Franchising Magazine USA August 2022 by CGB Publishing

VOL 10, ISSUE 9, august 2022

COVER STORY

Refugee who built

mindchamps

a Global education Movement

special feature

Children’s products & services franchising news

announcements from the industry

7 Steps to Maximize Employee Engagement

Franchising MAGAZINE USA 1 The magazine for franchisees • W W W.FRANCHSINGMAGAZINEUSA.COM

JOIN THE INDUSTRY DISRUPTOR IN GARMENT CARE.

ZIPS BY THE NUMBERS • 5 Businesses in One! Pressed Laundry,

ZIPS didn’t invent the consumer garment care business; we perfected it. Garment care is a $10.5 billion a year business in a highly fragmented market where 98% of the competitors are mom-and-pop shops. The industry is primed for a national brand offering comprehensive services and a solid value proposition to consumers. ZIPS is here to deliver. If you’re looking to become part of America’s first national garment care brand, we want to talk to you.

Wash N Fold, Dry Cleaning, Alterations, Household Item Care • Nearly 70 units strong, with 100+ commitments in the pipeline • $1.1M AUV annually for mature fullservice and drop (satellite) locations* • 3-Store Minimum; markets available nationwide • 2:1 sales-to-capital ratio for drop/fullservice store • Over 20 million items cleaned last year

To inquire about opportunities contact: Abhi Parikh, Director of Business Development aparikh@321zips.com • 717.495.7995 www.321ZIPS.com/franchise

Y R

LET’S GET TO WORK CREATING A BRIGHTER FUTURE TOGETHER!

ZIPS did not invent the consumer garment care business; we perfected it.

The garment care business is a big 10.5 billion dollar a year business in a highly

* This advertisement notcompetitors an offering. An can onlytype be made bybusinesses. a Franchise Disclosure Document filed with the referenced state, which filing does not constitute approval. ZIPS fragmented market. 98% of is the areoffering mom-nd-pop small The

franchises will not be sold to any resident of any such jurisdiction until the offering has been exempted from the requirements of, or duly registered in and approved by, such jurisdiction and the required Franchise Disclosure Document has been delivered to the prospective franchisee before the sale in compliance with applicable law. The following states regulate the a consistent ofof services andCA, a HI, value proposition If you areWI. If you reside in one of these states, you may have certain rights under applicable franchise laws. offer suite and sale franchises: IN, IL, MD, MI, MN,toNY,consumers. ND, RI, SD, VA, WA and industry is ripe for the emergence of a nationally branded chain offering looking for an opportunity to create a successful business and become part of America’s first national garment care brand, new territory is open for

COVER STO

VOL 10, ISSU

E 9, aUgUSt

2022

Refugee wh

o built MindchaM a Global education pS

MoveMent

VOLUME 10, ISSUE 9, 2022

On the cover: mindchamps SpECial fEaT

president: Colin Bradbury. colin@cgbpublishing.com

uRE

childRe pRoduc n’S & SeRvictS eS fR anchiSi

annOunCEmE

ng newS

nTS fROm

The mag azi ne

ThE induSTRY

for fra nch isee

s • W W W.f ran

7 StepS to Ma xiMize eMployee engageMe nt

chs ing mag

Franchising azi neUMagaZ sa.c inE

Usa 1 om

Welcome to our August issue of

Franchising Magazine USA.

Publisher: Vikki Bradbury. vikki@cgbpublishing.com

We are delighted to have MindChamps on the Front Cover this issue. We meet

editorial department:

MindChamps Founder and CEO David Chiem, who went from refugee to award

editor@cgbpublishing.com advertising: vikki@cgbpublishing.com jasonb@cgbpublishing.com Editorial team: Michelle Quinn Rob Swystun Production: usaproduction@cgbpublishing.com DESIGN: Jejak Graphics. jejak@bigpond.com CGB PUBLISHING Canadian Office: Sidney B.C Canada U.S. Office: 800 5th Ave, #101 Seattle, WA 98104-3102 www.franchisingmagazineusa.com

winning entrepreneur and built a global movement. You can read more about the personal Journey that led to a learning revolution on page 10. As always, we have some great advice from some of the top experts in the industry. George Knauf My Perfect Franchise looks at how you may not want zero down InHouse Financing and discusses what some Franchise companies are up too. Catherine Monson brings 30 years of franchising and management experience to her role as CEO of FASTSIGNS International, Inc., and Propelled Brands, in this issue she discusses the benefits of Franchising. Lucas Frey Bella Vista Executive advisors discusses 7 steps to maximize employee engagement. Evan Hackel Founder Image Consulting and CEO of Tortal Training, takes us on the road to mentoring and advises how to use the power of mentoring to boost Franchisees Success. Our Feature Supplement for August is Children’s Product and Services Franchising. We meet a range of Franchises in this sector and our experts discuss Franchising with a focus on Kids. Also in this issue take a look at our Veterans in Franchising Supplement which features Franchises such as JDog Brands, Handyman Connection, OxiFresh, and PJ’s Coffee to name a few. I hope you enjoy this edition and don’t forget to keep sending your stories and questions to the editor or myself. Happy Reading.

Proud member of the IFA:

SUPPLIER FORUM International Franchise Association 1501 K Street, N.W., Suite 350 Washington, D.C. 20005 Phone: (202) 628-8000 Fax: (202) 628-0812 www.franchise.org

Vikki Bradbury | Publisher Franchising Magazine USA

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 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 MAGAZINE USA 3

Meet Top-Level Brands In Person at Franchise Expo South. Proactive research and networking are key to successful business ownership, so take your career into your own hands and ﬁnd the next big opportunity in an industry of your choice. Connect with franchise brands and learn from industry pros in Fort Lauderdale at Franchise Expo South!

www.FranchiseExpoSouth.com 4 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

conte nts

august 2022

Franchise in Focus

12 20

Cover Story 10 MindChamps: From Refugee to AwardWinning Entrepreneur who Built a Global Movement– The Personal Journey that Led to a Learning Revolution

In evey issue

Franchising News Announcements from the Industry

23 Special Feature Supplement Children’s Products & Services

57 Veterans Supplement News and Information for Veterans in Franchising

74 A-Z Franchise & Services Directory

Franchisee in Action

14 Paul Linenberg, Gotcha Covered: Taking Advantage of an Opportunity: E-2 Visas Provide Alternate Route to Franchising

Have Your Say 50 David Gronewoller, Golden Corral: Successful multi-unit franchisee, David Gronewoller, shares his expert advice for up-and-coming franchisees.

18 Roll-Em-Up Taquitos: Turning a Family Favorite Recipe Into a Rapidly Growing Franchise, Set to Expand Into the Midwest and East Coast Markets 48 Museum Of Illusions: Making the Magic Happen

Women in Franchising 54 Serena Meteau, AKT: This Black Female Exec Juggles Career, Motherhood and a New Business

Expert Advice 12 Dr. Tricia Groff: How Franchise Leaders Can Create Work Environments to Build Higher Team Cohesion 16 Evan Hackell: The Power of Mentoring to boost franchise success 20 George Knauf: You May Not Want Zero Down In-House Financing 44 Lucas Frey: 7 Essentials to engage your Franchise Team 52 Catherine Monson: Benefits of Franchising Franchising MAGAZINE USA 5

is on a Mission New Gym Franchise Iron 24 is on a Mission to Make Fitness + Recovery Simpler and More Affordable — for Gym Members and Owners Alike Iron 24, the newest fitness + recovery franchise brand, announced its entry into franchising with a unique technologyenabled gym experience that lowers barriers to gym membership and ownership. In this innovative, technology-driven, 24-hour gym franchise, membership, gym access and feedback are fully managed through the Iron 24 mobile app. The company has eliminated common frustrations like prolonged signup process, upsells, contracts and inconvenient hours that plague other gyms.

Dallas / Fort Worth gets Bubbly with Bubbly Paws Minneapolis-based Bubbly Paws signs on their first Texas franchise Bubbly Paws, a self-service dog wash and full-service dog grooming salon, today announced the opening of a franchise location in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. Bubbly Paws offer the Dallas market an innovative, state-of-the-art dog grooming concept, along with owners Alvaro and Amanda Novoa, who look forward to working with local charities, pet adoptions and the community at large. Alvaro Novoa spent several years working in merchandising in the corporate world, and Amanda is a personal trainer and soccer coach. The Novoas decided to open a Bubbly Paws store in the Dallas area citing dogs as their passion. They are firm believers that regular baths and grooming keep dogs both healthy and happy. “Dog parents want to get the best for their dogs, and this fantastic spa experience delivers a unique customer solution that is in tune with the markets in the DFW area. I am really excited to open our first store in our hometown,” said Alvaro Novoa. “This premium spa concept for dog grooming allows dog parents to truly pamper their dogs in a premium facility with the best groomers, products and services. This is the best job because who does not want to see these loving dogs every day,” added Amanda Novoa. Bubbly Paws’ premium spa-like experience brings a different concept to dog grooming and self-service baths than what it is currently in the market. The company also puts a premium on providing great care and customer service to furry friends and their parents. For more information, please visit www.bubblypaws.com 6 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

Amenities include classic free weight, cardio and functional areas, as well as recovery rooms with offerings such as infrared sauna, red light therapy, cryotherapy and massage beds. For the franchise owner, the Iron 24 model is easy to start and run, combining technology and zero staff with greater flexibility to customize the space and keep overhead low. At the same time, the franchisee benefits from Iron 24’s model, branding, technology, team and partnerships. Iron 24 is slated to open 15 locations across markets in Texas, Florida, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Colorado while pursuing franchise development nationwide. The first Iron 24 gym is expected to open this fall in Pearland, Texas, Iron 24 is seeking qualified potential franchise owners in the U.S. The initial investment for an Iron 24 franchise is approximately $91,950 to $288,850. Prospective franchisees should visit iron24.com/franchising to learn more and request additional information.

Blo Blow Dry Bar Continues National Development, Secures Deal to Bring First Location to Idaho North America’s Original Blow Dry Bar Franchise Enters New State, Propels National Expansion Forward Blo Blow Dry Bar, North America’s original blow dry bar and blow dry bar franchise, announced today its expansion into Idaho with the signing of a franchise agreement in Meridian. Idaho is the 31st state Blo Blow Dry Bar has entered since being founded in 2007, and the company has aggressive expansion plans to continue to grow across North America. The franchisee behind Blo Blow Dry Bar’s entry into Idaho is Angela Yates, a School Counselor and Children’s Life Coach at Innovate Academy and Preparatory School, a finance and business private school located in Eagle, Idaho. With Yates past experience in starting small businesses combined with the school’s philosophy to embrace the “entrepreneurial spirit,” Yates was inspired to look for her next entrepreneurial opportunity. “When I first learned about Blo Blow Dry Bar I felt that the people of Idaho would love it,” said Yates. “Everyone deserves an

affordable way to treat themselves and feel beautiful, and I knew there was a need for this type of service in our community. I am really excited for this new opportunity and honored to bring the first Blo Blow Dry Bar to Idaho.”

momentum Blo Blow Dry Bar saw in 2021,

This agreement will continue the significant franchise development

opportunities visit https://franchise.

as the brand now boasts more than 140 locations opening and operating across the United States. For more information about franchise blomedry.com/.

PostNet Honors Franchisees at 28th Annual Convention PostNet, a global leader in high-quality printing and shipping solutions, celebrated franchise owners, welcomed vendors and discussed future endeavors at THRIVE 2022, PostNet’s annual convention held recently at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas. “Thrive isn’t just a conference theme for PostNet and its franchise owners, it’s a mindset,” said Bill McPherson, vice president of franchise development. “To say that the last few years have been challenging is an understatement, yet PostNet not only faced these challenges head-on, it overcame them and continued to grow. It feels good to be able to come together and celebrate the franchise owners and corporate staff responsible for this success.”

• Community Involvement Award: Caty Witt, Bakersfield, California

• Core Value Award: Ron Fehr, Wichita, Kansas; Allen Elks, Lumberton, North Carolina; Gary Good, Flower Mound, Texas/ Northlake, Texas; Felice Parker, Dresher, Pennsylvania; William Martindale, Sturgis, Michigan; and Jerry Kahn, Lake Forest, Illinois

• Community Vitality Award: Shawna Hicks-Cranston, Lakewood Ranch, Florida

• Team Member of the Year Award: Morgan Bernard, Lakewood Ranch, Florida.

• Top Performer: David Petty, Austin, Texas; Todd Seidle, Village on the Creeks in Rogers, Arkansas, and Craig Garries, Lakewood, Colorado

“The annual conference gives us an opportunity to honor the hardworking men and women that make PostNet excel, and it also gives us a chance to network and deepen bonds within the organization,” McPherson said.

Several awards were given out at the conference, including: • Franchisee of the Year: David Petty, Austin, Texas

• Great Start: Gary and Magda Good, Northlake, Texas, and Richard Wright, Chandler, Arizona

For more information, visit https://www.postnet.com/ Franchising MAGAZINE USA 7

In 2021, Las Vegas’ own Capriotti’s, spearheaded by CEO Ashley Morris and President Jason Smylie, purchased the Wing Zone chain, and since that time have reimaged the concept to deliver wings faster than the rest of the industry. Wing Zone’s new ownership brings cutting edge automation to the popular chain, and a new process to prepare, cook, and deliver wings fast while also improving the taste and quality of the core products.

CAPRIOTTI’S OPENS WING ZONE FLAGSHIP STORE in North Las Vegas, Nevada Wing Zone, one of the nation’s leading quick service brands serving made-to-order, flavor-packed chicken wings, announces the opening of its new flagship store in North Las Vegas, Nevada, located at 1513 W Craig Rd, North Las Vegas. The new store marks a milestone in Wing Zone’s expansion, bringing the chain’s total footprint to 63 locations.

As long-time Las Vegas residents, the business partners have their fingers on the pulse of Las Vegas food fans’ desire for quality and have created a powerful formula for delivering fast, delicious restaurant food, accessible in residential neighborhoods and business areas across town. “Wing Zone has built their success on great wings and awardwinning flavors,” said Capriotti’s CEO Ashley Morris. “Founded in 1991, the chain has grown from a dream at the University of Florida to a much-loved brand with more than 60 locations throughout the United States and abroad. “Our new shop design has been developed over the past 18 months to feature a fresh new vibe,” Morris said. “Wings and sports go great together. In the game of life, it’s a win to enjoy wings as often as we can.” For more information, visit www.wingzone.com.

Beyond Juicery + Eatery Ignites Florida Expansion with Multi-Unit Agreement in Naples Award-Winning, Health-Focused Concept Continues National Growth Strategy, Signing Agreement to Open First Two Florida Locations NAPLES, Fla. – Beyond Juicery + Eatery is expanding beyond its Midwest roots, inking a multi-unit agreement to develop two locations in Southeast Florida. Quickly establishing itself as one of the top emerging franchise brands redefining the health food industry, Beyond Juicery + Eatery is continuing to attract esteemed entrepreneurs. Experienced business leader Steve LaFontaine will open the brand’s first Florida location in Naples. LaFontaine was instantly impressed by the brand’s intense fanbase, multidimensional menu and highly-established business model, all of which catapulted Beyond Juicery + Eatery to be one of America’s fastest and hottest growing fast casual brands. After 30 years on Wall Street and sizable knowledge in finance, LaFontaine knew that now was the perfect time to bring Beyond Juicery + Eatery to Florida. Beyond Juicery + Eatery has fresh food that tastes beyond good. Offering a wide variety of made-to-order juices, smoothies, wraps, sorbet bowls and salads, its commitment to fresh ingredients are 8 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

what set it apart from other restaurant concepts in the industry. Rated number one among its customer-base for smoothie brands in the Midwest, Beyond Juicery + Eatery restaurants continue to meet the increased demand for healthy, quick service dining. Maintaining its neighborhood feel and Michigan made roots, Beyond Juicery + Eatery now has nearly 40 locations open and is growing nationwide. https://beyondjuiceryeatery.com/

Buff City Soap Named Best Hand Soap in Westchester Buff City Soap – a locally-owned retail franchise known for its handmade, plant-based soap and body products made in-store daily – has been awarded the title Best Hand Soap in Westchester by Westchester Magazine. The recently opened, family-run store is located at 134 S. Ridge St. in the Rye Ridge Shopping and owned by husband-and-wife duo, Spencer and Nancy Hart. To celebrate this occasion, all customers visiting the store in Rye Brook starting July 1 will receive one free foaming hand soap with any purchase of $20 or more. The promotion can be redeemed by mentioning it to staff upon checkout and is valid through July 31. “Receiving this kind of recognition from within our local community makes us immensely proud in what we do and the products we create,” said Spencer Hart. “We want to thank Westchester Magazine and all of the local customers who have stopped by our new store to help make this happen.” Buff City Soap’s award-winning foaming hand soap is offered in a variety of exclusive scents including: the brand’s signature Narcissist scent, Island Nectar, Magnolia, Lemongrass Rosemary, Good Morning Sunshine, Love Potion and more. Foaming hand soap is made fresh with Castile Soap, phthalate and paraben-free fragrances, and mica. “Our customers seem to really appreciate the scents, look and non-greasy feel of our high-quality foaming hand soap products and are happy they made the switch to Buff City Soap,” said Nancy Hart. “We’re excited in announcing our celebratory Best of Westchester hand soap promotion and we’re very pleased to be able to offer all of our great products to our community.” For more information visit www.buffcitysoap.com.

Mike Bidwell Named as an Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2022 Central Plains Award Winner Neighborly®, the world’s largest franchisor of home service brands, announced its president and CEO, Mike Bidwell, has been recognized as a Central Plains Entrepreneur Of The Year® by Ernst & Young, one of the preeminent competitive business awards program for entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies. An independent panel of judges selected Mike Bidwell based on his entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, growth and impact among other core attributes. Entrepreneur Of The Year® is the world’s most prestigious business awards program for entrepreneurs, recognizing visionary leaders who deliver innovation, growth and prosperity to their companies through regional and national awards programs in more than 145 cities in over 60 countries. “It is an incredible honor to be recognized alongside my peers as an Entrepreneur of the Year, and I am grateful for the resilient team and empowering culture we’ve cultivated at Neighborly that has stretched me to evolve as a leader,” said Mike Bidwell, President and CEO of Neighborly®. As one of the Central Plains award winners, Mike Bidwell will now be considered for the Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2022 National Awards. National finalists and winners, as well as the Entrepreneur Of The Year® National Overall Award winner, will be announced in November. The Entrepreneur Of The Year® National Overall Award winner will then move on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Award in June 2023. To learn about franchising opportunities with Neighborly®, click here. Franchising MAGAZINE USA 9

cover story: MindChamps

From Refugee to AwardWinning Entrepreneur who Built a Global Movement The Personal Journey that Led to a Learning Revolution While the companies “ featured in my prior books (Mercedes-Benz, The Ritz Carlton Hotel Company and Starbucks) demonstrate impressive brand power, none has been in a position to fundamentally shape society on par with MindChamps.

”

- Dr Joseph A. Michelli, No. 1 Bestselling Author New York Times & Wall Street Journal

‘She’s asking what your name is, Stupid!’ David Chiem, MindChamps’ Founder CEO, can still clearly remember being called ‘stupid’. It was on his first day of school in Australia in 1978. David, aged 9, and his family had arrived in the country as ‘boat people’ after fleeing war-ravaged Vietnam, surviving a close encounter with murderous pirates and enduring life in a Malaysian refugee camp. “I arrived not speaking a word of English — not even hello,” he explains. “I can remember being called stupid in my own language by another student because the teacher was asking my name, but I didn’t understand her.” Education was highly prized by David’s family, a mindset reinforced by their 10 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

traumatic escape from Vietnam. “My father had a strong philosophy of never taking anything for granted, and my parents always said that the one thing no one could ever take from you was your education,” he says. “This gave me a very strong mindset, and I was determined to make a contribution.” That strong focus on education, coupled with his earlier trauma, pushed David to excel in his studies because his father had always wanted him to be a doctor. At the age of 14, David landed the starring role on Butterfly Island, becoming the first Asian-Australian to be given a lead role on mainstream television and appearing on TV screens around the world. As a result, although he aced his Higher School Certificate, rather than studying medicine, he chose the path of his new-found passion to study acting and filmmaking.

