According to FRANdata’s most recent volume of the Small Business Lending Matrix, the good news for the franchise industry is that the business climate is improving for the fifth straight year, with unit transactions at their highest since 2008.

Franchise organizations have been using email and text messages for years as part of the marketing mix. Text — both short message service or SMS and multimedia messaging service or MMS — and email are still incredibly effective, but as technology and the regulatory environment continue to change, it’s always wise to review best practices.

This is a feel-good story about the emergence of the “benevolent business leader” and social entrepreneurship, a fast-growing movement that is showing up for brands with a mission, to not only find the opportunity for growth, but also those seeking to fill a charitable-shaped hole that completes their story.

How making changes over time can maximize efficiencies and brand development without shocking the entire system.

Shared expertise can make franchising greater and be your system’s greatest asset.

Monterrey, Mexico has been described as the most Americanized city outside the US.  

Trade Mission participants gathered at the US Embassy in Mexico City.

Compliance issues in a franchise system tend to have a snowball effect — it can start with something fairly minor like not attending convention, but it doesn’t take long before the infractions get bigger. And, if the franchisor looks the other way, eventually it will be enforcing only compliance on royalty payments.

Having a strong culture of transparency is critical for the long-term success of your franchisees and your system as a whole. Franchisees can easily get distracted as their business grows, which will ultimately stall their growth. Being 100 percent transparent as an organization will keep you and your franchisees laser-focused on things that really matter. Here’s how.

Franchise support is acknowledged by most in the industry as a “best practice” and a fundamental operating principle. But now support seems to be joined at the hip with the relatively new topic of franchisee engagement.  Exactly what does this new term mean and why is it so important to both franchisees and franchisors?