WHAT PRIVATE EQUITY SEEKS IN A FRANCHISE BRAND

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Private equity firms don’t just bring in capital; they bring in a wealth of experience, contacts, and best practices that can differentiate between a stagnant franchise and one poised for exponential growth. They can often identify inefficiencies or areas of improvement that internal stakeholders might overlook due to proximity bias.

What Private Equity Seeks in a Franchise Brand
By Gary Occhiogrosso, Managing partner of FGS

The interplay between Private Equity (PE) firms and franchise brands is becoming increasingly prominent in today’s dynamic business environment. As businesses strive for expansion, scale, and more robust profit margins, the allure of strategic private equity investments is undeniable. PE firms are keener than ever, especially when unlocking the potential of emerging franchise brands. But what exactly do these financial powerhouses seek in a franchise brand? Let’s dive deep into the specifics.

Unlocking the Potential of Your Franchise Brand
For many franchise brands, the influx of capital is the key to unlocking untapped growth potential. This is where Private Equity comes into play. PE firms are experts in identifying undervalued assets or brands with scalable models but need more resources. A strategic investment can provide capital, managerial expertise, and operational efficiencies.

Private equity firms don’t just bring in capital; they bring in a wealth of experience, contacts, and best practices that can differentiate between a stagnant franchise and one poised for exponential growth. They can often identify inefficiencies or areas of improvement that internal stakeholders might overlook due to proximity bias. Thus, a partnership with a PE firm can often lead to revitalized business strategies, optimized operations, and increased profitability.

The Growing Excitement for Emerging Brands
The past decade has seen a palpable shift in the private equity landscape. There’s a burgeoning excitement about emerging brands. Why? Because these nascent entities often bring innovative ideas, unique value propositions, and fresh perspectives that can disrupt markets. This represents an opportunity for direct growth and integration into existing portfolio companies for PE firms.

Integrating an emerging franchise brand into an existing company can lead to a multitude of benefits:

* Synergy: By combining resources, operations, or logistics, efficiencies can be realized.
* Diversification: The merged entity can tap into new markets, demographics, or regions.
* Strengthened Positioning:The combined brand value can lead to a more substantial market presence and dominance.

More than ever, PE firms realize the potential of these emerging brands in creating value, not just through standalone growth but also as integrated entities in their broader investment strategy.

So, What Does Private Equity Seek?
Given the exciting prospects of franchise brand investments, let’s outline what PE firms typically look for:

* Scalability: A brand with a replicable business model that can expand into new markets or regions without a proportionate cost increase.
* Strong Management Team: Competent, committed, and visionary leadership is vital for steering the brand toward success.
* Consistent Revenue Streams: Reliable, recurring revenue indicates a robust business model with a loyal customer base.
* Unique Value Proposition: Brands that stand out in the market, either through their products, services, or operations, are especially attractive.
* Operational Efficiencies: A lean operation, free from unnecessary costs or outdated practices, is always a draw.

Integrating Keywords for Success
Integrating high-ranking Google keywords relevant to your brand and industry is pivotal to enhancing your brand’s visibility in this digital age, especially when seeking private equity attention. Words and phrases like “strategic investment,” “scalable models,” “private equity partnerships,” “emerging franchise brand,” “value proposition,” and “operational efficiencies” can bolster your brand’s online presence. Digital visibility could be the first step in catching the discerning eye of a potential private equity investor.

In Conclusion
Private Equity’s interest in franchise brands is not merely a trend but an evolving dynamic in finance and business. As emerging brands strive to make their mark, PE firms are potential support, guidance, and growth pillars. By understanding what PE firms seek and strategically positioning themselves, franchise brands can tap into unprecedented growth trajectories and transformative success.

Click here to maximize your ability to secure private funding

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This blog was researched, developed and edited with the support of AI

GROW LEADERS WITHIN YOUR RANKS

If you want to increase retention and expand diversity in the restaurant business in 2023 – especially in leadership, on boards and with founders of growing brands – start with education.
The restaurant industry has an information problem. Historically, most restaurant education is limited to on-the-job (OTJ) training, which presents numerous challenges.

Increase retention and expand diversity through employee education
By Lauren Fernandez

If you want to increase retention and expand diversity in the restaurant business in 2023 – especially in leadership, on boards and with founders of growing brands – start with education.
The restaurant industry has an information problem. Historically, most restaurant education is limited to on-the-job (OTJ) training, which presents numerous challenges.

