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$4.95 U.S. • $5.95 Canada • PERIODICALS Raj Patel, president of The Hari Group, continues to grow a multi- brand portfolio that includes this Dunkin’ in Darien, Illinois. The News and Information Source for Franchisingwww.franchisetimes.com JUNE/JULY 2026 HARI GROUP HEATS UP DUNKIN’, DAVE’S HOT CHICKEN POWER PORTFOLIO GROWTH TACTICS OF SUCCESSFUL MULTI-BRAND FRANCHISEES INSIDE THE EXPERIENTIAL FRANCHISE BOOM$1.993M AVG GROSS REVENUE 51 AVG TRANSACTIONS PER DAY 11 AVG EMPLOYEES ON THE PAYROLL 15,000 MINIMUM SQ. FT. REAL ESTATE NEEDED FOR DEVELOPMENT Ready to Diversify Your Franchise Portfolio? *Based on Entrepreneur’s 2026 Franchise 500 #1 in Category Ranking The information provided herein does not constitute an offer to sell a franchise. The offer of a franchise can be made only through the delivery of a Franchise Disclosure Document. This franchise has been registered under the Franchise Investment Law of the State of California. Such registration does not constitute approval, recommendation, or endorsement by the commissioner of Business Oversight nor a fi nding by the commissioner that the information provided herein is true, complete, and not misleading. This advertisement is not an offering. An offering can only be made by a Franchise Disclosure Document fi led with the Department of Law of the State of New York. Such fi ling does not constitute approval by the Department of Law of the State of New York. Minnesota Registration ID: 2019 See 2026 Valvoline Instant Oil Change Franchise Disclosure Document for more information. NO AUTOMOTIVE EXPERIENCE, NO PROBLEM. CALL US AT 859-357-7303 OR VISIT US AT WWW.VIOCFRANCHISE.COM Join the Leading Automotive Services Retailer * VRS-VIOCF-3585-EN ©2026 Valvoline Inc. 3/26 © 2026 Valvoline Inc. All rights reserved. ® Registered Service Mark, Valvoline Inc. or its subsidiaries.. QSR 340 JUNE2026_56.indd 175/11/26 4:39 PMUPFRONT 8 We check out three fitness concepts and report back, in FT Undercover By FT Staff 10 Fundraising helps Hot Head boost organic marketing, in Behind the Sales By Alyssa Huglen 11 ’Zee bankruptcies on the rise, plus more in FT Online By FT Staff 12 Franchisee thrives with Bishops salons By Alyssa Huglen 14 Form, vibe combine at The Daily Pilates By Emilee Wentland 16 Painting studio owner keeps growing By Matthew Liedke 18 Guaco Go founders share early lessons, in The Upstart By Alyssa Huglen COVER STORY 20 With 132 locations in five brands across multiple states, The Hari Group isn’t slowing down. As the company adds units and more franchise concepts, President Raj Patel wants to keep the emphasis on store- level execution—and not growing faster than the cash flow. By Laura Michaels 28 Eat Up Canada makes gains as master franchisee for Pokeworks and Playa Bowls By Andrew Tellijohn 30 Excellent service is driver for major Massage Envy, Sola Salon operators By Matthew Liedke $4.95 U.S. • $5.95 Canada • PERIODICALS Raj Patel, president of The Hari Group, continues to grow a multi- brand portfolio that includes this Dunkin’ in Darien, Illinois. The News and Information Source for Franchising www.franchisetimes.com JUNE/JULY 2026 HARI GROUP HEATS UP DUNKIN’, DAVE’S HOT CHICKEN POWER PORTFOLIO GROWTH TACTICS OF SUCCESSFUL MULTI-BRAND FRANCHISEES INSIDE THE EXPERIENTIAL FRANCHISE BOOM CONTENTS ON THE COVER 20: Hari Group President Raj Patel 30: Massage Envy franchisees Todd Recknagel and Kristi Mailloux 14: The Daily Pilates founder Lily Collins-Sak 28: Eat Up Canada co-founders George Heos, left and Alex Gerzon 12: Salon franchise Bishops Cuts/Color JUNE/JULY ‘26 Volume 32 Issue 6 Cover photo by Mary RaffertyJUNE/JULY ‘26 VOLUME 32 ISSUE 6 36: Fun at experiential franchise iSmash 39: Kari Schroeter, left, and Stacey Iltis of Fly Dance Fitness 42: YouTuber Jake Paul promotes Dog Haus FRANCHISE FOCUS 33 Indoor golf simulators tee up national franchise push By Emilee Wentland 36 Meet 4 growing experiential concepts By Alyssa Huglen FITNESS FINANCE & GROWTH 39 Attention to detail is vital for new gym franchises By Matthew Liedke TOOLKIT 42 Brands use content creators to drive sales and leads By Emilee Wentland 45 How AI boosts a brand’s ‘speed to lead’ By Andrew Tellijohn