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Problem Solvers
Entrepreneur Media
Jon Taffer's Complete Guide to Franchising
50 minutes Posted Sep 28, 2026 at 7:00 am.
Jon Taffer's surprising next business move
Why franchising made Jason nervous
Jon's franchise résumé: from Hooters franchisee to Taffer's Tavern
Turnkey vs. brand: what you're really buying
Why so many corporate pros are jumping into franchising
The biggest perk: you can sit in it before you buy it
Beyond burgers: franchises in every industry
Jon's doggy daycare hunt and Jason's franchise near-miss
The FDD: the document you can't skim
The #1 red flag Jon won't touch with a 10-foot pole
The questions that reveal a franchisor's sales muscle
Jon's six-step vetting process
What the franchisor does vs. what's on you
Who Jon wants running a Taffer's Tavern
Cutting through the noise: Doritos Locos Tacos and the five-word mission
Local store marketing: own four or five blocks
What's new in franchising: smaller footprints, fewer days
The marketing opportunity hiding in every box
What World Cup fans revealed about franchise brands
How to take your first step
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Show notes
Jon Taffer, host of the hit TV show "Bar Rescue", has sat on both sides of the franchising table. He's been a franchisee, including one franchise you'd never guess. Now, as founder of Taffer's Tavern, he runs his own franchise system. And even with 40-plus years in business, he's shopping for his next franchise right now. That perspective means he knows exactly what to ask before buying in. The question he says matters most is one most would-be franchisees never think to ask.
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