I read an article recently about questions a franchisor should ask a prospective franchisee. I was intrigued because, well, this is about 60% of my job—talking to people who are considering becoming a Great Clips franchisee. I wondered, "Are these suggested questions things I actually ask?"
The article laid out a solid list of questions, covering everything from financial readiness to personal motivation. For me, the ones that resonated were: Do you have the financial stability to run the business? Do your values align with the brand’s? Do you have the time and support to make this work? Pretty straightforward, right?
As I read through the article, I realized that, yes, these are very similar to some of the questions I typically ask during my initial conversations with candidates When I initially get to know candidates, I try to approach each interview with a balance of objective and subjective criteria.
The first objective hurdle for candidates is financial. We need to make sure prospective franchisees meet Great Clips’ financial qualifications. If a new franchisee isn’t financially secure, it’s going to be tough for them to succeed, no matter how motivated they are. Determination is great, but it only takes you so far if you can’t pay the bills. So, understanding the prospect’s financial picture is critical. We don’t want someone to struggle because they don’t have enough capital to operate their franchise.
Once we’ve established financial readiness, I shift gears and start looking at the more personal side of things. Do they have the drive and time to make this franchised salon business work? Do they have a support system in place? This part of the process takes longer because it’s more subjective. It’s easy to say, “Sure, I have time for this,” but if a candidate can’t carve out an hour for weekly research calls, that’s a red flag to me. That tells me they might not actually have the bandwidth to manage a hair salon franchise at this point in their life, even if they are very excited about the idea of starting a business.
The initial conversation overall is a great time to get to know the candidate as a person: What are their goals? How do they see a hair salon franchise helping them to achieve those goals? Why is entrepreneurship attractive to them? I also really enjoy hearing the candidate's questions—it keeps the conversation dynamic and gives me a chance to learn more about them personally.
At the end of the day, my goal is to find people who not only meet the objective requirements but also have the passion and lifestyle that align with the demands and rewards of owning a Great Clips franchise. It’s about creating a partnership that sets up both sides for long-term success.
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Are you thinking about investing in a trusted franchise brand? Give me a call! I’d love to talk to you. And, check out if Great Clips is right for you by taking this quick quiz.
Beth Nilssen
Director of Franchise Development | Great Clips, Inc.
800-947-1143 | [email protected]