Traditional restaurant OTJ training is fraught with issues such as a lack of budget, lack of time and no quality control standardization. Accessibility is also an issue: often we see that with OTJ training there is no way to accommodate different learning styles and languages, alienating non-English-speaking employees. A lack of training stems from many problems, such as categorically high turnover rates, high levels of attrition and a general lack of leadership training that plagues our industry.

I’m a Latina and a first-generation American, and my parents saw education as a means for me and my siblings to better our lives. They worked hard to make sure we received the best education in order to create more opportunities than they had.

While I followed a traditional educational path in law and business, my OTJ training operating our restaurants was undoubtedly the most impactful. Experience in the field as an operator taught me more about the restaurant industry than my previous education could, and it closed the information gap on what it takes to be a leader in our industry. But both my educations together – in graduate schools and on-the-job – have equipped me with a unique lens, and it informs my call to action: we as restaurant leaders can leverage education to overcome barriers and as a tool for growth.

When we champion education, we mean restaurant-specific training with a focus on operational excellence, profit and loss management, leadership development and more. Investing in people and their personal and professional development contributes to a culture where people are valued, and ultimately develops stronger leaders that will make the industry a better place to work. We must proactively nurture the next generation of restaurant workers who will see the industry as a long-term career rather than a temporary job.

And this isn’t as hard of a lift as you would think. While I was an operator, I hosted quarterly management team meetings where we not only focused on results and celebrated wins, but we focused on new leanings and sharing best practices. I taught high-level strategies like profit management, but we always-connected theory back to actual practice. These meetings created a collaborative and transparent environment where managers helped each other improve, and they were instrumental in improving the performance metrics of the group as a whole.

Restaurants nationwide employ nearly 12 million workers and account for 4% of the overall GDP in the United States. As an industry, we still suffer from very high turnover and attrition. Investing in education is one key to retention and building long-term, desirable careers in our industry. To address the challenges of turnover and retention, consider some of these additional ideas:

*Innovative incentive and rewards programs like matching payments on student loans. More than 43 million people in the U.S. owe money toward student loans, and the average federal student loan debt balance is nearly $38,000. Offering a program to help reduce that debt can be a huge incentive to draw good employees and keep them. In fact, one study noted that 86% of people between the ages of 22 and 33 would commit to an employer for five years if offered a student loan repayment program. And, through 2025, employers can offer up to $5,250 in student loan repayment benefits without paying any tax thanks to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, which was signed into law in 2020 as part of pandemic relief efforts.

*Volunteer days for a food-related cause like a community food bank. Many studies have shown that offering some sort of volunteer program can boost productivity, increase employee engagement and improve hiring and retention rates. Ask your employees to select a cause, or find something that ties into what your restaurant offers – not only are you giving back to your larger community, you’re also showing your employees that you are doing something worthwhile outside your restaurant’s four walls.

*Encouraging participation. Support your employees to seek out opportunities to learn and engage in the industry. It can also encourage them to grow and thrive in their potential hospitality career. That can be through culinary schools and events, volunteer board opportunities or speaking on panels and at conferences.

*Sponsoring conference membership and attendance. Encourage employees to attend conferences or pay for memberships to restaurant- or culinary-related organizations. This will help create networking opportunities for them, and they will bring back information that could help your business grow, too.

*Teambuilding retreats/exercises. Consider building a program that promotes your company’s mission, vision and goals while also creating an atmosphere for support and encouragement.
With education as the cornerstone of your efforts to retain good employees, expect it to play an even larger role in the future as labor challenges continue. To that end, Full Course launched a new 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation, Full Course Learning Center, to ensure education and support are accessible to all in our industry, from back of house to operators. You can find educational tools and resources, including more ideas about employee retention, at fullcourse.com/education.

When it comes to employee retention, new ideas and approaches will continue to evolve. By implementing some thoughtful ways to address these challenges, you can make sure that not only will you find good employees, but that they stay and grow with you and your business, too.

Lauren Fernandez is the Founder and CEO of Full Course (www.fullcourse.com ), a non-traditional restaurant investment group created for operators by operators that is changing the way new businesses grow their brands. The company partners with restaurants in the early stages of development to optimize existing operations develop strategies for sustainable growth and bring the right investors or franchise partners to the table. Fernandez is a restaurant industry veteran with two decades of experience. She previously served as general counsel and head of franchise administration for FOCUS Brands, a multi-brand restaurant company with more than 4,000 restaurants (including Carvel, Cinnabon and Moe’s Southwest Grill) in over 15 countries, and was co-founder, president and operating partner for multi-unit franchise developer Origin Development Group, acting as a strategic growth partner for brands such as Chicken Salad Chick. She also is a frequent speaker in the areas of organic business growth, licensing and franchise operations across the country.

