For Cindy, a visit to the franchise parent company of Teddybox, United Franchise Group, in Hollis (NH), helped seal her decision. Of course, by this time, she and her partner, Andy, her father, had already spent almost six months researching businesses they might open in East Asia.

Casting a wide net at first, they looked at all options, including purchasing an independent business. They chose a franchise because they liked all the support and training offered as part of the deal.

“For me it was the one-on-one interactions with the owners that was huge,” Cindy said. Meeting other franchisees who shared their own experiences and offered a ready support network raised Cindy’s comfort level with this new business.

During a carefully choreographed Discovery Day, Cindy was greeted by her “host” at her hotel and taken to company headquarters, where she met with current franchisees, technology, and financial support staff. She toured a “brand new, state-of-the-art training facility,” all of which convinced Cindy this was the business for her.

Franchise Discovery Day will either reel you in with a display of stellar services and support staff or you’ll discover something about the franchisor that sends you to the exit with a feeling of doubt…