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VOL 07, ISSUE 7, may 2019
Assisted Living Locators
wants to get the word out to help spur growth
Invest To Be The Best The Lone Entrepreneur special feature
Health, Beauty & fitness LATEST NEWS
FINANCIAL ADVICE FROM THE BANKS
TOP LAWYERS’ ADVICE
Franchise Opportunities Available. Partner With A PROVEN Brand.
OWN YOUR TUFFY TODAY! Helping our franchisees to operate successfully and meet the challenges of today’s marketplace is the top priority for the Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Centers Franchise and Operations Team. We provide our franchisees with a proven operating system, and as a result, our franchisees have played a key role in the ongoing success of Tuffy. Our value proposition includes (but is not limited to) the following: • Over 45 Years in Business. • State of the Art Management, Sales & Technical Training. • Comprehensive Marketing & Advertising Programs. • National Vendor Partnerships. • National & Local Support. • Powerful Brand Proposition. • Strong Business Model. • On-going Research & Development.
AUTOMOTIVE EXPERIENCE NOT REQUIRED! Tuffy is looking for customer focused, ethical business owners. Our franchisees come from many different walks of life. A background in auto repair is not needed to run a successful Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Center, but can be helpful.
CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION:
800-228-8339 www.TuffyFranchising.com
Franchising usa The magazine for franchisees
FRANCHISING USA VOLUME 7, ISSUE 7, 2019 president: Colin Bradbury. colin@cgbpublishing.com
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Welcome to the May issue of Franchising USA. Get ready...it’s Franchise Expo season! And you’re invited to be our guest at this year’s International Franchise Expo, being held in New York from May 30-June 1st. Successful entrepreneurs know that effective networking is key to growth, so take this opportunity to join thousands of entrepreneurs and future business owners at the largest franchise expo in the country, where you can meet face-to-face with over 400 proven franchise opportunities. Registration is free and includes access to over 30 free educational seminars so be sure to join us this year. On the Cover this issue is Assisted Living Locators, a senior placement franchise with the lofty goal of expanding its national footprint by over a third throughout this year. Fueling the company’s success up until now has been a combination of attracting the right talent, having an excellent franchise development process and the attention that aging has been getting as more Americans retire. Turn to page 10 to learn more about the brand and why this Senior Placement Franchise Wants to Get the Word Out to Help Spur Growth. Our Special Feature this month is Health, Beauty and Fitness, with a Feature Article that takes a look at how the use of social media has brought a whole new exposure to the industry and how franchisors can take advantage of the many new emerging opportunities. Our selected Industry Experts also weigh in on how Business Can Be Beautiful, as well as Top Tips for Leveraging Technology to Innovate the Traditional Beautry Business Model. Our contributors also bring insights into the fitness side of the industry and what franchisors need to know about the recent trend of athletes in franchising, along with tips for Finding Franchisees in Your Membership Base. We hope you enjoy the stories we’ve put together for this issue and we look forward to rubbing elbows with you at this year’s IFE. Happy reading!
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The information and contents in this publication are believed by the publisher to be true, correct and accurate but no independent investigation has been undertaken. Accordingly the publisher does not represent or warrant that the information and contents are true, correct or accurate and recommends that each reader seek appropriate professional advice, guidance and direction before acting or relying on all information contained herein. Opinions expressed in the articles contained in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. The publication is sold subject to the terms and conditions that it shall not be copied in whole or part, resold, hired out, without the express permission of the publisher.
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contents
may 2019
On the Cover 10 Cover Story: Assisted Living Locators
Wants to Get the Word Out to Help Spur Growth
17 Special Feature: Health, Beauty and Fitness
10
40 Invest To Be The Best 14 The Lone Entrepreneur
In Every Issue 6
14
What’s New! Announcements from the industry
17 Health, Beauty and Fitness Franchising Feature 45 A-Z Franchise and Services Directory
Ask the Expert 36 Do I buy another franchise in the same brand or
22
a different franchise in the same market? Evan Hackel, CEO, Tortal Training
Expert Advice 14 The Lone Entrepreneur
David Banfield, President, The Interface Financial Group
38 Get Your Golden Parachute with Great PR
Heather Ripley, CEO, Ripley PR
40 Invest To Be The Best
26 Franchising USA
George Knauf, Senior Franchise Business Advisor, FranChoice
Health, Beauty & Fitness Franchising Feature
28
On the Cover 26 Athletes in Franchising: What Franchisors Need to Know 32 Good Business Can Be Beautiful 34 More Than a Workout: Finding Franchisees in
Your Membership Base
30
In Every Issue 18 Feature News 22 Feature Article Expert Advice 26 Athletes in Franchising: What Franchisors Need to Know
32
Thomas Nieto, Co-founder and CEO, Main Squeeze Juice Co.
28 Top Tips for Leveraging Technology to Innovate a
Traditional Business Model Vas Maniatis, Founder, Seva Beauty
30 How to Attract the Ideal Franchisee
Bryon McLendon, Founder, Nutrishop
32 Good Business Can Be Beautiful
34
Christopher Conner, President, Franchise Marketing Systems
Have Your Say 34 More Than a Workout: Finding Franchisees in Your Membership Base Roger Martin, Co-founder, RockBox Fitness
40 Franchising USA
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what’s new!
Ginger Sushi + Poke Shop™ Rolls into North Carolina with Signed Franchise Agreement
Ginger Sushi + Poke Shop™ an emerging eatery in the U.S. specializing in the creation of sushi, sashimi and other Japanese specialties, announced today that it has signed a franchise development agreement with husband-and-wife team Rajat and Anu Bedi to open one location in Charlotte. The new Ginger Sushi + Poke Shop is expected to bring up 18 new jobs to the area. The first Ginger Sushi + Poke Shop, known in Canada as Sushi Shop™ opened in 2000 and has since grown to more than 150 locations throughout our neighbor to the north. “Sushi Shop’s/Ginger Sushi + Poke Shop’s Canadian presence has grown to over 150 locations because people fell in love with the inventive and creative menu, and we anticipate Americans will be just as passionate about the innovative sushi concept. We are thrilled that Charlotte is one of the first markets to welcome Ginger Sushi + Poke Shop, and we’re happy to collaborate with experienced franchise owners like the Bedis,” said John Wuycheck, Senior Vice President of Franchise Development. Acquired by MTY Franchising USA and managed by Kahala Brands™, the Bedis and other franchisees of Ginger Sushi + Poke Shop have the benefit of the franchisor’s unrivaled franchisee support. Every franchisee has full access to an R&D team with chefs dedicated to sweet and savory menu innovations, an inhouse social media team, an in-house creative team to help with
ads, promos and coupons, a full-service construction team, a
hands-on, week-long training program, continuing education and more.
Charlotte’s first Ginger Sushi + Poke Shop is expected to open in late 2019.
For more information about the Ginger Sushi + Poke Shop franchise opportunity, visit gingersushifranchise.com.
Leon Williams Contractors Begins Work on New Lenoir City Which Wich® The new store, located at 375 Kelsey Lane, Suite 3, will be the sixth Knoxville-area location for the Which Wich Superior Sandwiches franchise. The Lenoir City project pairs Leon Williams Contractors with franchise owner Jeff Hensley, who owns and operates four other Which Wich stores in the Knoxville area. Leon Williams Contractors was the contractor for the Alcoa and Fountain City locations, which opened in 2017. Leon Williams Contractors, a Maryville-based commercial building firm, has begun construction on the first Which Wich® franchise location in Lenoir City, Tennessee.
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“We’ve worked with Leon Williams Contractors on previous Which Wich locations, and they’ve always been an outstanding partner,” Hensley said. “So they’re a natural pick for this project. We knew we could count on them for
high-quality work, value and attention to detail.” The new Lenoir City Which Wich is expected to open in May. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be scheduled. Which Wich Superior Sandwiches was founded in Dallas in late 2003 by restaurant entrepreneur Jeff Sinelli. The national sandwich franchise chain is best known for its customizable sandwiches, creative ordering system, and personalized sandwich bag. Which Wich currently has 500 locations open or in development in 40 states and 12 countries. For more information, visit www.whichwich.com.
MUTTS Canine Cantina Signs Second Multiunit Franchise Deal in Dallas-Fort Worth MUTTS Canine Cantina®, the fastest growing pet eatertainment brand in America has signed its second multiunit franchise deal for the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. The first multi-unit franchise deal was signed for the city of Austin. Franchisees have their sights set on opening the first two DFW franchise locations in several communities including Frisco, Southlake, and Allen. Every MUTTS location serves as the ultimate escape for dogs and their owners, each featuring walk-up bar offering local craft beer, a full bar famous for its Barkarita’s, HD TV’s, and Adirondack lounge chairs throughout the small, or large dog parks. A separate on-leash patio is located at the Cantina where both two and four-legged patrons can enjoy signature items like
the MUTTS Original Chicken Sandwich, Skinny MUTT, MUTTS Double Burger, Fried Pickles, ‘Pup’sicles, milkshakes and more. As the first dog park fast-casual, the experience at MUTTS is truly unparalleled. Members can socialize, eat, drink, and relax while their dogs run free and play in the park with their other furry friends. MUTTS has plans to expand the ‘eater’tainment concept to dog lovers everywhere by opening locations within the top 40 major markets in the U.S. through franchising. For more information about franchise opportunities available in your area, please visit muttscantina.com/franchise.
Farmer Boys® Finds New Vice President/ Chief People Officer in Arlene Estrada Petokas Farmer Boys®, the farm fresh fast casual concept known for its award-winning burgers and exceptional service, has hired restaurant industry and human resources veteran Arlene Estrada Petokas to serve as the brand’s new Vice President and Chief People Officer. In this position, Petokas will be responsible for developing and executing people strategies that support the company’s operational goals and will help drive performance within the organization. “I am excited to join a brand and an executive leadership team that is committed to its people and their focus on ensuring the culture supports them as they grow,” said Petokas. “I look forward to helping nurture company culture and driving team member growth and development within the organization.” Petokas brings with her more than twenty years of human resources experience, with over a decade spent at quick-service
restaurant companies. Her previous positions include Human Resources Director at Del Taco, LLC and VP Human Resources at both BLD Brands, LLC and CKE Restaurant Holdings Inc., which owns Carl’s Jr., Hardee’s Green Burrito, and Red Burrito. “We were impressed with Arlene’s extensive experience in human resources and the restaurant industry. She brings a compassionate approach to people and a passion for the restaurant industry,” said Karen Eadon, President and COO of Farmer Boys. “She’s managed and implemented successful HR practices at her previous organizations, and we look forward to having her on the Farmer Boys team to develop our business capabilities and lead our team members to function at their greatest level.” For more information, visit www.farmerboys.com.
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what’s new!
FirstLight Home Care Named One of Entrepreneur’s Fastest-Growing Franchises
FirstLight Home Care, a leading national provider of non-medical home care, has been named by Entrepreneur as one of the 500 fastest-growing franchises in 2019. Earlier in the year, FirstLight was named to Entrepreneur’s 40th annual Franchise 500® list for the eighth consecutive
year. The 100 ranking on the FastestGrowing Franchise list marks the second Entrepreneur ranking FirstLight has earned in 2019.
personal hygiene and household duties such as cooking, cleaning and running errands to mobility assistance and dementia care.
“Being named to this list is just the beginning of what will be a continued upward trajectory for our business,” said Jeff Bevis, co-founder and CEO of FirstLight Home Care. “With the U.S. population aging, and more boomers retiring, demand for our services will continue to grow. That demand, combined with our renowned level of service, is going to continue to propel us to greater heights.”
The Entrepreneur ranking adds to the list of accolades FirstLight Home Care has garnered so far in 2019. Other awards and rankings earned the company has earned this year include:
FirstLight serves seniors, adults with disabilities, new mothers, veterans, those recovering from surgery and other adults in need of assistance. The company’s caregivers help with many needs – from
• Franchise Gator’s Fastest Growing Franchises
• Top 200 franchise opportunity for 2019 by Franchise Business Review • Franchise Times’ Fast & Serious list for 2019
• Franchise Gator’s Top 100 Franchises of 2019
For more information about FirstLight Home Care’s franchise opportunities, visit www.firstlightfranchise.com.
