As far as franchisors looking for potential franchisees are concerned, there’s a validation stage that can be maximally put to best use in convincing the likely franchisee candidates about the fact that the concept of their franchise businesses in addition to the specific models they adopt is a successful combination with its worth in gold to pursue ownership. It’s of little account in case you have to be an established franchise brand, a household name, with several years of experience in sales or you’re an upcoming brand with a single or a handful of franchisees. In the course of validation of franchise software, the executive leadership skills franchisors exhibit and the strength of the existing franchise owners they make known are considered to be the key differentiating factors that make a candidate decide whether to collaborate with the franchisor and sign on the dotted line or pull out of the association. Regardless, a number of franchisors are found to have still not put in their best efforts in the planning and execution of their franchise validation strategies.

It’s all-important for your franchise owners to prove that they’re able to remain committed to system operations and policy adherence once they sign on the dotted line and get inside the network as franchise owners. Simultaneously, you need to dispel their doubts and prove that teaming up with your franchise is one of the best moneymaking opportunities for them. The most effective way to pull this feat off is by giving assignments to prospects and dates when they can meet you and discuss the business potential. There may be a number of tasks that you may entrust them with during the software validation process. These include the following:

• Completing filling up preliminary joining forms

• Completing more comprehensive application forms on time

• Giving back the FDD receipt document

• Setting up meetings with the legal and financial advisors of the prospects

• Asking them to look for financing options from different banks

• Scouting for locations to set up franchise outlets

• Motivating them to carry out research on the demographics in line with their target markets

• Asking them to study local laws, policies, and regulations expected to be having an effect on their business

• Allowing them to pay a visit to some of your franchise locations

• Sending out invitations for foundation day anniversaries

• Allowing them to talk to your existing and former franchisees

Item number 20 of the franchise disclosure document contains information about your existing and former franchisees with their contact details in a listed form. You can give permission to the franchisee candidates to get in touch with them. In this way, the candidates get to derive a certain comfort level on how your franchise operates and start becoming familiar with what a franchise owner does. The conversations allow them to inquire about your franchising competencies and become acquainted with the financial performance of individual franchise units.

As a franchisor, you need to initiate follow-up calls with prospects to make sure they’re getting all the required information. Furthermore, you can attend to issues and concerns that may have been made plain in the course of the due diligence procedure and resolve them. Since recruitment is a bidirectional process ensuring a mutual comfort level between you and the other party exists is important.

When a prospective franchisee communicates with a current franchisee, odds are high that your performance as a franchisor will be discussed. Any validation be it positive or negative is plausible depending on how you have fulfilled franchisee expectations. So, you need to make it a priority that you maintain consistent, good performance and interpersonal relationships.

Meetbrandwide – Franchise Software

Read on to gain an understanding of four reasons why franchise software validation is an important component for attracting franchisee candidates and getting them on board.

1. Franchise software validation is a straightforward process to demonstrate brand value.

Many franchisee candidates aren’t aware of the nitty-gritty involved in the validation stage during their pursuit of owning a franchise. A few of them are even taken aback when offered the scope to directly have a one-on-one with the existing franchise owners. Establishing two-way communication between existing franchise owners and prospects involves a certain degree of privacy to be maintained. At the same time, the expressed level of transparency carries weight too. The current owners you choose for taking part in validation need to be the most fitting examples. Being acquainted with ideas concerning the brand value and the right set of opportunities after hearing from people holding executive leadership positions is a completely different time from being familiar with the whole same story coming from the horse’s mouth – here the franchise owners that are at the forefront of operations and management.

2. Franchise software validation helps boost trustworthiness and credibility.

In essence, validation revolves around providing insights so as to support conversations and arguments that transpire with prospective franchise owners and make them convinced of the right decision they’re about to take.

It can only be best heard from an existing franchise owner who at one point in time was in their shoes only. The validation process to team up isn’t just about selecting examples of your best and most prolific franchise owners to speak highly of their franchise brand to likely candidates. You need to look for examples that are capable of demonstrating trustworthiness and credibility. In the course of the validation discussion, it’s absolutely fine to talk about challenges as well. Presenting your franchise and letting the prospects view it only through rose-tinted glasses is also inappropriate as they can become suspicious. When a candidate is thinking of joining forces with your brand he/she’s actually seeking reassurance. And the onus lies on you and your chosen franchisees to ensure they get lots of it.

3. Franchise software validation gives you an opportunity to showcase the support network you dish out.

Franchisors are aware of the fact that training and continuous support to franchisees are two important aspects of a typical successful franchise system. A few brands invest significant capital resources to make certain employees and franchisees have access to systems that are equipped with the latest technological tools and applications via which training and ongoing support mechanisms can be created and imparted to entice potential franchise owners. An ideal opportunity is put forward by the software validation stage to set the seal on making ownership aspirants fully cognizant of the efficacy and magnitude of the support network your franchise provides. Therefore, the best examples of franchise owners that are assigned the responsibility to consummate the validation process must be geared up to make references to real-world scenarios that show how training and support work and help them succeed as franchise owners.

4. Franchise software validation gives you an opportunity to showcase the support network you dish out.

Franchisors are aware of the fact that training and continuous support to franchisees are two important aspects of a typical successful franchise system. A few brands invest significant capital resources to make certain employees and franchisees have access to systems that are equipped with the latest technological tools and applications via which training and ongoing support mechanisms can be created and imparted to entice potential franchise owners. An ideal opportunity is put forward by the software validation stage to set the seal on making ownership aspirants fully cognizant of the efficacy and magnitude of the support network your franchise provides. Therefore, the best examples of franchise owners that are assigned the responsibility to consummate the validation process must be geared up to make references to real-world scenarios that show how training and support work and help them succeed as franchise owners.

5. Franchise software validation puts a clear-cut image of every single thing on display.

When the franchisee candidates are at the forefront of the validation process, they know about your succinct and persuasive sales pitch inside out. Under such a circumstance, it’s natural for them to remember all facts and figures, for instance, the following:

• The initial franchise fee they need to pay

• The percentage of royalty they’re deemed to receive

• The average revenue generated per unit

• Other details publicized in item number 19 of your franchise disclosure document

Thus, the franchise software validation process turns out to be a golden opportunity through which the actual story of brand ownership can be disseminated. Existing franchise owners must be allowed to share details pertaining to the daily experience they gather in terms of operations and managing both employees and customers. They must be encouraged to include real-life case studies in the document to be presented during the validation stage. Everything you state needs to be highly descriptive so that franchisee candidates don’t find it difficult to clearly visualize them as future franchise owners.