FBR Issue 3 - 2020

Franchise Business 

REVIEW 

Ratings and Reviews of Today’s Top Franchises 

2020 Issue 3 

SPECIAL REPORT 

TOP FOOD 

FRANCHISES 

DONATOS PIZZA 

FIREHOUSE SUBS 

TROPICAL SMOOTHIE CAFE 

WINGSTOP and more... P. 10 

Food Franchises Remain Strong 

Despite 2020 Challenges P. 6 

Culture: The Cornerstone 

of a Successful Franchise P. 12 

FRANCHISEE SPOTLIGHT: 

Daniel Anisz, WINDOW GENIE P. 15 

Cal and Lenka Pascanu, 

CHRISTIAN BROTHERS 

AUTOMOTIVE P. 25

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FBR SPECIAL REPORT 

Features //2020 Issue 3 

6 12 20 

5 Letter From the Founder 

Franchising Leading in Challenging Times 

6 Food Franchises Remain Strong 

Despite 2020 Challenges 

Many Food Brands Quickly Pivoted 

in the Face of COVID-19 

10 Top Food Franchises 

This Year’s Best Food Franchises 

12 Culture: The Cornerstone 

of a Successful Franchise 

In These Challenging Times, Company Culture 

is More Important Than Ever Before 

14 Funding Your Franchise 

You Have Options 

16 FBR Culture100 Winners 

Best of the Best in Company Culture 

20 FBR’s 2020 Rock Star Franchisees 

Meet Franchising’s Finest 

24 Marketplace: Franchise Opportunities 

More on the franchisee approved franchise 

opportunities for 2020 

24 2020’s Top 200 Franchises Overall 

Franchises with high franchisee satisfaction 

in every industry sector 

Franchisee Profiles 

15 Daniel Anisz, Window Genie 

25 Cal and Lenka Pascanu, 

Christian Brothers Automotive 

30 Juan Ortega, ActionCoach 

31 Jenny Reed, Cruise Planners 

+ 

Reviews, interviews, satisfaction awards, 

and more resources are available at: 

www.FranchiseBusinessReview.com 

For more information on the companies in this report, visit www.FranchiseBusinessReview.com | 3


Letter from the founder 

Franchising Leading in Challenging Times 

For many of us, 2020 has been a year we won’t soon forget. While the daily headlines have been 

dominated by chaos and tragedies, if you look deep enough, there are amazing and inspiring 

stories all around us—people coming together to help one another. 

One of those inspiring stories is the father and son duo of Ken and KJ Jones from Danville, 

VA (featured on our cover). A firefighter of 30 years, Ken and his son opened a Firehouse Subs 

franchise in 2018 to continue serving the local community they love. 

When COVID-19 swept across the country this year, the Jones family stepped up their 

community support even more by providing meals to healthcare workers and other first 

responders serving on the frontlines of the pandemic. This is just one of hundreds of stories 

of franchise leaders and franchise owners going above and beyond to support their local 

community in this time of crisis. 

Our fall issue provides some much-needed inspiration with a look at our annual list of Top 

Food Franchises, our annual Franchisee Rockstar award-winners, and the premier of our FBR 

Culture 100—celebrating the best franchise company cultures. We hope you enjoy our coverage 

of these amazing franchise organizations and consider exploring the many career and businessownership 

opportunities that they offer. 

The franchise community is full of stories like that of Firehouse Subs franchisees Ken and KJ 

Jones. On behalf of the entire team here at FBR, thank you for all that you do. 

When COVID-19 swept 

across the country this 

year, the Jones Family 

stepped up their 

community support even 

more by providing meals 

to healthcare workers and 

other first responders. 

Eric Stites, Founder and CEO 

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 Franchises for Women, 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 

Ali Forman, Marketing Director 

Taryn Myers, Senior Director, Digital Marketing 

Lisa King, Web Designer 

Nicole Dudley, Client Success Manager 

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 data from nearly 28,000 franchise owners from 307 leading franchise brands. 

We collected this data between October 2018 – February 2020. We asked each franchisee over 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 franchises with the highest franchisee satisfaction. More detailed information about our research methodology is available 

at www.FranchiseBusinessReview.com. 

Surveys to determine the Top Food Franchises, Top Franchises for Veterans and Most Profitable Franchises are underway. If you are a 

franchisor and would like to get involved in our research, please call 866-397-6680 or contact info@FranchiseBusinessReview.com. 



Food Franchises Remain Strong 

Despite 2020 Challenges 

Many Food Brands Quickly Pivoted in the Face of COVID-19 

When you think about franchises, 

restaurants typically are the first 

to come to mind. There’s a good 

reason for that: More than one-third of all 

franchises fall into this category, making it one 

of the most popular segments in franchising. 

Just weeks before the pandemic hit the United 

States, the National Restaurant Association 

released its 2020 State of the Restaurant Industry 

Report, which predicted the industry 

would reach a record $899 billion in 2020, 

with the moderate 4% growth rate mirroring 

general economic conditions. 

RECIPE FOR DISASTER? 

The restaurant industry faced an unexpected 

roadblock when the coronavirus forced dining 

rooms across the country to shutter—closing 

some businesses for good. But others bridged 

financial gaps by capitalizing on curbside 

pick-up and delivery services to attract new 

customers and retain loyal patrons. Those 

restaurants that thrived during the pandemic 

drew upon their positive company culture, 

strong leadership, and core values to beat 

expectations. 

“In January I would have said food and 

beverage franchises can be difficult to run 

since success relies heavily on great products 

and people. Post COVID, those are still challenges, 

but now there are added considerations 

around safety protocols, technology, and how 

take-out and delivery can be a bigger part of 

the business,” says Michelle Rowan, president 

of Franchise Business Review. 

Firehouse Subs, a Jacksonville, Floridabased 

gourmet sub franchise with more than 

1,500 locations throughout the country, experienced 

record sales this summer, according to 

its CEO, Don Fox. Most of its locations don’t 

have drive-throughs, and at some points in 

the spring, its restaurants were forced by state 

mandate to close their dining rooms. 

Sonya and Carlos Matthews of Frios Gourmet Pops Newnan, GA. 

6 | For more information on the companies in this report, visit www.FranchiseBusinessReview.com


At the beginning of the pandemic, the franchise 

suffered crushing 45% losses. Instead of 

comparing themselves to past performance, 

they drew upon their can-do team culture 

and concentrated on pivoting their strategy 

to get food to their customers. This is where 

previous investments in food packaging and 

advertising paid off, Fox said, allowing Firehouse 

Subs to shift to a delivery model that 

didn’t compromise its food quality. 

“We threw out all points of comparison 

and rallied around a few things. We focused 

on one thing—do what you can do to make 

today and tomorrow better,” he said. “We did 

that, day after day, week after week, until we 

hit the 9-week mark, and by that time we were 

beating last year’s sales by a lot. And, in the 

past 13 weeks we have never performed at this 

level in our history.” 

Fox describes the Firehouse Subs brand as 

one that is based on the values of philanthropy 

and treating others (employees, coworkers, 

vendors, and customers) fairly. Each team 

member lives the brand’s mission statement: 

To carry on our commitment to and passion 

for hearty and flavorful food, heartfelt service, 

and public safety, Fox said. To date, the brand 

has donated more than $52 million in life 

saving equipment to first responders through 

its non-profit Firehouse Subs Public Safety 

Foundation. Donations come primarily from 

their customers, who have the opportunity to 

give back each time they visit a Firehouse Subs 

location by rounding up their purchase to the 

nearest dollar. Staying true to their firefighter 

roots and supporting local communities continues 

to serve the brand well. 

“We stay customer-focused. We set very 

high standards, because if we don’t, too many 

competitors will catch up and defeat us,” he 

said. “We believe in philanthropy and always 

giving back to the community. To be a part 

of us, you need to embrace that part of the 

culture.” 

LISTENING TO FRANCHISEES 

HELPS RAISE THE BAR 

With more than 850 locations across the country, 

Tropical Smoothie Cafe offers healthy 

sandwiches, wraps, bowls, and smoothies as 

well as catering services. The Destin, Floridabased 

franchise, was also forced to pivot its 

café business to delivery and curb-side pickup 

in the wake of the coronavirus. 

Customers enjoying a healthy meal at Tropical Smoothie Cafe (pre-Covid). 

Like Firehouse Subs, Tropical Smoothie 

Cafe has experienced unprecedented growth 

through the pandemic. The chain reported 

that July’s comp sales were up 25.5% and that 

transactions were also up 5.8%, according to 

Fast Casual. The brand attributes its success 

to its healthy menu and variety of contactless 

food delivery options. Tropical Smoothie Cafe 

still plans to open 85 new cafes this year. 

The leadership at Tropical Smoothie Cafe 

listens carefully to feedback provided by its 

franchise owners through franchisee satisfaction 

surveys. Charles Watson, CEO of Tropical 

Smoothie Cafe, said franchisee surveys helped 

the corporate office better understand how 

well locations heard messages the brand was 

delivering in the wake of the pandemic and 

helped the corporate office determine how 

locations were taking action during the crisis. 

The brand views its franchisees as its customers 

and seeks to provide a business model that 

works for them, Watson said. 

“At Tropical Smoothie Cafe, franchisee 

satisfaction is #1. We have to know what they 

think and feel about our brand on a consistent 

basis,” he said. “Without that incredibly 

important information, we can’t make changes 

to our business model and to our support 

structures in order to continue to drive our 

business. At the end of the day, we don’t have a 

business without our franchisees.” 

REINVENTION BASED ON FEEDBACK 

Cliff Kennedy, CEO of Frios Gourmet Pops, 

was a franchisee before he became “the boss.” 

And before he became a franchisee, he was a 

customer who indulged in the frozen desserts 

several afternoons each week. His experiences 

gave him key insights into how the corporate 

office could better support its franchisees and 

delight its customers. Originally founded in 

2013 in Gadsen, Alabama and now operating 

36 locations, Frios made Franchise Business 

Review’s list of Top Food Franchises for the 

first time in 2020. 

Frios Gourmet Pops started as a brick and 

mortar location, but since Kennedy acquired 

the company in 2018 just a few months after 

he signed on as a franchisee, he discovered 

new ways to reach customers. The company 

has now moved to Mobile, Alabama, where it 

has consolidated its production facility with 

its corporate office. Bringing the two functions 

together has allowed the teams to collaborate 

on new flavors and brainstorm new ideas in 

real time, Kennedy said. 

