In the early stages, the focus is often on getting off to a strong start, building awareness locally and creating a strong platform for future growth. Further down the line, attention can shift towards expanding into new territories while maintaining the standards and service that helped the original business succeed.
Whatever stage the franchisee is at, having strong processes, the right team, a clear direction and a good relationship with the franchisor can make a significant difference.
Here, Mark Szpak, Tutor Doctor’s new global president, sits down with Anthony Marchese, who launched Tutor Doctor Camden in January, and Suzie Boon, who operates four territories across Hampshire, to hear their advice on successfully launching and scaling a franchise business.
Anthony Marchese: building strong foundations from day one
For Anthony, much of that early success came from establishing a framework before trying to do too much. “I wanted to have the right foundations in place from the beginning, so, with the support from Tutor Doctor, I mapped out processes for everything from tutor recruitment and enrolments to our day-to-day operations.
“My biggest advice would be to not try to do everything at once. Pick a few important things and do them really well.”
Creating a presence in his local community was another priority. Alongside his existing networks, Anthony used parent groups, community centres, libraries and local events to generate awareness and create early momentum. “You cannot just wait for enquiries to come to you. Get out there, speak to people and make yourself known in your area. Every conversation helps build awareness and trust in your business.”
Recruitment was also an important part of his early strategy, with Anthony now having a bank of 15 tutors. “I tried to recruit ahead of demand and set clear expectations from the beginning. I think it is really important when you are starting out to be ready to deliver when opportunities come your way.”
Suzie: scaling with confidence after four years
With an established business, growing demand and a team capable of supporting further growth, she expanded into two new territories – Southampton and Farnborough – in August 2024. For Suzie, the decision came when she felt the business was ready for more.
Her advice for franchisees looking to scale is to understand what makes their existing business work, trust their team and have the right processes in place to maintain consistency.
“We had proven the model across schools, local authorities and our local clients,” said Suzie. “Demand was coming from further afield, and our team was capable of supporting more. Those were strong signals that the time was right to scale.
“You need to know your service inside out. Your tutor roll, messaging, customer experience and processes need to be strong enough that you are confident you can replicate them seamlessly.”
Having a clear sense of purpose has also been important as Suzie’s business has grown. “For us, everyone is aligned that student wellbeing and progress sit at the heart of what we’re trying to achieve. So, as we’ve grown, that focus has run through all of our service standards, compliance and onboarding procedures.
“You cannot personally do everything too,” added Suzie. “You need to be able to delegate and having a team you trust, with the same commitment to supporting children, allows everyone to continue delivering at those same high standards.”
Mark Szpak: how Tutor Doctor supports franchisees at every stage
For Suzie, the focus shifted as she began expanding, with access to our expertise across marketing and compliance matters, as well as the opportunity to learn from other franchisees who had already taken their businesses to the next level.
Having previously worked as Vice President of Field Operations at Tutor Doctor, I have seen first-hand how those needs evolve. A new franchisee may need very different support from someone preparing to expand, but the principle is the same: giving franchisees the right guidance and resources to help them embrace whatever comes next.
Key takeaways
- In the early stages of a franchise, focus matters more than volume. Anthony Marchese’s advice is to pick a few important things and do them really well before trying to expand in every direction.
- Building a presence in the local community from the start creates the foundation for sustainable growth. Alongside his existing networks, Anthony used parent groups, community centres, libraries and local events to build awareness and early momentum for Tutor Doctor Camden.
- Scaling to a new territory requires a thorough understanding of what makes the existing business work. Suzie’s expansion into two new territories, Southampton and Farnborough, was built on a proven model, a trusted team and clear demand – not ambition alone.
- Delegation is essential for growth. Franchisees who try to personally manage everything as their business scales create a ceiling on what they can achieve. Building a team you trust is the prerequisite for expanding.
- The role of the franchisor evolves alongside the franchisee. Tutor Doctor’s support shifts from setting up processes for new starters to marketing and compliance expertise, plus the chance to learn from other franchisees, as franchisees grow into established multi-territory operators.
