ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE WILL HELP FRANCHISORS SPEED UP FRANCHISE DEVELOPMENT

In a report by Data IKU, Korn Ferry stated that 55 percent of staff believed AI had already changed the way their organization recruits. IBM receives about 8,000 resumes a day and is the most searched employer on Glassdoor, an employment site that includes employee ratings for their company. IBM uses an AI algorithm that can predict with 95% accuracy whether a worker is planning to leave his/her job.

For those of you who have followed Ed Teixeira’s articles on FranchiseMoneyMaker.com it is with deep sadness that we report he passed away last week. We will miss Ed’s insights, willingness to help and the kindness he brought not only to our publication but the franchise community and the everyone he touched.

Artificial Intelligence Will Help Franchisors Speed up Franchise Development
By Ed Teixeira

Franchise Consultant, Blogger and Freelance Writer. Co- Author of New Textbook Franchising Strategies The Entrepreneurs Guide to Success. Franchise Executive with 40 years of Franchise Industry Experience.

During the past several years, you have probably read or heard about the increased use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its applications. AI has already had a significant impact on Human Resource departments, especially recruiting job applicants. In a report by Data IKU, Korn Ferry stated that 55 percent of staff believed AI had already changed the way their organization recruits. IBM receives about 8,000 resumes a day and is the most searched employer on Glassdoor, an employment site that includes employee ratings for their company. IBM uses an AI algorithm that can predict with 95% accuracy whether a worker is planning to leave his/her job.

Related to AI is natural language processing (NLP) which enables computers to read text, hear and interpret speech and determine which parts are important, like Alexa. A report from Tractica predicts that NLP software solutions capitalizing on AI will grow from $136 million in 2016 to $5.4 billion by 2025.

AI and Franchise System Development
If AI resume software automates resume screening, then AI applications should offer franchisors a major opportunity to improve their franchise system development. Using AI to automate the screening of franchise prospect information could help spot qualified candidates much faster. Also, using phone call speech-to-text and NLP can provide more opportunities to gain information from candidate conversations. Service Score’s Qualifier Call Optimization (QCO) platform uses recorded prospect calls with an analysis engine powered by the latest AI tools to deliver opportunities for converting more calls to applications. A number of franchisors currently use the Service Score application.

Franchise Departments Should List Its Telephone Number
A number of franchisors fail to list their telephone number on their franchise page and require prospects to submit a form. This has become somewhat of the norm rather than offering two ways to contact the franchise department. Hiya’s annual State of the Call report found that more than 12,000 consumers and 2,000 businesses ranked the phone call No. 1 for remote interactions, beating out text, email, video calls, and chatbots.

 During my career I built three franchise systems in different business categories. In each case our phone number for the franchise department was available. I considered every franchise lead valuable and wanted our staff to be able to engage with potential franchise prospects as soon as possible. It was my experience, that individuals who called the franchise department before submitting a contact form, were eager to learn about our franchise opportunity and had important questions. In many cases it resulted in the person submitting a franchise application.

Top franchisors like Service Master Restore, BrightStar Franchising and Neighborly follow this process. Here is BrightStar’s Message: “Our friendly and experienced team is happy to help you get started. Call us at 872-xxx-xxxx or request a call from our team by filling out the form below.”

Franchisor’s Should Prepare for AI
Its time franchisors prepare for the increased use of AI applications in various franchise operations. This should include franchise development. Here are steps franchisors can take to begin the process:

* Compile data to construct a franchisee profile of top performing franchisees or the ideal franchise candidate.
* Incorporate franchisee profile data into contact form and franchisee application.
* Include franchise department contact telephone number.
* Franchisors should speak with several AI software companies to learn about the process and cost of using AI applications for franchise development. Mike Bidwell, president and CEO of Neighborly stated: “We believe employing AI will be key to gaining or even maintaining a competitive advantage in an increasingly informed and sophisticated marketplace.

About the Author:
Ed Teixeira
Franchise Consultant, Blogger and Freelance Writer. Co- Author of New
Textbook Franchising Strategies The Entrepreneurs Guide to Success.
Franchise Executive with 40 years of Franchise Industry Experience.

What To Consider When Purchasing A Franchise

Photo by Estée Janssens on Unsplash

Summary: To select the ideal franchise company to join, you should first find a company with a proven track record of success. A good franchisor will have been in business for at least two or three years and be able to demonstrate the growth potential of its products and services. The best way to do this is by looking at how many franchises they currently have in operation and are they profitable. A robust and growing network often indicates a successful brand.

10 Key Points To Consider When Purchasing A Franchise
Originally published in Forbes.

By Gary Occhiogrosso, Managing Partner Franchise Growth Solutions

If your goal is to purchase a franchise, choosing the right franchise brand to invest in is one of the most important decisions you’ll make as a business owner. It’s not just about finding a company with a proven track record but also finding one that fits your personality and lifestyle. Your first step, is knowing what to look for when you’re evaluating potential franchises. Here are some key areas to consider:

Franchise Fees
Franchise fees are one-time payments made when purchasing a franchise. These fees can range from $10,000 to $100,000 and are used to pay for the rights to use the name, the procedures and any systems developed by the franchisor. It is also used to cover costs for training and opening support by the franchisor to assist the franchisee with the opening of their franchise. Franchisors usually charge their franchisees up-front fee when the franchise is granted. In addition, post Covid initial “turnkey” investments may be higher than in the past due to supply chain issues, inflation, and increased cost of equipment and leasehold improvements between brands.

Royalty Fees
Royalty fees are the amount of ongoing money (usually a percentage of gross sales) you pay to the franchisor for using their brand name and ongoing support such as marketing and developing new products or services for the franchisee. As a franchisee, you are required to pay royalties based on a portion of your sales. This percentage may be fixed or fluctuate on a sliding scale based on sales.

Term Length
Franchise term length can be a good indicator of how much the Franchisor invests in their franchisees.
On average, depending on the type of franchise, home based vs a retail location, franchise brands have terms that last ten years or less. This means there’s plenty of time for the franchisee and franchisor to work together and develop a solid relationship. Still, it also means that the franchisee may not be allowed to retain the business if something doesn’t work out. If a franchisee is underperforming, the franchisor may not renew the franchise agreement once it expires, or may seek to terminate the franchise prior to the full term. In such a case, the franchisee must exit the business. In many instances, there will be a contractual obligation that the franchisee cannot open a similar business for a period of time within a certain distance from their original location. This is called a non-compete clause.

Consider Your Lifestyle.
* Consider the lifestyle you will have while running the business.
* Look at the hours of operation. You don’t want to buy an 80 work week.
* Review flexibility of franchisor with respect to new products, relocation and other variables.
* See if the location makes sense for you. You will need to manage the location or develop a team to manage the day-to-day operation for you.
* Check out the type of work needed to run the franchisee. Make sure it fits your skill set and interests, including whether it’s something you’d enjoy doing as a full-time job.
Seeking the advice of a professional franchise consultant can be an extremely useful method when evaluating if a franchise is the right business model for you. Scott Milas, a Certified Franchise Executive (CFC) and Certified Franchise Consultant (CFC) with The International Franchise Professionals Group recommends you consider these questions: “What is your “Know” and “Why?” Understanding “why” you are interested in owning your own business, and “knowing” who you are, are critical steps in choosing the right opportunity. A self evaluation and clear picture of your skill sets and eventual end game- exit strategy, will help ensure that you invest in the right opportunity. Better to “know” now then after you made the wrong decision. “Why” now?
An experienced franchise consultant can assist you in answering those questions and choosing a brand that’s a good lifestyle fit as well as one that offers opportunities to meet your business goals

Look For An Experienced Franchisor
To select the ideal franchise company to join, you should first find a company with a proven track record of success. A good franchisor will have been in business for at least two or three years and be able to demonstrate the growth potential of its products and services. The best way to do this is by looking at how many franchises they currently have in operation and are they profitable. A robust and growing network often indicates a successful brand. In addition, it demonstrates that customers value its products or services enough to pay for them again through multiple businesses.
The second thing you should look for when choosing a franchise is reputation—how well does your chosen brand stand up against its competitors? While there may be other similar businesses out there with similar business models, does you selected band have points of difference to separate itself from the competition. It’s essential that you choose one that utilizes high-quality materials, produces consistent results, and provides excellent customer service while maintaining competitive prices at all times.”

