Here’s a list of some terrific franchise blogs that I read regularly. (I’m subscribed to a few of them, too) Some of these top franchise blogs are run by folks that I know fairly well, while some of them are run by folks that I’ve never interacted with.
The important thing is this:
If you happen to be interested in the world of franchising, you should consider subscribing to these fine blogs. You’ll get a well-rounded view of this segment of small business.
The Top 10 Franchise Blogs are ranked in order, with #1 being the best, are…
1. Franchise Business Opportunities weblog
Dane Carlson is probably the most veteran of the bloggers in this small business niche. He’s posted thousands of articles on franchising over the years. His blog network is big enough to support extra writers, and they’re all top-shelf. Newer franchise concepts are highlighted, and they’re not just US or Canadian franchises. Dane’s franchise blog is global.
2. AllBusiness.com Franchise Blog
With the former executive editor of Entrepreneur Magazine running the show on this blog, this is a must-read. Rieva Lesonsky, and a small team of writers keep readers up to date with pertinent articles about franchising, and also put together an annual AllBusiness AllStars list of the top 300 franchise concepts. Dun & Bradstreet are the owners of this huge web property.
The team over at Franchise Direct is as good as it gets. (Disclosure; They are a strategic partner of mine) Donald Cranford does most of the writing on this blog. Don’s style is short and sweet. He keeps readers informed of important franchise happenings, without the spin. Franchise Direct owns several franchise portals, including some fantastic international ones.
4. FranBest
In terms of raw writing talent, Sean Kelly is the guy. Not only does Sean pump out some amazing articles, he’s one of the funniest guys I’ve never met. Sean and I have been interacting for almost four years now, but we still haven’t met face to face. FranBest showcases a lot of niche franchises, and Sean provides thoughtful commentary concerning the world of franchise ownership. Sean is a marketing guy at heart. And it shows.
5. Spring-Green Franchise blog
Another franchise website recently named this 1+ year old franchise blog as “one to watch,” so I’ve included it here. It’s actually replacing one that was in this spot for various reasons. (One being the dude doesn’t it to be called a blog.) That’s fine. Now, for a disclosure; I helped set the Spring-Green Franchise blog up, (along with a great Typepad designer.) I also contribute content on it. So there. Check it out, and let me know if you like it. Okay?
The team over at Sanderson PR, a boutique public relations firm that just so happens to specialize in franchising, is fantastic. Rhonda Sanderson, runs a tight ship, and you can tell that her employees have a blast working for her. Just go over to their blog and read some of their articles. This is an upbeat franchise blog, and you’ll find lots of articles that will make you want to go out and party! Rhonda and Courtney, (Rhonda’s right -hand gal) taught me a lot about PR, and I’m forever grateful. 🙂
Lizette Pirtle is part of the team over at International Expansion Experts, a franchise development firm. This blog just keeps getting better and better. You’ll find topics targeted towards the franchisor-franchisee relationship. These relationships can be complicated, and Lizette’s posts try to help both parties understand each other better. Franchise success seems to be the theme for this fine blog.
No, it’s not that Rush. It’s Rush Nigut, a web-savvy Iowa franchise attorney, who was smart enough to start a blog a few years ago. Rush is actually the first franchise attorney that I interacted with when social media wasn’t called social media. His blog is focused on franchise and employment law, and although he may not post as often as some of the other bloggers on this list, when he does, it’s good stuff. This guy gets it.
9. Franchise Law Solutions Blog
New York Franchise attorney Charles Internicola does a fine job with his blog, and it just keeps getting better. Some of his best posts are geared to folks that are in the exploratory stage of franchising. He also offers a plethora of free tips for folks that are thinking about licensing or franchising their businesses. Check out the offer he has going for his book.
10. Franchise Pundit
Ryan Knoll is a business attorney from the great city of Chicago. He’s been on the blogging scene for a long time, and writes articles that are geared towards existing franchisees. I don’t recommend reading his blog when you’re hungry, though. The largest sector in franchising, food-related franchises, are prominently featured in his posts, along with some rather appetizing photos.
