Franchise Business News & Opinion
“Imagine the Possibilities!”

From
Times Online
June 21, 2007

At the Bank of Scotland launch dinner for The Entrepreneur Challenge, business figures and entrepreneurs offered excellent advice for contenders

Getting started in business can be a daunting task, no matter how much determination and drive an entrepreneur has. It can be a lonely path at times, but there are people willing and able to give great advice on how to keep going through the tough times and what not to do to save trouble in the future.

Therefore, when Bank of Scotland hosted a dinner at London’s Quaglino’s restaurant in May to launch The Entrepreneur Challenge, we took the opportunity to ask the great and good of the business world for advice for up-and-coming entrepreneurs.

We spoke with business figures and entrepreneurs at the dinner resulting in a series of interviews, the first three below, where established players on the business field gave their top tips and advice for becoming a success.

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Les Burnett, Managing Partner of Francis Clark accountants
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Louis Woodcock, CEO BDL Group
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Peter DaCosta, Chairman, KPM UK Taxis
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Gita Patel, co-founder and managing director of Stargate Capital Management
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Mike Rainford, Head of Business Crime Unit for solicitors Burton Copeland
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Chris Gorman, serial entrepreneur
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David Lyons, Managing Director CG Bull & Taylor
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Sanjeev Mehan, CEO Visage Imports
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Cold Stone Creamery Forms Franchise Conglomerate
By: Tamara Schweitzer

The former Inc. 500 company is joining forces with Kahala, which manages Blimpie and 10 other franchise brands. Cold Stone Creamery, a former Inc. 500 company with more than 1,400 ice-cream shops worldwide, has merged with Kahala, a franchiser and developer whose brands include Blimpie and Ranch1, the companies announced Friday.

The merger creates Kahala Cold Stone, a holding company for 13 fast-food brands — including Cold Stone, Blimpie, The Great Steak & Potato Company, and Johnnie’s NY Pizzeria, among others — that generate more than $1.1 billion in system-wide sales, the companies said. The new partnership will comprise more than 3,000 franchisees and 4,600 retail locations in 15 countries worldwide. Both Cold Stone and Kahala are based in Scottsdale, Ariz. …
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Here are the worst 15 performing franchises in regards to having the highest Small Business Administration (SBA) loan failure rates. The list is dotted with sub sandwich shops, fitness centers and car shops.
 

Source: Small Business Administration, SBA Loan Performance Within Franchise Code for the Period of FY 2001 - 2005

The AAFD Awards Cuppy’s Coffee Franchise with Contract Accreditation!

Los Angeles - The American Association of Franchisees and Dealers (AAFD) announced today that Cuppy’s Coffee & More, Inc. (Cuppy’s) has been added to the AAFD’s roster of companies earning AAFD Accredited Contract status. This special distinction is available to recognize new franchise systems, or new ownership and management teams, whose franchise agreements substantially conform to the AAFD Fair Franchising Standards, but that lack operating history to evaluate franchise relationships.

Cuppy’s is a specialty coffee drive thru franchise business that offers coffee, lattes, espresso and smoothie drinks. Cuppy’s is a new brand that is arising from the ashes of a much troubled brand known as Java Jo’z. As part of its response to rebuff suggestions that its new ownership is still connected to Java Jo’z problems, Cuppy’s management has committed itself to a collaborative franchise culture that adopts high standards of mutual respect between franchisor and franchisees.

Cuppy’s franchise agreement earned nearly perfect score of 99.5% conformity with the AAFD Fair Franchising Standards, the highest grade ever achieved. Cuppy’s Coffee & More, Inc. is a Texas corporation wholly owned by Mr. Doug Hibbing and is headquartered in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Medina Enterprises, Inc., an affiliated company which is owned by Mr. Robert Morgan, is the contractor for the system’s restaurants and other units, as well as a provider of office and staffing services to Cuppy’s.

In May 2006, Medina acquired some of the Java Jo’z assets, including the Java Jo’z brand, which was later assigned to Cuppy’s. The Java Jo’z brand was confronted with major issues regarding Trademark ownership, allegations of unfulfilled contracts and personal problems of its prior owner. Cuppy’s new management team assessed that the myriad of inherited problems required a radical approach to change. That approach involved re-branding, a fresh start on training and support, and most importantly a fresh start with its franchisee community. Cuppy’s intends to build its new brand on a foundation of respect for the AAFD’s vision of Total Quality Franchising, and Cuppy’s management has committed itself to a collaborative franchise culture, and one that sets a new standard of mutual respect between franchisors and franchisees.