Know Your Competition
One of the steps to building a successful franchise business is to know your competition. What brands already exist in the market, and how do they compare? What is their customer base, and what can you learn from them? How do your offerings differ from theirs, and how do these differences help or hinder you as a company?
Tom Scarda a former franchisee and now a franchise coach and consultant offering advice to franchise buyers regarding evaluating the competition and what it may mean to their success as a franchisee “It’s smart to think about a product or service that is needed in your area and consider bringing that sort of business to the town. However, just because there are no batting cages in your town and you think it would do great because there are kids everywhere, you may be right. However, will it make money? Is there some reason why there is no batting cages in the area? When starting a business, you must, must do a comprehensive business plan before anything else. Learn about competition in the area. Understand the local county laws and regulations around the business you’re considering. Be real about the cost to start and run the operation. These are just a few items to consider in a business plan.”

Once you’ve got a handle on who’s out there, it will be easier for you to see where there are gaps in the market—and then fill those gaps with your unique brand identity.

Carefully Review The Franchise Disclosure Document.
Read the current franchise disclosure document (check the issuance date) and have it reviewed by a competent franchise attorney. Harold Kestenbaum, a noted franchise attorney with Spadea Law advises: “When considering the purchase of a franchise, I highly recommend retaining the services of an experienced franchisee attorney. Never contemplate purchasing a franchise without seeking the advice of an attorney who has reviewed FDD;s before. I also recommend that you do your due diligence. By that I mean that you should review Item 20 of the FDD and call all of the existing franchisees who are in your general area.”

There are additional factors to consider when reviewing the franchisor’s FDD. According to Richard Bayer, a Partner in the law firm Einbinder & Dunn LLP: “Purchasing a franchise for many first-time business owners will often be one of the top three expensive transactions the franchisee will ever go through in his/her lifetime. Given the severity of the investment, a franchisee must commit to doing due diligence. It starts with speaking with existing franchisees as well as those who left the system. Their contact information can be found in the FDD. The goals from these calls include gaining a better understanding of the economics of the franchise – is it profitable, when is break even reached, do costs (labor or otherwise) or revenues fluctuate significantly making it difficult to predict performance. Equally important is getting a sense of the franchisor’s temperament – is the franchisor supportive, does the franchisor go above and beyond legal obligations (imposed in the franchise agreement) to deliver for its franchisees, is the franchisor forward thinking and/or technology driven. The FDD is a great source of information about a system, but it is has gaps that can be filled in quite nicely by franchisees in the system and by those who left. Purchasing a franchise without speaking to as many franchisees as possible is a lost opportunity.”

Investigate The Franchisor’s Tenure And Track Record of Success
In addition to analyzing the franchisors’ financials, it’s also vital to examine their overall track record. While a strong balance sheet is an essential indicator of a business’s health and stability, it doesn’t tell you much about how they’ve fared over time. So, for example, if you’re looking at two franchises with similar books and financials, but one of them has been around for four years while the other has been operating since say, 1899, it would make sense to choose the latter in this case—even if everything else on paper looks the same.
This information can be gleaned from third-party sources such as Dun & Bradstreet or franchise trade magazines or by visiting the website of the International Franchise Association. Always go directly through your Franchisor before getting this data yourself so that they can confirm that everything is correct and up-to-date. In addition, it is vital that you speak with or meet as many existing franchisees as possible before you make your final decision.

What Are The Brand’s Training Programs And Support?
When you buy a franchise, you’re not just buying the rights to use its brand name. You also get access to training programs, mentoring, and support from the Franchisor. These must be proven and effective; otherwise, it can be challenging for your business to grow or stay profitable.
You want to ensure that your franchisor is committed to your success as a franchisee. That means offering in-person training (the better option) and or using phone or video calls if necessary. It also means regular advice on running your business and what strategies might help you reach more customers or increase revenue.

Review The Franchisor’s Marketing Plans.
A good franchisor will have a written marketing plan in place. The marketing plan should include a social media strategy and details about how the franchisor plans to use the funds provided through your advertising fees. If you ask for this document, they should be willing to share it with you.

Choosing The Right Franchise Brand Can Significantly Impact Your Success.
We’ve talked about screening potential franchise brands above. Still, there are some other factors that you should also consider when choosing where to invest your time and resources.
Tom Scarda goes on to say “We always hear the phrase, “If you love what you do you never work a day in your life.” That is true if you’re working a job. But a franchise is not a job. It’s a business that allows you to build a lifestyle. In the end, the service or product the business provides doesn’t matter. Of course, it must make sense for the community where you will operate and the concept must be something that you understand. However, you can be a vegetarian and own a burger joint. As the owner you are acting as the CEO and CFO, you’re not flippin’ burgers…well you shouldn’t be. If you are doing the tasks that the business requires then you bought yourself a job and your business will plateau and not be scalable. Scarda adds “Don’t buy a business because it has to do with your hobby. If you do, you will no longer have a hobby and you will probably resent the hobby if you’re trying to pay your mortgage with it. Instead, invest in a business that will give you the time and money to enjoy your hobby until your heart’s content.

Conclusion
It is important to consider all these factors when looking for a franchise brand. Some of them, like the fees and term length, are more straightforward than others. But, if you want to be successful in your franchise opportunity, it’s worth taking the time to research what makes each Franchisor unique thoroughly. A good franchisor will have invested in training programs and support systems that will help you understand how their business works.

* * MasterMind Minutes * *

Each episode runs approximately 20 to 25 minutes and features an expert guest covering one question. The entire series is posted & update on this page so you can binge watch back-to-back “episodes”. New episodes are added each month so keep coming back to view the experts on an insightful topic that is sure to help you build, grow and run your business.

Photo by AbsolutVision on Unsplash

www.franchisegrowthsolutions.com

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POSITIONING YOUR BRAND TO WIN, DETERMINING TRENDS INFLUENCING YOUR INDUSTRY, ANALYZE + ACT

MasterMind Minutes – One Guest – One Question – One Expert Answer in Minutes not Hours. Today’s Guest is Shelly Sun.

Shelly Sun is the CEO and Founder of BrightStar Care a national home care and medical staffing franchise with more than 365 locations that provide medical and non-medical services to clients within their homes, as well as supplemental care staff to corporate clients. Shelly is a dynamic and forward-thinking leader passionate about helping aspiring entrepreneurs become successful business owners. Shelly grew BrightStar Care from a local business to a $639M national enterprise. By franchising the concept, she was able to diversify & localize the brand’s operations, positioning franchisees to become prominent business owners. In 20 years, BrightStar Care has grown to over 365 locations, becoming the provider of choice for thousands of clients nationwide.

Shelly is also a well-known leader within the global franchising industry, serving as the 2017-2018 Chairwoman of the International Franchise Association (IFA), a top 25 association. Shelly was named IFA 2009 Entrepreneur of the Year and is a Certified Franchise Executive. Shelly published her first book in 2011, Grow Smart, Risk Less, where she discusses her journey as an emerging franchisor through growth, lessons, and game-changing ideas. Shelly and BrightStar Care were featured on an episode of CBS’ Undercover Boss, as the first franchise brand ever chosen on the show. Harvard Business School has written a case study about BrightStar Care’s expansion under Sun’s leadership. Prior to founding BrightStar Care, Shelly was a Certified Public Accountant and held executive positions with United Airlines, CNA Insurance, and BlueCross BlueShield.

An innovative, forward-thinking trailblazer, Shelly is focused on driving results, building a strong culture, and delivering the highest quality care by building a network of like-minded small business owners to activate her brand vision. Shelly’s strategic mindset to innovate, create new opportunities, and increase her brand’s market share drives brand growth and performance.

Learn more about Shelly and Bright Star: https://www.brightstarcare.com/
Contact Gary: [email protected]
Visit: www.frangrow.com

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IS A MYSTERY SHOP PROGRAM VITAL TO YOUR CUSTOMER’S EXPERIENCE AND YOUR SUCCESS?

MasterMind Minutes – One Guest, One Question, One Expert Answer in Minutes not Hours.Today our guest is Kurt Eddins.
Kurt is the Owner and President of 360 Relay (formerly known as 360 Intel and Goodwin Hospitality over the last 20 years). 360 Relay provides an array of services centered on gathering various types of customer feedback, with mystery shopping being the primary service. Their portfolio of clients ranges from national chains all the way down to single units.

