Columns
Island Fin Poké: Revolutionizing Poké
Mark Setterington was a lifetime restaurant guy. He’d earned his stripes working every job possible in the industry and had settled in Las Vegas for over 10 years, running 10 restaurants between Las Vegas and Southern California, when his longtime friend, Paul, called to tell him that he was leaving his job of 20 years. Paul wanted to collaborate on a new restaurant concept, and from their partnership, Island Fin Poké was born in 2016. By Kelsi Trinidad
Hawaii Fluid Art: Nurturing Creativity
Elva Alcala of Celina, Texas, worked in social services for some 20 years. She enjoyed her career but longed for a business of her own. As a young person, she loved to paint and draw but put aside her art as an adult. When her employer restructured in 2021, Alcala was let go. “I thought it was time for me to do something different and that I really loved,” she said. “I’ve always been interested in the arts.” By Patty Horansky
Salty Dawg: A Howling Success
There was one unemployed worker available for every two job openings at the start of 2023, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Demand for labor is historically high, and many businesses are under pressure – but not all. One franchise that’s feeling just as paw-sitive as its furry clientele is Salty Dawg, a leading grooming salon and pet supply store in the U.S. By Sarah Lindauer
Southpaw Gym: A Model That Fits Your Lifestyle
Southpaw Gym offers a flexible model with room for scalability through multiple revenue streams. The New Jersey-based combat gym is the ideal investment opportunity for prospective franchisees wanting to make a difference in their community without feeling restricted by a one-size-fits-all concept. By Brianna Bohn
Aging Gracefully in the Franchising Industry
Both franchisees and franchisors play an important role in today’s senior and medical care landscape. Wherever you are, be the one to help others achieve their goals. By Dawn Abbamondi
Assisting Hands® Home Care: Innovative Home care University Sees Results
As a leader in the nonmedical home care industry, Assisting Hands® Home Care provides personalized care to seniors and others in the comfort of their homes. Assisting Hands has won numerous awards, including being ranked No. 22 on Entrepreneur’s Top Franchises for Less Than $100,000 Ranking in 2022. By Nancy E. Williams
Mobility City: Making the World a Better Place With Personal Mobility Devices
When it comes to senior services, many options address the needs of caring for people at home or in a facility. However, when it comes to personal mobility equipment for the elderly and the disabled, Mobility City has carved out a niche business selling, renting and repairing personal mobility equipment. This strategy has proven successful since the brand began franchising four years ago. By Cindy Charette
1Heart Caregiver Services: A Hands-on Concept
With the rapid expansion of baby boomers in the U.S., the senior care industry offers many promising aspects for a thriving, long-term business. As a 1Heart Caregiver Services franchisee, you will become a part of a premium, nonmedical home care brand that assists more than 1,000 seniors every month. By Cindy Charette
Home Helpers® Home Care: The Potential to Change Lives
When Steve and Julie Garrison opened their Home Helpers® Home Care in Lexington, Kentucky, they were familiar with the industry and knew how vital in-home senior-care services were for the community. Steve was a corporate director in one of the largest mental health boards in Kentucky, and Julie had extensive experience in sales. By Elice Morgenson
All Med Search: Financial Freedom and Flexibility
If you’re looking for a low-investment, high-yield opportunity that fosters work-life balance, then All Med Search should be at the top of your list. The company offers unique, permanent recruitment solutions to connect medical professionals with healthcare organizations nationwide, meaning you’d also have the power to change lives. By Lizzy Yeserski
BrightStar Care: Redefining Quality Care
BrightStar Care® Founder and CEO Shelly Sun was faced with the arduous task of finding quality care for her Grandma Pat. It felt nearly impossible to find the right type of care from a provider that she could trust. This experience inspired Sun to start the caring company she lacked in her time of need. By Kelsi Trinidad
Caring Senior Service: Technology Enhances Level of Home Care
Caring Senior Service has provided quality nonmedical in-home care to seniors for more than 30 years. CEO and Founder Jeff Salter recognized early the need to care for the country’s booming senior population and envisioned a one-on-one in-home service that could help with daily tasks, such as personal care, cooking, light housekeeping, errands and companionship. By Patty Horansky
Tint World: Smart Growth in a Booming Industry
Custom vehicles with window tint and aftermarket accessories enhance the style of anyone’s ride. While there has always been a growing demand for automotive aftermarket products and services, the current economic climate has encouraged car enthusiasts and non-enthusiasts to modify their vehicles for maintenance, comfort, protection and style. By Brianna Bohn
Paisano’s: A Pizza Partnership Poised for Growth
