Franchise-Info

Building the Ideal Franchise Candidate Profile: The 3 C’s Successful franchising starts with identifying the right candidates. The foundation? The 3 C’s:? - **Character**: Aligning values and work ethic with the brand's culture.?? - **Capital**: Ensuring financial readiness for investment and growth.?? - **Capability**: Bringing the skills and experience needed to succeed in operations.? A strong candidate profile isn't just about checking boxes; it's about creating a partnership where both franchisor and franchisee thrive.? How do you evaluate potential franchisees for long-term success? Share your thoughts! #Franchising #BusinessLeadership #Entrepreneurship

Franchise Regulations: Balancing Transparency and Opportunity Franchise disclosure documents (FDDs) in the U.S. bring uniformity and transparency, offering a clear roadmap for prospective franchisees. In contrast, regions like the UK, which lack strict regulations, allow for faster processes but risk misalignment or surprises later. Meanwhile, systems like France’s DIP ensure thorough consideration with mandatory review periods. Each approach has its strengths and challenges, but one thing is clear: transparency builds trust, and trust drives successful partnerships. How do you see franchise regulations shaping the industry’s future? #Franchising #BusinessLeadership #Transparency

Advisors: The Key to Franchise Success Behind every successful franchisee is a strong support system, and advisors play a critical role in that journey. From navigating the complexities of operations to providing guidance on growth strategies, a good advisor bridges the gap between potential and performance. Franchisors who prioritize advisory support not only empower their franchisees but also build lasting partnerships that drive mutual success. How do you see the role of advisors evolving in franchising? #Franchising #Leadership #BusinessSupport

Why Structure Matters in Franchise Recruitment A well-structured franchise recruitment process is key to building trust and attracting the right candidates.? From initial outreach to final agreements, a multi-stage process provides clear objectives at every step, ensuring prospects are informed and confident in their decisions. This structure not only streamlines the journey but also reflects the operational discipline franchisees expect to see in the brand.? Remember, the process is part of the pitch. Are you showcasing the clarity and organization that candidates will experience as part of your franchise system?? Let’s discuss how structure drives results in franchise recruitment! #Franchising #Leadership #BusinessGrowth

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Ready, Start, Grow: The Farmer Boys Blueprint for Franchise Launch Success

Potbelly Sandwich Works mutes refranchising to make way for new unit growth CEO Robert "Bob" Wright wants the fast-casual sandwich chain to be 85% franchised and selling company units was a catalyst. So far, it's working. Lisa Jennings Restaurant Business Online Last year, the Potbelly sandwich chain sold 33 company units in an effort to kickstart new franchise growth for the mostly company owned fast-casual brand. It appears to have worked. On Thursday, the company said it can now mute the refranchising effort after successfully attracting new and existing franchise operators to grow the sandwich chain. This year, only one company unit was refranchised, and Chief Financial Officer Steve Cirulis said that effort is now being de-emphasized as franchisees pick up the ball. The plan was part of President and CEO Bob Wright's?Franchise Growth Acceleration Initiative, which includes the goal of reaching 2,000 units with at least 85% of those being franchised. On Friday, the chain announced six new development agreements signed since July that will bring a total of 32 shops in six states with both new and existing partners. Among them is an expanded agreement with Potbelly founder?Bryant Keil, who with his son last year announced plans to return to the brand as an operator. In addition, existing franchisee Royal Restaurant Group has signed an agreement to bring 15 units to Atlanta, a new market for the brand. Development there is scheduled to begin in January 2026. Royal already has a 40-unit agreement, signed in October 2023, which included the purchase of four company units in Ohio and 36 new shops there and in Florida. In total, Potbelly said it has 86 franchise shop commitments. Potbelly ended the quarter with 345 company owned and 90 franchised locations.? Eight new company shops opened during the quarter. This year Potbelly expected to add a total of 24 to 26 shops, though the impact of the hurricanes in the Southeast might slow development. For the third quarter, the chain reported total revenues down 4.7% to $115.1 million. Same-store sales at company units were down 1.8% for the third quarter, which included a 3.8% decline in traffic offset by a 2% gain in average check boosted by 4.4% in pricing. Wright blamed the traffic decline in part on the hurricanes in the southeast and the Democratic National Convention in Chicago over the summer. He said the chain, however, saw comparable sales improvement at the end of the third quarter and into the fourth, driven in part by the introduction of a new Smokestack Pork and Mac sandwich, featuring pulled pork in a barbecue sauce. The pulled pork is a permanent addition to the menu, also appearing in two new signature sandwiches scheduled to debut Nov. 11: a Cubano and a Sweet Heat Barbecue Pork.https://https://lnkd.in/eyVASBRA

