INDUSTRY NEWS

Your source for what’s happening in Canadian franchising

Wendy’s New Franchise Recruitment Initiative, “Own Your Opportunity,” Comes to Québec

Wendy’s Restaurants of Canada is seeking franchisees to expand the brand throughout Québec. The company has rolled out a new franchise recruitment initiative, Own Your Opportunity, that will create pathways for entrepreneurs in the province of Québec who want to grow and profit from becoming a Wendy’s franchisee. The initiative creates expanded restaurant ownership opportunities for all and supports the company’s goal of increasing restaurant ownership in Québec.

To support this initiative, Wendy’s has: • Created more competitive liquidity and net worth requirements for all new franchise applicants. • Introduced a new global restaurant design standard that is less expensive to build, featuring innovative design elements to simplify operations and the latest technology that work together to create better returns for franchisees. • Created a Build-to-Suit development fund to fuel growth in underdeveloped trade areas, where Wendy’s secures and builds restaurants and hands over turnkey locations to franchisees. • Opened more than 400 restaurants in Canada. With only 13 in

Québec currently, the market is ripe with opportunities for entrepreneurs to seize. • Launched Breakfast in Canada in

May this year, creating tremendous growth potential for franchise owners.

Wendy’s is seeking new multiunit operators who are interested in a transformative opportunity with the path to prosper and the perspective to lead within a thriving and beloved restaurant brand. Wendy’s will be growing aggressively in prominent drive thru locations that are between 1,500–3,000 square feet in markets with a population of 7,000+ and vehicle counts of 10,000+. Wendy’s is particularly focused on convenience-driven highway locations. Québec is a top-performing province in terms of historical sales growth and boasts two of the top 10 most populous cities in the country. Québec’s unique diversity makes Wendy’s an exciting opportunity for an experienced multi-unit operator to develop and grow.

Ricky’s Restaurants Opens a New Location in Swift Current, Saskatchewan

Ricky’s All Day Grill is opening a brand-new location in Swift Current, Saskatchewan. Previously a longtime Humpty’s restaurant location, Ricky’s is very pleased to be adding Swift Current to its long list of highly popular Alberta and Saskatchewan family-style restaurants.

Residents of Swift Current will surely welcome Ricky’s All Day Grill to their community, where they can enjoy a delicious sit-down breakfast, lunch, or dinner with family and friends. Folks on the go can quickly grab their favourite meals for takeout.

This newest addition to the Ricky’s Family Group is run by seasoned local restauranteurs Kosta and Angela Kanakis, who previously operated Humpty’s at this location for the past 10 years. “We are excited to be bringing a Ricky’s to the Swift Current community and welcoming residents with hearty breakfasts, lunches, and dinners served with a smile,” Kosta commented.

The new Ricky’s All Day Grill in Swift Current is a perfect place for sharing with family and friends. Plus, with fast express takeout, online ordering, and delivery services, guests can enjoy their favourite Ricky’s breakfast, lunch, or dinner in the comfort of their own homes.

Brian McCourt Lays Ground Across Canada with B-Protek Flooring Partnership

Canadian interior and exterior flooring expert, B-Protek, is pleased to announce its brand partnership with trusted contractor, design expert, real estate flipper, and television personality Brian McCourt.

B-Protek is known for its epoxy and innovative polyurea vinyl flake flooring for garages, exterior balconies, and stairs. Audiences across North America know Brian from his HGTV shows, which include Backyard Builds, Home to Win, and Family Home Overhaul. With his rare mix of designer-contractor services and his track record for flipping homes, Brian’s entrepreneurial spirit makes him a perfect partner for B-Protek, which is currently expanding with franchises across Canada.

The appeal of glossy, durable, and fashionable interior and exterior concrete floors has grown significantly with homeowners. B-Protek’s easy, affordable, one-day solutions are quickly becoming the Canadian industry standard, with 10 franchises in Ontario, Manitoba, and Alberta, and over 20 in Quebec to date. The business model was custom-built to suit entrepreneurs.

