Columns
Bazooka Charlie’s Barber Co.: Grabbing Attention
Bazooka Charlie’s Barber Co. is an attractive emerging brand in the lucrative men’s grooming arena. With six corporate locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the brand began franchising this year and, according to Owner Justin Goehring, is poised to disrupt the old-school barber industry. By Patty Horansky
Floor Coverings International: Franchisee of the Month: Tim & Brianne Justice Taking the Floor and Heading for New Levels
Tim Justice put on a tool belt at age 13 and worked alongside his father, a general contractor in Huntington, Utah, in the early ‘90s. He enjoyed working in his community and building things, but, after college, he chose to become the part owner of a financial education company that offered business and retirement coaching. By Patty Horansky
Natural Hounds: The Buzz: The Top Dog in Fresh Food
The demand for fresh dog food has skyrocketed in recent years due to the seemingly endless health benefits it offers your furry companion. As Conor Wooley started to home-cook food for his dog, he quickly realized how much the health of his dogs had improved. He then teamed up with his longtime friend, Rick Orlandi, to bring the product to market. United by a shared vision, they aimed to improve the lives of dogs in their community, and Natural Hounds was born. By Shelby Green
American Business Credit: Steadying the Business Loan Menagerie
Navigating the complexities of SBA loans can be daunting for many businesses, which often find themselves ineligible for various reasons. American Business Credit, also known as ABC Biz Loans, has been a stalwart in offering viable alternatives to these loans for over two decades. By Rose Mango
The Alternative Board: A Day in the Life of a Franchisee: Flexible Opportunity/Flexible Lifestyle
Joe Ohlweiler spent seven years co-managing a manufacturing company and another 25 years in strategic planning, finance and CFO roles. It was ultimately the near five-hour daily commute from his home in southern New Jersey to Manhattan that became taxing, because it didn’t allow him much flexibility in his family life. By Kelsi Trinidad
FranServe, Inc.: A Passion for Changing Lives
Alesia Visconti, CEO and President of FranServe, Inc., the largest franchise consulting and expansion organization in the world, recently announced, “Franchise ownership has never been hotter! For the sixth year in a row, FranServe has set a new record with 2023 being our best year to date. I’m confident 2024 will make 2023 look pale in comparison.” By Cindy Charette
Island Fin Poke Co.: FAMILY AFFAIR: The Support of an Extended ‘Ohana
After traveling throughout the U.S. working for different corporations for many years, Tammy and Scott Fitzpatrick decided they were ready for a different kind of opportunity. After a long time of exploring different franchise brands, they connected with Mark Setterington, CEO and founder of Island Fin Poké Co. By Cindy Charette
GAME CHANGERS: Changing the Game for Entrepreneurs Everywhere
So, you are thinking of expanding your business and adding another territory or location. You may want to take a step back, add up all of the investment and consider franchising your brand instead. By Dawn Abbamondi
Global Financial Training Program: Institutional Lending Propels Lucrative Business Opportunity
Global Financial Training Program has changed the terrain of commercial lending by teaching its students how to secure loans for small- to medium-sized businesses that are usually turned away by banks. It is a lucrative business opportunity, not a franchise, according to Founder and CEO Phil Dushey. It offers a low, one-time investment of $19,950. There are no royalties, territories, overhead fees or additional fees. By Patty Horansky
Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard: Superior Product and Service Make for a Sweet Opportunity
Since its beginning 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 and has put smiles on the faces of customers and franchisees at more than 550 locations in 31 states. By Patty Horansky
All Dogs Unleashed: Covering All the Bases
All Dogs Unleashed offers a full-service dog care experience that includes boarding, grooming services and day care. The company also specializes in best-in-class training. This all-in-one approach to dog care has given this franchise an upper hand in both the dog-training and pet-boarding industries. Clients have grown to rely on the company for consistent and reliable care for their four-legged family members. By Kelsi Trinidad
Hofbräuhaus of America: From Munich With Love: Bringing Authentic Bavarian Culture to the U.S.
