Franchise industry trends, practical guidance, and honest takes from Jimmy Feeman and Michael Lassen. No fluff — just what operators and emerging franchisors actually need to know.
Most brands that come to us are excited about franchising — and that energy is great. But excitement alone doesn't make a business franchisable. Before you engage a consultant, hire an attorney, or build a single document, there are five questions every founder should be able to answer honestly. If you can't, franchising may still be right for you — but not yet.
Franchise development is one of the most misunderstood parts of building a franchise system. Most new franchisors think it's about marketing their opportunity online and waiting for leads. The reality is almost completely different — and understanding the distinction between lead generation, development, and closing is the difference between selling your first franchisee in 6 months versus 2 years.
The franchising industry continues to grow — but the landscape for emerging brands has shifted meaningfully over the past two years. Capital is tighter, franchisee candidates are more sophisticated, and the cost of entry for new franchisors is higher than ever. Here's what we're seeing on the ground and what it means if you're considering franchising your brand this year.
The operations manual is one of the most underestimated documents in franchising. Most people treat it as a legal formality — something you have to have. The best franchisors treat it as a competitive advantage. A well-built operations manual is what separates a franchise system that scales from one that creates chaos every time a new unit opens.