FBR Issue 2 - 2018

Franchise Business 

REVIEW 

Ratings and Reviews of Today’s Top Franchises 

Spring 2018 

SPECIAL REPORT 

TOP 50 

MULTI-UNIT 

FRANCHISEE 

SPOTLIGHT: 

BRIAN ANDERSON, 

FIRSTLIGHT HOMECARE P. 9 

SALLY HANSON 

& ROGER OSBORN, 

OUR TOWN AMERICA P. 19 

FRANCHISES 

KELLER WILLIAMS 

CHECKERS & RALLY’S 

FASTSIGNS 

CRUNCH FITNESS 

CULVER’S 

THE GODDARD SCHOOL 

CAPTAIN D’S SEAFOOD 

WENDY’S and more... P. 10 

Meet this Year’s 

Rockstar Franchisees P. 12 

Top Emerging Franchises 

for 2018 P. 18

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FBR SPECIAL REPORT 

Features //Spring 2018 

7 18 20 

5 Letter from the Founder and CEO 

Making the Leap 

7 Building an Empire 

The Path to Successful Multi-Unit Franchise Ownership 

10 Top 50 Multi-Unit Franchises 

Best of the Best 

12 FBR’s 2018 Rockstar Franchisees 

Meet Franchising’s Finest 

18 Who is the Next McDonald’s? 

Discovering the Next Big Franchises 

22 Marketplace: Franchise Opportunities 

More on the franchisee approved 

franchise opportunities for 2018 

22 2018’s Top 200 Franchises Overall 

Franchises with high franchisee satisfaction 

in every industry sector 

Franchisee Profiles 

9 Brian Anderson, FirstLight Home Care 

17 Mark Sylvester, CarePatrol 

19 Sally Hanson & Roger Osborn, Our Town America 

20 Pete Wilson, Window Genie 

21 Dan LaBrake, HouseMaster 

23 Ben Smith, The Glass Guru 

26 Brittany Schmid, Dale Carnegie Training 

27 Bob Harms, Huntington Learning Center 

29 Manny Castro, Minuteman Press 

+ 

Reviews, interviews, satisfaction awards, 

and more resources are available at: 

www.FranchiseBusinessReview.com 

LEARN WHAT FRANCHISING IS LIKE 

FROM REAL FRANCHISEES 

Access insightful franchisee Q&As, strategic advice and more. 

Visit FranchiseBusinessReview.com 

For more information on this report, visit: www.FranchiseBusinessReview.com | 3


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Making the Leap 

Whenever anyone faces a career decision in life, the fear of the unknown can be paralyzing. No 

doubt, trading a “safe job” for a potentially “risky” future as a business owner can give anyone 

pause. I experienced this first-hand when I quit my job to launch Franchise Business Review. 

Like many people exploring franchise opportunities, I am now “middle-aged.” I can’t tell you 

how many of my friends with “safe jobs” are painfully unprepared for retirement—with little 

money in a 401k or IRA. 

Yes… starting a new business comes with risks. But I would argue that NOT owning a business 

is a much greater risk for many people. Business ownership has given me more financial 

security than any job in corporate America ever could have. I’ve been fortunate, but I truly 

believe that making the leap into franchise ownership (with a good franchise system) is a lot less 

risky—and more rewarding—than riding out the rest of your career as someone else’s employee. 

I was reminded of this when we interviewed Blake Edwards this month. Blake is a successful 

multi-unit Bin There Dump That franchise owner in Ontario. Like many franchise owners, 

Blake put it this way: “My only regret is not having started sooner!” Amen to that! 

In this issue, we cover the Top 50 Multi-Unit Franchises for 2018, as well as a look back at 

the most successful emerging franchise brands of the past decade. We also included our annual 

list of #Rockstar Franchisees and feature a number of amazing stories of people setting the 

franchise world on fire! 

My parting advice… use our research, do your homework, and find a franchise concept that 

sets your world on fire! Stop thinking about owning your own business, and take the leap to 

make it happen. You won’t regret your decision. I know I don’t. 

I’ve been fortunate, but 

I truly believe that making 

the leap into franchise 

ownership (with a good 

franchise system) is a 

lot less risky—and more 

rewarding—than riding 

out the rest of your 

career as someone 

else’s employee. 

Happy Franchising! 

Eric Stites, CEO and Managing Director 

Franchise Business Review is the leading franchise market research firm that performs 

independent surveys of franchisee satisfaction and franchise buyer experiences. 

Before you invest in any franchise opportunity, read our reports to get the facts 

from those who know best — franchisees. We publish quarterly research reports, 

examining segments of franchising including the Top 200 Franchise Opportunities, 

Top Low-Cost Franchises, Top Multi-Unit Franchises, Top Food & Beverage Franchises, 

and Top Franchises for Veterans. All publications are available digitally at 

FranchiseBusinessReview.com. 

Eric Stites, CEO & Managing Director 

Michelle Rowan, President & COO 

C.J. Fleck, Senior Web Developer 

Michael Kupfer, Online Marketing Manager 

Ali Forman, B2B Marketing Manager 

Nicole Kenney, Client Operations Manager 

Linda Lorrey, Client Consultant 

Wes Graves, Client Consultant 

Amy LaLime, Client Services Manager 

Margot Doering, Accounting 

The Secret Agency, Design and Production 

Call us at 866-397-6680 

HOW WE IDENTIFY THE TOP FRANCHISES 

Participation in Franchise Business Review’s franchisee satisfaction 

research is free for all North American franchise systems with 

a minimum of 10 franchisees. For this report we looked at franchisee 

satisfaction from over 27,000 franchisees representing over 300 brands 

that we collected between August 2016 and February 2018. We asked 

each franchisee to answer 33 benchmark questions ranking their 

franchise in the areas of financial opportunity, training and support, 

leadership, operations and product development, core values (e.g., honesty 

and integrity of franchisor), general satisfaction, and the franchisee 

community. We also asked them to answer an additional 16 questions 

about their market area, demographics, business lifestyle, overall 

enjoyment running their franchise, and role in the franchisee community. 

From this data, we identified our list of top multi-unit and emerging 

franchises with the highest franchisee satisfaction. Franchise brands that 

participated in our research were invited to submit nominations to help 

us identify franchisee rockstars. More detailed information about our 

research methodology is available at FranchiseBusinessReview.com. 

Surveys to determine the Top Franchises for 2019 are underway. 

If you are a franchisor and would like to participate, please call 866-397- 

6680 or contact info@FranchiseBusinessReview.com. 



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Clockwise from top, left: Mary Rolf, Multi Unit Franchisee, Springfield, MO; Franchisee 

Pouya Moalej, Multi-Unit franchisee from California; Ian, J-Ray and Adam Lieberman, Multi-Unit 

Owners, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, Tampa, FL; Oxi Fresh Rockstar Franchisees Charles and Jesse Keyser 

understand the franchisor/franchisee relationship being strong is vital to their business and have 

done great things with Oxi Fresh in the St. Louis market. 

Building an Empire 

The Path to Successful Multi-Unit Franchise Ownership 

Many entrepreneurs dream of building a large 

franchise business with multiple locations. 

That said, very few franchise owners actually 

do. Being a successful, multi-unit franchisee 

requires a unique skill-set. Certainly, having 

the vision is a key first step, but vision alone 

is not enough. 

Just ask former NFL quarterback, Peyton 

Manning. Manning recently unloaded his 31 

Denver-area Papa John’s restaurants after being 

a franchisee for just six years, according to the 

Associated Press. While Manning is far from a 

typical franchise owner, his foray into franchising 

probably wasn’t all that different from what 

many multi-unit franchisees experience. 

A SHARED CULTURE 

Successful franchising requires a strong, supportive 

relationship between the franchise 

company (AKA “the Franchisor”) and the 

franchisee. While franchise attorneys don’t like 

to use the word “partnership” when describing 

the working relationship between franchisors 

and franchisees, our research strongly suggests 

that the very best franchise companies treat 

their franchisees as business partners. 

Just ask Nader Masadeh, CEO at Buffalo 

Wings & Rings. Masadeh and his team put 

franchise relations above everything else. “We 

seek continuous feedback from our franchisees—try 

to do the right things—and create 

a fun environment in which our franchisees 

want to grow.” 