Kurt has been involved in the mystery shopping industry going back to his high school years, starting out in the family business setting (known Goodwin Hospitality at the time and then ultimately coming on board full time in a managerial role after graduating from UNH in 2012.
Contact Kurt at: https://www.360-relay.com
Contact Gary at: [email protected]
Visit: www.frangrow.com

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HOW TO MOLD A MINDSET OF SUCCESS IN BUSINESS AND IN LIFE.

MasterMind Minutes One Guest One Question, One Answer. Today my guest is Darrell Bennett. Mr.Bennett is a Harvard Law School alum, former attorney and the founder of The B-Squared Global Group and creator of the Kingdom Wealth Circle, who has helped more than 100 business owners create more than $10M in profit and has sizable equity stakes in dozens of profitable enterprises.

Also known as The Comeback King, for his Voice, his personal story and his work helping people turnaround negatives into positives, Darrell has helped more than 100 people launch their business dreams.

In 2022, Darrell turned his personal memoirs, Come. Back. Swinging., into a Mentorship Accelerator, to help people beat the odds and break down barriers in their personal lives and business endeavors.

Contact Darrell via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrellbennett/
Contact Gary: [email protected]

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CREATING A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE FOR PEOPLE IN THE PET SERVICE BUSINESS

Today our guest is Michelle Boggs. Michelle is the Managing Partner at MUTTS Canine Cantina, so she oversees MUTTS’ brand development and is well connected with the brand’s ongoing media and marketing efforts which have been crucial in MUTTS’ growth since their 2019 announcement to franchise. She is also the co-founder of McKinley Marketing Partners, a marketing consulting firm based in Virginia.

With her leadership, she has attracted hundreds of franchise leads and presented multiple ways to help position MUTTS as an unrivaled, first-of-its-kind restaurant, bar and off-leash dog park concept. I’m positive she has a wealth of valuable insight to share with your listeners that could help them grow their businesses and position them at the forefront of their industry.

Contact Michelle at: https://muttscantina.com/
Contact gary at: [email protected]
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HOW TO SUSTAIN GROWTH LONG-TERM VS. JUST SURVIVING TOMORROW.

Master Mind Minutes – One Question – One Question – One Answer in Minutes Not Hours. Today our guest is Ed Quinlan.
Ed is the President of Chem-Dry, part of the BELFOR franchise group. Chem-Dry is the world’s leading carpet and upholstery cleaning service with a network spanning 55 countries, serving over 11,000 homes and businesses a day worldwide.

Ed oversees business support services for Chem-Dry’s franchisees, including training and business coaching programs designed to improve performance and the implementation of software improvements designed to make business easier and more profitable.

Contact Ed: https://www.chemdry.com/
Contact Gary: [email protected]
Visit: www.frangrow.com

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KEY CHALLENGES EMERGING FRANCHISORS FACE AND HOW TO OVERCOME THEM?

Today our guest is Tom Spadea..
Tom is the co-founder and Partner at Spadea-Lignana Law. The firm has offices in Philadelphia and NY and specializes in the areas of: Franchising, Buying or Selling a Business, Lease Negotiation, Litigation, Commercial law and Securities Law
But Tom didn’t start out as an attorney. He has a vast entrepreneurial background. He was the co-owner and President of a communications equipment manufacturer where he co-founded a factory in Latin America, successfully created an international sales network in Asia and invented a product for which he was granted a US Patent.
He spent more than 15 years in corporate and entrepreneurial positions before completing law school.
Tom has been named a “Legal Eagle” by Franchise Times magazine, a distinguished award recognizing Tom as a leader among his peers in franchising.
He is also the founding member of the Philadelphia Franchise Association and is the current President and Chairman.

Contact Tom at: https://www.spadealaw.com/
Contact Gary at: [email protected]
Visit: www.frangrow.com.
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KEY TIPS FOR FRANCHISEES AND FRANCHISORS ATTEMPTING TO SECURE FINANCING FOR THEIR NEW BUSINESS, LLC
https://youtu.be/PkG_7ydGZ-o

Today our Guest is Beegees Hebert Senior Account Manager
Beegees came to Guidant in 2011, and since then, she’s become a small business financing aficionado. Every day, she puts her superior listening skills to good use to become a true advocate for her clients. As an Account Manager, she’s committed to helping individuals identify and deploy the financing solution(s) that will help them reach their short- and long-term goals, making the process to funding as smooth as possible.
Beegees also has firsthand knowledge of what it takes to run a small business or franchise. Prior to joining Guidant, she served as the General Manager for a chain of tanning salon franchises, and before that, she was the Sales & Marketing Director for an independent health and fitness business. Today, she uses that experience to relate to clients and provide firsthand advice.
Contact Beegees at. https://www.guidantfinancial.com/abou…
Contact Gary at: [email protected]
Visit www.franchisegrowthsolutions.com
Visit: www.franchisemoneymaker.com

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MasterMind Minutes – WHY DOES FRANCHISE EXPERIENCE MATTER?
Our guest today is John Ramsay of Noodles & Company.

With over 28 years of experience in restaurant franchise sales and development, John Ramsay joined Noodles & Company in November of 2020 as the vice president of franchise sales. Prior to Noodles, John most recently held positions in franchise and restaurant growth efforts for Bruxie International and Marco’s Pizza Franchising. John’s successful career includes the growth of over 900 restaurants across all 50 states and 12 different countries. Having graduated from Virginia Tech University with an architecture degree, his vast skill set came through during his early career positions in design, construction and real estate for brands such as T.G.I. Friday’s and Jack in the Box.
A resident of southern California, John and his wife love traveling and spending time with their two kids in their free time.

Contact John at www.noodle.com
Contact gary at: [email protected],
Visit www.frangrow.com
Visit: www.franhisemoneymaker.com

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DEALING WITH RESTAURANT SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES

Our Guest today is Bob Ray, who has been with Margaritas since 1992 in a wide variety of positions, became an owner and board member assuming the role of Chief Operating Officer. The brand also expanded its leadership team to include a star-studded mix of owners and board members with decades of experience managing and growing successful restaurants.

For more information about Margaritas’ franchise opportunities, visit www.margs.com/franchising/overview.
Contact Bob at: https://www.margs.com/Contact Gary at: inforwww.frangrow.com
Visit: www.frangrow.com
Visit www.franchisemoneymaker.com

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WHAT ARE THE INNOVATIONS AND KEY DIFFERENTIATORS THAT HAVE LED McALISTER’S DELI TO ACCELERATED GROWTH OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS?

Our Guest today is; Mike Freeman, Chief Brand Officer, McAlister’s Deli
Mike has been working with the brand for 13 years and most recently served as vice president of operations.
Mike started as an assistant general manager at the McAlister’s Deli in Bossier City, La. He has worked in various operations and training leadership roles.
Contact Mike at:https://www.mcalistersdeli.com/
Contact gary at: [email protected]
visit: https://www.franchisegrowthsolutions….
visit: https://www.franchisemoneymaker.com/

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WHY IS IT MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER FOR LEADERS TO HONE THEIR LISTENING SKILLS & HOW CAN THEY DO THIS
MasterMind Minutes shares expert business information in Minutes Not Hours.

My guest today is Stephen Kohler. Stephen is the Founder & CEO of Audira Labs. Audira Labs enables leaders, teams and organizations to amplify their leadership through transformational 1:1 executive coaching and, music-infused, experiential team effectiveness workshops.
Contact Stephen at: https://audiralabs.com/
Contact Gary at: [email protected]
https://www.franchisegrowthsolutions….