As he studied the craft of filmmaking, David had an epiphany. He became fascinated by the idea that there could be another way of teaching children. They faced far greater demands on their education than previous generations, so, instead of rote learning, drilling and memorising content, why not help children to understand how to learn and more importantly develop the mindset of enthusiastic, life-long learners? “While I always did well at school and enjoyed it, I saw that many students didn’t do so well. I became curious as to why. I began to suspect that it was because their education experience simply didn’t engage them,” he explains.

From the Stage to the Classroom In 1998 he decided to follow his passion and founded MindChamps — a groundbreaking early learning educational organization based on strategies derived

Unlike other Early Learning “organizations, MindChamps has its own unique, researchbacked curriculum and Intellectual Property.

”

MindChamps Founder CEO David Chiem with new franchisees who recently completed his leadership training.

“The MindChamps Way is incredible and the way they view children and how they want to shape the early learning industry is something that the world needs. It truly feels like being part of a movement rather than a franchise.” Jasmine Van Twest - Former financial auditor and new owner of a MindChamps Early Learning Centre and PreSchool

from research in ‘the 4 Domains’ of Neuroscience, Psychology, Education and Theater. Since its inception in Sydney, MindChamps has grown from point zero to achieving the number one brand position in the highly competitive Singapore premium preschool space, with a market share of 38.5%.*

MindChamps makes a difference in the lives of children by providing the best in early childhood curriculum and care. By synthesising and distilling more than two decades of research in cutting-edge enrichment programs, the MindChamps research and program development team developed a preschool curriculum that rapidly propelled the MindChamps model to its current industry-leading position. The MindChamps Global Research Advisory and Education Team is chaired by world-renowned neuroscientist Emeritus Professor Allan Snyder, a Fellow of the

Royal Society and Marconi Prize-winner. Professor Snyder is the researcher who studied and coined the term ‘Champion Mindset’, based on studies of the world’s great achievers, which enables every individual to become the best that they can be. MindChamps PreSchool offers programs based on its research-based, revolutionary 3-Mind model of education: The Learning Mind promotes academic excellence; the Creative Mind frees the imagination; and the Champion Mind instills perserverance and excellence. This 3-Mind model was introduced in the 2007 best-seller The 3-Mind Revolution, co-authored by David and Brian Caswell, MindChamps’ Dean of Research and Program Development.

The Intellectual Property Leader in Early Learning – the only Education Group to have a patent-pending program Unlike other Early Learning organizations, MindChamps has its own unique, researchbacked curriculum and Intellectual Property. This commitment to developing its own Intellectual Property resulted in MindChamps being accorded the WIPOIPOS IP Award in 2015 by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) for excellence in the brand’s Trademark Portfolio. As part of MindChamps V2.0,

MindChamps Music, the world’s first integrated music-in-education program, was introduced last year as a key component of MindChamps’ core curriculum. A breakthrough synthesis of decades of research by Emeritus Professor Larry Scripp (of Harvard’s ‘Project Zero’ and the prestigious New England Conservatory, Boston, USA) together with the 3-Mind education model, this revolutionary program has achieved patent-pending status in the U.S.A. and Singapore (U.S.A. Patent Pending: 17/644,293 and Singapore Patent Pending: 10202113952V), something unheard of in the education domain. MindChamps PreSchool is the only preschool in the world to have achieved this.

The MindChamps Early Learning Movement is now in America! What began as a research centre in Sydney, taking the number one market share in Singapore for premium preschools and expanding into Australia, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia and Myanmar, is now set to break through into the US market! “MindChamps began as a calling to make a difference by creating an approach to education that will give all children the competitive edge to face the rapidly changing world,” says David. “We are keen to find the right business partners who want to contribute to their community while creating prosperity for their own family in the US.” To discover more about why MindChamps International PreSchool is your dream business, visit https://franchise. mindchamps.org/usa/ *Survey conducted by Influential Brands

Franchising MAGAZINE USA 11

expert advice: Dr. Tricia Groff | Executive Advisor and Executive Coach

How Franchise Leaders Can Create Work Environments to Build Higher Team Cohesion You have your processes optimized and your service or product is tight. But the people? How do you get them running together instead of in different directions? How do you harness the power of unified effort? There is good news and bad news: you have a lot of power over the team cohesion in your franchise. On the one hand, you have the authority to implement good changes; on the other hand, you can’t blame team problems on the team. Here are some ideas to help you obtain the environments and the people who will help your franchise run smoothly.

Hiring - You can’t have cohesive teams if you hire the wrong people. 1. You must have someone on the hiring team who is good at ‘reading’ people. 2. You want experience-based questions that allow you to see how a candidate has interacted with others. It’s not good enough for them to say that they get along with everyone. For new graduates without work experience, ask questions about how they handled frustrating teachers or peers. 3. Consider involving your current employees in the hiring process. You can scale this up or down to account for time constraints. Employees may rotate through contributing to candidate interviews or you might have a group of them assess potential managers. 12 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

On the surface, it looks like an HR issue of making sure that you have the right processes in place. The reality is that you, as the owner, need to set the stage and support your managers in making difficult people decisions. Dr. Tricia Groff is an executive advisor and executive coach who works with high achievers and their organizations. She is also a licensed psychologist who brings 20 years of behind-the-scenes conversations to her recommendations for workplace wellness and profitability. She is the author of Relational Genius: The High Achiever’s Guide to Soft-Skill Confidence in Leadership and Life.

Engagement in decision-making creates buy-in for a candidate. This buy-in empowers and motivates existing employees to help the newcomer mesh with the team.

Firing - You can’t have cohesive teams if you keep the wrong people. 1. You will never have good team cohesion if you allow the squeaky wheels, entitled individuals, and drama queens to have the loudest voice. Just one of these individuals can disrupt all other team-building efforts. Either fire them or ensure that your managers have the skills to shut them down. If you don’t, you will lose the great team members whom you want to retain. Before we move on, all other suggestions in this article are worthless if you don’t know how to get the right people in and the wrong people out of your franchise.

Turning Great People into a Cohesive Team Okay, so you have great people in place. They don’t have to be perfect; however, they must want to work and get along well with others. What can you do to help them move in unison instead of as individual contributors? 1. Create a format such that each team member is aware of the others’ roles and stressors. For some franchises, this might be accomplished by having them rotate through workstations. For others, it may be creating a weekly group huddle to note goals, challenges, and how they can help each other. 2. Monitor stressors on the team. Stressed-out team members will automatically lash out more quickly or simply withdraw into survival mode. One of the primary stressors in the workplace is a lack of resources to get the job done. If you are short-staffed or have other resource limitations, double down in supporting the team and letting them know what you are doing to fix the problem. Employees get stressed if they feel like they will be reprimanded for performance

people “feelWhen understood and supported by management, they are better able to focus on how they can help their team members.

”

that is outside of their control. When people feel understood and supported by management, they are better able to focus on how they can help their team members.

4. Ask team members (or have your managers ask them), what ideas they have for creating a better environment. Ensure that you implement some of these ideas.

3. Create low-cost, easy opportunities for fun. Again, I understand that time and resources may be limited. Consistent and cheap fun will provide a much better environment than a one-day per year team-building retreat. For example, yesterday I needed to have a deep conversation with a team, but I first asked them to bet on the amount of money each person would need to take on a multi-colored mohawk. It took only 10 minutes, but they began laughing and interacting with each other as humans. You don’t have to be creative. Someone in your franchise is creative and would probably love to bring their ideas to work. Better yet, get the group to brainstorm fun options.

5. Reward or promote the individuals who exemplify the behavior you want to see replicated. A handwritten note, personal phone call, or small gift card can do wonders in validating and encouraging the teamwork you want to see. 6. Ensure, as much as possible, that the physical environment promotes interaction. A few years ago, I was in a setting that had the lowest team cohesion I’ve ever experienced. They weren’t even fighting—simply siloed and separated. I asked one of the employees what had happened. “We used to have a little area for coffee and snacks, and we would take a few minutes to catch up with each other on work and personal lives. The

leaders thought that we were wasting time and took it away.” 7. Set fair and clear expectations. Ensure that managers consistently follow through. Team cohesion happens when individuals feel psychologically safe. Individuals feel psychologically safe when they know where they stand and what to expect. 8. Bring “personal” into the workplace. The outdated standard of trying to separate personal lives from business has never promoted team cohesion. It’s fine if you are running a churn and burn operation, and you don’t care about turnover. However, I’m guessing that if you are reading this, that’s not you. People trust each other at a personal level. It doesn’t have to be awkward. Something as simple as an employee pet bulletin board or a monthly birthday party helps the team bond over common human experience. From that basis of trust, they will work better as a team. Franchising MAGAZINE USA 13

franchisee in action: Gotcha Covered

Taking Advantage of an Opportunity:

E-2 Visas Provide Alternate Route to Franchising franchising. For franchisees, it’s a great opportunity for accomplished people and people who aspire to own a business to make a better life for themselves. Franchising is a natural fit for those individuals. Someone utilizing the E-2 Visa program must be in a position to own and operate a legitimate business, and what’s better than a franchise. It is a proven business model.

Paul Linenberg - President of Gotcha Covered

America is known as the land of opportunity in many countries. The idea of relocating to the United States in hopes of owning a business and being able to provide for your family is still the dream for many immigrants. E-2 Visas provide that opportunity for some who may otherwise not have an opportunity to chase that dream. E-2 Visas, also known as the E-2 nonimmigrant classification, allow a national of a treaty country to be admitted to the United States when investing a substantial amount of capital in a U.S. business. The E-2 Visa program is a classic winwin opportunity for immigrants and 14 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

Franchises, by their very nature, offer proven systems that assist franchise owners with important aspects of running a business such as marketing, structure, business procedures, branding, and much more. Coming to the U.S. from another country and getting into franchising helps that individual with adjusting to a new culture while providing proven business strategies and systems to help them thrive. It’s systemizing a successful recipe. Whether they are coming from South America, Canada, or somewhere across the pond, they have a stronger opportunity for success when buying a franchise as opposed to starting an independent business.

Highly Motivated Franchisees While the E-2 Visa program is an excellent opportunity for immigrants, it is also a major service for franchisors. When selling a franchise to a prospective owner, franchisors want someone who will put in the time and effort to make the new franchise location a success. Immigrants who are utilizing the E-2 program embody that hard work. Those who are leaving their home country to chase ownership in the U.S. showcase the dedication that franchisors are looking for in a franchisee. E-2 Visa holders are

giving up a significant amount to pursue ownership. They are willing to leave behind family, friends and a country they are accustomed to for the opportunity to be an entrepreneur, and that shows a high level of dedication and commitment. These individuals are typically accomplished as well. One of the requirements for the E-2 Visa program is having the capital to invest in a business. In most cases, that means they have achieved some level of success in their home country. Franchisors are always looking for high-level, accomplished individuals that are going to be a credit to their brand, and E-2 Visa holders are great fits for franchisors.

The Red Tape While the E-2 program is an excellent opportunity for franchisors and immigrants, it isn’t a simple program to utilize. Remember, E-2 Visa candidates must invest in a business. This is the intent of the program as a whole – to give immigrants a chance to come to the U.S. and start a business. So, these individuals must be capitalized. In addition, there are different laws, procedures and qualifications that must be adhered to depending on the various countries. Typically, those attempting to obtain an E-2 Visa have consultants they work with in their home countries to help navigate the process. Being dedicated to working their way through the red tape is another way these individuals showcase their dedication to owning and operating a business.

Successful E-2 Visa Franchise Owners Being able to succeed and provide for your family is something that all business

and Marcella had tremendous “Andre language and business skills, which assisted them with getting their business off the ground and to a strong start. Since then, they have grown at an exponential rate.

”

and they perceive the U.S. as having more opportunities.

Marcella and Andre Vasconcellos of Gotcha Covered of Orlando used the E-2 Visa program to establish their business in the U.S.

Two of those is Andre and Marcella Vasconcellos of Gotcha Covered of Orlando and Space Coast. The young couple came to the U.S. from Brazil. The two decided to come to the U.S. for various reasons that include runaway inflation and political issues in Brazil. So, they started the E-2 Visa process. Once they begin working with an adviser, they were connected with Gotcha Covered. They were young, energetic and well-spoken. In addition, they were sales, design and marketing oriented. Once they moved to the U.S., they settled in Orlando. Florida possesses many individuals from South American countries, so the cultural transition went smoothly. Andre and Marcella had tremendous language and business skills, which assisted them with getting their business off the ground and to a strong start. Since then, they have grown at an exponential rate. They are among our top performers consistently. In my view, they achieved the pinnacle of what someone would want from the E-2 Visa program. They made the transition, they have a community in their new country, and they are living the American dream. They have a business that gives them the lifestyle, income, and equity that dreams are made of.

Christian DeBaun, left, helps a customer select a window treatment for their home.

owners want to achieve, regardless of if

industry. When individuals set out to

While the E-2 program doesn’t guarantee

the E-2 program, it’s usually because of

you’re an immigrant or a U.S. citizen. success, there are plenty of stories of visa owners thriving in the franchise

acquire ownership in the U.S. through a combination of two factors: they no

longer want to be in their home country,

Paul Linenberg is the president of Gotcha Covered, a custom window treatment franchise that has over 120 franchises in the United States and Canada combined. The company specializes in providing endto-end consultation to its clients. For more information, please visit gotchacovered.com. For more information regarding Gotcha Covered franchising opportunities, please visit gotchacoveredfranchising.com Franchising MAGAZINE USA 15

EXPERT ADVICE: Evan Hackel | Founder and CEO of Ingage Consulting, and CEO of Tortal Training

Use the Power of Mentoring to Boost Your Franchise’s Success I would like to start this article with statements that summarize comments I have heard from many franchise executives over the years . . . The bad . . . “We tried mentoring and it didn’t work, “The mentors are telling their mentees to go outside the system,” and “the mentors are not meeting with their mentees.” The good . . . “Nothing works like mentoring,” “When they hear from the mentor, they do it,” and “It’s a game-changer.” The difference is simple - an effectively run mentoring program or a throwntogether program. The goals of this article are to help you understand how great a successful mentoring program can be, and to help you get the good feedback.

Start a Mentoring Program in Your Franchise I have always been a great believer in mentoring. I have mentored owners in the franchises I have led. I have also had mentors of my own – highly 16 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

experienced executives who shared their knowledge with me and guided me. At every stage in my mentoring activities, I felt as though I always saw some extra benefit happening – something I could not completely explain. People on both sides of the mentoring relationship were doing more than just sharing information. They were being elevated – achieving greater profits, retaining their employees longer, and simply getting more done.

Unlocking the Benefits of Mentoring I recently moderated a Training Unleashed Podcast with Kevin Harrington and Mark Timm, two highly successful entrepreneurs

who believe that the more you mentor others, the more success will come back to you. Kevin was one of the original sharks on the hit television show Shark Tank. He is also recognized as the man who invented the infomercial. Mark, who calls himself a “serial entrepreneur,” has built successful companies in more than a dozen countries, from retail to wholesale to manufacturing and real estate. And these men are completely committed to mentoring. They believe so strongly in it that they made it the focus of their new book, Mentor to Millions: Secrets of Success in Business, Relationships, and Beyond.

Evan Hackel, is a 35-year franchising veteran as both a franchisor and a franchisee. He is principal and founder of Ingage Consulting in Woburn, Massachusetts. Evan is also the host of the highly successful Training Unleashed podcasts and author of the book Ingaging Leadership Meets the Younger Generation. Evan is a frequent keynote speaker at franchising expos and other events. For more information, visit evanhackelspeaks.com and follow him at @ehackel

Create a Mentoring Program in Your Franchise Organization Instead of sitting back and waiting for your franchisees to find mentors, establish a formal mentoring program that matches mentor/mentee pairs together. And when you do, be sure to announce it in your sales activities. It will help prospective owners know that you want to see them succeed.

Formalize Mentoring Relationships As relationships are formed, make them official with a statement like, “Paul, John is now your mentor.” Consider having each mentoring relationship last for a finite amount of time, perhaps one year, before new mentoring matches are made. In that way, owners can benefit from being mentored by multiple experienced franchise owners within your organization.

Create a Structure for Mentoring Relationships

Both men told me that their success was transformed when they were working with the son of Zig Ziglar, the visionary business thinker who believed “you can have everything in life you want if you just help enough other people get what they want.”

Opportunities to Benefit from Mentoring in Your Franchise Having your franchisees work with more experienced mentors can truly put the power of human relationships back into your entire franchise organization. Here are some steps to unlock the power of mentoring and achieve the most benefit from it.

Of course, the mentor should be available on an “as needed” basis to provide counsel when needed. But the mentoring relationship will be more productive when a structure supports it, such as . . . • Mentors and mentees have a short weekly check-in call scheduled every Friday morning. • They will have longer sessions together every year at your annual franchise convention or franchise council meeting. • Franchisees who have been mentored can graduate up and become mentors.

Train Your Mentors Don’t assume your mentor volunteers understand how to be a mentor. Mentor training is important to make sure your program is effective. You need to spend

time to determine what an effective mentor does, how often they meet, how they onboard the mentee, and other important skills to master.

Meet with Your Mentors Have regular meetings and ongoing training with the mentors, let them each share what is going on and what they are doing. These meetings will create an accountability check and assure they are not ignoring their mentees. These meetings should be every month, every six weeks, or every other month.

Have Your Franchise Business Consultants Check in with Mentors It is important the mentor and the Franchise Business Consultant be in sync. This is why they can work together to get best results.

Share the News of Mentoring Success Communicate news about your mentoring pairs in your emailed franchise newsletters, in email blasts, on social media and in other ways.

Never Stop Mentoring a Wide Range of People! You can mentor younger people who are just starting out in their franchising careers. You can mentor people who are at mid-career transition points. The fact is, you can mentor people at all stages of their life journeys – and they can mentor you. If you embark on this path, I believe you will discover what I have about mentoring. It repays you in more ways than you expect. That’s what Kevin and Mark told me. And do you know, they are right. Franchising MAGAZINE USA 17

FOCUS: Roll-Em-Up Taquitos

Roll-Em-Up Taquitos:

Turning a Family Favorite Recipe Into a Rapidly Growing Franchise, Set to Expand Into the Midwest and East Coast Markets Since the first Roll-Em-Up Taquitos location opened its doors three years ago, the brand has grown tremendously and is now looking to enter the Midwest and East Coast.

