclined towards consistent communication and feedback. So direct specific feedback to them using the **contact management software** found in our [communications suite](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/). 5. **Don’t broadcast their weaknesses, develop their strengths**. Gallup has discovered that *“weaknesses never develop into strengths, while strengths develop infinitely”*. Don’t disregard weaknesses, simply focus more on encouraging their strengths. 6. **It’s not just their job but an integral part of their life**. So they actually want to enjoy what they do. And are curious about how much you value their contributions. Make this very clear to them by setting up team leaders who help you monitor individual employees’ progress. Reward individual milestones accordingly. *The heart of sports retail training and development worldwide, for over 15 years. Trusted by 100s of brands. [Ask us why](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/)* ### Provide Opportunities for Development Meet your employees’ expectations by providing: - **Visual career paths**. Help employees envision themselves rising through the ranks at your organization. - **Success profiles** that highlight the requirements for each role your employees may aspire towards. - **Career development plans** that are customized for each individual employee’s career goals. They should review them every so often with their respective supervisors. ### Develop a Reward System What’s the easiest way to capture Millennials’ attention? Gamification! Not only that but also an elaborate reward system will drive their performance through the roof! [Josh Bersin](https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/benefits/pages/total-rewards-can-drive-performance-management.aspx), founder of Bersin by Deloitte, insists that a new set of rewards will enhance the physical, mental and emotional well-being of employees by offering benefits that cater to their financial wellness, fitness, stress relief, mindfulness, and work-life flexibility. All this is especially important to Millennials today and can be achieved using our [Achievement Awards](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/) tool. ### Establish a Workplace Learning Culture L&D managers have never been a more vital component in the workplace now that there is a shift from instructor-led training to online training. They can quickly identify the most crucial skill gaps within your team and the appropriate programs to help close them. Wondering whether these talent developers “walk the talk”? The statistics will shock you! And what better way to meet these same goals in *your* organization than by designing a suitable online training program using our efficient [Learning Management System (LMS)](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/)? The right online program will help you: 1. **Clarify your objectives from the onset to encourage completion rates.** Have you ever thought about marketing your online training program? Be proactive! Spell out all of its amazing benefits for your employees. Be strategic. Use various channels such as email and videos to highlight how specific modules enhance the skills of different departments in your organization. [Scenario-based training](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/) will specifically help new employees deepen their understanding of the department they’ll be part of. Bing Lee has experienced this first hand: > *“We have used video training and find it very useful and informative for our staff. Pictures do tell a thousand words, just as videos do as well, and I feel that staff are more inclined to remember if they watch a video.”* Don’t forget your CTAs! Include a link that directs your employees to the program. They are more likely to work through the entire training when they have a strong “why”. 2. **Track results and do post-assessment**. Movement For Life shares its experience: > *“Once we have employed an individual, we give them access to all the required paperwork and pre-employment reading. By having these documents within learning modules, we are able to track their progress through the documents and ensure they understand the key points. When the module is complete, we know that they have completed all of the required pre-employment paperwork and reading, saving considerable time when they arrive on-site.”* 3. **Introduce and manage collaborative learning**. Being [one of the most cost-effective team-building strategies](https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/2042753014558373) for remote teams, **collaborative learning** can build much-needed team spirit in the workplace. Today’s online training **doesn’t stop at chat features and audio-video conferencing**. It surpasses it! It provides your team with collaborative tools like message boards, forums, resource-sharing hubs, etc. ## Global Workforce: Cultural Differences and Generational Gaps A learning style that is particularly effective in one country may not be as successful in another. Add on the age disparity between the employees in your workplace and choosing appropriate education methods can get chaotic! Simply consider your potential learning audience, and **develop resources that are both multilingual and multicultural**. ### Identify learners’ preferences and styles Find out the various **needs of your learners**, particularly how comfortable they are with different types of technology. Use this knowledge to design your online training program. A user-friendly interface is exactly what all learners need to easily navigate your software. Even with basic computing skills, they shouldn’t struggle to play a video or upload an assignment. **Microlearning** has never been more convenient! Provide downloadable reading materials in the form of PDFs, Videos, and Presentations that really help cement the training. ### Create and Manage Discussion Forums Wondering how to create a stronger sense of community within your team? Bras N’ Things know a thing or two: > *“In regards to Raving Fans and **celebrating the wins**, we don’t have to wait for the weekly newsletter, it’s all instant and generates excitement. The teams are also empowered by being able to give direct feedback and receive a response, definitely **culture building**.”* Here’s an idea! How about setting up an online photo storage gallery that creates excitement for staff events? Watch employee engagement increase as employees share memorable photos from various work events. As you can see, there are so many learning solutions to choose from! Save yourself the hassle. [**Book a demo today**](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo)! ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Engage, Retain and Onboard Employees **Tags:** employee training, LMS --- ### [FranConnect Announces Appointment of New Chief Financial Officer](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-announces-new-chief-financial-officer/) **Published:** August 20, 2020 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Andrew Volkmann Brings More Than 25 Years of Financial Leadership Experience to Leading Franchise Management Software Provider. **Content:** #### Andrew Volkmann Brings More Than 25 Years of Financial Leadership Experience to Leading Franchise Management Software Provider. **Herndon, VA, August 19, 2020** – FranConnect, the leading provider of franchise management software, today announced the appointment of Andrew Volkmann as its Chief Financial Officer. A seasoned corporate finance executive, Volkmann brings more than 25 years of experience in emerging and mature companies in the software, robotics, and web retailing sectors, including with brands such as Hitachi, Tellme Networks, Inc., Netscape, and MinuteKEY. “Over the last year, FranConnect has invested in building a strong leadership team capable of guiding the company through our next stage of growth. Andrew brings a wealth of diverse experience to FranConnect and we’re delighted to welcome him to the team,” said Gabby Wong, CEO of FranConnect. “His proven track record of scaling technology companies and extensive background in corporate finance will propel FranConnect forward, allowing for the company to continue to be the trailblazer for the future of franchise management software.” Volkmann’s deep experience in the technology sector includes serving as CFO of MinuteKEY, which was named to the prestigious Inc. 5000, a ranking of the fastest-growing privately held companies in the U.S., several times during his tenure. Earlier in his career, Volkmann was a founding management team member and vice president of finance and administration at Tellme Networks, Inc., which in 2007 was acquired by Microsoft. Volkmann also held several roles in finance at Netscape Communications Corporation and served as the brand’s senior director of finance leading up to Netscape’s acquisition by AOL in 1999. “I have immense respect for everything FranConnect has achieved to become the leader in its space and with such potential for future growth, it’s an exciting time to join their exceptional team of franchise and technology experts,” said Volkmann. “I look forward to working alongside this talented leadership team to contribute to their vision of continuing to be the leader in innovative software solutions in the franchising space.” **About FranConnect** FranConnect is the leading franchise management software provider. For nearly 20 years, the FranConnect platform has served as the sales, operations, and marketing backbone for over 800 brands worldwide. Nine of the *Franchise Times* Top 10 Fastest-Growing franchise businesses rely on FranConnect to drive growth, improve profitability, and streamline operational performance. FranConnect customers span all sizes, growth phases, and industries and they grow 44% faster on average than the broader franchising market. Backed by private-equity investor Serent Capital, FranConnect is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, with global follow-the-sun operations. For more information on FranConnect, visit [www.franconnect.com](https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2889240-1&h=988060964&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.franconnect.com%2F&a=www.franconnect.com). ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Company News, Global News **Tags:** Press Releases --- ### [Franchise Fees: How 4 Types of Fees Can Lead to Growth](https://www.franconnect.com/franchise-fees-how-4-types-of-fees-can-lead-to-growth/) **Published:** October 29, 2020 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Should you increase your franchise fees? We explore how four types of franchise fees can lead to growth. **Content:** Your current franchise fees enabled your brand to get to where it is today — but will they get you to the next level? While many franchisors are hesitant to increase franchise fees, there are proven benefits to both the franchise organization and individual franchisees. Higher fees can ultimately boost revenue, give you a competitive advantage, and [grow the value of your brand](https://www.franconnect.com/10-critical-steps-for-franchise-sales-growth/). Below, we explore in detail how four types of franchise fees can lead to growth. ## **1. Initial Franchise Fees** Initial franchise fees vary from company to company. These fees, typically collected in a lump sum payment when the franchise is granted, allow franchisees to license the brand and gain access to the organization’s best practices and intellectual property. Some franchise brands assume that requiring lower fees will help them stay competitive and [open up the door to more potential franchisees](https://www.franconnect.com/engage-candidates-during-every-stage-of-the-franchise-sales-cycle/) — especially those who are seeking affordable options. Other brands take the position that higher fees lead to increased revenue, which attracts higher quality franchisees. However, the majority of franchise brands simply align their fees with others in their sectors. But being like everyone else won’t help you win market share, will it? Research shows a surprising correlation between franchise fees and revenue. Brands that charge franchise fees of about $40K realize 2.5 times more revenue than those that charge $25K — in total, about $1.5 million per store. And the higher potential for revenue, the more franchisees are willing to pay a higher franchise fee. So ultimately, by increasing your initial franchise fees, you have the opportunity to increase revenues, attract more franchisees, and grow the value of your brand. ## **2. Royalty Fees** Royalty fees extend beyond the initial franchise fees. Franchisees pay these fees for ongoing rights to participate in the franchise. The majority of franchise organizations — 94 percent — charge a royalty fee. Most charge a percentage of revenue, but a small number charge a fixed dollar amount. The average royalty fee for all verticals is 6 percent of monthly revenues. How can royalty fees lead to growth? Since most franchisors already [collect royalty fees](https://www.franconnect.com/franchise-royalty-fee-calculation/), the strategy here isn’t to necessarily increase these fees — but rather, to look for opportunities to increase or reinvest the dollars you collect through *other* fees (which we cover below). Ultimately, this will allow you to [profit from your royalty fees](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/royalty-manager/), rather than allocating those dollars to growth initiatives. ## **3. National and Local Marketing Fees** Requiring franchisees to pay a national advertising fee can help build brand awareness, create programs for franchisees, and provide the ability to rally resources if necessary — for example, if there is a major competitive intrusion. Most franchise organizations (72 percent) currently charge a national advertising fee. Of those brands, 89 percent charge a percentage of sales, while 11 percent charge a fixed dollar amount. Across all verticals, the average national advertising fee is 2 percent of monthly revenues. Fewer franchise brands require a local marketing spend. Just over half of franchise organizations — 55 percent — require this fee, while 45 percent do not. Of those that do require it, 79 percent require a percent value of revenue, rather than a fixed dollar amount. To grow your franchise brand, you must ask yourself: Do your current fees allow you to effectively compete in your vertical? Based on our research, 80 percent of survey respondents say the marketing fees they currently charge are not enough to allow them to compete. Consider a new approach to these fees that provides the resources to effectively compete on national and local levels. ## **4. Technology Fees** Some franchise organizations also require franchisees to pay a technology fee, which contributes to the [purchase or licensing of software](https://www.franconnect.com/improve-unit-economics-franchise-management-software/), hardware, and networking equipment necessary for store operations. Only 61 percent of franchises collect technology fees, and typically, they charge a flat rate, rather than a percentage of revenue. Are you undermining your system by foregoing this fee and not investing in technology? If so, you may be missing a major growth opportunity. Half of franchisees say that technology tools are among the top value that a franchisor can provide. And franchise organizations that charge technology fees are likely to grow 36 percent faster over a two-year period than those that do not charge a technology fee. Consider McDonalds, for example: [The franchise recently began implementing technology](https://retailwire.com/discussion/mcdonalds-drive-thru-ai-knows-what-you-want-before-you-order/) in their drive-throughs that uses artificial intelligence and personalization to make menu suggestions from a customer’s order history. This has the potential to increase order size, speed up the ordering process, and provide a better customer experience. However, without technology fees, your franchise brand likely won’t be able to afford this kind of cutting edge technology — which can make you lag behind the competition. Appropriate technology fees can equip your franchisees to be more efficient, deliver better service, and compete more effectively with others in your vertical. Increasing your franchise fees won’t scare away potential franchisees. In fact, appropriate franchise fees can attract more highly qualified franchisee candidates — because they will recognize that your franchise is primed for growth. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Develop, Profit, Streamline Royalty Process **Tags:** Franchise Development, Franchise Sales --- ### [FranConnect Opens New Office in New Delhi to Expand Research and Development for SaaS in Franchising Sector](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-opens-new-office-in-new-delhi-dedicated-to-expanding-research-and-development-for-saas-in-franchising-sector/) **Published:** November 19, 2020 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Located in One of India's Leading Technology Hubs, New FranConnect Office Is Home to 150 Software Engineers with Plans to Grow **Content:** #### Located in One of India’s Leading Technology Hubs, New FranConnect Office Is Home to 150 Software Engineers with Plans to Grow HERNDON, Va., Nov. 19, 2020 — FranConnect, the leading provider of franchise management solutions for driving success in franchise sales, operations, and marketing, today announced it has opened a new office in New Delhi, India, dedicated to expanding the company’s SaaS research and development in the franchising sector. FranConnect’s expanded and upgraded facility is located in the newly built Delhi One Center in the heart of Sector 16B in Noida, a booming hub for India’s multi-billion-dollar technology scene. Since opening its first office in the country in 2000, FranConnect’s India team has developed some of the company’s most impactful software solutions that give franchise brands of all sizes the power to compete at a higher level — which has helped FranConnect become the industry leader it is today. “This is a remarkable milestone for FranConnect as we look toward the future of technology in franchising. There is greater pressure than ever before for franchise companies around the world to foster engagement with franchisees and drive unit-level performance, and FranConnect has dedicated significant research and development resources to building best-in-class technologies that can help the franchise community solve these business challenges,” said Gabby Wong, CEO of FranConnect. The FranConnect Delhi/Noida office is home to 150 software engineers who will accelerate FranConnect’s ability to provide current and future clients with software solutions that drive scaled growth, operational success, and improved unit-level performance systemwide via development, operations, and consumer-level marketing solutions. “Our new office is evidence not only of the value FranConnect sees in expanding our presence in the Noida region, but also of our commitment to being a leading employer of high-caliber technical employees in one of India’s leading technology centers,” said Andrew Jackson, Chief Technology Officer at FranConnect. “We’re excited about the cutting-edge software solutions this talented team will develop and look forward to continuing to grow in Noida.” The FranConnect Delhi/Noida office is located at Berger Delhi One, Floor 17, C-001/A2, Sector 16B, Guatam Buddha Nagar, Noida, UP, 201301, India. **About FranConnect** FranConnect is the leading franchise management software provider. For 20 years, the FranConnect platform has served as the sales, operations, and marketing backbone for over 800 brands worldwide. Nine of the *Franchise Times* Top 10 Fastest-Growing franchise businesses rely on FranConnect to drive growth, improve profitability, and streamline operational performance. FranConnect customers span all sizes, growth phases, and industries and they grow 44% faster on average than the broader franchising market. Backed by private-equity investor Serent Capital, FranConnect is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, with global follow-the-sun operations. **Contact:** Alexya Williams Fish Consulting 754-888-6302 ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Company News, Global News **Tags:** Press Releases --- ### [FranConnect Reports Continued Success Based on Market-Leading Customer Acquisition](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-reports-continued-success-based-on-market-leading-customer-acquisition-2/) **Published:** January 13, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Fuel your franchise brand with our leading franchise management solutions. Delivered with exceptional customer service and a robust go-to-market strategy. **Content:** #### Leading Provider of Franchise Management Solutions Invested Heavily in Product Capabilities, Customer Services, and its Go-To-Market Organization to Help Fuel Recovery for Hundreds of Franchise Brands **(HERNDON, Virginia) Jan. 13, 2021** — [FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/), the leading provider