The Daily Edition of Franchise Business News

The Learning Experience® (TLE®) today announced that it been recognized on the 32nd annual Inc. 5000 list of the fastest growing private companies in America.

Wade Brannon, president of Pigtails & Crewcuts children's hair salon franchise, says that kids’ hair disasters are common in the summer.

More than 2,850 franchisees attended the annual Snap-on Franchisee Conference (SFC) at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn., Aug. 16 – 18.

Los Angeles-based fast-casual restaurant, The Pizza Studio, announced today the signing of an agreement with Studio 37, LLC of San Jose, Calif. to develop 25 new restaurants throughout the greater San Francisco metro area.

The prestigious locksmiths now have an office located in Brooklyn, N.Y.

The annual Sir Speedy, PIP Printing and Marketing Services and Signal Graphics International Convention and Vendor Show was held July 24-28 in Indianapolis, IN.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announced the debut of Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph, adding this cosmopolitan Midwest city to Le Méridien brand’s rapidly expanding global portfolio.

AFC Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ: AFCE), the franchisor and operator of Popeyes® restaurants, today reported results for its fiscal second quarter 2013 which ended July 14, 2013.

American Restaurant Concepts, Inc. (OTCBB: ANPZ), operator and franchisor of the award-winning Dick's Wings & Grill® restaurants, announced today that it has expanded its management team through the addition of three industry veterans.

Franchise Beacon and Play N Trade Video Games, the largest video game and consumer electronics franchise in the U.S., are excited to announce a Discovery Day at their corporate offices in San Clemente, CA, on September 14th.

The Growth Coach, the #1 ranked Business Coaching Franchise according to Entrepreneur Magazine as well as a Bond’s Top 100 Franchise, is aggressively pursuing opening unit franchises in 15 targeted U.S. cities in fiscal year 2014.

The New Miami Subs Grill, Florida's largest regional franchise, announces that it has inked a deal with AlSiham Foods to open more than five locations in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan of the Levant region.

Today, Coldwell Banker Real Estate launched its first "Life, Camera, Action" YouTube Contest, which highlights the "value of a home" through the eyes of children and/or their pets.

As the demands of back-to-school shopping make dents in consumers’ wallets, Wendy’s® is bringing back its Monterey Ranch Crispy Chicken sandwich just in time to please your taste buds at an affordable price.

Blackstone (NYSE:BX) and its Real Estate portfolio company, La Quinta Inns & Suites, today announced that Henry Cisneros, Mit Shah and Alan Bowers will join La Quinta’s Board of Directors.

Roy Rogers Restaurant announces new product innovations to wake up the taste buds. For a limited time, diners can sink their teeth into the new Chorizo Breakfast Wrap .

Comfort Keepers® in based in Jupiter and the Treasure Coast celebrates five years on September 2nd 2013 of providing seniors and other area residents with quality in-home care services.

Fresh To Order (f2o) announces its growth in Tennessee with territory launches in Knoxville and Nashville as well as continued expansion in Chattanooga where the chain currently operates one company-owned unit.

Zippy Shell USA, LLC announces the continuation of its rapid franchise growth with the sale a new location in Downtown Chicago. The new franchise marks the fourth franchise sale for Zippy Shell USA this month.

Vequity, LLC in collaboration with Procter & Gamble (P&G) opened a Tide Dry Cleaners® store in Naperville, IL, the first location in the Chicago area.

Smashburger, America's fastest growing "better burger" restaurant, is set to open its newest Tucson location on Wednesday, September 4 at 3837 East Broadway Boulevard in the San Clemente Shopping Center.

Red Lion Hotels Corporation (NYSE: RLH) today announced the company will open two new locations in the Greater Los Angeles Area after signing new franchise agreements on existing hotels in Ontario and Perris, Calif.

Woodcraft’s AWFS Fair participation this year included support for two student competitions – SkillsUSA and Fresh Wood. Woodcraft provided tools for the SkillsUSA event and a financial contribution for Fresh Wood.

