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The Franchise Manual Podcast

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Now displaying: 2016
Dec 14, 2016

My ponder today is Cordell Riley of Tortal Training and our topic today is Franchisee Training - the positive effects that a well-established training program can have on a franchise system. In this episode we talk about how any franchisor can design and create a franchisee training program that will maximize results to both the franchisees and the entire franchise system.

 

Time Stamps

00:00:52               Podner Introduction

00:02:38               Segment 1: Get to know Cordell Riley

00:20:34               Segment 2: Topic Segment

00:54:04               Segment 3: Quick Draw

 

Cordell Riley Show Notes

People learn at different rates based on the modality of the training being delivered.

VAK: Visual – Auditory – Kinesthetic

What does the start-up franchisor need to think about before developing a training system for the franchisees?

  • Start with a solid foundation (ops manual)
  • Make sure that training is part of your franchise culture – written into the mission and vision statement
  • Measure the amount of training that is being delivered
  • Ensure that training is aligned with business goals
  • Strive for a blended solution – digital, audio visual, classroom format

A solid training program will lead to franchisees feeling supported which leads to higher validation scores.

Great training versus good training

  • What do you want people to do differently after completing training?

Make training fun

 

Initial Franchisee Training

Dos and Don’ts

  • Don’t try to cover everything in initial training. Only cover the topics that they need to get up and running. Too much at once will lead to lower retention rates.
  • Do include those topics that have a high impact and short time to master.
  • Do use real world training (hands on)
  • Do utilize “Course of Action” – assignment for franchisee trainees where they have to present how they will use the training that they received. (FREE template available by e-mailing Cordell Riley
  • Do use internal Subject Matter Experts – have multiple trainers
  • Conduct the initial training as close to opening as possible
  • Avoid an “All lecture” training program
  • Engage the trainees
  • Vendors can be useful trainers on certain topics – don’t let it become an infomercial.
  • Use quizzes throughout to ensure that franchisees are following what is being taught.

 

Ongoing Training

  • E-learning – online
  • Field support staff
  • Conferences and conventions
  • Include those topics that have a lower impact and longer time to master.
  • Training is not something that happens during the first few weeks of the franchise relationship. Training is a process that should last for the life of the relationship.

 

E-Learning

  • E-learning is a delivery method that you will use to keep a constant flow of training to the franchisees
  • Use prior to initial training to bring new franchisees up to speed before initial training
  • Use as part of your ongoing training program to promote new products or services, etc.
  • Short, logical chunks of training – don’t pump all of your training into one session. 10 minutes or less
  • Make the training role based and relevant.

 

E-learning Dos and Don’ts

  • Do engage primary adult learning senses – Visual – Audio – kinesthetic

 

Repetition is key to high retention

 

Websites mentioned in the episode:

 

Cordell Riley

Tortal Training

www.tortal.net

cordell@tortal.net

 

Kit Vinson

FranMan Inc.

www.franman.net

kit.vinson@franman.net

217-736-3939 x 1

Oct 9, 2016

My ponder today is Rebecca Monet and our topic today is psychometric assessments – how profiling your franchisee candidates can help you Determine Compatibility and Predict Performance. That’s a mouthful for sure. But basically it means profiling your franchisee candidates in order to determine if they 1) fit into your franchise system’s corporate culture, and 2) if they will be more likely to be a top performer in your system.

 

Time Stamps

00:02:33               Segment 1 - Get to know Rebecca

00:21:06               Segment 2 – Psychographic Analysis for Franchisors

00:50:30               Segment 3 – Quick Draw Questions

 

Segment 1 – Get to know Rebecca

Recorded on at the Franchise Expo West, Denver Colorado

Born in Au, a small town in Switzerland

She is NOT related to Claude Monet

Grew up speaking High German (Swiss German) in the house. Lived on a dairy farm as a child. Parents were Baptist missionaries.

Moved to the United States when she was 14 years old.

Moved to California in 1984 as a single mother to seek her fortune.

Founded her first business in 1994, Noodle Metrics

Co-founded her second business called Proven Match in 2009

Founded Zoracle Profiles in 2013

 

Segment 2 – Psychometric Assessments for Franchisors

How franchisors can use psychometric assessments to improve franchisee performance.