“This partnership strikes at the heart of two of my greatest passions: improving homes and building businesses. B-Protek’s flooring solutions appeal to my renovation mindset as

they’re fast, easy, and affordable, as well as my design sense with their stunning results,” said Brian McCourt. “From a business perspective, I admire how Nicolas and the B-Protek team are expanding into new markets and offering reliable and growth-minded opportunities for entrepreneurs to get into the home improvement game.”

B-Protek has grown over the last eight years under the direction of CEO Nicolas Desjardins. A triathlete and sports enthusiast who has been in the coating industry since his university studies, Desjardins is focused on creating professional, passionate, and forward-thinking teams. He’s committed to empowering entrepreneurs and has built a proven business model with B-Protek.

“Brian is exactly the kind of partner that will help us take B-Protek to the next level across North America, as he shares our core values of Listening, Rigor, Commitment, and Collaboration,” said Desjardins. “Our expansion across Canada is infinitely strengthened by his public profile, but more importantly, by his belief in our flooring solutions, and in our business model. We sincerely believe that this partnership is key to helping us propel this business forward.”

Allegra Windsor Via Italia Celebrates 35 Years in Business

This October, Allegra Marketing Print Mail in Windsor celebrated 35 years in business as the go-to source for all print, mail, and marketing needs in the community.

The centre was founded in October of 1987 when owners Maria and Vito Lipari began their business venture together. The duo are both Italian immigrants who moved to Canada when they were children.

“This is such a milestone anniversary for us and our business partners,” said Maria Lipari. “Over the past 35 years, we have formed amazing relationships with our team and our clients, and for that, we have the marketing and printing industry to thank. We’ve enjoyed working on many unique projects for our clients, and we look forward to continuing sharing our love for the industry through future projects with our community.”

Its dedication to success, growth, and the highest calibre of customer service have been the driving forces for the centre since it opened in 1987, and those principles ring true to the Liparis and their team’s leadership today. Since its inception, Allegra Windsor Via Italia has not only solidified its place in the Windsor region as a local business, but also its place in the community.

Allegra Marketing Print Mail continues to provide the same highquality promotional solutions. In addition to marketing consultation and graphic design services, Allegra features advanced printing technologies including full-colour printing, signs, posters, and banners, mailing services, and print management solutions.

Allegra is independently owned and operated, and is a member of the Alliance Franchise Brands network, a world leader in marketing and visual communications, linking more than 600 locations in North America.

Pizza Nova Donates $41,600 to Student Nutrition Ontario

Pizza Nova marked its seventh year of partnership with Student Nutrition Ontario with a donation of $41,600. In November, Domenic Primucci, president of Pizza Nova, presented a cheque to Student Nutrition Ontario at Cedarbrae Public School in Waterloo, Ontario.

Pizza Nova’s partnership with Student Nutrition Ontario (SNO) found proud beginnings in 2015 with ‘Coins for Breakfast,’ a program that supports Student Nutrition Ontario with in-store donation boxes throughout all participating Pizza Nova locations. To date, Pizza Nova has raised $223,142 for Student Nutrition Ontario.

“We strongly believe in making our food with quality ingredients and love. And it is important for us that children across Ontario start their days with a nourishing, sustaining breakfast and have successful days at school,” said Primucci. “We are grateful to our loyal customers for their generosity—they help keep children well fed and able to focus at school.”

There are 4,450 Student Nutrition Programs serving nearly one million students across the province each school day.

“Pizza Nova’s generous donation through the ‘Coins for Breakfast Program’ is greatly appreciated,” said Catherine Parsonage, chair of Student Nutrition Ontario. “There are so many children in need across this province and school nutrition programs play a crucial role in ensuring that children have access to the nourishment they need to start their day.”

Minuteman Press Franchise in Windsor, Ontario Moves to New Location and Celebrates Grand Opening

Lakshmi Bhamidipati is the owner of the Minuteman Press franchise in Windsor, Ontario, which she has owned for five years and has been operating in Windsor since 1979. On November 9, Lakshmi held a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the move to her new location.

