At United Franchise Group, lifelong learning is part of our corporate DNA. We expect employees to continue growing in their industry knowledge, professional skills, and personal development. At corporate headquarters, we provide many opportunities to support that growth:
- Knowledge College, held two to three times a year, covers a wide variety of topics.
- UFG Academy, a step-by-step seminar, introduces employees to the fundamentals of franchising and our brands.
- Mentorship Program allows employees to be coached in all aspects of life by those one step ahead.
- Regular 1:1s between managers and employees create space for communication and guidance.
- Professional development opportunities—from attending industry conferences to enrolling in a course on Udemy—help employees expand their skills.
- Foundry gives employees a unique chance to spend time learning directly from C-level executives.
There are so many ways for employees to grow at United Franchise Group. But how do we instill this same value of continuous learning into our brands and franchisees? If we want franchisees to succeed, they must also stay committed to learning and development—both as owners and as leaders in their industries.
We Lead by Example
Each of our brands works hard to remain a leader in its field. Often, our brand conventions are strategically scheduled alongside major industry conferences. For example, Transworld Business Advisors aligns with the International Business Brokers Association, while Signarama aligns with the International Sign Association.
By combining these events, franchisees learn directly from our leadership and also gain exposure to new ideas, vendors, and technologies on the tradeshow floor. This dual approach allows them to build brand-specific knowledge while also broadening their perspective on industry trends.
Our brand leaders are also deeply committed to learning. Many of our presidents and vice presidents regularly attend international industry events to see the latest innovations, negotiate vendor contracts, and bring back fresh insights for franchisees. When corporate leadership models this commitment, it encourages our franchise owners to do the same.
We Offer Opportunities
Supporting franchisees is at the heart of what we do. Our Business Advisors (BAs) and Operations Advisors (OAs)—the “boots on the ground” for each brand—check in daily with owners. Whether it’s helping with technical issues, marketing strategies, or customer challenges, they’re constantly sharing best practices and pushing franchisees to grow.
These advisors also host regional meetings where franchisees gather for a day of learning and networking. Corporately, we offer Sales Bootcamps, where franchisees and their sales teams learn directly from UFG’s top performers.
As Rob Muratore, who has been with UFG since 1998, explains:
“One of my favorite moments was walking into a meeting thinking I was there to teach, but I ended up learning just as much from a franchisee. That’s the beauty of this job—growth comes from every direction.”
Celebrating franchise success and community engagement at United Franchise Group during Culture Month.
We Encourage Collaboration
Collaboration is another cornerstone of lifelong learning at UFG. Many of our brands offer mentorship programs, pairing franchisees together for ongoing support. Others form P3 groups—small accountability groups where owners review financials, share business practices, and challenge one another to improve. Still others have multi-unit owner groups designed to meet the unique challenges of running multiple locations.
As Rob shared:
“I get paid to help people. Sometimes that means sharing an idea from one franchisee with another, and sometimes it’s simply bringing the two together and saying, ‘You could really help each other.’”
And let’s not forget Ray’s Reading List, a collection of books that Ray has read and recommended over the years. It’s not uncommon for franchisees to send him new titles—proof that our owners are just as hungry to learn and grow as we are.
At United Franchise Group, we know that the path to success is paved with learning. By leading by example, offering opportunities, and encouraging collaboration, we help ensure that lifelong learning remains at the center of everything we do—for our employees, our brands, and our franchisees.