The Multi-Unit Franchisee 50

If you were fortunate enough to attend the annual Area Developer Multi-Unit Franchising Conference this April in Scottsdale, you know that the weather was terrific, the facility outstanding, educational sessions abundant, and that franchise networking opportunities flourished late into the cool desert night.

"How's risk management in the big bank world?" he asked the banker. "I wish it were that," the banker replied. "It's more about risk elimination. We won't make a loan to anybody unless they don't need the money."

There's a loud ruckus, a crowd gathers 'round, and a customer is sprawled on the floor next to the soft drink dispenser. The area is covered in soda and ice and the customer laments she slipped, fell, and is injured because of your negligence.

Amid the arid, bronze landscape of the Arizona desert, things heated up for Area Developer's 2008 Multi-Unit Franchising Conference on April 23–25 at the Hyatt Gainey Ranch Resort & Spa in Scottsdale. The annual three-day meeting of the minds, which once again set new attendance records, was packed with seminars, sessions, and speakers who provided multiple opportunities for personal and professional growth for multiunit franchise operators of all size and scope.

With her high energy and positive attitude, it's no surprise that Linda Fong is a successful multi-brand, multiunit franchisee. However, like many franchisees, she's not one of those who made a plan and followed a straight line to that success. But it's the detours and her individualism that have taught her what she needed.

After my workshop on loss prevention and security at Franchise Update's Multiunit Franchising conference this past April in Scottsdale, attendees made their desire clear for more information on the topic--and for specific tactics they could employ to improve profitability. After all, every dollar not lost to employee or customer theft (or some other form of controllable loss), falls directly to the bottom line.