KENNESAW, Ga. | Jun 5, 2026

Having spent the past two years working as a restaurant server and bartender, Kennesaw State University economics student Yadira Minaya became fascinated by the business side of restaurant operations. Through KSU's First-Year Scholars Program, she turned that curiosity into award-winning research on restaurant franchising.

Minaya received the Best Undergraduate Presentation Award at the 55th Annual Conference of the Southeast Decision Sciences Institute in Jacksonville, Florida earlier this year, for presenting her research examining how franchisors support restaurant franchisees and whether those support systems influence business success.

“Receiving the Best Undergraduate Presentation Award as a first-year student is an exceptional accomplishment,” said Melih Madanoglu, Michael A. Leven Endowed Chair and professor of hospitality management who mentored Minaya on the study. “Most students are still adjusting to college during their first year, while Yadira was already conducting research and presenting it at a national academic conference. This recognition reflects not only the quality of her work but also her dedication, maturity, and potential as a future scholar.”

Minaya’s study explored what types of support from franchisors help franchisees succeed. She examined how support mechanisms such as marketing and advertising assistance, training programs, site selection guidance, technology systems, and financial support relate to restaurant profitability.

“Basically, the project is about linking supporting mechanisms to restaurant profitability,” said Minaya, a student in the Michael J. Coles College of Business. “We're trying to see how much impact that support has and whether certain kinds of support work better than others.”

Working with Madanoglu, Minaya analyzed Franchise Disclosure Documents from 15 U.S. restaurant franchises, including popular fast-food chains, covering the period from 2016 to 2019. Minaya explained that the pre-pandemic timeframe allowed researchers to examine franchise support practices under more typical market conditions.

While the team expected to find that franchise restaurants that received more support from the franchisor would have more profitability, results were mixed, and the data did not indicate a clear pattern.

One of the most surprising findings was that older, established franchises did not necessarily provide more support than younger companies. For example, some long-established restaurant chains offered extensive assistance, while others with similar longevity provided relatively little support.

“We didn't find a relationship between firm age and support intensity,” Minaya said.

Because the study examined only 15 restaurant franchises, Minaya said the findings point to the need for further research involving a larger number of franchises. The next phase of the project would expand the dataset to include additional restaurant companies and explore whether stronger patterns emerge.

“This research is especially timely because franchising continues to play a major role in the restaurant industry, yet we still have much to learn about how franchisor support influences franchisee success,” Madanoglu noted.

Ultimately, Minaya hopes her research can help both franchisors and franchisees make more informed decisions.

“If we find that some combinations of support systems work more than others, we can help companies be more successful and have higher profitability,” she said.

Beyond the research findings, Minaya said KSU's First-Year Scholars Program gave her an opportunity to combine her interest in the food service industry with her passion for economics, and it has opened her eyes to new academic and professional possibilities.

 “Prior to coming to KSU, I had never really heard much about research before, and this program helped open a new path for me,” she said. “Now I can see research as something I might do in the future as a professional.”

– Story by Christin Senior

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A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 51,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university's vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 8 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.