Franchises


Recent Franchises Articles

Five Requirements for a Successful Franchise Model

In 1993, Joanna sought a hair salon that would cater to her young children. Her fruitless search became her business opportunity, inspiring her to open the f...  Read more

Not Just Noodling: Noodles & Co. at the Inc. 500 

Restaurateur Aaron Kennedy wants to do for noodles what Starbucks founder Howard Schultz did for coffee. What are the risks -- and rewards -- of expansion...  Watch video

Case Study: How to Handle a Rogue Licensee

George Schenk's largest licensee had his own ideas about running his restaurant. Was it time to cut him loose?  Read more

Doug Ducey, Cold Stone Creamery 

CEO Doug Ducey takes Inc. TV on a tour of the flagship NYC store, and discusses how he is building an empire with premium ice cream and singing staffers.   Watch video

The Billionaire Bootstrapper

A $550 sink nearly prevented Fred DeLuca from amassing a billion-dollar fortune.  Read more

Jamba Juice Sold for $265 Million

Investors cited the former Inc. 500 company’s strong potential for continued growth.  Read more

Case Study: Hooked On Expansion

Marc Shuman was determined to expand fast. Then a quarter of his franchisees started to struggle. Was shutting them down the best solution?  Read more

(Re)born to Be Wild

The roof leaked, the financials were sketchy, the employees were unmotivated, and the customers were disgruntled--so Mike Schwartz decided to buy the place. ...  Read more

Franchisee Battles Quiznos Over Location Policy

Quiznos loses first round; judge orders parties into arbitration.  Read more

Getting Ready to Franchise

Can any business be turned into a franchise? No. Know what makes a strong franchising prospect.  Read more

To Franchise, or Not To Franchise

A restaurateur ponders taking the leap into franchising.  Read more

An Ugly Expansion

Licensing a business concept seems like an easy way to grow a business, but as many entrepreneurs discover, maintaining a brand's integrity through the proce...  Read more

Buyers Learn to Beware at Franchise Boot Camp

Several workshops have popped up around the country to help prospective buyers of franchises evaluate their options more thoroughly.  Read more

Rude Awakenings May Await New Franchisees

How much do you really know about that franchise you're planning to buy? These tales from the field show why you need to carefully investigate ownership and ...  Read more

How Ideas Rise at Franchisor Great Harvest

To allow people to create their own enterprises, Great Harvest faciliates both the casual and formal sharing of ideas and information.  Read more

Zen and the Art of the Self-Managing Company

The owners of Great Harvest Bread Co. are building a "learning organization" -- a company that fosters innovation and almost runs itself.  Read more

In a Former Life: Anne Beiler

Anne Beiler, founder of pretzel shops franchisor Auntie Anne's, discusses the business lessons she learned as a waitress.  Read more

Obit: Pizza Chain's Blockbuster "Deal" Ends in a Bust

Thinking he had a great deal cooking, Tony Riviera prepared to take his pizza concept national in a joint venture with Blockbuster. But when the entertainmen...  Read more

My Biggest Mistake: Chris Sullivan

The founder and CEO of Outback Steakhouse on how he mishandled the rollout of a new restaurant concept.  Read more

Nordahl Brue: My Biggest Mistake

If it ain't broke, don't break it. Nordahl Brue, founder and CEO of Bruegger's Bagel Bakeries, discusses the ill effects of diverging from his game plan.  Read more

The Complete Franchise Business Plan

A franchise business plan is similar to a traditional plan except that the former has to combine components of both the franchisee and the franchisor, or par...  Read more

10 Common Mistakes of Prospective Franchisees

Thinking of buying a franchise? Avoid these common mistakes.  Read more

Information to Secure from a Franchisor

Here's a helpful checklist for investigating franchise opportunities.  Read more

Franchise Site Evaluation Form

When trying to evaluate suitable site locations for your potential franchise, use this form as a guideline.  Read more

Inner Beauties

Here's how Children's Orchard, a franchiser of children's discount stores, uses an intranet to alert franchisees to news about new products and unite them un...  Read more

Obits: Neglect Zaps a Laser-Tag Franchisor

Q-Entertainment Inc., a franchisor of laser-tag amusement centers, went under when meteoric growth caused the company to neglect the needs of its franchisees...  Read more

Extreme Managing

Jack Hartnett, head of 54 Sonic restaurants, demands that employees follow his orders unquestioningly and assumes responsibility for their personal and profe...  Read more

Franchisees Thrive with Open-Book Management

Two Chick-fil-A owner-operators share tips for opening the books in a franchise.  Read more

Seeking Quality, Juicer Squeezes Out Franchisees

Given the choice of franchising or setting up company-owned stores, here's why a fruit-juice firm opted for the stores.  Read more

The Smartest Franchisees in America

An in-depth look at a new wave of franchisees who are using their entrepreneurial smarts as true company builders.  Read more

The Collectively Bargained Franchise Agreement

An up-close look at a franchise agreement developed with the ambitious franchisee in mind.  Read more

Network: September 1991

Network resources.  Read more

Know Your Worth

A company discovers how to become more efficient and profitable by undergoing a business valuation.  Read more

The Next Big Thing

Profile of a start-up drive-through pizza franchise.  Read more

Head of the Class

Start-up company franchises early childhood education centers, targeting affluent parents.  Read more