The Daily Edition of Franchise Business News

Speedemissions, Inc. (OTCQB: SPMI), today announced that it has released upgrades and enhancements to its CARbonga-SRI car safety app, which is now available at the Apple® App Store.

Leading greeting card publisher and franchisor, Card Connection, has announced today that it has rolled out its latest festive range.

With eight new restaurant openings scheduled for completion within fourth quarter 2013, Newk's Eatery, a fresh casual franchise brand, is undergoing exponential growth.

LoveKickboxing.com is excited to announce Teresa Oxford as a new addition to its growing line of spokesmodels and brand ambassadors.

Good news: Help is on the way as five Men In Kilts locations add snow removal to their list of services. Plans are to have full schedules this winter season in Boston, New Jersey, Seattle, Vancouver, and Edmonton.

The Wendy's Company (NASDAQ: WEN) today announced plans to sell 54 restaurants, including one in development, in the Salt Lake City market to a subsidiary of NPC International, Inc.

An affiliate of learning solutions provider Logical Operations acquires New Horizons of Rochester, New York, a professional training center franchise of the global New Horizons computer learning center network. The business will operate as New...

Nathan Owens, the newly appointed COO for The Growth Coach, has initiated sweeping improvements to position The Growth Coach Franchise to become the world leader in business and sales coaching.

Miracle-Ear® of Tiffin, a part of the nationwide hearing solution franchise, partnered with the Miracle-Ear Foundation to provide Michael the gift of sound.

Creative Learning Corporation, owner and developer of Bricks 4 Kidz® is pleased to announce that BFK Franchise Co., LLC has recently sold franchises in Romania and the Czech Republic resulting in franchises in four European countries.

The small-home trend seems to be waning. A growing number of today's home buyers are choosing to buy the largest home they can afford, according to agents with RE/MAX Northern Illinois.

Preventing plumbing problems in the kitchen during the Thanksgiving holiday is easy as pie, if cooks know the do's and don'ts of their drains and garbage disposals.

CKE Inc. ("CKE" or the "Company") announced today that an affiliate of Roark Capital Group has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a majority stake in the Company with senior management retaining a minority stake.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) and its award-winning Starwood Preferred Guest® (SPG®) program today announced the launch of Starwood’s Cyber Monday sale.

Coverall Health-Based Cleaning System®, a leading franchisor of commercial cleaning businesses, has been named to the "50 Top Franchises for Minorities" list compiled by the National Minority Franchise Initiative (NMFI).

Rapid Realty NYC won the title of Viral Marketing Campaign of the Year in the prestigious PR World Awards for their Tattoo Brand Ambassadors.

Maryellen Cosby-Smalls opens Fresh Coat Painters to bring professional painting services to her community.

Signarama is Canada’s largest sign company with over 44 stores across the country offering business owners and consumers everything from custom signs, banners, decals, lettering, vehicle graphics and car wraps, to trade show displays and more.

Maui Wowi Hawaiian, a franchise known for fresh fruit smoothies and premium Hawaiian coffee, has partnered with non-profit organization, Sister Souls, Inc. to send coffee to troops overseas.

The Hertz Corporation (NYSE: HTZ) today announced building plans for its new global headquarters campus in Estero, Florida, at the intersection of US Route 41 and Williams Road.

easyhome Ltd. (TSX:EH) ("easyhome" or the "Company") today announced that the consumer loans receivable portfolio of its easyfinancial Services business now exceeds $100 million.

Realty ONE Group continues its rapid expansion with the opening of its office in the San Diego/Carlsbad area, conveniently located off Palomar Airport Road in the heart of North San Diego County.

Fresh casual cuisine is in high demand as demonstrated by Tin Drum Asiacafé’s newest franchised opening in Marietta, Georgia in the Barrett Creek Plaza shopping center.

Never has Fazoli’s longtime tagline – Fast, Fresh, Italian – been more indicative of its future.

Home Care Assistance of Cincinnati, the premier provider of in-home care for seniors, is proud to announce its Home Care Pulse Certification.

Hurricane Grill & Wings, a family friendly island-inspired restaurant continues its aggressive national expansion into the Midwest with A new Waterloo, Iowa location in the Crossroads Shopping Center.

Caring Senior Service, a national in-home care company, announced that the Austin, TX office location is under new the new ownership of Stephanie and Jason Gibert.

Plumbers with Benjamin Franklin franchises offer tips to keep things running smoothly on Thanksgiving.

Bill.com, the leader in integrated bill payment, invoicing and cash flow management solutions for businesses, today announced that it has closed $38 million in financing.

In an effort to give back to the community and conserve waste, Country Inn & Suites, Bountiful, UT now recycles used shampoo, conditioner, lotion and soap in partnership with Clean the World.

This season, SONIC® Drive-In (NASDAQ: SONC) will help guests get in the holiday spirit with two new minty treats: the Vanilla Holiday Mint™ Shake and Chocolate Holiday Mint™ Molten Cake Sundae.

Larry Sutton, Founder and President of RNR Custom Wheels and Tire Express, has been in business for a long time. RNR opened 13 years ago, and before that, Larry operated another successful rent-to-own business.

