What should I expect from a franchisor’s initial training course?

As the person responsible for the day-to-day running of one of the outlets that operates under a franchisor’s name and system, you will need to know how to do, or how to manage the people who will do, all the tasks that need to be carried out and the standard to which they should be performed. In some businesses that’s a tall order, and takes a long time. In others it’s relatively simple, but in all cases everything should be clearly laid out in the operations manual, which underpins the training.  Just about any franchisor will train you in ‘how to run the store’, but many forget to include ‘how to run the business’. By that I mean they will cover all the operational aspects in detail, but will often neglect financial management, staffing and employment issues, local marketing and business planning skills.  If you will be employing staff, some or all of them may also be trained by the franchisor, either at a central school or on-site at either your or another outlet. The best way to find out whether the proposed training is adequate and effective is to ask other franchisees who have been through it. It’s also important to ask how much ongoing training is provided to keep you ahead of your competitors in all aspects of the business.