Canadian Franchising Magazine Summer 2016, Volume 3 Issue 2

Canadian Franchise Magazine

issue 3#2 - 2016

w w w. c a n a d i a n f r a n c h i s e m a g a z i n e . c o m

little caesars

Has the Recipe for Growth

fe atur e

home service & mobile franchises LATEST NEWS

FINANCIAL ADVICE FROM THE BANKS

SUPPLIER FORUM

Page 1

TOP LAWYERS’ ADVICE

The Interface Financial Group The Interface Financial Group The Interface Financial Group

The interface financial group

An ‘inͲdemand’ Financial Service

‘inͲdemand’ Financial Service

Ͳdemand’ Financial Service

Low Capital StartͲup w Capital StartͲup

apital StartͲup

40+ yearͲold Organization yearͲold Organization

earͲold Organization

We work with you on every transaction work with you on every transaction

ork with you on every transaction

GREAT GREAT GREAT REASONS REASONS

HomeͲbased meͲbased

Ͳbased

You set the timetable (think Bankers’ hours)

u set the timetable (think Bankers’ hours)

TO JOIN IFG REASONS TO JOIN IFG

et the timetable (think Bankers’ hours)

No cold calling/telemarketing/advertising cold calling/telemarketing/advertising

TO JOIN IFG

ld calling/telemarketing/advertising

EVEN MORE REASONS… EVEN MORE REASONS…

EVEN MORE REASONS…

R.O.I. Training Support Support Experience R.O.I. Training Experience

Training

Support

Experience

R.O.I.

1-800-387-0860, 1-800-387-0860, ext. 2ext. 2

ifg@interfacefinancial.com ifg@interfacefinancial.com 1-800-387-0860, ext 2 www.interfacefinancial.com www.interfacefinancial.com 1-800-387-0860, ext. 2 ifg@interfACEFINANCIAL.COM

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ifg@interfacefinancial.com WWW.INTERFACEFINANCIAL.COM

www.interfacefinancial.com

from the

CANADIAN FRANCHISING VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2 June 2016 president: Colin Bradbury. colin@cgbpublishing.com

publisher: Vikki Bradbury. vikki@cgbpublishing.com

Editorial Department: editor@cgbpublishing.com

Assistant Editor: Diana Cikes. editor@cgbpublishing.com

Advertising advertising@cgbpublishing.com

PRODUCTION: production@cgbpublishing.com

DESIGN: Jejak Graphics. jejak@bigpond.com

COVER IMAGE: Little Caesars

CGB PUBLISHING 676 Wain Rd. Sidney, BC V8L 5M5 CANADA www.canadianfranchisemagazine.com Proud member of the IFA:

Publisher Summer is here and we’ve compiled plenty of informative news, stories and Expert Advice articles to help fill up your summer reading list.

Starting with our Cover Story on Little Caesars Pizza, which has the Recipe for Growth through Convenience, Quality and Value. Turn to page 10 to learn how the largest carry-out pizza chain is actively working towards even more growth with an aggressive franchisee growth strategy.

Our feature article this issue is on Home Service and Mobile Franchises, which examines how busy lives create opportunities in this thriving and ever-growing industry. Learn how businesses in home service and mobile franchising are in a unique position to offer customers the impossible in today’s busy world: more time.

We also feature some interesting profiles, including a look into the concept of “Togetherness” by the Interface Financial Group. Here you can learn how franchisors and franchisees can work in tandem to create a collaborative partnership.

You can also find out how you can Cruise the World to Success with

Expedia CruiseShipCenters, as well as how one Home Based Business Helps Homeowners Oust Unwanted Roommates with Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control.

Finally, you can turn to our Industry Experts to learn 3 Cost-Effective Ways for Multi-Unit Franchisees to Outsource Marketing Services, as well as Steps You Can Take to Help Correct Your Brand Reputation After a Setback. Are You Using Your Website Effectively to Market Your Franchise?

Our Experts Jason Stone and Will Scott can give you the answer.

Don’t forget to take a moment to shop around our A-Z Directory at the back of the magazine. And be sure to stay in touch and send us your comments.

Happy summer reading!

Vikki Bradbury Publisher

Canadian Franchise Magazine

ISSUE 3#2 - 2016

SUPPLIER FORUM

w w w. c a n a d i a n f r a n c h i s e m a g a z i n e . c o m

LITTLE CAESARS

HAS THE RECIPE FOR GROWTH

International Franchise Association 1501 K Street, N.W., Suite 350 Washington, D.C. 20005 Phone: (202) 628-8000 Fax: (202) 628-0812

FE ATUR E

HOME SERVICE & MOBILE FRANCHISES LATEST NEWS

FINANCIAL ADVICE FROM THE BANKS

SUPPLIER FORUM

Page 1

TOP LAWYERS’ ADVICE

www.franchise.org 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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ca nadia n f ra nchise maga zine

Contents 12

16

18

On the Cover

focus

10 Cover Story: Little Caesars Has the Recipe for Growth

26 Feature Article: Home Service and Mobile Franchises

30 Expedia CruiseShipCenters

26

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22

14 The Interface Financial Group

franchisor in depth 18 Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control

FRANCHISEE IN ACTION

june - augus

Canadian Franchise Magazine

st 2016

24

30

34

Expert Advice

in every issue

06 12 The Banking Relationship Joseph Pisani

06 Canadian Franchising News

16 For Franchisors, Integrated Marketing is the New Standard Jim Fitzgerald

26 Feature Article

36

Industry news from across the country

38 A-Z Franchising and Services Directory

24 Buying a Franchise from a U.S. Franchisor Edward (Ned) Levitt 22 Brand Rehabilitation: Steps You Can Take to Help Correct Your Brand Reputation After a Setback Jess Hunichen & Emily Ward 34 Are You Using Your Website Effectively to Market Your Franchise?

Jason Stone and Will Scott 36 3 Cost-Effective Ways for Multi Unit Franchisees to Outsource Marketing Services Jamie Izaks

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what’s new!

BeaverTails Introduces Incentives for New US Franchisees BeaverTails, makers of BeaverTails® pastries, introduced a new opportunity for US franchisees at the International Franchise Expo (IFE) in New York City last month.

For $99,000 USD, this limited-time package includes: • A self-contained 16-foot trailer that houses all food preparation and storage • The initial franchise fee (valued at $30,000 USD) • Franchise rights for 20 years (subject to review every five years) • A territory with a minimum population of 300,000 people • All royalty and advertising fees are conveniently built into the cost of purchasing proprietary BeaverTails ingredients • 38 years of industry experience • Offer valid through September 1, 2016

“As a central element of our US growth strategy, we are offering new franchisees an exceptional opportunity to kick start their entrepreneurial dreams. The BeaverTails business model is compelling for several reasons. First, our operations are comparatively simple and our food costs are attractive. Second, our product is unique. Third, BeaverTails

pastries are topped with a variety of choices, which allows us to provide an animated and interactive experience that creates superior customer engagement and loyalty,” said Pino Di Ioia, CEO, BeaverTails.

For more details: www.prweb.com/ releases/2016/05/prweb13443426.htm

FASTSIGNS International, Inc. Signs 12 Franchise Agreements and Opens First Co-Brand Centre in the United Kingdom “Over the last six months, we have experienced tremendous growth including introducing 12 new franchisees into our

growing system across the U.S and Canada – all of whom

will provide a ‘More Than’ experience for customers,” said

Mark Jameson, EVP of Franchise Support and Development,

FASTSIGNS International, Inc. “The opening of FASTSIGNS Oxford North, our first UK Co-Brand centre, helps us lay the foundation to take the successful North American Co-Brand concept to international markets.”

Getting started as a Co-Brand FASTSIGNS is quick;

FASTSIGNS can help finance the franchise fee with as little In June, FASTSIGNS International, Inc., the leading sign, graphics and visual communications franchise, announced it signed 12 franchise agreements with new franchisees who will open new centers across the country. They also celebrated the milestone of opening the first ever Co-Brand centre in the United Kingdom.

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as $15,000 down to begin the Co-Brand process. Launched in

2012, the FASTSIGNS Co-Brand program offers independent

business operators with print-related services the opportunity to add the FASTSIGNS brand of sign and visual graphic solutions, while continuing to own and operate their existing business. www.fsfastsigns.com

Canadian Franchise Magazine

Booming U.S. Pet Care Industry Positions Dogtopia for Robust Growth and Expansion

The booming U.S. pet care industry has positioned Dogtopia for robust franchise growth and expansion.

Signing 40 franchise agreements in Q1 of 2016 alone, the leading dog daycare, boarding, training and spa facility is on track to award more than 100 stores this year.

Most notably, Dogtopia recently sold all territories in the brand’s home state of Arizona by inking a 12-unit area developer deal with local experienced entrepreneurs Joe and Kelly Sacari. Outside of the U.S., Dogtopia also signed a six-unit deal in Edmonton, Canada and is working on several international deals outside of North America as well.

Conrad Hotels & Resorts Celebrates Opening of First Hotel in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Conrad Hotels & Resorts today celebrates the opening of its first hotel in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – the 438room Conrad Makkah.

Set in the heart of the Holy City and overlooking the Sacred Mosque, Al Masjid al Haram, and the Holy Kaabah, the hotel is designed for today’s smart luxury traveler, combining intuitive service with sophisticated, locally inspired surroundings.

“Since we began reinventing our brand last June, we have experienced exponential growth and positive feedback from our franchisees and pet parents alike,” stated Alex Samios, VP Franchise Development for Dogtopia. “Our numbers speak for themselves – the brand’s total comp sales have increased by 18 percent from last year and is on track to surpass that this year.”

Rudi Jagersbacher, Area president, Middle East & Africa, Hilton Worldwide, said, “The arrival of Conrad Hotels & Resorts to Makkah marks the addition of our second brand into the city and our 11th hotel into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

With another 28 Hilton Worldwide properties in development, we are extremely proud to offer incredible variety and choice for travelers to the region.”

Beyond the recent signed franchise agreements, Dogtopia’s plans for expansion include: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, San Antonio, San Francisco, Seattle and Vancouver. Franchisees can expect an average investment of $500,000 with the flexibility to open in smaller footprints and urban areas, as well as non-traditional locations.

Conrad Makkah connects guests to a world of style in 438 elegant rooms, including 62 suites in two towers. For an exquisite stay, the luxurious suites - ranging from 56 square meters to 247 square meters for the Royal Suite - have a separate living area, a comfortable dining space with a kitchen, access to a private butler service, and direct views of Al Haram and the Holy Kaabah.

www.dogtopia.com/franchising

conradhotels3.hilton.com/en/index.html

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ca nadia n f ra nchise maga zine

what’s new!

