Franchisee Validation Checklist | How to Get the Most Out of Your Conversations

Franchisee validation is an essential step in your discovery process with Right at Home. It allows you to speak directly with current owners and gain insight into the daily realities of franchise ownership.

To help you prepare, here’s a step-by-step checklist to guide your outreach and help you get the most out of your conversations.

Prepare for Validation

Before you start making calls, there are a few things you should do to prepare.

Review Exhibit F in your Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD).
Identify at least three franchise owners to contact.
Select a mix of new and experienced owners to get an idea of how your business might evolve.
Prepare a few questions you’d like to ask.

You can reach out to your assigned Development Director throughout this process. They can assist you in finding owners who are currently operating a nearby territory or have a similar background.

Selecting Franchise Owners

Choosing who to contact is an important part of the process. Connecting with owners at random can be beneficial for hearing from a wide range of perspectives. The territory ID listed in Exhibit F can also provide helpful context.

Lower Territory ID numbers typically indicate longer tenure
For example, IDs in the 1300 to 1700 range generally reflect ownership of 1-5 years.
Talking to owners at different stages in their ownership journey will give you a well-rounded picture.

Steps for Outreach

When you are ready to make the call, follow these best practices to reach out.

Call the office phone number listed in the FDD
Introduce yourself as a prospective Right at Home owner
Share that you’ve been given permission by the Right at Home corporate office to reach out as part of your validation process.
Ask the person who answers the phone to pass along a message to the owner.

Make sure to leave your name, cell phone number, and a request for the owner to return your call. Once you get in touch with the owner, validation conversations typically take 15-30 minutes.

Questions to Ask During the Call

Every conversation that you have during validation will be unique. Here are a few key topics you may want to explore:

What does a typical day look like for you as an owner?
How would you describe the support you receive from the corporate office?
What challenges have you faced? What has contributed to your success?
What advice would you give someone at my stage in the process?

Let the conversation flow naturally and see what each owner has to say. This doesn’t need to be an interview. Writing down a few questions can be helpful in making sure you get the most out of the conversation.

Making Notes

After each call, take a few minutes to reflect on your conversation and write down moments that stand out. Making a short list of the individuals you spoke with can be helpful if you have a follow-up question later. Try making note of these things:

Recurring themes across your conversations with owners
Things that stood out – is there something you want to follow up on?
Who you spoke to, who you reached out to that didn’t respond, and who you are waiting to hear back from.

Next Steps

After you complete a minimum of three validation calls with franchisees, you will schedule a follow-up call with your assigned Development Director. If you would like to call more than three franchisees, you are more than welcome to; we encourage you to speak with as many owners as possible, so you walk away with a full understanding of the commitment.

When you meet with your Development Director, you will cover:

Which owners you connected with and what you learned
Which owners you haven’t heard back from and hope to connect with
Questions that you need clarification on

Your Development Director can help you facilitate introductions and continue to support your outreach.

Make the Most of the Process

Validation is one of the most valuable parts of your journey.

By preparing thoughtfully, engaging in meaningful conversations, and reflecting on what you learn, you’ll gain the clarity needed to determine if Right at Home is the right fit for you.

Take your time, ask questions, and use this experience to move forward with confidence.