Popular Indian Fast Casual, Curry Up Now, Secures Three of Five Locations Planned for Greater Atlanta Market Memorial Drive, SE); and The Interlock (1115 Howell Mill Rd). “The Atlanta restaurants will be our first to open on the East Coast, and the idea that the food truck we founded in 2009 is growing into a coast-to-coast brand blows my mind,” said Akash Kapoor, Founder & CEO of Curry Up Now. “The Atlanta group is as passionate about Curry Up Now as we are, so to know that they are opening these locations with that kind of emotion driving them forward, we can’t help but feel confident about our future in the Atlanta area.” Curry Up Now, the California-based concept pioneering innovative Indian fast casual cuisine, has secured real estate for three of five restaurant locations planned for the greater Atlanta, Georgia area. The first is slated to open this summer, followed by a second location this Fall, and third in 2020. Two of the Atlanta locations will also include Mortar & Pestle, a chic and globally-inspired bar concept housed within Curry Up Now. The confirmed addresses are as follows: Decatur (1575 Church Street); Madison Yards (905
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Curry Up Now was founded in 2009 by Akash & Rana Kapoor, and ably supported by Director of Operations, Amir Hosseini. They quickly become known in California’s Bay Area for their innovative Indian eats, and the empire now includes six brick-andmortars, 3 food trucks, and 41 franchised and corporate locations planned in markets nationwide. For more information on the growing Indian fast casual, follow @CurryUpNow on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter or visit www.curryupnow.com.
Gloria Jean’s Coffees Continues Indiana Expansion With New Multi-Unit Franchisee beginning with a drive-thru in Crown Point, Indiana slated to open in early June. This agreement builds upon Gloria Jean’s Midwest presence where there is a growing demand for the unique coffee beverages and high-quality flavored beans the brand is known for. The largest mall-based retailer of specialty coffee in the world, Gloria Jean’s is reinvigorating its growth strategy by exploring a wider scope of real estate opportunities and pursuing middle America markets primed for the unique specialty coffee concept.
An innovator in the specialty coffee segment providing fresh, premium blends and award-winning roasts for 40 years, Gloria Jean’s Coffees – U.S.A. has signed a multi-unit development agreement with a new franchise partner, Raed Naser.
“With a refreshed brand image and four decades of experience in the specialty coffee industry, Gloria Jean’s is in growth mode and uniquely positioned to own a larger share of the segment, especially in rising suburban markets like Northwest Indiana and Southern Chicago,” said Laina Sullivan, Gloria Jean’s Coffees’ Director of Franchise Development. “We’re thrilled to welcome passionate franchise partners like Raed to the Gloria Jean’s family during this exciting brand evolution. As we pursue strategic growth outside of malls and move into regions where customer demand for exceptional specialty coffee is high, we see tremendous opportunity to introduce Gloria Jean’s to new guests around the country.”
The agreement will bring at least seven new locations to the Northwest Indiana region and parts of Southern Chicago,
To learn more about Gloria Jean’s Coffees’ franchise opportunities, visit www.gloriajeans.com/franchise.
Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers Enters Nontraditional Space with Five Locations Leading Restaurant Concept Launches New Growth Opportunity for Franchisees Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers expanded into the nontraditional sector for the first time with the opening of five new locations. The brand celebrated the opening of restaurants in Old Capitol Town Center in Iowa City, Wichita State University’s student center and Oklahoma State University’s football and basketball stadiums. The company also signed an agreement to bring Freddy’s to the Missouri State University student center before the end of the year. “Chartwells takes pride in partnering
with companies that go above and beyond and are committed creating a welcoming on-campus dining option,” said Quintin Eason, resident district manager of Chartwells Higher Education, the management group of campus dining locations. “We’ve found just that in Freddy’s.” The nontraditional locations will be equipped with new technology that streamlines the back-of-house process and will efficiently meet the demand of guests on-the-go. Now having the ability to exist in unique spaces such as universities,
stadiums and airports, Freddy’s will offer new and returning guests the opportunity to experience the brand in a convenient setting. This aggressive, nontraditional development will continue throughout 2019, with the brand’s first international locations slated to open at the Mall of the Emirates and the Dubai Mall later this year. Additionally, in 2018, Freddy’s also introduced a smaller restaurant prototype with an updated kitchen design that maintains volume capacity to allow new and existing franchisees innovative ways to expand their portfolio with the brand. For more information visit www.freddysusa.com/franchising.
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Ass i st ed L i v i n g Lo cato r s
Senior placement franchise wants to get the word out to help spur growth
One senior care-related franchise system has the lofty goal of expanding its national footprint by over a third throughout this year. Franchising USA
Currently, Scottsdale, AZ-based, Assisted Living Locators has 110 franchises in 34 states. “In 2019, we will continue to focus on building our national presence by growing our franchise locations by 35 percent,” CEO Angela Olea said during a recent interview.
Olea is convinced that Assisted Living Locators can do it. “We grew by 38% last year, and we’ve got an aggressive plan to make the adult children of seniors aware of our service category with new branding and marketing programs in 2019. We’ve only just scratched the surface of the growth potential to help families and expand the system.” Assisted Living Locators essentially act as consultants who connect families with the right care facilities, communities or homes based on health needs, location, price and activities. When families contact the company, a senior care advisor conducts a comprehensive assessment of the family member’s needs. Then, the company’s
“Since many placements occur from local networking, franchisees play an active role in their local communities and by regularly interacting with key local business who also service the same target audience.” “One big challenge is making sure that senior and families know that our services are available, and provided at no cost to the family,” Olea said. “You don’t even think about this until you might need it so creating awareness that our resources are available is a key marketing initiative for the organization.” Since many placements occur from local networking, franchisees play an active role in their local communities and by regularly interacting with key local business who also service the same target audience. care advisors -- the franchisees -- go through their database of local properties to find the best match for the senior in need. They walk the families through the process of comparing facilities and make recommendations to the family, who are ultimately the ones who choose the location that is right for them.
Assisted Living Locators online presence also helps as families increasingly turn to the internet to identify resources that can help them with such a critically important decision. When people do connect with Assisted Living Locators, the company and its franchisees get high marks for serving as a valuable resource to families.
The service is free for the families, with the franchisee getting paid by the community when a senior is matched with them and moves in.
The great thing about this space, Olea pointed out, is that with an aging population and an expanding client base, senior placement is a recession proof industry.
Despite being around since 2003, many people remain unaware that resources like Assisted Living Locators are available to help with a sometimes difficult set of decisions.
The best option Assisted Living Locators is in the best spot to help would-be entrepreneurs who want
to get into this industry, CFO and Chief Strategy Officer for the company Mark Alivero said. “The franchise model is the winning model in this space,” he noted. “Success in senior placement requires national scope for marketing and advertising coupled with local ‘boots on the ground’ to assist families face to face. Online referral companies have the former, independent agents have the latter, and only franchise models have both.” What sets Assisted Living Locators apart from other franchisors in the senior placement market is the company’s dedication to its training, systems, processes and lead generation, the CFO said. Assisted Living Locators has recently hired Southwestern Consulting Services to provide sales training to complement its existing intake and family model. The company has also invested in its own proprietary customer relations management (CRM) software that is customized to the senior placement industry. Plus, the franchise’s processes are always being refined and streamlined so they work better, Alivero noted.
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Future growth Fueling the company’s success up until now has been a combination of attracting the right talent, having an excellent franchise development process and the attention that aging has been getting as more Americans retire and enter a new senior living lifestyle category that didn’t exist for the previous generation. Also, Olea noted, franchisees love the fact that they are making a positive impact on people’s lives by helping them find care services for the seniors in their lives.
“In some cases, we are refining existing processes, and in other instances we are creating processes where they didn’t exist before,” he said.
President of AT&T – Southwest Region
This refinement includes things like revising the onboarding process to make it smoother. Meanwhile, the company has created marketing guidelines and a messaging platform for franchisees.
Quality Award winning team while at
They have also added Russell Morgan, an experienced COO to their senior leadership team. Morgan is the former
Franchising USA
and has extensive marketing, development
and operations experience at various firms and was part of a Baldridge National AT&T.
Future success will depend on the success of the category branding campaigns currently underway and creating strategic partnerships with those who are already in the senior space like non-medical homecare professionals, the CEO said. “Improving awareness and those layers of support systems around what seniors need will allow us to continue to grow,” Olea added.
Assisted Living Locators has also invested
As more people become aware of Assisted Living Locators and how it does it, that is sure to help fuel the company’s expansion and help it to reach its 2019 goals.
benefit franchisees.
www.assistedlivinglocatorsfranchise. com
“He’s helping us create or harden our processes,” Alivero added.
in several lead generation programs to
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ex per t advice
David Banfield, President, The Interface Financial Group
The Lone
Entrepreneur As you set out on your new business journey, entrepreneurship looms large like a mountain, intimidating and tempting you at once with its many roads and challenges to be climbed and conquered. The first step they say is always the hardest. A mixture of fear and trepidation stopped many in their tracks. After all, entrepreneurship is a risky business. But as Seth Godin - founder of Squidoo, author and blogger – says, “The only thing worse than starting something and failing... is not starting something.” For this very reason, every year tens of thousands of entrepreneurs turned their sights to franchising to help remove some of the fear and trepidation of starting a business on their own. A franchise is often referred to as a ‘business in a box’ as in many instances it comes ready researched, prepared, documented and set to open. Becoming a franchisee in an established organization certainly gives an entrepreneur the sense of belonging and the feeling of being part of a family. However, the journey towards the right franchise opportunity can also be somewhat daunting and, as a lone entrepreneur you should always consider building your team of local
Franchising USA
advisors and professionals to speed and ease the process.
The Accountant A local accountant could be your Startup saving grace as they are often well-connected and tuned into the local business community – an area where you will be operating. As such, they can provide invaluable feedback on local business conditions, in addition to helping in the more traditional accounting areas such as preparing cash flow and budget forecasts, tax planning, bookkeeping and more. Accountants have the skills and knowledge to make a profitable difference to your business at an early stage. Even if you are considering a franchise which will possibly cover many of these elements i.e. cash flow bookkeeping etc., you still have to look at the larger picture of your own operating company which will own your franchise.
The Attorney A good local attorney can aid to your Startup journey by ensuring that you have the right legal framework for your new business. Frameworks differ from location to location -they, broadly speaking, can be categorized into a sole ownership situation, a partnership or an incorporated company with some form of limited liability. The legal specialist will be able to advise you of the most suitable framework for your particular entity and venture. There may well be
“You should not be ‘a lone entrepreneur’, but build a team that can provide you with expertise today and for your future growth and success.”
David Banfield
a cross over with your accountant in this area, as you may need to start thinking about forward tax planning and the appropriate vehicle to use to offer you the best journey.
The Bank Banks tend to be more supportive of new ventures than we realize. And this is perhaps particularly true where that new venture is a franchise. Many banks have specialist units that are geared specifically to the franchise industry. These individuals have a wealth of knowledge and background and, alongside your accountant and attorney, can provide you with invaluable advice and experience based on their extensive background in the industry. Whether it’s a bank, accountant or attorney, always remember that a shopping expedition is a good thing. If you have professionals that are known to you with whom you have a relationship, then you have a good starting point. However, they may not be specialists in the specific discipline that you are looking for, and if that’s the case, ask for recommendations to get you in front of the right individuals. The banking world is very competitive, and banks are looking for your business therefore it makes sense to shop around to find the best arrangements and facilities that are available, and certainly at the best price.
The Government Individuals starting a business invariably overlook the resources that both local and central government can offer. As taxpayers we have created these services and, therefore, should strive to take advantage of the opportunities that are offered. There are numerous government grants, events, mentors, training and start-up programs available to new businesses. These are not overly advertised facilities, and not enough people know about them. Local research in this area is a must for all would-be entrepreneurs. As we said at the outset, starting a business may be a challenging task, but with the right team all of the various components can make that task very manageable. If you’re starting a business from scratch, then certainly the team
is of paramount importance. If you are starting a franchise, then the team is equally important notwithstanding that the franchisor may well be providing some of the professional services mentioned. Either way you should not be ‘a lone entrepreneur’, but build a team that can provide you with expertise today and for your future growth and success. David Banfield is the President of The Interface Financial Group, a position that he has held for over 20 years. He has been instrumental in starting Interface as a franchise opportunity and building it to its current international status. Prior to his involvement with Interface, he worked extensively in the banking, credit and factoring financial service areas. www.interfacefinancial.com/franchise
“Starting a business may be a challenging task, but with the right team all of the various components can make that task very manageable.” Franchising USA
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The public and policymakers need to understand franchising. Our purpose
@OurFranchise is an industry-wide campaign created to spread the word about the value of franchising and share the stories of men and women just like you, who are leading the way as franchisors, franchisees, and franchise employees. The franchise business model has been proven time and time again to work, but it’s threatened when the public and politicians don’t understand how it operates to benefit local, independent franchise establishment owners and their communities. Putting a spotlight on real leaders succeeding with the franchise model is how we’ll ensure franchising is stronger than ever before.
