--- title: "Franchisee Support Network: Building Success Through Collaboration" url: https://burnaze.com/article/e82b7bc0-a8ec-46cd-b274-4c45726115d1 source: "1851 Franchise" original_url: https://1851franchise.com/strategicfranchising/building-a-network-how-franchisees-support-and-learn-from-each-other-2729453 category: "Franchise Industry" industry: "Franchise Industry" topics: ["Development & multi-unit","Marketing"] published: 2025-05-23T18:13:46.000Z modified: 2026-10-31T16:54:14.009Z image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/4ebb624f54dc1f2c587415bb1f9257b18312.jpg --- # Franchisee Support Network: Building Success Through Collaboration **TL;DR:** Strategic Franchising Systems has built a collaborative ecosystem where franchisees grow together through conferences, online platforms, peer mentorship, and advisory councils. The Fresh Coat Franchise Advisory Council, with 10-12 elected franchisees, represents the broader network and acts as a bridge between franchisees and the corporate team. *originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2025-05-23. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/strategicfranchising/building-a-network-how-franchisees-support-and-learn-from-each-other-2729453).* ## Key facts - Strategic Franchising has 10-12 franchisees on its advisory council - Franchisees use The Circle platform for daily communication - Sister brands like Fresh Coat and TruBlue refer clients to each other ## Story In franchising, the brand is your foundation — but the network is your secret weapon. Across the Strategic Franchising Systems portfolio, franchisees aren’t just business owners following a system. They’re part of a collaborative ecosystem where shared challenges turn into collective solutions, and success stories become roadmaps for others. Whether it's through conferences, online platforms, peer mentorship or advisory councils, Strategic Franchising has built a culture where franchisees grow together. That sense of community is more than a feel-good perk — it’s a strategic advantage. ## Franchisee Collaboration A shining example of this peer-to-peer collaboration is the Fresh Coat Franchise Advisory Council (FAC). Recently, a new group of franchisees was elected to serve on the FAC, a group that represents the broader network and acts as a bridge between franchisees and the corporate team. “Our franchisees nominate their peers, and an election is then held to select 10-12 individuals who we, at the corporate level, meet with quarterly and beyond to both listen and share,” said Lisa Hudson, brand president of Fresh Coat Painters. “It’s about giving our franchisees a voice and ensuring we’re working together to help them grow their investment.” The FAC not only advises on overarching business strategies but also forms specialized committees for key areas like marketing, commercial growth and communication. These committees allow franchisees to contribute meaningfully to the development of programs that impact the system as a whole. For franchisees, being part of the FAC fosters camaraderie and connection. Leaders like Sarah Ross, former FAC chairperson and award-winning Fresh Coat franchisee, exemplify the council’s mission. “She proactively reached out to other franchise owners to make sure they felt their voices were being heard,” Hudson said. “She was a great communicator with our team, bridging any gap there may have been between franchisor and franchisees.” ## Daily Communication Tools Beyond formal councils, Fresh Coat also promotes daily communication and idea-sharing through The Circle, an online platform that allows franchisees across the country to connect in real time. “We have multiple channels for communication,” said Jeffrey Deraway, vice president of operations and education at Fresh Coat. “The Circle allows franchisees to ask questions, seek advice and discuss challenges. Owners from across the country, with varying levels of experience, can share insights and offer solutions.” This kind of peer mentorship ensures no owner has to navigate entrepreneurship alone. Whether you’re troubleshooting a job site issue, looking for a marketing idea or simply need support, there’s always another franchisee who’s been there and is willing to help. ## Cross Brand Partnerships The collaborative culture doesn’t stop at the brand level. Within Strategic Franchising, sister brands like Fresh Coat and TruBlue Home Service Ally often work together to refer clients, share booth space at local events and build each other’s businesses. “When our customers need handyman services beyond painting, we can confidently refer them to TruBlue franchisees who uphold the same standards of professionalism and quality that define our brand,” Hudson said. This cooperation translates into greater customer satisfaction, increased business for both parties and a tighter-knit franchisee community. “We’ve always promoted our franchisees working together in markets they are in,” said Sean Fitzgerald, president of TruBlue. “It makes sense. As Fresh Coat franchisees complete large projects, their clients will often ask, ‘Do you know someone who can fix this?’ If it’s beyond their scope, they can refer the client to us. And since we don’t do large painting projects, we can refer to Fresh Coat as well.” Whether through structured councils, casual message boards or cross-brand collaboration, franchisees in the Strategic Franchising network benefit from something rare in business ownership: a trusted group of peers who are invested in each other’s success. By leveraging shared experiences, franchisees can navigate challenges faster, execute better and feel more connected to a mission that’s larger than their individual territory. It’s a reminder that in franchising — and in business — the best growth often comes when we grow together. ## Entities - 1851 Franchise (publication) - Multi-Unit (sector) - franchisee support (topic) - Sean Fitzgerald (person) - Fresh Coat Painters (company) - Strategic Franchising Systems (company) - TruBlue Home Service Ally (company) - Lisa Hudson (person) - Sarah Ross (person) - advisory council (topic) - Jeffrey Deraway (person) - peer mentorship (topic) --- Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/strategicfranchising/building-a-network-how-franchisees-support-and-learn-from-each-other-2729453). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/e82b7bc0-a8ec-46cd-b274-4c45726115d1).