Multi-Unit Franchisees 

by the Numbers 

67% 

22% 

male/female 

10% partnerships 

19% own 5 or more units 

have a Bachelor’s 

degree or higher 

22% have an advanced degree* 

20% have no college degree 

1% did not graduate high school* 

*(overlap with above) 

33% 

67% 

83 % 

would recommend 

their franchise brand 

to others 

76 % 

would 

“do it again” 

have been knowing what 

an owner they know today. 

for 10 years 

or more 15% have been an 

owner for less than two years 

90 % 

enjoy operating their business 

“The relationship between the franchisor 

and franchisee is essential for success,” says 

Mark Crayne, a multi-unit Fazoli’s Restaurants 

franchisee from Lubbock, TX. 

“When both parties have a shared culture, 

listen, and value the ideas of each other, there is 

a greater potential for achieving a common goal.” 

The abrupt Manning exit from Papa 

John’s is a great example of just how fragile 

the franchise relationship can sometimes be. 

Papa John’s founder John Schnatter stepped 

down as CEO in December, after he made 

controversial comments regarding the NFL’s 

handling of the anthem protests. 

Schnatter’s comments kicked off a social 

media barrage, with many calling for boycotts 

of Papa John’s restaurants, and accusations 

that the company is racist. Fast forward three 

months…Manning exits as a franchisee just 

days before the NFL officially dumped Papa 

John’s as the official pizza of the NFL. 

Clearly Manning and the NFL no longer 

have a shared culture with Papa John’s. 

HITCH YOUR WAGON 

TO WINNING PEOPLE 

Manning’s franchise experience holds a valuable 

lesson for all of us: Do your homework and 

be very careful to whom you hitch your wagon. 

Understanding the business opportunity 

and potential local market for the product or 

service of a franchise is just step one. More 

importantly, who are the people behind the 

brand you are considering as an investment? 

What are their beliefs, their values, and the 

company culture? How do they approach the 

franchise relationship? And most importantly, 

what do their current (and former) franchisees 

have to say about their experience? 

While no brand or team is completely 

immune to missteps, the very best franchise 

companies have a long track record of doing 

right by their franchisees. 

“I would not have made this leap of faith 

without knowing that the company andthe 

people I was going to be partnering with were 

trustworthy and supportive,” says Scooter’s 

Coffee multi-unit franchise owner Ali Dreher. 

“Scooter’s corporate has been amazing at their 

training, support, and the time that they give 

you as a franchise owner.” 

Franchising is a people business. Before 

you invest in any franchise opportunity, take 

your time and really get to know the people 

behind the brand. Most multi-unit franchise 

agreements are 10–20 years long…longer than 

many marriages. Be sure your values, as well 

as your business interests, are aligned. 

“The collaborative culture between franchisor 

and franchisee at Fuzzy’s starts at the 

top with Mel Knight,” says Tampa natives 

and brothers Ian and Adam Lieberman, who 

along with Adam’s wife J-Ray, are multi-unit 

Fuzzy’s Taco Shop owners. “Mel is accessible, 

approachable and passionately embodies the 

spirit of the brand every day.” 

Knight is the President of Fuzzy’s Taco 

Shop, which was acquired by NRD Capital 

in 2016. NRD founder and Managing Partner 

Aziz Hashim and his team are a shining 

example of financial partners that “get it” 

when it comes to the franchisor-franchisee 

relationship. 

Before founding NRD Capital in 2014, 

Hashim was a very successful multi-unit franchisee 

himself, investing in such high-profile 

franchise brands as Popeye’s, KFC, Taco Bell, 

Dominos Pizza, and many others. 

IDENTIFYING THE BEST OF THE BEST 

There are many factors to consider when 

investing in any franchise: business model 

profitability, growth opportunity, long-term 

industry trends, brand innovation, company 

culture, training and ongoing support, and 

more. And especially when you are looking 

to commit to being a multi-unit franchise 

owner, all of these factors become even more 

important. 

To help you narrow your search for the 

best multi-unit franchise opportunities, we 

surveyed and interviewed over 6,600 multiunit 

franchise owners representing nearly 250 

of today’s leading franchise brands. We asked 

them the critical questions that any prospective 

business owner would want to know. 

A proven business model, solid profitability, 

and long-term growth opportunity were 

certainly important factors with the franchise 

owners we surveyed. However, the franchise 

companies that rose to the top shared many 

other characteristics in common. Strong leadership, 

an inclusive culture, excellent support, 

and a franchisee community that feels more 

“like family” than a business partnership. 

“There are so many franchisors out there 

that disappear as soon as they get business 

owners to sign on the dotted line,” said Chris 



Alford, a Lenny’s Grill & Subs multi-unit 

franchisee based in San Antonio, TX. “That’s 

definitely not what Lenny’s is about. The corporate 

team invests time, energy and dollars 

into every one of its locations to ensure that 

their franchisees are successful.” 

Blake Edwards, a multi-unit franchise 

owner with Bin There Dump That in 

Ontario, Canada put it this way, “My only 

regret is not having started sooner! Bin There 

Dump That has provided me with a turn-key 

system where we consistently exceed customer 

expectations. Their proactive approach 

to franchise support has allowed me to spend 

my time on what’s really important to me and 

my family while growing my business.” 

“The support has always been there and 

that’s what has helped us grow from two stores 

to 25 stores,” said Pouya Moalej, a multi-unit 

Jamba Juice franchise owner. “We’re so 

blessed that we’ve grown so much with Jamba 

Juice. This brand has pretty much given me 

There are a few significant differences in financing a multi-unit franchise versus a single unit, 

though many of the same financing solutions will work for both. Unless you’re able to pay cash 

or credit, you’ll likely need to finance your investment. Before making any major investment, seek 

out the expertise of a financial professional familiar with franchising to review all your options and 

make sure you’re getting the most competitive rates. 

Here are some of the most common options to consider: 

everything I have right now. I’m glad I made 

the right decision eight years ago.” 

This year’s Top 50 Multi-Unit Franchises 

includes a wide variety of business types 

including real estate, food, fitness, business 

services, personal services, education, and 

more. There is definitely something for everyone 

on our list of award-winning franchises. 

Which one is the best opportunity for you? 

Only you can ultimately answer that question, 

but Franchise Business Review is here to 

help you in achieving your goal of multi-unit 

franchise ownership. 

We encourage you to explore our list of 

top multi-unit franchises. Reach out to the 

brands that interest you to learn more about 

opportunities in your area. Visit our website at 

FranchiseBusinesssReview.com to download 

free reports on today’s top franchise brands, 

and explore many other resources to help you 

succeed in franchising. We wish you the best 

of success! 

Financing Your Multi-Unit Franchise Investment 

SBA Business Loans 

The Small Business Administration encourages banks to lend to small business owners with 

preferable terms and low interest rates. When it comes to multi-unit franchises, SBA lenders 

usually look at each individual unit and also at the collective performance of all the units. 

401(k) Business Financing 

With 401(k) business financing (formally known as Rollovers for Business Start-ups or ROBS), you 

can use up to 100 percent of funds from an existing retirement account to buy franchise without 

taking a taxable distribution or getting a loan. 

Unsecured Loans 

Unsecured loans consist of multiple lines of revolving credit that can be used and paid back as 

needed. This type of loan shows up as revolving credit on your credit report and can impact credit 

score, especially if payments aren’t made on time. 

FEATURED 

Franchisee 

Brian 

Anderson 

FirstLight Home Care 

Fort Myers and Naples, FL 

Franchisee since 2013 

What was it about the franchise model and/or 

leadership that led you to purchase it? I looked 

at numerous franchises and was turned off when 

they just handed me a manual for training. For 

the FirstLight model, the technology platforms 

are the industry’s best, and most importantly, 

they hold me accountable. 

What do you like most about your job? FirstLight 

is our partner in a constantly changing and 

learning environment of home health care. Our 

office is known for taking difficult cases, such 

as Behavioral Dementia and Senior Substance 

Abuse. We are a Veterans Choice Provider (VCP) 

helping homeless, low income veterans of all 

types to obtain the best care possible. 

How did you fund your franchise? Did you 

receive any discounts/incentives? I am selffunded, 

knowing in the early years I would need 

to put it all back into my employees and clients. 

We have since passed many milestones in 

growth, almost doubling each year over the past 

several. 

What advice do you have for prospective 

franchise buyers? What do you wish you had 

known prior to going into franchising? The 

Industry is a constantly changing environment 

of legal and healthcare initiatives. FirstLight 

is exceptional in this regard. On my first visit 

for the meet and greet, I appreciated that not 

only was I interviewing FirstLight, but that they 

were also interviewing me. They were truthful, 

direct, and their numbers matched my own 

industry research. I have a good relationship 

with FirstLight and look forward to a continued 

relationship in the future. 