HOW TO SELECT THE OPTIMAL VALUATION TECHNIQUE FOR YOUR STARTUP

Revenue multiples are helpful for both private companies (which lack stock prices) and public companies (for which stock prices are readily available). They’re also beneficial for businesses with low sales because they’re less affected by fluctuations in gross margins and other financial metrics that may fluctuate based on industry trends or economic conditions during the analyzed period.

How To Select The Optimal Valuation Technique For Your Startup
By FMM Contributor, Johnny Dey

Introduction

It is simple to focus on the day-to-day operations of your business when launching a business. You should not spend too much time contemplating the value of your business or the amount you could receive if you sold it. However, valuing your venture is crucial to operating a successful business, as it helps you determine how much capital you need to raise to develop and sustain your business. When it’s time for an investor or potential acquirer to make an offer on your company, valuation is an essential part of the negotiation for the selling price.

The Market Strategy

The market approach is founded on the value of comparable businesses. Therefore, this method is optimal for entrepreneurs with a proven business model or who have already raised capital.

The market approach can be utilized to determine the value of either a startup or an established business. For example, an early-stage company has yet to achieve profitability. As a result, it may not have any revenue. In contrast, a mature company has already achieved profitability. As a result, it generates sufficient cash flow to pay its obligations and reinvest in itself without raising additional capital from investors.

Revenue Multiple

Revenue multiples are a straightforward strategy for valuing a business. The multiple revenue formulae divide a company’s annual revenue by its market capitalization, which is its stock price multiplied by its outstanding shares. For instance, if your company has $1 million in revenue and a comparable company has a market capitalization of $10 million, then your company would be valued at ten times revenue, or $10 million.

Revenue multiples are helpful for both private companies (which lack stock prices) and public companies (for which stock prices are readily available). They’re also beneficial for businesses with low sales because they’re less affected by fluctuations in gross margins and other financial metrics that may fluctuate based on industry trends or economic conditions during the analyzed period.

EBITDA Multiple

Multiples of EBITDA are based on a company’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. EBITDA is an excellent indicator of profitability because it is less affected by accounting decisions than net income.

The calculation for this multiple is as follows:
Earnings Before Interest Taxes Depreciation And Amortization (EBITDA) Multiple = (Earnings Before Interest Taxes Depreciation And Amortization) / Enterprise Value

Comparable Organizations Technique

The analogous companies method is the most prevalent method of valuation. It’s founded on the presumption that your venture is a “normal” business, so you can use other comparable companies to determine its value.

This method is very time consuming, as you must identify analogous companies and compare them to yours. In addition, this method needs to account for the risk and ambiguity related to your startup’s business model and product/service offering.

Pricing Strategy

The cost approach is a method of business valuation that compares your company to others in the same industry to determine its worth. This strategy depends on tangible and ethereal assets, such as technology, team, and brand, in addition to the customer base.

Identifying competitors with similar products or services publicly traded on Nasdaq or NYSE MKT is the first step in this process (formerly known as OTC Markets Group). Once you’ve identified analogous companies, you can compare their sales figures to determine whether yours are developing at the same rate or quicker. If they’re growing faster than you, this may indicate that there’s room for expansion in your own business; however, if they’re growing more slowly than you, investors may be able to demand better terms from them when negotiating funding rounds in the future, as they’ll know how much potential value lies within each share of stock sold today compared to tomorrow’s market price once news spreads about how well Q1 earnings season went!

Benefits Of An Asset-Based Strategy

The benefit of an asset-based approach to valuation is that it measures a company’s intrinsic value. This is because it emphasizes assets rather than liabilities. Subtract your liabilities from your assets, then divide the difference by one minus your tax rate to calculate this method (1 – T).

The disadvantage of this method is that it does not account for intangible assets such as goodwill or intellectual property rights; however, these can be factored into any potential sale price through negotiation with potential buyers or sellers during due diligence processes before finalizing the transaction.

The optimal method for valuing your venture depends on the specifics of the situation and its characteristics.