Follow us
Share the tools and resources offered on AtOurFranchise.org/resources
Help us keep the momentum going
Since our launch in June 2016, we’ve reached 1.7 million people through outreach efforts, including events in key cities and states, where we spoke directly with business owners, employees, policymakers, and the media. Additionally, we’ve reached people across America through our website and social media channels, digital advertisements, and the promotion of We the Franchisees on Politico – but there is much more work to do. As a franchisor, franchisee, or franchise vendor, you are a leader in your community – and we need your support, now more than ever.
You benefit by joining
By joining @OurFranchise, you’ll get access to exclusive stories and resources that can help grow your franchise business, educate employees at all levels about the franchise business model, and share the economic importance of franchising with consumers. You will also have the opportunity to share your franchise success story with your peers. Visit AtOurFranchise.org Contact Erica Farage, Senior Director of Political Affairs and Grassroots Advocacy and Multi-Unit Franchisee Engagement International Franchise Association efarage@franchise.org (202) 662-0760
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Make sure you stay up to date with the campaign’s latest efforts through email updates and social media. Visit our website to read and share the latest stories of franchisors and franchisees making an impact in their communities. Become a franchise advocate to help ensure Americans, now and in the future, have the opportunity to start franchise businesses. Take the lead today!
FranchisingFeature health, beauty & fitness
may 201 9
Good Business Can Be Beautiful
Athletes in Franchising: What Franchisors Need to Know
More Than a Workout:
Finding Franchisees in Your Membership Base
fe at ure : h e alt h, b e au t y & fi t n ess
what’s new!
Kika Stretch Studios Opens New Locations in Dallas, Texas And Summit, New Jersey Kika Stretch Studios, the home for The Kika Method - which a form of passive stretching in which an external force exerts upon the limb to move it into the new position, has announced the opening of two locations in Dallas, Texas and Summit, New Jersey.
Kamari Aykes Debarbieri. The address is: 447 Springfield Ave, Suite #S8.
At Kika Stretch Studios, their stretch coaches are thoroughly trained in their own original techniques of unlocking flexibility. Their clients are measured and receive “stretch age” that tells them how old they are in Kika’s stretch years. This is, then, tracked over time as you achieve more flexibility.
They both be offering: one (1) free 45minute session for all those who attend their grand openings.
The Dallas location of Kika Stretch Studios is being opened by franchisees Erin and Whitney Youngblood. The address is 3090 Olive Street (inside of the new WeWork scheduled to open May 1)
The opening of these two locations join existing locations in: Short Hills, Westfield, Montclair, Morristown, New York City, and Englewood.
KIKA brings a new and exciting experience to a customer and franchise buyer, with a boutique stretching facility that was created for people who are looking to achieve mental clarity, move with ease, reduce stress, improve flexibility, or release tension. Through franchising, the company plans to expand regionally and then nationally.
The Summit location is being opened by
kikastretchstudios.com/franchise
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Slater’s 50/50 Debuts Two New Shroomin’ Onion Burgers
Slater’s 50/50, the popular meat-centric gastropub concept best known for creating the Original 50/50 burger patty made with 50% ground bacon and 50% ground beef, has introduced two new menu items that will be available through June 30, one of which is a completely vegan burger. Slater’s 50/50 sees the new vegan burger option as a way to continue delivering on that promise of masterfully transforming plant-based ingredients into inconceivable, outrageous, and uniquely ‘slaterized’ dishes that still pack a punch of flavor. The Vegan Shroomin’ Onion Burger is made with two umami-marinated portobello mushrooms, topped with sautéed mushrooms, caramelized onions, crispy onions, roasted red peppers, vegan garlic aioli, pickled jalapeños and arugula on vegan bun. It’s meatier counterpart, the 50/50 Shroomin’ Onion Burger, features Slater’s signature 50/50 beef and bacon blend patty topped with sautéed mushrooms, crispy portobello mushroom, caramelized onions, crispy onions, roasted red pepper, chipotle mayo, smoked gouda and arugula on brioche bun. Both the Vegan Shroomin’ Onion Burger and 50/50 Shroomin’ Onion Burger will be available through June 30 at all California, Nevada, and Texas locations. For more information about Slater’s 50/50, visit www.slaters5050.com.
MUSE Global CEO to Speak at Sustainable Brands Conference in Paris MUSE Global, an innovative early childhood education franchise founded by James Cameron, Suzy Amis Cameron and Rebecca Amis, announced today its CEO Jeff King will be speaking at Sustainable Brands Paris, a conference considered to be Europe’s largest event focused on sustainability and innovation. MUSE Global, which began offering franchises across the U.S. and globally in fall of 2018, will be making its first appearance at the three-day conference to be held April 23-25. King will participate on a discussion panel focusing on “building an economic and social world that benefits everyone.” He will specifically be speaking on the topic of “How do we give the next generation better assets to succeed (where we’ve failed)?”
“MUSE School, and ultimately MUSE Global, were founded with the idea that building a better world begins by teaching children both inner and outer sustainability at an early age,” King said. “Many people are just now coming to the realization the earth is in dire straits, and that climate change, deforestation, pollution and other issues are truly ravaging this planet. We believe, however, that the next generation can be taught early on how to live more environmentally conscious lives and remain aware of how their actions affect the world around them.” MUSE Global schools are the first in the U.S. to offer a 100 percent organic, plant-based lunch program, and they offer specialized courses such as Seed-to-Table, Climate Change and Sustainability to encourage a more sustainable lifestyle among students.
For more information about franchise opportunities or enrollment at MUSE Global School, please visit www.museglobal.org.
Juice It Up! Joins Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino in the Fight to End Hunger Juice It Up!, one of the nation’s leading handcrafted smoothie, raw juice, and superfruit bowl chains, has announced its corporate partnership with leading hunger-relief organization, Feeding America Riverside|San Bernardino (FARSB). Juice It Up!’s aptly dubbed “Feed It Up!” campaign will reward guests for donating to the cause! “We are proud of our amazing franchisees who jumped at the opportunity to support their communities and further FARSB’s indispensable work in the Inland Empire,” said Milena Rimassa, Juice It Up!’s Director of Marketing. “We’re thrilled to exercise our company’s core values of corporate citizenship and are committed to making a positive impact in the areas we serve.” With food collection boxes at each of Juice It Up!’s 45 Inland Empire locations through December 31, 2019, the company will reward guests who donate five canned items with a $2 coupon to use on any Juice It Up! menu item. The FARSB program will eventually be rolled out to all Juice It Up! locations nationwide. “With generous partners like Juice It Up!, who take on our mission with a sense of ownership, we are able to provide hunger-relief services and emergency food assistance to those who need it most,” said Lori Butler, Philanthropy Director for FARSB. “We feel fortunate to align with Juice It Up! and look forward to working together in achieving our mutual goal to alleviate hunger in the Inland Empire.” To find your nearest Juice It Up! visit www.juiceitup.com. To learn more about FARSB, visit www.feedingamericaie.org.
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what’s new!
Seva Beauty® Gives its Franchisees Price Autonomy
Daphne’s Debuts New Menu Items as Part of Larger Rebranding Efforts Daphne’s, the fresh and wholesome fast casual known for its nourishing and healthy Mediterranean-inspired offerings, is embarking on a journey to regain footing in a crowded fastcasual segment by rebranding its image to appeal to a new, younger generation of restaurant-goers. The 30-year-old brand has revitalized its menu to focus on contemporary dishes that highlight trending ingredients and can be customized to fit modern day diet and lifestyle preferences. Daphne’s is entering four new markets and two new states in 2019, and will also be strengthening their hold in existing markets with the opening of new locations in Southern California. The brand’s menu changes were spurred by guest feedback and industry trends that show an increased preference in healthfocused dishes and customizable menu options. Trending health foods and ingredients will be the focus of Daphne’s quarterly limited-time offers, with turmeric being the main focus for the brand through June 30. “Daphne’s has earned a reputation for its healthy and thoughtful fare over the last three decades, but we wanted to take the menu to the next level by adding in trending, buzzy ingredients like turmeric and seasonal seafood, which are largely unseen in our fast casual competitors,” said Michael Nakhleh, President of Daphne’s parent company, Elite Restaurant Group. “Unveiling a newer, contemporary menu perfectly aligns with the timing of our expansion and rebrand, and as we continue to grow into new markets across the U.S., we’re eager to introduce Daphne’s healthful offerings to new communities.” For more information about Daphne’s, visit www.daphnes.biz.
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Seva Beauty® is constantly raising the bar in the franchise world. The beauty brand, who has been the protagonist to recent key events, has also made official that they have given their Franchisees price autonomy on their Service Menu. The last months have been busy for the company. New business partnerships with iconic record breakers like Simon Property Group and IKEA and new sleek and modern Studio design are just a few of the items in Seva Beauty’s strategic to-do list. The brand is also making changes in its business structure to continue offering competitive alternatives to their Franchisees. One of Seva Beauty’s Franchisees expressed “Having the ability to adjust prices has been very favorable. It’s given me more flexibility and freedom. Plus, we’ve seen a considerable increase in sales.” Recently, experts have said that they expect the franchise industry to continue to be impacted by Seva Beauty’s plans for the near future. “Giving our Franchisees options is one of our priorities. We want them to feel empowered to manage their Studios.” expressed Vas Maniatis, Seva Beauty’s founder, and COO. Seva Beauty® is the pioneer of the “Fast-Casual Spa” offering services such as Brow Shaping, Lash Extensions, Brow Tinting, Facials, and Makeup. Most services can be performed in 15 minutes or less. Seva Beauty® currently operates in 29 States and Puerto Rico. Today, Franchisees can join a company that has a proven track record and a mission of bringing Beauty to the People®. For more information visit, www.sevabeautyfranchise.com.
Tropical Smoothie Cafe® Continues Aggressive Expansion in Texas, Targeting Dallas-Fort Worth Tropical Smoothie Cafe announced its aggressive franchise development plans for the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and is seeking qualified entrepreneurs to open new restaurants throughout the market. The company has achieved compounding success and substantial nationwide growth evidenced by, among other things, increasing average unit volume across the system, recognition amongst top industry awards and seven consecutive years of positive same-store sales growth. Currently, franchisees operate nearly 50 locations across the state of Texas, with 11 cafes open in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and another four expected to open in the market before the end of 2019. In addition to Dallas-Fort Worth, the brand is continuing to aggressively develop throughout the state with franchise
opportunities in Austin, Houston, and San Antonio. Tropical Smoothie Cafe’s food and smoothie franchise system experienced an impressive surge in nationwide expansion in 2018, celebrating the opening of 110 cafes, including its milestone 700th opening, and the signing of 191 franchise agreements. The company is looking to add qualified franchisees to its growing brand and currently has franchise opportunities throughout the U.S. Interested candidates should have business experience, along with $125,000 in liquid assets and a minimum net worth of $350,000. Candidates that meet these preliminary qualifications will need to make an initial investment ranging between $222,095 and $569,335. The better-for-you food franchise currently
boasts an average unit volume (AUV) of more than $681,000 – the highest in the company’s 21-year-history – with the top 50 percent reporting an AUV of more than $873,000. For more information visit www. tropicalsmoothiefranchise.com.
Lean Kitchen Company Announces Franchise Opportunities in Billion Dollar Industry Lean Kitchen Company is currently looking for franchisees throughout the United States. Lean Kitchen is a company that simplifies eating healthy by offering delicious, fresh, prepared meals. They are one of the fastest growing meal prep franchise companies in the country – with all their meals being made from scratch, never frozen and have no added preservatives or sugars. They are looking for aspiring entrepreneurs, food enthusiasts, and fitness experts to cash in on the meal prep industry, which is currently around $5 billion and will become one of the fastest growing industries in the coming years (as it is expected to double within the next five years). The company offers everything from breakfast, lunch and dinner options to smoothies and even healthy kids’ meals. The franchise model is extremely scalable and allows for fast, inexpensive growth in comparison to traditional franchising models. As a franchisor, Lean Kitchen Company will provide guidance throughout the entire buildout and planning process, the development of your first location, and in the on-going operation thereafter, to make the process as seamless as possible.
