The franchise industry has long helped Canadians reach their potential and find satisfaction in proven systems that allow for personal and professional growth. The companies that comprise this community vary in offering, from restaurants to educational services to fitness centres, but the one thing they have in common is the diversity of backgrounds from which their franchisees, and their workforce, hail. This array of cultures and experiences helps fortify an already strong group even further, building a network of like-minded businesspeople with diverse frames of mind.
In this issue, we chatted with franchisees from three food-based businesses who share a similar story: they all came to Canada with the desire to thrive in their newly adopted home country. By sharing their experiences, they offer valuable advice that’s applicable to any potential or current franchisee looking to prosper in a new territory or sector.
Up next, we explore a number of franchisees who are paving the way for success in underrepresented groups within the industry. We profile three women from different franchise systems who have become leaders, both for other franchisees and for women across Canada. Their stories provide insight into how far equality in the franchise industry has come while highlighting some of the difficulties that still exist for women today.
Altruism is at the heart of our feature on Batteries Expert, a Quebec-based company that has infused the philosophy of giving into its brand identity while empowering its franchisees to make an impact at a local level. Later in the issue, A&W, a name that’s familiar to many burger-loving Canadians, is spotlighted as a celebrated brand in the quick service industry—if you’re a fan of its classic, family-inspired menu, you’ll love this trip down memory lane. Speaking of a long legacy, as Canada’s population ages, more and more people will turn to the seniors services highlighted for everything from moving companies to in-home support.
Check out the story of another franchisee of a quick service restaurant, Fresh Burger, as they navigate the ins and outs of an average—and busy—day on the job. Armaan Divecha is more than an investor—he fell in love with the brand back in his college days, and soon he was taking the leap into franchise success himself.
When it comes to leaders, two can sometimes be better than one, as evidenced by The Lunch Lady franchisee power couple Vim and Shama Vimalendiran who, despite opening at the beginning of the pandemic, found immense success during lockdown days. Another dynamic duo, 30 Minute Hit founders Jackson and Deanna Loychuk, brought their unique exercise concept and female-focused brand to market 20 years ago and show no signs of slowing down. Staying in the health and wellness category, self-described “anti-spa” THE TEN SPOT has carved out a niche in a rapidly booming sector by pairing high-end services with reasonable prices.
For this issue, we posed two burning questions we often hear to our franchise experts. First, Joel Friedman walks us through the considerations that one should be aware of when deciding upon a franchise location. On the legal side, Sofi Katsovskaia breaks down the differences between a disclosure document and a franchise agreement; even if you know the basics, you’ll likely walk away with a greater appreciation for the distinctions between these two very important papers.
For nearly 60 years, the CFA has showcased the benefits of a diverse franchising industry, wherein people from every race, age, gender, and background have the opportunity to find personal satisfaction and business success. The more ideas we share, and the more we support each other, the greater we can collectively grow, for the benefit of the individual, the CFA, and the two million Canadians who are employed by franchised businesses.
Remember: above all, franchising is for everyone!