of franchise management solutions for driving success in franchise sales, operations, and marketing, today announced a significant year of momentum across revenue, earnings, and customer acquisitions. FranConnect welcomed 100 new franchise brands and multi-location businesses to its platform, while also expanding its work with approximately 50 existing customers — collectively adding nearly 60,000 franchise units to the FranConnect platform. Overall, FranConnect supports over 800 franchise brands and over 200,000 franchise units. FranConnect’s new clients and expanded partnerships include national and international brands such as Sport Clips Haircuts, Hyatt, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Buzz Franchise Brands, Clean Juice Bar, and Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop. “Despite the economic impact COVID-19 has had on the market, franchising continues to be a strong business model that is critical part of economic growth, especially in capital-constrained environments. We saw an immediate need to help our customers navigate through the pandemic. Over the course of 2020, FranConnect’s products and solutions supported improved field operations and deeper franchisee engagement through the shutdowns, while leveraging our significant expertise in franchise development and growth to help our customers prepare for market recovery. We have a deep conviction in the franchise business model and its ability to fuel economic growth and recovery,” said Gabby Wong, CEO of FranConnect. “While 2020 was an unprecedented year full of uncertainty, we increased our investment in the business to ensure that we could continue to provide unparalleled support to our customers and be a part of the market recovery. We made significant steps forward in our products and people and transformed our go-to-market strategy to continue to provide unrivaled market leadership.” FranConnect’s success in 2020 can be credited to its significant investments in product capabilities, customer support and thought leadership, and an expanded sales leadership team. In 2020, FranConnect rolled out new business intelligence capabilities, implemented pre-built playbooks for opening processes, franchisee scorecard and performance tracking, and territory planning, launched a conversational AI solution to help franchisors convert more leads into sales opportunities, and overhauled the[ FDD management process](https://www.franconnect.com/how-to-streamline-franchise-disclosure-document-delivery/) with a proprietary e-signature workflow solution that is purpose-built for franchising. Additionally, in November, [FranConnect opened a new Asia headquarters](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-opens-new-office-in-new-delhi-dedicated-to-expanding-research-and-development-for-saas-in-franchising-sector/) in the Noida region of New Delhi, India, to expand research and development for SaaS in the franchising sector. “Throughout Buzz Franchise Brands’ eight-year partnership with FranConnect, we’ve seen the platform continually evolve its robust capabilities in order to grow with us. FranConnect’s willingness to invest in its technology amid the COVID-19 pandemic in order to provide the franchise industry with actionable insights to help us grow was crucial to our success in 2020. FranConnect’s support has been unparalleled and we look forward to continuing to leverage its software solutions for many years to come,” said Kevin Wilson, Chairman & CEO, Buzz Franchise Brands. FranConnect also continued to invest in its executive team, creating new revenue leadership roles that align with its customers’ core markets and specific needs. FranConnect recently appointed [Chris Shelley](https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleyc1/) as Senior Vice President of Enterprise Markets. Prior to joining FranConnect, Shelley spent 12 years at CareerBuilder, most recently as Vice President of Sales & Success, Commercial & Consumer Services. At CareerBuilder, Chris was responsible for $100 Million in annual revenue across SaaS, Advertising and Data Analytics solutions across 5 business units spanning Middle Market through Fortune 100. FranConnect also promoted [Tessa Husain](https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessa-husain/) as Vice President of SMB Markets. Husain has been with FranConnect for nearly three years, and most recently served as the Director of Sales for Emerging and Growth Sectors. During her tenure at FranConnect, Husain has been instrumental in shaping the go-to-market strategy for Emerging and Growth Markets. Specifically, she formulated and brought to market the Velocity Pack products which have been pivotal to the company’s growth and market penetration. “Having revenue leaders with focused responsibility in each of our distinct market segments will help us continue to drive forward new products and solutions that are targeted to the unique needs of our customers in different phases of growth. I am thrilled to add Chris and Tessa to our executive leadership team. Both are proven revenue leaders with a focus on customer success,” said Wong. **About FranConnect** FranConnect is the leading franchise management software provider. For 20 years, the FranConnect platform has served as the sales, operations, and marketing backbone for over 800 brands worldwide. Nine of the Franchise Times Top 10 Fastest-Growing franchise businesses rely on FranConnect to drive growth, improve profitability, and streamline operational performance. FranConnect customers span all sizes, growth phases, and industries and they grow 44% faster on average than the broader franchising market. Backed by private-equity investor Serent Capital, FranConnect is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, with global follow-the-sun operations. For more information on FranConnect, visit [www.franconnect.com](https://www.franconnect.com/). ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Company News, Global News **Tags:** Press Releases --- ### [FranConnect Acquires Franchise Management Software Provider FranchiseBlast](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-acquires-franchise-management-software-provider-franchiseblast/) **Published:** January 19, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Combined with FranConnect’s SaaS platform, FranchiseBlast’s capabilities for field management create the industry’s only end-to-end operations solution. **Content:** #### Combined with FranConnect’s SaaS Platform, FranchiseBlast’s Best-in-Class Capabilities for Field Management Create the Industry’s Only End-to-End Franchise Operations Solution **(HERNDON, Virginia) Jan. 19, 2021** — FranConnect, the leading provider of franchise management solutions for driving success in franchise sales, operations, and marketing, announced today it has acquired FranchiseBlast. The acquisition marks a significant milestone for FranConnect in creating the industry’s only platform that helps franchise brands and multi-location businesses manage operational success, end-to-end, from the brand to the unit-level. The addition of FranchiseBlast’s software to the FranConnect platform brings complementary, best-in-class capabilities to FranConnect’s operational management solution, particularly in field management, including site audits and self-assessments. FranchiseBlast’s field audits app streamlines the process of scheduling, performing, analyzing, and acting upon field audits to improve franchisee engagement, enhance unit-level economics, and ensure franchisee compliance while reducing field operations and infrastructure overhead. In between field audits, FranchiseBlast’s franchisee self-assessments help operators continuously improve, keeping a pulse on how they are performing while ensuring brand consistency and compliance. “Over the last 14 years, FranchiseBlast has emerged as a respected provider of franchise management solutions, serving the specific needs of field operations teams. With FranchiseBlast’s capabilities in field audits, self-assessments, and reach into the unit-level, we saw an enormous opportunity to enhance FranConnect’s enterprise operations and performance management solution to deliver an unmatched platform for brands seeking to drive operational success across the franchise system,” said Gabby Wong, CEO of FranConnect. “FranConnect has a deep commitment to helping the franchise industry thrive and we are continuously focused on how we can better serve current and future customers. As the market drives to greater growth and recovery, brands will require targeted solutions that enable improved reach and visibility into the unit-level.” Founded in 2007, FranchiseBlast has grown to represent more than 100 franchise brands and multi-location businesses across the restaurant, retail, and service sectors, including FOCUS Brands, Liberty Tax, Duck Donuts, Best Life Brands, Ballard Brands, Recipe Unlimited, Goldfish Swim School, ComForCare Home Care, and more. “FranConnect has aggressively invested in its products and solutions over the last several years in order to create the only purpose-built enterprise platform for franchise brands and has set the pace for technology providers in the franchise technology marketplace,” said Jason Kealey, Eng., CFE, President of FranchiseBlast. “We’ve worked extremely hard to build solutions that help our customers achieve greater unit-level performance and are thrilled to join the FranConnect team to help provide a broader set of operational capabilities to the more than 800 brands it serves. Now that FranchiseBlast is part of FranConnect, our customers will have access to and integration with the full breadth of the FranConnect enterprise growth platform, including services and support from the largest and most-established software company in franchising.” \# # # ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Company News, Global News **Tags:** Press Releases --- ### [FranConnect and Xpressdocs Partner to Extend Franchise Management Tools to Include Sourcing and Local Marketing Support](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-and-xpressdocs-partner-to-extend-franchise-management-tools-to-include-sourcing-and-local-marketing-support/) **Published:** February 24, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** This collaboration creates a solution to help franchise owners efficiently source branded materials and create and execute local marketing campaigns. **Content:** #### This collaboration creates an integrated solution to help franchise owners efficiently source branded materials and easily create and execute local marketing campaigns. FORT WORTH, Texas, February 23, 2021 – Xpressdocs®, a provider of brand management and marketing automation platforms, announced today that it has partnered with FranConnect®, the leading provider of franchise management solutions for driving success in franchise sales, operations, and marketing, to create an integrated solution to help franchise owners efficiently source branded materials and easily create and execute local marketing campaigns. “Many of our franchise and multi-unit clients already find incredible value in using Xpressdocs in their day-to-day operations, so the tighter integration just made sense,” stated Jaffrey Ali, Chief Product Officer for FranConnect. “Our integration with Xpressdocs will help our clients more efficiently source the materials they need to operate and market their businesses locally.” “In addition to providing FranConnect’s clients with direct access to Xpressdocs’ fulfillment center to assist with production, inventory management and distribution of branded materials, we’re excited to power a new automated direct mail option to support lead nurturing within the FranConnect platform,” said Darrin Rayner, Executive Vice President of Xpressdocs. Neighborly®, the world’s largest franchisor of home service brands, currently partners with both FranConnect and Xpressdocs to support their growing portfolio of brands. Lori Johnson, Sr. Vice President of Brand Management for Neighborly commented that “FranConnect and Xpressdocs already provide great individual value to our brands, and we expect this partnership will help our owners operate more efficiently, while providing tools to maximize customer loyalty.” To learn more, FranConnect customers can contact your customer success manager for more details. About Xpressdocs Xpressdocs is an innovative provider of brand management and direct marketing solutions. Xpressdocs’ solutions are highly configurable, enabling a distributed user base to efficiently source and customize a wide range of brand-compliant products and services. Xpressdocs proprietary software, US-based contact center and vertically integrated fulfillment capabilities, combine to deliver unmatched quality, consistency and speed to market, while helping our client organizations realize significant cost reductions through automation and reduced overhead. Xpressdocs is a proud partner to organizations that span the spectrum of growth phases, from start-ups to established Fortune 500 brands \# # # ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Global News **Tags:** Press Releases --- ### [FranConnect Announces Consulting Alliance Partnership Program](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-announces-consulting-alliance-partnership-program/) **Published:** April 20, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Leading Provider of Franchise Management Solutions Sets Up Clients for Success with Expertise of Franchise Consultant Leaders **Content:** #### Leading Provider of Franchise Management Solutions Sets Up Clients for Success with Expertise of Franchise Consultant Leaders **(HERNDON, Virginia) April 20, 2021** — FranConnect, the leading provider of franchise management solutions for driving success in franchise sales, operations, and marketing, today announced that it has established a new Consulting Alliance Partnership Program to provide customers with broader, more cohesive opportunities for implementing the FranConnect technology in their business. Now franchises in all stages of development will be able to tap into the expertise of industry-leading consultants that have partnered with FranConnect to offer their guidance on implementing the technology in their business. “As the franchising market continues to adopt technology more aggressively, we are committed to partnering with the best in the business to improve the user experience and help franchisors get the most out of these solutions,” said Keith Gerson, president of franchise operations for FranConnect. “The Consulting Alliance Partnership is bringing together top franchise management platform experts with customers who will benefit from their expertise in adopting and engaging with our technology. Our customers gain access to the best practices and domain expertise of our partners, and our partners have an opportunity to develop tighter, ongoing relationships with leading franchisors.” One of the first industry experts to join FranConnect’s Consulting Alliance Partnership Program is **Franchise Performance Group** (FPG), a full-service outsourced franchise development solution. For almost 20 years, FPG has been working in the trenches with over 120 franchisors — including Marco’s Pizza, Sport Clips, Christian Brothers Automotive, and College Hunks Hauling Junk — to transform their franchisee recruitment by drastically improving their lead generation and franchise sales process, and providing expert outsourced franchisee recruitment services. “Franchise Performance Group brings a high level of experience to the table in a typical year, helping our clients close 200-400 deals annually. This new consulting alliance allows FranConnect customers to tap into our deep expertise — particularly how to use FranConnect to drive results for franchise development,” said Joe Mathews, CEO of Franchise Performance Group. “FranConnect is known for listening to the needs of its customers and for responding with solutions that help solve their problems, and we’re proud to be one of FranConnect’s partners and a franchise sales domain area expert.” The Consulting Alliance Partnership is another example of how FranConnect continues to develop new products and solutions targeted to the unique needs of customers in different phases of growth. In 2020, the company made significant investments in new franchise operations capabilities, including pre-built playbooks for opening processes, franchisee scorecard and performance tracking, territory planning, and many other critical operational requirements. \# # # ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Company News **Tags:** Press Releases --- ### [FranConnect Expands Consulting Alliance Partnership Program with Expertise of MSA Worldwide](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-expands-consulting-alliance-partnership-program-with-expertise-of-msa-worldwide/) **Published:** May 19, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Leading Provider of Franchise Management Solutions Helps Clients Get the Most Out of Their Technology with Support from Industry Experts **Content:** #### – Leading Provider of Franchise Management Solutions Helps Clients Get the Most Out of Their Technology with Support from Industry Experts (HERNDON, Virginia) May 19, 2021 — FranConnect, the leading provider of franchise management solutions for driving success in franchise sales, operations, and marketing, today announced that MSA Worldwide is among the first to join its newly launched Consulting Alliance Partnership Program. With this program, franchises in all stages of development have access to the expertise of top franchise management platform experts who can offer their guidance on implementing FranConnect’s technology in their business. “FranConnect is committed to bringing the best technology and consulting expertise to the market, and MSA Worldwide has a long-standing reputation for being a leading trusted advisor to franchise brands,” said Keith Gerson, president of franchise operations for FranConnect. “The combination of our technology and their process expertise will continue to strengthen the user experience for our customers and guide them in getting the most out of our solutions.” MSA Worldwide has spent the last 34 years developing leading edge strategies that help both emerging and established franchisors maximize their performance and efficiencies. From the design and development of franchise systems, sales support and training programs to expansion strategies and operational review, MSA leads clients through each step and helps them build upon their success. “MSA Worldwide has worked hard to build our reputation as strategic and tactical advisors in franchising, and it is important to us to align with other suppliers we can trust to give our clients that same high standard of service,” said Andrew Seid, senior consultant for MSA Worldwide. “FranConnect has been a staple in this industry for a long time, providing effective solutions for franchisors who are ready to commit to their growth and success. At MSA, we know a client is serious about franchising when they are working with FranConnect, and it validates our work when they successfully connect our strategy and advice with the technology to support it. We look forward to working together for continued client success.” About FranConnect FranConnect is the leading franchise management software provider. For 20 years, the FranConnect platform has served as the sales, operations, and marketing backbone for over 800 brands worldwide. Nine of the Franchise Times Top 10 Fastest-Growing franchise businesses rely on FranConnect to drive growth, improve profitability, and streamline operational performance. FranConnect customers span all sizes, growth phases, and industries and they grow 44% faster on average than the broader franchising market. Backed by private-equity investor Serent Capital, FranConnect is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, with global follow-the-sun operations. For more information on FranConnect, visit www.franconnect.com. \# # # ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Company News **Tags:** Press Releases --- ### [Virtual Visits in Franchising](https://www.franconnect.com/virtual-visits-in-franchising/) **Published:** June 3, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Learn how franchisors and Franchise Business Coaches (FBCs) can use virtual visits to benefit franchise systems. **Content:** FranConnect works with 700 franchisors, and many are facing the same dilemma: - [Franchise Business Coaches (FBCs)](https://www.franconnect.com/5-critical-insights-franchise-business-consultants-and-franchise-operations-teams-should-know/) can no longer travel due to governmental restrictions. - There are fewer FBCs to support the network overall. Virtual visits have been helping franchisors meet this challenge. In this post, we will go through some options for the virtual visit and how it can benefit your franchise system. #### Rethinking the Field Audit With FranConnect’s field audits tool, FBCs can go through the compliance checklist that you’ve developed and identify your system-wide weaknesses. For example, you