RESUME MISTAKES
Avoid Costly Resume Mistakes as a Franchise Owner
Turn your entrepreneurial experience into a compelling resume that attracts investors, partners, and top talent.
How This Page Helps
Help franchise owners identify and correct resume mistakes that hinder growth opportunities and funding.
Spot vague performance metrics
Eliminate generic job descriptions
Showcase multi-unit management results
Align language with franchise industry keywords
Optimize format for ATS and investors
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
Missing Quantifiable ResultsHIGH
Why it hurts
- Hiring managers and investors can’t gauge impact
- ATS often scores low on numeric data
- Your growth story sounds generic
How to fix
- Add specific revenue, unit count, and time frame
- Use percentages and dollar figures
- Tie results to strategic initiatives
❌ Before
Increased sales across locations.
✓ After
Boosted sales by 22% across 12 locations within 12 months, generating $3.4M additional revenue.
ATS Tip
Include numbers and percentages in bullet points to improve keyword matching.
Detection Rules
No numeric values in experience bullets
Lacks % or $ symbols
Resumly Tip
Add concrete metrics—revenue, units, % growth, and timeframe—to each achievement.
Generic Objective StatementMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Doesn’t differentiate you from other owners
- Misses opportunity to signal growth intent
- ATS may ignore vague language
How to fix
- Replace with a professional summary that highlights franchise scale and goals
- Mention target markets or investment focus
- Incorporate key franchise terms
❌ Before
Seeking a challenging role in business management.
✓ After
Seasoned franchise owner seeking partnership opportunities to expand brand presence in the Midwest, leveraging a portfolio of 15 profitable units.
ATS Tip
Use industry‑specific keywords early in the summary.
Detection Rules
Contains phrase "seeking" or "challenging role"
Lacks franchise-specific language
Resumly Tip
Swap the objective for a concise summary that showcases your franchise footprint and strategic objectives.
Listing Responsibilities Instead of AchievementsHIGH
Why it hurts
- Provides no proof of success
- Reduces impact of leadership experience
- ATS favors action verbs and results
How to fix
- Start each bullet with a strong verb
- Focus on outcomes, not duties
- Quantify whenever possible
❌ Before
Managed daily operations of each restaurant.
✓ After
Directed daily operations for 12 restaurants, reducing labor costs by 15% while maintaining a 96% customer satisfaction score.
ATS Tip
Begin bullets with verbs like "Directed," "Optimized," "Scaled."
Detection Rules
Bullets start with "Managed" or "Responsible for"
No measurable outcomes
Resumly Tip
Reframe duties as achievements—show how your actions drove profit, efficiency, or growth.
Unclear Employment Dates and LocationsMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Confuses reviewers about tenure
- ATS may misinterpret date strings
- Investors need to see geographic expansion
How to fix
- Use consistent MM/YYYY format
- List city and state for each franchise unit
- Group multiple locations under one timeframe if appropriate
❌ Before
Franchise Owner, 2015‑2020
✓ After
Franchise Owner, Jan 2015 – Dec 2020 | Chicago, IL (15 locations)
ATS Tip
Standard date formats improve parsing; include city, state after the role line.
Detection Rules
Dates missing month
Location omitted
Resumly Tip
Standardize dates to MM/YYYY and always add city, state to clarify your market footprint.
Missing Franchise‑Specific KeywordsHIGH
Why it hurts
- ATS filters out resumes lacking core terms
- Recruiters may overlook industry expertise
- Reduces SEO for online resume searches
How to fix
- Research top franchise keywords and embed them naturally
- Include terms like "multi‑unit management," "P&L oversight," "brand compliance," "ROI," "franchise development"
- Add them in summary, skills, and experience sections
❌ Before
Managed several businesses.
✓ After
Led multi‑unit management of 15 franchise locations, overseeing P&L, ensuring brand compliance, and delivering a 12% ROI on new market entries.
ATS Tip
Place keywords in headings and bullet points for maximum impact.
Detection Rules
No words like "franchise," "multi‑unit," "P&L"
Resumly Tip
Integrate franchise‑specific terminology throughout the resume to boost ATS relevance and demonstrate sector expertise.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Header, Professional Summary, Core Competencies, Professional Experience, Education, Certifications, Affiliations
Naming: FirstName LastName - Franchise Owner Resume
Consistency
Length: 1-2 pages (max 2)
Date Format: MM/YYYY
Location Format: City, State
Resume Quality Checklist
- Use a clear professional title
- Add a summary with key franchise metrics
- Quantify growth for each location
- Include franchise-specific keywords
- Keep formatting clean and ATS‑friendly
- Proofread for spelling and grammar
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: iCIMS, Workday, Greenhouse, Lever
Keyword Strategy: Franchise development, multi-unit management, P&L oversight, ROI, brand compliance
Heading Format: Use standard headings like Professional Summary, Experience, Education
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste your current resume text
- Add quantifiable metrics
- Replace generic verbs with action‑oriented language
- Insert franchise industry keywords
- Standardize date and location format
- Reformat sections for ATS
Ready to transform your franchise resume? Get expert feedback now!
Start My Free Review