To a franchisor, granting a franchise is very much like getting married, with very little courting in order to “get to know” their partner.

Personality style questions are not used at Zoracle because there is less than a 3% correlation between personality and performance.

The science of the process is not in the questions themselves, rather how the participant orders certain words into a hierarchy of preference that is weighted on the back end. This gives clues about motivation, drive, and the decision making process of the participant.

The psychographic analysis is not fool-proof but there are mechanisms in place to report out inconsistencies in the answers of the participant.

Startup franchisors with no existing franchisees can still benefit from a psychographic analysis tool.

A psychographic analysis tool will help a franchisor in the following ways:

  • Faster ramp-up
    • Better quality franchisee and faster ramp-up
  • Better validation
    • Greater franchisee satisfaction, better validation and less litigation
  • Reduced cost to support
    • Reduced cost to recruit, support and train franchisees
  • Greater retention
    • Stronger franchisee compliance and retention
  • Increased performance
    • Increased franchisee performance and profitability

 

Segment 3 -  Quick Draw

Rebecca’s favorite book – The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

PC and iPhone

Doesn’t watch TV – doesn’t own a TV

Working on her master list of movies that her friends helped her create in order to learn more about Americana culture.

IFA – Dentate YES!

Hobbies: golf, painting, cooking

Dog person: Bernese Mountain Dog

She used to be a car collector – 1967 Cougar

In a time machine she would go to 1955 when cars were sexy

She has wanted to be a psychologist her entire life

 

Rebecca Monet’s Contact Information

 

Kit Vinson’s Contact Information

  • e-mail:                 kit.vinson@franman.net
  • Phone: 214-736-3939 x1
  • Website: www.franman.net

  

Books Mentioned in the Episode:

  • Autobiography of Ben Franklin

 

Aug 11, 2016

Timestamp:

0:00:41    Jim Richardson Introduction

0:03:15    Segment 1 - Get to know Jim Richardson

0:16:58    Bonus Segment: Franchising 101

0:40:00    Segment 2 - Franchising is a Partnership (Business/Branding)

1:05:44    Segment 3 - Quick Draw Questions

 

Show Notes:

Segment 1 – Get to know Jim Richardson

Recorded on location at Jim Richardson’s house in Parker, Texas – just a few miles away from the famous Southfork Ranch (Who shot JR?)

Born in Rockwell, Iowa

Jim’s first real job was as a grocery man

Studied chemistry and finance.

Small town boy makes it big – Ford Motor Company, Pizza Hut, and Panda Express

 

Bonus Segment – Franchising 101

Franchising allows you to expand your concept by utilizing the resources of others.

Money

The franchisee pays his part of the investment capital that is necessary to expand in exchange for the majority of the revenue.

People

In many cases, people is a more constraining resource than money

The franchisee will source the people that will make them and your brand successful

Time

A franchisee can duplicate you, working on his/her side of the expansion investment as you continue to grow your business form the franchisor side.

Connections

In this conversation the term connections refers to real estate connections. A franchisee will have a closer tie to the local market in order to maximize potential from the real estate selection. This is particularly important with international franchising.

 

When is a good time in the lifecycle of a business to start franchising? How do I know it’s time?

When you attempt to franchise before you have all of your systems in place then you are asking a prospective franchisee to take bet on you when you have taken only a limited bet on yourself.

Don’t franchise until you have the answer to all of the questions:

  • What has made me successful? Why is my concept successful?
  • When you know what it is that made you successful, then you know what you need to impart to others to make them successful.
  • Why do customers like you?
  • Why do customers come back?
  • Can I duplicate a customer experience?

 

Do I have what it takes to be a franchisor?

What is your leadership style?

  • Command and control versus collaborative
  • You will be entering multiple long-term relationships. Are you ready to do your part in the relationship? Can you work well with others?
  • Personality profile tests can help you determine your leadership style as well as evaluate how a new franchisee will fit into the system.
  • Biggest myth in franchising: I don’t franchise because I want to have total control of the business. Franchisees have more incentive to follow a system standard than an employee
  • If you are a command and control style of manager, you can still franchise but you won’t like it as much, and neither will your franchisees.
  • Command and control franchisors will also miss out on many innovations that come from franchisees (e.g. paper cups at Starbucks, pan pizza, and the Big Mac)
  • Most franchisee relationships last longer than the average marriage.
  • To be successful in franchising a concept, you have to have both a business that is ready for franchising and a leadership team that is ready for franchising.