In April, the company finalized a multi-unit deal that will bring at least seven locations to the major metropolitan Kansas City area over the next few years. The entire Lean Kitchen model is built with the franchisee’s success in mind. They are the only franchising meal prep company in the country that teaches their franchisees how to operate their own kitchen & maximize profits for the store owner. For more info, please visit leankitchenco.com/franchising.
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Featu re
b y G i n a G i l l Fr a n c h i s i n g U S A
he beau fit The use of social media has brought a whole new exposure to the world of Health, Beauty and Fitness. Advertising is readily accessible through popular accounts, including social media experts in beauty and fitness gurus who have gained a large platform. This new field of presentation allows businesses to grow a brand to new audiences with the potential to share posts repetitively. An advertisement that goes viral is essentially free marketing. It’s estimated that over 244 million Americans use social media in 2018, meaning nearly 70 percent of people in the country have at least one account. It is said that an adult spends over 3 hours per day on their mobile device - a marketer’s dream come true. Social media has allowed the everyday person to see potential in health, beauty
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and fitness in a whole new light, and reach opportunities that may have not been accessible before. Franchisors can take advantage of these numbers and enjoy the profits of the many opportunities in the Health, Beauty and Fitness industry.
Beauty Cosmetics Cosmetics has made a resurgence in the last few years. Not that the makeup industry has made an exit but it’s expanded
audiences through social media and YouTube tutorials. Makeup has become more acceptable to a wider audience and has a wider variety of products. Franchisees can cash in on this opportunity in a variety of ways- including exclusive makeup retail stores. These are usually located in a mall within its own location or possibly through a kiosk. It’s a market that is well on the rise. In 2017 Zion Market reported that the cosmetic
“Social media has allowed the everyday person to see potential in health, beauty and fitness in a whole new light, and reach opportunities that may have not been accessible before.”
ealth, uty & tness
Feature market was valued near 532 billion dollars and expected to reach approximately 863 billion by 2024. Soap What may seem like a small business opportunity is in actual fact one of the leading retail products out there. There are franchise opportunities mainly focused on just soap. From environmentally safe to classic hand soaps, it’s a product Americans are paying for more so than other beauty products.
“There are franchise opportunities mainly focused on just soap. From environmentally safe to classic hand soaps, it’s a product Americans are paying for more so than other beauty products.”
Specific retail markets are competing with well known name brands sold in large box stores. However some stores have a variety of soap products and entice people to buy more once they step foot into the business. The liquid hand soap industry alone generated sales of over 360 million units in 2018, according to Statica. Although it’s such a specific niche, the numbers are there to prove soap’s great potential. One should ask if this specific industry will continue to remain on trend as a one-stop shop before investing. Hair Salons Hair salons are a different type of beauty industry, with a whole other world of competition. There are over 86 thousand salon locations in the US, with a lot of them mainly being a personal business. Consumers have a tendency to shop for stylists, rather than location- so a franchise would have to stay focused on talent and hiring to step up their game. Hair salons’ profit is 15 percent product based, and a franchise would stock a lot of the expensive and wanted products on the shelves. Most small salons carry less retail, which makes it less competitive. A resurgence in small local barber shops could also be a slight competition, but the franchising world has honed in on that particular industry and offered similar locations to adhere to those consumers’ needs.
“Consumers have a tendency to shop for stylists, rather than location- so a franchise would have to stay focused on talent and hiring to step up their game.” Franchises also have a brand name and reputation to fall back on – consumers can find consistency and reliability by stepping foot in any two of the same salons. There isn’t a necessity for a franchisee to have a background in hairstyling , though it could be helpful, as it’s a client based business. However, a franchisee trained as a stylist may feel pressured to be on the ground and running operations and become burnt out. It’s dependent on the work life balance and type of career focus a franchisee is seeking.
Health On the other spectrum of the beauty industry falls health, which also extends to many products and services within the franchising field. Those interested in this type of investment, have a lot of research and consideration to take into account before pursuing their ideal franchise. Outside of the healthcare system directly, franchisors have recognized a lot of
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“Outside of the healthcare system directly, franchisors have recognized a lot of opportunities within the health industry beyond medical treatment, including health food stores, vitamins, diet plans and services, nutritional clinics and products, to name a few.”
opportunities within the health industry beyond medical treatment, including health food stores, vitamins, diet plans and services, nutritional clinics and products, to name a few. Health even reaches medical care equipment, first aid products and pharmaceutical sales- it’s an area full of possibilities.
received by the general public.
Health food stores
The buy in for these types of franchises can be pretty high because it’s usually a really large lot and location, but there are large revenues.
A new trend amongst grocery stores is stocking organic, local food that is healthy. These franchises have aisles full of natural products, fresh produce and vitamins and supplements. It’s a different approach to the grocery store, but it has been well
Usually with an environmentally friendly approach, these grocery stores have products with higher price tags and healthier choices. There is also a tendency to carry cleaning products, toiletries and other items that are expensive but ecofriendly.
Another consideration is whether or not this type of buying trend will continue or if people will opt for less expensive bulk
locations. That being said, a franchise would likely adjust to such demands. These types of grocers have good support, reputation and marketing strategies from franchisors. Fitness The most common go to for fitness franchises is the gym. In 2017, there were over 60 million gym memberships in America. Even if people do not work out or not keen to working out, they know that it is in the best interest and its appealing to most consumers as an ideal practice. The financial beauty behind the gym industry is the ghosted membership. There are quite a few people who pay for the fees, but never use the facilities. Without having to provide a service, franchisees are just bringing in free money. The gym industry is expected to continue growth and it is also benefiting from the social media movement. People have become fitness gurus and health experts online, with videos of their exercises and meals plans. The access to this type of information has increased the interests of others to get fit and join a gym. The fitness industry is worth over $87 billion and expected to continuously increase. Although there are some pretty hefty start up costs. The locations of a gym are large and expensive to get off the ground. It’s best to find out what the costs are covering and where support can be expected long term. The beauty, health and fitness industry has so much choice and opportunity. It’s constantly shifting and growing in all areas with a relentless interest from all Americans. Most options are extremely profitable and can lead to great success if you chose the one that’s right for you.
“The fitness industry is worth over $87 billion and expected to continuously increase.”
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: After receiving an English Degree, followed by a Journalism Diploma, Gina Gill became a freelance journalist in 2008. She has worked as a reporter and in communications, focusing on social media. She currently works as a community information officer with Epilepsy Society, while pursuing her writing career at the same time.
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ASS I ST E D L I V I N G LO CATO R S
SENIOR PLACEMENT FRANCHISE WANTS TO GET THE WORD OUT TO HELP SPUR GROWTH
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“Since many placements occur from local networking, franchisees play an active role in their local communities and by regularly interacting with key local business who also service the same target audience.” “One big challenge is making sure that senior T andHfamilies services E Mknow A Gthat A ZourI N E F are available, and provided at no cost to the family,” Olea said. “You don’t even think about this until you might need it so creating awareness that our resources are available is a key marketing initiative for the organization.” Since many placements occur from local networking, franchisees play an active role in their local communities and by regularly interacting with key local business who also service the same target audience.
One senior care-related franchise system has the lofty goal of expanding its national footprint by over a third throughout this year.
Currently, Scottsdale, AZ-based, Assisted Living Locators has 110 franchises in 34 states. “In 2019, we will continue to focus on building our national presence by growing our franchise locations by 35 percent,” CEO Angela Olea said during a recent interview.
Olea is convinced that Assisted Living Locators can do it. “We grew by 38% last year, and we’ve got an aggressive plan to make the adult children of seniors aware of our service category with new branding and marketing programs in 2019. We’ve only just scratched the surface of the growth potential to help families and expand the system.” Assisted Living Locators essentially act as consultants who connect families with the right care facilities, communities or homes based on health needs, location, price and activities. When families contact the company, a senior care advisor conducts a comprehensive assessment of the family member’s needs. Then, the company’s
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Get the App care advisors -- the franchisees -- go through their database of local properties to find the best match for the senior in need. They walk the families through the process of comparing facilities and make recommendations to the family, who are ultimately the ones who choose the location that is right for them.
Assisted Living Locators online presence also helps as families increasingly turn to the internet to identify resources that can help them with such a critically important decision. When people do connect with Assisted Living Locators, the company and its franchisees get high marks for serving as a valuable resource to families.
The service is free for the families, with the franchisee getting paid by the community when a senior is matched with them and moves in.
The great thing about this space, Olea pointed out, is that with an aging population and an expanding client base, senior placement is a recession proof industry.
Despite being around since 2003, many people remain unaware that resources like Assisted Living Locators are available to help with a sometimes difficult set of decisions.
INVEST TO BE THE BEST
to get into this industry, CFO and Chief
O Strategy R F ROfficer A N for C the H Icompany S E E Mark S Alivero said.
VOL 07, ISSUE 7, MAY 2019
“The franchise model is the winning model in this space,” he noted. “Success in senior placement requires national scope for marketing and advertising coupled with local ‘boots on the ground’ to assist WANTS TO GET THE WORD families face to face. Online referral OUT TO HELP SPUR GROWTH companies have the former, independent agents have the latter, and only franchise models have both.”
ASSISTED LIVING LOCATORS
What sets Assisted Living Locators apart from other franchisors in the senior placement market is the company’s dedication to its training, systems, processes and lead generation, the CFO said. Assisted Living Locators has recently hired Southwestern Consulting Services to provide sales training to complement its existing intake and family model. The company has also invested in its own proprietary customer relations management (CRM) software that is customized to the senior placement industry.
THE LONE ENTREPRENEUR
The best option
Assisted Living Locators is in the best spot to help would-be entrepreneurs who want
Plus, the franchise’s processes are always being refined and streamlined so they work better, Alivero noted.
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Expert Advice: Thomas Nieto, Co-founder and CEO, Main Squeeze Juice Co.
Athletes in Franchising:
What Franchisors Need to Know Athletes in franchising has recently become a trend. As more and more athletes are turning to outside revenue sources and looking for a way to carry their legacy beyond playing time, many are finding franchising to be a viable option. With strong support systems, semiabsentee models and proven track records of success, franchising offers great benefits for athletes looking to get into business. Additionally, athletes are used to having playbooks and following a set game plan to success, which franchising provides. For emerging brands, having an athlete franchisee can elevate the brand further than any marketing effort. I should know – my company, Main Squeeze Juice Co., inked a deal with former New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marques Colston. He has been instrumental to our growth. What started as a partnership has now turned into Marques holding a position on our executive team, which has been extremely beneficial. Over the years, we’ve learned a few things about athlete and franchisor relationships that will be valuable to anyone considering onboarding an athlete franchisee.
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“Franchisors must learn to navigate the precarious relationships to ensure both the brand and the athlete franchisee enter into the best partnership for all parties involved.”
Understand their brand First and foremost, the number one thing to know about working with an athlete is that they have a personal brand. Their brand is made up of who they are as a person, the team they play for, how they conduct themselves professionally as well as in the media, and so much more. Each athlete works to create and maintain this identity, and are looking for business opportunities that align with their brand. It is important to be aware of this, as it will be easier for you to sell your concept if it aligns with their personal brand. On the other side, it will help you see if this partnership is the right fit for your brand, as they will now become an extension of your business in both the media and consumers’ minds. To get a sense of their brand, study their interviews and games - see how they respond to questions and interact with the media. Look at their social media. Get to know their personalities, learn what causes and passions they share, and see how they portray themselves –keep in mind that their public image will always be associated with your brand once they become a part of your business.
Don’t be blinded by the excitement and celebrity There’s no denying how exciting it is to hear that an athlete is interested in your concept. Not only are they great for brand awareness, but they bring an element of celebrity to your brand. That being said, it’s understandable to want to make concessions to keep them interested you’ll agree to anything to get them to sign on. But the wrong franchisee can cause friction and even damage your brand in the long run. Therefore, it is important to not be blinded by the athlete’s fame or fortune. It is important to treat them just as another business partner albeit with a few perks. Make sure their needs and wants align with the opportunity presented to them. Spend time with them to ensure their personal and brand values align with yours, and make sure it is the right fit, not just the nice fit.
