Illinois Feature Articles

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

Informative articles to support business buyers, franchisees, and franchisors in Illinois.

Icons who helped shape the industry

In the chronicles of franchising history, some names come immediately to mind - Ray Kroc, S. Truett Cathy, Dave Thomas. The names conjure up images of independent-minded entrepreneurs with the savvy, know-how, and vision to create successful business models replicable anywhere. As part of the celebration of Franchise UPDATE's 20th anniversary, we look back at some of these colorful, inspiring, and sometimes controversial characters.

Kerry Pipes
6,912 Reads

Don't overlook property taxes, the biggest expense in most businesses

Despite all of the attention recently focused on income taxes, it is the property tax that is the biggest expense in most businesses - and the most difficult to manage. According to the Council on State Taxation, a Washington, DC, think tank, American businesses shell out more on property taxes than for any other type of state or local taxes.

Mark E. Battersby
4,576 Reads 4 Shares

From troubled youth to model entrepreneur

At 17, Victor Chapron was just another boy in the 'hood facing one of three probable futures: drugs, jail, or death. Instead, he was rescued from his high-risk life in Los Angeles and sent to live with his aunt in Chicago. That's where he caught a break and turned his life around... maybe even saved it. Today, at 40 years old, he's come full circle. He's back in LA--this time at the top of his game.

Eddy Goldberg
9,726 Reads 105 Shares

Chief operating officers for franchise companies face challenges with creativity, humor

They may not be the most visible, or even among the highest-paid executives in the company. But in the daily trenches of running a franchise system, chief operating officers, or COOs, are the go-to people for other executives, staff, and franchisees. Most come in early and stay late, taking only brief vacations and then doing so with cell phone in hand.

Debbie Selinsky
8,052 Reads 1 Shares

Drive-Thru Coffee: Franchisors Compete for Quick, Convenient Delivery

Starbucks may have blown the coffee market wide open to mass consumption, but its competitors are quickly redefining how coffee is served-especially the speed at which it's delivered.

Kerry Pipes
9,759 Reads 4 Shares

Boom Time for Personnel and Temp Services Franchises

A healthy economy and a continued demand for both long- and short-term employees is driving personnel agencies and temporary employment services-and they love the work. Staffing services is one of the fastest-growing industries in the country. In 2004, the staffing industry generated more than $63 billion in revenues, with temporary staffing accounting for approximately 90 percent and permanent placement contributing the remainder.

2,910 Reads 4 Shares

Barbara Moran learned never to take no for an answer

Barbara Moran had given up on the idea of ever heading up her father Dennis's company, Moran Industries. She'd wanted to be president, but was told that it wasn't in the cards because a woman in a male-dominated industry just wouldn't work for customers and franchisees.

Eddy Goldberg
4,725 Reads 1 Shares

99 BIG Franchisees: John R. Davis

It's a family affair all the way around at United States Beef Corp. Founded in 1969 when Bob and Connie Davis purchased their first Arby's restaurant – just five years after brothers Forrest and Leroy Raffel opened the first Arby's in Boardman, Ohio – today the Tulsa-based franchisee is headed by their sons Jeff, CEO, and John R. Davis, president. And a focus on a family-type atmosphere in its restaurants completes the picture.

Eddy Goldberg
7,236 Reads 349 Shares

99 BIG Franchisees: Tom Hofer

Tom Hofer has always been tuned into his own drive and sense of where he belonged. "I did real well in a retail environment after college, but I always knew it wasn't me," Hofer says. "I definitely knew I wanted to own my own business, but wasn't sure what to do. So when the opportunity came up for me to buy a territory with Spring Green, it felt right."

Linda Ray
4,453 Reads 9 Shares

In Praise Of The State Franchise Regulators

I must be becoming a curmudgeon. In recent Viewpoint columns, I have taken potshots at the FTC and my fellow franchise lawyers. So far, the state franchise regulators have for some reason been below my radar screen. Why? Over the course of my...