The Foundation of a Strong Franchise System
In any successful franchise system, the foundation rests on brand standards, operational playbooks and strong financials, but the true strength comes from relationships between the franchisor and its franchisees. At The Goddard School, our brand is alive because of the franchisees who lead more than 650 Goddard Schools and carry forward our mission to make the world a better place through early childhood education.
That’s why one of our top priorities is fostering a respectful and collaborative franchisor-franchisee relationship grounded in trust, transparency and appreciation. This relationship, like all meaningful partnerships, excels when each side feels heard, valued and supported.
Why Recognition Matters for Franchisees
Goddard School franchisees wear countless hats; they are leaders, mentors, educators and community builders, to name a few. Their dedication fuels not only their individual success, but the success of their teams and the nearly 100,000 children they collectively care for and educate, as well as the reputation of The Goddard School brand that has been built, school by school, over 37 years. Recognizing and truly appreciating that effort is essential to cultivating loyalty and continued long-term success.
Appreciation drives franchisee satisfaction, optimism, a sense of belonging and confidence in franchisor leadership, according to research from the Franchise Relationships Institute. When franchisees feel seen and supported, they’re more likely to fully commit to what we’re trying to achieve as a system and go above and beyond for their teams, families and communities.
Communication and Appreciation in Action
At The Goddard School, we’re focused on making our appreciation for franchisees visible and meaningful. Here are a few of the ways we ensure our school owners know how much they matter:
Consistent Communication and Listening
We maintain frequent, two-way communication with our franchisees. Our Leadership Advisory Council—comprised of 12 franchisees geographically aligned to represent our full system, as well as Goddard Systems executives—meets regularly to share perspectives and strategies to strengthen The Goddard School brand.
We have eight Franchisee Input Groups, each led by a Goddard Systems executive and composed of 10 to 20+ franchisees from diverse markets that work together to shape key systemwide initiatives and strengthen the franchisees’ voice. These are complemented by a steady cadence of touchpoints throughout the year, including town halls, surveys, listening tours, market visits and a weekly newsletter. The best ideas often come from our franchisees, and we make it a point to listen, learn and act.
Celebrating Achievement
We formally recognize the achievements of our franchisees, both to honor their success and inspire others throughout our system. At our annual Franchisee Convention—itself a multi-day celebration of our franchisees—we honor those who have made momentous contributions to our system and their communities with our franchisee awards.
We also shine the spotlight on our Circle of Excellence and President’s Club, the top Goddard Schools that excel in performance, quality of education and family experience. These franchisees are invited to a series of meetings throughout the year, including an exclusive 3-day celebration event that is always a big hit. Less formally, our weekly newsletter always features a great review from an enrolled family, as well as a section devoted to schools’ charitable initiatives.
Recognizing Milestones
Every franchisee journey is marked by moments that deserve to be recognized—from signing a first agreement to celebrating a 35th anniversary. These milestones aren’t paperwork and dates on a calendar; they are symbols of courage, commitment and resilience.
That’s why we’ve built a program to honor them—framing the first franchise agreement, sending flowers on opening day and celebrating anniversaries with a personal touch. These gestures may seem small, but their impact is lasting. They remind franchisees that their journey matters and that their partnership with us is seen, valued and celebrated at every stage.
A Relationship Worth Investing In
The franchisor-franchisee relationship is the core of our success. When it is nurtured with care and intention, it becomes the engine that drives growth, innovation and lasting impact.
The Goddard School thrives because of the passion and dedication of our franchisees. Our responsibility as franchisor is clear—to listen, support and recognize their achievements in ways that matter. When franchisees succeed, the brand succeeds and so do the children, families and communities we serve.
That is the power of appreciation in action.
