After more than 30 years of owning and operating small businesses, we have built a career leading and growing companies across multiple sectors. The Apertus team has served as president of numerous companies, including Good Spirits, Dive Bar Restaurant, Beach Bar at Newport Pier, Lobby Bar, Ipic Entertainment, Coffee Band and Tea Leaf Enterprises and Restaurant Brands International. We also have more than 40 years of COO experience. Our team has managed every aspect of the business lifecycle: hiring and training staff, negotiating leases, managing cash flow, working with suppliers, and navigating shifting market conditions. We have personally and collectively made all the mistakes, learned the hard lessons, and developed a clear sense of what actually works in practice, not just in theory.

We now apply that experience to advising people who are considering buying a franchise, or navigating a current franchise operation.

Franchising is complex. It is filled with fine print, hidden costs, and one‑sided agreements that can bind owners for many years. In many cases, the environment can be predatory, with franchisors focused more on selling territories than on supporting the long‑term success of their franchisees. Compounding this, the industry operates with limited meaningful regulation or consumer protection. As a result, prospective buyers must take responsibility for thorough due diligence, asking the right questions, and fully understanding the commitments they are making.

Anyone considering a franchise purchase—whether as a first‑time owner or an experienced operator pursuing a new opportunity—would benefit from speaking with the team before signing any agreement.