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MasterMind Minutes INVESTING IN PUBLICLY HELD RESTAURANT COMPANIES -WHAT DID THE PANDEMIC TEACH US?
Today’s guest is Roger Lipton – Roger is an investment professional with over 4 decades of experience specializing in chain restaurants and retailers, as well as macro-economic and monetary developments. After earning a BSME from R.P.I. and MBA from Harvard, and working as an auditor with Price, Waterhouse, he began following the restaurant industry as well as the gold mining industry. While he originally followed companies such as Church’s Fried Chicken, Morrison’s Cafeterias and others, over the years he invested in companies such as Panera Bread and shorted companies such as Boston Chicken.
Contact Roger at: https://www.liptonfinancialservices.com/contact/
Contact Gary at: [email protected]
www.franchisegrowthsolutons.com

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MasterMind Minutes – BIGGEST CHALLENGES FACING A START UP OR EMERGING BRAND FRANCHISORS?
One Guest – One Question – One Expert Answer – Minutes Not Hours

WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FACING A START UP OR EMERGING BRAND FRANCHISORS? Today’s guest is Evan M. Goldman. Evan is a partner at A.Y. Strauss and serves as chair of the Franchise and Hospitality practice group and co-chair of the Litigation practice group. Evan is a leading expert on franchises, working closely with both franchisor and franchisee clients to draft, negotiate, and register disclosure documents, franchise agreements, and related key documentation. Evan represents franchisor and franchisee clients in dispute categories such as terminations, breach of contract, trademark disputes, fraud claims, employment matters, and enforcement of non-competes.
Contact Evan at:https://www.aystrauss.com/professionals/evan-m-goldman-esq/
Contact gary at: www.franchisegrowthsolutions.com

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IN THIS TIME OF UNCERTAINTY, PANDEMICS, SOCIAL UNREST AND A TUMULTUOUS ELECTION YEAR, HOW CAN PEOPLE STAY MOTIVATED AND WORK TOWARD A MORE POSITIVE PERSONAL AND COMMUNITY FUTURE?

Today my guest is Jermain Miller, the Founder of MiLL Real Estate and CEO of Jermain Miller Consulting.
Prior to launching MiLL RE in 2015, Jermain carved his way to being one of the top real estate professionals in NYC after being homeless and starting with only 93 cents in his bank account.
He is a best selling author of two and soon to be three books Wake Up and Win and now Wake Up and Live…
You can reach Jermain at: [email protected]
You can reach Gary at: [email protected]
www.franchisegrowthsolutions.com
www.franchisemoneymaker.com

IN THE CURRENT ECONOMIC CLIMATE & LENDING ENVIRONMENT, WHAT ARE BANKS LOOKING AT WHEN CONSIDERING A BUSINESS LOAN.
Today’s guest is Reg Byrd.
Reg is the Managing Partner DCV Franchise Group
For over 25 years Mr. Byrd has been a business venture strategist assisting entrepreneurs with a focus on financing, business plan development, financial projections and blueprints for aggressive return on investments. The scope of his work ranges from sole proprietorship businesses to capital intensive Fortune 500 hotel development projects. To date, DCV Franchise Group has served more than 300 franchise systems placing debt for franchisees in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Panama and Canada.
Contact Reg at https://lnkd.in/eDhmeqs
Contact Gary at: [email protected]
Learn more at: https://www,https://lnkd.in/d89cb29

HOW TO EVALUATE A STARTUP OR EMERGING BRAND FRANCHISE WITH ONE OR NO FRANCHISEES?
Our Guest Today is: Ed Teixeira.
Ed has over 40 years of experience in the franchise industry and is the VP Franchise Development for FranchiseGrade.com a leading franchise market research firm. Ed is the author of Franchising from the Inside Out and The Franchise Buyers Manual and has spoken before the International Franchise Expo, Chinese Franchise Association in Shanghai, China and has lectured at the Stony Brook University Business School on Franchising.
Contact Ed at: https://www.franchisegrade.com/. 1-800-975-6101
Contact Gary at: [email protected]
Learn More About Franchising: https://www.franchisegrowthsolutions.com

WHAT SHOULD EMPLOYERS THINK ABOUT WITH RESPECT TO LIABILITY CONCERNING EMPLOYEES GETTING CORONAVIRUS AT THE WORKPLACE?
today’s guests are:
Joel Greenwald is the Founder and Managing Partner of Greenwald Doherty LLP, a national management-side employment law firm. Focusing on labor relations and employment law. AND Michael Einbinder is a founding Partner of Einbinder & Dunn. He is a participating member of the American Bar Association Forum on Franchising.
Contact Michael at: [email protected] – Contact Joel at:[email protected]

HOW A COMPANY CAN SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY, ITS EMPLOYEES AND ITS FRANCHISEES IN TIME OF CRISIS – Today’s guest is Hector Westerband. Hector is the Founder and CEO of ACAI EXPRESS. He has over 20 years in the hospitality industry. He was introduced to the amazing Acai Stone Fruit. It was there where he started his own Acai Food Truck Called Acai Express in 2013.development.
Acai Express: https://lnkd.in/eESYZ6U

WHAT ARE THE FRANCHISE BRANDS THAT ARE DOING WELL DURING AND WILL DO WELL AFTER THE PANDEMIC? – Today’s guest is Lance Graulich
Lance is the founder & CEO of ION Franchising, an industry leading franchise consulting and development group, that represents over 500 franchise brands & business opportunities within 90 categories. Lance helps prospective entrepreneurs find their perfect franchise for FREE.

ARE YOU OVERLOOKING POTENTIAL MONEY SAVING CHANGES IN THE FEDERAL TAX LAWS THAT WERE INCLUDED IN THE COVID STIMULUS BILLS? – Today’s guest is MICHAEL IANNUZZI
Michael Iannuzzi is a partner and co-leader in Citrin Copperman’s franchise practice providing a variety of services to a wide spectrum of clients within the franchise community.

GROWING YOUR FRANCHISE COMPANY POST COVID-19 – Today’s guest is Harold Kestenbaum.
Harold is a franchise attorney who has specialized in franchise law and other matters relating to franchising since 1977. https://youtu.be/OOCXqhGPA_U

WHY DO FRANCHISEES FAIL – Today’s guest is Tom Scarda, CFE, Founder & CEO of the Franchise Academy, Best selling author and Podcaster.

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MATTO FRANCHISE
A Revolution is Brewing
LEARN MORE HERE:
https://www.mattofranchise.com/

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HOW ARE BANKS RESPONDING TO LOANS FOR NEW BUSINESSES?
Today’s guest is Reginald Heard – Founder and CEO of Bankers One Capital.

HOW ARE YOU MARKETING AND GETTING THE WORD OUT THAT YOUR BUSINESS IS GETTING READY TO REOPEN? Laura Skulman, Director of Marketing and Events for B&D Burgers in Savannah Ga.

HOW FRANCHISORS ARE CREATING A DIGITAL STRATEGY AS THE ECONOMY OPENS UP – Today’s guest is Aubree Coderre, National Sales Manager at C-Squared Social

Stephen McCluskey Insurance Expert – Discussing what you can do if your Insurance Company is not paying business interruption insurance due to Covid 19 closure

Michael Einbinder – Founding Partner of Einbinder and Dunn, a Law firm focusing on the needs of franchisees and franchisors

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MATTO FRANCHISE
A Revolution is Brewing
LEARN MORE HERE:
https://www.mattofranchise.com/

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OPPORTUNITIES TO OPEN A RESTAURANT NOW! Today’s guest is David Simmonds – Commercial Rental Expert

MasterMind Minutes – One Question – One Expert Answer – Minutes Not Hours
Our guest today is Doug Smith… He is the Director of Sale for ROI Experts which is a digital marketing agency that works with restaurants around the world. ROI Experts generates trackable ROI using their unique ROI engine platform. Doug is 27 year veteran of the radio, sales and marketing. Visit their website at www.roiexperts.com‍

TIP TO INCREASE FRANCHISE RECRUITMENT

It has been my experience that the franchisee territory does not receive enough analysis by some franchisors. While the type of territory, whether open, protected, or exclusive, is an important consideration for a prospective franchisee, the market potential is equally important.

A Strategy to Enhance Franchisee Recruitment
By Ed Teixeira
Franchise Consultant, Author, Franchise Executive and Former Franchisee with 40 years of Franchise Industry Experience.

To grow a franchise system a franchisor must have qualified franchise leads that can turn into viable franchise candidates. Whether a franchisor generates their own leads, uses Lead Gen portals, or receives franchisee prospects from other sources, acquiring franchise leads is only the start of the franchise development process. The franchisee prospect needs to be motivated by a franchise opportunity before proceeding to the next step in the process.
To achieve this objective the strategy employed by most franchisors is to cite the demand for the franchise’s products or services, in addition to franchisor training, support and a financial performance representation. However, these benefits exclude one of the most critical requirements of any franchise, the quality of the territory the franchisee will acquire as part of their franchise investment.

