Kentucky Feature Articles

Informative articles to support business buyers, franchisees, and franchisors in Kentucky.

Don't overlook property taxes, the biggest expense in most businesses

Despite all of the attention recently focused on income taxes, it is the property tax that is the biggest expense in most businesses - and the most difficult to manage. According to the Council on State Taxation, a Washington, DC, think tank, American businesses shell out more on property taxes than for any other type of state or local taxes.

Mark E. Battersby
2,808 Reads 4 Shares

Special Edition: History of Franchising: This business model is an original--and a winner

Many trace the origins of franchising as we know it today back to Europe in the 1800s, when German beer makers granted pubs and taverns the rights to sell and use their name. In fact, the word "franchise" is a French derivative meaning privilege or freedom.

Kerry Pipes
3,254 Reads 102 Shares

In Praise of Flex-Time

One of the biggest concerns for franchisees is attracting, hiring, and retaining quality employees. And one of the biggest concerns for working Americans is balancing the competing demands of home and work. For franchise owners willing to be creative, this represents a tremendous opportunity.

Thom Winninger
3,246 Reads 12 Shares

Russ Cooper leads a conversion for Chester's

After 25 years in franchising, Russ Cooper, age 55, retired--but it didn't stick. "I flunked retirement, basically," he says, laughing.

Eddy Goldberg
8,609 Reads

The Entrepreneurial Stock Portfolio: Multiple Brands Make Franchising Interesting--And Profitable

Listening to franchisees with multiple brands discuss business sounds a little like stock brokers strategizing with clients about their portfolios.

Debbie Selinsky
6,539 Reads 174 Shares

Mexican Food Franchises Show Strong Popularity Growth

While politicians wrangled over the Mexican-U.S. border situation in 2006, one thing remained certain: people on both sides of the border love Mexican food. Americans have come a long way from Taco Bell, embracing Mexican food more and more each year, in all its flavors and variations.

9,927 Reads

The Evolution of Franchising

For many years--like the ancient bones of "Lucy" discovered by Donald Johanson in 1974 and long thought to be mankind's first ancestor--Albert Singer, who founded the Singer Sewing Machine Company in 1851, has been credited with being the first franchisor in the United States. The designation was likely given because his was the most recognized name of the early pioneers that people still remembered.

Michael Seid
24,289 Reads 20 Shares

Chicken Franchise Industry Shows Strong International Growth

Fast food chicken franchising has come a long way from 1939, when Colonel Harlan Sanders introduced Kentucky Fried Chicken. Since then, brands like Church's, Chester's, and Popeyes have spread the gospel of fried chicken not only across the continent, but across the world. Fried chicken has become American as apple pie, and everybody wants a piece.

Eddy Goldberg
2,342 Reads 13 Shares

99 BIG Franchisees: Alice J. Schleicher

It's all her son's fault! Twenty-eight years ago, says Alice Schleicher (pronounced "Slisher"), her then 16-year-old, Rick, came home and said, "'Mom and Dad, I saw a restaurant and I want to buy it.'" It was a KFC in Sellersburg, Indiana. "We kind of looked at each other and said, 'Okay, well, we'll buy it.'" She envisioned having four someday. So far, she's exceeded that by 50.

Eddy Goldberg
8,686 Reads

Phil Greifeld, Huddle House

After 10 years in Atlanta, Phil Greifeld hasn't lost much of his New York accent. But after a stint as chief executive officer of the Huddle House chain, he has developed an appreciation for shirt-sleeve weather in winter, and for some of life's simpler pleasures -and smaller places.

Tom Steadman
5,875 Reads

Bill Welter Creates Everybody's Favorite Place

Bill Welter's name may not be familiar, but one small phrase he created decades ago will place him for you immediately: "Where's the beef?" Yes, Welter was executive vice president of marketing for Wendy's when that famous campaign made a star out of a little old lady named Clara Peller, and gave Wendy's a real boost in the marketplace.