Portfolio Loans 

You can borrow up to 80 percent against the value of your securities portfolio without having to 

liquidate your holdings. They’re ideal for financing multi-unit franchises as you can borrow, repay 

at will, and then borrow again when you’re ready to move forward with additional locations— 

all without getting a new loan. 

You can read the in-depth article, How to Finance Multi-Unit Franchise Growth, online at 

www.FranchiseBusinessReview.com. For a detailed walkthrough on funding your franchise, 

visit www.FranchiseBusinessReview.com/Toolkit 

For more information about FirstLight HomeCare 

opportunities, call (877) 570-0002 

or visit www.FirstLightHomeCare.com. 

— by Jeremy Ames of Guidant Financial 



THE LIST 

Best of the Best: 

Top 50 Multi-Unit 

Franchises 

101 Mobility 

Mobility equipment services 

Assisting Hands 

In-home senior care 

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate 

Real estate 

Survey 

Date 

Aug. 

2017 

Aug. 

2017 

Jan. 

2018 

Start-Up 

Investment 

$114,060 – 

$210,120 

$70,550 – 

$147,500 

$65,170 – 

$540,000 

Cash 

Requirement 

Total 

Units 

$100,000 148 

$38,500 111 

$100,000 293 

Budget Blinds 

Custom blinds and window coverings 

Dec. 

2016 

$110,140 – 

$230,870 

$64,950 1,150 

Captain D’s 

Fast casual 

June 

2017 

$771,000 – 

$1,003,000 

$350,000 523 

“I have multiple layers 

of franchise support, 

and the high quality of 

support is because each 

person I come in contact 

with seems to understand 

my goals.” 

* CertaPro Painters 

Painting 

* Checkers & Rally’s 

Quick-service 

* Crunch Fitness 

Fitness club 

Culver’s 

Quick-service 

Donatos Pizza 

Quick-service 

Feb. 


May 

2017 

Sep. 

2017 

Aug. 

2017 

July 

2017 

$134,750 – 

$169,500 

$96,414 – 

$1,501,265 

$1,200,000 – 

$1,600,000 

$1,845,000 – 

$4,155,000 

$449,000 – 

$667,000 

$80,000 483 

$250,000 875 

$300,000 – 

$400,000 

$350,000 – 

$600,000 

197 

610 

$200,000 152 

– CertaPro Franchisee 

ERA 

Real estate 

Jan. 


$4,800 – 

$221,900 

$4,800 – 

$221,900 

2,370 

* FASTSIGNS — more on p. 28 

Visual business communications 

April 

2017 

$182,329 – 

$267,520 

$80,000 675 

“Describing Hungry 

Howie’s in one word 

would be ‘Integrity.’ 

The whole company 

has been built on 

this principle from 

the beginning.” 

Fazoli’s Restaurants 

Fast casual 

* FirstLight Home Care — more on p. 9 


Go Mini’s 

Portable storage 

Goldfish Swim School 

Swim lessons 

* Home Instead Senior Care 


HomeSmart International 

Real estate 

May 

2017 

May 

2017 

Oct. 

2017 

Sep. 

2017 

Oct. 

2017 

Oct. 

2017 

$1,098,000 – 

$1,739,818 

$97,681 – 

$141,726 

$208,441 – 

$396,645 

$1,335,283 – 

$3,065,358 

$115,000 – 

$125,000 

$65,000 – 

$205,000 

$250,000 210 

$65,000 245 

$200,000 – 

$400,000 

$450,000 – 

$600,000 

80 

65 

$55,000 1,095 

$20,000 102 

– Hungry Howie’s Pizza Franchisee 

* HomeVestors of America — more on p. 2 

Visual business communications 

Jan. 


$54,000 – 

$357,250 

$50,000 – 

$55,000 

900 

* Homewatch Caregivers 


Oct. 

2017 

$83,000 – 

$131,000 

$50,000 198 

* HouseMaster — more on p. 21 

Professional home inspections 

Oct. 

2017 

$61,100 – 

$106,150 

$42,500 313 

* Hungry Howie’s Pizza & Subs — more on p. 1 

Quick-service 

Nov. 

2017 

$251,375 – 

$495,850 

$100,000 548 

Hwy 55 Burgers Shakes & Fries 

Casual dining 

Oct. 

2017 

$196,055 – 

$433,055 

$125,000 149 

*This brand’s Franchisee 

Satisfaction Report is available at 

www.FranchiseBusinessReview.com 

Keller Williams 

Real estate 

LaRosa’s Pizzeria 

Fast casual 

Oct. 

2016 

Oct. 

2017 

$183,947 – 

$336,995 

$800,000 – 

$1,000,000 

$183,947 730 

$500,000 65 

10 | For more information on the companies in this report, visit www.FBR50.com


Survey 

Date 

Start-Up 

Investment 

Cash 

Requirement 

Total 

Units 

Linc Service Network 

Commercial HVAC services 

Feb. 

2017 

$66,350 – 

$136,000 

$66,350 – 

$136,000 

172 

Molly Maid 

Cleaning services 

Nov. 

2017 

$165,000 – 

$197,000 

$165,000 – 

$197,000 

471 

* Mosquito Joe 

Mosquito control services 

Feb. 


$66,600 – 

$127,500 

$55,000 234 

My Salon Suite 

Private, spacious salon suites 

Nov. 

2017 

$395,000 – 

$955,000 

$150,000 68 

Nothing Bundt Cakes 

Snack retailer 

May 

2017 

$400,037 – 

$566,837 

$150,000 250 

Orangetheory Fitness 

Fitness club 

Nov. 

2017 

$327,600 – 

$634,100 

$150,000 722 

Palm Beach Tan 

Beauty services 

Dec. 

2016 

$503,070 – 

$811,140 

$250,000 438 

Planet Fitness 

Fitness club 

March 

2017 

$853,390 – 

$2,882,070 

$600,000 1,371 

Precision Concrete Cutting 

Concrete maintenance services 

Property Damage Appraisers 

Property damage assessments 

* Remedy Intelligent Staffing — more on p. 23 

Staffing Company 

Right at Home 


RNR Tire Express — more on p. 31 

Custom wheel & tires 

Scooter’s Coffee 

Fast casual 

Feb. 

2017 

Oct. 

2017 

Jan. 


Feb. 

2017 

Oct. 

2017 

Aug. 

2017 

$150,000 – 

$176,500 

$75,888 – 

$653,425 

$151,840 – 

$258,280 

$78,250 – 

$137,900 

$500,000 – 

$1,000,000 

$334,000 – 

$514,000 

$76,000 55 

$75,888 – 

$653,425 

242 

$165,000 615 

$150,000 558 

$500,000 15 

$100,000 193 

“It has been an incredible 

experience to have 

so many people not 

competing, but working 

towards the same goal. 

When one succeeds, 

we all do!” 

– Mosquito Joe Franchisee 

Sotheby’s International Realty 

Real estate 

Jan. 


$194,650 – 

$627,000 

$63,650 – 

$206,000 

607 

The @WORK Group 

Recruiting services 

Feb. 


$152,000 – 

$211,000 

$150,000 100 

* The Goddard School 

Early childhood education 

July 

2017 

$706,700 – 

$750,700 

$150,000 434 

* The Haagen-Dazs Shoppe Company 

Quick-service 

— more on 

p. 25 

July 

2017 

$164,158 – 

$542,408 

$80,000 – 

$200,000 

207 

* The Learning Experience 

Early childhood education 

April 

2017 

$493,549 – 

$3,585,549 

$150,000 227 

The Wendy’s Company 

Quick-service 

June 

2017 

$300,000 – 

$3,000,000 

$2,000,000 6564 

Tropical Smoothie Cafe 

Fast casual 

Nov. 

2017 

$198,050 – 

$478,550 

$125,000 541 

* Two Men and A Truck 

Moving services 

March 

2017 

$95,000 – 

$670,000 

$95,000 – 

$670,000 

351 

Verlo Mattress Factory Stores 

Mattress retailer 

May 

2017 

$228,500 – 

$305,000 

$228,500 – 

$305,000 

59 

* Weed Man 

Lawn care 

July 

2017 

$68,453 – 

$85,513 

$50,000 656 

Weichert Real Estate Affiliates 

Real estate 

Sep. 

2017 

$50,000 – 

$364,700 

$50,000 – 

$364,000 

470 

For more information on the companies in this report, visit www.FBR50.com | 11


>> Visit FranchiseBusinessReview.com 

for in-depth interviews with this year’s 

Franchisee Rockstars! 

