What Do Franchise Owners Do? 7 Responsibilities to Expect

Interested in owning a franchise, but unsure what it truly entails? In franchising, individuals own and operate one or multiple locations of an established brand. Using its name, systems, and support, franchise owners follow a proven playbook, eliminating much of the risk and trial-and-error that comes with launching a business independently.  

While the franchisor provides support and systems in many areas, this doesn’t mean that a franchise is a “set and forget” or passive income type of business. It’s important to understand franchise business ownership is a full-time job that requires hard work and dedication to be successful. For example, coffee shop franchise owners are completely responsible for the daily operation of their businesses. From hiring to serving guests to bookkeeping, coffee shop franchise owners do it all. 

How much do coffee shops make? Keep in mind the following responsibilities. Your execution of the below is directly linked to how much revenue your coffee shop will make. The more you put into your business, the more you’ll see from it.  

1. Develop and Execute Your Coffee Business Plan

Franchise owners are responsible for drafting and following a business plan. Acting as a roadmap for your coffee shop, your business plan should outline operational goals, staffing needs, financial projections, and local marketing strategies. Should you choose to invest in a franchise, a lot of this leg work is done for you already. This helps reduce the guesswork and accelerate your business’s launch.

2. Hire and Train Staff

Recruiting a strong team is key to the success of your coffee shop. As the owner, you’ll hire staff, set expectations, and ensure team members receive proper training. At Beans & Brews, we strive to help our franchise partners create teams that climb their way to the summit together. To us, it’s all about staying humble and lifting each other up.

3. Manage Daily Operations

As a franchise owner, you’ll likely delegate tasks to your team members. However, whether it’s opening or closing the store, ensuring compliance with health regulations, or checking inventory levels, the buck still stops with you. It is your responsibility to ensure everything is running smoothly and adhering to brand—and customer—expectations.

4. Deliver Great Customer Service

Customer satisfaction is at the heart of any successful business. Franchise owners lead by example—fostering a culture of hospitality, encouraging repeat visits, and handling any customer concerns quickly and professionally. As the owner, it’s your responsibility to create a welcoming, consistent experience that keeps guests coming back.

5. Handle Marketing and Promotions

When researching, “what do franchise owners do?” You’ll likely see they are ultimately responsible for marketing and promoting their own individual coffee shop. While most franchise brands run awareness campaigns, you’ll need to do some local level marketing to drive foot traffic to your specific location.

6. Monitor Financial Performance

Regularly reviewing financial reports allows you to make informed decisions, adjust pricing, and forecast future performance. Many franchisors provide helpful dashboards and benchmarks to guide your analysis. As a franchise owner, you’ll track:

  • Sales 
  • Expenses  
  • Labor costs   
  • Profit margins 

7. Stay Adaptable and Evolve

The coffee shop market is constantly evolving, whether it’s new customer trends, economic uncertainty, or technological advancements. Successful franchise owners remain proactive, instead of reactive. By staying ahead of the curve, you maintain your competitive edge and better serve your customers.

Franchise with Beans & Brews

So, what do franchise owners do? In short, just about everything. But with the right franchise partner, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. At Beans & Brews, we provide support from site selection all the way through to your grand opening. We’ll teach you everything you need to know to own a thriving coffee shop business.

But don’t just take our word for it. See what multi-unit owner, Eric Sutterfield, has to say about being part of the Beans & Brews family:

Boldly go into something new. Bring a Beans & Brews Coffee House to your community. Learn more about our franchise opportunity by filling out our franchise inquiry form today.