Most people have never heard of this profession – but a franchise consultant can make the process of exploring franchise ownership much easier. By Don Clayton
If you don’t know what a Franchise Consultant is, you’re not alone. Most people have never heard of this profession – but a franchise consultant can make the process of exploring franchise ownership much easier. In short, a franchise consultant is an individual who works with investors seeking to own or invest in a franchise. The franchise consultant is charged with building bridges between the investor and franchise brands, helping the investor narrow down the overwhelming number of choices.
Franchise consultants do not charge their candidates (investors) rather, like in the world of corporate recruiting, they are compensated with a referral fee from the franchisor with whom the placement is made, essentially for bringing a talented and qualified individual to the brand.
A typical day for a franchise consultant varies. For the consultant who works virtually, their day consists of building rapport with candidates, performing introductory calls, presentations, follow-up calls, emails, text messaging, etc. They also spend time in direct communication with franchisors to learn more about them, their model and what type of candidate they’re seeking.
For the franchise consultant who works more locally, they may be more inclined to work local trade shows, job fairs, and volunteer at their local SCORE or SBA office. Local franchise consultants can also host lunch-n-learns where they invite potential candidates to enjoy a lunch and hear a presentation by a few franchisors in attendance and maybe even related industry professionals.
Franchise consultants also assist candidates with funding their investment by connecting them with funding partners. In addition, consultants also help businesses seeking to become a franchise by referring them to franchise development partners.
Many current franchise consultants learn of – and become – franchise consultants when they are exploring franchise ownership themselves. They work with franchise consultant and then start to think it might be a better fit for them than owning a franchise. It happens more than you might think and is another avenue to explore in the process. Who knows, your own dream career could be helping others realize their dream of franchise ownership!
– Don Clayton
Don Clayton has spent more than 17 years helping others achieve their dream of business ownership. Starting as a franchise consultant for FranServe in 2012, he quickly became a top producer. His passion for the business led Don to the position of VP of Talent Acquisition, where he is committed to recruiting qualified candidates who are likely to succeed. For more information on franchise consulting, please contact connect@franserve.com or visit www.franserve.com