could discover that “suggesting promo items” is a weakness across the entire system. As a result, you can coach your network more effectively as a whole and train them on upselling skills to address the global weakness. In the new environment, franchisors can use these compliance checklists in a different way — to create coaching-driven questionnaires that can be easily executed remotely. For example, franchisors can have a check to see if franchisees have completed a specific training or are following through on a particular marketing campaign. With this kind of audit, the FBCs do not need to be in the field and, if applicable, franchisees can upload relevant pictures. #### Franchisee-Driven Actions For compliance specifically, franchisors can [train franchisees](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/) on self-assessments, which allow franchisees to audit themselves. If a franchisee uploads pictures, such as physical distancing signage, franchisors can use the picture feed feature to easily browse photos all at once. The challenge with self-assessments, however, is that they are passive in nature, in that the franchisor must wait on individual units to launch an audit. With polling, on the other hand, you can say, “Have this questionnaire filled out by everybody.” The system then pushes out the survey. The franchisees and crew don’t need to be logged into the platform to fill it out, and you can track who’s filled it out and who has not. #### Data-Based Decisions The information above helps with the compliance aspect of the FBCs’ work, but there is an ongoing trend toward coaching. All coaches know that you need to inspect what you expect. FranConnect’s franchisee scorecard helps franchisees make data-driven decisions. You can measure elements such as: - [Sales](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/sales/) - Percentage of online orders - NPS scores - Google reviews - Labor costs - Food costs Franchisors define these indicators, and they can develop leaderboards and coach franchisees where they are struggling. By looking at the holistic view of the health of that unit, you can develop an action plan. #### Adapting to the New Operating Environment To pivot to the new operating environment, some [franchisors are creating business plans](https://www.franconnect.com/update-your-fdd-5-critical-things-to-get-right-in-the-age-of-covid/). For example, maybe you want to define a plan with franchisees that includes the goal of keeping labor costs under 20%. Together, you define relevant initiatives at the start of the quarter or year. On your future calls or during virtual visits, go in and perform a check-in. This allows you to reference that plan, so you can say, “Okay, we need to pivot to the new operating environment. Here are the things we said you would do. Did you implement the new workflows?” This is a straightforward example, but it can be as simple or sophisticated as you want it to be. FranConnect has a suite of tools that help with both compliance and coaching while performing virtual visits. Ready to learn more? [Contact FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/) to discuss the best set of modules for you and your unique environment. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Ensure Quality, Improve Performance, Operate **Tags:** Franchise field audit, Franchisee Engagement --- ### [FranConnect Reports Record-breaking First Half of 2021 with Highest-Ever Revenue Growth and Customer Acquisition Rate](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-reports-record-breaking-first-half-of-2021/) **Published:** July 15, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Uncover the secrets behind FranConnect's great first half of 2021. Learn how we shattered records & positioned ourselves as the top player in the industry. **Content:** #### – Strategic Partnerships and Increased Adoption of Operations Platform Fuel Success for Leading Provider of Franchise Management Solutions – **(HERNDON, Virginia) July 15, 2021** — [FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/), the leading provider of franchise management solutions for driving success in franchise sales, operations, and marketing, today announced that in the first half of 2021 the company achieved its highest-ever revenue growth and rate of customer acquisitions. FranConnect added or expanded relationships with more than 100 franchise brands and multi-location businesses — spanning more than 35,000 franchise locations. Those new clients and expanded partnerships now include nearly half of *Entrepreneur*’s Top 50 and Top 100 Franchises. “Throughout the challenges of the last year, we worked closely with our customers and the market to help us sharpen our view on the broader technology needs of the franchising ecosystem,” said Gabby Wong, CEO of FranConnect. “Over the course of the first half of 2021, we delivered on an ambitious technology roadmap that goes well beyond franchise development in order to solve the growing challenges faced by brand CFOs and COOs, as well as franchise owners. As the only enterprise-class software company solely focused on supporting franchise and multi-location businesses, we continue to dig deeper to unlock solutions to the hardest and newest business challenges facing this market. Our first-half performance is a reflection of this strategy, with significant planned product investments for 2021 and 2022.” **Technology Innovations** FranConnect continues to invest in technology to better serve franchisors and multi-unit businesses. In the first half of 2021, the company delivered several new enhancements that benefited the market and contributed to the company’s growth: - Fully automated E-Signature capability for Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDD) - New board-level dashboards and analytics provide a comprehensive overview of franchise development performance from lead sourcing to unit onboarding - Expanded use of Artificial Intelligence tools to automate lead generation and boost sales effectiveness - Improved unit onboarding based on more granular control of the opening process with workflow and task management. - New broker management support to quantify and improve the effectiveness of franchise referral consultants In addition to customer adoption of new product innovations, FranConnect’s accelerated momentum in 2021 stems from strategic partnerships the company rolled out in the first months of the year. In January, the company acquired FranchiseBlast, creating the industry’s only platform that helps franchise brands and multi-location businesses manage operational success, end-to-end, from the brand to the unit-level. In the second quarter of 2021, FranConnect established a Consulting Alliance Partnership Program with industry-leading consultants Franchise Performance Group, MSA Worldwide, iFranchise Group, and FranNet. These partnerships make customers more successful by pairing the domain expertise of leading franchise consultants with FranConnect technology. Additionally, FranConnect grew its team by nearly 20% overall, particularly in the areas of Customer Support, Engineering, and Product Management. FranConnect’s impressive momentum is translating to success for its customers, as well. Paris Baguette, an international, French-inspired bakery with more than 4,000 locations worldwide, beat its own growth goals by closing an unprecedented volume of new deals in early 2021. “We have been using FranConnect as we nurture leads, streamline overall operations and build roadmaps for our café openings,” said Mark Mele, chief development officer for Paris Baguette. “Our team had set aggressive sales and opening goals for 2021, and we were challenged with a database of leads weighed down with thousands of contacts that hadn’t been contacted in over four years. With the help of FranConnect’s outreach and lead nurture programs, we closed 25 deals in the first quarter alone and added 28 more in April. The support of FranConnect’s robust platform in all areas of our business has made the difference in our success.” For more information about FranConnect, visit [www.franconnect.com](https://www.franconnect.com/). **About FranConnect** FranConnect is the leading franchise management software provider. For 20 years, the FranConnect platform has served as the sales, operations, and marketing backbone for over 800 brands worldwide. Nine of the Franchise Times Top 10 Fastest-Growing franchise businesses rely on FranConnect to drive growth, improve profitability, and streamline operational performance. FranConnect customers span all sizes, growth phases, and industries and they grow 44% faster on average than the broader franchising market. Backed by private-equity investor Serent Capital, FranConnect is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, with global follow-the-sun operations. For more information on FranConnect, visit [www.franconnect.com](https://www.franconnect.com/). \# # # ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Company News, Global News **Tags:** Press Releases --- ### [How to Use KPIs as a Tool for Franchise Business Planning](https://www.franconnect.com/how-to-use-kpis-as-a-tool-for-franchise-business-planning/) **Published:** August 26, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Learn how to use key performance indicators as a tool within the business planning process to focus on areas of weakness in your franchise. **Content:** Key performance indicators (KPIs) are tightly integrated with franchise business planning because business plans contain key results (KRs). KPIs are a subset of these key KRs, which the franchise uses to measure its performance. It may seem a bit like alphabet soup but knowing these acronyms and how they fit into your business plan is key to growing your franchise. Naturally, the KRs and KPIs that a franchisor uses are tightly related to their vertical. A [restaurant business](https://www.franconnect.com/15-most-important-restaurant-franchise-kpis/), for example, will look at food and labor costs as key drivers for the business. Other verticals focus less on controllable costs, as they are not as impactful as simply increasing top-line sales. For example, in environments such as commercial printing, the focus shifts to KPIs that drive the sales team, such as number of calls made, quotes submitted, or quote conversion ratios. In any type of franchise, you can define important KPIs to watch. Typically, you should identify 12 to 15 metrics at most to avoid flooding the franchisee with information. When you develop a business plan, you may bring back a subset of these same indicators based on your focus areas, but you’ll normally dive deeper in your weaknesses. The business planning cycle gives you the opportunity to take a step back and observe an area where you want to focus. Your base KR will be based on the KPI you’re already tracking in your scorecard, but you’ll develop ideas to augment it with other KRs that will measure the impact of your proposed initiatives. Here’s an example: ## Example KR for Restaurants: Check Size Imagine you are building a business plan for a restaurant franchisee. Restaurants typically look at average check size as a scorecard metric. You look at their scorecard and observe the average check size is their biggest weakness. One goal KR would be to increase the average check size to the same level as the average franchisee. That is a great idea, but it is not actionable if that check size has been stagnant for a while. Instead, this presents a good opportunity to think through some potential root issues. This is best done as a brainstorm with the franchisee. In this case, imagine that you theorized the following potential root issues: 1. Staff is not upselling enough, and [they need training](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/). 2. A large portion of your morning customers purchase only a coffee and then leave. 3. Your night staff offers too many discounts. 4. You increased prices last year as recommended by the brand because a cheaper competitor set up shop next door. After the brainstorm, you and the franchisee can pick one or two of these issues to tackle. So, your business plan could include the following KRs and initiatives: *100% of the staff retakes the upselling training course before the end of June.* - **Related initiatives include:** Setting up a training day, having 90% of the crew complete the training, etc. *An average of 10 people per day buy a locally sourced energy bar before 11 a.m. this quarter.* - **Related initiatives include:** Stocking enough energy bars, ensuring every customer is offered one, and include the energy bar push in the upsell training (yes, one initiative can affect multiple KRs). *Increase the price of 10 of the 20 top-selling items by 3% before the end of July.* - **Related initiatives include:** Review competitor prices to find the easiest price increase opportunities, change menu boards, etc. As you can see, these [key results](https://www.franconnect.com/objectives-and-key-results-okr-in-franchising/) are very specifically related to your brainstormed theories about why check size is low and what you can do to increase it. ### KR Measurement For Restaurants You need to be sure you can easily measure these KRs from the line of business application that generates them, as it will not be convenient to access them as metrics from the scorecard. A major advantage of this approach is that when you do your post-mortem at the end of the period, you can go back and see if you achieved your main objective: increasing the average check size. At the same time, you can review each of your theories that you had outlined to drive that growth. The value of franchising is in the network effect. If you find something that works for one franchisee, it can also be applied to others in the system. If you did the upselling training and no one is buying additional elements, then either you’re not executing properly or training was not the right idea. In response, you’ll need to find new theories to test during the next period. Overall, KPIs and business planning are tightly integrated. The best way to [help your franchisees reach their goals](https://www.franconnect.com/7-things-you-can-do-to-achieve-franchise-goals-1/) is to measure performance along the way. Learn more about FranConnect’s leading [performance tools](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/sales/) that can help you track the KPIs that matter most and make a positive difference in your business. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Analytics, Franchising Best Practices, Improve Performance **Tags:** Franchise Best Practices, Franchise Development, Franchise Marketing, Franchise Operations --- ### [FranNet and FranConnect Announce Partnership to Benefit Franchise Partners](https://www.franconnect.com/frannet-and-franconnect-announce-partnership-to-benefit-franchise-partners/) **Published:** October 28, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Content:** **LOUISVILLE, Ky. and HERNDON, Va*. —*** Franchise industry powerhouses FranConnect and FranNet have announced a new partnership that will allow them to harness the power of their respective specialties in an effort to empower brands and their future partners. FranNet, North America’s most respected leader in matching individuals with franchise ownership opportunities, brings its proprietary profiling tool and local franchise experts to the partnership, while FranConnect, the leading provider of franchise management solutions for driving success in franchise sales, operations and marketing, offers a full array of solutions for operators. “This collaboration is a win/win for both FranConnect and FranNet,” said Keith Gerson, CFE, President of Franchise Operations at FranConnect. “But the biggest winners are our partner brands, who will benefit from our respective expertise in the franchise arena, including proven-franchise leadership and best in class tools and methodologies.” The partnership between the brands — which features full integration between the two companies’ software platforms – allows them to offer their services as a one-stop, single package that takes brands from franchisee recruitment to franchise management. FranNet’s Entrepreneur Profile uses a series of psychometric assessments to equip franchisors with insights about their candidates, enabling companies to make informed decisions about current and prospective franchisees. FranConnect’s software helps franchisors and multi-unit businesses simplify their growth journey. Used by brands of all sizes, FranConnect’s powerful cloud platform can help you sell and open more units, increase unit revenue and profitability, streamline operations, and improve franchisee engagement. “With a mutual goal of eliminating uncertainty by selecting the right franchise partners in the first place, then fine-tuning their operations and processes, the groundbreaking partnership is an exciting solution for brands looking to grow,” said Jania Bailey, CEO of FranNet. “According to FranConnect’s 2021 mid-year Franchise Sales Index, FranNet has the highest lead-to-deal conversion rate among major franchise referral networks. We believe that this ​​illustrates how we help make FranConnect customers more successful and that, together, we can provide franchise brands with everything they need to build effective and successful franchise partnerships.” **About FranNet** FranNet is North America’s most respected leader in matching individuals with franchise ownership opportunities. Founded in 1987, FranNet has more than 100 experienced consultants across the United States, Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom. FranNet uses a proprietary profiling and consultative process to determine a business model unique to each client’s goals, skill sets and interests, and has matched thousands of prospective business owners to rewarding small business franchise opportunities. Based in Louisville, Kentucky, FranNet has been recognized by *Inc.* magazine as one of the fastest growing private companies in America for the last five years. **About FranConnect, Inc.** FranConnect is the leading franchise management software provider. For 20 years, the FranConnect platform has served as the sales, operations, and marketing backbone for over 800 brands worldwide. Nine of the Franchise Times Top 10 Fastest-Growing franchise businesses rely on FranConnect to drive growth, improve profitability, and streamline operational performance. FranConnect customers span all sizes, growth phases, and industries and they grow 44% faster on average than the broader franchising market. Backed by private-equity investor Serent Capital, FranConnect is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, with global follow-the-sun operations. For more information on FranConnect, visit [www.franconnect.com](http://www.franconnect.com/). ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Company News **Tags:** FranConnect, Press Releases --- ### [Top 3 Ways Early Tech Investments Can Help Your Emerging Franchise Grow](https://www.franconnect.com/top-3-ways-early-tech-investments-can-help-your-emerging-franchise-grow/) **Published:** November 2, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Did you know that early tech investments can help your emerging franchise grow? Learn how investing in tech earlier can help your emerging brand here! **Content:** If you’re part of an emerging franchise business, chances are, you’re familiar with software and other tech solutions that promise to make life easier for franchising. But aren’t those products built for large enterprises… would they work for a ‘startup’? And does it even make sense to invest in technology at an early stage before you’ve mastered your processes and built a winning team? You might be surprised how strongly [emerging franchises](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/brand-consistency/) can take advantage of tech solutions from Day 1. But how do you justify making the investments, given limited financial resources? And how do you prioritize where to spend your money and time? Some investments are obvious or even mandatory – think POS systems for brick and mortar, accounting, and so on. But there are lots of other solutions which may not be so obvious for you as you are starting out. So we talked to some of our smallest customers – and some of our bigger customers who started small – to ask them why they think franchise-specific tech is valuable from Day 1. Here are the top 3 things we heard to help you approach tech investments early in your franchise growth journey: ## 1. Don’t Wait to be Fully Staffed When you start your franchise business, limited financial and human assets can be hard to come by. Money is stretched thin, while your staff covers a myriad of positions leaving you to analyze every decision being made and how it affects your brand long term. You can end up seeking to add additional team members, as opposed to [investing in new technology](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/sales/), which means the success of those tasks is entirely dependent on the person you hire. Usually, most small businesses invest in new hires until they feel like their team is set up to scale operations – all before tech even crosses their minds. Investing in new technologies can often feel like a daunting task, but thankfully, the days of needing a full IT staff and personal servers are long gone. For less than the price of a first-time employee, and the time that would be spent getting them acclimated to your business, franchise business owners can invest in technology that is purpose-built for the specific challenges they face – without the risk of the technology leaving you for another job. We often hear from our clients that in the beginning they were running so fast, and so lean, that they felt like they didn’t even have the time to train someone new – all while simultaneously getting new doors up and open. Though it can be tempting to “hire your problems away”, your time, energy, and money are sometimes better spent on tools that are really good at managing specific aspects of your growth. ## 2. Aggregate and Pool Data for Essential Growth Not only can technology solutions solve specific business problems, they can also keep information from being siloed with different people within your company. We hear a common refrain from FranConnect customers that they need all their data in one central location. Our brick-and-mortar clients specifically have added complexities when getting their new locations operational and heavily rely on having a single data source to house every detail of what is needed to open a new door from start to finish. By aggregating your brand’s data, as a business owner you can quickly identify new trends and overall patterns that would not be easily gathered with disparate information. You don’t need to be a “big” company to take advantage of the data you are already collecting. Emerging franchises are often surprised at the amount of data sources they already have in their back pockets. By collecting and tracking data from day one, you can really know how well you’re doing by comparing results to the baselines you established in the beginning. ## 3. Make Your Franchisees a Partner in Your Tech Investments The saying goes- “Out of sight, out of mind!” Don’t let this be the case when it comes to you and your franchisees. Using tech outside of traditional social media platforms to connect with your customers is becoming more commonplace as digital solutions become more affordable for small businesses. Maintaining that human connection has become essential to doing successful business. Utilizing tech solutions to create a sense of community through shared experiences can drive the engagement of your franchisees. Think of your [franchisee engagement](https://www.franconnect.com/how-to-do-ongoing-franchisee-monitoring-right/) the same way you think about your brand marketing – you want to look bigger and more professional than you really are. By providing a professional platform for franchisee engagement and collaboration, you can foster more loyalty amongst your franchisees – ultimately leading to better customer experiences and [higher royalties](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/royalty-manager/). Group discussions, polling, and active push notifications can nurture a connection between franchisors and franchisees and also amongst franchisees – empowering them to “idea share” amongst their peers. Whether you have an established small business or you are just getting started in franchising, investing in a tech solution that can help drive you to the top is fundamental in building your brand the right way. ### So how does FranConnect help? We are the leading technology platform for franchise management including development, operations, marketing, and more. To find out if FranConnect might be right for your business, schedule a live demo with us! [FranConnect Demo](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Develop, Operate **Tags:** Franchise Development, Franchise Operations --- ### [4 Things Keeping Franchisors Up at Night](https://www.franconnect.com/4-things-keeping-franchisors-up-at-night/) **Published:** December 23, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** There are 4 categories that keep franchisors up at night. We've compiled them along with customer stories to explain how FranConnect can help! **Content:** At a recent franchising conference, we were lucky enough to sit down for interviews with a variety of senior executives from the FranConnect customer base. This included franchise brands of different sizes and from different industries. We asked them what business challenges are most important for them to solve using technology. It was great to know how they are getting so much value from FranConnect, but it was also enlightening to hear some of the common themes that surfaced. Here are four of them, with actual soundbites from those customer interviews. For the full catalog of interviews, check out our [Testimonials Resource Center](https://www.franconnect.com/customers/testimonials/). ### Tightening the Screws On Franchise Development The three most important aspects of managing leads in franchise development marketing are timing, communication, and organization. The ability to master all of these aspects simultaneously can make a huge difference between closing deals or letting them slip away. A critical solution for managing their entire development process from lead to opportunity to new unit launch. With over 5,500 locations, Little Caesars has been a FranConnect customer since 2019. ### Speeding Up Location Openings Focusing on a solid, well-researched plan for your expansion is key to success. Understanding the specific challenges associated with franchising and what can be done in order speed up that process is vital when it comes time for you to take control of your SNOs (Sold But Not Open). Speeding up your process all while ensuring your locations have the same aesthetic and thematic elements can often feel intimidating. Unit openings are the name of the game in franchising, and that’s why Taco John’s uses FranConnect to automate the end-to-end franchise development process and bring visibility to the entire team. A customer since 2013. ### Wrangling Disparate Data How can you break the silo mindset to ensure information is flowing freely between all departments of your business? Integrating disparate business systems, aggregating and connecting data can deliver valuable insights that will drive performance and growth for your franchise brand. Hear how FranConnect software serves as the system of record to aggregate disparate data from sources across the enterprise at this fast-growing franchise business. Freddy’s is a new FranConnect customer. ### Streamlining Field Operations The importance of field support cannot be understated, but it’s often overlooked in the heat of opening new stores and signing franchise agreements. With so much on your plate when you are expanding you business–from marketing campaigns to managing national locations – you might find yourself growing frustrated when faced with immediate needs for assistance outside of your home base. Giving your Franchise Business Consultants confidence by providing them tools to focus on coaching franchisees instead of policing them can make all the difference. This growing franchise concept has run their business with FranConnect almost since their inception in 2008. They have a strong emphasis on supporting and empowering franchisees by sharing KPI’s and critical training content. *Hear more customer success stories and see if FranConnect could be right for your business.* ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Analytics, Develop, Expand Locations, Improve Performance, Open Locations Faster **Tags:** Franchise Development, Franchise Operations --- ### [Introducing FranConnect Franchise Scorecards – a snapshot of your franchise’s health!](https://www.franconnect.com/introducing-franconnect-franchise-scorecards/) **Published:** April 21, 2022 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** Get a snapshot of your franchise's health with FranConnect Franchise Scorecards. Learn how our software can help your franchise here! **Content:** We recently launched **Franchise Scorecards** and are excited to share the news! The franchise scorecards, part of FranConnect’s Operations platform, equip brands with a complete view of the health of a unit at your fingertips helping franchisees drive unit-level economics. Anyone involved with franchise field visits likely agrees that the prep work for a visit can be daunting. It seems to take hours, pulling information from different systems to end up with questionable economic insights. Additionally, comparing one unit against the average of their peers is nearly impossible without having key performance metrics identified. Now that we’ve made the case that replacing tedious and time-consuming manual processes is needed, let’s discuss how **Franchise Scorecards** help – namely, by providing Franchise Business Consultants (FBC) actionable information about the health of a unit. Having valuable comprehensive business insights at your fingertips can make it easier to help individual units be successful. **Franchise Scorecards** also allow you to link goals, insights, and actions making your teams and units more effective through information sharing, centralization, transparency, and accountability. ![Screen Shot - Scorecards](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Screen%20Shot%20-%20Scorecards.png) **Easily compare KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) to quickly identify the biggest opportunities**. **Franchise Scorecards** aggregate information from field visits, POS systems, loyalty programs, surveys, and self-assessments allowing an FBC to easily identify the biggest areas of opportunity. With just a few clicks, you can compare 10-12 key performance metrics against the average of their peers, utilizing actional insights to support the ongoing coaching conversation. Using the **Franchise Scorecards** as a guide, FBCs can rapidly compare one unit with the system as a whole or a subset of units and quickly determine proper goals to be included in a business plan. If a key performance metric is identified as weak, the FBC can either educate the franchisee on the spot or quickly guide them to go through some training content hosted in FranConnect’s training platform. On the other hand, if more accountability is required, the FBC can then leverage additional tools within FranConnect’s Brand Consistency platform to educate the franchisee on necessary improvements, direct them to training content, or assign a playbook with a set of tasks to address the highlighted concern. ![](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Featured%20Image%203.png) **Success story from an early Franchise Scorecard adopter…** *“Incorporating FranConnect’s Franchise Scorecards had an immediate positive impact on our brand,” said Tony Caballero, CFE, Senior Vice President of Operations at Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux. “This capability allowed the team to compare the business in a new light by pulling together data from previously disparate systems and boiling it down into a concise view of performance based on our KPIs. The feedback from our field teams and franchisees has been overwhelmingly positive as they see it as a valuable resource. If used as it is intended any business can benefit from this platform.”* **Franchise Scorecards** are the first of several operations-focused enhancements FranConnect will introduce this year. Used hand-in-hand with FranConnect’s Brand Consistency package, the tools made available within Performance support the ongoing coaching conversations of a modern franchisor operations team. *For more information on FranConnect’s franchise scorecards or to schedule a demo of the Operations platform visit us here:* ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Analytics, Improve Performance **Tags:** Best Practices, Franchise Best Practices, Franchise Development, Franchise Operations --- ### [ChurnZero unveils Gabby Wong as speaker at BIG RYG 2022, the Customer Success leadership event of the year](https://www.franconnect.com/churnzero-unveils-gabby-wong-as-speaker-at-big-ryg-2022/) **Published:** August 12, 2022 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** FranConnect CEO, Gabby Wong, has just been unveiled as a key speaker at BIG RYG 2022, the Customer Success leadership event of the year! Learn more! **Content:** #### 40+ speakers and session leaders bring their expertise to Washington, DC as economic volatility highlights the essential role of customer retention [ChurnZero](https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3618410-1&h=385897305&u=https%3A%2F%2Fchurnzero.com%2F%3Futm_source%3Dnewswire%26utm_medium%3DPR%26utm_campaign%3Dbigryg&a=ChurnZero), a leading Customer Success platform, has released the full lineup and speaker agenda for [BIG RYG 2022, the Customer Success leadership summit](https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3618410-1&h=733483803&u=https%3A%2F%2Fbigryg.churnzero.com%2F%3Futm_source%3Dnewswire%26utm_medium%3DPR%26utm_campaign%3Dbigryg&a=BIG+RYG+2022%2C+the+Customer+Success+leadership+summit) in Washington, D.C. on October 12-13, 2022. RYG stands for “red, yellow, green,” key indicators of customer health. We are pleased to share that our very own leader and CEO, Gabby Wong, was announced as a key speaker in their lineup. The two-day in-person event will see hundreds of Customer Success (CS) leaders gather to network, learn and share their expertise in improving team effectiveness, customer satisfaction and their companies’ bottom line. [Early bird registration](https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3618410-1&h=4274878646&u=https%3A%2F%2Fbigryg.churnzero.com%2F%3Futm_source%3Dnewswire%26utm_medium%3DPR%26utm_campaign%3Dbigryg&a=Early+bird+registration) is available through August 19. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Company News **Tags:** Press Mentions --- ### [EY Announces Gabby Wong of FranConnect as an Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2023 Mid-Atlantic Award Finalist](https://www.franconnect.com/ey-announces-gabby-wong-of-franconnect-as-an-entrepreneur-of-the-year-2023-mid-atlantic-award-finalist/) **Published:** April 28, 2023 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** EY Announces Gabby Wong of FranConnect as an Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2023 Mid-Atlantic Award Finalist **Content:** #### Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates ambitious entrepreneurs who are building bolder futures (HERNDON, Virginia) April 28, 2023 – Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) today announced that Gabby Wong, CEO of FranConnect was named an Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2023 Mid-Atlantic Award finalist. Now in its 37th year, Entrepreneur Of The Year is one of the preeminent competitive business awards for transformative entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies who are building a more equitable, sustainable, and prosperous world for all. Gabby Wong was selected by an independent panel of judges. Entrepreneurs were evaluated based on their demonstration of building long-term value through entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, growth and impact, among other core contributions and attributes. “Great companies are a function of outstanding people who seek to make an impact, products that matter, and growth-minded customers who continuously evolve.” said Gabby Wong. “At FranConnect, we are fortunate to serve a market that embodies the entrepreneurial spirit of this award. On behalf of the entire FranConnect Team and as a tribute to the franchising entrepreneurs we serve, I am honored to be considered a finalist.” Regional award winners will be announced on Thursday, June 22, during a special celebration. The winners will then be considered by the National judges for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards, which will be presented in November at the annual [Strategic Growth Forum®](https://www.ey.com/en_us/growth/strategic-growth-forum-us), one of the nation’s most prestigious gatherings of high-growth, market-leading companies. The Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner will then move on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Award in June 2024. The Entrepreneur Of The Year program has recognized more than 11,000 entrepreneurs throughout the US since its inception in 1986, and it has grown to recognize business leaders across 145 cities in over 60 countries around the world. **Sponsors** Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards include presenting sponsors PNC Bank, N.A.; SAP America; and the Kauffman Foundation. In Mid-Atlantic, sponsors also include Cresa Global, Inc., Cooley LLP, DLA Piper LLP, ADP, and Kelly Benefits. **About Entrepreneur Of The Year**® Entrepreneur Of The Year® is the world’s most prestigious business awards program for unstoppable entrepreneurs. These visionary leaders deliver innovation, growth and prosperity that transform our world. The program engages entrepreneurs with insights and experiences that foster growth. It connects them with their peers to strengthen entrepreneurship around the world. Entrepreneur Of The Year is the first and only truly global awards program of its kind. It celebrates entrepreneurs through regional and national awards programs in more than 145 cities in over 60 countries. National Overall Award winners go on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ title. Visit [ey.com/us/eoy](https://www.ey.com/en_us/entrepreneur-of-the-year-us). ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Company News, Global News **Tags:** Press Releases --- ### [FranConnect Recognized by DCA Live as one of the 2023 Red Hot Companies](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-recognized-by-dca-live-as-one-of-the-2023-red-hot-companies-2/) **Published:** May 15, 2023 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** FranConnect Recognized by DCA Live as one of the 2023 Red Hot Companies **Content:** FranConnect, the leading provider of franchise and multi-location management solutions for driving success in sales, operations, and marketing, announced today that it has been recognized by DCA Live as one of the Washington DC area’s [Red Hot companies for 2023.](https://dca-live.com/2023-red-hot-companies) For the 8th consecutive year, DCA Live has recognized ***Red Hot Companies***, the Washington region’s fastest-growing and most exciting companies. As the broader markets have cooled during the year, dozens of DC technology ventures have remained Red Hot. DC area companies in cybersecurity, big data, fintech, proptech, health care, and other sectors continue to grow, attract capital and talent and make incredible progress in their missions to solve our country’s biggest challenges. DCA Live will be profiling FranConnect along with the other ***Red Hot Companies*** over the coming weeks and will celebrate them with a lively, fun event on the evening of Thursday, July 13th on the rooftop of Sands Capital in Rosslyn, VA. FranConnect hit key milestone achievements in 2022 that propelled its growth, customer experience, and innovation trajectory: - - **Innovation** – Focused on continued innovation in FranConnect’s core technology and offerings including the acquisition of [World Manager](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franconnect-world-manager/) – a global provider of enterprise learning management and front-line employee engagement solutions to multi-unit businesses. This acquisition expanded FranConnect’s customer portfolio to include some of the largest multi-location brands, including Forever 21, Billabong, Domino’s, Long John Silver’s, Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux, Nando’s, Gloria Jean’s Coffees, and Ben & Jerry’s and further extend operations in Australia and Colombia. - **Customer Growth –** Expanded partnerships with over 100 brands and welcomed over 130 new franchise brands and multi-location businesses to its customer base. With more than 1,500 brands and 350,000 units worldwide relying on its solutions, FranConnect maintains its position as the “gold standard” and only platform helping multi-unit and franchise organizations achieve their business goals across all areas of their operations from supporting the brand to the owners and frontline employees. - **Recognition** – – [Gabby Wong as an Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2023 Mid-Atlantic Award Finalist](https://www.franconnect.com/ey-announces-gabby-wong-of-franconnect-as-an-entrepreneur-of-the-year-2023-mid-atlantic-award-finalist/). – [Andy Volkmann, named “2023 NVTC Emerging Growth CFO of the Year Award Finalist”](https://www.franconnect.com/andy-volkmann-franconnect-named-2023-nvtc-cfo-of-the-year-award-finalist/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Community Involvement **Tags:** Press Mentions --- ### [FranConnect Expands Global Presence, Launching in Australia & APAC, and appointment of General Manager, A/NZ](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-launches-australia-appointment-of-general-manager-anz/) **Published:** May 