Q3 | 2008

The Multi-Unit Franchisee 50

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COVER STORY

He's In The People Development Business

The MU 50: Multi-Unit Franchising Continues To Drive The Franchise Industry In 2008

Regain Control of Your Investments

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Fundamentally Sound: There's Still Room For Deals--If You're Willing To Buck The Herd

One year ago, the debt markets were flush with cash, the merger and acquisition marketplace was lively with new deal announcements, and operating companies were aggressively pursuing new unit development opportunities. Today, we have a very different story, although an historically recurring one.

Dean Zuccarello

She's About a Mover

With her high energy and positive attitude, it's no surprise that Linda Fong is a successful multi-brand, multiunit franchisee. However, like many franchisees, she's not one of those who made a plan and followed a straight line to that success. But it's the detours and her individualism that have taught her what she needed.

Eddy Goldberg

Multi-Brands Zees on the Rise

During the past 20 years, we have witnessed a generation of multiunit franchise operators grow up. Today there are more than 40,000 of them.

Darrell Johnson

Great Concept, Great Execution: Multiunit Conference Makes Big Splash In The Arizona Desert

If you were fortunate enough to attend the annual Area Developer Multi-Unit Franchising Conference this April in Scottsdale, you know that the weather was terrific, the facility outstanding, educational sessions abundant, and that franchise networking opportunities flourished late into the cool desert night.

Bill Hall

Tickets to Taxes: Former Ticket Broker Finds A Front-Row Seat In Franchising

Heather Spell and her husband Gentry spent the last decade as ticket brokers, finding their customers the best seats for sports and entertainment events in the Sacramento area.

Kerry Pipes

Mastering Growth

Amid the arid, bronze landscape of the Arizona desert, things heated up for Area Developer's 2008 Multi-Unit Franchising Conference on April 23–25 at the Hyatt Gainey Ranch Resort & Spa in Scottsdale. The annual three-day meeting of the minds, which once again set new attendance records, was packed with seminars, sessions, and speakers who provided multiple opportunities for personal and professional growth for multiunit franchise operators of all size and scope.

Kerry Pipes

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An Ounce of Prevention

After my workshop on loss prevention and security at Franchise Update's Multiunit Franchising conference this past April in Scottsdale, attendees made their desire clear for more information on the topic--and for specific tactics they could employ to improve profitability. After all, every dollar not lost to employee or customer theft (or some other form of controllable loss), falls directly to the bottom line.

Rollie Trayte and Gary Widman

Need Cash Fast?

Too often, franchise owners lack the cash flow needed to act fast enough to capitalize on an opportunity. As a result, franchisees are forced to sit back and watch others take advantage of the situation.

Thomas Epstein

Digital Detectives: Video Surveillance Systems Reduce Losses, Boost Security

There's a loud ruckus, a crowd gathers 'round, and a customer is sprawled on the floor next to the soft drink dispenser. The area is covered in soda and ice and the customer laments she slipped, fell, and is injured because of your negligence.

Kerry Pipes

It All Began with a Haircut...

In 1993, Grant Simon had his heart and mind set on identifying a franchise he could commit to. He found it while getting a haircut.

John Carroll

Trading Places: Former Del Taco Franchise Exec Now Excels At Franchising

Salt Lake City businessman Paul Hitzelberger was one of the owners of Del Taco for about 16 years. He'd also been a senior officer with General Mills and other large companies before retiring from Del Taco corporate in 2001.

Debbie Selinsky

Where's The Money? Finding The Funds To Grow In A Tight Lending Environment

"How's risk management in the big bank world?" he asked the banker. "I wish it were that," the banker replied. "It's more about risk elimination. We won't make a loan to anybody unless they don't need the money."

Eddy Goldberg

Building on Experience

Reciprocity Restaurant Group President Lyndon Johnson good-naturedly lets new acquaintances have a little fun with his name. That's because he's fine with his name. "I can think of a lot worse people to share a name with," he says.

Debbie Selinsky

Automated Assistance: Employee Scheduling Systems Optimize Scheduling, Cut Turnover, Reduce Costs

While there are many good reasons to implement an automated employee scheduling system (two of the more obvious being to control labor costs and improve customer service), few employers realize that there are two additional important benefits to be realized.

Mel Kleiman

The "Smoking Gun"

More and more multiunit operators are recognizing that customer experience management delivers the organic growth that drives:

Jack Mackey

High-Flying Franchisee

David Ostrowe is a man on a mission--or 20. First, he says he's really working hard to be a great dad. "It's important to me to be the 'Jolly Green Giant' to my daughter, so I'm really working at it," he says.

Debbie Selinsky