july 2022
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choosing the best franchise for you will it be trending or trendy?
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Get the App COVER STORY: iCRYO
“
As we continue to expand our corporate team and plan for multi-country expansion, we are very excited to be positioning ourselves for the next phase of growth.
iCRYO SEES BREAKTHROUGH IN WELLNESS AS GLOBAL DEMAND FOR CRYOTHERAPY & RECOVERY SERVICES BECOME ACCESSIBLE
”
Infrared Saunas, Compression therapy, and Dry Float, iCRYO is a premium healthcare franchise system that is shifting how people recover and take care of their health.
iCRYO, one the world’s largest recovery and wellness franchises, is setting the standard for health and wellness nationwide as the global demand for cryotherapy and recovery services become accessible. On a mission to put consumers in control of their health, iCRYO wellness centers focus on a series of health related recovery services that target pain management, beauty & antiaging, athletic recovery, and overall wellness.
and Loveland, Colorado, as the premium health care franchise gears up for its next growth phase.
Currently, their franchise model is over 250 locations awarded with a plan to build over 1,000 locations in several different countries.
As cryotherapy and other wellness services are now becoming easily accessible to everyone, consumers are educating themselves on everything that is available to optimize their health. In fact, according to recent reports, the global cryotherapy market size was valued at USD 3.8 billion in 2022, and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 10.3% from 2022 to 2028.
The Houston-based company’s resilience throughout the pandemic and consistent growth since 2015 has positioned them to open additional regional offices in Dallas
Offering easily accessible lifestyle and specialty based services such as cryotherapy, IV infusions, Vitamin Shots, body sculpting, PBM Red Light Therapy,
While cryotherapy began mainly as a celebrity and athlete-only wellness trend, its wide range of benefits, including boosting immunity, increasing serotonin, tightening skin cells, and increasing blood circulation, has appealed to the masses. “As we continue to expand our corporate team and plan for multi-country expansion, we are very excited to be positioning ourselves for the next phase of growth,” says Kyle Jones, COO and Co-founder of iCRYO. “We were at the forefront of this emerging industry that took off tremendously in the past few years, and now iCRYO is expected to have over 40 units open at the end of 2022 and triple its growth to 120 locations in 2023.” Kyle found his passion in health and wellness after pursuing his college career as a football player and graduating from Texas State University with a degree in Exercise Sports Science and Business Management. He is a 2x National Powerlifting Champion with NASA and USAPL and achieved his pro card in physique bodybuilding with the NSL. This led him to spearheading the development of the emerging category and establishing the premium healthcare franchise system.
As Kyle opened the first iCRYO location, he leaned on the mentors in his life for guidance as he was still a young adult with minimal years of business experience. His father, Bill Jones, CEO/CFO and Cofounder of iCRYO, had always played a huge role in his life as that one person he could lean on for anything. Bill had a vast background in business management. After spending some time picking Kyles’s brain about what the vision of iCRYO was for years to come, he realized the diamond in the rough that Kyle had his hands on. Bill’s background goes back decades of being with companies that scaled to hundreds of locations and owning several businesses that worked in all 50 states. His network and knowledge to scale were a huge part of where he envisioned iCRYO could go. iCRYO launched in October of 2015 and is continuously setting the standard for the cryotherapy industry. Eager to give back to those who serve the community, Bill Jones developed the iCRYO American Hero Franchise Program to create more jobs for Americans, offering 35% off the iCRYO franchise fee and 6 months free of royalty fees for veterans, active military, and 1st Responders. With a fully integrated franchise model, iCRYO has the systems and training to support franchisees in bringing the iCRYO experience to their community in a retail place, or as an addition to a current business. The iCRYO team comprises of experienced negotiators with over 25 years of experience in construction, and will oversee a franchisee’s project from start to finish. The team also offers a comprehensive cryotherapy training program including classroom-style cryotherapy and franchise training, operations and management training, pre-open training onsite at the franchisee’s location, and ongoing world-class support.
VOL 10, ISSUE 8, JULY 2022
iCRYO team comprises “ofTheexperienced negotiators with over 25 years of experience in construction, and will oversee a franchisee’s project from start to finish.
”
iCRYO’s cryotherapy and IV therapy COVER STORY franchise program offers strong marketing support with thorough pre-opening strategies and post-opening and ongoing SEES BREAKTHROUGH advertising support.
iCRYO
IN WELLNESS Seeking franchisees thatFOR are passionate about the cryotherapy industry CRYOTHERAPY & and have aRECOVERY desire to help others, iCRYO provides SERVICES franchisees ongoing equipment and service training to all of their center locations, with multiple systems in place that ensure the SPECIAL FEATURE safety of all guests and employees.
