Iranian immigrant Atour Eyvazian knows exactly what it takes to succeed as a franchisee: luck, hard work, and lots of brains.
That, of course, is where the extra large head comes in. (Well, that and the fact that Jack’s TV spokesperson also has a crazy big head.) But we digress. Eyvazian now owns more than 100 Jack in the Boxes, making him the No. 1 franchisee in the country. And, as this article details, his journey to the top is a remarkable story. He fled Iran when he was 18 due to the religious persecution he faced as Christian. He made his way into Turkey, but was jailed after crossing the border. He paid off the guards with $200 sewed in his jeans. He eventually made it to California, where he landed a job as a janitor at Jack in the Box. He steadily climbed the ladder form shift leader to manager to the executive suite as head of guest services for 677 restaurants. Five years he ago, he bought his first Jack in the Box franchise in California, and hasn’t stopped since, mostly recently purchasing all 58 restaurants in San Antonio. “This is the promised land," he says of his adopted country. If anyone deserves a swelled head, it’s this guy.
The other side of the story. Not every franchisee can be as a successful as Atour Eyvazian. CNBC is out to uncover the dark side of franchising in a one-hour documentary called “Behind the Counter: The Untold Story of Franchising,” which will run on December 15th. The documentary profiles franchise owners burned by their investments and reveals how “the American Dream can very quickly become a nightmare.” In particular, it targets Cold Stone Creamery, detailing how hidden expenses and steep franchise fees can drown even “successful” franchise owners. The documentary is not all negative. It also turns the spotlight on franchise operations that are getting it right, like fast-growing Five Guys Burger.
Another reason why fast food is bad for your health. Employees at McDonald’s not only have some of the worst jobs in the country, now they have the worst health insurance too, say critics. Mickey D’s is under fire from Senate Democrats for its so-called “mini-med” health program. The chain’s hourly workers – the one’s flipping burgers, taking drive-thru orders and cleaning the bathrooms – are paying $680 a year for health care, which in turns get them $2,000 worth of benefits. That might sound like an OK deal, but it turns out that most employees are only racking up about $570 in medical expenses per year. What’s more, if employees do develop a serious illness, the health plan only covers them up to $2,000. After that, they’re totally on their own. “It’s like a fire-insurance policy that covers only the items on your front stoop,” quipped one pundit.
