Regulation & legal

Restaurant operators should prepare for due diligence 12-18 months before a sale to ensure a smooth transaction, a managing director advises.

Hotel financing failures can occur even with steady guest streams and cash flow, often due to rising borrowing costs and long-deferred renovations.

Restaurant brands face a tighter market for new sites than the national vacancy rate suggests, with usable vacancy in growth markets estimated to be 2-3%.

ServiceMaster Restore ranked No. 48 on the 2026 Franchise Times Top 400 with $1.5 billion in systemwide sales and over 65 years of restoration expertise.

Over 40% of restaurant operators are taking a cautious approach to using AI, with many still evaluating the business case before committing to implementation.

Puerto Rico-based Encanto Restaurants filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy with $123.9 million in liabilities and $29.8 million in assets.

Founder-led, regional restaurant brands, such as In-N-Out Burger, are thriving due to their focus on employee care and customer lifetime value.

Restaurant chains are making menu upgrades to win back increasingly selective diners, with some seeing significant increases in sales.

A new white paper from Pulse Fitness estimates that U.S. adults with disabilities and their households spend approximately $24 billion annually on fitness memberships and services.

Franchisors must adapt to an evolving development landscape, focusing on marketing and attracting new franchisees.

A Schlotzsky's franchisee in North Texas filed for bankruptcy, citing profitability struggles and financial obligations.

Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux is a Louisiana-themed sports bar and restaurant franchise founded in 2015 by Brandon Landry and Jack Warner in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Mathnasium Learning Centers' FDD outlines costs, fees, and financial performance for prospective franchise owners.

Multi-unit restaurant franchisees report rising minimum wages affecting their bottom lines, with varying impacts depending on location and operations.

The International Franchise Association called on Congress to pass the American Franchise Act, which aims to protect franchise small businesses and their employees.

Companies that prioritize employee experience tend to have higher customer satisfaction, according to Forrester’s 2025 global Total Experience Score index.

Franchisee profitability is crucial for long-term growth as strong unit economics help franchise owners succeed and expand their businesses.

Xponential Fitness' revenue fell 21 percent in the third quarter, to $62.3 million from $78.8 million a year earlier.

Sweetgreen's third-quarter sales were down 6.4% due to a foodborne illness outbreak and consumers avoiding salad and fresh produce.

Franchisees continue to file for bankruptcy, with a 30-unit Denny's operator filing Chapter 11 this week, citing $10-50 million in liabilities.

EYM Diner, a 30-unit Denny's operator, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, citing $10-50 million in liabilities and less than $50,000 in assets.

Wendy's has unveiled a comprehensive revitalization plan, including a 5.9% decline in system sales and a plan to buy up to 163 restaurants from a bankrupt franchisee.

Portillo's CEO Brett Patterson outlines a strategy to change its approach to growth and to turn around negative sales trends outside Chicagoland.

Franchisees can negotiate certain terms of a franchise agreement with a franchisor, but flexibility varies from one franchisor to the next.