Table of contents for Fall/Winter 2023 in Entrepreneur's Startups

Franchising is full of numbers. But which numbers really tell the story? If you’re looking to buy a franchise, you can easily drown yourself in data. Just pick up a company’s franchise disclosure document (FDD), and you’ll see granular breakdowns of the brand’s health. That’s important stuff. Look closely! But what does it look like to take thousands of brands’ data, and track them across years? The answer: You see big-picture trends that no single brand can ever capture. That’s something Entrepreneur can uniquely do, because we collect mountains of information on thousands of franchises every year. Usually, we use that information to rank the strongest franchises in our annual Franchise 500 list (which we publish every January). But now, for the first time ever, we also crunched that data…

Code Ninjas has hundreds of coding schools for kids around the country. New CEO Navin Gurnaney shares the three things he’s excited about this year. 1 ▶ School season! Back-to-school season is always huge for Code Ninjas. “Parents are hunting for ways to super charge their kiddos’ learning after school,” Gurnaney says, so the brand pushes hard at this time. 2 ▶ New platform! Code Ninjas is unleashing IMPACT, its “next-level” learning platform. “It’s like the Yoda of teaching coding,” Gurnaney says, and will help students learn coding even better. 3 ▶ New partnership! Code Ninjas is partnering with Extra Life, a nonprofit part of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. “We’ve set our sights on a lofty goal this year: We’re aiming to raise over $150,000!”…

The headlines are full of news about layoffs. But while getting laid off can be stressful, it can also be an opportunity to embark on an exciting new path of entrepreneurship. That path could offer financial security, flexibility, autonomy, and meaningful work—which is exactly how franchises should be pitching themselves to newly laid-off professionals. Workers facing layoffs—like those in the tech industry right now—are an especially attractive pool of potential franchisees. They are experienced pros with a host of skills that translate naturally to running a franchise. So how can you attract these people? Understand their worries and wants. Here are four points to hit when recruiting laid-off workers with franchisee potential. 1 ▶ Assuage their fears of being underqualified. Most franchise organizations are “no prior experience necessary” opportunities because…

Ace Handyman Services offers just that—topnotch handyman services nationwide.  Colette Bell, vice president of franchise development, shares three things she’s excited about this year. 1 ▶ Anniversary! Ace’s parent company, Ace Hardware, is soon celebrating its 100-year anniversary. “Watching a brand grow, sustain, and remain relevant in the U.S. for 100 years is quite an accomplishment,” Bell says. 2 ▶ Growth! By integrating Ace Handyman Services into Ace Hardware stores, the brand can now reach more customers and help “with over 1,000 different home renovation and repair tasks,” Bell says. 3 ▶ The next gen! Ace Handyman Services is seeing more younger franchisees join the system. “Their energy, enthusiasm, and passion for owning their own business and creating a strong community impact is rewarding,” she says.…

Juice It Up! sells smoothies and bowls, and is capitalizing on consumers’ interest in health. President and CEO Susan Taylor shares the three things she’s excited about this year. 1 ▶ Menu innovation! “Our talented research and development team has crafted a two-year pipeline of products,” Taylor says. Most recently, the brand launched the limited edition Sandía Loca Smoothie and Bowl and the Strawberry Lemonade Twist with aloe vera. 2 ▶ New franchisees! Juice It Up! has been around for 28 years, and Taylor says she’s excited to see it continue to attract new franchisees throughout the western U.S. 3 ▶ Expansion! Juice It Up! recently entered Arizona and is now actively expanding. It’s also growing throughout California, including new markets in central California and San Diego.…

Larry and Brandon Greene are two of the top dogs of Dogtopia. And it happened fast. The father-son team opened their first Dogtopia franchise near downtown Denver in September 2020. The franchise offers dog daycare and spa services—and by 2022, the Greenes had the highest daycare revenue among the brand’s 223 North American locations. By early 2023, the Greenes were bringing in the most revenue overall (depending on the week—some weeks they’re second overall). Then they received an International Franchise Association “Franchisee of the Year Award.” Dogtopia president and CEO Neil Gill calls them the “perfect combination.” How’d they do it? With focus. Before this, Larry had a successful career in manufacturing and private equity. Brandon studied animal science in college, and spent some time interning in a dog daycare…

HomeVestors buys, fixes, and sells homes across the country. Adam Benshoof, development, shares three things he’sexcited about this year. 1 ▶ Mobile tech! The company’s ValueChek app helps franchisees figure out a fair offer for a property, and the company is always looking to add new tools to help with that process. 2 ▶ Automation! “HomeVestors and the real estate industry as a whole is using various forms of marketing automation and mobile technology to stay ahead of the competition,” Benshoof says. 3 ▶ Artificial intelligence! How will AI make real estate investing easier and more profitable? That’s what HomeVestors is exploring now—and Benshoof says he expects it “to enhance and grow our business in the near future.”…