Not enough emerging and mid-sized franchisors emphasize in detail, how it analyzes, identifies, and determines the territory a franchisee will be granted. Although this subject is typically covered at the early stages of discussions between the franchisor and a franchisee prospect, it has been my experience that the franchisee territory does not receive enough analysis by some franchisors. While the type of territory whether open, protected, or exclusive is an important consideration for a prospective franchisee the market potential is equally important.

1. Franchisors should devote more resources and place more attention on how they identify and define a franchisee market and present this information at the earliest stages of the franchise process. This strategy may require a franchisor to invest additional resources into identifying and defining franchisee territories.

2. Franchisors should avoid utilizing surface metrics to define a market. For example, a home care franchisor may use the number of residents over 65 to define a market, yet that alone won’t indicate how many in this market segment can afford to pay for home care services? The same rationale relates to home restoration services. In addition to identifying the number of single family homes in a territory, the age, size and proximity of homes to potential environmental threats should be considered.

3. Invest in using an experienced market research firm to identify an ideal market profile to serve as the basis for identifying and defining franchisee territories. This approach will benefit the franchisor and its franchisees by maximizing opportunities for brand growth.

4. Some franchisees will request a territory based upon proximity to their residence and certain demographics. Franchisors should avoid accepting a franchisees choice of territory out of hand, without a detailed analysis of the territory. Otherwise, a franchisee that experiences poor sales may attribute the problem to their territory and place the responsibility on the franchisor.

In order to attract qualified franchise candidates franchisors should devote the necessary resources to defining franchisee territories and its market potential and present the franchisee territory as a major feature of the franchise opportunity. This feature of the franchise opportunity should be introduced at the beginning of the franchise presentation process.
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About the author:

Ed Teixeira has 40 years experience in the franchise industry as a franchise executive and franchisee. He is the co-author of the new textbook; Franchising Strategies The Entrepreneurs Guide to Success published by Rutledge. Ed’s franchise experience includes the retail, manufacturing, home health care, medical staffing and technology industries. Mr.Teixeira has franchised brands in Asia, Europe, and South America. He have lectures at Stony Brook University Business School on the subject of Franchising and been interviewed by the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Bloomberg, Franchise Times, Franchise Update, New York Newsday and Long Island Business Review. Am available for Expert Witness testimony.

He has written and published The Franchise Buyers Manual a comprehensive guide for people considering buying a franchise. Ed is an Industry Partner of Stony Brook University and member of the Advisory Board Pace University Lubin School of Business and was qualified by the International Center for Dispute Resolution and The Business Broker Press as a franchise expert.

Tips For Employers & Employees – Effective Job Interviews

Photo by Clem Onojeghuo on Unsplash

Suppose you have not decided what to offer someone or are still negotiating with the candidate. In that case, it’s best to provide a range rather than an exact number. This gives candidates an idea of what they could make if hired and shows that you are flexible and willing to negotiate.

Tips For Employers & Employees – Effective Job Interviews
By Johnny Day

Introduction
As a business, you want to hire the best employees you can. You want people with the right skills who can help the company reach its goals and grow. But only some people will be a good fit for your organization. In fact, according to one study, about 25% of new hires fail within their first 18 months on the job. At that rate, hiring five employees who fail in their first 18 months at work with your company is like hiring only three people who succeed in that time!
Offer salary range, not a specific number.

Offer a salary range, not a specific number.
Suppose you have not decided what to offer someone or are still negotiating with the candidate. In that case, it’s best to provide a range rather than an exact number. This gives candidates an idea of what they could make if hired and shows that you are flexible and willing to negotiate.

Have a plan for the interview before you go in.
Before you go into an interview, you should plan what you want to ask and what kinds of questions the employer will ask you. You should also have your resume and a copy of the job description. Bring a list of references who are willing to be contacted.

When it comes time for your interview, follow these tips:

* Know what you want to ask. The employer may only tell you about some aspects of the job. Instead, they’ll give out one piece at a time during different parts of the interview process to see if candidates are interested in both the work itself and all other aspects related to working there (e.g., pay).

* Have your questions ready so that if something comes up during or after their presentation or tour—like whether there’s room for advancement—then feel free to ask these things without feeling like an outsider who doesn’t belong!
Explain the company culture to candidates.

* Recruiters, managers, and executives should explain the company culture to candidates. Because culture is a set of values, it’s essential to define them early in the process. The goal is to give candidates an understanding of how your organization approaches its work and what being part of that organization means. It may be helpful for recruiters and hiring managers to refer back to this definition when conducting interviews with prospective employees because it can provide a common understanding among team members if they all use the same language when describing their roles within the organization.

Make sure they know what their duties will be.
Clearly outlining the duties of a job is a must. As a manager, it’s your responsibility to ensure that employees know their position and how a manager will evaluate them. If you’re hiring someone who has been doing this type of work for years, you’ll want to take them through orientation so that they know what you expect. If someone just graduated from school with little or no experience in your field, then I recommend taking some time out of their first week on the job to explain things like:
What is expected of them in terms of output and output quality? (This is usually tracked in metrics.)
How do we measure performance? (These measurements may include customer satisfaction surveys.)

Don’t be afraid to ask them to elaborate on their experience and qualifications.
Asking candidates to elaborate on their experience and qualifications is part of the interview process. Still, it’s also an excellent opportunity to learn more about someone’s personality and character. For example, if a candidate has said they have experience in social media marketing, then ask them to describe the last project they worked on from start to finish. On the other hand, if their resume lists specific projects, ask them what kind of work they’ve done in that area before.
If someone has little professional experience (e.g., a high school student looking for a summer internship), then ask them how they’ve approached learning new skills or subjects outside of school-related activities. For example: “Tell me about a time when you had to teach someone else something.”

Give them time to think about it.
Before hiring, ensure the candidate has time to consider it. Suppose they’re ready to sign on right away. In that case, it might mean that they’ve already taken a job elsewhere and are just trying to be polite by pretending otherwise. It’s also crucial that you give them plenty of time so they can ask questions. They probably have some concerns or reservations about joining your company—perhaps even some reservations about working with you—and those issues need to be addressed before anything goes any further. Finally, once someone is hired, their start date must be pretty close to the future. You want them to feel secure and comfortable enough with their decision that they don’t leave for another position before their first day at work; this would lead directly to lousy employee retention rates later down the line!

Tell them about the benefits package.
Benefits are a big part of the job. Make sure you have a good benefits package and your employees know about it. That way, they’ll feel valued by the company and be more likely to stay with you for extended periods.
What kind of benefits do you offer? Do you offer a 401K? Paid time off? Health insurance? These things all play into how willing someone will be to commit their life to your company—so make sure you’re offering them everything they need!

Ask if they have any questions for you.
If you haven’t already, ask your new employee if they have any questions.
Asking what’s on their mind will ensure you can address any concerns they may have about the position.
This is also an excellent time to make sure they are comfortable with the role and explain more about what it entails so that you can determine if this is a good fit for them.

Use these tips to conduct a more effective job interview that will help your company find and retain the best employees it can find When interviewing candidates, it’s important to be prepared with a plan. An effective interview will help your company find and retain its best employees. It’s also important to explain the company culture to candidates during this preparation process. You should also make sure they know their duties for an effective job interview that will help your company find and retain the best employees it can find.

Conclusion
This is a recap of the tips we’ve given above. If you need to decide which ones to use, mix and match them as needed.

MANAGING PART-TIME EMPLOYEE SCHEDULES

Photo by Jessica Lewis on Unsplash

There are several reasons why shift scheduling is a critical part of managing your workforce. For one thing, if you have part-time employees who aren’t able to work every day that you need them, it’s vital that you have some system for organizing their schedules. In addition, consistency will help make things easier for everyone involved.

Managing Part-Time Employee Schedules
By Dom Hemingway

If you’re managing a part-time employee schedule, you know how important it is to be organized and prepared. Managing a part-time employee’s schedule can be tricky because you must keep your team member’s other priorities in mind and ensure that their work hours fit into those priorities accordingly. These priorities may include school, taking care of children or an elderly parent, and another part-time job. It’s essential that your employees can balance multiple aspects of their lives while still working for your company successfully!
Here are a few tips to consider:

Know Your Labor Needs In Advance
First, consider the business’s needs and how many employees you will need to cover the shifts. Next, consider how many shifts you need to cover each week and month (not just in specific time slots). Finally, be sure that all your available times are covered.

