Forbes: Franchise Brands Pivot to Survive in Virtual Era

When COVID-19 hit, the majority of businesses across the globe shifted to online platforms and remote working policies. In a recent Forbes article, Founder and CEO of SMB Franchise Advisors Steven Beagelman shares how this shift to online platforms disrupted the franchise industry and how franchisors were able to keep their franchisees engaged and educated on company updates.

For starters, Beagelman says the brand conventions and conferences that typically foster curiosity and forward-thinking conversations have mostly been held via Zoom. This proved to be a blessing in disguise as virtual conferences cost the franchisors a lot less money and resulted in an increase in attendance among the franchisees. Franchisors also increased their communication efforts with franchisees so everyone was on the same page on new policies and information.

While morale may be low among professionals due to the lack of socialization, Beagelman recommends franchisors incentivize franchisees to keep them motivated and on track for success.

“To further incentivize franchisees, franchisors can send along a care package with branded notebooks, calendars or T-shirts,” Beagelman told Forbes. “Franchisees should feel excited, engaged, appreciated and proud to represent their brand.”

If the franchise industry has learned anything from this pandemic, it’s how to be nimble and adapt to new protocols in order to keep business running smoothly. As the franchising world continues to change, it’s important to remember this for the future in order to make quick decisions to keep business on track.