Jania Bailey, CEO of FranNet, provides her take on how the franchise business model can be ideal for many entrepreneurs. However, franchising isn’t for everyone and there are a few key differences you should consider. Jania discusses how the franchise business model is built for a quicker recovery, thanks in part to the corporate back-office support.

Ric Jara is the founder of Identity LA, a digital marketing agency in the greater Los Angeles area. Ric shares that building a brand is really about building relationships. If you don’t understand who you are as a brand then you will have challenges when it comes to marketing and sales.

Becoming part of a franchise has unique advantages. Franchise PR guru Lorne Fisher, head of Fish a leading franchise PR agency, gives us his take on the franchise industry. Lorne shares the secret sauce he’s seen behind brands that make it past the 100 unit mark. Plus, learn what business verticals are seeing success during COVID and are likely to see explosive growth in the year ahead.

Rachel Bowers, the founder of Brooklyn Bark, has been offering her services free of charge to medical and frontline workers during the pandemic. Rachel founded the company in 2010 and she shares her thoughts on how COVID-19 has impacted her business and how she is adapting her business model post-COVID. Rachel was also a recipient of a Thryv Foundation Small Business Grant and speaks about how it gave her hope in those initial dark days of the pandemic.

David Riddell, a franchise owner with Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More, shares what it has been like for his business over the past few months. David talks about his strategy for reopening and what revenue projections he is using to plan for the rest of 2020. David was also a recipient of a Thryv Foundation Small Business Grant and speaks about the value of having a community to help you succeed.

Ami Kassar, the founder and CEO of MultiFunding, provides his insights on the various government loan programs available to small businesses impacted by the pandemic. Ami discusses specifics on these various programs, what they were originally intended for and how to ensure you're making the right steps toward those loans being forgiven.

Lynette Sutton, the owner of Girl Contracting, shares the background on how Girl Contracting got started and talks about how her business is fairing amid COVID-19. Lynette was also a recipient of a Thryv Foundation Small Business Grant and speaks about how meaningful the grant was during the early days of the pandemic.

The Sandwich Shop, founded by Ricardo Picon and Clarisa Penzini, in Brooklyn, NY brings an innovative approach to the quintessential bread dish. Ricardo shares how COVID has impacted their business and the steps they’ve taken to keep the doors open. Ricardo was also a recipient of a Thryv Foundation Small Business Grant and speaks about how the grant helped them keep employees on payroll during the pandemic.

As a small business expert, Barry Moltz gets owners growing again by unlocking their long-forgotten potential. Barry is a nationally recognized speaker on small business and hosts the popular Small Business Radio Show. We chatted with Barry about the current state of government assistance for small businesses and how businesses can reimagine their customer experience to meet the needs of customers today.

Tee Rowe is the President and CEO of the Association of Small Business Development Centers, a nationwide network of over 1,000 centers providing free, confidential counseling and low-cost training to small business owners. Matthew Gourgeot is the Director of the Thryv Foundation and helps to shape the Foundation’s vision, direction, and strategic partnerships. Both share the resources their organizations have made available to help small businesses during the pandemic.