District of Columbia Feature Articles

Looking for a franchise opportunity in District of Columbia? Whether you're a first-time business owner or a seasoned entrepreneur, District of Columbia offers exciting potential for franchise success. With thriving markets in key cities like Washington D.C., there's a perfect environment to launch and grow a franchise. From food and beverage to retail and services, the diverse economic landscape in District of Columbia is ripe for franchise opportunities. Explore the best franchise options today and take the next step toward business ownership in District of Columbia.

Informative articles to support business buyers, franchisees, and franchisors in District of Columbia.

The Winner's Column

As savvy franchise companies continue to flourish in a challenging economy, FUSR continues to bring you good news each month, highlighting brands that are adding units, increasing comp store sales, striking deals with investors, and continuing to grow. And, as the U.S. struggles through its "jobless recovery," growth-oriented franchisors continue to look overseas for expansion opportunities.

Eddy Goldberg
9,475 Reads 93 Shares

The Winner's Column

Eddy Goldberg
9,611 Reads 93 Shares

A Catalyst for Change: The Three C's of Good Leadership

In part one of this three-part series, I discussed self-assessment and how to take inventory of the leadership shadow that you cast. Nothing can be more fundamental to business success than acquiring the necessary skills that are critical to leading others in a multi-unit franchise operation.

Tom Welter
10,406 Reads 1 Shares

All in the Family: The Ramseys are a Well-Oiled Franchise Machine

Tulsa resident Bill Ramsey had worked hard in the international manufacturing business all his life, and was a bit disappointed when he learned that none of his five children were interested in following him into that industry. He didn't have a lot of family growing up, so he was determined to keep his close.

Debbie Selinsky
7,619 Reads 17 Shares

The Winner's Column

As savvy franchise companies continue to flourish in this challenging economy, FUSR will continue to bring you good news each month, highlighting brands that are adding units, increasing comp store sales, striking deals with investors, and continuing to grow despite the economy - maybe even because of it. And, as the U.S. struggles through its "jobless recovery," growth-oriented franchisors continue to look overseas for expansion opportunities.

Eddy Goldberg
10,682 Reads 93 Shares

The Winner's Column

Eddy Goldberg
10,452 Reads 93 Shares

From Lithuania, with Wings

Edvin Rajauskas and Val Kirielius have come a long way to open their first Buffalo Wings & Rings franchise location - all the way from Lithuania to be exact. The two Lithuania natives formed a partnership that has them destined for the American dream. Just last month, the two opened their first Buffalo Wings & Rings restaurant in Springdale, Ohio. They are excited about their new franchise and say growth is on their minds.

Kerry Pipes
4,207 Reads 75 Shares

The Winner's Column

Eddy Goldberg
10,459 Reads 93 Shares

Private Equity as a Development Tool

Franchisors seeking to grow in a tight credit environment and slow economy are turning to private equity to counter a slowdown in financing and cash flow. For struggling systems, capital "infusions" or outright acquisition by private equity firms can replace diminished royalties and franchise fees; for successful brands, this source of additional capital can be used to accelerate growth and provide a competitive advantage.

Eddy Goldberg
4,657 Reads 58 Shares

Challenge the Pros

"Explain your development strategy as it relates to recruiting single-unit versus multi-unit franchisees. Do you look for both? Why or why not?" During the past five years, most franchisors have changed their concept of the ideal franchise candidate. Today larger franchisors are focused more exclusively on recruiting multi-unit/multi-brand players, rather than the single-unit operators most systems were built on. As an established, nearly 40-year-old brand, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen markets franchising opportunities toward the top-tier multi-unit/multi-brand category franchisees, while simultaneously considering single-unit candidates. We currently have more than 1,900 locations in 44 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and 27 foreign countries.

Franchise Update
6,493 Reads

The Winner's Column

Franchise Update
7,356 Reads 1 Shares

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Smokin' Hot!: Food Industry Pro Takes Virginia by Storm

Mike Pietrzyk's 37 years in the food business began auspiciously in 1972, when, as a newly promoted manager of a Burger Chef in Virginia, he was put in a store scheduled to close in 7 months. "The restaurant wasn't doing well, and they'd decided to close it," he recalls. "They just asked me to keep it together for a few more months." Pietrzyk worked seven days a week and did his own marketing, passing out local coupons and getting acquainted with the community.

Debbie Selinsky
5,972 Reads 81 Shares

The Winner's Column

As savvy franchise companies continue to flourish in this challenging economy, FUSR will bring you good news each month, highlighting brands that are adding units, increasing comp store sales, striking deals with investors, and continuing to grow despite the economy - maybe even because of it. And, as the U.S. struggles through its "jobless recovery," growth-oriented franchisors continue to look overseas for expansion opportunities.

Franchise Update
6,175 Reads 1 Shares

An Item 19 Continues to Be an Effective Shield against Fraud Claims

2009 continued to be a year in which courts found that by providing earnings information in an Item 19 franchisors were able to prevail in cases in which the franchisee asserted claims for fraud surrounding alleged misleading earnings claims. Due to the length of time it takes a case to arise and percolate through the court system, each of these cases involves franchisees who received disclosure under the prior UFOC Guidelines. However, as the cases all relate to a franchisee's ability to rely on the earnings information there is no reason to believe the result would differ under the FDD format.

By: Lane Fisher and Joseph Dunn
7,735 Reads 1,023 Shares

The Winner's Column

As savvy franchise companies continue to flourish in this challenging economy, FUSR will bring you Good News each month, highlighting brands that are adding units, increasing comp store sales, striking deals with investors, and continuing to grow despite the economy - maybe even because of it. And as the U.S. economy struggles through its "jobless recovery," growth-oriented franchisors continue to look overseas for expansion opportunities - and this month, we report on an overseas franchisor set to open its first U.S. location, as well as several new entrants to franchising.

