Entrepreneur's Startups Fall/Winter 2022

David answers my call on his Bluetooth-enabled helmet from atop an Aspen ski slope. I catch him just before he pushes off to descend this powdery, blackdiamond heaven. He doesn’t need to take calls on vacation—he just likes being available. I assure him we can talk later. Certainly, we can wait until he’s reached the bottom. David is one of the top franchisees in a brand of early childhood development centers. He has money, but equally important, he has time. He doesn’t always have to be at work, and his wife never has to be there. She practices law. Together, they bring in plenty of money to raise their family in a great neighborhood, travel, and ski. David runs his business. It doesn’t run him. David is a good example of…

Kitchen Tune-Up; Malvern, Pennsylvania Jeff Toren has been number one in sales at Kitchen Tune-Up, once doubled his sales performance in a year, and has won multiple awards. He says it’s because he’s all about “belief.” That word came up several times in our conversation and is clearly the reason for his success. He shared a story of seeing the phrase “100% Growth” on a slide being presented by Kitchen Tune-Up president Heidi Morrissey. She was actually advocating for 100% of locations to grow, but Jeff wasn’t paying attention and thought she meant all franchisees doubling sales. He was already number one in the system by far, doing $2 million in revenue. But when he saw her slide, he envisioned $4 million in annual sales. OK, we can do that, he thought…

Many people dream of owning a business. It’s not as crazy or far-fetched as it sounds. Each year, we compile and print one of the most comprehensive lists of franchise opportunities in the country. The list grew to more than 1,340 companies this year—the result, no doubt, of how the franchising industry has thrived in the past few years, despite the unpredictable economy. Established brands have innovated and grown, new brands have risen, and certain categories (like low-cost brands that can be operated out of your home) are on fire. We’re confident you’ll be able to find a product or service in our list that syncs with your life’s passion and can show you a pathway to owning and running your own business. These companies have already done the heavy lifting of…

When Kathy Davis was in her early 30s, she started a personal training business and spent the next two decades trying everything from bodybuilding to spin classes to triathlons and marathons. By the time she was in her mid-50s, she was living near Nashville, and the gym where she trained brought in a professional boxing instructor. She loved the sport so much that in November 2019, she and a couple of partners opened franchise number two of Mayweather Boxing + Fitness. Four months later, COVID shut down gyms nationwide. It was a blow, on top of the already complicated act of being an early franchisee. Here, Davis explains how she bobbed and weaved her way through. What led you to open one of the first Mayweather Boxing + Fitness franchises? They were…

Since it began franchising in 2016, Tommy’s Express has become one of the fastest-growing car wash chains in the United States. Here, a quick chat with CEO Alex Lemmen. What did you do this year that will set you up for even more success next year? Tommy’s added over 150 new team members to the corporate team, with the goal of increasing equipment production capacity as well as corporate support for our growing franchise community. We have added 80 sites in the last 18 months and are accelerating our construction and growth efforts to meet the demand we have in place to achieve 500 locations in the next two to three years. What trends in your industry are you watching right now? We aren’t the only ones growing; our competitors are trying to grow…

One of the biggest myths about franchises is that they’re prohibitively expensive. In fact, the reality is quite the opposite: Franchises are available at every price point. Yes, big-name legacy brands like KFC, 7-Eleven and Planet Fitness can require initial investments above $1 million. However, many valuable concepts cost considerably less to own and operate. Indeed, low-cost franchise brands are a wise option for entrepreneurs looking to get into the franchising industry—and there are several advantages to going the budget route. Newcomer nirvana If you don’t have millions in the bank, or maybe even a half-decent nest egg, you can still find many franchise concepts that command a lower investment level—and that could be a wise and practical way to get started. These franchises typically have operational requirements that are far less…