When Celebree School CEO Richard Huffman talks to potential franchisees, he often hears the same misconception: People think they need an education to run a school. But it’s not true. Huffman himself has no education! Instead, they believe that franchisees simply need to be great operators—so they can hire great educators.
Jason Skidmore is a perfect example. Skidmore has a background in healthcare; grew the ambulance service from a single ambulance to a multi-million dollar operation with more than 130 vehicles and 350 employees. He then became a franchisee in 2019 with Celebree, an early education franchise with over 50 units open. Now Skidmore owns four units, with five more in development, and brings in more than $2.5 million in annual sales — making it the brand’s top-performing manufacturer.
Related: She used to frequent the struggling coffee shop. Then she bought it and quadrupled the annual income to $1.8 million.
So how did a non-educator become a top franchisee in the education business? He followed these three rules
1. Demonstrate leadership through commitment.
When you run a school, your customers (parents!) expect a great experience and curriculum – but they’ll still judge you by how you communicate. That’s why Skidmore is doubling down. “Make sure parents always have a voice at the table,” she says, “and build a leadership team that wants to listen and understands the importance of listening.”
2. Build scalable systems.
If you’re a franchise owner, you can’t just add a second (or third) unit and run things the same. Your systems must adapt. “He looks at what those requirements are, builds a team, and then constantly re-evaluates gaps, opportunities and processes, then creates measurables that we review weekly with the team,” he says.
3. Remember what matters.
Skidmore may not be an educator by training, but he personally connects with his brand’s mission to support children, teachers and families. When you build a culture around your mission, he says, your team’s actions will follow. “It’s knowing and understanding how many lives we touch every day.”
Related: These are the best franchises in every industry
BONUS TIP: Find your scalable talent.
Skidmore proves it: You really don’t need an education to run a successful education franchise. But that doesn’t mean your background isn’t useful – you just need to think more broadly about your skills. According to Celebree CEO Richard Huffman, potential franchisees often bring a lot of relevant experience as leaders. “Jason (Skidmore) already knew how to build teams and get results through others,” says Huffman. If you’re not sure if you’re a good fit for a franchise, consider what skills you have that are transferable across industries. Your versatility might surprise you!