The market approach is the most straightforward and intuitive method for valuing a startup. It is based on the value of comparable companies in the same industry, so it can be used for early-stage companies that do not yet have a significant amount of revenue or earnings (if any). The disadvantage of this method is that it is challenging to locate comparable companies; you will need access to an extensive database of private company financials if you wish to employ this strategy.

Conclusion

The optimal method for valuing your venture depends on the specifics of the situation and its characteristics. If you have significant market potential and wish to transfer your company immediately, you should adopt a market-based strategy. The revenue multiple and EBITDA multiple are useful for valuing established firms. In contrast, the comparable companies method helps value smaller businesses with less complex operations. The cost approach can be used when estimating value based on assets or liabilities alone. In contrast, the asset-based approach is beneficial when evaluating a company’s goodwill value.

6 WAYS TO FINANCE A START-UP SMALL BUSINESS

They expect to be paid back with interest and generally require collateral (such as property) in case your business defaults on the loan. If you can find someone willing to do this type of lending, and if all else fails, then this may be worth considering. However, small business owners need to exhaust other options first before seeking out private loans as they tend not only to be expensive but difficult for borrowers because they lack flexibility compared with other forms of financing, such as SBA loans which offer more favorable terms including lower rates and more extended repayment periods.

6 WAYS TO FINANCE A START-UP SMALL BUSINESS

Introduction
There are many ways to get funding for your small business or franchise. Here are jut a few suggestions to get you started.

Friends And Family
Friends and family are usually the first ones to help you when needed. If they’re willing to provide financing, ensure they understand what they’re getting into: don’t ask them for a gift; instead, offer them an investment opportunity. Then, ask them for a loan and use promissory notes (a written promise from one person to another) or other legal documents to prove your commitment. The important thing is that you have a good relationship with the people lending you money–and vice versa! Make sure that everyone knows precisely how much money is being lent and when it should be paid back by; this way, there can be no confusion about whether or not payments have been made on time or if interest rates apply in certain situations (like if someone takes out an additional loan).

Your Credit Cards
You can use your credit cards to finance a business if you pay off the balance every month. However, there are two reasons why this isn’t a good idea:

• Credit card interest rates are high. Putting $1,000 on a credit card with an 18% APR will cost $180 in interest over one year–even if you don’t charge any! If you have no other financing options and need $10,000 to start your business, this method would cost $20 per month (assuming a 20% interest rate).
• The second reason is that it’s easy to get carried away when using credit cards for personal expenses and then forget about them as soon as they’re paid off, leaving plenty of room for overspending in future months when unexpected expenses pop up.

Venture Capital (VC)
Venture capital (VC) is a riskier and longer-term investment. It’s only for some businesses or investors, but it can be the right choice if your company has a high growth potential and you have an experienced team behind it. VC investors look to partner with entrepreneurs who are passionate about what they do and dedicated to building their companies into market leaders over time. They expect that the companies they invest in will take more than one round of funding before reaching profitability–and sometimes even after becoming profitable! As a result, VCs typically provide capital infusions in increments instead of larger sums all at once. This allows them to monitor how well each growth stage is going before deciding whether or not additional funds should be provided (and how much).

Private Equity
Private equity is a form of financing where an investor buys a portion of your business. It’s similar to taking out a loan from the bank, except instead of paying it back over time, you pay your private equity investor every year with interest (the same way you would with any other type of loan). Private equity can be used to buy any company or franchise–including yours! If someone wants to invest in your franchise, they might want 50% or even 75% ownership to have complete control over all decisions made within the company.

Small Business Loans
A small business loan is another way to get funding for your startup. The interest rate on these loans is lower than personal loans, but you may need to put up collateral and provide financial statements and tax returns. You can get a small business loan from your bank, credit union, or online lender. Companies such as Guidant Financial and FranFund are reliable sources for assistance with small business loans under various SBA programs

Private Lenders
Private lenders are a good option if you’re looking for funding but want to avoid applying for a bank loan or grant. Private lenders are individuals or companies that lend money to businesses. They expect to be paid back with interest and generally require collateral (such as property) in case your business defaults on the loan. If you can find someone willing to do this type of lending, and if all else fails, then this may be worth considering. However, small business owners need to exhaust other options first before seeking out private loans as they tend not only to be expensive but difficult for borrowers because they lack flexibility compared with other forms of financing, such as SBA loans which offer more favorable terms including lower rates and more extended repayment periods.

