“My advice is read the E-Myth by Michael Gerber. It's the first business book I ever read, and that set me on the path to franchising because that whole book is all about setting systems and processes in place. It recommends keeping the end in mind as if you're going to franchise your business, even if you never do, because that allows you to truly own a business rather than own a job. Let's face it, when we start a business, typically the business owner is a technician by trade, meaning that they're really good at the craft. I was really good at personal training, so I did it on my own. I felt there had to be a better way.
I didn't know bookkeeping, marketing, or advertising. I didn't know how to build a culture, hire a team, or how to train and lead a team. All of these things need to be learned. This is where putting systems and processes in place can help you to truly have a business that is successful and scalable. And, at the end of the day, it will save you from a ton of headaches.
I consider my business a self-managing company where I put key people in place that do the day-to-day business. They run the operations, implement the systems that I give them, and then I just inspect what I expect from a performance standpoint. I've been running that executive model for the last seven years. When I opened up my second corporate studio, I got completely out of training, and that's where it's attractive to our franchisees coming on board. Like I said earlier, they don't have to be owner-operators. They can be if they want, but they don't necessarily have to be. I want people with business acumen and we can teach their GM and their trainers how to do what we do.”
If you’re considering owning a business, reading The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber is an excellent place to start. The book talks about why small businesses fail and how to prevent that from happening, and advocates for implementing systems in your new business as if you're going to franchise it. It also recommends that owners stop being the technician who works IN the business so they can work ON the business. By following this advice, business owners can scale their operations, avoid headaches, and focus on strategic growth. The franchisor's own experience highlights the shift from being a technician in his craft to becoming a business owner with a scalable and successful business model. This approach is attractive to franchisees who want to benefit from a proven system and are willing to learn the necessary skills to run the business effectively.
We cover many current and relevant topics. A few include:
◈The type of marketing support a franchisee can expect from a franchise
◈Why you don’t need industry experience when joining a franchise
◈The systems required in order to be able to scale and grow a business