The coronavirus crisis quickly prompted 

the corporate office to seek input from franchisees 

who were finding success in an uncertain 

landscape. With children and families stuck at 

home, Frios Gourmet Pops could be delivered 

via pushcarts and trailers. Franchisees found 

success in promoting their intended routes on 

social media. When franchisees arrived at the 



Getting a Taste: Questions to Ask Franchisees 

Before you invest, it’s critical to talk to as many franchisees as possible in the brand you’re 

considering. With the profound impact of the pandemic on franchises, it’s more important 

than ever that you make these conversations part of your due diligence. 

You probably already have many questions of your own, but we suggest these as a useful 

starting point: 

COVID Impact 

• How has your business been impacted by COVID? Are you behind 2019, up, flat? 

• How has your relationship with the franchisor/corporate team changed since COVID? 

• What changes during COVID will be a part of the way you do business going forward? 

• How did you revise your 2020/2021 goals based on COVID? 

• What are some ways the corporate team helped you navigate the chaos during 

quarantine and opening back up? 

• What are the safety precautions for guests and employees in your space? 

• How did fellow franchisees collaborate or help each other through this spring/summer? 

• How would you rate the technology/innovation of the brand (online ordering, 

delivery, products)? 

General 

• Did the opening of your business go according to plan? 

• How effective and useful was your initial training and is the ongoing training? 

• How much support does the franchisor give you on a day-to-day basis? 

• If you run into problems, does the franchisor help you solve them? 

• Does the franchisor visit you regularly? 

• How helpful are the operations and training manuals? 

• If the franchisor supplies products, do they arrive on time and is their quality consistent? 

• How long did it take to break even? 

• When did you make a profit? 

• What was your first year gross revenue? What is it now? 

• Has turnover and profitability been in line with what the franchisor told you it would be? 

• Does the franchisor facilitate franchisees interacting with each other? 

• How helpful are the other franchisees? 

• What do you wish you had known going into business that you did not? 

• Is there anything you would have done differently? 

To help determine if the franchise you are considering is a good investment, 

ask the franchisor the following questions: 

• How long has the franchisor been franchising? 

• What is the expertise/experience of the executive team? 

• How many existing franchise owners are there? How many franchise owners have failed? 

Why did they fail? 

• What data is there to prove the viability of the marketplace? Is there a long-term market 

for the products or services? 

• Who are the main competitors and how do they compare to the franchise in terms of 

price, quality, delivery, and service? 

• How much is the start-up investment and what does it include? 

• How much will you have to pay the franchisor on an ongoing basis? 

• What are the financial projections for your business? 

• Is there a set territory? How does the franchisor prevent its franchisees cannibalizing 

business from each other? 

• How long is the term of the franchise agreement? Can you renew it? 

• How long does it take to be up and running once the agreement is signed? 

neighborhoods, there would already be lines 

of children waiting to buy pops, Kennedy said. 

“We listened to them. It wasn’t our idea to 

mobilize our product. That idea came from a 

franchisee,” Kennedy said. “Her sales were up, 

and we said, ‘hey look, everyone, this franchisee 

is successful, you could do that in your 

territories as well.’” 

Kennedy said Frios Gourmet Pops has 

built its foundation on its relationship with its 

franchisees. In the end, it sells fun—not pops, 

he said. Each week, the Frios corporate office 

provides a blog, training programs, and a 

private Facebook group to share best practices 

and successes. 

“I wake up every day thinking, how can my 

franchisees be more successful, and what can I 

do to help them?” he said. 

AN APPETIZING INVESTMENT 

Although owning a food business, like any 

business, has its challenges, there is a high 

potential for return. That said, initial investments 

in the food sector are notoriously high 

due to real estate factors and build-out costs. 

When looking at the 35 brands on this year’s 

Franchise Business Review Top Food Franchises 

list, initial investments range from a low 

of $45,000 for a Happy and Healthy Products 

franchise, all the way up to $3,000,000 for a 

Wendy’s franchise. By the time the location’s 

first customers have eaten, wiped their lips 

clean and waved goodbye, most franchisees 

will have stocked their kitchen, settled their 

franchise fees, paid rent, covered renovations 

and made initial payments on a smorgasbord 

of expensive tools and equipment. 

Expenses add up fast, and if you are 

anticipating to recoup your initial investment 

quickly, prepare to be disappointed—margins 

in the food sector, especially in the early days 

of a location, are routinely thin. With high 

costs and low margins, there is not a lot of 

room for guesswork. It’s important for franchisees 

who want to succeed to have a firm 

grasp of the numbers: What are your main 

costs? Which costs can you control, and which 

costs are relatively fixed? And is there sufficient 

consumer demand to cover those costs and 

generate an income? 

The good news is, interest rates are at 

historic lows due to the pandemic. So for those 

investors looking to borrow the cash needed 

for the sizable investment typically required 



The lines at Kona Ice trucks are longer due to social-distancing, but kids are still craving their unique shaved ice (photo taken pre-Covid). 

to open a food franchise, now is the time 

to take advantage of the opportunity for 

“cheap money.” 

FACTOR IN SATISFACTION WHEN 

EXPLORING YOUR OPTIONS 

No franchising investment should be made 

lightly. Today’s food and beverage franchises 

aren’t limited to fast food restaurant concepts—the 

sector has expanded to include 

mobile vans and trucks, curbside pick-up, 

and food delivery services that range from 

burgers to ice pops to Bundt cakes. With 

so many concepts to choose from, and the 

profound impact of the pandemic on business 

models and sales, it can be challenging 

to select brands that are not only financially 

lucrative but rank high when it comes to franchisee 

satisfaction. 

Examining the reviews and feedback from 

other franchise owners is one way to get 

unbiased advice from entrepreneurs who 

have already made the leap into franchise 

ownership and have first-hand experience 

with the brands you are considering. 

“Potential business owners may be initially 

attracted to the hype around a particular 

brand or the overall idea of running a restaurant; 

but this should come second behind 

thorough due diligence. Prospective franchisees 

must do their homework and compare 

opportunities side-by-side—looking at both 

well-known brands, as well as smaller, lesserknown 

companies. Carefully considering 

feedback from current franchise owners as 

well as independent third-party rankings and 

reviews such as the Top Food and Beverage 

Franchises list can help aid in your decision 

making,” Rowan said. 

To help you narrow down the top brands 

based on franchisee satisfaction, Franchise 

Business Review analyzed 18 months’ worth 

of data from approximately 4,300 franchise 

owners representing nearly 100 brands 

regarding their overall satisfaction with their 

brands and their likelihood to recommend 

them to others. 

Instead of asking franchisors what makes 

their brands unique, we instead asked franchisees 

33 key questions focused leadership, 

training, financial opportunity and core 

values as well 16 more personal questions 

related to their business lifestyle and overall 

enjoyment of running their franchise to give 

you insights into these brands based purely 

on independent surveys completed by the 

franchisees who own them. 

This year, 35 franchises made Franchise 

Business Review’s list of the Top Food and 

Beverage Franchises for 2020, thanks to the 

high marks they received from those closest 

to their businesses—their franchisees. Some 

of the recognizable brands that made the list 

include Kona Ice, Nothing Bundt Cakes, 

Wendy’s, and A&W Restaurants. Chicken 

Salad Chick and Checkers & Rally’s also 

made the list, along with newcomers like 

Frios Gourmet Pops. 

“The 35 award-winning food brands that 

made the list were lauded for their strong 

leadership, open communication, and ability 

to work with franchisees to navigate 

all the challenges thrown at them this year,” 

Rowan said. “It’s no surprise that many 

of the brands that made this list were able 

to overcome challenges presented by the 

coronavirus.” 

If you are interested in pursuing franchise 

ownership in the food sector, this year’s list of 

the Top 35 food and beverage franchises is a 

great place to start. 



THE LIST 

Best of the Best: 

Food Franchises 

A&W Restaurants 

Fast casual 

BIGGBY COFFEE 

Beverages 

Survey 

Date 

May 

2020 

April 

2019 

Start-Up 

Investment 

$276,000 – 

$1,397,000 

$186,850 – 

$369,100 

Cash 

Requirement 

Total 

Units 

$150,000 955 

$70,000 231 

* Bruster’s Real Ice Cream — more on p. 27 

Frozen treats 

Sep. 

2019 

$230,000 – 

$1,300,000 

$100,000 186 

Captain D’s 

Fast casual 

Aug. 

2019 

$1,005,600 – 

$1,223,600 

$350,000 533 

“The senior management 

team at Checkers is the 

best! They listen and 

provide the best support 

for franchise owners.” 

* Checkers & Rally’s 

Quick-service 

* Chicken Salad Chick — more on p. 27 

Fast casual 

Dash In Food Stores 

Convenience Store 

July 

2019 

Sep. 


Sep. 

2019 

$254,000 – 

$1,431,000 

$562,000 

$740,000 

$119,650 – 

$517,750 

$250,000 882 

$200,000 180 

$119,650 – 

$517,750 

67 

– Checkers & Rally’s Franchise Owner 

Donatos Pizza 

Quick-service 

July 

2019 

$375,500 – 

$699,900 

$200,000 161 

* East Coast Wings + Grill 

Casual dining 

Oct. 

2019 

$434,568 – 

$927,930 

$250,000 36 

“The franchisee community 

at Kona is made up of 

the best people. Not just 

good businesspeople, 

but genuinely NICE 

people, who care about 

each other.” 

Fazoli’s Restaurants 

Fast casual 

* Firehouse Subs 

Quick-service 

Frios Gourmet Pops 

Frozen treats 

Golden Corral Buffet & Grill 

Casual dining 

Oct. 

2019 

March 

2019 

June 


Aug. 

2019 

$1,098,000 – 

$1,739,818 

$131,150 – 

$928,405 

$25,000 – 

$35,000 

$2,286,545 – 

$6,732,615 

$250,000 268 

$90,000 1,172 

$50,000 38 

$500,000 492 

– Kona Ice Franchise Owner 

* Happy & Healthy Products 

Ice cream/Yogurt/Frozen treats 

March 


$53,206 – 

$92,936 

$0 30 

Hungry Howie’s Pizza & Subs 

Quick-service 

Nov. 

