Atlanta-based Focus Brands explores financing options for franchisees

When your company is in charge of restaurant brands including Moe's, Cinnabon, Carvel and Schlotzsky's, the drying up of lending to support expansion is a real worry. That's the situation Russ Umphenour, president and CEO of Atlanta-based Focus Brands, finds himself in.

The company is planning to do something about the tight credit environment. It is investigating how it can be a facilitator for financing or an actual source of loans for franchisees. That's the single biggest thing under consideration at Focus Brands, Umphenour told the AJC.

"A few banks are very tentatively starting to stick their toe in the water," he said. "We're looking to see how we can speed that process up a little bit. A lot of us are realizing we've got to do something. It'll grow to be more robust as we go along."