Winning Franchises

Winners of the American Association of Franchisees 2019 Total Quality Franchising Awards

As a franchisee it can be very difficult to choose the right company with which to partner. There are plenty of franchisors, and making the wrong decision and ending up with a dishonest business can be an incredibly costly mistake. The American Association of Franchisees and Dealers (AAFD) was founded to level the playing field and help aspiring franchisees by exposing unethical franchises and educating the public about proper franchising ethics and which franchise opportunities should be pursued.

Each year, the AAFD holds its Total Quality Franchising Awards to recognize “the very best in franchising, and in franchise association empowerment.” Winning a Total Quality Franchise Award is more than just an honor to the recipient, it’s a sign that the business is one that aspiring franchisees can feel comfortable choosing as a partner. This month, BOSS looks at some of the winners of the AAFD’s Total Quality Franchising Awards.

Franchisor of the Year Award

The AAFD’s prestigious Franchisor of the Year Award “is awarded annually to an organization that goes above and beyond to meet the AAFD’s Fair Franchising Standards and fosters collaborative, successful relationships with franchisees.” This year, the award went to Griswold Home Care, which offers in-home care to seniors and adults with disabilities or illnesses. Being a franchisee with the company allows entrepreneurs to be their own boss, make money, and find their calling helping people through difficult times.

Griswold was given the award for its dedication to sharing guiding principles with its franchisees. Griswold’s COO, Mike Magid, commented, “We are incredibly honored to be named AAFD’s Franchisor of the Year for the second time. Our team has worked endlessly to create and maintain a franchise system built on mutual respect and cooperation, and receiving this recognition is truly a testament to our efforts.”

AAFD Chapter of the Year Award

The 2019 AAFD Chapter of the Year Award was actually awarded to two franchises in a tie and given to member chapters of 9Round Fitness and Pearle Vision. 9Round Fitness is a gym franchise that features a full body workout in 30 minutes rotating through nine stations. It boasts “the benefits of a kickboxing workout, without the getting hit part,” and provides trainers for guidance and motivation. A low overhead and low cost of entry make it accessible for franchisees who have a penchant for fitness.

As a franchise, Pearle Vision has more than 500 locations throughout the US and Canada, making it one of the largest optical retailers in North America. With such size comes buying power that allows franchisees access to an efficient and low-cost supply chain. Despite it being a healthcare franchise, a medical degree is not required of franchisees looking to enter the recession-proof industry.

Rookie Chapter of the Year Award

A member chapter of Tutor Doctor was given the Total Quality Franchise Rookie Chapter of the Year Award. Tutor Doctor is an in-home tutoring service that has served more than 200,000 students in 16 countries. Franchisees can become part of a business that is expected to be worth more than $128 billion by the end of 2020. Incredibly low overhead and a high earning potential with the ability to make your own schedule make Tutor Doctor an appealing franchise for many entrepreneurs.  Through training in the Tutor Doctor model, franchisees are primed for success.

Trailblazer Awards

The 2019 Trailblazer Awards went to Angela Ferber and April Porter of 9Round Fitness, Carmine Mazzarella of Pearle Vision, and the IATDF Board of Directors at Tutor Doctor. Other Trailblazer Awards recipients included: Mark Carmody of Business Network International (BNI), a networking organization with more than 250,000 members around the world and nearly 9,000 local chapters; Marne Whitney of Barre 3, a fitness studio franchise whose mature studios average $414,000 per year; and Steven Goodwin of iTrip Vacations, which allows franchisees to manage the vacation homes of clients and market their rentals using iTrip’s proprietary software.

AAFD as a Resource

AAFD allows members to join as an Associate, a Franchise Chapter Member, or an Affiliate. In addition to perusing AAFD’s list of honorees and award winners to see which standout franchises are worth considering as a franchisee, the organization serves as an online resource for those considering buying a franchise. AAFD’s website features links to a “Franchise Evaluation Tool,” an information packet for aspiring franchisees, their “Franchisee LegaLine” which assists in finding a good franchise lawyer, a bookstore, and much more.

Franchisees looking to be sure they make the right decision before signing a contract with a franchisor need to fully vet their partners and take advantage of every available resource before making a commitment.