When you build a more valuable business FOR YOUR FRANCHISEES you win at exit. ..."only" 3,000 locations, $1.3M AUV, sold for $8B. Compare that to Subway with AUVs less than half JM's performance, 36,500 locations, sold for $9.6B. JerseyMikes continues to crush it. Now Blackstone simply needs to avoid messing up a great business.
The Tropical Smoothie Cafe case study appears in Big Money in Franchising because it shows what can be accomplished when a management team and PE sponsors both put franchisee outcomes and a great culture first. Charles Watson, CFE has had an incredible 16 year run @ TSC, the last 6 as CEO. These are big shoes for the new incoming CEO to fill.
Themes from this podcast: ▶ State of franchise brands in the US ▶ Private Equity's Value in Franchising ▶ When is the best time to attract PE investment ▶ Best way for brands to prep for PE, and things to avoid ▶ Reg flags PE looks for in Franchise brands ▶ PE's on the franchise development pipeline ▶ PE's interest in unglamorous industries ▶PE's role in enhancing value through platforming
Looking Ahead to 2025, Remember Franchise Ownership is Personal
Finance Book Club Interview and broad discussion about private equity in franchising with live audience Q&A.
"Election jitters" can negatively impact the franchise development process. If your franchise sales have stalled, or you're suddenly hearing "We're going to wait" from prospective franchisees, here are tips to reboot growth.
Key takeaways from the panel of M&A experts at the 2024 Springboard Conference, moderated by Alicia Miller of Emergent Growth Advisors: "The Art of the Deal - How founders can prepare in advance to achieve the best possible outcomes." 1) First and foremost: focus on unit level economics - profitable & happy franchisees build maximum enterprise value! So simple, yet often overlooked! 2) Collect franchisee P&Ls AND cash flow statements from the beginning and use that information to coach to better results. Buyers will want to cut this data multiple ways 3) Recruit franchisees carefully - quality over speed 4) Ensure you're opening what you're selling or that sold-not-open funnel will go from looking attractive to being a liability. If you can prove you're opening them and ramping franchisees to profitability quickly, you may be able to recapture some of that SNO value in a transaction (aka "full maturity value") 5) Get to know the landscape of potential buyers early - socialize and look for cultural fit 6) Track record matters, especially if you plan to roll equity (and most buyers want you to do this) 7) Know what you want to accomplish and what you're looking for in a potential capital partner 8) Deal terms can be tricky - experienced advisors can help you navigate 9) Franchising continues to see robust buyer interest, but there is still a bit of a gap between buyer and seller expectations 10) It's tough to make forward predictions, but the panel was pretty optimistic that 2025 is going to be a busy year for franchise M&A
The founder of Emergent Growth Advisors, shares how private equity is reshaping the franchise landscape by driving unprecedented success and innovation. With rising competition and heightened expectations, PE-backed franchises are unlocking new levels of profitability and expansion. Listen in on how this investment surge is not only transforming brands but also creating exciting opportunities for franchisees and vendors alike.
According to Franchise Insights, 43% of seekers are currently employed full-time (down from a record 62% in June) and another 14% are existing business owners looking for another business to buy. Read that sentence again. More than HALF of people looking to buy a business today don't "need" to do so. Review your franchise website and unit level economics. Does your franchise opportunity description speak to people who are already gainfully employed or own another business? Why should they investigate YOUR franchise?
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PRIVATE EQUITY’S IMPACT ON FRANCHISING
EMERGING BRANDS
TRENDS
BUILDING SMART
PROSPECTIVE FRANCHISEES
TURNAROUNDS & CASE STUDIES