Franchising Magazine USA April 2023

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VOL 11, ISSUE 4, APRIL 2023 The magazine for franchisees • WWW. franchsingma gazine U sa . com COVER STORY ann O un CE m E n TS fRO m T h E ind uSTRY branding tips for success S pECial fE aT u RE multi-unit franchising franchise relationships advice for emerging b ran ds Franchisee nava singam taking fazoLI’s by storm smart savvy strategies franchising news

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VOlumE 11, iSSuE 4, 2023

On the cover: Fa Zo li’s

pR ES i d E n T: colin Bradbury. colin@cgbpublishing.com

pu bli S h ER : Vikki Bradbury. vikki@cgbpublishing.com

E di TOR i al d E pa R T m E n T: editor@cgbpublishing.com

adV ERT i S i ng: vikki@cgbpublishing.com annie@cgbpublishing.com.au

Edi TOR ial TE a m: Michelle Quinn rob swystun

pRO du C T i O n: usaproduction@cgbpublishing.com

dESign: Jejak graphics. jejak@bigpond.com

Cgb publiShing canadian o ffice: sidney B.c canada

u. S. Office: 800 5th ave, #101 seattle, Wa 98104-3102 www.franchisingmagazineusa.com

On the front Cover we have fazoli's franchisee nava Singam a successful multiunit franchisee that brings decades of experience to the quick-service italian brand and is taking fazoil’s by Storm. You can read more about nava and the franchise on page 10.

a lot of people think of business owners as big risk takers. in reality business owners are big risk avoiders! see what george Knauf has to say this issue with his smart savvy strategies article.

Evan hackel discusses Franchise relationships, From the day you open your doors, great franchise relationships are crucial for the success and growth of your emerging franchise business.

Dan Broudy helps us to understand “The importance of Branding”. if you run a business, you understand the importance of branding, you also know that it tends to get pushed toward the bottom of the priority list.

our Main Feature this issue is “Multi-Unit Franchising” and on the feature cover we have southern steer Butcher who is continuing growth of the franchise with the brands success, Founded in 2013 by greg snyder, southern steer Butcher was designed to be a trusted source for customers to feel confident in their selections after each and every visit. chris conner talks about how to shop smart and how to Make a Wise Multi-Unit investment and offers some key points on what you should consider, whether you are franchisor looking to attract more multi-unit moguls or hope to oversee a small network of businesses as a multi-unit franchisee.

as always we have featured some great Franchise’s in this issue such as Pool scouts, Moran Family of Brands – Turbo Tint, Youth athletes, smoothie King, Beans and Brew, Express Employment to name just a few, turn to the contents page to find out more. i really hope you enjoy reading this issue and don’t forget to take a moment to scroll thorough to our a-Z Directory at the back of the magazine. happy reading.

in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. The publication is sold subject to the terms and conditions that it shall not be copied in whole or part, resold, hired out, without the express permission of the publisher.

Franchising M aga Z i n E Usa 3
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www.franchise.org VOL 11, ISSUE 4, APRIL 2023 The magazine for franchisees • WWW.franchsingmagazineUsa com COVER STORY annOunCEmEnTS fROm ThE induSTRY branding tips for success smart strategiessavvy SpECial fEaTuRE multi-unit franchising franchise relationships advice for emerging brands Franchisee nava singam taking fazoil’s by storm franchising news
The information and contents in this publication are believed by the publisher to be true, correct and accurate but no independent investigation has been undertaken. accordingly the publisher does not represent or warrant that the information and contents are true, correct or accurate and recommends that each reader seek appropriate professional advice, guidance and direction before acting or relying on all information contained herein. opinions expressed in the articles contained
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Welcome to our april issue of franchising magazine
uSa

a P r il 2023

Snapshot

24 Donatos: Partners with Former red robin and sonic Executives for Planned national Expansion in oklahoma

Cover Story

Fa zoli’s: Franchisee nava singam taking Fazoli's by storm

62 a-z Franchise & services Directory

Women in

26 Woodhouse spa: Q& a With Kim Powell

Franchisor in Depth

14 Turbo Tint Moran Family of Brands: Turbo Tint Partners with Franchise Media leader to grow Brand

22 Youth athletes: Youth athletes United is successfully E xpanding its Footprint

Have Your Say

18 ziebart Megan Pfenniger: “Empowered women empower women”

60 alphagraphics: louis Malooley named iFa Franchisee of the Year

Expert Advice

12 George Knauf: smart savvy strategies

16 lori Karpman: Factoring: how to Finance your Business without Debt or Dilution of Equity

20 Dan Broudy: Branding Tips for success

54 lucas Frey: ar tificial intelligence in Franchising: high-level and Practical Deliberations

58 Evan Hackel: Franchise relationships: advice for Emerging Brands

Franchisee in Action

22 Youth athletes: Youth athletes United is successfully E xpanding its Footprint

28 Pool scouts: how Pool scouts is winning with customers as it Expands across the United states

56 smoothie King: sk yler Blacknall king of his own future

Franchising M aga Z i n E Usa 5
contents
10
In evey issue
News Announcements
the Industry
Multi-Unit
Franchising
from
31 special Feature supplement
Franchising
Franchising
22 58 28
16

Tyler Fuss of LIM e PaI nt I ng Awarded Franchisee of the Year by International Franchise Association

The international Franchise a ss ociation (i Fa) named Tyler Fuss, owner of li M E Painting in Northern Colorado as a 2023 Franchisee of the Year. Fuss was honored at the 63rd i Fa annual Convention in l as Vegas, Nevada, for being an outstanding franchise establishment owner-operator.

“Franchisee of the Year recipients represent the best in franchising,” said Matthew haller, president and cEo of the international Franchise a ssociation. “This is the highest honor iFa awards to individual franchisees, and local business owners like Tyler Fuss exemplify the power of

g oodcents Area Representative Opens Shrewsbury Restaurant

During her eight-year journey with Goodcents, Maggie Rothe is finding success in opening multiple restaurants and recruiting other franchisees to join the company in the st lo uis area. r othe, a multi-unit owner and area representative, opened her third restaurant at 7517 Watson r o ad, st lo uis, in February. With the success she’s had with other locations, r othe sees a great opportunity in the market for entrepreneurs who want to get into franchising.

“To succeed, i have to trust the brand i ’ m representing,” r othe said. “The g o odcents brand is undeniably fresh, and our product speaks for itself. Being a part of the entire process of opening these restaurants, staffing and meeting the community allows me to understand what each of my

franchising and its positive contributions to communities around the world.”

The Franchisee of the Year aw ard, sponsored by iFa’s partner Paychex, recognizes leading franchise owners from iFa m ember brands whose outstanding performance and contributions help protect, enhance, and promote the franchise business model. n o minated by their parent company, individuals are selected for their service to their communities, fostering a strong and vibrant workforce, opening the doors for career growth and entrepreneurship, and supporting their fellow franchisees.

“ i am grateful and humbled to accept this award given by an incredible organization. Each day, our team focuses on how to better serve our clients, employees, each other, and artisans. We strive for excellence by being intentional and focusing on the activities that will yield the best results. and, we have fun doing it through the liME way,” said Tyler Fuss. “ i ’d like to offer our gratitude to g o d, to the iFa , nick, our cEo, my parents, wife, employees, artisans, suppliers/vendors, and everyone else who has contributed to our success.

https://limepainting.com/lime-paintingof-northern-colorado.html.

rest aurants can bring to strengthen that community and provide a high-quality, fresh product every time.”

r othe, who was named Franchisee of the Year in 2019, also was g o odcents’ first area representative. in h er role as area representative, r othe helps to recruit other new franchisees to open restaurants in four areas in the st lo uis market.

“My plan for the future is to continue growing the brand so that no matter where someone resides around the st lo uis area, they will always know that g o odcents will be there, committed to having the best fresh-baked bread, slicedto-order meats and freshly sliced cheeses,” r othe added.

g o odcents has more than 33 years of experience as a leading sub sandwich franchise. To learn more about g o odcents, please visit goodcentssubs.com.

For fr anchise opportunities, visit ownagoodcents.com.

6 Franchising M aga Z in E Usa

Providing Solutions for Independent Plumbers

Creating a sense of stability is key when curating a financially strong and successful operational system and, in today’s competitive space, having the right support is essential. This has led many independent plumbers to invest in larger franchise brands to optimize their business and thrive within the segment.

at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, we’ve noticed an upward tick as professionals seek to capitalize on this trend and leverage the steadiness of the “recession-resistant” plumbing industry to take their business to the next level. To provide new franchise owners the tools for success and to propel existing owners toward their goals, we’ve implemented tools such as complete marketing solutions, enhanced training and technology, as well as significant buying power that continues to drive revenue to franchise owners. Knowing the importance of purchasing power, we also offer franchisees an advantage through BuyMax, this provides an edge and a driver towards success.

o ur core goal at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing always remains consistent: to create an environment where franchise owners feel as though they’re set for success every step of the way. o ur team continues to pivot with the economy, implement new practices, and innovate new technologies and business processes in order to give every franchisee a path to franchise success while allowing them the freedom to take charge as independent owners.

t exas c h I cken™ Franchisee for Malaysia, Dato’ Jaya Tan, Named IFA Franchisee of the Year

Cajun o perating Company, the franchisor for Texas Chicken™, announced today that Dato’ Jaya Tan, the owner of franchisee Texas Chicken Malaysia sDN BHD, has been named one of the “Franchisee of the Year” award recipients by the international Franchise a ssociation. Every year, the i Fa recognizes outstanding franchisees who exemplify i Fa’s core pillars: community, workforce, diversity and inclusion, and veterans.

“Franchisee of the Year recipients represent the best in franchising,” said Matthew haller, president and cEo of the international Franchise a ssociation. “This is the highest honor iFa awards to individual franchisees, and these local business owners exemplify the power of franchising and its countless positive contributions to communities around the world.”

Under the leadership of Dato’ Jaya JB Tan,

the Texas chicken™ brand in Malaysia has continued to play a key role in innovation and growth. striving to provide career paths and opportunities for its team members, the franchisee has offered ongoing training and empowerment to all employees.

“We are honored to receive this global recognition and be named a franchisee of the year by the iFa ,” said Dato’ Jaya Tan. “We could not have received this honor without the great efforts of our amazing employees and our loyal Texas chicken™ customers across Malaysia.”

in addition to being recognized as a Franchisee of the Year by the iFa , earlier this year, Texas chicken Malaysia earned a g old Putra Brand award, the country’s prestigious “People’s choice awards”. This honor recognizes Texas chicken™ as a leading brand in Malaysia.

https://www.churchs.com/franchising/.

Franchising M aga Z in E Usa 7
Attrib U te to L A nce Sinc LA ir, Pre S ident o F b enj AM in Fr A nk L in P LUM bing AS we LL AS o ne Ho U r He Ating & Air conditioning A nd Mi S ter S PA rky eL ectric

Carl Williams, Russel Thomas, and Mark McCain of ath Let I c r e Pub LI c Capitol Region Awarded Franchisee of the Year by International Franchise Association

The international Franchise a ssociation (iFa) today named c arl Williams, russel Thomas, and Mark Mc c ain, owners of athletic r epublic c apitol r egion, as 2023 Franchisee of the Year. Williams, Thomas, and Mc c ain were honored at the 63rd iFa annual convention in l as Vegas, n evada, for being outstanding franchise establishment owner-operators.

“Franchisee of the Year recipients represent the best in franchising,” said Matthew haller, president and cEo of the international Franchise a ssociation. “This is the highest honor iFa awards to individual franchisees, and local business owners like c arl Williams, russel Thomas, and Mark Mc c ain, exemplify the power of franchising and its positive contributions to communities around the world.”

The Franchisee of the Year award, sponsored by iFa’s partner Paychex, recognizes leading franchise owners from iFa member

brands whose outstanding performance and contributions help protect, enhance, and promote the franchise business model. n ominated by their parent company, individuals are selected for their service to their communities, fostering a strong and vibrant workforce, opening the doors for career growth and entrepreneurship, and supporting their fellow franchisees. This is athletic r epublic’s first Franchisee of the Year win and is the only performance fitness franchise to win the award.

“ i am beyond proud of c arl Williams, russel Thomas, and Mark Mc c ain for their amazing accomplishment,” said charlie g raves, chief Executive o fficer of athletic r epublic. “These three gentlemen embody everything that athletic r epublic stands for and our commitment to providing world-class training to youth athletes and are changing lives.”

g yro s hack Announces National Franchise Opportunity

s eth Brink, President of gyro shack is excited to bring the flavors of gyro shack to communities around the nation. “ it’s important that communities have access to different types of cuisines, and that they are accessible and convenient,” said Brink. “gyro shack provides this convenient access to g reek food, making it healthier and more diverse than the traditional food that you would receive through a drive-through.”

Gyro shack, the Greek quick-service food concept specializing in convenient service of authentic food, announces their national franchise opportunity.

The brand has recently seen the increase in demand for their food,and looks forward to opening their first location outside of their home market of i daho, in Tucson, arizona in March of this year. gyro shack is looking forward to bringing their healthy, convenient g reek food to Tucson and throughout the United states.

“The environment at gyro shack is what makes us unique,” continued Brink. “We really try to treat the people we’re involved with how we’d like to be treated and are looking for franchisees and partners who want to do the same thing in return for the brand and for their customers. anyone who comes through gyro shack has the opportunity to become an owner or franchisee through our training.”

l ater this year, the franchise will open its second Tucson location. gyro shack is excited to bring their innovative technology and business models to additional Tucson locations and to the remainder of arizona.

For more information regarding the franchise opportunity in arizona and beyond with Gyro shack, visit https://www.gyroshack.com/franchise/.

8 Franchising M aga Z in E Usa

xP o nent I aL FI tn ess Takes on the Seas with Launch of Pure Barre, YogaSix and StretchLab Experiences on Princess Cruises

Xponential Fitness has ushered in a new wave of boutique fitness as three of its brands debuted experiences this week on Princess Cruises.

Pure Barre, Yogasi x and stretchl ab fitness classes are now available to guests onboard, with additional brand experiences to follow soon, including club Pilates, cycleBar and s T r iDE Fitness. Xponential Fitness classes will be complimentary for guests who have purchased all-inclusive packages like Princess Plus and Princess Premier and can also be purchased on an a la carte basis on all Princess ships. XPlUs, Xponential’s digital subscription, will also be streaming across Princess’ more than 23,000 staterooms on Princess’ proprietary digital content platform, o ceanView.

“Xponential Fitness has become the leader of boutique fitness on land with over 2,600 brick-and-mortar studios around the globe, and we’ve staked our claim on the digital space with XPlUs and XPa ss, s o the only place to go next was the high seas,” said anthony g eisler, Founder and cEo of

Xponential Fitness. “The same boutique fitness classes people know and love at their local studios can now be a part of their routine on vacation, even at sea, and we are excited to introduce thousands of new Princess guests to Xponential’s lifechanging workouts.”

These onboard Xponential experiences will emulate the premium offerings

provided in traditional studio locations and be taught by world-class instructors with specialized training. The Pure Barre, Yogasi x, and stretchl ab e xperiences are now available across the fleet of 15 Princess cr uise ships, which sail to the c aribbean, alaska, Mexico, Europe, the Mediterranean, and australia, among many other destinations.

Justin Sherman of d o natos Awarded Franchisee of the Year by International Franchise Association

The i Fa today named Justin sherman, owner of Donatos in Jacksonville, Florida, as a 2023 Franchisee of the Year. sherman was honored at the 63rd i Fa annual Convention in l as Vegas, Nevada, for being an outstanding franchise establishment owner-operator.

The Franchisee of the Year aw ard, sponsored by iFa’s partner Paychex, recognizes leading franchise owners from iFa member brands whose outstanding performance and contributions help protect, enhance, and promote the franchise business model. n o minated by their parent company, individuals are selected for their service to their communities, fostering a strong and vibrant workforce, opening the doors for career growth and entrepreneurship, and supporting their fellow franchisees.

Justin sh erman opened his first Donatos location in 2020 as he followed the desire to run his own business. g rowing up eating at the establishment, he knew Donatos was the right brand to partner with. sh erman entered the world of franchising and quickly found that the system provided him with the work-life balance he needed.

“ it feels amazing that people have noticed the time and effort i

have put into building my business. i believe if you have a product that you genuinely enjoy in your own personal life, and you want to be your own boss, franchising is a wonderful way to combine those passions,” said sh erman. “ it’s great to get the recognition this year, but i couldn’t have done it alone. You have to realize it still requires a lot of effort to get things started, but the results have definitely been rewarding.”

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be F o re A F t er

franchisee nava singam taking fazoLI's by storm

Coming off the heels of his highly anticipated new restaurant opening in Phoenix, az, Nava singam is taking Fazoli’s by storm.

As the CEO of Kind Hospitality, a familyowned restaurant group which operates well-known brands including Macayo’s Mexican Food, Panera Bread, O.H.S.O. Brewery, Barrio Brewing Co., Native Grill & Wings and now Fazoli’s, Singam is a successful multi-unit franchisee that brings decades of experience to the quick-service Italian brand.

Before building his own restaurant franchising empire and becoming one of Fazoli’s largest franchisees, Singam worked his way up from restaurant operations to ownership with his first endeavor coming in 2005 where he owned and operated Paradise Bakery at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.

Since then, he’s helped build and develop his collection of restaurants growing from just one location to more than 30 locations

“ Fazoli’s definitely has a cult-like following and for good reason. When we were considering expansion and growth opportunities at Kind Hospitality, we knew we made the right choice after going viral from the initial announcement.”

across four states and has added more than 1,400 employees to his team. Singam’s two daughters and wife Leticia have been instrumental in the development of the company, offering support and inspiration through the growth of the company. His latest franchise endeavor includes Fazoli’s, a beloved Italian concept founded in 1988 in Lexington, Ky. Fazoli’s owns and operates nearly 220 restaurants in 28 states, making it the largest premium QSR Italian chain in America. Fazoli’s prides itself on serving premium, fast Italian food menu offerings such as freshly prepared pasta entrees, subs, salads, pizza

and desserts – along with its unlimited signature garlic breadsticks.

“Fazoli’s definitely has a cult-like following and for good reason. When we were considering expansion and growth opportunities at Kind Hospitality, we knew we made the right choice after going viral from the initial announcement,” Singam said.