FBR’s 2018 Rockstar Franchisees 

FBR Recognizes Some of Franchising’s Finest 

The great Bill Rosenberg, founder of both 

Dunkin’ Donuts and co-founder of the International 

Franchise Association, once said, 

“You can’t have a successful franchisor without 

successful franchisees.” 

Rosenberg had a deep understanding and 

appreciation for the significant role that hard 

working, high performing franchisees played. 

These are the people that make franchising 

happen each and every day. 

At Franchise Business Review, we have a 

simple name for these successful individuals— 

we simply call them Rockstar Franchisees. 

We analyzed our research from over 27,000 

franchisee surveys, across more than 300 

leading franchise brands, to identify the best 

of the best in franchising today. We narrowed 

our search to just a few hundred candidates— 

successful franchise owners very much worthy 

of the title of rockstar. 

“There are so many fantastic success stories 

out there; it was painful to narrow our list 

down to just 50 Rockstar Franchisees,” said 

Michelle Rowan, President of Franchise Business 

Review. “There were hundreds of deserving 

business owners. In the end, we picked 50 

individuals that really stood out. Franchisees 

that not only excel in their businesses, but provide 

strong leadership within their franchise 

organizations and their local communities.” 

We asked a few of 

our winners to tell us 

about their franchise 

experience, and to share 

any advice they have 

for others considering 

investing in a franchise. 

Here’s what they 

had to say… 



Owning a small business in the growth stage 

can be a great incubator for children. 

“ 

We’re so proud of having been able to be there for our kids as they went through school 

and college…not being consumed in our business. We provided a high quality education 

for them, and a great lifestyle for our family. The harder times we went through in the 

earlier years were a great example for our children, and we’re very proud of the adults that 

they are becoming. Owning a small business in the growth stage can be a great incubator 

for children.” 

Brian & Nola Klaubert 

Christian Brothers Automotive 

Alpharetta, Suwanee, & Dacula, GA 

Few things are more satisfying than observing 

the professional growth of your employees. 

“ 

Few things are more satisfying than observing the professional growth 

of your employees. Candidly, it’s not something I had expected when 

embarking into entrepreneurship some years ago. I’ve derived significant 

fulfillment from job creation, training and promotion, and from seeing 

the pride in the eyes of our people (and their families) as they advance 

their careers and realize professional goals.” 

Chris Mehalic 

Truly Nolen // Charlotte, NC 

Work hard. 

Plan to do what it takes to be successful. 

“ 

Learn the systems of your new franchise. Amada taught me everything. I had never been 

in medical sales so I had no idea what I was doing. They taught me who to market to, how 

to market, and when to market. You need to learn all of the differentiators between you 

and your competition. Work hard. Plan to do what it takes to be successful. Sometimes it 

takes working 7 days a week.” 

Ken Jenson 

Amada Senior Care // Colorado Springs, CO 



Jonathan Shelson 

MaidPro // Thornhill, Ontario 

A franchise will provide you with 

systems and most importantly, support. 

“ 

Starting a new business isn’t easy. A franchise will provide you with systems 

and most importantly, support. Through coaching, marketing, and other 

means, your franchisor is your expert business partner. I couldn’t imagine 

my business surviving without the support of the MaidPro Home Office and 

the other MaidPro owners.” 

“ 

Being a part of the Brightway Insurance franchise has been a great experience 

during my seven years with the company. With a franchise like Brightway, you 

get the benefit of being part of a national brand and enjoy comprehensive 

business support including customer service, carrier relationships, marketing, 

accounting and technology. As a result, I’m able to focus on my customers, and 

growing my business while outselling other independent agents three-to-one. 

Lindsay Verdun 

TSS Photography // Peoria, IL 

“ 

What I love most about TSS Photography 

is that we truly have a family atmosphere. 

Our franchisors are amazing and always 

make us feel like a valuable part of the team. 

We have so many colleagues we now call 

friends. Being able to share your own knowledge 

on professional levels, and offer an ear 

and compassions on personal matters as well— 

the relationships we have developed in this 

business keep us going.” 

Steve Trout 

Brightway Insurance // Rockledge, FL 



Jane and Tom McElhaney 

Our Town America 

Charlotte NC / Columbia, SC 

Investing in a franchise is a wise decision, 

but choosing the right franchise is the key 

to your success. 

Frank Sprinkles 

AtWork Personnel // Sedalia, MO 

“What sets AtWork Personnel apart . . . 

Leadership, awareness, support, and an awesome 

group of owners and support staff to 

move the franchise forward into the everchanging 

staffing world!” 

“ 

Investing in a franchise is a wise decision, but choosing the right franchise is the 

key to your success. Do your homework and investigate the type of franchise model 

that you would see as a vocation. Talk to other franchisees, get input, and have them 

share the experiences they’ve had. In the Our Town America franchise system, the 

franchisees pull together to contribute to each other’s success. It’s like one big family 

helping and looking out for each other.” 



A franchise is similar to raising a child. 

Be prepared to love, nurture and go 

through the growing pains from birth 

to maturity. 

Kimberly Lombardi 

Pizza Factory // Phelan, CA 

“ 

A franchise is similar to raising a child. Be prepared to love, nurture 

and go through the growing pains from birth to maturity. Expect 

to enjoy all the excitement it will bring, and don’t let the adversity 

get you down. Set realistic goals and take positive steps every day 

to make the goals come to fruition. Watch what other successful 

people do and emulate it. Be excited and passionate about what your 

business will do for your community, take all the knowledge and 

expertise your Franchisor gives to you, and run with it. Investing 

in a franchise means you do not have to ‘go it alone.’ You will get a 

family-like support system surrounding you.” 

Heather and Seth Allison 

American Poolplayers Association 

Reno and Carson City NV 

I had always envisioned starting 

a business where my husband, 

my parents, and I could all work 

together —a true “family owned 

and operated” venture. 

“ 

Before purchasing the American Poolplayers Association franchise, I had 

always envisioned starting a business where my husband, my parents, and I 

could all work together—a true “family owned and operated” venture. Since 

none of us had experience owning a business, and all of us came from totally 

different professional backgrounds, the challenge was finding something 

that worked for everyone—something that could incorporate each of our 

strengths. The APA franchise was a perfect fit!” 



We like that we not only grew 

the business, but also a 

bunch of families. 

FEATURED 

Franchisee 

Phil Bacon 

FastSigns // Chattanooga, TN 

“ 

To think about where we were 

when we started, and to look at 

our center now, is pretty amazing. 

But I am more proud that we have 

taken our employees with us. They 

have started families, bought houses, able 

to purchase medical insurance for themselves 

and their families. We like that we not only 

grew the business, but also a bunch of families. 

Proud to be in the top 5 centers in the world. 

There are a lot of good owners and operators 

that we admire. To think we can hang out with 

that group is pretty amazing.” 

Jason & Simon Courtney 

Office Pride // Pensacola, FL 

“ 

We have the privilege of getting to know so 

many of the franchisees and visiting their locations, 

and to see how hard everyone works and 

how much effort we all put in. To be acknowledged 

this year as the Franchisee who has 

demonstrated the best overall performance in 

sales and continued growth, customer and 

employee satisfaction, contribution to Office 

Pride’s corporate brand development and 

reflection of Office Pride’s Core Values and 

Mission Statement. We have strived to give 

back as much as we have been given, and this 

feels like we are doing that.” 

There were so many amazing stories, 

we can only share a few highlights here in 

our report. For our full list of this year’s Franchisee 

Rockstars, as well as expansive interviews with our 

winners, visit us at FranchiseBusinessReview.com. 

Mark 

Sylvester 

CarePatrol 

Northern Arizona 


— An FBR Franchisee Rockstar! — 


leadership that led you to purchase it? I am a 

believer in the franchise model due to the value 

of a “proven system” as opposed to a grass-roots 

start-up and was impressed that CarePatrol was 

a consecutive FBR franchisee satisfaction award 

recipient. As a franchise partner entering my 

fourth year in business, I continue to receive 

business-building support and encouragement 

from CarePatrol to grow and prosper. 

What type of business experience, education, 

and/or skills did you have prior to becoming 

a franchisee that you have found particularly 

helpful? I had transferrable skills sets from 

a regional sales management role in the 

construction products industry including 

territory management, customer relationship 

management, business development, marketing, 

and negotiation. 

What do you like most about your job? The 

absence of corporate politics, as well as the 

ability to listen, respond, and deliver to clients 

without delay, freedom to take risks and own the 

results, minimal business travel, and an overall 

improved quality of life. 


receive any discounts/incentives? My franchise 

was funded through personal savings without 

discounts or incentives. 



known prior to going into franchising? Take 

100% personal ownership for your results and 

plan conservatively (net operating loss) for your 

first year. 