2018 

$228,300 – 

$475,000 

$43,416 – 

$100,000 

551 

Jason’s Deli 

Fast casual 

March 

2019 

$931,791 – 

$1,400,000 

$931,791 – 

$1,400,000 

261 

*This brand’s Franchisee 

Satisfaction Report is available at 


* Kona Ice 

Frozen treats 

LaRosa’s Pizzeria 

Fast casual 

Sep. 

2019 

June 

2019 

$127,750 – 

$151,550 

$800,000 – 

$1,000,000 

$20,000 1,247 

$500,000 65 



Survey 

Date 

Start-Up 

Investment 

Cash 

Requirement 

Total 

Units 

Lennys Grill & Subs 

Quick-service 

July 

2019 

$192,844 – 

$431,326 

$75,000 95 

Nathan’s Famous 

Fast food 

Aug. 

2019 

$276,360 – 

$1,040,360 

$200,000 262 

Nothing Bundt Cakes 

Snack retailer 

May 


$430,200 – 

$624,300 

$150,000 372 

Penn Station 

Quick-service 

Oct. 

2019 

$290,984 – 

$594,478 

$300,000 315 

Pizza Factory 

Fast Casual 

Aug. 

2018 

$372,000 – 

$562,000 

$90,000 108 

Pizza Ranch 

Fast Casual 

* PJ’s Coffee 

Quick-service 

Qdoba 

Quick-service 

Simple Simon’s Pizza 

Fast casual 

Straw Hat Pizza 

Fast casual 

Sep. 

2019 

April 

2019 

March 


Sep. 

2019 

Aug. 

2019 

$768,000 – 

$3,458,000 

$198,000 – 

$578,000 

$475,000 – 

$1,095,000 

$142,000 – 

$536,000 

$262,500 – 

$861,500 

$400,000 215 

$43,570 – 

$100,000 

$350,000 – 

$1,000,000 

114 

899 

$20,000 190 

$250,000 25 

“Having our own business 

has changed our lives 

and the lives of our 

children. We are 

extremely fortunate 

to have found Tropical 

Smoothie Cafe and it 

is a great team at the 

support center!” 

– Tropical Smoothie Café Franchise Owner 

Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe 

Fast casual 

Sep. 

2019 

$323,000 – 

$819,000 

$500,000 90 

* The Haagen-Dazs Shoppe Company — 

Ice cream/Yogurt/Frozen treats 

more on 

p. 31 

July 

2019 

$164,158 – 

$542,408 

$43,668 – 

$80,000 

206 

The Wendy’s Company 

Quick-service 

June 

2019 

$300,000 – 

$3,000,000 

$2,000,000 6,564 

Tropical Smoothie Cafe 

Fast casual 

Oct. 

2019 

$222,095 – 

$569,335 

$125,000 738 

Walk-On’s Bistreaux and Bar 

Louisiana themed sports grills 

Sep. 

2019 

$1,214,000 – 

$4,033,700 

$90,000 46 

Wings Etc. 

Fast casual 

Oct. 

2019 

$292,847 – 

$1,733,707 

$43,745 – 

$200,000 

74 

Wingstop 

Quick-service 

Aug. 


$434,268 – 

$982,275 

$600,000 967 



NextHome multi-office franchise owner Steven Burch (center right) and his team from NextHome Unlimited serving Manhattan, Junction City, Fort Riley, and Abilene, KS. 

Culture: The Cornerstone 

of a Successful Franchise 

In These Challenging Times, Company Culture is More 

Important Than Ever Before 

When seeking to describe an 

organization’s culture, you might 

reference its mission or vision 

statement, describe its leadership style, or 

explain what its work environment is like. 

Each of these components impacts how a 

franchise company’s franchisees and employees 

treat one another and their customers— 

ultimately reflecting that brand’s global image. 

In franchising, the home office sets the 

tone for how its franchisees consistently carry 

out the company culture in locations across 

the country and the globe. To be sure their 

intended messages and ways of doing business 

are resonating with franchisees, it’s critical 

for brands to communicate their values 

clearly across their organizations. If they fail 

to define what makes their cultures special 

and unique, they may unknowingly suffer the 

consequences. Furthermore, if they ignore 

any issues their teams may be encountering, 

their reluctance to listen might be communicated 

loudly elsewhere. 

“Gone are the days of hiding hostile or 

non-inclusive companies. If people don’t 

enjoy being in your space and being part 

of your team, they are talking about it with 

their friends and family and with strangers 

on social media,” said Eric Stites, CEO of 

Franchise Business Review. “Trying to hire 

or recruit franchisees becomes difficult if you 

aren’t cultivating a strong culture that people 

want to be a part of.” 

TAKE A CULTURE PULSE 

How do you measure the quality of franchise 

company’s culture? Surveying franchise 

owners is a great place to start. They will tell 

you how well the franchise leadership team 

is executing on the vision of the brand, and 

how well the community of support staff and 

franchisees work together to achieve their 

business objectives. 

To be clear, every franchise organization 

has a different culture and vibe. Some 

franchises are more serious and formal, 

while others are more relaxed and casual. 

Understanding the style of the way a franchise 

operates and how well they include franchise 

owners in the process is important for you to 

identify. A franchise company’s culture—and 

your potential fit into that culture—should 

guide your franchise investment decision. 

To help understand what franchisees think 

about their company cultures, Franchise 

Business Review asked over 27,000 franchisees 

from more than 300 brands a series of 

questions that looked at perception of brand 

vision, team culture, honesty and integrity, 

and overall support. 



Brands across many different industries 

made our first-ever Top 100 Culture List. Topping 

the list was MaidPro, NextHome, Kona 

Ice, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK and Keller 

Williams—all veteran FBR award winners for 

outstanding franchisee satisfaction. 

“Not surprisingly, the companies that 

rated high on culture are no strangers to our 

awards lists,” Stites said. “Many of these brands 

have been part of our franchisee satisfaction 

awards for years. There is obviously a strong 

tie between culture, franchise performance, 

and satisfaction.” 

Building upon a strong culture is more 

important now more than ever. As the world 

faces a global pandemic, economic recession, 

and protests against systemic racism, 

culture has taken center stage. The franchise 

companies that are already doing it right— 

promoting positive, inclusive, and transparent 

cultures—will continue to thrive. And those 

that don’t will struggle to attract new franchisees, 

employees, and customers, Stites said. 

Hear from a few brands about what makes 

their company cultures stand out among their 

biggest customers—their franchisees. 

HIRE THE RIGHT PEOPLE 

Express Employment Professionals knows a 

thing or two about recruiting. The franchise, 

which operates 825 units across the United 

States and Canada, helps small and mediumsize 

businesses staff their companies with temporary 

and full-time workers. Just as its clients 

do, Express Employment Professional also 

hires for cultural fit. The brand understands 

that high turnover—whether at the client level 

or the franchisee level—has negative ramifications 

that reverberate through every area of a 

business. “Investing in your company culture 

will ultimately result in success elsewhere in 

the organization,” said Bill Stoller, CEO and 

chairman of the board of Express Employment 

Professionals. 

“Each franchisee office is locally owned and 

operated, so it’s important to make sure from 

the very beginning that a potential franchisee 

is a good fit for our company culture,” said 

Stoller. “The benefit of being an established 

franchise brand is that over the past four 

decades, we’ve had time to develop a system 

that encourages both business success while 

investing in people.” 

Keeping lines of communication open has 

been key to Express Employment’s growth 

and success. And recent increases in targeted, 

crisis communications paid dividends. 

“When the COVID-19 pandemic first hit, 

it caused a lot of uncertainly, especially with 

furloughs and layoffs across the globe. The 

most important element for us during this 

time was and still is communication,” Stoller 

said. “We started to see our sales numbers 

climb back up as we encouraged our franchise 

offices to ‘beat the week before’ every week,” 

he said. 

Franchisees continue to be involved in 

decisions at the corporate level through focus 

groups, trainings, and various teams, giving 

them opportunities to contribute and provide 

feedback on core values. Rather than canceling 

events celebrating the efforts and achievements 

of team members, the headquarters 

team instead held virtual conferences to allow 

for recognition. 

“Some of our franchisees have been with 

us from the beginning and they help preserve 

our unique company culture by investing 

their wisdom in the new franchise owners,” 

Stoller said. “That’s why it was so important 

for Express to continue with conferences 

in some capacity this year. Those moments 

of fellowship and mentorship help reinforce 

our mission of providing hope through 

employment.” 

BUILD COMMUNICATION INTO 

YOUR ONBOARDING PLAN 

NextHome is a California-based franchise 

that helps real estate brokers better market 

properties using cutting edge technology. In 

just five years, the brand has opened 500 franchise 

offices across 45 states with more than 

3,200 members nationwide. Over the last two 

years, Franchise Business Review has ranked 

NextHome among the country’s top brands. 

The habit of frequently checking-in with 

franchisees during tough times is one of the 

reasons why NextHome has been able to keep 

a tight community feel during a period of 

explosive growth. 

“Our CEO James Dwiggins will call a 

franchisee when we hear they are not feeling 

well or they had a child break an arm skateboarding,” 

said Keith Robinson, chief strategy 

officer of NextHome. “While it’s easy to say 

you care—most companies do—not everyone 

checks on their people to see how they are 

doing personally and professionally out of 

sincerity.” 

Beginning with onboarding, franchisees 

hear from members of the franchise development 

and support teams frequently, and 

then every 90 days during their first year. 

Consistent and regular communication has 

helped the brand understand right away what 

locations need, and they share what steps to 

take to be successful. 

When the COVID-19 virus emerged last 

spring, franchisees had a lot of questions. The 

company’s deep investment in relationships 

with its owners and culture of collaboration 

allowed it to pull the company together during 

this uncertain time. The team delivered 

an aggressive communications schedule that 

included 55 webinars between March and 

May. While NextHome didn’t always have 

every answer, they were able to share what 

they knew—and how they felt. 

“Our focus was to provide a calming and 

steady influence for our members so that they 

could focus on what to do with their businesses,” 

Robinson said. 

With its growth, NextHome has been careful 

to adjust its structure to ensure it reaches 

everyone. What’s worked for reinforcing communications 

at 100 offices would not scale to 

reach today’s number, Robinson said. To meet 

the needs of all of its franchisees, NextHome 

created a department that is solely focused on 

checking in with its franchise owners. 

“We continually and actively listen,” said 

Caris Moreno, Vice President of Sales for 

NextHome. “We survey our members and 

dig into the results so we can focus on the 

areas where we fall short more than in the 

areas where we get high marks. There is always 

room for improvement, and we are always 

looking for new was to ensure we are evolving 

an increasing our culture.” 

