When you own a franchise business, you benefit from national (or regional) brand recognition. Customers already know what your business is, what you provide, and what they can expect. Your brand automatically attracts customers, which solves one of the biggest challenges of growing a business.

However, when customers know that your brand is available throughout the region (or country or world), your business may feel large and impersonal to them. It’s up to you, as a franchise owner, to continually remind them that you are a local business. Your specific location is owned and operated by people in the community, and your business cares about and supports that community. 

Brand recognition can only get you so far. Community involvement will take you the rest of the way.

Community involvement is so important for franchise businesses that we will be spotlighting it in a 2-part series. This article will share 12 community involvement ideas that franchise owners can consider. In the next article, we’ll talk about how you can get the most out of your community involvement activities.

12 Community Involvement Ideas

If you’ve ever asked about or Googled community involvement for businesses, chances are you got the recommendation to ‘sponsor a local sports team.’ That’s a great thing to do (and it’s on our list!), but it only scratches the surface of the creative ways your franchise business can have an active presence in the community. Here are some more ideas.

1. Join the Chamber of Commerce

A good first step into community involvement is to join your local chamber of commerce. Doing so will allow you to make business contacts, get chamber news, acquire customer referrals, and bring credibility to your business.

2. Donate What You Don’t Need

When you donate what you don’t need, you can make a difference without spending money. The next time you upgrade, donate your unused equipment or supplies to a local school, library, or a family in need.

3. Volunteer as a Company

Volunteering as a company can help your community and your business. Research shows that company volunteering programs empower workers, develop stronger and more connected teams, and improve employee retention. Some ideas include volunteering as a company for an outdoor cleanup project, helping out at a food pantry or soup kitchen, or forming a team for a fundraising walk/run.

4. Get Involved in Schools

Schools are a cornerstone of any community, and there are many ways your franchise business may be able to get involved. 

  • Donate school supplies or books to schools or libraries in need
  • Help with local school programs, including volunteering or donating
  • Establish an internship program to give students real-world experience in the workforce
  • Run a free educational workshop or class related to your industry
  • Offer a scholarship to help a local student pay for college

5. Partner with Nonprofits

Data from Sprout Social indicates that 70 percent of consumers believe it’s important for brands to take a public stand on social and political issues. Choose a nonprofit in your area and explore how you can help their mission. You may donate money, volunteer your time, or offer free services and products. These partnerships may lead to marketing opportunities, media attention, and word-of-mouth reputation. 

6. Partner with Local Businesses

You may also choose to partner with other local businesses. Teaming up can make a difference in your community and expand the reach of your business. When evaluating potential partners, make sure to go about it strategically. Do your research and choose complementary companies to partner with. 

7. Participate in Community Events 

Community events like festivals, business expos, and health fairs can be used to promote your franchise business locally. These events are your chance to get out and talk to the people in your community, let them know what you have to offer, and share a brochure or small freebie. Check out this article for tips on making the most out of community events.

8. Join Online Forums

You can also get involved by joining online community forums. Your city may have Facebook groups, a Reddit channel, or community activities listed on Meetup. You can join the conversation and keep up with what people are talking about in your community.

9. Sponsor a Sports Team or Event

Sponsoring a sports team is one of the most popular community involvement ideas for a reason. This win-win idea will encourage sports in your community, demonstrate that you care about the community’s interests, and help you promote your business (perhaps even with uniforms that have your company logo!). Similarly, your business can sponsor a local theater group, a youth orchestra, or a community-wide event.

10. Host Your Own Event

Attending or sponsoring events hosted by other organizations is a great idea, but don’t shy away from hosting your own events. An open house that includes giveaways, free food, and entertainment will draw potential customers in to check out your business. You may even create an event that supports a cause in your community, with proceeds going to the charity. Hosting your own event does not have to cost a lot. Check out this article from SmallBusinessTrends on budget-friendly events for small businesses.

11. Create Care Packages

This community involvement idea is popular during the holiday season but can happen all year round. First, determine who you will create care packages for. It could be families in need, hospital patients, nursing home residents, military members, or others. Next, determine what your care package will include. Finally, enlist the help of your employees, customers, and community to donate items, prepare the packages, and deliver them.

12. Become a Local Expert

One final thought on this list of community involvement ideas is that a franchise business owner can become known as a local expert on an important topic to your community. To become known as the ‘go-to- source’ of information, post about it on your business blog, contribute articles to local publications, volunteer with radio stations and newspapers when they cover the topic, and participate in online community forums.

Community Involvement Ideas to Boost Visibility

The community involvement ideas listed above will help franchise owners boost the visibility of their franchise business and become known as an active presence in the local community. While engaging in these activities is beneficial, you can have an even bigger impact when you learn how to leverage these activities through marketing and promotion. In our next blog post, we’ll explore how you can do that. In the meantime, choose one of the community involvement ideas above, and start planning your next steps!