Blog | Franchise Grade Team (20) | FranchiseGrade.com, Inc.

Grading the Best Franchise Deals of 2013 on Social Media Sentiment

March 24, 2014

Each year, the folks at QSR Magazine release a ranking of the best Franchise Deals for limited service franchise systems.

Best Practices for Building a Successful Website

March 20, 2014

If you are looking at designing a website for your local business, there are a number of things you need to take into account before you start. There are hundreds of services that can build websites for your business, but it's not as easy to find a vendor who can create a website that has a great marketing message and a foundation that will allow you to change the content and market the site on the search engines. Having a site that combines all of these components is vital and many web design companies do not combine these aspects to make a successful website that will drive leads and rank in the search engines.

The Franchisee Territory Demands Scrutiny and Attention

March 16, 2014

When a franchise candidate displays more than a passing interest in a franchise opportunity the first question they usually ask is whether or not a specific territory is available. Unfortunately, for some candidates, it may be the only question relating to the territory that they ask. In addition, unless the candidate engages the services of an experienced franchise attorney to review the Franchise Disclosure Document, the potential for a future conflict pertaining to the franchisee’s territory exists. There are a number of areas that are part of the franchise evaluation process, however, the business and contractual aspects of the territory are among the most important.

What's your "Why"?

March 12, 2014

“It doesn’t matter what you do, it matters why you do it.” This straightforward yet powerful quote from Simon Sinek’s best selling book, Start With Why, goes straight to the heart of business success. Understanding “how” and “what” you do is necessary to be in business. But understanding your “why” is essential to your long term success.

3 Keys To Commercial Real Estate Financing For Your Franchise

March 10, 2014

So, you decided to buy into a franchise system – one that you have some passion for and one that you think your skills and experiences will make a great success.

Should A Franchisor Support A Franchisee's Local Social Media Efforts?

March 8, 2014

Recently I met with a franchisor that is quickly growing the franchise across Canada. What I discovered about the company’s social media surprised me…not because I haven’t seen evidence of it before with other franchises but because I’ve never met a franchisor state it quite as plainly as this one did.

A New Vision For Catering Out Of Restaurants

March 6, 2014

All restaurant companies, big and small, operate in challenging times. Whether you are a franchisee, a franchisor, or an independent restaurant owner, the competitive landscape is difficult and complex. Markets are crowded and are shifting quickly, employees are difficult to recruit and retain, and regulatory groups are lobbying hard. Customers have many options, and getting them to spend more money in your restaurant has become increasingly difficult.

The Only Personality Type You Ever Need To Hire

February 25, 2014

The personality type of your staff determines your business’s success.

College Freshmen, Business Ownership and a Poor Economy

February 18, 2014

For those of you searching for some good news about the persistently sluggish economy, here’s something: The weak economy appears to motivate college students to want to be successful business owners.

When Identifying a Franchise Opportunity: Know Where to Look

February 16, 2014

Investing in a franchise is a life altering experience for most individuals and involves taking a risk with your money. In my last blog, I described the importance of doing a profile before pursuing specific franchise opportunities. This should include your strengths and weaknesses as well as your financial profile. If you followed my advice you’ll be in a better position to identify franchises that most closely match your financial, personal and business profile. Your next step in the franchise process is to find 3 to 5 franchises and perform a preliminary evaluation on these franchises. You’ll want to do this before you spend money on franchise attorneys and accountants. If you decide you want to utilize a franchise broker, keep in mind that they represent a limited number of franchises and they are paid by the franchisor when a candidate they submit purchases a franchise. A large number of franchises are not represented by brokers. Avoid being swayed by impressive franchise websites with claims of easily achieved success.