On today's show, Franchise Interviews is meeting with Ambiance Radio to discuss how they are revolutionizing the franchise industry by providing the right music. By combining science, technology, and hospitality industry expertise, Ambiance Radio addresses a crucial element for enhancing customer satisfaction and boosting revenues in restaurants, hotels, resorts, and spas: the perfect music.

Founded and led by Bradley Newberger, a young entrepreneur in the hospitality industry, Ambiance Radio is the only background music service specifically designed for restaurants, hotels, resorts, and spas. Bradley will explain how Ambiance Radio uses proprietary software and cutting-edge technology to deliver fully customized music feeds tailored to each site's specific business objectives. This customization takes into account demographics, psychographics, and traffic volumes, adjusting the music day-by-day and hour-by-hour.

We are meeting with Joe Soltis, the Founder and CEO of ChoiceLocal, a digital marketing firm specializing in marketing franchise systems. At the time of this podcast, ChoiceLocal's clients see an average return of $15.51 for every $1.00 invested in marketing, with some generating over $15.54 in new revenue per dollar invested. They consistently deliver superior business results, with clients experiencing, on average, 363% faster revenue growth compared to working with other agencies. Joe leads ChoiceLocal, which funds the Benjamin Isaac Foundation, a non-profit focused on helping children in need.

Every business has a story.

ChoiceLocal's mission is to help others. It began as a one-person company and has grown to over 65 employees, adding 2-3 new people per month. It is a two-time winner of the NorthCoast99’s Best Place to Work award, boasts an annual client retention rate of 94%, and has a net promoter score higher than companies like Apple, Amazon, and Trader Joe’s.

In Part Two, we play a clip from our popular Great Quotes in Franchising podcast.

This episode is one of our earliest from our time at WorldTalkRadio. We'll be discussing how to prepare for a franchise business loan with Comerica Bank, the nation's leading small business lender. Our guest, James Stolt, VP of the Small Business Administration Lending division at Comerica Bank, will explain the lending program and provide tips on preparing for a successful loan application. 

Based in Raleigh, NC, Diamond Financial was established to address a significant gap in the national financing market. Research indicates that, within a single year, over 21 million small business loan applications were submitted to local banks, yet only 4 million were approved. DFS recognized that many qualified individuals struggled to find interested financial institutions, properly package their loan applications, or effectively justify their needs to bank officers, leading to an 84% rejection rate due solely to poor presentation. President Stephen Mariani, who has been involved in small business since 1978 and has personally owned many, founded this company with a focus on business owners. His extensive experience in finding financial solutions is the foundation of Diamond Financial, and his commitment to honesty and integrity is evident from your first interaction with his organization. The company is devoted to supporting small businesses in America and dedicated to their success. 

DTT Surveillance Interview with Franchise Experts

In one of our early historic shows from the WorldTalkRadio days, we explored the impact of surveillance technology in the franchise industry. If you've visited a McDonald's, Subway, Burger King, or similar franchises, you've likely been monitored by DTT's security cameras and software. We interviewed Sam Naficy, the CEO and founder of DTT Surveillance, the leading video surveillance provider for 20,000 restaurants across the U.S., including McDonald's, Subway, Burger King, and more.

Through his journey in establishing the top surveillance provider for the restaurant industry, Sam Naficy has developed deep insights into the unique challenges faced by owners of multiple franchise locations. His expertise is in assisting franchisees and small business owners in reducing theft and increasing profits. For businesses with slim profit margins spread across various locations, issues like theft, shrinkage, and worker productivity can significantly impact the bottom line. Additionally, DTT's solutions help reduce insurance and liability costs and resolve legal issues.

We will be discussing franchising with Hossein Kasmai, the Chief Executive Officer and founder of Franchise Creator. Mr. Kasmai has created several franchise concepts, including Guard-A-Kid. Founded in 2005, Guard-A-Kid rapidly became the industry leader and a highly successful franchise in the field of children and family safety.

Mr. Kasmai offers advice to aspiring franchisors and franchisees. Franchise Creator provides a comprehensive approach to franchise development.

We are meeting with Keith Gerson, President of Global Operations at FranConnect. What is FranConnect? It is a leading provider of Franchise Management Systems, with over several hundred brands utilizing its comprehensive solutions to create, grow, and manage their franchise operations.

FranConnect offers an integrated suite of applications that enable franchisors to oversee all aspects of their business, including Franchise Sales, Marketing, Financial Data Collection and Analysis, Royalty Invoicing and Automated Funds Transfer, Contract and Legal Document Management, Customer Relationship Management, Help Desk, Franchisee Support, Online Training, Supply Management, Automated Ad-Builder, Email Marketing, Franchisee Websites, ZIP Code Locator Service, and integration with QuickBooks, Peachtree, and POS systems.

In part 2, we speak with franchise expert Karol Mercurio on our Great Quotes in Franchising Podcast.

