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Even in tough economic times, franchisors are stepping up and giving back to causes and organizations they - and their franchisees - believe in. Many of these activities fall under the radar, displaced by news and events deemed more immediate or important. What could be more important than raising money and donating time to help those in need, especially when budgets are pinched and time is at a premium? That's why we're taking the time to recognize our contemporary heroes.
  • Franchise Update
  • 3,554 Reads 1 Shares
Savvy franchise companies continue to flourish in this challenging economy. Each month FUSR will bring you good news, highlighting brands that are bucking the trend by adding units, increasing comp store sales, striking deals with investors, and continuing to grow despite the economy - maybe even because of it. And as you'll see below, U.S. franchisors continue to look overseas for expansion while the domestic economy remains slow.
  • Franchise Update
  • 5,849 Reads 93 Shares
If you are not experienced at effectively analyzing "tech talk," take the shortcut to better buying and zero in purely on sales results. Conduct your research on various websites using direct-response questions. The sole purpose of your online franchise advertising is to generate quality prospects to sell your franchise to, just as you normally do. If you can't get satisfactory answers to the following questions from a website in business six months or longer, hold on to your wallet!
  • Steve Olson
  • 2,948 Reads 1 Shares
By now you probably understand that the franchising model can make many business start-up decisions quicker, easier, and more efficient. You've bought into the fact that you have a proven product, an effective system of distribution, and a regionally or nationally recognized brand, among other benefits. But when you're ready to sign on with a franchise company and open your store, they may assist you in the site selection process and maybe even lease negotiations, but you will most likely be required to handle land acquisition, construction, and building matters on your own. It's an important - and capital intensive - strategic issue and you want to do it right. Commercial real estate and property or land acquisition can be a complicated matter, but it doesn't have to be. Look for a real estate company or agent with a solid reputation and, preferably, one with experience in franchise operations and building. Work closely with them, seek their advice, and heed it.
  • Kerry Pipes
  • 14,954 Reads 2 Shares
Featuring: Tom Wood, President and CEO of Floor Coverings International, along with Franchisees: James Brooks of Flagstaff, Arizona and Jason Nichols of Toronto, Canada.
  • Inside Franchising Podcast
  • 14,382 Reads 18 Shares
The Inside Franchising Podcast features leading franchisors and their franchisees together like you've never heard them-We discuss real world franchising stuff -- business models, systems, training and support, marketing challenges and franchisee success stories.
  • Inside Franchising Podcast
  • 6,783 Reads 61 Shares
Franchise Update Media Group (FUMG), the leading industry resource for franchise development, today announced that Franchising.com ranked in the "Top 5" in eMaximation's latest Franchise Benchmark Report for Franchise Portals. Franchising.com also ranked in the "Top 5" for completed franchise applications, an indicator of the quality of leads that are generated. Franchising.com has consistently ranked in the "Top 5" for more than two years.
  • Press Release
  • 8,075 Reads 193 Shares
I just returned from the Multi-Unit Franchising Conference in Las Vegas and, compared with the other industry conferences I've addressed so far this year, it was a welcome breath of fresh air. At other industry group presentations this year, attendance numbers were off (one conference was even cancelled at a tremendous cost to the organizer) and the prevailing mood at all of them could best be characterized as an oppressive atmosphere of economic uncertainty and pessimistic forecasts. Not so with the Multi-Unit Franchising Conference group of movers and shakers.
  • Mel Kleiman
  • 3,836 Reads 5 Shares
I was shocked recently while attending a workshop covering franchisee recruitment (formerly known as "franchise sales") by the participants' responses to the following situation: Assume that the franchisor says nothing in his Franchise Disclosure Document's Item 19 as to financial performance. Instead, the franchisor suggests that prospective franchisee prepare a business plan that would include a projection of revenues and costs for the proposed franchise.
  • Rupert M. Barkoff
  • 4,922 Reads 27 Shares
USA Insulation, based in Eastlake, Ohio, has added four new franchise locations to serve Chicago, Omaha, Central New Jersey, and Portland, Maine. Interest in insulation has grown in recent years as homeowners hit by the economic downturn and rising energy costs seek to reduce their monthly gas and electric bills - good news for this franchisor. "Aside from the typical reasons for insulating a home, many of our new customers have wanted to take advantage of the energy tax credit," says company President Patrick Pitrone. "Adding home insulation now can get you a 30 percent federal energy tax credit of up to $1,500."