The chief guest for the grand opening event was Brian Masse,

Member of Parliament, who presented Lakshmi with a Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of Minuteman Press in Windsor. The event was also attended by Windsor City Councillor Kieran McKenzie, Minuteman Press International Regional VP Kevin Wittal, and other distinguished community members, friends, and colleagues.

When she first came to Canada in 2006, Lakshmi worked for various companies, including with Minuteman Press. She says, “I gained some local experience and knowledge and then started my own graphics company in 2014. Before starting my company, I worked for Minuteman Press for three months. I liked the setup and help provided by the franchise. In August of 2017, I decided to buy the business and become the proud owner of the franchise.”

“All my life I was on the other side of printing. Minuteman Press gave me the opportunity to do the printing and to see the results of my designs on paper. As I have the designing knowledge and an eye for details in print quality, I pride myself on keeping our customers happy.”

Today, Lakshmi has four full-time and three part-time employees as she has grown her business. Lakshmi says, “The Windsor business community is looking for a one-stop print shop. We are able to do all of the main jobs.”

When asked what advice she would give to other business owners, Lakshmi says, “I was born in a middle-class family with big dreams. My dream was to be self-employed one day. Dreams don’t become reality through magic. It takes determination and hard work. I focused on my dream and kept working hard towards my dreams. If you have a dream and work hard, I am proof you can accomplish it.”

Cadence Franchising Announces the Launch of its New Business Servicing North American Franchise Sales Teams

Cadence Franchising is on a mission to help franchisors meet and exceed their growth targets by delivering exceptional sales experiences to franchise buyers and sellers. Founded by Corey Nicholson and Cindy Hill, Cadence is

an experienced franchise sales and marketing team that provides technology-driven lead nurturing services designed to boost interest from qualified entrepreneurs and investors.

Cadence is dedicated to finding innovative ways to maximize investments in lead generation, increase candidate conversions, and expand franchise networks. They deliver strategic solutions and services to: i. franchisors – from emerging to iconic, ii. brokers – from independents to large networks, iii. lead generators – from online marketplaces to trade show organizers, and iv. entrepreneurs – from first-time buyers to experienced investors.

Corey Nicholson, CFE, Founding Partner & CEO, Cadence Franchising Inc., says:

“Our purpose is simple—to grow networks of franchisees faster and better. As franchise development specialists with CRM and Marketing Automation expertise and a wide network of value-added relationships in the North American franchise world, we are uniquely positioned to help franchise systems of any size create exceptional experiences for their sales teams and prospective franchisees.”

Cadence is laser-focused on modernizing the franchise recruitment experience for franchise buyers and sellers. Using its preferred tech stack and team of recruitment specialists, Cadence engages in personal and meaningful conversations with prospective franchisees to increase interest and brand rapport.

Cindy Hill, CFE, Founding Partner & COO, Cadence Franchising Inc., says:

“We are passionate about using our skills to help entrepreneurs realize their dreams of business ownership. We’re looking to grow our company with a team, clients, and partners who share that passion and stand by our value system. Our core values include being respectful, dependable, meticulous, modern, and transparent. These are very important to us and will stimulate our growth.”

YOUR BUSINESS. YOUR SUCCESS. YOUR PIZZA PIZZA.

FRANCHISES AVAILABLE

www.pizzapizza.ca/franchising franchisinginfo@pizzapizza.ca

THE FUTURE IS SWEET FOR MAVERICK’S DONUTS

Maverick’s Donuts is growing its presence in local communities through franchisees

BY LAUREN HUNEAULT

Maverick’s Donuts is taking a bite out of the baked goods sector in Canada, bringing its oneof-a-kind donuts to Canadian communities through franchising. The company launched its first location in Ottawa, Ontario in 2016, and has since grown to 11 franchise locations, mainly based in Ontario.

