franchise

So you have your business plan. You're ready to launch, as all the material you need is laid out in front of you ready for implementation. But wait, you can't launch a business with no name right? How will people know what to call you by? One can look at it this way, your business is kind of like having...

Franchise Owners Associations continue to make headway in seeking legislative protections as New Hampshire joins California, Maine, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island (already successfully passed) in introducing bills to protect franchised businesses. A blog post at BlueMauMau.org, "New Hampshire to Introduce Franchise Protection Bill," reports that New Hampshire representative Pat Abrami has indicated that he has filed legislation to "provide...

What are franchisers to make of the growing movement among low-wage fast-food workers in the U.S., demanding an increase from the current $7.25 an hour minimum wage to a $15 an hour living wage? Just as we share our vast point of sale (POS) experience and expertise with startup owners in order to help them make the best decisions from...

Payroll giant ADP has released its National Franchise Report which claims that U.S. franchise employment added 25,060 jobs in October — a figure substantially greater than in recent months. We at Sintel found this of particular interest due to the momentum we've witnessed in the retail and restaurant franchise sector, a major area of our point of sale (POS) expertise...

As a provider of integrated merchant accounts or credit card processing services, Sintel Systems is always working to bring value to our customers. To that end, here is a summary of some recent thinking on merchant credit card fees. No Free Lunch Do you know why merchant account fees cannot be guaranteed? Or why merchant account fees seem to have...

Given the horror stories of stores nearly crushed by deal-hungry customers, small business owners may be forgiven for their wariness over the daily deal. And yet, success stories abound — so the question is: How to strike a balance and achieve a daily deal program that works for a small business and its clientele? An answer may be found in...

Call it a Tech-tonic Shift. Consumer devices are storming into organizations, causing great disruption and leaving entrepreneurs and corporate executives feeling less in control over what happens within the company's walls. It's a big challenge, but one that, if met successfully, will redefine how companies retain employees, engage consumers and make profits. As the only full-service point of sale (POS...

If it ain't broke, don't fix it! The truth of this old bromide is found in modern franchising, and in particular, the retail frozen yogurt segment. "Although the popularity of the frozen yogurt franchise industry suffered a decline in the late 1990s, the category has been making a colossal comeback in the last decade, with a new generation of flavors, toppings, and...

"Think you're past your prime?" asks Inc.com. "Think again." In an article entitled "Never Too Old To Start A Business," Inc.com references the Kaufman Foundation's annual Index of Entrepreneurial Activity, which points out that the number of new businesses started by older entrepreneurs aged 55 and over has risen to 23.4 percent, up from just 14.3 percent in 1996. We...

Two years ago, as part of the International Franchise Association (IFA) VetFran program's Operation Enduring Opportunity and the White House Joining Forces Initiative, the IFA and its 600 VetFran member companies committed to recruit and hire 80,000 veterans, wounded warriors and military spouses by 2014. Their timing couldn't have been better, given that the current resurgence in franchising coincides with...

Just as we happily share our vast point of sale (POS) experience and expertise with startup owners in order to help them make the best decisions from the very beginning, we at Sintel Systems are happy to share articles, advice and commentary about the retail restaurant market. The RR post is a worthwhile (if lengthy) read, thus we've provided a...

As the only full-service POS provider — from software development to franchise incubator to ongoing support — part of Sintel's commitment to our customers and industry is to share information on how to achieve success. Whether you're a first-time franchise hopeful, a small business owner or an established chain, it's always smart to stay on top of information technology. In...

Ever gone to or walked by a Yogen Fruz frozen yogurt shop and wondered if you could start the next frozen yogurt franchise to be like Fruz?  Sintel Systems, the major frozen yogurt POS (point of sale) partner in the the industry, has incubated POS systems for more frozen yogurt franchises than any other. It was 1986 when two young...

An article posted on ConsumerElectronicsNet.com entitled "Survey: Retailers Using Mobile POS Expected to Triple By 2018," perfectly illustrates just how quickly new technology can spread throughout the retail sector of our economy. The article points to a recent report issued by Infogroup Targeting Solutions (ITS) entitled "Breaking Through Customer Engagement Barriers with Innovative Marketing and Technologies." Results were based upon...

Too often, owners puts the focus on numbers instead of customers' needs, not realizing that if they paid attention and did everything in their power to fill those needs, the numbers would materialize. In a blog post entitled "Customer Service Plan: Superior Customer Service Requires a Strategy," Franchising.com urges owners to shift perspective, and outlines the proper steps in creating...

