IAM2696 – The Blueprint Advantage: What a Franchise Really Is

The Core of Franchising: Systems Over Logos

Gresham Harkless challenges the common misconception that buying a franchise is simply about acquiring a famous brand name like McDonald’s or Subway. He explains that while a logo is part of the story, a franchise is truly a business powered by someone else’s proven system. By purchasing a franchise, an entrepreneur is essentially buying a proven playbook rather than just a product. This model allows owners to stand “on the shoulders of giants,” leveraging established methods to build their own success.

The Strategic Choice: Scratch vs. Blueprint

Harkless poses a fundamental question to aspiring business owners: do you want to build from scratch or build with a blueprint?. Some entrepreneurs thrive in the “from scratch” phase, enjoying the process of chasing trends, making mistakes, and building their own SOPs and systems from the ground up. However, for those looking to move quickly, franchising offers a way to skip the traditional learning curve. Because the trial and error has already been completed by the franchisor, it becomes one of the fastest ways to transition from a mere idea to generating actual income.

Ownership and Execution

Despite using a pre-existing system, Harkless emphasizes that the individual is still the business owner. The “blueprint” provides the training and support, but the owner is the one responsible for leading the team and making a tangible impact within their community. He concludes by offering to help listeners explore franchise ownership through Blue Star Franchise, aiming to help them find a system that fits their specific goals. Ultimately, the goal is to use practical wisdom and proven resources to achieve success by running one's own race.

Previous Episode: https://iamceo.co/iam2695-a-simple-formula-for-execution-defining-your-who-what-and-how/

• Blue Star Franchise: bluestarfranchise.com
• Browse the Franchise Inventory: bluestarfranchise.com/franchise
• Is franchising right for you? Check this out to see: bluestarfranchise.com/assessment
• Franchise CEO (A CBNation Site – coming soon) – franchiseceo.co

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Audio Transcription:

Gresham Harkless 00:00

So what is a franchise really? It's a business powered by someone else's proven system. Now, before you go chase logos and trends, ask yourself this question. Do you want to build from scratch? There are those entrepreneurs that thrive in this area. They want to chase the logos, they want to chase the trends, they want to build out the systems, the processes, the sops, and do all the things and make the mistakes, learn the lessons and do all those things. Or do you want to build with a blueprint? Because that's what franchising really is. If you're building something meaningful, you're in the right place. This is the I Am CEO Podcast. I'm gresh, and for over a decade, I've had the honor and the privilege of Learning directly from CEOs, entrepreneurs and business owners just like you on how to build. After recording more than 1600 episodes, one thing has become clear. Success isn't about following someone else's blueprint. And as I like to say on the show, if you run your own race, you can't lose, even when you feel the journey should be a straight and linear path. What I've come to find out is success is a lot more like a plate of spaghetti. So in this special segment and episode, I'm starting to curate and share some CEO hacks and CEO nuggets that I've been dying to share. Drawn from thousands of episodes with phenomenal guests that have provided awesome value on the show, but also my 10 years of business experience as well too. These lessons are designed to strengthen the foundational principles that every business is built on and guided by a simple equation that we always go back to with our content. Visibility plus resources times connections equals success. This is practical wisdom you can apply almost immediately. So be sure to check out the show notes for more resources and next steps on how to level up. And of course, enjoy this special episode of the I Am CEO Podcast.

Gresham Harkless 01:51

Most people think buying a franchise means buying a brand name McDonald's, Subway, Chick Fil A. But that's only really a small part of the overall story. A franchise isn't just a name, it's a system. You're not buying a product, you're buying a proven playbook. And franchising is one of the fastest ways to go from idea to income. Because someone's already done the trial and error for you. You get the blueprint, the training and the support, and that lets you scan, skip the learning curve. Here's the part that most people miss. You're still the business owner. You're the one showing up leading your team and making an impact in your community. You're just as I like to say, standing on the shoulders of giants. So let's get back to this question. So what is a franchise really? It's a business powered by someone else's proven system. Now before you go chase logos and trends ask yourself this question. Do you want to build from scratch? There are those entrepreneurs that thrive in this area. They want to chase the logos, they want to chase the trends, they want to build out the systems, the processes, the sops and all the things and make the mistakes, learn the lessons and do all those things. Or do you want to build with a blueprint because that's what franchising really is. Now if you're exploring ownership would love to have a conversation with you. You can of course Visit our website bluestarfranchise.com and let's find a system that fits you and what you're looking for and hoping to do.