Meet the Franchisor in Person: Discovery Day Done Right (Step 17 of 18)
Discovery Day – Meeting Your Future Franchise Team
When you visit the franchise headquarters for Discovery Day, you should already be 90% sure that this is the right franchise for you. Think of this as your final step, not your first. Here’s how to maximize this crucial visit:
Prepare Thoroughly
Final Questions: Create a clear list of lingering questions or items needing clarification.
Two-Way Interview: Remember, this day is about mutual evaluation. Showing uncertainty or asking basic questions could signal to the franchisor that you haven't done enough homework.
Focus on the Team
Discovery Day is mostly about meeting and getting comfortable with the franchise team you'll partner with for years. It’s an opportunity to understand their working style and ensure you click personally and professionally.
Expect demonstrations of franchise systems, software, or operations you’ve already discussed. There should be no major surprises, just deeper insights.
Insist on In-Person Meetings
If the franchisor suggests a virtual Discovery Day, strongly request an in-person meeting instead. Unless the brand has thousands of locations, you deserve to meet face-to-face with the team you'll be relying on.
Don’t be swayed by assurances that others have made decisions virtually. Who cares? Lots of people make franchise decisions based on loose levels of research. You aren’t them. You haven’t cut corners in your franchise research process up to this point, why do it at the very end?
Reflect Carefully
After Discovery Day, take a moment to step back and reflect:
Checklist Confirmation: Does this franchise meet all your criteria?
Goals Alignment: Does it align with your personal and professional goals?
Support and Training: Are the promised training and ongoing support adequate and clear?
Team Compatibility: Do you genuinely like and trust the operational team?
Be disciplined. If the franchise doesn’t fully match your checklist, don’t compromise because it’s almost checks all the boxes, or you really like the founder, or you don’t want to start over from square 1 or any other excuse you can think of. This is a major, life changing decision, and you can not compromise.
On the other hand, Don’t let fear get in the way of the rest of your life. Stick to the plan. If it checks the boxes, move forward and start building the business, and the life, you have always wanted.