Treat them like business professionals, not an athlete Athletes who get into franchising are interested and engaged in their future. They are looking to make an investment of both time and money for a concept
Thomas Nieto (C) with Marques (L), Main Squeeze franchisee and Marques’ wife Emily (R).
they feel called to. They typically keep business investments separate from their athletic business dealings and you must do that as well. When interacting with them, treat them as a business professional, not as an athlete. Talk to them as you would any other business associate – friendly and engaging, but serious and intelligent. Respect their wishes, learn about their career aspirations (outside of touchdowns and Super Bowl rings), and explain your concept just as you explain it to other franchisees. Always remember, they are not an athlete you’re a fan of, they are a potential business partner.
Keep them engaged Once they have signed on as a franchisee, keep them engaged throughout the entire process. Have them share ideas for their locations and openings and take part in marketing efforts as it makes sense for their personal brand. In some cases, like
“The number one thing to know about working with an athlete is that they have a personal brand. . . . Each athlete works to create and maintain this identity, and are looking for business opportunities that align with their brand.” Marques’, have them take on larger roles in the company if it makes sense for both parties. Even if they are semi-absentee, constantly update them, develop your relationship and show them that there is more ROI than just bottom line numbers – an athlete can gain a support system and a franchise family through an investment in your company. They can craft a legacy. This engagement and freedom to craft their legacy alongside your brand will speak volumes. Athlete franchisees offer incredible perks for an emerging brand, but come with a few risks. Franchisors must learn to navigate the precarious relationships
to ensure both the brand and the athlete franchisee enter into the best partnership for all parties involved. Much more than money, these partnerships can create lasting legacies for both brand and athlete. With that, it is exciting, fun, challenging and rewarding to bring on an athlete franchisee – just as anything in business is. Thomas Nieto is a co-founder and the CEO of Main Squeeze Juice Co., a smoothie and juice bar based in New Orleans, backed by Super Bowl champion and Director of New Business Marques Colston. www.mainsqueezejuiceco.com
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Expert Advice: Vas Maniatis, Founder, Seva Beauty
Top Tips for Leveraging Technology to Innovate a Traditional Business Model
Vas Maniatis
Technology has become increasingly important to businesses large and small, but may not always come to mind for those in the more traditional, service-related beauty industry. Here are several things you’ll want to consider in leveraging technology to innovate what could otherwise potentially become a dated business model:
1 Technology flattens everything, use it to your operational advantage Referring to the globalization theme in the 2005 book by Thomas Friedman, “The World is Flat” analyzes the many ways in which technology has made the world of commerce a level-playing field. Our brand’s focus on technology was what allowed our seamless relocation to
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Puerto Rico, even in the aftermath of a devastating hurricane. Adhering to our Core Focuses of People, Process, Content and Tools, we were able to use technology to easily integrate our operations overseas and even utilize highly-skilled team members over 13 hours away. At Seva Beauty, new technologies like video conferencing, virtual evaluations and eLearning, for example, are constantly being tested and successfully implemented.
2 Stay ahead of the training game with technology Video conferencing is the “now” and Google Glass may be the “future” of training. Even in the very hands-on beauty business, this technology has proven to be a key differentiator in keeping the frontline people on our team equipped with the latest in company processes and industry best practices.
“In a world of social media and ever-evolving online platforms, one constant is your website. Keep it updated, clean and easy to navigate.”
3 Keep your customers engaged with technology One of our Core Focuses is on “People,” and we have been able to engage our customers with technology that allows them to experience the progressive nature of Seva Beauty. We use a self-service, iPad-based check-in to engage customers right from the start of their in-store experience. Not only does it make checkin a breeze, but it also keeps front-line staff, known as “beauty gurus,” from having to interrupt a service. Customers can also choose to share information with us for follow-up visits. This elevates the post-store experience by allowing
“Using technology to stay in touch with our system seems obvious, but requires the right process and the best tools to make it work seamlessly!”
us an opportunity to connect our core audience with the product and promotional information that’s most important to them.
4 Make your technology multifunctional Our in-store POS system not only manages the check-in process for customers, but that same custom-designed POS system also manages customer information, important employee data and an array of options for financial reporting and analysis. Seva Beauty Studios, are also equipped with remote web-viewing capabilities. This way, franchisees are able to see what’s happening in their store at all times and from any device.
5 Make technology work harder for you In a world of social media and everevolving online platforms, one constant is your website. Keep it updated, clean and easy to navigate. For Seva Beauty, our mantra is “Beauty to the People,” so we take delivering information about our services and locations seriously, and we make it easy to access on all devices. On our website, studio locations are easy to find with maps and locators; the menu of services is purposefully kept simple; franchise investment and job opportunities have dedicated tabs; and we offer an option for visitors to leave their email address to receive special offers – all ways we are intentional in making technology work hard for the brand. We also create individual websites and social media pages for each of our Studios.
We employ SEO platforms that help drive customers through online engagement, and we are constantly running different social programs that increase the reach of our Studios’ social media pages for a 360-degree,technology-driven marketing approach.
6 Work with like-minded individuals One of the things we look for in a new franchisee is proficiency with technology. We have worked diligently over the years to create a variety of online portals that are available for their use. Our online hiring portal is one of the most widelyused in our system. The hiring portal helps manage one of the most critical components of a beauty-based business - the hiring process! From posting an ad through hiring a new employee, our franchisees can utilize this platform to stay organized and efficient. Another popular portal is the Seva Beauty ordering portal, which helps franchisees shop for all of their approved supplies in one place and provides for true one stop shop convenience. Meanwhile, our Marketing Portal provides franchisees free promotional materials and the ability to
order additional marketing items for their Studio with just one click. All portals are accessible through the in-Studio iPad or any other online device.
7 Communicate through Technology Our online operations manual makes the days of printing and sending manuals obsolete. It also ensures that franchisees always have the most updated information. Every month we publish a digital newsletter and hold virtual webinars that recap company events, recognize franchisee successes and provide important updates for the system. Using technology to stay in touch with our system seems obvious, but requires the right process and the best tools to make it work seamlessly! Vas Maniatis is the Founder of Seva Beauty. From pioneering Chicago’s largest rental-finding agency to the fast-growing Seva Beauty fast casual spa that delivers “Beauty to the People,” Vas has keen insights on what works and what doesn’t when it comes to creating and growing a franchise. www.sevabeautyfranchise.com
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Expert Advice: Bryon McLendon, Founder, Nutrishop
How to Attract the Ideal Franchisee According to Statista, there were approximately 759,000 franchised establishments in 2018. As such, those interested in purchasing a franchise have a surplus of concepts to pick from – in every space and category imaginable. Just as candidates are in search of the right system that best suits their needs, franchisors know that partnering with
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qualified franchisees is a key ingredient in building a successful franchise concept. With so many franchised businesses out there, franchisors must break through the clutter in order to attract their ideal franchisee. Someone’s first experience with your brand is just the first step of breaking through the clutter – and this rings true for customers as well as potential franchisees. Just as the saying “first impressions matter” when going on a first date, the same goes for your initial interaction with a potential franchisee. Prior to franchising your business, I recommend having the following items in in place: - Have a creative, clean and easy to navigate website. This is important,
as someone is not likely to invest in a concept that they are not proud to showcase to family, friends – and most importantly, customers! - Your website should have a consumerfacing portion, as well as a franchise portal that includes pertinent information for potential franchisees. This portal should include information such as: o Initial investment price range and what is needed financially to qualify o Royalty fees – and whether they’re fixed or percentage based. On average, a majority of franchise models collect an average of 5-6 percent of gross sales volume each month. My
company, NUTRISHOP™, prides itself on not collecting monthly or annual royalties from our franchisees, meaning their income is theirs to keep!
“Just as the saying ‘first impressions matter’ when going on a first date, the same goes for your initial interaction with a potential franchisee.”
o Make note of whether you assist with financing – or if you can make connections to lenders o Provide a breakdown of on-going franchisee support, including:
• Real Estate (selection, negotiations, build-out, etc.) • Protected territory rights
• Initial and on-going training and support • Marketing assistance
o DO NOT provide average revenue. While this seems like a valid question for a potential franchisee to ask, I don’t recommend publicizing this. There are many factors that play into this, such as: New franchise sales don’t often parallel an established franchisee and how knowledgeable, willing and driven an individual franchisee is.
- Maintain a consistent brand message across all channels, including website, social media, franchise locations, media placements, etc. Mixed information will not only put off potential franchisees – but consumers as well - Participate in franchise trade shows! This is a great opportunity to meet with potential franchisees face-to-face
While this may seem like a lot of information, in my experience of offering NUTRISHOP franchises, it’s an excellent first step in attracting ideal, qualified leads. Making this information public allows those who are not serious about your system or who cannot meet your requirements to be weeded out. Only those who believe they are ready to take the next step will fill out the application. That said, even with this abundance of information, there will still be applicants who do not fit your business’ ethos. On average, we receive close to 400 applications to become a NUTRISHOP franchisee on an annual basis. We pride ourselves on attracting and securing ideal franchisees through our detailed vetting process.
For NUTRISHOP and the nutritional and dietary supplement industry overall, an ideal franchise partner must have a genuine passion for health and fitness and want to help consumers achieve their health and fitness goals. This may seem obvious, but we receive applications on a regular basis from those who have limited or zero interest in our industry. This will not work. In order to be successful in our business, you must be able to spread the company’s mission of bringing awareness, knowledge and passion to the nutrition field. Our system isn’t one you can simply treat as a monetary investment – it’s one where you need to be educated in the space, paired with drive, determination and a relentless work ethic to make your location thrive. Whatever your industry may be, I recommend identifying the founding principles to the business and not straying from these when deciphering whether someone is the right candidate. While it’s great to award franchises and see your business grow, if someone is not a direct extension of your company’s “North Star,” they are likely to fail. When a franchisor’s mission, goals and requirements are clear and unwavering, it’s easier to identify
whether a potential franchisee’s interest will result in a successful and long-term partnership. Bryon McLendon is the Founder of Nutrishop, Inc. He began opening nutrition stores in 1997. He was determined to build something special. He wanted to create a business model that would provide consumers a diverse selection of high-quality dietary and nutritional supplements offered at guaranteed low prices coupled with exceptional, individualized customer service. He founded Nutrishop, Inc. in 2003. Now, more than 15 years later, he is still helping others achieve their dream of owning their own successful retail nutrition business.
Bryon McLendon
Franchising USA
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Expert Advice: Christopher Conner, President of Franchise Marketing Systems
Good Business Can Be Beautiful There are so many ways to make a living and so many options for starting a business, I guess that’s part of what makes capitalism so appealing. It is the endless possibilities and options for paving your own path and developing a new way forward. The franchise market certainly lives up to this theory with what
seems to be an endless variety of new, innovative and fun brands to choose from and no industry segment has proven this more true than the health and beauty market segment. With more and more people turning to alternative health and wellness services as a way to look and feel better, the franchise market has responded with some brands that bring incredible platforms to the mainstream market. No one on the planet can talk about health and wellness right now without bringing up the CBD market. This big and getting
bigger every day industry segment is new and so full of opportunity it’s hard not to get buzzed about it. CBD offers a wide range of benefits to the consumer, joint pain, cancer fighting, anxiety relief and many, many more benefits come with the incredible CBD product offerings. As more states legalize the use of CBD products, this industry segment has a look of being the next gold rush. The franchise market has seen several brands come to the industry offering CBD business models. Franchise Marketing
“With more and more people turning to alternative health and wellness services as a way to look and feel better, the franchise market has responded with some brands that bring incredible platforms to the mainstream market.”
Franchising USA
“If beauty is something you feel passionate about and enjoy helping others look and feel their best, now is as good of a time as any to find a great business in this market.”