Conclusion
There are many ways to get funding for your small business or franchise. The best method depends on what you seek, but all have benefits and drawbacks. It’s essential to consider which option is right for you and your business before making any decisions. We hope this article has provided helpful information on how to fund your small business or franchise. However, if you still need clarification, we recommend contacting Franchise Growth Solutions www.frangrow.com or a financial advisor who can help you make the right decision.

TIPS TO MARKET YOUR RESTAURANT DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON

Photo by Jed Owen on Unsplash

If you plan ahead and get people excited, they will come.
The holiday season is a busy one. People are going to be traveling, and they’re going to be in a rush. Your restaurant may miss out on potential sales if you don’t plan. You can cash in on the holiday season with careful planning and targeted marketing strategies.

TIPS TO MARKET YOUR RESTAURANT DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON
By: Dom Hemingway

Introduction
For many of us, the holiday season is a time to reconnect with friends and family. For restaurant owners and chefs, it’s a chance to make extra money. The holiday season brings out the best in people—and it also brings out their appetite. So take advantage of this opportunity by creating ways to get people excited about your offering. Here are my top tips for doing just that:

Offer exclusive menu items.
Offer an exclusive menu item. What do you have that nobody else does? If you’re a vegan restaurant, maybe it’s a killer dish made with cashews and lentils. If you’re a steakhouse, maybe it’s the most amazing prime rib ever. Whatever it is, draw inspiration from the season and create something. Get people talking about your place as they post photos of their meals online—and then offer this special only for a short period (say, one month). This gives them the incentive to visit sooner than later and will make them feel like they just missed out on something extraordinary if they don’t act quickly enough!
Use social media to promote the special: Promote your limited-time offer on Facebook and Twitter as well as through local newspapers in print ads or even billboards along significant highways nearby—whatever works best for your budget! You can also use hashtags like “#holidaymenu” or “#christmasdinnerspecial” so that customers can easily find information about what makes these deals so great by searching for them in search engines like Google or Bing when looking up keywords related precisely to those terms.

Offer coupons:
This is another way of encouraging customers. Those customers who might not have heard about your holiday specials yet (or are still deciding whether it’s worth trying out) without having spent much money upfront, hand out paper copies at check-out counters or mail them directly home with customers who order over the phone lines.
Use loyalty programs: Not only does this incentivize repeat customers, but it also helps build brand loyalty since everyone loves feeling rewarded after returning!

Spice up your social media presence:

Social media can be a powerful tool for your restaurant. You can use social media to create buzz about your restaurant, promote new menu items and events, and give customers insight into the workings of your kitchen.
Post photos of your food and happy customers on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter! It’s also a good idea to create a unique hashtag for your restaurant so that people who want more information about it can find it (for example, #greatrestaurant).
Get festive with decor and holiday-themed dishes
Decorate your restaurant with festive colors.

Offer holiday-themed dishes and desserts:
Offer a special holiday drink special during December, such as hot chocolate or eggnog milkshakes.
Get customers in the mood to be generous by offering gift card promotions, like buy one get one free, where they can buy one gift card at the total price and get another for half price! This also helps you build your customer retention rate too!
The best way to make money off any promotion is when it’s done right—get people excited about returning because they got something great out of it! That’s why we recommend having some loyalty program in place before starting any promotions so that you know exactly how much each customer has spent over time–and thus how much they’re worth (in terms of dollars) based on their average order size at each visit.”

If you plan ahead and get people excited, they will come.
The holiday season is a busy one. People are going to be traveling, and they’re going to be in a rush. Your restaurant may miss out on potential sales if you don’t plan. You can cash in on the holiday season with careful planning and targeted marketing strategies.

Planning Ahead Can Turn a Holiday Season into Profits
Planning for an event like the holidays isn’t just about organizing parties or buying new decorations for your restaurant—it’s about thinking about how these activities will affect your business and how customers will react to them on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. For example: If you have decided to host an open house party at your restaurant during Thanksgiving weekend (or any other weekend), consider what type of food will be served; whether or not it’s appropriate for children; whether there should be seating available outside; what kind of beverages should be served (alcoholic drinks are subject to varying regulations); how much time people need between eating their meal and driving home safely; etcetera!

Conclusion
A successful holiday season is all about two things: planning and being creative. If you’re looking for additional inspiration, take a look at some of the things we’ve done here at www.frangrow.com We’d love to hear your ideas in the comments below!