What is your growth strategy?

  • Fail to plan, plan to fail.
  • Be able to pay equal attention to both company owned and franchise locations.
  • Can you remove yourself from your business for 1-2 years and still have it operate efficiently? Do you have the infrastructure to franchise?

 

Segment 2 – Topic Segment

Franchising as a Partnership

Franchising is an extreme relationship and your franchisees will need your attention

Franchising is a bilateral relationship where each party should be able to learn from each other.

How to find the best franchisees: When you build a solid reputation, the people that you want will come to you.

Just because a prospective franchisee has something that you want (access to prime real estate or lots of money) doesn’t necessarily mean that they will be a good franchisee.

Look deeper into a prospective franchisee before you decide to accept of decline them. It is not just about access to money. It is about character and integrity. You want franchisees with the following characteristics:

  • Character
  • Trustworthiness
  • Have something to teach you
  • Open to learn from you

The relationship between franchisor and franchisee must me complimentary. If they knew and had everything that you know and have then why would they need you? If you knew and had everything that they know and have, why would you need them?

If all you are looking for in franchisees are carbon copies, then don’t franchise. You probably already have that in your corporate staff.

After you have brought in franchisees that are unlike you, then don’t forget that they are unlike you.

Examples of how franchisees with complimentary management styles can benefit the organization:

  • Price: Ted Swan in Lansing, Michigan – Introduced the coupon pricing model with pizza when nobody else was doing it. Ted had knowledge that corporate didn’t have.
  • Place: Dick Freeland in Ft Wayne, Indiana – Discovered a method of expansion that had his future customers paying for his expansion costs.
  • Promotion: P’zone by pizza hut – The campaign failed because the word P’zone was dangerously close to the Spanish word for nipple. The franchisees in Latin markets knew this – corporate didn’t.
  • Product: Many product innovations have come from franchisees versus corporate.
  • Purpose: The purpose of a franchisees business may or may not be complimentary to yours. This refers to the questions, “Why did they decide to become a franchisee?”
  • Accept the differences. Just because differences exist between franchisor and franchisee, this doesn’t make you unequal.
  • Demand that your relationship with franchisees be one of equality.
  • Franchising is where servant leadership thrives.

Success in franchising takes more preparation than success in your own business.

  • Inspect your success. What is it that made you successful?
  • Spend time reflecting instead of projecting forward.
  • Determine how you are going to transfer your knowledge to franchisees?
  • Franchising is all about knowledge management.
  • Know what you know. “If HP only knew what HP knows.”
  • Put metrics in place that measure the activities that lead to your success.
  • Know your benchmarks so that you can document them into a “playbook” that the franchisees can use to replicate your success.

 

Segment 3: Quick Draw

Jim’s favorite book – The Hobbit

Jim would love to travel back in time to see Leif Ericson – he is fascinated with archeology

Whataburger versus In & Out – WHATABURGER WINS!!!!!! Take that Mike!

Favorite movies: The Matrix and The Jason Bourne series.

iPhone all the way – Yahoo Sports is his most used app

  • Texas Rangers
  • Minisota Vikings
  • Iowa Hawkeyes
  • Dallas Maverics
  • Texas Longhorns

If Jim had $1 billion, he would give it to his wife. Go figure.

 

Jim Richardson Contact Information

  • e-mail:  richardson411@icloud.com
  • cell:      214-551-1514

 

Kit Vinson’s Contact Information

e-mail:       kit.vinson@franman.net

Phone:       214-736-3939 x1

Website:    www.franman.net

 

Listener Highlight

Angela Cote

Angela Cote Consulting Inc.

