What is the risk of franchising too fast?
The other day, over coffee and my very crumbly blueberry muffin, someone asked:
“Is there such a thing as growing too quickly?”
Short answer? Yes.
Longer answer? Let’s talk franchising.
When you're building a franchise, there's a lot of excitement. People are calling. Interest is building. You're thinking of the cities you’ll be in next year — maybe the whole country.
It feels so good.
But sometimes… growth shows up before you're ready.
The Foundation Has to Come First
When a franchise grows fast, it’s easy to think that’s always a good thing. More locations. More revenue. More buzz.
But behind the scenes?
Systems can start to crack.
Teams get stretched thin.
Communication gets wobbly.
And suddenly you’re not building a brand — you're patching holes.
Here’s what tends to happen when the pace outpaces the plan:
Support teams can't keep up with franchisees
Processes get inconsistent
Training falls behind
The original mission starts to blur
None of it happens overnight. It’s slow, and sneaky. And by the time you notice, you're already sprinting.
So, What Can You Do?
It really comes down to this: Don’t skip the boring stuff.
I know — it’s more fun to talk about signage and social media than operational checklists or backend support.
But those unglamorous pieces?
They’re what hold the whole thing together.
Before opening more doors, ask:
Can our systems handle 5 more locations?
Do we have enough staff to support them?
Is our culture solid enough to scale?
Because once the doors open and customers walk in… they’re going to expect the same experience, every time.
Slow Can Be Smart
Not everything needs to be slow.
But sometimes — for the sake of your people, your brand, and your peace of mind — it’s worth moving with intention.
One extra month spent refining a system is worth six months of not fixing it later.
One good franchisee who feels seen and supported is better than five who feel forgotten.
And the best part? When your foundation is strong, growth actually becomes easier.
Back to the Beginning
So… what happens when you grow too fast?
Things break.
People burn out.
And the heart of the business can start to feel a little less clear.
But if you focus on the foundation, move with intention, and give your systems time to breathe, the growth will come — and it’ll last.
And that blueberry muffin I mentioned earlier?
It was just okay.
But the conversation? Totally worth it.
*This is not an offer to sell a franchise. Franchise offerings are made only through the delivery of a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD)*