Edo Japan Continues to be Recognized for Superior Franchising Model Edo Japan (Edo) was honoured as a recipient of the 2016 Franchisees’ Choice designation at the annual Canadian Franchise Association (CFA) National Convention. This marks the sixth consecutive year Edo has received the accolade in recognition of their enduring commitment to franchisee excellence.

Edo’s business model for continual growth throughout Canada continues to pave a path towards success in a number of markets, where the quickservice restaurant chain serves more than eight million meals each year. A fierce leader in the food industry and the business world, Edo has set the bar high when it comes to franchising. By offering an extensive hands on training program, continued operational and

local marketing support, Edo ensures franchisees are set up for success and have the opportunity to achieve their own business goals with the support of a dedicated parent company behind them.

Many Edo franchisees have come to own numerous restaurants in the markets that they reside.

Established in 1979, the Alberta-based company has stayed true to its roots and core values through its dedication to using fresh ingredients, providing legendary customer service, and helping customers make healthier choices they can feel good about. By promoting a ‘Simply Better’ lifestyle, Edo truly separates itself from the competition and remains a favourite among Canadians. www.edojapan.com

Pita Pit Canada Launches Fun New Kids Menu Based Around Family Food Exploration Kid-Friendly Lineup Includes Activity Sheet and “Planet Pita Passport” Designed to Introduce New Flavors Pita Pit, the fresh thinking, healthy eating brand founded in Canada, is excited to help introduce interesting and exciting new flavors to a younger generation through the launch of a unique menu designed just for kids.

The menu is designed to appeal to children’s taste buds, while simultaneously exposing them to new flavor profiles from around the world.

“We founded Pita Pit in Kingston in 1995 by offering a different experience in a fun, casual atmosphere where guests can create perfect customized pitas by choosing from endless, customizable flavor combinations,” said Nelson Lang, Founder of Pita Pit. “We’re turning up the fun and the flavor even higher with our new kids menu. It’s a natural fit for our brand, and the response from all ages so far has been incredible.”

The new menu allows kids to choose from a wide variety of Petitas™—smaller versions of the brand’s signature pitas— loaded with toppings of their choice, along with a cookie and beverage. Pita Pit is also encouraging kids to explore the broad

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assortment of flavors the brand has to offer through its new ‘Planet Pita Passport.’ On the passport, kids will find nine unique cuisine challenges designed to encourage them to “taste a whole new world” by introducing them to exciting new flavor profiles. Kids can then place a sticker on challenges they’ve completed, like including Tzatzki or pineapple on a pita or simply trying something they’ve never tried before. Kids who collect six stickers will receive a free kid’s meal as a reward upon completion.

For more information about Pita Pit, visit www.pitapit.ca/ consumer or www.facebook.com/pitapitcanada.

Canadian Franchise Magazine

Management & Ownership Changes at Global Pet Foods At the recent 40th Anniversary celebration of the founding of Global Pet Foods, the Senior Executive Team of James (Jim) Walker, Paul Thomson and Dino Fragaglia (WTF Holdings Inc.) announced the completion of their purchase of a majority shareholding in Global’s parent company - Franchise Bancorp Inc. (FBI), a publicly traded corporation which owns the controlling interest in Global Pet Food Stores Inc. (170 stores) and Living Lighting Inc. (22 stores).

The day-to-day franchise operations along with the functional roles of the Senior Executive Team will remain similar, but with Fragaglia replacing Walker as President of Global Pet Food Stores Inc.; Thomson assuming the role of Chief Executive Officer and Walker moving to Chairman of the Board. Fragaglia will focus on operations, Thomson on finance and management and Walker on business development.

WTF intends to make a bid for the remainder of the FBI shares. www.globalpetfoods.com

Anago Cleaning Systems Recognizes Outstanding Master Franchise Owners at Annual seminar Omar Fernandez and Raul Gonzalez, Master Franchise Owners of Anago of Tampa, FL, took home the highest honor of the year.

Master Franchise Owners gathered from around the world for the company’s 2016 annual seminar, held in Tampa, FL. New and existing Master Franchisees alike attended the two-day conference that was held on March 31 and April 1, 2016 in Tampa, Florida.

Anago’s highest honor of the year, the Master City of the Year Award, was presented to Omar Fernandez and Raul Gonzalez, owners of Anago of Tampa, FL. In addition, Ad Hanna, owner of Anago of Vancouver, Canada, received the Highest Percentage Growth Award, while Curt Albertson, owner of Anago of

Greater Cincinnati, OH, took home the Highest Individual Sales Award and the Highest Franchise Sales Award.

“Not only were we excited about getting the Anago family together at our annual conference, but the opportunity to recognize our outstanding Master Franchisees with these awards was truly special,” said Adam Povlitz, President of Anago. “The men and women honored with these awards are what continue to make Anago the strong, successful business that it is today.”

Anago has grown year over year due largely to its unique tiered system of

Master Franchisees and Unit Franchisees.

Master Franchise Owners, many of whom have prior sales and marketing experience or come from executive leadership positions, have the potential to create many small businesses within their community through the Unit Franchise concept.

Anago added over 200 new Unit Franchisees at the close of 2015 and is poised for more expansion in 2016, proving Anago is an ideal investment for entrepreneurs and prospective Franchisees. www.AnagoMasters.com

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cover stroy

L i t tl e Ca e s a r s

Convenience, Quality and Valu

Little Caesars Pizza Ha the Recipe for Growth When you’re the largest carry-out only pizza chain in the world, you’re obviously doing something right. Or, in the case of Little Caesars, you’re doing many things right.

The company isn’t even thinking of resting on its laurels however. Instead, it’s actively working toward even more growth, by targeting communities across the country through an aggressive franchisee growth strategy. These communities are poised for growth, and provide excellent opportunities for franchise developers who want to be associated with a leading national brand and a simple business model.

“As we implement our strategic plan focused on bringing in experienced

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Canadian Franchise Magazine

lue:

as

restaurant operators to add new franchise units into previously untapped markets, we anticipate that consumers and franchise developers alike will be eager to connect with Little Caesars Pizza’s globally recognized brand name.” said Roger Aubé, director of operations and development.

In addition to in-line shopping center and strip mall locations, the expansion plan also includes opportunities for franchise locations to open in non-traditional franchise venues – unique settings like convenience stores, college campuses and travel plazas, just to name a few.

The beauty of this model is that Little Caesars Pizza will work closely with its franchisees to develop locations with customized architectural and build-out plans. That design flexibility makes it an attractive fit for all kinds of venues.

A Brand You Can Believe In Year after year, for more than a decade, Little Caesars Pizza has experienced

“The beauty of this model is that Little Caesars Pizza will work closely with its franchisees to develop locations with customized architectural and build-out plans.” significant growth. The company is planning for the continuation of this trend with this franchise expansion program, and an unwavering focus on providing high quality products with great value for a low price.

The brand appeals to consumers on several levels. “Little Caesars Pizza takes pride in its ability to connect with consumers on what matters most to them,” added Aubé “Whether it’s our HOT-N-READY pizza or famed Crazy Bread, our loyal and growing fan base is looking for great value, and we consistently deliver on our promise to do just that.”

The brand equity built throughout the past five decades, along with the proven Little Caesars Pizza business model and ongoing franchisee support, are driving the company’s growth. Couple that with the brand’s high quality,

affordable products that are ready when customers are, and you’ve got a recipe for remarkable consumer convenience and value.

Building on Franchisee Success Little Caesars provides qualified franchisees with the tools they need to follow the brand’s proven system, including ongoing training, architectural services to help with design and construction, preferred lenders to assist with financing, sustained research and development of new products, and continuing, effective marketing promotions.

For more information about Little Caesars and available franchise opportunities visit: www.LittleCaesars.ca or call 1-888-822-7981

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ex per t advice

Joseph Pisani | Director of National Franchising Services | BMO Bank of Montreal

The Banking Relationshi

Having been involved in business banking for over 15 years, I have had many opportunities to speak with existing and aspiring business owners on the subject of banking; more importantly, the longterm value of establishing a banking relationship.

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While most acknowledge that they do deal with a bank or several financial institutions, it is interesting to note that a significant percentage of these owners do not know who their banker is or whom they would approach should there be a need for financial advice.

Most owners initiate a bank relationship (note my reference to bank and not banker) for one of two reasons, a place to put money or a place to get money.

Typically the “relationship scenario” is quite simple: business borrows money– business succeeds–business pays back the loan. That’s it until another financing need arises. It is unfortunate that during this interim period, business owners

often miss a significant opportunity to establish the cornerstone for an ongoing working rapport with their banker. They overlook the fact that this initial transaction can and should be the catalyst to building a mutually rewarding relationship, extending well beyond simply being a name or number to each other. If this describes your situation, it is never too late to change. Choosing and developing a banking relationship can be accomplished with several simple steps.

Firstly, find out which financial institutions have demonstrated a long term understanding and commitment to your industry. This can include an appreciation of the cycles that occur in

Canadian Franchise Magazine

g ip

“Most bankers will openly acknowledge that one of the reasons they find their job fulfilling is that they get the opportunity to help business owners succeed.”

1. Does this banker want my business?

2. Do I really want to do business with this banker and; 3. Will I be able to rely on this banker for help and advice, going forward?

Finally, once you have successfully obtained the necessary financing and/ or established your banking requirements, the relationship should not end there. It is important to maintain ongoing regular contact with your banker so he/she gets to understand your business. Some suggestions in this regards are: • Give your banker regular updates as to your business plan and financial budgets especially before major events happen such as renovations, acquisition or succession plans.

• Report any bad news before your banker hears from others. The sooner a banker knows about an issue, the better position they will be in to offer assistance.

• Have your banker out to your premises.

your industry and recognize that it has significant market value.

Secondly, talk to your lawyer or accountant as to whom they would recommend. Also speak with your colleagues about their banking relationships, if they are satisfied and if so, obtain a referral to their banker.

Thirdly, whether seeking financing or daily banking requirements, make sure you are in a position to present a profile of your business, its needs and future plans. During the first few meetings with a banker, use the opportunity to determine if three key facts do or will prevail:

• Use your banker as an introduction to other sources of assistance. In all likelihood your banker has many professional contacts that could assist you in developing and growing your business.

• Inevitably your banker will change from time to time. To help ensure consistency in your banking relationship, keeping your banker regularly informed of your business activities helps as their successor will have a complete and ongoing record to refer to when new to their position.

