When we made the decision to start an Engineering For Kids franchise in 2014, my wife Krista and I never expected to experience the level of success we saw within our first year But after a staggering 275 percent enrollment increase, we quickly realized we needed to expand our operation to keep up with growing demand.
Through scaling our business strategically, we went from operating in seven locations to more than 30 locations within a two-year period. Here are the top five things we focused on for success:
Developing a Strategic Plan
Before we took the first step toward growing, we assessed where our business was that day, where we wanted to take it tomorrow, and what our hopes were for the long-term future. Not only did we have to determine our goals, but we had to make sure we were aligned on them as business partners. Putting our goals and objectives on paper helped us eliminate surprises in our moving forward strategy.
With our goals clearly defined, we developed action plans to help us achieve them, including what needed to get done, by when, and the resources necessary to complete the various tasks. To ensure we kept moving in the right direction, we developed a set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to track our targets as we reached them.
Designing a Process
After developing a clear picture of where we were looking to go, we had to design protocol that would be repeatable and scalable for continued success. With a growing number of moving parts as we expanded into additional locations, we made sure to implement consistent policies and processes to take out the guesswork when situations developed.
For example, we streamlined both our supply chain of materials and our course offerings to simplify employee training. We also developed communication channels to drive timely information back into the business.
Executing Action Plans
All the planning in the world is fruitless without putting those plans into action. Once our plans were in place, we had to trust our process and take the necessary steps to begin turning them into tangible reality.
Just as initially going into business for ourselves presented some challenges and obstacles, we anticipated unforeseen hurdles during expansion, as well. So when, for example, we had to invest additional capital on equipment beyond what we originally budgeted, we were prepared to do what was necessary to ensure we would execute our plan to completion, and we used a scheduling tool to ensure all major equipment was used in the most efficient way.
Hiring the Right People
The larger our business grows, the harder it is for Krista and myself to continue handling all the responsibilities that come with it ourselves. It has become essential for us to learn not only how to wear many hats, but how to delegate and surround ourselves with a team of trusted individuals who help us keep the day-to-day running smoothly. If our business is not running successfully, it would significantly decrease the likelihood of any successful growth.
We look for candidates who are aligned with our journey of educating youth and inspiring the next generation of engineers. We also look for candidates with talents in other areas, like operations or marketing. Because we are a lean organization, many of our instructors have the capabilities to support the business in other areas, helping us further streamline and create a tight circle of support.
Driving Continuous Improvement
While the above-mentioned steps will help expand a business, it takes consistent analysis of operations to remain successful and continue further growth. The original development plan and processes designed for replication must be constantly updated to adapt to a growing customer base and market.
By seeking out consistent feedback from our customers, we can improve policies and practices where necessary to meet their satisfaction. We use customer surveys to help us understand their experience, and react accordingly. We also have our instructors submit daily reports to summarize how class went and identify improvement opportunities. Feedback from employees is equally important to maintain company moral, ensuring they keep a vested interest in our customers and the success of our business.
Lastly, we use our KPIs to track progress in key areas such as financial and quality.
Monte and Krista Turnage started their own Engineering For Kids franchise in Illinois in 2014. Engineering For Kids is an enrichment program for children ages 4-14 that provides an opportunity to learn about STEM education in a fun and challenging way. After experiencing a 275 percent enrollment increase during their second year, the Turnages now operate out of more than 30 locations across Lake County, Illinois with plans to further penetrate their territory. Visit www.engineeringforkids.com
