Franchising is a lot like Fight Club. Once you are in, you are in for life. Danielle Wright, CFE, joins Sean McKay to explain how a career that started in commercial real estate and land acquisition turned into 15 years of franchise development. Danielle shares the reality of the industry: it is a vast world, but everyone is only two or three degrees of separation away from one another.

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Danielle shares her "scars" from business ownership. She discusses a retail franchise she bought that required an owner-operator presence, even though she lived two hours away. She admits she tried to force the business to fit her life rather than adapting to the business. Sean and Danielle also discuss her "hot take" on Franchise Sales Organizations (FSOs). She argues that emerging brands often rush to hire FSOs before they are ready, leaving them with growth they cannot support.

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Guest Bio

Danielle Wright, CFE, is the President of FranCoach and Create A Shift. She is a franchise development professional with over 25 years of combined experience in franchising and commercial real estate. She previously served as the Chief Development Officer for Premium Service Brands. Based in Florida, she also co-hosts The Franchising 360 Show and serves as the Chair of the Women’s Franchising Network - Tampa Bay.

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What We Cover

1. Transitioning from commercial real estate leasing to franchise development during the 2008 recession.
2. Why the franchise industry is compared to "the mafia" or Fight Club.
3. The danger of forcing a franchise opportunity to fit your lifestyle when it doesn't.
4. Lessons learned from owning a retail location two hours away from home.
5. The "Hell No FSO" philosophy: Why you might not need a sales organization yet.
6. The importance of kindness and reputation in a small, connected industry.
7. Why business acumen is really just about having "a guy" for everything you don't know how to do.

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Resources Mentioned

1. FranCoach
2. Create A Shift
3. The Franchising 360 Show
4. Dvelop Academy