23, 2023 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** FranConnect Expands Global Presence, Launching in Australia & APAC, and appointment of General Manager, A/NZ **Content:** **SYDNEY, May 24, 2023 —** FranConnect, the leading franchise and multi-location management software provider, is excited to announce its expansion into the A/NZ and APAC markets. This marks an important milestone for FranConnect as it continues to grow its global footprint on the heels of its strategic acquisition of World Manager. Under the consolidated company, FranConnect offers the most comprehensive franchise and multi-location management solutions to franchisors and multi-location businesses in the market globally. A key part of this expansion is the appointment of Paul Sharpe to its Executive Management Team as the new General Manager, A/NZ. Paul will be responsible for all go-to-market activities for FranConnect in A/NZ including strategy, sales, customer success, and the continued growth of all FranConnect product lines in the region. Under Paul’s guidance, FranConnect is well-positioned to support the dynamic franchise and multi-location ecosystem in Australia and across APAC. The company’s innovative technology and robust platform empower franchisors and other business owners to streamline their operations, enhance collaboration, and drive growth while providing franchisees and store managers with the tools they need to efficiently manage their businesses. “Australia has a significant franchise and multi-location sector with tremendous potential for growth,” said Gabby Wong, CEO of FranConnect. “Along with our World Manager acquisition, we are thrilled to bring FranConnect’s cutting-edge franchise and multi-location management solutions to Australian franchisors and businesses, enabling them to optimise their operations, increase profitability, and achieve sustainable success. “We can’t think of a better person to achieve this than Paul, and we welcome him into the FranConnect global team. Paul is a seasoned professional who brings a well-rounded and dynamic background to the team. He is a creative sales and business leader with demonstrated capabilities in transforming and building high-performance teams.” Prior to FranConnect, Paul held senior leadership roles at Nexon, IBM, Samsung, and NTT, with extensive experience leading sales, product, and marketing teams; general business operations; transformations; and has managed acquisition integrations at scale. Starting life as a franchise-focused software solution, FranConnect has expanded its services to include all multi-location businesses such as retail chains, restaurant & hospitality chains, automotive service centres, beauty & hair salons, healthcare clinics, and more. FranConnect’s software suite includes modules for onboarding and training, operations & compliance management, lead generation & marketing, performance analytics, and more. This allows businesses to streamline their operations, improve communication, and gain valuable insights to make informed decisions. FranConnect has already secured many customers in Australia including Nike, Billabong, Domino’s, Nando’s, Gloria Jean’s Coffees, Hungry Jacks, and Ben & Jerry’s. Globally, FranConnect supports huge brands including A&W Restaurants, Snap Fitness, 9Round, Viet Thai and commands over 30% of the franchise businesses in North America. Under Paul, FranConnect is expanding its Sydney-based team who have extensive local knowledge of the Australian franchise industry. This team will provide personalised support and guidance to its growing customer base and ensure a smooth transition onto the FranConnect platform, maximising the value they receive from the software. “I’m thrilled to be joining the A/NZ team,” added Paul Sharpe, FranConnect’s General Manager, A/NZ. “FranConnect understands the unique challenges faced by franchisors and multi-location businesses in Australia. Our goal is to empower businesses with the right tools and resources to navigate those challenges successfully. We are excited to become part of the Australian franchise ecosystem and help companies achieve their growth objectives.” \#### ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Company News, Global News **Tags:** Leadership Appointment, Press Releases --- ### [NVTC Announces Winners for 2023 Greater Washington Technology CFO Awards](https://www.franconnect.com/nvtc-announces-winners-for-2023-greater-washington-technology-cfo-awards/) **Published:** June 6, 2023 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Content:** **McLEAN, Va. – (June 6, 2023) –** The [Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC)](https://www.nvtc.org/), the trade association representing the region’s technology community, announced the winners for its 2023 Greater Washington Technology CFO Awards at an awards ceremony last night. This is the 27th year for this annual awards program, which is dedicated to celebrating leading finance professionals and officers across the greater Washington region. “This year’s CFO Award winners represent the leading minds in finance and technology,” said Jennifer Taylor, president and CEO of NVTC. “We’re honored to recognize their hard work and celebrate the individual achievements that have led Northern Virginia to become one of the leading technology hubs in the nation.” “Our region’s technology sector has experienced a massive boom in recent years, becoming the area of choice for everything from early-stage startups to established market leaders,” said Shiv Varma, partner, KPMG and chair of this year’s CFO Awards program. “The CFO Awards mark an important milestone every year as we gather together to celebrate the innovative finance professionals that have made that growth possible.” In addition to the traditional Public Company, Private Company, and Emerging Growth CFOs of the Year, the CFO Awards judges selected a winner from the finalists for a new category that was created. The Transaction of the Year award celebrates a CFO that stood out for their role in completing a significant business transaction during the year, and this year’s winner is Jeff Cook, of Octo, who was recognized for his role in Octo’s recent acquisition by IBM. Finally, NVTC also recognized the Michael G. Devine Hall of Fame Award honoree, Rick Nadeau, and the 2023 Class of Rising Stars at last night’s awards ceremony. An independent panel of former CFO Awards winners selected this year’s winners in five award categories. **The 2023 NVTC Technology CFO Awards winners are:** **Emerging Growth CFO of the Year:** Andrew Volkmann, FranConnect[ ](https://www.franconnect.com/) **Private Company CFOs of the Year:** Joe Harar, EdgeConneX Silvana Hernandez, Pavion **Public Company CFO of the Year:** Susan Lynch, V2X, Inc. **Transaction of the Year:** Jeff Cook, Octo **2023 Class of Rising Stars:** Zach Blaine, Expel Paul Donnell, FiscalNote Emily Lane, Arcfield Tim Mulieri, GTT Communications, Inc. Matthew Robarge, Cision Samantha Ross, Unanet Amanda Williams, IonQ ![2306_CFO Awards 303](https://blog.franconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/2306_CFO%20Awards%20303.jpg?width=5302&height=3535&name=2306_CFO%20Awards%20303.jpg) ![S2306_CFO Awards 267-1](https://blog.franconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/S2306_CFO%20Awards%20267-1.jpg?width=946&height=630&name=S2306_CFO%20Awards%20267-1.jpg) ![Snvtc](https://blog.franconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Snvtc.jpg?width=946&height=741&name=Snvtc.jpg) ![2306_CFO Awards 020](https://blog.franconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/2306_CFO%20Awards%20020.jpg?width=5472&height=3648&name=2306_CFO%20Awards%20020.jpg) **Contact** Tarin Horan Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC) thoran@nvtc.org 703.946.0319 **About the Northern Virginia Technology Council** NVTC is the trade association representing the Northern Virginia technology community. As one of the nation’s largest technology councils, NVTC serves companies from all sectors of the industry, from small businesses and startups to Fortune 100 technology companies, government contractors, as well as service providers, academic institutions, and nonprofit organizations. More than 460 members look to the organization as a resource for networking and educational opportunities, peer-to-peer communities, policy advocacy, industry promotion, fostering of strategic relationships, and branding of the region as a major global technology center. Learn more at [www.nvtc.org](https://www.nvtc.org/). ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Community Involvement, Company News **Tags:** FranConnect, FranConnect Cares, Press Releases --- ### [FranConnect Shines with the Prestigious 2023 CARE Award](https://www.franconnect.com/2023-care-award-winner/) **Published:** October 4, 2023 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Excerpt:** FranConnect Shines with the Prestigious 2023 CARE Award **Content:** Written by Kaleigh Wells We’re thrilled to share that we have been graced with the honorable 2023 CARE Award from Northern Virginia Family Service (NVFS). Notably, this is not the first time FranConnect has been honored with the CARE Award. This year’s recognition , a demonstration of our outstanding organizational culture and employee engagement strategies, further motivates us to maintain our position as one of the most rewarding places to work in the D.C area! ![Care Badge 2023](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Care%20Badge%202023.jpg) The CARE Awards symbolize NVFS’s commendation for companies that proactively make the region a better place to live, work, and play. FranConnect’s commitment to an inclusive and fulfilling environment, our constant emphasis on employee well-being, our deep engagement in community practices, and our efforts toward diversity, equity, and inclusivity didn’t go unnoticed. But we’re not just about work! Our philanthropic FranConnect Cares corporate program is a fine example of our dedication to making a difference in the local community. This year, our charitable efforts extended to the Clock Tower Thrift Store, where our team rolled up their sleeves and put in the elbow grease to give the store a much-needed overhaul. Don’t let the name fool you – this thrift store is a community gem and giving it a bit of TLC was a rewarding experience for everyone involved. ![NVFS-1](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/NVFS-1.jpeg) ![NVFS-4](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/NVFS-4.jpeg) ![NVFS-5](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/NVFS-5.jpeg)![NVFS-6](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/NVFS-6.jpeg) ![Support Less-Priviledged Kids in Education](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Support%20Less-Priviledged%20Kids%20in%20Education.jpeg) ![Education2](https://go.franconnect.com/hubfs/Education2.jpeg) In addition, the FranConnect team traded in their office attire for aprons and served up a delicious brunch to the local community. There’s something incredibly satisfying about serving up home-cooked dishes to those in need, and the smiles we received in return were priceless. This CARE Award win is not just for FranConnect but for every single one of our employees who strive to make a difference in the workplace and in our community every day. We look forward to the award reception at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner/Innovation Gallery on Wednesday, November 15, 2023. For more details about the CARE Awards, visit [NVFS’s website](https://www.nvfs.org/events/care-awards/). Here’s to continued success and community service in 2024 and beyond! ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495c6b586030a8df917095f26f63fbaacf231e0d6b7c1abba373e1df538e9df3?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Kelsey Smith [See Full Bio](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) [ ](https://www.franconnect.com/author/kelsey-smithfranconnect-com/) **Categories:** Community Involvement **Tags:** NEWS --- ## Pages ### [Multi-Location & Franchise Management Software](https://www.franconnect.com/) **Published:** December 3, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Multi-Location & Franchise Management Software](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-home/) **Published:** October 2, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Why FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/all-resources/why-franconnect/) **Published:** December 4, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [FranConnect Home](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-home-2/) **Published:** May 5, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Top 10 Takeaways of Operations Excellence E-Book](https://www.franconnect.com/content-downloads/operations-excellence-ebook/) **Published:** May 23, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [The Restaurant QMS Framework eBook](https://www.franconnect.com/content-downloads/the-restaurant-qms-framework-ebook/) **Published:** July 12, 2026 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [The Operational Excellence Playbook for Restaurant Franchise Brands](https://www.franconnect.com/content-downloads/operational-excellence-playbook-for-restaurant-franchise-brands/) **Published:** January 23, 2026 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [License Smarter - A Guide To Choosing The Right Software Solution](https://www.franconnect.com/content-downloads/guide-to-licensing-software/) **Published:** July 21, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Guide To Assessing Your Technology Stack](https://www.franconnect.com/content-downloads/guide-to-assessing-your-technology-stack/) **Published:** August 26, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Franchise Growth Decoded: Data Driven Insights From 850+ Brands](https://www.franconnect.com/content-downloads/franchise-growth-decoded/) **Published:** August 6, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [COO Playbook to Achieving Operational Excellence](https://www.franconnect.com/content-downloads/coo-playbook/) **Published:** April 10, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [2025 Franchise Sales Index - FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/content-downloads/2025-franchise-sales-index/) **Published:** June 15, 2026 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [2024 Sales Index Report](https://www.franconnect.com/content-downloads/e-book-downloads/) **Published:** October 2, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Schedule a Meeting with an Expert from FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/schedule-a-franconnect-meeting/) **Published:** December 5, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Request a Demo through ZoomInfo](https://www.franconnect.com/demo-requests/request-a-demo-zoominfo/) **Published:** September 4, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Request a Demo through G2](https://www.franconnect.com/demo-requests/g2-request-a-demo/) **Published:** July 9, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Request a Demo through Capterra](https://www.franconnect.com/demo-requests/capterra-request-a-demo/) **Published:** July 9, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Request a Demo from FranConnect and Grow Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) **Published:** October 2, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Compare FranConnect to Other Franchise Management Software](https://www.franconnect.com/compare-franconnect-alternatives/) **Published:** June 30, 2026 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Content:** Evaluating franchise management software? Here’s how FranConnect compares to other tools franchise and multi-location brands consider. Most competitors solve one piece of the puzzle — CRM, training, or field operations. FranConnect is the only platform built to cover the full franchise lifecycle in one system: development, location opening, operations, quality management, employee engagement, royalty management, and AI-powered insights through Frannie AI™. ## Compare FranConnect to specific platforms - [FranConnect vs. ClientTether](https://www.franconnect.com/en/clienttether-alternative/) — see how FranConnect goes beyond franchise CRM to cover development, operations, royalties, and AI in one platform. - [FranConnect vs. Delightree](https://www.franconnect.com/en/delightree/) — compare FranConnect’s complete platform with Delightree’s training-focused solution. - [FranConnect vs. Operandio](https://www.franconnect.com/en/operandio/) — compare FranConnect’s complete platform with Operandio’s operations-focused software. Not sure which comparison applies to you? [Request a demo](https://www.franconnect.com/en/request-a-demo/) and we’ll show you exactly how FranConnect fits your franchise system. --- ### [FranConnect Testimonials](https://www.franconnect.com/customers/testimonials/) **Published:** December 14, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Operandio](https://www.franconnect.com/operandio/) **Published:** June 18, 2026 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Delightree](https://www.franconnect.com/delightree/) **Published:** June 18, 2026 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [ClientTether](https://www.franconnect.com/clienttether-alternative/) **Published:** June 18, 2026 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/) **Published:** February 12, 2020 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [White Papers and E-Books from FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/content-downloads/) **Published:** May 23, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Candidate Coach: An AI-First Platform](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/candidate-coach/) **Published:** May 6, 2021 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [FranConnect Masterclass Roadshow](https://www.franconnect.com/customers/masterclass/) **Published:** April 7, 2026 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Webinars and Thought Leadership from FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/all-resources/franconnect-webinars/) **Published:** July 25, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [FranConnect Policies](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-policies/) **Published:** May 6, 2022 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Upcoming FranConnect Training and Product Webinars](https://www.franconnect.com/customers/upcoming-webinars/) **Published:** May 22, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Get to Know Our Executive Leadership Team](https://www.franconnect.com/company/leadership-team/) **Published:** January 19, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [FranConnect Case Studies](https://www.franconnect.com/customers/casestudies/) **Published:** July 19, 2022 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Franchise Management Software for the QSR Industry](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/qsr/) **Published:** March 28, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Ai Franchise Agreement Support Agent to Ensure Compliance](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/agreement-support-agent/) **Published:** October 31, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Ai Field Assist Agent to Help Analyze Visits](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/field-assist-agent/) **Published:** November 18, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Ai Franchisee Support Agent to Support Your Network](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franchise-support-agent/) **Published:** October 31, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Ai Sales Coach Agent to Support Franchise Development](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/sales-coach-agent/) **Published:** October 31, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Ai Data Analyst Agent To Drive Business Results](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/data-analyst-agent/) **Published:** October 28, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [FranConnect for Emerging Franchise Brands](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions-overview/emerging-brands/) **Published:** December 2, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [What is Operational Excellence](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions-overview/operational-excellence/) **Published:** May 9, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Increase Transparency & Accuracy in Your Royalty Process to Maximize Revenue](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions-overview/streamline-royalty-process/) **Published:** January 12, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [More Engaged Front-Line Employees for Better Customer Experience](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions-overview/retain-onboard-employees/) **Published:** January 11, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Quality Management Software to boost Audit