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As a business owner, the offer of training to franchisees is an offer of support. Training is essential to ensure that franchisees remain current on the best practices for running their business. It also ensures consistency across each franchise business, thereby protecting the brand. This article will explain why you should offer a training program to franchisees and the benefits of this training.
What is Franchisee Training?
Franchisee training refers to the training the franchisor provides to the franchisees before they begin to operate a franchise.
This training can:
- teach new franchisees about your business;
- explain how they should operate the franchise day-to-day; and
- provide franchisees with the appropriate skills to run their unit.
Franchisee training should also involve ongoing support and training sessions. You can use this opportunity to inform franchisees about new updates to the business. Alternatively, it can be a refresher for when they have settled into their roles.
Are You Legally Required to Offer Training to Franchisees?
Franchisors typically provide training to their franchisees. As a franchisor, you must offer reasonable support to franchisees. An integral part of this is to provide training.
In addition to offering training to franchisees, it is also beneficial to train their core team. This will ensure that key staff members:
- are familiar with the business;
- enter the new franchise with the same vision; and
- are up-to-date when there are changes within your business.
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What Should Franchisee Training Involve?
Your program may include training that covers:
- the goals and values of the business;
- the policies and procedures of the franchise;
- the management of staff; and
- brand training.
The type of training and the length of the training program you offer depend on your business model and the franchise agreement terms between you and the franchisee. Furthermore, the training can take many forms. The training methods you use will depend on your business model. To ensure the best results, tailor the training to your business’s unique needs.
Franchisee training involves training new franchisees to run a franchise of your business before they open a new unit. As the owner of your business, you are the most knowledgeable person on its operations. Therefore, you can share your knowledge through this training.
The training can take many forms, including on-site, hands-on, practical training, or classroom-based learning. The form used to train franchisees may also depend on their needs. Training may be in person, online or in a hybrid format. If necessary, consult with experts on developing specialised franchisee training courses where appropriate for your business.
Is it a Good Idea to Train Franchisees?
No matter the career backgrounds of the franchisees, offering training can benefit you, your business, and the franchisees in their new roles. Training has great practical benefits. Your franchisees can operate with greater awareness of their role and the needs of your business.
Effective training provides a strong basis to ensure that new franchises thrive. It can ensure that franchisees operate at the same standards across the business. An initial training program can help franchisees jumpstart their new journey. Ensuring that franchisees know your business can benefit its market demand, customer retention, and the profits of new franchise units.
Three key benefits of offering training to franchisees include:
- minimising issues franchisees might experience setting up new units of the franchise;
- providing a solid foundation for franchisees to be successful in their roles; and
- ensuring that you are providing reasonable support to franchisees.
Do You Need to Offer Regular Training to Franchisees?
The training for franchisees is not limited to the initial training program. Providing ongoing support in addition to the training you gave during the onboarding process can be greatly beneficial. Doing so ensures that you continue to offer reasonable support to franchisees. This obligation is not limited to the time that you set up a new unit. Supporting and training franchisees is a continuing process.
Furthermore, you can utilise ongoing training to refresh franchisees. This can ensure uniformity of standards across the business. Regular training can update franchisees on new procedures and knowledge. This training can also align franchisees with a new vision if your business’s goals shift.
You may need to provide ongoing franchise training when:
- your business adopts a new marketing strategy;
- new products are introduced;
- the goals of the franchise shift;
- you want to strengthen branding across the business; or
- if you want to refresh the knowledge of the franchisees.
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Key Takeaways
As a franchisor, you owe franchisees a reasonable level of support. Training franchisees is a great way to support and have a successful franchise. Training can benefit you, the business, and the franchisees. You should offer training during the onboarding process and provide support on an ongoing basis. Initial and ongoing training is crucial to providing adequate support to franchisees.
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