The past few years have been filled with monumental success and booming business deals at the feet of the first of its kind, fast casual franchise. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of the entire Roll-EmUp Taquitos team, the innovative brand has become a mega-successful business venture on track to open over 470 locations, all within the first year of franchising. With multiple locations currently open in California and nearly 500 in development across the Southwest, the brand has 18 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

decided it is finally time to take the next step and bring their innovative taquito franchise to the Midwest and East Coast. The goal is simple; to share Mama Karen’s famous taquitos with as many hungry people as possible, and this is the next step in their master plan. For the Roll-Em-Up Taquitos team, choosing this area of the country for their expansion was easy. The Midwest and East Coast are home to some of the most populated cities in the United States with some of the most diverse and innovative cuisines around. With their unique approach to fast casual dining, there’s no doubt Roll-Em-Up is a shoo-in for success. The Roll-Em-Up Taquitos team has had their sights set on this region since they began franchising, and their incredible growth over the past year has prepared them well for this transition. “Looking back on our growth over the past year is incredible,” said Chris Wyland, Chief Development Officer of Roll-EmUp Taquitos. “Seeing our dining concept take off and be loved by so many has been amazing. Looking forward, we are so excited to see what this expansion into the Midwest and East Coast markets will bring to Roll-Em-Up Taquitos. We have been preparing and building out our team so we can be the most well-known fast

highest quality each visit, and Roll-Em-Up Taquitos delivers. “All of our products are made fresh inhouse daily and made to order,” said Ryan Ursey, Founder and CEO of Roll-Em-Up Taquitos. “We take great pride in serving our customer’s fresh, pan fried taquitos just like our mom made for our family. It has been a dream to be able to bring one of our family’s favorite meals into so many homes.” Likewise, Roll-Em-Up Taquitos prides itself on the unwavering support they lend to their franchisees. From selecting a location to design and construction, all the way through to marketing and employee training, Roll-Em-Up Taquitos helps ensure that their franchisees will be successful. The brand began as a family venture, and no matter how large Roll-Em-Up Taquitos grows to become, they will always carry that family mentality with them in everything they do.

casual restaurant across the country, and we cannot wait to see where Roll-Em-Up Taquitos will go from here.” Reaching this level of success in such a short amount of time hasn’t been as easy as it sounds. Over the past three years, the Roll-Em-Up Taquitos team has been working non-stop to perfect both their menu offerings and their franchising opportunity. They understand that a franchise cannot be successful if the product being offered isn’t up to par. With a focused menu of taquito combinations including fresh ingredients like beef, chicken, potato, cheese, and avocado, along with a handful of delicious homemade sides, customers expect nothing but the

As the brand continues to grow, the RollEm-Up Taquitos team is working hard to plan where all of the new locations will go. In the early days of Roll-Em-Up Taquitos, the team opened their first location in a former Starbucks drive-thru. At first, this seemed like a less than ideal spot for this infantile business, but to much surprise, the location excelled. This positive response inspired Roll-Em-Up Taquitos to continue to revive commercial real estate spaces and build them out to fit their concept. Doing this is not only more economical for franchisees, but also gives spaces a second chance at being home to a successful business. “With a concept that is so versatile and able to be put into just about any space, we believe this will help speed up our expansion across the country,” said Ursey. “The ability to revamp pre-loved spaces and build them out to what we need them to be has been a really fun challenge for our Roll-Em-Up Taquitos team.” The story of Roll-Em-Up Taquitos is quite simple. It all began in the Ursey family home where Father and Son, Ron and Ryan, fell in love with Mama Karen’s delicious beef taquitos. Ron, the Ursey family patriarch, always hoped to one day

Ryan Ursey (left) with Chris Wyland - Chief Development Officer at Roll-Em-Up.

open their very own taquito-only family restaurant, but unfortunately, Mama Karen passed away before that dream became a reality. Fast-forward a few years and you’ll find a rapidly growing team at the reins of one of the most successful street casual restaurant franchises in the country. With multiple successful locations already open, and over 470 locations under development, Roll-Em-Up Taquitos is just getting started. “Roll-Em-Up Taquitos is a family-oriented business that provides a one-of-a-kind consumer experience, from its delicious pan-fried taquitos to the reggae music blastin’, the brand is not one to forget,” said Ursey. “Roll-Em-Up Taquitos has allowed our family to bring my mother’s famous taquitos into the homes of families all across the Southwest United States, and we are so excited to get to share this nationwide.” All in all, the past few years have been an exciting whirlwind for Roll-EmUp Taquitos. From turning a beloved family staple into a booming franchise opportunity to watching the Roll-Em-Up Taquitos family continue to grow each and every day. There is no doubt that the next few years will be just as, if not more, successful than the first few. For more information about Roll-Em-Up Taquitos franchise opportunity, please visit www.franchise.rollemup.com. Franchising MAGAZINE USA 19

EXPERT ADVICE: George Knauf | Senior Franchise Business Advisor | FranChoice

You May Not Want Zero Down In-House Financing

Wait, why not? Sounds great. Here’s what franchise companies are up to.

royalties will be paid or scale them up

Over the past 30 years I have seen franchisors offer various forms of financial support to new and existing franchisees.

benefit, but the franchisee still has to cover

The most simple levels of financial support often begin with some form of delayed costs. I have seen franchisors delay when 20 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

across a timeline to give a new franchisee more of the incoming revenue to grow

the business in the market. This is a good

the start up costs. The royalty comes out of ongoing revenue so I would drop this in a category of benefits, not financing.

I have also seen franchise companies

say that after signing they will carve out a portion of the franchise fee paid and

devote it to marketing costs the franchisee has in their market. The franchisee would typically work with the franchise support team to target various forms of marketing that could drive traffic to their location. The costs would then be covered by the franchisor until the benefit is exhausted. Again, that seems to be more of a benefit than it is financing. The challenge with in-house financing is twofold. First, the franchisor is not a bank

and they are not really set up with the people or systems to administer a loan department, loan approvals or potential collections. Secondly, newer brands may not have the financial reserves to pay for your start-up while covering the costs of their operations. With those challenges in mind I would carve out two forms of financing.

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. www.MyPerfectFranchise.com

The first is that we have seen franchisors finance a portion of the franchise fee, most commonly half, with new approvals. Given that their franchise fees tend to be in line with their competitors, I see this as a true financing of a portion of the costs. While it may not be substantial in light of the total start-up costs, it is still a franchisor offering financing as a benefit to the franchisee. More recently I have seen franchise companies partnering in some way with banks or funding companies to create financing programs that can be offered to the new franchisee directly by the franchise company. For some time now this was more commonly equipment financing for franchise brands that require trucks, heavy equipment or industrial supplies. These equipment leases can be very beneficial because the funding is coming from a source that has worked with the franchisor to understand their business and equipment needs. This makes it very different than a new franchisee going to their bank and trying to explain the need for a box truck or tree trimming equipment. Some of the technical requirements can be hard for bank staff to understand and the new franchisee is not always equipped with all the answers. This in-house equipment financing can be very beneficial for equipment intensive businesses. We have even seen equipment leasing used in retail, gyms and more. In these cases it can finance the gym equipment as well as retail shelving, carpet, paint, graphics and much more. While rare, I also see full financing offers for business start-ups being offered by franchise companies.

Most recently we had a franchise company come to us with a full new franchise financing package with “0% to 10% down payment loan” to cover costs up to $250,000. The program is at a fair market interest rate and a term that should work for the business. Interestingly it also does not require any personal collateral, this is pretty uncommon even with the SBA loans most new franchise borrowers use. With some pretty reasonable qualifications, a new franchise owner can get into business with a very reasonable cash out of pocket. These loan approvals generally take one day, application is simple and they fund in about 1 week. Here is how an insider sees this deal. It is a robust equipment lease, not a loan, that covers most of your start up costs but not working capital. A franchisee will still have to bring a cash reserve of $75,000

to get approved and that money will have to cover things like rent, labor and advertising. This may be an advantageous program, but be careful with what you are presented and what you are being obliged to. Of course, SBA loans and 401K rollovers offered by long standing providers in the franchise space are still outstanding options. Your approach might include the equipment lease from the franchisor along with an SBA express loan for the working capital, with a modest down payment on the SBA loan and you keep most of your cash in the bank and have a fast start up with lower risk. If you have any questions, I would be happy to help. What is your success story? Let’s go find it! Franchising MAGAZINE USA 21

Join the Leading Computer Service Franchise As a NerdsToGo franchisee, our entire team supports you and your business with the following: • Extensive business, marketing, and management training

“The military prepares you for this kind of transition in a civilian role,” said Turnbow. “For me, you have to be a good teammate and a good

• Our proven approach to sales and customer service

follower before being a great leader. I can be a great leader now because my service taught me what it means to be a good follower and how to play a role on a team.

• National conferences, training meetings, and information exchanges

“It can be difficult, especially if you start from

• Operational infrastructure tools, templates, and manuals

• Toll-free telephone support • NerdsToGo copyrighted marketing programs

NerdsToGo is honored to offer 50% Off our Franchise Fee for Veterans

scratch as I did,” he added. “But the best thing about being plugged into NerdsToGo is that a network of franchises and upper management are here to help. Everything about owning a business is learning, and I am learning every day.” Roger Turnbow | NerdsToGo - San Antonio NW, Texas

nerdstogo.com • 855-951-3840

august 2022

aqua-tots

drives awareness

on dangers of nationwide lifeguard shortage

latest news

children’s products & services

value of education franchises grows during pandemic Franchising MAGAZINE USA 23

Don’t miss an issue

Get the App cover story: MindChamps

From reFugee to AwArdwinning entrepreneur who Built A gloBAl movement

Unlike other Early Learning “organizations, MindChamps has its own unique, researchbacked curriculum and Intellectual Property.

”

The Personal Journey that Led to a Learning Revolution MindChamps Founder CEO David Chiem with new franchisees who recently completed his leadership training.

“ While the companies featured in my prior books (Mercedes-Benz, The Ritz Carlton Hotel Company and Starbucks) demonstrate impressive brand power, none has been in a position to fundamentally shape society on par with MindChamps.

”

- Dr Joseph A. Michelli, No. 1 Bestselling Author New York Times & Wall Street Journal

‘She’s asking what your name is, Stupid!’ David Chiem, MindChamps’ Founder CEO, can still clearly remember being

called ‘stupid’. It was on his first day of school in Australia in 1978. David, aged 9, and his family had arrived in the country as ‘boat people’ after fleeing war-ravaged Vietnam, surviving a close encounter with murderous pirates and enduring life in a Malaysian refugee camp. “I arrived not speaking a word of English — not even hello,” he explains. “I can remember being called stupid in my own language by another student because the teacher was asking my name, but I didn’t understand her.” Education was highly prized by David’s family, a mindset reinforced by their

From the Stage to the Classroom In 1998 he decided to follow his passion and founded MindChamps — a groundbreaking early learning educational organization based on strategies derived

Preparing Children for Success in the 21st Century “While both Cesar Ritz and David Chiem have built businesses that strive for transformational excellence, there is one fundamental difference between MindChamps and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. That difference relates to the speed by which MindChamps has catapulted to international prominence.” Dr Joseph A. Michelli MindChamps makes a difference in the lives of children by providing the best in early childhood curriculum and care. By synthesising and distilling more than two decades of research in cutting-edge enrichment programs, the MindChamps research and programme development team developed a preschool curriculum that rapidly propelled the MindChamps model to its current industry-leading position. The MindChamps Global Research Advisory and Education Team is chaired by world-renowned neuroscientist Emeritus

Professor Allan Snyder, a Fellow of the Royal Society and Marconi Prize-winner. Professor Snyder is the researcher who studied and coined the term ‘Champion Mindset’, based on studies of the world’s great achievers, which enables every individual to become the best that they can be.

As part of MindChamps V2.0, MindChamps Music, the world’s first integrated music-in-education program, was introduced last year as a key component of MindChamps’ core curriculum. A breakthrough synthesis of decades of research by Emeritus Professor Larry Scripp (of Harvard’s ‘Project Zero’ and the prestigious New England Conservatory, Boston, USA) together with the 3-Mind education model, this revolutionary program has achieved patent-pending status in the U.S.A. and Singapore (U.S.A. Patent Pending: 17/644,293 and Singapore Patent Pending: 10202113952V), something unheard of in the education domain. VOL 10, ISSUE 9, aUgUSt 2022 MindChamps PreSchool is the only preschool in the world to have achieved this.

MindChamps PreSchool offers programs based on its research-based, revolutionary COVER STORY 3-Mind model of education: The Learning The MindChamps Early Mind promotes academic excellence; the Learning Movement is now in Creative Mind frees the imagination; and America! the Champion Mind instills perserverance What began as a research centre in Sydney, and excellence. This 3-Mind model was taking the number one market share in a Global education introduced in the 2007 best-seller The MoveMent Singapore for premium preschools and 3-Mind Revolution, co-authored by David expanding into Australia, Malaysia, and Brian Caswell, MindChamps’ Dean of Philippines, Indonesia and Myanmar, Research and Program Development. is now set to break through into the US

Refugee who built

MindchaMpS

market!

“MindChamps began as a calling to make a difference by creating an approach to education that will give all children the competitive edge to face the rapidly changing world,” says David. “We are keen to find the right business partners who want to contribute to their community while creating prosperity for their own family in the US.” To discover more about why MindChamps International PreSchool is your dream business, visit https://franchise. mindchamps.org/usa/ *Survey conducted by Influential Brands

10 Franchising MagaZinE Usa

Franchising MagaZinE Usa 11

SpECial fEaTuRE

childRen’S pRoductS & SeRviceS fRanchiSing newS

annOunCEmEnTS fROm ThE induSTRY

7 StepS to MaxiMize eMployee engageMent

Franchising MagaZinE Usa 1 The magazine for franchisees • W W W.franchsingmagazineUsa.com

www.franchisingmagazineusa.com

conte nts

children’s produc ts & services 32

Expert Advice

On the Cover 28 Aquatots: Aqua-Tots Drives Awareness on Dangers of Nationwide Lifeguard Shortage

What’s New 26 Franchising News Announcements from the Industry

Feature Article

30 Chris Conner: Winning Kids Concepts to fit your Future

34 John Collins: Franchising with a Focus on Kids 38 Rick Bisio: Franchising with a Focus on Kids

Franchisor in Depth 32 Kiddie Academy: How Giving Back Has Grown the Kiddie Academy Footprint 40 Youth Athletes United: Parent Company Youth Athletes United Doubles Revenue in 3 Years With Youth Sports Brands Amazing Athletes, Soccer Stars, JumpBunch, TGA Premier Sports and Little Rookies

Have Your Say 36 Anne Huntington: Huntington Learning Center is the Nation’s Leading Tutoring and Test Prep Provider dedicated to Giving every student the Best Education Possible.

Franchisee in Action 42 Huntington Learning Centers: Working your Way Up – How a Passion for Helping Children Turned a Job into a Business Franchising MAGAZINE USA 25

c h i l d r e n ’s p r o d u c t s a n d s e r v i c e s f e at u r e

Early Education and Care Providers Entrust their Legacy to Primrose Schools® Primrose Schools, a high-quality early education and care leader with nearly 475 schools nationwide, is stepping up efforts to acquire independent child care centers as part of its mission to expand access to early education for all children and families. The company has recently completed conversions of eight early education centers, offering more than 1,400 children the chance to experience Primrose’s time-tested and award-winning Balanced Learning® curriculum. There are more than 10 additional acquisitions in the process of transitioning to a Primrose location.

school’s operations and ensure the staff, parents and students that depend on them thrive.”

“Independent child care center owners around the country are entrusting Primrose with their legacy because we share the same commitment to creating a better future for children and families through quality early education and care,” said Steve Clemente, President of Primrose Schools. “The community resource they built is in good hands with Primrose’s award-winning curriculum and franchise model that provides the new Franchise Owners with everything they need to seamlessly transition their acquired

Primrose’s acquisitions team expects the pace of conversions to grow as demand for child care remains strong. The company’s acquisitions and conversion strategy, combined with a continued interest from altruistic entrepreneurs looking to expand local care options, has bolstered the company’s growth. In the first half of this year, the company has awarded 32 franchise agreements — more than in the entirety of 2021 — and opened eight new schools.

Unlike many businesses, theCoderSchool isn’t all about profits. Instead, the brand focuses on creating a down to earth environment that helps children in the community learn to code and have fun while doing so! Coding teaches kids fundamental problem solving skills, which can help them prepare for any career path that they might choose. Founded by Hansel Lynn and incubated with the help of his best friend, Wayne Teng, theCoderSchool was built to provide children with a welcoming environment to develop computer programming skills. theCoderSchool uses a variety of platforms and individualized immersion style to teach many coding languages, such as HTML, CSS, Python, JavaScript and more. Every

theCoderSchool Offers Rewarding Franchise Opportunity for Those Looking for More Than Just Profit theCoderSchool – whose motto is, “Learn to code. Change the world.”– is looking for franchise partners who are looking to give back to their community and have a passion for helping

Code Coaching lesson is customized with the help of trained Code Coaches® who use a 2-on-1 approach to teaching. Founded in 2014 and franchising since 2016, the Silicon Valleybased children’s enterprise franchise that provides computer programming lessons to children ages 7 to 18 is helping meet the demand for kids coding classes as it expands across the United States. theCoderSchool has over 50 schools operating in over 15 states and continues to expand its national footprint with several locations in development in major U.S. and Canadian markets.

children learn skills that are essential to their growth and

To learn more about theCoderSchool’s franchise opportunity,

development.

please visit https://www.thecoderschool.com/franchising/

26 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

2022 School of Rock Allstars Music Program, a one-of -a kind experience

School of Rock, the leader in

one-of-a-kind experience - performing

performance-based education, recently

and recording music at professional

announced that 160 students have been

recording studios and iconic live venues.

selected to participate and perform

The elite musicians in the AllStars program

in the 2022 School of Rock AllStars

are among the most accomplished

Music Program where they will enjoy a

students from School of Rock’s global

network of 300+ schools and represent the highest level of achievement for students - with less than 1% of School of Rock Performance Program students chosen for the program each year. The AllStars program consists of both vocal and instrument performance as well as songwriting. The songwriting component of the program allows students to write and arrange original works with notable guest mentors and producers who will provide professional feedback and tips, insightful truths about the songwriting industry, and share their personal experiences. The students then have the opportunity to record and perform their original songs with their fellow AllStars. The eight regional teams of AllStars will partake in extensive rehearsals that will culminate in a professional recording studio session and live performances at notable local venues. School of Rock is partnering with the music industry’s biggest music brands, such as Gibson, to solidify noteworthy artist mentors to maximize learning and safety during this once-in-a-lifetime experience for the students.

Leading Multichannel Retailer Winmark the Resale Company® Celebrates Brand Milestones, Sees Strong Growth in Q1 and Q2 Winmark Corporation, North America’s leading franchisor of sustainable resale brands Once Upon A Child®, Plato’s Closet®, Play It Again Sports®, Music Go Round® and Style Encore®, reports a great start to the first half of the year with 21 new signed franchise agreements and 29 openings across all five brands. As the $17.5 billion resale industry continues to grow, Winmark’s resale brands will continue to defy the odds and grow to meet the increasing demand for quality used, secondhand products. In fact, Winmark’s resale brands have recycled over 1.4 billion items since 2010, with 158 million recycled per year, and 432,000 per day. Plato’s Closet, Play It Again Sports, and Once Upon A Child were recently ranked in the annual Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500. Once Upon A Child even ranked No. 1 in the Children’s Retail category for the twelfth year in a row. Winmark has solidified its strong position by delivering consumers an experience that is unparalleled in the resale space. The company’s commitment to sustainability and providing quality used merchandise in a clean, welcoming environment sets it apart

from other resale concepts and has proven to be a key driver in both consumer and franchise growth, as many of its franchisees were customers prior to opening their own stores. “Customers are looking for local, sustainable options to sell their quality used items, get paid immediately, and receive great value in return. All of our brands meet those needs,” said Renae Gaudette, Chief Operating Officer for Winmark Corporation. Franchising MAGAZINE USA 27

c h i l d r e n ’s p r o d u c t s a n d s e r v i c e s f e at u r e

COVER STORY: Aqua-Tots Swim Schools

Aqua-Tots Drives Awareness

on Dangers of Nationwide Lifeguard Shortage

is leading to more people – particularly children – going to unsupervised places to swim. Aqua-Tots aims to raise awareness of this ongoing summer challenge by encouraging families to only swim when adult supervision is present and by offering swim lessons to combat child drowning statistics.

