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When schools closed across the country, it became difficult for parents to balance work and child care, especially those with children in preschool. The early education and child care franchise <a href="https://lightbridgeacademy.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=lightbridge-academy-provides-an-essential-service-to-communities-2713183" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Lightbridge Academy®</a> was able to operate many of their child care centers as an essential business. This allowed the everyday heroes of this pandemic, such as healthcare workers and first responders, to rely on <a href="https://1851franchise.com/lightbridgeacademy">Lightbridge Academy</a> to provide quality, safe, healthy child care as The Solution for Working Parents®.In early April, Vibha Weimer, a <a href="https://lightbridgeacademy.com/locations/Delran-nj?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=lightbridge-academy-provides-an-essential-service-to-communities-2713183" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Lightbridge Academy franchise owner in Delran, New Jersey</a>, reopened her center to offer care to the children of essential employees and first responders.“We originally closed our school during the beginning of the outbreak,” said Weimer. “In early April, the state’s government asked that child care for essential workers be available. Our teachers agreed that they wanted to come back to work from being furloughed in order to help the community. As long as we have staff to do it, <a href="https://1851franchise.com/lightbridgeacademy/the-daily-targum-how-lightbridge-academy-is-helping-its-community-during-these-times-2712847#franbuzz">we are honored to be able to help essential healthcare workers serve our communities so we can all be safe and healthy</a>.”&nbsp;Of course, the process of reopening hasn’t come without its fair share of challenges for Weimer. “We’ve really had to rethink how we handle operations to meet the needs of these unprecedented times,” she said. “We’ve had to shut down our usual business model and work within the parameters given to us by the state and the CDC. We’ve also needed to stay abreast of all the relevant information in order to use it to pivot our operations. There are decisions being made every day along with support from our franchise home office team.”&nbsp;One of the first changes the center made was to implement strict guidelines in which children must be picked up outside the premises. The staff is also taking children’s temperatures daily and logging the information, sanitizing all surfaces and being very diligent about cleaning.&nbsp;“When it comes to enhanced safety protocols, we’ve been using hospital-grade cleaning products, wearing masks in the classroom and implementing screening procedures to ensure that no one has been exposed to COVID-19,” said Weimer. “Also, we’ve created capacity restrictions so that no more than 10 people are in the classroom at a time, including staff. We are used to having 18 to 20 kids in a classroom, so this was a major change for us.”&nbsp;Since Weimer was not charging the previously enrolled families that were unable to attend the center, she applied for alternative funding in order to continue supporting staff, utilizing resources such as SBA loans, the CARE Act and PPP loans. Still, despite these challenges, Weimer and her staff are proud to be providing aid to those who are saving lives everyday.“Lightbridge Academy looks at the community as part of our Circle of Care and we are proud to be able to support the children of parents who are on the front lines,” said Weimer. “When the crisis first hit, many of these families didn’t have the child care they needed, especially hospital workers who were self-isolated to avoid exposure. This was a major consideration when deciding to open back up—this created additional stress for the doctors and nurses who were already making exceptional sacrifices. It has been humbling to hear how grateful they are and we are honored to play a part in helping them along this difficult journey.”After an extremely successful start to 2020, this crisis may have temporarily slowed down operations for Lightbridge Academy, but the brand’s CEO Guy Falzarano is confident that franchisees will be positioned for success as centers reopen nationwide.“One thing that has become clear during this pandemic is that we are indeed an essential service and that parents rely on us in good times and bad,” said Falzarano. “Safety and security is top of mind for all working parents. As a result, we have developed the gold standard for health &amp; safety called The Lightbridge Promise. All our centers are investing in a state of the art, air purification and filtration system which is similar in design to what you find in healthcare. This, in addition to our enhanced protocols, ensures that families feel comfortable and truly experience peace of mind entrusting their children in our care.”While child care will always be an important service, more than ever, people need the security of knowing they can go to work and provide for their family during a crisis like COVID-19. “We make sure our families know that their children are well educated and cared for so they can perform their essential role in the community,” said Weimer. “This is also part of <a href="https://lightbridgeacademy.com/our-values?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=lightbridge-academy-provides-an-essential-service-to-communities-2713183" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Lightbridge Academy®’s Circle of Care® philosophy</a>, in which we provide nurturing care to not only students, but parents, staff, owners and the community. Our goal is to help everyone—when we serve one of us, we are serving all of us.”The startup costs for a Lightbridge Academy franchise range from $549,228 to $737,635. The franchise fee is $40,000. To learn more about franchising with Lightbridge Academy, visit <a href="https://lightbridgeacademyfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=lightbridge-academy-provides-an-essential-service-to-communities-2713183" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://lightbridgeacademyfranchise.com/</a>.

Lightbridge Academy® Provides an Essential Service to Communities

1851 Franchise

During COVID-19, the early education and child care franchise has helped families providing essential service in several states to help the parents on the front lines.


