Joel Libava
“Discoveries are often made by not following instructions, by going off the main road, by trying the untried.” – Frank Tyge
Sometimes, it’s important to approach things…important things, in a unique way.
You should have an “angle.” I don’t mean that you should approach the franchisees that you’re calling and visiting as you do your research in a sinister way. I just want you to get creative so that you can really get to the heart of the matter. So you can get the answers you need to make a decision.
Investigating A Franchise
You have a lot to do.
And, you want to do it right. That’s because if you do decide to move forward with the franchise that you’ve been laser-focused on for months, you want to be able to sleep well at night. The only way to rest easy is to be sure of your decision. You need to have confidence that you’ve done all the right things… that you’ve made all the right moves.
You’re making a right move right now by reading this blog post.
That’s because I’m going to provide you with a really powerful question that you can (and should) ask of every franchise owner you call and/or visit. It’s one of 40 top questions you need to ask as part of your franchise research.
The Power of Visuals
Franchise question #39 is designed to put the franchisees you’re asking it to in a certain state of mind. It’s meant to take them back in time. It’s a very visual question.
“If I was a really good college buddy who was interested in this franchise for my area of the country, would you recommend it? Why, or why not? “
What you want to have happen in the seconds after you posed that question is this:
You want the person on the other end of the phone (or who’s right in front of you) to see some of their college friends. You want them to do some brief time-travelling. You want them to spend 10-15 seconds in their old college dorms…or at a college football game. Or, at graduation.
Then you want them to pretend that you actually are one of their old college friends as they answer the question you just asked.
If you ask this in a super-sincere way…a super-friendly way, (smile when you ask the question) you’ll be getting an answer that is as close to the truth as humanely possible.
That’s what you want to have happen as you’re investigating a franchise.
About the Author
The Franchise King®, Joel Libava, is a leading franchise expert, author of "Become a Franchise Owner!" and "The Definitive Guide to Franchise Research." Featured in outlets like The New York Times, CNBC, and Franchise Direct, Joel’s no-nonsense approach as a trusted Franchise Ownership Advisor helps aspiring franchisees make smart, informed decisions in their journey to franchise ownership. He owns and operates this franchise blog.
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