The outlook for small-business expansion and business conditions improved a little in July’s Small Business Optimism Index, but other growth indicators failed to move, leaving the overall index ticking up a slight 0.7 to 95.7. The monthly index from the National Federation of Independent Businesses started in 1986 with a baseline of 100. The monthly …
Health-Care Franchises Poised For Growing Demand, Plus 5 Fast-Growth Small-Biz Categories
The Affordable Care Act will increase demand for health care, according to a JD Supra report, and that’s just one reason it sees health-care franchises as attractive right now. It also sees lower costs for patients and attractive work conditions for doctors as key factors that make several kinds of health-care franchise attractive. Read more at JDSupra Health care is not …
‘Don’t Hyperventilate Yet,’ And Other Reactions To NRLB’s Franchise-Labor Warning
Of all the advisories put out by lawyers since the NLRB’s bombshell “joint employer” warning last week, one stood out to the staff at Franchise Times. It was the email with the subject line that read: “Worry but don’t hyperventilate (yet).” The email from Virginia-based firm PlaveKoch went on to offer several practical tips, including: Franchisors should be …
Why Some Entrepreneurs Buy a Franchise Instead Of Starting From Scratch
Opening up a franchise is very different than opening a ‘mom and pop’ business. Increased support, a national brand and tested education are just some of the reasons why this franchisee quit her job at a mom and pop property-management company and opened her own franchise. Read the Q&A profile at Entrepreneur
Growing the Franchise: Mrs. Fields and TCBY Double Up; Athena Adds In-Home Tutoring Services
Mrs. Fields cookies and frozen yogurt chain TCBY have doubled up to sell both brands in a the same retail space – and franchise unit growth doubled in the past year, and is expected to double again this year. Franchisees who expanded to offer both reported higher profits, with little increase in franchise fees, staffing or occupancy …
Future IFA Chair Plans Private Equity Fund For Franchisees
Aziz Hashim is a vocal critic of franchisors who don’t treat their franchisees as partners, and he’s about to put his money where his mouth is. Hashim is the rising chairman of the International Franchise Association, and he is selling off his 60 Popeyes, Checkers/Rally’s, Petvalu and other franchise units to raise some of the investment for a …