THIS YEAR WILL BE GREAT. REALLY

After months of forced closures and record-high unemployment in 2020, the U.S. is ready for an economic recovery—and the franchise industry is uniquely positioned to lead the charge.

Rebecca Minkoff – To Hell in a Handbag

Rebecca Minkoff’s luxury fashion brand cratered in the pandemic. But she’s been at the bottom before, and she knows the way back up: You have to be fearless.

Working (and Napping) Across Time Zones

Bearaby makes weighted blankets to help its customers sleep better. To help its employees at all hours, the company embraces a flexible schedule that celebrates snoozing.

A Small Part OF A Small Business Can Be A Big Idea

Lisa Tran’s parents (right) escaped a Communist regime and built a small restaurant in America. Now she wants to reinvent it by building a business based solely on their sauces. Her mom thinks she’s crazy—and maybe she is. But some of the greatest brands were built in much the same way.

More Is More

Why do many franchise systems prefer working with multi-unit operators? We dig into four different companies—learning why they recruit franchisees the way they do, and what life is like for someone who owns multiple units.

The Recipe for Success: Strategy and Flexibility

A year after opening his first Curry Up Now, Pritesh Benjamin knows one thing about business ownership: You’ve got to be ready for anything.

Stop Selling to Gen Z

Traditional marketing doesn’t work on this discerning, coveted demo. If you can’t sell to them? Join them.

THE SURPRISING IMPORTANCE OF A COCKTAIL TO GO

This is the story of how complicated it is to change a simple law—and the large role entrepreneurs can play.

Run a Company…or Work for One?

You may own a business, but what happens when you get a great job offer from someone else? Here’s how to decide your next move.

Staying Ahead of Change

Yousuf Ali had a successful career in marketing until he failed to embrace new technologies. Now, as a My Eyelab franchisee, embracing forward-thinking capabilities is the key to his success.

Ready For A Big Return

The end of the pandemic is in sight, and many franchises are anticipating an explosion in business. Leaders at four franchises share how their brands are working overtime to prepare for the rush and win back coveted business.

Think Like a Disruptor

If you want to shake things up, you must have a mindset that’s different from everyone else’s. Here are three ways to reshape your thinking.

Managing Mental Illness Can Be a Team Effort

Like so many people—and so many entrepreneurs— my husband and business partner struggles with his mental health. I’m speaking up so others know: With the right understanding, life and business can still be good.

His Worst Five Years Were His Life's Best Gift

What is it like to build a hit business and then lose all control? The founder of Max Brenner: Chocolate by the Bald Man has a lot to say about that.

Can Creativity Be Created?

Your team has big ideas. To unlock them, you must first build an environment of support and encouragement.

Creating Trust Where There Was None

Home renovations are full of headaches—but how do you fix an age-old industry woe? Here’s how Jean Brownhill, founder and CEO of Sweeten, built something better.

Build Lasting Partnerships

Finding trustworthy vendors and partners is key to growing your business—but it’s a challenging relationship to perfect. We asked six entrepreneurs to share their best methods.

Bethenny Frankel Is a Time-management Machine

She builds multimillion-dollar brands, stars in TV shows, and vigorously defends every moment of her day. The secret? It starts with deciding what matters (and what doesn’t).

THE CREATIVE PROCESS STARTS WITH PROCESS

My business barely survived its first few years, and I nearly crumbled under the stress.Then I learned the greatest lesson of my career, which transformed our company into the go-to apron brand for restaurants everywhere: Without process, we are nothing.

Interviewing from Afar

We’ve learned to embrace remote work, but remote hiring is still a challenge. Six entrepreneurs share how they virtually screen for talent.

From Each Solution, a New Challenge

Every time Dawn Dickson created a product she believed in, it pointed her to an even bigger problem to solve. Now she’s got a company poised for growth.

HOW TO OWN A CULTURAL MOMENT: WITH PERSONALITÉ

Yes Way Rosé began as a playful Instagram account. Now it’s one of the buzziest wines in America. What happened? It’s a case study in spotting the cultural moment before it explodes…and giving it a voice.

How to Adapt ZOOMING INTO THE FUTURE

In 2020, Zoom transformed from a business tool into a lifeline. How did the company keep up? Simple, says founder and CEO Eric Yuan: It focused on fundamentals.

FINDING HER HAPPY PLACE

Dee Clemmons was excited to open a Painting with a Twist franchise…and then the pandemic hit. She opened anyway, and still feels good.

Working Together IT'S TIME TO GET CREATIVE

We may be physically apart, but actor and entrepreneur Joseph Gordon-Levitt says we can (and should!) still find ways to creatively collaborate.

THE END OF THE LINE

COVID-19 has forced the restaurant industry to rethink everything. No brand has seen a more dramatic shift than The Halal Guys, a food cart turned franchise where long lines and busy stores were part of the appeal. So how do you transform a hot spot into a safe, reliable meal?

DESTROY YOUR BOUNDARIES

Last year taught us about what’s possible. This year, let’s put that lesson to maximum use.

CAN THERE BE TWO TINDERS FOR CLOTHES?

She was a first-time founder with a fresh idea. Then a $30 million competitor arrived.

CAN EMAIL BE BETTER?

Email is useful but often unmanageable, which is why a new slate of apps are offering to help. We test the buzziest of them: Superhuman.

BUILDING A STRONG TEAM

Dan Murphy is an Army vet and a former NCAA athlete who knows the power of community. Now, as COO of the gym franchise D1 Training, his business is only as strong as its weakest link.