Those are my top ten. I’m sure I didn’t miss any.
(Just in case I did, feel free to gently remind me of any others, by commenting on my franchise blog. Below.)
The Top 10 Franchise Blogs
Here’s a list of some terrific franchise blogs that I read regularly. (I’m subscribed to a few of them, too) Some of these top franchise blogs are run by folks that I know fairly well, while some of them are…
thanks
Thank you Joel for selecting my blog as part of the 10 best! I am in great company and I truly appreciate this acknowledgement from you, The Franchise King!
Think you forgot one that, as you are very well aware, is quite respected in the franchise industry; franchisEssentials by Paul Segreto, which can be located at http://www.franchisEssentials.com. Probably should make it a Top 11 list instead.
I think this is a great list. I also think that it was a real classy thing you did-not including your own blog in the article.
(It’s really the best franchise blog)
Tom Rondo
Joel,
Thank you so much for inclusion on your list. It’s quite a compliment.
Hi Joel,
This is a great list. We have referenced some of these on our weekly radio show.
Best regards,
Marty McDermott
Franchise Interviews
Lizzette:
You do a great job. Really helpful stuff! I went back and forth on Paul’s site. It’s kind of a website-kind of a blog.
Rush;
You’re welcome!
Tom;
Thank you so much for saying that!
The Franchise King®
Joel, I’m glad that my blog made your list. You have the link to Blue MauMau though, which is an online trade journal covering franchise news.
My own blog is here:
http://www.bluemaumau.org/blog/don_sniegowski
Regarding the online trade journal Blue MauMau, I’m so glad as its founder to see what it has accomplished. CEOs, industry leaders, front-line franchisees and suppliers leak news information to us on a daily basis. That allows our journalists to print the news that no one else seems to get.
In your review you mentioned that the complaints about franchising, and franchise brokers, have been reigned in. Actually, these still are posted by readers under some of the articles and in a few forums. Our forums are open, as are the comments under our articles, so remarks that are critical to a franchise concept or broker cannot be “reigned in.” That would go against the public nature of our site and our philosophy. Those comments are immediate proof to the reader that they are getting the full spectrum of truth, and not news that is white-washed by companies. The number that receive complaints is amazingly small, considering there are an estimated 3,500 franchisors out there.
We also have advice blogs (http://www.bluemaumau.org/frontpageblogs) that are written by industry experts in the U.S., Canada and Australia. Those outside of the industry are sometimes invited in to publish on occasion where the industry might have a blind spot, to bring in additional insights.
We try hard in our investigative news pieces to uphold journalistic integrity. For example, if Rhonda Sanderson helped Blue MauMau in its public relations efforts (she doesn’t), we would have to disclose it to our readers if we listed Sanderson PR as one of our top franchise blog choices. If we failed to do so, our readers would list it, and then they would have us for lunch.
Your efforts in writing blogs and comments from a franchise broker perspective in the early days of Blue MauMau is and will always be greatly appreciated.
Regards,
Don Sniegowski
Blue MauMau, Inc. editor
Don,
Your blog/journal deserves to be on the list, that’s for sure.
Here’s waht I said about the old days of your blog:
“The blog went through a period in which it resembled more of a “franchise bashing forum,” as opposed to an informational site on the business model of franchising. If you go back 2-3 years in the blog’s archives, you’ll see some of the wackiest exchanges to ever take place concerning franchising. The bashing part seems to have been reigned in, and Blue MauMau is more about franchise news and opinion now.”
I never said anything about complaints against franchise brokers. Having an open forum, which you do, means that anything goes, unless you change things around, and limit who can post and comment.
The bashing that I spoke of was real, and although you may not have “reigned it in, the community sure did.
On this blog, and on my franchise/small business websites,I disclose not only my relationships with vendors, but I even go as far as making sure that anything that I write that happens to be part of one of my social media/article marketing packages, is disclosed, too.