Joe Zente, CEO of Z3 Performance Development Inc., Texas Area Developer of The Alternative Board® announced today that TAB® will be seeking to open 3 new offices in Houston.

JTH Holding, Inc., the parent company of Liberty Tax Service, announced today that it has received a letter from the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC indicating the Company wasn't in compliance with the listing requirements under NASDAQ Listing...

Smashburger, the rapidly expanding better burger concept, today announced it has posted three year sales growth of 254% on the 32nd annual Inc. 500|5000 list. Smashburger ranked number 1,562, marking its third consecutive year on the list.

European Wax Center Newton recently unveiled a smart way for college students to save – the Student Wax Pass!

Mr. Appliance of Northern Virginia was awarded the "Best of the Best" designation for excellence by Follow Media Consulting, Inc. in the category of Appliance Repair Fairfax VA.

SONIC Drive-In (NASDAQ: SONC), the nation's largest chain of drive-in restaurants, today announced the hiring of John Budd in the newly created role of chief development and strategy officer. I

BAB, Inc. (OTCBB: BABB), announced the opening of its first Sweet Duet Frozen Yogurt & Gourmet Muffins®. The SweetDuet® concept is the newest development of BAB’s franchising company, BAB Systems, Inc.

Toys"R"Us, Inc. today announced that it has enhanced its "Price Match Guarantee" on items available in its Toys"R"Us® and Babies"R"Us® stores nationwide to include selected online retailer pricing.

Sixt Group closed out a good first half year 2013 with business performance in line with company expectations.

Beef Jerky Outlet Franchise welcomes prospective new franchisees to a Discovery Day Open House on Friday, August 23. Discovery Day will be an opportunity to learn firsthand about the Beef Jerky Outlet Franchise.

H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE: HRB), the world's largest consumer tax services provider, will report fiscal 2014 first quarter results on Wednesday, September 4, after the New York Stock Exchange market close

Business Coaching Sydney owners Ben Fewtrell and David Carlin earned the ActionCLUB Award at the ActionCOACH Global Conference Awards ceremony, which took place on August 14 at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Berlin, Germany.

ActionCOACH once again awarded Iain Macfarlane of Madison, Wisconsin with the Best Client Retention Award at its Global Conference Awards ceremony, which took place on August 14 at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Berlin, Germany.

Good Times Restaurants Inc. (NASDAQ: GTIM), a regional quick service restaurant chain focused on fresh, high quality, all natural products, today announced that it has completed a public offering of 2,200,000 shares of common stock.

Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS) announced today that Padmasree Warrior, chief technology and chief strategy officer of Cisco Systems, has been elected to serve on the Gap Inc. Board of Directors, effective September 30, 2013.

As significant provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) take effect in 2014, employers will see changes to the way they handle payroll reporting, administration, monitoring, and employee benefits.

Brussels - Rezidor, one of the most dynamic hotel companies worldwide and a member of the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, continues to go green: across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Carlson Rezidor counts more than 220 eco-labelled hotels

ActionCOACH, the world’s number one business coaching firm, awarded David Guest with the ProfitCLUB Award at its Global Conference Awards ceremony, which took place on August 14 at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Berlin, Germany.

DoubleTree by Hilton, Hilton Worldwide's fastest growing full-service brand, today announced the newest addition to its portfolio with the opening of the DoubleTree by Hilton Leominster.

As an accountant, Sarah Ross understands facts and numbers. When it came to planning her future, along with her domestic partner, Kelly Ross, Sarah knew she was ready to use her knowledge and experience in her own small business.

ActionCOACH named Fergus Ferguson, from Pretoria, South Africa, the Most Improved Coachof 2013 at its Global Conference Awards ceremony, which took placeon August 14 at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Berlin, Germany.

J.D. Byrider, the country’s leading used car sales and finance enterprise, announced the winner of their Million Car Sales Sweepstakes, which celebrates the milestone the company achieved in May.

Atlantica Hotels International today announced the signing of the Radisson Hotel Rio de Janeiro, scheduled to open January, 2014.

