Franchise the Unexpected: 4 Franchisors Thinking Ahead

Walk through a franchise convention, and most of the reps manning the booths might as well be shouting, “Me, too!” Franchising is all about replication, after all -- and franchises are experts at replicating the same types of concepts. But amid the modern scrum of “better burger” joints, burrito restaurants, permutations of oil-change places and riffs on the 24-hour gym, a few new interesting concepts are rising up. They’re driven by technology, mobile franchising and the fading hangover from the debt crisis. Some are on the wacky side -- like a potato-based fast casual brand or burrito vending machines -- but some seem like potential winners, just at the beginning of their long journey upward. Here are our picks for four of the most interesting newcomers in the franchise game.

1. Franchise Lifesquire Pitch | Personal assistants in a pinch 

For the busy professional who can afford it, a personal assistant is one of the