FOSTER A FAMILY FEELING 

Founded in 1975, Pinch A Penny Pool 

Patio Spa has grown from one store to more 

than 250 locations across the Southeastern 

United States and Texas. Its retail stores offer 

swimming pool chemicals and accessories, 

Continued on page 15. 



Funding Your Franchise: You Have Options 

Jeremy Ames, President & Co-Founder of Guidant Financial 

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. Aside from the usual cash, credit cards 

or even asking for financial support from family and friends, 

the most common methods used to finance multi-unit franchise 

purchases include loans from the Small Business Administration, 

401(k) business financing, unsecured loans and portfolio loans. 

Here’s what you need to know about each: 

SBA Business Loans 

Loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA) are one of the 

most popular financing methods for business owners of all kinds, from 

startups to franchises. SBA business loans are not directly from 

the SBA. Rather, the SBA encourages banks to lend to small business 

owners with preferable terms and low interest rates. In return, the SBA 

covers 75 to 85 percent of the loan for the bank if the loan defaults. 

This creates a win-win situation for both the lender and borrower. 

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. Most lenders want to see at least two years of profitable tax 

returns with the initial business prior to applying for funding for 

another location. The sooner the business becomes profitable and the 

stronger a borrower is, the more flexible lenders are. For example, 

if the borrower shows a strong credit score, has prior business experience 

in the industry and is able to put down a significant down 

payment (more than 20 to 30 percent), the bank may be willing to 

approve funding for more than one location simultaneously. 

SBA Loan Eligibility Requirements 

• 20 percent down payment for an existing business purchase 

or 30 percent for a start-up 

• 640+ credit score 

• Personal collateral required 

• Industry experience preferred 

• Secondary income preferred 

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 or start a small business 

or franchise without taking a taxable distribution or getting a loan. 

Funding through ROBS has been an option since the Employee 

Retirement Income Security Act passed in 1974, and it’s growing in 

popularity. 

Since ROBS doesn’t involve taking a loan, there are no monthly 

payments or interest rates, and there are no collateral or minimum 

credit score requirements. ROBS can also be used in combination with 

an SBA loan, allowing business owners to use retirement funds as the 

down payment for the loan. 

The process for funding a single-unit franchise versus multiple 

units is the same with 401(k) business financing. You can either roll 

100 percent of your retirement funds during the initial transaction to 

use for one or multiple units, or choose to use a lesser amount initially 

to open the first location, then complete another rollover when 

you’re closer to opening your second location. However, there are 

timing considerations to take into account, especially if you plan to 

open multiple units within the first two years. In this case, you may 

choose to open your first location using an SBA loan, then use ROBS 

as the down payment for a second loan so you can show lenders 

strong liquidity. 

ROBS Eligibility Requirements 

• At least $50,000 in a rollable retirement account 

• No minimum credit score requirements 

• No down payment needed 

Unsecured Loans 

If you don’t want to jeopardize personal property in order to obtain 

financing, unsecured loans provide up to $150,000 without any collateral. 

Unsecured loans work like small business credit cards, consisting 

of multiple lines of revolving credit that can be used and paid back 

as needed. But instead of relying on collateral, lenders look at your 

creditworthiness to secure the loan. As such, a high credit score and 

solid borrowing history is necessary. 

Unsecured loans have no use-of-proceeds requirements, so the 

funds can be used for your first franchise location or subsequent units. 

It’s important to note that this type of loan shows up as revolving 

credit on one’s credit report and can have a meaningful impact on a 

credit score, especially if payments are not made on time. For that 

reason, we recommend using unsecured loans as a last resort and only 

as a short-term financing solution. 

Unsecured Loan Eligibility Requirements 

• 690+ credit score 

• Credit utilization rate below 50 percent 

• Minimal recent credit inquiries 

• No recent derogatory comments on your credit report 

Portfolio Loans 

If you own stocks, bonds, mutual funds or other eligible securities, you 

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

having to liquidate your holdings. Portfolio loans, also referred to as 

stock loans or securities-based lending, work like a revolving line of 

credit—allowing you to finance a business or franchise by borrowing 

(and repaying) at will. Because of this, they’re ideal for financing multiunit 

franchises as you can use as much as you need, pay it back, and 

then borrow again when you’re ready to move forward with additional 

locations—all without getting a new loan. 

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



Continued from page 13. 

swimming pool services such as installation 

and repairs, and outdoor services such as 

powerwashing. Pinch A Penny stores also 

offer backyard products, such as outdoor 

furniture, spas, and grills. 

Built on a reputation of providing superior 

customer service and expertise, the brand has 

been included in many top industry rankings, 

including Franchise Business Review’s Top 

Franchises for Women, Top Franchises for 

Veterans, and the Top 200 Best Franchises. 

Taking a family approach to business, Pinch A 

Penny provides its customers, franchisees, and 

employees with all the necessary resources to 

carry on its tradition of quality, reliability and 

expertise in a fun, family-oriented atmosphere. 

“The most important thing for us is: Do 

you have an attitude of service? Are you a 

giving person? Are you trying to help people? 

Our business is built on trust, said Michael 

Arrowsmith, CEO of Pinch A Penny. “When a 

franchisee comes into our system, we take care 

of them the way that we want them to take care 

of the customer. While our franchisees have 

to do their part in building their business, we 

offer the structure, expertise, and tools to help 

them from the beginning.” 

Pinch A Penny offers a month-long training 

that allows franchisees to receive a couple 

of national certifications, as well as a diploma 

from the Pinch A Penny ‘Pool School of 

Graduates. Through that process, franchisees 

start learning about the pool business and get 

to know other Pinch A Penny owners. 

The corporate office not only encourages 

prospective franchisees to talk with other 

franchisees—it requires them to do so before 

they can be approved as a new owner. From 

the beginning, Pinch A Penny has established 

a process of new and existing franchisees 

networking and interacting with one another, 

Arrowsmith said. In a nutshell, the foundation 

of the company is rooted in transparency and 

treating all involved like family. 

“Pinch A Penny is a family-owned business, 

our franchisees run their own family 

businesses, and our customers are families,” 

he said. 

INVEST IN OUTREACH 

The Learning Experience is a childcare 

center franchise that serves children in preschool 

through kindergarten in more than 

275 locations throughout the country and 

internationally. Just as it serves families at its 

centers, the corporate office treats franchise 

owners as family—underscoring its brand 

position—Happy Happens Here! 

Brad Wahl, SVP of the Florida-based 

brand, said The Learning Experience culture is 

driven by its brand mission: to have a positive 

impact in the lives of children, their families, 

and in the communities they serve. 

“Our business is dependent on a total commitment 

to this mission and our culture. It’s 

even more critical during this time because 

the health and safety of our little ones is of 

paramount importance,” Wahl said. “The 

ability of our entire brand family to recognize 

this and commit to this direction has been 

our focus throughout the pandemic. It comes 

down to communication, communication, 

communication.” 

The Learning Experience invested in 

new digital training and communications 

platforms at the corporate level to enhance 

communication with franchisees. To ensure 

consistency, the corporate office delivers 

simple messages frequently through multiple 

channels to ensure effective reach. And communications 

are not one way—franchisees 

are encouraged to voice their feedback, too. 

It is several brand committees of influence, 

including its curriculum committee, brand 

awareness fund committee, and diversity and 

inclusion committee, that drive corporate 

decision making. 

“When we see opportunities to improve 

the system, we include the entire Learning 

Experience community in that process,” Wahl 

said. “It helps drive our innovative mindset 

with the goal of positively impacting our 

entire community.” 

CULTURE FIRST 

Many franchise organizations “talk the talk” 

when it comes to culture, but it is clear that 

they don’t all “walk the walk.” A strong culture 

doesn’t just happen within a company—it has 

to be designed, built, and constantly maintained. 

The top franchise companies that have 

the honor of be named to our first-annual 

Culture100 list are clearly among the best of 

the best franchises in the business. We invite 

you to learn more about what makes them 

unique, and explore business ownership 

opportunities in your local market. 

Daniel Anisz 

Window Genie of Naples, FL 

Franchise owner since 2018 

FEATURED 

Franchisee 

Why did you invest in this franchise? 

Throughout the whole process, I have found 

Window Genie to be very transparent. I like 

having several things ready to go starting a 

business, so that you don’t have to reinvent the 

wheel. With Window Genie, you can follow 

proven steps and start bringing in money right 

away. The support from the corporate office and 

other franchisees is invaluable. 

Background prior to becoming a franchisee? 

I worked at the corporate office of a franchise 

prior to buying my Window Genie business. 

This helped me understand the value of following a 

process and getting help from others. It helped me 

avoid mistakes that others have made in the past. 

What do you like most? 

I like having the freedom to make my own 

decisions and run the business I see fit—that’s 

probably my favorite part. I also like having the 

ability to make my own schedule and be in charge 

of my day-to-day routine. 

How did you fund your franchise? 

I funded my business through a Small Business 

Administration (SBA) loan. 

Any advice for prospective franchisees? 

Know that it is hard work, but it can be very 

rewarding. Building a business takes grit and 

determination. Following a proven system works. 

Don’t buy into a franchise and try to reinvent 

the wheel. 

What else would you like to share? 

I moved my family from Toronto to Naples for this 

business. Failure is not an option for me. This is 

the hardest things I have ever done, but I am also 

very happy that I did it! 

For more information on Window Genie 

opportunities, call (800) 700-0022 or visit 

windowgeniefranchise.com. 



THE LIST 


Franchises with Strong 

Company Culture 

* 360clean 

Commercial cleaning services 


Fast casual 

* ActionCOACH — more on p.30 

Business coaching 

Survey 

Date 

Aug. 

2019 

May 


Jan. 


Start-Up 

Investment 

$15,800 – 

$24,000 

$276,000 – 

$1,397,000 

$45,000 – 

$125,000 

Cash 

Requirement 

Total 

Units 

$15,000 95 

$150,000 955 

$45,000 – 

$95,000 

971 

Aire Serv Heating And Air Conditioning 

HVAC Services 

Sep. 

2019 

$82,600 – 

$206,400 

$35,000 – 

$35,000 

183 

Aire-Master of America 

Commercial hygiene service 

Dec. 

