Online Self-Paced Franchising Course
Foundations of Franchising
Before embarking on your franchise journey, it’s important to gain a deep understanding of how franchises work. Foundations of Franchising is a self-paced online course from the Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, built by industry experts and offered at no cost. Start when you’re ready, move at the speed that fits your life and build the knowledge needed to evaluate franchise opportunities with confidence.
Foundations of Franchising
Empowering Success at NO COST
Franchising provides a unique opportunity to pursue business ownership within a defined, proven structure. Even so, getting started in the franchise world can be intimidating. That’s why Haslam developed a self-paced course for anyone considering first-time franchise investment, including learners of all educational and professional backgrounds. By gaining insider perspectives on what really works – not just textbook theory – participants learn premium, university-level franchising fundamentals, equipping them for confident decision-making. The course is taught by a certified franchise executive with 30 years of experience, and it’s available at no cost.
From service members adapting to civilian life to working professionals seeking greater independence, franchising can be a meaningful way to build a new career. A full understanding of franchisor/franchisee relationships is key. Gain this understanding by working through the material on your own schedule, then finish with the knowledge and research skills to begin planning a real path toward franchise ownership.
Why Enroll in Foundations of Franchising?
- Expert instruction drawn from 30 years of real-world experience
- University-backed curriculum designed by actual franchise operators
- Fully self-paced, so you start and finish on your schedule
- Practical skills for reading an FDD and evaluating a brand
- In-depth, premium learning at no cost
Follow the steps in the Guide: Canvas Catalog: Enroll in a Course. If you are not an active UT student, faculty, or staff, please create a guest account and log in using the “without UTK NetID” option. UT users should log in with their UT NetID and password.
CORDELL RILEY
Certified Franchise Executive, Course Instructor
A 30-year veteran of the franchising industry, Cordell Riley brings real-world value, executive experience and a business owner background to Haslam’s franchising curriculum.
Shelly Sun Berkowitz
Founder & Executive Chairwoman of Brightstar Group Holdings, INC
Successful franchise founder and proud UT alumna Shelly Sun Berkowitz (HCB, ’92) generously funds Haslam’s franchising programs to make franchising more accessible to all future business leaders. Hear from the franchise expert about the impact of Haslam’s no-cost programs.
What You Will Learn
After completing Foundations of Franchising, you’ll have confidence in these key skills:
- Origins: Describe how franchising developed and how business format models differ from product distribution models.
- Language: Understand key terminology, including franchisor, franchisee, royalty fees and operational support.
- Relationships: Analyze the roles and expectations on both sides and how successful franchise relationships are maintained.
- Evaluation: Interpret Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs), assess brand alignment and identify personal and financial fit.
- Planning: Analyze the components of a business plan built for franchise acquisition, including market research, financial projections and operations.
- Funding: Compare funding options for franchise ownership, from personal savings to SBA loans and alternative financing.
Finish with the basic knowledge and research skills needed to succeed as a franchisee. And if you’re considering a corporate career in franchising instead, you’ll develop with a clearer understanding of how the franchisor and franchisee relationship works from the inside.
Franchise Fundamentals on Your Schedule
No set meeting times and no cohort to keep up with. Work through the modules early in the morning, late at night or in whatever gaps your week gives you, where the only investment is your time.
Learning On Demand,
Redefined
The full course lives in Canvas and opens the moment you enroll. Revisit any module as often as you need while you research brands and talk to franchisors.
Premium Course Without a Premium Price tag
Thanks to a generous donation from Shelly Sun Berkowitz
Course Details
Enrollment now open
Self-paced, online, at no cost
- Enroll any time and start the same day
- Six learning modules covering origins, terminology, relationships, evaluation, planning and funding
- Available on any device
- No prerequisites and no business background required
Ready to go deeper? The seven-week live Franchise Certification program is the natural next step.
READY TO START?
It’s never been easier to jump into franchising. Enroll in Foundations of Franchising and start learning right away. Work at your own pace to develop the skills and confidence required for franchise success. Register now and take the first step toward franchise ownership.
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