Empowering Franchise Owners
The future of any franchise system lies not only in its concept and brand, but also in the training and support provided to its franchise owners. Starks Barber Company places a strong emphasis on empowering its franchise owners through comprehensive training programs and ongoing support.
Comprehensive Franchise Training
Once you have completed the preliminary steps to become a Starks Barber Company franchise owner, your training period begins with a Discovery Day at one of Starks locations in Toronto, Canada. During this Discovery Day, you will learn everything it takes to own and operate a Starks Barber Company franchise. The day begins with a hands-on tour of a Starks barbershop, where you will learn how a shop is operated, the steps needed to build and train a team, the multiple revenue streams, and how to market effectively for a new Starks location. After an in-depth look at one of our barbershops, our franchise team teaches you the specifics behind starting and owning a Starks Barber Company franchise, such as site selection and buildout, initial marketing, and what your first months will look like.
“The big highlight of our training is Discovery Day,” says Co-Founder Ryan McLachlan. “We’ll bring you in to spend the morning in one of our barbershops with the management team, and get a real behind-the-scenes look at how we run a Starks barbershop, how we set up our customer service, and then we spend the afternoon going over sales, business economics, and the early days of launching your Starks barbershop.”
Team Building
During the exciting time period before you open, things can also be a bit hectic. There are many aspects to get in order, from site selection to construction, as well as marketing and networking within the community. “It’s all happening before you open the store,” Ryan describes, “Your head’s spinning, there’s a million things to think about. Hiring your staff, training your staff, getting trained yourself, etc. So we try to smooth that out and make it as easy as possible.”
No prior experience with barbershops is needed. We’ll make sure you have all the knowledge you need to hire the right staff members who can provide the exceptional customer service Starks is known for. During the site selection process, we’ll also help look into staffing to lighten the load of pre-opening responsibilities.
How We Train You
Once franchisees have completed their Discovery Day and are officially signed on, they will participate in a three-day Owner’s Training program that is both in-store and in the boardroom. During the boardroom portion, you will learn how to fully operate a Starks franchise, including: CRM, Schedule Optimization, Policies, Customer Service & CX, Product Knowledge and Sales, Local Marketing, Financials of the Business, Staff Skill Training, Hiring and conducting interviews, and building culture.
How We Help Train Your Team
At Starks Barber Company franchise, we prioritize the continuous training and development of our team members, ensuring the highest level of expertise and service within each franchise. Our commitment to excellence is evident in our comprehensive training programs. We have established a partnership with one of the leading private colleges in Canada. This partnership grants our franchisees access to workshops and classes, providing barbers with the opportunity to refine their skills and stay updated with the latest techniques and trends. In addition, we offer customized and private Starks training sessions throughout the year to address specific areas of improvement or focus. To ensure consistent training and knowledge transfer, we have developed our own training manual and system, designed to facilitate experienced barbers in continuously training and mentoring the least experienced barbers directly in-store. This approach fosters a collaborative and supportive environment, empowering our team members to continually enhance their skills and deliver exceptional service to our valued customers.
Ongoing Support
Once your Starks Barber Company is built, your team assembled, and the doors are ready to open, the support never stops. Franchise owners are connected with constant and consistent communication through messaging apps and phone calls, one-on-one and group franchisee meetings, annual franchisee meetups, and ongoing performance reviews to ensure each barbershop is operating smoothly.
“If you’re consistent in your approach,” says Steve, “as an owner operator, and as a franchisor, then you’re always going to be successful, because every business has those ebbs and flows, and the partnership, the commitment, the structure is what keeps you successful in the long term.”
Marketing and Branding Support
A crucial element of running a business lies in effective marketing and branding strategies. Starks Barber Company recognizes this and offers marketing and branding support to its franchise owners through a national brand fund, allowing Starks to reach multiple markets. By leveraging the strength of the Starks Barber Company brand, franchise owners benefit from increased visibility and recognition in their respective markets. This support not only helps attract new customers, but also ensures consistent messaging and brand representation across all locations.
Regular Franchise Meetings
Starks franchise owners get a quarterly long-form “Commitment to Excellence Review” with the franchise support team that uses an evaluation rubric to let them know how they are doing, identify areas of improvement, and help forecast performance. In addition, Starks hosts regular digital franchise meetings, an annual franchisee meet up, and other opportunities to connect with the franchise team and other franchise owners throughout the year.
Secret Shoppers
One of the benefits of the support Starks franchise owners experience is monthly secret shoppers, organized by the franchisor, to test and review each franchise location. This monthly review is highly valuable to franchise owners, as they can learn on an ongoing basis where their locations need to improve and where they are excelling.
Invest in a Starks Franchise Today
Starks Barber Company stands out for its dedication to the training and support of its franchise owners. Through a comprehensive training program, ongoing mentorship, open communication channels, and marketing support, Starks empowers franchise owners to grow their business. By prioritizing the future of their franchise owners, Starks fosters a strong sense of community and collaboration, resulting in a thriving network of barbershops that consistently deliver exceptional service to their customers.
Ready to take the leap to business ownership with Starks? Fill out our inquiry form here to get connected with our franchise team. Once we have your information, we’ll be in touch with a free copy of our Franchise Information Report, containing more details about the Starks Barber Company franchise opportunity, as well as answer any questions you may have. We look forward to learning more about you and your goals of business ownership!