Chris Conner
Systems has supported several of them in developing operating documentation, organizing the franchise offering and developing a franchise system. Discover CBD and Gabberdunes are two of the new CBD Franchise brands who along with others offer a wide product selection, well-planned retail store models and an e-commerce component to the franchised business model. Discover CBD has gone so far to go vertical by establishing production, distribution and warehousing facilities. Both systems have just started to offer franchises and have their first franchisees signed on in a short time period bringing the Discover and Gabberdunes brands to more people in more areas. The second area of beauty, health and wellness that has come mainstream is the alternative health and wellness service segment. So many brands have been developed around this incredible market segment. Things like laser hair removal, infrared sauna, botox and threading have become more accepted and generally gone mainstream. What’s funny is that to most of us, what these services can do for people seem like something out
of a sci-fi movie and produce results that no one thought were possible only a few years ago. Harlem Zen Medspa is a great example of this scenario, the founder, Angela McTair, came at the industry from a business background after realizing that there were no options for people of color when it came to hair removal and high quality skin care services. Harlem Zen incorporated the latest technology in MedSpa services, and developed a platform to deliver these services to this specific demographic. The model is simple, well-defined, low investment and offers a wide range of high margin beauty services to a customer group in need of a brand to serve them. Brands such as Seva Beauty and Beauty First make “getting beautiful” quick and easy with convenient locations in high traffic areas. Pricing is value-oriented, customer service is strong and the locations are warm, inviting and even accept people like me, Chris Conner, who as a 40 year old guy, would have never considered walking into a beauty salon in the past. Beauty First is a newer franchise platform that launched from Ontario recently and has developed a simple, but
high quality service model, primarily located in malls and high traffic shopping centers. This is what people expect today and want when they want to look good; easy, affordable and quick service. There still is a market for the really high-end, fancy salon where prices are high and people walk around with their nose in the air, but the growth opportunity in beauty is in the quick and convenient segment of the industry. My advice: if beauty is something you feel passionate about and enjoy helping others look and feel their best, now is as good of a time as any to find a great business in this market. For the right system, the numbers don’t get much better and this is a business where you can feel good about what you do every day helping others be the best version of themselves. Christopher Conner is the President of Franchise Marketing Systems and has spent the last decade in the franchise industry working with several hundred different franchise systems in management, franchise sales and franchise development work. His experience ranges across all fields of franchise expertise with a focus in franchise marketing and franchise sales but includes work in franchise strategic planning, franchise research and franchise operations consulting. For more information on how to choose the right food service franchise, contact Chris Conner at Chris.Conner@ FMSFranchise.com. www.fmsfranchise.com
Franchising USA
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Have your say: Roger Martin, Co-founder of RockBox Fitness
More Than a Workout:
Finding Franchisees in Your Membership Base When you’re creating a brand-new franchise, one of the key components is not only having a solid product offering, but also a product that can truly impact the lives of customers. The positive impact on peoples’ lives is what we focused on when we created RockBox Fitness. Our goal was to create a workout that wouldn’t inspire people for just one class, but keep them coming back for more. We knew we could devise an everchanging, challenging but fun workout, so the key was to attract the right kind of members who were looking to make RockBox Fitness part of their overall health and wellness plan. We soon realized many of the members would make ideal franchisees, and because of this, we were able to capitalize on aspects of RockBox which already existed to create a community that encouraged people to get more involved in the studios and programs. Through this community, we have been fortunate to find members who want to help even more people change their lives for the better, and they have made the RockBox family what it is today by becoming RockBox franchisees.
Building your base We believe that members become our best ambassadors. They know our mission, goals, workouts and the results they bring better than anyone - they live it every time they come to class. Seven of our franchisees were members before starting their own
Franchising USA
locations, and two were willing to relocate to start their studios. They have grown
with us personally through their workouts and now professionally through opening their own studios. We have been able to
watch the franchisees grow into the people whom they are today, and it’s incredibly
validating to see this level of growth and
passion in our partners. Finding dedicated franchisees can be a challenge, but we
created key elements in RockBox that gave us the opportunity to find and facilitate them in our own backyard.
“We believe that members become our best ambassadors.”
of fitness and helping them achieve their highest potential. The same is true for our franchisees. We’ve seen them grow from members to assistant trainers to helping with membership sales. An important aspect of supporting members becoming franchisees is having the right training tools from development to daily support after grand opening.
Escaping boredom The No. 1 reason people stop going to fitness classes – boredom. The classes become repetitive and disengaging. This was the first obstacle we knew we had to tackle. We designed our studios with this first objective top of mind – avoiding monotony; the studios feature all the boxing equipment and heavy bags you would expect for a boxing and kickboxing based workout, plus a complete functional training studio as well. Our studio design set our franchisees up for success and is a crucial component to our concept as a whole. It has helped us retain our members by continuously challenging them, but also entertaining them to ensure they have fun while working toward their fitness goals Because of our member retention strategies and tactics, our churn rate is very, very low. Because of this, we are able to create a growing and supportive community that encourages people to come back again and again and become ingrained in the RockBox family. Building
a community gives people a sense of ownership, which leads to wanting to get more involved. Ultimately, this has led us to finding franchisees in our membership base, and it all starts with having a product that changes lives.
Making it inclusive One of our keys to finding the right franchisee is looking outside of the fitness world. You don’t need to have franchisees with a fitness background; you just need people who are enthusiastic and believe in what you are doing. We created an inclusive community where people of all fitness levels can achieve their goals and feel comfortable in the studio, and the same rules apply to our franchisees. They come from all backgrounds and various fitness levels. As long as they believe in helping anyone achieve their goals, they will be a perfect fit.
Franchising is a team sport From the first class, we believe in supporting people where they are in terms
We pride ourselves on the community we have helped create; it was always important to us to provide an environment that inspired people to lead the lives of which they have always dreamed - that has never been more evident than in our franchisees. As a growing brand, we realize finding the right franchisees is the key to continued growth. Being able to facilitate internal growth through our members has created a system that we are proud of and have fully embraced. Prior to becoming a Co-founder of RockBox Fitness, Roger spent 25 years in the branded pharmaceutical business. Holding positions as the Chief Operating Officer of a development and manufacturing organization to serving as the National Sales Director and Senior Vice President of other major pharmaceutical brand companies. His extensive expertise in sales management, leadership, business development, and marketing has been beneficial in establishing the RockBox brand. rockboxfranchise.com
Franchising USA
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Ask t h e E x pert
Evan Hackel
Ask the Expert:
“I’m looking to grow. Do I buy another franchise in the same brand, or do I buy a different franchise in the same market?” Carla, Richmond, VA Dear Carla, Like most things, it depends. But let’s not overcomplicate the question, because the answer is simple. You want to expand in the same brand and franchise if the following conditions exist: • You are happy with the brand that you have • You can make money with the brand that you have • A new location is available that is reasonably close to where you are already operating If those factors in place, it is clear that acquiring a new location in the same brand is the right decision. Because you are already operating one location, you’ll be even more efficient running both locations. The more locations, the more efficient you can be, in fact. Why? Because you’ll be able to share employees between locations, which will make it easier to hire despite labor shortages or other issues. You can continue to apply the knowledge you have already learned, and it will be easier for
you not to have to know two different systems. It’s also an easy decision not to expand in the same brand if the following conditions exist: • You have not gotten the ROI that you were expecting • You’re not happy with the brand • You don’t like management • You foresee difficulties coming your way - maybe the product you are selling is becoming obsolete • You think it is unlikely that you will be able to grow the brand in a new location, so you’ll be “putting all your eggs in the wrong basket” If those conditions are in place, then I would say finding another brand that you can open in the same market would give you diversity and would reduce risk. It might offer you the opportunity to find a better fit and another brand to grow with. What About Managing from a Distance? I have already noted that the best new
location is one that is near your current location. But what if you love your brand, your current location is thriving, you “know the ropes,” and the only available location is some distance away? Then you have a difficult decision to make. When you’re spread apart geographically and it’s difficult to go between the two locations, that’s inefficient. In that case, you’re going to have to decide whether it’s better for you to open a different brand in your same market, or whether you really want to own your current brand in a remote market. To me, this decision is helped by evaluating yourself as a manager. If you’re a really strong manager, it will be easier for you to manage from a distance. But if you’re a hands-on manager or a micromanager, the distance is going to be a real issue and you should seriously consider opening a different brand in your current market. Another consideration is the available talent. Is there a person you can hire to manage your distant locale who is highly
About Evan
Evan Hackel is a 35-year franchising veteran as both a franchisor and franchisee. He is CEO of Tortal Training, a leading training dev Consulting. He is a speaker, hosts “Training Unleashed,” a podcast covering training for business, and author of Ingaging Leadershi visit evanspeaksfranchising.com. Follow @ehackel or call 704-452-7368. Why not have Evan Hackel address your group about franc
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Evan Hackel
“If those conditions are in place, then I would say finding another brand that you can open in the same market would give you diversity and would reduce risk.” qualified in that market, and someone you trust? If so, you might want to consider an earned partnership agreement. If that manager does very well, he or she can earn equity and an owner’s stake in the business. Let me close by saying that I’m happy to hear that you’re thinking about expanding. That tells me you are doing well. No matter which of the paths we’ve discussed today you choose, you will get diversity. And diversity can lead to success. Best wishes for every success, Evan Hackel Have a question about your franchise? Email your franchising question to editor@cgbpublishing.com. We look forward to hearing from you! Please note that your questions may be edited for length prior to publication.
“Because you are already operating one location, you’ll be even more efficient running both locations. The more locations, the more efficient you can be, in fact.”
velopment company, and principal of Ingage ip. To hire Evan as a speaker, chising success?
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Ask t h e E x pert
Page 37
ex per t advice
Heather Ripley, CEO, Ripley PR
Get Your Golden Parachute with Great PR How much is your franchise network worth? To put it bluntly, it’s worth whatever a potential buyer is willing to pay for it. Value is all about perception, and if you’re planning your exit strategy, the time to boost that perception is now. Building a successful business from the ground up is hard work, and expanding your business into a national or global franchise brand is a huge undertaking. So often, franchise founders overlook one important factor — an exit strategy. It can be difficult to think about giving up control of something you’ve worked so hard to build, but it is necessary. What is your plan for transitioning your brand to new ownership? Who are your ideal buyers? How much profit would you like to realize from the sale? The answers to these questions are vital in planning your exit and building a secure future for yourself and your family. Whether you plan to head on to retirement or to another business venture, your exit should be the first thing you plan, not the last.
“No matter what you’ve planned for the next chapter of your professional life, planning for a profitable exit now will help get you there.”
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Have a target in mind, but strategize with flexibility, too. As Stever Robbins wrote for Entrepreneur: If you choose the right acquirer, your value can far exceed what would be reasonable based on your income …. If you’re thinking of acquisition as your exit strategy, make yourself attractive to acquisition candidates, but don’t go so far as to you cut off your other options. So, if you want to see your hard work and investment pay off, it’s time to start positioning your franchise model to achieve the highest possible perceived value to a wide field of potential buyers. In today’s economy, franchise systems are showing impressive growth. Franchising is gaining acceptance as a solid business model. Using public relations to your advantage can help establish your franchise brand now as a great investment down the road, getting you that golden parachute to see you safely to the next chapter of your life. Here are some of the ways you can position yourself for a great exit with a solid PR strategy.
Become an Expert Your franchise’s power is owed in large part to the executive team behind it, including you. The more you promote yourself and your operations team as thought leaders in your industry, the more respect and credibility you will cultivate for your brand. A public relations strategy will put your organization’s executives in the spotlight, promoting their expertise and showing that your brand has a foundation of competent, visionary leadership and proven systems. You can achieve this by media appearances that will catch the eye of potential buyers, like cover stories in industry magazines, contributions to respected publications, keynote speeches at trade shows, television spots and more. Continually offering yourself and your team to speak or write on topics relevant to your industry will keep your franchise relevant when the time comes to sell.
Be Unique Almost every industry has multiple franchise brands, but what drives valuation of those brands is their brand identity, that spark of personality that makes a brand unique. Owning and living your brand identity is crucial to setting yourself apart from the rest in the minds of consumers and potential buyers. What is special about your company culture? What systems or operations support do you have that no one else does? How are you different from the rest? A great PR strategy will answer these questions, then use them to craft your message and get it in front of your target audience. No franchise network is exactly like yours, and no company culture is exactly like yours. Celebrating that individuality will grow the value of your brand.
Find the Right Channels Who are your potential buyers? Where do they get their information? Who are they listening to? Even if you’re not ready to sell just yet, you need to be on buyers’ radars now, not tomorrow. Buyers are more likely to choose a known investment, an established franchise brand, over one they just heard of. Trade publications and trade shows are a great place to start, but social media is also a solid choice when it comes to reaching buyers. Strategically choose the right social media channels to reach those buyers and post material they care about and will interact with. This will gain their attention and grow their awareness of your brand long before your planned exit.
Heather Ripley
A great PR agency can help you craft those vital communications well in advance of your exit, though. These preparations will frame the sale in positive terms and offer reassurance to everyone affected by the change of ownership. Even better, having these plans in place before the sale shows potential buyers that they have made the right decisions, that they’re purchasing a business cultivated by thoughtful, forwardlooking leaders.
A Bright Future No matter what you’ve planned for the next chapter of your professional life, planning for a profitable exit now will help get you there. With a perfectly honed public relations strategy, you can significantly boost the value of your franchise network, making the purchase process easier and more profitable. Consider partnering with a professional public relations agency to help secure your golden parachute. An agency with plenty of franchise and acquisition experience will know the right message and the right media outlets to attract attention from the right buyers.