Safer Senior Living. Your Goal, Our Mission. 

For more information about CarePatrol 

opportunities, call (480) 626-2450 or visit 

www.discovercarepatrol.com. 



Above: First time guests: Complimentary class at Orangetheory Fitness. 

Right: WOW 1 DAY PAINTING is the innovative painting franchise that delivers the quality 

customers expect in a timeline that’s unexpected. 

Who Is the Next McDonald’s? 

Discovering the Next Big Franchises 

When most people think of franchising 

success stories, McDonald’s is often held up 

as the gold standard. And while the McDonald’s 

story is truly an amazing one, McDonald’s 

was far from an overnight success. 

The McDonald’s brothers (Dick and Mack) 

started flipping burgers in their first restaurant 

in the early 1940s. A decade later, in 1953, 

they had perfected the business enough to 

start franchising. And by 1959, they opened 

their 100th location—thanks in big part to 

their now-famous partnership with Ray Kroc. 

The Subway franchise story is similar. It took 

founder Fred Deluca a decade to get the business 

dialed-in, and the better part of another 

decade to grow the franchise business to over 

100 locations. Many people think of these 

iconic brands as overnight franchising success 

stories, when in reality, they were 20–30 

years in the making. 

Contrast this with some of the newest 

“breakout” franchise brands of the past 

decade. Kona Ice is just one example. This 

“little” shaved ice franchise based in Florence, 

Kentucky was founded in 2007, started franchising 

a year later in 2008, and has grown to 

nearly 1,000 outlets in just ten years. Kona Ice 

is adding 100+ locations per year and shows 

no signs of slowing down. 

Orangetheory Fitness is another breakout 

brand of the decade, growing to nearly 600 

locations in just eight short years. Generally 

speaking, very fast growth doesn’t always 

bode well for franchisees, but in the case of 

Orangetheory and Kona, they have built 

strong franchise operations teams to support 

extraordinary growth. 



THE FRANCHISE TIPPING POINT 

There are several hundred new companies 

that start franchising every year. Many of 

their owners probably have similar visions 

to Ray Kroc, hoping to build the next franchise 

empire. But the reality is few franchise 

companies ever make it really big. In fact, the 

majority of franchise opportunities available 

today are with companies that are under 100 

locations. That said, you don’t have to invest 

in a big franchise company in order to be successful 

as a franchise owner. 

“Big isn’t always better,” says Eric Stites, 

CEO and Founder of Franchise Business 

Review. “Size certainly gives you scale, and 

other advantages like higher brand awareness 

and greater purchasing power. But 

just because a franchise company is large, it 

doesn’t automatically mean that the franchisees 

are happy and successful.” 

The tipping point for new and emerging 

franchise companies tends be somewhere 

between 50–100 units/locations. This is where 

the company becomes royalty self-sufficient… 

in other words, prospering on royalty revenues 

paid by successful franchisees, rather 

than being dependent on franchise fees from 

the sale of new franchise locations. 

Stites explains, “In those early days, when a 

franchise company’s only significant revenue 

source is new franchise fees, they can make a lot 

of mistakes. The good franchise companies 

quickly reinvest franchise fee income into building 

the support structures necessary to grow.” 

In addition to Kona and Orangetheory, 

Franchise Business Review has been tracking 

FEATURED 

Franchisee 

Sally Hanson & Roger Osborn 

Our Town America 

Raleigh, NC, Fort Myers and Naples, FL 


Franchisee Satisfaction: Emerging Brands 

Even though Emerging franchise systems can be considered riskier investments than more 

established systems, many franchise owners have found success with these newer brands 

by getting in on the ground floor. In fact, looking at franchisee satisfaction data spanning a 

recent 18-month period, franchisees of Emerging brands showed a more positive sentiment 

in several key areas compared to all franchise owners we’ve surveyed. 

Percent of franchisees reporting positive sentiment 

100% 

50% 

0% 

74% 

62% 

Franchisor and 

Opportunity Provided 

Emerging Franchises 

76% 

60% 

Overall Satisfaction 

* Note: Based on franchise owners in business for two years or longer. 

All Franchises 

84% 

73% 

Would You Recommend 

This Franchise? 


leadership that led you to purchase it? My friend 

had been a successful franchisee for 10 years 

and recommended Our Town America. I was 

looking for a business model where I could work 

from home with a flexible schedule and have few 

to no employees. The company offers so much 

support, from appointment setting services to 

sponsor services management. We have a 

wonderful corporate culture, much like a family. 




helpful? I have a strong background in 

advertising sales and management. The role is 

similar to what I’ve been doing my entire career, 

but now I get to do it for myself and my family. 


receive any discounts/incentives? My husband 

and business partner is a veteran so we were 

able to take advantage of the $10,000 Military 

discount that OTA corporate provides. We used 

our savings for the franchise fee, but we were 

able to pay it back and turn a profit within the 

first year. 



known prior to going into franchising? I think 

it’s necessary to have a strong direct sales 

background and to be able to manage time well. 

It’s also important to follow the training and 

guidance the company provides. You will do well 

if you do. 

For more information about Our Town America 

opportunities, call (800) 497-8360 x236 

or visit www.ourtownamerica.com. 



FEATURED 

Franchisee 

Pete Wilson 

Window Genie 

West Chester, OH 




leadership that led you to purchase it? I liked 

the business model of home services and being 

able to offer multiple services for the home 

owner to keep their home looking great. We 

offer window cleaning, pressure washing, gutter 

cleaning, window film installation, and holiday 

lighting. 




helpful? I had tremendous leadership training 

and experience while serving in the Marine 

Corps, and I coupled that with several years of 

corporate experience and also receiving an MBA. 

What do you like most about your job? I most 

enjoy interacting with our wonderful customers, 

making their homes look amazing through our 

services, and helping my employees reach their 

goals in life. 


receive any discounts/incentives? I used an SBA 

veterans loan, and received a discount through 

the franchisor for being a veteran. Window 

Genie, as a member of VetFran, offers additional 

territory, a $7,500 value, at no cost to veterans. 



known prior to going into franchising? Take your 

time and do your research to find the right brand 

that fits you best and ask a lot of questions. Be 

prepared to work hard, make good decisions, and 

trust yourself. 

For more information about Window Genie 


www.windowgeniefranchise.com. 

Kona Ice franchisees tap into the popularity of the frozen dessert industry. 

several very strong franchise companies that 

have crossed the 100 unit mark over the last 

decade. These franchises include FirstLight 

Home Care, Mosquito Joe, Better Homes 

& Gardens Real Estate, Crunch Fitness, 

Pinot’s Palette, CarePatrol, 101 Mobility, 

and Brightway Insurance. 

UPSTARTS WITH STRONG PROMISE 

Looking at companies that just started franchising 

in the last few years, we found a handful 

that show a lot of promise. Senior Care 

Authority, who started franchising in 2014, 

has already grown to nearly 50 locations, and 

is outpacing many of their competitors in the 

home healthcare industry. Bloomin’ Blinds is 

another 2014 franchise upstart with a lot of 

promise, poised to grab their share of the 

multi-billion dollar window treatment market. 

FACTORS TO CONSIDER WITH 

EMERGING FRANCHISES 

No matter what type of business you open— 

franchise or independent, up and coming or 

50 years old—there’s risk involved, but buying 

a franchise from an emerging brand can come 

with more risk if you don’t do your homework. 

Emerging franchises (and smaller brands) 

often come with a smaller corporate office and 

fewer resources, which can equate to less support 

for operators. Franchisees may struggle as 

the first in their market. With no prior brand 

recognition, it’s completely up to them to market 

their business, gain brand recognition, and, 

for franchisees of new concepts, they constantly 

have to explain what it is they do. 

On the other hand, franchisees new to a 

market have the opportunity to establish their 

reputation and image with no preconceived 

ideas of what they do or how they operate. 

Franchisees and franchisors both told us 

there’s more openness to franchisee input at a 

new brand, which might be an advantage for 

someone looking for the stability of franchising 

with the entrepreneurial feel of a start-up. 

“There’s a growing community of independent 

health and beauty professionals 

nationwide, and with MY SALON Suite, 

I’m meeting their demand for luxury, private 

working spaces,” said Aaron Gillaspie, a multiunit 

franchisee with MY SALON Suite, which 

started franchising in 2012. “I’ve opened 

multiple units throughout Houston and San 

Antonio with the corporate office’s ongoing 

marketing support, educational opportunities, 

and ambitious culture. Their top notch amenities 

have proven to be exactly what stylists in 

my region are looking for.” 



