Recent Articles From EvanCarmichael.com http://www.evancarmichael.com/ http://www.evancarmichael.com/Franchises/2748/How-to-teach-in-10-easy-steps.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Franchises/2748/How-to-teach-in-10-easy-steps.html Teaching is an imperative skill in running a successful business, whether you're an independent operator or a franchisee. Use these 10 easy steps to make yourself a better teacher, manager and business owner. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Franchises/2748/How-to-teach.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Franchises/2748/How-to-teach.html This article lays out a simple step-by-step process to teach you how to teach others. Implement this procedure to make your training programs the best they can be. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Franchises/2748/Q-Is-this-a-bad-time-to-start-up-a-new-restaurant-with-a-slow-economy.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Franchises/2748/Q-Is-this-a-bad-time-to-start-up-a-new-restaurant-with-a-slow-economy.html I field a lot of questions from new and soon-to-be new restaurant owners. Here's one of those questions regarding concerns about opening a business during a slow economic period. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Franchises/2748/The-biggest-mistakes-restaurants-make-and-why-they-have-a-high-failure-rate.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Franchises/2748/The-biggest-mistakes-restaurants-make-and-why-they-have-a-high-failure-rate.html This is one of the most important articles I've written. It's a list on the biggest reasons for failure in the restaurant industry. While there are certainly other issues that can lead to failure, these are the most common. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Franchises/2748/The-difference-between-a-reason-and-an-excuse.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Franchises/2748/The-difference-between-a-reason-and-an-excuse.html There's a million and one reasons for failure in the restaurant, or any other, business. I've heard them all, I just don't believe them all. Find out how taking accountability for your role in preventing problems in your restaurant can create the accountability necessary to compete with the chains, or to create a successful franchise of your own, by reading this article. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Franchises/2748/Anything-worth-doing-is-worth-paying-someone-else-to-do.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Franchises/2748/Anything-worth-doing-is-worth-paying-someone-else-to-do.html Creating a system that manages itself is the key to working "ON" your business instead of "IN" your business. Systems are the backbone of succcessful franchises. Find out why the quote in the title of this article is true by reading on. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Franchises/2748/Dont-give-your-customers-what-you-want.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Franchises/2748/Dont-give-your-customers-what-you-want.html Here's something that successful franchise concepts know that you may not. You don't get rich in the restaurant game by giving people what you think is great. There's more important things than "your idea of great" to consider if you want to build a business people will stand in line to enter. Read more about them in this article. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Franchises/2748/Creating-a-manageable-menu.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Franchises/2748/Creating-a-manageable-menu.html A menu is a restaurants most important marketing tool. It helps a restaurateur tell his/her customers what they're all about. Too often, this tool lacks focus and leads to some big operating issues. Here's an article about avoiding those issues. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Franchises/2748/Q-How-can-I-make-my-employees-accountable.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Franchises/2748/Q-How-can-I-make-my-employees-accountable.html Accountability, the "A" word. Many employee issues find their root in accountability, or more specifically, the lack of accountability. Here's an overview on working with your staff to create accountability. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Franchises/2748/Q-What-reports-are-needed-to-run-a-restaurant-right.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Franchises/2748/Q-What-reports-are-needed-to-run-a-restaurant-right.html Reporting and record keeping are extremely important pieces to the successful restaurant puzzle. Find out what financial snapshots are absolutely necessary to guage your restaurant's performance in this Q&A.