If you have been orbiting the franchising world long enough, you might have come across the concept that you’re in business for yourself, but not by yourself. This refers to the idea that while a franchisee can enjoy the sense of independence that comes with being a business owner, they also have the robust support and guidance provided by a franchisor to run the franchise business successfully.

This kind of support is just one of the many advantages of pursuing a franchise. However, cultivating a strong franchisee/franchisor relationship helps both sides. Having a solid relationship with your franchisor can lead to greater success for you, while your franchisor will appreciate working with a franchisee they can depend on. Keep reading to discover some of the benefits of a strong relationship with your franchisor and how it can support you in your role.

CLEARLY SET EXPECTATIONS

What is expected of a franchisee will differ depending on the franchise. However, there will always be an established business model that franchisees must follow. In fact, franchisees may want to take on this role because the franchisor lays the roadmap out for them, which tends to mitigate some of the risks involved in launching a business (i.e., marketing, brand recognition, customer acquisition, etc.).

When a franchisee doesn’t follow the business model, or things begin to go off course, it can jeopardize the success of the franchise as a whole. Having a strong franchisor/franchisee relationship ensures expectations can be clearly communicated, and operations can remain on track.

A SENSE OF TRUST

Trust can be a major benefit of a strong franchisee/franchisor relationship, and other benefits like honesty and open communication can evolve from a sense of trust. A foundation of trust can yield greater advantages when both a franchisor and franchisee know that each has the best intentions in mind.

EFFECTIVE ONGOING COMMUNICATION

Whether with check-ins, on-site visits, or through email or virtual meetings, ongoing communication can play a critical part in successfully running a franchise. When a franchisor needs to share important business-related items with franchisees, such as marketing material, product updates, or areas of improvement, effective communication is key, and having a strong relationship in place can make that communication easier.

Effective ongoing communication stemming from a solid relationship can allow the franchisee and franchisor to remain on the same page and ensure operations are running smoothly—a significant benefit if you do not have previous business ownership experience, as that clear line of communication can be helpful when conducting daily operations.

MUTUAL RESPECT

Even with many franchisees in a network, fostering a supportive atmosphere can help each franchisee feel valued and motivated to succeed. Building a sense of value also benefits the franchisor, as a strong relationship can lead franchisees to respect the franchisor’s guidance and effectively contribute to the franchise’s overall success.

HOW TO JUDGE A FRANCHISE’S CULTURE

While you can’t know exactly how your relationship with a franchisor will be until you’re in the role or have spent enough time with the franchising team, one of the best ways to determine if a strong franchisee/franchisor relationship can be fostered is by looking at the culture or philosophy of a business in addition to their training and support.

For example, if a franchisor offers extensive initial and ongoing support, you will likely be able to tell how much engagement you’ll have with the franchisor. The more in-depth the training and support, the more touchpoints you will likely have with them throughout your journey. You might also be able to get a sense of the brand’s culture and engagement by talking to current franchisees when you’re researching the opportunity and getting firsthand accounts.

If you are interested in franchising with Dogtopia, we encourage you to review our culture page for insight into what we’re all about as well as our support page for details on our team approach to setting our franchisees up for success.