World’s largest swim school franchise warns that children are more likely to enter water unsupervised, encourages families to only swim with an adult present and enroll in lessons

Aqua-Tots Swim Schools has been saving lives for over 30 years and is voicing its concern that the country’s current shortage of lifeguards is putting more lives in danger. The American Lifeguard Association has stated that there is a critical shortage of lifeguards, with eight out of 10 of the country’s parks and recreation departments reporting they are short-staffed at their public beaches, pools and water parks. This decline in numbers of lifeguards

28 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

“The shortage of lifeguards is something that should be a real concern for all of us,” said Aqua-Tots CEO Craig Wright. “Statistics tell us that approximately 900 children die from unintentional drownings each year in the U.S. When you add in fewer lifeguards at pools and beaches across the country, it becomes even more concerning – especially during the summer when everyone is trying to stay cool in the water.” A recent survey by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) reported that swimming is the fourth most popular form of exercise in the country. Children’s ability to swim doesn’t rank as high, however, with 64% of African-American, 45% of Hispanic and 40% of White children having little or no swimming ability.

ABOUT Aqua-Tots Swim Schools Aqua-Tots Swim Schools serves over 120 communities worldwide, offering dedicated, year-round, indoor swim instruction, community outreach and drowning prevention education to children of all abilities from four months to 12 years old. As the world’s largest swim school franchise that is continuing to grow with 90 locations in development, Aqua-Tots’ handselected instructors are passionate about teaching children how to remain safer in and around the water. The company uses tried and true curriculum, more than 30 years in the making and trusted worldwide to teach five million swim lessons annually. To learn more, visit aqua-tots. com or follow Aqua-Tots on Facebook and Instagram. Aqua-Tots encourages families to choose pools and beaches where lifeguards are

present to swim this summer. Additionally, adult supervision by a designated Water Watcher in each family is vital for

drowning prevention. A Water Watcher is

an adult who agrees to watch children play

or swim without any distractions for a set period.

offers swim lessons for children of all ages,

Signing children up for swim lessons is also important as CDC studies show that participation in formal swim lessons reduce unintentional drownings by 88% in children ages one to four. Aqua-Tots

Aqua-Tots currently has 125 locations

including those as early as four months old. worldwide, including 22 international locations, teaching five million swim

lessons a year. Every swim instructor has

completed more than 40 hours of intensive in-water and classroom training and has their CPR certification.

The Aqua-Tots Swim Journey is comprised of eight levels of comprehensive

curriculum that is tried, true and trusted

all over the world. Each level is designed to build upon the next, taking each child

on a journey toward becoming a safe and confident swimmer for life.

Aqua-Tots offers swim lessons for

children as young as four months all

the way through 12 years old. Children can participate in private lessons or

small group classes to help ensure a safe

environment for proper swim instruction. For more information about Aqua-Tots and to enroll in swim lessons, visit aqua-tots.com. Franchising MAGAZINE USA 29

c h i l d r e n ’s p r o d u c t s a n d s e r v i c e s f e at u r e

FEATURE ACTICLE: Chris Conner | Founder | Franchise Marketing Systems

Winning Kids Concepts to Fit Your Future From epic entertainment to necessary care, kids concepts are a staple in the franchise marketplace. Due in part to a culture shift in favor of kid-centric spending, children’s franchises have continued to grow in popularity - and profitability- over the past two decades. Another noteworthy fact is the population growth of children that guarantees a market for such businesses. In 2021, there were around 4.79 million families with three or more children in the United States. Children currently make up around 22% of our nation’s population! No matter your skills, there are franchises that serve this blooming market. They are fun, can fit our passions, and make for great ROI.

Magical Adventure Awaits For anyone who saw Swiss Family Robinson as a child, larger-thanlife tree houses have always been at the center of any kid’s outdoor dreams. Fast forward to 2020 when FireFly Forts was developed— a concept born from quarantine boredom. The Atlanta-based franchise conceptualizes, designs, and builds customized tree forts to make any Robinson swoon. Custom add ons include swings, monkey bars, slides, rock walls and more. Franchisees will find a work-from-home, mobile business with tons of flexibility and hands-on fun.

30 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

Start-up costs are low, launch can be quick, and the market is virtually untapped. Brands like these are a fantastic business choice due to their scalability and flexibility.

Help When it’s Needed Childcare is going nowhere. As dualincome households become the norm — over 50% of US households in fact — families will always be seeking out trustworthy businesses to care for their little ones. Founded in 2004, Kula’s Children’s Center is a holistic program that gives franchisees a simplified step into this stable market. Another plus for concepts like this are the government programs that help fund families’ attendance. This particular concept also teaches its franchise partners how to navigate food expense reimbursement through federal programs. Revenue is recurring and year-

round, and the concept lends itself to wordof-mouth marketing amongst parents.

Unbeatable Business Camp Unbeatables has taken “daycare” a step further. The company offers an award winning unique program that combines life coaching with sports, artistic, creative and educational activities. This concept has low start-up costs and does not need a location to operate — any schools, parks, or gyms work well. The brand was grown from passion, lending to a natural lifestyle business of childhood enrichment that includes coaching kids on much needed life skills that contribute to lifelong wellbeing and success. It has little to no direct competition and works year round.

STEAM Enrichment Parents are more than aware of the benefits of enrichment programs for their children. The buzz word for the past

Kids concepts are winning “ investments for entrepreneurs — they offer a pathway for passions, scalability and flexibility, year-round income, and tons of profitability.

”

decade — STEAM — is on everyone’s lips when it comes to the world of kids. STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and serves as a broad term for all of these academic disciplines. Next Level Kidz has expertly captured this concept for franchise partners. The brand is on a mission to help stressed out parents and busy families by providing much needed relief through STEAM activities. With a 2,000 square foot facility, the business offers multiple revenue opportunities including birthday parties, after-school care, summer camps, and more. A wide range of non-competitive sports programs are also available for ages 2 to 6 years old, which gives franchisees a step into the $19 billion youth sports industry. Kids concepts are winning investments for entrepreneurs — they offer a pathway for passions, scalability and flexibility, yearround income, and tons of profitability. If you are seeking out a kid-centric concept like the ones above or you are seeking to franchise your business, my team and I can help. Visit fmsfranchise.com to get started. Franchising MAGAZINE USA 31

c h i l d r e n ’s p r o d u c t s a n d s e r v i c e s f e at u r e

franchisOR in DEPTH: Kiddie Academy

How Giving Back Has Grown the Kiddie Academy Footprint

Kiddie Academy®, a nationally recognized brand of educational child care centers, has launched a community fund to provide its teachers and staff with grants of up to $1,000 in times of personal hardship or natural disaster.

the Kiddie Academy system in need of immediate financial assistance following an unforeseen circumstance. The fund relies on support from Kiddie Academy Corporate, as well as individual donations made by franchisees, vendors, employees and the public. Kiddie Academy Corporate has seeded the fund and covers all its operating expenses.

It’s just one of the ways the Kiddie Academy system is embracing a purposedriven philosophy as it expands its footprint to 300 Academies across 34 states and the District of Columbia.

Donations to the fund are tax deductible, and grants to Kiddie Academy system teachers and staff are tax-free.

“The Community Fund is a key opportunity to support our Academies’ teachers and staff, who are the foundation of everything we do. It’s character education in action, providing living examples of empathy, generosity and responsibility,” said Maria Dontas, director of corporate social responsibility at the Kiddie Academy Domestic Franchising, LLC (“Kiddie Academy Corporate”). The Kiddie Academy Community Fund was created to help teachers and staff in 32 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

“The Community Fund is a testament to our passion and our purpose. It’s just one way we show up for one another, across state lines and classroom walls,” Dontas said. In fact, employee support is growing in the ongoing aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Companies like Kiddie Academy Corporate are responding. The franchisor is continuing to find ways to support Academies across the Kiddie Academy system and to provide resources to franchisees so they can better serve their teams.

According to the Federal Reserve’s most recent Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households, 35% of adults would have a hard time covering an unforeseen expense of $400. With inflation at a 40year high, everyone is feeling the pinch. When brands like Kiddie Academy step in to support teachers and staff in the franchise system, it can make a meaningful difference. “The Kiddie Academy Community Fund helped me and my family through my Covid-19 recovery,” said Christine, a teacher at a Kiddie Academy franchise location in Illinois. “The grant helped me with the hospital bills I received during Covid-19. It’s unfortunate that things turned out this way, but I can truly say ‘I beat Covid!’ I am thankful for my life and so appreciative of Kiddie Academy.” In the past year, enrollment across the Kiddie Academy system has increased

Purpose-driven isn’t just “ a catchphrase for the Kiddie Academy system—it’s a passion.

”

franchisees are doubling down—multi-unit owners now make up 60% of operating Academies. It’s a great validation of our business model.” The Kiddie Academy brand celebrated 40 years of early childhood education in 2021 with a $40,000 donation to Family Promise, a national nonprofit focused on providing prevention, shelter and stabilization services to communities nationwide. The donation was used to launch a leadership academy offering training to staff at Family Promise affiliates and scholarships focused on helping women achieve career growth in early childhood education.

20% to over 38,500 children. More than 8,000 educators in the franchise system are focused on delivering the brand’s Life Essentials® curriculum, which is designed to inspire curiosity and instill character in the children it serves. Since its inception in 1981, Kiddie Academy has been recognized as a leading brand in educational child care. The company serves families and their children ages 6 weeks to 12 years old, offering full-time care, before-and after-school care and summer camp programs, through the Kiddie Academy system. Kiddie Academy Corporate has received corporate accreditation from the globally recognized Cognia accreditation system, signifying its commitment to quality education and the highest standards in child care. “Service franchises are on the rise as consumers look to create efficiency in their lives. We’ve seen firsthand how child

care is the backbone of our communities,” said Kiddie Academy Corporate President Joshua Frick. “The Kiddie Academy system affords franchisees a way to create a scalable service offering to meet the community’s needs and wants while providing consistency in our programs.” Furthermore, child care franchising is a recession-resistant model. Child care is a need that every parent has to fulfill, which makes it an industry that rebounds quickly after economic downturns. And owning a franchise in the child care industry doesn’t necessarily mean you have to have a background in early childhood education. The Kiddie Academy system comprises franchisees with backgrounds in everything from technology to engineering to accounting and more. “We’re seeing more and more franchisees coming from other concepts,” Frick added. “In addition to new prospects, our existing

Because the Kiddie Academy system workforce is predominantly female, (61% of Kiddie Academy Corporate employees and approximately 99% of franchisees’ employees across the 300 franchised locations), Kiddie Academy Corporate seeks to lead by example for other businesses hoping to support working women and parents. To accomplish this, Kiddie Academy Corporate has developed excellent benefits for its employees, including increased parental leave following the birth or adoption of a child, phase-out programs for mothers, phaseback-in plans for parents after family leave, additional and expanded child care tuition support and more flexible working hours. Purpose-driven isn’t just a catchphrase for the Kiddie Academy system—it’s a passion. Whether it’s supporting staff through the Community Fund and progressive family benefits or giving back to the community locally and nationally through Family Promise, this franchise system is setting an industry precedent. Giving is an insideout philosophy, and it’s at the heart of everything the Kiddie Academy brand stands for—from its Character Essentials® program taught at Academies to its corporate identity. Franchising MAGAZINE USA 33

c h i l d r e n ’s p r o d u c t s a n d s e r v i c e s f e at u r e

EXPERT ADVICE: John Collins | Kumon Education

Value of Education Franchises Grows During Pandemic

John Collins is Kumon North America’s vice president of Center Network Development

Franchises in the education industry received a substantial boost from an unlikely source: the pandemic. Education enrichment franchises were already experiencing strong growth before COVID because of the increased competition for spots in leading universities and parents’ desire to give their kids an edge as they pursue secondary education and enter the job market. When COVID forced schools to close and pivot to virtual learning, parents scrambled to not only prevent their kids from falling behind but also to give them every advantage moving forward. A spike in demand for education enrichment services coincided with The Great Resignation, which led to an unprecedented number of employees leaving their jobs in search of more meaningful work. 34 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

“Many entrepreneurial-minded individuals seek to change their lifestyles by opening their own business, and they appreciate that franchising offers a proven business model, established systems and extensive training,” says Mike Shim, senior vice president of field operations for Kumon North America. “Kumon experienced a tremendous increase in interest from teachers, especially, who want to have greater control over their schedule and their future but want to use their classroom experience to continue to make a difference in the lives of children. The corporate support is a big draw, as this is a first business venture for most of them.” Kumon, the top education franchise in North America, added 65 new centers in 2021 to total more than 2,000 locations in the U.S. and Canada. This year, Kumon anticipates extremely strong growth in California, Texas, New Jersey and New York, as well as Canada. After-school enrichment programs like Kumon are worth $23.5 billion in the U.S. National data backs up the trend of teachers leaving schools for the private sector: • 300,000 teachers and school-related staff left their fields between February 2020 and May 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. • 55% of teachers said they would leave education sooner than planned, up from 37% last August, according to a 2022 National Education Association poll. • 44% of public schools in the U.S. reported full- or part-time vacancies at the start of last school year, according

to the National Center for Education Statistics. Many of those teachers are turning to Kumon; in fact, they are driving the company’s growth. They seek new career opportunities where they can continue to both use their training and experience and do what they love – teach and make a difference at a high level – outside of the school system and with an eye toward building their own business for the future. Just like others who are leaving their jobs to open their own small businesses, teachers want to have more control over their schedules, cut out bureaucracy and be their own boss. Former teacher Georgette Kankwende, now the owner-operator of Kumon Center of Fort Worth-Woodland Springs, was thrilled to trade in her 80-minute-per-day commute to the school where she worked for a five-minute drive to her own business, which opened in January 2021. “Enrollment has been really good,” Kankwende says. “I could tell in the first three months that there was a need for Kumon in my area, and it really hasn’t slowed down at all. We now have more than 150 students.”

A spike in demand for “ education enrichment services coincided with The Great Resignation, which led to an unprecedented number of employees leaving their jobs in search of more meaningful work.

”

starting to notice that,” Kankwende says. “School just isn’t enough for some kids. They really need supplemental education.” Kumon Center owners say they are limited in the number of students they can serve without sacrificing customer service or social distancing, so the increased demand for education enrichment is resulting in not only healthy enrollment at existing centers but also a need for more centers. Scott Cook Photography for Kumon

The need for education enrichment services is expected to continue. The education consultant McKinsey & Company reports that the lingering effects of the pandemic persist. For K-12 students in the 2021-2022 school year, that translated to being an average of five months behind in math and four months behind in reading.

School districts have not revised their expectations; they still expect students to know the same things they would have been taught pre-pandemic in spite of numerous education disruptions, including school closures and remote learning. “COVID and virtual schooling set a lot of students back, and parents are really

“We are actively recruiting teachers and others to become Kumon instructors because we have a critical need for more centers,” says Shim. “We know that teachers are confident in their ability to work with children but may be hesitant to start a Kumon Center because they don’t necessarily have experience in running a business. We allay their fears by explaining our extensive training process, which includes everything they may need to know to run a Kumon.” Additionally, Shim says, startup costs are a concern for many new small business owners, but Kumon’s staff does all that they can to make building new centers affordable for franchise owners. The franchise fee for Kumon is only $2,000, and Kumon offers thousands of dollars in incentives to help offset many of the costs of opening a new center – including providing funds for marketing, signage, furniture and more. “We keep costs low so that Kumon Instructors can launch their businesses in the best possible financial shape,” he says. “Our team is here to help Kumon Center owners succeed so that we can meet the needs of more families.” Franchising MAGAZINE USA 35

c h i l d r e n ’s p r o d u c t s a n d s e r v i c e s f e at u r e

HAVE YOUR SAY: Anne Huntington Sharma | Huntington Learning Center

Huntington Learning Center

is the nation’s leading tutoring and test prep provider dedicated to giving every student the best education possible will carry students through their lifelong academic careers, like reading for example.

Huntington was founded in 1977 by Dr. Ray and Eileen Huntington and remains a family-led organization. 45 years later we are steadfast in our mission and passionate about innovating ways to provide families with modernized instruction and tools to establish strong foundational skills that are the key to lifelong academic success. Huntington offers customized programs through in-person, online, and hybrid options. With approximately 300 locations, our proven, proprietary method starts with an Academic Evaluation to develop a personalized learning plan. 36 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

Next, our certified teachers provide individualized instruction in phonics, reading, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. Additionally, we prepare students for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. As we near the end of summer and students start returning to school, Huntington continues to prepare our students and address the looming challenges like unfinished learning due to the global pandemic and the ever-present ‘summer slide.’ Both disruptions, unforeseen or not, have caused skills gaps in students across the country. Perhaps most significantly in students who have missed classroom time in grades K-2. At this stage in elementary school, the curriculum is focused on building the vital foundational skills that

Dr. Ray Huntington, Chairman of the Board and Co-Founder offers insight into why having a strong ability to read and comprehend material is paramount to student success. “Reading takes instruction and practice to master and it doesn’t come easily to everyone. Before students can learn content in various subject matters like the sciences or are able to compose and write an essay, they must be able to read well and comprehend the material they are reading. Your child should be able to read a passage or chapter, answer questions about the who, what, when, where, and why, make predictions about what might happen next, and summarize. It’s also important that children understand sentence structure and punctuation in order to get the context of what they read.” Setbacks due to time missed in the classroom, planned or unplanned, impact a child’s ability to learn and grow this exceptionally important skill set. The impact of which reaches beyond homework and testing. According to the Teacher & Principal School Report: 2nd Edition, in a survey of 4,517 public school educators, 98 percent agree that reading also contributes to students reaching their social-emotional needs, which in turn helps students reach their highest academic potential. Through it all, Huntington has continued to innovate curriculum, update operations and implement strategic processes across the organization in order to keep our centers open and provide families with learning support when they’ve needed it most.

Huntington tutors all grades, kindergarten through grade 12, in study skills, reading, phonics, spelling, math, science, and more. We also prep for the SAT, ACT, GED, ASVAB, PARCC, HSPT, ISEE, and state exams. And although our teachers do not diagnose learning disabilities, we can help students with disabilities make great progress. We have placed a focus on providing tutoring and resources for students with ADHD across all subject areas. Every student deserves to know the joy of reading and have the skills, confidence and motivation to succeed in school.

Huntington is currently in the throes of a digital transformation that was somewhat fast-tracked in response to school closures in 2020, but has been at the forefront of long term planning and the basis of organizational goals for multiple years prior. The success of Huntington’s new, techforward academic resources has led to over 500,000 hours of modernized, integrated, remote, & in-person learning for students across the country. What once was a complete brick and mortar business model has evolved into a contemporary educational resource with programs offered both remotely and in-person.

Today Huntington’s certified teachers provide students with instruction resulting in an average of 2+ grade level improvement in reading in as little as 50 hours. We use research-based curricula, delivering comprehensive instruction. With 120+ reading programs across 34 different skill-sets Huntington’ provides each student with a truly individualized instructional program. As we dive into the 2022-2023 school year, Huntington encourages parents to visit our website and utilize the resources available like our free webinars. Skills gaps in reading do not have to linger or be compounded as students enter a new grade.