Accuracy](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions-overview/ensure-quality/) **Published:** January 11, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Drive Location-Level Compliance](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions-overview/improve-performance/) **Published:** January 11, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Recruit More Franchisees and Expand Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions-overview/expand-faster/) **Published:** January 10, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions-overview/open-locations-faster/) **Published:** January 11, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Unlock the 30-Day Profitability Plan](https://www.franconnect.com/unlock-the-30-day-profitability-plan/) **Published:** March 25, 2026 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Franchise CRM Software for Franchise Sales & Growth](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/sales/) **Published:** March 3, 2020 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Expand Your Real Estate Business With Help From FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/real-estate/) **Published:** April 15, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Franchise Management Software for the Personal Services Industry](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/personal-services/) **Published:** June 21, 2023 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Join Us At IFA 2026](https://www.franconnect.com/events/ifa-2026/) **Published:** December 19, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Get the Latest Thought Leadership and Updates from FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-blog/) **Published:** January 22, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Fueling Connections: Discover the Latest Industry Events Where FranConnect Will Be](https://www.franconnect.com/events/) **Published:** January 22, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Making a Difference with FranConnect Cares](https://www.franconnect.com/company/community/) **Published:** January 19, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Training and Development for Frontline Employees](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/training-and-development/) **Published:** August 19, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Centralize All Content and Engagement - One Central Hub](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/the-hub/) **Published:** March 3, 2020 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Manage Location Openings and Reduce Days to First Dollar](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/opener/) **Published:** March 3, 2020 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [FranConnect Design Ops Terms of Service](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-policies/franconnect-design-ops-terms-of-service/) **Published:** October 30, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Careers at FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/company/careers/) **Published:** February 19, 2020 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Operations Coach](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/operations-coach/) **Published:** October 31, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Frannie 50](https://www.franconnect.com/customers/frannie-50/) **Published:** October 30, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Meet Us At Emerging Franchisor Conference](https://www.franconnect.com/events/emerging-franchisor-conference/) **Published:** October 6, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Meet Us At National Franchise Convention 2025](https://www.franconnect.com/events/national-franchise-convention/) **Published:** September 23, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Meet Us At Franchise Springboard](https://www.franconnect.com/events/franchise-springboard/) **Published:** October 6, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Meet Us At QSR Media Awards 2025](https://www.franconnect.com/events/qsr-media-awards/) **Published:** September 23, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Connect100](https://www.franconnect.com/customers/connect100/) **Published:** July 8, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Meet Us At QSR Evolution](https://www.franconnect.com/events/qsr-evolution/) **Published:** August 29, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Join Us At NAFS 2025](https://www.franconnect.com/events/nafs/) **Published:** August 26, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Join Us At FSTEC 2025](https://www.franconnect.com/events/fstec/) **Published:** August 26, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Employee Training and Development with World Manager](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/world-manager-frontline/) **Published:** October 19, 2022 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Measure Performance in Your Franchise](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/performance/) **Published:** April 1, 2022 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [More Recorded Webinars From FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/all-resources/more-recorded-webinars/) **Published:** July 29, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Other Industries FranConnect Software Helps Grow Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/other-industries/) **Published:** May 31, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Compliance Software for the Food Manufacturing and Packaging Industry](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/food-manufacturing-industry/) **Published:** May 31, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Franchise Software to Grow Your Business Services Brand](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/business-services/) **Published:** April 15, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Software to Help Grow Your Home Services Business](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/home-services/) **Published:** April 15, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Software to Grow Your Fitness Business](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/fitness/) **Published:** March 28, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Franchise Management Software for the Retail Industry](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/retail/) **Published:** March 28, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Franchise Management Software for the Hospitality Industry](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/hospitality/) **Published:** March 27, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Franchise Management Software for the Restaurant Industry](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/restaurants/) **Published:** December 4, 2023 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [AI-Powered Analytics by FranConnect to Drive Business Growth](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/analytics/) **Published:** March 27, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Single Source of Truth for Your Franchise within FranConnect's Information Manager](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/info-manager/) **Published:** March 27, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [A Command Center and Dashboards to Oversee All Unit-Level Economics](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/command-center/) **Published:** March 27, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [FranConnect's Franchise Royalty Management Software](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/royalty-manager/) **Published:** March 3, 2020 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Enhance Multi-location Operations with Optik IQ™ by FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/operations-compliance/) **Published:** January 27, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Best Franchise Quality Management Software by FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/quality-management/) **Published:** March 27, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Drive Operations Execution in Your Franchise](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/brand-consistency/) **Published:** April 4, 2022 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [All FranConnect Resources](https://www.franconnect.com/all-resources/) **Published:** January 22, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Vulnerability Disclosure Policy](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-policies/vulnerability-disclosure-policy/) **Published:** September 18, 2020 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [FranConnect Targeted Training](https://www.franconnect.com/customers/targeted-training/) **Published:** April 22, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Cookie Policy](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-policies/cookie-policy/) **Published:** July 14, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Cookie Declaration](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-policies/cookie-consent/) **Published:** June 20, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Springboard To Success](https://www.franconnect.com/customers/springboard-to-success/) **Published:** April 17, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Request a Demo of FranConnect's Rizepoint](https://www.franconnect.com/demo-requests/request-a-demo-rizepoint/) **Published:** May 31, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Demo Request Forms](https://www.franconnect.com/demo-requests/) **Published:** July 22, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Content:** This is a dummy page for navigational purposes only. --- ### [Our Values](https://www.franconnect.com/company/our-values/) **Published:** April 9, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [About FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/company/about-us/) **Published:** February 11, 2020 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [FranConnect In The News](https://www.franconnect.com/company/in-the-news/) **Published:** January 22, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Watch a Demo of the FranConnect Platform](https://www.franconnect.com/demo-videos/) **Published:** May 30, 2025 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Self-Storage Business Solutions From FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/business-services/self-storage/) **Published:** April 15, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Award-Winning Software for Cleaning Service Businesses](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/home-services/cleaning/) **Published:** April 15, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Management Software for Pest Control Companies](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/home-services/pest-control/) **Published:** March 27, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Discover How FranConnect Can Enhance Your Moving Services](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/home-services/moving-services/) **Published:** April 15, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Management Tools for Landscaping Businesses](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/home-services/landscaping/) **Published:** April 15, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Grow Your Junk Removal Business With FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/home-services/junk-removal/) **Published:** April 15, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Discover How Your Child Care Business Can Leverage FranConnect's Platform](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/personal-services/child-care/) **Published:** April 15, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Laundromat and Dry Cleaning Business Solutions](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/personal-services/laundromat-dry-cleaning/) **Published:** April 15, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [How FranConnect Helps Home Care Companies Grow](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/personal-services/home-care/) **Published:** April 15, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Business Software For Pet Grooming Companies](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/personal-services/pet-grooming/) **Published:** April 15, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Management Software for Automotive Companies](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/personal-services/automotive/) **Published:** April 16, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Management Software for Salons and Spas](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/personal-services/salons-spas/) **Published:** April 15, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [Solutions Overview](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions-overview/) **Published:** February 7, 2020 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Content:** This is a dummy page for navigation. --- ### [Customers](https://www.franconnect.com/customers/) **Published:** January 19, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Content:** This is a dummy page for navigation. --- ### [Company](https://www.franconnect.com/company/) **Published:** January 19, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Content:** This is a dummy page for navigation. --- ### [Industries](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/) **Published:** January 12, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Content:** This is a dummy page for navigational purposes only. --- ### [Platform Overview](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/) **Published:** June 7, 2022 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Content:** This is a dummy page for navigational purposes only. --- ### [HTML Sitemap](https://www.franconnect.com/html-sitemap/) **Published:** March 29, 2024 **Author:** Kelsey Smith **Content:** ## Pages - [ClientTether](https://www.franconnect.com/clienttether-alternative/) - [Company](https://www.franconnect.com/company/) - [About FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/company/about-us/) - [Careers at FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/company/careers/) - [FranConnect In The News](https://www.franconnect.com/company/in-the-news/) - [Get to Know Our Executive Leadership Team](https://www.franconnect.com/company/leadership-team/) - [Making a Difference with FranConnect Cares](https://www.franconnect.com/company/community/) - [Our Values](https://www.franconnect.com/company/our-values/) - [Compare FranConnect to Other Franchise Management Software](https://www.franconnect.com/compare-franconnect-alternatives/) - [Contact Us](https://www.franconnect.com/contact-us/) - [Customers](https://www.franconnect.com/customers/) - [Connect100](https://www.franconnect.com/customers/connect100/) - [FranConnect Case Studies](https://www.franconnect.com/customers/casestudies/) - [FranConnect Masterclass Roadshow](https://www.franconnect.com/customers/masterclass/) - [FranConnect Testimonials](https://www.franconnect.com/customers/testimonials/) - [Frannie 50](https://www.franconnect.com/customers/frannie-50/) - [Delightree](https://www.franconnect.com/delightree/) - [Demo Request Forms](https://www.franconnect.com/demo-requests/) - [Request a Demo of FranConnect’s Rizepoint](https://www.franconnect.com/demo-requests/request-a-demo-rizepoint/) - [Request a Demo through Capterra](https://www.franconnect.com/demo-requests/capterra-request-a-demo/) - [Request a Demo through G2](https://www.franconnect.com/demo-requests/g2-request-a-demo/) - [Request a Demo through ZoomInfo](https://www.franconnect.com/demo-requests/request-a-demo-zoominfo/) - [FranConnect Home](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-home-2/) - [Fueling Connections: Discover the Latest Industry Events Where FranConnect Will Be](https://www.franconnect.com/events/) - [Join Us At FSTEC 2025](https://www.franconnect.com/events/fstec/) - [Join Us At IFA 2026](https://www.franconnect.com/events/ifa-2026/) - [Join Us At NAFS 2025](https://www.franconnect.com/events/nafs/) - [Meet Us At Emerging Franchisor Conference](https://www.franconnect.com/events/emerging-franchisor-conference/) - [Meet Us At Franchise Springboard](https://www.franconnect.com/events/franchise-springboard/) - [Meet Us At National Franchise Convention 2025](https://www.franconnect.com/events/national-franchise-convention/) - [Meet Us At QSR Evolution](https://www.franconnect.com/events/qsr-evolution/) - [Meet Us At QSR Media Awards 2025](https://www.franconnect.com/events/qsr-media-awards/) - [Get the Latest Thought Leadership and Updates from FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-blog/) - [Industries](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/) - [Compliance Software for the Food Manufacturing and Packaging Industry](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/food-manufacturing-industry/) - [Expand Your Real Estate Business With Help From FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/real-estate/) - [Franchise Management Software for the Hospitality Industry](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/hospitality/) - [Franchise Management Software for the Personal Services Industry](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/personal-services/) - [Business Software For Pet Grooming Companies](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/personal-services/pet-grooming/) - [Discover How Your Child Care Business Can Leverage FranConnect’s Platform](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/personal-services/child-care/) - [How FranConnect Helps Home Care Companies Grow](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/personal-services/home-care/) - [Laundromat and Dry Cleaning Business Solutions](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/personal-services/laundromat-dry-cleaning/) - [Management Software for Automotive Companies](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/personal-services/automotive/) - [Management Software for Salons and Spas](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/personal-services/salons-spas/) - [Franchise Management Software for the QSR Industry](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/qsr/) - [Franchise Management Software for the Restaurant Industry](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/restaurants/) - [Franchise Management Software for the Retail Industry](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/retail/) - [Franchise Software to Grow Your Business Services Brand](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/business-services/) - [Self-Storage Business Solutions From FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/business-services/self-storage/) - [Other Industries FranConnect Software Helps Grow Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/other-industries/) - [Software to Grow Your Fitness Business](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/fitness/) - [Software to Help Grow Your Home Services Business](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/home-services/) - [Award-Winning Software for Cleaning Service Businesses](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/home-services/cleaning/) - [Discover How FranConnect Can Enhance Your Moving Services](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/home-services/moving-services/) - [Grow Your Junk Removal Business With FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/home-services/junk-removal/) - [Management Software for Pest Control Companies](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/home-services/pest-control/) - [Management Tools for Landscaping Businesses](https://www.franconnect.com/industries/home-services/landscaping/) - [Multi-Location & Franchise Management Software](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-home/) - [Operandio](https://www.franconnect.com/operandio/) - [Platform Overview](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/) - [A Command Center and Dashboards to Oversee All Unit-Level Economics](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/command-center/) - [Ai Data Analyst Agent To Drive Business Results](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/data-analyst-agent/) - [Ai Field Assist Agent to Help Analyze Visits](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/field-assist-agent/) - [Ai Franchise Agreement Support Agent to Ensure Compliance](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/agreement-support-agent/) - [Ai Franchisee Support Agent to Support Your Network](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/franchise-support-agent/) - [Ai Sales Coach Agent to Support Franchise Development](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/sales-coach-agent/) - [AI-Powered Analytics by FranConnect to Drive Business Growth](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/analytics/) - [Best