10 Franchising M ag a Z in E Usa
cover story: Fazoli’s

Singam discovered Fazoli’s when he lived in Flagstaff, Arizona in the late 1990s. He continued following the brand over the years and was impressed by Fazoli’s evolution and response to consumers’ ever-changing dining habits. Specifically, Singam has taken note of Fazoli’s dedication to menu innovation – from the addition of Snacks & Shareables to wings and premium baked dishes – which has resulted in his new favorite item.

“I was always watching how they evolve. The brand is incredibly resilient, and I was encouraged watching them develop new systems to continue supporting their growth across new markets,” Singam said.

Earlier this year, Singam opened his first of many planned Fazoli’s location at 3800 E. Sky Harbor Blvd. inside Terminal 4 between gates B6 and B13. His second location is already underway and his restaurant holding group will be opening its first street side Fazoli’s at 953 N.Dobson Rd. in Mesa later this year. It

will become the second of nine planned locations in Arizona.

Singam was also the first to offer the brand’s breakfast daypart, serving up new items including Hot Honey Chicken and Egg Breakfast Sandwiches, Cinnamon Swirl Breadstick Bites, Breakfast Burritos and so much more all of which are unique to the PHX location.

When it comes to defining success for the brand and determining if the concept is a fit for your portfolio of businesses Singam said, “You have to have a passion for the

industry and you need to believe in the brand. As a franchisee, you are not just a franchise operator, you’re also a brand ambassador.”

“I’m proud to continue to grow as an entrepreneur with Fazoli’s,” Singam said. “We have additional locations in the pipeline and look forward to serving even more fast, fresh Italian fare to families around the community for years to come.”

To learn more about franchising with Fazoli’s, visit ownafazolis.com.

Franchising M aga Z i n E Usa 11
“ Singam was also the first to offer the brand’s breakfast daypart, serving up new items including Hot Honey Chicken and Egg Breakfast Sandwiches, Cinnamon Swirl Breadstick Bites, Breakfast Burritos and so much more.”

s mart savvy s t rategies

George Knauf is a highly sought after, trusted advisor to many of the top franchise ownership groups in the world. With over 25 years of experience in both start-up and mature business franchise operations he is uniquely qualified to advise individuals that have dreamed of Building their own empires. Whether you have an existing portfolio or searching for your first franchise, he can help you to pursue your dreams.

A lot of people think of business owners as big risk takers. In reality business owners are big risk avoiders! We acknowledge risk then work to eliminate all the risk we can and understand those risks we are unable to eliminate so that we can build a plan to deal with what remains. Once we have done that then business owners will take a calculated risk.

As I look at the field of franchise opportunities I see a wide range of great options, but know it is scary for candidates that would leave a job to start them. Some of the most compelling franchises out there are so confident in their abilities and how well their systems are built that they will create ways that their new owners can mitigate risk and make taking the leap more palatable.

One of the older ways that franchisors made it easier for candidates to take the leap was to create semi-absentee franchises where new franchisees can keep their job while they begin building their franchise empire. The business model has to be simple, streamlined and easily run by a manager. There has to be a relatively stable employee base and they are more likely to provide a service than products or food.

These semi-absentee models have been used by countless corporate executives looking for a future transition out of their jobs and business owners looking to grow a portfolio without selling their first full time business.

The game plan is to make a reasonable down payment (often as part of an SBA loan), leverage the bulk of the investment , pick a location, hire a manager and then manage the manager with 10-15 hours

www.MyPerfectFranchise.com

per week (married couples often split the responsibility).

Once you have your first store open and doing well then you open another. And so on, and so on. We have seen owners grow this into a cash flow and asset that becomes a home run safety net and growing asset. Others have grown large portfolios that they keep as long as they like for the ongoing revenue then sell the asset they built when they want to retire.

Please note: The fact that a franchisor offers a semi-absentee franchise alone does not make it a smart buy. There are still a lot of criteria that need to be met for it to be successful.

The next generation of these semi-absentee models is a fully absentee model, what I often refer to as “The Ritz Carlton Model” as that is where I have watched it used for years to great success. This fully absentee model or investor model is an interesting choice for larger investors that don’t want to come in and learn a business, they want experts that already understand all the ins and outs to run it for them for a management fee.

In this model the investor puts up the funding for the franchise licenses and cost to open and operate the businesses and then hires a management company arranged by the franchisor to run their business for them. Their time investment drops to only an hour or two per month.

Some investors want to build an even greater perception of investing safely by acquiring an existing operating franchise.

Notice I used the word Perception. While some true values out in the market, you don’t control the timeline or what brands come up for sale in the markets you want to operate in. The temptation for a lot of buyers is to move too quickly on poor acquisitions because they have been waiting a long time for a resale to appear. This is the risk in resales, buying something you should have passed on. Long gone are the days where there was one basic franchise model primarily in just a few industry segments and you had to try to conform to it. Today you have countless options to fit you from product or service to the model it uses to operate. Franchisors have adapted to utilize the amazingly skilled talent that started coming out of corporate America, looking for ways to build their personal empires.

Do you believe jobs are less risky? How is that working out for you? Do you risk being downsized, having your comp plan restructured, being replaced by the (lower paid) person just below you in the food chain? Are you building someone else’s empire?

We are seeing a lot of layoff announcements right now. Imagine how much less stress those professionals would have if they had established a second cash flow years ago.

It is getting harder, and harder, to say that a job is safer than controlling your own destiny!

What is your success story? Let’s go find it!

e XPert ADvIce: George Knauf | Senior Franchise Business Advisor | FranChoice
You can build the right plan, apply your skills to accomplish almost anything you set your mind to and mitigate risk in the process.

Franchisors have adapted to utilize the amazingly skilled talent that started coming out of corporate America, looking for ways to build their personal empires.”

“ It is getting harder, and harder, to say that a job is safer than controlling your own destiny!”

t urbo t int Partners with Franchise m edia Leader to g row b rand

Franchise Media Update publishes MultiUnit Franchise magazine and Franchise Update magazine, and hosts a variety of conferences to fuel the franchise community.

one- hour Window tint solution

Franchise Industry e xperts Join Forces

To facilitate growth and add 12 new Turbo Tint locations, Moran’s co-founder and chief executive, Barbara Moran-Goodrich, joined forces with Franchise Update Chairman Gary Gardner to establish Clear Window Solutions LLC, a new franchise ownership group. The high-powered partnership plans to open locations in major cities across the southeast over the next several years, including the Las Vegas, Phoenix, Tucson, and Houston markets. The first store is on track to open in Las Vegas later this year.

“When Barb first mentioned the creation of Turbo Tint several years ago, the concept immediately caught

my attention,” Gardner said. “There is a simplicity in the business model with a straightforward approach, small product line, and large profit margins. I was sold after seeing some of the locations in Florida and felt now was the perfect time to bring additional Turbo Tint stores to a new market.”

Gardner founded Franchise Media Update over 30 years ago to provide the latest news and resources for the franchising community. His mission is to help franchisees improve and grow their businesses. His company provides an environment where customers can learn, find new business opportunities, network, and be inspired by their peers. In addition to a robust online news presence,

The first Turbo Tint store opened in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in October 2020. Longtime Moran franchise owner Greg Goodman saw a market for a new concept. After successfully operating Moran’s Alta Mere brand in Oklahoma for more than 25 years, Goodman and his son Chandler wanted to focus on enhancing the customer service experience by providing tint packages and online scheduling.

As part of Turbo Tint’s business model, customers pick their tint package and schedule an appointment online. When they arrive for service, they select their desired shade of window film, and the entire installation process is completed in one hour or less. The Goodmans tested the concept for one year and worked with

14 Franchising M aga Z in E Usa F r A nch I sor I n D e P th: Turbo Tint (Moran Family of Brands)
Moran Family of Brands partnered with a franchising media guru and industry veteran to debut its Turbo Tint brand in Las Vegas and add locations across the southeastern United States.

Moran to develop an entirely new brand. Turbo Tint had a strong debut, increasing Goodman’s sales by 30%. Solidifying its launch as a dynamic new brand, the concept generated positive results following the pandemic outbreak when government guidelines forced Goodman’s location to temporarily shut its doors. While his location was shuttered in April 2020, the store sold 250 window tint orders online and increased sales by more than $10,000 over the previous April.

With an eye to the customer experience, all Turbo Tint locations feature a modern and spacious waiting area with oversized leather chairs, flatscreen TVs, and computer workstations with free Wi-Fi in front of a cozy fireplace setting. Customers can help themselves to complimentary premium coffee, beer, wine, soft drinks, and snacks.

Moran debuted the brand nationally in 2021. There are currently two additional open locations, in Orlando and Delray Beach, Florida, with signed agreements for 46 more stores. Moran expects to open five or six Turbo Tint stores in the first quarter of 2023 and anticipates having 18 to 21 stores by the end of the year.

advantages of turbo tint Model

People are turning to automotive window tinting to reduce sun exposure and preserve

their car’s interior. Window tinting can reduce the chances of windows shattering in an accident, and it improves visibility by eliminating glare from oncoming vehicles and the elements.

In addition to automotive window tinting, Turbo Tint locations also offer architectural window tinting solutions, ceramic coating, and paint protection services. Window tint options are available for residential or commercial buildings, with the benefits of lower energy costs, excellent UV protection, and increased comfort by preventing exposure to sunlight throughout the year. Paint protection services apply a thin protective film to maintain the condition of a vehicle’s exterior from damage due to scratches, chips, and abrasion from rocks, pebbles, and debris from the road.

By offering multiple profit centers and high-margin products designed to attract a diverse and passionate customer base, Turbo Tint is a one-stop-shop for window tint. Moran’s franchise owners are innovative entrepreneurs who take a handson approach to business ownership and strive to create a legacy for their families. Success runs in the family at Moran. Many of the company’s franchisees are secondgeneration operators.

Partnering with Moran allows entrepreneurs to leverage the company’s

long history of experience in franchising and rely on its comprehensive support system and scalable business model.

new Partnership offers Promise

Moran-Goodrich and Gardner will be majority shareholders in the Clear Window Solutions ownership group. Gardner will oversee market development, site selection, and buildout, while Moran-Goodrich will manage the operations side of the business.

“I am thrilled to join Gary Gardner on this business venture as we expand the Turbo Tint footprint to several new markets,” Moran-Goodrich said. “I have been friends with Gary for many years, and he was very impressed with Turbo Tint’s quick installation, online purchasing, and scheduling concept as he was looking for franchise investment opportunities. We felt this was the ideal time to begin our partnership and expand the Turbo Tint footprint into additional markets that are a perfect fit for our brand.”

A number of people from Moran’s leadership team will be minority partners in the new venture — Pete Baldine, Moran’s president, Ben Reist, franchise development representative, Amanda Maquet, marketing director, and Grant Maquet, business development manager.

Moran is one of the nation’s leading franchises of general automotive repair, transmission repair, and window tint services. They are the franchisor of six brands, including Milex Complete Auto Care, Mr. Transmission, and Turbo Tint. Moran focuses on helping franchise owners generate high ticket prices and become fixtures in their local community by being a one-stop shop for all their customers’ car care needs.

Franchising M aga Z in E Usa 15
“ There is a simplicity in the business model with a straightforward approach, small product line, and large profit margins.”
Barbara Moran-Goodrich and Gary Gardner

factoring: h oW to FI nance your b us I ness

WI thout d ebt or dILut I on o F e qu I ty

Factoring, or “the sale of accounts receivable,” is a source of funding whereby a company sells the value of their accounts receivable (less a discount in case it doesn’t get collected or doesn’t get paid on time) to a third party in return for immediate payment.

It has always been a choice for big businesses, but not so for small to medium ones with gross sales of under $5 million per year, which really isn’t that small. The small business loan program offered by the banks is still essential for the initial startup phase, but most companies need financing during the operating stage and often cannot get it from a bank for a variety

of reasons. It can be because they have already borrowed the maximum available, or additional borrowing will cause them to breach their borrowing ratios under existing loans. This makes it very difficult for businesses, especially seasonal ones, to ensure the steady cash flow required to run their business during the low periods and young companies from filling big orders. So, what, who, and where does a business owner go to finance their growth?

Factoring is hardly new and has existed since the days of the Roman Empire. Unfortunately, some scandals in the U.S. in the younger stages of the industry left factoring with an undeserved tarnished reputation that still prevails today. Factoring companies are not banks, however, in the US, banks may have a factoring division. It became seen as the

recourse of last resort for companies in financial distress who sent their accounts receivable to collections. In fact, none of this is true; factoring is a brilliant way to fund operations without burdening the company with debt that would take years to pay back or diluting the owner’s equity. Results don’t lie; companies that factor their receivables usually double or triple their business in 2-3 years. Over $1 trillion in sales is factored worldwide annually. In fact, factoring is the champion of small business and an essential partner in managing its financial growth. Small and medium businesses often fail because of short-term cash flow problems, not because the business idea is bad!

e XPert ADvIce:
Lori Karpman

The two traditional financing options are (1) traditional bank financing and (2) private (equity) investment. Each of these options provides a company with muchneeded working capital for daily operations and to service current orders. However, there are significant costs associated with each choice.

A traditional bank loan burdens the company with additional debt, plus the cost of the interest being paid on the debt, creating a debt far greater than the amount borrowed. Additionally, this being a loan, it shows up as debt on financial statements, making it even more difficult for a company to get a bank loan later. All revenues coming in are being used to service debt instead of upgrading equipment or buying more inventory, for example. It’s difficult for a business saddled with debt to grow. The other option is to seek private investors to invest money into the business and fund its operations. The issue with private investment is that the amount of equity required to be given in return for the investment is usually substantially more than the equity is currently worth, and it will cost many times that amount to buy out that shareholder at a later date. It’s the most expensive form of financing there is. The end result is the dilution of the owner’s equity in their own company. It can even result in a complete loss and transference of control to the new investor. While this may work for a large company with many shareholders, it is generally not a good alternative for owner-operated or familyrun businesses.

Simply put: Every company has “receivables” from the people it sells products or services to. The company sells all its accounts receivables to a “factor” at

a discount. The factor discounts the face value of the invoice based on a variety of factors, such as the industry and how long it generally takes to get the invoices paid. The company receives about 85% of the face value immediately and the balance less the discount fee when the account is collected. The discount amount depends on many factors but is generally between 3-6% for a pre-negotiated period of time and a fraction of that thereafter. The uniqueness of this alternative is that the business owner is not trying to borrow based on their own and the company’s creditworthiness but that of each one of the company’s customers. So, while the company may not have good credit as long as the customers do, the company can leverage and borrow against their good credit! Most companies find that they no longer need a bookkeeper or office assistant, and the salary they save easily covers the discount fee and more. Here’s a perfect example. Many years ago, I met a woman who had a home stereo installation business. Her clients were primarily large box electronics stores. She worked out of one equipped and retrofitted truck. She was offered a new contract, but that would require her to purchase and retrofit a new truck at a cost of $75,000 and hire someone to work it. he did not have funds for this investment. What she did have was a $100,000 receivable from a national electronics chain with great credit. She factored her $100,000 receivable in return for $85,000 cash which was paid in

24 hours. She then went out and made her purchases and accepted a very lucrative new opportunity. She continues to factor all her receivables today. Within two years of her original factoring, she tripled her business, all without creating debt or giving up control. It’s important to note that the Discount Fee is an expense, not interest, and is treated as such in financial statements. After three years passed, she was easily able to get a traditional loan to expand her business further, as she had no debt. Factoring her receivables was the single smartest decision she made for the growth of her business.

When you factor your accounts receivable, you no longer have the stress of wondering when the next cheque will come in; you will have a steady cash flow, even as a seasonal business. Generally, businesses grow exponentially as the owner is now freed up to work “ON” the business and not “in” it. From that comes great new revenue-generating ideas and the time required to make them a reality. Owners are relieved not to have to worry about finances and collections. In fact, financial professionals and bankers are big proponents of factoring as it keeps their clients in business when they cannot.

If you are still worried about the stigma, don’t be your customers will never know a thing! If your company sells a product/ service that generates accounts receivable, then you have a hidden treasure of financing for your business and owe it to yourself to learn more about it.

Franchising M aga Z in E Usa 17
CEO Lori Karpman is president of Lori Karpman & Company, A full service firm providing a full range of consulting and legal services. Lori@lorikarpman.com www.lorikarpman.com

e mpowered women empower women”

seeing that women tend to be in the minority in leadership roles, let alone in the auto industry itself, Pfenninger herself feels empowered serving as the partner and Human Resources Coordinator for The Mattiacio Group, who now operates nine franchised ziebart locations – and counting – in New York state.

“I’m so proud to work for a company that sees the value in promoting women like myself to leadership roles,” said Pfenninger. “I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for the women who

have helped guide and support me along the way. Women mentors are everything, especially when you work in an industry where female role models can be hard to find. I live by the phrase ‘empowered women empower women,’ so I’m honored to now be in a position where I can inspire and influence other women and prove that there is a place for women in this industry.”

While some women may feel intimidated to work in a male-dominated sector such as the auto industry, Pfenninger says it only amplifies her motivation to continue learning and growing with the company. Though there was once a fear she wouldn’t be taken seriously in her role, Pfenninger chose to channel that insecurity and turn it into a deep focus on educating herself on

anything and everything in the industry. Now, more than a decade later with Ziebart, she sees herself as an industry expert.

“When it comes to entering a new role or stepping outside your comfort zone, I’ve always found that knowledge is power, and taking the time to observe and learn can really help boost your confidence,” said Pfenninger. “As you continue to grow within a company, it’s equally important to never stop that learning process. Especially when we’re talking about finding success in a male-dominated industry, women need to constantly advocate for themselves and step outside of that comfort zone by taking advantage of every opportunity that heads their way.”

Despite her father being a part of the Ziebart franchise since the 80’s, Pfenninger never anticipated getting involved in the car business. Growing up, she always had a passion for the health and wellness space and began pursuing her degree in nursing. However, after holding various part-time jobs throughout college, she asked her father if he had any opportunities at his Ziebart franchise. Once she agreed to a position in customer service, she fell in love with the brand and never looked back.