INTERNATIONAL 49 Barre3 takes its low-impact workout concept to Chile By Laura Michaels 50 Franchise sectors set to grow in Chile, reports Country Profile By Laura Michaels NEWS & VIEWS 53 Single-unit Lee’s owner makes leap to more locations, in The Wire By Matthew Liedke COLUMNISTS 59 How do attorneys determine when a franchisee fraud claim really has legs? By Emilee Wentland 60 Legacy leaders and the next breakout stars know innovation always matters By Alicia Miller 61 Restaurant operators are working to keep the wheels on over a rough road By Nicholas Upton IN EVERY ISSUE 6 First Things First 48 Scoreboard 56 Executive Ladder 62 Grab Bag 53W hen I attended the University of Minnesota, I worked part time as a front desk clerk at an upscale hotel in Minneapolis. The job came with a few celebrity sightings: pop singer Kenny Loggins and fitness guru Richard Simmons both checked in during my shifts. I was also prepped for a visit from former President Gerald Ford, but he was whisked straight to the presidential suite, so I never saw him. The job had perks. One time, a Saudi prince tipped me $20 just for checking him in. Back then, $20 felt enormous. But the biggest perk was the commission I earned upgrading guests to the hotel’s “concierge levels,” two floors with a private lounge, complimentary drinks and appetizers, and a dedicated butler. I earned 10 per- cent of the upgraded room rate, so my competitive streak kicked in hard. One shift, I sold so many upgrades I filled both concierge floors and started upgrading guests to other floors entirely. Eventually, the butler marched down to the front desk with a simple message: no más. Even with the extra tips, he couldn’t keep up. My defense, at least to myself: Nobody actually told me not to sell the other floors. I was the epitome of the motivated employee, and my enthusiasm was good for the hotel. Looking back, it’s also a reminder that motivated employees rarely happen by accident. Businesses get better customer ser- vice when they invest time, attention and resources into the people delivering it. That rings true in this month’s cover story on The Hari Group’s Raj Patel, owner and operator of approx- imately 130 Dunkin’ and Dave’s Hot Chicken locations. According to Bill Dale, head of operations for 50 of the group’s Dunkin’ locations, “it’s one thing to have a plan and products to be able to offer to our guests, but at the end of the day, it’s the experience that the customers are going to have, both with hospitality in the restaurants … as well as the product.” Dale told FT Editor in Chief Laura Michaels there is a “direct line” between consistent customer service and consistent staffing. Employees are “treated like the internal guest that they are” and rewarded with per- formance incentives. That philosophy extends across the group’s other brands as well. It appears to be working. Patel’s units often post sales above system averages, and the company contin- ues to expand aggressively. You’ll want to read more of Laura’s reporting on The Hari Group and where it plans to grow from here. That same philosophy surfaces elsewhere in this issue. Franchisees already have skin in the game to excel, but the strongest brands recognize they still need to offer support, incentives and operational help so their franchisees can consistently deliver great customer experiences. “I think the work we’re doing now is less about how many deals we can sign and more about making sure every studio in the system is performing well,” said Jesse McBain, chief operating officer of studio develop- ment at fitness brand Pvolve, in coverage by FT Senior Writer Matthew Liedke. “A growing location count really means nothing if the franchisees aren’t profitable and members aren’t staying.” Likewise, Adam Rice, founder and CEO of ISI Elite Training, acknowledged the brand has grown more slowly than expected, but intentionally, so they have the infrastructure ready to assist their existing fran- chisees. The company focuses heavily on franchisee support, including helping operators with construction management, contractor negotiations and architectural planning. Across the success stories in this issue, the common thread is clear: Both franchisees and franchisors focusing