Business Groups Will Work to Overturn Commissioners’ New Rule Business organizations will challenge the Federal Trade Commission’s new regulation that prohibits noncompete contracts for nearly all employees nationwide. The measure passed Tuesday, with three Democrat-appointed commissioners voting in favor and the FTC’s two Republican members voting against. The dissenting commissioners said they do not support blanket use of noncompete agreements, The Hill reported, but felt the agency did not have the authority to issue the rule without congressional approval.  Companies use noncompete c ..read more

Boemker Previously Served as the Payroll and Workforce Management Franchise’s Director of Training and Support  Payroll Vault, a leading provider of payroll and workforce management services for small businesses, has promoted Heather Boemker to vice president of operations. Previously serving as director of training and support, she now will streamline processes to increase efficiency and boost both franchisee and client experiences. She brings more than 25 years of experience in the payroll industry to the position. Her areas of expertise include maintaining compliance, solving complex p ..read more

Families With Kids are Helping Restaurants Through Uncertain Times Rising prices have taken a bite out of Americans’ budgets, but families remain undeterred in their desire to dine out. They still seek to connect and share memorable experiences, and there’s no better place than at the dinner table.  “Our experience at Wingers Alehouse has shown that families will continue to demand consistently high-quality food in a comfortable, friendly environment, and our goal is to give them an amazing experience at a reasonable price,” says Eric Slaymaker, CEO and co-owner with brother Scott Slayma ..read more

From Single Mother to Top Franchisee, Hilda Alfano Exemplifies How Female Entrepreneurs Foster Inclusive, Successful Businesses Hilda Alfano was 17 when she left her native Puerto Rico seeking a better life for herself and her young son in New Jersey. She taught herself English, worked at various jobs including 15 years as an office manager, and always kept an eye on the future. Over the last two decades as a Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard franchise owner in Woodbridge, N.J., Alfano has not only created opportunities for her own family, but also for the employees who became her secon ..read more

How the “Show Up, Be Up, Follow Up to Blow Up” Networking Formula Supercharges Franchise Growth In franchising, the power of networking cannot be overstated. Networking is the steam that moves businesses toward growth and success. But how can you effectively use networking to grow your franchise brand? Enter the “Show Up, Be Up, Follow Up to Blow Up” networking formula — a drastic approach moving and inspiring the franchise community, one connection at a time. This formula works for franchise development teams, franchisees and suppliers. The formula is less about selling and more about buildin ..read more

These Sustainable Businesses Value Social Responsibility on Earth Day and Beyond The most successful businesses focus on more than just offering a great product or service; they also focus on their social and environmental impact. Social responsibility is good for business and society every day, and green franchise businesses exemplify this, particularly on Earth Day, when they highlight their commitment to sustainability and community welfare.   Many green franchise businesses produce sustainability reports, which have become increasingly popular, with an estimated 98% of companies on th ..read more

Popular Fast-Food Chains Celebrate Cannabis Culture With Special Pricing and Free Offers  In cannabis culture, April 20 is a special day commemorating weed consumption – which is a hot topic since 24 states, plus the District of Columbia and Guam, have legalized marijuana over the past two decades. While the rumored origins of 4/20 are hazy (some note that “420” is code among police officers for “marijuana smoking in progress,” and it’s also Adolf Hitler’s birthday), the most credible story of the history of the weed-centric celebration goes back to 1971 in Marin County, Calif. According ..read more

Franchisees Reap the Benefits of High Demand and Quick Ramp-Up Outdoor Lighting Perspectives (OLP) franchisees enjoy booming demand for high-tech, top-quality illumination that enhances aesthetics and safety. The outdoor lighting industry has steadily expanded, and growth is expected to stay strong for many years to come. For instance, Statista set the global value of the outdoor lighting market at about $10.7 billion in 2019 and projected it would reach $23.8 billion by 2030. According to Grand View Research, the U.S. market alone exceeded $15.3 billion in 2022 and will grow at a compound ann ..read more

Ocker is an Experienced Journalist and a Passionate Storyteller The International Franchise Professionals Group (IFPG), an award-winning franchise broker organization, has welcomed Lisa Ocker as senior editor. With this role, she will write and edit content for Franchise Consultant Magazine and the FranchiseWire news platform. Ocker enjoys interviewing franchisees and franchisors, learning about their brands, as well as their challenges and their triumphs. “I love the feeling that I’m a partner, in a way, helping them to achieve their goals by sharing their stories. Having had this positive ex ..read more

A Commitment to Excellence and Meticulous Vetting Accelerates Franchise Growth Franchise FastLane, a franchise sales organization, is super-picky about which brands it will partner with. How picky exactly? Last year, Franchise FastLane painstakingly vetted around 200 franchisors but decided to partner only with eight brands to responsibly drive growth.   Franchise FastLane understands that a brand with the right potential can quickly go from surviving to thriving. This is a core belief at FastLane, underpinning its commitment to support accelerated but responsible growth of its franchiso ..read more