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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

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

The reason most SME AI projects stall is not a technology problem — it is an AI process documentation problem. When a business cannot clearly describe how a task is done today, no AI tool can reliably do it better tomorrow. The gap is not between you and the right software; it is between how your business actually runs and how you think it runs. The Invisible Bottleneck Hiding in Plain Sight Most founders and operators in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) believe their core

Global-ready leadership is a structural condition built on three measurable dimensions: operational portability, cultural pattern-recognition, and capital narrative fluency. Founders who have built all three in 2026 are separating visibly from those who merely aspire to them — and the gap is becoming expensive.

BEAUTY IS THE NEW F&B Why Spa, Skincare & Fitness Franchising Is Vietnam's Next Big Wave Blog #4 — Vietnam Franchise Series | Go Global Blog A question I often hear from young investors exploring franchising: "Beyond F&B — what other sectors are worth investing in?" My answer always surprises them: beauty and wellness. Not because I have a bias. But because the data is speaking clearly — and the market is showing a structural shift that most franchise investors are not yet

A hands-on creative class at Arkki Vietnam Why education is the franchise sector that most investors are sleeping on Ask any franchise investor in Vietnam which sector they want to play in. Almost every time, you'll hear the same answers: coffee, bubble tea, or F&B in general. Education almost never comes up. And that is exactly why education is one of the most compelling franchise opportunities that most investors are completely missing. While everyone races to grab a bubbl

Why Vietnamese Coffee & Bubble Tea Brands Are Becoming Global Franchise Giants What makes them franchisable, scalable, and attractive to international master franchisees There is one question I get asked often at international franchise conferences: "Which Vietnamese brands are worth investing in for franchising?" My answer always starts with two words: coffee and bubble tea. Not because I am Vietnamese and want to champion homegrown brands. But because the data, the market,