I was recently looking through a research report about what types of people make the best franchisees. The answer may surprise you, although intelligence, business skill, and former experience as a business owner are highly valuable characteristics. However, the fact that you have an MBA did not get you to the top. Neither did the fact that you may have been a CEO of a fortune 500 company. Instead, the report listed Sales Executives as the top candidates to become successful franchisees. 

As I began to examine their reasoning, I saw that Sales Executives have the following traits:

• In a way Sales Executives are already small business owners. They believe in their product and have to go out everyday and sell it. In addition they understand that they are paid to produce, unlike people who have been on a salary there whole life. 
• Sales Executives don't cower when times get tough. To anyone who has lived on commission you know the sales cycle can be brutal. However, you conquer these cycles by working harder when needed - always believing that things will get better. 
• Most of all, Sales Executives relish the thought of unlimited earnings potential. It's what motivates them to get out of bed everyday. 

What the article failed to mention was one other thing that is consistent with all great franchise owners. Great franchisees understand that they are not in the product or service business; they are in the Relationship business. Building a relationship with your customers where they understand the purpose of your business, and building relationships with your employees so that they can deliver that good or service to those customers, is the key to great franchisee success!