Jon Martin, vice president of franchise development, says the brand’s offering is what sets it apart. “Maverick’s Donuts spent many years refining its products. Unlike most bakeries, we offer a mix of cake donuts and yeast products, along with a superb coffee/espresso program and soft serve ice cream,” he explains. The unique cake donut recipe, pre-mixed and shipped to franchisees, has no preservatives, and uses only the highest-quality ingredients.

Martin, who’s also a franchisee within the Maverick’s system, notes that the brand’s model focuses on quality first, with franchisees making the products fresh in-house every morning to ensure customers receive the best experience when they come in-store.

According to Martin, the benefits of franchising with Maverick’s Donuts “are quite simple. We offer a deliciously fun product that appeals to all age groups and crosses cultures. Our products have good margins, and with many sales channels including weddings, corporate logo donuts, special events, birthdays, fundraisers, and more, franchisees can build their business in so many ways.”

On the flip side, the challenge lies in getting franchisees engaged with their community to sell their product. While social media is a great source of revenue for the brand, notes Martin, franchisees are more successful when they connect with their community through speaking with local organizations, participating in local events, and building key relationships.

“Maverick’s provides all the marketing tools and strategies, and franchisees are expected to use these tools in their local community,” says Martin, who adds that the brand is ready to help franchisees as soon as they sign the franchise agreement, starting with location selection and the construction process.

Baked goods for community goodwill

Martin notes that the ideal Maverick’s Donuts franchisee doesn’t need to have any experience in the food industry, as franchisees receive full training and support. They should, however, have “a desire to operate the business, a positive attitude towards customers and employees, and the ability and desire to be an active part of their local community to help with selling their product in the community.”

One such franchisee who’s focused on providing the ultimate customer experience is Stacie McGill, who purchased the Alta Vista location in the Ottawa area in January 2022. McGill found her way to Maverick’s Donuts after 10 years as a general manager with Tim Hortons, followed by another 10 years as a commercial insurance broker.

She decided to go back to her quick service roots when a Maverick’s Donuts location became

Steven Vanloffeld

available in her area. “When we saw that there was an opportunity to become a franchisee, we were very excited, as this was right up my alley from when I worked at Tim’s,” says McGill, who operates the store with her husband, Daine. “We love the hustle and bustle of a fast-paced environment and enjoy building a team that shares the same values and goals as we do.”

McGill says the strong support they received from the Maverick’s head office team was a major comfort as they started their franchise journey. “They’ve helped us navigate any difficulties and answer any questions that we’ve had,” she explains. “Being a part of the franchise system is like having an extended family; we never feel alone and have open communication and assistance from the franchisors and other store owners.”

Forward-focused franchisees

Even with this strong sense of community, the past years have been challenging in two main ways, notes McGill. Inflation is at the top of the list, with suppliers applying cost increases multiple times throughout the past year. The other is hiring staff.

The McGills, however, have risen to the challenge and implemented their own solutions. “We’re working on overcoming the increases by making sure that we’re promoting the brand to increase sales and making sure that we’re providing our customers with quality products to ensure that they’ll return and recommend us to their friends and family,” she explains. “As for hiring employees, we do offer competitive wages and benefits for full-time employees. The employees that we currently have really enjoy working for us; we provide a fun and enjoyable environment and recognize the staff for their hard work.”

With more and more ambitious franchisees like the McGills joining the team, Martin says the future for Maverick’s Donuts is very bright. “Our short- and long-term goals are much the same: find quality franchisees in good markets around Canada, ensuring the quality of their products and their business success along the way. We currently have 11 locations open with an additional 22 locations already awarded. We expect that number to increase in 2023, with the goal of being in three to four provinces by year-end.”

McGill says she’s also interested in being part of that continued expansion. “The next step for us would be to own another Maverick’s; we see how the brand is growing and enjoy being a part of their success.”

