Entrepreneur

Meet the Franchisor Launching a Fundraising Platform for Potential Franchisees

Mandy Calara created an online crowdfunding platform that lets the friends, family and community of potential franchisees become investors.
Just desserts: Mandy Calara's CrowdFranchise gives new brands a boost.
Just desserts: Mandy Calara's CrowdFranchise gives new brands a boost.
Photo Š Kevin J. Miyazaki

When he opened Forever Yogurt, the first self-serve yogurt franchise in the Chicago area, Mandy Calara realized that a lot of enthusiastic, would-be business owners were being left in the dust because they didn't meet strict net-worth requirements.

"Over 90 percent of the leads we get do not financially qualify. We require $125,000 or $150,000 liquid capital

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