Franchise Today

This week on Franchise Today I sit down with Brian Schnell, Partner and Chair of the Franchise Practice at Faegre Drinker, as well as the Chairman of the IFA's Franchise Relations Committee. Brian shares his journey into the world of franchise law, starting from his early days at Gray Plant Moody and his first project with International Dairy Queen in 1987.

During this interview, Schnell delves into the intricacies of the franchise industry, discussing the significance of system change, unit-level profitability, and the importance of relationships and culture. Brian offers insights into the evolving landscape of franchising, including the rise of private equity in both franchisors and franchisees, and the need for responsible franchising practices.

Join us as we explore the challenges and opportunities within the franchise sector, and gain valuable knowledge from one of the industry's most insightful professionals.

This week we are joined by Brett Larrabee, a seasoned franchise professional who has accomplished a great deal in his culinary and franchise career.  Brett’s incredible journey began right out of college, as a franchisee…, not just any franchisee, but as Subway’s very first, in the City of Seattle.  Over the next 20 years, Brett grew with Subway, opening many more locations and eventually helping other franchisees within the system, that were perhaps a little less successful than he. 

That ultimately led to his transition, from the role of franchisee to that of franchisor.  Brett went on to develop more sophisticated franchised restaurants domestically and abroad, for: Panchero’s Mexican Grill, Five Guys, Famous Dave’s BBQ and Little Caesar’s. 

Brett describe how a few years ago, while in Ukraine for Little Caesar’s, curiosity led him to encounter Lviv Croissants, a wildly successful Ukrainian-based franchise concept.  With nearly 200 locations throughout Ukraine, Poland, and Slovakia, this franchise brand is well known for their use of higher than usual, quality ingredients.  That, coupled with the simplicity of their operations, and crowds at all hours of the day and night really captured Brett’s interest.    

What began as intrigue, actually caused Brett to flip the script.  After years of taking US brands abroad, he felt moved to bring this concept to the USA, despite the challenges and triumphs of opening the first Lviv Croissants store in Roswell, Georgia, amidst the backdrop of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

After all these years, Brett returns to the simplicity of his Subway days, but this time, as CEO of Lviv USA, where he is on his way to building a franchise dynasty.  Filled with fascinating stories and insights into both the culinary and franchise worlds, he’s here today, to dish on it all.

This week we dive deep into the fascinating career of Jamie Izaks, co-founder and president of All Points Public Relations. Jamie's journey from journalism to the hospitality industry, and finally to entrepreneurship, is a story of inspiration and perseverance.

Jamie and I have known each other for 18 years, but it wasn’t until recently that I truly understood the depth of his background. His early years in television journalism, coupled with  his foundational experience at Hyatt Hotels Corporation, led to an executive-level management role at Fishman PR led to a wealth of knowledge and ultimately the formation of his own PR Firm, with Lauren Izaks, his wife and co-founder.    

Before we dive into our conversation with Jamie, a special thanks to Aicha Bascaro, founder and CEO of the American Franchise Academy. If you missed last week's episode, be sure to grab it at www.franchisetodaypodcast.com.  I've dubbed her Wonder Woman and you will understand why, after listening.  .

Stay tuned for more inspiring stories in the coming weeks, including insights from franchise lawyer Brian Schnell, Neighborly CFO Jon Shell, Express Employment Professionals VP Harvey Homsy, and many more. Be sure to subscribe to Franchise Today, to never miss an episode.

This week we delve into the incredible journey of Aicha Boscaro, founder and CEO of the American Franchise Academy. Aicha recounts her unexpected entry into the franchising world, from her humble beginnings, freah out of college in the 80's, and out of business, after her retail boutique start-up failed.  Looking for something easy to do, to pay her bills,while deciding what came next,  Aicha became a Domino's pizza delivery driver.  Little did she know then, that the decison to drive for Domino's would alter the course of her life.   

Learn how Aicha's passion for systems and processes led her to establish the American Franchise Academy, a unique institution dedicated to supporting franchisees in achieving their American dream. Discover the challenges and triumphs she faced along the way, and how her academy has evolved to meet the needs of franchisees and multi-unit operators worldwide.

Tune in to hear about Aicha's insights on leadership, business management, and the importance of understanding and motivating diverse teams. Whether you're a budding franchisee or a seasoned operator, this episode is packed with valuable lessons and inspiration.

Over the past two weeks, we've delved into some fascinating finance conversations, centered upon creating liuidity events via royalty transactions, thanks to insights from Sean Morrison and David Earle.

