A Long Way
Reflections on 25 years of franchising from <i>Entrepreneur's</i> Editorial Director Rieva Lesonsky
Do you remember what you were doing in 1980? Likely not, sincebased on the average age of Entrepreneur readers, most ofyou were teenagers. I, on the other hand, was a research assistantat Entrepreneur magazine. Most of what I remember from thosedays is fragmentary, but I do recall sitting on the floorsurrounded by hundreds of forms, helping compileEntrepreneur's very first Franchise 500®, publishedin the 1980 March issue.
In those days, Entrepreneur was a little-known magazinehelping people start businesses. Back in 1979 to '80, fewAmericans had entrepreneurial aspirations; most didn't evenknow what the word entrepreneur meant. The few advertisers we hadat the time were pitching franchise and business opportunities (notnearly as popular then as they are today). Someone (I don'tremember who) had the idea of ranking the franchises. And so,pre-PCs, we sat on the floor and compared the data.
Cyber Monday Subscription Sale - Unlock this subscriber exclusive article and more for 50% off.
Access all Entrepreneur content with no ads, unlock discounts, and get exclusive advice only available to our subscribers. Plus, our magazine delivered straight to your door.
Get 50% off an annual subscription today. Just use code SAVE50 at checkout.
Entrepreneur Editors' Picks
-
How an Encounter With the 'Armpit of Destiny' Helped the Founder of Grubhub Take His Business From His Apartment to a $2 Billion IPO
-
You Can Train Your Brain to React to Stressful Situations Better. Here's the 3-Step Process.
-
How to Stay Organized and Productive While Working From Different Locations
-
A Disastrous Valentine's Day Inspired This Founder to Launch Her Own Floral Brand. It Became a Celebrity Magnet With Retail Revenue Up 450% Since 2019.
-
What Is Your Dream Job? Ask Yourself These 4 Questions to Find Out.
-
This Is the Crazy Process This Juice Franchise Went Through to Get USDA-Certified Organic. But It Sure Has Paid Off.
-
No One Would Rent Me a Café in Trendy NYC Neighborhoods, So I Tried Something Risky. Now I Have 3 Coffee Shops.
