Tom Potter – Founder of Eagle Boys
I had the pleasure of hearing Tom Potter speak on Tuesday evening. He offers a very interesting and frank telling of his experiences as a franchisor. Tom also seems very interested in sharing his knowledge and experiences. He has compiled many of his stories from his time at Eagle Boys in his new book.
I asked a couple of questions, but the most relevant are around selecting the right people to join you in a system. Tom recommends using a Myers-Brigg Type Indicator test on potential franchisees. You can compare this information to a selection of exisiting franchisees so that you can get a bedtter idea of how a potential franchisee might perform.
Tom also suggested that any serious franchisor will establish a board of advisors or directors very early in their lifecycle. He also credits biannual skills audits of the board as being crucial.
If you ever get the chance to hear Tom speak, you should definitely make the most of that opportunity. Crusty Devil is Tom’s latest venture.