* * 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

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!

An Overlooked Franchisor Recruitment Strategy

After having been in the franchise industry for many years, I have not seen enough emerging and mid-sized franchisors emphasize in detail, how it analyzes, identifies, and determines the territory a franchisee will be granted.

An Overlooked Franchisor Recruitment Strategy

FRANCHISING,
Ed Teixeira is Chief Operating Officer of Franchise Grade and was the founder and President of FranchiseKnowHow, L.L.C. a franchise consulting firm.

By Ed Teixeira
VP Franchise Grade, Author, MA Economics, Industry Partner Stony Brook U. and member of Advisory Board Pace U. Lubin School of Business.

To grow a franchise system a franchisor must have qualified franchise leads that can turn into viable franchise candidates. This is a fundamental truism of franchising, whether a franchisor generates their own leads, uses lead gen portals, or receives franchisee prospects from other sources. However, acquiring franchise leads is only a part of the franchise development process. A franchisee prospect needs to be sufficiently impressed with a franchise opportunity before proceeding to the next steps in the process.

To achieve this objective the usual approach employed by franchisors is to cite the market demand for the franchise’s products or services, franchisor training and support and providing a financial performance representation in an Item 19 disclosure. However, these benefits exclude one of the most critical requirements of any business, especially a franchise, the quality of the market territory the franchisee will acquire as part of their franchise investment.

After having been in the franchise industry for many years, I have not seen 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 market does not receive enough focus by some franchisors. While the type of territory whether open, protected, or exclusive is an important factor 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 defining franchisee markets.

2. 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 will that indicate how many of this market segment can afford to pay for home care services? The same concept relates to children’s services. Two markets with a comparable number of school age children should be analyzed to determine whether family incomes are available to pay for those services.

3. Invest in using a reputable market research firm with credentials to identify an ideal market profile. Franchisors should have a detailed franchisee and market profile. It is not necessary to describe all the details regarding the territory but rather to emphasize the importance that each franchisee has a quality market.

4. A number of franchisee prospects have a pre-determined choice of territory based upon where they live or their gut instinct. There are franchisors that readily accepts the choice, however if the franchise fails due to poor sales this issue will not be raised. Franchisors should not accept a franchise candidates’ preference for a territory unless the decision is based upon careful analysis.

Franchisors should devote the resources and focus upon the importance of a franchises market potential and present the franchisee market as a major feature of the franchise opportunity. This should be introduced at the beginning of the franchise presentation process including brochures and on the franchise website.

About the Author:
Ed Teixeira is currently the VP of Franchise Development for Franchise Grade.com. He’s had the opportunity to spend over 35 years in the franchise industry as a franchise executive and franchisee. Ed has an MA in Economics from Northeastern U. His franchise experience has included the retail, manufacturing, home health care, medical staffing and GPS fleet tracking industries. EWd has done international licensing in Asia, Europe, and South America and was a contributor to Forbes Magazine. He’s been qualified by the International Center for Dispute Resolution as an international franchise expert. Ed is a faculty member of LawLine.com I have Lectured at Stony Brook University Business School on the subject of Franchising. Been interviewed by the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Bloomberg, Franchise Times, Franchise Update, New York Newsday and Long Island Business Review. He wrote and published The Franchise Buyers Manual a comprehensive book for people considering investing in a franchise. In 2004 Ed wrote Franchising From the Inside Out an overview of the franchise industry. He have established numerous franchise concepts for independent business owners and with my affiliates do international franchising. Ed has been designated a franchise industry expert by The Business Broker Press. Am a member of the Advisory Board Pace University Lubin School of Business and Industry Partner Stony Brook University.

What Does It Take to Launch a Successful Restaurant?

It could be a Wine Bar with small plates, or a BBQ theme or a Create Your Plate concept. Whatever you decide, it is critical that the environment and “vibe” within the restaurant places the guest firmly inside the experience you’re attempting to create. Don’t confuse the guest with a concept that’s disconnected. As I often remind my clients, “everything touches everything else.”

Franchise Money Maker
CLICK HERE NOW: Franchise your company, expand your brand, collect your royalties!

BY GARY OCCHIOGROSSO – FOUNDER OF FRANCHISE GROWTH SOLUTIONS.

Tripwires to avoid – Desire and passion will only get you so far. Create your business plan as a road map.

For many people, opening a restaurant is a dream. One of the many things I find so interesting about the restaurant business is the blend of creative artistry and the detailed and challenging business aspects necessary to be successful. As an Adjunct Instructor at NYU’s School of Professional Studies, I teach restaurant concept development and business planning. On several occasions, I have been asked by my students to summarize the top issues that one must consider when planning to open a restaurant. Generally, regardless of the type of restaurant, the planning and considerations are the same. I’ll cover a few of the top line elements here.

At the beginning of the process, you should write a simple business plan. It would help if you thought about the many pieces of the puzzle connected to a successful outcome. Many novice restaurateurs, very often chefs, only consider the food component, but there is so much more. A well thought out business plan will include creating a unique concept, a competitive analysis, site selection, financial projections, equipment needs, staffing, and of course, the menu.