Gift Cards have many uses besides the usual last minute birthday gift. With the right marketing approach they can be utilized in so many more ways than one first begins to realize. Gift/Loyalty/Points Cards can become a great revenue generating marketing tool if you know how to work it. Rewards and promotions marketing helps to drive customers back to your...

In an article posted on their website, "What Private Equity Loves About The Booming Frozen Yogurt Trend," CNBC.com looks into a retail industry phenomenon. Given the strong presence Sintel Systems has in the frozen yogurt segment of the restaurant POS marketplace, we share these stories with our customers and franchise hopefuls looking for key opportunities. We also happily share our...

Just as we happily share our vast point of sale (POS) experience and expertise with startup owners in order to help them make the best decisions from the very beginning, we at Sintel Systems are happy to share articles and commentary about the retail franchise market. Forbes.com sees five factors that make a difference to influence franchise success. We'll call...

Today's potential franchise entrepreneurs may feel cursed for being incapable of forecasting the future. Is this the right time to make a career change? Is fear keeping your future on hold? As the only full-service POS provider, from software development to our unparalleled ongoing support, we at Sintel Systems see a lot of folks looking to make a mid-life career...

In an article posted on their website, "Why Everyone Is Rushing To Open Frozen Yogurt Stores," BusinessInsider (BI) looks into how the frozen yogurt (froyo) market sector is once again booming. Given the strong presence Sintel Systems has in the frozen yogurt segment of the restaurant POS marketplace, we share these findings with our customers and franchise hopefuls looking for key...

They say there's a time and place for everything. And with retail customer surveys, that time and place is at the point of sale. Gartner, the information technology research company, says retailers who survey customers at the point of sale receive 40% more accurate feedback than if the data is gathered one day later. A point-of-sale survey is typically any...

In a recent post, "'Dexter' Malware Infects South African Restaurants, Costs Banks Millions," the tech news site ArsTechnica.com is reporting that hundreds of thousands of people have probably been affected by the fraud. The malware uploaded contents of the POS terminal's memory, including customers' payment cards' Track 1 and Track 2 data, to servers controlled by the criminals. Dexter gets...

With frozen yogurt maturing into a billion-dollar industry, we're doubtful that cooler seasonal temperatures will slow down the "froyo" craze. Seeing the advent of creamy frozen desserts embraced by dieters, entrepreneur.com writes, "You can't always have your cake and eat it, too. But with frozen yogurt, you can." In an article posted on their website, "Frozen-Yogurt Franchise Fight Heats Up...

Sintel Systems services a wide range of customers, from experienced franchisees which started their franchise with Sintel Systems to new ventures. Many entrepreneurs who are looking at starting a new business call the point of sale (POS) system an automated cash register or computerized cash drawer. Let's explore what a POS system is in their functions and important attributes. If...

Is "Franchise Personality" an Urban Legend? Not according to Joel Libava, The Franchise King. In a recent post on TheFranchiseKing.com blog, "Do you have the right personality for a franchise business?," Libava writes, "Not everybody is right for franchise ownership. If you happen to have the 'franchise personality,' great. You’ll get to enjoy many advantages of the business model of...

Considering a mid-life career change instead of retirement? Consider franchising, a decision numerous baby boomers have made, which is fueling a franchise boom. Boomer demographics continue to influence the workplace and small business investment. Take as an example a recent blog post at WirelessZONE on baby boomers choosing the "new retirement." WirelessZONE has seen an unabated trend in baby boomers...

Founded back in 2011, WakaBerry began its journey in the popularizing market of frozen yogurt in South Africa. Three long-time friends from Durban, the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal, saw the opportunity to open the frozen yogurt market their home town. It all began when Michele and Ken Fourie, with their two little girls, were living...

We were intrigued by a recent blog post, "Nordstrom Finds Cash Register Skimmers," on Brian Krebs' Krebs On Security (KOS) website. The KOS blog points out that most scam artists who deploy debit and credit card skimmers target ATMs, but criminals may also use the inexpensive data storage devices, typically $30 to $40, to exploit modern-day cash registers. As the...

Stronger than ever, frozen yogurt has staged a comeback in 2013, according to "Frozen Yogurt Industry Analysis 2013 – Cost & Trends" report by franchise industry observer franchiseHELP.com. "Although the popularity of the frozen yogurt franchise industry suffered a decline in the late 1990s, the category has been making a colossal comeback in the last decade, with a new generation...