Additionally, consider meeting your banker’s manager who may have a longer tenure in their position and hence can assist in times of transition to a new banker.

• Keep your own personal finances in order. You do not have to use the same

Joseph Pisani

bank, but it sometimes helps to cement a stronger relationship.

• Look to the bank to provide your business with other services that can help you manage your business and personal affairs more effectively, including cash management, investments and estate planning.

Most bankers will openly acknowledge that one of the reasons they find their job fulfilling is that they get the opportunity to help business owners succeed. As a business owner, you have the opportunity to further leverage this resource - the banker that is already committed to your well being - by periodically making them aware of what’s happening within your business. In turn, if your banker responds with ideas, suggestions and/ or service offerings that addresses your business needs (both present and future), that’s when you will know that you have developed a solid banking relationship and you can count on your banker as an integral part of your business operation.

Joseph Pisani is Director of National Franchising Services for BMO Bank of Montreal.

He can be reached at (416) 927-6025 or via e-mail at joseph.pisani@bmo.com.

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focus

I nte r fa c e F i n a n c i a l G ro u p

‘Togetherness’ There are many dictionary definitions of ‘togetherness’, none of which seem to relate to a franchise environment. Not surprising perhaps as we have only recently created a franchise that fully embraces all aspects of togetherness.

Franchising has a long and very credible history. Fast Food still dominates the industry in terms of units and operational size. Real Estate and Fitness are also in the top category when it comes to size and maturity.

The little known fact is that there are well over 4,000 fully functioning franchise brand opportunities in North America, and they range over a veritable plethora of industries, both manufacturing and service; both retail and wholesale; both home based and store front, and so on.

For an individual looking for a franchise opportunity, the scope is almost endless - and if you set out to explore them all, you would never get around to actually owning one.

In a typical franchise environment, a franchise is awarded to the applicant, and then follows a training program to get the new franchisee in a mode ready

to open their business. Training will also take many different forms and differing time periods. However, once training is complete the franchisee is off to their territory to get things moving. Most franchisors will have a mechanism to stay in touch, and offer help and advice along the way. They may also be a supplier of goods or materials to their franchisee and, as such, will be even more motivated to keep the franchise focused and busy.

The franchisee, however, is basically left to their own devices, within the confines of the franchise agreement, to run their own business. The franchisor is not involved on a day-to-day basis. The franchisor may in fact be a competitor, with corporate units in the marketplace competing with their franchisees.

Where is the togetherness in this relationship? It’s not easy to see - and

“Working together with this approach enables franchisees to enjoy a large element of comfort knowing that always the franchisor is working alongside them with a financial involvement in each transaction.”

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hence the introduction of a franchise that is geared exclusively towards togetherness.

The Interface Financial Group has been in business for 44 years, and franchising their concept for over 20 of those years.

Recently they took their established and proven franchise through a process to add value for the franchisees, and create a much stronger franchisee-franchisor bond. The result was their re-branded franchise - IFG 50/50.

From a startup point of view there are some elements that you find in any franchise start-up program i.e. training which, in the case of IFG, is split between their corporate offices and training center, and the franchisee’s location.

There is an official Operations manual as with virtually every franchise - and the usual branding guidelines, and a mature coaching and mentoring program.

Where things start to take on a different look, is when it comes to the day-to-day operations of the franchise. The IFG 50/50 franchise falls into the financial service category, and IFG provides a cash flow acceleration service for their business clients. They achieve this through a simple invoice purchase mechanism that turn an invoice due in say 30 days’ time, into instant cash.

There are two main components to each transaction that IFG undertakes: There is due diligence and funding, where IFG employs the ‘togetherness’ approach for both. Due diligence is the getting started process with a client - we need to know exactly who we are going to work with, and this involves a personal site visit to the prospective client as well as exhaustive ‘checking’ of the company background etc. Interface takes the

Canadian Franchise Magazine

“Togetherness really works in the IFG work-smart environment.” approach that as a franchisor they are best equipped to handle the paperwork - 44 years of experience - while the franchisee is the best person to handle the site visit and the ‘people’ part of the program. With each doing a portion of the due diligence, it gets completed very quickly and very efficiently.

Once done, the transaction can move on to the funding stage - in other words, how we actually buy the invoice from the client. Once again this is done as a joint

approach - franchisee and franchisor each contributing a set portion. By working in tandem, the risk and capital requirement are shared and no one is taking the full exposure in any transaction. With IFG 50/50, the franchisor goes on to be responsible for ‘papering’ the transaction and managing it through to maturity - no paperwork for the franchisee.

Working together with this approach enables franchisees to enjoy a large element of comfort knowing that always

the franchisor is working alongside them with a financial involvement in each transaction. Likewise, for the franchisor there is comfort in knowing that their franchise has a personal and ongoing relationship with the IFG client.

IFG 50/50 franchisees can now enjoy the ‘togetherness’ aspect inasmuch as transactions are funded in days rather than weeks - the paperwork burden has disappeared and their returns on working capital employed are well above-average.

Togetherness really works in the IFG work-smart environment. www.interfacefinancial.com

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ex per t advice

Jim Fitzgerald | Founder & CEO | Taradel LLC

For Franchisors,

Integrated Marketing is the New Standard

Not that long ago, franchises had it easy when it came to marketing.

As long as it had a decent budget, a franchise could introduce its brand or build its identity through a coordinated plan of newspaper, TV and radio ads, taking advantage of the fact that consumers had limited ways to consume media. And limited ways to ignore or avoid an ad.

Alas, consumers have logged on, effectively shunning newspapers. They’ve tuned in to YouTube or Netflix, limiting the effectiveness of commercials. And they’d rather click than call, removing that personal touch in the selling process.

It’s a far cry from a time when the newspaper ruled the day, and it took real, actual effort to change the channel on your TV. These days, studies have shown that it takes marketers seven to 12 impressions of a single message to impact a consumer’s buying habits or purchasing decisions. Even though businesses and consumers are connected around the clock, it takes a lot of effort to craft the perfect message for Facebook, LinkedIn,

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Pandora and wherever else your customers spend their time.

We’ve all been calling it “integrated marketing” for a couple of decades, and the term has experienced several rounds of being buzzworthy. I’d argue that we just call it marketing.

Whatever you call it, it’s the new standard.

Think about your online searches or purchases. Remember when you started researching a used car and ads from Cars.com or another site began appearing when you went to your favorite websites.

Or when you stocked up on dress shirts from Joseph A. Bank and started getting near-daily offers for other items.

But it’s not just the Starbucks and McDonald’s of the world that can play ball. When done strategically, consistent and relevant marketing can level the playing field for franchises and small business owners.

Take for instance Mosquito Squad, one of the 15 fastest-growing franchises in America according to Inc. magazine. We had the privilege of working with the upand-coming brand as it encountered some common marketing pitfalls.

Like many franchises, Mosquito Squad was searching for affordable, convenient

and efficient ROI-driven marketing solutions for its franchises. In particular, it sought a solution through Every Door Direct Mail® (the U.S. equivalent to Snap Admail in Canada), an affordable and targeted direct mail product, to serve as a core component of its integrated marketing strategy.

Franchisors and franchisees don’t always see eye to eye when it comes to marketing the franchise. Sometimes, it’s a lack of leadership, communication or vision from the franchise. Other times, the franchisees either think they

Canadian Franchise Magazine

“When done strategically, consistent and relevant marketing can level the playing field for franchises and small business owners.”

Jim Fitzgerald

timed e-mails to hit your customers’ inboxes shortly after they receive your offer in the mail. That same look and feel can resonate on your social media channels, banner ads or even, dare I say, TV or newspaper ads. Across the channels, the call to action should remain the same, as should the offer, redemption and end result.

Haphazard or inconsistent attempts to move the needle will result in just that: inconsistent results. The same can be said for putting all of your eggs into one marketing basket. Your customers are all over the place – one size no longer fits all.

can market to their market better on their own or don’t understand the harm inconsistencies in the look and feel of marketing materials can have on their business.

Mosquito Squad wanted to streamline the process, making it simple so its franchises didn’t need to worry about design, printing, mail prep, postage or delivery. And it was able to approve all creative, branding and offers during the process, a win-win for both corporate and the franchisees.

Arming your franchisees with consistent

messaging, in this case a direct mail piece, is just one piece of the puzzle.

Remember, it takes seven to 12 impressions of a single message to impact a customer. For lack of a better term, it’s time to integrate.

Many franchises and business owners treat direct mail and email marketing as separate. In reality, the two should work hand in hand and be integrated into other marketing strategies.

All the effort that goes into the direct mail look can be replicated for well-

Marketing your franchise or small business these days need not break the bank. But it does take time, effort and patience. And above all, it takes coordination to put all the pieces together to create something special.

Without it, you’re living in the past.

Jim Fitzgerald is the founder and CEO of Taradel LLC, an advertising and marketing services firm that offers solutions like Every Door Direct Mail, integrated marketing, digital marketing and more for small businesses, franchisors and national corporations. Jim has more than two decades of marketing experience and has helped dozens of businesses grow.

To learn more about Taradel LLC, visit www.Taradel.com.

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f ra nchisor in depth

S ke d a d dl e H u m a n e W il dli fe C o nt ro l

Home Based Business Helps Homeowners

Oust Unwanted Roommates One Hamilton-based business has found success serving eviction notices to unwanted roommates of the fourlegged and furry variety.

Page 18

Started in 1989, Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control humanely removes raccoons, squirrels, skunks, birds, bats, mice and other wildlife from residential and commercial properties while keeping the animals’ family units together. The company also animal-proofs buildings so the creatures cannot return and gives their clients a life-time guarantee that

the animals will not return. Skedaddle also offers wildlife decontamination and cleanup services.

Founder and CEO Bill Dowd started franchising Skedaddle about three years ago and now has 23 units spread throughout Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia.

Dowd said he is looking for people who

Canadian Franchise Magazine

“Your service vehicle is your office because we’re going to people’s homes. All of the products and material and everything needed to do the job properly is in that service vehicle.”

– Bill Dowd

Plenty of Critters want to be their own boss and who would like to start a home-based business.

“Your service vehicle is your office because we’re going to people’s homes,” he noted. “All of the products and material and everything needed to do the job properly is in that service vehicle.”

Dowd himself started the business from his childhood bedroom in his parents’ house and from there has grown the company to having over 50 service vehicles on the road.

One of the advantages of starting a Skedaddle franchise, Dowd explained, is the low startup costs. Franchisees do not require a commercial office space and the tools and materials used for the job are all quite common and low cost.

