Standing Even Taller

On my 14th birthday, my grandmother gave me a present: a framed photograph of her and my grandfather as teenagers in the 1940s. Then she explained the purpose behind it. \"Your dad told me that you've started slouching when pictures are taken,\" she said, \"because you're taller than the other girls and boys in your grade.\"

Selling Out, or Buying In?

Independent, mom-and-pop businesses are converting into franchises-but these decisions are tough to make when you've worked hard to build something on your own. What are these business owners giving away, and what can they gain?

Going for the Gold

After competing in two Olympics, this swimmer dove headfirst into her second career-and became SafeSplash Swim School's #1 franchisee. Here's how.

This Is the 'Ultimate Measure of a Good Leader'

When the founder of a fast-growing North Carolina biscuit franchise passed away abruptly the company discovered the true value of founding principles.

Spotlight on JAPAN

UPGRADING CAPITALISM BY EQUIPPING TODAY'S BUSINESSES WITH TOMORROW'S TECHNOLOGIES

WHO'S AT YOUR CENTER?

Chris Hemsworth was a struggling actor-until he figured out how to stop obsessing over what he wants, and start focusing on what other people need.

How to Make an Irresistible Offer

To give your customers what they really want, you first need to know what they really need.

How to Sound Smart and Memorable, Anytime

You don't have to memorize what you're saying. But you do need a structure that helps your ideas stick.

Why 'Buy Green' Fails

As more companies become eco-friendly, they're often struggling to connect with consumers. Why? Because their communications are all wrong.

If at First You Don't Get Clients...

Try, try again? That's the lesson of Facet, an innovative financial planning startup that tried everything to get its first customers.

What Were You Wrong About?

Sometimes, a shift in perspective can change everything. But how do you trigger a revelation? Here, six leaders talk about what helped them see things clearly.

How Far Away Is Your Goal?

It may feel very distant, and that’s frustrating. So let’s figure out how close you really are.

Businesses for Sale

Looking to buy one? Here’s our comprehensive guide to 1,506 franchise opportunities you can pursue now.

What's Up? (And What's Down?)

Want to know what’s really happening in franchising? We crunched five years’ worth of data—and found trends you might have missed.

Where Did Your Brand Voice Come From?

Every company has a personality and a communication style. Here, the founders of six companies share how they figured out what their business should sound like.

Wrangling the Many-Headed Monster

For mom-and-pop business owners, just as inflation calms in one area of operations, it rears its head somewhere else. The best way to stay on top of it, experts Say, is to stay flexible.

A Sweet Scoop of Success

Want to open 15 units in 15 years? Follow the playbook of Primo Partners-Ben & Jerry's only Black-owned multi-unit franchise group.

Bozoma Saint John – 'You Want to Be Well-Known'

Bozoma Saint John has been a high-profile marketer for the likes of Netflix, Uber, and Apple. If you want to succeed, she says, don’t be shy about marketing yourself.

How One Mom & Pop Shop Expanded 2,500 Times

Jersey Mike's famously began as a single shop owned by a teenager. Now it's everywhere. How exactly does that happen?

Finding My Stride

by Leigh Ann Cannady, founder and artistic director, Forsyth Academy of Performing Arts

Give Yourself Some Grace

Franchising isn't always easy-but if you acknowledge when you're doing the best you can, the way Weed Man CEO Jen Lemcke has, then everything will be okay.

The $12 Billion Question

Brex was a fintech unicorn that grew too fast and nearly imploded. To turn it into the multibillion-dollar company that it's become, its founders had to step back and ask: \"What do we do, and who are we for?\" Finding those answers wasn't easy.

MAKE A PLAN AND STICK TO IT

Independent businesses are unique, so there’s no cookie-cutter formula for marketing, experts Say. It’s all about trying things out—but try things for long enough to really know if they're working.

HOW DAVID BEATS OUT GOLIATH

Can mom-and-pop shops truly compete against big-box behemoths and e-commerce giants? Yes, experts say—but they have to think and act truly local.

The Sound of Social Silence

Do people ignore your social media posts? That might not be a bad thing.

What's Your Ghost Job?

It's one of your five jobs. And if you want to find meaning at work, you must identify all of them.

Choosing the Words That Can Change Your Company

Is it time to update your vision statement? A few words can shift how your entire organization thinks. Here's how I figured out the words that were right for us.

Are You Productive?

Maybe you think you are. I did. But to avoid burning out, we may need to think differently

The Bubble Gets Bigger

Want to capitalize on a booming trend? There's a lot to learn from Kung Fu Tea

A Golden Opportunity in the Golden Years

Who are the best caretakers for seniors? This franchise's answer: other seniors