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Kal Patel is no stranger to being an entrepreneur. From hotels and restaurants to convenient stores and wholesale distribution, there aren&rsquo;t many industries that he hasn&rsquo;t tried his hand. But when Patel was looking to get involved with a business that would allow him to stay closer to home near the rest of his family in New Jersey, he decided to look into something new: child care.

Recognizing that the demand for top tier child care services among parents is climbing, Patel started looking into franchise opportunities. That&rsquo;s when he came across <a href="http://lightbridgeacademyfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=strong-growth-potential-and-ability-to-build-equity-in-real-estate-inspires-multi-unit-franchisee-to-expand-with-lightbridge-academy-11079" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lightbridge Academy</a> and its unique Circle of Care philosophy that places equal value on the needs of children, their parents, the community and the teachers who care for them during the day. Patel realized that Lightbridge Academy offered him the unique opportunity to enter on the ground level of a rapidly growing brand, so he signed on to open his own center.

&ldquo;It was important for me to join a brand that wasn&rsquo;t too big or oversaturated&mdash;I needed to know that the opportunity for me to grow as a business owner was there in the long run,&rdquo; said Patel. &ldquo;To say that growth potential is still going strong would be an understatement. Even as Lightbridge Academy opens its doors in new markets, there&rsquo;s still the opportunity to open more centers in different communities.&rdquo;

Right now, Patel has four <a href="http://lightbridgeacademy.1851franchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=strong-growth-potential-and-ability-to-build-equity-in-real-estate-inspires-multi-unit-franchisee-to-expand-with-lightbridge-academy-11079" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lightbridge Academy</a> centers with two of those locations are already open for business, and the other two expected to launch in 2017 and 2018. Patel has been able to expand so quickly because of the brand&rsquo;s one of a kind positioning within the child care industry&mdash;Lightbridge Academy is the only brand that ensures the lines of communication between parents and their centers are always open through digital platforms like its ParentView&acirc; internet monitoring system and eCommunication app. But he says that Lightbridge Academy&rsquo;s business model has also given him another competitive advantage.

&ldquo;Not only does Lightbridge Academy give me the ability to succeed as a business owner, it also allows me to build equity in real estate. By owning some of the properties that my child care centers are located in, I&rsquo;ve been able to get involved in the real estate industry as well,&rdquo; said Patel.

While the first center that Patel opened in Clifton is under a lease, he has made an active effort to own the other locations that he operates. And Patel has been able to expand alongside the Lightbridge Academy brand by using his profits from existing centers to invest in the real estate and infrastructure necessary for new centers.

&ldquo;Franchisees like Kal highlight the unique ways in which Lightbridge Academy enables its owners to grow. Our system is designed to help our franchisees thrive in multiple ways, including involvement in the real estate side of the business,&rdquo; said Brenda Febbo, chief marketing officer for Lightbridge Academy. &ldquo;We encourage that type of innovation and strong entrepreneurial drive among all of our owners. It&rsquo;s then our job to support them to success in their businesses as they continue to grow.&rdquo;

Lightbridge Academy currently has 25 centers that are up and running, and plans to bring that number near the 40 mark by the end of the year. The brand is already well on its way to making that development goal a reality&mdash;with its eyes set on expanding in key target markets like New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and New York throughout 2017 and an affordable initial investment for new franchisees that ranges from $502,750 to $686,250, there&rsquo;s no doubt that this year will extend Lightbridge Academy&rsquo;s Circle of Care to new communities at a rapid rate.

&ldquo;There are two things that franchisees need in order to be successful in the child care industry. The first is to have the drive and passion to grow as an entrepreneur and business owner. The second is a strong corporate partner. There&rsquo;s no doubt that I&rsquo;ve found that in Lightbridge Academy,&rdquo; said Patel. &ldquo;The brand has been there for me throughout the entire franchising process&mdash;they&rsquo;re just as invested in my success as I am. That&rsquo;s why I&rsquo;d recommend Lightbridge Academy to any other parent or potential business owner. You&rsquo;re not going to find a brand that does child care better.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Strong Growth Potential and Ability to Build Equity in Real Estate Inspires Multi-Unit Franchisee to Expand with Lightbridge Academy

1851 Franchise

In addition to being a part of the increasingly in demand child care industry, Kal Patel has leveraged the success of his centers to tap into the real estate side of the business.

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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.

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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.

Strong Growth Potential and Ability to Build Equity in Real Estate Inspires Multi-Unit Franchisee to Expand with Lightbridge Academy

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