Russo's Restaurants To Offer Credit Access To Franchisees

Guidant Financial, BoeFly, and Russo's Restaurants have teamed up to provide more credit access for entrepreneurs interested in operating Russo's Restaurants franchises.

The new partnership between small business financing company Guidant Financial, BoeFly.com, the online marketplace for small business loans, and Russo's, the 42-location franchisor of the fast casual and casual dining brands Russo's New York Pizzeria and Russo's Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen, is part of Guidant's Funding Assurance program to help franchisors expand their brands. The partnership will offer existing and prospective Russo's franchisees exclusive access to financing services from Guidant Financial and BoeFly, starting with a customized prequalification tool on Russo's website called bQual.

Russo's franchisees will get unlimited use of the bQual business loan prequalification and financial education report for franchise systems and entrepreneurs. The prequalification process helps franchisees determine what financing is available for franchise projects, whether opening new units or expanding current operations. The partnership with Russo's is another step in Guidant's goal of establishing relationships with growing franchise systems to help streamline the financing process and help entrepreneurs gain access to the capital they need.

"This easy prequalification process will give Russo's franchisees confidence about their ability to get financing and identify potential sources," says David Nilssen, CEO and co-founder of Guidant Financial. "We're thrilled to work with Chef Russo's team to help ease the often complex financing process and enable more individuals to realize their dream of franchise ownership."

"It's our passion to produce authentic New York-style pizza and quality Italian dining, and this partnership furthers that mission, one new franchisee at a time," says Chef Anthony Russo, founder and CEO of Russo's Restaurants. "Our partnership with franchise experts Guidant Financial and BoeFly will help more entrepreneurs expand our brands and join the Russo's Restaurants family."