When your business reaches a certain size, it’s only natural to explore options for extensive growth and scale. With PLAYLive, we chose the franchising model. The ability to scale without fronting the capital for each unit and the ease of spreading to different regions combined with the other benefits of franchising made it the best route.

The National Labor Relations Board ruling labeling McDonald’s as a joint employer triggered a wave of concern in the franchising world. It took a step in the wrong direction for franchisors. While McDonald’s continues to fight the ruling, the precedence still stands. The McDonald’s corporation can be held liable as a co-employer.

The key to building a prosperous franchise is to place quality franchisees at the helm of your business. As a long-time franchise lawyer and part franchise owner, I cannot stress enough how essential this is for long-term franchise success. As we continue to grow PLAYLive, we have been continuously refining how we attract and screen potential franchisees.

At the end of 2015, we had 54 franchises sold. Of the 54 sold, we had 14 open and operational as we brought in the New Year.