One more thing;
There’s not anyone else out there in the franchise brokerage world that’s as careful as I am, when it comes to working with folks that are truly suitable for franchise ownership. You know that, because you know me.
My posts here, and the articles I write as a columnist for Small Business Trends, (Where I’m also the Community Promotions Director)OPEN Forum By American Express, and Business.Gov truly reflect my position when it comes to franchising.
I look forward to even more interaction, Don. It’s been too long, eh?
The Franchise King®
Joel,
I think it was a great idea to do a Top 10 Franchise Blogs article. Now, some folks may get mad, and may feel that I’m a bit predjudiced because I’m your brother, but your blog is the best franchise blog around! You are straightforward, truthful, and sometimes even funny. Rock on!
Jon Libava
Brother of the King
Jon,
Thank you so much for reading the post, and commenting about it.
I really appreciate the compliment too! I’m trying!
The Franchise King®
Well of course I am thrilled to be on the KING’S list
Of Top Ten franchise blogs. We were for sure one of the first
To do one and we only hope it’s gotten better over the years. Joel you have done a great job educating
People on franchising and we are happy to have been
A part of it. You are also a big fan of Sanderson PR and Courtney and for that I say you have great taste! Jon Libava-doesn’t this make you the Prince?
Rhonda,
Thank you so much for chiming in, and for helping me learn about PR.
Your gals are the best, and I’m sure it’s good to know that you can take care of what you need to, while they run the show, flawlessly.
I’m calling the Prince now. Let me see what he think of the title given to him by the Franchise PR Queen!
The Franchise King®
Thanks for your Top 10. I have been in franchising for 20 years and have to admit some of your picks were new to me. So…thank you.
I have started my own blog for small busines, franchised or not, aimed at the more than 26 million of us involved with small business. Please take a gander and let me know what you think. http://smallbusinessnotsmallgoals.blogspot.com
All the best,
Michael Sawitz
Chief Executive Officer
AIM Mail Centers
Thank you, Michael I’ll go check it out.
How’s your year? Selling new franchises? Are your prospective new franchise owners getting financed?
The Franchise King®
Commission Splits for Mortgage Broking Franchisees
Commission splits are often a big focal point for new franchisees. Rightly so, Brokers want to
know how much they will be paid and there is a myriad of structures out there for them to deal
with. These can vary from volume based upfront commission splits to loan book value splits and
everything in between. So, what should you be looking for and what are the real dangers?
Splits generally range from 40% – 95% of the upfront commission and 40% – 70% of the trailing
commission.
The percentage that the franchisee splits with the franchisor is extremely important in two ways; it
directly determines the franchisee’s level of income and it directly affects the level of funding going
back to the franchisor to enable them to provide certain products & services to the franchisees e.g.
Software and IT platforms, support staff, marketing etc.
An extreme either way is dangerous as franchisees need to be renumerated sufficiently for their
work otherwise their business is not viable and the franchisor needs sufficient funds to be able to
value add to the franchisee’s business. Without the right balance of funding this is not possible.
I believe that around the 70% mark for upfront and trail provides an extremely good balance and
allows healthy remuneration and value.
It is very important in this industry to ensure that you receive the trailing income. Some groups have
tried to negate it but this is a must for this industry. This recurring income will in time, become your
biggest asset. The viability of a business without trails is questionable based on current up front
splits.
Find a happy medium and most importantly evaluate what the franchisor provides for their split and
don’t underestimate the value of what the franchisors can offer you.
How much does a Mortgage Broking Franchise cost?
When new entrants to the industry start looking at prospective Franchise Businesses, the first and
often last question they ask is “How much does it cost to purchase the franchise?” Although cost is an
important factor in any purchase, a better question would be: “What value do I get for my investment
in a franchise business?”
A franchise fee can include the up-front amount paid to the franchisor for the use of their name, know-
how, operating systems, etc. This is one component of the overall start-up cost of a new franchise.
