- All
- Be a Semi-Absentee Franchise Owner
- Choosing your Perfect Brand
- Financing Your Franchise
- Franchise Investigation Process
- Life as a Business Owner
- News
- Success Stories
- Videos
Find your motivation
“I am tired of working hard for someone else fortune. This year I decided to invest my resources in building...
Read More
Opportunity Cost and Semi Absentee Ownership
Opportunity costs are important. While doing one thing, you are facing the cost of not doing another with that money...
Read More
Two Lessons Learned from the Pandemic
I think we can all agree that 2020 was a year unlike any that we experienced before. I am not...
Read More
Building a House – Each Step of the Franchise Investigation Process
I just spoke to someone on the phone about the franchise process, and we were talking about how all of...
Read More
Strategy of Semi Absentee Franchises
Want to know more about investing in your future with franchise ownership?
Read More
Royalty Rates
Want to know more about investing in your future with franchise ownership?
Read More
Commitment to Executive Ownership
Want to know more about investing in your future with franchise ownership?
Read More
Public Service Announcement One Way Road Ahead
Want to know more about investing in your future with franchise ownership?
Read More
Employee Challenges
Align your interests with the interests of your employees, and you’ll gain a strong and powerful team. Employees are partners...
Read More
First 90 Days Steep Learning Curve
A new venture is exciting, but it’s a fast and steep learning curve filled with the unknown and often lots...
Read More
4 Investment Strategies for Franchise Ownership in 2021
If you are like me, you may be crawling out of 2020 but see a light on the horizon ahead....
Read More
Planning is the Key to Long-Term Success
For more than 2 decades, I have been a business owner. I have owned businesses in different industries, with varying...
Read More
5 Keys to Operating in Challenging Times
I invested in my first business in 1999. Over the past 21 years, I have owned businesses through 3 major...
Read More
Franchising Is Like a Box of Chocolates
I am constantly amazed by the acting ability of Tom Hanks, who has played such a diversity of roles in...
Read More
How much investment does a franchise require?
At my core, I am a pretty simple guy who understands things better if I can break a complex puzzle...
Read More
July 2020 Mid-Year Update – “Chaos and Opportunity”
WOW. I did not see this coming. Just think, a presidential impeachment is page 3 news! Welcome to 2020! Twenty...
Read More
4 Key Characteristics of Low Investment Businesses
If we were all sitting in a conference room today (yeah, you remember those days!) and I asked that everyone...
Read More
Franchise Investment Levels
How much money does it take to invest in a franchise? IT DEPENDS! There is a wide range of levels...
Read More
Semi Absentee Characteristics
Semi absentee franchises allow you to build a business while you keep a job. So, what makes a franchise "semi-absentee"? ...
Read More
Confirmation, Not Discovery Day
A well run franchise investigation culminates with a pinnacle event called.... Discovery Day? Meet the Team Day? Confirmation Day? Here...
Read More
Large Investment Franchises
WARNING - WATCHING THIS VIDEO MAY RESULT IN YOU INVESTIGATING FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITIES WITH LARGE DOLLAR INVESTMENT REQUIREMENTS. GUIDANCE STRONGLY RECOMMENDED....
Read More
What do you want in a business?
When candidates first start to explore business ownership, the process can become overwhelming because there are countless questions to ask...
Read More
Why I am happy that I own a franchise today
In challenging times, all of our lives are pressure tested. In this current time, I am seeing franchise systems outperform...
Read More
Never fear, marketing is here!
Are you afraid that you need to be a sales expert to be a successful business owner? Don't fear, that...
Read More
Same old quandary – Time vs. Money
Franchises require differing amounts of financial and time investments. Based on where you are in your career and family life,...
Read More
You want the loan…later!
The SBA loan process involves 2 steps - pre-approval and final approval. These 2 steps are separated in time and...
Read More
Are you maximizing your Income Diversification?
In my opinion, one of the most useful personal financial planning books that I have read is Rich Dad Poor...
Read More
Cash Management During a Downturn
“Cash is King” is potentially the most valuable adage for business owners at any time. However, it is even more...
Read More
Discovering the reality of a franchise opportunity
Done well, validation can show you the reality of a franchise opportunity.
Read More
A lesson directly from a franchisor
Take a lesson directly from a franchisor's mouth, "Franchising is not a guarantee of success."
Read More
Questions to Ask When Considering a Franchise Re-Sale
Franchise re-sales are a very interesting topic for me. Franchise re-sales sit at the intersection of Business Acquisitions and Franchise, two spaces in...
