Stephen Covey said many great things, but for us, one stands above the rest: “Start with the end in mind.”
That’s exactly how we approach onboarding new franchisees here at TAB. From the very first conversation we have with a prospective franchise partner, we’re thinking about where this could lead and whether it’s the right decision for both of us.
In other words, onboarding doesn’t start when the paperwork is signed. It starts well before that.
Every conversation with a potential franchisee works both ways. As we go through the franchise recruitment process, we want them to gain a clear sense of who we are, how we operate, and what being part of TAB really means. At the same time, we are also working to understand them too. Who they are, how they like to work, and what they want to achieve. This is a long-term relationship, and making sure we fit each other is absolutely essential.
So, by the time someone commits to joining us, there have already been a lot of candid and open discussions about expectations, ways of working, and what success looks like on both sides.
We treat it like a peer-to-peer partnership, which is what it is. They’re not coming to work for TAB. They’re investing in their own business with the support of TAB. That distinction is important, and it sets the tone from the very beginning.
Every TAB franchise is an independent business. That means the drive, the energy, the responsibility, has to come from the person at the centre of it.
We’re here to help them succeed but we’re not here to do it for them. If someone’s expecting to show up and be told what to do every day, TAB isn’t the right opportunity. We talk a lot about a growth mindset, and this is where it really shows.
Before training even begins, we ask new franchisees to prepare a few things. It’s not designed to trip anyone up. It’s designed to get them thinking, planning, and owning the journey ahead.
When someone hasn’t done the prep, that tells us something too. And we’ll have the conversation. Honest and direct. Always supportive, never sugar-coated. Because that’s how we work here.
Formal training and onboarding is intensive and rightly so.
It begins with three days of online training with our HQ team, followed by five days in-person at our head office. After that, new recruits are supported in the field for six days, working alongside experienced TAB franchise partners who mentor them through real meetings with business owners.
And it doesn’t stop there. After field work, there are three more days back with the HQ training team. That’s more than two weeks of structured onboarding, supported by people who’ve been there, done it, and are still doing it.
Because we don’t believe in theory for theory’s sake. Our training is practical, grounded and real-world focused.
One thing we’re very clear about. If you’re not a learner, a TAB franchise isn’t for you.
This isn’t a business you build once and run on autopilot. It’s a business that evolves, and our franchise partners evolve with it.
That’s why every franchisee sits on their own peer board, just like the members they support. It’s why we run regular Lifelong Learning events, and why our annual conference is mandatory. It’s why we also encourage everyone to engage with TAB International sessions, to share and learn from others around the world.
There’s always something new to explore, test, or reflect on. That’s not pressure. That’s a privilege to help you be the best you want to be.
Onboarding at TAB is about far more than just training. It’s about mindset, partnership, and a shared commitment to building something that matters.
By the time a new franchisee starts working with their business owner members, they’ve already gone through a process that challenges, supports and stretches them. And we’re right there with them, not just for onboarding, but for every step of their journey.
If that sounds like the kind of business you want to be part of, we’d love to hear from you.
