Really interesting article in this weekend’s Wall St. Journal on how private equity firms are buying up car washes and turning them into regional chains. There is a trend in private equity to buy up small businesses is to bundle the businesses in order to “roll-up” those businesses and find new ways for them to
Franchise Review
Franchisors Should Stand by Trademarks
I made this observation on Twitter recently. Franchisors should stand by their trademarks.
What? Why would you say this? Doesn’t every franchisor stand by their trademarks?
No. No they don’t.
If you look closely at your franchise agreement, it is very likely the franchisor will not indemnify its franchisees against trademark infringement by third parties.…
Greater Des Moines Partnership Annual Dinner: Mia Hamm on Achieving in Sports and Life
*This blog post was originally written for the Greater Des Moines Partnership.
I am fascinated by the mindset of high performers regardless of their profession. Because I am a sports nut, I am particularly drawn to the champion mindset of athletes. How are the very best able to achieve at such high levels? For…
[Franchise Update 12/18/20 Edition]: 6 Things Franchisors Should Do to Prepare for 2021

I saw a post from Global Franchising that warranted attention from franchisors as we move into 2021. All too often I have seen franchisors this year bury their heads in the sand and not communicate with franchisors. This article discusses six…
7 Steps to Franchise Your Business

Are you interested in starting a new franchise? This blog post will discuss 7 initial steps to franchising your business.
Step 1: Decide if franchising is right for you. Franchising is not something to take lightly. It is a significant commitment, not only in terms of time but also the financial investment required to start…
[Franchise Update 12/11/2020 Edition]: Steak-N-Shake in West Des Moines and More

[Announcing]: A long awaited Steak-N-Shake is anticipated to open in West Des Moines this coming January 2021. A couple of years ago in a Des Moines Register poll, Steak-N-Shake was one of the most desired businesses for the Des Moines area.
Delayed for more than a year, West Des Moines Steak-N-Shake to Open…
5 Traits of Successful Franchisees

Whether your are a prospective franchisee yourself, or a franchisor searching for the right franchisees, it is important to know what makes a franchisee successful. Because in actuality there are always top, average and poor performers in EVERY franchise. Franchisors will see a wide-spectrum of results. This blog post examines 5 traits I have noticed…
[Franchise Update 12/4/2020 Edition]: The Complete Introduction to Franchising and More
READ: 5 RECENT posts to check out ON franchising.
The Complete Introduction to Franchising and Franchise Ownership [With Updates] – Joel Libava, The Franchise King
Because if you’re going to invest in a franchise, it’s crucial for you to get a complete understanding of the business of franchising. You need to understand how
…
Franchisors need to Choose Franchisees Wisely
You have built a successful business and perhaps even have multiple business locations that are thriving. Out of the blue someone says, “You should franchise!” And the wheels start turning from there. You learn about the expected investment, hire a franchise attorney and complete your Franchise Disclosure Document (an over simplification for the purposes of…
Franchises Face Challenges as the Pandemic Continues
2020 has been tough. And with the pandemic continuing, unfortunately it does not appear the challenges will end for franchise businesses any time soon. Governors around the country, including Iowa, are issuing new shutdown orders. What are key considerations for franchises as 2020 closes and we head into the new year:
- Leadership. A
…