2016
MULTI-UNIT
Multi-Unit Partners Franchisors & Multi-Unit Franchisees team up for growth
Multi-unit franchisees dominate today ’ s marketplace , controlling more total units than their single-unit counterparts — and an increasing number are operating multiple brands .
This steady shift over the past decade led Franchise Update Media in 2004 to debut a new magazine — Multi-Unit Franchisee — to serve the growing generation of multi-unit operators , hungry for information to help them expand both their number of units and their number of brands .
The first issue of the new magazine featured multi-brand franchisee John Prince , a former stockbroker whose franchise holdings then included Applebee ’ s , Aaron ’ s , Famous Dave ’ s , and a Hooters ( in Salt Lake City , no less !). We also featured Jim Gendreau , who in 1981 sold 70 franchises in 9 months for Cost Cutters , and then became a serial franchisee for several brands , including operating 54 Cost Cutters of his own . We also told the story of Tom Larson , who had 20 lodging and restaurant units spread among 7 brands . We led the story with this :
“ Besides size , what makes these area developers different from other franchise owners ? Why do they amass so many units and brands while others are content with one site , maybe two or three ? How do they manage to manage more brands than other people can handle units ? Who are these guys ?”
Since then we ’ ve interviewed and profiled hundreds of “ these guys ” ( and women ); heard from experts on every facet of the business ; and compiled lists and rankings that chronicle the fantastic growth in not only the numbers , but also in the professionalism of these operators and their organizations .
Our annual Multi-Unit Franchising Conference also has grown over the years , in both the number and the quality of attendees , panelists , speakers ,
and exhibitors . Our online multi-unit business intelligence offerings have also expanded greatly with monthly newsletters and websites focused on multiunit franchising — paralleling the growth and serving the growing needs of the expanding ranks of multi-unit and multibrand franchisee organizations .
Franchisors , in tandem with the growing base of multi-unit operators , have recognized this change and responded
by altering their sales approach , even their FDDs , to accommodate multiple-unit sales to experienced franchisees . The “ three-pack ” has grown to the five-pack and 10-pack , and we ’ re hearing more about deals to develop upwards of 50 or 100 units in territories that grow larger each year .
Many of these multi-unit operators are only too pleased to share what they know with each other through our indepth magazine profiles , taking time out from their busy schedules to reflect on their success and offer their stories and insights to our readers . And up close and personal at our annual Multi-Unit Conference , they have shown a generosity of spirit through impromptu conversations and on-the-spot mentoring .
This fourth annual edition of the Multi-Unit Buyer ’ s Guide to Franchise Opportunities is a resource for connecting expansionminded multi-unit operators with like-minded franchisors . The following pages , filled with concrete information from franchisors , is intended to help you evaluate new opportunities to diversify your portfolio of franchise brands .
The franchisors listed in these pages understand multi-unit franchising and are actively seeking experienced operators to help them penetrate new markets , quickly and effectively — and you ’ re looking for the best brands to help your franchisee organization grow . We hope this guide helps all involved . New and prosperous partnerships could be just a few pages away !
2 MULTI-UNIT BUYER ’ S GUIDE 2016