Years ago, I used to spend Sunday mornings scanning the newspaper want ads to search for that “perfect” job. I’m not sure if I ever did end up finding it.

Some of those want ads used to have some pretty uplifting copy, including things like:

• Competitive pay
• Competitive benefits
• Paid holidays
• Health Insurance
• Vacation time

I forgot one:

• We promote from within

Now we’re talking!

I was able to enjoy the fruits of my labor in some of the jobs that I’ve held over the years. On a personal note, getting promoted from within was a good thing.

From a human resources perspective, internal or current employees can make the best available candidates because they’re already familiar with a company and its culture.

When I work with prospective franchise owners, I always remind them to try to get a feel for the company culture inside the franchise organizations that they’re exploring. However, that’s a little difficult to do over the phone, while viewing a webinar, or via email correspondence.

Luckily, most franchisors hold what’s called a “Discovery Day,” in which invited prospective franchise owners visit company headquarters in person. It’s a great way for both parties to see if they like each other. It’s also a fabulous way for the franchise candidate to get a mini-feel of the company culture.

Fitting in with the company culture is pretty important. It’s obviously important enough for Trade Secrets, a young franchisor out of Canada, to look at acquiring new franchise owners in an innovative way.

They’ve decided to “promote from within.” According to the folks over at the Metro.ca website, Trade Secrets is offering a program called “Manage to Own,” in which “successful store managers are being offered franchise ownership opportunities unavailable elsewhere. They get franchise rates and loans, while having the comfort of staying within an organization they’re familiar with.”

Future franchise owners of Trade Secrets have two ways in which they can be promoted from within:

1. They can apply to become a franchise owner when they start working
2. When their managerial skills and past successes are noted by upper management, an offer is sometimes made. 

Other franchisors that find ways to “promote from within” include:

Petland - They offer an “operating lease” program for employees, who can eventually purchase a franchise from the franchisee that they’re working for, through a long-term arrangement that includes performance reviews, and help getting a business plan together.

AFC Enterprises - Their “New Age of Opportunity” ownership program helped former Church's Fried Chicken employee Lewis Siplin to purchase his own store in the Jacksonville, Florida area after 10 years of rigorous on-the-job training and hard work. He now owns eight successful stores.

Little Caesars - More than 50 Little Caesars Pizza corporate employees, ranging from field colleagues to executives, have transitioned to careers as Little Caesars franchise business owners. One of these employees, Vick Dunn, started working in a Detroit-area Little Caesars when she was 16 years old. She’s now a multi-unit franchisee. (She owns 18 franchises!)

Promoting from within is certainly an innovative way for franchisors to find high-quality franchisees who already know the operation, the market and the company culture.

Do you think more franchisors will start promoting from within? Is it a good idea?  

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