Keys to Leading a Successful Franchise, as Revealed by Leading Franchise Owners
In the July 2025 issue of [Brand Name], we delve into the qualities that set the best franchisors apart, offering insights from industry leaders such as Adam Sartin, Eric Martin, and Doug Dickison.
Adam Sartin, Vice President of Franchise Growth and Development at Motto Mortgage, believes that visionary franchisors who build a brand as a movement, prioritise transparency, consistency, and culture, and provide franchisees with tools, a playbook, and the freedom to win, while maintaining the essence of what makes the brand great.
Eric Martin, Senior Vice President of Franchise Development at Lawn Doctor, asserts that great franchisors create advisory councils and have a feedback loop that allows franchisees to share what is working and opportunities for improvement. The best of the best aggregate mistakes and create open channels for the sharing of best practices among franchisees.
Doug Dickison, Founder and Chairman of Destination Athlete, states that the best franchisors have an entrepreneurial mindset, approach the business with a creative and innovative spirit, always looking for new opportunities and ways to grow and evolve, and are willing to take calculated risks, adapt to changes in the market, and be proactive in driving the success of their franchise network.
Successful franchisors possess traits such as visionary leadership with a clear game plan, dedication to transparency, consistency, and culture, and the ability to empower franchisees by providing tools and freedom to succeed without diluting the brand essence. Industry leaders emphasise servant leadership qualities, including empathy, encouragement, and respect, fostering long-term relationships with franchisees and stakeholders, which builds trust, innovation, and purpose within the franchise system.
To stay competitive, successful franchisors build brands that are movements rather than just businesses, focusing on culture and transparency to differentiate themselves. They practice servant leadership to strengthen franchisee relations, enabling growth through mentorship and resource support, thus driving collective success. Adapting marketing strategies, pricing models, and support services to regional nuances ensures sustained franchise viability across diverse markets.
Leveraging firsthand franchisee experience when transitioning to franchisor roles, applying practical insights to improve unit economics and franchisee support, is another key strategy. Utilising scalable and quality-controlled franchise models, such as manufacturing franchises, maintains product consistency and efficient supply chains for smoother brand expansion.
These combined traits and strategies enable franchisors to build resilient networks while fostering franchisee success, which is crucial for competitiveness and growth in their industries.
For franchise leaders, whether they already own a franchise or are thinking about getting involved, we encourage reflection on their own approach and finding areas to grow. This article is aimed at inspiring and empowering franchise leaders to strive for greatness in their franchising journey.
In related articles, we explore why some franchisees crush it and others fail, and delve into the importance of local brand name-ship as the secret weapon of great franchises.
- Visionary franchisors, such as Adam Sartin, build their brands as movements, prioritizing transparency, consistency, and culture, providing franchisees with tools, a playbook, and the freedom to win, while maintaining the essence of what makes the brand great.
- Eric Martin advocates for advisory councils and a feedback loop among franchisors, allowing franchisees to share what is working and opportunities for improvement, ultimately aggregating mistakes and creating open channels for sharing best practices.
- Doug Dickison emphasizes the need for an entrepreneurial mindset, creativity, innovation, and a willingness to take calculated risks for franchisors to grow and evolve, adapt to market changes, and drive the success of their franchise network.
- Successful franchisors prioritize visionary leadership, commitment to transparency, consistency, and culture, and empower franchisees with the necessary tools for success, all while preserving the brand's essence.
- To maintain competitiveness, franchisors focus on building brands as movements rather than businesses, leverage servanthood qualities to strengthen franchisee relationships, and adapt marketing strategies to diverse regional nuances.
- For franchise leaders, it's important to reflect on their own approach, find areas to grow, and strive for greatness. This article serves as inspiration and empowerment for leading franchises to success and growth through resilient networks and franchisee empowerment.