2019 

$40,364 – 

$145,900 

$50,000 115 

* Amada Senior Care 

In-home senior care 

April 

2019 

$87,710 – 

$174,654 

$90,000 111 

Amazing Athletes 

Early childhood development 

April 

2019 

$27,500 – 

$64,950 

$30,000 141 

American Poolplayers Association 

Pool league 

Sep. 

2019 

$20,523 – 

$28,408 

$20,763 331 

Anago Cleaning Systems 


Aug. 


$197,000 – 

$298,000 

$197,000 – 

$298,000 

46 

AtWork Group 

Recruiting services 

Feb. 


$154,000 – 

$231,000 

$150,000 71 

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate 

Real estate 

Jan. 


$190,970 – 

$513,550 

$100,000 231 

“The core values is the 

greatest area of strength 

for Christian Brothers 

Automotive.” 

– Christian Brothers Automotive 

Franchise Owner 

Bin There Dump That 

Residential dumpster rentals 

* BrightStar Care — more on p.25 


* Brightway Insurance 

Financial services 

Captain D’s 

Fast casual 

* Christian Brothers Automotive 

Automotive repair 

— more on 

p. 25 

Feb. 


April 

2019 

Jan. 


Aug. 

2019 

Dec. 

2019 

$72,200 – 

$127,600 

$101,656 – 

$169,414 

$18,000 – 

$173,500 

$1,005,600 – 

$1,223,600 

$461,250 – 

$566,400 

$50,000 198 

$150,000 320 

$25,000 – 

$200,000 

187 

$350,000 533 

$85,000 228 

College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving 

Junk removal services 

Mardh 

2019 

$89,300 – 

$208,000 

$65,000 110 

Color World House Painting 

Residential/commercial painting, repairs 

Feb. 


$72,260 – 

$143,200 

$40,000 84 

* Cruise Planners — more on p. 31 

Travel agency 

Oct. 

2019 

$2,295 – 

$23,617 

$10,995 2,811 

* Crunch Fitness 

Fitness club 

Dec. 

2019 

$255,500 – 

$2,320,500 

$400,000 – 

$500,000 

293 

Dale Carnegie 

Leadership training 

Sep. 

2019 

$93,400 – 

$245,800 

$50,000 232 

* Dogtopia — more on p. 28 

Dog daycare & boarding 

Oct. 

2019 

$757,253 – 

$1,553,415 

$200,000 137 

Donatos Pizza 

Quick-service 

July 

2019 

$375,500 – 

$699,900 

$200,000 161 

*This brand’s Franchisee 

Satisfaction Report is available at 


* Dream Vacations 

Travel agency 

* DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen 

Home remodeling 

Oct. 

2019 

Aug. 


$3,245 – 

$21,850 

$142,575 – 

$364.550 

$3,500 1,540 

$250,000 36 



Survey 

Date 

Start-Up 

Investment 

Cash 

Requirement 

Total 

Units 

Expedia Cruises 

Travel agency 

May 

2019 

$169,950 – 

$299,650 

$39,000 301 

* Express Employment Professionals 

staffing solutions 

Feb. 


$150,000 – 

$224,000 

$70,000 883 


Fast casual 

Oct. 

2019 

$1,098,000 – 

$1,739,818 

$250,000 268 

* Fibrenew 

Leather & vinyl repair services 

* FirstLight Home Care 


* Fish Window Cleaning 

Window cleaning 

Five Star Painting 

Painting 

Freedom Boat Club 

Members only boat club 

FRSTeam 

Home restoration 

FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers 

Physical therapy centers 

Heaven’s Best Carpet/Upholstery Cleaning 

carpet & upholstery cleaning 

Nov. 

2019 

Aug. 


Oct. 

2019 

Sep. 

2019 

March 

2019 

Nov. 

2019 

June 


Feb. 


$87,812 – 

$99,452 

$112,376 – 

$199,376 

$87,300 – 

$151,600 

$74,700 – 

$184,250 

$149,200 – 

$458,700 

$33,375 – 

$409,500 

$82,250 – 

$390,000 

$55,560 – 

$110,000 

$15,000 – 

$25,000 

249 

$100,000 214 

$100,000 276 

$70,000 203 

$38,000 196 

$33,375 47 

$70,000 – 

$140,000 

386 

$39,000 880 

“We have a lot of 

competition with other 

brands that have their 

own great cultures, so we 

don’t have a monopoly 

on that anymore, but I 

think Home Instead 

Senior Care is the best 

out there!” 

– Home Instead Franchise Owner 

* Home Instead Senior Care 


Aug. 


$108,900 – 

$124,910 

$55,000 1,049 

House Doctors Handyman Service 

Home improvement 

April 

2019 

$98,000 – 

$128,650 

$60,000 37 

Huntington Learning Center 

Tutoring services 

Oct. 

2019 

$134,000 – 

$277,000 

$65,000 302 

InXpress 

Business shipping 

Just Between Friends 

Children’s consignment 

Kampgrounds of America/KOA 

Camping services 

Keller Williams 

Real estate 

* Kitchen Solvers 


* Kona Ice 

Frozen treats 


Fast casual 

Maid Brigade 

Residential cleaning 

May 


Oct. 

2019 

Nov. 

2019 

Jan. 


Sep. 

2019 

Sep. 

2019 

June 

2019 

Feb. 


$85,600 – 

$169,990 

$38,550 – 

$54,509 

$210,950 – 

$4,455,425 

$183,947 – 

$336,995 

$91,584 – 

$116,720 

$127,750 – 

$151,550 

$800,000 – 

$1,000,000 

$96,150 – 

$129,300 

$65,000 376 

$43,178 166 

$7,500 511 

$183,947 – 

$336,995 

1,026 

$30,000 46 

$20,000 1,247 

$500,000 76 

$50,000 452 

“I feel the franchisee 

community is fantastic. 

Everyone is willing to help 

everybody else in any way 

they can. Being new, I felt 

welcomed immediately 

and feel that everyone 

would help if I ever had 

any questions.” 

– MaidPro Franchise Owner 

* MaidPro 

House cleaning & maid services 

Sep. 

2019 

$74,560 – 

$204,450 

$75,000 276 

* Mathnasium 

Math learning center 

April 

2019 

$112,750 – 

$149,110 

$0 1,081 

* Minuteman Press 

Printing & marketing services 

Aug. 

2019 

$74,904 – 

$180,053 

$50,000 967 



THE LIST 


Franchises with Strong 

Company Culture 

Motto Mortgage 

Brokerage services 

Mr. Appliance 

Appliance repair 

Mr. Electric 

Electrical services 

Survey 

Date 

Oct. 

2019 

Sep. 

2019 

Sep. 

2019 

Start-Up 

Investment 

$48,000 – 

$68,000 

$60,800 – 

$139,515 

$103,600 – 

$239,750 

Cash 

Requirement 

Total 

Units 

$12,000 82 

$45,000 295 

$35,000 210 

Mr. Handyman 

Home repair services 

Sep. 

2019 

$111,500 – 

$143,100 

$50,000 215 

Mr. Rooter Plumbing 

Home services 

Sep. 

2019 

$74,975 – 

$182,140 

$74,975 – 

$182,140 

284 

My SALON Suite 

Private, spacious salon suites 

July 


$664,000 $200,000 173 

“When surrounded by my 

fellow franchisees, I feel 

like family, and that they 

would do anything to 

help me succeed.” 

Network in Action 

Professional Networking 

Nextaff — more on back cover 

Staffing solutions 

NextHome 

Real estate 


Snack retailer 

July 

2019 

Oct. 

2019 

Nov. 

2019 

May 


$43,610 – 

$57,500 

$98,800 – 

$148,000 

$14,750 – 

$213,595 

$430,200 – 

$624,300 

$50,000 47 

$100,000 69 

$3,750 450 

$150,000 372 

– Mr. Rooter Franchise Owner 

* Office Pride 


Sep-19 

$59,500 – 

$107,200 

$85,000 137 

Orangetheory Fitness 

Fitness club 

Nov-19 

$563,529 – 

$999,121 

$563,529 – 

$634,100 

1,000 

* Our Town America — more on p. 28 

Advertising services 

Sep-19 

$63,300 – 

$86,250 

$70,000 53 

Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning 

Carpet cleaning 

Jul-20 

$39,900 – 

$71,490 

$39,900 388 

“This organization starting 

from the bottom and 

going to the top exudes 

integrity, honesty, and 

I feel that they are truly 

vested in my success. 

Not from a selfish desire, 

but rather they want us 

all to succeed and do 

well for ourselves.” 

Palm Beach Tan 

Beauty services 

* Payroll Vault Franchising 

Payroll services 

* Pinch A Penny — more on p. 29 

Pool supplies retailer 

Pizza Ranch 

Fast casual 

Planet Fitness 

Fitness club 

Precision Concrete Cutting 

Concrete maintenance services 

Property Damage Appraisers 

Property damage assessments 

Sep-19 

Aug-20 

Oct. 

2019 

Sep. 

2019 

March 

2019 

Aug. 


Nov. 

2019 

$498,278 – 

$802,420 

$39,313 – 

$65,769 

$289,375 – 

$411,200 

$1,127,500 – 

$2,526,500 

$969,600 – 

$4,242,500 

$150,000 – 

$176,500 

$20,300 – 

$41,950 

$250,000 525 

$31,500 57 

$150,000 254 

$325,000 220 

$600,000 1,615 

$100,000 56 

$20,300 – 

$41,950 

242 

– Pinch A Penny Franchise Owner 

* PuroClean — more on p. 29 

Property emergency repair services 

Sep. 

2019 

$72,765 – 

$192,615 

$50,000 – 

$75,000 

285 

Rhea Lana’s 

Children’s consignment 

Dec. 

2019 

$19,050 – 

$38,950 

$15,000 100 

Right at Home 


March 


$80,150 – 

$147,150 

$150,000 347 

* Sandler Training 

Business consulting & coaching 

July 

2019 

$97,525 – 

$108,500 

$91,525 268 



Survey 

Date 

Start-Up 

Investment 

Cash 

Requirement 

Total 

Units 

Sanford Rose Associates 

Recruiting services 

March 


$108,250 – 

$143,580 

$108,250 106 

ShelfGenie 

Shelving solutions 

Dec. 

2019 

$68,600 – 

$103,750 

$75,000 172 

Showhomes Home Staging 

Home staging 

Jan. 


$60,550 – 

$103,000 

$30,000 – 

$100,000 

61 

* Snap-on Tools 

Automotive services 

Sep. 