FEATURED 

Franchisee 

Dan LaBrake 

HouseMaster 

Broken Arrow, OK 



Two Maids & A Mop’s fast growth is attributed to its innovative employee pay for performance compensation plan. 

Conducting thorough due diligence is 

important with any franchise opportunity, but 

it’s even more important with a new brand. 

Unfortunately, it can also be more difficult 

to clearly assess the strength of the franchise 

system and support. You will need to work 

harder to learn all there is to know about the 

franchise company—looking closely at the 

individual backgrounds of the leadership and 

asking detailed questions about the strategic 

vision for today, tomorrow, and five years 

from now. 

It takes a lot more than a healthy flagship 

store to be a successful franchise system, but 

we sometimes see new franchise companies 

that are based solely on that—the success 

of one or two stores. It’s imperative that the 

franchise structure, training, systems, and 

leadership be set up to support growth. In the 

end, there are both pros and cons to buying 

an up-and-coming franchise brand— as there 

are with any type of business investment. 

Investors need to find the franchise system 

that’s built for growth—both of the franchisee 

and the corporate office—and the brand that 

best suits their needs and personality type. 

TAKING THE NEXT STEP 

There are many great franchise opportunities 

available to investors today, and we pride 

ourselves in identifying the best of the best. 

If you are considering an emerging brand, it’s 

important you look carefully at the franchise 

structure and leadership that’s behind that 

brand. Do they have the corporate resources 

to properly support you? Does the leadership 

team have previous experience in the franchise 

industry? Does the concept itself have 

staying power? 

Take your time and find the right franchise 

fit for you. We’re here to help. For more 

information on our research and the latest 

franchise reviews, visit our website www. 

FranchiseBusinessReview.com. 

For a complete listing of the most promising 

startup franchise brands of the past decade, 

visit www.FranchiseBusinessReview.com. 


leadership that led you to purchase it? Since I 

did not have any experience in the building or 

construction industry, I determined the franchise 

model gave me the highest percentage of 

succeeding. HouseMaster is the oldest home 

inspection franchise and they had a proven track 

record of success. My due diligence included 

a trip to New Jersey to meet the leaders in the 

industry and the decision was easy. 




helpful? My previous career of 20 years in the 

telecommunication industry required detailed 

analytical skills and excellent interpersonal 

skills. These exact skills are necessary to be a 

successful property inspector. 

What do you like most about your job? This 

job requires attention to detail with a great 

deal of responsibility. We are charged with 

assisting people to make informed decisions on 

large purchases. The ever changing industries 

involved with home construction mandates 

constant vigilance to stay educated. It requires 

a dedicated work ethic and a continual effort to 

remain a master—a HouseMaster. 


franchise buyers? Following the system presents 

the best opportunity of succeeding while 

avoiding many of the pitfalls that one might 

otherwise experience. The ability to lean on, 

learn from, and share with the franchise family 

is the best system of support and education one 

could anticipate. 

What do you wish you had known prior to going 

into franchising? It would have been helpful 

to have some business education. Many of the 

decisions necessary to start and run a business 

were not part of the franchise model in 2002. 

For more information about HouseMaster 


www.housemaster.com. 


FBR SPECIAL REPORT // MARKETPLACE 


TOP 200 

FRANCHISES 

Today’s leading brands based 

on FBR’s owner satisfaction data. 

*Full Satisfaction Report Available 

at FranchiseBusinessReview.com 

CLEANING & MAINTENANCE 

ADVERTISING & SALES 

* Our Town America — more on p. 6, 19 

N2 Publishing 

Proforma 

Welcomemat Services 

Town Money Saver 

Discovery Map 

AUTOMOTIVE 

* Christian Brothers Automotive — more on p. 6 

* Snap-on Tools — more on inside front cover 

RNR Tire Express — more on p. 31 

Auto Appraisal Network 

Priceless Car Rental 

Tint World 

BUSINESS SERVICES 

* FASTSIGNS — more on p. 28 

Sanford Rose Associates 

* Sandler Training 

* Minuteman Press — more on p. 29 

* ActionCOACH 

* Brightway Insurance 

The @WORK Group 

YESCO 

Dale Carnegie — more on p. 26 

* Murphy Business & Financial 

* Supporting Strategies 

Sir Speedy 

Office Evolution 

The Alternative Board 

InXpress 

PIP Printing & Document Services 

Speedpro Imaging 

CHILD SERVICES 

* Soccer Shots 

TGA Premier Sports 

High Touch High Tech 

Young Rembrandts 

KidsPark 

Goldfish Swim School 

Snapology 

Amazing Athletes 

College Nannies + Sitters + Tutors 

Child Services continued 

* TSS Photography — more on p. 30 

The Little Gym 

British Swim School 

CompuChild 

CLEANING & MAINTENANCE 

* MaidPro 

Aire-Master of America 

* Office Pride — more on p. 31 

Jan-Pro (Master Franchisors) 

Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning 

Anago Cleaning Systems (Master Franchisors) 

Rooterman 

* The Maids — more on p. 26 

Two Maids & A Mop 

You’ve Got MAIDS 

Buildingstars 

* Image One — more on p. 4 

EDUCATION 

* The Goddard School 

* Mathnasium 

* The Learning Experience 

Huntington Learning Center — more on p. 27 

Online Trading Academy 

The Tutoring Center 

Best In Class Education Centers 

Creative World School 

FINANCIAL & TAX 

* Payroll Vault Franchising — more on p. 26 

Estrella Insurance 

FITNESS 

* Crunch Fitness 

Orangetheory Fitness 

9Round 

Baby Boot Camp 

ILOVEKICKBOXING.COM 

Burn Boot Camp — more on inside back cover 

30-Minute Hit 

The MAX Challenge 

Planet Fitness 

World Gym 

Maidpro 

Startup Investment: $74,560 – $204,450 

Cash Requirement: $75,000 

Total Units: 221 

MaidPro prides itself on its proven 

groundbreaking technology, creative marketing, 

established brand identity, and stellar support 

to its franchisees. MaidPro offers you the 

advantages of rapid growth, low start-up costs, 

manageable hours, and recurring revenue. 

MaidPro has received Franchise Business 

Review’s Four-Star Rating and Franchise 50 

awards for franchisee satisfaction every year 

from 2006-2017. MaidPro is also offering a 

veteran discount valued at $15,000 for U.S. and 

Canadian veterans. Join a franchise family that 

gives you control and ownership of your business 

with unmatched 24/7 support. 

For more information on MaidPro 


or visit www.maidprofranchise.com. 

FOOD & BEVERAGE 

Checkers 

Startup Investment: $96,414 – $1,501,265 


Total Units: 870+ 

GET THERE FASTER WITH CHECKERS & RALLY’S! 

Franchisees achieve their financial and growth 

goals faster with Checkers & Rally’s because 

of our low initial investment, strong return 

on investment, nimble modular building 

construction, and competitive franchise growth 

incentives. For over 30 years, we have focused 

on bold and flavorful food, amazing value for our 

guests, and restaurant profitability. Amid seven 

consecutive years of same-store sales growth and 

870+ restaurants, we still have top-tier market 

availability in all major US markets. Discover why 

Checkers & Rally's was named one of the BEST 

FRANCHISE DEALS by QSR Magazine in 2017 & 

2016. 

See page 24 for additional top franchises. 

Visit FBR50.com for brand details. 

For more information on Checkers 

opportunites, call (888) 913-9135 or visit 

www.checkersfranchising.com. 


NOW’S THE TIME TO MAKE YOUR 

BIG 

MOVE 

Put your business development skills to work for you. 

Take the next step forward in your career with a 

Remedy Intelligent Staffing franchise. 

Get your piece of the $147 billion staffing industry 

with the resources and support of a national leader. 

FEATURED 

Franchisee 

Ben Smith 

The Glass Guru 

Baton Rouge, LA 


LEARN MORE ABOUT US! 

CHAD WRIGHT - FRANCHISE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR 

502-255-2297 | REMEDYFRANCHISE.COM 


and/or skills did you have prior to becoming a 

franchisee that you have found particularly 

helpful? I spent six years selling construction 

equipment, so I felt like It was a good fit for me 

and my past work experience. I’d say I owe my 

success to “doing the right thing.” Treating 

employees and customers with equal respect is 

how I continue to grow my business year after 

year. This is indicative of The Glass Guru’s culture 

franchise-wide. 


leadership that led you to purchase it? I wanted a 

job where I wasn’t at the mercy of an employer or 

anyone else. I didn’t feel like I had a trade that would 

translate into running my own small business, but 

when I spoke with the people at The Glass Guru 

headquarters, everything seemed to make sense. 