To learn more about Huntington’s programs like Homework Help, HuntingtonHelps LIVE, Huntington Advantage, Test Prep, Academic Performance Coach and more visit huntingtonhelps.com Interested in joining our passionate network of entrepreneurs and educators? Find out how to join the team at huntingtonfranchise.com

About the Author Anne Huntington Sharma is the President and a Board Member of Huntington Learning Center, the nation’s leading tutoring and test prep provider. Anne oversees business strategy and growth initiatives, including partnerships, marketing, digital transformation, and franchise expansion. Franchising MAGAZINE USA 37

c h i l d r e n ’s p r o d u c t s a n d s e r v i c e s f e at u r e

EXPERT ADVICE: Rick Bisio | Franchise Coach & Author

Franchising

with a Focus on Kids Rick Bisio is one of the countries most respected franchise coaches and author of the Amazon best seller, The Educated Franchise – 3rd Edition. Since becoming a franchise coach in 2002, Bisio has assisted thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs nationwide explore the dream of business ownership. www.afranchisecoach.com

When deciding upon starting a franchise, one of the biggest considerations is your target market. Who you’re looking to serve as customers can determine requirements such as location, expenses and staff training needs. When a franchise is aimed at serving the youngest of customers, how viable is a business that focuses on children’s products and services?

Profits to be Made Over the past 20 years working as a franchise coach, I have worked with many franchise opportunities serving families with kids. With more parents working while raising a family, that means families have more disposable income to spend on each of their children. There are multiple industries and markets that serve the needs of parents and their children. Take the daycare industry for example. Market analysts say in the U.S. alone the daycare industry is worth $61 billion. They also say the childcare market – which includes early care, daycare, early education, and backup care – is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 3.9% through 2027. Of course, child-focused franchises aren’t only about 38 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

education and watching the kids while mom and dad are at work. The family indoor entertainment center market is also growing. Market analysts expect this global entertainment market to reach $69.55 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 10.9%.

Room for all Sorts of Concepts There are a wide variety of businesses that cater to children. Some successful businesses have combined two proven concepts. Ivybrook Academy, for example, focuses on early childhood education while also providing a daycare function for a portion of the day. Another example is We Rock the Spectrum, a fitness play franchise that specializes in serving special needs children. You can also go in the opposite direction and focus in on one kind of service or product. Code Ninjas, for example, is an education center franchise that focuses on teaching children about computer coding. Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids is a franchise specializing in kid’s haircuts. Other concepts for kid-focused franchises include children’s clothing, children’s party catering, personal tutoring, after-school activity centers and sports camps. There’s room for both in-person and remote/virtual services among kidfocused franchises. With the rise of remote businesses during the COVID-19

pandemic, virtual learning became

commonplace. Even now as the pandemic is subsiding and the restrictions are

largely gone, many are continuing to use

virtual classrooms to match students with tutors in a variety of subjects, as well as

helping parents connect with pediatricians, nutritionists, and other experts for

consultations. Meanwhile, in an effort to

Costs and Challenges Of course, there’s always challenges to tackle when you open a business, and a children-focused franchise is no exception. Costs are comparable to similar franchises. You’ll need to consider things like physical infrastructure requirements and build out requirements. Like any business, the services or goods you provide will determine your expenses a lot more than the customers you’re serving. A family entertainment center will need a lot of space and equipment, as well as staff to run and maintain it, while an at-home babysitting service can be run from home, with the biggest expenses being officerelated. One of the challenges that gets overlooked is the need to stay focused. Entrepreneurs who start a business with the goal of providing services for kids need to carefully consider that you and your staff will be dealing with children throughout your workday. Some businesspeople may think that won’t be hard, especially if they’ve got kids of their own. return to “normalcy” and ensure children get opportunities to socialize, in-person, brick-and-mortar businesses are also in demand. Of course, all the above-mentioned concepts and sectors will normally have both new development areas as well as the possibility of franchise resales in select markets.

However, keep in mind that your own children will be growing up and moving past early childhood while your business will remain focused the same customer base. You need to be sure you’re ready to handle that age group for longer than the average parent. You also want to make sure your staff is of a similar mindset. Since parents are trusting you with their kids, sometimes without the parents’ direct supervision, you want to be sure your staff

is ready and capable of keeping up with multiple kids for the better part of the day. Business hours are also something to consider. Many children’s concepts see a lot of business in the late afternoon, evening and on the weekend during the school year, since that’s when kids will be out of school. Some concepts are more seasonal, like summer camps. Make sure you’re prepared to handle working when your customers, i.e., the kids, are most available – evening and weekends. As both business hours and busy seasons are a consideration, before you open a kidfocused franchise, make sure you consider where you want to focus most of your time and attention, such as at work or with your own family, friends and personal interests. You want to be sure you pick a business and/or franchise that gives you the balance that works best for you.

Family Franchising In summary, franchises built around a concept of catering to the needs of children and their families are viable, with good potential for profit and anticipated market growth. Like all franchises, these come with expenses dependent on the type of service or product you provide, but unique to these franchises, you should be ready to operate when the kids aren’t in school and for the challenges of handling kids of a certain age for long periods of time. If this sounds like a business you can get behind, then a children-focused franchise might be a good fit for you. Franchising MAGAZINE USA 39

c h i l d r e n ’s p r o d u c t s a n d s e r v i c e s f e at u r e

franchisor in depth: Youth Athletes United

Parent Company Youth Athletes United Doubles Revenue in 3 Years with Youth Sports Brands Amazing Athletes, Soccer Stars, JumpBunch, TGA Premier Sports and Little Rookies

Since the acquisition of both Soccer Stars and Amazing Athletes, Youth Athletes United has doubled its revenue in less than three years via organic growth and strategic advertising. With the addition of TGA Premier Sports, JumpBunch, and Little Rookies to the platform, the company now stands at $47 million in system-wide revenue. The popular youth sports training and activity programs combined forces under the umbrella of newly formed parent company Youth Athletes United earlier this year. Under the direction of its co-founders — CEO Adam Geisler and President John Erlandson — it’s a perfect time for Youth Athletes United to emerge as a key player 40 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

in the multibrand franchisor category. Most importantly, with over 290 franchise units and counting, and with Soccer Stars, JumpBunch, and Little Rookies launching as additional franchise options in 2022, Youth Athletes United is getting closer every day to reaching its goal of impacting more than one million kids every year. “With the only real costs incurred being equipment, our franchisees are really set up to succeed and be profitable in the first 90 days,” said Erlandson. “There’s a 100% cash-on-cash return potential by the end of the first year in business, which is hard to find in other opportunities today.”

Youth Athletes United Brings Together 5 Top Youth Sports Brands After a long career in sports business development, Geisler and his team came

across the opportunity to combine each of the five brands, starting in September 2018. Almost exactly three years later, in September 2021, the team created nowparent company Youth Athletes United in an effort to streamline the franchise opportunities and maximize the brands’ reach. Youth Athletes United is working to complete its mission of creating the largest youth sports franchise platform in the country, where every child can enjoy learning the fundamentals of the sport while having fun. All brands under the Youth Athletes United umbrella are well-established with sports-specific vertical curricula, a strong customer base and 15 to 20 years of operation each. Founded more than 20 years ago in Manhattan and just now preparing to launch a franchise option with Youth

Officer. “The majority of those kids started with us [at Soccer Stars] at age three or four. It really shows that sports at that age need to be more than just running around and chasing a ball. Learning cues at that early stage are important. As it stands now, most kids typically stop playing sports at 6-8 years old. Children need to have a supportive outlet and the confidence to get out and play, so we are really working to undo this statistic.”

Why Youth Athletes United Franchisees Can Anticipate a Boom in Growth In 2022

“

The popular youth sports training and activity programs combined forces under the umbrella of newly formed parent company Youth Athletes United earlier this year.

”

Rookies is a youth baseball program that teaches athletic skills and supports physical and personal development, empowering children ages 2 to 6 through the sport of baseball.

Athletes United, Soccer Stars is the largest corporate-run youth sports program in the U.S. for kids ages 2 and up. After more than 18 years in operation, TGA Premier Sports is the No. 1 golf and tennis enrichment brand in the country. Amazing Athletes is the largest multisport sports education program in the country, where instructors teach sports fundamentals, nutrition and muscle groups in this preschool-based program. Similar to Amazing Athletes and with 20 years in operation, JumpBunch offers an opportunity to run sports and fitness activity programs for children in preschools, schools, camps and for birthday parties across micro-territories. Little

“We’ve found new and unique ways to service curriculum and activities that haven’t been done before that allow us to meet families where they are rather than force them to meet at one singular location,” said Geisler. “So whether we’re doing private groups at people’s homes or we’re running classes inside of malls or at the local field, we look at how we can continue to provide more programming content to more kids to reach our millionkids-a-year goal for our business.” Through these five verticals, families have the opportunity to nurture a child’s love of sports from the age of two through middle school, something that sets Youth Athletes United apart from the competition and empowers life-long athletes. “The most telling event, I think, was when our U14 [soccer] team won nationals in 2018,” said Dean Simpson, Chief Programs

During the first year of COVID-19, nearly 50% of Youth Athletes United’s revenue came from private groups. In the previous year, that number was only 3%. As they look ahead to next year, the Youth Athletes United team believes they’ll still continue to see an increased number of private groups, with projections accounting for about 10% to 15% of their revenue. Top growth markets for 2022 include major cities in Connecticut, Virginia, Maryland, Tennessee, Nevada, and Texas — but Youth Athletes United isn’t limiting its expansion to major markets. “There is a McDonald’s in every small town in America, and there is no reason that there shouldn’t be a small business owner there making a good living with Youth Athletes United,” Geisler said. “There’s something special in even the smallest of markets.” Youth Athletes United goes above and beyond to support its owners, who are promised instant access to anybody on the corporate team at any time. They provide operational support manuals to clearly lay out what a franchisee should do, and they’re constantly investing in software and tech with a relentless desire to innovate. “There isn’t really a space in child athletics that involves such a robust curriculum and organized progression,” Geisler said. “We’ve always worked to meet the parents and their children where they are, even if it meant amping up our small group sessions throughout COVID. We aim to be the premier youth sports organization in the nation.” Franchising MAGAZINE USA 41

c h i l d r e n ’s p r o d u c t s a n d s e r v i c e s f e at u r e

FRANCHISEE IN ACTION: Viola Feld | Huntington Learning Center

Working your Way Up How a Passion for Helping Children Turned a Job into a Business

42 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

Everyone’s path to entrepreneurship is different – some people know from the beginning that they want to be their own boss, and some just happen to stumble into the opportunity. For Viola Feld, a Huntington Learning Center franchisee, her path to becoming a business owner began with her love of children and helping people. With a background in both the business and education industries, Feld worked with students and parents her entire career in both public and private sectors. In 2015, she found Huntington Learning Center and was hired as a Center Director at the Bay Ridge center in Brooklyn, New York. When she was transferred to the Englewood center in 2018, an opportunity presented itself for Feld to consider becoming an entrepreneur. In 2019, Feld learned that the Englewood center was looking for a new franchisee, and seeing firsthand the tremendously talented teachers and staff, she knew it would be a rewarding opportunity. After speaking with her father, Boris Feld, they decided to become co-owners of the center and embark on the world of business ownership. Even though Viola had owned a small tutoring business at one point, taking on an established learning center was a whole other ballgame. While it is always alarming to take on new challenges, Feld believes many of the things she learned while working for Huntington as an employee made it an easier transition to becoming a franchisee.

Training and Support Gave Her Confidence Starting as a Center Director, Feld received a lot of hands-on experience and training that helped her learn what it took to run a Huntington Learning Center. Working under an Operations Manager, she was learning everything from executing marketing plans to creating a monthly revenue and action plan. She was also encouraged to continue to grow her skills

and learn to problem-solve. On top of the help from her mentors, Feld found immense value in the monthly training provided by Huntington to help her gain confidence in her new role. When considering becoming a franchisee, Feld felt comfortable in moving forward in part due to the tremendous training and support offered by the franchisor. Huntington Learning Center provides a comprehensive training program with the corporate team that helps train new franchisees on every aspect of their new business, as well as ongoing support and coaching. This includes training on marketing, how to enroll students, how to hire teachers, Huntington’s curriculum, how to continue to grow your business, and much more. Business ownership is always harder than it looks, but having a recognizable brand behind you that offers lots of training, support, and resources can help make the opportunity to succeed more attainable.

Curriculum Showcased Positive Results With years of experience in the education industry, one thing that stood out to Feld about Huntington was the methodical research behind the curriculum. As the premier provider of test preparation and tutoring services, Huntington works with each student to identify their strengths and weaknesses in order to create an individualized tutoring program that is unique for each child’s learning pace and style. It was important to Feld to work for an accredited tutoring service that wasn’t just one-size-fits-all for every student. Huntington Learning Center has a long track record of helping students achieve academic success since opening in 1977. For over 40 years, Huntington uses a high-quality curriculum based on comprehensive research to give students the best education possible. The proven curriculum and methodology continues to evolve and change based on new learning trends and feedback from teachers and students. Students that use Huntington’s tutoring services consistently see massive

improvements, especially now as students are behind due to the effects of COVID and remote learning. Huntington students see an average of 2+ grade level increase in reading and math, as well as greater confidence and motivation in school. Feld chose to work for Huntington because she believed in the curriculum. After experiencing the results in her position as Center Director, it confirmed that she wanted to become a franchisee.

Passion Fueled Her Decision Filled with passion for child education, Feld decided to take the plunge and become an entrepreneur because she saw the potential for what the center could be, and all the children the teachers, including herself, could help. She always had a passion for working with students, and working at Huntington gave her the opportunity to experience the positive impact firsthand. The Englewood center has been open since 1997, and in the four years she has been there, Feld has seen several generations of families come through the doors who spoke so highly of Huntington. One past student loved their experience so much they came back to work as a teacher. Her passion truly fueled her to become a franchisee to continue to grow and help more students in her community. After the success of their first location, Feld and her father decided to purchase a second location in the Park Slope area of Brooklyn, New York this year in February 2022 – proof that passion can turn into a thriving business. Regardless of how you decide to become an entrepreneur, it is important to have a thorough understanding of the industry and business operations. With Feld’s experience working for Huntington Learning Center as a Center Director beforehand, she felt she understood the interworking of the business and was confident that her training, the support she received, and her passion for helping students could benefit her in becoming a successful franchisee. For more information about franchising with Huntington Learning Center visit https://huntingtonfranchise.com/ Franchising MAGAZINE USA 43

EXPERT ADVICE: Lucas Frey | CEO | Bella Vista Executive Advisors

7 Steps to Maximize Employee Engagement Why are some franchisees successful and others aren’t? They all have the same operations manual and business model. One determination of success is how franchisees engage with their team. It is costly to lose great employees and keeps your franchise from growing faster. Many articles address “the great resignation” and how companies must adapt to the “new normal” to retain 44 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

their teams. The pandemic has caused a short-term shock wave in many aspects of everyone’s lives. This article discusses how to engage with your franchise’s employees, so the great ones don’t want to leave for greener pastures; no matter the subsequent business trauma, you have systems in place. If you master all 7 Essentials, your franchise will keep your top talent no matter what issues arise.

Consistent training and professional development are required A Successful Franchisee seeks to move

forward and learn something new every day. Learn one new thing each day, and in a year, WOW, you’ve grown. Create systems providing professional training for your team, including you. Your franchise value will increase tremendously. I saw this first hand with ImageFIRST and, more pronounced, as the Terrace Park Fire Department Chief. One of the first decisions from the leadership team created systematic in-house Firefighter Level I training (a level above requirements) and promoted outside professional training for all members. As a result, the organizational engagement, confidence, and morale

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 other franchise owners’ successes. To learn more about Luke and how Bella Vista Executive Advisors can help, please click HERE www.bellavistaexecutiveadvisors.com

addressing. For example, in Honduras, one low-cost benefit that had a tremendous impact on employee retention was bus vouchers for all employees that made their target numbers for the month. Your team is the most significant contributor to your success. Figure out what you need to do to keep the best working for you.

Engage new employees from the moment your offer is accepted Your high-performing teammates are your franchise’s greatest resource. New employees add value, or you wouldn’t have hired them. They are excited about the new opportunity (your greener pastures). They’re nervous about the unknown. And they’re ready to show the world what they can accomplish. Leverage this emotional momentum. Make your franchise THE BEST place to work from the start: • Give them as much paperwork as you can to be completed before their first day, increased markedly. TPFD membership doubled during my time as chief, during a time 85% of volunteer departments’ members declined. We grew when most volunteer departments were begging for firefighters. Curious teammates help your franchise thrive. They are engaged and seek to know how they can improve. These employees are like diamonds ready to be cut, polished, and shined. They are valuable. Determine what you need to do to foster their loyalty to you and your franchise.

A Successful Franchisee has impressive managers It’s true that “good employees leave bad bosses” at every organizational level. You hire, promote, and train the very best managers. They live your company’s mission at work, and, in turn, so does their team. Put a poor manager in charge of a team, and their performance will suffer. Have systems for anonymous employee feedback, survey your teams regularly, or have an outside advisor do a 360 analysis.

All of these help in 3 ways: 1. Demonstrates to your team that you are committed to improving their work-life, 2. Uncovers issues you didn’t know, 3. Incremental improvements create trust and loyalty. Managers communicate with their teams daily. Make sure this communication aligns with your mission and adds to franchise growth. See my blog, “8 Strategies for Powerful Business Communication.”

Evaluate the turnover risk for your franchise at least every 6 months Define your franchise’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) concerning employee turnover. Think of it as strategic planning on how to keep your best employees. Is your total compensation in line, below, or exceeding the industry average? Money isn’t everything for employee retention. If your total compensation is at or below the industry average, it’s a red flag that needs

• Make sure they have time to wash their new uniform, • Have flowers delivered, thanking their partner, when appropriate, • Minimize the onboarding obstacles and frustrations. Create an online process for orientation and some basic training. • Detail what documents are required on their first day on-site. Nothing will grind the new-job positivity to a halt faster than your fresh employee stuck in a window-less cubicle filling out paperwork and reading the policy manual with little personal interaction the majority of their first day. Almost as dull as that last sentence is long. The windowless cubicle was a cleared-out janitor’s closet on one of my first days. Instead, ensure their manager meets them at the door the first day on-site. Have them dig right into learning with a senior employee immediately after touring your facilities. At the end of the day, make sure their manager asks your new teammate what are the top 3 things they learned and 1 suggestion for how Franchising MAGAZINE USA 45

EXPERT ADVICE: Lucas Frey | CEO | Bella Vista Executive Advisors

their day could be better. A good rule of thumb is that no more than 20% of the first day is paperwork. My franchise required new managers and sales folks to make deliveries with seasoned drivers for the first 2 weeks. As a result, over half of my ImageFIRST team worked with me for 15 years.

Increase employee loyalty. Show appreciation daily for the “little-all-add-up” things. Specially recognize the remarkable Sincere appreciation is valued by those you lead. The Successful Franchise Owner seeks out reasons to praise their team. Company newsletters are a great way to showcase employees who give your company discretionary effort. How can peers show appreciation for each other’s great work? The list to let your team know they are valued is endless. The key is that you are seeking out reasons to praise publicly. As much as possible, discuss corrective actions in private. 46 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

Be flexible on work schedules when possible Not everyone works at the same pace. For example, you may have a herd of highperformers working with you. There are differences in quantity and quality of output among them. In my engineering days with Red Kap, our main task was setting job standards. We used extensive time and dexterity studies to determine how many pants pockets should be sewn closed in an hour, for example. The standard is the mean on a bell curve, with some teammates completing more or less around the standard with varying quality. Establish easily understood measurements for each job with your franchise. And have systems in place to measure each employee’s output. Of course, the inclination is to give more work to those that can handle it to fill their 40+ hour work week. That’s ok to a point. However, crossing the line leads to burnout and, at times, resentment in truly highperformers unless their pay reflects the higher output.