2019 

$172,207 – 

$375,265 

$38,000 – 

$53,366 

5,164 

Snapology 

STEM/STEAM programs & activities 

Sep. 

2019 

$40,000 – 

$90,000 

$34,900 104 

* Soccer Shots 

Youth sports 

Sola Salon Studios 

Salon suites 

Sotheby’s International Realty 

Real estate 

* Supporting Strategies 

Bookkeeping services 

Surface Specialists Systems 


The Drybar 

Hair salon 

* The Goddard School 

Early childhood education 

Dec. 

2019 

April 

2019 

Jan. 


June 


June 

2019 

Sep. 

2019 

Aug. 


$41,034 – 

$53,950 

$457,800 – 

$1,166,380 

$194,650 – 

$627,000 

$77,130 – 

$102,390 

$43,200 – 

$56,000 

$639,180 – 

$1,391,470 

$712,800 – 

$786,100 

$38,000 249 

$500,000 455 

$63,650 – 

$206,000 

607 

$100,000 100 

$25,000 47 

$150,000 143 

$150,000 519 

“We have always felt, 

and continue to feel, that 

Soccer Shots leadership 

is honest and trustworthy. 

They care about each 

of their franchisees and 

try to make decisions 

with the best interests 

of the entire community 

in mind.” 

* The Learning Experience 

Early childhood education 

May 


$493,549 – 

$3,585,549 

$150,000 212 

– Soccer Shots Franchise Owner 

* The Maids 

Cleaning & maid services 

April 

2019 

$64,100 – 

$154,300 

$50,000 1,397 


Quick-service 

Tint World 

Automotive services 


Fast casual 

* TSS Photography 

Sports, school & event photography 

* Two Men and A Truck — more on p. 25 

Moving services 

June 

2019 

March 


Oct. 

2019 

July 

2019 

March 


$300,000 – 

$3,000,000 

$199,950 – 

$299,950 

$222,095 – 

$569,335 

$20,415 – 

$74,725 

$179,000 – 

$585,000 

$2,000,000 6,564 

$70,000 83 

$125,000 738 

$10,500 179 

$80,000 – 

$190,000 

386 

“Wild Birds Unlimited is a 

tremendous organization 

and I am blessed to be 

a part of it!” 

– Wild Birds Unlimited Franchise Owner 

Walk-On’s Bistreaux and Bar 

Louisiana themed sports grills 

Sep. 

2019 

$1,214,000 – 

$4,033,700 

$90,000 46 

Weichert Real Estate Affiliates 

Real estate 

Sep. 

2019 

$62,500 – 

$324.700 

$25,000 482 

* Wild Birds Unlimited 

Nature retailer 

Oct. 

2019 

$170,382 – 

$281,606 

$40,000 – 

$50,000 

348 

Wings Etc. 

Fast casual 

Oct. 

2019 

$292,847 – 

$1,733,707 

$200,000 – 

$500,000 

74 

YESCO 

Visual business communications 

Feb. 


$64,300 – 

$350,000 

$60,000 123 

Young Rembrandts 

Children’s art classes 

Oct. 

2019 

$41,250 – 

$48,650 

$40,000 96 



FBR’s 2020 

Rock Star Franchisees 

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. 

What makes a franchise owner great is not easily defined, for each 

franchisee brings with him/her unique abilities and skills. But the most 

successful franchisees tend to have two things in common: a strong 

work ethic and a real commitment to their community. These success 

factors illustrate the true beauty of franchising; that with hard work 

and perseverance anyone can find success, no matter their background 

or previous experience. 

This year, we analyzed over 27,000 franchisee surveys, across more 

than 300 leading 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 Rock Star. 

“There are some many fantastic success stories out there; it was 

painful to narrow our list down to 2020 Rockstar Franchisees,” said 

Michelle Rowan, President of Franchise Business Review. “There 

were hundreds of deserving business owners. In the end, we picked 

80 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.” 

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. 



THE ZENERI TEAM 

Cruise Planners 

“Be sure you have a clear business plan, including 

short- and long-term goals. Be sure you understand 

the required time commitment needed to make 

your franchise a success. It’s not a “get rich quick” 

scheme, but rather an adventure you need to be 

willing to commit to for the long-haul.” 

DUSTIN BAKER 

Assisted Living Locators 

“The biggest challenges I have had to overcome 

as a business owner have been recognizing my 

strengths and weaknesses in my skill sets, and 

being able to delegate accordingly to continue to 

climb in an upward direction. I initially attempted 

to carry all of our duties on my own shoulders. 

However, now I have found that balance and have 

been far more productive and successful since I’ve 

been able to recognize these small shortcomings.” 

JD AND JEFF PENLAND 

East Coast Wings + Grill 

“We identified what types of management styles 

would work for us. We scouted many employees 

who wanted more than the average... and once we 

groomed them, we took care of them. A winning 

team has a good culture that constantly evolves.” 



SHADOW 

& REBEKAH 

SKAGGS 

FirstLight Home Care 

“FirstLight Home Care has 

felt like a family since the 

first day we walked into 

their corporate office. They 

embrace the same morals 

and ethics that we do as 

a family. They provide us 

with a business model and 

support system to help 

us be successful business 

owners.” 

MARK SCUDERI 


“Pick a brand that you are passionate about and 

become a brand ambassador. That is, do everything 

in your power to help your brand succeed. As a 

franchisee, you not only represent your business, 

but you represent the businesses of every other 

one of your franchises in the world.” 

PAUL DURANT 

Junk King 

“Franchising allows us to operate independently, 

with little red tape. I like mentoring the younger 

employees in our organization and recycling/ 

donating a large percentage of our work. Both are 

ways of giving back to the community that are 

woven into our culture.” 



KRISTEN MARTYN 

& CAMERON HOGARTH 

Wild Birds Unlimited 

“I love birds and I am obsessed with 

bird watching,” Martyn said. “I had been 

looking for a way to combine my love 

and passion and background with my 

dream of owning my own business.” 

MICHAEL DWYER 

Image One Facility Solutions 

“Giving back is huge! Being a business owner is 

being a leader, and as leader you are always helping 

people. I like watching the people that I employed 

grow in personal lives and in the business.” 

MICHAEL RAUEN 

& JASON JACKSON 

TSS Photography 

“Your team has to trust that you mean what 

you say and that you’re looking out for them. 

As leaders, we need to be able to trust that 

our team is going to perform and uphold the 

values we present to our customers.” 


FBR SPECIAL REPORT // MARKETPLACE 


TOP 200 

FRANCHISES 

ADVERTISING & SALES 

* Our Town America — more on p. 28 

N2 Publishing 

Town Money Saver 

Welcomemat Services 

Discovery Map 

AUTOMOTIVE 

* Christian Brothers Automotive 

* Snap-on Tools 

* Fibrenew 

Mighty Auto Parts 

Tint World 

RNR Tire Express 

Grease Monkey 

Ziebart 

BUSINESS SERVICES 

* Sandler Training 

* FASTSIGNS 

Sanford Rose Associates 

Network in Action 

* Minuteman Press 

* ActionCOACH — more on p. 30 

* Brightway Insurance 

* Supporting Strategies 

YESCO 

The @WORK Group 

Remedy Intelligent Staffing 

Dale Carnegie 

FPC National 

InXpress 

Office Evolution 

CHILD SERVICES 

* Soccer Shots 

CompuChild 

* TSS Photography 

Amazing Athletes 

JumpBunch 

Young Rembrandts 

The Little Gym 

Snapology 

— more 

on p. 25 

Today’s leading brands based 

on FBR’s owner satisfaction data. 

*Full Satisfaction Report Available 

at FranchiseBusinessReview.com 

KidsPark 

TGA Premier Sports 

High Touch High Tech 

College Nannies, Sitters + Tutors 

CLEANING & MAINTENANCE 

* MaidPro 

Anago Cleaning Systems 

Aire-Master of America 

* 360clean 

* Office Pride 

* The Maids 

* Image One 

Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning 

Molly Maid 

Cleaning services 

You’ve Got MAIDS 

City Wide Maintenance — more on p. 31 

Executive Image Building Services 

EDUCATION 

* The Goddard School 

* Mathnasium 

Online Trading Academy 

Huntington Learning Center 

School of Rock 

Creative World School 

* The Learning Experience 

Best In Class Education Centers 

FINANCIAL & TAX 

* Payroll Vault Franchising 


Family Financial Centers 

We Insure 

* ATAX — more on p. 30 

FITNESS 

Planet Fitness 

Orangetheory Fitness 

Fitness club 

* 30 Minute Hit 

The MAX Challenge 

Burn Boot Camp 

AUTOMOTIVE 


Initial Investment: $461,250 – $566,400 

Cash Requirement: $85,000 

Total Units: 229 

Christian Brothers Automotive is a full-service 

auto repair franchise committed to operating 

with honesty and integrity. Our focus on superior 

customer service and “loving your neighbor as 

yourself” has allowed the company to grow with 

100% store success in 20 years of franchising. 

At Christian Brothers, franchise owners have the 

benefit of owning their own faith-based business, 

with extensive support from the home office 

not only during start up but long term as well. 

You do not need previous automotive industry 

experience—our thorough training program and 

home office coaching will direct you with tools 

toward success. 

For more information on Christian Brothers 

Automotive opportunities, call (855) 866-9222 

or visit www.christianbrothersfranchise.com. 

BUSINESS SERVICES 

FASTSIGNS 




FASTSIGNS International, Inc. celebrates its 35th 

anniversary in business in 2020 as the leading 

sign and visual communications franchisor in 

North America, and is the worldwide franchisor 

of more than 735 independently owned and 

operated FASTSIGNS¨ centers in 9 countries 

including the United States and Puerto Rico, the 

United Kingdom, Canada, Chile, Grand Cayman, 

the United Arab Emirates, Malta, France and 

Australia (where centers operate as SIGNWAVE¨). 

FASTSIGNS locations provide comprehensive 

signage and graphic solutions to help companies 

of all sizes and across all industries attract more 

attention, communicate their message, promote 

their products, help visitors find their way and 

extend their branding across all of their customer 

touchpoints. 

See page 26 for additional top franchises. 

Visit FranchiseBusinessReview.com for brand details. 

For more information on FASTSIGNS 

opportunities, call (214) 346-5679, email 

mark.jameson@fastsigns.com or visit 

https://www.fastsigns.com. 


