Tennessee’s growing franchise economy offers a strong career path for the next generation
For an emerging workforce that often sees their options as "get a job" or "build a business from scratch," franchising offers a third lane that comes with a proven business model.
According to the International Franchise Association, Tennessee is one of the top 10 states for franchising in the nation. With more than 20,000 franchise locations across the state, franchising generates $22.2 billion in annual revenue and supports more than 221,000 local jobs.
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK)‘s Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (ACEI) recently held a “Franchising Class Discovery Day” to make these facts known amongst students and hopefully open some eyes.
“Ultimately, when people, especially students, think about entrepreneurship or going into business, they may think they have to build a business from scratch. We’re here to let them know that franchising is a strong, viable option,” said Cordell Riley, franchise certification program instructor and adjunct lecturer.
Learning by engaging
The Discovery Day brought undergraduate students from Riley’s “Introduction to Franchising” course face-to-face with a working franchise system. The students shadowed AtWork Group, a staffing franchise with over 100 locations across 33 states that has been connecting employers and job seekers since 1986.
Students heard directly from company leadership, toured the company’s Knoxville office, and got to see how departments from finance to marketing to franchise development operate inside a franchise system.
“People are visual learners. You can’t just lecture on this stuff. It is so important for our students to see franchising in action. We connect them with people who have lived it. They see a proven business model, and this helps them decide if franchising is the right path for them. They become better informed on their options post-graduation,” said Riley, whose foundational course is offered each fall and spring semester.
Learn more about the other franchising resources available through ACEI and UTK.
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