So You Own a Franchise Pt. 1: 8 Recruiting and Retention Tips

If you’re a new franchise owner, or even if you’re an old pro, recruiting and hiring talented employees who are good fits for your business can be daunting. It’s all about attracting the right people and then retaining them. Use these tips to help put you on the right path or to simply check for holes in your process.

1) Use your resources!

The good news is that being part of a franchise network means that there are more resources available to you than the average business owner. You’ve got a network of other franchise owners that you can collaborate with, share your do’s and dont’s with and seek advice from. You can also see what systems your corporate headquarters has already put into place for recruiting, hiring and retaining talented employees.

2) Focus on your company culture.

Have you ever been to a franchise and been impressed with everything from the atmosphere to the customer service, only to go to another location and be completely let down? This is all due to company culture. For better or worse, you are the boss, and you set the tone for the environment. If you are respectful and supportive of your employees and genuinely want to see them grow and succeed, you’re already on the right path.

3) Use automated hiring tools.

No, this doesn’t mean that you’ll be hands-off or that the process will lose its friendly feel. Automated hiring tools are effective in determining whether a candidate will be a good fit. Programs that develop screening questions, assessments and ratings will help save you time in the long run. Check if your corporate headquarters makes this resource available.

4) Hire from within.

When you see an opportunity to promote from within, seize it. This will boost employee morale, increase loyalty and of course, help with retention.

5) Don’t limit your pool.

On the flip side of this, don’t limit your candidate pool when hiring outside. Use job board sites, word of mouth referrals (try a referral program) and social media to their full extents.

6) Paint a (long-term) picture.

Let employees know early on (even during the interview process) what they can expect in terms of growth and promotion potential should they succeed in your business. If someone is in high school, let them know how they can advance in the next couple of years. If someone has a family and is settled down, let them know what their options are in the longer-term.

7) Use positive reinforcement.

Recognize and reward stellar employees. One common way of doing this is through an “Employee of the Month” award.

8) Consider outsourcing.

If you’re just too busy for this part of the job, consider delegating this task to an outside company, such as a staffing agency. This is what they do for a living, so an advantage is that they will most likely have prior experience hiring in your industry.

When it comes down to it, employees are the backbone of your business, so finding the right ones is key. If you’re unsure about your hiring process or new to this aspect of management, it’s always a good idea to talk things over with others in your franchise.