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A U.S. fast-casual group just cut its franchise fee in half. The more interesting story is who gets the biggest discount, and why. On September 10, 2026, WOWorks, the parent company of Saladworks, Frutta Bowls, Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh, The Simple Greek, Barberitos and Zoup! Eatery, announced a three-tier incentive program for new franchisees. It runs for a limited time, through the first quarter of 2027. On the surface it reads like a sale. Half off the franchise fee. Ha

What the first Australian Franchise Outlook reveals about consumers, would-be franchisees, and where franchise growth is heading next. Australia is one of the most mature franchise markets in the world. It has more franchise systems per head of population than the United States. Around 1,300 franchise networks and 90,000 franchised businesses generate A$174 billion a year and employ more than half a million people. About 60% of franchisors have been operating for more than a

What This Model Actually Is Senior meal delivery is not meal kit delivery, not grocery delivery, and not restaurant takeout. It is a scheduled, regular, nutritionist-designed meal service aimed at adults — typically 70 and older — who want to remain in their own homes but face genuine challenges with meal preparation: physical limitations, cognitive decline, dietary complexity from chronic conditions, or simply the isolation and reduced motivation that comes with eating alone

On September 17, 2026, Meritage Hospitality Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company operates 314 Wendy's restaurants across 15 US states and employs roughly 9,000 people. It is the largest franchise operator bankruptcy of the year. The filing came one day after Wendy's corporate issued a notice terminating all of Meritage's franchise agreements, citing $146.9 million in total claims — including $27.4 million in past-due royalties and $119.5 million in Co

Domino's Pizza Enterprises Limited (ASX: DMP) extended its Master Franchise Agreements for France and Belgium in June 2026, pushing the expiry to September 30, 2026, from the original June 30 date. CFO George Saoud said France was "EBITDA-positive, EBIT close to breakeven" and the MFA was being finalised "with the right spirit of partnership." This public disclosure is rare. Most renewal negotiations stay quiet, leaving investors to guess at what actually moved. This one sign

Franchising · Capital · Power Private equity is no longer just buying franchise brands. It is buying the operators who run them — and that quietly rewrites who holds power in the system. By Nguyễn Phi Vân · September 2026 Alarge Hardee's operator has filed suit against its franchisor over an attempted termination. The case details will take months to resolve, and I have no interest in predicting a verdict. What interests me is that the lawsuit exists at all — because a decade

Master Franchise Royalty Structure: What Brinker's Sept. 17 Investor Day Signals Brinker International's September 17 investor day will disclose the company's long-term international strategy, and if you're evaluating a master franchise deal in their system, this is your clearest signal window for territory ambitions and royalty benchmarks. The real value isn't the royalty rate itself—it's understanding how the franchisor positions growth, which tells you whether you're negot

MOOYAH's UAE Master Deal: Master Franchise Unit Economics Every Gulf Investor Must Stress-Test MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes signed a master franchise agreement with Great Foods USA LLC in August 2026 to expand across the UAE. Partners Nizar Shalwani and Roma Subazali will open locations in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The deal matters less as a brand-growth story than as a unit-economics case study: a mid-scale US fast-casual concept entering one of the Gulf's highest-spend urban m