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NEWS&FEATURES
On The Cover
Franchise Times' ranking of the top 55 fastest growing, young franchises as compiled by FRANdata.
Up Front
Before Tom Portesy became the overlord of franchise shows, the current president of MFV Expos was a franchisor for Print Shack, where his “wife and kid brother” were co-franchisees.
Exercising in high heels and bare thighs—the better to grip the pole as you shimmy up it for inversions—is the latest fitness craze.
We asked seven franchising notables for unbiased answers—no clients’ concepts, no thoughts of future rewards in the form of coupons or free meals—just their gut reaction to the question: What’s your favorite franchised restaurant, why, and what do you order?
With PetPeePee, urine business
Cleaning up pet messes is Martin’s livelihood, and the Israeli native has developed a machine using cold water and minerals from the Dead Sea that he guarantees will remove the smell of urine from carpets, draperies, furniture, even expensive Oriental rugs.
Columnists
Exit Interview (Nancy Weingartner)
Now that I’m doing quite a bit of business travel myself, I owe my husband a huge apology...
Success is in the cards (Mary Jo Larson)
Publisher's column for March 2007 issue of Franchise Times
Currents
Franchise news bits for March 2007
Just as their print predecessors, bloggers love controversy to “sell newspapers.” But is anyone holding them accountable? Take a look at the latest phenom in franchising.
Finance
Victoria’s Secret lingerie expensed to an ice cream business is likely to raise a red flag. Likewise, if you report $25,000 as your gross income but have an airplane and a second home, be prepared to answer some questions.
Part one of a two-part series. Contrary to popular myth, franchise lenders don’t approve a loan application based upon the size and weight of the credit package. Simply said, size doesn't matter.
Scoreboard
A disconnect in the lending environment for small operators has actually proven to be a boon for SBA lenders.
With insurance claims, be wary of out of sight, out of mind
To assist in this discussion of one rising cost on your P & K—insurance—I asked Jack Harper, one of my law partners with extensive experience in the insurance industry, to provide insight and practical advice to help you plan for and manage your insurance costs.
A recapitalization can be a precarious predicament. As uncharted territory, it can be extremely unnerving for both small and large franchisees.
Hotels & Hospitality
Not many years ago, the idea of a self-flushing toilet seemed far-fetched. Similarly, tomorrow’s guestrooms may include technology—such as ones described below—that appear too futuristic now, but could one day become commonplace.
For some travelers, a great package rate and the promise of luxurious amenities is enough to draw them to a certain hotel chain. Attracting gay and lesbian travelers takes a bit more finesse—such as emphasizing community involvement and providing an inclusive atmosphere—but some major chains are finding that it’s worth the effort.
Any frequent traveler knows that not every hotel chain is created equal. And sometimes one bad experience—whether it involved a room with a freeway view and sound system, a pool that resembled a cesspool, or a room that looked nothing like the one the Web page promised—tarnishes the entire chain.
Insurance
Easing the cost of health care is on the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship’s radar. Last year, the Senate debated a small business health care bill that resulted in a partisan divide. Addressing the skyrocketing health care costs for small firms in a bipartisan manner is a top priority this year, according to the committee’s PR channels.
The forecast for 2007’s insurance market remains cautiously optimistic with more insurance companies willing to compete and broader coverage terms being offered.
When accidents happen on the job, the concern is not just about time and productivity lost when an injured employee is recuperating. Accidents, whether they involve an injured employee or an employee injuring someone else, can result in lawsuits.
People
Ask any business person to divulge the secret to a successful venture and he or she will almost always reply: It’s the people. Well, we feel the same way about our editorial coverage. It’s the people who make franchising so rewarding to cover.
Ask any business person to divulge the secret to a successful venture and he or she will almost always reply: It’s the people. Well, we feel the same way about our editorial coverage. It’s the people who make franchising so rewarding to cover.
Ask any business person to divulge the secret to a successful venture and he or she will almost always reply: It’s the people. Well, we feel the same way about our editorial coverage. It’s the people who make franchising so rewarding to cover.
Ask any business person to divulge the secret to a successful venture and he or she will almost always reply: It’s the people. Well, we feel the same way about our editorial coverage. It’s the people who make franchising so rewarding to cover.
STANDING FEATURES
CFR
Franchisees plan to fight UPS on mandatory vendor program
Study: UPS Store has retail’s biggest competitive advantage; franchisees begrudgingly agree.
IFE
Franchise Expo South—like its big sister, the International Franchise Expo, which will be held March 30 through April 1 in Washington, D.C.,—offers a variety of franchise opportunities to locals as well as international visitors, plus education on the franchise process for prospective franchisors and franchisees.
Operated by MFV Expositions and sponsored by the International Franchise Association, the 16th annual event will feature franchise exhibitors from around the globe that wish to share the news of their opportunity with those looking to go into business for themselves. A few hundred franchises will be on hand to answer attendees’ questions about their business.
Insurance
Easing the cost of health care is on the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship’s radar. Last year, the Senate debated a small business health care bill that resulted in a partisan divide. Addressing the skyrocketing health care costs for small firms in a bipartisan manner is a top priority this year, according to the committee’s PR channels.
International
Can two-and-a-half years legitimately be described as “soon”? Government-watchers may think so; most normal people would probably disagree.
Legal
Is your commitment to arbitrate enforceable?
The Ninth Circuit voided the standard arbitration clause: Is this a sign of things to come or just the musings of a liberal court?
The long-awaited revisions to the Federal Trade Commission’s Franchise Rule have been released. Here’s Attorney David Kaufmann’s analysis of what’s important to note about the Revised Rule.
They both snagged partners from Wiley Rein & Fielding. Richard Wiley left the Washington, D.C., firm in February to serve as counsel to the President, and David Koch left the same month to start a law firm with Plave and John Tifford, both from DLA Piper.
Lawyer Bill Marler has pursued food-borne illness cases for 13 years, but he’s seen a recent shift in the source of his clients’ sicknesses—from meat to fresh produce.
Marketing
All businesses benefit from working with the media. While it’s extremely important to be proactive and call reporters on your own, there may be times when the news media calls you. This is a golden opportunity to enhance your organization’s reputation and say something you want your customers to read.
It’s every site for itself out there, but all franchise sales generation is not created equal. Here’s what you need to know when selling franchises.
Newcomers
Ruben Estrada is in the behavior modification business, which essentially means saving business owners from themselves.
Following the progress of Wheel Fun Rentals and Hangers Cleaners.
Operations
Our advice to the franchisor is easy: It is essential that every franchisor meet with their prospective franchisees face to face before they are granted a franchise.
When sales are soft, management tends to go back to promoting and featuring its most popular products—the ones that never change. But, there’s a new dynamic at work in the marketplace, and companies that want to stay viable need to heed it.
Real Estate
In the battle between freestanding and mall locations, freestanding pad sites are the clear favorite among restaurant operators.
Don’t be surprised to see for-sale signs hanging outside more hotel properties as operators and developers seek to offset higher building costs with residential units.
Technology
The latest tech-bits affecting franchisees and franchisors.
The Microsoft hype machine isn’t running quite as high as it did for past releases, but there’s been plenty of press about the amazing new features that both Vista and Office 2007 deliver. Now that both are available for all, I’ll share with you my views on whether it’s worth it to upgrade your current PCs.
