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Why Minneapolis is Great for Franchising

Dairy Queen is one of the many franchises that has found success in the state.

By Matthew DiazStaff Writer
SPONSORED 4:16PM • 01/22/16
Minnesota will forever be a symbol for what is nice about the Midwest; great accents and frigid temperatures. The Minneapolis-St. Paul, metro area is home to over 60 percent of the state’s population making it the largest city in Minnesota and the 8th largest city in the region.

But what’s so special about the Land of 10,000 Lakes? What does any of this have to do with franchising?

Well, for starters, Forbes ranked Minnesota as the 13th overall best state for business and the No. 1 overall state for quality of life, with Minneapolis in the top 40 best cities for business throughout the country. Additionally, it is also ranked as the No. 1 state for business by CNBC. Minnesota is also home to just under 10 fortune 500 companies.

For franchising, we can start with a track record of being home to some of the franchise industries top brands with names like Anytime Fitness, Buffalo Wild Wings and Dairy Queen*.

As a mature franchise with more than 6,700 locations worldwide, Dairy Queen is a franchise giant that has made the Minneapolis area home. I had a chance to speak with the COO of Dairy Queen for their U.S. and Canadian Business, Troy Bader. According to Bader, success in the Twin Cities starts with the people.

“The advantages of being based in greater Minneapolis starts with the people and the talent level,” said Bader. “We have a very well educated and hardworking base of people here which has allowed us to thrive here. It has also allowed the area to create a diverse economy that nurtures a versatile workforce. We have everything from fortune 500 companies to startups to medical supply companies.”

According to the US Census, the median household income for Minnesota was $61,481 in 2014 which is nearly $8,000 higher than the median U.S. household income. With job growth up around 1.5% for 2015 and an economic climate among the nation’s top states, it’s no surprise why some of the franchise industries strongest brands choose to plant their roots here.

“In terms of the recession through today, Minneapolis has been considerably strong compared to the norm, the key really is the diversification of the different businesses here,” said Bader.

A sentiment that seemingly reigns true in both business and more importantly, franchising.

*This brand is a paid partner of 1851 Franchise. For more information on paid partnerships please click here.

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