katiem's blog

The Thoughts of a Budding Entrepreneur: "If I Stopped Working Today... I Wouldn't Have Any Income Coming In."

Michael Blank was sitting at his desk when he had his financial epiphany, “I suddenly realized that if I stopped working today, for any reason, I wouldn’t have any income coming in. That terrified me.” 

Michael, founding member of webMethods, a business integration software company, took this “ah-ha moment” as his cue and immediately left his job to be his own boss. The 36 year old needed to chart out his financial future and find a way to make a passive income—a steady stream of revenue that would keep coming in without continuing effort.  

“When I quit my job, I didn’t really have a plan. I thought I might start my own software company but I wasn’t really sure that I wanted to get in too deep,” says Michael. “I wanted something that was lucrative but also reasonable start up.” 

So, on top of real estate investing, he began doing some networking to find additional opportunities. Michael found a few friends around the Northern Virginia area that had made the venture into the restaurant franchising industry.  

A German Import With an Italian Point of View

By Tom Sietsema

Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/19/AR2007061900387.html

Wednesday, June 20, 2007; F03

The time: 12:20 p.m. on a recent weekday.

The place: Vapiano, a sleek new "European fresh-casual concept" in downtown Washington.

The scene: Mobbed.

ONTARIO —The Firkin Group of Pubs continues to lead the pack as the fastest growing English pub chains in North America announcing the opening of thirteen new pubs by close of 2007. With the new locations, Firkin will double the number of pubs in the United States, growing from eight to 21 in just one year. The chain will open two new locations in Morgantown, WV and Tucson, AZ in the next 30 days. 

“People all across the United States are falling in love with pubs again because of our expansion efforts,” says Larry Isaacs, Firkin Director of Marketing. “Our goal is to put the relaxed, comfortable British pub atmosphere on the map here.” 

The Firkin Group of Pubs is one of the most popular neighborhood pub chains in Canada and recently captured the title of the largest and fastest growing English pub chain in the United States. Serving spectacular food in a friendly, pub-like atmosphere it draws families, students and professionals alike. 

Firkin currently has 40 units open in North America, with eight in the United States in states ranging from Illinois to Virginia. The chain plans to have over 1,000 units in development by 2010.

Restaurant Chain Looks to Develop CT, Mass. and NJ In 2007

Redding, CT June 12, 2007— Sandella’s Flatbread, the largest and fastest growing flatbread concept in the world has plans to expand via franchising nationally, with a regional push in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Jersey this year. The company, which has over 125 open restaurants and another 70+ in development across the country, is currently looking for multi-unit investors to expand the popular chain in these three states. 

Having already signed master franchising agreements in Nevada and Los Angeles, CA, Sandella’s is looking to bring more stores to the east coast and particularly near their headquarters.

“Sandella’s has stores open across the United States but one of our prime target areas right now is surrounding our home-base core in Connecticut,” says Mike Stimola, Sandella’s president. “We have strong branding in this region, great food and our restaurants are extremely simply to operate.”

Gourmet Pizza Chain Beats Usual Suspects in Customer Choice Awards