Skedaddle can also help franchisees with vehicle financing to make it even easier to get started.

Dowd is looking to expand nation-wide and welcomes potential franchisees from any part of Canada.

With wildlife having adapted easily to the city life, all those critters living among us means a steady supply of work for Skedaddle franchisees.

“There’s wildlife in every city across North America,” Dowd said. “Every year our call volumes and sales continue to grow. Typically, in a square kilometer, there can be anywhere from 25 to 50 raccoons, 25 to 50 skunks and hundreds of squirrels. These animals are sharing and thriving in our cities with us and they live in our attics, they live in our chimneys and a lot of the time, we’re providing their food sources because they’ll get into our garbage and eat it.

The demand is always going to be there.”

As an example, Dowd points to his newest franchisee in Sudbury, ON. In less than six months in business, that franchisee already has enough sales to

surpass his annual business expenses and he has already expanded his franchise from a 1 man operation to a 2 man operation.

With the economic impact of wildlife damage to buildings being estimated in the billions of dollars per year, the CEO has no doubt many more franchisees will find themselves in the same boat as his Sudbury operation.

Training Skedaddle has a custom training center at its headquarters in Hamilton. The training center is an actual house so the company can teach new franchisees where animals would be located in an attic space and how to find them, plus how to walk and work properly in an attic and how to secure and screen vents on the roof and other common entry points.

Each franchisee goes to Hamilton for a week of initial field training. They also receive training and continuous support for marketing, accounting, admin work

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f ra nchisor in depth

S ke d a d dl e H u m a n e W il dli fe C o nt ro l

See videos and learn more about what we do on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/SkedaddleWildlife

“There’s wildlife in every city across North America. Every year our call volumes and sales continue to grow. Typically, in a square kilometer, there can be anywhere from 25 to 50 raccoons, 25 to 50 skunks and hundreds of squirrels…The demand is always going to be there.” – Bill Dowd. and sales. Everything about running a Skedaddle business is covered.

Sometimes, Dowd and his support managers even help franchisees in the field when they’re nowhere near them.

“In one case, one of our franchisees was having a difficult time solving a homeowner’s problem,” Dowd recalled.

“The raccoon kept getting back in and the technician couldn’t figure out how it kept getting back in. He had secured everything, he thought. We used technology that allowed us to actually see him walking around the house and showing us what he was seeing in our boardroom. Myself and my support managers were all gathered around the board table and watching. And, having 27 years of experience, we could tell right away that there was a piece of flashing that when the raccoon went in, it would close. To someone with less experience, it looked like it was fine, but upon close

Page 20

inspection, every time the raccoon pushed it, it would open up, it would get into the attic and then the flashing would fall back in place.”

Flexibility & Profits Aside from low startup costs, Dowd said, Skedaddle offers flexible work weeks. A franchisee can base their business hours around regular daytime business hours, or work in the evenings if they prefer or even work on the weekends if they want.

And some of the removal and exclusion work the company provides can have hefty profit margins. For example, the founder said, when doing a mouse or bat exclusion, it can be in the thousands of dollars because they can get into an opening the size of a dime, which means having to seal up every possible entry point that is any larger than that.

basic tools, 16 gauge wire screening and Skedaddle’s own branded exclusion sealant being the main inventory required.

Running a Skedaddle also requires minimal inventory, with just some

www.skedaddlefranchise.com 1-877-662-2877

For anyone looking to get into a homebased business with low startup costs and high flexibility and profits, Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control is the place to call.

Canadian Franchise Magazine

canadian franchise magazine is part of the global network of CGB Publishing

With 30 years experience in providing high quality business information, with a particularly strong focus on franchising, our global presence allows opportunity for international franchise marketing solutions.

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ex per t advice

Jess Hunichen & Emily Ward | Shine PR

Brand

Rehabilitation:

Steps You Can Take to Help Correct Your Brand Reputation After a Setback A franchisee gone rogue? Unforeseen issues with a supplier?

Past owner’s bad business decisions coming back to haunt you?

We would all like to focus on the positive and put the business hurdles business behind us, but the truth of the matter is that even the best laid strategic plans have the potential to cause damage. And that potential grows with the volume of people who are part of your franchise brand.

The good news is that most damaging situations don’t have to be deemed a failure, especially under the right leadership. Forward thinking and a solid team even have the ability to continue your growth through these wrinkles while you take action.

Take action Nothing gets solved by sweeping problems under a rug. Gather your team and collectively decide on your positioning. This includes consulting with your lawyer. Default to transparency, as in the day of social media, nothing can successfully be hidden. It’s easier to admit fault and take what responsibility you can in the upfront and then separate yourself from the actions that were truly

Page 22

out of your control. What can you do to immediately respond to those effected?

If the actual problem doesn’t have an immediate solve, what actions can be done to help provide comfort or support.

As a company, your integrity with your employees and customers is what needs to be preserved for long-term success.

See this as an opportunity to build loyalty and demonstrate strengths.

to protect their brands and uphold the integrity of their franchise systems.”

Where franchisors fail to take all necessary steps to protect their brands, the direct result is that market share is lost, sales at franchisees’ locations decline and the value of the franchisees’ investments are reduced.

According to franchise lawyer Jordan Druxerman of Garfinkle Biderman, “Franchisors are more conscious than ever that upholding the integrity of their brand is not only a priority, but a legal obligation. Recent court rulings, including the Quebec Court of Appeal Dunkin’ Donuts decision, have sought to place an obligation on franchisors

Consistent language and an escalation system for response are essential.

Everyone involved should be informed and given the right language tools to respond to the situation if asked. This is not to say that a junior level associate should comment on a senior level problem, but they should be made aware of the plan that is in place as well as

Establish key messages

Canadian Franchise Magazine

know how to answer and collect concerns so that rumors are squashed.

Your team also extends to your external support partners. Your commercial real estate and franchise broker will also be front line when dealing with a damaging act. They will need to be armed with the same points on how the brand is taking responsibility for the issue and how there is an action plan in place to course correct for the future. Showing a potential franchisee how quickly a brand can act in times of crisis can ultimately be a selling feature to show the strength of the system.

“In times of great crisis, it is cool heads that prevail. There is opportunity in crisis so long as everyone is consistent with messaging. Landlords, prospective franchisees, banks and even existing franchisee owners need to hear the same message from all of the franchisors brand ambassadors. Issues like these can determine weather a landlord will proceed with a lease, weather a franchisee will make an investment, is a bank comfortable in financing the opportunity,” says Canadian SVP for SRS, Shawn Saraga. “Too many companies focus on the threat they can see and don’t see the holistic impact a bad situation can have on the overall company for years with stakeholders they may not even recognizing as having as dramatic an impact on their business.

Stick handling these situations can be very tricky, honesty and transparency from the company with public statements and official internet postings can make all the difference in helping in-direct stakeholders buy into your messaging.”

Without a solid strategy and team to implement it, the effects of a crisis can have repercussions for years to come.

Communicate to your team in person Emails may seem like the fastest way to deal with a crisis, but it is not ultimately the most effective. Tone and sentiment are paramount, which can only truly come across with face-to-face dialogue. Champion your leaders to have conversations with their team members and to answer any immediate questions.

Follow up with an email to provide back up of pertinent points.

Photo from the Dino & Kidz DINO DIG at the ROM

Focus on what you are good at Wherever possible, keep consistency in service and go back to the basics showcasing why customers came through your doors in the first place. When the pre-school franchise Dino & Kidz’ founder incurred the fall-out of poor decisions, he took action and used it as an opportunity to celebrate what makes them unique. Shadi Almashi coordinated with the Royal Ontario Museum to host a fundraiser for Kerry’s Place Autism Services and invited all of the families and supporters of his schools to join for a fun family day. “We had experienced bad press,” said Shadi Almashi, President of Dino & Kidz preschool. “Instead of letting the few negative pieces of press define us, we forged on creating an amazing educational event that represented our preschool’s philosophy of raising children who are integral members of their community.” The results included several positive press pieces along with increased moral of the school’s employees and families, providing them with more current actions to speak about that properly convey the brand.”

“If you have great media endorsing your solution, it is now the franchises obligation to ensure the right people are seeing it. The more it is repeated and shown in marketing packages, social media shares, and brought with you to meetings to hand to people who are questioning whatever crisis it is you are going through the better,” remarks Saraga. “Having that solution backed up in print by a third party can provide the

type of endorsement necessary to help a problem go from a deal breaker to a deal maker. Prospective franchisees and landlords want to see solutions to crisis and that you can handle the opportunity, the better it is handled the more positive it reflects on the ownership of the chain.

People want to do business who can get through a crisis, take your next negative opportunity and turn it into a positive one.”

Be human and close the loop Trust has to be restored, and that doesn’t happen by lying or skirting the truth.

Consumers respect authenticity and feel further connected to a brand when the brand is being real with them. Nobody is infallible, and no company is exempt from ever making an error. Use your communication channels to deliver updates on the milestones of the situation until it has been rectified. Where on one side, you may be extending awareness of the conversation, demonstrating your ability to fix a problem and coursecorrect will be the lasting message that will rebuild your brand.

Shine PR is a public relations and branding agency that creates bespoke networks for their clients through media relations, influencer relations, social media and event. Shine has worked with franchise clients helping them to both strengthen and rebuild their brand through a crisis and augment the efforts of their franchise sales teams. www.shinepr.ca

Page 23

ex per t advice

Edward (Ned) Levitt | Partner | Dickinson Wright LLP

Buying a Franchise from a U.S. Franchisor

In the world of franchising, Canada occupies a unique position.

Geographically, we share a common border with the U.S. franchise behemoth, as does Mexico, but Canadians are more like Americans than any other people on the planet.

This means that American franchise successes are more likely to be repeated in Canada than anywhere else. With that promise of success, for decades many

Page 24

Canadians have sought out and invested in U.S. franchises; some have achieved incredible results (witness the success of McDonalds’s Canada) and some have failed miserably (anyone had a Red Barn burger recently?).

There are so many reasons why one such franchise investment succeeds and another fails that it would take at least a book, if not several, to do justice to the question. However, what follows is a brief look at some of the most common and arguably obvious factors that spell the difference between success and failure.

Will the Concept Work in Canada?

While we Canadians look, dress and talk (sort of!) like Americans, there are some real differences in our cultures and buying habits. The problem is, however, these differences are not obvious. Which means Canadian franchise investors and, for that matter, U.S. franchisors, often make assumptions about the Canadian market that are not true or not true enough. So, a very important question to get an answer to is; will the concept work in Canada?