This week, we remain in the capital arena with Alicia Miller, a strategic advisor to franchise founders, leaders, and investors.  Alicia Miller is the founder of Emergent Growth Advisors and author of the bestselling book "Big Money in Franchising.  She joins us this week to discuss the transformative impact of private equity on franchising. With a trillion dollars in dry powder waiting to be deployed, private equity is reshaping the franchise landscape, partnering with over 700 brands, including Subway's notable acquisition by Rourke Capital for over $9 billion.

Alicia's extensive experience includes advising franchise management teams and private capital firms on growth and value creation, alongside her work with Elevated Ventures Group and her contributions to Franchise Times, Entrepreneur, and Forbes.  Alicia Miller, this week on Franchise Today..

Welcome to Franchise Today.  In this week's episode, we continue our exploration of liquidity events that seem almost too magical to be true. Imagine achieving a liquidity event without sacrificing any equity or control over your brand. Last week, Sean Morrison from Diversified Royalty Management introduced us to this intriguing concept.

Today, we're joined by David Earl, CFO at Stratus Building Solutions, the fastest-growing provider of green commercial janitorial services in the USA. David shares his journey of discovering and choosing royalty transactions over private equity, a decision that allowed Stratus to monetize their royalty base while maintaining full control and ownership.

David's story provides a franchisor’s perspective on navigating liquidity events with this cutting edge approach and offers valuable insights into how other brands might position themselves for similar opportunities. Don't miss this fascinating discussion that could redefine how you think about liquidity and control in the franchising world.

Next week, we remain in the world of PE and liquidity with Alicia Miller, a top franchise influencer and strategic advisor. Stay tuned for more powerful insights on Franchise Today.

In this episode, we hear from Sean Morrison, CEO of Diversified Royalty, as we delve into a groundbreaking approach to achieving liquidity for founder-led franchise concepts, without giving up any equity. This method allows qualified franchisors to monetize their current royalty base at very generous multiples of EBITDA, with no need to sell any equity, thus retaining ownership and the upside potential of future growth.

This week on Franchise Today, I am joined by Graham Chapman, who shares his unique journey into the franchising world, a path paved with family ties and serendipitous encounters. Discover how Graham's early experiences with 919 Marketing, a family business turned industry leader, shaped his career and set the stage for his current ventures.

As the episode unfolds, Graham reveals some breaking news about his latest roles, including his position as CEO of Zor Forum, Visionary partner at Blue Maven, and his new coaching role at FranCoach. He discusses the importance of responsible franchising, the challenges and rewards of private equity partnerships, and the evolving landscape of the franchise world, post-COVID.

Graham also highlights the value of mastermind groups for franchise leaders and shares exciting updates about upcoming events and initiatives. Tune in for a deep dive into the dynamics of franchising, the impact of family business transitions, and the power of strong professional relationships .  Join us for an insightful discussion that offers valuable lessons and perspectives for anyone involved in the franchising space.

This week I welcome Erin Fletter, the passionate founder and CEO of Sticky Fingers Cooking. Discover how Erin's humble beginnings at her kitchen table led to the creation of a thriving children's cooking school franchise. Learn about her inspiring journey, the challenges she faced, and the innovative systems she implemented to begin successfully scaling her business across the United States.

Erin shares her experiences and insights on the importance of giving back to the community, the critical role of technology in managing operations, and the unique international recipes that set Sticky Fingers Cooking apart. Get inspired by Erin's dedication to empowering women and minorities through franchising, and her commitment to building a supportive and inclusive business environment.

Don't miss this insightful conversation that highlights the core values of franchising, the power of mentorship, and the impact of community-driven business models. Erin's passion and perseverance have earned our Rising Star for Q2, 2024.  StickyFingersCookingSchool.

In this episode of Franchise Today, I sit down with Tom Krause, CEO of Donato's Pizza, for a compelling conversation about the storied history and exciting future of the beloved pizza brand.

Tom shares his unique journey into the franchising world, starting with his early days at McDonalds and Wendy's and eventually leading him to Donato's. He discusses the transformative milestones that have shaped his career and the company, including McDonald's acquisition and subsequent buy-back of Donato's, the challenges and triumphs during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the strategic partnership with Red Robin Gourmet Burgers that has enabled national expansion.

You will also hear about Tom's personal milestones, such as his marriage to the founder's daughter, Jane Grote Abell, and their combined efforts in fostering a strong company culture and commitment to community service through the Donato's Foundation.

As Tom prepares to retire, he introduces his successor, Kevin King, and shares his optimistic vision for the future of Donato's and the pizza industry at large. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in franchising, business growth, and the power of strong leadership and culture.