Liniger Center Partners With National Pickleball Franchisor for Educational Opportunities

One of the country's institutions for franchising education has partnered with an established leading provider of indoor pickleball clubs to upskill businesspeople across the United States.

Maryland-based and national franchise Dill Dinkers® has committed to sending all new franchise support employees and new franchisees to the University of Denver’s Liniger Center on Franchising (a division of the Daniels College of Business) as part of their onboarding training program.

“Franchise education is so important to long-term success,” said Kevin Betts, executive director of the Liniger Center. “Understanding the key tenets of the franchise model and learning strategies from experts who have done it plants a solid foundation for a successful experience.”

Through the partnership, new Dill Dinkers franchise support employees and franchisees take the Introduction to Franchising course, an asynchronous, 10-hour online program that establishes a strong foundation in the franchise model and sets the stage for more advanced franchise learning. Topics of study include the history and language of franchising, the legal framework of the franchise business model, key management components, and case studies that challenge students to apply their newfound knowledge in real-world scenarios. Staff and students who go on to the higher-level courses also receive corporate discounts for their tuition.

“Not many institutions provide this kind of high-quality education and resources on franchising,” said Will Richards, co-founder and CEO of Dill Dinkers. “Through the Liniger Center, I know our employees will be equipped to tackle the unique challenges franchisees and franchisors face in the business world. It's a tremendously valuable asset for growing our brand.”

The Liniger Center was founded in 2022 thanks to a donation from RE/MAX founders Dave and Gail Liniger. It offers guidance, support, and resources to both franchisors and franchisees through education, networking, and thought leadership. In addition to its introductory course, the center also offers two, on-campus 3-day workshops, which dive deeper into the franchise model from the franchisor and the franchisee lifecycle perspective. All of the courses at the Liniger Center are approved for CFE credits through the International Franchise Association.

“It's such a dynamic industry,” Betts said. “Keeping sharp on your skills and learning from others is always helpful. It's fundamental for both the franchisor staff and franchisees to learn the complexities and flexibilities of the franchise model and to execute it for an optimized outcome.”