Many aspiring entrepreneurs tune into Franchise Interviews for tips on buying a franchise. Today, we are speaking with Craig Slavin, a 50-year veteran of the franchising industry. Slavin has been involved in all aspects of franchising, from concept creation and refinement to management and national/international growth. He also served as the former CEO and President of Giordano's Famous Stuffed Pizza.

Slavin has not only led major franchise organizations to success but has also helped hundreds of franchises reposition their concepts, streamline operations, and grow their businesses. His experience with poor choices and wasted time in the industry led him to create ConnectMe, a free online survey that guides prospective franchise owners to the right franchise for them.

FRANdata Releases Franchise Compensation Report (ARLINGTON, Va.) - Today, FRANdata President and CEO Darrell Johnson announced the release of the "Franchise Compensation Report for 2011," coinciding with the expected rise in hiring decisions for 2011. This year's report is the most comprehensive and representative since FRANdata began tracking franchise compensation three years ago. It features data from 169 different franchise brands, gathered from two surveys conducted over the past fifteen months, and includes compensation details for 30 different positions at the C-Level, Department Head, Manager, and Professional levels. Click here to view the full list of positions covered in the study. The survey was conducted by FRANdata in collaboration with AKRON Inc., a company that specializes in compensation studies.

About FRANdata: FRANdata is an independent research company that tracks and analyzes the franchise industry. Founded in 1989 and based in Arlington, Va., FRANdata maintains objectivity by not accepting advertising or other fees. It is frequently cited as an expert by leading media outlets such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post.

We are scheduled to meet with John Blair, the Director of Marketing at FranNet. Renowned as North America's leading authority in connecting individuals with franchise opportunities, FranNet is headquartered in Louisville, Ky., and boasts over 100 consultants across North America and Europe. These consultants employ a proprietary profiling and consultative process to identify business models tailored to each client's unique goals, skills, and interests, successfully matching thousands of entrepreneurs with rewarding small business opportunities. For the past four years, INC. magazine has recognized FranNet as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America. 

An Evening with Franchise Teacher Chris Simnick

With over 40 years of experience as an independent businessman, franchisee, and franchiser, including fifteen years of international experience in launching and supporting franchise systems in Europe and the Pacific Rim, Chris Simnick is well-versed in franchising. He knows how to establish and optimize operations to ensure a profitable business at start-up, maintain stability, or achieve growth, whether through refreshing existing concepts or expanding into new ones.

Chris founded the Synergy Franchise Group Network, which includes Synergy Franchise Group LLC and FranchiseTeacher.com. Through these organizations, Chris and his team guide clients in identifying and purchasing the right franchise based on their interests, personality, and skills. They also help clients determine if their concept is suitable for franchising, recruit and develop franchisees, and set up the necessary infrastructure and processes to operate the system effectively and profitably.

They provide consulting services to franchisers and franchisees of all sizes and industries, addressing specific issues such as developing growth strategies, conducting operational reviews and profit & loss analyses, and setting up lead generation and tracking programs. They also offer personalized one-on-one coaching to meet any need.

In Part Two, we feature a clip from our popular Great Quotes in Franchising podcast, which includes a segment with Chris Simnick from his first appearance on our podcast.

We have an excellent show lined up today. We'll be talking with Adam Robinson, Chief Hireologist at Hireology.

Hireology's selection management platform streamlines the hiring process for franchisees. Their award-winning Selection Manager™ offers everything an operator needs to manage hiring, including a fully-hosted career site, integrated job postings, compensation analysis, pre-hire assessments, interview guides, background checks, skills verification, and more. Franchise systems use Hireology’s web-based platform to ensure consistent and repeatable hiring decisions in the field, resulting in lower turnover and increased profitability per location.

We will be speaking with Adam Robinson, the co-founder and CEO of Hireology. Adam is a renowned expert in the recruiting industry, a speaker, and an author, with over 25 years of experience in hiring and selection management. He has worked with numerous national franchise brands across the fitness, home health, and B2B industries. He is also the author of The Best Team Wins: Build Your Business Through Predictive Hiring. 

Holly Shilliday, a Franchise Attorney will provide valuable insights on how franchise systems can navigate financial difficulties in today's challenging economic climate. She will cover strategies to prevent bankruptcy, protect franchise rights, and handle bankruptcy situations effectively. Holly's expertise includes advising lenders and franchisors in bankruptcy cases involving franchisees and their guarantors.

Ryan Cunningham, the founder and President of Javelin Solutions, joins Franchise Interviews. Before establishing Javelin Solutions, Mr. Cunningham spent two decades at the world's largest commercial real estate firm, where he held the position of Executive Vice President. 

We’re sitting down with Darren Guccione, the CEO and co-founder of Keeper Security, Inc., the company behind Keeper, the world's most downloaded password manager and digital vault. In our conversation with Darren, we’ll explore topics like security, franchising, and entrepreneurship. Click the play button below to listen to our interview with him.