---
title: "How To Succeed as A Multi-Unit Franchisee: Tara McLain, Hand & Stone"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/69dd92d3-8fe2-45dc-b39f-905c9de14512
source: "1851 Franchise"
original_url: https://1851franchise.com/how-to-succeed-as-a-multi-unit-franchisee-tara-mclain-hand-stone-2715980
category: "Spa & massage"
industry: "Beauty & Wellness"
segment: "Spa & massage"
topics: ["Development & multi-unit"]
published: 2021-06-11T15:10:00.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T02:25:35.135Z
image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/900fdf9e5a9f4e4a19b683c49ccdfd278092.jpg
---

# How To Succeed as A Multi-Unit Franchisee: Tara McLain, Hand & Stone

**TL;DR:** Tara McLain, a multi-unit franchisee of Hand & Stone, shares her experience and advice on how to succeed as a franchisee. She owns four Florida locations with the brand and emphasizes the importance of building a strong team and support network.

*originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2021-06-11. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/how-to-succeed-as-a-multi-unit-franchisee-tara-mclain-hand-stone-2715980).*

## Story

Tara McLain worked with several other franchises before discovering Hand & Stone. But after experiencing Hand & Stone’s services for herself as a customer, she was sold on the new opportunity. Now, she owns four Florida locations with the 475-plus unit massage and facial spa franchise.

When McLain was a member at her local Hand & Stone spa, she reached out directly to corporate to discuss franchising opportunities with the brand. “I got in touch with a regional developer and from there, talked to other owners about the brand, read reviews about the brand and eventually opened my first location,” she said.

McLain says she focuses on her location’s team members rather than focusing on herself as a leader, and that is why she believes she has found success as a multi-unit owner.

“It’s not about me — it’s about the team that we’ve created in each individual location,” she said. “And it’s about empowering the leaders within the organization to want to be there and build the culture.”

McLain advises other franchisees who are looking to expand their portfolio to do the same. “Work on building a team, allowing your leaders to feel important and valued, and try not to micromanage them,” she emphasized.

McLain believes a strong support network is essential for brands to generate franchisee interest. “Right now, we have regional developers who come into the spa on a quarterly basis and visit with our leaders to provide feedback and positive reinforcement,” she said. “I think having hands-on access to a corporate office is why Hand & Stone has become so successful. If I were to look at a different brand, I’d be looking at what kind of support network they have outside of the local store.”

## Entities

- 1851 Franchise (publication)
- Beauty & Wellness (sector)
- Florida (location)
- franchise success (topic)
- multi-unit franchisee (topic)
- Hand & Stone (company)
- team building (topic)
- support network (topic)

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Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/how-to-succeed-as-a-multi-unit-franchisee-tara-mclain-hand-stone-2715980). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/69dd92d3-8fe2-45dc-b39f-905c9de14512).