The checklist
- A seasoned model. Operating locations with enough history that the numbers mean something.
- Validation. Franchisees (or early operators) who would vouch for you on an unscripted call with a candidate.
- A real Item 19. Financials strong and clean enough to publish — because selling without one means selling on trust alone.
- Capital for growth. A development budget that exists before the deals close, not one that depends on them.
- Founder bandwidth. Candidates buy the founder before the brand. If you can't show up for discovery days, wait.
Scoring it honestly
Miss two or more? You're not ready — and an honest firm will tell you that instead of taking the retainer. Fix the gaps first: strengthen the store-level numbers, get the financials clean, or build the corporate bench. When the list holds, that's when outsourced sales multiplies something real.
If you want a second opinion on where you stand, that's literally what our growth assessment is — and "not yet, here's what has to be true first" is one of its honest outcomes.