Unlocking Success: 4 Tips for Effective Franchise Training Programs
Franchising is a popular business model that offers entrepreneurs the opportunity to own and operate their own business while benefiting from the support and resources of a larger organization.
However, running a successful franchise requires more than just a desire to be your own boss. It also requires comprehensive training and ongoing support to ensure that franchisees have the knowledge and skills needed to succeed.
In this post, we’ll explore four tips for creating effective franchise training programs that can help unlock success for both franchisees and the franchise as a whole.
Types of franchise training programs
Depending on where someone is on their journey to becoming a successful franchisee, training takes different flavors.
Operational training
Whether online or in-person, operational training explores the basics of operating the franchise. These are some examples of what franchisees learn during operational training:
- Franchise goals
- Brand values
- Style of customer service
- Product positioning
- Product handling
- Hiring policies
- Staff management
- Training plans
- Accounting practices
- Sales reporting procedures
- POS and other IT systems
For instance, during operational training, you can simulate sales calls or analyze real, previously recorded ones.
Hands-on training
This type of training happens in person at the franchising headquarters for a few days. Franchisees get to know the facilities and take the opportunity to observe how the business works in loco.
Our advice is to offer hands-on training after operational training. This way, the hands-on training will be more productive.
Franchisees will ask more questions and apply their knowledge of your business by interacting with the actual product, real equipment, and staff. And that’s how they’ll consolidate what they learned during operational training.
On-site training
This time, the training site is the franchised store, and again, training is in person. The headquarters send a mentor to support the franchisee with setting up and opening the new franchise location.
In the process, the franchisee uses their knowledge of the business, product, equipment, systems, and procedures. This will develop their new skills even further.
Also, on-site training consists of training staff to perform different roles. Some franchisees anticipate this step by taking the store manager with them for hands-on training.
Ongoing training
Franchise training doesn’t end with on-site training! It keeps going—online or in-person—with the intent of keeping franchisees updated on:
- Fresh tips and tricks to uplift the business
- Updated franchise goals, policies, procedures, and systems
- New products under development
- Upcoming marketing campaigns
4 Tips for Effective Franchise Training Programs
The following are the tips you can use to create effective franchise training programs
1) Create a Comprehensive Training Plan
The first step in creating effective franchise training programs is to develop a comprehensive training plan that covers all aspects of the business.
This plan should be tailored to the specific needs of the franchise and its industry, and should provide franchisees with the knowledge and skills they need to run the business successfully.
One of the key benefits of a comprehensive training plan is that it provides a clear roadmap for franchisees to follow. This can help to minimize confusion and ensure that everyone is on the same page when it comes to running the business.
When creating a training plan, it’s important to consider all aspects of the business, including operations, marketing, and customer service.
Operations training should cover topics such as inventory management, equipment maintenance, and standard operating procedures.
Marketing training should cover topics such as advertising, promotions, and social media. Customer service training should cover topics such as handling complaints, building rapport with customers, and delivering a positive customer experience.
To create a comprehensive training plan, consider breaking it down into different modules that cover specific topics. Each module should have clear objectives and should be structured in a way that is easy for franchisees to follow.
Additionally, consider incorporating hands-on training exercises and role-playing scenarios to help franchisees apply what they’ve learned in real-world situations.
2) Use a Mix of Training Methods
Another important tip for creating effective franchise training programs is to use a mix of training methods.
Different people learn in different ways, so it’s important to use a variety of training methods to ensure that everyone is able to learn and retain the information.
Some effective training methods include:
- In-person training: This can be a great way to provide hands-on instruction and allow franchisees to ask questions in real-time.
- Online courses: Online courses can be a convenient way to deliver training modules, especially for franchisees who are located in different parts of the country or world.
- On-the-job training: This is an important aspect of training, as it allows franchisees to apply what they’ve learned in a real-world setting.
When using a mix of training methods, it’s important to choose the methods that work best for each specific topic. For example, in-person training may be more effective for hands-on topics like equipment maintenance, while online courses may be more effective for topics like marketing.
3) Incorporate Ongoing Training and Support
An effective franchise training program doesn’t end after the initial training period. Ongoing training and support are essential for franchisees to continue to develop their skills and stay up-to-date on industry trends.
One effective way to provide ongoing support is to schedule regular check-ins with franchisees. These check-ins can be conducted in-person or over the phone, and can be used to address any questions or concerns that franchisees may have.
Additionally, consider providing refresher courses or advanced training modules to help franchisees continue to build their skills.
Another effective way to provide ongoing support is to create an online knowledge base that franchisees can access at any time. This knowledge base can include training modules, instructional videos, and other resources that can help franchisees build their skills and knowledge on an ongoing basis.
4) Make Training Engaging and Interactive
Finally, it’s important to make franchise training programs engaging and interactive. Effective training programs are not just about providing information – they’re also about creating an experience that helps franchisees stay engaged and motivated.
There are several ways to make training more engaging and interactive. For example, consider using quizzes or interactive exercises to help franchisees retain information.
Role-playing exercises can also be a great way to help franchisees apply what they’ve learned in a real-world setting.
Another effective way to make training more engaging is to use real-life scenarios that are relevant to the franchise. For example, if the franchise is in the restaurant industry, consider using scenarios that involve handling customer complaints or managing a busy kitchen.
By making training more relevant to the franchise, franchisees are more likely to stay engaged and motivated.
Conclusion
Effective franchise training programs are essential for unlocking success for both franchisees and the franchise as a whole.
By creating a comprehensive training plan, using a mix of training methods, incorporating ongoing training and support, and making training engaging and interactive, franchisees can develop the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in their business.
Your entire franchise network must consistently grow in sales. Profit-wise, it must also be sustainable.
And teaching a standardized customer experience to franchisees pushes in that direction and is a win-win situation. Franchisors beat the competition and maintain customers’ trust, whereas franchisees make money.