18 Franchising M aga Z in E Usa
hAve your sAy: Ziebart
In a unique combination of a passion for health, a love for working with family, and a devotion for the family business, Meghan Pfenninger has carved out a path landing her in a leadership role in the male-dominated automotive aftermarket industry.
“ I’m so proud to work for a company that sees the value in promoting women like myself to leadership roles.”
Meghan Pfenninger

“It still blows my mind how quickly I fell in love with Ziebart, but I guess you could say I came here for the opportunity to work with my family, and I stayed because of everything else Ziebart stands for and has to offer,” said Pfenninger. “I watched my dad build this empire and grow his business. Ziebart has always been a part of our family; it’s in our DNA. And working right alongside my dad and brothers makes this more than just a job – it’s a lifestyle.”

Pfenninger’s worked in various roles within The Mattiacio Group and Ziebart over the last 12 years, before finding her home in the HR department. She’s now taken her career full-circle, dedicating a lot of her focus toward onboarding new employees, and continuing the company’s missions and values with a goal of incorporating corporate health and wellness programs, embracing the mantra “chase your health, not your wealth.”

“We all know the importance of a worklife balance, but it’s impossible to find that balance if your health isn’t in check first,” said Pfenninger. “You need to make sure you’re carving out time to take care of yourself mentally and physically so that you can be present when it counts the most. In fact, you’ll find you’re more productive when you’re healthy because your mind and body have so much more energy so that you can accomplish that lengthy to-do list.”

It’s not just the health of the group’s more than 200 employees that Pfenninger is prioritizing in her role as HR Coordinator, but also the health of the company’s culture, which at its core is entirely based around family. In fact, The Mattiacio Group takes the phrase “the family business” to heart – not only does Pfenninger work with her father, but also alongside her brothers, and even her husband. The whole Mattiacio family is very involved with the brand, and that’s something that doesn’t go unnoticed amongst their employees.

“Anyone coming into our Ziebart franchise can see that we’re a close-knit family that’s dedicated to this business and our employees,” said Pfenninger. “Ziebart is our livelihood, and we bring a more intimate family business approach to our company’s culture, and everyone knows we’re never more than just a phone call away.”

Though Tony Mattiacio never pressured any of his children to join him when he started his Ziebart franchise more than 30 years ago, they each naturally found their own place under the Ziebart umbrella.

“What makes Ziebart special is its rich history of bringing families together in a work environment; the brand lives and breathes that family business lifestyle,” said Tony Mattiacio, President and CEO of The Mattiacio Group. “Even going to the

very top, the President and CEO of Ziebart took over the company once his father retired last year. Throughout the brand, so many franchise locations have been passed down through generations. I never expected any of my kids to join me on this franchise journey with Ziebart, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

about Ziebart

Founded in 1959, ziebart international Corporation is the worldwide leader in premium automotive appearance and protection services that extend the life of vehicles. ziebart operates over 400 locations, with 1,300 service centers, in 37 countries. ziebart continues to grow and offers domestic and international franchising opportunities, a best-inclass investment for qualified prospects. For more information about ziebart including franchise opportunities, please visit www.ziebart.com.

Franchising M aga Z in E Usa 19

branding ti P s For success

if you run a business, you understand the importance of branding.. You also know that it tends to get pushed toward the bottom of the priority list. You’re busy and hardly have time to think about branding and we understand. at Clayton Kendall, we want to make branding easier for you so you can get on that bandwagon as effortlessly as possible.

The following tips will help you jump start the process and our team of customer service experts can assist you in selecting promotional products that reflect your brand personality and win over your target audience.

What Is branding?

If your mind automatically jumps to your logo when you think of branding, then you’re on the right path but not at the destination. A logo is an important part of branding, but it’s only part of the

picture. Branding is all about the message, perceptions, and associations connected to your logo. Your brand is your company’s reputation, personality, and it’s the feelings that people associate with you.

When you’ve established who your company is at the core, then the logo will reflect that image. Branding and a logo work hand-in-hand to easily identify who you are, what you do, and what your company is all about.

Why branding Is Important to all businesses

Yes, we all know about Coca-Cola and Nike and their brand messaging is highly effective. It also requires a lot of money

and time. Small businesses just can’t compete with branding on that level, but it’s still important to devote some time and money to branding. Today’s consumer is savvy, and they often select brands based on what the company represents. The personality of a business is perhaps more important today than it ever has been.

If you’re a small business, branding becomes even more important because you need to standout against some potentially large competition. While your marketing efforts will push sales, your branding efforts will build your reputation and create a foundation of trust. It’s an important job and it can be difficult, but the following tips will help.

20 Franchising M aga Z in E Usa e XPert ADvIce: Dan Broudy | CEO | Clayton Kendall
Dan Broudy is CEO of Clayton Kendall. As a finance and marketing expert with over 24 years of industry experience, he understands the importance of having a recognizable brand. Dan is a graduate of Washington University inf St. Louis and earned his MBA in finance and marketing at the University of Miami Herbert Business School. Hi is also a Certified Franchise Executive (CFE).

branding tip 1 define your brand identity

What does your company stand for, believe in, support, want to offer customers – what is your mission and promise? Start with the three Ps of branding: promise, purpose, and personality. This will help you define who your company is. More on this on How to Find Your Brand Identity?

branding tip 2 Know your audience

This tip isn’t secondary to the first one, it needs to happen alongside defining your brand identity. Knowing who you’re trying to reach and who your customer base is will help you define your brand. These two pieces of knowledge need to be used together to make connections that matter and that build brand loyalty.

branding tip 3 Know your competition

Do an open-minded deep dive into the competition. What are they doing right and what can you do better? Ask yourself if they’re snagging your target customers or are they offering a similar product but going for a different demographic. The more you learn from their approach and their wins and losses, the stronger your brand can be. It’s all about differentiating yourself and being a standout player.

branding tip 4 Consider your logo

Your logo is a graphic reflection of your brand. That’s a lot of weight for a logo to carry, but it’s not working alone. If you’ve solidified your brand identity, that will be reflected in your marketing efforts and bolster your logo. It’s a symbiotic

relationship that gives you exponential rewards.

That said, if you don’t like your logo or it feels outdated, it can be changed. A radical change is usually not a good idea unless you’re going through a radical brand image makeover, but subtle changes to logos happen all the time and they can have a very positive impact.

branding tip 5 Thoughtful selection of marketing materials

This is where Clayton Kendall shines. We are marketing material experts and ready to help. Once you’ve nailed your logo and brand identity and you know a bit about your audience, it’s time to go shopping. We can easily help you select marketing materials that resonate with your audience and are a good reflection of your brand.

Our vast catalogue of branded merchandise features promotional products that cater to different industries and to the personalities of your customer base. For example, if your company has a strong eco-friendly approach, you’ll want to explore our collection of eco merchandise. If your customer base is all about sports and game ready, stadium cups are a great way to go. For the convention crowd, lanyards are the ultimate option. No matter who your audience base is, we can help.

If you’re not sure what your customer base would like, that’s okay because our team of customer service agents are the best in the business, and they can help. Simply give us a call at 1 (888) 799- 4757 or visit our website (www.claytonkendall. com) where you can start a live chat.

Franchising M aga Z in E Usa 21
“ Branding is all about the message, perceptions, and associations connected to your logo. Your brand is your company’s reputation, personality, and it’s the feelings that people associate with you.

youth athletes u nited is s uccessfully e xpanding its footprint a S T h EY l aun Ch in TO fR an Chi S ing

Youth athletes United is making significant impact on so many communities across the country. The franchise looks to continue to expand its footprint and further grow to new markets.

Youth Athletes United is a multi-sport brand portfolio empowering kids and communities with their sports franchises,

looks to positively impact the lives of one million youth athletes, and envisions becoming the nation’s largest youth sports platform. The multi-sport brand portfolio allows kids to explore and excel in sports from toddlers to teens. The company was formed in 2018 and comprises three brands- Amazing Athletes, Soccer Stars and TGA Sports. All three brands provide different sports offerings, but they all aim to create the ultimate positive sports experience for every child.

“Sports can significantly impact children’s development and teach them lifelong lessons and values,” said Adam Geisler, Co-Founder and CEO of Youth Athletes United. “Our franchise wants to provide every child with their first sport experience, and our focused on creating opportunities to help them try multiple sports and decide their own path. We are excited about our bright future as we continue to expand to new communities throughout the country and help positively impact the next

generation of athletes. This results from the passion of all our franchisees, employees and alumni who have dedicated their time to help achieve our overall goal.”

Soccer Stars- the first acquisition of the Youth Athletes United brand- educates kids about the fun and basics of soccer to increase their success and love for the game later on the field, and has proven to be a hot commodity in the youth athletics market. The brand has accelerated its success at a remarkable speed due to the launch of their franchise opportunity for the first time in the brand’s 22-year history. Soccer Stars’ growth has not gone unnoticed, and was recently ranked as a “Top 3 Emerging Franchise of 2022” by The Wolf of Franchises. Soccer Stars has partnered with Franchise Fastlane to help accelerate its growth, and in their company’s 15-year tenure, has the fastest close to date after the brand’s franchising launch. With nine units signed in less than 90 days, four multi-unit owners, and two owners who made this

22 Franchising M aga Z in E Usa
Fr A nch I sor I n D e P th: Youth Athletes

their second franchise brand in their portfolio, the franchise is looking to continue its growth nationwide. In the beginning phase of its franchise launch, Soccer Stars has seen over 50 prospective franchisees in the Amazing Athletes uses a multi-sport program to benefit children aged 2 ½ to 6 years physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally. Amazing Athletes has been heavily endorsed by many early childhood development experts and was even a recipient of Franchise Business Review’s Franchise Hall of Fame. Their program introduces the fundamentals of ten different sports (soccer, hockey, volleyball, basketball, tennis, lacrosse, football, track and field, baseball, and golf) in a non-competitive environment. Children in Amazing Athletes routinely gain greater confidence, learn to combine fitness with fun, and develop six key motor skills including; balancing, running, jumping, throwing, catching, and kicking. Their program is taught in a noncompetitive, learning-based environment. They work with each child at their own progression level to ensure they are able to reach their highest potential. The Amazing Athletes brand has merged another Youth Athletes United portfolio brand in JumpBunch, adding 15 new owners to the Amazing Athletes franchise network, making it the nation’s largest multi-sport program.

TGA, better known as Tennis, Golf, Athletics, is the number one youth sports provider for tennis, golf, and athletics. Their fun and engaging programs uniquely combine athletic skill development, academic learning, and life lessons. Designed to develop the whole person & player, TGA programs foster a commitment to self-development in a non-competitive environment, encouraging, and empowering kids from elementary to high school to Keep Swinging! ® TGA is committed to developing the whole person and player through the development of athletics, academics, and life lessons. The brand’s goal is to help kids realize their athletic potential and utilize sports as a path toward an active and healthy lifestyle while using sports as a vehicle for teaching academic lessons and encourage exploration and learning through playing while developing values that promote individual growth & teamwork by teaching lessons in sportsmanship, perseverance, and

leadership. The brand has already added one new franchise owner in the first quarter of 2023 with additional opportunities in the pipeline.

Nowadays, kids are struggling to stay active, causing significant issues with children being overweight, higher risk of developing heart disease, high blood pressure and other physical problems. Children need to find an outlet and be taught at a young age how to live a physically and mentally healthy lifestyle. Youth Athletes want to be a part of the solution by educating children on the importance of nutrition and staying active. The benefits of youth sports participation can last a lifetime and build lifelong healthy habits. Youth Athletes United provides an outlet for children to have fun and socialize with friends, all in the same setting. Children must be in a routine to stay active, and there is no better way than having your child involved in sports.

“The best part of my job is that I am making a positive impact for the next generation and teaching the importance of a healthy lifestyle,” said Geisler. “Children need a distraction and a hobby to be active and still provide the fun and social aspect. Youth sports were a big part of my childhood and having the opportunity to offer children to find their love and passion in sports is really rewarding.”

Youth Athletes United is making a significant impact on so many communities across the country. The franchise looks to continue to expand its footprint and further grow to new markets. Each of Youth Athletes United’s brands offer a unique athletic experience for children while maintaining the common goal of having children find their love and passion for sports. The youth sports industry is rapidly growing and evolving and Youth Athletes United, is leading the charge.

Franchising M aga Z in E Usa 23

d onatos partners with former r ed r obin and s onic e xecutives for planned n ational e xpansion in o klahoma

Ohio-Based Pizza Franchise Continues Push to the Sooner State

products are also proudly served in nine sports and entertainment venues and one REEF Kitchen. Additionally, Donatos continues to expand through its strategic partnership with Red Robin adding Donatos pizza to its menu. Today, that partnership includes 261 Red Robin locations with plans to scale to additional markets across the US in 2023 and beyond.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with strong restaurant industry leaders to expand the Donatos brand across the great state of Oklahoma. Everyone within the Donatos family is looking forward to sharing our premium pizza with members of the community,” said Jeff Baldwin, Vice President of Development & Franchising for Donatos. “There is a tremendous opportunity for success and growth here as we know that our Edge to Edge® abundantly topped pizzas will be well received by the residents. We are so excited for the continued expansion of the brand into this new market and establishing strong connections in the local communities we will serve.”

Donatos, the fast-casual pizza franchise famous for its Edge to Edge® toppings, is expanding into oklahoma with a franchise partner group led by restaurant industry veteran Pattye Moore, former Board Chairman and interim CEo at Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and former sonic Drive- in President, and operating partners Matt and Will Mclain, the sons of former sonic President scott Mclain.

The group has plans to open dozens of locations in the Tulsa and Oklahoma City metro areas, the first of which is set to open this summer in Edmond near the intersection of S. Bryant and E. 15th Street.

“I first got acquainted with Donatos while I was at Red Robin and we were developing the partnership,” said Moore. “I was so impressed with Donatos that I knew I wanted to bring this highquality pizza to Oklahoma. I’m delighted to partner with Matt and Will McLain, two smart young entrepreneurs who I have known for a long time.”

These exciting expansion plans in Oklahoma City and Tulsa come at a time when Donatos is continuing to grow its national footprint. Today, Donatos is served in 444 locations across more than half of the US, including 173 traditional Donatos restaurants, and its

For those with experience looking to bring a proven concept to their community, Donatos combines a simple and effective operating platform with a premium product and a culture of leading with love and giving back. Including a franchise fee of $30,000, the initial investment to own and operate a Donatos restaurant ranges from $391,500 to $750,747. The average store is 2,000 square feet and employs roughly 30 primarily part-time associates. The average unit volume nationwide exceeds $1.29 million.

“Our brand is excited about this opportunity to make an impact across Oklahoma, starting with one location and then continuing to grow,” said Kevin King, President of Donatos. “We can’t wait to put our promise to ‘serve the best pizza and make your day better’ into action.”

For more information about Donatos’ franchise opportunity, visit www.donatospizzafranchise.com.

about donatos

Donatos features the Edge to Edge® pizza, created by Jim Grote who founded Donatos in 1963. With 444 locations in 27 states, Donatos, and its franchise partners operate 173 traditional restaurants in o hio, indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, south Carolina, alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Florida. Donatos’ products are also proudly served in 271 nontraditional locations (261 locations with Red Robin, nine sports and entertainment venues, and one REEF Kitchen). for more information, visit donatospizzafranchise.com.

24 Franchising M aga Z in E Usa
sn AP shot: Donatos

franchising.

Our purpose

@OurFranchise is an industry-wide campaign created to spread the word about the value of franchising and share the stories of men and women just like you, who are leading the way as franchisors, franchisees, and franchise employees. The franchise business model has been proven time and time again to work, but it’s threatened when the public and politicians don’t understand how it operates to benefit local, independent franchise establishment owners and their communities. Putting a spotlight on real leaders succeeding with the franchise model is how we’ll ensure franchising is stronger than ever before.

Follow us

Share the tools and resources offered on AtOurFranchise.org/resources

Help us keep the momentum going

Since our launch in June 2016, we’ve reached 1.7 million people through outreach efforts, including events in key cities and states, where we spoke directly with business owners, employees, policymakers, and the media. Additionally, we’ve reached people across America through our website and social media channels, digital advertisements, and the promotion of We the Franchisees on Politico – but there is much more work to do. As a franchisor, franchisee, or franchise vendor, you are a leader in your community – and we need your support, now more than ever.

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You benefit by joining

By joining @OurFranchise, you’ll get access to exclusive stories and resources that can help grow your franchise business, educate employees at all levels about the franchise business model, and share the economic importance of franchising with consumers. You will also have the opportunity to share your franchise success story with your peers.

Visit AtOurFranchise.org

This is just the beginning

Make sure you stay up to date with the campaign’s latest efforts through email updates and social media. Visit our website to read and share the latest stories of franchisors and franchisees making an impact in their communities. Become a franchise advocate to help ensure Americans, now and in the future, have the opportunity to start franchise businesses. Take the lead today!

Contact Erica Farage, Senior

of Political Affairs and Grassroots Advocacy and Multi-Unit Franchisee Engagement International Franchise Association

efarage@franchise.org

(202) 662-0760

Franchising M aga Z in E Usa 25
@OurFranchise
Our Franchise
@OurFranchise
The public and policymakers need to understand

Q& a

with k im p owell of woodhouse spa

When did you buy your franchise?

I bought my franchise back in 2014 following a brief visit to Victoria, Texas and proceeded to purchase the rights to 12 locations, as a regional developer, as part of a discontinued program. I am currently the owner of Woodhouse Spa in Charleston, Mt. Pleasant, SC and Franklin, TN. I’ll be opening my 4th spa in Savannah, GA in the fall of 2023.

how did you find out about the franchise and why did you choose that franchise?

Initially, I was a guest at a Woodhouse Spa in Dayton, Ohio, where I was born and raised. As a frequent spa-goer to luxury spas, I recognized and appreciated the quality and value of having this type of luxury spa in my small suburb. When I relocated to Charleston, SC in 2014, I was hoping there would be a Woodhouse Spa in my new hometown. When I discovered

there wasn’t a Woodhouse location in Charleston or in the entire state of South Carolina at the time, I decided that it might be fun to open one myself.

What was your working background?

I have a Computer Science degree from The University of Dayton. After years of working for a multinational technology corporation, my husband and I founded an industrial flooring business in 1990. Our headquarters is in Dayton, Ohio, and our regional office is in Charleston, SC. We are also in the real estate business with a few investment properties.

What was the turning point that made you realize you wanted to change your career path?