For customers, no hard-to-enter numbers; for merchants, location data analytics, served up daily. Business owners who attract customers with free wifi are about to benefit from a new offering from a new partnership between internet titans Facebook and Cisco. As the only full-service POS provider — from software development to franchise incubator to ongoing support — part of Sintel's commitment...

Frozen yogurt too good to be true! News came out recently about a phony frozen yogurt shop search engine optimization (SEO) sting in New York — and with it, the term "astroturfing" is having a moment. Given the strong presence Sintel Systems has in the frozen yogurt segment of the restaurant POS marketplace, we were particularly interested in this story. Investigators...

Frozen yogurt is a popular food trend that is here to stay. Countless shops are now major franchises  all over the United States as well as in Mexico, Japan and Europe. You may wonder why it is particularly vital for a frozen yogurt store to have a Point of Sale system. The answer is simple. The frozen yogurt industry is...

As the only full-service POS provider — from software development to franchise incubator to ongoing support — part of Sintel's commitment to our customers and industry is to share high-impact news. Whether you're a first-time franchise hopeful, a small business owner or an established chain, it's always smart to stay on top of legislative and other industry trends. Nation's Restaurant...

At Sintel, we encourage small shop owners to learn from, and begin thinking like, the big guys. Your company may not yet have a Chief Marketing Officers (CMO), but it's never too early to align your POS system with your marketing efforts. In a recent MediaPost News' Marketing Daily blog post titled "Why Your CMO Should Care About the Point...

As the only full-service POS provider, from software development to franchise incubator to ongoing support, part of Sintel's commitment to our customers and industry is to share buzz in the news about the casual chain restaurant landscape. Whether you're a first-time franchise hopeful, a small business owner or an established chain, it's always smart to stay on top of industry...

Mobile point-of-sale (POS) systems are helping small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in the retail/grocery/liquor segments build unique and satisfying customer experiences. A recent article titled "Mobile POS Technology Heightens Overall Customer Experience" in Point of Sale News looks at how retailers are using mobile POS systems to add value and get closer to customers, with examples including line-busting, convenience, fast and efficient...

We don't know anyone who wouldn't like to increase sales, so we like the tips in this smart post from The Point of Sale News.       At a glance, the big news is all the new next-generation POS options intended to help operators increase sales rather than simply help reduce operating costs. Available features include: 1.    Integrated eCommerce...

Is PayPal's Mobile Payment System a Good Thing? Mobile Point of Sale Systems is all the rage. The newest company to join the race is PayPal. PayPal is already well known for their mobile payment solutions for Smartphones. At the beginning of this year, they launched a mobile payment version for the iPad. PayPal is targeting small businesses that do...

Crucial Considerations Before Purchasing a Cash Drawer Point of Sale News has a thorough primer on cash drawer considerations in which they explore all the major factors to help business owners choose the right drawers tailored to their needs: cost; space requirements; durability, reliability, and length of warranty; manual or electronic opening tied to traffic volume; compatibility with your POS...

2013 Franchise Forecast: Going Strong  The IFA, a Washington D.C.-based advocacy organization, recently released a first quarter update to its economic outlook, which notes that franchise businesses "are expected to employ 8.3 million people in the U.S. by the end of this year and generate $802 billion in revenue." Quick-service restaurant category, which includes Subway and Dunkin' Donuts, shows the most...

Full-Service Casual Concepts Look to Fast-Casual Spinoffs and Experiments Nation's Restaurant News recently published a case study of five casual dining concepts transitioning into the fast-casual sector: Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc., Denny's, Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar, Famous Dave's and Red Lobster. Citing shifting consumer needs and a "rocky casual-dining climate," a fast-casual is an increasingly popular strategy for...

Avoid the Risks of Outdated Credit Card Processing (Part 2) Continued from Part 1 The Merchant Bill of Rights includes: #7 The right to encrypted card numbers and secure transactions "Obviously, you would never want the credit, debit and PIN numbers of your customers stolen by hackers. Large payments processors prevent hundreds of thousands of attempted hacks every day with...

Avoid the Risks of Outdated Credit Card Processing (Part 1) Business owners may not be aware of the liabilities they face if their credit card processing is not up to date and secured against hackers. Credit card companies may argue that outdated processing technology in effect broadcasts information negligently, and insurance carriers may not cover this, highlighting the importance of both...