Business growth and franchise specialist

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

www.angelacote.com

 

Books Mentioned in the Episode:

  • Pour Your Heart Into It – Howard Schultz
  • The E-Myth – Michael Gerber
  • Can’t buy me Like – Bob Garfield

 

Jun 23, 2016

Timestamp:

0:00:48    Yendy Khayat Introduction

0:02:58    Segment 1 - Get to know Yendy Khayat

0:20:02    Segment 2 - How to expand a franchise system into the Middle East region

0:51:40    Segment 3 - Quick Draw Questions

 

In this episode of The Franchise Manual Podcast we speak with franchise consultant Yendy Khayat on the topic of how to expand a franchise system into the Middle East region. It is a complicated topic that would probably require 10 episodes in order to cover thoroughly. In this episode we attack the topic from 65,000 feet.

 

Segment 1: Get to know Yendy

In segment one of this episode we spend a little time getting to know the person Yendy Khayat. We learn a little about what it was like growing up in Beirut, Lebanon, her multinational educational path leading to an MBA with an educational emphasis in hospitality, and how she has successfully leveraged her impressive education and work experience into a successful franchise consulting career. By the way, she is fluent in three languages.

 

Segment 2: Expanding a franchise into the Middle East region.

In segment 2 Yendy and I try to logically attack the very complex topic of expanding a franchise system into the Middle East region. There are a lot of moving parts to this endeavor that would certainly be considered a “black diamond” run in franchising. However, we learn that with the proper prior planning and a good helping hand it can be a very fruitful expansion project for certain franchise concepts. The topics of discussion are:

Why the Middle East region is worth considering

  • Large market and growing
  • Favorable laws
  • Young and upwardly mobile consumer market
  • Strategically located

 

How to move forward with expansion in the region

  • Expansion models with local partners
  • Funding options
  • Intellectual property protection
  • Multinational law firm
  • Cultural considerations
  • Logistic considerations
  • The importance of proper infrastructure
  • Modification of training and support programs

 

Challenges that can hinder or halt expansion progress

  • Some concept categories experience more success than others
  • Brand offering modification
  • Halal certified food
  • Design modifications
  • Language barrier
  • Reacting to leads versus logical business decision
  • Time zone allowances
  • Expansion into the Middle East region is “advanced franchising” and not for the beginner

 

Segment 3:  Quick Draw Questions

Segment 3 is a fun way to wind down the episode with quick, fun questions such as favorite movie, favorite book, etc. We find out what Yendy would do if she had enough money to never have to work again.

This is a FANTASTIC episode and a MUST LISTEN if you have ever considered expanding your franchise system into the Middle East region. We don’t provide all of the answers but we cover enough to get you on your way if Middle East expansion is part of your plans to grow your system.

 

Yendy Khayat

The Franchizery

Al Wahda City Tower,

 Hazza’ Bin Zayed the 1st Street,

 P.O. Box 96115, Abu Dhabi,

 United Arab Emirates.

+971 2 8186736, +971 2 8186737

yendy@thefranchizery.com

 

Kit Vinson

FranMan Inc.

214-736-3939 x1

kit.vinson@franman.net

 

Jun 6, 2016

Timestamp:

0:00:50    Joseph Adler Introduction

0:03:50    Segment 1 - Get to know Joseph Adler

0:33:25    Segment 2 - How to expand a franchise system into Canada

1:11:07    Segment 3 - Quick Draw Questions

 

In this episode of The Franchise Manual Podcast we speak with Canadian attorney Joseph Adler on the topic of how to expand a franchise system into Canada while avoiding the common pitfalls that hinder many franchisors.

Segment 1: Get to know Joseph Adler

In segment one of this episode we spend a little time getting to know the person Joseph Adler. We learn a little about his childhood growing up on Hamilton, Ontario, his first job, and his pathway to law school.

Segment 2: Expanding a franchise into Canada

In segment 2 Joseph Adler outlines some of the common pitfalls that many non-Canadian franchisors experience when they attempt to expand their franchise system into Canada. The topics of discussion are:

  • Maximize the U.S. market first - maintain domestic focus
  • Ensure that your IP is protected
  • Be proactive rather than reactive
  • Ensure necessary supply chain - Import issues
  • Market analysis - Canadian taste preferences
  • "Canadianize" the FDD and Ops Manual
  • The importance of engaging a Canadian franchise attorney
  • Understanding the competition
  • Finding the right franchisee

Segment 3:  Quick Draw Questions

Segment 3 is a fun way to wind down the episode with quick, fun questions such as favorite movie, favorite book, etc. We find out what Joseph would do if he had $1 billion to make the world a better place. We also find out if this Toronto attorney is a closet spaghetti western fan.