When we decided to move to Charleston in 2014, I was 45 years old, and two of my three sons were in college in Charleston. I wanted to do something with “Chapter Two” of my life that aligned with my passions and allowed me to serve my community in a positive way.

What was the process like once you signed the franchise agreement? as far as training, site selection, fit out, etc.

Once we signed up with Woodhouse, we began looking for a good location. Being new to the area, this took some time, but we found the perfect location for the spa. From there, we began to design the spa and work with a construction manager to execute the plan. The Woodhouse team made it extremely easy to streamline all our openings and management processes and helped guide us every step of the way to successfully open.

What type of training/ support was (still is) provided to you?

The Woodhouse corporate team acted as a true brand partner and helped guide us through all the intricacies that encompass building and running a spa from top to bottom. They provide owners with a very

26 Franchising M aga Z in E Usa wo M en I n F r A nch I s I n G: Kim Powell | Woodhouse Spa

clear, helpful system to follow to ensure franchisees have all their bases covered and have a clear budget and operating model in place from the start.

Woodhouse Spa also continues to provide franchise owners with unrivaled mentorship, proprietary educational programs, and events such as their annual reunion, where franchisees and corporate employees from across the country come together. We as owners get a lot of hands-on time with our peers at the reunion, including participating in breakout sessions, discussing and sharing industry trends, learning new best practices for recruiting and retention, and honing our skillsets as entrepreneurs and business owners.

has your work/life balance improved since buying the

franchise?

In the beginning, much like pregnancy and having a newborn, owning a franchise is very challenging and laborious. A lot of sleepless nights and excitement fill up the days and months leading up to the opening of your spa. Once stabilized, and if you have the right team in place, ownership affords a great deal of flexibility and passive income; as well as a new group

of contemporaries to learn and grow with along the way.

If someone was interested in joining your franchise system, what would you say to them?

My advice would be to make sure it is in alignment with your passion and purpose, and that you do your homework. I would also tell them to go for it! There is never a perfect time to take a leap of faith, but there is also no way to start something new and exciting without stepping outside of your comfort zone and embarking on a new adventure.

any last thoughts on a particular aspect of your franchise system that stands out to you?

It’s been an honor and a privilege to work with my team, this franchise, and the communities we serve. Hospitality is a very special industry, and it brings such rewarding opportunities. The wellness industry is continuing to grow and evolve in tremendous ways, and it’s an exciting time to be a part of this growing luxury franchise.

about Woodhouse spa

o Woodhouse spa is part of Radiance Holdings, a global company representing a collection of premier brands in the beauty, wellness and selfcare sectors and was recently acquired by TsG Consumer Partners.

o For more than 20 years, the awardwinning Woodhouse spa has offered guests a variety of luxury treatments that are fully customized to meet their guests’ unique needs.

o Woodhouse offers a calming environment that is rich with warm earth tones and textures, sounds of nature, soothing aromatherapy for skin treatments, massage therapies, facials and other exquisite services, such as waxing and nails. Every treatment, detail, space, and feature has been carefully crafted by the Woodhouse masters of mood care.

o With over 900 thousand people visiting the Woodhouse spa each year, there’s no mistaking the fact that guests coming through the doors are dealing with more than ever, especially as they find normalcy and a need for self-care post-pandemic.

o Following Woodhouse spa’s acquisition by Radiance Holdings in July 2020, the brand has been aggressively targeting key markets throughout the U. s. for franchise development.

o The rapid expansion has solidified Woodhouse as a premier spa franchise and the unequivocal leader in mood care, pioneering a new category of wellness services in the approachable luxury space.

o The brand reported a 19% sales increase year over year and is currently experiencing its highest growth rate since its 2001 inception.

Franchising M aga Z in E Usa 27

h ow p ool s couts is w inning with c ustomers as it e xpands across the u nited s tates

The 112-territory pool cleaning franchise enters 2023 with 17 new franchisees in 25 territories, as well as an impressive net promoter score of 80.

Pool scouts, the 112 territory pool cleaning franchise, closed out a strong 2022 with achievements across various areas of the brand.

The company, which operates under parent franchisor Buzz Franchise Brands, saw its franchise system grow with 58% more services and 42% more customers–well over 11,000 nationwide. To close out the year, Pool Scouts was named one of the

top franchises of 2023 by Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 Ranking, placing No. 490 on the list heading into the new year.

The brand had an impressive year in franchise development, signing 17 new franchisees that represented 25 territories. Pool Scouts entered several new states in 2022, including Michigan, Idaho and Illinois, which are set to open in 2023, while the brand saw further expansions in the states of Texas and Arizona. With

that, Pool Scouts now operates in 18 states across the country.

“The past couple of years have been incredibly robust from a pool construction standpoint across the country,” said Michael Wagner, president of Pool Scouts. “Lots of new pools have been built, and they need us to take care of them. So, we expect customer acquisition to continue to be robust, and we’re very much looking forward to that. The brand really hit a tipping point over the past couple of years, especially with the number of customers we’re servicing around the country, and we expect great things in 2023.”

What customers think

In 2022, pool owners across the country consistently turned to Pool Scouts for service, with 71% of Pool Scout clientele being recurring customers across the franchise system. Additionally, Pool Scouts’ value per customer increased 15% year-over-year, despite the fact that 58% of invoiced customers were brand new to the company.

28 Franchising M aga Z in E Usa
Fr A nch I se I n Act I on: Pool Scouts

“This was my first time using Pool Scouts to undertake major repairs/upgrades to my pool equipment,” said Malcom Cohn, Pool Scouts of Sugar Land customer. “The service manager who undertook the installation was professional, knowledgeable and personable. Pool Scouts provided a prompt and affordable service — a rare find.”

Notably, the brand’s net promoter score (NPS) reached a high of 80 system-wide. The NPS is a leading metric for measuring customer loyalty. It comes from the question, “How likely is it that you would recommend (insert company or product/ service) to a friend or colleague?” To put into greater context across global benchmark data, which accounts for the NPS of more than 150,000 organizations, the average score is 32. Chick-fil-A, for example, has a NPS of 64.

In 2022, 11 Pool Scouts locations had a NPS of over 90, including: Pool Scouts of Cape Coral, (100), Pool Scouts of South Charlotte (98), Pool Scouts of Greater Richmond (98), Pool Scouts of Boise (96), Pool Scouts of Lake Norman (96), Pool Scouts of Hartford (95), Pool Scouts of Denton (94), Pool Scouts of Naples North (93), Pool Scouts of Glendale (93), Pool Scouts of League City (91) and Pool Scouts of Newnan (90).

“I work in a service business myself and I can say that Pool Scouts offers outstanding

service,” said Phil Christ, Pool Scouts of Cape Fear customer. “They tick all the boxes in terms of professionalism, responsiveness, timeliness and value. I love the way they keep you informed throughout the process. Thorough and professional.

how Pool scouts is supporting growth

To support further growth, Pool Scouts continued to add to its team. New hires included Kanchan Woods, brought on as the marketing specialist, and Dave Nolan and Adrian Francisco as technical support coaches to perform field training and support around the pool side of the business. Russell Gesher was also hired to the Pool Scouts leadership team as the new director of operations. Gesher, who has over two decades of experience leading multi-unit operations through scaling, has already done a great job at driving consistency and results by working closely with franchisees, says Wagner. Another exciting operation development was the delivery of two technical training classes in Dallas, Texas and Raleigh, North Carolina. “These were regional technical training classes that we delivered to help franchisees do repair work and learn the repair side of the business,” noted Wagner. “And our plans are to do four of those in 2023.”

celebrating accomplishments and Looking ahead

Pool Scouts is also partnered with Hope Floats Foundation to raise money during Water Safety Month, providing swim lessons for families in need. Franchise

locations donated a percentage of each service performed during Water Safety Month to provide scholarships through Hope Floats. In 2022, Pool Scouts raised over $16,000, which was awarded throughout Q3 to cover 800 swim lessons all over the United States.

With so much to celebrate, Pool Scouts invited members of the brand to meet in person for the first time since 2020, at its annual Pool Scouts Convention in Cancún, Mexico.

“This event was a great opportunity for our franchisees and the corporate team to come together, learn from one another, celebrate successes and share best practices,” said Wagner. “The convention was a tremendous success and a wonderful, fulfilling experience for all involved.”

With an agenda jam-packed with engaging activities, panels, sessions, speeches and an awards dinner, attendees spent their time meeting and engaging with colleagues, learning about important best-practice business topics, networking with vendors and championing the brand’s success. The brand plans to host another convention in 2023.

Looking ahead, Pool Scouts plans to bring in 18+ new franchisees into the system in the new year in several new states as the brand continues to see growth opportunities.

“Our expectations are to grow even more robustly on the customer side, across the country,” said Wagner. “We have so many new franchisees that we really expect to see substantial growth in their second year, or even a second six months depending on when they launched their business. We acquire a ton of customers in the early parts of the year, with the April-June timeframe being some of our biggest months. We are looking forward to another great year at Pool Scouts.”

Franchising M aga Z in E Usa 29
“ Lots of new pools have been built, and they need us to take care of them. So, we expect customer acquisition to continue to be robust, and we’re very much looking forward to that.”
“ The brand really hit a tipping point over the past couple of years, especially with the number of customers we’re servicing around the country.”

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s hop s mart: h oW to Make a W I se Mu Lt I - u n I t InvestM ent APRIL 2023 laTEST n EWS in multi-unit franchising s outhern s teer b utcher continues Franchise g rowth Fo LLowing b rand s uccess COVER STORY w hy i s m ulti- u nit f ranchising s uch an i mportant topic r ight n ow?
www.franchisingmagazineusa.com Don’t miss an issue Get the App 10 Franchising Maga in Usa Singam discovered Fazoli’s when he lived in Flagstaff, Arizona in the late 1990s. He continued following the brand over the years and was impressed by Fazoli’s evolution and response to consumers’ ever-changing dining habits. Specifically, Singam has taken note of Fazoli’s dedication to menu innovation – from the addition of Snacks & Shareables to wings and premium baked dishes – which has resulted in his new favorite item. “I was always watching how they evolve. The brand is incredibly resilient, and was encouraged watching them develop new systems to continue supporting their growth across new markets,” Singam said. Earlier this year, Singam opened his first of many planned Fazoli’s location at 3800 E. Sky Harbor Blvd. inside Terminal 4 between gates B6 and B13. His second location is already underway and his restaurant holding group will be opening its first street side Fazoli’s at 953 N. Dobson Rd. in Mesa later this year. It Coming off the heels of his highly anticipated new restaurant opening in Phoenix, AZ, Nava Singam is taking Fazoli’s by storm. As the CEO of Kind Hospitality, a familyowned restaurant group which operates well-known brands including Macayo’s Mexican Food, Panera Bread, O.H.S.O. Brewery, Barrio Brewing Co., Native Grill & Wings and now Fazoli’s, Singam is successful multi-unit franchisee that brings decades of experience to the quick-service Italian brand. Before building his own restaurant franchising empire and becoming one of Fazoli’s largest franchisees, Singam worked his way up from restaurant operations to ownership with his first endeavor coming in 2005 where he owned and operated Paradise Bakery at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. Since then, he’s helped build and develop his collection of restaurants growing from just one location to more than 30 locations “ Fazoli’s definitely has a cult-like following and for good reason. When we were considering expansion and growth opportunities at Kind Hospitality, we knew we made the right choice after going viral from the initial announcement.” cover story: Fazoli’s Franchisee nava singam taking Fazoil’s by storm across four states and has added more than 1,400 employees to his team. Singam’s two daughters and wife Leticia have been instrumental in the development of the company, offering support and inspiration through the growth of the company. His latest franchise endeavor includes Fazoli’s, a beloved Italian concept founded in 1988 in Lexington, Ky. Fazoli’s owns and operates nearly 220 restaurants in 28 states, making it the largest premium QSR Italian chain in America. Fazoli’s prides itself on serving premium, fast Italian food menu offerings such as freshly prepared pasta entrees, subs, salads, pizza and desserts – along with its unlimited signature garlic breadsticks. “Fazoli’s definitely has cult-like following and for good reason. When we were considering expansion and growth opportunities at Kind Hospitality, we knew we made the right choice after going viral from the initial announcement,” Singam said. “ Singam was also the first to offer the brand’s breakfast daypart, serving up new items including Hot Honey Chicken and Egg Breakfast Sandwiches, Cinnamon Swirl Breadstick Bites, Breakfast Burritos and so much more.” VOL 11, ISSUE 4, APRIL 2023 The magazine for franchisees WWW.franchsingmagazine U sa com COVER STORY annOunCEmEnTS fROm ThE induSTRY branding tips for success smart savvy strategies SpECial fEaTuRE multi-unit franchising franchise relationships advice for emerging brands Franchisee nava singam taking fazoil’s by storm franchising news

MU l T i- U ni T F ranchising

46 Beans and Brew: strategy to grow, and grow smarter, with Multi-Unit Deals Expert

44 Megan Boyd: Why is Multi-Unit Franchising such an important Topic right now?

50 Jim Boccher: attract large investors to Your Franchise By learning how to Build a great Team

Women in Franchising

48 Express Employment Professionals alyssa chumbly Demonstrates that success is not dependent on gender

Franchisee in Action

42 Paymore: Used Electronics resaler, attracts longtime restaurant franchisees looking for a Multi-Unit investment

52 lapels: Michael Eisner, Multiple Franchises Post covid

Franchising M aga Z in E Usa 33
contents
New 34 Franchising News Announcements from the Industry Cover Story
Franchise
Feature Article
shop smart:
Make
Multi-Unit investment 38
in Depth
What’s
38 southern steer: southern steer Butcher continues
growth
40 Chris Conner:
how to
a Wise
Franchisor
Advice
46 42 50

Tammy Feaster Earns Prestigious Recognition as 2023 Franchisee of the Year

spherion staffing and Recruiting (spherion) is elated to announce today that its very own Tammy Feaster was recently recognized as one of the “Franchisee of the Year” recipients at the international Franchise a ssociation’s (i Fa) 2023 annual Convention in l as Vegas.

“We’re incredibly proud of Tammy for this achievement,” said r ebecca r ogers Tijerino, group president of spherion. “But i am not surprised. she won spherion’s Franchise o wner of the Year award last year, and really, she’s been unstoppable since she got into the industry - which was when she was in high school, part of a co-op program. Tammy is a testament to the power that comes when business and education work together to empower students with true work experience to build their leadership confidence early. Tammy was committed to the previous spherion franchise owner, worked hard to purchase the business, and now she’s being recognized as a top franchisee in our entire industry. spherion is lucky to have her; the whole staffing industry is lucky to have her.”

“ i am so honored to receive this recognition from the iFa .,” said Feaster, who owns offices in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. “ i love spherion so much, and love what i do every day. it’s fantastic to be able to see all that hard work paid off. i ’m so appreciative for the support from my incredible teams, our clients, candidates and of course the spherion franchise community. i ’m honored to represent our brand with this achievement.”

To learn more about spherion, visit https://www.spherion.com/

Scottsdale Secures 2-Unit Franchise

Development

Deal with cLean e at Z Restaurant Brand

Clean Eatz, the award-winning wellness restaurant concept heralded as one of the fastest-growing concepts in its industry, has secured an agreement with Cory Dugan, a restaurant industry veteran, to develop two new franchise locations in the s cottsdale area. site selection is currently underway, with plans for the first venue to open its doors later this year.

Dugan joins the clean Eatz family after 30 years spent with Brinker international, a leading multinational hospitality company, where he served as Vice President of o perations for his final five years. a role he credits as having instilled him with an acute understanding on the importance of building relationships with guests, leading with passion and direction, and having purpose in everything that’s done on behalf of staff and the community.

“When my family and i decided to move back to arizona, i had planned on that being the end of my time in the service industry. But that was before we were introduced to clean Eatz,” Dugan said. “We’d buy dozens of their meal kits at a time and quickly became familiar with their culture and commitment to helping customers on their individual health journeys. i knew it was something i wanted to be a part of.”

“This latest deal comes on the heels of an additional 2-unit deal that was recently secured in the g lendale area,” said Evonne Varady, co-Founder of clean Eatz. she hopes to build on these numbers in the near future.

To learn more visit https://cleaneatz.com/franchise.

34 Franchising M aga Z in E Usa
M u L t I -un I t F r A nch I s I n G F e A ture StA nd- oU t e ntre P rene U r Honored by i FA At t H e o rg A niz Ation’ S Ann UAL con Ference

s eroton I n c enters to Open 6 New Franchise Locations throughout Boston

s erotonin Centers, an emerging wellness and anti-aging/ longevity franchise that is rapidly expanding nationwide, has secured an agreement to develop 6 franchise locations in the Boston area. site selection is currently underway in the western suburbs, including Newton and Dedham, with plans for the first location to open this fall.

The new s erotonin centers franchises will be owned and operated by steve and c asey Barker, who bring years of experience in franchising as the owners of two successful trampoline park franchises in the area.

“a s we sought out new investment opportunities, s erotonin centers rose to the top of our list not only due to relevance, demand and strong unit economics, but also because we align with the mission of boosting people’s confidence and quality of life through improved health and wellness,” steve Baker said. “Even more, Eric’s passion for anti-aging is contagious.

While steve comes to s erotonin centers with a background in financing, c asey holds a cosmetology license – another reason why an anti-aging and wellness franchise was a logical next step for the Bakers’ franchise business investments.

“ steve and c asey’s experience as successful multi-unit operators in franchising, coupled with c asey’s interest in cosmetology, will suit the s erotonin brand well as we enter the Boston market,” said c asaburi, founder and cEo of s erotonin centers. “Their business acumen and passion for helping Boston residents achieve their optimal health make them a perfect fit for our fast-growing national wellness brand.”

www.serotonincenters.com/franchising/.

Furry Land Looks to Rapidly Expand

doorstep. a s the #1 mobile pet groomer in america, Furry l and allows owners to customize their pets pampering at an affordable cost, using professional grade tools and hypoallergenic products.

“o ver the last six years, we have seen pet owners prefer in-home pet care and as we expand, we’re excited to partner with business owners who are passionate about keeping fur babies healthy and clean,” said cEo of Furry l and, nick Field. “o wning a Furry l and will allow local franchisees to be an independent groomer and provide their expertise anywhere.”

Furry l and – the mobile pet grooming franchise – offers licensed groomers and pet caretakers the opportunity to franchise as it expands nationwide.

