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Build-A-Bear Workshop, in partnership with WiredSafety.org, is promoting October as "Stop Cyberbullying Month" at its stores and in its online virtual world, buildabearville.com. Cyberbullying, a growing problem among children, tweens, and teens, made national headlines in 2006 when a 13-year-old girl committed suicide after being bullied online by a group that included the mother of one of her former friends. The franchisor is focusing on online safety education and how to help prevent cyberbullying through several programs, by providing activities and materials to promote safe online 
play for kids, and by participating in a Stop Cyberbullying Coalition event on Capitol Hill on October 13.
  • Franchise Update
  • 4,124 Reads 3 Shares
The economy hasn't been the only problem wreaking havoc across the nation. Most cities are also reporting a disturbing trend of crime increases that experts tie to rising unemployment and a pattern of thefts called organized retail crime (a.k.a. organized retail theft). Beyond the convenience store "beer runs" and juvenile candy grabs, prosecutors and retailers alike are feeling the impact of retail theft groups targeting specific merchandise--not for personal use, but for resale through household sales, community swap meets, flea markets, or most commonly, over the Internet through one of the large online auction sites or community resale forums.
  • Rollie Trayte and Gary Widman
  • 5,940 Reads
The big multi-unit rollers who convened in Vegas this April represented more than $1.6 billion in annual revenues, and they were playing to win. It was all part of the 2009 Multi-Unit Franchising conference, sponsored by Franchise Update Media Group this past April 15-17 at the Bellagio hotel. The annual event, which attracted a record 500-plus multi-unit franchisees, franchisors, and vendors from across the country, was a sure bet for attendees.
  • Kerry Pipes and Eddy Goldberg
  • 4,945 Reads 85 Shares
Social media has exploded onto the franchising - and business - scene with a fury not seen since the early days of the World Wide Web back in the mid-90s. As more and more franchisors and franchisees begin experimenting and utilizing tools like Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube, we've decided to report on some unique, progressive, and innovative ways in which they've embraced this technology.
  • Multi-Unit Franchisee
  • 3,796 Reads 12 Shares
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
  • 6,813 Reads
Airport concessions may, at first glance, seem like a risky endeavor. Traffic has been steadily declining for a year - down nearly 12 percent in February 2009 when the FAA released its last traffic statistics - and the barrier to entry remains high. But consider the upside. The largest U.S airports host an average of 60 million passengers each year. Not one U.S. air carrier offers their coach passengers breakfast, lunch, or dinner service on domestic flights. Locations offering healthy, fresh, portable options are limited, yet travelers often have hours to wait for delayed flights, missed connections, or - in the best case scenario - a shorter than average security wait time.
  • Chris Cheek
  • 7,610 Reads 334 Shares
Jake was visibly upset when he came to see us. He had been planning to retire in 3 years by age 55, based on the combined value of his personal investments and his company. This was now on hold for an indefinite period of time. Like many, he had suffered a significant hit in the 2008 through 2009 stock market declines. He wanted to visit about the benefits of a comprehensive wealth plan - something he hadn't taken the time to explore in the past.
  • Nicholas K. Niemann and Andrew Horowitz
  • 6,588 Reads 1,014 Shares
It seems there really is a silver lining in every cloud. And the recent economic downturn has deposited a little of that silver at the feet of some multi-unit franchisees who can tolerate risk and don't mind a little "remodeling" work. Today, opportunities abound to buy distressed franchise units from other troubled or bankrupt franchisees--often for pennies on the dollar. If they have the stomach, these "rescuers" can snatch up these units, turn them around, and watch the dollars flow in.
  • Kerry Pipes
  • 8,062 Reads 2 Shares
Franchise training. It's likely one of the fundamental reasons you've selected a franchise business opportunity. It's all there - product and service information, operations details, marketing, accounting procedures - everything you need to know to operate a business is typically covered in some degree of detail by the franchisor. That's because the franchisor knows how the system works, they've refined it and they can offer that valuable knowledge to you as a new operator.
  • Kerry Pipes
  • 28,168 Reads 10 Shares
Back in 1989, I had an experience that remains vividly clear even now. I was driving through the small town of Monroe, La. Even though my windows were rolled up, there was an awful stench seeping into my rental car.
  • Jack Mackey
  • 6,283 Reads 1,023 Shares
Occasionally, it's good to confirm the obvious. What attracts prospective franchisees to a particular brand is a combination of expectations and emotions. While this is generally understood, we were able to use personal interviews at the March 2009 International Franchise Expo to delve into this topic further. We are grateful to the Expo sponsor, MFV, for allowing us to do this work.
  • Darrell Johnson
  • 3,645 Reads 5 Shares
McAlister's Deli
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McAlister's Deli
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McAlister's Deli
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Keeping up on the rapidly evolving social media scene, and how platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and others can be used to help achieve your business goals is like trying to catch Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt in the 100-yard dash.
  • Eddy Goldberg
  • 72,343 Reads 1 Shares
In our July column we identified five common mistakes franchisors make in their franchise development activities. These mistakes were discussed by state regulators as part of the IFA 2009 Legal Symposium's "Ask the Regulators" session. This column identifies a second group of five mistakes, each addressing specific FDD disclosure requirements. Our objective here is to identify issues or best practices that will enable franchisors to more effectively address state registration/disclosure matters in connection with their franchise development efforts.
  • Franchise Update
  • 4,985 Reads
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
  • 3,613 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
  • 5,908 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
  • 2,974 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
  • 15,298 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
  • 14,446 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
  • 6,844 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
  • 8,141 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
  • 3,896 Reads 5 Shares
Angry Crab Shack
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Angry Crab Shack
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Angry Crab Shack
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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
  • 4,976 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
  • 4,517 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
  • 3,895 Reads 33 Shares
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
  • 4,950 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
  • 6,091 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
  • 4,414 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
  • 3,598 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
  • 6,075 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
  • 6,544 Reads
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