Find the passion and put in the hard work

Martin says that, above all else, franchisees need to be passionate about what they do to succeed as a franchise owner of any brand, including Maverick’s Donuts. “Find something you’re passionate about, and if that’s owning a bakery and being part of a family and community that emphasizes quality and fun, then Maverick’s might be the perfect fit. Producing our donuts and coffee is hard work, but a real joy for our franchisees.”

From the franchisee perspective, McGill says, “Our advice as business owners is there will be lots of ups and downs. Never be afraid to ask lots of questions and don’t hesitate to ask for advice from the franchisors. They’ve been where you are and understand the ins and outs and how to increase revenue during slow times. We truly believe that being an owner/operator working in the shop daily will only help your business grow. Our employees love that we’re working alongside them!”

Ultimately, franchising with Maverick’s provides the opportunity to build your own business and make valuable connections within your community.

“The thing that we enjoy the most about owning Maverick’s is the fact that this place is ours, and you get what you put into it,” says McGill. “We love offering our products to events such as charities, weddings, and other special occasions. Promoting the brand has been fun and exciting, as we are a new company and there are still so many people who have never heard of Mavericks Donuts before.” n

To learn more about the Maverick’s Donuts franchise opportunity, please contact Jon Martin, VP of franchise development, at franchise@mavericksdonuts.com or 1-888-555-DONUT ext. 113

STAGECOACH: A BUSINESS THAT TRULY PERFORMS

At Stagecoach Performing Arts, we teach children Creative Courage For Life through weekly singing, acting, and dancing classes. 2023 will mark 35 years since the first Stagecoach school opened in Surrey, United Kingdom, and today, Stagecoach operates in eight countries with over 300 franchisees running their own schools. This growth has led to over one million children and young people discovering the benefits of the performing arts through Stagecoach.

Our classes give students the opportunity to find their confidence, make new friends, and develop skills they’ll value their whole lives, such as teamworking and communication. Each school is in a territory owned and managed by a franchisee, who also acts as a school’s Principal. Our franchisees manage a team of teachers who deliver high-quality, fun, and engaging performing arts classes to students aged four to 18 years old.

Who are our franchisees?

Stagecoach has expanded over the years to be a far-reaching network of professional franchisees with a passion for both the performing arts and children’s services. Whilst many of our franchisees come from performing arts backgrounds, having worked in the industry themselves or previously taught in a Stagecoach school, we invite interest from prospective franchisees of any background. Some of our current franchisees have taught in mainstream schools, been a Stagecoach parent before joining the business themselves, or come from a corporate background. We’ve seen franchisees from all walks of life run successful schools and many have built up their work with us to a multi-territory position with thousands of students in their schools every week.

What our franchisees say

“I’m busy all of the time, but I do it because I love it. I’ve always had a passion for performing arts and my career led me down the route of teaching. I decided to start my own Stagecoach franchise, as I had spent years working for them as an acting teacher and I love the way Stagecoach nurtures every child individually. We recently bought our first home, something which couldn’t have happened without Stagecoach. We’ve even managed to start saving for our children’s education. Being able to look after my family is really important but I’m only fully content when I see my students thriving too.” – Tosha Doiron, Principal of Stagecoach Mississauga and Oakville, ON

Why franchise with us?

At Stagecoach, we support all new franchisees, whether they’ve opened their school in a brandnew territory or are taking over an existing one, with a set programme to help them get started. New franchisees are provided with an online training course, a regional franchise manager to support them throughout their time as a Stagecoach Principal, assistance with securing a venue and DBS-checked teachers, an Educational Framework that communicates the goals of the Stagecoach brand whilst still providing our schools the freedom to adapt content and lesson plans to their students’ needs, and a head office team to support with all areas of their school and the Stagecoach brand, including events, education, marketing, IT, and operations.

In 2022, we introduced The Stagecoach Way with a book for our franchisees which distils the essence of what makes Stagecoach unique. The publication enabled us to share the philosophy, ethics, and processes that define our work. It was created to ensure every Stagecoach student experiences the same engaging environment wherever they are in the world and to empower our franchisees to run their schools with our shared culture and values.