Furry l and currently has over 30 markets and nearly 100 vans in operation, making routine grooming more convenient for owners as it brings the services to their

Furry l and is now actively seeking multiunit franchisees with a strong passion for animals and interest in providing an essential service to their home community. The estimated investment required to open a Furry l and franchise is $97,500$241,400.

To learn more about Furry l and, or if interested in a franchise opportunity, please visit https://furryland.us/.

Franchising M aga Z in E Usa 35
e x P erienced M ULti-Unit oP er Ator S Sign d e AL wit H FAS t- g rowt H Anti-Aging & w e LL ne SS Fr A nc H i S e
Mobi L e Pet g roo M ing Fr A nc H i S e e x P ect S to oP en 150 Loc Ation S in t H e n ext 3 y e A r S
the U.S.
Across
through Franchising Opportunities

Pete and Barbra Muller of tI nt Wor Ld® Awarded Franchisee of the Year by IFA

The international Franchise a ssociation (i Fa) today named Pete and Barbra Muller, owners of two Tint World® automotive styling Centers™ locations in o rlando, Florida, as two of its 2023 Franchisees of the Year.

The Mullers were honored at the 63rd iFa annual convention in l as Vegas for being outstanding franchise establishment owneroperators.

“Franchisee of the Year recipients represent the best in franchising,” said Matthew haller, president and cEo of the international Franchise a ssociation. “This is the highest honor iFa awards to individual franchisees, and local business owners like Pete and Barbra exemplify the power of franchising and its positive contributions to communities around the world.”

The Franchisee of the Year award, sponsored by iFa’s partner Paychex, recognizes leading franchise owners from iFa member brands whose outstanding performance and contributions help protect, enhance, and promote the franchise business model.

“Tint World® offers outstanding support and innovative franchise

systems that have driven our success in o rlando,” Pete Muller said. “We’re proud to deliver Tint World®’s premium products and services to the automotive community here and committed to continuing to meet their high standards and expectations into the future.”

“Pete and Barbra are dynamic representatives of the Tint World® family, and their success reflects their passion,” said charles J. Bonfiglio, cEo and president of Tint World®. “They provide a great example of the opportunities available through our innovative system and strategy.”

To find out more, please visit www.TintWorld.com or https://www.tintworld.com/franchise-opportunities.

restaurant

the Orlando market

states. s alad station now has its eyes set on o rlando, with a goal of finding new multi-unit operators to continue its national expansion.

s alad station – the fully customizable salad restaurant concept famous for serving farm-fresh gourmet ingredients – is looking to enter the o rlando market for the first time to capitalize on the recent economic growing of the city.

since it first began franchising in 2015, the s alad station brand has expanded into a multitude of new markets and has grown its pay-by-the-pound salad concept to 28 locations across five

“The active-outdoor lifestyle of the o rlando area is in need of the fast, delicious, farm-fresh ingredients s alad station has to offer. o ur brand delivers a unique customer experience that busy, health-conscious o rlando residents do not currently have as an option,” said co-Founder and cEo of s alad station, s cott h enderson. “We are excited to meet hungry and successful entrepreneurs who want to bring our passion for fully customizable gourmet salads to the o rlando market for the first time. Based on our Tampa customer base, we already know that our restaurants can be successful down in Florida. We believe it’s now the perfect time to take our concept right up i -4 into o rlando.”

With a franchise fee of $30,000, the estimated initial investment to open a s alad station franchise is $192,300- $373,800.

For more information on s alad station, or interest in a franchise opportunity, please visit www.saladstationfranchise.com/.

36 Franchising M aga Z in E Usa
M u L t I -un I t F r A nch I s I n G F e A ture
saL ad s tat I on – the fully customizable salad
concept is looking to enter
sUB s CR i BE To Franchising Usa’s newsletter and receive all the latest franchising news delivered straight to your inbox, every week! wA nt to S tAy on to P o F t H e LAte S t new S A nd w HAt S HAPP ening At t H e F ore F ront o F F r A nc H i S ing? To subscribe visit: www.franchisingmagazineusa.com

b rand s uccess

Beloved community-focused butcher shop looks to continue exciting expansion throughout the upcoming year

southern steer Butcher, the popular community and education focused gourmet butcher and grocer franchise, is continuing to see tremendous business growth after a successful year, with more exciting plans on the horizon.

The brand looks to continue to provide more cities throughout the country with the highest quality meats and produce, friendly and knowledgeable staff, and a commitment to contributing back to the communities they love to serve.

Founded in 2013 by Greg Snyder, Southern Steer Butcher was designed to be a trusted source for customers to feel confident in their selections after each and every visit. The story all started after Greg made a visit to a similar style shop while traveling and recognized this level of butcher shop

“ With so many grocery options popping up, it is so important, now more than ever, for people to know and trust where their food is coming from.

38 Franchising M aga Z in E Usa
s outhern s teer b utcher continues f ranchise g rowth following
cover story:
M u L t I -un I t F r A nch I s I n G F e A ture
Southern Steer Butcher

was lacking in his own hometown of Clearwater, Florida. From then on, Greg set his sights on filling this need in his community and began work on launching Southern Steer.

“With so many grocery options popping up, it is so important, now more than ever, for people to know and trust where their food is coming from,” said Snyder.

“We take our role here at Southern Steer very seriously. Each of our locations are

staffed with educated employees who are trained to advise customers about proper cuts, marinades, and cooking techniques. Customers can rest assured knowing they are purchasing the highest quality, sustainably sourced meats and grocery items that they can be proud to feed their family and friends.”

Each Southern Steer location offers a wide selection of premium meats, sides, desserts, craft beers, and wine. In addition to the variety of products, the brand also offers pre-assembled meal packs. Every meal pack contains 5 meals with all of the required ingredients for each dish, all that’s left is to prep, serve, and enjoy. For those looking to be a bit more involved in the meal prep process, Southern Steer also offers prep classes. The classes are designed for each participant to fully prep and pack 10 meals, each serving a family of 4-5. Continuing to be a hit among customers, with many returning to the classes again and again to prep delicious meals for the whole family, and maybe learn a thing or two in the process.

“It is so exciting to continue to see the impact Southern Steer makes on each of the communities we enter,” added Snyder. “One of our biggest goals as a brand has been to positively impact the communities we serve. We are so proud of our giveback initiative, Project 52, which encourages each location to complete a charitable act for the community each week, for all 52 weeks of the year. We’ve seen such

about southern steer:

Founded in 2013, southern steer Butcher is a family-owned marketplace dedicated to quality customer service, healthy food options, and positive community impact. The brands core principles include always making guests the number one priority, having fun, and a commitment to quality.

The brand’s offerings focus on celebrations, daily dining options, and culinary education to drive innovation. Today, southern steer has 4 locations currently open in Clearwater, sarasota, o rlando, and Jacksonville, with another 3 in development.

For more information, please visit https://southernsteer.com/

tremendous feedback from both the stores and the community, and it is something we are proud to continue to watch grow in our stores.”

Since the brand began franchising in 2021, they have grown to four locations operating in Florida, with another 3 in development, plus commitments for 10 more stores. With their sights set on the future, Southern Steer projects doubling the number locations in its franchise system each year for the next several years. The brand is seeking both singleunit and multi-unit franchisees. Each individual should have an entrepreneurial spirit, strong people management skills, and a passion for providing great products and unmatched customer service to their community. The Southern Steer team aims to offer prospective franchisees the necessary tools to operate successfully through teamwork and strong leadership, while creating a first-class experience for guests.

For more information about Southern Steer Butcher’s franchising options, please visit https:// southernsteerfranchise.com/

Franchising M aga Z in E Usa 39
“ Each Southern Steer location offers a wide selection of premium meats, sides, desserts, craft beers, and wine.

s hop s mart:

40 Franchising M aga Z in E Usa Fe Ature ActIcLe: Chris Conner | Founder | Franchise Marketing Systems
h ow to m ake a w ise m ulti- u nit i nvestment M u L t I -un I t F r A nch I s I n G F e A ture

c hris conner has worked in the franchise development industry for almost 20 years and helped over 600 brands franchise their brand and develop franchise distribution channels. He founded Franchise Marketing Systems in 2009, which now includes a team of 27 franchise consultants based in and Canada and supports brands around the world to grow and scale through franchise expansion. v isit www.fmsfranchise.com for more information

Recent years have seen more and more franchise investors seeking a package of franchise units. This type of ownership, called multi-unit franchise ownership, has seen a spike in popularity.

The most recent information from FRANdata shows that over half of all franchised units — 54% — are controlled by multi-unit owners. Some of the largest franchisees own hundreds of units across several different brands.

Whether you are franchisor looking to attract more multi-unit moguls or hope to oversee a small network of businesses as a multi-unit franchisee, here are some important key points to consider:

key Point #1: the bottom Line

Pursuing a sustainable investment plays out the same whether you are seeking a real estate property or a business. The decision begs the question — what’s the bottom line? Scrutinize the numbers, analyze the ROI, and take a good survey of the overall financials of the franchise before stepping into the model.

key Point #2: unit-Level Performance

Examine the economics of the business at a per unit level. A company worth investing in has taken the time to tailor its growth according to its capabilities, focusing on maximizing profitability for each unit rather than throwing all the darts at the board and hoping some stick. Intentional growth strategies make for more successful units and sometimes that growth is slow and steady. It’s better to own two remarkably performing units rather than four mediocre ones.

key Point #3: the 3 P’s

You have most likely heard the famous “3 P’s” of business — people, product, and process. Investors seeking to expand their portfolios with a franchise need to evaluate the business from this standard. Are the right people in the company’s leadership positions? Are the products and services well-defined, in demand, and sustainable? Are the processes streamlined and all gaps closed?

key Point #4: solid support system

Marketing, operations, training — what support modules are in place for the franchise? Does the franchisor have the capacity to support the growth rate produced by attracting many multi-unit franchisees? As you shop for franchises, find first-hand accounts of current franchisees and their experience with the support they’ve received.

key Point #5: allows for absentees

If a franchisee is to own several businesses at once, the system must be so fool-proof that the business can work for an absenteeowner as the business is scaled. Ensure the business allows for scalability and can further expand throughout the years. If you are a franchisor, it’s always a good idea to take a deep dive into every nook and cranny of your operations to make sure that your franchisee, whether single unit or multi-unit, has an efficient, strong blueprint to follow.

Multi-unit franchisees have the opportunity to make money faster, enjoy the benefits of a solidified system, and have several revenue streams all at once. Franchise Marketing Systems can guide you in some of the most experienced multi-unit franchises in the marketplace and help you find a fit that you’ll love.

To learn more connect with my team at: 800.610.0292

info@franchisemarketingsystems.com. www.fmsfranchise.com.

Franchising M aga Z in E Usa 41
“ Multi-unit franchisees have the opportunity to make money faster, enjoy the benefits of a solidified system, and have several revenue streams all at onces.”

USeD eLeCtRONICS ReSALeR, pAYMORe AttRACtS LONGtIMe ReStAURANt FRANChISeeS LOOKING FOR A MULtI-UNIt INVeStMeNt WIth BIG pAYOFF

PayMore Founders Set out to create an Easy-toOperate & Highly Profitable Buy-Sell-Trade Electronics

Retail Franchise That’s Thriving as Demand for Used Electronics Heats Up

starting with a single storefront in our hometown of Massapequa New York in 2011, our e-commerce and brick-and-mortar electronics resale business PayMore quickly exploded with high volume trade-ins, shoppers looking for deals on gently used electronics, and tremendous local support.

When we set out to begin reducing our society’s e-waste footprint, our store quickly became the highest grossing secondhand electronics dealer on all of

Long Island, and led us to acquire over 30,000+ customers, drawing national attention.

PayMore is the result of decades of industry and market experience. We are a buy, sell & trade business that puts cash in the hands of our customers in exchange for lightly used electronics of all kinds. We take anything from drones to drills to Dell computers to gaming systems and everything in between. We provide a safe alternative to online marketplaces, even wiping our customer’s data clean after the transaction. Our customers appreciate a green alternative to tossing old items, especially one that puts cash in their hand immediately.

We knew we were onto something and wanted to expand our business nationally quickly. In 2020, we partnered with the global leader in franchise development Fransmart, the company behind the explosive growth of brands including The Halal Guys, Five Guys Burgers and Fries, and Qdoba Mexican Grill and more. Since our concept is so unique, we targeted single unit franchise agreements in the early stages. There’s no one else in retail doing what we do, so while we think that’s a huge advantage for franchisees in fresh markets, we also knew that it’d be a little scary to take that initial leap.

Ultimately, we trusted our business plan. We knew our financials were strong, and we were confident that once franchisees opened stores in their home markets, they’d be itching to expand their territories. And in late 2022, that’s exactly what happened. In Q4, we quadrupled our

42 Franchising M aga Z in E Usa F r A nch I see I n Act I 0n: PayMore
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footprint and have 50 more stores in development. With deals in place to open stores in Georgia, New Jersey, Ohio, Florida, Kentucky, Delaware and Massachusetts, we’re set to be nationwide by the summer of 2023. Existing franchisees in Virginia and Arizona are already expanding their territories into other states.

In North Carolina, our franchisee Nick Facchiano has opened his second store and is on his way to his third. “I was able to completely fund store number 2 with profits from my first location,” he said in a recent interview with Fransmart. “It was kind of nice to see that one business gifted a second business to me too.”

Why restaurant Franchisees are Flocking

We had built a business model that appealed to retail franchisees, IT professionals, and tech geeks. What we didn’t expect, and what we’re thrilled to be seeing, is the number of restaurant franchisees looking for a simpler concept to own and operate. Our talented roster of franchisees is growing more and more full every month with people leaving the challenging landscape of restaurant franchising. Former franchisees of megabrands like Firehouse Subs and Domino’s Pizza are on our team now, and more than anything, the quality of life that PayMore can offer to franchisees speaks to them.

Our hours of operation are 10 am – 6 pm, Monday through Friday. We’re open limited hours on Saturday and closed on Sunday. That allows our franchisees, and our employees, important time with their families. They get to have family dinners, attend their kids’ sporting events, or take weekend getaways. PayMore’s business model allows for large portions of our business to be done online, which allows franchisees to generate major revenue while the stores are closed.

PayMore’s startup costs are low for the industry, giving our franchisees a quicker path to profitability and a quicker path to stores number 2 and number 3 and so on. Our low labor requirements (generally 3-5 employees per location) make hiring and keeping quality staff much simpler than busy restaurants. There’s no expensive

equipment, like hoods or vents, needed for our stores. No grease traps to clean. No supply chain nightmares.

The PayMore POS system is at the center of every store. It’s a proprietary system that allows franchisees and employees to quickly price incoming electronics based on data from other stores, chat with other stores in the network, and confirm specs of each device that comes through the doors. Think of it as the brain of your business –and it couldn’t be simpler to operate.

Take it from our Reston, VA franchisee Dan Lowe. He says, “I’ve been a multiunit restaurant franchisee and am now a PayMore franchisee. Anyone interested in franchising should look at PayMore. Lower opening costs, great numbers, easier to run, and the country is wide open. Restaurant franchising is getting tougher and tougher. PayMore is so much easier that I wouldn’t do restaurants ever again.”

our Franchising Future

We’re confident that we’re a business that’s built to last. As long as electronics keep evolving, our customers will bring us new inventory. It’s a supply chain that replenishes itself constantly. Customers love the immediacy of getting cash in hand. Couple that with the speed of innovation in the technology sector, and it’s easy to see why franchisees are finding PayMore so easily scalable.

2023 is poised to be a massive year for PayMore, with some major announcements coming in the near future. We expect to have close to 300 stores in development by the end of the year. Our goal is to be a household name in consumer electronics. And based on how quickly we’re growing, we’re well on our way.

Franchising M aga Z in E Usa 43

w hy i s m ulti- u nit f ranchising s uch an i mportant topic r ight n ow?

it’s not a new topic; multi-unit franchising has made news headlines across various business publications since the mid to late-1980’s, as the concept began to gain popularity among successful business owners and entrepreneurs, looking to expand their portfolios.

So, what’s new? The booming profitability in the service brands’ franchising world. Regardless of the saddening losses and drastic changes wrought by the COVID pandemic, franchising is thriving. Authority Brands, a parent company of several home service companies, has seen steady growth to its network of more than 1,100 franchise owners, with a total of more than 2,300 territories across the US and Canada. More than ever, locally-owned businesses whose teams can be trusted in people’s homes are in demand, giving those currently in this line of work or those looking to enter it, a chance to ‘doubledown’ and grow their footprint by purchasing multi-unit franchises.

how does multi-brand support tie into the concept of multi-unit franchising?

The growth opportunity doesn’t stop at a brand’s border. Several franchise owners currently operating a trade brands business (plumbing, electrical, HVAC, property damage restoration and screen repair and replacement service for homes and businesses) are considering the possibility of increasing their revenue by opening a brand within the same Authority Brands umbrella. Some individuals who have expressed interest in expanding are already multi-unit owners for a single brand. In fact, this month, an owner in Tennessee who currently runs a Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, Mister Sparky, and One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning businesses in her market is adding a new DRYmedic Restoration to her location. The natural ability to share leads—cutting down marketing costs and growing customer lifespans for businesses—is second to none. And that possibility expands across any of the Authority Brands companies. There are currently more than 460 multi-unit franchise owners, and more than 50 owners holding more than one brand. It’s a huge focus for Authority Brands Chief Growth Officer Heather McLeod.

e XPert ADvIce:
Megan Boyd
M u L t I -un I t F r A nch I s I n G F e A ture

Megan Boyd has led national marketing for four franchise brands, and national communications for 12 franchise brands over the past decade. Starting in 2007, she worked full-time in reporting, anchoring, and producing for television news, then moved to public relations, communications and advertising work for franchise, civic, corporate and public school district clients and employers. She’s beginning her eighth year on the franchisor side, supporting service brands. Megan earned a Master of Business Administration with a focus in marketing, and bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism, with a minor in Spanish. She lives in Waco, Texas with

obvious as budget and P&L review, to selecting preferred customer relationship management (CRM) software and training programs for owners. As the number of locations under one owner increases, so do the logistics and details to be managed to ensure quality work that maintains a high profit margin. At DRYmedic, for example, the Operations team puts a heavy focus on using technology to improve project management, customer experience, and job profitability. But the priority they teach new owners, is ‘people first’ - building their team’s culture.

