Did you know that franchise businesses are officially on the rise?
In 2025, total franchise output is projected to exceed $936 billion. That’s a 4.4% increase from last year.
To put that number into perspective, the overall U.S. economy is expected to grow just 1.9% in that same timeframe…
If you’ve ever thought about grabbing a piece of the franchise pie, you’re not alone.
But launching new businesses, franchises included, doesn’t always play out exactly like you might imagine.
That’s why some valued franchise owners from the Motto Mortgage network are sharing what they wish they knew before getting started:
You Don’t Have to Reinvent the Wheel
Tracy Holtsclaw, of Motto Mortgage Home Group, said it best: “Even with past origination experience, we never thought in our wildest dreams we’d ever attempt to own a mortgage brokerage.”
Because, well, there’s just no way around it. Starting a new business can be tricky, no matter the industry.
But the reality is that some franchises are simpler to spin up than others. You don’t necessarily have to start from scratch.
For example, breaking into a closely related industry means you can better hit the ground running.
You already know the customers — their wants, needs, and tendencies. The lingo, too. And you might already be a bit familiar with compliance rules and regulations.
The other piece that can really help? An experienced, supportive franchisor.
That’s right, a careful choice could help fast-track your opening.
“Motto Mortgage was instrumental in making us successful franchise owners by offering a structured startup with continued support and direction, including marketing, compliance, advice, and branding,” Tracy said. “This was HUGE in getting us up and running.”
You’ll Likely Grow — Individually and as a Business
Most franchise owners, current and potential, are hungry for growth.
No doubt that when you offer additional services that complement the core of your existing business, you can drive more opportunities. Because you’re opening the door to additional clients and potential revenue.
But what about your growth? And the growth of your team?
And we’re not talking about hiring quotas here. We’re talking about skillsets, opportunities, and passions.
“For franchise owners, it’s crucial to ensure you’re working with someone who’s going to support your professional growth, individually and as a company,” said Matt Ronne of Motto Mortgage Preferred Brokers.
“A lot of large mortgage companies don’t offer growth opportunities — Motto Mortgage does. And it’s one of the things that I find most valuable about their franchise business model. The support and education from Motto Headquarters are tailored to help each team member grow.”
So, as your business levels up, you – and your team – can, too.
You Don’t Have to Spend All Day on Hold
When you envision working with a big franchisor, what are the first images that pop into your head?
If you’re like a lot of potential franchise owners, there might be flashes of unanswered emails. Layers of red tape. Hours of hold muzak.
Don’t get me wrong — all those things can and do happen at some organizations.
You shouldn’t let these worries scare you off. But don’t disregard them entirely, either.
Instead, use them to determine the right franchisor for you from the start. One that’s active, engaged, and present.
“The Motto support team has blown my expectations out of the water,” said Scott Dixon, Motto Mortgage Paradise Group.
That’s right, this degree of involvement frees franchise owners just like you up to do what you do best: Run your business.
“As a Motto owner, I have more time to focus on selling and spend much less time focusing on my CRM and marketing efforts. My capacity to do more volume has significantly increased because I can now dedicate almost all my time to chasing leads.”
Boom. No muzak needed.
Your Clients Could Benefit Big
There’s quite a bit for you (and your team members) to love. But your clients stand to gain a lot, too.
If you’re already in real estate, with a mortgage franchise, you could offer a one-shop experience, seamless service, and the customer experience your clients already know and love all the way through financing.
“The comprehensive support Motto Headquarters provides its franchise owners across day-to-day operations, technology, compliance, education, lender relationships, and organizational structure has been foundational in our ability to serve our clients effectively,” said Motto Mortgage Prosperity’s Dustin Oldfather.
“The decision to join the Motto network has been life-changing, and we highly recommend Motto’s business model to anyone looking to expand their service offerings.”
Basically, the headline for clients here is: More services to choose from, a friction-free experience, and additional value added by a team they already trust.
Talk about a win, win, win.
Wrapping Up: What Franchise Owners Wish They Knew Before Starting
As most franchise owners have found, launching a new business isn’t as easy as 1-2-3. Or A-B-C, for that matter.
But just knowing what to expect can really help.
So, do your homework, shop around, and only commit to a franchise that feels like a fit.
Then, all that’s left to do is to get started, getting started!
Published on July 21, 2025