Modern Tech Can Give Restaurants An Edge

It is much more likely that franchisors, with resources already on hand, will be able to promote system-wide improvements for all franchisees in their systems.

Modern Tech Can Give Restaurant Businesses An Edge
By Jeremy Einbinder

Restaurants are continuing to use newer technologies that have the potential to optimize the experience both for the consumer and the business. Anything that improve customer experience and reduce labor costs- which is very important in a tight market- is a win-win.

Franchised Restaurants Set Themselves Apart

All of these innovations are especially important for franchised restaurants and allows them to set themselves apart from other restaurants. For entrepreneurs looking to open restaurant locations, it can be difficult to gather all the technological resources available to improve operations. It is much more likely that franchisors, with resources already on hand, will be able to promote system-wide improvements for all franchisees in their systems. These technological enhancements are wide-ranging and could set off a franchise restaurant boom.

For instance, instead of third-party delivery apps, many customers report a preference for ordering directly from the restaurant itself. It would be beneficial, if possible, for a company to have their own internal delivery app. In addition to building brand recognition, this also helps businesses avoid paying exorbitant fees.

Fred Kirvan, Founder and CEO of Kirvan Consulting, a New Jersey based restaurant optimization and consulting firm said: “At this year’s National Restaurant Show, we observed some notable improvements in tech-driven kitchen equipment aimed at providing a more consistent product to its end-user but much of the new tech seemed to be aimed at employee retention.”

Look But Don’t Touch

Payment technologies which allow for no-contact money transfer can also prove to be crucial, especially since the pandemic. In keeping with no-touch technology, it is becoming commonplace for customers to also access only menus and order without contact, allowing for a much safer environment for everybody. The cost reduction for restaurants can be substantial.

There are also tech payment options for employee payroll. Kirvan noted: “Companies offering early pay options and incentives were the noticeable standouts for me. Employee retention is key when you can consider all the software available for taking orders, you’re going to need people to prepare those orders.

Reservation applications like Eat App, Tablein, or OpenTable allow customers to see available time slots, and book their times at their convenience. In such apps, users simply view the time slots available with the number of seats needed and select one. This takes away any awkward interaction with staff of someone calling the restaurant and asking for a specific time for a reservation, only to realize it’s not available. For the business, it allows much greater flexibility in managing waitlists as well as customer loyalty.

Reducing Friction for the Front and Back of House

For streamlining customer orders, Kitchen Display Systems are very efficient, allowing both customers and kitchen staff to seamlessly log orders, instantly displaying them on screen according to priority. This also makes accommodating dietary restrictions much easier.

Radwan Masri, a 30 year veteran in the hospitality industry and a leading international culinary consultant and franchise expert with Ayy Karamba Hospitality added “The other side of food service tech driven business is FOH & BOH automation. Labor shortage in the service business combined with an increase demand for delivered food has impacted how food orders is being processed from start to end. Self-Serve ordering stations, QR codes scanning procedures. Your order nowadays through a drive through window is not the same as it used to be. i.e. I order in Chicago via a drive through window while my order is being processed by a mom sitting at home in Atlanta GA!”

This type of innovation is incredibly valuable and can easily cut down on unnecessary laborious tasks for employees. In addition, artificial intelligence technologies like Winnow reduce food waste. Using a camera, Winnow “learns” to recognize different foods being thrown away. It then calculates the financial and environmental cost of this discarded food to commercial kitchens. This in turn saves company’s money.

In Conclusion

If franchisees and independent restauranteurs expect to stay relevant and competitive they need to take advantage of these burgeoning technologies. The guest expectation has risen as a result of the pandemic and most guests will give a restaurant one, perhaps two chances to meet or exceed their exceptions. When it comes to the the overall guest experience, using these technologies gives operators a better chance to succeed.

How Are You Handling Your Covid Financial Anxiety?

It is not worth the mental energy and distress to put pressure on yourself for what is out of your hands. Unproductive thoughts will put you on a never-ending cycle of “I have to figure it out, I have to figure it out.” That kind of spiraling activity just runs down your batteries.

Combating financial anxiety during a pandemic

Courtesy of BRANDPOINT
Photo by Aarón Blanco Tejedor on Unsplash

(BPT) – In the face of a global pandemic, financial anxiety is an everyday reality. Concerns surrounding personal finances, businesses shutting down and market volatility have us navigating new waters, experiencing more acutely than ever before how our financial lives are intertwined with our mental health. Amanda Clayman, financial therapist and Prudential’s financial wellness advocate, works with people to better understand the emotional connection we have with money.