Internal Communications
Happy landing!
When the time comes to transition to new franchisor ownership, how you deal with internal communication is as important as your external communications. It can be a confusing, stressful time for you, your home office staff, your franchise location owners and their staff. Employees might worry about job security or a change in company culture.
Heather Ripley is CEO of Ripley PR, a global public relations agency specializing in franchising. Orange Orchard, a division of Ripley PR, champions franchisors that cater to environmentally-conscious consumers. For additional information, visit www.ripleypr.com or www.orangeorchardpr.com.
Franchising USA
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ex per t advice
George Knauf, Senior Franchise Business Advisor, FranChoice
Invest To Be The Best I was watching a video a friend of mine posted and it struck home that it was absolutely the mindset a new franchise owner needs to take. The video was posted by Brad Sugars, Founder of Action Coach and author of the new book Pulling Profits. Franchising USA
The words that rolled off his tongue were “Invest to be the best” as part of his conversation focused on the idea that consumers and businesses want to do business with the best option within their reach.
It makes total sense that when any of us think about going out to dinner, we choose the best restaurant not the mediocre one. We buy the best car we can afford, not one that we know will let us down. We go to the gym that gets the best results, if that is what we want out of a gym. What you have to determine is: do you want to be that business people line up
for? If you do, then it is time to focus on what it takes to be the best, and where you can invest to go above and beyond the minimum expectation to do so. Let’s start with your core support system, the franchise you have, or will, invest in. This is a key area where you can focus on making sure that you have the best team behind you, the best brand to market, the best training, the best support, the best technology and the very best fit between you and the business you are growing. The franchise investigation process will be a key element to finding out which the best fit for you is. All too often people start by
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ex per t advice
George Knauf, Senior Franchise Business Advisor, FranChoice
“The key here is to run your business well, but always be looking for ways to get better, provide better and serve your clients better.” Does your Franchise need a bigger footprint in your market to grow the brand’s reputation? Consider opening another unit or territory. Don’t overextend yourself, but growth is a great way to grow your role as the best in the market is to be more visible. The key here is to run your business well, but always be looking for ways to get better, provide better and serve your clients better. picking one of their favorite products or services and deciding it is perfect because they like the end result from a consumer point of view. Key to your success will be making sure that you are a fit for the role of the owner, and that the franchisor has delivered on their role with currently successful franchise owners in the system. As you work on growing your franchise be careful not to make the mistake many do of trying to be a hero and grow your business without asking for help from the franchise system you bought into. You paid for the benefits, the access and the resources. I challenge you to call someone at the franchise corporate office at least once per week. Initially you will have specific questions you need answers to. As you get settled in you may have weeks that you don’t have specific questions, call anyway. On those weeks just call the office, ask for someone you have not met or spent much time with yet and learn about what they do for the company. You may discover opportunities to grow that you never thought to ask about! It happens to often that people buy a franchise, go to training then become hard to connect with. In franchising, the more you seek assistance, the more likely you are to be doing the right things! Let’s say you are doing the right things inside your franchise system, what can you
Franchising USA
be doing in addition to that in your pursuit of being the best? It depends on your skills, what your business needs and where you can improve. Does your business find more success when it is updated, clean and welcoming? Simple thing like fresh paint, power washing and cleaning windows can make a big difference. Do you sell more when your technology is the latest available, easy to use and all of your staff can operate it efficiently? Always make sure your technology is not a stumbling point. Bring in trainers to give your staff advanced training. Explore functions in your technology that enables better tracking of KPI’s and service. Sometimes outside software can tie into your on-site systems to provide better numbers that you can use to find opportunities for growth and improvement in the business. Do you need to learn advanced skills used by franchise owners in yours and similar systems to grow their businesses? Join the International Franchise Association, attend the Multi-Unit Owner Conference, attend your brand’s conferences and meetings. Spending time with other operators makes a wealth of knowledge available to you and builds relationships that will support your success.
Invest to be the best… A great mantra! What is your success story? Let’s go find it! George Knauf is a highly sought after, trusted advisor to many companies; Public, Independent and Franchised, of all sizes and in many markets. His 20 plus years of experience in both startup and mature business operations makes him uniquely qualified to advise individuals that have dreamed of going into business for themselves in order to gain more control, independence, time flexibility and to be able to earn in proportion to their real contribution. Contact the Franchising USA Expert George’s Hotline 703-424-2980. www.myperfectfranchise.com
George Knauf
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Assisted Living Locators Assisted Living Locators provides the vital function to seniors and their families of identifying their ideal alternative living solutions and other related services – all at no cost to them. Our proprietary evaluation system results in free residential referrals that enable our clients to make the best possible decisions for their loved ones. Our elder care advisors are trained to find solutions that meet our clients’ needs and to personally accompany them on guided tours of facilities that match their individual preferences. Ours is a truly turn-key program that puts our owners on the path to success through a proven executive business model with high profit margins, low overhead, minimum employees,
Business Finance Depot
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repeat referrals, and residual income. Even more importantly, many of the industry’s most desired areas of the country remain available for new development. If you’re aware of the unsurpassed value of the assisted living market, if you’ve always dreamed about the freedom and independence that business ownership could bring you, and if you’ve been waiting for the perfect, local, affordable opportunity to carve out your piece of the industry, Assisted Living Locators may be just the match you’ve been seeking. For more information please contact Mary Ann Russo or Tom Ingle at: Phone: 800-267-7816 Email: franchise@assistedlivinglocators.com Website: http://www.assistedlivinglocators.com/
Business Finance Depot specializes in packaging equipment leases and SBA Express Working Capital loans for start-up and existing businesses.
Our company also works with SBA 7(a) lenders, alternate financing sources, crowd funding financing sources and companies that specialize in using retirement funds to capitalize a new business. Please visit our website for more information.
Our main clients are franchisors seeking financing for their new franchisees and manufacturers seeking financing for their equipment purchases.
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Clayton Kendall
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Clayton Kendall provides comprehensive branded merchandise programs for franchise communities nationwide, resulting in greater brand exposure, cost-savings, streamlined operations and brand compliance. With a customized online store as the organizing principle, our websites give users the ability to purchase their advertising and marketing tools in one easy to use program.
Contact: Dan Broudy CFE, Chief Executive Officer Phone:412-798-7120 Email: dan@claytonkendall.com Website: www.claytonkendall.com
Everything Hemp Store (EHS Franchise LLC)
foods including hemp seeds and hemp seed oil, dietary and health supplements.
Everything Hemp Store is a consultative marketplace for naturally sourced health, beauty and nutritional products. Our product suite consists of a variety of industrial hemp-derived products such as hemp textiles, floral derivatives, lotions, pain creams, salves, hemp extract tinctures containing Canabidiol (CBD), nutritional
Everything Hemp Store is truly your One Stop Hemp Shop™ focused on delivering top quality products to our consumers with full trace-ability from farm to family. Contact: Gary Norris Phone: 888-334-4367 Ext. 21 9 Email: EHSFranchise@gmail.com Web: www.EverythingHempStore.com
Franchising USA
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Fresh Coat The average Fresh Coat on average earns 41.22% gross profit and $507,883.18 in revenue!* (*See Item 19 of our April 1, 2018 Franchise Disclosure Document for details. Based on data reported by franchisees that were open and operating full-time for at least 1 year for the period ending December 31, 2017 and that reported Gross Revenues and income statements. A new franchise owner’s results may differ. Our owners continually testify about the amazing amount of help they receive from our company. From coaching and onboarding, to marketing and operational support, we guide you every step of the way. Marketing Support & Operation Support – At Fresh Coat, our franchisees are constantly surrounded by support from both
Funtopia Funtopia business philosophy capitalizes on a growing trend towards healthier, active lifestyles. More than just a place for kids to play, Funtopia is an adventure park where family and friends come to entertain and challenge themselves. Our mix of sports and fun, coupled with an amazing brand experience, has enabled our locations to enjoy the benefits of customer loyalty. The concept was created out of desire to provide a new type of entertainment that would be an alternative to today’s prevalence of physically-
The Growth Coach
R
The Growth Coach® is an industry-leading business coaching franchise, established in over 150 markets in the United States and abroad. Since our founding in 1992, our coaches have helped thousands of small business owners achieve their personal
International Franchise Professionals Group
Fresh Coat is committed to leading the painting industry by driving platinum level customer service delivered by a team of professionals and painting experts. To do this, our franchisees only hire the most skilled and experienced painters, allowing their franchise businesses to offer 6 unique services. Your painters provide positive experiences from the initial quote to final touch-ups. Phone: (513) 605-4877 Email: freshcoatpaintersfranchise@gmail.com Website: www.freshcoatfranchise.com
passive screen display entertainment. Believing that being active, both mentally and physically is the essence of healthy lifestyle, we decided to make it as fun as possible. Our culture, our customers, and the Funtopia brand experience is the “icing on the cake” to a solid business model that allows you to grow your income and reach long-term wealth goals. Contact: Yasen Nikolov Phone: 1.833.386.8674 Email: yassen@adventurefacilities.com Website: funtopiaworld.com/franchise
and professional goals. With 28 million businesses in the United States, the demand for business coaching has grown to a tremendous $11 billion industry. P: (877) 498-3626 W: https://growthcoachfranchise.com E: GrowthCoachFranchiseOpps@gmail.com
IFPG to power their business. All of these individuals understand the value of being associated with IFPG.
The International Franchise Professionals Group (also known as IFPG) is a membership based organization that has over 700 members. Our members consist of Franchisors, Franchisor Brokers, Lenders, and other Franchise Professionals that help potential candidates in the process of buying a franchise.
The IFPG is a strictly membership based organization that does not participate in any referral fees from our franchisor members or our brokers, thereby allowing all of our members to work freely together. Our long-term success is predicated on retaining our members and providing all the tools needed to help you sell more franchises, and close more deals.
Hundreds of nationally recognized franchise companies have chosen the IFPG and its members to represent their brand; hundreds of experienced franchise consultants and brokers have chosen the
If you’re a franchisor, franchisor broker, or another profession that serves the franchising industry call us today at (888) 977-IFPG to learn about membership opportunities.
LEAKPRO INTERNATIONAL Incorporated
A commitment to Service Excellence and a willingness to learn are required. The ability to deal with people in a friendly, professional and courteous manner combined with the determination to succeed could put you on the road to financial freedom.
LEAKPRO is a unique Mobile business serving new and used car and truck dealerships, body shops, fleets and RV Dealers detecting and repairing Automotive Water Leaks, Air Leaks, Wind-Noises, sunroof and convertible issues. The system itself, besides using ultrasound technology combined with the latest proprietary tools and products has a unique trademark, decor and logo. LEAKPRO offers intensive hand on training, OEM warranty approved products, factory trained technicians and up to a Lifetime warranty. Our training not only teaches leak repair, but day-today business management and sales techniques. Prior Automotive experience is not required but helpful.
Franchising USA
our Marketing Department and our Operations Team. We have national and local marketing initiatives and resources to drive customers to your place of business, and experts to guide and coach you for as long as you own your Fresh Coat franchise.
With NO effective competition and the high demand for this service - it’s a Winning combination. This Mobile business is a low-overhead, profitable opportunity. To join this MultiAward winning TEAM call 888.532.5349 or visit www.leakpro. com today! Individual, Master and Regional Opportunities exist all throughout the USA. Contact: John R. Allen Founder & President Phone: 905.829.LEAK{5325) 1.888.532.5349 Email :john@leakpro.com Website: www.leakpro.com
Little Caesars As the largest carryout-only pizza chain in the world, Little Caesars is doing something right. Little Caesars is an international brand and household name. It’s come a long way since starting as a single store in metro Detroit in 1959. The Little Caesars brand and distinction of being named “Best Value in America”* for the last ten years is proof of its commitment to satisfying customers by providing one of America’s favorite meals at an affordable cost. Today, Little Caesars is looking for franchisees to bring HOT-N-READY® pizza to a wide range of communities
Military Coffees Veterans, military retirees and public safety professionals have been enjoying the unique experience of drinking the freshest, 100% USDA certified organic coffees available. In addition, the ability to personalize the label on just one bag is something that nobody else is doing. With the combined power of owning a printing company, a coffee company and a shipping center, Military Coffees is able to print the label, roast the coffee and ship it same or next day.