Franchise ownership is not for the cowardly Karen Schaffner Inside Tucson Business Everyone loves tacos, and in a city known for its excellent tacos, is there room for one more? Yes, said John Ramsay, the franchise development manager for Texas-based Taco Cabana, a fast-casual food franchise. The restaurant is considered a hybrid of a fast-food and a full-service restaurant. We have a broad menu and a variety of options,” Ramsay said. “Our customers actually see us as a full menu Mexican restaurant (but) we’re available in a fast, convenient format.” Taco Cabana hasn’t landed in Tucson yet. Ramsay said Taco Cabana is different from other Mexican fast-casual places. “There are really three things that make us differentiate ourselves,” he said. “No. 1 is food quality. No. 2 is convenience and No. 3 is value. It’s really a convenience that’s a big driver.” Hand in hand with convenience is how the franchise packages its items. For example, “We sell a box at breakfast called ‘A Dozen Breakfast Taco Box.’” It works well, according to Ramsay, and is one of their best-selling items. Taco Cabana is not an entryway franchise. They are looking for a person or groups of potential owners with fairly specific qualifications. “Today’s marketplace is much more challenging than it used to be,” Ramsay said. “We’re really looking for a couple of key components. No. 1 is having experience in the restaurant business. Another is also having experience as a business owner and then another one is having experience in commercial development. “This is probably the most important quality the connection a person has to the community.” They want people who have hired contractors, dealt with CPAs and lawyer, and have been through the permitting process. Ramsay said the initial franchise fee is $45,000. https://lnkd.in/ecBsMc_f

Aneurin Canham-Clyne Restaurant Dive Huddle House signs its biggest franchise deal yet The franchising agreement will add a significant number of units to Huddle House’s system, which has seen store counts decline in recent years. Dive Brief: ? Huddle House, a casual dining brand owned by Ascent Hospitality, has signed its largest franchise development deal to date, a 20-store agreement with WE Food Enterprises Hospitality Group, according to an emailed press release. ? The deal will significantly expand Huddle House’s store footprint in Texas, where the chain had 17 franchised locations operating at the end of 2023, according to its franchise disclosure document. ? Huddle House expects the first store to open by June 2025, in Spring, Texas, a suburb north of Houston. The brand expects to open three more stores during that month. Dive Insight: Both Huddle House’s franchisee base and its total store count have eroded over the last several years. The brand dropped from 313 total units (260 franchised) at the start of 2021 to 272 stores (216 franchised) at the end of 2023, while its company store count increased modestly. Huddle House has a comparatively low average unit volume — around $818,000 in net sales per unit in 2023 — which could make it difficult to fund rapid expansion or attract large franchisees. All the same, WE’s Chief Information Officer, Justin Criswell, said Huddle House was attractive because “we aligned with its values and mission. We hope to create a welcoming hub for colleges, local schools, and families while creating meaningful job opportunities for students.” Peter Ortiz, chief development officer at Ascent Development, said the franchise deal foreshadowed more such development projects for Huddle House. “This achievement continues to demonstrate the growing interest from prospective franchisees, and we look forward to more wins ahead,” Ortiz wrote in a statement. Ascent hired Ortiz in 2021 to?remake Huddle House’s and Perkins’ franchising programs. Perkins Franchising and Development has seen some success, recently developing a new?fast casual concept?that it is building in Canada and Texas. Other casual dining chains have looked to reinvigorated franchising programs to reverse multi-year unit count decreases recently. California Pizza Kitchen, for example, signed its first major domestic franchise deal under its multi-unit franchisee recruitment?initiative earlier this month. https://lnkd.in/ebZPZ6G7

Dallas’ Nothing Bundt Cakes Names Franchising Veteran as?Chief Development Officer Lance Murray Dallas Innovates Joel Larkin brings more than two decades of franchise development and operations expertise to his new role at Nothing Bundt Cakes. “Joel’s background is uniquely suited to the fast-paced growth we’re undertaking here at Nothing Bundt Cakes,” CEO Dolf Berle said in a statement. “He brings great technical expertise, wisdom, energy and enthusiasm to support our wonderful bakery owners and our entire support center team.” Larkin brings more than two decades of franchise development and operations expertise to his new role at Nothing Bundt Cakes. Most recently, he was chief franchise and development officer at European Wax Center, where he oversaw its expansion to more than 1,000 locations. He also held senior leadership positions at Victra - Verizon Authorized Retailer and Select Communications At Nothing Bundt Cakes, Larkin will play a key role in helping the brand achieve its goal of opening its 1,000th bakery by 2027, the company said. Larkin will be responsible for identifying and supporting new franchise partners while enhancing resources for existing owners. “What sets Nothing Bundt Cakes apart is its thoughtful approach to expansion that preserves the special connection our bakeries have with their communities,” Larkin said in a statement. “As the brand continues to grow at the fastest rate in its history, I plan to further strengthen our support infrastructure and leverage data-driven market planning to create exceptional opportunities for new and existing bakery owners.” Founded in 1997, Nothing Bundt Cakes is the nation’s largest specialty cake company, with more than 635 franchised and corporate bakeries in 40-plus states and Canada. https://lnkd.in/e27eD6Vt