According to Clayman, financial stress, while it may be inevitable in these times, does not have to control our lives. Even in the midst of this crisis, we can practice good financial and mental health and grow in our ability to maintain calm.

How to ease your mind and overcome financial distress

Clayman offers the below tips on how to ease your mind and overcome your financial distress during the days of COVID-19.

  • Allow yourself to feel a sense of loss: These big market changes may throw a wrench in the vision you had for retirement or your 401K. This is a scary realization, and a sad one. It is natural to have an emotional response, so let those feelings come and acknowledge them as they do. By not bottling up those sensations you are better able to say goodbye to your former plans and move forward. Additionally, looking your feelings in the face and comparing them to the reality of the situation provides valuable perspective that is key in the healing process.
  • Embrace uncertainty as part of the plan: Concentrate on the here and now, and don’t think too far ahead. It is common to try to manage anxiety by making a plan, but that’s going to be challenging when the future feels so uncertain. Try telling yourself, “I’m going to make the best plan I can based on what I know now. Then I’m going to trust that I will figure out problems as they arise and ask for help when I need it.”
  • Let go of what you can’t control: It is not worth the mental energy and distress to put pressure on yourself for what is out of your hands. Unproductive thoughts will put you on a never-ending cycle of “I have to figure it out, I have to figure it out.” That kind of spiraling activity just runs down your batteries.
  • Be intentional, not impulsive: Anxiety floods your mind with fearful thoughts of worst-case scenarios, tricking you into believing immediate action is necessary to fix the problem. It may feel like you are making progress initially, but these are not emotionally grounded decisions and can lead to costly mistakes. What you need is space for perspective, to differentiate between internal feelings and external reality. Try stepping away from the computer or going for a walk before making big moves. Remind yourself that you are safe right here, right now.
  • Don’t be a hero: You don’t have to bear this weight alone. You may feel as if providing financial security is all up to you, especially if you’re a caretaker or your kids moved home to ride out the pandemic. But this is not an individual problem, it’s a collective one we can face together. So reach out — take care of each other and ask to be taken care of in return. In addition to sharing your feelings with family and friends, be in touch with creditors, landlords and service providers about your concerns. They may be able to offer a payment holiday, partial payment or interest-only payment.

Explore new types of self-care

One of the most important lessons in combating any anxiety is to remember that you will not feel this way forever. In the meantime, let’s use these moments to explore new forms of emotional and financial self-care. With thoughtful reflection, we can foster a relationship with money that promotes mental health in even the most challenging circumstances.

MATTO FRANCHISE
A Revolution is Brewing
LEARN MORE HERE:
https://www.mattofranchise.com/

This Week’s Top Picks – Emerging Franchise Brands

If you’re considering entering the world of “Self Employment” one of the best way to reduce risk is to purchase a franchise. A franchise affords you the opportunity to join a company with a proven business model and a track record of success. It’s better than “going it alone” …When you consider the number of “moving parts” connected with starting your own business, franchising makes all the sense in the world. You’ll get a business system along with the guidance and experience of the franchisor. Here are just three brands in our portfolio that are featured as our Top Picks this week.

By Gary Occhiogrosso – Franchise Growth Solutions
Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash
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Skinny Pizza franchise

GET THE UPDATED SKINNY ON THIS FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITY
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SKINNYPIZZA
* New Territories available
* Smaller retail footprint
* Lower cost of entry
* Great co-band opportunities

America has a real passion for pizza. Since the first pizzeria opened here in New York City in 1903, pizza has grown to the most popular food in America. An incredible 93% OF AMERICANS gladly admit they eat pizza at least once a month.

Our passion for pizza is staggering. The National Restaurant Association (NRA) indicates that pizza sales represent almost $38 BILLION IN AMERICA — over $100 BILLION worldwide. Where is our love for pizza heading? The trending is actually very clear.

The research firm Technomic® in their most recent “Pizza Consumer Trend Report” found that 41% OF AMERICANS say they would be happy to pay for healthier ingredients including ORGANIC TOPPINGS AND CRUSTS, as well as all-natural LOCALLY SOURCED ingredients.
What makes it SKINNYPIZZA®? We have spent years creating a thin pizza crust that has great taste and complements any topping. At the same time, we have carefully crafted our entire menu for those that are health- and environmentally conscious, as well as those that simply love great tasting pizza, salads and soups.