Tint World is a fast-growing brand that offers automotive window tinting, styling, entertainment, and accessories. Founder and CEO Charles Bonfiglio shares the three things he’s most excited about this year. 1 ▶ A new COO! Tint World hired Michael Lopez as its new COO. “He oversaw the growth of a well-known automotive glass repair company, which is now the second largest in its industry nationwide,” Bonfiglio says. 2 ▶ A new division! The company is developing and launching its “home services division,” to offer window film options, vinyl graphics, and ceramic coatings. That’s a big expansion of its residential services. 3 ▶ More self-ordering! Lastly, they are developing the next evolution of their self-ordering kiosk, which will provide customers with options for appointment scheduling, product information, and orders. “These devices will…

GarageExperts has your garage needs covered—from cabinets to floor coating. CEO Mike Meursing shares the three things he’s excited about this year. 1 ▶ Customer service! GarageExperts is bringing its call center in-house. “In an era where AI and bots are commonly used in call centers, we understand that providing a personal touch is crucial,” Meursing says. 2. ▶ Expansion! The brand is actively looking for new franchise owners across the U.S. “By providing comprehensive support, we empower franchise owners to succeed and contribute to our nationwide growth,” he says. 3 ▶ Industry growth! The home improvement market is thriving, with projections saying it could exceed $620 billion by 2025. “We are positioned to capitalize on this growth,” he says. “Our services provide home owners with an easy way to…

Dog Haus sells dogs, sausages, burgers, fried chicken, breakfast burritos, and more.  Founding partner AndrŽ Vener shares the three things he’s excited about this year. 1. ▶ Growth! In 2023, Dog Haus is slated for record-breaking growth—with a total of 20 new locations expected to open before the end of the year across both new and existing markets. 2. ▶ New venues! Dog Haus is now expanding into many nontraditional venues, like sports stadiums, music venues, and ghost kitchens. It’s also growing its group of brands (like Bad-Ass Breakfast Burritos) that people can only order from online. 3. ▶ Innovation! The company is now exploring partnerships and licensing agreements with other existing restaurant brands—and is opening its very first brickand-mortar Bad-Ass Breakfast Burritos.…

If you’ve always dreamed of owning a business, becoming a franchisee might be the best decision you ever make. But before you dive in, it’s important to understand the company you choose to join and how it operates. Here’s a six-step guide to get you started. 1 ▶ Do your own research. Franchises are happy to send you information, but you should also research the brand on your own. A franchise’s website typically contains its mission, back ground, vision statements, and any key milestones or accomplishments. Some companies post promotional or training videos that can give you greater insight into the company’s culture, operations, and values. Look through their social media accounts to gauge their public-facing personalities, and Google them for mentions in news articles or press releases. Assessing all…

Since launching in 2016, Get Up And Go Kayaking has racked up hundreds of millions of social media views, thousands of five-star reviews, and 20-plus franchises in Florida. How did a company in this niche find the power to (ahem) get up and go so strongly? Owner Justin Buzzi explains how it all got started. What’s your background? I got my marketing degree from the University of Central Florida and was kind of pursuing a rap music career, but I ended up working for the Golf Channel in Orlando, first as a client support person, and then as a pricing analyst. While I was there, at night I would give bioluminescent tours where the water lights up as you paddle over it. I would get home around 3 a.m.,…

You’re trying to get some-But you’re not where. there yet. That is frustrating. And worse, it’s embarrassing. You’ve worked hard. You’ve traveled far. And you think: I should be there by now—so why am I not? I feel this too, and I’ve concluded that it isn’t just about anxiety or impatience. It’s about something more fundamental: This is what happens when we are on a path, and what’s ahead is unseeable. But if we want to keep going, we must light the path as best as we can. Here’s an example. I do a lot of keynote speaking, typically about how people and teams can thrive in times of change. Sometimes the rooms are packed, and it’s a thrill. But other times I arrive to a near-empty room—if, say, conference…