“Build your culture; we are all technicians first,” said Carlos Hasano, president of DRYmedic Restoration. “Being able to identify issues for your team and find solutions, allows you to effectively train the people coming in the door, show them the pathways to grow, encourage them, and reward them based on their performance.”

What are the biggest challenges we see with multiunit ownership?

finding more organic ways to cross sell and refer customers across their unique brands – and some of their best practices have become the standard across our brands.”

how are we uniquely supporting our existing multi-unit owners?

A sea of logistical questions emerges when one considers serving multiple franchised territories. They are present no matter if an existing franchise owner seeks to add additional units, or a new candidate enters a franchise system wishing to open multiple units.

• DBA Assignments

DBA assignment is often a gray area shared between the franchise development, brand operations, and marketing teams. With today’s everchanging Google algorithms, the challenge to be as widely geographically descriptive as possible for a Google Business Profile (GBP), while respecting available whitespace yet to be sold, is tricky to say the least. This process becomes even trickier when an owner is

as possible in advance. This includes the franchise owner’s DBA preference and the internet vendor’s recommendations before any assignment is made.

• Resource Accounts

More and more, franchisors are looking to online or cloud-based “toolboxes” to help owners customize marketing assets that are pre-approved for consistent branding across the franchise system. The benefits of having marketing options at your fingertips 24/7 are key for busy multi-unit owners. Being able to quickly get resources while juggling various territory-specific needs is a game-changer. Careful thought must be put into who will be managing these locations, and how these decisions can help simplify additions of more potential units in the future.

operational Logistics

From an operational standpoint, supporting multi-unit owners requires attention to detail and close partnership with brand Operations leadership, and Franchise Business Coaches (FBC), in areas as

Recruitment, staffing, and recruitment again. Business owners in many industries nationwide have been vocal about their experiences with the current U.S. staffing shortage. Competition for skilled labor is fierce, and as a location adds units, its staffing needs grow exponentially. Authority Brands has seen successful implementation of recruitment vendors integrated into multi-unit owner websites, making instant job search and application possible, across desktop or mobile platforms.

Keeping jobs flowing in the door to make payroll for the team can be scary for those thinking of adding units, especially with rumors of a looming recession. One thing to consider before investing in additional franchise units is, “Will this business be in-demand even in a fluctuating economy?

If consumers limit their spending, will this be the service they cut first?” As Mark Dawson, an executive vice president for Authority Brands told owners in November 2022 at their annual convention, “We refuse to participate in a recession.” Investing in essential services is a sound investment, and benefits are simply multiplied when adding multiple units.

also knew he didn’t want to reinvent the wheel to open his own business. Having seen the business process the brothers crafted for Beans, Scott needed no convincing: The deal was sealed. Today, Scott’s multiple locations have not only expanded Beans & Brews’ footprint in the marketplace, but it’s also become a family business. Scott’s brother, Erik, oversees operations, while Scott serves as CEO. It’s a model for growth he’d recommend to anyone considering investing in a multi-unit operation.

Rick and Angela Thomas turned to Beans & Brews as a retirement plan. They now own six locations, with one more opening this year in the Salt Lake area. Their Beans multi-unit ownership story began when Angela became a regular customer and saw the potential for franchising. She liked the vibe of the store so much, she convinced Rick, who wasn’t even a coffee drinker, to reach out to corporate and meet the Laramie brothers. They immediately felt comfortable and at home.

Giddy with excitement, the couple felt confident they’d get the help and support they needed from the Beans team and become part of growing the brand they loved. Support is a key component in successfully executing a multi-unit deal strategy. The training and support provided by Beans & Brews to their franchisees ensures that managing multiple locations doesn’t become overwhelming. Support also helps maintain consistency when it comes to brand identity and the quality of their coffee and other menu offerings.

Fifteen years into owning their Beans coffeehouses, the Thomas’s still haven’t retired and have found a way of life they love. They’ve also witnessed how, as the brand grows, the systems and processes

F r A nch I sor I n D e P th: Beans & Brews M u L t I -un I t F r A nch I s I n G F e A ture

“ Matt and Michele Sauk opened their first location in July 2017 in Utah. They purchased their second location from an existing Beans franchisee in 2019, and quickly opened two more locations.

“ Melanie discovered the brand when, as a single mom starting college, she needed a comfortable place to study while her son was at kindergarten.

franchising and knew if she opened multiple stores, she could make a good profit and help the brand expand.

Part of the Beans expansion strategy that attracted Melanie was how easy the business concept was to learn. She knew she could become an expert quickly with the training Beans offers franchisees. She also credits Beans’ leadership team for their phenomenal support.

Multi-unit franchisee Matt Sauk says Beans is a great local brand that people know; customers get excited when they hear a Beans & Brews Coffeehouse is opening in their community. As Beans & Brews continues its strategic expansion through multi-unit deals, it’s clear the brand smartly offers what it takes to attract qualified investors: a quality product popular with consumers, streamlined operations, training, support, and a beloved brand ready to grow into new territories.

Matt and Michele Sauk Melanie Jorgenson

D

ALYSSA Ch UMBLe Y

e MONS tRAte S th At SUCC e SS IS

NO t D epe ND e N t ON G e ND e R

in a business world that is typically male-dominated, alyssa Chumbley proves it doesn’t have to be. as an accomplished franchisee owner of Express Employment Professionals with locations in Valparaiso and schererville, indiana, alyssa has demonstrated that success is not dependent on gender.

As the leading global staffing provider franchise network , Express Employment Professionals is dedicated to providing dynamic workforce solutions that exceed expectations and provide hope to all clients, associates, and communities the franchise serves. The franchise is dedicated to diversity and inclusivity,

harboring a merit-based culture and exhibiting commitment to its core values of persistence, respect, empathy, integrity, honesty, focus, and efficiency.

Prior to becoming a successful business owner, Alyssa grew up in a small community in Northwest Indiana and attended Purdue University, where she majored in business management. After graduation, she landed a career in sales where she quickly climbed the ladder and discovered her passion for leadership. By the age of 22, Alyssa managed a team of 30 fully commissioned sales representatives. Her experience in this role taught her many valuable lessons, including the importance of stepping outside of her comfort zone and the ability to learn from her mistakes.

After six years in the corporate world, Alyssa took a leap of faith and purchased an Express Employment Professionals

franchise. Her parents had been Express franchise owners for over 20 years, and growing up, Alyssa had spent her summer breaks working at her parents’ offices. During her summers, Alyssa was responsible for answering phones, welcoming associates, and filing applications, but also learned lessons about the important service Express Employment Professionals provided.

As a second-generation business owner, Alyssa has always recognized the value of staffing and helping companies build their businesses while strengthening the community. Alyssa sees the staffing industry as a chance to serve others with love, support, and hope by guiding them on their journey to finding the right job. Although the staffing industry can be challenging, Alyssa was determined to build her franchise with her core values and client-service vision in mind.

“One of our core values is, ‘we develop leaders focused on a common goal.’ As my team’s leader, I need to continue to offer personal and professional growth within our organization so we can continue to grow bigger, faster and stronger. Taking on new brands, locations, and service lines within our franchise system will be the

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engine behind ensuring that my leaders are continuously fulfilled with growth opportunities,” says Alyssa.

Express Employment Professionals is different from other agencies because it is locally owned and operated yet has the backing of a large and healthy international headquarters which enables the local small businesses to work more efficiently at a larger scale without having to jeopardize the local community connection and impact. With that said, Express is really able to diversify its recruiting efforts, which is one of the many things that sets the company apart from its competitors. When recruiting, the company also encourages its franchisees to broaden their skillset and industry experience.

As a franchise owner, Alyssa most enjoys the flexibility the company’s business structure provides her. Franchising allows

Alyssa to run the business at a pace that fits her lifestyle while receiving continuous support from her franchisor. From the business perspective, she loves speaking with different decision-makers in the community while also making a difference by helping businesses accomplish their goals and having a direct impact on people’s lives through employment opportunities.

Through her impressive leadership skills and astounding dedication, Alyssa has made a significant impact in the staffing industry. Her passion and commitment to community building has allowed Alyssa to grow into an exceptional franchise owner and a valuable asset to the Express franchise. She believes that empowering her team members to become leaders is the key to her team’s success. Alyssa also emphasizes the importance of making tough decisions and having difficult conversations when necessary, as it is crucial to the productivity, culture, and growth of her business. She advises aspiring business leaders to develop a team of leaders rather than followers, empowering them to contribute to the development and success of the business.

Alyssa is a true leader that has proven with hard work, passion, and a focus on

personal and professional growth, anything is possible. As a franchise owner of Express Employment Professionals, she has shown that being an underdog doesn’t mean you can’t succeed. Her dedication to her team and her willingness to take on new challenges has allowed her business to expand and thrive. Her commitment to developing leadership within her organization is a testament to her own strong leadership skills. By creating an environment where her team can grow both personally and professionally, she is ensuring that her franchise continues to evolve and improve.

“Being a business owner has been life changing and fulfilling. My husband and I both hold demanding leadership positions in two different industries, while also raising a young family. To some, it may seem impossible, but I am grateful and humbled we’ve been blessed with the opportunity to have our cake and eat it too,”says Alyssa.

As Alyssa moves forward, it is clear that she will continue to be a successful franchise owner and leader. Her ability to adapt to new challenges and her dedication to her team will undoubtedly lead to continued growth and success. Her message to not underestimate the underdog and to have your cake and eat it too, is a valuable lesson for all aspiring entrepreneurs. Alyssa’s story is an inspiration, and we look forward to seeing what she will achieve next.

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“ One of our core values is, ‘we develop leaders focused on a common goal.”

attract l arge i nvestors to your f ranchise by learning h ow to b uild a g reat t eam

Franchising and competitive sport have a lot in common when it comes to building strong teams. as a former college football coach and previous multi-unit franchise owner, i can tell you from experience that there is a synergy that happens when the right people connect.

The benefit of that connection is realizing the team can achieve more together than everyone could achieve alone. In football, that cohesion leads to championships. In franchising, that partnership leads to unrestricted financial success.

Finding What Motivates each Party

When positioning your brand to be attractive to large investors, you are

essentially building a performance-driven team. When I work with creating good matches with franchisees and investors, a key element of the relationship is knowing each party’s motivations. You want to make sure the franchisee and the investor are both looking for the same end result: growing a business together.

If your investor is looking for a short-term investment, or if your franchisee plans to retire in three years, you likely don’t

e XPert ADvIce: Jim Boccher | Chief Development Officer | ServiceMaster Restore
M u L t I -un I t F r A nch I s I n G F e A ture

have a good match for this kind of growth opportunity. The franchisor, the franchisee, and the investor each bring critical skills and infrastructure to build this team and ensure its ultimate success.

being Prepared as the Franchisor

There is a mantra in coaching I often rely on in the franchising world: praise the action you want to see repeated. The franchisor has an important role to play in this investor-franchisee relationship beyond facilitating a partnership. If you are going to build investment opportunities to grow your brand, you need to create leaders who do the things that facilitate that growth. Acknowledge the work of franchisees who are doing the things you know are necessary to be successful.

Praise the action you want to see repeated and use it to grow your franchise. It works for single-unit operators and multi-unit, large investor enterprises.

recruiting the Investor

Investors have money. Matching an investor to a growth opportunity in franchising is rarely about financial capital.

Before your first conversation, expect that a large investor will have completed some research on your brand and how you market your franchise opportunity. Be prepared to expand on the support and sophisticated infrastructure you bring to the table for large investors. Make it easy for the investor to see that the franchise will be with them throughout their journey with the brand.

Get into the details about their goals for investment. What do they want out of this opportunity and by when do they want it? Find the intangibles they bring to the relationship such as their track record of past investments, and perhaps even with

other franchise brands. Having been a multi-unit franchisee, I always ask, “Is this someone I could see myself going into business with?” If so, I have the confidence to make the match with a franchisee. If not, perhaps more discussion is needed to build that confidence. Or maybe the goals are not aligned for a good fit with our brand. You want to introduce good people to your franchisees, and that means matching talented people and their individual personalities In creating these matches for the past decade, I can tell you there will be a level of excitement when you bring the right people together. If you’re not feeling that excitement, find the reason why.

becoming attractive to Large Investors

There are franchises available in nearly every industry, so the marketplace is competitive when attracting large investors. If you operate in a needs-based industry (i.e. restoration services, commercial cleaning, healthcare, etc.) you can leverage the recession-resistant value of your franchise. In our business, catastrophic weather events happen regardless of the economy and people always need restoration services. For us, the industry works in our favor.

That said, a franchise in a wants-based industry also has advantages. No matter the state of the economy, there will be certain wants that people will not sacrifice. When the economy is good, your wants-based business is prime for growth. If you can demonstrate how your brand maintains consistency, you can build a prime opportunity for a large investor.

For all brands, show your value to large investors with a deep bench of resources. Technology should be adaptive to managing changes and improving efficiencies. The brand should show

commitment to multi-unit ownership with a fully incentivized package. Your territories should be current and reflective of population shifts.

Selling your brand to a large investor is much like selling it to a single-unit franchisee: if someone is going to invest in your brand, they want to see themselves being successful with your offer. Franchises should always be honing that presentation to grow their brands, and with a little more sophistication in thinking, you can prepare a good foundation for large investors too.

recruiting the Franchisee

Franchisees have different motivations for getting into franchising and those motivations can change as they grow with your brand. The intellectual capital that makes a franchisee successful in the beginning will usually be their skillset as an efficient and effective operator and leadership capabilities that can build a team that contributes to the overall success of the franchise.

As franchisees become more experienced, their skills can be leveraged for further growth. Today, the majority of franchise operators in the U.S. are multi-unit owners, which reflects the maturity of the franchising industry as a higher-level investment opportunity. When these growth-driven franchisees are motivated to expand their enterprise but lack the capital to do it effectively, you have a potential match with a large investor.

Making the Match

In my experience, the franchisee who is primed for this opportunity does the best job they can every single day, whether they have an investment partner or not. That mindset sets the stage for growth when the franchisee and the investor are both committed to a long-term plan for success.

As the franchisor, you have the role of a football coach: build the opportunity to attract competitive individuals (franchisees and investors) who are focused on growing more as a team than they could individually. Make your matches based on motivations towards a common goal and do everything you can to ensure their success. That’s something to get excited about.

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Jim Boccher is the Chief Development Officer with ServiceMaster Restore. He has a history of recruiting, developing, and leading high-performing teams, from his coaching career in college football to his visionary roles in franchise development. Jim recognizes the potential that people bring to franchising and has a unique insight into developing those leadership skills that drive successful outcomes.

franchises post covid

Making multiple franchise locations— and multiple franchises—work

as a franchisor, we have long encouraged our franchise owners interested in expanding to employ a Hub-and-spokes model. little did we realize this same model would be a catalyst in surviving the pandemic and providing opportunities to thrive beyond Covid.

Prior to the pandemic, the Hub-and-Spokes business model was one of the bigger trends in franchising. Dunkin Donuts and Panera Bread were prime examples. What a lot of people don’t know is that the very first Hub-and-Spokes business started in the dry-cleaning industry. So, it stands to reason that tweaking that model during a trying time like the pandemic would start in the dry cleaning industry—at a time when dry cleaners saw a reduction in

revenue between 40 and 80 percent during the initial lockdown.

Before we get to the tweak, here’s a brief explanation of how the Hub-and-Spokes model has worked for our organization and our multi-unit owners.

The “Hub” features a state-of-the-art plant to accommodate pickup and delivery to five additional satellite stores. Those satellite stores can be opened for as little as $100k per unit. The typical Hub-and-Spokes enterprise for Lapels franchise owners incorporates a market of approximately 150,000 people, when fully built out. That translates to about six towns in a suburban market and several city blocks in an urban area.

The concept of the Hub-and-Spokes model is to put a system in place where you can operate the dry cleaning plant and manage the transportation of clothes to the satellite stores. In some instances, the franchise owner acts as the hands-on manager who

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manages that. In other cases, an owner will hire a general manager to handle the dayto-day while he/she oversees the operation from a higher level.

Many of our new owners join our organization with the notion they will open a dry cleaning plant to start and then plan to open a satellite store within 90 days of the plant’s opening.

After the pandemic and the initial lockdown, we noticed a certain trend of many mom-and-pop dry cleaners getting out of the business. We began in earnest in steering our existing franchisees and prospects to purchase these dry cleaning plants/stores. These properties are desirable for several reasons:

• Built-in clientele from day one.

• Customers already used to bringing their dry cleaning at that location.

• Minor upgrades to convert and open

Converting an existing plant/store or Hub also makes it easier for prospects to scout out satellite locations. And while most satellite locations require a live human to staff the store, technology is making it possible to have satellite locations without full-time staff.

For example, Chris Cooley, multi-unit owner of Lapels Cleaners of Nashville, will soon install kiosks at two of his locations— Brentwood and Bellevue. These kiosks,

located within a vestibule inside the store, will provide customers with 24/7 access to pick-up and drop off items without a staff member present.

With technologies like the kiosks and lockers, it’s conceivable that every franchise owner could start out with two or more stores. That puts franchise owners in the multi-franchise mindset from day one. That means developing a system of management for multiple locations. Doing this at the beginning of their ownership gives them an advantage over another owner who enters our system with just one location.

Chris Cooley will also soon install a Metalprogetti automated assembly / bagging system. The Metalprogetti Gullieta looks very much like a futuristic device, featuring an assembly conveyor and carrying extension arms to transport complete orders to the auto bagger. At the auto bagger, a sticker invoice is applied to the right corner of the package. With the current labor shortage, this will enable his plant to process clean items at a faster pace.

When you have a system in place where you can run multiple locations efficiently, you can start to see how dry cleaning owners can enjoy a high level of success. The wheel starts with a Hub and maybe a Spoke or two and then continues to add more. If you have ever ridden a bicycle, you know the more spokes to the wheel, the smoother and faster the ride.

While the discussion here has been for dry cleaning, the Hub-and-Spokes model can work for a number of businesses and franchises.

Another reason for the success of this model for dry cleaning owners is how nicely the industry lends itself to complementary franchises. In other words, two different franchise types that can be run simultaneously because there’s some overlap in efforts. Several of our current and past franchisees owned and operated multiple dry cleaning locations as well as multiple locations of other franchises. In some of those cases, the types of franchise complemented each other.

