Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2019 i Entrepreneur Magazine

Practice saying sed non hodie. It means “but not today” in Latin. (Pronunciation: sed known hoe-dee-ay.) Why say it in Latin? Because it sounds better. It sounds scientific. And if you’re saying it in Latin, nobody else can understand the terrible, horrible, dangerous sentiment you’re expressing. Sed non hodie is what too many big companies say in response to a possible slowing or reversal of growth. Every entrepreneur should learn from their repetitive mistake. Consider where the impulse comes from: Every company wants to maintain or enhance its performance. That’s good—it’s how capitalism is supposed to work! But their managers often react not by changing for the future but rather by extending whatever the company already has. In the process, they have no idea how to evaluate the outcome. Are…

Life really does imitate art. In his 1994 indie film Clerks, writer-director Kevin Smith introduced the characters Jay and Silent Bob—two guys who spent all day peddling weed outside a New Jersey Quick Stop. Smith himself played Silent Bob; his childhood pal Jason Mewes played Jay. The characters would return in many of Smith’s movies…and now, 25 years and a different regulatory environment later, the duo are getting their own legal cannabis brand, Jay and Silent Bob’s Private Stash. Manufacturing-and-distribution company Chemesis International is to thank for it: The company initially approached Smith, who was more than enthusiastic to finally become a real-life ganjapreneur. You’re a famous weed enthusiast. Why name the brand after your characters, instead of yourself? Honestly, I could have probably gone with Kevin Smith, because that…

1/ Get Specific, and Do Your Research! From Lane Fisher, cofounder, Fisher Zucker We’ve been in business for more than three decades. The bulk of our work is with franchisors, and we’ve always said: experience, expertise, results. If you’re a franchisor, look for a lawyer with a good reputation in the industry, and seek representation from someone who works with like-minded entities. If you’re an emerging brand, for example, find a lawyer who represents emerging brands, not a Burger King–size operation. Franchisors need someone who can translate their brand’s secret sauce into the Franchise Disclosure Document—helping to explain how you stand out in a congested marketplace, how to price your opportunity, and how to award territories to prospective franchisees. Find a practice with someone who undertakes regulatory compliance, so they’re…

Alexis Courtney had spent eight years as a high school teacher when she became pregnant with her second child and quickly realized that life as an educator would no longer cut it. “My income was pretty much a wash once my husband and I factored in daycare for two kids,” she says. “We decided that if I was going to be working, we wanted it to benefit our family.” Her husband, Neal Courtney, had been a longtime exec with Famous Brands International, the parent company of TCBY and Mrs. Fields Cookies, and the couple wondered if they should launch their own business. But neither had the bandwidth or a foolproof idea. Then Alexis took their daughter for a haircut at Cookie Cutters Haircuts for Kids, one of the only kids’…

“I didn’t want to work to make others look good anymore,” said Sue Palenik, after being laid off from her job of nearly a decade. “Owning my own business was about me creating my own personal identity.” In 2010 at the age of 50, Sue changed course and invested in a Cruise Planners franchise. “Cruise Planners was the perfect fit for me. I always had a passion for travel, so why not work in the industry that would bring me joy?” No experience necessary As a Cruise Planners franchise owner and full-service travel advisor, Sue customizes amazing travel experiences ranging from cruises to guided land tours and all-inclusive resort vacations. Sue didn’t have any prior experience as a travel professional, so she relied on Cruise Planners’ comprehensive training and ongoing,…

Want a peek into what’s hot in the world of franchising right now? Entrepreneur’s list of the fastest-growing franchises is a great place to start. These 150 companies added a combined 9,768 franchise units in North America between July 2017 and July 2018, according to the data collected for the 2019 Franchise 500 ranking—proving them to be some of the most popular concepts with franchisees. Our hot list contains companies old and new. It’s topped by Taco Bell, a brand that’s thrived for decades, but it doesn’t take long to find lesser-known brands. There are franchises with thousands of units, as well as ones with less than a hundred (though that’s not likely to last for long if their growth rate continues). As is typical in franchising, quick-service food reigns…

F45 TRAINING (#19), which originated in Australia, is quickly making its mark on the U.S. fitness industry. And part of its expansion has been through a unique program that brings its 45-minute high-intensity interval-training classes to college campuses, including USC, Johns Hopkins, and the University of Texas. There are 25 universities on board so far—most acting as franchisees—with some offering classes to students for free. The company plans to sell at least 50 more units to colleges this year.…

ONLY ONE full-service restaurant made our fastest-growing list: Golden Corral (#108). That’s thanks in part to the new restaurant design the company unveiled in late 2017, which adds almost 1,000 square feet to the dining room (while removing the same from the now more efficient kitchen) and includes homey details like wood-toned ceilings, a stone fireplace, and tiled walls. Existing and new franchisees have been enthusiastic, with 12 new units already under construction this year and more in the pipeline.…