An excellent place to start is by creating standard templates for when employees will be working each week (e.g., every Monday afternoon). In addition, these templates should include what shifts are available and any special days off that might change weekly (such as holidays). Once set up, these templates let employees know their schedule via phone or other digital notification so they can plan accordingly!

Use A Scheduling Tool
A scheduling tool can help you organize your employees’ schedules, set up shift swaps, and more. There are numerous scheduling tools used by companies like Google, Red Bull, Spotify, and LinkedIn. Using A Scheduling Tool Is Simple. First, set up templates for days off and specific shifts (like the weekend). Next,use those templates as needed by dragging them onto the calendar view. Templates allow you to see your schedule at a glance so that you don’t have any surprises when it comes time for each person’s next shift. Include Shift Swaps. Shift swaps allow employees to trade shifts with each other. Swapping a shift is a great way to balance work and personal life, prevent burnout, and get the days off you want. If you have an employee self-scheduling system, it will also help avoid turnover by allowing employees to pick their schedules.

Managing Days Off
The first step in creating an employee schedule is to set up templates for each day off. You can do this by setting up a template that applies a specific day off for each employee. If you have more than one part-timer working simultaneously, ensure their days out are consistent, so they don’t conflict. Also, when setting up their days off, consider their work schedule and personal life—not only will this make things easier for them overall, but it’ll also ensure that they can attend family events or plan fun activities outside of work! Finally, if an employee is sick or needs time off during the week, consider how long they’ve been working before approving any requests. This flexibility will help ensure they get enough time away from work while still staying productive at home without having too much downtime.

Let Employees Select Their Shifts
It may be a good idea to allow employees to select their shifts. Self scheduling gives them the freedom to choose when they want to or can work, which can help them be more productive at work and happier overall. Many part-time employees also have multiple jobs and might need a schedule that works with another. For example, let’s say you have an employee who is also a freelance writer; he might need his schedule to include Friday off, so he has time to write articles for other publications. Allowing him to switch shifts with other employees in your organization makes it possible for him (and others) who may need this flexibility to have multiple jobs simultaneously! To ensure your part-time employees are scheduling themselves most efficiently, it’s important to know your needs before you begin.

Employee self-scheduling is a great way to reduce employee turnover and keep employees accountable for their schedules.
Employees pick their shifts based on availability and job needs with self-scheduling. This method also allows you to see how many hours each employee works, which can help you track attendance and make sure they’re adhering to policies regarding overtime or sick days.

Create Weekly Schedules At Least A Week In Advance
The weekly schedule prepared in advance is the best way to track employee hours and manage payroll. It also helps you plan by clearly showing the shifts to be covered according to sales and other projects.
Employees can quickly see how much time off they have next week, making planning life events easier (and more likely).
Managers can see what projects are due around the same time or when an employee will be out sick or on vacation. They can also use this information to choose who should help cover each other’s shifts if someone suddenly needs time off unexpectedly.

A Consistent Scheduling Process Is Critical
There are several reasons why shift scheduling is a critical part of managing your workforce. For one thing, if you have part-time employees who aren’t able to work every day that you need them, it’s vital that you have some system for organizing their schedules. In addition,consistency will help make things easier for everyone involved. For example, employees can plan their personal life around this schedule. In addition, employers can ensure that they always have enough employees working during each shift.You will also be in a better position to manage labor costs by scheduling team members in advance and according to projected sales for the week.

Additionally, if your company has full-time employees with varying schedules—such as those on-call or night shifts—it’s important to keep track of how many people you schedule during any given time. For example, suppose one employee misses two days in a row due to illness. In that case, it might be necessary for another coworker with flexible hours to cover those shifts instead, so nothing falls through the cracks!

Conclusion
Finally, an organized schedule will make things easier for everyone involved in ensuring there aren’t any scheduling conflicts within teams or departments because everything has been planned out ahead of time rather than being handled on an ad hoc basis.”

When managing part-time employees, it’s essential to consider their needs in advance. After all, they’ll be working with you regularly. Hence, you want them to feel comfortable and empowered in their work environment.

LEAD GENERATION IN FRANCHISE & B2B SALES

So how can you be sure your sales leads are the best they can be? The answer is simple: follow some simple guidelines to ensure that every sales lead you generate will be of the highest quality. It would be best if you hired experienced and reliable third-party companies — that specialize in developing quality sales leads.

Lead Generation in Franchise and B2B Sales
By Gary Occhiogrosso – Recognized Franchise Expert and Managing Partner at Franchise Growth Solutions.

Introduction

Lead generation is an essential part of any business’s marketing efforts. If you are marketing a franchise or business opportunity, lead generation is probably a top priority. So how can you be sure your sales leads are the best they can be? There are many factors to consider when choosing where to advertise your franchise opportunity. You want to generate enough leads so that your sales reps have enough prospects to call on each day. The key is having enough quality prospects to follow up with once they’ve been contacted by the sales rep for an appointment or demonstration.

If you’re marketing a franchise or business opportunity, lead generation is probably a top priority. So how can you be sure your sales leads are the best they can be? The answer is simple: follow some simple guidelines to ensure that every sales lead you generate will be of the highest quality. It would be best if you hired experienced and reliable third-party companies that specialize in developing quality sales leads. These agencies generate high-quality B2B sales leads distributed to companies seeking buyers of franchises and business opportunities, as well as other B2B offers. They often maintain close relationships with key decision-makers at Fortune 500 companies, smaller businesses, and entrepreneurs looking for expansion.

First, evaluate where your leads are coming from and if they are producing results.
Evaluate where your leads are coming from. Are they from a reputable source? Are they producing results?
If you’re using a lead generation platform or software, look at the data and make sure it’s accurate. Are they the right type of leads? The right quantity? The right quality?

Common Lead Gen Sources
The top four ways to generate your sales leads most effectively are via online, print, broadcast and trade publications. Each of these channels has its own strengths and weaknesses, as well as advantages and disadvantages that can help or hinder your business.

The first step in deciding which channel is right for you is determining how much budget you have available to invest in lead generation activities. This can be done by identifying the total number of leads needed each month, then multiplying this number by an average cost per lead (CPL). For example: if you need 100 leads per month and a CPL of $100 per lead, then it will cost $10,000 each month just to generate those prospects! The next step is figuring out what kind of ROI each channel provides on investment (ROI). For example: if one type of channel gives a 10% return on investment but another gives an 80% return on investment – which would you choose?

Finally comes the question about which specific platforms within those channels are best suited for generating potential customers who have the highest probability of converting into clients?

Do your homework. Research the media channels thoroughly before investing in any lead generation campaign.

* Understand the audience you are targeting.

* Understand the purpose of advertising and how it will help your business’ bottom line.

* Understand how much you will pay for a campaign, and whether or not you can find a better deal elsewhere.

Once you have done this research, you should be able to make an informed decision about whether or not advertising is worth your time.

Monitor Results

You’ll need to determine who is responsible for monitoring the ad’s results, what kind of reporting will be provided and how often you should expect it.

For example, if your sales team is responsible for monitoring an advertisement campaign, make sure they understand that they are responsible for tracking responses and providing feedback on which ads have worked best (or worst). If you’ve entered into an agreement with a third-party provider that handles all advertising, request regular reports from them so that you can track how well your various campaigns are performing.

Lead Providers – Questions and Due Diligence

* Ask about other clients who have purchased advertising through the company. Be sure to ask for references.

* Ask about other clients who have purchased advertising through the company.

* Be sure to ask for references and testimonials, as well.

* Ask for case studies of work done with clients like yours in the past, as well as feedback from those same clients on their experiences with your prospective supplier or agency partner’s services/products/programs/etc.. (Note: case studies should be written by actual customers; testimonials may be written by either customers or employees).

* Request a list of all current clients so you can check them out on social media (Facebook, LinkedIn) and see what they are saying about the organization(s) they work with most often—and perhaps even reach out directly via social media channels such as Twitter or Instagram if you feel comfortable doing so!

The Heart of the Matter

Sales leads are at the heart of any lead generation campaign so it’s important to choose them carefully. Sales leads are people who have expressed interest in your products or services but haven’t yet made a purchase. They may be considering a purchase now, or they might wait until a later date. Sales leads can come from many places: online ads and search engine optimization (SEO) efforts are two key sources, but you’ll also find them by visiting trade shows and conferences that target your ideal customer base. Lead generation experts recommend using multiple methods in tandem when developing an effective sales strategy because each one has its own strengths and weaknesses—and no one method works best for every industry!