Ensure the total compensation for each level is above industry averages Incentivize each role where possible. With my franchise, the GM was compensated a base salary with incentive bonuses for several measurements he had a majority of control. The customer representatives earned 10% of their total weekly dollars delivered. Not every role is that simple to quantify. Suitable systems allow all work output to be measured. Create a bonus plan for primary objectives met. Increase or decrease the bonus for ranges. For the ImageFIRST GM, let’s say a quarterly review showed 110% spent of the vehicle maintenance goal. His bullseye was <100%. He earned a partial bonus for that particular KPI. Pay attention to the most valuable asset to your franchise, your team. Start implementing any of these 7 essentials on a small scale and test what works for your franchise. Over time you will develop a loyal work family.

FOCUS: Museum of Illusions

Museum of Illusions: Making the Magic Happen When the pandemic hit in early 2020, the world initially looked pretty bleak through the lens of those in the business of entertaining. Yet now nearly three years since the global shutdown, what first looked like a death sentence for so many businesses built on the in-person experiences they provide has in fact proven to be a reset that’s sent experiential retail skyrocketing in terms of consumer demand. In this “post-COVID” world, we’re finding that people are more eager than ever to pay for a memorable experience they can enjoy with others in ways that cannot so easily be recreated at home. At the forefront of companies successfully responding to this booming demand for memorable experiences is global franchisor Museum of Illusions, the world’s largest privately-held museum chain renowned for its unique spin on “edutainment” in the form of mind-bending optical illusions. Here’s a peek behind the curtain at the magic driving the increasing popularity of this franchise concept among both customers and prospective franchisees alike.

The Origins of the Illusion Founded in 2015 in Zagreb, Croatia, by entrepreneurs Roko 48 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

user-generated content across various social media platforms serving as a powerful organic marketing tool for the brand. The appeal of Museum of Illusions is unique in that it attracts a wide range of visitors, including not only locals but also tourists from all around the world. The museums have even welcomed celebrity visitors including Megan Fox and Samuel L. Jackson. Zivkovic and Tomislav Pamukovic, the Museum of Illusions concept was created in response to the growing tourist economy in Croatia, in which the founding partners saw an opportunity for an atypical museum to really stand out. The museum experienced immediate success, attracting thousands of customers just on its opening day and enjoying lines out the door for years following its opening. It wasn’t long before Zivkovic and Pamukovic began receiving requests from other entrepreneurs looking to bring the museum to their own cities, thus prompting the pursuit of growth through franchising. Museum of Illusions’ first franchise location opened in 2016 in Slovenia, and the brand has since continued its growth via both corporate and franchise-owned locations to result in a network of 37 total museums open today spanning 25 countries across four continents.

Prepare to be Amazed… Through continued innovation over the course of its international growth, what began as a singular Croatian tourism hotspot is now an international gamechanger in the realm of “edutainment.” The state-of-the-art museums – of which no two are exactly the same – are designed for visitors of all ages to enjoy mentallystimulating optical illusions, 3D holograms, challenging puzzles, interactive rooms and more. Accompanying each awe-inspiring exhibit is a deeper explanation of what the trick is behind the illusion at hand, giving the visitors a deeper understanding about the details and inner workings of the various installations and how they are capable of playing such convincing tricks on the human brain. With anywhere from 60 to 80 visual exhibits featured at each museum, the concept has become extremely popular among social media users. Guests often take photos and videos documenting their Museum of Illusions experiences, with that

According to Museum of Illusions CEO Jonathan Benjamin, “The experience we offer to customers makes our museums something that people want to see in-person. And in a world where experiential retail is king, that’s the best business model you could ask for.”

What’s Next? To meet the growing demand for the experience it delivers, Museum of Illusions is on track to expand its footprint like never before, and in record time. So far this year alone, Museum of Illusions brought new museums to Budapest, Hungary; Tel Aviv, Israel; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and most recently, Brussels, Belgium. Still ahead this year are new museums coming to Washington, D.C.; Phoenix, Arizona; Charlotte, North Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; Rome, Italy and Marseille, France. In pursuit of a lofty goal of opening 100 museums by the close of 2026, Museum of Illusions’ continued development is supported by the success of its unique and magnetic experiential concept, by the high traffic it drives to retail spaces thus making it a hot commodity among landlords, and by the franchise owners who take their museums to the next level in the communities they serve. As for the franchise opportunity, Museum of Illusions is dedicated to ensuring franchisees have all the resources necessary to help them successfully run the brand’s globally-renowned destinations. Armed with the firsthand experience of operating numerous corporate locations, Museum of Illusions can be trusted by franchise owners to provide reliable resources and support. With experiential retail only increasing in popularity among consumers around the world, the time has never been better to go into business with Museum of Illusions. The brand is actively seeking potential franchise owners to drive its continued expansion, eager to connect with prospects who share the company’s enthusiasm for providing great experiences that are simultaneously fun and educational. To learn more about how you can be a part of bringing the magic of Museum of Illusions to life, visit https://www.museumofillusions.com/#franchising-opportunity. Franchising MAGAZINE USA 49

have your say: David Gronewoller | Golden Corral

Successful multi-unit franchise

David Gronewoller, shares his expert advice for up-and-coming franchisees As a franchise business owner, you must remember that you are in business for yourself, but never by yourself. One of the most important aspects of franchising is to protect the brand you have invested in. This includes caring for your team and making sure you create and maintain a positive culture. I might not have all of the answers, but I know how to support and protect both my team and brand. David Gronewoller

I joined the Golden Corral franchise system in 1993. One reason I decided to invest

in the concept was that the entire senior leadership team as well as the support staff truly understands that the success of the franchise system determines the success of the brand. As an example, I believe any company can employ a great marketing team to convincingly “sell” that their brand is the best concept but it takes experienced leadership, commitment, passion, and knowledge to build a successful company. Golden Corral is equipped with an experienced, stable leadership team dedicated to building and maintaining strong relationships with its franchisees. I have experienced business ownership with other franchise concepts and in the end, Golden Corral is the only brand that has provided what I needed in terms of support and development. One of the many things I respect about Golden Corral is its tenure. They have been in business for nearly 50 years so they are not the “newest great thing,” but when you look back ten years, how many of the “newest” are still “great,” and how many are still in business like Golden Corral? In the beginning stages of my career, I made several mistakes, as anyone would. I made the decision of trusting someone that I did not know very well. To me, their word meant more than what was presented to me on paper. In the end, I learned several hard and expensive lessons. Golden Corral understands that people make mistakes but believes in using these mistakes to create opportunities for improvement. They share these opportunities with their franchisees to provide the necessary tools

50 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

guests were served instead of self-serving.

I am happy to share that we retained every member of our management teams as

professional staff, and 85% of our hourly employees. Though we are not what we consider to be “fully staffed,” we are

staffed at a level smooth enough to handle our business operations.

Our locations are now well over pre-

pandemic guest counts, sales, and we are

setting new record profits. There are only a few non-QSR/Fast Casual restaurant

concepts that can say that. Through the

combination of our restaurant leadership

and Golden Corral corporate team working together cohesively, we have continued to experience success and develop efficient

operations and communication methods. These accomplishments are the result of making it a priority to protect the brand and my team.

I have made it this far in my career because I am driven, ambitious, and humble. I

would say that my greatest accomplishment is being able to grow a successful business with incredible, talented and committed

“

I have experienced business ownership with other franchise concepts and in the end, Golden Corral is the only brand that has provided what I needed in terms of support and development.

”

to successfully navigate the everyday challenges of restaurant operations. Protecting a brand is easier said than done. A recent challenge that many franchise industry professionals faced was the COVID-19 pandemic — it was devastating. National media outlets made the assumption that buffet concepts, like Golden Corral, were history. Initially, we thought that the “buffets are dead” mantra would only last a few weeks, a month at most, but we were wrong and we had to

pivot quickly. We never gave up on our business model or the people within it. As our loyal fans began to feel comfortable dining with us again, the requests to bring the buffet back flooded in. As franchise owners passionate about fulfilling the needs of our guests and communities, we answered their requests as soon as local mandates and officials permitted. I am extremely proud of the way our team handled the unprecedented challenges that the pandemic forced upon us. Before the world shut down, we came up with an effective plan to compensate our management teams and professional staff, preparing them for the worst and hoping for the best. Our general managers divided our restaurants’ food and other supplies to our hourly employees in need of the most support followed by all others. Collectively, we developed a service standard for a buffet that provided the safest dining experience for all, where

individuals. I owe the success I have

experienced to my team and Golden Corral

Corporation, because they remind me that I do not have to be in business by myself. Early in my career, I was selected as

Restaurateur of the Year by my peers in North Carolina. In addition to being a

founding member of the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association (NCRLA) I have served on the

Association’s Board of Directors and

participated in the Education Foundation, which supports learning opportunities to

the children of North Carolina Hospitality

industry employees. I cannot say I did it all

by myself — I would not even say that I am an expert. My best advice to new business owners is to stay hungry and humble. If you lose the drive, you might lose the

ability to protect your brand and that is the most important task.

Franchising MAGAZINE USA 51

EXPERT ADVICE: Catherine Monson, Cfe | Ceo | Propelled Brands

Benefits of

There are many benefits to franchising, a system that enables an individual to own a small business, using an existing brand, in order to compete more effectively in their local market.

There are many benefits to franchising, a system that enables an individual to own a small business, using an existing brand, in order to compete more effectively in their local market. Unlike a traditional small business model, in franchising, you are in business for yourself but not by yourself, benefiting from the brand’s strength and business model, as well as their intellectual property, advertising, marketing, support, supply chain, and training. Another benefit of being part of a franchise is the sharing of knowledge and best practices not only from the franchisor, but also the brand’s other franchisees. Here are just a few of the many benefits a franchise network can offer someone who has a dream of owning their own business.

A model for success Aspiring business owners see the value in buying into a system that has been 52 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

CATHERINE MONSON, CFE, Propelled Brands, CEO Immediate Past Chair of the International Franchising Association, IFA Catherine Monson brings 30 years of franchising and management experience to her role as CEO of FASTSIGNS International, Inc., and Propelled Brands, the multi-unit franchisor that includes FASTSIGNS®; SIGNWAVE® in Australia where FASTSIGNS centers operate under the SIGNWAVE brand; NerdsToGo® and Suite Management Franchising, LLC, the parent company of MY SALON Suite® and Salon Plaza®.

successful for others. We understand this concept on a daily basis whether it’s reading reviews to know which car to purchase or asking our friend to refer a doctor to find a trusted practitioner. Franchising can provide that peace of mind, as long as you are dealing with a reputable franchisor with extensive franchising experience, a focus on franchising best practices, and a brand with proven success. This incredibly effective model truly assists people on the path to reaching their business ownership success goals. Franchising is the most democratic form of wealth creation, providing the franchisee the opportunity to generate economic output, create jobs, and build

generational wealth. In our brands, we focus on franchisee profitability, as we truly believe it is the foundation of franchising best practices.

Trusted reputation and brand awareness Instead of having to build a brand from the ground up, joining a franchise network brings years of established recognition and brand awareness. With the starting point of a solid foundation on day one, a business owner is able to leverage what has already been created, instead of starting with nothing. This brand recognition and reputation allows business owners to have a great head start, even if they’ve never

owned a business before. They are able to learn from and build upon the success of those who have come before them.

Assistance with day-to-day operations, training and support Many franchisees have shared that the reason they chose a franchise business is the extensive training and support they knew they would receive from the team at the franchisor. Our committed team focuses on providing excellent training, operations support, sales and marketing advice, and supply chain savings, which leads to our continually high scores of franchisee satisfaction. Small business owners have the daily challenge of wearing many different hats, and oftentimes, they struggle to run all parts of their business effectively. By purchasing a franchise business, someone not only purchases the business but, in addition, they benefit from an entire support team (from marketing to sales management, operations and more) who are merely a phone call or email away. Franchising gives franchisees many tools and the business acumen needed to leverage their growth. This system helps them implement a high level of business intelligence so the entire network stays up-to-date in areas of buying patterns, new services and products, and customer trends. This not only happens from the corporate team but also across the network from franchisee to franchisee. By cultivating a “sharing is caring” network, our franchisees become mentors and coaches to their fellow franchisees.

A More Robust Marketing Approach Small business owners often have such limited capital to devote to advertising and marketing. In a proven franchise system, a business owner has the national or regional ad spend backing them, in addition to marketing programs, processes and strategy provided by the Marketing team at the franchisor. Through hiring a team of skilled marketing professionals from social media experts to marketing strategists to SEO specialists, this support team assists franchisees through their knowledge and experience. Devoted to the

franchisee’s success, marketing services that are provided span from creating digital and physical assets to using data science to understand customer buying habits, as well as helping franchisees leverage their own marketing budgets to most effectively reach current and prospective customers.

Provides a more challengeresilient option for business owners A well-built matrix of support from supply chain to business consulting to training to leadership development, enables a franchise owner to more sturdily position themselves for continued success, no matter what is happening in the economic landscape. As our team witnessed during the pandemic, the franchise model is one that weathers challenges–expected and unexpected–in a more supportive, coordinated and collaborative way than an isolated small business trying to go it alone. With the power of size and scale, the opportunities available to franchise owners can also include things such as more affordable health insurance options to accessing higher vendor discounts across the supply chain.

Spurs Innovation Across the Network and Beyond When everyone works together for

the benefit of the brand, you witness an amazing comradery and sense of innovation. For example, during the pandemic, many of our franchise owners began creating PPE, safety shields, and signs to keep communities safe and healthy. These resources were then shared across the network for others to utilize, which then inspired others to think of their own innovative ideas, which were then shared across the network. Franchising’s ability to continually adapt to new circumstances and changing market conditions has become an important factor in its expanding global influence. Importantly, not all franchisors are created equal. Before you buy a franchise, please conduct thorough diligence, including reading their Franchise Disclosure Document, with special focus on their Item 19 Financial Performance Representation (if they do not show results down to profit, you need to be wary). A critical part of your diligence should also include talking with many–at least 25–of their existing franchisees, asking about their satisfaction, support, profitability, and if they had the chance to to it all over again, would they. I love franchising, and I’m thankful every day that I get to help so many people fulfill their dream of becoming business owners and building generational wealth. Franchising MAGAZINE USA 53

WOMEN IN FRANCHISING: Serena Meteau

This Black Female Exec Juggles Career, Motherhood and a New Business I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit, but after having my second child, I wanted to develop it further and decided to take a leap of faith. I chose AKT as an entrepreneurial venture because I knew I wanted to go the franchise route, and it was the perfect fit for me and the three specific qualities I was looking for - boutique, different, and authentic. I have seen first-hand the positive results and experiences that boutique fitness delivers, being a member of a few other studios previously, which made it the only choice I was interested in. I also wanted a concept that was differentiated, and like nothing else on the market today. I knew to be successful, the franchise I chose had to be something that consumers would either leave their current fitness membership to join, or something that they would be interested in adding to their current workout routine. Additionally, I wanted to enjoy it enough to do it everyday myself! I didn’t want to start something that doesn’t bring me joy, and I wanted others to experience how AKT made me feel. I love to dance (despite having two left feet), so 54 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

the moment I signed my franchise agreement, “IFrom felt like a new woman - I was finally in control of my own destiny. ” drive that my father instilled in me has been incredibly critical to my success in both my entrepreneurial journey and corporate America. As a minority female, I have had to look past the microaggressions, closed doors, and prejudices, and stay focused on building something of my own where I can create a safe, uplifting space for my diverse AKT Perimeter team and community. I am so glad to have my studio be a place for people of all shapes, sizes and backgrounds to thrive.

I immediately gravitated toward this dancebased modality with a sexy, empowering vibe. Finally, I wanted an authentic brand. Anything that I am going to own, support, and stand by needs to align with my personal values and standards. It needs to not only be backed by science and truly deliver results, but be genuine in what the brand stands for. I really loved that AKT leverages both movement and dance to help achieve health and fitness goals, while still having fun! Something else I wanted to keep in mind when starting my business was diversity. My father immigrated to the United States from Trinidad and Tobago in the sixties with only a small suitcase, and an even smaller amount of money. Through his determination and grit, he made it work and overcame the cards stacked against him. He earned his Doctor of Philosophy degree and became the chair of the Language and Literature Department at Alabama State University. He purchased and made a beautiful home for his family, and owned several others that he rented out to provide additional income as an entrepreneur himself. The work ethic and

I also want to note that over sixty percent of AKT owners are female, and I have found an amazing and strong support system among them. Several of us have been able to connect and openly share our successes and setbacks alike in the spirit of community and building each other up. A win for one of us is a win for all of us, and I am so grateful to have this community of strong entrepreneurs behind me. Juggling business ownership and my dayto-day corporate career definitely takes a village… and a lot of coffee! Having a full time career, business, and family is no joke, especially when your business is not in the state you live in. I could not be doing this without the support of my family and friends, especially my husband. He is not only my co-owner, but when I travel to Atlanta for extended periods of time to be in-studio, he holds down the fort, takes the kids to and from school and their extracurriculars, deals with drama and tantrums, and makes them food they will actually eat. My loved ones have really been the ultimate support system, sounding board, and the best cheerleaders. It’s also important to point out the importance of hiring a strong leader and empowering them. We have an awesome

general manager, whose presence and hard work has been a driving force in the success of the studio. Unfortunately, juggling all of this has challenged my workout consistency, which is a bit ironic if you think about it. Therefore, as I write this, I am putting it out into the universe that I am going to re-prioritize my self-care and get back to my fitness routine. Hold me accountable, please! Circling back to my kids, part of the reason my husband and I took on this business venture was to leave a legacy for our two daughters. After twenty years in corporate America, I had reached a point where I realized that I needed something more to supplement my career. No matter how much I gave and how many times I moved up the ladder, I had yet to feel like I was in control of my own destiny. From the moment I signed my franchise agreement, I felt like a new woman - I was finally in control of my own destiny. Now, every single decision I make, no matter how big or small it may seem, directly impacts my studio’s success, my team, and the community we are building. I want this experience to show my daughters that they can do anything if they just set their minds to it. I often tell them, “If you can dream it, you can achieve it.” Not only is it important for them to see that I am following my dreams and building my business, but that I am also positively impacting others everyday. Over ninety percent of AKT’s clientele are women, and they come to the studio with a goal in mind. For a moment of self-care. To dance and sweat away the stress of the day. To come together as a community to support and uplift one another. To leave changed. I am so proud to create this experience for them - it makes all the juggling worth it! Franchising MAGAZINE USA 55

The public and policymakers need to understand 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.

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.

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 Contact Erica Farage, Senior Director of Political Affairs and Grassroots Advocacy and Multi-Unit Franchisee Engagement International Franchise Association efarage@franchise.org (202) 662-0760

Our Franchise

@OurFranchise

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!

