We Built a Tool That Flags a Struggling Franchisee in 5 Seconds. Here’s Why That Matters If You’re Buying a Franchise.

Every franchise brochure says head office “supports” you.

Little Boomers Basketball CEO Emile Koorey just showed what that actually looks like, on an ordinary day.

He opened a dashboard. Five seconds later, he knew exactly which franchisees needed a phone call that week.

None of them had asked for help yet.

That’s not something most franchisors bother building. Most franchise conversations are about being sold to, not supported.

But if you’re trying to work out what real franchise support looks like before you sign anything, a founder who built a tool just to catch struggling franchisees early is worth paying attention to.

This article is based on a recent Courtside Conversations episode with Little Boomers Basketball CEO, Emile Koorey.

Watch the Full Episode

Why Did Head Office Build an AI Tool for This?

Because the old way was slow.

An admin team member updates every franchisee’s enrolment numbers each morning. Emile used to spend an hour or two going through it by hand, every time he needed the report.

An hour or two doesn’t sound like much until you’re doing it every week, for every franchisee in the network. That’s where problems used to sit unnoticed.

So What Changed?

He hits reload. That’s it.

The spreadsheet still gets filled in by hand each morning. Everything after that, comparing this term to last, checking retention, working out who’s drifting, now happens in seconds instead of an afternoon.

“In literally five seconds, I know exactly who I need to focus on and who I need to book a coaching call with to keep them accountable.”

Green means on track. Yellow means keep an eye on it. Red means the call happens this week.

Doesn’t That Just Mean Less Human Contact?

No. The opposite.

The coaching call is still Emile on the phone, same as it’s always been. The AI only touched the report. He’s making more calls now, not fewer, because he’s not losing an afternoon to a spreadsheet first.

What Does This Actually Mean If You’re the One Buying In?

It means somebody’s looking at your numbers before you have to send an email about them.

If a term starts slipping for your corner of the Little Boomers Basketball franchise, that shows up on a screen within a day. You get a call about it, not a surprise at renewal time when there’s nothing left to do but explain what happened.

That’s the actual shift. Not a system watching you. A system that means you’re never the one left to notice a problem on your own.

Common Mistakes People Make

“Franchise support just means a manual you get on day one.”

Not here. Head office watches your numbers and reaches out before you have to ask.

“If head office isn’t calling me, something’s probably wrong.”

Usually the opposite. Their dashboard is quietly confirming you’re in the green, which is exactly where you want to be.

“AI in a franchise means less human contact.”

The reverse, actually. AI does the data pulling so Emile’s time goes into the actual coaching calls, not spreadsheets.

“You have to automate everything at once for AI to be worth it.”

No. Emile’s own rule is pick one task, the recurring, admin heavy one, and start there.

“A dashboard like this needs a developer and months of build time.”

It took Emile an afternoon, using an AI tool, no coding background.

“Retention rate is just a vanity metric.”

Not at Little Boomers Basketball. It’s one of two numbers that decides whether a franchisee gets a coaching call that week.

Key Takeaways

• Head office tracks every franchisee’s enrolments and retention rate daily, not once a term
• A simple green, yellow, red system flags a struggling franchisee in days, not months
• The coaching call stays completely human. AI only handles the reporting
• Only recurring, admin heavy tasks get automated. Everything else stays as it was
• Real franchise support means head office reaches out before you have to ask
• You don’t need a tech background to benefit from this. Emile trained his whole head office team in a single workshop
• Retention, not just enrolment numbers, is one of the most closely watched metrics in the network

FAQ: Common Questions People Ask

1. Does this mean my numbers are being watched constantly?

Yes, and that’s the point. If a term starts slipping, someone notices within days, not at renewal time when it’s too late to turn around.

2. Will I get a call every time my numbers dip slightly?

No. The colour system exists so Emile can focus on genuine red flags, not the normal week to week wobble every business has.

3. Do I need to be good with tech or data to run a franchise here?

Not at all. The reporting and dashboards sit with head office. Your part is running great sessions and building your local community.

4. Is this kind of oversight unusual for a franchise?

It’s not something every brand invests in. It’s part of why Little Boomers Basketball is selective about who joins the network, they want people they can genuinely back.

5. What happens if the dashboard shows me in the red?

You get a coaching call, not a warning letter. It exists to help you get back on track, not to catch you out.

Keen to Learn More?

Emile covers topics like this every week on his YouTube channel.

You might also find our article How AI Is Reshaping Franchise Systems in 2026 useful while you’re weighing things up, along with The Hidden Drivers of Franchise Performance Nobody Talks About.

If any of this has you thinking more seriously about franchising, you can book a free Discovery Call with Emile.

No pressure, no pitch. Just a conversation to find out if it fits your life.