As travelers look for ways to personalize their trips and get more for their money, Cruise Planners-American Express Travel’s Infographic pinpoints seven major cruise trends for the coming year.

Tampa-based entrepreneur, Frank Fiume, is fundamentally changing the game for young athletes through the nation’s first and fastest growing youth sports league franchise.

Starting Thursday, November 21, Dickey’s Barbecue in Lincoln will celebrate their new location. The first 50 customers who purchase an item will receive a Dickey’s Barbecue Pit gift card loaded with up to $50.

Mosquito Shield Franchise Corporation has signed an agreement with Ford Motor Company’s Ford Fleet division to provide vehicle solutions for franchisees.

Villa Enterprise Management Ltd., Inc. (www.villaenterprises.com) announces the grand opening of its Far East Asian Fire concept at the Philadelphia Airport which will be operated by franchisee Midfield Concessions.

The new JuiceBlendz® Café, located at 15 Ionia Ave SW, Suite 100, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, will be giving away free regular-sized cups of its YoBlendz® yogurt with free "Toppingz" to patrons, while supplies last.

With 87 schools participating throughout New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, and Florida, the Let’s YO! Yogurt fall fundraising campaign turned out to be a huge success.

They say Harry S. Truman ran a "clean" office – but not any cleaner than when Steamatic of Kansas City cleaned the air ducts at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library.

Jo Kirchner, president and CEO of Primrose Schools, was named the winner of a Gold Stevie® Award in the Female Executive of the Year category at the 10th annual Stevie Awards for Women in Business.

Cruise Planners – American Express Travel, the nation’s largest home-based travel agent franchise network in the travel industry, was named at the Franchise Partner of the Year for Norwegian Cruise Line.

Chicken Salad Chick, the nation’s newest, fast-casual restaurant concept, is scheduled to open its new franchise location in Mobile today (Tuesday) November 19, 2013.

RE/MAX Plaza will celebrate the grand opening of its newest office located at 112 N. Benton St. on the town square in the heart of historic Woodstock, Ill., with a grand opening from 4 to 7 p.m. on Nov. 21.

Management of Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE: EAT), will participate in the upcoming Morgan Stanley Global Consumer Conference on Nov. 20th at 8:35 a.m. Eastern.

The Grounds Guys stands at No. 468 on the Franchise Times Next 300 list of top franchises ranked by worldwide sales.

On Thursday, Nov. 21, ANY LAB TEST NOW® will participate in The Great American Smokeout, sponsored by the American Cancer Society, to encourage smokers across the country to quit.

Aggressive deals and crowded stores can compromise personal safety for shoppers during the holiday season. Experts from Signal 88 Security offer safe holiday shopping tips for Black Friday 2013 and the entire season.

Medifast, Inc. (NYSE: MED) today announced formal agreements with its current franchise partners to add 37 Medifast Weight Control Centers in six states nationwide over the next three years.

Weight Watchers International, Inc. (NYSE: WTW) today unveiled a partnership with ABC'S food and lifestyle show.

Family Volunteer Day is strategically held each year on the Saturday before Thanksgiving to "kick-off" the holiday season with giving and service. his year Family Volunteer Day takes place on Saturday, November 23.

ServiceMaster Clean recently awarded its Marion E. Wade Master Award of Honor to Joe and Ruth Steffens of Denver, Colo., owners of ServiceMaster Cleaning and Restoration Services.

Keller Williams Realty, the largest real estate franchise in North America, announced today that it has successfully transitioned its 93,000 real estate agents to Google Apps for Business, the largest real estate deployment in Google's history.

Alice Barber joined EXIT Realty in Toms River.

Del Taco is about to make your day epic with the nationwide launch today of Epic BurritosTM, three new premium burritos with epic size, flavors and value.

The Select Family of Staffing Companies has added a powerful Job Match tool for job seekers on its career website, http://jobs.selectfamily.com.

Decor&You, one of America's leading, full-service interior decorating franchises, understands that some pieces of a home are more than decoration, and aims to coach people on how to seamlessly blend all elements together into a trendy, cohesive...

GameTruck Licensing, LLC, a leader in video game entertainment, donated $17,000 to Make-A-Wish® that will go toward granting the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.

Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), one of the world's largest hotel companies, announced it has signed an agreement with franchise partner FIRC Group, Inc., to develop a new Cambria Suites in Asheville, N.C.

Terry Reuer, CEO of Dryer Vent Wizard (DVW), announced that its corporate headquarters and franchises raised $7,000 for the Children's Burn Foundation during National Fire Prevention month in October.

Burger 21®, a new better burger franchise founded by the owners of The Melting Pot® Restaurants, Inc., is celebrating three years of success since opening its first restaurant in Tampa, Fla., in November 2010.

On Thursday, November 21 at 11:00 a.m. Dickey’s Barbecue in Downtown Sacramento will be to serving up authentic Texas barbecue. The first 50 dine-in customers will receive a gift card for up to $50.

Gap's global marketing campaign, "Make Love" focuses on giving and spreading love, hope and joy this holiday season.

Corner Bakery Cafe recently celebrated the opening of three new locations inside the world’s busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.