Phil Fankhauser, CEO, Epcon

When people think of franchising opportunities, they often think of fast food restaurants, hotel chains and fitness centers. When I tell people that I offer a franchise for home building communities – they do a double take.

About two decades ago, my cofounder and I decided that the business model we created for building and selling our award-winning, single-story residential condominium communities could be replicated. Our residential communities were and remain targeted at the 55 + market today.

Richard S. Weissman, President, The Learning Experience®

During the most recent economic downturn, I learned that tough times provide unparalleled opportunities for companies to grow, and learned lessons that can catapult success in any business during any economic climate. Utilizing this information, I was able to ensure the growth of my national early childhood education franchise, The Learning Experience® (TLE®), and produce a 410% YOY, with a 19.3% increase in annual growth rates in revenue just last year.