AUGUST 2022

cover story

PJ’S COFFEE

ANNOUNCES SIXTH ANNUAL VETERAN FRANCHISE LICENSE GIVEAWAY

latest news in

veteran franchising

From Law Enforcement to franchising with

OXI FRESH

Franchising MAGAZINE USA 57

Leadership. Teamwork. Executing SOPs. Connecting veterans with education, resources and opportunities at vetfran.org

58 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

conte nts

veter ans supplement Cover Story 62 PJ’s Coffee: Announces Sixth Annual Veteran Franchise License Giveaway

What’s New

60 Franchising News Latest News from Veterans in Franchising

Franchisee in Action 64 Oxifresh: From Law Enforcement to Franchising

Franchise In Depth 66 JDog: Veteran-Owned Business Creates Employment Opportunities for Veterans and Family Members 68 Handyman Connection: The World’s Most Trusted Handyman Franchise

Have Your Say 70 Junk King: Junk King named to Franchise Business Review’s 2022 list of 100 Recession Proof Franchises

Focus 72 Cinch IT: Cinch I.t Hosts 100 Mile Ruck March Challenge

32 Franchising MAGAZINE USA 59

veterans supplement

Edible® Brands Names Robert Cooley New Chief Financial Officer Brings two decades of experience guiding the growth of global brands to the world’s leading gift and treat destination Edible Brands, the parent company of the world’s largest franchisor and e-commerce provider of deliverable gifts, treats and more, has named Robert Cooley its new Chief Financial Officer. Cooley joins Edible Brands with more than two decades of experience in strategic planning, financial analysis, capital management and market analysis for high-profile brands such as US Airways, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Home Depot and, most recently, UPS. “Robert has a proven record of building powerful finance teams and driving profitable growth for major international brands,” said Edible Brands CEO Tariq Farid. “His vision, experience and leadership will

be critical as we embark on a new phase of global expansion.” Edible Brands has experienced unprecedented growth across both its e-commerce and brick-and-mortar channels in recent years and already has signed 40 franchise deals in the first five months of 2022, with more in the pipeline. “Edible is one of the world’s most iconic brands, and I’m excited about the opportunity to be joining this team during a time of such dynamic growth,” said Cooley, who earned his bachelor’s from the University of Virginia and an MBA from Georgetown. “The marketplace is undergoing dramatic changes, and thanks to the digital and physical infrastructure

Edible has put in place, we are uniquely positioned to take a leadership position in this changing landscape, and I look forward to playing a role in shaping that future.” More information about Edible® franchise opportunities and available markets in the United States and Canada is available at ediblefranchise.com.

Xponential Fitness Brands Row House and Rumble Boxing Partner with C4 Energy® to Fuel Fitness Enthusiasts Across the Country Row House and Rumble, two of Xponential Fitness’ (NYSE: XPOF) powerhouse brands, announced today that C4 Energy, one of the fastestgrowing energy drink brands in the United States, is their new proud energy drink partner. Created by Nutrabolt, the Human Performance Company, C4 Energy®, and C4 Smart Energy® will now be available at participating studios nationwide. Row House is the nation’s largest network of rowing workout studios, and their group classes offer high-energy, music-driven rowing intervals combined with floorbased strength exercises. The workout is low-impact and suitable for people of all fitness levels. Row House deeply values 60 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

community with its classes taught and executed in synchrony. “Row House is a tight-knit community of engaged members committed to their health and fitness, and our partnership with C4 Energy will help take their workouts to the next level,” said Nik Kish, President of Row House. “We’re very selective about the products we make available in-studio to our loyal members, so this partnership is an indication of our strong support of the C4 Energy brand and what they stand for: fueling mental and performance energy for the outperformers and overachievers who are working tirelessly to unleash their potential. “We are so proud to partner with fitness studios that truly support their members

in unlocking their limitless potential,” said Senior Vice President of Sales at Nutrabolt, Aaron Heidebreicht. For more information about Xponential Fitness, Inc., visit xponential.com and for more information about C4 Energy, visit cellucor.com/pages/c4-energy.

Smalls Sliders Adds Big Experience with 10 Point Capital Equity Investment Bolsters the Cheeseburger Slider Restaurant’s Expertise in Franchising Smalls Sliders announces today an equity investment from 10 Point Capital, a firm with an established track record of helping founders create dominant franchise brands. Already ranked #14 on QSR’s 40/40 List for 2022 of America’s Hottest Startup Fast Casuals, the craveable cheeseburger slider drive-thru concept is tapping into 10 Point Capital’s proven Franchise Acceleration Plan as it prepares for significant franchise growth. “10 Point Capital was a natural choice for Smalls Sliders, given their extensive franchise expertise,” said Brandon Landry, co-founder of Smalls Sliders. “Together we plan to bring the Smalls experience to franchisees and consumers across the country.” The investment was a natural extension of the relationship between 10 Point Capital, Brandon Landry and Drew Brees from Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux. Recognizing similar high-growth potential in Smalls Sliders, they have joined forces again to drive significant growth at Smalls Sliders. Smalls Sliders has four open restaurants and a robust pipeline of over 40 restaurants cued up across Louisiana, Texas

and Mississippi. Smalls Sliders’ ‘simple on purpose’ mantra carries through its menu and building design. Housed in an approximately 800 square foot bright orange shipping container design, each eye-catching location includes a drivethru, walk-up window and outdoor patio and is designed for immediate brand recognition. “We see in Smalls Sliders the potential to

disrupt the status quo in burgers,” says Morven Groves, Managing Partner at 10 Point Capital. “From their distinctive building design, craveable cheeseburger sliders and commitment to building a brand that centers on people, we are thrilled to be part of something we know will be special.” For more information, visit www.smallsliders.com

My Eyelab Welcomes Back-to-School Season with Eye-Popping Promotions Leading Optical Retailer Offers New Family-friendly Deals to Help Parents and Kids get Ready for the 2022 School Year My Eyelab, leading retail brands of Now Optics offering accessible and affordable eye care and eyewear, is celebrating back-to-school season with new familyfriendly deals and promotions. The fullservice retail eye care center will offer promotions on prescription eyewear; top brand contact lenses; and kids’ specials on Disney, DC and Marvel frames. From July 24 to September 3, My Eyelab will be offering a pair of Free Kids Glasses including polycarbonate lenses with the purchase of any prescription glasses. Other offers include an Acuvue Oasys 6 Month Supply (two 12-Packs) and an eye exam for

$125 or an Acuvue Oasys for Astigmatism 6 Month Supply (four 6-packs) and Eye Exam for $150. The brand is also offering a special deal to buy 3 pairs of Blue Blocker Glasses for $39 and is also offering 50% off lenses with the purchase of any Disney, DC or Marvel frames. “We felt it was important to give valueadded promotions to the communities My Eyelab serves during these difficult economic times,” said Daniel Stanton, CEO of Now Optics, parent company of My Eyelab. “The aim of our back-to-school promotions is to help families take care of their eyecare needs in one convenient

place, especially those that have multiple members that require a prescription. We want to ensure that every child is ready for the new school year which is why we are offering free kids’ glasses with the purchase of any prescription glasses.” For more information about the brands, and ongoing Back-to-School specials, visit www.myeyelab.com Franchising MAGAZINE USA 61

veterans supplement

COVER STORY: PJ’s Coffee

PJ’s Coffee Announces Sixth Annual Veteran Franchise License Giveaway New Orleans-Based Coffeehouse Chain Awards Franchise License to Deserving Veteran Family

62 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans, the coffeehouse known for its “southern hospitality” experience, the freshest products, and better beans with superior roasting technique, has announced its annual Veteran Franchise License Giveaway, which was most recently awarded to a husband and wife team, Kyle and Jen McElhaney. The franchise believes in brewing up small business opportunities for military veterans, who are looking to join the evergrowing $100 billion a year global coffee industry. PJ’s Coffee seeks hardworking, passionate applicants who align with its core values of delivering best-in-class coffee with the highest regards to service and hospitality. “With many of our previous veteran franchisees, we’ve seen a seamless transition from military life to entrepreneurship, so we started this initiative to attract like-minded individuals to our concept, and as a way of saying ‘thank you for your service,’” said Ryan Stansbury, PJ’s Coffee Vice President of Franchise Development. “We’ve found

We’ve found that our “ veteran franchisees have an extra attention to detail and level of care when it comes to how they present themselves and our brand..

”

ABOUT PJ’s Coffee PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans was founded in 1978 by Phyllis Jordan, a pioneer in the coffee industry.

that our veteran franchisees have an extra attention to detail and level of care when it comes to how they present themselves and our brand.” In April 2022, Kyle and Jennifer executed a multi-unit option agreement to own and operate two PJ’s Coffee locations within the Memphis area, with the first unit scheduled to open by the end of 2022. After that, the pair would like to introduce about a dozen locations to the tri-state area. Kyle attended the University of Mississippi ROTC and then served as an Army Officer and helicopter pilot for 8 and a half years. He piloted an AH-64 Apache Attack Helicopter, and was deployed to Jalalabad, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from 2010-2011. He then spent two years in the Mississippi National Guard where he left service at the rank of Major. Kyle then became a military recruiter for Northern Kansas before going to work for ADP, and eventually opening his own businesses. “I am incredibly fortunate to have been awarded this opportunity,” said Kyle. “As coffee consumers in the community, once we tried the product, we knew there was a need for this. We’re thrilled to be the ones to debut PJ’s menu offerings and familylike atmosphere in Memphis.”

The couple are heavily involved within their community and have owned and operated several businesses. Together, they have invested in high demand concepts throughout Memphis, including a logistics company, a full-service interior design support business and a fleet cleaning business.

The brand was acquired by Ballard Brands in 2008 which was spearheaded by brothers Paul, Scott and Steve Ballard. The New Orleans-based coffee franchise demonstrates that better beans, superior roasting techniques, and pure passion for the art of coffee-making matter. The brand serves a wide variety of hot, iced and frozen coffee beverages using only the top one percent of Arabica beans, as well as organic teas, breakfast pastries, sandwiches and New Orleans inspired beignets. PJ’s Coffee has more than 150 locations open and operating nationally and internationally.

The PJ’s Coffee brand is passionate about giving back to the veteran community in any way it can. The company is a fivestar VetFran member, proudly offering qualified veterans a 20 percent discount on the initial franchise fee. The company also ranked No. 48 within the 2022 Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers list of innovative restaurant brands and executives shaping the fast casual segment. The judges look at profitability, growth, innovation, nimbleness and creativity. To learn more about the franchise opportunity, and to request your free franchise information booklet, please visit http://www.pjsfranchise.com.

The PJ’s Coffee brand is “ passionate about giving back to the veteran community in any way it can.

”

Franchising MAGAZINE USA 63

veterans supplement

FRANCHISEE IN ACTION: Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning®

From Law Enforcement to Franchising

When life gets busy, keeping your home clean can fall behind. Before you know it, the floors look grimy and dingy. That’s when you know you need a carpet cleaning from Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning of Boone. First opened in April 2022, Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning of Boone primarily services the cities of Boone, Banner Elk, Deep Gap, Elk Park, Fleetwood, Sugar Grove, Todd, Vilas, Zionville, and more 64 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

locations stretched across five North Carolina counties. Wade Colvard and his fiancée Heather own this Oxi Fresh location.

From Law Enforcement to Franchising Mr. Colvard is a former law enforcement officer who proudly served his home community. After seventeen years as a police officer, he decided to pursue his entrepreneurial dreams alongside his fiancé. They turned to the world of franchising and

About Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning®

found Oxi Fresh, one of the fastest-growing carpet cleaning franchise brands available. Wade has effectively transferred many of the skills he developed from his long law enforcement career to his new business. His clientele has recognized him for his keen attention to detail, knowledge of local companies, and ability to effectively converse with and educate them on the advantages of Oxi Fresh. What’s more, upon first opening his Oxi Fresh business earlier this year, Colvard realized that his 17 years of working faceto-face with the community as a police officer was helping him immensely. Thanks to his background, he was able to quickly establish connections with business leaders and potential clients, giving his Oxi Fresh business a head start. For those in the franchising industry, Colvard and his Oxi Fresh business stand as a shining example of how one can utilize skills developed in real-world situations to operate a successful small business.

World-Class Cleanings with the Power of Oxygen At Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning of Boone, Colvard and his team use eco-friendly solutions that are tough on dirt and grime but easy on the environment. But what, you may ask, happens during an Oxi Fresh cleaning? Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect:

Step 1 First, Wade starts by doing a careful inspection of the floors for any particularly soiled areas.

Step 2

Through innovative products and modern technology, Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning offers green carpet cleanings and exceptional results. The company’s powerful combination of knowledgeable people, innovative technology, and strong processes has landed the brand in Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500, ranked in Inc. magazine’s Inc. 500|5000, and saw them named as one of “America’s Best Franchises to Buy,” by Forbes magazine. Oxi Fresh has over 460 locations throughout the United States and Canada, with more locations currently in development. For more information on Oxi Fresh and its franchising opportunities, please visit https://www.oxifresh.com/.

He then applies an enzyme-powered pretreatment to the most heavily soiled spots. This solution is able to break down stuck-in grime and dirt.

Step 3 Next, Wade will use the brand’s core cleaning solution across the floor. This two-part solution contains an oxygenated booster that breaks down dirt. As that works, the encapsulator in the solution traps debris in microscopic sodium crystals.

Step 4 Wade then breaks out his revolutionary OF1000 carpet cleaning machine. The OF1000 uses dual, counter-rotating brushes to agitate the carpet fibers and extract trapped debris.

Step 5 To wrap it up, Wade will vacuum and groom the carpet to leave it with a pristine finish. Make an appointment for your next Boone carpet cleaning by using Oxi Fresh’s Online Scheduler at www.oxifresh.com or by calling (828) 278-4088.

About VetFran To honor those men and women who have served in the U.S. military, the Veterans Transition Franchise Initiative, known as “VetFran,” was developed to help them transition to civilian life. The idea of the late Don Dwyer Sr., founder of The Dwyer Group, VetFran is a voluntary effort of International Franchise Association member-companies that is designed to encourage franchise ownership by offering financial incentives to honorably discharged veterans. To date, nearly 400 franchise companies participate in the program. For more information please visit https://www.vetfran.com/ Oxi Fresh also honors our veterans by giving them a 10 percent discount on the purchase of an Oxi Fresh franchise. Franchising MAGAZINE USA 65

veterans supplement

FRANCHISOR IN DEPTH: JDog®️ Junk Removal & Hauling and JDog®️

Veteran-Owned Business Creates Employment Opportunities for Veterans and Family Members JDog®️ Junk Removal & Hauling and JDog®️ Carpet Cleaning & Floor Care franchise systems empower Veterans and their families to enter business ownership, combating high Veteran unemployment rates.

Every year, nearly 200,000 Veterans struggle to find a job after military service, with just 25% of servicemembers having a job lined up in preparation for their exit, according to the Pew Research Center. The transition from military service to civilian life is notoriously difficult as Veterans adjust to new ways of life and consider educational and career opportunities once their service is complete. As hordes of servicemembers approach this transition without job security or knowledge of how skills developed during their military service may translate to civilian jobs, hundreds of thousands of Veterans find themselves separated from the military with no employment prospects. JDog Brands, the franchisor behind JDog® Junk Removal & Hauling and JDog® Carpet Cleaning & Floor Care, was founded by Army Veteran Jerry Flanagan

66 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

Most jobs don’t look anything like the military structure “ that Veterans are accustomed to, but franchising, when done correctly, can fit like a glove. ”

the camaraderie found in the military. From corporate leadership to individual franchisees, everyone within the JDog network is prepared to support one another, setting Veterans up for both financial success and a strong, understanding network of like-minded individuals. According to the Institute for Veterans and Military Families, there are five major challenges that new Veterans face. 60% struggle to navigate VA programs, benefits and services, 55% have trouble finding a job, 41% find adjusting to civilian culture difficult, 40% are left to address financial challenges, and 39% are unsure how to apply their military-learned skills to civilian life. At times, it can be easy to address these problems individually, but finding support and understanding from those who understand how these challenges intertwine is less common. Being surrounded by a group of people who are not only committed to supporting business success but also understand the more personal challenges of the transition allows Veterans to find a safe, relatable community with the JDog team.

“

The franchise not only provides Veterans a proven business model with low startup costs and a wellestablished reputation, but its larger network of franchisees mimics the camaraderie found in the military.

”

and his wife, Tracy Flanagan. After the

explained. “Veterans like to follow a

recession and knowing how hard transition

and they’ve got the grit and experience

couple filed bankruptcy during the 2008 into civilian life can be, they entered the franchising world with JDog Brands.

By doing this, Jerry and Tracy provided

business ownership opportunities exclusi

process. They take their training seriously, to overcome challenges. We’ve built our

franchise opportunities to make the most

of those qualities and help our franchisees find success quickly.”

“Most jobs don’t look anything like

The franchise not only provides Veterans

accustomed to, but franchising, when

costs and a well-established reputation, but

the military structure that Veterans are done correctly, can fit like a glove,” Jerry

a proven business model with low startup its larger network of franchisees mimics

“If you’re a Veteran and love the comradery that comes with being in the military, I have to tell you that’s the best thing about being part of a franchise. I have that back now with being part of a franchise,” explained Jim Schirtzinger, a JDog franchisee in Central Ohio. “With JDog, we have a network of more than 200 Veterans, and we get to talk and share in order to help each other out. It’s an amazing network of people doing great things in our communities, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.” Franchising MAGAZINE USA 67

veterans supplement

FRANCHISOR IN DEPTH: Handyman Connection

Handyman Connection: The World’s Most Trusted Handyman Franchise

Handyman Connection is North America’s premier business liaison that connects customers to local craftsmen in their home community. Since 1991, homeowners across North America have been calling on Handyman Connection for its professional craftsmanship and exemplary customer service. Each Handyman Connection franchise is locally owned and operated and backed by the company that helped launch the industry. The franchise currently has more than 60 locations across the U.S. and Canada, which makes their handyman services and master craftsmen available to a multitude of local communities. Each of the brand’s service areas are staffed by a top-tier team of professional craftsmen who are eager to assist customers in the improvement of their homes and properties.

What Sets Handyman Connection Apart? Handyman Connection’s values are steeped in a long-standing dedication to the people they serve and help differentiate the brand from other home repair service companies. 68 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

can help with remodeling projects, such as creating that desired man cave, adding on a screened porch and designing a brandnew kitchen. These are just a few home improvement ideas that homeowners can think of, ideas are endless!

These values include: • Delivery on Commitments • Respecting Connections • Having Pride in the Work • Practicing Continuous Improvement Handyman Connection’s high-quality workmanship extends to over 350 different handyman services, including: carpentry, remodeling, and floor installation. Inside the home, Handyman Connection can remodel a room through the installation of new drywall, painting, and flooring. Outside the home, the brand specializes in services such as the construction and installation of fences, decks and much more. No job is too big or too small for Handyman Connection’s skilled team of craftsmen.

Aging in Place Inevitably, as families and household occupants age over time, most homeowners need work and updating in order to make their homes feel more comfortable and accessible. Handyman Connection works to help its customers age in place by assisting with the completion of home-improvement projects that make living at home a little easier. These projects include: ramp installations, roll-out shelves, the widening of door frames and installing anti-slip flooring. These updates allow items such as wheelchairs and walkers to be used in the home with ease. Similar updates to bathrooms include: grab bar installations, shower seat installations, a walk-in tub or no threshold shower, and more. These updates in the home are sure to make life much more convenient for the elderly and

help them live in their homes for as long as possible. Some of Handyman Connection’s more popular services include:

Storage: Handyman Connection works

with clients to build custom storage or cabinetry to improve at-home organization. With the help of expert carpenters and custom storage installation experts across the nation, Handyman Connection is sure to provide high-quality workmanship.