Changes to the Concept Even if the basic concept is workable in the Canadian market, will the concept need some adaptions to make it more acceptable and/or profitable in Canada?

It would be useful for the prospective Canadian investor to learn what Canadian market studies the franchisor has done and what changes to the concept are contemplated for the Canadian market.

Can the U.S. Franchisor Support the System in Canada?

In most cases, one of the principal reasons for buying a franchise of a U.S. concept, is to acquire the know-how in that business by capitalizing on the franchisor’s experience and knowledge gained over many years and with much investment. Sounds good! But if the U.S. franchisor does not have a sufficient infrastructure to provide the critical and needed support to the Canadian

“While we Canadians look, dress and talk (sort of!) like Americans, there are some real differences in our cultures and buying habits.

The problem is, however, these differences are not obvious.” investor, all of that great knowledge will be of little value. This should lead to an examination of the franchisor’s capabilities to support a Canadian franchisee, at least in the early years.

Is There Enough Capital?

A Canadian expansion of a U.S. franchise system, is, in many ways, a startup.

Of course, with the know-how of the franchisor, it is much further along than a brand new business concept, but the need for working capital will be significant while the business is being established in Canada. The Canadian investor will want to know that the U.S. franchisor has sufficient capital for the extra startup costs in Canada.

Advertising Fund Will the advertising contributions, if required, be to a U.S. advertising fund or one dedicated to the Canadian Market?

Needless to say, in the early years of a Canadian expansion there may not be a lot of advertising dollars to go around, but it is usually better for a Canadian franchisee to pool their resources with other Canadian franchisees and spend those resources within the Canadian market.

Supply Chain If there are critical products for the success of the Canadian franchisee, will they be supplied by the franchisor, from other suppliers in the U.S. or sourced locally in Canada? This can be a critical area affecting the Canadian franchisee’s ability to meet any Canadian demand and the franchisee’s bottom line.

Currency Where there are fees payable to the U.S. franchisor or purchases to made from the U.S. franchisor or other U.S. suppliers and the currency for payment is U.S. dollars, consideration should be

Edward (Ned) Levitt

given to future currency fluctuations. An otherwise good deal may transform into a bad one, if exchange rates move too much in the wrong direction.

There is lots more to consider, but this is a good start.

Edward (Ned) Levitt is a Certified Franchise Executive, a partner at Dickinson Wright LLP, Toronto, Canada, and provides legal services to Canadian and international clients on all aspects of Canadian franchise law. He was General Counsel to the Canadian Franchise Association (2000-2007) and is a member of the American Bar Association Forum on Franchising, the International Bar Association and the International Franchise Association. As a member of the Ontario Franchise Sector Working Team, Ned was instrumental in the creation of Ontario’s franchise legislation. Among his many publications is the leading text, Canadian Franchise Legislation (2001, LexisNexis/Butterworths).

Ned can be reached at 416.646.3842 or nlevitt@dickinsonwright.com.

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H ome Serv ice & M obile Fra nchises feat u re

R o b S w y st u n, Fra n c h is i n g USA

Busy Opp

for Home

With people’s lives becoming increasingly busy, home services and mobile franchises are in a unique position to promise something few other businesses can: the impossible.

In this case, the impossible they can give to customers is more time.

People who value their free time (and who can afford it) will gladly pay

“Putting it as simply as possible, a home service is virtually anything that you would see on a list of chores that need to be done around the house.�

Page 26

y Lives Create Opportunity

ome Service and Mobile Franchises someone else to take care of mundane chores so they can spend their time doing something else. With the last big recession firmly in the rearview mirror, people have loosened up with spending their disposable income and are more open to the idea of outsourcing some of their household duties to people who are willing to make a buck doing them.

What is a home service or mobile franchise?

Putting it as simply as possible, a home service is virtually anything that you would see on a list of chores that need to be done around the house. If you can find it on someone’s to-do list, then it’s probably a safe bet that you can pay someone else to do it instead.

Examples include: • house cleaning, • carpet cleaning, • pool cleaning • home repair, • pet grooming,

• junk removal, • home security, • pet waste removal, • home care for the elderly, • computer support, • home inspection, • home delivered pet food, • home moving, • landscape maintenance, • snow-removal, • pest control, • party planning, and • interior decorating service.

Basically, anything that people would be willing to pay to have done, they will pay to have done if they deem it to be worth spending a reasonable amount of money on.

Because home services franchises are associated with houses, they can be affected by the real estate market.

When the market is doing well, there is a need for these types of services, but

when the real estate market slows down, business for these types of franchises can see a drop. More homeowners, means more opportunities for home services franchisees.

Mobile franchises, of course, are ones that provide a service and are completely portable. They often overlap with home services.

Variety Among the best reasons to explore the home services and mobile franchise industry is the sheer amount of variety you can find. The types of businesses you can open range from the common like home painting to extremely niche services like barbecue cleaning or lice eradication.

You must first choose the home service that fits in with the kind of lifestyle and earning potential you want. Concentrate on picking one that you are passionate about so it motivates you to put in maximum effort, but also keep in mind that if you fill a niche that hasn’t been filled in your community, you’ll have a

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H ome Serv ice & M obile Fra nchises feat u re

Canadian Franchise Magazine

H ome Serv ice & M obile Fra nchises feat u re

R o b S w y st u n, Fra n c h is i n g USA

“If you can find it on someone’s to-do list, then it’s probably a safe bet that you can pay someone else to do it instead.” better chance of success. Many of the available home service franchises in Canada are seasonal in nature, so also keep that in mind.

Differentiate Even if you choose a type of business that already exists in your community, if it’s different enough to other businesses of its type, it will still have a good chance to succeed.

Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control of Hamilton, for example, doesn’t trap or kill the animals that it removes from people’s homes. It simply takes them out of the home and then animal-proofs the house and gives clients a lifetime guarantee for the work done.

“We provide hands-on removal, so we don’t use traps,” owner Bill Dowd

Page 28

explained to Canadian Franchising.

“We go right into the animal’s living space, whether it’s in an attic, a chimney, underneath a deck or a porch and humanely removing the animals, keeping family units together.”

Dowd started the business in 1989 when he realized nobody was doing wildlife control in Hamilton, therefore filling an existing gap in the local economy.

Another franchise that puts a lot of effort into differentiating itself is the Vancouver-based Men In Kilts window washing and exterior cleaning service that has its employees wear kilts while on the job.

Although the differentiator in this case is a gimmick, it’s the stellar customer service that has helped the company become Canada’s largest window

cleaning franchise. It’s now working on expanding further into the United States with an eye on being in the 50 largest North American markets by 2017.

“Men In Kilts is unique not only because we wear kilts, but also because we offer professional quality service across the board,” CEO Chris Carrier said in a news release. “With our company you get the quality of a name brand with the value and friendliness of a small business.”

WOW 1 Day Painting, also based out of Vancouver, puts a twist on the traditional residential painting franchise and it’s right there in the name. Whereas other painting companies will send a small team and paint a space over several days, WOW sends a large team to paint over just a single day.

WOW is owned and operated by O2E Brands, which is run by Brian Scudamore, the visionary entrepreneur behind the wildly successful and ubiquitous 1-800-Got-Junk?, meaning WOW has a well-established and robust support network behind it. Strong support is imperative for franchisee success.

Support When deciding on a franchise to buy,

the support offered is one of the most important items to consider. Solid support is an indication that the entire franchise system in place is healthy and that the franchise has everyone’s best interests in mind.

The International Franchise Association recommends delving deep into all aspects of the franchise system when researching it, paying particularly close attention to the support a franchise offers franchise systems must demonstrate a dedication to: • superior franchisee relations, • leadership, • business planning, • marketing, • training and support, • ongoing operations and • communications.

You can count on this year’s winners in the Non-Traditional Franchise category (which covers mobile and home-based businesses) to be franchises worth looking into if you want a solid business opportunity.

In the Non-Traditional Franchises New/ Emerging category (for franchises between three to 10 years old), the winners are: • Gold - Little Kickers, a mobile soccer training franchises that teaches the sport to children.

• Silver - Metropolitan Movers, a moving company.

• Bronze - Alair Homes - A home renovation company.

its franchisees. The association has a checklist of over 50 questions available on its website that a potential franchisee should ask a franchisor while performing research.

Award Winning Support Offering stellar support is one of the criteria for the Canadian Franchise Association’s (CFA) 2016 Awards of Excellence in Franchising. Winning Prize Winner for the 2016 Awards of Excellence in Franchising, the third consecutive year the franchise has won the top prize.

“A solid relationship between franchisor and franchisee is vital to the system’s success and Little Kickers’ consistently strong results demonstrate they offer outstanding support to their franchisees,” CFA President and Chief Executive Officer Lorraine McLachlan said in a news release.

In the Non-Traditional Franchises Mature/Established category (for franchises 11 years and older), the winners are:

• Gold - Par-T-Perfect Party Planners Inc., a mobile children’s party planning franchise.

• Silver - Two Men and a Truck, a moving company.

• Bronze - Lice squad.com, a mobile lice eradication business that makes house calls.

A home services or mobile franchise can be an excellent opportunity for the right entrepreneur. Covering so many different niches, these types of franchises have something for everyone, no matter what they’re passionate about and not matter what their schedule is like.

“You must first choose the home service that fits in with the kind of lifestyle and earning potential you want. Concentrate on picking one that you are passionate about so it motivates you.”

Little Kickers is also the overall Grand

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H ome Serv ice & M obile Fra nchises feat u re

Canadian Franchise Magazine

f ra nchisee in action

E x p e di a C r u is eS h ip C e nte r s

e s i u to success r C

with e x pedia C ruise S hip C enters

In the past year have you noticed yourself dreaming more often of your next cruise vacation, or caught yourself in more discussions with others about exploring the world from the comfort of an exciting new cruise ship?

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If you have, you may live in St. Johns, NF; Oakville, ON; Laval, QC; Fredericton, NB or one of several other Canadian cities where a new Expedia® CruiseShipCenters® franchise opened in the past year. I was fortunate enough to find my local Expedia CruiseShipCenters franchise owner in Langley, BC retiring, and purchased that location which is just an 8 minute drive from home! In 2015, Expedia CruiseShipCenters saw 33 percent year-over-year distribution channel growth when it awarded a record 40 franchises across North America. Our company’s relentless focus on providing a proven system that delivers amazing potential for growth and profitability is the most common

reason new franchise owners state when asked why they invested in an Expedia CruiseShipCenters business. It is certainly the reason I chose to leave my decade-long position on Expedia CruiseShipCenters’ talented corporate support team to become a franchisee myself this past May. The demand for cruise vacations has exploded with Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) reporting that over 23 million people took a cruise last year alone. That’s a 68% increase from 10 years prior! All of that growth, however, has led to a multitude of new styles and sizes of ships, a plethora of itineraries and destinations, and a vast array of

Canadian Franchise Magazine

“There is no doubt in my mind that Expedia CruiseShipCenters is a franchisor that is keenly interested in creating success for its franchisees.”

unique onboard experiences offered by each cruise line. The result? Today’s cruisers are overwhelmed with options which has led to increased consumer demand for expert professional travel services, which is really the heart of the Expedia CruiseShipCenters system.