Need a good business partner? Zain Attawala and Sagar Panjwani have advice: Don’t just focus on your strengths. Acknowledge your weaknesses, too—and know how your partner balances you out. “That’s where I think the majority of the people fail: They don’t want to accept weakness,” Attawala says. This strategy has proven itself out for Attawala and Panjwani—which is how, at ages 32 and 27, respectively, they’re the owners of 28 thriving My Eyelab locations across Alabama and Georgia. The pair met each other through their entrepreneurial fathers, and quickly found their rhythm. “Now when anything comes our way, it’s a very unsaid thing of: Who will take over that?” Attawala says. “We divide responsibilities based on our strengths. If it requires analysis and details, it’s Sagar—but if it requires creating…

Eggs Up serves a delicious breakfast, brunch, and lunch. CEO Ricky Richardson shares the three things he’s excited about this year. 1 ▶ Profits! “As top-line sales grow and inflation stabilizes, our franchise partners’ profitability increases,” Richardson says. And who doesn’t like that? 2 ▶ Scale! Since 2018, the brand has tripled its footprint: It’s now at 68 locations, and has a development pipeline of more than 100. With more locations comes more resources, technology, and greater effciency, Richardson says. 3 ▶ Momentum! Average unit volumes for the top half of Eggs Up franchises topped $1.375 million in 2022, and continue to rise. “This growth is achieved through multiple sales channels, including delivery, online ordering, and catering,” he says.…

Vinay Rama planned on a lifelong career in hotels—and that made sense, for a while. It began in childhood, with his family’s motel businesses in Tennessee and South Carolina. Rama spent his teen years at boarding school in India but returned to the U.S. for college, and stayed. In 2015, he began developing a Marriott and a Holiday Inn Express in Orlando, Florida. Eventually, he took over five more Marriotts in the Orlando area. Rama had no plans to branch out from hotels, but in 2016, an unexpected opportunity presented itself. Ruby Tuesday was selling Lime Fresh Mexican Grill, a casual, made-to-order restaurant that had seven units in South Florida. Rama and four friends decided to go in on the $4.6 million deal together. At the time, he saw it…

Waxing the City provides facial and body waxing. Nick Herrild, president, Studio Division/Waxing the City at Self Esteem Brands, shares the three things he’s excited about this year. 1 ▶ Male services! More men are now getting waxed. “In response, we released a gender-neutral service menu across all Waxing the City studios and introduced additional products to appeal to our male customer base,” Herrild says. 2 ▶ Growth! By adapting to industry trends, Herrild says, the brand has seen 14 straight quarters of positive sales growth and is expanding rapidly. It expects to reach 100 signed units by the end of 2023. 3 ▶ Loyalty! The brand has invested heavily in its Club Orange loyalty program: With a monthly membership fee, clients get perks and discounts. In 2022, the program…

Jon and Kari Murdock had a hard decision to make. The Kalispell, Montana–based couple had been running an independent plumbing business since 2015—and then, in 2020, Mr. Rooter invited them to convert their company into a Mr. Rooter and join its 200-plus North American locations. The Murdocks believed that Mr. Rooter aligned with their values, but struggled over giving up their business’s branding and identity. Ultimately, though, they decided it would take years to scale on their own, and felt Mr. Rooter had the right model to help them grow. Becoming a franchisee would also give them more time with their two daughters. Here, Kari explains the transition. What sold you on turning the family business into a franchise? Hearing about Mr. Rooter’s customer focus and the values they have…

Anytime Fitness offers fitness anytime, with 24-hour health and fitness clubs. David Mortensen, president of parent company Self Esteem Brands, shares three things he’s excited about this year. 1 ▶ Growth potential! Anytime Fitness has 5,500 locations in 42 countries and territories, but still sees “an enormous trajectory for future growth,” Mortensen says. That includes double-digit growth across the globe. 2 ▶ Corporate scale! Anytime Fitness is the foundation of Self Esteem Brands, but its sister brands are growing strong too: Waxing The City broke records across the U.S. this year, Basecamp Fitness just launched a new concept called SumHIIT Fitness, and more. 3 ▶ U.S. opportunities! “There are areas we haven’t yet reached with Anytime Fitness,” Mortensen says, “and we’re being intentional to bring health and wellness services to…

NextHome is a real estate franchise. Chief Strategy Officer Keith Robinson shares the three things he’s excited about this year. 1 ▶ Call center! NextHome recently launched NextHome Concierge, a call center that reaches out to agents’ clients to help them with the annoyances of moving (like finding new insurance or setting up cable). 2 ▶ Economics! “Real estate is coming back,” Robinson says. The industry was slowed down by rising interest rates, but is now picking back up and “poised to lead the charge back out of the possible recession.” 3 ▶ Demographics! According to a recent Rocket Homes survey, 86.2% of Gen Zers want to buy a home. “Young people still see it as aspirational,” Robinson says, which means NextHome has a lot of potential new customers.…