A Father's Advice for Families in Franchising

Some fathers might say that mixing business with family can be messy and challenging. However, if done correctly, the experience can be extremely rewarding and make life as an entrepreneur a little bit easier. The keys to success are trust, respect, discipline, and open communication.

Since opening the first of our 10 Club Pilates franchises in Bradenton, FL, in 2017, my daughter Hannah has been involved in the business in some form, from sales to operations to handling payroll for all our studios. Her involvement in the business has made my franchising journey more fulfilling and successful. Still, it has not been without obstacles and growing pains, which any franchisee working alongside family is bound to experience at some point.

Here are some recommendations for franchisees who are working with their children:

Start them young if the opportunity arises

If the stars align and there is an appropriate job for a teenage family member in the business, it’s worth taking a chance on them. Sometimes, a parent’s tough love can be exactly what a naïve, imprudent, or unruly teenager needs to blossom into a hardworking adult.

In the workplace, employees work harder for managers and bosses they trust and respect, and often, trust and respect are already there with a parent. Although children should still be treated like any other employee. They might push themselves or work harder, knowing that the family’s name is on the line.

Diversify their work experience

While employing your children at a young age can be beneficial, it’s equally important to “release them to the wild” at a certain age, so they can diversify their skill set and work under different leadership styles.

Even though I loved having my daughter work for us, it was important that she went away to college, not only to get an education, but to garner experience with other employers. While at school, she opened and operated two Club Pilates studios under a different owner.

Kids need several years to explore employment opportunities outside of the family business, so they can apply what they’ve learned and start building their own professional network. Even if they don't return to the family business, the experience they gain on their own is invaluable.

Create a buffer between you and your child

Parents often know their child to the core and may inadvertently hold them to unreasonably high expectations or be harder on them than others in the business. Thus, boundaries are essential for working with children.

Parents who own a business should appoint a trusted employee to manage their son or daughter, creating some separation between family and business. This manager can more effectively schedule shifts, provide regular feedback, and conduct annual reviews without any inherent bias.

Delegate meaningful responsibilities

One of the greatest advantages of working with a family member is being able to place trust in someone you know well. As a business grows, franchisees should try delegating responsibilities that they previously handled, or didn’t enjoy handling. Then they can focus on the bigger picture and strategic growth, if that’s part of their plan. Many franchisees go into business to build a legacy for their families, but they can’t do that if they are too far in the weeds.

Franchisees should give their children meaningful work, whether that is payroll, marketing initiatives, or new employee training, and allow them to take ownership. Trust must be earned, and once it is, that trust can become one of the greatest strengths of a family business.

Gary Keith and his business partner own 10 Club Pilates franchises.