Within a good franchise model, this is not money going straight to the bottom line profit of the
Franchisor, rather it is used to support the recruitment process, provide training and continual
professional development of the franchisees.
You may want to ask more probing questions as to the value of the business proposition if the franchisor
is not charging a franchise fee.
From an accounting and financial perspective, one of the early steps someone looking to invest in a
franchise should take, is to calculate the “return on investment” (ROI). If you purchased a business for
$100,000 and were going to potentially earn $100,000 that would equal 100% ROI. Generally mortgage
broking franchises cost between $15,000 – $60,000 with potential to earn hundreds of thousands of
dollars per year. If you calculate the ROI on those figures you will struggle to find another industry with
such potential.
When you are looking to starting a new business and purchase a mortgage broking franchise, the first
question that needs to be asked is: ”what support, proven track record and franchise model do I believe
will give me the best chance of succeeding and producing the highest level of income”.
If the difference between franchises can affect your earning potential to the tune of tens of thousands
of dollars every year, then the initial setup cost is negligible provided the business model is sound from
the outset.
So why compromise your business and future?
Toby Pope
Director
Citiwide Home Loans
Thanks for your Top 10. I have been in franchising for 20 years and
have to admit some of your picks were new to me. So…thank you.
I have started my own blog for small business.
The Franchise Clique blog: blog.franchiseclique.com is also an awesome resource for industry news and opinion. Annabel, PR director, does a great job with keeping her readers up to date.
Maybe it is…actually, I’m not sure.
Since you don’t have an About” Page, you actually have no credibility in the world of blogging.
Yes; I just slammed you.
The top 10 blogs are ones that I read; they’re hand-picked.
And, they list who’s behind them.
So, I guess that you wouldn’t have an opportunity to be included.
JL
I was merely adding a suggestion for alternate reading, perhaps for your commenters and readers, not suggesting that you made a mistake by not including the Franchise Clique blog. So thanks for the “slam,” but it wasn’t warranted.
This is great post . thanks for sharing with us .
franchise opportunities
Thanks for this great list of top franchise blogs. It’s an exciting time to start a franchise. We have recently offered franchise opportunities for Towne Park:
http://towneparkfranchise.com/
Thanks for the post! We may not be the best but hopefully you will find our site full of great franchise information as well. Please visit us at http://www.franchisedirect1.com thank you for your support Joel!
Do you have any opinions on a Papa John’s Pizza franchise?
These are great reads! Doing research is important before franchising. It can be tough, but incredibly rewarding.
Thanks a lot, Stan.
Happy New Year!
You should be listed here, Stan- http://www.franchisebizdirectory.com/special-offer-december-franchise-marketing-special/
Joel Libava
Hi Joel,
Thanks for the post – it has a ton of great sources in it. I was wondering if you could put together an updated version of this list?
Thanks!
Really Its an awesome blog. Thanks a lot for this list, It is very useful for everyone. I am satisfied with Mr. Tim, He gave a great suggestion. You must do that.
Thanks a lot for the knowledgeable post !!!
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What would you do when your franchisor abandons you? Sue for fees returned? Rebrand or not?
I never received an operations manual or proper training/set up. They closed over a year ago and the only other one in the US closed last week. There are 2 in the middle east. I have been open over 3 years and don’t want to rebrand due to cost and recognition.
Hello Heidi,
Sorry to hear that you’re going though this. My best advice-this is the same advice I’d tell you if you were my cousin-is to hire a good franchise attorney! See what can be done.
JL
Fine filtered list of franchise blogs. Was surfing for restaurant franchising blogs and ran over this. The listing looks good.
Thank you!
I learned from this website .It feels very good when you see your article. This makes you satisfied and makes you think that this article is worth attending. Thanks for sharing this article.
Thanks a lot for reading it!
Fantastic Work! I really appreciate your franchise blogs. I hope that it will give a great party celebration idea for everyone. Thanks for this!
This site is very useful for all. Important for this site is all franchise site is grouped so easy to fine and good information getting for this site.