Expert Advice
We know that timely, professional advice is crucial to
making smart business decisions.
Our Expert Advice Articles are written by industry leaders with proven experience in the franchising sector. Our experts cover financial, accounting and legal issues in addition to sound business strategies to help you succeed.
How CFOs Can Reduce Sales Tax Exposure Before an Audit Happens
Key Takeaways: Multi-state expansion creates sales tax exposure faster than many finance teams expect, especially when franchise growth and inventory movement overlap. The cheapest time to fix a sales tax problem is usually before a notice arrives, not after. A...
Investing in a Franchise is Investing in Yourself
By Marshall Reddy "By far, the best investment you can make is in yourself; if you invest in yourself, nobody can take it away from you." - Warren Buffett I hear it all the time from people who are considering business ownership: “But buying a franchise takes a big...
The Return of Value – and What It Reveals About Today’s Restaurant Economy
Value is back in focus across the restaurant industry. Since mid-2024, its resurgence has accelerated as consumers grow more selective, and more divided, in how they spend. From $5 bundled meals and $1 any size drinks to revived “extra value” offerings, restaurant...
Rethink Everything: Why Innovation Is No Longer Optional in Franchising
The Danger of “This Is How We’ve Always Done It” Franchise systems are designed for replication and consistency. Yet those strengths become weaknesses when markets shift faster than systems evolve. Many organizations fall into the mindset: If it’s working, don’t...
The Reigning Differentiator in a High-Demand, High-Turnover Industry
Before we ever even whisper the phrase “senior services”, let’s address the elephant in the room: staffing. How are franchise systems building reliable caregiver teams in the middle of a labor shortage that continues to worsen year after year? It’s certainly not by...
The Hidden Cash Trap: Why Profitable Franchises Fail During Expansion
Most franchise owners believe they're ready to expand. Their numbers look good. Revenue is strong. They've run one location successfully – how different can two be? The answer is jarring: financial complexity grows faster than sales, and profitability is not the same...
The First Decision
Most people spend months researching franchise brands before they make any decision at all. Almost none of them get the first decision right — because they don’t know what it is. Everything that follows depends on getting this one correct. By George Knauf Every week I...
Your Calendar Is Your Leadership Signal
On an emergency scene, time isn’t neutral. Moments carry weight, and how the incident commander uses time impacts lives. My priorities were clear and always in the same order: protect the fire crews working the scene, ensure public safety, and mitigate the dangers...
Why 2026 May Feel Different for Business Owners
By Vinil Ramchandran Most business owners assume that the forces shaping business sales change slowly. In reality, the rules that influence who can buy a company, how deals are financed, and what buyers are willing to pay often shift quietly - long before most owners...
Hold an Online Auction to Sell Your Franchise
By Jon Franz What’s better than finding a buyer for your franchise? Finding four buyers. That’s why we recommend that owners work with a business broker when they’re ready to sell. Our process isn’t exactly an online auction, but we do know how to optimize prospective...