Franchise Quality Management Software by FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/quality-management/) - [Candidate Coach: An AI-First Platform](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/candidate-coach/) - [Centralize All Content and Engagement – One Central Hub](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/the-hub/) - [Drive Operations Execution in Your Franchise](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/brand-consistency/) - [Employee Training and Development with World Manager](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/world-manager-frontline/) - [Enhance Multi-location Operations with Optik IQ™ by FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/operations-compliance/) - [Franchise CRM Software for Franchise Sales & Growth](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/sales/) - [FranConnect’s Franchise Royalty Management Software](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/royalty-manager/) - [Manage Location Openings and Reduce Days to First Dollar](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/opener/) - [Measure Performance in Your Franchise](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/performance/) - [Operations Coach](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/operations-coach/) - [Single Source of Truth for Your Franchise within FranConnect’s Information Manager](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/info-manager/) - [Training and Development for Frontline Employees](https://www.franconnect.com/platform-overview/training-and-development/) - [Request a Demo from FranConnect and Grow Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/request-a-demo/) - [Schedule a Meeting with an Expert from FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/schedule-a-franconnect-meeting/) - [Solutions Overview](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions-overview/) - [Drive Location-Level Compliance](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions-overview/improve-performance/) - [FranConnect for Emerging Franchise Brands](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions-overview/emerging-brands/) - [Increase Transparency & Accuracy in Your Royalty Process to Maximize Revenue](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions-overview/streamline-royalty-process/) - [More Engaged Front-Line Employees for Better Customer Experience](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions-overview/retain-onboard-employees/) - [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions-overview/open-locations-faster/) - [Quality Management Software to boost Audit Accuracy](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions-overview/ensure-quality/) - [Recruit More Franchisees and Expand Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions-overview/expand-faster/) - [What is Operational Excellence](https://www.franconnect.com/solutions-overview/operational-excellence/) - [Unlock the 30-Day Profitability Plan](https://www.franconnect.com/unlock-the-30-day-profitability-plan/) - [Watch a Demo of the FranConnect Platform](https://www.franconnect.com/demo-videos/) - [White Papers and E-Books from FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/content-downloads/) - [2024 Sales Index Report](https://www.franconnect.com/content-downloads/e-book-downloads/) - [2025 Franchise Sales Index – FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/content-downloads/2025-franchise-sales-index/) - [COO Playbook to Achieving Operational Excellence](https://www.franconnect.com/content-downloads/coo-playbook/) - [Franchise Growth Decoded: Data Driven Insights From 850+ Brands](https://www.franconnect.com/content-downloads/franchise-growth-decoded/) - [Guide To Assessing Your Technology Stack](https://www.franconnect.com/content-downloads/guide-to-assessing-your-technology-stack/) - [License Smarter – A Guide To Choosing The Right Software Solution](https://www.franconnect.com/content-downloads/guide-to-licensing-software/) - [The Operational Excellence Playbook for Restaurant Franchise Brands](https://www.franconnect.com/content-downloads/operational-excellence-playbook-for-restaurant-franchise-brands/) - [The Restaurant QMS Framework eBook](https://www.franconnect.com/content-downloads/the-restaurant-qms-framework-ebook/) - [Top 10 Takeaways of Operations Excellence E-Book](https://www.franconnect.com/content-downloads/operations-excellence-ebook/) - [Best Practices from FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/all-resources/best-practices/) - [More Recorded Webinars From FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/all-resources/more-recorded-webinars/) - [Webinars and Thought Leadership from FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/all-resources/franconnect-webinars/) - [Why FranConnect](https://www.franconnect.com/all-resources/why-franconnect/) - [Cookie Declaration](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-policies/cookie-consent/) - [Cookie Policy](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-policies/cookie-policy/) - [FranConnect Design Ops Terms of Service](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-policies/franconnect-design-ops-terms-of-service/) ## Posts by category - **Category: [Analytics](https://www.franconnect.com/category/analytics/)** - [When Your Brand Is for Sale, Operations Are the Only Currency That Matters](https://www.franconnect.com/when-your-brand-is-for-sale-operations-are-the-only-currency-that-matters/) - [How QSR Management Builds Growth, Consistency, and Culture at Scale](https://www.franconnect.com/how-qsr-management-builds-growth-consistency-and-culture-at-scale/) - [AI Is Redefining Franchise Sales: Why FranConnect’s Candidate Coach Is Essential for Growth](https://www.franconnect.com/why-franconnects-candidate-coach-is-essential-for-growth/) - [Is Your Technology Stack Sabotaging Your Growth?](https://www.franconnect.com/is-your-technology-stack-sabotaging-your-growth/) - [3 Ways Predictive Insights Drive Franchise Location Performance](https://www.franconnect.com/3-ways-predictive-insights-drive-franchise-location-performance/) - [The Power of Unifying Data Across Disparate Systems to Provide Brand Consistency and Operational Compliance to Optimise Customer Loyalty](https://www.franconnect.com/power-of-unifying-data-across-disparate-systems/) - [The Future of Franchise Operations: Insights from Five Decades in the Trenches](https://www.franconnect.com/future-franchise-operations-insights-from-decades-in-the-trenches/) - [2023 Franchise Sales Index: Navigating Growth and Challenges in a Dynamic Market](https://www.franconnect.com/2023-sales-index-growth-challenges/) - [How Businesses Can Benefit From Using Business Analytics](https://www.franconnect.com/benefits-of-analytics/) - [10 Ways to Leverage Unit-Level Performance Data for Franchise Growth](https://www.franconnect.com/10-ways-to-leverage-unit-level-performance-data-for-franchise-growth/) - [The 15 Most Important Restaurant Franchise KPIs](https://www.franconnect.com/15-most-important-restaurant-franchise-kpis/) - [Unit Level Economics for Franchise Businesses](https://www.franconnect.com/unit-level-economics-for-franchise-businesses/) - [Introducing FranConnect Franchise Scorecards – a snapshot of your franchise’s health!](https://www.franconnect.com/introducing-franconnect-franchise-scorecards/) - [4 Things Keeping Franchisors Up at Night](https://www.franconnect.com/4-things-keeping-franchisors-up-at-night/) - [Highlights from the Franchise Sales Index Report: Mid-Year Update](https://www.franconnect.com/highlights-from-the-franchise-sales-index-report-mid-year-update/) - [9 Important KPIs for Spa and Salon Franchises](https://www.franconnect.com/9-important-kpis-for-spa-and-salon-franchises/) - [How to Use KPIs as a Tool for Franchise Business Planning](https://www.franconnect.com/how-to-use-kpis-as-a-tool-for-franchise-business-planning/) - [10 Important KPIs for Education Franchises](https://www.franconnect.com/10-important-kpis-for-education/) - [7 Things You Can Do to Achieve Franchise Goals](https://www.franconnect.com/7-things-you-can-do-to-achieve-franchise-goals-1/) - [Education Franchises: Sample Objectives and Key Results (OKR)](https://www.franconnect.com/sample-objectives-and-key-results-okr-for-education-franchises/) - [Objectives and Key Results (OKR) in Franchising](https://www.franconnect.com/objectives-and-key-results-okr-in-franchising/) - [Spas and Salons: Sample Objectives and Key Results (OKR)](https://www.franconnect.com/sample-objectives-and-key-results-okr-for-spas-and-salons/) - [Gym and Fitness Franchises: Sample Objectives and Key Results (OKR)](https://www.franconnect.com/gym-and-fitness-sample-objectives-and-key-results-okr-for-gym-and-fitness-franchises/) - [Restaurant Franchises: Sample Objectives and Key Results (OKR)](https://www.franconnect.com/restaurant-franchises-sample-objectives-and-key-results-okr-for-restaurant-franchises/) - [3 Steps to Improving Franchisee Engagement with Real-Time Analytics](https://www.franconnect.com/the-3-key-steps-to-improving-franchisee-engagement-with-real-time-analytics/) - **Category: [Best Practices](https://www.franconnect.com/category/best-practices/)** - [How Consistent, Personalised Messaging Elevates Franchise Lead Management](https://www.franconnect.com/elevate-franchise-lead-management/) - [From Onboarding to Leadership Training: Scaling with Employee Development Software](https://www.franconnect.com/build-strong-teams-using-employee-development-software/) - [The Role of Supplier Quality Management Software in ESG and Sustainability Reporting](https://www.franconnect.com/supplier-quality-management-software-in-esg-reporting/) - [Harnessing Frannie AI™: How Generative AI Agents Power Smart Franchise](https://www.franconnect.com/harnessing-frannie-ai/) - [Why Royalty Management Software Is Now Non-Negotiable for the Publishing Industry](https://www.franconnect.com/why-royalty-management-software-is-now-non-negotiable/) - [How Supplier Quality Management Software Ensures Compliance in Regulated Industries](https://www.franconnect.com/qms-ensures-compliance-in-regulated-industries/) - [From Manual Audits to AI-Powered Quality Checks: The Future of Supplier Quality Management](https://www.franconnect.com/ai-powered-quality-checks/) - [The Future of Workforce Learning with AI-Powered Employee Training and Development Software](https://www.franconnect.com/ai-powered-employee-training-and-development-software/) - [How Royalty Management Software Improves Revenue Tracking](https://www.franconnect.com/how-royalty-management-software-improves-revenue-tracking/) - [Unlocking Growth: The Power of Employee Training](https://www.franconnect.com/power-of-employee-training/) - [How Quality Management Software Enhances Business Operations](https://www.franconnect.com/how-quality-management-software-enhances-business-operations/) - **Category: [Case Studies](https://www.franconnect.com/category/case-studies/)** - [Hard Rock Case Study – Rizepoint](https://www.franconnect.com/hard-rock-case-study/) - [Batteries Plus Case Study](https://www.franconnect.com/batteries-plus-case-study/) - [Blaze Pizza Case Study](https://www.franconnect.com/blaze-pizza-case-study/) - [Teriyaki Madness Case Study](https://www.franconnect.com/tm-case-study/) - [Arby’s Case Study](https://www.franconnect.com/case-study-arbysrestaurants/) - [ASI Case Study](https://www.franconnect.com/asi-case-study/) - [Friendly’s Ice Cream Case Study](https://www.franconnect.com/friendlys-ice-cream-case-study/) - **Category: [Community Involvement](https://www.franconnect.com/category/community-involvemet/)** - [FranConnect Shines with the Prestigious 2023 CARE Award](https://www.franconnect.com/2023-care-award-winner/) - [NVTC Announces Winners for 2023 Greater Washington Technology CFO Awards](https://www.franconnect.com/nvtc-announces-winners-for-2023-greater-washington-technology-cfo-awards/) - [FranConnect Recognized by DCA Live as one of the 2023 Red Hot Companies](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-recognized-by-dca-live-as-one-of-the-2023-red-hot-companies-2/) - [Women Leaders Take Center Stage in Franchising Lessons in Leadership](https://www.franconnect.com/women-leaders-take-center-stage-in-franchising-lessons-in-leadership/) - **Category: [Company News](https://www.franconnect.com/category/company-mega-menu-spotlight/)** - [FranConnect Appoints AI Visionary Wendell Jisa as Executive Chairman of its Board of Directors](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-appoints-ai-visionary-wendell-jisa-as-exec-chair-of-its-board-of-directors/) - [FranConnect Expands Leadership Team to Accelerate AI Innovation and Strategic Growth](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-expands-leadership-team-to-accelerate-ai-innovation-and-strategic-growth/) - [FranConnect Welcomes Adam Walton as Chief Customer Officer to Accelerate Customer Value and Growth](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-adam-walton-cco/) - [FranConnect Unveils FranConnect GO: Instant ROI for Franchises Ready to Scale](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-go-launch/) - [Gabby Wong Named as One of Calibre One’s Top 25 Women Leaders in US PE-Backed Software 2025](https://www.franconnect.com/gabby-wong-top-25-women-leaders/) - [FranConnect Launches Optik IQ™, an Intelligent Operational Excellence Platform, to Boost Compliance and Operational Effectiveness for Corporate-Owned Businesses](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-launches-optik-iq/) - [FranConnect Achieves Record-Breaking Bookings and Breakthrough Innovations in 2024](https://www.franconnect.com/breakthrough-innovations-in-2024/) - [FranConnect Unveils a Suite of AI Agents, Empowering Franchises and Multi-Location Businesses with Generative AI Bots that Automate Critical Business Outcomes](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-unveils-suite-of-ai-agents/) - [Gabby Wong of FranConnect Elected to International Franchise Association Board of Directors](https://www.franconnect.com/gabby-wong-of-franconnect-elected-to-international-franchise-association-board-of-directors/) - [FranConnect Launches New Operator and Frontline Employee Engagement Solution to Elevate Operational Excellence for Multi-location Businesses](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-launches-new-operator-and-frontline-employee-engagement-solution-to-elevate-operational-excellence-for-multi-location-businesses/) - [FranConnect’s Presence at FCXC 2024](https://www.franconnect.com/fcxc-2024/) - [FranConnect Announces Acquisition of RizePoint, A Leading Provider of Quality Management Systems for Multi-Location Businesses](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-announces-acquisition-of-rizepoint/) - [FranConnect Launches Analytics to Improve Performance & ROI Across Franchises and Multi-Location Businesses](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-launches-analytics/) - [FranConnect Appoints Austen Asadorian as Chief Revenue Officer](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-appoints-austen-asadorian-as-chief-revenue-officer/) - [FranConnect Expands Global Presence, Launching in Australia & APAC, and appointment of General Manager, A/NZ](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-launches-australia-appointment-of-general-manager-anz/) - [EY Announces Gabby Wong of FranConnect as an Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2023 Mid-Atlantic Award Finalist](https://www.franconnect.com/ey-announces-gabby-wong-of-franconnect-as-an-entrepreneur-of-the-year-2023-mid-atlantic-award-finalist/) - [Andy Volkmann of FranConnect Named “2023 NVTC Emerging Growth CFO of the Year Award Finalist” by the Northern Virginia Technology Council](https://www.franconnect.com/andy-volkmann-franconnect-named-2023-nvtc-cfo-of-the-year-award-finalist/) - [FranConnect Reports Record Customer Growth and Expanded Partnerships Globally in 2022](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-reports-record-customer-growth-and-expanded-partnerships-globally-in-2022-2/) - [FranConnect Announces Acquisition of World Manager](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-announces-acquisition-of-world-manager/) - [ChurnZero unveils Gabby Wong as speaker at BIG RYG 2022, the Customer Success leadership event of the year](https://www.franconnect.com/churnzero-unveils-gabby-wong-as-speaker-at-big-ryg-2022/) - [FranConnect Continues Its Investments in Market Expansion with Appointment of Lorena Garcia as SVP of Marketing](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-continues-its-investments-in-market-expansion-with-appointment-of-lorena-garcia-as-svp-of-marketing/) - [FranConnect Reports Record Sales Growth in 2021](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-reports-record-sales-growth-in-2021/) - [Restaurant Technology News Spotlight Interview with Jason Kealey](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-news-restaurant-technology-news-spotlight-interview-with-jason-kealey/) - [FranConnect Expands Leadership Team](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-expands-leadership-team-2/) - [FranNet and FranConnect Announce Partnership to Benefit Franchise Partners](https://www.franconnect.com/frannet-and-franconnect-announce-partnership-to-benefit-franchise-partners/) - [FranConnect Reports Record-breaking First Half of 2021 with Highest-Ever Revenue Growth and Customer Acquisition Rate](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-reports-record-breaking-first-half-of-2021/) - [FranConnect Releases Inaugural Franchise Operations Index Report](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-releases-inaugural-franchise-operations-index-report-2/) - [FranConnect Expands Consulting Alliance Partnership Program with Expertise of MSA Worldwide](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-expands-consulting-alliance-partnership-program-with-expertise-of-msa-worldwide/) - [FranConnect Releases 2021 Franchise Sales Index Report](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-releases-2021-sales-index-report/) - [FranConnect Announces Consulting Alliance Partnership Program](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-announces-consulting-alliance-partnership-program/) - [FranConnect Acquires Franchise Management Software Provider FranchiseBlast](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-acquires-franchise-management-software-provider-franchiseblast/) - [FranConnect Reports Continued Success Based on Market-Leading Customer Acquisition](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-reports-continued-success-based-on-market-leading-customer-acquisition-2/) - [FranConnect Opens New Office in New Delhi to Expand Research and Development for SaaS in Franchising Sector](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-opens-new-office-in-new-delhi-dedicated-to-expanding-research-and-development-for-saas-in-franchising-sector/) - [FranConnect Announces Appointment of New Chief Financial Officer](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-announces-new-chief-financial-officer/) - [FranConnect’s Franchise Sales Index Report Reveals Critical Insights for Franchisors Confronting Today’s Economic Reality](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnects-franchise-sales-index-report/) - [FranConnect CEO shares leadership advice and more with Franchise Times](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-ceo-shares-leadership-advice-and-more-with-franchise-times/) - [FranConnect Reports Record Growth in 2019](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-reports-record-growth-in-2019/) - [A Conversation with FranConnect President & CEO Gabby Wong](https://www.franconnect.com/a-conversation-with-franconnect-president-ceo-gabby-wong/) - [FranConnect Expands Executive Leadership Team with Addition of Jaffrey Ali as Vice President of Product Strategy and Management](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-expands-executive-leadership-team-with-addition-of-jaffrey-ali-as-vice-president-of-product-strategy-and-management/) - [FranConnect Appoints New CEO Gabby Wong to Drive Growth and Innovation](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-appoints-new-ceo-gabby-wong-to-drive-growth-and-innovation/) - **Category: [Customer Updates](https://www.franconnect.com/category/customer-updates/)** - [Franchising Trends: Stay-at-Home Customers](https://www.franconnect.com/franchising-trends-stay-at-home-customers/) - [Nestlé Toll House Café By Chip Recognizes FranConnect as Vendor of the Year](https://www.franconnect.com/nestle-toll-house-cafe-by-chip-recognizes-franconnect-as-vendor-of-the-year/) - **Category: [Develop](https://www.franconnect.com/category/develop/)** - [The 2025 Franchise Sales Index: Why the Strongest Brands Grow From the Inside Out](https://www.franconnect.com/franchise-development-benchmarks-2025/) - [The Silent Signal that Stalls Fitness Franchise Growth](https://www.franconnect.com/silent-signal-that-stalls-fitness-franchise-growth/) - [What 850+ Brands Reveal About Franchise Growth and Scaling