December has a way of sharpening perspective. The noise slows down, the pace shifts, and leaders finally look up from the day-to-day. After spending the past year inside mastermind rooms, boardrooms, advisory councils, franchisee groups, supplier groups, workshops, and one-on-one conversations, a few things have become unmistakably clear.
I just returned from another fantastic Franchise Business Review (FBR) Franchise Summit in Austin, Texas, and this year reminded me exactly why I love this industry.
October is a turning point. The leaves change, the pace of business shifts, and franchisors start looking at the final stretch of the year. Whether you are leading a national brand or managing a supplier team, this is the moment to pause, reset, and get intentional about how you will finish 2025.
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Even the best-run franchise systems hit bumps in the road. Events get off track, communication misses the mark, or execution falls short.
Leadership Isn’t a Title. It’s a Tipping Point.
At the recent Faegre Drinker Franchise Summit, I attended a panel session focused on private equity and M&A in franchising. The panel featured several respected leaders from both the franchise and investment sides of the industry.
As a franchisor, you’ve probably experienced this: the brand grows steadily, franchisees are joining, but suddenly something feels off. Franchisee performance slows, cracks appear in your system, and frustration sets in for everyone involved.
If you're a franchisor and find yourself thinking…
There’s a moment in nearly every franchisor’s journey when the dream starts to feel like a burden. Growth is happening, the brand is expanding, but the founder? Burned out. Frustrated. Wondering if this is really what they signed up for.
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After decades in franchising, I’ve learned that success isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about sharing what you’ve learned and asking the right questions. I don’t claim to know it all, but if you’re facing a challenge in your franchise system, chances are, I’ve seen it, lived it, or helped someone else navigate it.
John Francis is an enthusiastic, engaging business advisor and an entertaining public speaker for franchise brands because he speaks from experience and from the heart. Franchising is in his blood; his parents were true pioneers in the industry, turning their family haircutting business into a 1,000-salon franchise empire. He has been both a franchisee and a franchisor, giving him a deep understanding of the challenges each group faces. Engage John as an advisor or to speak at your event, and you and your franchisees will learn to view your business in new, positive, and profitable ways.