My friend and fellow new franchisee Lorena Caggiano who owns the Expedia CruiseShipCenters in Laval, QC were discussing a common phenomenon where people begin to do some initial research online themselves and get excited about their vacation, but soon find that there are so many options it becomes hard to make a decision. Every day past customers come into my location in Langley, and I see how much they have relied on the expertise of our Cruise & Vacation Consultants. My team are so focused on building those relationships with their customers, that they quite often become friends with them. We know their names, their family members’ names, even the names of their pets! That’s the reason that 75% of all cruises are still booked through a travel agent according to CLIA. At Expedia CruiseShipCenters, we’ve made booking customized cruise vacations around the world simple, fun and exciting through the well-trained

and passionate Cruise & Vacation Consultants on our teams plus incredibly effective and powerful technology. I believe every cruiser wants to deal with a knowledgeable person when making this important buying decision. As consumers we all want to feel confident whether we’re booking our first cruise vacation or that next world cruise segment. It takes dedication and continuous practice for our Cruise & Vacation Consultants to fine tune their customer service skills, but Expedia CruiseShipCenters’ proprietary Navigators Approach sales training program provides an excellent foundation for them.

After working in Expedia CruiseShipCenters’ corporate support office in Vancouver, BC, most recently as the Director of Franchise Performance, I took the plunge back into entrepreneurship when I bought my own franchise. For me, purchasing an existing location made a lot of sense.

Not only was the storefront, close to my home, it also offered immediate cash flow with an established book of business and loyal customers. A team of Cruise and Vacation Consultants was already in place for me to coach and mentor too – all I have to do now is continue to scale and grow the successful business that was already in place.

Through my experience working with existing franchisees across North America, it became clear to me that Expedia CruiseShipCenters’ focus and commitment to serving franchisees, combined with the significantly growing cruise industry, made for a sound and fulfilling business investment. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of mentoring other franchisees like myself and we’ve had many discussions about what factors have affected each franchise’s growth and the company’s achievements in Canada since we started in Vancouver 29 years ago. The following are the most common reasons we attribute to our success.

Cruise Industry Advancement: The cruise industry has a robust impact on the global economy. As a whole, CLIA reports that the economic impact of the global cruise industry is an astounding $119.9 Billion with $5.78 billion invested in new ships during 2014 alone. That number jumped to $6.5 billion in 2015, and is only expected to grow again in 2016. Over 24 million people are expected to cruise this year.

Bigger ships, new technology onboard and new destinations all over the globe are pushing the cruising industry into its most profitable years.

Franchise System Advancement: There is no doubt in my mind that Expedia CruiseShipCenters is a franchisor that is keenly interested in creating success for its franchisees. They continue to hunt down every leading edge possible, every emerging trend on the horizon, to ensure the tools and programs available to franchise owners and Vacation Consultants are best in class. This also includes leveraging our partnership with our parent company and the #1 brand in travel – Expedia Group.

Our company’s leadership team is very

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f ra nchisee in action

E x p e di a C r u is eS h ip C e nte r s

committed to leveraging the global power and technology of Expedia’s brands to benefit franchisees at the local level; to help us speak with our customers more often, more efficiently and ultimately more effectively.

Multi-Generational Cruising: More and more, multiple generations are planning vacations to spend time together as a family and cruises are an ideal choice offering something for everyone.

Many Baby Boomers are now grandmas and grandpas or even great grandmas and great grandpas who have accrued wealth and are looking to take their families on spectacular vacations. Expedia CruiseShipCenters is now implementing promotions designed specifically to target this demographic trend. It’s a great example of how my franchisor is listening and responding to franchisee feedback.

River Cruising: There is a vast population of repeat ocean cruisers and as they age, they are continuing to seek out more cultural travel experiences. A river cruise is a great choice for this demographic even though it’s a significant purchase.

This segment of cruising has become so popular in fact, that there will be 18 new river cruise ships debuting this year alone. River cruises are designed to provide the utmost comfort for guests,

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and a cultural experience that’s truly second to none.

New Cruisers: People are growing accustomed to the world being more convenient than ever, and vacations have become almost a ‘need’ versus a ‘want’.

When you combine this with Expedia CruiseShipCenters’ effective local marketing that helps us brand our communities so well even those have yet to take a cruise seek us out! As a full service travel agency, we see a lot of travelers coming in and requesting all-inclusive packages from Expedia CruiseShipCenters too. Janice Kelly, a multi-unit franchisee who opened her second franchise in Mount Pearl, NF in 2015, said that she is noticing the amount of people requesting all-inclusive beach vacations has increased as well in both her locations. With 65 new cruise ships setting sail in the next five years, there’s a good chance, one day they too will become cruisers!

Community Involvement: All companies can get involved in their local communities, it’s a matter of putting time and effort into making it happen.

Expedia CruiseShipCenters puts such an emphasis on this, whether that means becoming a member of the local chamber of commerce or connecting your Expedia CruiseShipCenters with a local charity.

Owen Hargreaves, who opened his

“The travel industry in Canada is booming and cruisers especially are looking for help and guidance in planning their vacations.” franchise in Oakville, ON in May of last year, has said that getting involved with both the local Humane Society and Lighthouse Foundation was one of the best business decisions he’s made.

Sponsoring events and donating items to raffle for a good cause not only made him and his team feel great, it also placed his business in front of thousands of new customers and helped him expand his presence in his market area.

The travel industry in Canada is booming and cruisers especially are looking for help and guidance in planning their vacations. As someone who has worked in this industry since 1995, and at Expedia CruiseShipCenters’ headquarters for the past 10 years, I can confidently say that I agree with the wellknown truism, timing is everything.

There has never been a better time to invest in an Expedia CruiseShipCenters franchise.

By Fred Mercer, Expedia CruiseShipCenters Franchise Owner www.expediafranchise.com

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ex per t advice

Jason Stone | VP of sales and Marketing | Engage | & Will Scott | CEO | Search Influence

Are You Using Your Website Effectively to Marke

6 Tips to Better Promo Brand and Grow Your B of the brand are now floating around the Internet. Moreover, these separate URLs and inconsistent information will impact your search engine rankings and ultimately direct leads away from your franchise’s “main” site.

To best promote your brand, grow your overall business and create a “winwin” situation for both you and your franchisees, you need to take a strong look at your web presence and search engine optimization (SEO) efforts. So, are you using your website effectively to market your franchise? Consider the following tips, tactics and tools.

Think of Your Site as a Directory

When you walk into a Starbucks in Hong Kong, you expect the coffee you order to taste, look and smell the same as the coffee you order at a Starbucks in St. Louis – right?

Just as your franchise must ensure consistency in the products or services you offer from location to location, you must also establish a consistent brand across the board. Otherwise, your marketing message becomes ineffective in promoting the franchise among both potential franchisees, as well as consumers.

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However, in the franchisor/franchisee relationship, it is challenging to balance centralized control with localization.

While every franchisee must comply with the franchisor’s overarching branding standards, it is equally important that each location appeals to the local demographic and retains their individuality. After all, franchisees are entrepreneurs and want to feel as though they are in charge of their own business.

This balance is especially challenging when it comes to your franchise’s website, which is one of the most vital tools for growing your enterprise.

The problem is that franchisees will sometimes launch their own website, independent (and often unbeknownst) to the franchisor. This more than likely goes against franchise rules and creates confusion, as various iterations

Ideally, your website should serve as a directory of all your individual franchisees. At the top, you have your corporate site, which showcases your branding (colors, logos), includes clear marketing messaging, and follows web design and SEO best practices. But, from there, it is crucial that visitors be able to search or “drill down” to franchisees by location. Each location should link to a page, or microsite, specific to that franchisee. However, these pages are hosted within the franchise’s corporate site. How? Read on.

Opt for a Multi-tenant, Multi-site Management Solution By using a multi-tenant or multiple-site content management solution (CMS), franchisors can create an environment that houses an unlimited number of franchisee microsites. Not only can franchisors quickly create additional sites as new locations open and easily update existing sites, but also maintain control of branding across locations. In addition,

Canadian Franchise Magazine

et Your Franchise?

ote Your Business these solutions allow franchisors to establish user levels with varying permissions. This gives different users – whether administrators in the corporate office or franchisee power users – the appropriate access to the site without sacrificing user experience or marketing message. Furthermore, when an update is made to a local site, the national franchise is notified and can review the change to make sure it meets corporate standards.

Localize Franchisee Microsites While branding consistency is important (and possible through a multi-tenant environment), you certainly do not want to silence the franchisee. To improve SEO and to appeal to the local audience, it is essential for each site to provide information relevant to that location.

For example, a convenience store may offer a unique product line, such as local produce. These items are not offered at any other location, yet it is still necessary to promote them on the website.

Jason Stone

case that the franchise or parent company is good at continuously generating content, but the franchisee’s site falls short. The same goes for social media – your franchisees should be posting frequently to all channels.

On a similar note, franchisees should integrate rich media with their sites.

This content is useful for SEO and helps customers get to know the business before they walk through the door.

Post videos of a grand opening, share employee news, or create a photo gallery of the facility or product line.

Take advantage of “Barnacle SEO”

Also, products and services should be described in the language that your customers are likely to use in their search terms. Consider different dialects and the way people talk about your products in different areas of the country, or even the globe. Although you may call a long sandwich with cold cuts a “sub,” other areas refer to it as a “hoagie,” “grinder” or “po’ boy.” Ensure that each location’s site speaks the same “language” as their respective region.

It is entirely possible that third-party websites – like Yelp – outrank your site, especially if your business is new or if you aren’t following SEO best practices.

In these instances, you want to make sure you are listed on these sites or “claim” existing listings. Think of this as “barnacle SEO” – like a barnacle, you attach yourself to a large, fixed object on the Internet and wait for the searchers to float by in the current. However, it is vital that each franchisee’s information (name, address, phone number, etc.) is 100-percent uniform wherever it is listed, be it Yelp, Google Maps, Facebook or the Yellow Pages.