Doug Hibbing, the President of Cuppy’s Coffee is excited about the AAFD Accreditation, he states, “we are committed to support our franchisees, we have great products, and a great staff. Our primary goal at Cuppy’s is to build a business with a reputation for integrity; the AAFD Accreditation is a giant step in that direction.”

AAFD Chairman, Robert Purvin praised Cuppy’s Coffee for setting a new standard in fair franchising agreements, "Cuppy’s Coffee has demonstrated its commitment to fair franchising, the AAFD is delighted to welcome Cuppy’s Coffee to its list of Accredited Franchises.”

The story of Cuppy’s is a testament to the AAFD’s efforts to improve the franchising community and to reward Total Quality Franchising practices. The management team of Cuppy’s showed unprecedented willingness to accept the recommendations of the AAFD’s Fair Franchising Standards Committee.

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About the AAFD: The AAFD is a national non-profit trade association representing the rights and interests of franchisees and independent dealers throughout the United States. Formed in 1992, the AAFD is focused on market driven reform to achieve its mission to define and promote collaborative franchise cultures that the AAFD describes as Total Quality Franchising. Since its formation the AAFD has grown to represent more than 50,000 franchised businesses throughout the United States. The AAFD currently has members in all 50 states and represents more than 100 different franchise systems. The AAFD’s Fair Franchising Standards, Fair Franchising Seal, Trademark Chapters, and emphasis on Marketplace Solutions led to the Association’s recognition as a growing force in franchising. The AAFD Purchasing Co-op and e-Commerce Marketplace add a new dimension to the value of AAFD membership. The AAFD’s Branded Partner Program provides a broad range of member services designed to help franchisees build market power, create legislative support of interest to franchisees, provide legal and financial support, and provide a wide range of general member benefits. For more information about the AAFD, please call toll free - 800-733-9858 or visit www.AAFD.com.

Welcome to FranchiseBusiness.com’s Podcast shows featuring the movers and shakers in the franchise and business opportunity industry.  These are CEO’s and business people with in-depth knowledge and experiences they want to share with you!  Many of these are exclusive interviews produced by FranchiseBusiness.com’s marketing staff.  Look for a new show every week!

Interview with Paul Miltonberger
	Our goal, quite simply, is to make you a more informed, smarter buyer and to help you become a successful franchise business owner!
6 mins	6 meg MP3 file	Listen	Website Link
Interview with Dr. Robert Needham
	For almost 30 years, our company’s principals have been helping folks, just like you, develop their business concept into a franchise. Additionally we match prospective franchise buyers to the right franchisor (business concept) to achieve their dream of owning their own business. In fact, our president has written an industry endorsed book on “Solving The Puzzle Of Owning A Franchise”.
5 mins	7 meg MP3 file	Listen	Website Link
Radio shows featuring Dr. Robert Needham
RADIO WNTN-AM 1550 CITY, STATE: Boston, MA DATE OF INTERVIEW: Thursday, May 3, 2007 TIME OF INTERVIEW: 9:00 AM CT/10:00 AM ET SIMULCAST ON INTERNET: [x] Yes [] No Website Address: www.wntn.com LENGTH OF INTERVIEW: 20 minutes - Taped (airdate TBA) NAME OF HOST: Paul Roberts		RADIO STATION: WSRQ-AM 1220 CITY, STATE: Sarasota, FL DATE OF INTERVIEW: Friday, May 4, 2007 TIME OF INTERVIEW: 10:00 AM CT/11:00 AM ET SIMULCAST ON INTERNET: [x] Yes [] No Website Address: www.newstalk1220.com LENGTH OF INTERVIEW: 15 minutes - Taped (airdate TBA) NAME OF HOST: Doug Miles
RADIO STATION: WOCA-AM 1370 CITY, STATE: Gainesville, FL DATE OF INTERVIEW: Monday, May 14, 2007 TIME OF INTERVIEW: 7:40 AM CT/8:40 AM ET SIMULCAST ON INTERNET: [] Yes [x] No LENGTH OF INTERVIEW: 20 min - Live (approx) NAME OF HOST: Larry Whitler & Robin MacBlane