Since 2010, Lilly Singh has been lovingly known to fans as Superwoman—a moniker she has more than earned after amassing 14 million YouTube subscribers, producing and starring in a live world tour, and writing a best-selling book, among other projects. The actress and comedian catapulted to YouTube fame with her observational videos that tackle everyday life, and as her own celebrity grew, she started attracting top talent as collaborators: Dwayne Johnson, Priyanka Chopra, and Selena Gomez have all appeared on her channel. Now the 30-year-old is making plans for the next phase of her career and thinking hard about her own needs as a creator. She’s taking a closer look at her professional path, investing in her team, and shooting squarely for the traditional media world. You started your YouTube…

There’s an old saying that floats around the internet, always popping up in those collections of inspirational phrases: “Learn the rules like a pro so you can break them like an artist.” Did Pablo Picasso say it? The Dalai Lama? Alexander McQueen? All have been cited as the source, but whatever—its origin doesn’t matter. It endures because it’s true. Entrepreneurs are rule breakers, too, but the smartest among us know that you don’t go smashing windows just because . We don’t break rules for the fun of it. We break rules when we understand the systems that created those rules—and then, with careful thought and steely resolve, we can see bending that system to our will. We learned the rules. We know what we’re doing. And that’s…

Cody Alt had been in the entrepreneur game for years before he hit it big with CBD. After running successful crude oil and meal prep businesses in his 20s, Alt had already established himself as a hungry self-starter who’d stop at nothing to see his operations scale, before he turned an investment of $18,000 into millions with PureKana—one of the industry’s top-selling and consistently highest-rated CBD companies. PureKana entered the hemp landscape in 2017, when competition was quickly starting to build; but in just a few months, Alt’s venture broke away from the pack—even the market’s pioneers—with its ultra-concentrated, Kentucky-harvested CBD known for making good on claims of relieving stress and anxiety. And he’s already onto other ventures—including Kushly, which sells edibles, vape pens and pre-rolls to marijuana dispensaries in…

Ellie Lamonaca first entered the franchise world as a publicist, whose job was to help a franchise get media attention. But six years into her career, a new client captured her attention in a very different way. It was Conserva Irrigation, a sprinkler-system inspection and services company that helps homeowners and commercial properties cut down on water waste and bills. As a resident of South Florida, Lamonaca immediately understood the value of its business model—and saw opportunity. She texted her husband, Juan, and suggested they become Conserva franchisees, and in April 2017, the newlyweds opened their first territory, in Fort Lauderdale. They’ve since grown into two territories and are eyeing a third, and they’ve learned the value of investing in a strong team, taking the time to understand an industry,…

When Nader Masadeh’s family moved to Cincinnati from Jordan when he was a child, most of his relatives worked in restaurants. “When you come to the United States as an immigrant, skills don’t always transfer,” he says. “Restaurants provide accessible work.” Masadeh was no exception: He put in time at Taco Bell and Burger King. But after graduating high school, he took a different path. He studied engineering and business, worked for auto parts manufacturers and then Procter & Gamble. In 2004, he purchased a Buffalo Wings & Rings franchise. He’d planned at first for his father to operate the franchise, but he soon fell for the business more broadly. “I loved the brand, the niche it’s in, the food it serves,” he says. “I didn’t understand why it hadn’t…

Sammy Aldeeb is well aware that pizza is an oversaturated market. But it’s still full of opportunity. “Pizza will never go away,” he says. “You can be a millionaire and eat pizza, or you can be a college kid on a student budget and eat pizza. That’s why it’s a $45 billion industry.” That’s also why, after 10 years as a successful franchisee for brands including Marble Slab, Subway, and Great American Cookies, Aldeeb sold his portfolio of nearly 30 locations and started developing his concept for Urban Bricks, a made-your-way pizza franchise, built in the style of Chipotle. “Fifteen years ago, I would only eat burritos from my favorite ma-and-pa Mexican restaurant in San Antonio,” he says. “But now, I love designing my own burritos at Chipotle. America is…

Talk about fast growth! 42-year-old Jon Garnsey, possessing a solid background in real estate, relocated from Washington state to open Pillar To Post Home Inspectors® of Twin Falls but his territory encompasses almost all of south central Idaho, including Custer, Camas, Gooding, Twin Falls, Cassia, Jerome, Lincoln, Minidoka, Blaine and Butte counties. To put that in proper perspective, Garnsey’s 10-county territory covers almost 12,000 square miles. “The northern border reaches within 20 miles of Montana and my territory borders both Utah and Nevada in the south,” said Garnsey, who added that his territory includes Borah Peak, the highest peak in Idaho, located in Custer County and countless natural wonders in between from the Snake River Canyon to picturesque Sun Valley. Garnsey said he was drawn to Pillar To Post because…

Mosquito Joe continues its rapid ascent to leading in the mosquito control industry. After seeing explosive growth in the last six years, the company is aiming for another record-breaking season. Entering the franchise space in 2013, Mosquito Joe has grown to over 285 open locations throughout the United States. After being acquired by Neighborly, formerly the Dwyer Group, Mosquito Joe joins the ranks of other household names such as Molly Maid, Mr. Rooter, and Grounds Guys. A Network Of Real People The franchise industry is an attractive opportunity for those looking to embark on their journey to business ownership, but want the assurance of a proven system. What truly differentiates each franchise opportunity is the level of support from the franchisee network. Mosquito Joe is proud to be made up…