Generate Prolific Content

Go Mobile

Your corporate site shouldn’t be the only page filled with high-quality content.

Franchisee pages, too, should include prolific, unique, text-based content. This is critical to effective SEO. It is often the

Is your franchise’s website “mobile ready?” If not, it’s time to invest in responsive design – a methodology that ensures your site is optimized for browsing across the device landscape.

Will Scott

When more than half of today’s web traffic is coming from mobile devices, it is imperative that your website (and franchisee sites) is easily accessible, whether users are browsing on their phone, tablet or desktop computer. Plus, Google now uses “mobile-friendliness” as a ranking signal for mobile searches.

No matter if you own 20 or 1,000 locations, your website, as well as your franchisees’ websites, should be top of mind. Make an effort to ensure that not only your corporate brand, but also your individual locations are well-represented across the Internet. If your franchisees don’t have the resources to maintain their sites, optimize SEO and deliver prolific content, lend a hand, provide some guidance or connect them with an expert.

Remember: at the end of the day, the success of the franchisee is the success of the franchisor, and vice versa.

Jason Stone is the vice president of sales and marketing for Engage, a St. Louis-based, full-service web and mobile design and development firm servicing clients in a variety of markets, including franchisors. www.engagesoftware.com Will Scott founded Search Influence in collaboration with COO Angie Scott in 2006 with the goal to create scalable solutions for SEO, SEM and social media. Today, Search Influence is nationally recognized for excellence in SMB marketing and is the largest online marketing company on the Gulf Coast. www.searchinfluence.com

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ex per t advice

Jamie Izaks | President & Co-founder | All Points Public Relations

3 Cost-Effective Ways for Multi-Unit Franchisees

to O utsource M arketing S ervices As business owners, it’s natural to want to say “yes” to everything – delegation of essential tasks can be difficult, and it’s challenging to let go of the reins when it comes to a business you’ve worked incredibly hard to build.

But what operators should know best is just that – how to run their businesses. In

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these situations, it makes sense for multiunit operators, franchise owners with several locations of a particular brand or many brands, to outsource rather than attempting to manage the overhead of an entire staff in multiple departments with dozens of specialties.

Specifically, marketing is a discipline that multi-unit operators should turn to for outside support. The marketing game is constantly changing and an outsourced expert partner can help bring you up to speed on cost effective, local market strategies. A good rule of thumb for multi-unit operators to take into consideration when thinking about outsourcing marketing services is the

number of locations owned. Generally, if you have just a few locations, it’s advisable to lean on your franchisor for support. If you have 10-50 locations, that’s the “sweet spot” for multi-unit owners to outsource, especially if your business is multinational.

Keep your attention where it needs to be as a business owner, and let the experts take care of marketing – it’s more costeffective in the long run, anyway. Here are a few services that are the most costeffective to outsource.

Email marketing Email marketing is essential for connecting with consumers and demands

Canadian Franchise Magazine

strong writing and editing skills, which is a specialized service that many business owners are not completely comfortable with. In addition to writing and editing, email marketing requires constant database maintenance, graphic design know-how, access to demographic data and the means by which to consistently monitor quantitative data to judge the success of email marketing campaigns.

Social Media While most people are active to some degree on one-to-four social media channels, it takes an expert to understand the ever-changing world of media. A good social media campaign is graphic and video-heavy, subtly branded and diverse, with a mix of images, videos and text. An effective social media campaign requires engaging content shared many times a day, as well as constant monitoring of the accounts and a deep understanding of the paid components of the channels. A social media expert can also help you manage your advertising budgets to get the most bang for your buck on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with boosted posts.

“Keep your attention where it needs to be as a business owner, and let the experts take care of marketing – it’s more cost-effective in the long run, anyway.”

Public Relations Public relations is an extremely effective component of any marketing program that requires finesse, sensitivity, writing skills, public speaking, expert-level communication and constant data monitoring. A good public relations professional will bring years of carefully cultivated media relationships that can be beneficial for promoting your brand.

Extremely time-consuming at its core, public relations thrives on a delicate balance of market research, media outreach, quick thinking and strategic problem-solving with an emphasis on writing and, in the case of franchise public relations, lead generation knowhow. A public relations professional can bring thousands of people through your doors and paint a very appealing picture to drive franchise leads for continuous brand growth.

As your multi-unit franchise profile grows, so does your need for trusted, qualified marketing support to aid in your brand’s expansion. Email marketing,

Jamie Izaks

social media and public relations are three essential marketing components that, if outsourced properly, can make a huge difference in the public perception of your brand.

Jamie Izaks is the president and cofounder of All Points Public Relations, a public relations agency focusing on the franchising industry. www.allpointspr.com

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fra nchise & serv ices directory

CANADIAN FRANCHISE

Excellent for branding and recognition.

INTRODUCING OUR NEW A-Z LISTING SECTION!

Choose a 12 or 6 month package or simply add the A-Z directory onto your FOCUS, PROFILE or AD!

Making an appearance every issue in Canadian FranchisE magazine, each detailed, 4 color A-Z listing comes with a 150 word write up and your logo.

To learn about the A-Z directory or any other products, please contact Kimberly Kutnick: kimberlyk@cbgpublishing.com or 847-607-8407.

baskin robbins

Baskin-Robbins was founded in 1945 by two ice cream enthusiasts whose passion led to the creation of more than 1,200 ice cream flavors and a wide variety of delicious treats.

In 2013, more than 13 million ice cream cakes were sold in Baskin-Robbins shops worldwide.

Headquartered in Canton, Mass., BaskinRobbins is part of the Dunkin’ Brands Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: DNKN) family of companies. For further information, visit www.BaskinRobbins.com.

Named the top ice cream and frozen dessert franchise in the United States by Entrepreneur magazine’s 36th annual Franchise 500® ranking in 2014, Baskin-Robbins is the world’s largest chain of ice cream specialty shops. BaskinRobbins creates and markets innovative, premium hard scoop ice cream and soft serve, custom ice cream cakes and a full range of beverages, providing quality and value to consumers at more than 7,500 retail shops in nearly 50 countries.

Dickinson Wright Our franchise and distribution law lawyers are some of the most widely published and most respected practitioners in the world and have decades of experience representing a broad spectrum of businesses, from start-ups to multinational and multi-brand enterprises, in a vast range of industries. With access to Dickinson Wright’s full scope of capabilities, we support our clients in their every need, including: • Creating domestic and international franchise and distribution networks • Preparation of disclosure documents and materials • Drafting and negotiating franchise and distribution agreements, including unit, area, development, master and international agreements

driverseat Driverseat is a vehicle chauffeur service, offering professional driving services under 4 categories, Designated Driving, Assisted Transport, Airport Chauffeur, and Vehicle Chauffeur.

Driverseat provides its clients with Coachmen (drivers) to either drive them somewhere in their own vehicle, or to relocate their vehicle for them.

As a franchise, Driverseat is a low cost, low breakeven, high opportunity business model,

Fired – Up Pizza Fired – Up Pizza is a mobile fired pizzieria that offers fresh made thin crust wood fired pizzas, Calzones, fired pies and fired dogs that will guarantee to satisfy appetites for something different.

Fired up Pizz Inc has developed and owns a unique propriety franchise system relating to the establishment, development and operations of a mobile restaurant trailer, specializing in the sale of wood fire pizza, Calzones, Fired dog and Fired pies that are prepared using the best ingredients

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www.canadianfranchisemagazine.com

To learn more about franchising opportunities, visit www.baskinrobbinsfranchising.com

• Drafting and negotiating licence and dealer agreements • Litigation and alternative dispute resolution • Marketing, advertising, promotions and contests • E-commerce • Regulatory compliance, with particular emphasis on franchise disclosure laws, product licensing and competition law • Protecting trademark and other intellectual property rights • Purchase and sale of individual units or complete systems • Leasing and real estate acquisition • Corporate and personal tax planning • Corporate and business law • Employment and labour law Phone: 416-646-3842

where franchisees work from home offices and focus primarily on the local sales and marketing campaigns. We offer an extensive 5 day training program, a mobile app to manage the on-call services, and significant ongoing support through our team of Franchise Conductors.

Contact: Brian Bazely Phone: 855-374-8390 Email: info@driverseatcanada.com Website: www.driverseatcanada.com

available and cooked using a wood fired oven.

The Franchisor will train new Franchisees uniformily to its high standards of quality and service. Seasonal business 7-12 months depending on area – Easy to learn system Turn- key operation within 48 hours of concession trailer delivery – Strong GPM – Estimated ROI 1.5 -2 Years.

For more information Tel: 866 746 6999 or email rob@firedup-pizza.com www.firedup-pizza.com

Franchise Gator is the leading destination for those seeking to invest in a franchise or business opportunity.

Serving the franchise community since 2002, Franchise Gator has consistently ranked as the #1 franchise Portal.

With a directory of over 300 franchise opportunities to browse through, the website is a one-stop destination for those interested in getting free information about franchise

Freshii Eat. Energize. That’s the Freshii mantra. Freshii is a health-casual restaurant concept that serves fresh food designed to energize people on the go. With a diverse and completely customizable menu of breakfast, soups, salads, wraps, bowls, burritos, frozen yogurt, juices and smoothies served in an eco-friendly environment, Freshii caters to every dietary preference and type of taste buds.

Freshii will operate 200 units by the end of 2015

The Interface Financial Group – IFG 50/50 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’.

opportunities so they can begin their exploratory process.

The Franchise Gator directory is searchable by industry type, location, investment amount and by top franchises. In addition to its directory, the Franchise Gator site also features numerous resources to help franchisees get started with searching for and purchasing a franchise. It also releases its own Top 100 rankings of franchise opportunities.

For more information phone: 678 748 3000 or email sales@franchisegator.com

in 80+ cities and 15 countries, opening 2 new restaurants every week. Guests can visit Freshii anywhere from Toronto, Miami, Chicago and Houston to Bogota, Dubai, Stockholm, and Dublin. Freshii restaurants are found in all types of locations from cosmopolitan cities, malls, college campuses, suburb neighborhoods, fitness clubs, airports and small towns.

Find the nearest Freshii: http://www.freshii.com.

Keep in touch with Freshii on Facebook: https:// www.facebook.com/freshii. Follow Freshii on Twitter and Instagram: @freshii.

• No staff to hire, fire, or manage • 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 around the world.

