Development plan
A strategic document defining a network’s expansion targets over 3 to 5 years: number of annual openings, target geographies, franchisee profiles sought, recruitment budget, and support resources to be created.
In practice
A realistic development plan accounts for support capacity: opening 30 units per year without sufficient support managers in place is a recipe for failure. The practical rule: budget one additional support manager for every 15 to 20 new franchisees. White-space territories — areas without a franchisee — represent potential but carry higher recruitment costs, typically requiring regional trade shows or geo-targeted campaigns.