To help teachers ease that financial burden, the Dairy Queen® system has launched the Orange Julius® Treat for Teachers essay contest, presented by Orange Julius at DQ®.

DoubleTree by Hilton today announced the opening of DoubleTree by Hilton Port Huron. Formerly the Thomas Edison Inn, the property reopens following a 12-month, multi-million dollar renovation.

ActionCOACH once again awarded Jim Palzewicz, of Elm Grove, Wisconsin with the Best Awarded Client Award at its Global Conference Awards ceremony, which took place on August 14 at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Berlin, Germany.

LaMar’s Donuts has teamed up with the Alzheimer’s Association of Colorado for World Alzheimer’s Month, beginning Sept. 1, 2013.

Apple’s performance in computer reliability demonstrated the greatest improvement over the first quarter of this year," stated David Milman, CEO of RESCUECOM.

Realogy Holdings Corp. (NYSE: RLGY) today announced that Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer Anthony E. Hull has been named as a finalist in the 2013 NJBIZ CFO of the Year awards program.

Noble Roman's, Inc. (OTC/BB: NROM) today announced that it has signed agreements for an additional eight stand-alone take-n-bake locations, bringing the total number of signed locations to 29.

The Serruya family today announced that they have acquired a controlling interest in Kahala Corp. (“Kahala”), one of North America’s leading franchisors of quick service restaurants.

Gustave White Sotheby’s International Realty today announced the Sotheby’s International Realty brand’s launch of a branded website for the Historic specialty market.

Albany-area residents have another option for purchasing used cars now that a new J.D. Byrider location is open at 2017 Central Ave., Albany, N.Y.

Citing brand loyalty, high costs-of-entry for competing franchises and a rebounding economy showing long-term potential, some of Hampton Hotels’ longest-running franchisees are getting creative with renovations programs to bring their...

While attending the International Franchise Expo in New York City in June, Outdoor Living Brands’ Shemar Pucel was interviewed by CNN Money’s Alan Taylor about the company’s four franchise concepts.

Eric P. Lahoda and Pamela E. Lahoda of Lahoda Holdings, Inc. and Chirag Patnaik of Konark Development, L.L.C. Roy Swan of Interactive Real Estate Systems, Inc. have joined as new franchisees with HomeVestors of America.

Tint World® would like to congratulate Daniel Apa and Joe Fazio who will be recognized as Tint World® Franchisees of the Year at the Public Affairs Conference Leadership Dinner on Monday September 16, 2013 in Washington, DC.

Steve and Karen Nipper spent years working in the banking industry in Southwest Arkansas and other regions of the country, and they have firsthand knowledge of the small business owner’s plight.

European Wax Center Laguna Niguel is thrilled to announce the latest money saving deal for hair removal in Orange County, California. Now, first time guests to European Wax Center can receive a Free Wax Offer.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) today announced the signing of Aloft Kiev, which will mark the entrance of Aloft Hotels into Ukraine when it opens in 2015.

Better Life Maids opened its doors to Portland, Oregon in July, offering the region their complete line of green house cleaning services, powered by Better Life all natural house hold cleaning products.

Michael Demoratz, PhD and Certified Case Manager, says in-home senior care and assisted living placement services may very well help solve this issue.

Russell Medley, II of Fortis Realty Investments, LLC, Matthew D. Love, Michael P. Singletary, Holly L. Singletary, Rita Tower, Rajbir S. Dudwal, Vijay I. Dudwall, Shahid Malik and Fazil Malik have joined as new franchisees with HomeVestors of...

Liquid Nutrition (TSX VENTURE:LQD)(TSX VENTURE:LQD.WT) announced today that the Company's co-founder, Chantal Chamandy, has been appointed President and Chief Marketing Officer, effective immediately.

Miracle Method, the nation’s largest surface refinishing company, welcomes Greg Yauch as its new Detroit area franchisee.

Blaze Fast-Fire'd Pizza today announced that its franchisee, Blaze Midwest, Inc. based in Houghton Lake, Michigan will soon open a location in the heart of downtown Royal Oak at 112 S. Main Street.