Big gulp for growth

Convenience giant 7-Eleven has made a big push to grow its franchise network nationwide, a move that resonates with Frank Faisal.

A native of Pakistan, Faisal was a doctor in his home country. He moved to New York City in his 20s, where he gave up medicine to run a deli and fast-food restaurant.

Faisal liked running a business so much that when he was 32, in 2010, he and his wife relocated to Bradenton to buy a 7-Eleven. Faisal says he had enough money in savings to pay the franchise fee and cover the family for six months if it didn't work out. “We took a calculated risk,” Faisal tells Coffee Talk.