Are Mobile Devices the New Currency? The Point of Sale News asks, "How Close Are We to Cashless Commerce?" and answers with 2020 vision: the prediction that mobile payments may replace cash and credit cards by as soon as 2020 according to the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project on "The Future of Money." With the surge in POS...

5 Restaurant Trends to Watch This Spring The birds are chirping, kids are once again playing outside, and your allergies are acting up. This can only mean one thing: spring has finally sprung. Last month, Nation's Restaurant News published an article titled 5 Restaurant Trends to Watch This Spring. Mediterranean Look out for Mediterranean influences at many restaurants this season...

4 of The Best Gadgets for Business There are so many gadgets out there that sometimes it can feel a little overwhelming. Entrepreneur.com released their “pick for the best new business gadgets.”, which lists their favorites in four different categories along with some top alternatives. Tablet PCs: BlackBerry Playbook   (under $500), this seven inch tablet comes equipped with a 1GHz...

This past March, BestPizzaPOS.com, a division of Sintel Systems, was thrilled to once again be a part of the 2013 International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas. There were over 500 vendors this year including delivery bag providers, topping suppliers and oven makers. There were also 11 different bacon providers.  If you love pizza and bacon this was the place to...

Does Your Restaurant Need A Mobile App? Mobile apps come in all shapes and sizes: games, maps, news, even your bank probably has a mobile app. They are created to make our lives easier and sometimes even a little more fun. It is rather shocking to learn, thanks to data recently released by Pew Research, that only 35% of Americans...

Moveable Feasts: Six Mobile Food Ideas Entrepreneur has some great ideas for getting rolling with a mobile food restaurant business. In brief: 1. Food Kiosks: Consider the temporary, quick-serve kiosk for its low overhead, flexibility and ease with which it can be opened and closed. These typically appear at indoor locations including malls, stadiums and movie theaters. 2. Food Carts and...

Chicago Pizza Tours Chicago and Pizza. Two words that is synonymous with each other.  There is not just one type of pizza. Chicago has deep dish, thin crust, pan pizza, oven-fired, artisanal, tavern style, Neapolitan and probably some chef somewhere is creating a new type of pizza as we speak. Just as there is no one type of pizza, there...

6 Tips from Pros About Owning A Restaurant Owning your own restaurant is no easy feat. Whether it’s the first restaurant you are opening or your fifth there is always something to be learned. Well known restaurateurs such as Rodger Berkowitz (Legal Sea Foods), Tom Coliccho (Top Chef, Craft Family Restaurants) and Barbara Lynch (No.9 Park) to name a few...

Industry Insiders Weigh in on Proposed Minimum Wage Hike as Restaurant Brands Stay Mum (Part II) Continued from Part I Zackfia's projections also take into account a $.50 increase in minimum wage for tipped service, which was not called for in Obama's proposal. NRN also reports that advocates have not begun to lobby against the hike because it's not reached...

Industry Insiders Weigh in on Proposed Minimum Wage Hike as Restaurant Brands Stay Mum (Part I)  Announced in Obama's State of the Union address in February, President Obama's proposed minimum wage hike from $7.25 to $9.00 per hour has caused rumblings in the world of chain restaurants. The increase would be the first since 2009, while the federal minimum wage for...

SXSWi: Timely Trends in Restaurant Tech A report from Food Fanatics relates the restaurant industry's hottest digital and mobile tech tools trending at the recent South By Southwest Interactive Conference in Austin, Texas. "Mobile technology has changed the way consumers experience your restaurant—from how they discover it to how they dine." They explore Rezhound and BellyCard, as well as the...

Tips on Starting an Organic Restaurant Inc.com recently shared an insightful list of 8 Tips for Starting an Organic Restaurant, for which we offer a quick digest: Expect higher costs: Project for 10-20% higher costs, and more if you plan on a premium water filtration system or compostable takeout packaging. Anticipate price fluctuations: Out-of-season and non-local organic ingredients can vary...

The ABC's of QSR (Quick Serve Restaurant) POS Systems Walk down any main street in any city in America and what will you see? A fast food restaurant. From hamburgers to tacos there is a Quick Serve Restaurant (QSR) out there for every one’s taste buds. To the surprise of no one, McDonalds is ranked number 1 as America’s most...