ARTICLE

The First 90 Days After a Franchisee Signs

November 13, 2026 · Franchising

The agreement is signed. The franchise fee is paid. Everyone shakes hands and takes a photo.

Then, too often, the franchisee hears nothing for weeks.

In our 35 years in business and 350+ brands helped, we've seen that the first 90 days set the tone for the whole relationship. A franchisee who feels guided early becomes a partner. One who feels forgotten starts to doubt, and doubt turns into complaints later.

Here's a simple timeline franchisors can adapt.

Days 1–7: Welcome and clarity

Welcome call or meeting with the owner, within the first few days.
Assign one point person at head office. "Sino ang kakausapin ko?" should never be a question.
Share the onboarding calendar: training dates, site steps, target opening window.
Walk through the agreement again, especially fees, reporting and standards. We explain why in Why You Should Explain the Franchise Agreement to Your Franchisee Before They Sign.

Days 8–30: Site, permits and preparation

Site evaluation and approval using your written criteria.
Permit checklist with sample documents, so the franchisee isn't guessing at city hall.
Build-out plan with approved suppliers and layout.
Hiring guide: roles, number of crew, and the profile of a good hire.

Days 31–60: Training

Owner training first. The owner must understand the system, not just the crew.
Crew training using your operations manual and SOPs. See What Goes Into a Working Operations Manual.
Certification before opening. Don't open a branch whose team hasn't passed your standards.

Days 61–90: Opening and first weeks

Pre-opening checklist signed off by head office.
Opening support on site during the first days.
Daily check-ins in week one, then weekly calls.
First field visit within the first month of operations, focused on coaching, not policing.
A 90-day review: sales vs. plan, what's working, what needs help.

Common mistakes to avoid

Disappearing after the sale. Your sales team and your support team must hand over smoothly.
Rushing to open before the team is ready. A bad first month is hard to recover from.
Too much paper, too little people. Manuals matter, but so does a phone call.

One line to remember

"Ang pirma ang simula ng relasyon, hindi ang katapusan ng benta."

Your turn: Franchisors, what's the one thing in your onboarding that new franchisees appreciate most?

Building or fixing your onboarding process? GMB Franchise Developers helps franchisors create systems franchisees can follow. Message us or visit gmb.ph.

About GMB Franchise Developers GMB Franchise Developers helps Filipino businesses build franchise systems, led by Armando "Butz" Bartolome, The Franguru, with 35 years in business and 350+ brands helped. Talk to us at gmb.ph.