If you're investigating a franchise, you've likely heard a common concern from current owners: hiring is a challenge.

While the current labor market has its unique quirks, the reality is that finding the right people has always been critical to successful business ownership. It's not a challenge unique to our time; it's an enduring part of running a business.

As partner Kris Simonich and senior franchise consultant Andrea Floyd explain, successful franchisees don't eliminate the hiring challenge—they mitigate it and master the systems provided to overcome it.

Mitigating the Labor Challenge: Look for a Lean Model

When a client expresses concern about hiring, the most helpful advice is to manage the size of the labor pool they need to manage.

• The Simple Solution: If finding good employees is hard, the logical solution is to not need a lot of them.
• Lean Business Models: Many successful franchises in our portfolio allow owners to build very significant, seven-figure businesses with a relatively small staff—often just four, five, or six employees.
• The Difference is Scale: While finding four to six high-quality employees won't be effortless, it is far more achievable and manageable than having to recruit and manage 30, 40, or 50 staff members.

When investigating franchises, consider systems designed for high revenue and lower head count to mitigate the initial labor challenge.

Leveraging the Franchise System to Find the Best People

The power of franchising is that you don't have to face any challenge, including hiring, alone. Successful franchisees leverage the entire system and network to find and develop talent.

1. Tap into the Franchisor's Expertise

The franchisor has already spent years figuring out who the ideal candidate is for their specific business model.

• Ask the Right Questions: Use your investigation process to ask the franchisor:
  • What are the traits of your top-performing employees?
  • What is the profile of the best-fit person for this job?
  • What unique hiring resources or strategies do you provide?

2. Consult the Franchisee Network

One of the most valuable resources you have is the network of existing franchise owners. They are actively facing the same challenge and finding solutions.

• Pick up the Phone: When validating the business, always ask current franchisees: "How are you finding your really great people? Are you finding any unique ways to recruit?"
• Sharing Best Practices: The network is a source of cutting-edge, tested recruitment strategies that you can adopt immediately.

3. Focus on Unique Talent Sources

Successful owners often go beyond general job boards and look for talent in specific, targeted locations.

• Trade Schools and Vocational Programs: For service-based or specialized concepts (like the barbershop example mentioned in the video), engaging with trade schools and giving presentations is a great way to identify motivated talent.
• Relationship Building: You can spot potentially good employees by noting who comes up and asks questions after a presentation. Building relationships with these institutions creates a pipeline of motivated people.

Hiring is the Start, Development is the Finish

Finding the right people is the initial effort, but retaining and growing them is where true success lies.

• Commitment to Development: Once you find those key employees, the real growth happens when you are good at developing people. A good franchise system provides training and resources not just for the owner, but for their staff as well.
• Embrace the Process: You may have to "kiss a few frogs" before you find the "prince" (the long-term, excellent employee). The key is putting in the effort, recognizing the value of those employees, and continuing to invest in their growth.

While hiring will always be a challenge in business, choosing a lean franchise model and rigorously leveraging the support system and network gives you a massive advantage over starting a business alone.