by Evan Hackel
A great franchise system is much like a world-class orchestra.
The franchisor is the conductor, guiding the performance, setting the tempo, and ensuring everyone plays from the same sheet of music. The franchisees are the musicians, each responsible for their part – whether that’s the violins, the horns, or the percussion.
When the communication is strong, the music is magnificent. Every note blends into harmony, creating something greater than the sum of its parts. But if communication falters, or if one musician ignores the conductor, the performance quickly collapses.
Franchising works the same way. At its core, success depends on communication – clear, consistent, and two-way.
Communication Is a Two-Way Street
It’s easy to think of communication as something franchisors “deliver” and franchisees “receive.” But just like in an orchestra, the relationship is far more dynamic.
The conductor signals, but the musicians must watch, listen, and respond. The same is true in franchising. Franchisors share updates, training, and direction—but franchisees must pay attention, act on the message, and stay engaged.
That means opening every email, attending every webinar, and showing up for the annual convention. These aren’t optional extras; they’re how franchisees stay in sync with the brand. If they don’t, they risk playing off key – and when that happens, the entire system feels it.
When One Player Is Out of Tune
Anyone who has attended an orchestra performance knows what happens if even one musician plays out of key. The mistake doesn’t just affect that player – it throws off the entire performance. The audience hears the discord instantly.
Franchises experience the same effect. When one franchisee ignores updates, resists new initiatives, or simply doesn’t engage with the system, it weakens the entire brand. Customers notice inconsistency. Other franchisees feel frustration. The harmony is disrupted.
Just as no conductor can make beautiful music without every section of the orchestra in sync, no franchisor can build lasting success without every franchisee engaged and committed to the performance.
Why the Orchestra Analogy Matters Now
Business today moves at the pace of a live performance. New competitors appear overnight, consumer expectations change rapidly, and technologies reshape industries in months, not years.
To keep up, franchise systems must act with the precision of an orchestra adjusting mid-performance. That kind of agility is only possible when communication flows freely – and when every franchisee plays their part.
If a franchisor introduces a new marketing campaign or operational change, success depends not just on the quality of the idea, but on how well the entire system executes it together. One missed cue, one section ignoring the conductor, and the performance falls apart.
Everyone Has a Part to Play
In an orchestra, every musician matters. The violins may carry the melody, but the timpani provide rhythm, the flutes add color, and the horns give depth. Each part is essential.
In franchising, every franchisee contributes to the brand’s performance. Large or small, new or experienced, each location has a role to play in creating consistency, delivering value to customers, and upholding the reputation of the system.
But for this to happen, franchisees must do more than just “play their notes.” They must stay engaged with the system, communicate openly, and align their work with the broader vision. The franchisor provides the score, but the franchisee must read it and play it faithfully.
The Music of Franchising
When franchisors and franchisees communicate openly and consistently, the system feels like a symphony. Franchisees are informed, supported, and motivated. Franchisors are responsive, adaptive, and trusted. Customers hear the music in the form of consistent service, reliable quality, and a brand that feels whole.
But when communication is ignored, the result is discord. Franchisees feel disconnected, franchisors grow frustrated, and customers notice the inconsistency. The music stops.
The truth is simple: great franchises, like great orchestras, only succeed when everyone listens, responds, and plays in harmony.
Final Note
A great franchise is like an orchestra. The franchisor may be the conductor, but without musicians who pay attention, practice, and perform together, there is no music. Communication makes it possible – but only when it is a two-way street.
Franchisors must lead with clarity, and franchisees must engage fully, from reading the notes to showing up for rehearsals. Because when even one player is out of tune, the performance suffers – not just for them, but for everyone.
In franchising, as in music, harmony is everything. And harmony depends on communication.
