What to Expect After Opening a Franchise

Key Areas of Franchise Support That Drive Franchisee Success

Once you have completed the selection process and decided to invest in a franchise, it is important to understand the type of support you will receive once your business is up and running. This includes training, operational assistance, and marketing support. In our previous article, we explained how the franchisor supports you before signing the franchise agreement. In this article, we focus on the support you can expect once your business opens its doors.

Initial and Ongoing Training

Training is essential for new franchisees to learn how to operate their franchise successfully. At a minimum, franchisees should receive a comprehensive operations manual outlining the rules, standards, specifications, responsibilities, and day-to-day tasks required to run the business. It should also include detailed guidance on the key processes, operating procedures, performance standards, and management practices that define the franchise system.

Depending on the franchise, training may be delivered in various formats, including face-to-face sessions at the corporate headquarters, a dedicated training centre, or the future franchisee's own location, as well as through online learning. Some franchisors also provide pre-training modules via their intranet or require franchisees to complete third-party courses and certifications.

Although the cost of the training programme is usually included in the franchise fee, franchisees are generally responsible for their own travel and accommodation expenses.

At Mail Boxes Etc., the initial training programme lasts a total of nine weeks, consisting of six weeks of practical training at an MBE Center and three weeks of online theoretical training. After completing the initial programme, franchisees benefit from ongoing training throughout the life of their business via MBEiLearn, MBE's dedicated online learning platform, where new content is continuously added to keep franchisees up to date with the latest developments. In addition, several network conventions are held each year, bringing franchisees together to share knowledge, strengthen relationships, and reinforce collaboration across the network.

To learn more about our training programme, we invite you to watch our video interview and read the interviews with Joan Serratosa, Learning & Development Manager, and Elisabet Bernet, Learning & Development Specialist.

• Training is essential to help new franchisees successfully operate and grow their franchise business.
• At MBE, every franchisee is assigned a dedicated supervisor from day one to guide and support them on their journey to success.

Operational Support

When you join a franchise network, you are assigned a dedicated supervisor whose role is to help improve your business performance on-site while ensuring that brand standards are consistently maintained. Support with supply chain management, training on new products and services, and marketing assistance is typically provided by the franchisor's Head Office. Administrative, technical, and operational support is also commonly available, along with guidance on employee management and day-to-day business challenges.

Franchisors also regularly organise regional meetings and annual conventions where franchisees can meet the corporate management team, fellow franchisees, and key suppliers. These events provide valuable networking opportunities, introduce new business developments, and deliver advanced training. In addition, many franchise systems provide an intranet or internal communication platform that enables franchisees to exchange ideas, share best practices, and learn from one another.

At MBE, every franchisee is assigned a dedicated supervisor from the very beginning, providing both commercial and operational support to help grow the business. Our Head Office is also supported by an experienced team of specialists who assist franchisees with any operational, administrative, supplier, or technical issues that may arise.

You can also learn more about our support team by reading interviews with some of MBE's supervisors, including Ángel Fernández, Carlos Rodríguez, and Rafael Vergel.

Marketing and Advertising Support

Effective marketing and advertising are essential to the success of any business. The strongest franchise brands invest in campaigns that both increase brand awareness nationally and internationally while also supporting franchisees at a local level.

The franchisor should provide guidance and support throughout the launch process, helping franchisees introduce their business to the local market and promote their new Center. Most franchisors also require franchisees to contribute to a brand marketing fund, which finances marketing initiatives across the entire franchise network. This contribution is always specified in the franchise agreement.

At Mail Boxes Etc., we invest in a multichannel marketing strategy that combines nationwide campaigns with local digital and offline initiatives. This balanced approach allows us to strengthen the MBE brand while preserving the individuality of each franchisee. Ultimately, when investing in a franchise, it is essential to fully understand the type of support you will receive across every area of the business. If a specific support service is not mentioned in the franchise agreement, it is advisable to discuss it before signing to avoid misunderstandings later. Finally, we also recommend reading reviews from existing franchisees to gain first-hand insight into the level of support provided by the franchisor.