Our PIZZA CRUST is made with NO PRESERVATIVES or ADDITIVES. That alone is something that is incredibly rare, actually reserved to the top 1% of pizzerias. Our PIZZA SAUCE is made with 100% USDA CERTIFIED ORGANIC tomatoes.

But the SKINNYPIZZA® concept does not end there. Along with the best tasting pizza you will ever eat, we have carefully developed our menu to complement our healthy approach to great Italian fast-casual dining.

To Learn More About SkinnyPizza Click Here https://www.skinnypizza.com/franchise.html

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Ice Cream Franchise
It’s always a good day to…GOFER Ice Cream

IT’S ALWAYS A GOOD DAY TO …
GOFER ICE CREAM

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Our Brand is based on the simple premise of selling high quality American Style ice cream in clean and inviting retail environments, without the use of gimmicks or catering to the latest ice cream fad.We focus equally on hard hand-dipped and premium soft serve ice cream products. Our menu also includes fat free treats like “Gofer Lite” and new innovations like Plant Based ice creams and “Gofer Bites”. We also feature ice cream cakes, party boxes, online ordering and catering options for multiple income streams.Our shops are bright and family oriented.

Warm welcomes by our staff are often accompanied by the smell of fresh made waffle cones, which are created several times a day.The concept, from a franchisee’s point of view, is to be a quick service and efficient operation. The system allows for a typical shop to function with minimal staff led by a motivated owner operator.

We support our franchisee partners through the entire process.
* Site selection
* Design and Construction
* Comprehensive training
* Grand opening
* Marketing Programs
* Benchmarking with industry experts

We teach you everything you need to know to open and operate your own Gofer Ice Cream shop.

To Learn more About This Sweet Brand Click Here: https://goferfranchise.com/
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Acai , franchise, profit

Acai Express
Be in the Business of Better…
* Better for You
* Better for the Planet
* Better for Franchisees.

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Our Beginnings

Not long ago, I was just like you. Smart, savvy, and tired of working hard for someone else’s benefit. I spent 10 years in the traditional restaurant business and knew the hard work I was doing could be made simpler with a system, made more enjoyable and less complicated, and better fit my lifestyle. My dream was to be able to put my experience to work in an easy and fun restaurant concept and support my family doing something I love. Acai Express is that.

When Passion Turned to Profit

I’ve always been an active guy who loved surfing and perfecting Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in my native Puerto Rico, but finding healthy and delicious food on the go and at the beach was a challenge. So, I started selling my own homemade organic super food bowls and smoothies. I used only the freshest ingredients and the centerpiece of all my creations was the 100% organic Grade A acai berry, a rich anti-oxidant stone fruit that grows on trees in the Amazon river basin. I just knew then that it was packed with flavor and goodness, but today the acai berry is considered a benefit to all kinds of health and well-being: cognition, heart health, aging, and weight loss. My acai-based menu got so popular, I started adding to the menu and selling out of my own food truck. When the number of my trucks went from one to thirteen and were located throughout Puerto Rico, I knew I had a business concept that small business owners anywhere could use. And, one that could marry an active lifestyle and career with an appreciation of honest, organic and nutrient rich foods. That’s the best part of Acai Express for me. I was able to be successful on my terms without sacrificing my intrinsic values.

Join the Family
When you become a member of the Acai Express family, even though our system is simple and easy to follow, you’ll work one-on-one with me and my team of franchisees and employees to ensure your success. We’re not some faceless corporate giant, we are the guys who get it done, and like you, are committed to success. Because your success is our success. You’ll also benefit from our hard won knowledge of what works, how to market and what consumers want. And, you’ll be part of a healthy lifestyle movement that has quickly gone from trend to established consumer demand.

To Learn More About this LifeStyle Brand Click Here: https://acaiexpressfranchise.com/
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TO SEE ALL THE BRANDS IN THE FRANCHISE GROWTH SOLUTIONS PORTFOLIO CLICK HERE: https://www.franchisegrowthsolutions.com/clients

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Franchise Disclaimer
None of the communications on this website should be construed as an offer to sell a franchise. We will not offer any franchise for sale: (1) until your state has duly registered our franchise offering or duly exempted our franchise offering from registration, if your state requires registration or exemption; and (2) until we have duly delivered our franchise disclosure document to you in compliance with applicable law.