For 25 years, Paisano’s has been serving Italian food in Northern Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C., that is as authentic as it comes. While pizza is its biggest seller, the brand’s menu boasts a wide range of dishes sure to please any palate, including cheesesteaks, chicken parmigiana, burgers and a selection of 10 made-to-order salads. By Nancy E. Williams
Hofbräuhaus of America: Multiple Franchise Models Offer a Customized Fit
From Hefe Weizen and Maibock to Doppelbock and Lager galore, when you think of Germany, you think of great beer and food. With over 400 years of history rooted in brewing fine beers and serving Bavarian and German culinary delights, the Hofbräuhaus of America brand has been growing rapidly since becoming a franchise in the U.S. in 2003. By Elice Morgenson
Features
The Alternative Board: Navigating the Business World Among Friends
Running a business can be lonely. Fortunately, that’s where The Alternative Board (TAB) comes in to lend advice and support. TAB, which operates worldwide, is the most extensive franchise system offering peer advisory boards and superior coaching for business owners. By Lizzy Yeserski
Biggby Coffee: Beyond the Grind
BIGGBY® COFFEE prides itself on being an unpretentious brand that’s big on community and culture. “One of the unique things about BIGGBY COFFEE is that it’s intentionally unintimidating, all the way from our branding (it’s very bright and approachable) down to the products we offer,” said Jaime Balazy, marketing director. By Lizzy Yeserski
Global Financial Training Program: Low Investment Yields High Returns
Global Financial Training Program is a lucrative business opportunity that teaches its students how to secure commercial loans for businesses that have been turned down by banks. By Patty Horansky
N-Compass TV: Your Path to Freedom
N-Compass TV is changing the way advertisers reach their audience. The franchise’s state-of-the-art digital billboards are placed inside local businesses, ranging from coffee shops to medical offices, to target consumers when they’re on the go. By Sarah Lindauer
Schooley Mitchell: A Model Built for Economic Uncertainty
Schooley Mitchell, the largest independent cost-reduction consulting firm in North America, helps businesses cut costs and maintain stability in any economy. In times of economic growth and recession, the brand ensures that funds are used wisely, creating extra resources for its clients. By Elice Morgenson
Body20: At the Forefront of Fitness
BODY20 isn’t any ordinary strength and cardio training. The technology used in the brand’s signature workouts can reduce what would be hours of weight training into an intense workout that averages around 20 minutes. The innovative concept utilizes an FDA-cleared electro-muscle stimulation suit and one-on-one training sessions to help pinpoint clients’ goals and maximize results. By Kelsi Trinidad
Rita’s Italian Ice: A Sweet Deal
From its beginnings on a front porch outside of Philadelphia in 1984, Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard has grown into the largest Italian ice chain in the world – putting smiles on the faces of guests and franchisees in more than 550 locations in 31 states. By Patty Horansky
Grand Welcome: Spring Brings New Opportunities for Growth
Spring is finally here, and for short-term rentals and vacation spots around the country, peak season is about to come back to life. Grand Welcome, one of the leading short-term vacation rental management franchises, notes spring as an ideal time to open a location and take advantage of the approaching summer rental boom. By Elice Morgenson
FranServe: The Best Tactics of Successful Franchisors
The best franchisors have strong leadership skills and are passionate about their brand while being supportive and flexible for their franchise owners. But that’s not all. CEO and President of FranServe Alesia Visconti added important components to that list. By Nancy E. Williams
Shop Talk
Alternatives To Saying “NO”
Here’s an important announcement from some of the many and varied surveys Telephone Doctor Customer Service Training has conducted over the years. A while back I wanted to find out how people felt when they were rejected. What came out of those interviews and surveys was no one wants to be told “no” at the start of a sentence. By Nancy Friedman
Pulse
It has been said that if you still have a pulse, then you still have a purpose. FranServe Certified Franchise Consultants (CFCs) are specifically trained and skilled at helping others realize their purpose in this life. Many miss out on their destiny because they sacrifice their destiny for “security.” By Don Clayton
Personal Branding
Franchising is a highly competitive and dynamic business environment. With so many brands and concepts vying for entrepreneurs’ attention and so many local business owners competing for consumers’ attention, it’s essential for all of us to establish our own personal brands to stand out and succeed. By Jack Monson
Hidden Treasure
Great unit economics will drive a franchise system to growth and profitability. Each franchised location is a building block to the overall financial metrics. Having advised hundreds of franchisors over the years, one area that many franchisors neglect is encouraging low performing franchisees to transition the business to a new owner. By Tom Spadea