Helping others has never been so rewarding 

FEATURED 

Franchisee 

Cal and Lenka Pascanu 


Locations in Peoria and Surprise, AZ 


Our commitment to the highest standard 

of in-home healthcare provides franchisees 

with multiple revenue streams that generate 

an annual average of $1,925,681*. 

877-689-6898 

brightstarfranchising.com/home-care 

* 2019 average unit revenue for all first franchise locations that were open 12+ months as 

of 12/31/2019 per our 4/1/2020 FDD - Item 19. A new franchisee’s results may differ from 

these represented performances. There is no assurance that you will do as well and you 

must accept that risk. This offering is made by prospectus only. 


The first thing that drew me to Christian Brothers 

Automotive was their faith-based approach. 

Also, they split the profit with you after they pay 

you (as an owner) an initial salary and health 

insurance. This gave me the assurance that they 

would be invested in my success. In comparison 

to other franchise models, CBA really took the 

time to learn about me and my family and also 

gave me the opportunity to learn about them. 

I felt the transparency was there from the 

beginning. 


Christian Brothers has the best customer 

service—something you don’t get at the big 

dealerships. CBA coaches us as franchisees to 

serve our customers. We go to the home office 

annually for a refresher training. The way they 

serve us at the corporate office is no different than 

the coaching we receive to serve our guests. It 

feels too good to be true when you experience it. 

Being at the shop allows me to interact with 

many customers, build relationships, and make 

friends. It’s rewarding to offer my team good 

compensation and a five-day work week with 

weekends off so they can maintain a balance 

between their careers and family lives. 

Congratulations to our Rockstar Franchisee, 

Rob Felcher. 

Make your move and join the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® family! Offering local and long-distance 

moving, packing, and unpacking services for home and business customers. There’s never 

been a better time to join the nation’s first and largest franchised moving company. 

96% customer referral rate • 8 million moves & counting 

$2.2 average unit volume • Ongoing year-over-year growth 

888.519.0843 | franchise.twomenandatruck.com 

This advertisement is not an offering to sell a franchise. An offering can be made only by Franchise Disclosure Document that has been registered with and 

approved by the appropriate agency in your state if your state requires such registration. Individual franchise performance will vary. *$2.3 million is the 

average annual gross sales in 2019 for franchises that have been in operation at least five years. 76 of the 187 franchises in this group (41%) met or exceeded 

this average. New franchisees’ results may differ from the represented performance. See Item 19 of the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK FDD. 


My biggest advice is to embrace the 

recommendations of the home office. If you 

decide to join the brand, follow their model, and 

don’t try to reinvent the wheel. You should be 

open-minded, coachable, and follow their 

system. CBA does a great job selecting their 

owners. They have more than 200 stores and 

have never had to close a store down. 

For more information about Christian Brothers 

Automotive opportunities, call (855) 866-9222 

or visit www.christianbrothersfranchise.com. 



2020 TOP 200 

FRANCHISES 

FOOD 

* Kona Ice 

Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar 

Pizza Ranch 

Captain D’s 




* Chicken Salad Chick — more on p. 27 




Wingstop 

Hungry Howie’s Pizza & Subs 

Wings Etc. 

Pizza Factory 

Lennys Grill & Subs 

Donatos Pizza 

Simple Simon’s Pizza 

* Firehouse Subs 

* Bruster’s Real Ice Cream — more on p. 27 

Golden Corral Buffet & Grill 

* The Haagen-Dazs Shoppe Company — more on 

p. 31 

Rising Roll (Franchising Concepts) 

* Checkers & Rally’s 

Straw Hat Pizza 

Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe 

BIGGBY COFFEE 

Penn Station 

* PJ’s Coffee 

Dash In Food Stores 

* East Coast Wings + Grill 

Nathan’s Famous 

Jason’s Deli 

HEALTH & PERSONAL SERVICES 

Palm Beach Tan 

The Drybar 

FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers 

Miracle-Ear 

Sola Salon Studios 

Sport Clips 

My Salon Suite 

101 Mobility 

HOME SERVICES 

* HouseMaster 

Budget Blinds 

Surface Specialists Systems 

* DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen 

House Doctors Handyman Service 

Mr. Appliance 

* Kitchen Solvers 

Miracle Method Surface Refinishing 

The Patch Boys 

Mr. Handyman 

WOW 1 DAY PAINTING 

ASP — America’s Swimming Pool Co. 

ShelfGenie 

Shack Shine 

The Grout Doctor 

Closets By Design 

Bloomin Blinds 

Custom blinds and window coverings 

The Honey Do Service 

PET SERVICES 

In Home Pet Services 

Sit Means Sit Dog Training 

Pet Supplies ‘PLUS’ 

* Dogtopia — more on p. 28 

REAL ESTATE 

NextHome 

Sotheby’s International Realty 

Weichert Real Estate Affiliates 

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate 

ERA 

* HomeVestors of America — more on inside 

front cover 

HomeSmart International LLC 

Help-U-Sell Real Estate 

Showhomes Home Staging 

United Country Real Estate 

PropertyGuys.com 

RECREATION 

American Poolplayers Association 

Freedom Boat Club 

* Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park 

Goldfish Swim School 

Streamline Brands 

RETAIL 

* Pinch A Penny — more on p. 29 

* Wild Birds Unlimited 

Rhea Lana’s 

Learning Express 

Just Between Friends 

* Big Frog Custom T-Shirts 

NYS Collection Eyewear 

See page 27 for additional top franchises. 

Visit FranchiseBusinessReview.com for brand details. 

FINANCIAL/TAX 





“Trendsetter” isn’t a word you often hear in the 

mortgage industry. But as the very first national 

franchise of mortgage brokerages, our unique 

mortgage brokerage-in-a-box concept is gaining 

momentum. Why? Because it just makes sense. 

From a dedicated business support team, to 

state-of-the-art tech and training, to brand 

marketing (and everything in-between), Motto 

Mortgage gives you all the pieces you need to 

hit the ground running as a mortgage broker. 

It’s everything you need to get started—we just 

need you. 

For more information on Motto Mortgage 

opportunities, call (866) 668-8649, 

email franchise@mottomortgage.com 

or visit https://go.mottomortgage.com/ 

FBR2020-Motto. 

HOME SERVICES 

The Glass Guru 




The Glass Guru is the neighborhood glass shop 

you can count on! Since 1997 The Glass Guru 

has been the leading provider of glass, window, 

and door repair and replacement services for 

residential and light commercial customers. 

The company continues to be one of the fastest 

growing brands in the industry, and has even 

seen record revenue numbers during the 

COVID-19 pandemic! In addition to offering a 

proprietary, money-saving restoration service 

for failed insulated windows, the company’s 

75+ full-service franchise locations across 

North America are a one-stop solution for all 

of your residential glass needs. Get started in 

the economically resilient home services 

category today! 

For more information on The Glass Guru 


franchise@theglassguru.com or visit 

theglassgurufranchise.com. 


® 

WHERE PASSIONS 

ARE SHARED & 

Success is Served. 

MADE FROM SCRATCH EVERY DAY - 

NO STOVES, NO OVENS, & NO FRYERS! 

$1,138,652 AUV (BASED ON A 6-DAY 

WEEK MODEL) * 

13 CONSECUTIVE QUARTERS OF SAME- 

STORE SALES GROWTH (& COUNTING!) ** 

FAMILY-ORIENTED & PURPOSE-DRIVEN 

CULTURE 

Fast Casual's Top 100 Movers & Shakers [2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, & 2019] 

Franchise Times' Fast & Serious List [2018 & 2019] 

Inc. 5000’s Fastest Growing Private Company List [2016, 2017, & 2018] 

IFA's "Franchising Gives Back" Newcomer Award [2017] 

Nation’s Restaurant News "Next 20" Restaurant Brands List [2017] 

Restaurant Business Future 50 List [2017] 

For Franchising Information: 

Email: Franchising@ChickenSaladChick.com 

Or Visit: www.ChickenSaladChick.com 

*This figure represents a total of 67 franchised restaurants at the end of 2017, with 49 of those in 

operation the entire year as published in our May 15, 2018 franchise disclosure document. 

**Based on performance of franchised restaurants represented in our 2019, franchise disclosure 

document. 

SENIOR SERVICES 

* Visiting Angels 

* Home Instead Senior Care 

Right at Home 

* FirstLight Home Care 

Home Care Assistance 

Assisting Hands 

* Qualicare 

* BrightStar Care — more on p. 25 

Homewatch Caregivers 

* Amada Senior Care 

* Senior Care Authority 

* Assisted Living Locators 

Home Helpers Home Care 

* CarePatrol 

SERVICES 

Weed Man 

Precision Concrete Cutting 

* Two Men And A Truck — more on p. 25 

* Fish Window Cleaning 

FRSTeam 

Mr. Electric 

Five Star Painting 

Paul Davis 

College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving 

Complete Weddings + Events 

* Truly Nolen of America — more on p. 30 

* The Glass Guru 

Mr. Rooter Plumbing 

NaturaLawn of America 

* PuroClean — more on p. 29 

Aire Serv Heating And Air Conditioning 

* Mosquito Joe 

Window Genie — more on p. 15 

Property Damage Appraisers 

* U.S. Lawns 

The Mosquito Authority 

MarbleLife 

Precision Door Service 

Critter Control 

Glass Doctor 

Service Team of Professionals 

TECHNOLOGY 

TeamLogic IT 

TRAVEL SERVICES 

* Cruise Planners — more on p. 31 

* Dream Vacations 

Expedia CruiseShipCenters 

Visit FranchiseBusinessReview.com 

for brand details. 



REAL ESTATE 

HomeVestors of America 



Total Units: 1,100 

“ Dogtopia has the best kind of 

support and I have access to 

experts, it frees you up to focus 

on what you want to focus on, 

in business or outside business.” 

– Stefani Ballard 

DOGTOPIA MULTI-UNIT FRANCHISEE 

Dogtopia.com | Contact Alex Samios at 602-730-6000 ext. 2 

THIS ADVERTISEMENT IS NOT AN OFFERING OF A FRANCHISE. 

AN OFFER OF A FRANCHISE CAN ONLY BE MADE BY A FRANCHISE DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT. 

HomeVestors ® franchise is a way to make 

life-changing revenue in a system with proven 

success, while solid home-buying knowledge 

and marketing of the well-known ‘We Buy Ugly 

Houses’ brand limit risks. Training covers what 

HomeVestors franchisees have learned buying 

over 110,000 houses nationwide since 1996. 