Smarter](https://www.franconnect.com/what-850-brands-reveal-about-franchise-growth-and-scaling-smarter/) - [How Early Data and Franchise Analytics Become the Blueprint for Scalable Franchise Growth](https://www.franconnect.com/data-and-franchise-analytics/) - [From Spreadsheets to Success: Why Manual Franchise Management Is Costing You Growth](https://www.franconnect.com/why-manual-franchise-management-is-costing-you-growth/) - [Empower Your Franchise Success with Cutting-Edge Technology](https://www.franconnect.com/franchise-tech-adoption/) - [Beginning with the END in MIND: The Argument for Technology Consolidation](https://www.franconnect.com/beginning-with-the-end-in-mind-the-argument-for-technology-consolidation/) - [Franchise Territory Mapping: Everything You Need to Know](https://www.franconnect.com/franchise-territory-mapping/) - [Questions to Ask During an Interview Between a Franchisor and a Franchisee](https://www.franconnect.com/franchise-interview-questions/) - [3 Keys to Attract a Qualified Audience for Your Franchise Development Process](https://www.franconnect.com/3-keys-to-attract-a-qualified-audience-for-your-franchise-development-process/) - [Use Social Media to Reach Potential Franchisees](https://www.franconnect.com/social-media-marketing-for-franchises/) - [How To Onboard New Franchisees For Ongoing Success](https://www.franconnect.com/how-to-onboard-new-franchisees-for-ongoing-success/) - [Re-Visit Your Franchise Buyer Personas to Boost Development](https://www.franconnect.com/boost-franchise-development-by-re-visiting-your-buyer-personas/) - [Defining Your Franchise’s Unique Selling Points and Showcasing Them to Potential Franchisees](https://www.franconnect.com/unique-selling-points-for-franchisors/) - [Leveraging LinkedIn to Attract New Franchisees](https://www.franconnect.com/linkedin-for-franchisors/) - [8 Important Automotive KPIs](https://www.franconnect.com/8-important-automotive-kpis/) - [9 Important KPIs for Health and Fitness](https://www.franconnect.com/9-important-kpis-for-health-and-fitness/) - [6 Quick Ways to Grow Your Qualified Leads](https://www.franconnect.com/6-quick-ways-to-grow-your-qualified-leads/) - [The New C-Suite Position Franchisors Don’t Know They Need](https://www.franconnect.com/the-new-c-suite-position-franchisors-dont-know-they-need/) - [Top 3 Ways Early Tech Investments Can Help Your Emerging Franchise Grow](https://www.franconnect.com/top-3-ways-early-tech-investments-can-help-your-emerging-franchise-grow/) - [5 Ways to Elevate Your Franchise Development Website](https://www.franconnect.com/5-ways-to-elevate-your-franchise-development-website/) - [How to Refine your Franchise Business Consultant Program to Improve Performance](https://www.franconnect.com/why-refining-your-franchise-business-consultant-program-can-improve-performance/) - [What Franchisors Told Us About the State of Franchise Operations Today](https://www.franconnect.com/what-franchisors-told-us-about-the-state-of-franchise-operations-today/) - [5 Effective Franchise Satisfaction Survey Goals](https://www.franconnect.com/5-effective-franchise-satisfaction-survey-goals/) - [Keep the Dirt Out of Your Franchise Sales Data](https://www.franconnect.com/keep-the-dirt-out-of-your-franchise-sales-data/) - [How Franchisors Can Refine their Value Proposition for 2021](https://www.franconnect.com/how-franchisors-can-refine-their-value-proposition-for-2021/) - [Effective Email Marketing for Franchise Development Success](https://www.franconnect.com/effective-email-marketing-for-franchise-development-success/) - [What is Your Franchise Budget Planning IQ?](https://www.franconnect.com/what-is-your-franchise-budget-planning-iq/) - [The Evolution of Franchise Sales in 2020](https://www.franconnect.com/the-evolution-of-franchise-sales-in-2020/) - [3 Ways to Streamline the Franchise Disclosure Document Delivery Process](https://www.franconnect.com/how-to-streamline-franchise-disclosure-document-delivery/) - [Franchise Fees: How 4 Types of Fees Can Lead to Growth](https://www.franconnect.com/franchise-fees-how-4-types-of-fees-can-lead-to-growth/) - [Making Discovery Days Virtual: 3 Critical Tips for Success](https://www.franconnect.com/making-discovery-day-virtual-3-critical-tips-for-success/) - [Introducing Franconnect’s Conversational AI Solution for Franchises](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-introduces-conversational-ai-to-improve-franchise-sales/) - [Update Your FDD: 5 Critical Things to Get Right in the Age of COVID](https://www.franconnect.com/update-your-fdd-5-critical-things-to-get-right-in-the-age-of-covid/) - [5 Things Franchise Sales Leaders MUST Do In the 2nd Half of 2020](https://www.franconnect.com/5-key-steps-for-franchise-leaders-in-2020/) - [Franchising Wasn’t Ready for COVID-19. Will You Be Ready for the Recovery?](https://www.franconnect.com/franchising-wasnt-ready-for-covid-19-will-you-be-ready-for-the-recovery/) - [Fast Lead Response Can Double Your Franchise Sales](https://www.franconnect.com/fast-lead-response-can-double-your-franchise-sales/) - [10 Critical Steps for Franchise Sales Growth](https://www.franconnect.com/10-critical-steps-for-franchise-sales-growth/) - [Making the Most of Discovery Days](https://www.franconnect.com/making-the-most-of-discovery-days/) - [Franchise Sales Tips from Franchise Development Leaders](https://www.franconnect.com/franchise-sales-tips-from-franchise-development-leaders/) - [Why Sharing Franchisee Financial Statements is Important](https://www.franconnect.com/why-sharing-franchisee-financial-statements-is-important/) - [Engage Candidates During Every Stage of the Franchise Sales Cycle](https://www.franconnect.com/engage-candidates-during-every-stage-of-the-franchise-sales-cycle/) - [Evaluate Your Franchise Recruitment Website](https://www.franconnect.com/evaluate-your-franchise-recruitment-website/) - [7 Features Your Franchise Development Software Must Have](https://www.franconnect.com/7-features-your-franchise-development-software-must-have/) - [5 Franchise Development Efforts That Increase Qualified Leads](https://www.franconnect.com/5-franchise-sales-efforts-that-increase-qualified-leads/) - [Creating Franchisee Buyer Personas](https://www.franconnect.com/creating-franchisee-buyer-personas/) - [What FranConnect Means by “Franchising Built-In”](https://www.franconnect.com/what-franconnect-means-by-franchising-built-in/) - **Category: [Engage](https://www.franconnect.com/category/engage/)** - [From Reactive to Proactive: The New Standard for QSR Operational Excellence](https://www.franconnect.com/the-new-standard-for-qsr-operational-excellence/) - [How to Get Franchisees to Actually Use The Hub](https://www.franconnect.com/how-to-get-franchisees-to-actually-use-the-hub/) - [How QSR Franchise Training Builds Consistency, Confidence, and Brand Success](https://www.franconnect.com/how-qsr-franchise-training-builds-consistency-confidence-and-brand-success/) - [The Hidden Crisis in Franchise Training: Are Multi-Unit Owners Set Up to Fail?](https://www.franconnect.com/hidden-crisis-in-franchise-training/) - [How to Do Ongoing Franchisee Monitoring Right](https://www.franconnect.com/how-to-do-ongoing-franchisee-monitoring-right/) - [Employee Training and Development Best Practices](https://www.franconnect.com/employee-training-and-development-best-practices/) - [The Role of Ongoing Support: How Franchisors are Providing Training for Front-Line Employees](https://www.franconnect.com/the-role-of-ongoing-support/) - [The Power of Effective Communication Between Franchisors and Franchisees](https://www.franconnect.com/the-power-of-effective-communication-between-franchisors-and-franchisees/) - [Why Training Your Frontline Employees Is Pivotal to Your Business’s Success](https://www.franconnect.com/frontline-employee-training-importance/) - [How Can Your Company Overcome The Decline In Employee Engagement](https://www.franconnect.com/overcome-decline-in-employee-engagement/) - [What Are Examples of an LMS](https://www.franconnect.com/what-are-examples-of-an-lms/) - [ADDIE Training Model: What Is It & How To Use It](https://www.franconnect.com/addie-training-model/) - [3 Must-Have Ingredients for Franchisee Engagement](https://www.franconnect.com/3-must-have-ingredients-for-franchisee-engagement/) - [What is SAAS LMS?](https://www.franconnect.com/what-is-a-saas-lms/) - [What is an LMS?](https://www.franconnect.com/what-is-an-lms/) - [5 Most Popular Employee Training Methods](https://www.franconnect.com/most-popular-training-methods/) - [What Was the First LMS Platform?](https://www.franconnect.com/the-first-lms-platform/) - [Continuous Learning: Benefits in the Workplace](https://www.franconnect.com/continuous-learning-benefits/) - [What Is The Purpose of an LMS](https://www.franconnect.com/what-is-the-purpose-of-an-lms/) - [10 Essential Skills and Training Tools](https://www.franconnect.com/10-essential-skills-and-training-tools/) - [Employee Exit Interview Best Practices](https://www.franconnect.com/employee-exit-interview/) - [Dealing With A Shortage of Workers? 10 Approaches to Finding and Hiring Staff Now](https://www.franconnect.com/dealing-with-a-shortage-of-workers-10-approaches-to-finding-and-hiring-staff-now/) - [5 Challenges of Online Learning – and How to Solve Them](https://www.franconnect.com/5-challenges-of-online-learning/) - [How Goal-Setting Can Transform the Employee Learning Experience](https://www.franconnect.com/transform-employee-learning-experience/) - [35 Online Learning Quotes to Inspire](https://www.franconnect.com/35-inspirational-learning-quotes/) - [How to Engage Franchisees in Better Budgeting and Planning](https://www.franconnect.com/how-to-engage-franchisees-in-better-budgeting-and-planning/) - [Online Training: The Answer to Your Company Training Challenges](https://www.franconnect.com/online-training/) - **Category: [Ensure Quality](https://www.franconnect.com/category/ensure-quality/)** - [The First 30 Days Make or Break a Restaurant Franchise Employee](https://www.franconnect.com/first-30-days-restaurant-franchise-employee-onboarding/) - [The Real Cost of “Good Enough” in Restaurant Franchising](https://www.franconnect.com/real-cost-good-enough-restaurant-franchising/) - [What QSR Brands Get Wrong About Scaling (and the Framework That Fixes It)](https://www.franconnect.com/restaurant-franchise-quality-management/) - [Beyond Compliance: My Takeaways from the Food Safety Summit 2026](https://www.franconnect.com/my-takeaways-from-the-food-safety-summit-2026/) - [Operational Excellence is The Catalyst Behind Multi-Location Success](https://www.franconnect.com/operational-excellence-is-the-catalyst-behind-multi-location-success/) - [Why Smart Software Decisions Separate Scaling Franchises from Struggling Ones](https://www.franconnect.com/licensing-software/) - [Franchise Management System Showdown: Why Growing Brands Choose Enterprise Solutions Over Niche Players](https://www.franconnect.com/franchise-management-system-showdown-why-growing-brands-choose-enterprise-solutions-over-niche-players/) - [Retail Quality Management Drives Consistent Excellence Across Multi-Location Brands](https://www.franconnect.com/retail-quality-management-drives-consistent-excellence-across-multi-location-brands/) - [Closing the Compliance Loop: Introducing FranConnect’s Operational Excellence Platform](https://www.franconnect.com/closing-the-compliance-loop/) - [Unlock Your Blueprint to Food Safety Excellence](https://www.franconnect.com/food-safety-maturity-model/) - [Inspect What You Expect: Achieving Quality Control and Brand Consistency](https://www.franconnect.com/inspect-what-you-expect-achieving-quality-control-and-brand-consistency/) - [11 Surprising Things You Can Do On Your Next Franchisee Visit](https://www.franconnect.com/11-surprising-things-you-can-do-on-your-next-franchisee-visit/) - [20 Tips to Help You Audit your Franchise Field Audit](https://www.franconnect.com/20-tips-to-help-you-audit-your-franchise-field-audit/) - [Virtual Visits in Franchising](https://www.franconnect.com/virtual-visits-in-franchising/) - [How to Implement an Effective Franchise Field Operations Tool](https://www.franconnect.com/how-to-implement-an-effective-franchise-field-operations-tool-0/) - **Category: [Expand Locations](https://www.franconnect.com/category/expand-locations/)** - **Category: [Franchising Best Practices](https://www.franconnect.com/category/franchising-best-practices/)** - [Streamlining Franchise Operations: The Benefits of Centralized Data Management](https://www.franconnect.com/benefits-of-centralize-data-management/) - [How to Create a Menu for Your Coffee Shop](https://www.franconnect.com/coffee-shop-menu/) - [What Are the 4 Main Types of Store Layouts?](https://www.franconnect.com/store-layout-types/) - [Using Stock Images in Your Franchise’s Branding: Yay or Nay?](https://www.franconnect.com/stock-photos-in-franchise-marketing/) - [Utilizing Google Business Profiles to Grow Your Franchise’s Online Presence](https://www.franconnect.com/google-business-profiles-for-franchises/) - [Automotive Franchises: Sample Objectives and Key Results (OKR)](https://www.franconnect.com/sample-objectives-and-key-results-okr-for-automotive-franchises/) - [Adapting Your Restaurant Franchise’s Menu for Global Success: Why It’s Essential](https://www.franconnect.com/international-menu-changes/) - [10 Marketing Tips for Franchisors](https://www.franconnect.com/10-marketing-tips-for-franchisors/) - [How Can a CRM Grow Your Business](https://www.franconnect.com/how-can-crm-grow-your-business/) - [3 Tips to Improve Franchisee Relationships in 2022](https://www.franconnect.com/3-tips-to-improve-franchisee-relationships-in-2022/) - [4 Lessons Every Franchisor Should Learn From the Pandemic](https://www.franconnect.com/4-lessons-every-franchisor-should-learn-from-the-pandemic/) - [Community Marketing Tips for Franchisees](https://www.franconnect.com/community-marketing-tips-for-franchisees/) - [A Three-Part Plan to Ensure Franchisee Success in 2021](https://www.franconnect.com/a-three-part-plan-to-ensure-franchisee-success-in-2021/) - [The Ultimate Franchise Checklist: Tools & Resources for Franchisors](https://www.franconnect.com/the-ultimate-franchise-checklist-tools-resources-every-franchisor-needs/) - [Millennials in Franchising: To Be or Not To Be](https://www.franconnect.com/millennials-in-franchising-to-be-or-not-to-be/) - **Category: [Global News](https://www.franconnect.com/category/global-news/)** - [FranConnect and Xpressdocs Partner to Extend Franchise Management Tools to Include Sourcing and Local Marketing Support](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-and-xpressdocs-partner-to-extend-franchise-management-tools-to-include-sourcing-and-local-marketing-support/) - **Category: [Improve Performance](https://www.franconnect.com/category/improve-performance/)** - [The Franchisee Engagement Multiplier: How Engaged Systems Protect the Units You Already Have](https://www.franconnect.com/franchisee-engagement-growth-multiplier/) - [The Visit Isn’t the Intervention. The Follow-Up Is.](https://www.franconnect.com/visit-isnt-the-intervention/) - [Drive-Thru Coffee Is the Fastest-Growing Segment in Franchising. Here’s What the Winners Understand.](https://www.franconnect.com/drive-thru-coffee-is-the-fastest-growing-segment-in-franchising/) - [How Operations Management Software Transforms Multi-Location Business Efficiency](https://www.franconnect.com/how-operations-management-software-transforms-multi-location-business-efficiency/) - [5 Questions Every COO Should Ask About Operational Excellence](https://www.franconnect.com/5-questions-coos-should-ask/) - [The COO’s Role in Achieving Operational Excellence](https://www.franconnect.com/coo-role-in-achieving-operational-excellence/) - [Driving Operational Excellence: The Power of Unified Systems for Corporate-Owned Locations](https://www.franconnect.com/the-power-of-integrated-business-systems/) - [Introducing Project Management Software for Franchising](https://www.franconnect.com/introducing-project-management-software-for-franchising/) - [How To Be A Collaborative Franchise Coach](https://www.franconnect.com/how-to-be-a-collaborative-franchise-coach/) - [4 Steps to Optimize Your Franchise Processes](https://www.franconnect.com/4-steps-to-optimize-your-franchise-processes/) - [The Pandemic Didn’t Create Your Franchise Operations Headache, It Just Made It Worse.](https://www.franconnect.com/the-pandemic-didnt-create-your-franchise-operations-headache/) - [Three Franchise Field Operations Models for Franchisee Support](https://www.franconnect.com/three-franchise-field-operations-models-for-franchisee-support/) - [Can the Right Franchise Management Software Improve Unit Economics?](https://www.franconnect.com/improve-unit-economics-franchise-management-software/) - **Category: [Open Locations Faster](https://www.franconnect.com/category/open-locations-faster/)** - **Category: [Operate](https://www.franconnect.com/category/operate/)** - [Consistency is Key: A Field Operations Blueprint for Franchise COOs](https://www.franconnect.com/consistency-is-key-an-operations-blueprint-for-franchise-coos/) - [5 Useful Insights for Franchise Business Consultants](https://www.franconnect.com/5-critical-insights-franchise-business-consultants-and-franchise-operations-teams-should-know/) - **Category: [Product Launches](https://www.franconnect.com/category/product-launches/)** - **Category: [Profit](https://www.franconnect.com/category/profit/)** - [How Your Franchise Fee Structures Can Enhance Franchise Performance](https://www.franconnect.com/how-your-franchise-fee-structures-can-enhance-franchise-performance/) - [Troublesome Transactions: Understanding the Top 4 Challenges Facing Initial Franchise Fee Collection](https://www.franconnect.com/understanding-challenges-in-initial-franchise-fee-collection/) - [How Are Franchise Royalty Fees Calculated?](https://www.franconnect.com/franchise-royalty-fee-calculation/) - [Franchise Royalties – Pulse Survey Results 2023](https://www.franconnect.com/franchise-royalties-pulse-survey-results/) - [Streamline Your Franchise Royalties and Fees with a Technology Solution](https://www.franconnect.com/streamline-your-franchise-royalties-and-fees-with-a-technology-solution/) - [Enhancements to Royalty Manager: Compute Royalties & Improve Profitability](https://www.franconnect.com/enhancements-to-royalty-manager-compute-royalties-improve-profitability/) - [Franchising Tech Fees and Why You Need One In Your FDD](https://www.franconnect.com/franchising-tech-fees-and-why-you-need-one-in-your-fdd/) - **Category: [Recorded Webinars](https://www.franconnect.com/category/recorded-webinars/)** - [FranConnect Sales Index Report](https://www.franconnect.com/franchise-sales-index-report/) - [AI in Franchising: Real Strategies That Top Brands Are Using Today](https://www.franconnect.com/ai-in-franchising/) - [Transforming Franchise Development with Smart Integration of AI](https://www.franconnect.com/agents-ai-acceleration/) - [Unleashing Your Franchise Sales Potential: Data-Driven Insights from the 2024 Franchise Sales Index Report](https://www.franconnect.com/data-driven-insights-from-the-2024-franchise-sales-index-report/) - [Master the Art of Global Franchising: Franchisor Secrets Revealed!](https://www.franconnect.com/master-the-art-of-global-franchising/) - [Stepping Up Service: Maximizing Efficiency and Consistency to Elevate the Customer Experience in QSRs](https://www.franconnect.com/elevate-the-customer-experience-in-qsrs/) - [The Quick Response Advantage: Transforming Leads into Opportunities](https://www.franconnect.com/transforming-leads-into-opportunities/) - [Unlocking the Secrets to Multi-Unit Franchise Success](https://www.franconnect.com/unlocking-the-secrets-to-multi-unit-franchise-success/) - [Moving from Reactive to Proactive: Assessing and Advancing Your Food Safety Programs](https://www.franconnect.com/moving-from-reactive-to-proactive-in-food-safety-webinar/) - [5 Best Practices to Scaling Your Emerging Brand With Ease](https://www.franconnect.com/scaling-your-emerging-brand-webinar/) - [The Future of QSR – Loyalty, Digitalisation, and Market Dynamics in 2025](https://www.franconnect.com/future-of-qsr-webinar/) - [Driving Operational Excellence – How Closing The Loop On Operations Compliance Drives Revenue](https://www.franconnect.com/driving-operational-excellence-webinar/) - **Category: [Retain and Onboard Employees](https://www.franconnect.com/category/retain-and-onboard-employees/)** - **Category: [Streamline Royalty Process](https://www.franconnect.com/category/streamline-royalty-process/)** - **Category: [Uncategorized](https://www.franconnect.com/category/uncategorized/)** - [A Company Built for the Franchise Ecosystem. A Decade of Evolving the Business At-Scale. A Legacy of Impact.](https://www.franconnect.com/a-company-built-for-the-franchise-ecosystem/) --- ### [World Manager Privacy Policy](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-policies/privacy-and-data-collection-policy/world-manager-privacy/) **Published:** February 15, 2023 **Author:** Kelsey Smith --- ### [World Manager GDPR Compliance](https://www.franconnect.com/franconnect-policies/privacy-and-data-collection-policy/world-manager-gdpr-compliance/) **Published:** February 15, 2023 **Author:** Kelsey Smith ---