on providing tools and motivation to offer excellent customer service command stable growth. Turns out, whether you’re running 130 restaurants or selling hotel con- cierge upgrades, people tend to perform better when they’re given the incentive to do so. Success means customer service must come first FIRST THINGS FIRST Publisher Reach Mary Jo at 612-767-3208 or mlarson @ franchisetimes.com Volume 32, Issue 6 Publisher/Vice President: Mary Jo Larson mlarson@franchisetimes.com Associate Publisher Lucas Wagner lwagner@franchisetimes.com Editor in Chief: Laura Michaels lmichaels@franchisetimes.com Managing Editor: Emilee Wentland ewentland@franchisetimes.com Senior Finance Reporter: Andy Tellijohn andyt@franchisetimes.com Senior Writer: Matthew Liedke mliedke@franchisetimes.com Reporter: Alyssa Huglen ahuglen@franchisetimes.com Senior Graphic Designer: Joe Veen ads@franchisetimes.com National Sales Director: Kevin Pietsch kpietsch@franchisetimes.com Sales Support: Jenny Raines jraines@franchisetimes.com Digital Marketing/Web Development: Adam Griepentrog adamg@franchisetimes.com Emma Barry ebarry@franchisetimes.com Allison Olson aolson@franchisetimes.com Conference Services: Gayle Strawn Rachel Tegethoff Alie Leonard Production Staff: Steve Hamburger, Manager Steve Schmidt Accounting: Matt Haskin, Controller Kelly Krogstad Franchise Times Corp. Continental Franchise Review® John Hamburger, President To contact Franchise Times: Franchise Times Corp. 2808 Anthony Lane South Minneapolis, MN 55418 www.franchisetimes.com Phone: (612) 767-3200 Fax: (612) 767-3230 Advertising/Classifieds: Call (612) 767-3200 Subscriptions: Subscription rate is $35 per year, $59 for two years. To order, change address or other customer service, call (612) 767-3200. Franchise Times reserves the right to decline subscription/back issue requests. Reprints and back issues: To order, call (612) 767- 3202. Back issues are $9.95 plus shipping. Reproductions of any kind are not authorized. It is a violation of copyright law to reproduce all or part of this publication or its contents. Franchise Times (ISSN 1530-3748) is published 10 times per year (monthly except for combined issues June/ July and November/December) by Franchise Times Corp., 2808 Anthony Lane South, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55418. Periodicals Postage Paid at St. Paul, Minnesota and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to Franchise Times, 2808 Anthony Lane South, Minneapolis, MN 55418 Entire contents copyright ©2026. Publications mail agreement No. 40064408. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to Express Messenger International, P.O. Box 25058, London BRC, Ontario, Canada N6C 6A8.8 Franchise Times | June/July 2026 BRAND INTELLIGENCE We check out three fitness concepts and report back I got bit by the infrared bug late last year (re: red light therapy), so the thought of attending an infrared sauna workout was intriguing. Upon visiting a Hotworx (A) studio near Minneapolis, a friendly staff member greeted me and gave me a thorough tour of the facility, which teaches virtual Isometric and HIIT workouts through yoga, Pilates, cycling, stretching and resistance exercises—all within an infrared sauna. Amenities included a shower and a free weights area for members desiring a longer workout. I trialed a 15-minute Hot Cycle HIIT class (and broke quite the sweat to prove it) and can now say I understand the hype. Hotworx, with more than 800 studios, offers two membership plans, Sweat Basic and Sweat Elite, and has gained traction with its 24/7 studio access. Members are able to reserve a spot on the app and receive a personalized door code to access a studio any day, any time, making it a solid choice for people looking to get a quick workout in on their own time. The upshot: With 24-hour access and a variety of infrared workout options, it’s understandable why Hotworx has developed a hot following. Just make sure to keep a water bottle close by. —A.H. L ife Time gets my money right now, but after receiving another rate increase notification and trying a YogaSix (B) class, it might be time to mix up my workouts. Inside a studio heated to 95 degrees, Lisa led a Y6 Slow Flow class that was challenging but at a