Key advantages of being an IFG 50/50 franchisee include:

www.interfacefinancial.com

Liberty tax service

Liberty Tax is a company to watch, not just in tax preparation franchise terms, but in the business world as a whole. Our corporate team, Area Developers, and franchisees are accessible and down-to-earth. We provide a supportive network and a culture that is progressive and fun.

Founded in 1997 by CEO John T. Hewitt, Liberty Tax Service is the fastest-growing tax preparation franchise in the industry and has prepared almost 18 million income tax returns in more than 4,400 offices and online.

Liberty balances strong growth, best business practices, social responsibility, and a fulfilling life experience for our franchisees. We’re committed to creating a business system and environment that will be held up as the model for all other tax preparation franchises to emulate.

Little Caesars Little Caesars offers strong franchisee candidates opportunities in select locations across the country. We provide candidates an opportunity for independence with a proven system, a simple operating model and strong national brand recognition.

Franchisees benefit from a comprehensive training program that focuses on all aspects of the business, including training, architectural and construction services to help with design, preferred lenders to assist with financing, the ongoing research and development of new products, and effective

fra nchise & serv ices directory

Franchise Gator

You can join one of the top franchise opportunities in the world. Just fill out our request franchise information form to find out more about Liberty Tax. www.libertytaxfranchise.com/request-franchiseinformation.html

marketing programs. Franchisees continue to receive support, expert analysis and consultation from corporate as their business grows.

Little Caesars requires candidates desiring to open one store to have a net worth of $250,000 with a minimum of $100,000 in liquid, unencumbered assets (such as cash). Franchisees must also be able to obtain financing to cover the total costs of opening a franchised location.

Contact: Angelee Brown, development manager Phone: 888-822-7981 Email: LCCfranchising@littlecaesars.ca Website: www.littlecaesars.ca

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fra nchise & serv ices directory

massage addict Massage Addict is the country’s largest and fastest growing provider of massage therapy services, with over 40 clinics across Canada. Massage Addict is a proven business concept serving a gap in the market by helping Canadians improve their health through affordable, convenient massage therapy without sacrificing quality or service. Clients love the quality of Massage Addict’s Registered Massage Therapists and our franchise partners love the business model.

• Low investment and start-up costs • Recurring revenue and quick ROI

planet beach Planet Beach has taken the spa experience to a new place. Our automated spa is a unique and innovative approach to the traditional spa. Customers enjoy unlimited fully automated, spa services for a monthly membership fee. This is a recurring revenue business model for our franchisees.

®

• Opportunity for multi-clinic ownership • Straightforward clinic operations • 100% Canadian owned and operated Massage Addict is the right industry, the right business model, the right brand and most importantly it’s the right time. Call today.

Phone: 1-855-852-6108 Email: info@massageaddict.ca Website: www.massageaddict.ca

The Planet Beach automated spa concept connects with members because it delivers what they want: • Convenient and affordable luxury services • A place to relax and recharge • Privacy, no need for an attendant • Innovative technology

Once a luxury item, spa and wellness services are in high demand because they minimize health costs, reduce stress and help people live healthy, happy lives. Planet Beach to offers luxury spa services at affordable prices.

• Reciprocal membership-based offering

Sangster’s Health Centres®

Franchise Association’s prestigious “CFA Award of Excellence in Franchising”, and in April of 2015, Sangster’s® once again was recognized by the Canadian Franchise Association by winning the 2015 “Franchisees’ Choice” designation award at the Annual CFA Awards show. This marked the 5th consecutive year Sangster’s® has won this prestigious award.

Sangster’s Health Centres® is ‘ The natural choice for health®’ and Canada’s #1 retail vitamin and nutrition franchise specializing in retail sales of vitamins, minerals and herbal products, sports nutrition, body care and wellness solutions to Canadians’ health and nutritional needs.

For more information Website: www.planetbeachcanada.com or Email: kim.snidar@planetbeach.com

Serving Canadians since 1971, Sangster’s has grown across the country with store locations coast to coast. Put the power of our 4 decades of experience to work for you and your success.

Sangster’s® proven success system includes extensive operational and nutritional training, ongoing support, site selection, lease negotiation, national advertising, exclusive national magazine and exclusive Sangster’s branded supplements trusted by Canadians coast to coast.

On May 4, 2009, Sangster’s Health Centres® was recognized as the 2009 Grand Prize Winner of the Canadian

Website: www.sangstersfranchise.com Email: franchise@sangsters.com

Signarama

portfolio of branding options that result in a customized advertising solution for your clients’ businesses. A Signarama franchise is a solid business model that works to give back to businesses in the local community.

Signarama is the largest sign franchise in the world, standing as the leading innovator in the industry. Signarama was also named #1 sign franchise by Entrepreneur magazine for 2014. Signarama is the best in the business and will start you off with all of the tools that you need to succeed.

Our local Signarama stores serve brand building and visibility experts in their local business communities. They don’t just sell signs...just about anyone can do that! Our stores deliver multiple products and services as part of solutions for businesses to increase customers and build brand awareness. Each of our stores is individually owned and operated by highly trained experts who serve their local community.

Although signs can be found everywhere, we operate on a new concept that’s unique to our stores. We combine signs with a full

skedaddle Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control has been Canada’s leader and pioneer in the area of urban wildlife control for over 25 years, helping home and business owners remove and exclude wildlife from their property in an effective and humane manner.

As cities, towns and suburbs continue to expand the need for value-added wildlife management will continue to grow.

Skedaddle’s proven three step approach includes humanely removing the wildlife, repairing the damage and securing the home against future intrusion. This ensures a customized and complete solution for customers at a premium price point.

Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control is the latest brand to join That Franchise Group who manage a portfolio of six home service franchises with over 400 locations across North America. With this strong backing, Skedaddle has aggressive growth plans to

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• Approximately 80% of treatments are paid by insurance

Signarama is a proven business. We have the operational systems and processes in place to help our printing franchise owners succeed in today’s competitive business landscape. Our team of leaders and administrators will help you to get up-to-speed on all requirements and procedures for running the business, as well as provide on-going support and training to ensure that your printing franchise has reached its full potential.

Contact: Anas Saltaji Phone: (905)281-8000 Email: info@Signarama.ca Website: www.Signarama.ca

spread its footprint across Canada in the coming years. Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control is a community based business that currently provides profitable and rewarding service in 22 locations throughout Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia. No prior experience is required to get out from behind your desk and become your own boss today.

Key Benefits Include - high demand - low competition - cash business - limited accounts receivable - few employees - minimal supplies and equipment required - rapidly profitable - home based business - low start up costs - excellent head office support - environmentally friendly and socially responsible services For more information about this exciting opportunity: Website: http://www.skedaddlefranchise.com/

The Garage Door Depot® The Garage Door Depot® is Canada’s largest and only coast to coast garage door supply, service and installation company, headquartered in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia with franchises across Canada.

The Garage Door Depot is committed to providing Canadian Consumers, Business customers, Builders, Garage Door Dealers and its Garage Door Depot Franchise partners with a one-stop

Topper’s pizza Proven, tested, tried and true systems are among the biggest advantages to franchising versus starting your own business from scratch.

With Topper’s Pizza, you’re benefiting from nearly 30 years of successful franchise systems. During that time we have invested and reinvested in all of our operations – from our P.O.S. systems, to training policies, to marketing, to research and development… and the list goes on.

destination to provide for all their residential and commercial overhead door and related product/ service needs.

CFA Franchisees Choice 2014 CFA Franchisees Choice 2015 Contact: Dean Carman Phone: 604-526-1086 or 1-888-698-3667 Fax: 604-526-1087 Email: franchise@garagedoordepot.ca Website: www.garagedoordepot.ca

We’ve learned from our successes and we know what works and what doesn’t.

What does it mean for you? It means you get to hit the ground running with years of knowledge and experience. It means you don’t have to worry about getting all of these systems in place—you get to do what you signed up to do: operate your business and achieve your personal goals. Let the delicious pizza, our Customer-Centric Culture and successful structure take care of the rest. www.toppersfranchise.ca

VitrineMedia

• Brand Recognition and 8 years of international experience

TOTALLY NEW IN CANADA!

• International certifications

VitrineMedia is a pioneer and world leader in LED Displays for visual marketing communications since 2007. We are experts in our field dedicated to window solutions, interior display solutions to optimize wall surfaces, and mobility solutions.

VitrineMedia helps every store make the difference. A french innovation that allows every store to shine brightly, to outpace competition and to attract new customers and sell more.

VitrineMedia offers a unique business model and an unparalleled support.

• VitrineMedia’s partners will own and operate an exciting business within a defined exclusive territory.

Z-teca Z-teca (pronounced “zee-tek-ah”) is a Canadian fast-casual Gourmet Burrito concept operating since 2007.

Ten (10) locations are currently operating and many more under development. We serve premium quality Mexican foods, such as twohanded Burritos, Burrito Bowls, Salads, Tacos and Quesadillas, all made fresh daily in our kitchens and prepared to order.

• Registered and protected patents and models (IP) • Start up and continuous support • Sales & Marketing supports • Constant innovation and evolution • Proven Sales Method • Access to a Global Alliance composed of more than 20 countries To learn more about the VitrineMedia franchise opportunity visit www.vitrinemedia.com or email: international@vitrinemedia.com Contact: Franck Personne Phone: +33 (0)6 98 84 05 89 Email: franck@vitrinemedia.com Website: www.vitrinemedia.com

The Burrito category is experiencing significant growth and we are looking for Burrito Aficionados – quality franchise partners who share in our vision and are hungry for success. Area Developers and Master Franchises are also available for the provinces of Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia.

If you have what it takes and want to get on board with a quality Burrito concept, give us as call: 416 636 3181 ext 222 or email gave@z-teca.com

CANADIAN FRANCHISE

Excellent for branding and recognition.

INTRODUCING OUR NEW A-Z LISTING SECTION!

Choose a 12 or 6 month package or simply add the A-Z directory onto your FOCUS, PROFILE or AD!

Making an appearance every issue in Canadian FranchisE magazine, each detailed, 4 color A-Z listing comes with a 150 word write up and your logo.

To learn about the A-Z directory or any other products, please contact Kimberly Kutnick: kimberlyk@cbgpublishing.com or 847-607-8407. www.canadianfranchisemagazine.com

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Canadian Franchise Magazine

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F R A N C H IS E

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Making an appearance every issue in Canadian Franchise magazine.

Each detailed, 4 color A-Z listing comes with a 150 word write up and your logo.

Excellent for branding and recognition.

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To learn about the A-Z directory or any other products, please contact Kimberly Kutnick: kimberlyk@cgbpublishing.com or 847-607-8407.

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