By Mark Montini, QC Kinetix

The term “responsible franchising” is used frequently in the industry, and as the franchising environment continues to scale and change, franchisors need to adjust their business models to ensure they are operating ethically while meeting the demands of both franchisees and consumers.

When franchisors take the time to practice responsible franchising, they are setting themselves and their entire system up for long-term success.

Defining Responsible Franchising

Responsible franchising means building a business model where the success of the franchisor is earned through the success of the franchisees. It’s about creating long-term value, not just short-term wins. Responsible franchising also means being proactive — identifying issues early, having the courage to fix them, and always prioritizing sustainable growth. I often say: you can’t build a successful franchise without successful franchisees. That’s not just a philosophy — at QC Kinetix, it’s become our operating principle.

Ethical franchising starts with alignment, transparency, and mutual accountability. Franchisees deserve to know exactly what they are investing in, what kind of support they can count on, and how decisions are made that impact their business. In order for a franchise system to thrive, franchisees need to trust your model, and when you’ve lost the trust of franchisees, you need to be intentional about gaining it back. This process of building and rebuilding trust begins with over communicating and listening. It’s important that franchisees have a clear understanding of their responsibilities in driving their own success, and having open lines of communication helps to establish that understanding. It’s also critical to invite honest feedback, because it can help you to identify areas for improvement.

Action Over Words

Action is crucial, don’t serve your system with platitudes. Rather, lay out your plan and expectations for franchisees, and hand them the tools to make necessary changes and succeed.

Taking the time to reset when necessary allows your brand to cast a clear vision for the future and become a stronger, more sustainable model. Our core values at QC Kinetix are Relentless Progress, Fearless Service, and Bold Positivity, and we hold ourselves and our entire network accountable to these values and standards. At the end of the day, ethical franchising isn’t just about fairness — it’s about clarity, commitment, and consistency from both sides.

Balancing Growth with Support

As brands begin to scale, one of the biggest challenges is balancing growth with support. It’s tempting to focus on top-line expansion, but responsible franchising means putting the right systems, people, and infrastructure in place first.

At QC Kinetix, we experienced rapid early growth, but when things got tough, that growth exposed gaps. Since stepping into this role, my focus has been on transformation — rebuilding our support infrastructure, upgrading training, centralizing key services, and ensuring our franchisees have the tools they need to succeed. We’re not perfect, but we’re making measurable progress every day. Recognizing vulnerability and admitting to imperfections is another way we’ve strengthened trust with franchisees.

Franchisors need to view their role as helping franchisees build asset value, and building a strong foundation for franchisees and continuous education are two ways to ensure they are adhering to your brand’s standards for long-term success.

Top-line growth is exciting, and profitability is critical for survival, but combining those with a strong brand that resonates with consumers is what creates generational wealth. When franchisees win, the entire system wins, and in building a strong franchisor we are providing better tools and training for franchisees to continue winning.

Leveraging Data for Responsible Franchising

Tapping into data and truly becoming a data-driven brand is key in being a responsible franchise, regardless of the industry you are in. We’ve invested hundreds of thousands of dollars into evidence-based data collection and clinical practices to ensure that everything we do is built around real data, driving optimal outcomes for our patients. As the largest regenerative medicine practice in the U.S., we generate multiple times more clinical and operational data than anyone else in this space. That scale gives us a massive edge — and if we continue to leverage it effectively, it will only extend our leadership in what we call the Regenerative Revolution. Scaling doesn’t mean cutting corners — it means scaling responsibly. That’s the new playbook at QC Kinetix.

Building Consumer Trust

Building consumer trust is just as important as building franchisee trust. Responsible franchising is responsible care, and every franchise system, in every industry, should have protocols in place to ensure that each location is adhering to the same standards so consumers are receiving the same experience.

While these resources can translate to any industry, when working in medicine specifically, we are dealing with vulnerable patients who have turned to us for pain treatment, so we’ve established clinical protocols based on the best available evidence. Alongside requiring a strict adherence to these protocols, we also invest in ongoing education, quality control, and centralized oversight to ensure consistency. Our goal is for patients to have the same high-quality, trustworthy experience — no matter which QC Kinetix location they visit.

In a word, don’t wait until there’s a problem to act responsibly. By building your systems, culture, and values around long-term franchisee success from day one, you’ll be able to own and face challenges head on, creating a more resilient franchise system. As a leader, listen more than you speak, and above all, lead with vision and integrity.

Mark Montini is the CEO of QC Kinetix. Appointed in 2024, Mark is a seasoned franchising expert committed to ensuring QC Kinetix maintains its position as the #1 regenerative medicine practice in the United States. Renowned for pioneering innovative strategies and leveraging data-driven insights, he has worked to transform QC Kinetix by enhancing patient care, expanding market reach, and leading a cultural transformation that has set new benchmarks for success. For more information about IFA franchisor member QC Kinetix, please visit franchise.org/franchise-opportunities/qc-kinetix/.