Trainer teaching a class of adult students at a franchised training centre in Kerala

Education Franchise in Kerala: 10 Things to Check Before You Grow

Admin BLUE KWETBLUE KWET · 11 April 2020 · 5 min read

Before you grow an education franchise in Kerala, make sure your course has lasting demand, your syllabus and training can be delivered consistently, your royalties suit low enrolment volumes, and you can give franchisees real support in admissions, documentation and marketing. Franchising lets a training business expand quickly, but only if the franchisor builds a professional system to protect quality. Here are the ten things to get right first.

Why franchising appeals to education and training businesses

Franchising has long been seen as a strong growth route in India, and education and training is one of the categories where it is used most.

For a successful institute in Kerala, franchising offers a way to reach new towns and students without opening and running every centre yourself.

Why an education franchise is harder than a retail one

Franchising an educational service is more difficult than franchising a retail outlet or a food chain. A shop sells a product that looks the same everywhere. A training centre sells an outcome that depends on skilled people and good management.

That means the franchisor’s real product is a teaching system: the course, the trainers, the standards and the support behind them. The ten points below are about building that system.

Your course and your trainers

1. Make sure the course has demand now and in the future

Start with the market. Check that the course you plan to franchise has good demand today and is likely to keep it in the years ahead. A course built on a short-lived trend will struggle once franchisees have invested.

2. Provide an updated syllabus, materials and training

The franchisor must supply the current syllabus, all course materials and training on how to deliver the course. Where needed, help franchisees adapt the course to local requirements, without losing its core standard.

3. Hire local staff and trainers

Recruit trainers and staff from the local area. This removes language barriers and helps students feel at ease, which matters across Kerala’s different districts and even more if you later expand beyond the state.

Royalties and consistency

4. Fix royalties scientifically

Royalty per enrolment must be worked out carefully. Enrolment numbers in education are much lower than transaction numbers in retail, so a royalty model copied from a shop or restaurant franchise may not work for either side.

5. Keep the course, certificate and services uniform

Use the same course name, certificate, services, examinations and placement assistance at every franchise. Uniformity protects your brand and gives every student the same experience, whichever centre they join.

Supporting your franchisees

6. Train franchisees to manage admissions and students

Managing admissions and monitoring students is more demanding than selling a product. The franchisor should train each franchisee to handle enquiries, enrolment, attendance and student progress.

7. Provide the essential franchise documents

Give franchisees the documents they need to run smoothly, including:

a franchisee net worth form
a disclosure document
a franchise agreement
an operations manual

These set expectations on both sides and make the system repeatable.

8. Give maximum marketing support

Strong central marketing support reduces each franchisee’s costs and keeps all communication consistent. Students should see the same brand, message and standards wherever they meet you.

Choosing your model and your role

9. Choose the right franchise model

Educational institutions can grow through several franchise models:

Direct franchising: you appoint and manage each franchisee yourself.
Area development: one partner opens several centres within a defined territory.
Master franchising: a partner takes the rights for a larger region and appoints sub-franchisees there.

The right choice depends on how fast you want to grow and how much control you need to keep.

10. Accept that the franchisor is educator, trainer, counsellor and hand-holder

As a franchisor, you will be an educator, a trainer, a psychologist and a perpetual hand-holder for your franchisees. Support does not end at launch. It is an ongoing part of running the network.

Build a professional system before you expand

Franchising allows fast growth, but it needs a strong, professional and systematic management structure to monitor franchisees and keep quality consistent. Without it, rapid expansion can damage the reputation that made the institute successful in the first place.

If you do not have the in-house capability to design and run such a system, bring in professionals who can add an outside perspective. Our Franchise Growth Plan helps institutes structure their model, documents and support. Our Business Training programmes can help prepare franchisee teams. The same principles apply to education brands looking at franchising in the GCC.

Key takeaways

An education franchise is harder than a retail one because it depends on skilled people and management.
Confirm long-term course demand, supply an updated syllabus and hire local trainers.
Set royalties for low enrolment volumes and keep courses, certificates and exams uniform.
Support franchisees with admissions training, full documentation and central marketing.
Choose direct, area development or master franchising to suit your growth plans.

Frequently asked questions

Can a training institute in Kerala be franchised?

Yes. Education and training businesses can grow through franchising, provided the franchisor builds a consistent system for the course, trainers, standards and franchisee support.

How should royalties work in an education franchise?

Royalties should be worked out carefully for each enrolment, because student numbers are much lower than retail sales volumes. A model borrowed from retail may not suit an education franchise.

What documents does an education franchisor need?

At minimum, a franchisee net worth form, a disclosure document, a franchise agreement and an operations manual.

What our clients say

“One of our clients in Qatar wanted to franchise their tea brand but had nothing in writing to offer partners. We brought BLUE KWET in, and they built the franchise model with us from the ground up. Our client can now explain clearly to any prospective partner how it works.”

Adv. Hashim WafaFounder, Legacy Partners

Service used: Franchise Development for a Client's Tea Brand in Qatar

“We wanted to franchise our offline centres, and an education brand needs more care than people think. BLUE KWET helped us decide what a franchise partner gets from us and what we must protect. Their advice was direct and practical.”

Muhammed RizwanDirector, Skillmount Education

Service used: Franchise Consulting for Offline Centres

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