MONKEE’S FRANCHISING Monkee’s Franchising, LLC is a franchisor of upscale ladies’ boutiques specializing in shoes, clothing and accessories. Headquartered in Winston-Salem, NC, Monkee’s was founded in 1995 and has become one of the most successful organizations of independently owned boutiques in the Southeast. Our boutiques can now be found in Alabama, Florida, Kentucky,
Moran Family of Brands Moran Family of Brands is one of the nation’s leading franchisors of general automotive repair, transmission repair and automotive accessory centers. Based in Midlothian, Illinois, Moran Family of Brands provides specialty products and services in virtually every aspect of the automotive aftermarket through four individual brands and a total of more than 120 franchise locations nationwide including:
Nestlé® Toll House® Café by Chip® Nestlé® Toll House® Café by Chip® is a premiere dessert and bakery café offering customers an unrivaled experience through the use of fine ingredients, indulgent creations, distinct flavor profiles, and the rich tradition of the very best Nestlé® brands. Cafes offer freshly baked cookies, customized cookie cakes, a wide assortment of freshly baked confections, specialty coffee, ice cream, smoothies and savory items including paninis, wraps and flatbreads, sandwiches, salads and soups (in select locations).
nationwide. The company also offers opportunities in non-traditional franchise venues, including convenience stores, college campuses and military bases. Little Caesars works closely with franchisees to develop locations with customized architectural and build-out plans. *“Highest Rated Chain-Value for the Money” based on a nationwide survey of quick service restaurant consumers conducted by Sandelman & Associates, 2007-2015. Phone: 800-553-5776 Email: USdevelopment@LCEcorp.com Website: www.LittleCaesars.com
Their tagline is “Green to gone in 48 hours,” meaning that the green beans that are imported from organic farmers across the coffee growing regions of the globe are roasted and in your cup within 48 hours. If you have never had fresh roasted specialty coffee (an industry that is growing by 20% annually), you are missing out on a small slice of heaven in a cup. For additional information on the Fighting Force Specialty Coffee franchise opportunity, please visit their website at www.militarycoffees.com.
North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia and we are excited as our growth continues nationally. Monkee’s is recognized throughout this region as a leader in providing the finest fashions from the world’s top designers. Contact: Troy Taylor Phone: 336-529-5200 Email: troy@shopmonkees.com Website: www.ownamonkees.com
Mr. Transmission, “The Professionals”; Alta Mere “The Automotive Outfitters”; Milex Complete Auto Care centers and SmartView Window Solutions. For more information on Moran Family of Brands visit www.moranfamilyofbrands.com. Contact: Ben Reist Phone: 800-377-9247 Fax: 708-389-9882 Email: breist@moranindustries.com Website: www.moranfamilyofbrands.com
Crest Foods Inc., franchisor of Nestlé® Toll House® Café by Chip®, based in Richardson, Texas, is a premiere restaurant franchisor company. The company currently franchises more than 150 bakery cafés in the United States, Canada and the Middle East. The concept has kiosk, in-line mall, lifestyle, and street café locations. The first café opened in 2000. Nestlé® Toll House® Café by Chip® has been recognized by Entrepreneur magazine’s “Franchise 500.” For more information please visit nestlecafe.com. Contact: Benjamin Padilla Phone: (214) 495-9533 Email: franchising@nestlecafe.com Website: www.nestlecafe.com
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Our Town America For 45+ years, Our Town America has been providing new movers with traditional hospitality by mailing warm housewarming gifts from local businesses in a premium welcome package. It is Our Town America’s mission to welcome new movers into their community, to help local businesses gain new loyal and long-term customers, and to provide franchisees with an excellent business opportunity. In the New Mover Marketing industry, we mix proven & perfected methods of direct mail with new technologies.
Since beginning to franchise in 2005, Our Town America has been consistently ranked a Top 50 Franchise by the Franchise Business Review, making them the only Advertising brand to land a spot in the 10-year Hall of Fame and the sole company to be crowned the Franchise Business Review’s All-time Top Company. They are the 2018 #1 Advertising & Sales franchise.
Thousands of satisfied business owners throughout the United States attest to the success and effectiveness of the
Website: https://www.ourtownamerica.com/ Email: franchising@ourtownamerica.com
pool scouts
• Recurring revenue business
Backed by multi brand franchisor, Buzz Franchise Brands – winner of Inc. 500, Pool Scouts helps franchisees hit the ground running.
A Pool Scouts franchise is a business opportunity that can be run from virtually any home or office. We are talking to motivated people to operate Pool Scouts businesses across the United States. Individual territories or area development opportunities are available. Pool Scouts…Perfect Pools, Scouts Honor!
Pool Scouts is the franchise opportunity poised to make a splash in the industry. Here are some compelling attributes: • Fragmented market in a $3 Billion industry • Fast growing franchise opportunity • Low franchise fee and fast start up
Re-Bath In an industry of independent home remodeling contractors, Re-Bath stands out as a unified, trusted national brand. Re-Bath is known for providing expert, affordable and effortless bathroom remodeling solutions that transform homeowners’ bathrooms in days, not weeks. We offer a spirit of innovation and an alternative to cover-up or overpriced remodeling. We handle both the design and the installation – it’s a branded, one-stop customer experience that the industry sorely needs. We are the go-to resource for bathroom remodeling in the markets our franchisees currently serve, and our national reputation strengthens as we continue to connect the dots across the country.
scooter’s coffee
Phone: 1-844-407-2688 Email: franchising@poolscouts.com Website: poolscoutsfranchise.com
Of course, it helps to have the trust of renowned companies like Home Depot. Re-Bath is the nation’s largest complete bathroom remodeling franchise with presence in more than 150 cities and 43 states. The ideal candidate for Re-Bath should have sales, marketing, and/or management experience and be extremely results oriented. Construction knowledge is not required. You must have a minimum of $100,000 in liquid capital, and be ready to make a full-time commitment. Contact: Samantha Wilson Phone: 866-721-7761 Email: swilson@sfdpros.com Website: www.rebathfranchise.com
Founded in 1998, Scooter’s Coffee roasts the finest coffee beans in the world at its headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska. In two decades of business, Scooter’s Coffee’s success is simple: stay committed to the original business principles and company core values.
employees is: “Amazing People, Amazing Drinks... Amazingly Fast!”™ It reflects a commitment to providing an unforgettable experience to loyal and new customers. Scooter’s Coffee is quickly approaching 200 locations in 16 states and has 135 franchise commitments to build new stores. Franchise opportunities are available.
A partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation to source shade-grown coffee to protect the rainforests reaffirms its commitment to contribute to a “chain of good”. The company’s Brand Promise, recited to franchisees, customers and
Phone: (402) 934-7284 Website: https://franchising.scooterscoffee.com Email: Kelly.crummer@scooterscoffee.com Contact: Kelly Crummer- Franchise Development Manager
The Interface Financial Group – IFG 50/50
• No storefront to own, lease, or maintain • No Inventory or stock to purchase • No extensive travel because IFG franchisees do business locally • Business-to-Business, professional environment with regular business hours of operation • Flexibility to relocate for part of the year or permanently and continue doing business Our franchisees are excellent communicators, relationship builders with decision-making and problem-solving skills, and much more sales & marketing oriented. IFG has been in the ‘invoice discounting’ business since 1972, and employs its franchise network in the US, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, the UK, Ireland, Australia, Mexico and South Africa.
The Interface Financial Group – IFG 50/50 is an affordable home-based franchise that provides short-term working capital to small and medium-sized businesses by purchasing current, quality invoices at a discount, thus accelerating the client’s cash flow and growth. All transactions are syndicated 50/50 with the franchisee and the franchisor, and that means less working capital required to fund transaction: IFG does the bulk of the due diligence and the ‘paperwork’ for the transactions, and IFG 50/50 franchisees will concentrate their efforts on building the referral relationships – they do the ‘people work’. Key advantages of being an IFG 50/50 franchisee include: • No staff to hire, fire, or manage
Franchising USA
Our Town America program, while dozens of locally-owned franchises validate the Our Town America concept as a viable business opportunity. Franchisees are neighborhood marketing consultants, showing local business owners how to target their best prospects with enticing offers via direct mail.
www.interfacefinancial.com
TopFire Media TopFire Media is an integrated digital marketing and public relations agency, specializing in the franchise industry. Our clients benefit from our years of experience in franchise SEO service, public relations, media relations, content writing and management, social media marketing, and web design. We work to bring all of these elements together to achieve a common goal – our clients’ success.
TruBlue Total House Care There are thousands of Senior Care companies taking care of the person, but NO ONE is taking care of their homes. Sadly, Seniors are forced to leave their beloved home and memories too soon because the home becomes too hard to maintain. Regrettably, they end up in nursing homes and retirement facilities. All of that has changed and created a business opportunity of a lifetime. TruBlue is the ONLY national provider that specializes in Total House Care for Seniors, so they can stay in their homes longer… “age in place” with confidence, comfort, safety and independence. We provide complete and on-going house care, both inside and outside the home: • Repairs • Cleaning
Tuffy Tire and Auto In 1970, the first Tuffy Muffler shop opened in Detroit, Michigan. To keep up with changing times, we’ve changed and evolved too, from just a Muffler shop to an auto service center. Our service line up currently includes brakes, shocks, struts, springs, alignment, front-end, oil change, mufflers, tires, air conditioning, batteries, starting and charging, flush and fill, and C.V. joints. We take care of all your auto repair needs.
Our integrated approach combines our public relations and franchise SEO service prowess and is designed to generate brand awareness, drive consumer engagement, and build credibility for your company. Phone: (708) 249-1090 Fax: (708) 957-2395 Website: www.topfiremedia.com Email: info@topfiremedia.com Contact: Matthew Jonas
• Yard work • Special projects (such as wheelchair access, safety audits, and fall prevention, to name a few) • Home Watch TruBlue Total House Care services busy families, as well. They’re constantly running from school activity to sporting event most evenings and weekends. While they have disposable income, they have little free time or desire to handle the endless chores around the house. They gladly turn to TruBlue for complete and affordable house care, inside and out, where we act as their Total House Care Manager and provide them with a convenient and hassle-free lifestyle. Phone: 866-498-3218 Website: www.trubluefranchise.com
our franchisees have played a key role in the success of Tuffy. Tuffy, is looking for customer focused, ethical business owners. With over 45 years in business, franchisees are provided a value proposition that includes a state-of-the-art management, sales and Technical Training, comprehensive marketing and advertising programs, national vendor partnerships, national and local support, a powerful brand proposition, a strong business model and on-going research and development.
Helping our franchisees to operate successfully and meet the challenges of today’s marketplace is the top priority for the Tuffy® Tire & Auto Service Centers. We provide our franchisees with a proven operating system, and as a result,
Contact: Travis Mulligan Phone: 800-228-8339 Email: Travis@tuffy.com Website: Tuffyfranchising.com
Veterans Business Services
campaigns, news press releases, and online franchising e-magazine articles, VBS gets the message to qualified Veterans who are invested in starting a franchise.
Veterans Business Services provides the most advantageous franchise acquisition terms for Veterans and provides innovative entrepreneurial training for qualified Veterans seeking grants under the VA Vocational Rehabilitation Program. Veterans Business Services (“VBS”) specializes in entrepreneurial opportunities for Veterans and has an extensive reach into the Veterans community and can generate significant interest from qualified Veterans who wish to start a franchise or small business.
VBS supports service disabled Veterans who are enrolled in the self-employment track within the Veterans Administration and provides outreach efforts to transitioning military through TAP and ACAP programs. As a graduate business of the Entrepreneurial Bootcamp for Veterans (“EBV”), we also assist other graduates of EBV and provide coaching support through mentoring programs. VBS is where Veterans turn to make their franchise dreams a reality.
VBS offers multiple marketing methods that have proven effective with helping franchise organizations with their expansion plans. Utilizing custom email marketing
Contact: James Mingey Phone: 202-349-0860 Email: info@veteransbusinessservices.us Website: www.veteransbusinessservices.us
franchising usa
Excellent for branding and recognition.
A-Z Listings are a great way to promote your business, giving you a presence within our publication and also the Franchising USA website. Each detailed, full colour A-Z listing comes with a 150 word write up and your logo.
Choose a 12 or 6 month package or simply add the A-Z directory onto your Focus, Profile or Ad! To learn about the A-Z directory or any other products please contact Vikki Bradbury: advertising@cgbpublishing.com or 778-426-2446
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