Let’s start with a concept

It’s essential that your restaurant offers a unique experience. It could be a Wine Bar with small plates, or a BBQ theme or a Create Your Plate concept. Whatever you decide, it is critical that the environment and “vibe” within the restaurant places the guest firmly inside the experience you’re attempting to create. Don’t confuse the guest with a concept that’s disconnected. As I often remind my clients, “everything touches everything else.” For instance, you wouldn’t use elegant tableware in a fried chicken restaurant or disposable plates in an upscale steakhouse. As obvious as this may seem on the broader elements, it’s essential to take that idea to every detail of the restaurant concept, no matter how small. Everything from the paint color to the music to the tabletops to the wall hanging must work together. The decor elements, the menu, and the service level need to provide the guests with a seamless experience that, when done well, goes almost unnoticed because it’s natural and authentic.

If You Build It, Will They Come?

Building a clientele is never as easy as hanging a sign over the door. It takes smart planning, execution of marketing, and living up to the promise in your mission and brand position statement. You should never assume, “if you build it, they will come.” Questions to ask yourself are; how will my restaurant connect with people? Why does my restaurant exist? What type of people am I looking to attract? What do they read or watch? How do they spend their spare time? What is the best way to reach them? Your concept should appeal to a particular, selected audience. There is no such thing as “everyone is my customer.” Knowing why and for whom your restaurant exists is crucial to success. Your marketing plan should offer compelling reasons why that guest base should frequent your establishment regularly. Is the concept created for health-conscious people? Is it aimed at Millennials or Baby Boomers? It is a full menu or dessert brand or a convenient, fast food, value-based concept. Your social media, print ads, and community outreach should focus on one single audience with one single message. Once you’ve built a loyal base of customers and repeat business, then you should consider expanding your base by marketing to others in the area with a proposition that appeals to them.

Your People Plan is Key

A great team will help you win everyday. Hiring great people is the first step in delivering service excellence and a consistent product to your guests. Your mission statement “the why” along with a corporate culture that emphasizes respect for employees, commitment to your guests, service to the community, and concern for the environment will guide you when selecting your staff. It’s not enough to hire people with restaurant experience; they should also understand and be excited about the mission of the restaurant. If not, they will go through the motions with an inauthentic approach and often fail at exceeding guest expectations. Examine your corporate core values and hire people that match it. Next, supply your staff with comprehensive, ongoing training and the proper tools so can they carry out the day to day tasks flawlessly. Hire for qualities, train for skills.

The Market and Competition

Understanding the market area where you’d like to open your restaurant is a crucial element to the plan. Carefully research the demographics to ensure there are enough people in the area that match whom you believe will embrace your concept. When looking for your location, work with an experienced commercial broker that can supply you with data to help you choose the area and the site correctly.

A full competitive analysis is also essential. For example, check the pricing of your competition. Be sure you’re not over or underpriced for the market. Check other services they offer, such as delivery and online ordering. Spend time in the market area, dine several times at as many competitors as possible, and position your restaurant to address the missing needs in the market. Having a unique value and selling proposition will keep you ahead of the game. Remember, everyone is vying for the same consumer dollars, so you need to create points of differentiation that will help your establishment stand out from the competition.

Consistently Great Food

Your menu must not only be relevant to the concept and the market but should be prepared and served perfectly every time. Restaurant guests expect dishes they grown to love to have the same flavor and high quality each time they visit. Inconsistent products can lead to disappointed guests, bad reviews, and slumping business. Your menu should be not only delicious but also simple to execute. The more straightforward the menu, the less chance of mistakes in preparation. Consistency increases guest satisfaction. Some chefs and “foodies” create menu items that are too complicated and require a highly skilled professional in the kitchen. This approach is fine if you intend to open a high-end restaurant staffed with high price personnel, but not in a fast-casual or family restaurant setting. A winning menu is simple, fresh, relevant, and great tasting. A competent chef can assist in developing dishes that are unique and great tasting that are also simple to produce with less skilled labor. If you have aspirations of owning more than one location, then simple execution, and consistent products are a must to achieve the goal of operating multiple restaurants.

Cash Is King

There are many reasons why restaurants fold. It could be the wrong concept, poor choice of location, not correctly researching the competition, poor service, an uninspiring menu, or bad food, to name a few. That said, the negative impact of undercapitalization may be the most frequent cause of restaurant failures. Knowing how much money you need to launch the restaurant is only the tip of the iceberg. You must assess ongoing cash needs while the restaurant is newly opened and gaining momentum. It may take many months for a restaurant to break even and then eventually become profitable. Being able to support the financial needs during this phase is often the “make or break” challenge that many new restaurateurs cannot overcome. A well thought out projection model that you create with the help of a professional financial advisor can save you from the frustration, negative financial impact and heartbreak of a failed restaurant. Considering capital needs for the first twelve to fifteen months is not only prudent but essential to the success of any new restaurant. You must be prepared to cover the operational costs and expenses as the restaurant “ramps up.” Carefully consider your cash needs and how much working capital you must have on hand, ready to deploy.

Have A Plan And Follow Your Dream

Owning a restaurant can be personally rewarding and profitable. Many people have built great restaurant companies following these simple guidelines. Desire and passion will only get you so far. Create your business plan as a road map. Your plan will help you stay on track when dealing with the many moving parts of launching and successfully operating a new restaurant.

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