Read More
More about Franchise “Validation”
When you embark on a journey to evaluate potential franchise investments, realize that it is a multiple step process organized...
Read More
10 Questions You Absolutely Should Ask in Franchise Validation
Most franchise investigation processes have 3 phases – foundational calls, validation and discovery day. Each of these phases has a...
Read More
Acquiring 16 existing locations to the Rights to Expand even more
Who made the investment? This is a terrific partnership. Partner #1 is Cliff who is an experienced business owner and...
Read More
Partners for life and now Partners in Business with Multiple Locations
Who made the investment? Bill has had a successful career in several different fields over the past 30 years including...
Read More
Business Realities – Finances (part 3 of 5)
As a CPA, I can tell you that your “actual” financial results will differ from your financial “projections.” There will...
Read More
Business Realities – Sales & Marketing (part 2 of 5)
Does your sales & marketing effort drive you crazy? Maybe you just need a different tool! Here are some thoughts...
Read More
Business Realities – Start Up Challenges (part 1 of 5)
Do you think that sales & marketing is easy? Do you expect to get it right the first time? Successful...
Read More
Are Franchise Investments an Asset or an Expense?
I've been talking with candidates recently about how to think about the investment they are going to be making in...
Read More
From Successful US Navy Career to Business Ownership Career
Who made the investment? Zak who is re-locating from Oxford, MS to Memphis, TN to start his business ownership career. ...
Read More
Sisters to Business Partners… Dawn & Jessica’s journey to franchise ownership
Learn who is investing in franchises….and why! Who made the investment? Dawn from Florida & Jessica from New Jersey Dawn...
Read More
A perfect alignment of opportunity… Territory, Team and Timing
Who made the investment? Jignesh from Atlanta, GA. Jig is a multi-faceted hospitality services executive and successful franchise owner with...
Read More
Which is a better match for you – “Emerging” or “Established”?
As you start to investigate franchise alternatives, one of the important criteria to consider is a choice between “emerging” and...
Read More
One sided franchise agreement
Of course your franchise agreement is one sided! And, you want it to be that way!
Read More
20 Years as a Business Owner
It is hard to believe that 20 years have passed since I made the move into business ownership! What a...
Read More
Analytics expert studies the opportunities and finds a perfect fit
Who made the investment? David from Pittsburgh, PA. David has had a very distinguished career in business analytics, decision making...
Read More
What Makes a GREAT Franchisor?
As a franchise consultant, I am asked on a weekly basis the simple but devilishly tricky question, “What is the...
Read More
Building a Franchise Pro Forma
You do not need to be a financial guru to build a meaningful financial pro forma for your franchise. Instead,...
Read More
What you will learn in franchise validation
The validation phase of a franchise investigation is the most important part of the process. In this process, you will...
Read More
Call it CONFIRMATION DAY not DISCOVERY DAY
When you arrive at "discovery day", you should not actually be doing any "discovery". You should be "confirming". Let's be...
Read More
After a hiatus, experienced owner dives into a new opportunity
Who made the investment? Taryn from Des Moines, IA. Simply stated, Taryn is a rock star! She previously owned and...
Read More
Career transition leads to growth ready re-sale opportunity
Who made the investment? Scott from Pittsburgh, PA. Scott had spent the majority of his very distinguished career in the...
Read More
What are the keys to success?
What are the 3 keys to success for a boutique fitness franchise? They are simpler than you might think.
Read More
Top Franchise Trends for 2019
We have just finished a banner year in franchising with growth in a variety of different segments of the industry....
Read More
Ready to build his own empire
Who made the investment? Zach from Pittsburgh, PA Zach was at an interesting career transition point. He grew up in...
Read More
Making the move from Navy officer to business owner
Who made the investment? Luke Eickmeier from Memphis, TN Luke was at a career transition point. After nearly 10 years...
Read More
Seek & you shall find a growth, profit and a great partner
Who made the investment? Greg from Celebration, FL. Greg has been a successful business man for many years. Most recently,...
Read More
How do you find the GOAT?
As a lifelong Pittsburgh Steelers fan, I cringe when any beer infused football talk pivots to the discussion of which...
Read More
Is All Retail Dead?
Is all retail dead? In a recent conversation with a new candidate, the topic of different business types, specifically retail...
Read More
How to Mitigate Emerging Brand Risk
How can you dive into an emerging franchise brand but still feel safe? This is a great question, watch this...