For example, the owner of a restaurant franchise might be interested in owning a dry cleaning franchise. The dry cleaning

franchise could provide laundry service for linens and employee uniforms. Similarly, the owner of a chain of hotels might also have an interest in a dry cleaning franchise to provide dry cleaning services to guests and staff.

Owning multiple franchise locations is not for the faint of heart. You must possess a certain number of skills and character traits. You must know how to hire good people, specifically managers, develop them and keep them incentivized to want to successfully run and grow your business. Another part of that is having your manager be able to hire and groom potential managers.

Being tech savvy and able to use and understand reporting applications certainly helps. You should be a multi-tasker but also have the ability to compartmentalize and focus on the specific task at hand. You can jump in and help on the day-to-day, but the big picture should be part of your every activity.

Michael Eisner is the vice president of franchise development for Lapels Cleaners. To learn more about franchise opportunities with Lapels Dry Cleaning, call 781-829-8780 or email sales@lapelsdrycleaning.com. Additional information and up-to-date company news can also be found on the company’s Web site, https://lapelsfranchise.com/.

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“ The typical Hub-and-Spokes enterprise for Lapels franchise owners incorporates a market of approximately 150,000 people, when fully built out.”
Michael Eisner
Todd and Christine Huston, owners of Lapels Cleaners of Indian, which opened at 6257 Carolina Commons Drive, Indian Land, South Carolina

a rtificial i ntelligence in f ranchising: h igh- lEVE l and pR aCT i C al dE lib ER aT i O n S

as the business landscape evolves, artificial intelligence (ai) is becoming an increasingly popular tool for franchise owners to enhance their operations.

However, integrating AI into a franchise business requires a strategic approach and careful consideration of various factors that may affect the franchise owner’s success. This article features six critical concerns for which franchise owners need to be intentional when implementing AI in their businesses and how The Franchise Owner’s Dashboard framework can support them in the process.

1. stakeholder concerns

Stakeholder concerns are essential to address when implementing AI in a franchise business. Stakeholders may

include employees, customers, clients, partners, investors, and the franchisor, and their concerns may vary based on their role. Franchise owners must understand and address these concerns to ensure a smooth transition to AI and avoid potential resistance. Questions that franchise owners need to answer include the following:

• Who are your stakeholders, and what are their concerns?

• How can you address these concerns effectively?

• What measures can you implement to ensure all stakeholders feel heard and involved?

• What is the decision process?

• What are rigid boundaries?

2. Privacy and security

Privacy and security are critical considerations for AI implementation. As

AI uses sensitive data to provide insights, franchise owners must ensure to protect the data from theft or misuse. They must also comply with relevant privacy regulations. Franchise owners can ask themselves:

• How can we ensure that sensitive data is protected from theft or misuse?

• With what laws must we comply regarding data privacy?

• What measures can we implement to ensure we adhere to these laws?

• What is the process to remain current?

• To what liability risks are we exposed, and how can we minimize the risk?

• What information is critical to gather to accomplish our goals?

3. training and development

Training and development are vital to ensure that franchise employees can operate AI systems effectively. Franchise

54 Franchising M aga Z in E Usa e XPert ADvIce: Lucas Frey | CEO | Bella Vista Executive Advisors

owners need to provide sufficient training to employees to maximize the potential of AI systems. Additionally, development is essential to ensure employees can effectively collaborate and integrate AI systems into their daily tasks. Questions for franchise owners in this stage include:

• What training programs can we provide employees to ensure they can use AI systems efficiently?

• How can we develop collective knowledge among employees to ensure the smooth integration of AI systems into daily tasks?

• What measures can we put in place to ensure that employees feel supported throughout the transition?

• What are small wins we can celebrate?

4. Implementation and disruption

Implementing AI systems can be a complex process that may cause disruptions in your franchise business. Franchise owners must create an implementation strategy that minimizes disruption and ensures that AI systems integrate smoothly into the business’s existing systems. Questions for franchise owners in this stage include:

• What is the most effective

other franchise owners’ successes. to learn more about Luke and how Bella vista executive Advisors can help, please click here www.bellavistaexecutiveadvisors.com

implementation strategy for our franchise business?

• What measures can we implement to minimize disruption during the implementation process?

• How can we ensure that AI systems integrate smoothly with our existing infrastructure?

• How can we seek relevant feedback, and what does it mean?

5. cost

The cost of implementing AI systems can be a significant investment for franchise owners. Therefore, it’s essential to consider the potential return on investment (ROI) and the long-term benefits of AI before deciding to invest in it. Questions for franchise owners in this stage include:

• What is the potential ROI of investing in AI systems?

• How do we track the actual cost impact?

• How will investing in AI systems benefit our franchise business in the long term?

• What measures can we put in place to ensure we effectively manage the costs of implementing AI systems?

• What is your decision process?

6. ethical considerations

What is the purpose of using AI in your franchise?

Finally, ethical considerations should be at the forefront of any franchise owner’s mind when implementing AI. AI systems can produce results that are biased or discriminatory. Franchise owners must ensure that their AI systems do not violate ethical standards related to privacy, data protection, and discrimination. In addition to being ethical, implementing systems

that ensure everyone is treated fairly, is the right thing to do. AI should be transparent, and franchise owners need to ensure that their customers and employees are informed about how AI is used in the business.

conclusion

Implementing AI in a franchise business can have numerous benefits, including increased efficiency, improved customer experience, and reduced costs. First, however, it is essential to consider the potential challenges and pitfalls of AI implementation. The Franchise Owner’s Dashboard framework provides a structured approach to AI implementation, from setting the vision and defining success to identifying stakeholders and addressing ethical concerns.

Franchise owners must approach AI implementation strategically and intentionally, starting with a comprehensive analysis of their business’s current state and identifying where AI can add value. With The Franchise Owner’s Dashboard framework, franchise owners can develop a customized plan for AI implementation that addresses their unique needs and challenges. The framework helps franchise owners create a roadmap for successful AI implementation, with clear goals, defined timelines, and a focus on stakeholder engagement and ethical considerations. For questions about your specific needs, please email me at Luke@bellavistaexecutiveadvisors.com.

Franchising M aga Z in E Usa 55
Luke Frey improves franchise owners’ businesses where corporate support alone fails. He brings 26+ years of varied professional experiences including 20 years as a franchise owner of ImageFIRST Cincinnati, 6 years as an industrial engineer for a Fortune 250 company and 19 years as a volunteer firefighter. All of these experiences, in addition to his drive to learn, have brought him to be a positive driving force for
“ The cost of implementing AI systems can be a significant investment for franchise owners.”

s kyler b lacknall king of his own future

Entrepreneurship can be a challenging journey that requires hard work, dedication and perseverance. The path to entrepreneurship may be easier for those with resources and support, while others begin with only determination and passion.

Smoothie King franchisee Skyler Blacknall’s story incorporates both. Drive, determination and passion have always been a part of Blacknall’s life, but the resources and support from an unlikely Smoothie King leader helped put him on a path to ownership. Part of the Smoothie King family since 2018, Blacknall has now opened two Smoothie King locations and is planning a third by end of year. This is just the beginning for the multiunit operator, as he plans to launch 25 stores in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, San Antonio, Austin, Colorado and Oklahoma in the near future.

Smoothie King seeks passionate operators that connect to the brand’s mission and vision and Blacknall has fit perfectly with the system. It’s the hurdles that Blacknall has had to overcome throughout his life that has helped prepare him for the challenges of running a multi-unit business.

eye on the Prize

While Blacknall has now become a successful operator with the world’s largest smoothie franchise, he’s had to overcome several challenging moments. Blacknall’s life changed drastically as a young adult when he lost his mom and brother within six months. Enduring unimaginable heartbreak, Blacknall worked hard to not allow the tragic loss to deter him from his entrepreneurial

dreams. Instead, he overcame the loss of close members of his family and manifested success, altering his outlook on life by focusing on the positive, while never losing sight of those that helped him get to this point in life.

A front-of-house employee with Smoothie King at the time, Blacknall was determined to own his franchise. Smoothie King, in particular, attracted Blacknall because of its mission to inspire people to live a healthy and active lifestyle. Growing up in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, coincidentally where Smoothie King headquarters currently is, Blacknall realized quickly that the community desperately lacked nutritious quick-service food options and became even more determined to bring additional Smoothie King locations to his hometown. In fact, since Blacknall is a vegan, he found it difficult to find quick food options that met his dietary needs. This is one of the many factors that has motivated Blacknall to open Smoothie King locations in his hometown and in other markets across the U.S. He wanted to align his business dreams with a brand that matched his passion for healthier options.

As he began dreaming up his plans to own a franchise, Blacknall’s leadership skills were apparent to his superiors, as they immediately recognized his attention to detail and charismatic personality. He possessed all the qualities of selfless leadership and was quickly promoted to a multi-unit manager for the Smoothie King corporate team before becoming the store manager for several local locations.

smoothie king employee turned entrepreneur

To take the necessary steps to becoming a franchisee, Blacknall submitted his

first franchisee application, but was rejected, as he didn’t meet the brand’s financial requirements. The very next day Blacknall’s life would be changed forever and in a way he couldn’t have possibly expected.

As Blacknall was working towards an entrepreneurial career, Smoothie King’s CEO Wan Kim was leading the brand through several improvements and was also tapped to appear on the hit show Undercover Boss. On the show, Blacknall was tasked with educating Kim (while undercover) on what it takes to run a Smoothie King location.

Blacknall’s leadership was quickly apparent to Kim, but this wasn’t the first time the two interacted, as Kim met him previously at the brand’s franchisee ‘Discovery Day,’ an opportunity for prospective franchisees to immerse themselves in the Smoothie King brand. Blacknall’s interaction with Kim on Undercover Boss showed the authenticity with which he carries himself, and it was clear that Blacknall deserved an opportunity to pursue his ownership goals.

Kim was knowledgeable of the hard work that Blacknall had put into his goal of owning his own store, fully aware that the only thing holding him back was the required financial capital. On the show, Kim awarded Blacknall with his own Smoothie King franchise location, which helped to jumpstart his entrepreneurial career.

56 Franchising M aga Z in E Usa
F r A nch I see I n Act I on: Skyler Blacknall | Smoothie King
“ Smoothie King seeks passionate operators that connect to the brand’s mission and vision and Blacknall has fit perfectly with the system.”

Blacknall began running his first store in June 2020, and has already opened his second location. Blacknall is now preparing for the opening of his third store, which is scheduled to open before end of year.

With plans to open 25 Smoothie King locations, Blacknall continues his closeknit relationship with Kim. Blacknall is appreciative that he has the luxury of talking to Kim whenever he wants or needs – no matter the time, place, or how big or small the reason. Blacknall believes that Kim’s mentorship has been instrumental to his career success and looks forward to continuing to build the relationship throughout his tenure with Smoothie King and beyond.

Blacknall strongly believes in the motto, “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” This has allowed him to overcome several challenging moments in his life, while maintaining a positive attitude. That’s helped put Blacknall on the path to entrepreneurship and his career is only getting started.

Franchising M aga Z in E Usa 57

f ranchise r elationships: a dvice for e merging b rands

From the day you open your doors, great franchise relationships are crucial for the success and growth of your emerging franchise business. However, it’s never too late to start building strong relationships with your franchisees.

In fact, it’s essential to take steps to improve your communication and relationship with franchisees, even if you are in the franchise development process. In this article, we’ll share some tips to help you establish and maintain great relationships with your franchisees.

be transparent

Open and honest communication is key in any successful relationship. Be transparent about your business practices, expectations, and goals. This transparency will help build trust with your franchisees and create a more cohesive franchise community.

Provide training and support

Offer comprehensive training programs for new franchisees and ongoing support for existing ones. This will help them succeed and grow their business. Providing training and support shows that you care about their success and are invested in their growth.

Foster a sense of community

Encourage franchisees to share their experiences, ideas, and best practices. This will help create a sense of community among franchisees and strengthen their commitment to the brand. A strong franchise community is crucial for building a successful franchise business.

Listen to Feedback

Be receptive to feedback from your franchisees and take their suggestions and concerns seriously. This will help build trust and show that you value their input. By listening to your franchisees, you can gain valuable insights into how to improve your franchise system and grow your business.

Maintain consistent branding

Ensure that all franchisees adhere to the same branding guidelines and maintain a consistent level of quality across all locations. This will help maintain the integrity of the brand and build customer loyalty. Consistent branding is essential for building a strong and recognizable franchise brand.

reward success

Recognize and reward franchisees who are performing well. Celebrating their success will motivate them to continue to perform at a high level. Recognizing success is an excellent way to build morale and keep franchisees engaged.

continuously Innovate

Stay ahead of the curve by continuously improving your products, services, and systems. This will keep franchisees engaged and motivated and help your business stay competitive in the market. By continuously innovating, you can keep your franchise system fresh and exciting for franchisees and customers alike.

58 Franchising M aga Z in E Usa
e XPert ADvIce:
|
and CEO of Ingage Consulting, and CEO of Tortal Training
Evan Hackel
Founder

evan

hackel,

entrepreneur, Author, speaker, Podcaster

As author, speaker and Evan has been instrumental in launching more than 20 businesses and has managed a portfolio of brands with systemwide sales of more than $5 billion. He is the creator of Ingaged Leadership, is author of the book Ingaging Leadership Meets the Younger Generation, and is a thought leader in the fields of leadership and success.

Evan is the CEO of Ingage Consulting, Delta Payment Systems and an advisor to Tortal Training. reach evan at ehackel@ingage.net, 781-820 7609 or visit www.evanhackelspeaks.com

c ritical s teps to take today start a Franchise advisory council

Establishing a Franchise advisory Council early in your franchise’s development process is ideal. Your council should provide an opportunity for franchisees to share ideas and solutions and connect with each other. a s your franchise system grows and you add more locations and owners, the council membership can rotate, but it’s essential to start right away.

hire and Work with a Franchise business consultant

a s your franchise system grows, communication becomes more complex. Hiring a franchise business consultant can help you manage communication and organize franchise operations. Your consultant should communicate regularly with your franchisees and visit their locations. The right consultant can be a valuable investment in your franchise system’s growth and success.

have regular conferences with all owners

Hold regular webinars and town hallstyle meetings to keep franchisees engaged and informed. This communication can be an opportunity for franchisees to contribute their insights and ideas. listening to franchisees is essential for maintaining a strong and successful franchise system.

In conclusion . . .

Carefully defining how the franchisor/ franchisee relationship should work is key. And remember, clear expectations make everything work better. You start

this process before owners even sign their franchise agreements.

Remember, how you start is how you end. As part of the pre-sale discovery process, outline how the franchisor/franchisee relationship works in your system.

Franchising M aga Z in E Usa 59
“ Encourage franchisees to share their experiences, ideas, and best practices.”

a lphag raphics’ louis m alooley named ifa f ranchisee of the y ear

International Franchise Association recognizes marketing and solutions provider for excellence in franchising

with potential franchisees or providing excellent insight and strategies to other owners, Louis is always ready to share his thoughts for the betterment of the brand. I couldn’t think of anyone more deserving to be called franchisee of the year.”

The Franchisee of the Year Award, sponsored by IFA’s partner Paychex, recognizes leading franchise owners from IFA member brands whose outstanding performance and contributions help protect, enhance, and promote the franchise business model. Nominated by their parent company, individuals are selected for their service to their communities, fostering a strong and vibrant workforce, opening the doors for career growth and entrepreneurship, and supporting their fellow franchisees.

“Winning this award is a testament to the hard work both my team in Buckhead and the leaders at AlphaGraphics headquarters put in every day,” Malooley said. “It takes more than one person to be successful, and my name wouldn’t be on this award if not for the mentors that helped me along the way and a strong team to deliver exceptional service and quality. Being a member of the AlphaGraphics family is amazing, and we will continue to grow and expand our franchise system together.”

IFA is the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. The organization enhances and promotes franchising and the approximately 790,492 franchise establishments that support nearly 8.4 million direct jobs and $825.4 billion of economic output for the U.S. economy. IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories.

alphaGraphics, a leading franchisor of printing and marketing solutions, has announced that louis Malooley has received the international Franchise association Franchisee of the Year award, which is the top award available for a franchisee. The alphaGraphics of Buckhead owner was honored at the 63rd iFa annual Convention in las Vegas, Nevada.

“Louis (Malooley) has always been an amazing ambassador and representative of the AlphaGraphics brand,” said Bill McPherson, vice president of franchise development. “Whether he is speaking

AlphaGraphics was founded in 1970, and the company began offering franchise opportunities in 1979. For more information, visit http://www/alphagraphics.com.

about alphagraphics

alphaGraphics, inc., with more than 285 locations in 6 countries, is one of the largest U. s.-based networks of locally-owned and operated Business Centers offering a complete range of print, visual communications, and marketing products. solutions include: fullservice digital, offset, and large format printing; design services; mailing; one-to-one marketing solutions; promotional products; and web to print solutions.

for more information about alphag raphics services, visit www.alphagraphics.com.

To learn about franchise opportunities, visit www.alphagraphicsfranchise.com.

60 Franchising M aga Z in E Usa sn AP shot: AlphaGraphics
Franchising M aga Z in E Usa 61 Leadership. Teamwork. Executing SOPs. Connecting veterans with education, resources and opportunities at vetfran.org

b eans & b re Ws co FFeehouse

Beans & Brews coffeehouse has been around since 1993, when the l aramie family opened shop next to s alt l ake city’s beloved hangout, liberty Park.

The family refined the process of high-altitude roasting™, which required special tweaks just like high-altitude baking. They soon got the process just right, and they built a reputation for uniquely smooth coffee in a friendly neighborhood setting. Beans & Brews—or “Beans,” as friends call us for short—is now a staple around Utah and its friends, idaho and nevada.

