By Randell Mathis, Owner of Re-Bath in Wichita Falls, Texas.
According to the International Franchise Association’s 2025 Franchising Economic Outlook, the sector is expected to surpass 9 million employees by year’s end. This signals major growth for the industry, and with this comes more opportunities for vertical growth—especially the opportunity to move from employee to franchise owner.
I began my career as a project manager for Re-Bath and worked my way up to becoming the owner of Re-Bath in Wichita Falls, Texas. My journey shows that, with the right mindset and approach, you can grow within a franchise system. In fact, my experience at the ground level gave me a chance to learn more about the business and build my network. This was greatly beneficial to me and gave me a unique perspective as a current franchisee.
For anyone interested in growing within a franchise system, here are my top 5 tips to achieve vertical growth:
- Approach Every Role with an Ownership Mentality
No matter what level you start at, take pride and ownership in your role. That doesn’t mean overstepping, but it does mean taking initiative and showing that you’re someone who cares about the company’s success. I saw my role as a way to make a difference, not just a way to collect a paycheck. I credit much of my growth to this mindset. By going above and beyond in any role I held, I was able to earn the trust of the leadership team and develop key leadership skills along the way. So, when franchise ownership opportunities became available, I was already a natural fit.
- Build Relationships with Franchisees and Learn from Their Experience
In the years leading up to becoming a franchisee, I used my time wisely—soaking up advice from experienced franchisees and refining my vision for the business. The franchising world is highly collaborative, with a built-in network of owners who’ve been in your shoes. Take advantage of this network. Seek out mentors early in your journey and ask thoughtful questions. What lessons did they learn the hard way? If they could start over, what would they do differently? These insights are invaluable, and the knowledge they share could be the key to your future success.
- Know the Culture and Values You Want to Create as an Owner
If you aspire to be a franchisee one day, you’ll need to be intentional about the kind of workplace you want to create. For me, this meant developing a clear values-based framework called “A.L.I.V.E.”: accountability, loyalty, integrity, values, ethics. These four pillars guide every decision I make from hiring to customer service. With these values in place, I created a positive team culture from day one. Remember, workplace culture doesn’t just happen by accident. As an owner, it’s your responsibility to cultivate a space where your employees feel comfortable and motivated. The clearer your values are now, the easier it will be to build a business that reflects them.
- Stay Ahead of the Curve with Technology
Technology is evolving rapidly in every industry, and franchising is no exception. From transforming how services are marketed to how operations run, staying current is a major advantage. I made a point to prioritize learning about emerging technologies in the home remodeling industry before I stepped into ownership. By the time I became a franchisee, I already had a vision for how to modernize operations and create a more seamless customer experience. As an employee, you’re in a unique position to observe what works and what doesn’t. Use this vantage point to keep learning and experimenting.
- Get Involved in the Community and Understand Your Customer Base
Strong community ties can be a major asset as a franchisee. When your business is known and trusted, it becomes more than just a service—it becomes part of people’s lives. For example, I prioritize my relationship with the Veteran’s Association, which allows my team to support a key demographic in the community while giving back in meaningful ways. These relationships fuel my entire team’s sense of purpose and strengthen the brand’s reputation in the community. For those looking to grow vertically within a franchise system, it’s important to remember that you don’t have to wait until you own the business to start building relationships. Volunteer and get to know your future customers. Authentic community engagement starts now, and it will only deepen your impact as a future owner.
Franchising offers a unique opportunity to build a fulfilling career where hard work, leadership, and passion really do pay off. Whether you’re just starting out or already climbing the company ladder, you have the power to grow into an ownership role—just like I did.
So don’t wait for someone to hand you the keys. Show up every day with an ownership mentality and seize opportunities as they come—and you just might unlock a future you didn’t know was possible.