Once established, we regularly support our franchisees with buying additional territories and opening new schools in their areas, with our top franchisees enjoying a six-figure income from their business. Expansion opportunities are truly limitless with Stagecoach.

Since it started operating, Stagecoach Performing Arts has had continuous growth through the amazing work of our franchisees. Despite a challenging couple of years for the performing arts industry, we have continued to grow from strength to strength and have even opened in an eighth country. If you’d like to join the network or enquire about available territories near you, please fill out the enquiry form at stagecoachfranchise.com and our team will be in touch. We strive to make a difference to the lives of students and to the communities our schools operate in. Though Stagecoach Performing Arts provides performing arts education, the benefits and opportunities our schools give to our students build their confidence and prepare them for all life’s challenges, whether in or outside of the performing arts world. n

How to Choose Your Payroll Service Provider

BY NETHRIS

Employee remuneration is more than simply the act of paying employees. According to a 2020 survey conducted by the Canadian Payroll Association (CPA), 43 per cent of Canadian employees admit that they live pay cheque to pay cheque. When entrusting the management of your payroll to an expert in the field, you must make sure to delegate this task to a trusted partner who understands your team’s needs and who grows with your business. Backed by 45 years of experience in payroll management, our experts have identified four criteria to consider when making your choice.

Managing your payroll, but how? When it comes to the payroll, you have several choices. Some options, like software, only take care of the calculations but not the transfer of funds. To do so, you can either do the payroll yourself, ask an accountant, or turn to a payroll service provider.

However, before deciding, you need to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each option. Since payroll is a complex field subject to specific regulations, it’s important to determine your needs, especially if you have particular provincial obligations.

To avoid the headache and administrative burden of managing your payroll, you can turn to an expert in this field: a payroll service provider. This decision is accompanied by many benefits ranging from saving time to peace of mind. By entrusting your calculations, deductions, and salary payments to a professional, you save time and can dedicate yourself to growing your business.

How do you choose a payroll service provider? This is a very pertinent question because there are many options available on the market. Here are four things to keep in mind when the time comes for you to decide.

Easy to use

At first glance, ease of use might seem like an obvious and trivial point of consideration. But when it comes to choosing a payroll solution, it’s actually quite important. Chances are you didn’t choose to be a business owner with the primary ambition of managing payroll or the many documents that go along with it. By choosing to use a payroll service provider, you’re also choosing to save time.

Ask yourself the following questions: Are the options well organized? Do the headings make sense to you? If the solution seems intuitive, you’re probably on the right track.

We also invite you to pay attention to the user experience. Because this tool will be an integral part of your business activity, quality is an essential point. As an employer, payroll represents one of your business’s largest expenses. It’s therefore important to use a solution that’s user-friendly and efficient.

You should consider your employees, whose satisfaction is directly affected by compensation and proper payroll management. Your business depends on your employees, without whom it couldn’t grow. Since they’ll also be using the chosen solution, it’s important that it’s clear and attractive to them. After all, they’ll certainly have the option of accessing their profile to view their payroll data and to create requests.

It’s usually possible to ask for a demonstration. This may allow you to get a first impression. During your appointment with a representative, you’ll be able to view the solution’s interface and try it out in a simulation.

All-in-one solution

If you’re an entrepreneur, you probably need tools to effectively manage other aspects of your business, such as time, human resources records, and group insurance. Although strictly speaking, these elements aren’t compensation, they’re closely related to payroll management.

Generally, a payroll service provider can suggest an array of integrated and practical tools to help facilitate your work. These are related solutions that complement your payroll management and make your daily operations a lot easier. All in all, these complementary options could benefit you.

Think about it: good time management positively affects optimization within a business. For example, you could allow your employees to track their hours worked in digital timesheets that are accessible from anywhere, and to view their availabilities in a smart calendar. You can also validate the information in just a few clicks, which allows payroll to be automatically processed.

