From 1987 to 2002 we licensed our processing and cognitive training programs to health, psychological and educational professionals. They were taught how to utilize our programs but the marketing, selling, hiring, and operating of their businesses were up to them. For most, our programs were either another service they provided or a part-time activity. Although they achieved tremendous results, most had limited market impact in their areas because they were focused on multiple programs, worked part-time only and/or had limited business skills.

In 2002 we opened a cognitive training and reading center to demonstrate that providers could get both profit and tremendous learning and reading gains. Very quickly it became evident that both were possible if providers used the programs and the operating system we had in place. So, rather than licensing our products and leaving providers to develop their own business and marketing systems, we changed to franchising where we could impact both the product and operating system.

We quickly realized, however, that our knowledge of franchising was limited. Fortunately, we found expert advisors. After the attorney drew up the first draft of the Franchise Agreement, we commented, "This is so one-sided. We would never sign something like this, so why would anyone else?" He explained that when someone becomes a franchisee and operates a Center, he or she wants and needs assurance that the franchisee in the next area won't do anything that will negatively affect him/her, and thus controls are given to the franchisor. Without the ability to enforce conformity within the system, there is no brand or consistency.

This lesson was reinforced a few days later when one of our first franchisees recognized this need and asked for even stronger language in the agreement to ensure that others could not negatively affect the brand. Since then we have gained a much fuller understanding of franchising by reading, taking courses, spending days with other franchisors, and having multiple franchise consultants. We are more convinced than ever that these strong agreements are an absolute necessity.

Since we know that our programs such as ThinkRx and ReadRx are exceptional, and in fact unmatched, we take our responsibility as stewards of these products seriously and are careful to make sure that the business system allows for maximum market penetration and consistent delivery of our message and methodology.

For our first year of franchising we weren't consistent in the institution and enforcement of our standards and compliance. We felt being relaxed about enforcing these standards would allow more freedom to experiment and explore other means of operating. We have since realized, however, that if this lack of consistency continued without restraints and if consistent compliance of the operating system was not required, that there would be potential problems down the road. We would have multiple operating systems rather than one, unified system. And furthermore, we would lose the right to enforce compliance if we didn't require it consistently.

In summary, we need to have consistent functioning based on our operating system. Yet we also desire to continue to improve, grow, change, accept feedback, and experiment to fine-tune our systems for the benefit of each Center. We accomplish this by requiring compliance, yet offering a "Request for a Trial Operating Procedure" for a set time period for certain, approved activities. This request form and the corresponding trial procedures that we approve allow us to try new ideas on a limited basis before we decide whether or not to implement them system-wide.

We see a remarkable future through the continued establishment and maintenance of this interdependent, fine-tuning of the system that becomes the basis of the strategic-partnership we have; yet it also maintains a system where we work together as a unified system, rather than functioning as independent franchise locations operating in isolation.

LearningRx's Franchise Corporation's Mission:

To grant franchises to individuals and groups who will achieve their goals and ours by fully, completely, and consistently implementing our operating system, enhancing our brand, and creating very satisfied customers.