Franchise Update
7,044 Reads 93 Shares

Fast Franchise News

First Watch Restaurants Inc., a daytime-only restaurant group based in Bradenton, Fla., has begun franchising. Founded in 1983, the chain has about 80 restaurants open with expectations for 110 by 2012. The restaurants are open 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and store sales average about $1.2 million. Same-store sales were expected to be up 3 to 5 percent in 2009 and total sales up about $2 million to $85 million (the company reports 25 consecutive years of same-store growth). First Watch is looking for franchisees to develop areas near its existing markets, including Kansas City, St. Louis, Cincinnati-Dayton, and Orlando-Tampa.

Franchise Update
3,684 Reads 13 Shares

Turnaround Player: Transforming Low Performers Into Franchise Leaders

Glen Helton's lifelong career in franchising began as a teen with his first job at a Burger King in Fayetteville, N.C. Today the Texas native is president and COO of Strategic Restaurants Acquisition Corp. (SRAC), which operates 271 Burger Kings and 17 T.G.I. Friday's across 9 states. Helton, along with SRAC's CEO, Jerry Comstock (former Bennigan's CEO), have become known for turning underperforming restaurants into profit generators. They did it for the 226 Burger Kings they acquired out of bankruptcy 5 years ago, and they also have added 45 new ones. Today they're applying their turnaround skills to the 16 T.G.I. Friday's in New York and Florida that they bought out of bankruptcy in August 2008.

Debbie Selinsky
10,753 Reads 1,189 Shares

Doing the Common Uncommonly Well: Florida Papa John's Operator Rises Above The Recession

Ricky Warman already knew a lot about finance when he left his job as an investment manager for Prudential Securities in Miami to start a life in franchising in the early 1990s. Warman was a friend of Jenny Craig and started in franchising with nine Jenny Craig weight loss centers. He would go on to try other franchise brands, including Schlotzsky's. Today he's wholly committed to the Papa John's brand, operating 42 pizza locations. (He had 53, but recently sold 11.)

John Carroll
9,429 Reads

The Winner's Column

As savvy franchise companies continue to flourish in this challenging economy, FUSR will bring you Good News each month, highlighting brands that are adding units, increasing comp store sales, striking deals with investors, and continuing to grow - despite the economy… maybe even because of it. And as the U.S. economy struggles through its "jobless recovery," growth-oriented franchisors continue to look overseas for expansion opportunities through master franchise deals.

Franchise Update
6,664 Reads 93 Shares

Winner's Circle

Cleveland-based USA Insulation has added new franchise locations in Indianapolis, Chicago, Omaha, Portland, Me., and central New Jersey. Company President Patrick J. Pitrone attributes the company's growth to forecasts of a cold winter, unpredictable energy prices, and the Federal Energy Tax Credit of 30 percent (up to $1,500) for homeowners who add insulation by year-end.

Franchise Update
4,268 Reads 24 Shares

The Winner's Column

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
5,767 Reads 93 Shares

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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
4,778 Reads 20 Shares

Hand of Fate: Unexpected Paths Lead Tony Lutfi to a Career in Franchising

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
7,958 Reads 675 Shares

The Real Full Meal Deal

It all began with a single Golden Corral restaurant in 1997. In just over a dozen years, Guillermo Perales has grown to operate 142 franchise locations, spread across 5 brands throughout Texas and Florida. It's quite an accomplishment for this native of Mexico, and he's not even close to finished. "I'd like to double the size of my business over the next decade," says Perales. Based on his track record, it's a good bet he'll succeed. He just inked a deal with T-Mobile for some new units, and he's negotiating with a yogurt and seafood franchisor--and that doesn't even include his planned hotel project in Dallas.

Kerry Pipes
10,432 Reads 1,015 Shares

Hurricane John: It's A Good Wind That Grows A Brand

After years of building his company by acquiring distressed franchise units and real estate, John Metz bought a distressed franchisor. That's right, a franchisor. On December 17, 2008, Metz took over Hurricane Grill & Wings. And he's from Buffalo.

Eddy Goldberg
5,573 Reads 1 Shares

Home Field Advantage: You May Have A Built-In Exit Strategy In Your Own Backyard

When franchise sellers seek exit strategies, they most often look to strategic buyers, other franchisees, their franchisor, or financial investors such as private equity as potential buyers for their businesses.

Dean Zuccarello
3,559 Reads 5 Shares

W.Va. Senate Candidates Discuss Business Franchise Tax

The current economic climate remains high in the minds of both state Senate candidates for District 14. Democrat Bob Williams and Republican Gary Howell are both vying for the seat that would represent Barbour, Mineral, Preston, Taylor and Tucker counties as well as part of Grant and Monongalia counties.

Cumberland Times-News
3,113 Reads 1 Shares

Works Hard, Plays Hard: This Multi-Concept Operator Knows How To Mix It Up And Make It Go

When Steve Foltz graduated from Eastern Oregon University in 1985 he thought he might be interested in city or government work. To bide his time and help pay bills while he was interviewing for jobs during the day, he took a night job at Rax Restaurant in Portland.

Kerry Pipes
7,960 Reads 2 Shares

Balancing Act: Maintaining a healthy perspective in growth mode

For Bill Gellert, who currently owns and operates 14 franchise units across three brands, with a fourth on the way, business is "a constant mixture of fear and excitement." And he loves it.

Eddy Goldberg
4,022 Reads 37 Shares

It's About Wow: Keeping The Customers Coming Back Requires Constant Change

"I love the action of the restaurants and the strategy of the real estate. This is the jackpot business for me," says Mike Scanlon, president and CEO of Thomas and King in Lexington, Ky., where he opened his first Applebee's in 1988.