This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

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How much can franchisees make? It’s a question many prospective owners ask before investing in a franchise. While earnings tend to be driven by variables such as industry, location and general management skills, a proper understanding of the key factors driving profitability can help franchise owners develop expectations that are realistic.&nbsp;Multi-unit franchisee&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mangesh-patel-9368569/">Mangesh Patel</a>, who’s readying the launch of six&nbsp;<a href="https://www.beefobradysfranchise.com/">Beef ‘O’ Brady’s</a> restaurant locations in the Macon, Georgia area, shares insights from his franchising experience.<h2>Understanding Franchise Income</h2>Keeping operational costs in check can have a major impact on overall earnings. Taking a proactive approach to expenses such as food and labor, as well as payroll and scheduling, can help align actual franchise income with general expectations for the business.“I just had a meeting with a couple of people, and they said, ‘You talked about a 25% profit margin, but I’m only doing 12%.’ So, I looked at the figures they sent me,” Patel said. “Their&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/calculate-restaurant-franchise-profit-2730476">restaurant</a> food cost was running at 37%, which should be around 30%. The national average is about 32%. If I do things correctly, my average food cost needs to be at or below 30%. And payroll should run around 18%. But many people run 25 to 28%.”So,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/unraveling-franchise-earnings-how-much-can-you-really-make-2723935">how much can franchisees make</a>? Here are five areas to consider.<h2>Practical Tips for Prospective Franchisees</h2><ol><li>Control Costs From Day One:&nbsp;It’s important to monitor payroll, food and supply costs closely. Overstaffing and inefficiencies can quickly reduce profits.</li><li>Plan For The Opening Surge:&nbsp;Traffic within the first few months of opening is likely to be higher. It’s important to adjust staffing and inventory accordingly, and pay close attention to how those levels change as time goes on.</li><li>Invest In Training:&nbsp;Properly trained workers can help reduce waste and improve overall service, which has a direct effect on net income.</li><li>Understand Your Market:&nbsp;Each market is unique and revenue potential will vary depending upon location, demographics and competition.</li><li>Track Metrics Regularly:&nbsp;Food cost percentages, labor ratios and weekly sales data act as key indicators operations may need to be adjusted.</li></ol><h2>What Profitability Really Comes Down To</h2>Patel notes that if franchise owners manage labor and costs properly, it’s not impossible to achieve strong cash flow even in the first year, bucking some franchising trends.So,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/how-much-can-you-make-as-a-franchise-owner-2724761">how much can franchisees make</a>? While results tend to vary, careful planning, disciplined operations and a proactive approach to assessing initial costs are essential. But by grasping and guiding the elements that drive franchise profitability, franchise owners can maximize overall business earnings, scaling a business that’s sustainable financially over the long term.Want to learn more about franchise opportunities on 1851 Franchise? Be sure to visit our&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/power-rankings">Power Rankings</a> to read more on brands making moves.

How much can franchisees make? This guide explains what drives franchise earnings and how to manage costs, with expert tips from multi-unit owner Mangesh Patel on maximizing your franchise income.

How Much Can Franchisees Make? A Guide for Prospective Franchise Owners

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<a href="https://hardeesfranchising.com/">Hardee’s</a>, a 65-year-old burger chain best known for its Thickburgers and breakfast biscuits, is facing a fast-moving round of closures driven by a franchise dispute rather than a bankruptcy filing.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.inc.com/ava-levinson/hardees-shutting-dozens-restaurants/91282586">Inc. recently reported that</a> 77&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/franchise-deep-dive-hardees-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-2721286">Hardee’s</a> restaurants are expected to close within two weeks as one of the brand’s largest franchisees exits the system.&nbsp;According to the report, Hardee’s is suing&nbsp;<a href="https://www.arcburger.com/">ARC Burger</a> — a franchise operator owned by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.highbluffcap.com/">High Bluff Capital Partners</a> — alleging the company fell behind on required payments and other contract obligations. Twenty-eight locations had already gone dark as of late December, with remaining sites scheduled to shutter across eight states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, Montana, South Carolina and Wyoming.&nbsp;At the center of the complaint is the franchising “stack” of ongoing fees and pass-through costs that keep a system running. ARC Burger allegedly owes more than $6.5 million, including royalties, advertising fund contributions, technology and training fees, rent and taxes, and that payments stopped in December 2024. Hardee’s also argued in the lawsuit that the franchisee’s cash flow was not being used to bring accounts current.&nbsp;Hardee’s, for its part, is framing the shutdowns as a contractual enforcement issue, not a brand-wide retrenchment. “These closures are a result of ARC Burger’s failure to cure its defaults under its franchise agreements, despite solid sales,” a Hardee’s spokesperson said.&nbsp;The situation highlights a familiar franchising pressure point: unit economics. Inc. reported that Hardee’s operates more than 1,800 U.S. restaurants and that average annual sales per location are less than $1.2 million, well below averages cited for&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/franchise-deep-dive-wendys-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-2722520">Wendy’s</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-buy-a-mcdonalds-franchise-2724654#stories">McDonald’s</a>. Lower volumes can leave franchisees with less room to absorb higher labor, food and occupancy costs while staying current on fees.&nbsp;Hardee’s said it is working to limit fallout for workers and communities and is looking for ways to reopen closed restaurants. For franchising, the next chapter will likely involve finding replacement operators, transferring sites and rebuilding compliance — a reminder that franchise growth depends as much on franchisee solvency and execution as it does on consumer demand.Read the original article&nbsp;<a href="https://www.inc.com/ava-levinson/hardees-shutting-dozens-restaurants/91282586">here</a>.Want to learn more about how 1851 helps franchisees find the right franchise opportunity? Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.1851growthclub.com">www.1851growthclub.com</a> and start your journey.

Hardee's Franchise - ARC Burger Lawsuit - 1851 Franchise

The closures stem from alleged unpaid royalties and missed franchise obligations by a major operator, not a broader chainwide collapse for the Hardee’s system.

Hardee’s Lawsuit Targets Franchisee as 77 Restaurants Prepare to Shut Down

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Lightbridge Academy® Provides an Essential Service to Communities

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