When it comes to recruiting franchisees, a great deal of time and resources naturally needs to go into pushing the benefits of joining a franchise. Selling, yes, but also nurturing, encouraging and guiding prospects through to making a decision, and focusing on all the reasons why this might be the right choice for them.
It’s the main reason why we have focused on bringing a whole team of specialists to bear for our partners, rather than just a single consultant. Experts who can help with everything from qualifying prospects, to marketing, design, and tech platforms.
However, just as much work needs to go into overcoming obstacles to recruitment, of course.
These can be many and varied, and no two leads have the same journey but, in our experience, one of the most common hurdles which prevent prospects from taking the next step is money. Funding, or the perceived lack of it, is one of the most common and frustrating blockers in franchisee recruitment. It’s a conversation that can feel awkward to navigate, and unless you have the right solution to offer, it can bring an otherwise promising recruitment journey to a grinding halt.
So, what can you actually do about it?
We’ve been asking ourselves that question for a while, and we’re pleased to say we now have a proper answer – or, rather, a solution.
We’ve recently formalised a partnership with Gary Chatwin of BM Finance Ltd, who joins us as TFC’s dedicated Funding Introducer. Gary is an experienced specialist who works with franchise candidates to explore the full range of funding options available to them – from government Startup Loans of up to £25,000 per person, through to commercial loans, asset finance, and refinancing solutions.
The cost of losing a good prospect due to their belief they can’t get funding can be significant, not to mention deeply frustrating. The right funding conversation, handled well, can be the difference between welcoming a new franchisee and starting the whole search again.
Having someone in your corner who can have that conversation professionally, and who understands the franchising landscape, takes the pressure off you, and gives your candidates the best possible chance of making it happen.
Just like everything else we offer at The Franchising Centre, this is a trusted, structured solution which can sit within your existing recruitment process, or as part of a tailored package we can create specifically for your franchise. It is designed to give candidates who need funding a clear, supported path forward, rather than finding themselves at a dead end.
Worth having a conversation about?
If funding has been a sticking point in your recruitment recently, if you’d simply like to understand how this could work within your existing processes, or how it can form part of a package of solutions offered by TFC, I’d be very happy to have a chat.
No obligation – just a chance to explore whether this could help you convert more of the right people, more of the time.
John Overdijking
Franchisee Recruitment Specialist & Partner
