Franchise Support: What to Expect as a New Owner

Owning a franchise doesn’t come with a guarantee of success. Many new franchisees believe buying into a well-known brand automatically leads to high profits, only to discover that not all franchisors provide the franchise support needed to thrive as a new owner. Learn what type of training and ongoing guidance you need and how to spot red flags.

What Is Franchise Support?

Franchising gives you the advantage of running a well-known brand with a proven operational system in place. You don’t need prior industry experience or a background in business to succeed. The key factor? Strong franchise guidance. It’s the backbone of the franchisor-franchisee relationship, guiding new owners through challenges and helping them capitalize on opportunities.

Comprehensive franchise assistance should always include these four components:

1. Pre-opening training: If you’re opening a brick-and-mortar business, the franchisor will help with site selection and build-out assistance. You’ll attend an initial training session at the brand’s corporate headquarters and participate in virtual training sessions to get you up to speed. The franchisor will help you secure the necessary licenses and permits you need to do business.
2. Launch support: When you’re ready to start serving customers, the franchisor should provide a local marketing toolkit to help generate leads. It should also offer grand opening guidance and early-stage operational assistance.
3. Ongoing guidance: Franchise help doesn’t end at your grand opening. A franchise with a good support system should offer ongoing training to help you stay on top of new techniques and consumer trends. You should expect to have access to continued training and franchise marketing support. Many franchisors conduct field visits and operational coaching to ensure you’re on the right track. Others have programs to help if your business isn’t hitting your financial targets.
4. Collaborative network: One of the benefits of franchising is having access to a network of peers to compare notes and share best practices. You can turn to existing franchisees in the system for mentoring and guidance through every stage of your business.

Be on the Lookout for Red Flags

As you do your research, be aware of the signs a franchise might not provide the support required for you to be successful. According to research by the Federal Trade Commission, a key concern among franchisees was the discrepancy between the promised and actual training and marketing support they received.

Here are a few red flags that are easy to spot:

• Minimal or no training before opening.
• Limited communication or no clear point of contact for franchisee support.
• Lack of marketing assistance, leaving franchisees to figure out local branding on their own.
• No ongoing education or system updates to keep franchisees competitive.

Kitchen Tune-Up Franchise Support Stands Out

Kitchen Tune-Up started franchising in 1988 and has spent over 36 years honing its training and support system to help franchise owners achieve their business aspirations. We’re a kitchen remodeling franchise that offers a low-overhead, scalable business model that can be run as a home-based or retail location. Whether a customer needs to restore their existing kitchen cabinets or do a full-scale remodel, we’re ready to help.

Our training program starts with a four-week online pre-training course, followed by 14 days of in-person and virtual training covering what you’ll need to know to be successful, including marketing, sales, accounting, hiring, profitability, and more.  Post-training you will follow a 12-week action plan with accountability, plus a personalized launch team to support you  for the first 3-7 months.  Our team will continue to provide franchise marketing and sales support for the life of your business. Kitchen Tune-Up franchisees also benefit from our private podcasts, weekly coaching calls, monthly newsletters, an online owner’s forum, weekly emails, national reunions, and online webinars, and so much more.

In 2024, the average American household spent more than $12,000 on home improvements and 93% of homeowners plan to enhance their homes this year, Angi reports. At least 67% of homeowners would prefer to upgrade their existing homes rather than move, creating a strong demand for remodeling franchises. Kitchen Tune-Up is part of Home Franchise Concepts, a family of brands that has more than 30 years of experience in the growing home services industry.

Take a Fresh Approach to Your Career

Strong franchise guidance is necessary for long-term success. To set a new course for your career, inquire now to learn how Kitchen Tune-Up’s comprehensive training and support program can help you turn entrepreneurship into a reality.