#franchising

#franchising

When people joke about a chain having a store on every corner, the butt of the joke is usually Starbucks or McDonald's, but neither one is actually the country's largest chain restaurant. Of those two, Starbucks is the bigger one, having almost 17,000 stores in the U.S. at the end of 2024.

In this episode, I chat with Marc Brown, a dynamic attorney and Big Dave's Cheesesteaks franchise owner. Marc opens up about his non-linear career path from Biglaw to founding his own successful firm, sharing insights on the fulfilling shift to plaintiff's work and the challenges of running a business. Aspiring lawyers and entrepreneurs alike will find inspiration in Marc's journey of pursuing passion over convention and learning to balance career and life. Tune in for a mix of legal wisdom and the secret to a perfect cheesesteak!

Before there was the Big Mac from McDonald's or the Double Baconator from Wendy's, there was the Big Boy. A burger with three buns, two patties, cheese, and all the fixings was invented by Bob Wian in Glendale, California, in 1937. Wian started selling Big Boys at his restaurant, and it grew into such a success that it spun his restaurant into something entirely different, plus several licensed franchises around the country, many of which are still in operation today.

Cinnabon represents mall culture indulgence, with that famous cinnamon-sugar scent enveloping you before you even set sights on the kiosk. Since opening its first shop in the SeaTac mall in Seattle, Washington in 1985, the chain has spread across the U.S. and abroad - embedding itself in food courts, gas stations, and travel hubs as a reliable purveyor of cream cheese frosting and nostalgia.

The brand has gone through a handful of changes over the years, including being bought out for 10.2 million and filing for bankruptcy. When Max & Erma's first started, the focus was on fun. Telephones were set onto tables for customers to make phone calls across the restaurant while waiting for burgers to arrive. Patties made with 10 ounces of fresh beef quickly won over hearts and stomachs, and the chain ballooned.

It's not enough to have a great business idea that you think can be scaled up and replicated as a franchise. Your great idea must be a proven success, with a track record spanning at least a year. The whole idea of buying a franchise is that the company has figured things out and made most of the mistakes already, so you don't have to.

Sandwich maker Potbelly is being acquired by the gas station and convenience store chain RaceTrac for $566 million. Potbelly, which was founded in Chicago in 1977, has 445 restaurants across the U.S. company said the deal with RaceTrac will help it reach its goal of quadrupling in size to 2,000 locations. Potbelly stores are both company- and franchise-owned.

Tony Lamb is the founder and CEO of Kona Ice, the mobile shaved ice franchise (ranked #30 on the 2025 Franchise 500) known for its tropical trucks, kid-friendly Flavorwave station and deep community involvement. Lamb started out in sales, then launched Kona Ice in 2007, initially as a side hustle to teach his kids about business. He felt the ice cream truck model was outdated, often associated with poor quality and unreliable operators.

Wahlburgers announced the closure of 79 locations, primarily situated within Hy-Vee stores, while focusing on traditional restaurant expansion over grocery partnerships.

Alina Siert, a mom of three and a former tech professional, claims that after investing in Get Spiffy, a mobile car care franchise, she faced significant business failures due to misrepresentations.

The automotive industry continues to evolve, driven by innovation, convenience and consumer demand for faster, more efficient service. In 2025, the top-performing automotive franchises aren't just changing oil or replacing tires - they're streamlining operations, leveraging mobile platforms and building strong brand loyalty.

The most effective franchisees don't just want to grow a business, they want to serve their community. They sponsor youth sports teams and remember personal details about their clients.

Panera Bread requires developers to commit to opening approximately 15 cafés in six years, reflecting an aggressive schedule demanding substantial financial and operational commitment.

Grégoire, a gourmet sandwich spot that has served Berkeley for 23 years, is opening its first San Francisco location - a franchise - in the Inner Sunset in November.

"I woke up at 3 a.m. and thought, why don’t we have some sort of franchise day? There’s a national chocolate cake day, national potato chip day, etc."

The multi-billion-dollar fitness industry continues to grow, offering diverse ownership opportunities and scalable models, making it attractive for health-oriented entrepreneurs in franchising.

The market was in crisis and it became clear that we had to step in - not just to stabilize the business, but to protect the franchisees who were left without proper support.

Franchising offers a wide variety of brands that you can buy - at a wide range of budgets - from decades-old, beloved food brands to the hottest new culinary concepts.

When Covid struck and most people stayed inside their houses or apartments, Kennedy realized that Frios "was a business that needed to pivot to survive."

By the 1970s, just a decade into its operation under businessman Ray Kroc, McDonald's was already a thriving company that had served millions of customers.

The key distinction between chain restaurants and franchises lies in ownership and operational control; chain eateries are corporate-owned, while franchises feature independent operators.

A spokesperson for the Post Office said it hopes to complete the franchising by autumn, but that the move is "subject to government funding".