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Expanding Your Project

  1. Stop! Ask yourself: why do I want to “go national?” Is there a real need for my program in that other community? Or is my ego just really into the idea of running a gigantic thing?
  2. Nail down all the elements of a strong brand. Is your program unique, relevant, simple, truthful, and consistent? Know this before you even think about expansion.
  3. Have enough money in the bank for 1 year. The minute you start working on expansion, you’re going to take your eyes off that original program…and it will suffer. Have the money to keep the original location alive and strong.
  4. Get the right people. For the original location, you are going to have to give up primary control over it if you want the expansion to succeed. Not ready to give up that control? Then you are probably not ready to expand.
  5. Make sure you have a strong Board of Directors. You need a group of really engaged people, with clear expectations and responsibilities, attending regular meetings to help you manage this growth.
  6. Know the 5 things that are core to your program If you walked into the office of your org in Alaska, what must be there for it to be familiar to you? Write them down. Have everyone agree.
  7. Identify the 5 things that would make you say, “Whaa? That’s not our program!” If the program suddenly involved a prayer moment or if the curricula was left out or if it required a fee.
  8. Determine where you want to go. What markets interest you? And why? What does the competitive landscape look like there? Who are potential partners? Who are potential funders there? What local champions do you have?
  9. Do some research on that new market. Find out if anyone is already doing your program in that new location. Are you sure there is a need for it? Who is going to use your program?
  10. Decide between franchise or "owned and operated. There are pluses and minuses for both. Franchising is faster and its a separate legal entity. "Owned & operated" gives you more control—but also more responsibility.
  11. Work with counsel. Everything should be papered up—from a tight application process to the legal agreements overseeing the expansion entity.