What do you like most about your job? I like 

getting out of the office and working with customers. 

I like being able to help people and fill a need. 

JOIN A 

TIME-TESTED, 

THRIVING 

BUSINESS 

It’s time to look into opening a Pizza Factory franchise and experience 

our fun, family-focused community and welcoming atmosphere. 


receive any discounts/incentives? One of the 

reasons I was drawn to The Glass Guru franchise 

was its low startup cost. When purchasing the 

franchise, I was able to finance part through the 

franchise system and take out a small business 

loan. Through the immediate success of the 

business I was able to pay both off the same year. 


franchise buyers? Owning your own business 

isn’t for everyone, but if you’re willing to work, do 

what you say will do, be fair to everyone, whether 

it be your smallest customer, your largest 

customer, your vendors, and especially your 

employees, then The Glass Guru is a great 

business opportunity. I have no regrets with 

starting The Glass Guru of Baton Rouge. It is one of 

the best business decisions I have made and I look 

forward to many more years of success! 

pizzafactoryfranchises.com 1-562-340-6925 

For more information on The Glass Guru 

opportunities, call (916) 407-0934 or 

visit www.theglassgurufranchise.com. 



2018 TOP 200 

FRANCHISES 



* Kona Ice 

Culver’s 

Fazoli’s Restaurants 

Wings Etc. 

Captain D’s 

* Checkers & Rally’s 

The Wendy’s Company 

LaRosa’s Pizzeria 

Tropical Smoothie Cafe 

Nothing Bundt Cakes 

Lenny’s Sub Shop 

Hwy 55 Burgers Shakes & Fries 

Zaxby’s 

* Hungry Howie’s Pizza & Subs — more on p. 1 

Scooter’s Coffee 

The Haagen-Dazs Shoppe Company — more on 

p. 25 

* Pizza Factory — more on p. 21 

Golden Corral Buffet & Grill — more on p. 28 

Penn Station 

* East Coast Wings & Grill 

Jamba Juice 

Fuzzy’s Taco Shop 

Biggby Coffee 

Goodcents Deli Fresh Subs 

Donatos Pizza 

Eggs Up Grill 

Buffalo Wings & Rings 

Toppers Pizza 

Bahama Buck’s 

* Happy & Healthy Products 

DoubleDave’s Pizzaworks Systems 

Costa Vida 

Zoup! 

HEALTH & PERSONAL SERVICES 

Palm Beach Tan 

* My Salon Suite 

BioPed Footcare Centres 

Sport Clips — more on back cover 

Fastest Labs 

HOME SERVICES 

* CertaPro Painters 

Miracle Method Surface Refinishing 

* HouseMaster — more on p. 21 

Budget Blinds 

Home Services continued 

* DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen 

Surface Specialists Systems 

Property Damage Appraisers 

Shine Window Care & Holiday Lighting 

Garage Experts 

Bloomin Blinds 

WOW 1 DAY PAINTING 

Tailored Living 

USA Insulation 

California Closets 

Go Mini’s 

* The Glass Guru — more on p. 23, 27 

* Kitchen Solvers 

The Grout Doctor 

ShelfGenie 

PET SERVICES 

In Home Pet Services 

The Dog Wizard 

Sit Means Sit Dog Training 

Dogtopia 

REAL ESTATE 

Keller Williams 

Sotheby’s International Realty 

Weichert Real Estate 

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate 

Showhomes Home Staging 

ERA 

* HomeVestors of America — more on p. 2 

HomeSmart International 

United Country Real Estate 

RETAIL 

* Wild Birds Unlimited 

Pinch A Penny 

Rhea Lana’s 

Just Between Friends 

* Big Frog Custom T-Shirts 

Color Me Mine 

Mainstream Boutique 

Family Fare 

Verlo Mattress Factory Stores 

SENIOR SERVICES 

* Home Instead Senior Care 

* Visiting Angels 

* FirstLight Home Care — more on p. 9 

See page 25 for additional top franchises. 


LaRosa’s 

Startup Investment: $800,000 – $1,000,000 



LaRosa’s is a family-style pizzeria serving over 

40 menu items for dine in, carry-out or delivery. 

For over 60 years, we’ve demonstrated consistent 

performance and proven Guest appeal. Our full 

service concept features a dining room, bar and 

party area. All pick-up and delivery orders are 

taken in our unique Guest Service Center. Guests 

enjoy world class service, and relationship 

management technology uses Guest order data 

to drive our loyalty program. 

For more information on LaRosa’s opportunites, 

call (513) 347-5660 or visit www.larosas.com/ 

franchise. 

RETAIL 

Wild Birds Unlimited 




Wild Birds Unlimited owners are their local 

communities’ backyard bird feeding specialists 

and a premiere source for nature information 

as well as quality products. But who we are 

goes far beyond the items we sell. It’s our 

owners’ commitment to their customers that 

distinguishes them from other retailers, a 

fact that makes us very proud. Wild Birds 

Unlimited owners enjoy helping their customers 

understand birds and nature, swapping stories 

about the latest bird sightings and seeing other 

people share their excitement. 

Special Veteran Incentives: Offers a 15% 

discount off the initial franchise fee. 

For more information on Wild Birds Unlimited 


www.wbufranchise.com. 


SERVICES 

TRAVEL & HOSPITALITY 

Senior Services continued 

Window Genie 




Window Genie is a nationally ranked mobile 

service franchise specializing in residential 

and light commercial window cleaning, window 

tinting, pressure washing and more. Our services 

are in high demand because we specialize in 

the time-consuming, difficult, but necessary 

property maintenance tasks most people are 

unwilling or unable to do themselves. By offering 

a variety of services to fit every home’s needs 

and budget, our owners are able to establish 

repeat and referral clients that provide multiple 

streams of revenue year-round. With our 

commitments to branding, professionalism and 

customer satisfaction, our owners stand out in 

their markets as the trusted go-to home service 

providers. 

For more information on Window Genie 


or visit www.windowgeniefranchise.com. 

Have your DESSERT 

and own it too! 

Call us for more information! 

Häagen-Dazs Shoppe, Inc. 

Development 

(612) 337-3314 

Molly.Hanson@US.Nestle.com 

Expedia 




Expedia CruiseShipCenters is North America’s 

largest retail travel agency franchise and a 

leading seller of cruise travel. Build equity and 

enjoy a great lifestyle with our proven franchise 

model with more than 30 years of success and 

over 250 locations throughout North America. As 

a full service travel agency specializing in cruises, 

your Expedia CruiseShipCenters location will 

offer travelers in your community a wide range 

of travel products along with outstanding service 

and Expedia prices. With 27.2 million cruisers are 

expected to set sail in 2018 according to Cruise 

Lines International Association, there’s never 

been a more exciting time to join this growing 

industry with an Expedia franchise. 

For more information on Expedia 


or visit www.expediafranchise.com. 

Right at Home 

Assisting Hands 

* Amada Senior Care 

Home Care Assistance 

* Homewatch CareGivers 

* Senior Care Authority 

* CarePatrol — more on p. 17 

SERVICES 

Precision Concrete Cutting 

* Weed Man 

* Two Men and A Truck 

Truly Nolen of America 

Bin There Dump That 

FRSTeam 

Complete Weddings and Events 

* Fish Window Cleaning 

* Fibrenew 

College Hunks Hauling Junk 

* Window Genie — more on p. 20 

* U.S. Lawns 

Linc Service Network 

Critter Control 

Real Property Management 

101 Mobility 

Precision Door Service 

* Mosquito Joe 

Signal 88 Security — more on p. 29 

Creative Colors International 

Leather Medic 

NaturaLawn of America 

Service Team of Professionals 

PortraitEFX 

MarbleLife 

SPORTS & REC 

American Poolplayers Association 

Kampgrounds of America/ KOA 

* Pinot’s Palette 

APEX Fun Run 

* Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park 

Rockin’ Jump 

Wine and Design 

TECHNOLOGY 

TeamLogic IT 

TRAVEL & HOSPITALITY 

* CruiseOne — more on p. 4 

* Cruise Planners 

Expedia CruiseShipCenters 




FEATURED 

Franchisee 

Brittany 

Schmid 

Dale Carnegie Training 

San Francisco, San Diego, 

San Jose, and Oakland, CA 




leadership that led you to purchase it? My dad 

gave me the book How to Win Friends and 

Influence People by Dale Carnegie when I 

graduated from college. The lessons learned 

helped me along my career path and now I have 

come full circle! Dale Carnegie was a trailblazer, 

and the business continues to innovate and 

remain at the top of its industry. 




helpful? By having the balance of extensive 

sales experience, a background in corporate 

training, and years of leadership lessons to draw 

from, it set us up to hit the ground running. 

