In 2004, a man named Eric Stites worked at a franchise marketing company. The company’s focus was to help brands acquire investors for their franchise. While working to recruit new franchisees, Eric realized how challenging it was for candidates interested in buying a franchise to hear from current franchisees. For example, candidates would call a Dunkin’ Donuts franchisee to hear about their experience. But no one was returning calls!
There are several steps to owning a franchise- here are 5 key ones. We at Franchise Business Review are here to support your franchise buying journey. We are the definitive resource for franchisee satisfaction. That means we survey hundreds of franchise brands (that means thousands of franchisees) yearly to determine who is happy owning their franchise. With that data, we figure out what franchises are the best to own and share them with you. We’ve got our Top 200 Awards list and many more. Any business you see on our site scores high in franchisee satisfaction.
More than one-third of LGBTQIA+ adults experience discrimination. For those looking for a more inclusive culture, franchising can be the perfect opportunity for the entrepreneurial-minded to create a workplace environment that welcomes all while also building wealth. However, it’s important to recognize that there are barriers that hold back LGBTQIA+ people from pursuing business ownership.
When it comes to opening a tutoring center, you’re in the driver’s seat. You can choose the subject, grade levels, operating hours, and pricing you want. Your decisions will shape your business and future, giving you the power to create the lifestyle and profitability you want.
Taking the leap into franchise ownership can feel both exciting and overwhelming. With so many steps to franchise ownership, legalities, and financial considerations, it’s easy to feel intimidated by the process. But you’re not alone! Many successful franchisees started where you are now, full of questions and uncertainty. This step-by-step guide is designed to help you navigate the franchise buying process with clarity and confidence. By breaking down each phase into manageable actions, you’ll be better equipped to find the right opportunity, make informed decisions, and take control of your future as a business owner. Let’s dive in and turn your franchise dreams into reality!
Kona Ice owner Reggie Nelson moved from a steady finance job to a thriving franchise business. And as his business grew, so did his family!
Spouses Ken Keffer and Heather Ray grew up on opposite ends of the country: Ken is from Wyoming, and Heather from Florida. They later met in Milwaukee and now call the Midwest their home. Their professional experiences differ, too. Ken holds a degree in wildlife biology, while Heather’s world is marketing and communications. Pulling their expertise together, the two now own a Wild Birds Unlimited in Bloomington, Indiana, that opened in 2022. They found WBU to be a great franchise for nature lovers like themselves.
Jenny and John Propps have a long history of owning a family business. With their pursuit of work-life balance and their love of their area, they’ve built something really amazing in Kitchen Tune-Up because they stick close to their “why”.
Randi Beesing and her husband own 4 Any Lab Test Now Locations. They’re focused on building a legacy with franchising.
Jana Frank was born in the northern suburbs of Chicago. Currently, she lives downtown with her partner and owns 2 Mathnasium centers in the west suburbs. She’s a Chicagoan, through and through. With an extensive background in both psychology and education (specifically Math), she started as a math teacher for grades 4-8. She loved teaching but was eventually ready for a change. After a particularly rough day at school, her father mentioned he heard an ad for a math tutoring franchise and encouraged her to check it out.
Asking a franchisor the right questions in the right way is critical to learning more about your top brands during the validation process. Keep in mind that becoming a franchisee is the start of a long-term commitment and relationship.
This research process will help qualify your life-changing decision to invest in a franchise business. To help you keep track of your progress, FBR has come up with the following Research Checklist.
The franchise agreement is a legally binding document. Know what you are signing, before you sign, with the franchise agreement 101. And take a look at a real sample from Wild Birds Unlimited.
The wait is over! The highly-anticipated list of Top 200 Franchises for 2025 is here! We’re celebrating the best franchise opportunities based on real feedback from actual franchise owners. If you’re considering joining the world of franchising, this list is your ultimate guide to finding brands that deliver exceptional franchisee satisfaction and success.
While franchising’s roots extend back to the Middle Ages and ancient China, today’s landscape offers numerous business opportunities across various industries and franchise business models. If you’re considering franchise ownership, it’s essential to understand the fundamentals of the various franchise business models.
There are several steps to owning a franchise- here are 5 key ones. We at Franchise Business Review are here to support your franchise buying journey. We are the definitive resource for franchisee satisfaction. That means we survey hundreds of franchise brands (that means thousands of franchisees) yearly to determine who is happy owning their franchise. With that data, we figure out what franchises are the best to own and share them with you. We’ve got our Top 200 Awards list and many more. Any business you see on our site scores high in franchisee satisfaction.
If you ask Adam Martindale why he loves owning and operating his Cruise Planners travel agency, he’ll gladly rattle off a lengthy list. One of his favorite benefits, however, is that he gets to work from anywhere while traveling the world and growing his business. In this on-demand webinar, FBR’s President and COO, Michelle Rowan, chats with franchisee Adam and Stacie Faulds, Cruise Planners’ Assistant Vice President of Marketing, about what it takes to be a Cruise Planners franchise owner, and how the travel franchise became the nation’s largest home-based franchise in the travel space.
Starting a franchise can be an exciting venture, but figuring out how to fund it can often feel overwhelming. In this webinar, Michelle Rowan, President of Franchise Business Review (FBR), and Jade Maloney, a franchise funding consultant with Benetrends Financial, discuss several key franchise financing options.
In this on-demand webinar, FBR’s President, Michelle Rowan, chats with Melissa Tash, the founder of the Spoiled Rotten Photography franchise, and two successful franchisee families, Lynn and Rernardo Driver and Joey and Sandi Fotheringham. See for yourself how much they love owning and operating their businesses.
Ready to start your next adventure? Discover how you can become part of the booming mobile coffee trend with the Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee Truck Franchise—a brand that’s already transforming communities one cup at a time! Founded by Tony Lamb, the visionary behind the wildly successful Kona Ice, Travelin’ Tom’s offers aspiring entrepreneurs an exciting, turn-key opportunity to own their own business and serve premium coffee with heart.
Kona Ice
Snap-on Tools
Cruise Planners