Tools to make smart investment decisions, 

including our ValueChek ® software, and customer 

management program. Learn in the field 

with your own coach, an experienced, proven 

franchisee; your mentor as you learn and grow 

your business. HomeVestors is consistently 

top-rated and Best in Franchisee Satisfaction, 

Real Estate, Leadership, Low-investment, Fastest 

Growth, and Veterans, year after year. 

For more information on HomeVestors of 

America opportunities, call (800) 230-0385 

or visit www.homevestorsfranchise.com. 

Supporting Your Local Community Has 

NEVER FELT BETTER 

Connect local business owners with new customers through niche 

direct mail marketing with the #1 Advertising Franchise in the country 

• Quick Ramp Up 

• Home-based 

• Flexibility 

Quality of Life 

• Scalable Business 

• Residual Income 

• Low Overhead 

No Employees Needed 

• Sales & Service 

No Production 

• Enhanced Mobile App 

800.497.8360 x236 • OurTownAmerica.com 

Jane McElhaney 

Columbia, SC Franchise Owner 

Veteran Discount available 

Our Town America, A Franchising Corporation • 13900 US Highway 19 N | Clearwater, FL 33764-7238 

MN Residents: Minnesota Franchise Registration No: F-6498 (Unit); F-7645 (RD) NY Residents: This advertisement is not an offering. An offering can only be made by 

aprospectus filed first with the Department of Law of the State of New York. Such filing does not constitute approval by the Department of Law. * FranchiseBusinessReview.com 


RETAIL 

TRAVEL 

Wild Birds Unlimited 


Cash Requirement: $40,000 – $50,000 


Wild Birds Unlimited franchise store owners 

are the community resource for backyard bird 

feeding products, services and nature education. 

Who we are goes far beyond the products 

we sell. Each day our owners deliver a joyful 

experience to their customers while helping 

them purposefully engage with nature. A typical 

day involves customers swapping stories about 

latest bird sightings and sharing excitement 

about attracting new birds with our vast array 

of proprietary products. 

For more information on Wild Birds Unlimited 


www.wbufranchise.com. 

Dream Vacations 



Total Units: 1,540 

Are you ready to chart a new course? The future 

in travel is bright with a home-based Dream 

Vacations travel franchise. The pent-up demand 

for vacations is at an all-time high and now 

more than ever, consumers are turning to travel 

agents to help pan their next getaway. Turn your 

passion for travel into your own home-based 

business. Dive in immediately with our virtual 

training and discover how you can start planning 

Dream Vacations today! Join us for an upcoming 

webinar to find out how you can own your own 

travel agency. 

For more information on Dream Vacations a 


OwnaTravelBiz.com. 

SERVE YOUR 

COMMUNITY, 

SECURE YOUR 

FUTURE 

Be a hero of home & business 

restoration while building 

a lasting career in a real 

recession-proof industry. 

WHAT A REFRESHING CHANGE TO BE YOUR 

OWN BOSS. FRANCHISE WITH PINCH A PENNY. 

WITH $1.2M* IN AVERAGE UNIT SALES, 

YOU COULD BE SWIMMING IN BUSINESS. 

PROVEN BUSINESS 

MODEL 

250+ FAMILY-OWNED 

LOCATIONS ACROSS THE 

SOUTHEASTERN U.S. 

AND TEXAS 

MULTIPLE REVENUE 

STREAMS 

YEAR-ROUND BUSINESS IN 

RETAIL, SERVICES, REPAIRS, 

AND MAINTENANCE 

FRANCHISEE 

SATISFACTION 

CONSISTENTLY RANKED IN 

THE TOP 10% FOR FRANCHISEE 

SATISFACTION, FRANCHISE 

BUSINESS REVIEW 

PINCHAPENNYPOOLFRANCHISE.COM 

727-263-2302 

*For the year ending December 31, 2018, Pinch A Penny had 248 stores open. Of those stores, 238 have been open at least one year. 

Of those open at least one year, the average annual gross sales was $1,257,388. 88 stores (37%) had annual gross sales that exceeded the average. 

Your results may differ. There is no assurance that you will do as well. See our 2019 Franchise Disclosure Document for more information. 

This information is not intended as an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, a franchise. It is for information purposes only. If you are a 

resident of a U.S. state or a country that regulates the offer and sale of franchises, are receiving this message in one of those states or countries, 

or intend to operate a franchise in any of those states or countries, we will not offer you a franchise unless and until we have complied with any 

applicable pre-sale registration and/or disclosure requirements in the applicable jurisdiction. 

©2020 Pinch A Penny. All Rights Reserved. 

Visit DiscoverPuroClean.com 

or call (855) 947-0470 

Each PuroClean office is independently 

owned and operated. 



FEATURED 

Franchisee 

Join Us Now & Help Us 

Serve the Trillion Dollar 

US Latino Market! * 

Juan Ortega 

ActionCOACH 

Fort Lauderdale, FL 


Background prior to becoming a franchisee? 

I had 20 years in hospitality where I gained 

experience in running businesses and leading 

people. During the last ten years in my corporate 

career, I was in charge of sales and marketing 

which became extremely valuable when I started 

my own business with ActionCOACH. 

Why did you choose ActionCOACH? 

I was looking for a business that would allow me 

to play on my strengths and where I could spend 

my time doing things that I find exciting and 

enjoyable. 


The freedom to work as I please, call the shots, 

and be in charge of my own success. I can create 

a business that will ultimately deliver the 

lifestyle I chose to live. 

Be part of our rapid nationwide expansion in serving the thriving 

Latino community, both the individual taxpayer and business owner. 

Low Startup Investment - Dedicated On-Going Training & Support 

Powerful Marketing System - Easy to Operate Franchise Model 

Proud to be a 

member of 

*According to a Forbes Magazine publication. 

Take the First Step Toward Building Wealth & the Lifestyle You Deserve! 

ATAXFRANCHISE.COM 1(866)999-2829 FIND US ONLINE 


I would tell them to get ready for what could 

very well be the most exciting new chapter in 

their career. One that will be filled with ups and 

downs and everything in between. There are no 

guarantees with anything in life but with a 

proven system like ActionCOACH, our chances 

of success are much greater. 


Eight years ago, I was frustrated in a career, 

putting in long hours, fighting for every step of 

advancement and not seeing an impact on the 

work that I did. My quality of life was poor, and 

I was not able to live the life I imagined. Today, 

I can see how the work that I do changes the lives 

of others and I am handsomely compensated for 

it. I get to spend more time with my family, do 

cool stuff, and it was all because I had the 

courage to make a change. If I did it, I know 

anyone can do it! 

For more information on ActionCoach 

opportunities, call (702) 795-3188 or 

(888) 488-2828, email info@actioncoach.com, 

or visit actioncoach.com. 


FEATURED 

Franchisee 

Jenny Reed 

Cruise Planners 

Cumming, GA 


B2B sales and 

management model 

20+ services to manage 

Recurring, compounding revenue 

in a recession-proof industry 

No hourly employees, equipment, inventory, or travel 

City Wide Average Unit Volume: $3.9 Million (Per 2019 FDD Item 19) 

City Wide Average Top Quartile: $8.8 Million (Per 2019 FDD Item 19) 

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON AVAILABLE MARKETS 

IN THE U.S. AND CANADA: 

(214) 674-5480 | citywidefranchise.com 


My husband and I love (and still love) to 

cruise and wanted a business I could grow. The 

flexibility of working from home was appealing 

to me, too. I took my business full-time within 

6 months of purchasing it and have never 

looked back! 


I love the flexibility! Seven years into my 

business, I became a mom and could work from 

home but still be present. I enjoy being my own 

boss and providing a service in an industry that I 

love. I also take advantage of educational 

opportunities to try new ships, resorts, and tours. 

I love my Cruise Planners family and the support 

I receive from the home office. 

How did you fund your franchise? 

Because the initial franchise fee was so low 

compared to other franchises, I was able to 

purchase it in full on my own. 


This year has been one of the most challenging 

years we’ve faced in our industry, but the 

challenges are not new to anyone who owns a 

small travel business. I purchased my franchise 

just prior to 9-11 and have weathered SARS, 

H1N1, hurricanes, and more—but the industry 

has always been resilient. I have seen this 

industry change and grow and have expanded my 

specialty beyond cruising--into land-based 

vacations, resorts, and all types of travel. I’ve 

been honored to have been designated as an 

American Express Travel Insider for Caribbean 

Cruises and Alaska and have traveled the world 

doing what I love. Running a small business has 

its challenges, but I have no regrets. 

For more information on Cruise Planners 


franchising@cruiseplanners.com, or visit 

www.cruiseplannersfranchise.com. 


a Nextaff franchisee, you will help 

As 

Identify, Evaluate and 

companies 

quality talent using our 

Acquire 

X-FACTOR model. You 

proprietary 

backed by our impressive track 

are 

and incredible support 

record 

By using our proprietary 

channels. 

you’ll be able to set 

X-FACTOR, 

apart from the 

yourself 

competition. 

you’ll gain access to our 

Next, 

technology, back office 

expertise, 

recruiting, marketing and 

support, 

development sources. You 

business 

enjoy all the benefits of being 

will 

of a large, national 

apart 

while retaining the 

organization, 

to control and start your 

flexibility 

S T A R T Y O U R 

O W N S T A F F I N G 

A G E N C Y 

F R A N C H I S E 

W I T H N E X T A F F 

own staffing agency. 

“Nextaff provides excellent back office support eliminating the need for us to be an expert in 

areas that do not add to our bottom line, which is ideal for those of us who are tired of working 

for someone else, this business model really allows you to take control of your future.” 

John S, Phoenix franchisee 

“Being a business owner has been a dream come true for us because it has given us the 

opportunity to be both full-time moms who are actively involved in our children’s schools and 

extra-curricular activities and business owners.” 

Beth K and Rachel R, Raleigh franchisee 

“Ground floor opportunity, support, new franchise, support, working on my business and not in 

my business, were all the words that were important to me when choosing a staffing franchise. 

Our Support Office was right there to lend me a hand, and for that I am grateful. I have never 

felt like just a number at Nextaff, I have always felt like I was part of a family.” 

Buffy B, Miami franchisee 

w w w . n e x t a f f . c o m 

( 8 0 0 ) 5 8 1 - N E X T

FBR Issue 3 - 2020

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