TACO BELL TOPS our fastest-growing ranking for the first time this year, and the brand shows no signs of slowing down, with plans to open 1,000 new domestic restaurants by 2022. Almost a third of those will be the company’s Urban In-Line or Cantina concepts, which do away with the drive-through. This makes it possible for Taco Bell to expand into previously underserved areas, like New York City, where 125 new restaurants are planned over the next five years. Both concepts feature open kitchens, local artwork, shareable tapas-style menus, free wi-fi, and outlets for charging devices, often in a smaller footprint than a traditional Taco Bell.…

IN 2012, Dollar Shave Club became a viral sensation seemingly overnight, thanks to its debut advertisement: a goofy, sharp-witted video starring CEO Michael Dubin that crashed the brand’s website and has since amassed more than 25 million views on YouTube. Seven years later, that irreverent voice still guides the men’s grooming company, which was acquired by Unilever in 2016 for a reported $1 billion. At the sunny Marina Del Rey, Calif., headquarters, team members host casual barbecues on the office patio and sometimes wander the open floors in sweat suits to celebrate “athleisure day.” Instead of motivational posters as decor, a neon sign at the coffee bar playfully reminds staffers to get back to work. And they’re happy to. SARITHA IVATURI/ Director of data systems “When I came to Dollar…

Drew and Jonathan Scott were about to enter their first-ever escape room. This was a decade ago, before the rooms—containing a series of puzzles that must be solved before time runs out—had become an international trend. The identical twins and hosts of HGTV’s blockbuster series Property Brothers were traveling through Budapest, and their mother suggested they try the activity. So the brothers made their way into the basement of a building and apprehensively asked how it works. “We lock you in; you try to get out,” the owner replied, in what Jonathan describes as a menacing Eastern bloc accent. “We thought for sure we were being kidnapped,” he adds. Instead, the brothers became each other’s worst enemy. Drew barked orders at Jonathan, while Jonathan obsessed over small, inconsequential problems. They…

A January chill tunnels through the streets of Manhattan as Amanda Chantal Bacon walks into ABC Kitchen early for lunch with investors, shaking off Los Angeles jet lag and her most recent troll. Before she got on the plane, the 35-year-old founder of Moon Juice says, she spotted a comment on the company Instagram: “This person was cursing, ‘I don’t like your content anymore. I used to buy you; now I don’t. Get your shit together, Amanda Chantal Bacon.’ ” She’s thinking about it still, but she’s not stuck on it. Bacon is, in the booming parallel universe of alternative medicine–slash-wellness that’s been defined by Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop, one of the most visible stars outside of Paltrow herself. And she has other things on her mind. Investors to check in…

When David Graham built his current business, Code Ninjas, he didn’t want to build just a coding school for kids. He wanted to build the coding school for kids. “It’s a timely, niche business, and we knew someone would end up being the 800-pound gorilla in the space,” he says. “We wanted it to be us.” Code Ninjas was also a return to form for Graham, a longtime lover of coding who’d taken an unexpected detour into a very different line of work. He began his career as a software developer, and owned and operated a consulting firm, a video game business, and a coding program for adults, then became fixated on…the world of fitness? “I liked the recurring revenue model,” he says plainly. “But I had no idea how…

In 2012, Scott Burandt was laid off. But he and his family were prepared. The Burandts had already embarked on a journey towards financial stability through business ownership with Sport Clips Haircuts. Years prior, layoffs and an out of state relocation were both real possibilities for the Burandts. Neither Scott nor his wife, Anne, wanted to uproot their four boys, especially for a company that did not provide much in the way of job security. The couple saw franchising to secure their financial future. After much research, Scott says, “Sport Clips and its values stood out from the rest.” The semi-absentee business model meant Scott could keep his current job and income while the family built their business on the side. In 2007, the Burandt family signed with Sport Clips…

LAST YEAR was a banner year for Sport Clips (#43). As the brand celebrated its 25th anniversary, it served more than 33 million clients (up from 31 million in 2017) and generated $685 million in system-wide sales, an increase of 10 percent. Though smaller than some of its competitors, Sport Clips is the only hair-care franchise with locations in all 50 states, and in addition to expanding that already wide footprint, the company launched a new mobile app, offering check-in, wait time, and reminder features.…

I keep a recipe in my bedside table. It’s for chocolate chip cookies with black walnuts, and it’s handwritten by my mom, who is deceased. She received the recipe from her mother and passed it to me long before I’d go on to become a professional chef. I keep it safe in a plastic bag, and I probably look at it three or four times a month, more often if things are rough. As a child, I spent a lot of time with my mom in the kitchen. It was the place in our home where family gathered. I grew up in the Midwest during a time of civil unrest, in an era of segregation and racial tension. My mom taught me how to navigate this time, and how to…