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Refunding a potential franchisee

Guest post by: Fred Hassen

Article Overview: This article goes over the various reasons and point/counterpoint on why we decide to refund in full a potential franchisee that is not going to cut it, even during their time of schooling, and up until graduation.

Refunding a potential franchisee

We have a guarantee for those that are attending our dog training school for franchisees that some people in the industry think is just plain crazy!

Our guarantee simply states that Sit Means Sit Franchise, Inc. will refund 100% of licensing fees you pay us if, at any time during the three week training program, it is deemed by the instructors that you will not successfully complete the SMS Franchise Owner Certification.

We’ve heard all the arguments from people in the franchise business about why they think this is absurd. A few of them that come to mind are:

1. ‘Refunding their money at that time, would in essence have given them a free education’.

2. Have you ever had to refund anyone?

3. Couldn’t they go out and try to then just start a business on their own?

4. You are willing to put that in writing?

The answer to all of these questions is ‘Yes!’.

Why do we have such simple, pervasive guarantee and put it in writing?

Our dog training franchise school wants the right type of business minded individual, with the right type of ethics, work habit, people skills, and a desire to pay attention and learn

a proven system like ours.

Of course the people have been previously screened, been through their due diligence, and have put their best face forward during this process. With that being said, sometimes

we have to make the decision that it is still not the right fit in some cases.

We have a reputation to protect. If the fit is not right, we continue our search for another individual for that area.

We know our business very well and we feel strongly that if we feel the need to give the refund, the chances are very strong that the individual will not have what it takes, nor the support

to be successful on their own for our system. It would be unjust to take money for an education that they won’t be able to use. We’ve been right every time.

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