37. AC Inc.: Turning Field Support into a Strategic Growth Engine

Описание: In this episode of the Training Impact Podcast, host Jeff Walter sits down with Angela Cote, founder and CEO of AC Inc., for an in-depth conversation about one of the most influential and least developed roles in franchising: field support.

Angela brings a perspective that is rare in the franchise industry. She grew up inside a franchise system that scaled to nearly 500 locations, spent years working directly in field support, and later operated as a multi-unit franchisee herself for close to two decades. That lived experience allows her to see the franchise relationship from every angle, and it is what ultimately led her to create AC Inc.

Throughout the episode, Jeff and Angela explore a challenge many franchisors face. Even with strong onboarding, robust training programs, modern technology, and detailed operational playbooks, franchisee engagement and performance often fall short of expectations. Angela explains why the issue is rarely the system itself. Instead, the gap lies in how franchisees are supported once they are in the field.

The conversation dives into why field support teams frequently default to compliance driven interactions, what happens when those roles are not trained to coach business owners, and how that dynamic impacts franchisee confidence, accountability, and growth. Angela shares firsthand examples from her own experience as a franchisee, including why checklist driven visits failed to move the business forward and what meaningful support actually looks like.

Jeff and Angela also unpack the difference between consulting, training, and coaching, and why coaching is the missing capability in many franchise systems. Angela explains how AC Inc. helps franchisors equip field support professionals with the skills to build trust, establish credibility, and guide franchisees to think more strategically about their business rather than depend on head office for answers.

If you are a franchisor, operations leader, training professional, or responsible for supporting franchisees or partners at scale, this episode offers practical insight into how coaching driven field support can become a powerful growth engine.

Learn more about AC Inc.:
https://fieldcoachexperts.com/

Listen to more episodes of the Training Impact Podcast:
https://www.latitudelearning.com/trai...