Columns
Painter Bros: Building Out a Painting Empire
Angela Batchelor and her wife, Jenny, were looking for an opportunity to break out on their own and become entrepreneurs. Angela has a background in real estate, flipping properties with her brother-in-law, and Jenny manages a successful business in North Carolina. After two years of searching for the right franchise opportunity that could leverage Angela’s real estate experience, they were about to sign on with another franchise when Angela discovered Painter Bros. By Kelsi Trinidad
Best Option Restoration: Achieving the Dream of Entrepreneurship
Kyle Chiasson’s commitment to building authentic relationships motivated him to own a client-first business. After succeeding in advisory roles at banking and wealth management organizations, Chiasson decided to pursue his dream of business ownership in 2017. By Erika Ortega
Hammer & Nails: Unwavering Commitment to Community
Hammer & Nails is in the business of making people feel good by providing luxury grooming services to a diverse clientele. The brand provides a space where luxury meets self-care, offering popular services, including haircuts, shaves and hand-and-foot treatments. By Erika Ortega
Homevestors: Flipping Houses While Serving Their Community
Stephen Bowen and Michael Falotico have been HomeVestors® of America, Inc. franchisees for more than 14 years, serving the greater Boston area as business owners and through charitable works. By Patty Horansky
Naturals2Go: An Unlikely Path From Owner-operator to President
Heath Falzarano’s journey to finding Naturals2Go is similar to many of the company’s other vending business owners. Falzarano had been a special education teacher when he began looking for a change and more agency over his career. By Kelsi Trinidad
FranServe Inc.: Celebrating Game Changers
Franchise Dictionary Magazine’s (FDM) annual December Game Changer edition recognizes those making waves in the franchise space. The magazine receives hundreds of submissions nominating the top talent in franchising who are vying for this prestigious recognition. President and CEO of FranServe, Inc. Alesia Visconti shared the remarkable impact of a game changer. By Nancy E. Williams
Dawn Abbamondi: Changing the Game & Succeeding in Franchising
The end of the year is often a time to look back and see what happened, and yet, we should always be forward focused on what we can do better in the future. Being free and clear to invent, re-create and change the game is an essential part of franchising. Before starting this article, I did go back and look at what we thought would come to us this year. By Dawn Abbamondi
Renew Medic: Innovative Brand Launches With Top Performers
Renew Medic™ is a new specialty cabinet transformation and restoration company in the popular TCB Franchising family. The brand evolved from Furniture Medic®, one of the world’s largest furniture repair and restoration companies for more than 30 years. Father-and-son team Joseph and Daniel Steffens started their Furniture Medic franchise in 2018 in Denver. They quickly recognized the endless opportunities in specialty cabinet services. By Nancy E. Williams
Pet Butler: Calling All Business-minded Pet Lovers
Pet Butler is on a mission to educate potential franchisees and consumers about its expanded services beyond pet waste removal. The brand, founded in 1988 and franchised in 2005, has evolved from just “poop scooping’’ to offering multiple pet care services that provide additional revenue streams and scalability for franchisees. By Patty Horansky
Floor Coverings International: A Flexible Franchise for Every Lifestyle
Founded in 1988, Floor Coverings International® has been a leader in the flooring industry, expanding to over 250 locations across the U.S. and internationally. The company’s evolution from a physical showroom to an on-the-go fleet of mobile showrooms allows customers to choose the flooring right in their homes. By Kelsi Trinidad
Global Financial Training Program: Learning the Lucrative Language of Commercial Lending
The coming year holds great promise for graduates of Global Financial Training Program, a lucrative business opportunity with more than 30 years of experience teaching enrollees the ins and outs of commercial lending. By Patty Horansky
Lime Painting: Strategic Franchisee Selection and Development
One of LIME Painting®’s not-so-secret ingredients to success is its careful selection and strategic development of franchisees. In the highly competitive painting market, LIME Painting continues to achieve nationwide growth by providing exceptional services, ranging from luxury painting and coating to surface restoration for commercial and residential clients. Senior Director of Operations Erica Sicre is the mastermind and overseer of all the brand’s franchisees. By Erika Ortega
Congratulations to Alesia Visconti on her Second Consecutive Award
Women We Admire is pleased to announce The Top Women Leaders of New Jersey for 2024.