The l aramie family still owns and operates our headquarters, and many baristas from our earlier days have grown into senior roles as managers, directors, and VPs. They carry on our best

b us I ness F I nance d e P ot

Business Finance Depot specializes in packaging equipment leases and sBa Express Working capital loans for start-up and existing businesses.

our main clients are franchisors seeking financing for their new franchisees and manufacturers seeking financing for their equipment purchases.

cL

ayton k enda LL

clayton Kendall provides a simple, easy to use e-store platform that connects your franchisees to our integrated front-to-back inventory management system. our system controls the creation, production, fulfillment, distribution and shipping of all your marketing and sales

traditions and work to create new ones too. Meanwhile, around the region, locally owned franchises brew up our beloved recipes for their own neighbors. o ur guests are our reason for getting up in the morning. We love greeting regulars with their favorite drinks, made just the way they like ‘em. and we dig getting to know newcomers and welcoming them to the Beans community.

come in for a cup, alone or with a friend, and make yourself at home. and let us know how we can make your day a little brighter—whether it’s adding extra whipped cream or it’s donating a gift basket to your little-league fundraiser. cheers, and stop by soon.

contact: Kim Falk

Email: kfalk@beansandbrews.com

our company also works with sBa 7(a) lenders, alternate financing sources, crowd funding financing sources and companies that specialize in using retirement funds to capitalize a new business. Please visit our website for more information.

Website: www.businessfinancedepot.com

Email: paul@businessfinancedepot.com

Phone: (800) 788-3884

contact: Paul Bosley

materials including uniforms, signage, branded merchandise and print collateral. clayton Kendal is the single source marketing solution for dozens of national franchises.

contact: Dan Broudy, cEo

Email: dan@claytonkendall.com

Phone: 412-798-7120 (1-888-799-4757)

Website: claytonkendall.com

e xecut I ve h o M e c are in-home care is, simply put, everyday assistance for your loved one provided by a kind, compassionate, and well-trained person.

This assistance can come in the form of help getting dressed, preparing meals, doing some light housework, or just relaxing and enjoying a friendly conversation.

fR an C hi S ing uSa

a-Z listings are a great way to promote your business, giving you a presence within our publication and also the Franchising Usa website.

Each detailed, full colour a-Z listing comes with a 150 word write up and your logo.

Executive home care places screened, qualified caregivers with people who need a helping hand with common tasks that many of us take for granted.

The goal is to maintain a comfortable, safe, and happy living environment while providing for as much independence as possible.

www.executivehomecare.com

Email: jason@executivehomecare.com

Excellent for branding and recognition. choose a 12 or 6 month package or simply add the a-Z directory onto your Focus, Profile or ad! To learn about the a-Z directory or any other products please contact Vikki Bradbury: advertising@cgbpublishing.com or 778-426-2446

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F r A nch I se & serv I ces DI rectory

Fasts I gns®

now more than ever, businesses look to Fas Tsigns® for innovative ways to connect with customers in a highly competitive marketplace.

o ur high standards for quality and customer service have made Fas Tsigns the most recognized brand in the industry, driving significantly more traffic to the web than any other sign company.

We also lead in these important areas:

• #1 Ranked Sign Franchise in Entrepreneur Magazine Franchise 500 three years in a row

• Franchise Business Review FBR50 Franchisee Satisfaction award 2006-2015

Fa Zo LI ’s

Founded in 1988 in lexington, Ky., Fazoli’s owns and operates nearly 220 restaurants in 28 states, making it the largest premium Qsr italian chain in america. Fazoli’s prides itself on serving premium quality italian food, fast, fresh and friendly. Menu offerings include freshly prepared pasta entrees, subs, salads, pizza and desserts – along with its unlimited signature breadsticks. Fazoli’s offers dynamic build outs, digital-forward infrastructure and multiple revenue streams that provide a strong hedge against inflation. named a recession-Proof Franchise by Franchise Business review, Fazoli’s is a stable opportunity that’s stood the test of time and is backed by multi-

grease M onkey

Founded in 1978 and part of the Fullspeed automotive® family of brands, grease Monkey® has grown to more than 500 centers internationally with operations in the United states, china, colombia, Mexico, and saudi arabia. The brand has flourished, thanks to a commitment to customer service, innovation, and driving strong roi for franchisees.

o ne reason grease Monkey is a great business opportunity is because nearly everyone in america drives, and more than 99% of the vehicles on U. s roads need regular oil changes. americans cumulatively drive about 3.2 trillion miles per year, and americans are keeping their

I M age o ne usa

image o ne Usa is a commercial cleaning services business. The image o ne franchising model was formed on the principles of transparency, training, and top-notch financial and customer service support. it is regularly recognized as a top franchise by third-party franchise and business publications, including cnBc.com, Entrepreneur. com and Franchise Business review. image o ne franchisees work for themselves in a unique relationship with the franchise company. image o ne provides them with customer support for their business, ongoing training, along with assistance with billing, equipment and sales training. image o ne

k u M on n orth aM er I ca Inc.

high school math teacher Toru Kumon developed the Kumon Method of learning more than 60 years ago in Japan, when his son was struggling with second-grade arithmetic.

realizing that a strong foundation in the basics-addition, subtraction, multiplication and division-was essential for higher-level math, Kumon created a series of math worksheets for his son to work on after school.

• Franchise Research Institute World Class Franchise 20112015

• Franchise Research Institute #1 Rated Sign & Graphics Franchise 2014-2015

• CFA Franchisees’ Choice Designation 2004-2015

• FASTSIGNS is one of only a handful of franchises approved for $21 million in sBa financing for approved franchise candidates FasTsigns has over 400 markets approved for development in the Us and canada and is also seeking Master or area Developer expansion in markets worldwide. For more information: Phone: 1-214-346-5679

Email: mark.jameson@fastsigns.com

o r visit our Website: www.fastsigns.com

generation owners. With less operational complexity than typical Qsr franchises, strong drive-thru sales and a defensible and differentiated concept, Fazoli’s provides a great development alternative to other quick serve restaurant options. Fazoli’s is a winner of Fast casual and steritech’s 2020 Excellence in Food safety award and ranked number seven on Fast casual’s “Top 100 Movers and shakers” list in 2022. additionally, it was named to Technomic’s “Top 500 chain restaurant report” in 2022, selected as one of the “Top 50 g lobal Fast casual innovators in 2021” by Foodable, a “Top 200 Franchises in 2021” by Franchise Business review, and an Entrepreneur 2018 “Franchise 500.”

vehicles longer than ever before. according to research conducted by s &P global Mobility, the average age of light vehicles in the U. s. rose to an all-time high of 12.2 years in 2022. This is the fifth straight year the average vehicle age in the U. s. has risen. Drivers understand that to extend the life of their vehicles, routine maintenance is a must.

Even if you don’t have automotive repair experience and are simply exploring the industry because of its stability and strong margins, you can be assured that you will be backed by a large franchise support team dedicated to your success. We provide training, marketing support, and a wide range of tools to help you find customers and serve them well!

provides necessary training, tools and support to help franchise affiliates build their business, including teaching franchisees the latest cleaning techniques and empowering them with insights on best-in-class equipment and technology. o ngoing training is delivered both at image o ne’s corporate headquarters and onsite at existing client locations to ensure that franchisees continue to grow their own businesses. image o ne has commercial cleaning franchise locations covering chicago, cincinnati, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Fort Myers, nashville and o rlando. Franchise territories are available nationwide.

For information on the franchise, visit http:// image o neUsa .com

With daily practice, Kumon’s son gradually expanded his mastery of mathematical skills and by sixth grade was able to solve differential equations and integral calculus problems. Today, at locations throughout north america, Kumon franchisees apply this method of daily practice and self-paced advancement to children’s math and reading skills.

Phone: 201-928-0444

Website: Kumonfranchise.com

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F r A nch I se & serv I ces DI rectory

rP illusions corp. is a U. s.-based corporation that develops and franchises Museums of illusions across the world. The company’s primary goal is to provide memorable and exciting educational opportunities while evolving its approach to creativity, art, and entertainment. Founded in 2015. in Zagreb, croatia, the Museum of illusions quickly became a global leader in the “edutainment” sector and the largest chain of private museums worldwide.

The original concept offers an interactive, immersive, and fun experience for all age groups while teaching about science, vision, and perception through mind-bending illusions and tricks. The Museum of illusions is thus globally recognized for its inventive way of combining entertaining and educational activities, as well as countless amazing photo opportunities for visitors to create unforgettable memories.

n erds to g o

Build a future with the computer service industry pioneers and accomplish your business dreams with NerdsToGo! computers, handheld devices, tablets, and mobile phones are all things that only continue to grow and change the landscape of the technology industry in the 21st century. That is why nerdsTo g o is such a lucrative concept. With businesses, homeowners, and individuals continuing to rely

oh M F I tness

ohM Fitness is a franchise that provides a revolutionary fitness experience using wireless electrical muscle stimulation (EMs) technology integrated into a small group setting. The EMPower suit allows customers to complete an intense 2–3-hour workout in just 25 minutes. it is a low-impact workout that puts minimal stress on the joints, ligaments, and muscles, making it suitable for all fitness levels. ohM Fitness is the first fitness franchise to offer this wireless EMs technology in a group setting.

r e M edy sPa & sa Lon s u I tes

remedy spa & s alon suites first opened its doors in atlanta, g eorgia in 2018. a s an attempt to enter the highly profitable health and beauty industries, remedy spa & s alon suites came equipped with 22 fully leased salon suites. To date, they have opened three locations through Metro-atlanta. amenities and perks to leasing include: 24/7 access, private upscale studios, spacious single/double suites, private parking, valet parking and premium fixtures, finishes and appliances. Franchisees will obtain access to the brand, tested and proven processes and support, purchasing power and distribution

t he red c h I ck Z

We’ve Done the heavy lifting for You

We know the restaurant business and have done our homework. From the homestyle kitchens of nashville to The red chickz restaurants that will be popping up everywhere, we’ve created something really special in an untapped, sizzling market.

We make it simple. o ur team has worked our tails off to create a superior business model that is streamlined and simple to operate. We designed

Each state-of-the-art museum is designed to create a mentally stimulating journey through the human mind for all generations with fascinating exhibits including 3D holograms, astonishing art pieces, and brain-puzzling optical illusions.

at this time the Museum of illusions has locations in 37 cities, 25 countries, and 4 continents, including franchises in tourist capitals such as new York, Paris, Madrid, shanghai, and Dubai, where they are continually ranked among the top city attractions.

The Museum of illusions team plans to continue expanding globally by providing unique educational, visual, and entertaining experiences for visitors, as well as ongoing support and guidance to franchising partners at every step of the way.

For more information about the Museum of illusions or franchising opportunities please visit www.museumofillusions.com or email at info@museumofillusions.com.

on technology, handling the repairs, computer service and support, and other computer services that can accompany a technologically based society seems like second nature. This means franchise owners can tend to the high demands of a reliable customer base and reap the financial benefits by taking advantage of a constantly innovative, inventive, and lucrative industry. contact us today to learn why nerdsTo g o is one of the fastest growing computer service and technology franchises in the United states!

The technology helps individuals work their muscles more effectively than with conventional workouts, producing better results in less time. ohM Fitness is ideal for health enthusiasts looking for real results without enduring the high-intensity stress of hii T training. it is also a perfect fit for those in recovery or fitness newbies, as well as busy parents and professionals. it doesn’t produce damaging cortisol spikes associated with stress, making it ideal for everyone.

contact: Doug Payne

Phone: (480) 582-2900

Email: franchisees@ohmfitness.com

Website: www.ohmfitness.com

chains, cooperative marketing, new product research, development and roll-out, experienced training staff, and continuing training and education.

Franchising opportunities are available to entrepreneurs and investors in all industries but will be particularly appealing to health and beauty enthusiasts.

remedy spa & s alon suites already has an established market presence and substantial market penetration in atlanta. From this successful platform, the company is looking to expand the brand in select key areas domestically.

www.remedysalonsuites.com/franchise remedysalonsuites@gmail.com

this with systems and growth in mind, so you can become the next proud owner of a The red chickz restaurant franchise with ease.

an investment in a restaurant franchise like The red chickz is an excellent way to break into the foodservice business or expand your already existing restaurant portfolio. We seek qualified business owners who understand or appreciate the restaurant industry and are fired up about our brand.

www.theredchickz.com

m uSE um O f i lluS i O n S
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ssc P Manage M ent, Inc.

sscP Management, inc. is an award-winning, familyowned and operated management company with a portfolio of high-profile restaurant brands and real estate holdings.

The Dallas-based company is a leader in the restaurant industry with established, high-profile brands such as the 300-unit cici’s Pizza brand, 44 sonic Drive- in locations, 80 applebee’s locations, the roy’s hawaiian fusion chain, and JMc Distribution. The management company also owns a diverse real estate portfolio with more than 100 assets that includes shopping centers, medical office buildings, industrial, and multi-family properties across the United states. sscP Management’s real estate practice focuses

s heenco t rave L

sheenco Travel began trading in 2012 under the name shamrock Vacations. nowadays sheenco is the leading name in luxury travel to ireland and the UK and has just launched a brand new Travel Franchise in the Usa o ur focus on luxury helps us to stand out as we only use 4* and 5* properties and have a special focus on the wonderful castle accommodations available throughout ireland and the UK.

But more than anything it’s the level of service we offer, from the first point of contact until after your reluctant arrival home. o ur friendly and close knit team go beyond your expectations with ease. Despite the difficulties of

sLIM c h I ckens

slim chickens, a leading fast casual franchise which features dine-in and drive-through in the better-chicken segment, opened in 2003 in Fayetteville, arkansas.

o ffering high-quality food with a focus on fresh, delicious ingredients, the brand prides itself on its southern flair and commitment to hospitality, all in a fast-casual setting.

Food is cooked to order, and the differentiated menu features chicken tenders, fresh salads, sandwiches, chicken and waffles, chicken wings and unique side items, alongside 17 house-made dipping sauces.

Today, there are more than 145 slim chickens locations open and 700 restaurants in development. The brand, which recently launched a strategic multi-unit franchise growth initiative to reach 700 units in

SO u T h ER n STEER bu TC h ER

Founded in 2013 by greg snyder, southern steer Butcher was designed to be a trusted source for customers to feel confident in their selections after each and every visit. The story all started after greg made a visit to a similar style shop while traveling and recognized this level of butcher shop was lacking in his own hometown of clearwater, Florida. From then on, greg set his sights on filling this need in his community and began work on launching southern steer.

Each location offers a wide selection of premium meats, sides, desserts, craft beers, and wine. in addition to the variety of products, the brand also offers pre-assembled

V ETER an S ERV i CE bR and S

Veteran service Brands (VsB) is the umbrella organization for four distinct, but affiliated service brands - all of which are exclusive to military veterans.

capitalizing on our success with g -ForcE (the first franchise brand exclusive to veterans), we are adding Mach onE Epoxy Floors, FiElD oPs athletic Field Markings, and Pain T corPs (like Marine “corps”) franchise systems to the VsB family of veteran-only franchises.

initial investment starts as low as $20,000 for FiElD oPs (assuming possession of a suitable pickup truck) and runs as high as $150,000 depending upon which brand, size of territory, truck choice, and equipment package.

Franchise Fees are deeply discounted for the first five franchise partners of our new brands (some are already spoken for).

on portfolio purchases, individual purchases, multi-family investments and retail properties. led by President chris Dharod, the company’s primary objective is to strengthen the communities it invests in and provide second-to-none service through all its business ventures.

sscP is looking to significantly increase their holdings as they build a larger presence in the commercial real estate world, focusing on acquiring retail and additional multifamily properties nationwide contact: Kerry a ssa, Director of real Estate: 214-926-4873 (Kerry’s cell) or 972-644-9494 x 128 (real Estate general box)

Email: kassa@sscpmanagement.com Website: www.sscpmanagement.com

the g lobal Pandemic, g enevieve continued with the companies plans (albeit on a delayed timescale) to expand their operation in the Us and the sheenco Travel Franchise was launched in June 2021. When asked about the timing of the expansion g enevieve laughingly asks “having started a business in a recession when else would you expand but in a Pandemic?!”

Thanks to a solid team and great communication with guests and team members alike, sheenco Travel have come out the other side of the Pandemic relatively unscathed and the future looks bright for this progressive and innovative company.

o pportunities@sheencotravel.com www.sheencotravelfranchise.com

10 years, is targeting qualified and experienced multi-unit groups to develop in dynamic markets across the country.

The brand prides itself on its cooked-to-order fresh food and strong devoted fanbase, also known as “ slimthusiasts.” Fans also resonate with the southern contemporary look and feel and open and inviting layout of slim chickens restaurants, which speak to the hospitality mindset that anchors the brand.

The slim chickens franchise opportunity differentiates itself with prime markets available for multi-unit development, a passionate leadership team and world-class franchisee support system. a s slim chickens expands, it is awarding franchise opportunities to qualified, experienced and passionate multi-unit groups looking to add a dynamic segment to their portfolio.

For more information on the slim chickens franchise opportunity, visit slimchickensfranchise.com

meal packs. Every meal pack contains 5 meals with all of the required ingredients for each dish, all that’s left is to prep, serve, and enjoy.

For those looking to be a bit more involved in the meal prep process, southern steer also offers prep classes. The classes are designed for each participant to fully prep and pack 10 meals, each serving a family of 4-5. continuing to be a hit among customers, with many returning to the classes again and again to prep delicious meals for the whole family, and maybe learn a thing or two in the process.

For more information about southern steer Butcher’s franchising options, please visit https://southernsteerfranchise.com/

Mach onE and Pain T corPs normally have a $25,000 Franchise Fee (some of the lowest in their industries), but offer the first five a steep $15,000 discount.

FiElD oPs, already a low $10,000 Fee, offers a 50% discount for the first five takers.

Veterans joining the Veteran service Brands family enjoy instant camaraderie, proven systems in high demand businesses, group discounts, and more.

VsB is actively recruiting qualified veterans across the country to join our team.

VsB is already the largest veteran-only franchise system and expects to triple its size in the next 12-18 months.

For more information, visit www.VeteranserviceBrands.com

Franchising M aga Z in E Usa 65
F r A nch I se & serv I ces DI rectory
A-Z LIStINGS ARe A GReAt WAY tO pROMOte YOUR BUSINeSS www.franchisingmagazineusa.com Making an appearance every month in Franchising Usa magazine. Each detailed, 4 color a-z listing comes with a 150 word write up and your logo. Excellent for branding and recognition. Choose a 12 or 6 month package or simply add the a-Z directory onto your fOCuS, pROfilE or ad! To learn about the a-Z directory or any other products, please contact Vikki bradbury: vikki@cgbpublishing.com

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