Conclusion
We’ve covered much ground in this post. Follow these tips, create a plan and execute. Lead Gen is a critical component of your successful sales program. For more information on accelerating your franchise sales contact Franchise Growth Solutions, and let’s start the conversation.

THE IMPORTANCE OF A WRITTEN BUSINESS PLAN

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio

Starting a new business can be a daunting task, but it can be easier if you have a plan. A written business plan is an important tool that helps manage your company and keep you on track with your goals. It will help you determine what type of company you want to run and how best to reach those goals. A good plan should also analyze the financials, operations, and market conditions. It’s not just about writing down numbers – it’s about understanding them so that you can make informed decisions about how best to move forward!

The Importance of a Written Business Plan
By Dom Hemingway

You’ve got a great idea for a business, but you need funding. Or maybe you want to keep your company on track by establishing an established plan? Either way, no question that having a written business plan will help propel your venture forward.
A written business plan is a must-have for any new business.

The first step in starting any new business is creating a business plan. A good business plan will help you define your goals, strategies, and objectives for your company’s future. The right business plan can be a roadmap to help achieve those goals.
A written business plan is also essential to secure funding from investors or lenders! In addition, a well-written document can help convince people that you are serious about taking risks and making changes to grow their investment as quickly as possible.Starting a new business requires a lot of thought and research. A well-written business plan is an essential element that can help you reach your goals, so it’s important to give this document the attention it deserves.
The following steps will help you create an effective, comprehensive plan:

Research the market. Before committing to your idea, make sure there’s room for growth in the industry and that there are no existing competitors who could undercut you or drive away customers.

Write down all ideas for how your company will operate and how it will make money (i.e., what kind of product or service do you want to offer customers?). This section of your plan includes information about who will be running the company, where funds will come from, how much money you need to start up operations, and whether there are legal issues related to registering as an LLC or other business entity). It also includes information about what kind of employees are needed for specific tasks–and whether those people currently exist within your network!

A written document acts as a road map for your company’s future.
A business plan helps you make early decisions about the future. It also allows you to make better decisions and avoid mistakes, problems, and pitfalls.

A good plan analyzes the financials, operations, and market conditions.
A good business plan should include a financial analysis of the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement. It should also include an operations analysis outlining the business’s marketing strategy, sales plan, and distribution channels. This section will help you understand how to conduct these analyses successfully.

A good plan must also analyze market conditions—what they are and how they might change over time. Understanding market size is essential to your success: If there’s not much of a market for what you’re selling, then it won’t matter how great your product or service is because no one will buy it. So, in addition to analyzing current market conditions (size), predict future trends that may affect these conditions so that you can adjust accordingly for future changes in demand for your goods or services.

The executive summary
The executive summary should introduce critical players in the venture. In addition, it should include a description of the business, the business plan, and how you will implement it.
The executive summary should be able to stand alone and give investors an overview of your company’s goals, methods, and management team.

Identify your customers
It would be best to outline who your customers are and describe your brand. What do you want your business to be known? What type of person is your catering customer? For example, what image comes to mind when someone looks at your work if you’re selling artwork? Are they buying it to hang on their wall, or are they buying it as an investment piece?
You can answer these questions by creating a brand profile that describes your qualities and those who buy from you.

You must include information on financing requests, use of funds, and exit options.
If you’re seeking funding for your business, it’s crucial that you include your financial request in your plan. The financial presentation will give potential investors an idea of how much money is needed to get the company up and running. You should also include a breakdown of where you intend to use the funds and the percentage allocated for each plan section.

Return on investment (ROI) is another aspect you will address in a written business plan. This term refers to profitability, or how much profit a company can generate after considering expenses. It’s essential for investors considering putting money into your company to know how much return they’ll receive on their investment compared with other opportunities available at the time. This information will help them make an informed decision about whether or not they should invest in yours specifically.
It should also discuss challenges and opportunities, projections, and more.

A business plan should also discuss opportunities and challenges. Then, it should explain how you plan to overcome those challenges or exploit those opportunities. Finally, the plan should also include projections—a forecast of what your company’s performance will look like in the future. If you are seeking funding, you may need to provide more detail in the financial section than you would if you were using it internally as a planning tool. A business plan differs from an investor presentation in that a business plan focuses on how your company will succeed. In contrast, an investor presentation focuses on how much money investors will make. The financials should be detailed and quantitative if you are trying to raise capital from angel investors or venture capitalists. On the other hand, if you are only trying to obtain financing from friends or family members for your startup idea, then having more of an overview may suffice.

Executive Summary
The executive summary should be able to stand alone and give investors an overview of your company’s goals, methods, and management team. The executive summary is a summary of your business plan. It should be able to stand alone and give investors an overview of your company’s goals, methods, and management team. It should not include any confidential information or data.
The executive summary should be no more than two pages in length. If more information is needed, you can expand in later sections of the plan, such as the market analysis or financial forecasts section.
It’s important not just for investors considering investing in your company but also for potential partners or employees who may read through it before deciding whether they want to work with you or invest their time (and possibly money) into helping you succeed as an entrepreneur.

Operations Explanation
You need to be able to explain how your business will operate at the most basic level to get funding and grow your company.
A written business plan is a fundamental tool that helps you to explain how your business will operate at the most basic level. The document should include: An overview of the company, its products or services, the market, and whether there are any competitors. As a new company, it’s crucial to clearly define who your customers are and how you will reach them.
A description of each part of your operations — finance, marketing, sales, operations (production) — with details on how each area supports others within the organization in achieving goals for growth and profitability.
Use of funds: How much money do you need? How long before investors get their returns? What exit options do they have? Challenges and opportunities: Is there room for growth within this industry or niche market? Projections: Financials (income statements/profitability ratios)

Conclusion
Starting a new business can be a daunting task, but it can be easier if you have a plan. A written business plan is an important tool that helps manage your company and keep you on track with your goals. It will help you determine what type of company you want to run and how best to reach those goals. A good plan should also analyze the financials, operations, and market conditions. It’s not just about writing down numbers – it’s about understanding them so that you can make informed decisions about how best to move forward!

Love at First Bite: Oath Pizza Signs New Multi-Unit Franchisees to Fuel Growth in Austin

Oath’s simple operation drives attractive labor and supply chain advantages for traditional corporate and franchise locations. Oath’s nationwide supply chain distribution network creates reliability, the brand’s adaptive menu offers customers a quick, consistent product, and the business with attractive unit economics, including longer shelf life, reduced costs, and better throughput.

Love at First Bite: Oath Pizza Signs New Multi-Unit Franchisees to Fuel Growth in Austin

By Luca Piacentini – 1851 Franchise Senior Writer
Reposted with permission

Oath Pizza has become one of the most popular brands and sought-after franchise models in less than a decade. Since opening its first seaside shop on Nantucket Island, Oath has expanded to serve its fresh, feel-good pizzas to communities across the country. This year, momentum has picked up steam with Oath Pizza signing on multiple new multi-unit franchise owners to expand to new markets like Austin, Seattle, and Los Angeles.

Dilan Karunamuni and Sham Tyagi are the new franchise partners behind the three-unit signing in Austin. The two friends come from a background in the finance and tech industries, where they first met as consultants.

“I used to work in retail at Verizon and AT&T, so I had experience working with customers,” says Tyagi. “I eventually ventured into the cell phone business and started my own company. I sold that business to one of my competitors and founded my consulting firm specializing in subscription-based systems for software companies.”

Karunamuni eventually took a job at that firm, where his long-lasting friendship with Tyagi began. While the two never considered going into business together, that changed the day they each took their first bite of Oath Pizza.

“I was visiting Philly and stopped at the Apple store,” says Tyagi. “I was hungry, so I walked next door to Oath Pizza. I knew it was a brilliant experience when I had the first bite, and I called Dilan and told him he had to try it.”

Karunamuni stopped by Oath the next time he visited the area. “We were so blown away by the food, brand, store, [and] the look,” he says. “It was so good, and I even brought some home for my family to try.”

Soon, the duo recognized the unique opportunity ahead of Oath and decided to introduce the pizza to the growing Austin market.