  • Franchise Update
  • 4,452 Reads
I have been a franchise lawyer my entire professional career. I still recall vividly my first project on my first day, September 8, 1987. International Dairy Queen had acquired Orange Julius of America (OJA) earlier that year, and we were updating the Orange Julius UFOC to enable OJA to continue to offer and sell franchises. We then also filed the revised UFOC in the various registration states.
  • Brian Schnell
  • 3,843 Reads 33 Shares
Angry Crab Shack
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On September 1, the SBA announced revisions in its Standard Operating Procedure for financing of goodwill in resale transactions under its 7(a) program. The changes, which take effect October 1st, supersede revisions made in March that limited the amount of goodwill financing for resales to $250,000 or 50 percent of the loan amount, whichever was lower.
  • Franchise Update
  • 4,869 Reads 20 Shares
You'll recruit new franchisees much faster if you initially understand, prepare, and learn the best methods for selling franchises. Working smarter shortens the race to the finish line! Here are some triggers that will help accelerate your pace.
  • Steve Olson
  • 6,062 Reads 572 Shares
The historical consolidation of franchise finance sources (local and regional banks, and other institutions) has led to only a handful of major players financing franchised companies over the last several years. These institutions, all well-known household names, have dramatically decreased leverage multiples while increasing interest rates and, most importantly, are tightly preserving capital until general economic conditions show signs of stability. As these lenders limit the flow of debt capital to franchising (or shut off lending completely), there are some trends all franchise owners should consider to ensure their financing needs are met during this recession.
  • Dean Zuccarello
  • 4,330 Reads 60 Shares
Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to attend Franchise Update's annual Multi-Unit Franchising Conference in Las Vegas. I sat on a panel of experts in a session titled "Development Strategies: Accelerating Growth Through Area Representation." During this session, the advantages and disadvantages of area representation (AR) were discussed. As the session concluded, there appeared to be a few franchisors converted to the AR concept.
  • Marvin Storm
  • 3,561 Reads 3 Shares
Sam and Louie had been in business for about ten years, operating a chain of retail clothing stores. They were 50/50 owners in the corporation. When Sam approached us he had already been working for about 9 months to try to come up with a proposal which Louie would accept for dividing up their operations.
  • Nicholas K. Niemann and Andrew Horowitz, CPhD
  • 6,027 Reads
Gaining access to and securing capital is more important for franchisees today than ever. Every week we talk with multi-unit franchisees about how they are growing and the kind of financing it takes for them to achieve their goals and objectives. It's an important topic and sometimes we get some very candid responses.
  • Multi-Unit Franchisee
  • 6,424 Reads
2008 was a big year for restaurant franchises to refranchise many of their corporate-owned units, according to a recent report from food service consultants Technomic. Top brands such as Applebee's, Pizza Hut, and KFC converted stores to franchisee operations.
  • Multi-Unit Franchisee
  • 3,804 Reads 60 Shares
Franchisors seeking to maintain growth in 2009 are offering candidates deals in the form incentives, stimuli, reduced fees, breaks on royalties, and more. FUSR will continue to track this trend to keep you informed on what "the other guys" are doing to attract prospects and turn them into franchisees.
  • Franchise Update
  • 2,637 Reads 5 Shares
I know few people who had money-making investments in 2008. On the flip side, I know many whose portfolios technically beat their respective benchmarks. In a rising market (like that experienced in 1999), beating the benchmark would have been considered a badge of honor--providing ample bragging rights on the golf course and around the dinner table. However, having relatively "less loss" in a down market isn't exactly considered a wonderful experience for most of today's investors.
  • Carol Clark
  • 3,875 Reads 16 Shares
Savvy franchise companies continue to flourish in this challenging economy. Each month FUSR will bring you good news, highlighting brands that are bucking the trend by adding units, increasing comp store sales, striking deals with investors, and continuing to grow - despite the economy.
