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1-800-dryclean® Mobile Franchise Seeks People Who Want To Make A Difference
FranchiseSforSale.com: What is unique about your franchise that results in satisfied, profitable franchisees? Shannon Toler: I think what stands out is our name. Our phone number is our name. You can’t top that for marketing advantage. Another attractive feature is that the franchise is route based. Once the route is established, you only have to replace customers that move. Marketing costs are lower, and the franchisees are profitable. Repeat customers make for reliable cash flow. Also, our franchisees work from home. They don’t have to have a retail location and need very few employees, if any. Work-life satisfaction is high among our owners. They enjoy working in their community, talking to people and being outside. FranchiseS: What does your ideal Franchisee candidate look like? Toler: A 1-800-DryClean franchisee is a real go getter -- someone who wakes up in the morning and says “I’m going to make a difference in my business today.” It helps if the franchisee likes networking and talking to people. Someone who enjoys being physically active is a plus. FranchiseS: Describe your current Franchisee Qualification Process: Toler: Something that I think is unique to 1-800-DryClean is that our Franchise Development Manager is also a franchisee. So he has strong interest in protecting and growing the brand. He tells it like it is. After a quick interview with the candidate, the Franchise Development Manager sends the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). The candidate completes the application, including their financial information. If the candidate is financially qualified we give them an “A to Z” webinar detailing the business model. We then set up an appointment to review the FDD. We want to make sure they understand all the terms of FDD. If we think it’s a fit, we ask them to speak with no less than 10 franchisees. This can include a “ride along” with franchisee. If we are still on track, we invite them to meet with our Executive Team and the Operations Team. Then I sit down with the other team members. We talk about whether this candidate is a fit. If it’s a green light, we send out the Franchise Agreement. If it’s a maybe, we may give them more homework. Maybe they need to talk to more franchisees or spend a day with one. Maybe they don’t have the right financials so they need to fix that. FranchiseS: Why is it necessary for your qualification process to be so extensive? Toler: Our franchise system is only as strong as our weakest franchisee. In order to grow the brand, we need the right people in place. We are looking out for the quality of the brand and the other franchisees already in the system. Plus, we want to make sure that our franchisees have nothing to hinder them from being successful in the first place, whether that be funding or skills. FranchiseS: How should a candidate properly prepare for their conversations with you? Toler: They need to follow the steps of the process and do the homework the Franchise Development Manager gives them. When we meet, I want to know their personal, professional and financial goals, so they should be prepared to discuss them. I’ll want to know what they bring to the business, and how 1-800-DryClean can help them achieve their goals. FranchiseS: How often do you turn down potential candidates because they do not fit the profile you are looking for? What are some reasons you might refuse a candidate? Toler: Candidates that are not a good fit often remove themselves from process. It’s rare that they go through the whole qualification process and we have to turn them down. The most common reason we turn someone down is that they’re not financially qualified. The second most common reason we turn someone down is that they don’t follow the process. If they don’t follow the recruitment process (doing their homework and validation with our franchisees), then they won’t follow our system which is critical to protecting and growing the brand. FranchiseS: As a Franchisor, do most potential candidates consider themselves to be “one of the lucky ones” to be awarded a franchise from you? Or do the candidates think that you are the lucky one to have them as a new franchisee? Why? Toler: Both. We’re lucky to have them, because they bring great talents to the table. And I feel very positive about what they bring to their markets. I see them as they grow and mature. They give back to the brand just as much as they get from the brand. Everything comes full circle. It’s a magical experience when you find that right fit. About 1-800-DryClean 1-800- DryClean is a franchise business opportunity established in 2000 that provides a time-saving service for the busy dry cleaning consumer. About FranchiseSforSale.com Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com FranchiseSforSale.com is your “#1 Resource for Buying a Franchise.” All the brands on the site are chosen for their focus on growth and franchisee support. Informative articles help prepare you for the franchise award process. Go to www.FranchiseSforSale.com for franchise success. |
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