“We knew this would work in Austin,” says Tyagi. “There are plenty of food options, but it is an ever-expanding market, and the palette of people moving from all over is always changing,” he adds. “People here want to explore new food options, and Oath Pizza is an option that is better for you with fresh toppings, organic proteins, and limitless customization options,” he shares.

As an experienced entrepreneur and business owner, Tyagi says he could also tell Oath Pizza’s business model was positioned for success thanks to the backing of its expert team and robust support infrastructure.

“Our process started by reaching out to the Oath team,” says Tyagi. “As we learned more, we saw the leadership team was very experienced, and how every franchise and corporate team member was knowledgeable and went above and beyond,” he adds. “We instantly felt comfortable with the company and wanted to be a part of the team that would take this brand to the next level.”

Karunamuni and Tyagi visited a store to explore how each location functioned inside and out. “I had never owned a food business, which I knew could be tricky, so I was doubtful about the simplicity at first,” says Tyagi. “We saw how it operated, and it was an instant no-brainer for us. Everything is seamless, with streamlined processes, a simplified menu, and a super smart and efficient model.”

Oath’s simple operation drives attractive labor and supply chain advantages for traditional corporate and franchise locations. Oath’s nationwide supply chain distribution network creates reliability, the brand’s adaptive menu offers customers a quick, consistent product, and the business with attractive unit economics, including longer shelf life, reduced costs, and better throughput.

“Efficiency is the key word,” says Karunamuni. “I have a little experience having worked at Quiznos and Dunkin Donuts, and I’ve seen how a messy back of the house can lead to problems in the front end,” he says. “When I saw the Oath Pizza model, I was in awe — everything is thought out precisely, from ordering the products to serving the customer. There are so many advantages to joining a brand so primed on efficiency.”

Karunamuni and Tyagi hope to open their first Oath Pizza in early 2023 and the rest of their stores by the end of 2024.

“It’s the best chain pizza I’ve ever had, and it can compete with mom-and-pops everywhere,” says Tyagi. “We are excited to have people in Austin taste this product. That’s what it is all about — it’s that good.”

Karunamuni and Tyagi aren’t the only entrepreneurs recognizing the strength of Oath’s franchise model this year. Brad and Jennifer Langford, a married couple of restaurateurs and franchise industry veterans outside Seattle, signed a three-unit deal to grow Oath Pizza throughout their market.

“Being an operations-focused owner, when I read about Oath Pizza’s business model, I realized they had found a way to streamline their operations and customer service to make the numbers work,” Brad Langford shares. “You can have the best product in the world, but if you can’t take the development of a product and streamline it through prep, product, and marketing to your customer, it doesn’t matter how great it tastes,” he adds. “I was shocked at how great this product tastes, and more importantly, the bottom line adds up.”

Another recent signing comes from former Target executive Mandeep Singh and his brothers-in-law, Garish Talwar and Kulwant Jafal. They are introducing Oath Pizza to Greater Los Angeles through a three-unit deal as franchise group Brothers Empire.

“We came across an article about Oath and liked what we read, so we dug deeper and decided to reach out to their team,” says Singh. “I was immediately impressed. They are great people and walked us through every question we had. They are passionate about what they do.”

Oath Pizza’s CEO Drew Kellogg says the team is excited to find more franchisees across the country as the brand continues to emerge as a leading force in the pizza segment.

“We’re excited about our continued expansion into growing markets like Austin,” Kellogg says. “We’re looking forward to bringing on more smart, passionate entrepreneurs like Dilan and Sham to help us expand to new markets and inspire happiness in our communities every day.”

The cost to open an Oath Pizza franchise ranges from $380,000–$550,000, including a $30,000 franchise fee. For more information on franchising with Oath Pizza, visit https://www.oathpizza.com/franchise.

About Oath Pizza: Oath Pizza is the fast-growing franchise known for its award-winning avocado oil crust, fresh, organic toppings, and efficient, innovative business model. Oath started in a seaside shop on Nantucket Island. Today, it has expanded nationwide under the leadership of former Chipotle executives who have built the brand and business to scale. The Oath franchise opportunity has quickly risen to a top business consideration for its unique advantages: low cost of entry, small 800 – 1,200 sq ft footprint, flexible build-out with no Type I venting or gas requirement, reliable supply chain, innovative digital systems, and a simple operation that requires only one-to-four employees per shift. Learn more at oathpizza.com/franchise.

5 Tips To Finding A Great Location To Open Your Restaurant

Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

You can have the best food, drinks, and service in town, but if you don’t have a location that gets people into your restaurant, you will not be able to make money. If your site is too far away from where people live and work, your customer base will be limited to tourists or other people who are willing to make the drive. This means that while they may be loyal customers, they are unlikely to spend as much as residents.

5 Tips To Finding A Great Location To Open Your Restaurant
By Dom Hemingway

Finding the right location for your restaurant is one of the most important decisions you will make. It will affect everything from how much money you spend to what kind of traffic you get and even how much revenue your restaurant generates. In this article, we’ll help break down the steps to finding an excellent location for your business so that you can open with confidence.

You can’t change location unless you have a big budget, so take your time to find a good location.
While the location is the most critical decision in opening your restaurant, finding a good one can be challenging. If you can afford to pay rent and not make money for a few months while your business finds its footing, then it’s great to have this option. But if you don’t have that kind of budget and need cash flow from day one, finding that perfect spot may be harder than anticipated. If you have enough capital for a few months of rent and no income during that period, then go ahead and explore some areas where there aren’t many other restaurants nearby. You could be surprised by how much traffic is coming into these locations—ask yourself: “Where do people go when they want to eat out?”

If there are many restaurants nearby, you’ll need to compete vigorously for customers. So explore those spots, if your food isn’t unique, chances are it won’t stand out in such a competitive environment.

Site Selection is the most important step, so it is vital that you get it right.
You can have the best food, drinks, and service in town, but if you don’t have a location that gets people into your restaurant, you will not be able to make money. If your site is too far away from where people live and work, your customer base will be limited to tourists or other people who are willing to make the drive. This means that while they may be loyal customers, they are unlikely to spend as much as residents.

When looking for a location, consider:
* How close is my proposed location compared with competitors?
* Will it give me an advantage over them?
* Can I increase foot traffic by opening near other businesses (like coffee shops)?
* Is there enough parking available at my proposed location? In some areas, this might mean building more parking spaces than you need because those spaces will likely remain empty during most hours of operation.

Think about your customers. Where do they live? What type of neighborhood? Will they drive? Will they bike? What kind of plaza or strip mall will they want to have breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Look at the location in terms of your customers. Think about where they live and where they will drive, bike, or walk. What kind of plaza or strip mall would be most appealing to them?
What kind of stores do they like? What stores do you want to bhave as neighbors? Are any businesses at the site struggling or close to failing? If so, you might consider whether that’s a location where people are still shopping—or if it’s one where customers might have moved on.

Make sure there are no significant competitors nearby.
While choosing a location with a lot of foot traffic might seem like a good idea, this can be risky. If there are other restaurants nearby that do well or poorly, they’ll have an impact on your own business. For example: If you’re opening up your new restaurant in the same space as an old one that closed down, customers may not want to try something new immediately because they associate that space with the previous restaurant’s failures (or successes).

Evaluate Competition
Before you sign up for anything, know all the financial details and look at the best and worst-case scenarios. Make sure you feel comfortable with both before signing a lease.

Ensure that the location is near your target market (i.e., people who will buy your product).
If possible, avoid sites that have too many other restaurants nearby. You don’t want competition from other businesses in your area.

Finding the right location will help ensure your restaurant’s success.
A restaurant’s location is one of the most critical factors for success. The first thing customers see when they come to your restaurant is its location, which can affect their perception of the quality of food and service. The site affects how many people come through your doors, what they order, and how much they spend there. It also affects rent costs.
A real estate agent in Little Italy, Toronto, once said: “There are three things that will make or break a business – location, location, and location!” A good restaurant owner should always know what kind of customers frequent his restaurant and where his competition does business. Be mindful of how these factors affect sales volume at each location.

Conclusion
So, there are five simple tips to help you find an excellent location for your restaurant. Remember, your site is one of the most critical factors in determining whether or not your business succeeds! It doesn’t matter how much money and time you spend on advertising if no one can find your restaurant. So take these tips to heart—and then go out and find that perfect spot for yourself!