Joel Libava

The Brass Tap franchise just signed its first franchise agreement in Delaware. The new bar is planned for Middletown, at the Bayberry Town Center. Key Takeaways The Brass Tap signed its first Delaware franchise agreement, for Middletown. The lease is still being negotiated, so there's no opening date yet. In addition, the Delaware franchisee has no bar experience, so training…

Buying a franchise with your spouse sounds romantic. Two people. One dream. A shared grand opening photo. Then reality shows up. One of you is picking paint colors. The other is asking about the personal guarantee and other things legal. Talk about uncomfortable. I've seen this happen many times right before my very own eyes. So if you’re thinking about…

I've written about AI and the franchise business before, but not in a situation like this. One in which a major franchisor like McDonald's is being accused of using AI for illegal price-fixing between locations. Key Takeaways A consumer has sued McDonald's in federal court. From my reading of the news story, the suit claims McDonald's AI pricing tool amounts…

Buying and running a franchise as a couple is fairly common — and many do it well. As beautifully as it can work out, however, owning a franchise with your spouse can also strain the strongest of marriages. This post explores the planning, role definition, and boundaries needed for this arrangement to be fruitful.

Pecan Jacks is growing and opening a new store in Panama City Beach, Florida, this October. But it's not just another scoop shop. It's a corporate training center. The brand sells ice cream and handcrafted candy. "Artisan desserts inspired by the charm of the seaside." And Pecan Jacks now operates across 10 states. This is a big move for a…

Please stop asking AI/ChatGPT to "find me the best franchise." Because ChatGPT is not a human. It's a robot. A smart one, but it's not perfect. And it doesn't "know" you. Please don't pretend it does. Key Takeaways on Using ChatGPT to "Find Me the Best Franchise" Most franchise buyers are already using AI to research brands. But they're doing…

I get a lot of questions these days about AI and franchising, and most of them come from people who are already deep into their own research. Sometimes their ChatGPT franchise research. These franchise buyers have been using ChatGPT for weeks, sometimes months, before they ever talk to me. That's a fairly new development in my 25 years doing this…

You're Already Using AI to Research Franchises. Are You Using It Right? Admit it. You've probably already typed "best franchise to buy" or "should I buy a [brand name] franchise" into ChatGPT. You got an answer back. It sounded confident. It was also almost certainly incomplete, and possibly wrong in ways you had no way to detect. That's not a…

Quick answer: Using AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini to help you buy a franchise can be done. But you need human input. That's because while AI is great at helping today's franchise buyers organize information and can help translate complex franchise legal language into plain English, it's not perfect. Or human. What AI Can't Do For Franchise Buyers…

Maryland lawmakers passed the biggest update to the state's franchise rules in more than 40 years. The Franchise Reform Act (Senate Bill 415 and House Bill 730) cleared the General Assembly by wide margins. Governor approval followed, and the new provisions take effect October 1, 2026. This is the first significant change to the Maryland Franchise Law, since it was…

Breadless just made a big move. The Detroit-born sandwich brand signed its first-ever franchise development deal. The partner is Jonah Smith and Third Coast Harvest, LLC. Fact: This is a five-unit agreement. Two locations are headed to Ann Arbor, Michigan. Three are headed to Chicago. When Will New Breadless Locations Open? The first Ann Arbor location is set to open…

You found a brand you like. The unit economics look solid. The franchisor's rep is friendly and responsive. Now comes the part most buyers rush: picking a franchise territory. Fact: A five-year lease at $4,000 a month adds up to $240,000. Most of that commitment gets signed with a personal guaranty attached to it. That's a lot of money riding…

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit is facing a new problem that prospective franchise buyers should pay close attention to. California regulators say the franchise company failed to accurately report the number of franchise locations that had stopped operating. More specifically, The California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) has ordered Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. (a franchise I reviewed a few years…

Owning and operating one successful franchise location feels good, but how will you know when or if it is time to open a second unit? Here are five signs to look out for.

Huddle House franchising is making a big push to attract franchisees who want to build a multi-unit restaurant business. The 60-year-old breakfast and family dining brand recently announced a new incentive package aimed at qualified franchise operators. And some of the incentives are significant. The biggest one may be the royalty break. The Huddle House Franchising Incentives Franchisees who commit…

This post is about starting a franchise vs. starting your own business-and the costs involved in both. Every year, several people ask me the same question in a different outfit. "Wouldn't it just be cheaper to start my own thing?" Hey-it's a fair question. Franchise fees look scary on paper. Royalty payments feel like rent you never stop owing. So…

Florida continues to attract franchise expansion. Now, a major Crunch Fitness franchisee is adding another location to its growing footprint in the state. CR Fitness Holdings LLC is preparing to open Crunch Maitland. The new club will bring the franchise group closer to 65 Crunch Fitness locations in Florida. The opening is scheduled for August 20, 2026. That's significant growth.…

By JT Tatem Thinking About Selling a Business? Here's How the Process Usually Begins At some point, most business owners ask themselves a simple question: "What would happen if I decided to sell my business?" For some, the thought of selling a business comes after years of building a successful business. Others start exploring the idea because they're ready for…

I've been in the franchise business for over 25 years. I've seen brands grow the right way. I've seen brands grow the wrong way. I've seen franchisees win big and lose everything. But now, with the introduction of private equity in franchising, I'm starting to think about the potential for franchisees to get screwed. That being said, I'm not here…

SpringGreen Lawn Care just announced something worth paying attention to. It's a good story. In this case, franchise owners Tom and Mike O'Brien recently expanded into Pennsylvania. That's their fifth territory. On the surface, it's a growth story. Underneath it, it's a lesson in how the best franchise businesses actually get built. Key Takeaways From This SpringGreen Lawn Care Franchise…