pace that allowed for more transition time and opportunity to fully experience the dif- ferent postures. Clear guidance for movement changes and flow sequences made this class approachable for all levels, with more advanced poses offered as modifications. As the 60-min- ute session came to an end, what YogaSix calls its “lavender haze”—a light lavender scent and blue/soft pink lighting switch—was a nice touch. This location in Richfield, Minnesota, had members of all ages and body types, and the vibe was welcoming from start to finish. It’s a bring-your-own-mat situation, and while there were two restrooms with showers, there’s no traditional locker room. That’s typical of the brands under Xponential Fitness. A single class cost $35. Instead of a hard sell on a member- ship, a handful of follow-up texts let me know about a 10-pack flash sale and other options. The upshot: Hot yoga is still having its moment, and YogaSix does it better than many fran- chises I’ve tried. —L.M. S urrounded by ultra-toned ladies decked out in matching workout sets, I braved my first Barre3 (C) class in downtown Minneapolis and was glad to see what could have been an intimidating experience was anything but. The team members at the stu- dio greeted me with open arms and smiling faces. Rest assured, they said, these classes are for everybody and modifications when needed are encouraged. Formerly a member at Pure Barre—a competitor under the Xponential umbrella—I was prepared for the class style, but a novice might have struggled to keep up. But newbies should have no fear, as the instructor offered modified moves, walked around to help with form and gave encour- agement. Barre3 has more than 200 studios, all of which are owned and operated by women. Class attendees are typically women, too, but all are welcome. This studio had plenty of lock- ers, two bathrooms and a shower—and even coffee going in the mornings. Boutique fitness options abound, and this location’s full classes indicate it’s winning with its members. The upshot: Barre3 shines with its focus on building strength and achieving one’s goals. After a free trial class, consider this reporter a soon-to-be repeat customer. —E.W. Ever wonder how consumers feel about your franchise? Editorial staffers Laura Michaels, Andy Tellijohn, Matthew Liedke, Alyssa Huglen and Emilee Wentland check out three brands in a different genre each issue, and report back. THIS EATS DIFFERENT HIGH-SPEED GROWTH. RELIABLE ROI. DRIVEN TO WIN. LEARN MORE ABOUT CHECKERS & RALLY’S FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITIES. Visit owncheckersfranchise.com or Call 888-913-9135 ©2026 Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. 4300 W. Cypress St., Suite 600, Tampa, FL 33607. 1. Checkers & Rally’s 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). Written substantiation will be provided on request. This advertisement is not intended as an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, a franchise. It is for information purposes only. The franchisor, Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. is located at 4300 West Cypress Street, Suite 600, Tampa, Florida 33607, and is registered as fi le number F-4351 in the state of Minnesota. In New York, an offering can only be made by a prospectus fi led fi rst with the Department of Law, and such fi ling does not constitute approval by that Department. 20260122 Checkers & Rally’s, known for our award-winning seasoned fries and iconic burgers, continues to create opportunities for our franchisees with a bold restaurant design that delivers a WOW factor built to honor our legacy while maximizing effi ciencies and streamlining output. We deliver unmatched quality, unbeatable value and legendary taste that keep guests coming back for more again and again. Profi t from a proven franchise system that’s ready to dominate the competition. Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, Checkers & Rally’s operates more than 700 locations across the United States and built our name over 40 years of serving communities. With our Fearless approach and a Focus on Four-Wall Sales and Profi tability, we remain Fan Fanatics heading into the future. Now is a great time to become part of the family. Next >