Tile and Flooring: Handyman Connection is also your local expert resource for all your flooring needs, from floor surface removal and replacement, to grout and polishing. Electrical and Drywall: Handyman Connection’s team of expert craftsmen include electricians and dry wall experts. If homeowners need a few light switches installed, or a few dings in the walls repaired, Handyman Connection’s electrical and dry wall experts are up to the task. Deck Services: Handyman Connection provides professional deck repair services to keep your deck safe and beautiful all year. Do you want to have a new deck built this summer? Handyman Connection can help! Painting and Remodeling: A fresh coat of paint is an easy way to update the look and feel of your home, both inside and out. Whether you need interior or exterior painting, Handyman Connection offers expert home painting services that will make you fall in love with your home all over again. Their professional craftspeople

Plumbing: Handyman Connection can assist with a wide range of plumbing issues. The brand’s professional plumbers can handle anything from preventing leaks and repairing shower heads, to installing washing machine hookups and more. All plumbing work is done by expert plumbers who work with clients to discover the best solution for their home. Plans For Expansion and Demand for Handyman Services The demand for renovation and home improvement is currently being spurred by home-owners seeking summertime improvements to their own residences and senior generations, who once had the skills and know-how to handle home improvement and repairs, getting too old to do the job themselves. Younger generations are also increasingly leaning on hired help for their home improvement needs as handy skills are rarely passed down in this digital age. Handyman Connection is now actively seeking driven individuals looking to start their own business in the multifaceted home improvement and repair industries. Potential franchisees can benefit from Handyman Connection’s already-existing franchise network with an established reputation, image, proven management and work practices, access to national marketing and advertising, and ongoing business owner support. The initial investment to open a Handyman Connection location, which includes the first 3 months of start-up, typically ranges from $99,369 – $148,756. Specific markets targeted for development include Houston, Chicago, Charlotte, NC and Tampa Bay, FL. To learn more about Handyman Connection please visit www.handymanconnection.com Franchising MAGAZINE USA 69

veterans supplement

HAVE YOUR SAY: Junk King

Junk King

was named to Franchise Business Review’s 2022 list of 100 Recession Proof Franchises For over 15 years Junk King has continued to expand our footprint and our environmental impact while creating jobs nationwide as well as expansion into Canada. Today we have a fleet of over 500 trucks on the road and more than 150 franchised locations. 70 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

Recently Junk King was named to Franchise Business Review’s 2022 list of 100 Recession Proof Franchises. I credit a number of factors for keeping Junk King growing even in the face of a global pandemic, including but not limited a strong brand and marketing support for our network of franchisees, and our commitment to serving communities and partnering with like minded entrepreneurs with a passion for our services and goal to leave this world better than we found it.

According to P3 Cost Analysts.com a recession proof franchise is an “ industry that provides essential products and services that people and businesses will need regardless of the economic climate.” Living in a consumer driven world creates a constant stream of waste. At the current rate that people are buying goods, traditional waste management models are not sustainable. Junk King strives to innovate a solutions driven, innovative system of waste removal that translates into reusing as much material as possible. In implementing a logistics structure for waste management, we are also able to reduce our own carbon footprint and not add to the problem. Whether it is time to declutter that crawl space or just take out the weekly recycling, Junk King provides unparalleled customer service, professional and sustainability focus junk removal for our clients. So the problem we are addressing outdated waste management coupled with an increasingly harmful environmental impact - is ongoing and creates the

potential for a constantly growing stream of business even in the face of a challenging economic climate. In order to keep expanding a franchise company you need two things, more customers and more franchise owners/locations. This brings us to the first of a couple of our VIP initiatives… marketing. Marketing strategies focus on the key business attribute known as brand recognition. When Junk King was created in the early 2000s, we immediately focused on establishing a brand for itself. Similar to how a pro sports team or elite organizations like the various branches of our military lean into cohesive ‘branding’ in the way of rallying cries and uniforms, Junk King aimed to visually stand out among our competition from the very beginning. One way we did this was launching with bright red trucks that are 20% larger than our competitors’. It’s nearly impossible not to notice one of our fleet on the road, and consumers are proven time and time again to choose companies with a brand they recognize when making their purchasing decisions. A big part in expanding our brand recognition and updating our marketing approach is Crissy Russo, SVP of marketing at Junk King. WIth Crissy’s guidance we have created a social media presence that is reliant on engagement and used as a tool to keep franchisees connected to their communities. Followers

and consumers are encouraged to interact with our social media posts, which in turn has improved our online conversion rate, lead generation and overall brand recognition. Another reason I’d like to credit for our success is our focus on a service oriented, team culture that starts within our network of franchise owners and extends into each of their local communities. Nurturing business relationships within communities allows us to connect with consumers and creates brand likability. One way Junk King approaches this is by supporting community outreach programs. For example, we have always been proud of our partnership with Military Makeover. Through Military Makeover. Junk King provides our services and disposes the waste created during the home renovations given to service men and women. Internally this cause is close to Junk King’s heart. Today we have numerous veteran owned and operated Junk King locations across the US. We see a high level of success among our veteran employees. Junk King’s service minded, team focused structure resonates with current and former military members. Skills like commitment, hard work, and an overall mission oriented approach to a purpose “bigger than oneself” seamless transfer into the successful operation of a Junk King location and creates a strong bond between its team members.

A perfect example of this is Melissa Michel, owner and operator of two Junk King locations, Junk King Baton Raton and Junk King Fort Lauderdale. Military Veteran Melissa Michel of Junk King Baton Raton and Junk King Fort Lauderdale, has said...

My strong training skills “ are a product of my military training and career. These are passed down to my staff and customers and each and every job. Being well organized and having the ability to manage a staff while performing a wide range of duties is second nature to me and a key to success at our location.

”

Franchising MAGAZINE USA 71

veterans supplement

FOCUS: Cinch I.T

Cinch I.T Hosts 100 Mile Ruck March Challenge Cinch I.T. - one of the fastest growing I.T. service providers in the U.S. - hosted the 2nd annual 100-Mile Ruck March Challenge this month to help benefit families dealing with childhood cancer. Former U.S. Army Ranger, President of Cinch I.T., and Princeton Massachusetts resident, Rick Porter was at the helm of

72 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

the operation. The event took place from July 21-24 in neighboring Worcester and collected donations during its nightly events from participating athletes and volunteers. 100% of the money that was raised has been donated to Why Me & Sherry’s House, an organization dedicated to providing love and support services to families with childhood cancer. Why Me & Sherry’s House is the vision of thirteenyear-old Sherry Shepherd, and the promise

kept by those who loved her to keep her dream alive. This year’s event raised over $133,945, nearly $62,000 over its initial goal. The donation link will be open until the red-carpet premier of the documentary film, which is slated to release in October. The 100-Mile Ruck March Challenge is a military-inspired event, where a small group of 33 athletes rucked (hike with a weighted rucksack) 25 miles a day for four days. Each competitor camped out on the farm of a local brewery and continued the march each morning at sunrise. Athletes carried everything they needed for the four-day event on their backs as they navigated the 100-Mile course, cooked their own meals, set up and broke down their own camps each night, tended to their feet and bodies, dealt with tornado warnings, avoided a family of bears, and battled through one of the most intense heat waves on record, all in an attempt to earn the coveted 100-Mile Ruck March Finisher Medal. At the end of each day, individuals would come out and support the ruck athletes by joining the competitors at a different brewery to toast their accomplishments and encourage them to ruck on. The three participating breweries; Milk Room Brewery, Stone Cow Brewery,

and Oakholm Brewing, all helped by offering their hospitality and providing an area for the competitors to camp, making the entire event possible. “This charity holds a special place in my heart,” said Porter. “When you speak with the selfless individuals who have created and run Why Me & Sherry’s House on a daily basis, you can’t help but be in amazement of what they’ve built. When I hear the words spoken by the families whose lives have been touched by this remarkable organization, I realize that the struggles and difficulties we will face during this ruck march aren’t even a fraction of the battles these families go through every single day. Their strength and courage and love for their children is awe-inspiring, and I feel so blessed to have this opportunity to support them in some small way.”

Each competitor camped “ out on the farm of a local brewery and continued the march each morning at sunrise.

”

“ The 100-Mile Ruck March Challenge is a military-inspired event, where a small group of 33 athletes rucked 25 miles a day for four days.

”

Despite the extreme challenges faced by competitors along the way, the event was a great success. An intense heat wave hit the east coast the weekend of the march, forcing athletes to battle through mid-tohigh 90-degree temperatures. This heat caused extreme dehydration in several athletes, with some being taken to the emergency room. “We had the hottest heat wave in years, making the conditions difficult,” said athlete, Eric Chatelle. “However, having the support from my amazing family, medical staff, supply staff, the Sherry’s House team, wives that transitioned to field triage, and a band of brothers and sisters hiking for a common cause, made seemingly impossible conditions possible.” To Julia Becker Collins, an athlete in the event, the 100-Mile Ruck March gave her

an incredible amount of motivation to fight through her own battle with cancer. “When I was diagnosed with cancer two years ago, I thought my bucket list dream of racing 100 miles was off the table,” said Collins. “Cancer and cancer treatment ravaged my body in a way I wasn’t prepared for and I was left with a body I didn’t recognize or understand. To say that I’m in shock that I finished would be an understatement. I took it one mile at a time, one step at a time, and it wasn’t until I was two miles from the finish that I realized that I was going to do it. I started crying while I walked because it all hit me, I was about to reach that goal that never seemed possible, that my cancer body was about to break every mold, beat back the odds, and do the thing no one thought it could.” Through thick and thin, the athletes that participated in the 100-Mile Ruck March are extremely grateful for the opportunity to participate, knowing that their efforts will benefit those families enduring a much more difficult challenge associated with pediatric cancer. Porter is grateful for this year’s participants and is excited to continue the tradition next year. Founded in 2004 and franchising since 2019, Cinch I.T. is a managed computer and I.T. support brand that provides businesses with an enterprise-level I.T. department for less than it would cost a business to manage their I.T. in-house. Today, there are 13 locations across seven states, and the brand is continuing to grow every year. The brand provides remote and on-site computer support, and services include I.T. support plans, network security, backup/ disaster recovery, cloud computing, cybersecurity software, tech consulting, and more. Franchising MAGAZINE USA 73

FRANCHISE & SERVICES DIRECTORY

Beans & Brews Coffeehouse Beans & Brews Coffeehouse has been around since 1993, when the Laramie family opened shop next to Salt Lake 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 Laramie 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

Business Finance Depot

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

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

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.

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

Website: www.businessfinancedepot.com Email: paul@businessfinancedepot.com Phone: (800) 788-3884 Contact: Paul Bosley

caring transitions

with the hassles or laws that involve elderly medical care, though you might want to invest in knowing the companies that do supply such services in your area. Many times our services are needed in order to fulfill the lifestyle changes recommended by healthcare professionals, so putting your leads into contact with upstanding medical professionals can create a favorable impression that causes them to return to you for help with non-medical side of their changing circumstances.

Caring Transitions is a solution-oriented company, and we accomplish this by bringing three services under one roof that are normally all accomplished by separate companies. The three services we combine to provide unique solutions for our customers are: • Senior Relocation • Estate Sales • Downsizing & Decluttering One final thing – we are NOT a medical service company. As a franchisee, you will not be dealing

Clayton Kendall Clayton Kendall provides a simple, easy to use e-store platform that connects your franchisees to our integrated front-to-back inventory management system.

Phone: 1-800-647-0766 Email: CaringTransitionsFranchising@gmail.com Website: https://caringtransitionsfranchise.com

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

Our system controls the creation, production, fulfillment, distribution and shipping of all your marketing and sales

Contact: Dan Broudy, CEO Email: dan@claytonkendall.com Phone: 412-798-7120 (1-888-799-4757) Website: claytonkendall.com

Dough & Arrows

franchisees all across the United States.

The owners of a family oriented business Dough & Arrows aim to expand their business through nationwide franchising opportunities. Dough & Arrows is well known for their famous Edible Cookie Dough, Gourmet Ice Cream, delicious homemade desserts, and family atmosphere. Based in Hanover, PA, Dough & Arrows is currently looking for potential

74 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

traditions and work to create new ones too. Meanwhile, around the region, locally owned franchises brew up our beloved recipes for their own neighbors. Our 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.

For potential franchisees who are family oriented and who wish to spread joy to the community while being at the forefront of a burgeoning food trend, Dough & Arrows might just be the business family you are looking to join. Ph: 717-969-8481 E-mail: info@doughandarrows.com www.doughandarrows.com

Now more than ever, businesses look to FASTSIGNS for innovative ways to connect with customers in a highly competitive marketplace. Our high standards for quality and customer service have made FASTSIGNS 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 ®

girlkin lashes The GIRLKIN Lashes experience provides an eyelash extension franchise opportunity like no other. You will offer lash extension and lash lift services, with expansion possibilities for even more beauty services. Empower yourself and your future with GIRLKIN Lashes! We pride ourselves on comprehensive lash artistry training. We don’t “sell” lash extensions, we provide the highest quality of lash extension services within the eyelash artistry industry. The GIRLKIN Lashes franchise was built on a premium experience paired with the highest quality lash services – and a little sparkle! Plus, GIRLKIN Lashes Franchise

Image One USA Image One USA is a commercial cleaning services business. The Image One 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 One franchisees work for themselves in a unique relationship with the franchise company. Image One provides them with customer support for their business, ongoing training, along with assistance with billing, equipment and sales training. Image One

Kumon North America 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.

mindchamps usa Here’s your unique opportunity to own a brand that is transforming education globally and kick start your dream business! Hailed as the education movement of the 21st century by New York Times & Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author, Dr Joseph Michelli, MindChamps started as an education research centre in Sydney. Based on over two decades of research, our unique 3-Mind approach forms the foundation of our educational programs in over 80 MindChamps Early Learning and PreSchool centers across Australia, Singapore, the Philippines, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia and now the US! As the only early learning organization to develop its own unique, research-based curriculum, MindChamps’ programs are backed by the work of world-renowned experts in Education, Neuroscience,

• 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 Or visit our Website: www.fastsigns.com

FRANCHISE & SERVICES DIRECTORY

Fastsigns®

offers an exciting way to empower other women and entrepreneurs in your community. GIRLKIN Lashes provides an initial training program for franchisees and one manager. We then provide an onsite representative before you open to help train your stylists, as well as ongoing support and training. In addition, we present you with a copy of our confidential operations manual to help you start a lash extensions business and run it properly on a day-to-day basis. We seek like-minded franchise owners who share our vision of empowering women through business ownership and community outreach Website: https://www.girlkinfranchise.com/

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. Ongoing training is delivered both at Image One’s corporate headquarters and onsite at existing client locations to ensure that franchisees continue to grow their own businesses. Image One has commercial cleaning franchise locations covering Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Fort Myers, Nashville and Orlando. Franchise territories are available nationwide. For information on the franchise, visit http://ImageOneUSA.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

Psychology and Theatre. We are also the only organization worldwide to have Emeritus Professor Allan Snyder, Fellow of the Royal Society and founder of the Centre for the Mind at the University of Sydney and the Australian National University as our Chair of Research. As a multi-award-winning international Early Learning franchisor, MindChamps is committed to your success. This commitment is backed by years of experience, research and development, and a powerful, global brand that is hailed as a 21st Century Early Learning Movement. We are keen to find the right business partners who want to contribute to their community while creating prosperity for their own family in the US. To discover more about why MindChamps International PreSchool is your dream business, visit https://franchise.mindchamps.org/usa/

Franchising MAGAZINE USA 75

FRANCHISE & SERVICES DIRECTORY

Museum of Illusions 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.

NerdsToGo 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 NerdsToGo is such a lucrative concept. With businesses, homeowners, and individuals continuing to rely

Remedy Spa & Salon Suites Remedy Spa & Salon Suites first opened its doors in Atlanta, Georgia in 2018. As an attempt to enter the highly profitable health and beauty industries, Remedy Spa & Salon 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.

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 NerdsToGo is one of the fastest growing computer service and technology franchises in the United States!

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 & Salon 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.

Franchisees will obtain access to the brand, tested and proven processes and support, purchasing power and distribution

www.remedysalonsuites.com/franchise

THE CAMP TRANSFORMATION CENTER

The Camp is a community of people who treat fellow members like family. The Camp Transformation Center is an industry leader in the weight loss and wellness niche. The franchise currently has nearly 150 locations in more than a dozen states.

Founded by Alejandra Font, Luis Font and Sam Bakhtiar in 2010, The Camp Transformation Center (The Camp) was born out of the realization that despite universal knowledge of how to lose weight — eat healthier and work out regularly — millions of people still struggle to get results. During an era of skyrocketing obesity, The Camp created a proven system to help this massively underserved audience achieve their goals. Home of the free “20-Pound Weight Loss Challenge,” The Camp Transformation Center’s flagship program consists of group training with dynamic interval workouts, nutrition and supplement plans, highly qualified trainers, and a ton of positive emotional support.

The red Chickz 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. Our team has worked our tails off to create a superior business model that is streamlined and simple to operate. We designed

76 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

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.

remedysalonsuites@gmail.com

The fitness brand’s goal is to provide its outstanding services to people who wish to lose weight and improve their health in 500 communities by 2030. Each Camp employs the company’s signature Challenge, a six-week initial entry point for members, that aims to be a transformative moment in the lives of those who join and a launching pad for long-term membership. The Camp Transformation Center is known for its enthusiastic staff members, a clean environment, an open, spacious, and colorful design, supplement plans, and fitness training that is motivating and affordable. To learn more about the Camp Transformation Center, visit www.thecamptc.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

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. Our 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. Our friendly and close knit team go beyond your expectations with ease. Despite the difficulties of

the Global Pandemic, Genevieve 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 Genevieve 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. Opportunities@sheencotravel.com www.sheencotravelfranchise.com

Slim Chickens

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

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.

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.

Offering 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

Veteran Service Brands 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 PAINT 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).

zips ZIPS is the leading low-cost player in a $10.5 billion laundry and drycleaning industry, caring for items our customers use every day, and others they reserve for special occasions. We offer five concepts in one, in a compact footprint, including: pressed laundry, dry cleaning, Wash N Fold laundry, alterations and caring for household items. Our business was founded when eight of the Baltimore -Washington, D.C. area’s premier dry cleaners banded together to pool their expertise and resources to create a powerhouse brand. They established an “in by 9, out by 5,” one-low-price-to-dry-clean-anygarment approach that is affordable and convenient for customers to use and easy for operators to sell. We have nearly 70 locations open across the United States, commitments to open more than 100 more, and many territories available immediately for multi-unit development. We’re ready to help you get set up with full-service processing locations, satellite “drop” stores, sophisticated locker systems and processing of items for commercial organizations and

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. As 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

MACH ONE and PAINT 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

even other garment care businesses. And we’ll support you every step of the way, from getting up and running to keeping things going strong for years to come. At ZIPS we’re committed to being an environmentally responsible organization: Every location accepts hangers for recycling, is illuminated by energy-efficient LED lights, uses 100% biodegradable plastic bags and an odor-free hydrocarbon solvent, and captures by-product in clay filters that are disposed of through a third-party government compliance specialist. We also avoid individually wrapping using each garment or adding tissue paper in the sleeves, which cuts down not only on waste but on cost as well. Independent garment care operators and growth-minded, entrepreneurial investors alike can capitalize on our systems, buying power, investment in innovation and improvement, and our brand. Contact our Director of Business Development, Abhi Parikh, at aparikh@321zips.com or (717) 495-7995 today to learn how you can look your best with a ZIPS franchise opportunity.

franchising usa

Excellent for branding and recognition.

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

Choose a 12 or 6 month package or simply add the A-Z directory onto your Focus, Profile or Ad!

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

FRANCHISE & SERVICES DIRECTORY

Sheenco Travel

To learn about the A-Z directory or any other products please contact Vikki Bradbury: advertising@cgbpublishing.com or 778-426-2446

Franchising MAGAZINE USA 77

NOBODY GETS TO THE TOP BY ACCIDENT! We advise many of the top franchise owners in the world. You can get acces to the very same resources that build their empires at no cost!

Contact George Knauf to Start Building Your Empire TODAY! www.MyPerfectFranchise.com 78 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

Franchising Magazine USA August 2022

Articles inside

david Gronewoller, Golden Corral

serena Meteau, aKT

Catherine Monson

Museum Of illusions

a-Z Franchise & services directory

Lucas Frey

George Knauf

Roll-Em-Up Taquitos

MindChaMPs

Paul Linenberg, Gotcha Covered

Essentials to engage your Franchise Team

dr. Tricia Groff

Evan hackell

Franchising news