Although there are thousands of restaurants and breweries in the U.S., none offer the same experience or atmosphere quite like a Hofbräuhaus franchise. Hofbräuhaus of America has been transforming the restaurant and brewpub industry for over 20 years, by providing a one-of-a-kind experience in each of its six franchise locations across the U.S. By Shelby Green
HomeVestors® of America: Filling a Niche in the Real Estate Market
HomeVestors® of America is a network of franchises that makes up the largest and longest-running, for-cash franchised homebuyer in the U.S. By Patty Horansky
360 Tour Designs: GIVING BACK: Making an Impact Beyond the Lens
According to the National Association of Realtors, 97% of buyers use the internet to search for homes. With such a high percentage of individuals looking for homes online, it’s more important than ever for Realtors to have professional photos to drive traffic, and that’s where 360 Tour Designs can help. Since 2009, the company has been providing Realtors with high-quality photos and videos to help sell listings faster. By Shelby Green
Naturals2Go: BUILD YOUR FUTURE: Build Your Future at Your Own Pace
Imagine growing a business that needs no workforce, requires no costly retail lease, and has machines that collect money for you all day long. That’s the ideal business model. By Lizzy Yeserski
Introducing the 100 Game Changers 2023
We are delighted this year by the exceptional entries submitted by our readers and fans as they nominated their top 100 Game Changers for 2023. By Rose Mango, Publisher/Chief Editor
Features
LIME Painting: A Customer-centric Approach to Home Improvement
Home improvement is more than just adding a fresh coat of paint or updating countertops. It’s about delivering on each client’s unique taste and vision for their home, and LIME Painting has been doing just that since 2013. The company takes a customer-centric approach to its luxury home painting services. By Shelby Green
Best Option Restoration: Help Is Only a Call Away
Best Option Restoration is a leader in the structure remediation industry, with more than 45 franchisees across the country helping homeowners and businesses recover from damage caused by mold, sewage, fire, smoke, water or storms. By Patty Horansky
Grand Welcome: Welcome Your Financial Freedom
Grand Welcome ended 2023 on a strong note by awarding its 75th franchise. Its future is looking just as spectacular as one of its show-stopping rental properties for 2024, as the company prepares to take on the overseas market. By Lizzy Yeserski
Paul Davis Restoration: Restoring Homes & Repairing Lives
The global demand for restoration services is expected to reach $80 billion by 2033, and Paul Davis Restoration is helping to ensure people have access to qualified and experienced restoration professionals at a moment’s notice. Since 1966, the company has helped shape the property-restoration industry. By Shelby Green
Flour Power Cooking Studios: A Recipe for a Lifelong Love of Cooking
Whether someone is 2½ or 92 years old, Flour Power Cooking Studios has a variety of culinary experiences to make their mouths water. Since 2008, the company has been stirring up fun in the kitchen and helping people foster a lifelong love for cooking through classes, camps, and other exciting offerings for participants of all ages. By Shelby Green
Hawaii Fluid Art: A Feel Good Experience
Since 2021, Hawaii Fluid Art has offered an experience unlike any other. Fluid art is unique because it involves pouring colors and tilting the canvas to create a one-of-a-kind piece. The company also offers classes for resin tumblers, glass painting and resin beach scenes. Regardless of which class a customer takes, they’ll leave with so much more than a piece of art. By Shelby Green
City Wide Facility Solutions: A Positive Ripple Effect
City Wide Facility Solutions has big aspirations for its franchisees and wants to help them bring their dreams to fruition. By Lizzy Yeserski
Assisting Hands® Home Care: Securing Your Future in the Booming Home Care Industry
In 2003, Dr. Gail Silverstein was looking for care for her elderly father, but she couldn’t find a care solution with which she was completely comfortable. With 25 years of experience in the health industry and a doctorate in public administration, Silverstein saw this dilemma as an opportunity to provide people with the care that she wished existed for her father and the loved ones of many others. By Kelsi Trinidad
Blue Kangaroo Packoutz: Cleaning and Restoration Under One Brand
BELFOR, the largest property restoration company in the world, is the parent company of 13 franchise brands including Blue Kangaroo Packoutz, a comprehensive contents restoration franchise. According to Ken Osness, vice president of franchise development for BELFOR Franchise Group, Blue Kangaroo Packoutz has taken an innovative approach to the post-disaster industry by pairing cleaning and restoration services all in one. By Cindy Charette
BIGGBY® COFFEE: Expanding in Emerging Markets
BIGGBY® COFFEE has been having an incredible year. The company secured 75 new franchise agreements in 2023, which meant that the number of open cafés increased to 365, with another 155 under contract or in development. The brand is well on its way to reaching its goal of 500 open locations by 2024 and having 1,000 stores operating by 2028. By Nancy E. Williams
FranServe Inc.: Why Every CEO Needs to Be a Game Changer
The term “game-changer” is defined by Merriam-Webster as “a newly introduced element or factor that changes an existing situation or activity in a significant way.” This definition sums up exactly what Alesia Visconti, president and CEO of FranServe, has done to transform the organization into the largest franchise broker network in the industry. By Nancy E. Williams
Refresh Renovations: A Proven Formula for Success
Refresh Renovations has provided life-changing opportunities to franchise owners from many different backgrounds and has transformed their careers, incomes and lifestyles. According to CEO of Refresh Renovations North America Paul English, the opportunities provided enable franchise owners, even those new to this industry, to manage their own successful renovation company. By Cindy Charette
Shop Talk
Acts of Service in Your Business
At this fall’s Franchise Leadership and Development Conference in Atlanta, Ty Brewster of LocateAI got to town a bit earlier than the rest of us. Ty and our friend Kater Danford of Northeast Color, activated “Operation Sugarbomb.” They spent a day dropping off baked goods at various franchise companies and locations. What were they selling? Actually…nothing. By Jack Monson
LEGAL: Is Your Business ‘Franchisable’?
As a franchise attorney who has launched hundreds of brands over the last decade, I get asked this question a lot by people exploring whether they want to franchise and those who have launched a brand but have struggled to get traction. There are key business attributes that make a business “franchisable”, however, the first question is more about the founder than the fundamentals of the business. Are you ready and able to be a good franchisor? By Tom Spadea
Is Your Franchise Doing it Right?
Over the years I’ve been blessed with working and training dozens of franchise businesses. Bottom line, showing them how to improve communications and customer service with their customers. By Nancy Friedman
What the Heck is a Franchise Consultant?: Veterans are a Perfect Match
Military veterans make excellent franchise consultants for many reasons. One reason individuals enter the military is their desire to help others and serve their country. Transitioning out of the military, these veterans seek opportunities to continue to serve and help others throughout the world. By Don Clayton