I’ll bet we’ve all heard someone say, “I wish I’d known that when I was starting out. I’d have done things differently.” That insight, or information changed the way the person perceived a challenge or a choice. Mentors may not have all the answers, but they’ve certainly tackled a myriad of issues a new franchisee might face in their first years of business.
One of the benefits of investing in a franchise is the infrastructure is already in place. You don’t have to recreate the wheel. Training is part of the package and so is ongoing support. Since most owners don’t come into their new franchise business with hands-on experience in that particular field, having an assigned coach or a mentor is especially helpful.
The franchisor is always available for questions and concerns and that’s where the new franchisee should start. As they get to know more of their fellow franchisees, they’ll probably form business relationships with a few who are more experienced and that is enormously helpful, too. The expression, “A rising tide lifts all boats,” is especially true here.
The combination of training and support from the franchisor and a whole network of “Big brothers and big sisters,” to lend a hand, can give you a big head start.