Our Blog
16
Jun
You Paid to Franchise Your Business. So Why Isn’t It Working?
Hired a packager, awarded a franchisee or two, and now stuck? Lonnie Helgerson, CFE breaks down exactly why most new franchise systems stall — and what it takes to fix them.
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10
Jun
World Franchise Day Is Here. And It’s About Time.
June 10 is World Franchise Day. The World Franchise Council just made it official. Starting in 2025, the second Wednesday of June is dedicated to celebrating franchising’s role in the global economy. Employment. Entrepreneurship. Opportunity. Proven systems that reduce risk and increase the odds of success for business owners worldwide. I’ve been in this industry […]
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9
Jun
The Best Franchises for Veterans in 2026: What to Look For and How to Find Them
Veterans make exceptional franchise owners — but not every franchise is the right fit. Lonnie Helgerson, CFE breaks down what to look for, which categories perform best, and how to find your match in 2026.
Read More
2
Jun
When to Bring in Outside Help: Signs Your Franchise System Needs a Consultant
Running a franchise system is one of the most demanding things a business owner can do. You’re not just managing a business — you’re managing a network of businesses, each owned by someone who invested their savings based on your promise that the system works. Most franchisors start strong. The first few units open. The […]
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26
May
How to Evaluate a Franchise Opportunity: The 10 Questions Every Buyer Must Ask
Most franchise buyers don’t ask enough questions before they sign. They do the initial research. They attend a discovery day. They talk to a few franchisees — usually the ones the franchisor hand-picked for them. And then they get excited, fall in love with the brand, and skip the hard due diligence that separates a […]
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19
May
Thinking About Buying a Franchise? Start Here.
You’ve been thinking about it for a while. Maybe you’re tired of working for someone else. Maybe you’ve been laid off and you’re asking what’s next. Maybe you’ve always wanted to own a business but the idea of building something from scratch feels too risky. Whatever got you here, you’re asking the right question. Franchising […]
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5
May
Few People Have Sat on as Many Sides of the Franchise Table as Your Consultant Should Have — Here’s What That Means for You
There’s a version of franchise consulting that goes like this: someone spends a few years working inside one franchise system, hangs out a shingle, and starts advising people on decisions that will shape the next decade of their financial life. That’s not my story. Over 35 years, I’ve sat in nearly every seat at the […]
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29
Apr
The Business That Pays You Back — In More Ways Than One
Most franchise opportunities come down to one question: will it make money? That’s the right question. But every once in a while, a business comes along where the financial case and the personal case point in the same direction. Assisting Hands Home Care is one of them. I’ve spent over 35 years in franchising. I […]
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14
Apr
The NASA Approach to Franchise System Management: What Artemis II Can Teach Every Franchisor
By Lonnie Helgerson, CFE On April 1, 2026, NASA launched four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft — named Integrity by the crew — on a 10-day mission around the Moon and back. Artemis II flew 694,481 total miles, carrying its crew farther from Earth than any humans in over 50 years, splashing down safely off […]
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10
Apr
Understanding Franchise Earnings Claims (Item 19): What They Tell You—and What They Don’t
If you’re evaluating a franchise, there’s one section of the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) that gets more attention than any other: Item 19 — Financial Performance Representations It’s where brands may share revenue, expense, or profit data from existing franchisees. And for most candidates, it feels like the answer to the biggest question: “What can I actually […]
Read More
You Paid to Franchise Your Business. So Why Isn’t It Working?
Hired a packager, awarded a franchisee or two, and now stuck? Lonnie Helgerson, CFE breaks down exactly why most new franchise systems stall — and what it takes to fix them.
Read More
World Franchise Day Is Here. And It’s About Time.
June 10 is World Franchise Day. The World Franchise Council just made it official. Starting in 2025, the second Wednesday of June is dedicated to celebrating franchising’s role in the global economy. Employment. Entrepreneurship. Opportunity. Proven systems that reduce risk and increase the odds of success for business owners worldwide. I’ve been in this industry […]
Read More
The Best Franchises for Veterans in 2026: What to Look For and How to Find Them
Veterans make exceptional franchise owners — but not every franchise is the right fit. Lonnie Helgerson, CFE breaks down what to look for, which categories perform best, and how to find your match in 2026.
Read More
When to Bring in Outside Help: Signs Your Franchise System Needs a Consultant
Running a franchise system is one of the most demanding things a business owner can do. You’re not just managing a business — you’re managing a network of businesses, each owned by someone who invested their savings based on your promise that the system works. Most franchisors start strong. The first few units open. The […]
Read More
How to Evaluate a Franchise Opportunity: The 10 Questions Every Buyer Must Ask
Most franchise buyers don’t ask enough questions before they sign. They do the initial research. They attend a discovery day. They talk to a few franchisees — usually the ones the franchisor hand-picked for them. And then they get excited, fall in love with the brand, and skip the hard due diligence that separates a […]
Read More
Thinking About Buying a Franchise? Start Here.
You’ve been thinking about it for a while. Maybe you’re tired of working for someone else. Maybe you’ve been laid off and you’re asking what’s next. Maybe you’ve always wanted to own a business but the idea of building something from scratch feels too risky. Whatever got you here, you’re asking the right question. Franchising […]
Read More
Few People Have Sat on as Many Sides of the Franchise Table as Your Consultant Should Have — Here’s What That Means for You
There’s a version of franchise consulting that goes like this: someone spends a few years working inside one franchise system, hangs out a shingle, and starts advising people on decisions that will shape the next decade of their financial life. That’s not my story. Over 35 years, I’ve sat in nearly every seat at the […]
Read More
The Business That Pays You Back — In More Ways Than One
Most franchise opportunities come down to one question: will it make money? That’s the right question. But every once in a while, a business comes along where the financial case and the personal case point in the same direction. Assisting Hands Home Care is one of them. I’ve spent over 35 years in franchising. I […]
Read More
The NASA Approach to Franchise System Management: What Artemis II Can Teach Every Franchisor
By Lonnie Helgerson, CFE On April 1, 2026, NASA launched four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft — named Integrity by the crew — on a 10-day mission around the Moon and back. Artemis II flew 694,481 total miles, carrying its crew farther from Earth than any humans in over 50 years, splashing down safely off […]
Read More
Understanding Franchise Earnings Claims (Item 19): What They Tell You—and What They Don’t
If you’re evaluating a franchise, there’s one section of the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) that gets more attention than any other: Item 19 — Financial Performance Representations It’s where brands may share revenue, expense, or profit data from existing franchisees. And for most candidates, it feels like the answer to the biggest question: “What can I actually […]
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