Today's news for the franchise & small biz owner

Video - Behind the Golden Arches, Part 1. McDonald's CEO Jim Skinner is interviewed on the Fox Business television channel on the secret to McDonald's astronomical rise above its competitors - e.g. leadership development, retail delivery, supply chain management, and more. Skinner discusses the intent to sell some 1,000 to 1,500 company-owned restaurants to franchise owners over the next 3 or 4 years. He reveals that the average American franchisee owns 4 McDonald's restaurants.

Marty McDermott is a university professor with expertise in franchising. He runs a website called Franchise Interviews and hosts an associated radio program.

As you might guess from the title of the website, Marty conducts interviews about franchising.

Consider it a resource worth checking out. His radio program, Franchise Radio, airs live on Thursdays, at 10:00 AM Eastern time, on World Talk Radio.

The Street.com interviews a Domino's franchise owner, Dave Melton. He speaks about how owning a Domino's franchise is big business.

In this Jan. 9, 2007 'Mad Money' clip, Jim Cramer likes "aspirational" brands that makes you feel better so he is recommending Ruth's Chris Steak House, his kind of company. Ruth's Chris CEO Craig Miller discuss the company's terrific quarter.

A streaming video of The Street's Nat Worden who sits down with CEO Ron Shaich to discuss the company and its future. Panera Bread , one of the leading "fast casual" restaurant chains in the US  reported surprisingly strong September same-store sales and will open its 1000th restaurant in November at Oakbrook, Illinois. (11:26 min)