Perhaps you have spent a lot of time researching a franchise to buy and have even found one or two that may be suitable for you. Maybe you also have talked to their franchise development representatives and have had many conversations with their existing franchise owners.
Now, one of the franchise companies has asked you to come to its headquarters. Do you need to go? And what do you need to do when you get there?
In this article, we will discuss three crucial things to do when you visit franchise headquarters
Should You Pay a Visit to Franchise Headquarters?
Before diving into what to do once you are at a franchise headquarters, let’s discuss whether you need to go there in the first place.
Getting a personal invite from your potential franchisor feels great, and it’s good to attend a franchise Discovery Day.
You might be wondering what a Discovery Day means.
A Discovery Day is a meet-and-greet event that franchises hold for people who want to join up with them. It allows potential franchisees to have a deep understanding of the business, gather information, and learn what they need to know about the franchise. This event often takes place at the corporate office of the franchise and usually includes the touring of the facilities. However, franchise locations can sometimes hold Discovery Day events. Prospective franchisees often have the chance to meet and build relationships with key players in the franchising world and other attendees at these events.
But do you need to attend one?
Yes, you need to attend a Discovery Day if:
- You completely understand the franchise idea, including the role you will be playing as the franchise owner.
- You are sure that the franchise is affordable to you
- You have done your homework on the franchise, which usually includes speaking with many franchisees of the business.
- You are a few steps away from becoming a franchisee of the company. That is – you are about to say yes to buying the franchise.
If you are yet to do these things above, it would be best to reject the invite until you have done so. This will enable you to decide with confidence if you get to the franchise headquarters and everything looks okay.
However, it’s important to note that some franchisors may also hold their Discovery Day early in the process. But it will be better if prospective franchisees are asked to come to headquarters after they have gained deep knowledge of the franchise concept and talked to many franchise owners. Having said that, if you are extremely interested in the franchise opportunity and you can cover the travel costs (and the franchise investment), you can go there. The choice is up to you.
3. Important Things to Do When You Get There
1. Be prepared. Make a list of all your burning questions. These are the things you need to know before you decide to invest in a particular franchise opportunity.
The great news is that you are going to have the chance to ask many people involved in the business a lot of questions. This is because Discovery Days typically include brief meetings with heads of each department of the franchise.
2. Have a one-on-one meeting with the franchise CEO/founder. You can ask your franchise development rep to help fix the meeting. Almost every franchise assigns one to people who are serious about joining them.
The main reason for meeting with the CEO/founder is to get an idea of his management style, ask important questions regarding the franchise’s future, and find out how knowledgeable he is. That makes sense, right?
3. Watch the employees
Do they appear nervous? Confused? Not composed? Does it appear like they are under a big pressure? Or are they calm? Do you wear a smiling face? Laugh? Do they look sharp to you? Can you picture yourself working with this group of people for a long time?
Surely, the decision of whether or not to purchase a franchise will boil down to available data, the trust you have in it, and your experience at the company’s main office. Spend time to gain all the necessary information, including the working hours at the franchise headquarter. After the visit, think about your time at the headquarters. Did everything look great when you were there? Can you trust those you saw to guide you and your business to success?