  • Franchise Update
  • 4,113 Reads 1,023 Shares
McAlister's Deli
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McAlister's Deli
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Last year, our third quarter cover story on Item 19 urged franchisors to disclose more financial performance information in their FDD. After all, the FTC's amended Franchise Rule, which became mandatory July 1, 2008, contained language intended to make it easier for franchisors to make financial performance representations (FPRs; formerly known as earnings claims)
  • Eddy Goldberg
  • 11,030 Reads 1 Shares
Franchise Update Media Group (FUMG), the leading industry resource for franchise development, today announced that more than 100 brands are currently registered for the 11th Annual Franchise Leadership & Development Conference, Sept. 23-25, 2009 at the Drake Hotel in Chicago, and that once again, 200 brands are anticipated at the conference.
  • Press Release
  • 4,884 Reads
Our objective with this column is to identify issues and best practices that will enable franchisors to more effectively address state registration/disclosure matters in connection with their franchise development efforts. The IFA 2009 Legal Symposium's "Ask the Regulators" session provided insight on a number of those fronts. During this session, state regulators identified several common mistakes franchisors make during the registration process, many related to the Revised FTC Rule. We discuss five of those common mistakes, with another five to be discussed next month.
  • Brian Schnell, Partner, Faegre & Benson
  • 4,235 Reads 66 Shares
What if there were a web-based tool that could help you create and organize your restaurants' menu quickly and accurately--while also collecting important data and ensuring consistent brand delivery? There is, and companies including Applebee's, California Pizza Kitchen, O'Charley's, Max & Erma's, and Papa Murphy's are now using the technology to create, design and order printed copies of their menus. The tool, MenuNet, is from Trabon Companies, which provides web-to-print restaurant technology and printing solutions.
  • Kerry Pipes
  • 4,958 Reads 126 Shares
Franchisee validation can make or break the sale of your candidate. Pow! Just like that, a once-supercharged prospect can deflate to nothing in 24 hours, bailing out of your process almost instantly. Validation is the most influential stage in the selling process. What franchise owners say means far more than what a corporate sales person tells them. Franchise operators are doing it and living it, and it's their experiences that count foremost with cautious buyers.
  • Steve Olson
  • 2,968 Reads 4 Shares
On a recent monthly Webinar for the Franchise CEO Network, I was honored to interview Rhoda Olsen, president and COO of Great Clips, Inc. Quickly, the conversation turned to what it is like to lead more than 2,800 Great Clips franchisees, and the challenges that must be overcome to communicate effectively.
  • Linda Burzynski
  • 3,726 Reads 29 Shares
There's a saying I've heard in business and the franchise community for years: "Either your system is growing, or you are slowly going out of business and just don't know it yet." These days, everyone's singing the "Bad Economy Blues." Unfortunately, this sentiment can become contagious within franchise systems. So what can franchisors do to help their franchisees sustain and grow, and to maintain happy franchise systems in these difficult times? Or at least, what can franchisors do to circle the wagons and avoid franchisee attrition? Attrition is a franchisor's worst enemy as failed and/or closed units reduce royalty income, render some support staff obsolete, and wreak havoc with franchisee validation.
  • Marc Kiekenapp
  • 3,496 Reads 7 Shares
Tony Lutfi came to California when he was 16, a Palestinian-Jordanian immigrant looking for a better life. He dreamed of growing up, getting an education, and becoming a doctor. To earn some money, he took a job working the graveyard shift at a Jack in the Box. Then fate stepped in. "The manager had a heart attack, and they promoted me. I helped the management team in the summer after I graduated from high school," says Lutfi. "It became my passion. I never went back to school, and I was promoted at Jack in the Box."
  • John Carroll
  • 8,094 Reads 675 Shares
To stand out among the 3,000 franchise opportunities in today's uncertain economy, aggressive concepts are courting prospects with special incentive and stimulus packages--such as Papa John's, Cafe2U, Budget Blinds, Kitchen TuneUp, Red Mango, and Discover Rental Purchase.
  • Steve Olson
  • 3,471 Reads 5 Shares
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