NFIB

A Good Manager Is Hard to Find
08/ 19/ 2002

by Shannon Scully

James Rice moved from behind the counter to head of his company because of the management lessons he learned while flipping burgers at McDonald's during high school. Now that he owns 13 McDonald's franchises himself, Rice fills most management positions at his Philadelphia-area restaurants by promoting current employees.

"I worked my way up by being promoted through the ranks," says Rice. He worked 18 years for a Ohio franchise owner before going on his own. "Promoting from within is the best way to develop management depth and expertise."

Finding reliable and motivated managers is a challenge for every owner of multiple franchise locations, since you can't be everywhere at once.

Rice awards managers with bonuses when they meet goals and holds them accountable for their restaurants' success.

"Creating an atmosphere where people can grow themselves is just as important as competitive salaries," says Rice, who provides managers with a full benefits package, including medical, vision, dental and a 401(k) plan.

Don Stitt also looks for candidates within his four Texas-based Schlotzsky's Deli franchises when a management position is open, which isn't very often considering the average tenure for managers at his company is 12 years.

"We try to spoil our people as much as we can," says Stitt, who gives managers two days a week off for family time and three weeks of paid vacation each year. "We don't just hire people to fix sandwiches. We hire them to help build our business."

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This article originally appeared in the August/September 2002 issue of MyBusiness magazine.

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