This multi-unit franchisee wanted to know about Great Clips because at a recent franchise finance conference we consistently popped up on lenders' lists as a relatively solid investment.

(Refer to last week's blog about IRH Capital funding1,000 Great Clips salons in 10 years.)

We let our multi-unit franchisee vent about the situation with his major QSR chain. The chain has saturated his territory with sandwich restaurants. He has 150 employees, but because of turnover, he mailed 650 W-2 forms. And the real gnawing problem is that lenders aren't biting on restaurant deals.

Lenders want a menu of terms that restaurant franchisees aren't able to bring to the table-including greater liquidity and a higher investment. For the first time this multi-unit franchisee is investigating opportunities outside of the restaurant industry.

With Great Clips our multi-unit restaurant franchisee will have what lenders are looking for, particularly during these tough economic times: a business in a growing industry and a franchise system with a 28 year track record. And our multi-unit franchisee will be able to manage his restaurants and expand and grow with our #1 hair salon brand business on the side.

I love to get these kinds of calls, and I expect we'll hear from more restaurant franchisees who want to grow, but are limited by territory and financing-two areas where we excel.