Read More
Find the Perfect Franchise by Answering These 4 Questions… (Lot of nuances, but it will get us close)
In the years that I have been a franchise consultant, I have realized that most of my candidates make decisions...
Read More
How to Finance Your Franchise Investment… Psst, it’s easier than you think!
So, you are thinking about investing in a franchise. First, good choice. Franchising offers you a great path into business...
Read More
What Makes A Good Opportunity
Some investments are just better than others. What makes it so? Listen to my commentary about great franchise investments.
Read More
Pick Your Poison
Is the transition to business ownership uncomfortable? YES. But, there are 2 different paths to explore. Which one is better...
Read More
A Franchise Life – Lauren Lega
Lauren Lega has been a rock star for her entire career which has spanned multiple niches of the medical industry...
Read More
Measuring Your Return on Investment when Evaluating a Franchise
How do you measure return on investment when evaluating a franchise? Are you sure? Does it include both your financial...
Read More
Leadership Matters for All Businesses
In the past 2 weeks, I have seen the best and worst examples of leadership. Leadership matters for all businesses....
Read More
A Franchise Life – Andre & Paula Cardoso
A great story about how Andre & Paula Cardoso immigrated to the United States utilizing an investor visa program to...
Read More
The Essence of Franchising
For more than 50 years, franchise owners have been able to build gigantic empires with simple franchise concepts. How have...
Read More
Choose Fitness Franchise Winners!
Looking for a great fitness franchise? Make sure the brand checks these 3 boxes.
Read More
A Franchise Life – Felipe Wance
Hear from Felipe Wance at Club Pilates about his journey from successful banker in Brazil to multi-unit franchise owner in...
Read More
A Franchise Life – Trey Johansen
How does a nuclear engineer pivot his career to be a multi-unit, multi-brand franchise owner? It is all about goals...
Read More
How to Find a “Successful” Franchise
In my work as a Franchise Consultant, I talk with many potential business owners about a multitude of different franchise...
Read More
Let’s Talk about “Semi-Absentee” Franchises
As with any industry, franchising is packed with lingo that makes perfect sense to insiders and causes everyone else to...
Read More
Retirement Account Rollovers
During this video, I am interviewing Heather McPherson from FranFund. Our conversation will help you learn more about how to...
Read More
Financial Alternatives when considering a Franchise
As you give consideration to investing in a franchise business, one of the biggest questions you will need to answer...
Read More
Why you should be a business owner
This is no doubt that being a business owner is better than being an employee! This is why.
Read More
The FranChoice Portfolio
Do you want to know how FranChoice chooses its very select, exclusive inventory of franchise brands? In this video, I...
Read More
Franchise Discovery Day Preparation
When you are preparing for a discovery day, you should have clear objectives from the event. Watch this video as...
Read More
Low Investment Franchise Basics
As you delve into the world of franchising, you will find there is a W-I-D-E variety of investment levels associated...
Read More
Franchise Validation
During the process of owning a franchise you will gather a lot of information, however, one of the most important...
Read More
Franchise Area Development
Are you curious about a hidden gem in Franchising? Have you ever thought about owning a Franchise Area? Check out...
Read More
Multi Unit Franchise
Is Multi-Unit Franchise Ownership right for you? Watch this video to learn more!
Read More
Validation Questions to Ask
As you proceed through a thorough franchise investigation, the most important part – BY FAR – is the franchisee validation....
Read More
FDD review…one bite at a time
Though a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) at 200 or 300 pages in length may appear very daunting at first glance,...
Read More
Pittsburghers plan to bring Deka Lash to Philadelphia
A Pittsburgh-based consultant who has focused for the past four years on matching potential business owners to the right franchise...
Read More
CMU teaching art of buy to entrepreneurial students
Carnegie Mellon University is well-known for preparing students to start their own companies but now the school is debuting a...
Read More
Franchise Decisions – The Owner’s Role
Franchise Decisions – Sales and Marketing
Franchise Decisions – Income & Investment
First Steps to Finding Your Perfect Franchise
With more than 3,000 different franchise brands currently active in the United States today, the search process might seem overwhelming. ...
Read More
Ask These Money Questions Before You Buy a Franchise
Among people that I talk to about franchise ownership, the most frequently asked questions revolve around….money. This is natural and...
Read More
Franchise Financing Alternatives
Chris Cynkar joins FranChoice
Chris Cynkar, a Pittsburgh-area professional services/staffing entrepreneur, private equity investor and educator, has a new career — matchmaker. He's out to find the...
Read More