7 Most Brilliant Franchise Founders

Harland “Colonel” Sanders – KFC

Sanders fit into the similar story line of entrepreneurial spirit. The seventh standard drop eloped from his home to escape his abusive stepfather. He joined United States Army at the age of 16. When he was 40, the Colonel possessed a service station where he cooked chicken for the locals in Corbin, Kentucky, and his popularity nurtured as his secret recipe developed.  The Colonel’s store eventually witnessed failure when Interstate 75 was built and people began bypassing his site. In spite of this setback, he was pretty determined to make his business work; Sanders took $105 from his Social Security check and traveled the country to persuaded restaurant owners to franchise as Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Dave Thomas, an early KFC franchise employee advised Sanders on the development, marketing, and expansion of the Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise. Ten years later, the Colonel had over 600 stores. Even though Kentucky Fried Chicken wasn’t named after the Colonel, the franchise’s advertising, slogans and packaging use his resemblance to this day.