We are thrilled to present this year’s 100 Game Changers, chosen from the remarkable nominations submitted by you-our readers. Your enthusiasm and heartfelt comments about your favorite franchises reflect the profound impact these brands have on individuals and communities. By Rose Mango
Features
Mr. Transmission/Milex: An Attractive and Supportive Opportunity for Veterans
Mr. Transmission®/Milex Complete Auto Care®, a member of Moran Family of Brands, specializes in automotive services ranging from oil changes, brakes, tune-up services, all diagnostics and repairs as well as transmission rebuilding and repairs. As a nationwide brand with a superior reputation, it offers a one-stop shop experience for customers and maintains a service philosophy based on relationships and trust. By Erika Ortega
Blue Kangaroo Packoutz: A Contents Restoration Business That Cares About What They Carry
The property restoration industry caters to homeowners and businesses facing the aftermath of disasters such as floods, fires and storms. While traditional restoration typically focuses on structural repairs, a specialized niche has emerged: contents restoration. Blue Kangaroo™ Packoutz addresses the restoration of damaged belongings, offering a valuable service and a unique opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs. By Shelby Green
Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard: World’s Largest Italian Ice Concept Continues to Grow
For 40 years, Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard has served up its iconic silky-smooth Italian ice and frozen custard with a smile. While other companies sell frozen desserts, none have been able to capture the heart of America the way Rita’s has. By Brianna Bohn
Paul Davis Restoration: A Trusted World-class Leader
Over the past 50 years, Paul Davis Restoration has earned its place as a leader in the residential damage restoration and reconstruction industry. Amid the recent hurricane destruction experienced in the southeastern U.S., the company’s franchisees have been on the ground helping the affected communities rebuild. By Kelsi Trinidad
Spartan Floor Coatings: Your Guide to Franchise Success
Spartan Floor Coatings is making waves in the home services industry. New to franchising, the brand opened its first franchise in Florida this past spring and is already on track to generate $1 million in sales thanks to its well-developed franchise system. By Shelby Green
BrightStar Care: Achieving a Remarkable Milestone in Senior Care
BrightStar Care® recently achieved a significant milestone with the opening of its 400th location. The brand, founded in 2002 and franchised in 2006, provides medical staffing and both medical and nonmedical in-home care to seniors and others needing assistance. By Patty Horansky
City Wide Facility Solutions: The Secret to Success
Rick Cobden has been with City Wide Facility Solutions for nearly two decades as the company’s 11th franchise owner. Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, Cobden opened City Wide South Carolina in Greenville in 2009, the smallest market at the time. Over the first year and a half, he worked to get the location off the ground and finally found the secret to success after attending a City Wide franchisee conference. Since then, he has gone on to open three more locations across the country, with the most recent opening in Chicago this year. By Shelby Green
Assisting Hands Home Care: A Decade of Growth and Compassion
As the population ages, the home care industry is booming with opportunity. Families are committed to finding trusted, high-quality care for their loved ones. Since 2006, Assisting Hands® Home Care has been providing individuals with the exceptional and compassionate care they need to remain happy, healthy and at home. By Shelby Green
INFINITY, Beyond Fitness: Redefining the Meaning of Wellness
INFINITY, beyond fitness, is a holistic wellness opportunity that addresses all facets of fitness: training, nutrition and recovery. The company’s philosophy is founded on the belief that only with these three elements combined can clients achieve the long-lasting results they seek. This approach creates a unique franchise opportunity that not only stands out among other fitness franchises but also ensures less client turnover as well as consistent and stable revenue. By Kelsi Trinidad
Shop Talk
Franchise Growth: The Intersection of Real Estate & Lending
What are the biggest challenges for opening a new business in 2025? Many say the hurdles include real estate and borrowing money. I had the privilege of moderating a webinar last month with three professionals whose expertise is helping new small-business owners get their doors open faster. By Jack Monson
Don Clayton: Responsible Franchising
Responsible franchising is a term being used more and more in 2024. In fact, California adopted a bill to go into effect in 2026 called SB 919 that requires franchise brokers/consultants, franchise organizations and the like to make certain disclosures when working with candidates. By Don Clayton