A payroll provider can suggest customized tools that simplify more than just payroll. Perhaps the management of your human resources or group insurance plan is a burdensome administrative task. Centralizing training and recruitment management, as well as the task of making changes to your employee files, would make things much easier. Think of the many things a solution can do for you, like handling the calculations for your group insurance plan.

Also, keep in mind third-party software that you may use daily as an entrepreneur. It’s important to make sure that the software you choose supports the import and export of data either to or from programs that you use; for example, when the time comes to do your accounting. Generally speaking, a payroll provider offers you the opportunity to compliment your work, and this is something you should consider.

Improvements to security

Payroll management involves the management of sensitive and confidential data. The security of this information is very important, so you should definitely make this a criterion of choice.

Which technologies are used? Inform yourself about the infrastructures. For example, the physical facilities must be capable of supporting the amount of electricity required to store large amounts of data. Additionally, monitoring and security systems are required to allow for a rapid response in the event of a problem.

We also recommend verifying the jurisdiction of the location where your data is being hosted, as Canada imposes very high standards. Moreover, if your business is located in Canada, it could be even more secure to choose a payroll provider whose data is also hosted there.

Affected by the pandemic, businesses have integrated the concept of remote work into their practices, and workers understand the importance of security and compliance. While many businesses claim to follow established security principles, we recommend double-checking this point to find a solution that complies with higher security standards.

How can you identify these standards? There are certifications which guarantee that certain requirements are met, and businesses that have them usually mention it on their websites.

The ISO 27001 certification is an example. It’s an international standard on how to optimally manage information security. Certified businesses are able to identify threats and resolve them, thereby protecting the data. Although this certification isn’t mandatory, it reinforces the level of confidence that one can have in a service.

Keep in mind that you and your payroll service provider will build a business relationship based on trust. The professional you choose must be knowledgeable about the rules that govern payroll and manage a properly trained information security team. Therefore, make sure that the people processing your data are aware of the need to protect it.

The importance of support

As an entrepreneur, you probably face regular challenges in managing your business, which is why customer service is important. Although there are various types, not all of them are adapted to your situation and needs.

Don’t hesitate to ask questions about the solution’s limitations. Are there additional fees, or specific schedules? How can I contact someone?

We recommend that you choose a solution with unlimited support where experts are always available to answer your questions. You should assume that you’ll build a long-term relationship with your payroll provider, so you have to be able to rely on them.

Your payroll provider isn’t only there for when you have questions. They should provide you with yearround support. Ask them what options they offer to make your life easier. Quite often, the offer of services will include the latest version of the solution and updates so you don’t have to worry about it yourself. Indeed, this is a long-term partnership.

As you’ll have understood, choosing to work with a payroll provider comes with many benefits that you may not enjoy if you decide to do your payroll another way. Get to know the different tasks throughout the year that are stressful for an entrepreneur, and see how your payroll service provider can help. n

FRANCHISING: A Guiding Light Through Dark Times

Despite economic uncertainty, Canadian franchising is set for continued growth in 2023

It’s always exciting to enter a new year, when the anticipation is high, and we have great expectations for the months to come. In 2023, concerns about the economic climate might threaten to dampen that excitement, but as the Canadian franchise industry has proven time and time again, franchising thrives in difficult times. In past recessions, and during a once-in-alifetime global pandemic, franchising has remained a guiding light for those looking to build business success, taking them through dark times with help from the systems and support of strong brands.

In this franchising trends package, you’ll find reports on the industry thriving against all odds, through new developments in the food service sector, an increased focus on social responsibility, and changes in consumer spending options that business leaders should take heed of. We also highlight international perspectives on consumer trends taking shape around the world.

As our FranNet consultants report, franchising remains resilient through times of economic uncertainty, and they offer advice for sectors set to grow throughout the next year, along with a grounding perspective for incoming and prospective franchisees. Finally, Franchise Canada provides a list of resources for women in franchising, reflecting the increase of tools to help women turning to franchising to be in business for themselves.

Read on to learn more about how franchising is helping Canadian entrepreneurs navigate through difficult times to make their business ownership dreams come true!