What do you like most about your job? It’s 

humbling and inspiring to be a part of an 

organization that tackles the human attitudes 

and behaviors that drive performance change 

with a simple but powerful approach. With a 

comprehensive host of coaching and assessment 

solutions to complement training, we are 

consistently engaged in helping others achieve 

their definition of success. 



known prior to going into franchising? I had 

a misconception of what franchises were and 

I didn’t realize the diversity of franchise options 

available. I knew that I had the entrepreneur bug, 

I just didn’t know how to jump in… franchising 

offered that start. I wish that I had been exposed 

to franchising with Dale Carnegie earlier in 

my career! 

For more information about Dale Carnegie 


dalecarnegiefranchise.com. 


AUTOMOTIVE 

SERVICES 

FEATURED 

Franchisee 

Snap-on Tools 

Startup Investment: $171, 385 – $359,767 

Cash Requirement: $35,677 – $53,366 

Total Units: 4,845 

Snap-on Incorporated is a leading global 

innovator, manufacturer, and marketer of 

tools, diagnostics, and equipment solutions 

for professional users. Product lines include 

hand and power tools, and are sold through 

its franchisees, company-direct sales, and 

distributor channels, as well as over the internet. 

For more information on Snap-on Tools 


or visit www.snaponfranchise.com. 

Two Men and A Truck 


Cash Requirement: $95,000 – $670,000 


TWO MEN AND A TRUCK ® is the largest 

franchised moving company in North America. 

Currently there are more than 380 locations 

and 2,900 trucks operating in 43 U.S. states in 

addition to Canada, UK, and Ireland. TWO MEN 

AND A TRUCK ® has performed more than 6.5 

million moves since its inception in 1985. The 

company has seen consistent monthly growth 

dating back to December 2009 with more than 

95 consecutive months of growth. In 2017, 

Entrepreneur Magazine ranked TWO MEN AND A 

TRUCK ® as one of the top 500 franchises in the 

U.S for the 23rd consecutive year and ranked 

the company no. 1 in the moving/junk removal 

category for the second year in a row. 

For more information on Two Men and A Truck 


or visit franchise.twomenandatruck.com. 

Bob Harms 

Huntington Learning Center 

Pembroke Pines West and 

Plantation, FL 




leadership that led you to purchase it? The 

Huntington Learning Center franchise model 

was a big reason for me to purchase the business. 

I found that a franchise was an easy way to 

transition from corporate America to my own 

business without having to “create a new wheel.” 

What type of business experience, education 

and/or skills did you have prior to becoming a 

franchisee that you found particularly helpful? 

I have an undergraduate degree in marketing 

and two graduate degrees in management 

and international business. Previously, I was 

a business development manager. Having the 

experience and education in business helped me 

understand how to manage staff and have the 

common sense to follow a business model that 

has already been successful. 

What do you like most about your job? My 

favorite part of being a Huntington Learning 

Center franchisee is that I am able to give back to 

the community by helping our students improve 

their confidence and skills in the classroom and 

in many ways change their opportunities and 

their futures. 


receive any discounts/incentives? I was lucky 

enough to have an early small percentage 

investor in the first center so I didn’t need to 

take out any loans. When I took over my second 

location, I took advantage of an opportunity 

to turn around a failing location due to poor 

management by prior ownership, which also 

proved to be a successful model. 


franchise buyers? Your franchisor has likely 

already made all the mistakes for you. If you 

follow the system and don’t try to be smarter 

than the system you are more likely to be 

successful. 

For more information about Huntington 

Learning Center opportunities, call (800) 653- 

8400 or visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. 



ournew 10,000 sq ft cash register! 

■ Designed for broader 

consumer appeal and 

operating efficiency 

■ Bold, contemporary exterior 

elevates curb appeal 

■ Inviting interior with a 

roomier, more comfortable 

dining area 

CONTACT 

Annette Bagwell 

abagwell@goldencorral.net 

800-284-5673 ext. 4479 

See more pictures and information 

regarding the new prototype at 

www.goldencorralfranchise.com/fbr 


SENIOR SERVICES 

Senior Advocacy and Living Source 

Senior Care Authority 

Startup Investment: 

Cash Requirement: 

Total Units: 

Senior Residential Placement provides assistance 

to identify the best location for seniors to live 

and be cared for at no cost to families. Locations 

can range from larger assisted living communities 

to smaller residential care homes to locations 

specializing in memory care. This unique service 

simplifies the process, saving your clients time 

and money while helping to eliminate the 

stresses with this transition. Earnings come from 

the commissions paid by residential care homes, 

assisted living and memory care communities. 

For more information on Senior Care Authority 

opportunites, call (888) 809-1231 ext. 2 or visit 

www.SeniorCareAuthority.com/franchise. 

TM 

BE YOUR 

OWN BOSS. 

Choose your franchise 

business today from 

ones rated highest 

by the franchisees 

who own them. 

Visit FBR50.com 

Our Brand. Your Business. 

Start Your Own Security Business with a Signal 88 Security Franchise 

Create Peace of Mind in Your Community with the #1 Security Franchise 

FEATURED 

Franchisee 

Manny Castro 

Minuteman Press 

Downey, California 


When did you purchase your franchise? 

I I bought my Minuteman Press franchise in 

February 2007. I came to this beautiful country 

33 years ago without a dollar in my pocket, no 

skills, no academic degrees, no English, not even 

a high school diploma. Just a teenager at that 

time, I was running away from a civil war in 

El Salvador, looking for a better life. 


leadership that led you to purchase it? I was 

a distribution zone manager for a weekly 

publication company, and I was looking for 

something new. I had researched many other 

companies and different industries for a while, 

but none of them gave me the level of 

confidence I needed to motivate me and 

move forward that Minuteman Press did. 

What do you like most about your job? First, I 

love working with our customers and helping 

them meet their business needs. I also enjoy 

the time flexibility and financial stability I have 

been able to accomplish as a Minuteman Press 

franchisee. I have strong will and determination, 

and a passion for this business. 

How did you fund your franchise? Personal 

savings and an equity line of credit. 

$468,000 Average Income 

37% Gross Profit Margins 


franchise buyers? Take the time to do your 

homework. Talk to current owners and learn 

about their experiences. Learn as much as you 

can about the industry and ask yourself, “If I do 

this and I fail, what do I have to lose? And If I do 

this and I succeed, what do I have to gain?” 

Full Support & Training 

For more information, please visit: 

signal88franchise.com 

For more information on Minuteman Press 


www.minutemanpressfranchise.com. 


TM 


WARNING: 

BUYING THE WRONG FRANCHISE 

CAN SERIOUSLY DAMAGE YOUR FINANCIAL HEALTH. 

When you invest in a franchise, you have only one chance to make the RIGHT choice — 

one that will give you and your family a bright future. Franchise Business Review can help. 

Our Franchise Buyer’s Toolkit provides all the resources you need to make an informed franchise 

investment. Learn the ins and outs of buying a franchise, get tips from the pros, and access insider 

insights that you won’t find anywhere else. 

Learn more at FranchiseBusinessReview.com/Toolkit 

Team Up With 

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Visit tssfranchisebusiness.com/FBR 


www.RNRFranchise.com 

BUILD SOMETHING GREAT WITH US 

With over 100 locations nationwide, RNR has become the go to place for wheels and tires 

with a variety of payment options. RNR is the only place to get the wheels you want and 

the tires you need with easy payment plans. Call us if you want to be a part of the best 

tire and wheel concept in America! 

► $471,437 

$1,954,745 

AVG. ANNUAL TOTAL REVENUE* 

► 

AVG. ANNUAL OPERATING INCOME* 

Contact: VINCE FICARROTTA 

at 800.449.8744 or 

Vince@RNRTires.com 

*Figures above reflect averages for the 20 top performing stores (33%) of the 61 stores reporting that opened in 2014 or prior and have been open at least 24 months. These averages are based on a 

52-week annual period from January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016. Of these 20 stores, 9 (45%) had higher total revenue and 9 (45%) had higher operating income. A new franchise owner’s results 

may differ from the presented performance. There is no assurance you’ll do as well. If you rely upon our figures you must accept the risk of not doing as well. ©RNR Tire Express. All rights reserved.

FBR Issue 2 - 2018

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