 

This is a FANTASTIC episode and a MUST LISTEN if you have ever considered expanding your franchise system into Canada, or if you just want to get to know Joseph Adler a little more than you already do.

 

Joseph Adler

Hoffer Adler LLP

425 University Ave., Suite 300

Toronto, Ontario M561T6 Canada

www.hofferadler.com

jadler@hofferadler.com

416-977-3444

 

Kit Vinson

FranMan Inc.

www.franman.net

kit.vinson@franman.net

214-736-3939 x 1

 

 

Apr 28, 2016

Podcast Segment Timestamps:

00:02:00               Get to know Doc Cohen

00:36:00               How to be the Best Franchisor

00:52:00               The Fun Questions

 

Doc Cohen was an absolutely fantastic guest on The Franchise Manual Podcast. If you miss this podcast you will be missing one of the best ones yet.

If you already know Mr. Cohen then I’ll bet that you will still learn something about him that you didn’t know in the “Get to know Doc Cohen” segment. If you didn’t already know Doc Cohen then you will definitely learn a lot about one of the finest men in the world of franchising. Find out why they call him “Doc”. Find out what Mr. Cohen has in common with Ray Kroc and Dave Thomas.

In “The Fun Questions” segment you will learn what Mr. Cohen’s favorite movies and TV shows are. You will be surprised when you find out. I surely was. (Did he say that he wants to be a zombie?)

Most importantly, in the topic segment, “Being the Best Franchisor from the Perspective of the Best Franchisee”, find out what advice Mr. Cohen gives to all franchisors in order to help their franchisees flourish and reach their success potential.

Special thanks to Jerry Darnell for introducing me to Mr. Doc Cohen.

www.franman.net

Feb 8, 2016

Timestamp:

00:00:48    Anthony Owen Introduction

00:02:19    Segment 1 - Getting to Know Anthony

00:20:43    Segment 2 - Social Media for Franchisors

00:51:00    Segment 3 - Quick Draw Questions

 

Anthony Owen, president of Manalto Inc. talks with me about how franchisors, both big and small, can better manage the daunting task of social media. Obviously the topic of social media is much too vast to cover thoroughly in such a short period of time but you will find some really good takeaways in this episode.

Websites Mentioned in the Podcast:

www.manalto.com

www.franman.net

 

Anthony Owen Contact Info:

310-266-8874

anthony.owen@manalto.com

 

Kit Vinson Contact Info.

214-736-3939 x 1

kit.vinson@franman.net

 

 

 

Jan 15, 2016

Podcast Segment Timestamps:

03:13 Segment 1 - Get to know Nick

28:20 Segment 2 - How to select a franchise broker

53:00 Segment 3 - The Speed Round

 

This is a fantastic interview with Nick Gugliuzza of Empire Business Brokers. Nick has been in and around franchising for 35 years. He shares with us his knowledge and experience as he teaches franchisors what to look for in a franchise brokers, what to expect from a broker, and how a franchise broker can help any franchisor efficiently achieve their growth goals.

Did you know that Niagara Falls dried up once, and Nick was there to witness it? Did you know that Nick was drafted by a major league baseball team? Did you know that Nick was almost alligator food once? All of that is in this episode as well.

 

Companies and websites mentioned in this episode:

The Franchise Manual Podcast - www.franman.net

Empire Business Brokers - www.empirebb.com

La Bella Sicilia’s Restaurant  - http://www.labellasicilia.com

 

 

Jan 14, 2016

This episode of The Franchise Manual includes an interview of the host, Kit Vinson, by Henry Lopez of Levante Business Group. In the interview several topics are covered such as how Kit co-founded FranMan Inc. with his brother, what Kit believes to be the keys to his success, and much more.

Company websites mentioned in the podcast:

www.levantebusinessgroup.com

www.franman.net

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