TRENDING FRANCHISES
Elevating the lifestyle of their team members and guests by providing affordable, convenient, and professional
10 FRANCHISING MAGAZINE USA
recovery and wellness services, iCRYO, recently partnered with fitness industry leader 24 Hour Fitness to provide multiple health and wellness services in 24 Hour Fitness club locations. This partnership is part of a larger 24 Hour Fitness strategy to continue exploring and offering dynamic fitness and wellness experiences for club members. The company’s ‘Start Feeling Better Today,’ mantra is fueling the masses who are seeking preventative health and recovery care options. “Cryotherapy is a billion dollar industry that grows year over year with professional recovery and wellness projections climbing,” says Jones. “As an established leader in the category, iCRYO offers a turn-key business opportunity that allows entrepreneurs to invest in the future of health and technology.” FRANCHISING MAGAZINE USA 11
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contents
trending FRANCHISes 28
30
34 What’s New 26 Franchising News Announcements from the Industry
Feature Article 28 Chris Conner: Hot Franchise Trends for 2022
Franchisee in Action 30 Ellie Mental Health: Mental Health Matters 32 Zoom Room: A Community of Dog Loving Franchise Owners
Expert Advice 34 Rick Bisio: Choosing The Best Franchise for You – Will it be Trending or Trendy ?
Focus
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36 Seniors Helping Seniors: Offers a Meaningful Opportunity for Potential Caregivers and Investors
Franchising MAGAZINE USA 25
t r e n d i n g FRANCHIS e s f e at u r e
Clean Juice, Setting records in growth and menu innovation Clean Juice, the first and only national USDA-certified organic juice bar and food bar franchise is already a fan-favorite and well on its way to becoming a household name. The healthy, all organic brand just celebrated the signing of its 200th store to its franchise family in six year with more than 100 Franchise Partners from coast-to-coast.
Clean Juice has ascended quickly by leading with love in serving 3.5 million guests last year alone - and it continues to increase. The rising star of organic fast-casual brands achieves this recordsetting milestone after a dynamic first quarter where the brand signed 14 new stores while expanding its national footprint into its 30th and 31st states in Utah and New Hampshire, respectively. The franchise credits its massive growth by focusing on a personal guest experience and offering a line-up of superfood-ingredient smoothies, wraps, sandwiches, salads, acai bowls, cold-pressed juice cleanses and more along with unique seasonal product innovations like the new organic Refreshers blended juicesmoothie announced earlier this year. Clean Juice’s success is topped-off with a dedicated focus toward educating the public to the benefits of eating organic, punctuated with the help of the brands first national ambassador, Tim Tebow and it’s BeOrganic podcast. In 2021, the company reported its best fourth quarter ever including a cumulative SSS growth of over 20% and SSGC growth of 23%. For the full year of 2021, Clean Juice had a total SSS growth of over 16% growth and served more than 3.3 million total guests in 2021, up 41% from the previous year. Eating clean never tasted or felt so good! For more information, visit cleanjuice.com.
Pet Evolution Announces Frisco Expansion, Making Its Debut in the Lone Star State Located at 2155 University Drive, Suite 220, Frisco, the brand’s newest location is expected to open in Q3 of 2023 and will be led by husband-and-wife duo, Neil and Akta Sheth. With three locations currently open, and one additional store set to open in Minnesota this summer, the Frisco location will be the franchise’s first unit outside of its home state. Dallas locals, the Sheth’s, are eager to bring the booming pet-wellness concept to the area as the need for quality pet care has increased in the growing community. This will be the first of two Pet Evolution locations the Sheth’s will bring to the area. Pet Evolution, a healthy pet supply franchise dedicated to providing the highest quality food, treats, grooming, self-wash and mobile nail trims, is making its debut in the Lone Star state with the announcement of their upcoming Frisco location. 26 Franchising MAGAZINE USA
Pet Evolution was founded in 2012 by friends Rian Thiele and Mike Osborn, after both having watched their childhood dogs suffer through the itchy paws, chronic ear infections, and multiple vet trips of undiagnosed food allergies. The brand began franchising in 2021 after Peter Carlson, President of Pet Evolution
Franchising, LLC, fell in love with the brand, and smart business concept. The brand promise is to improve the lives of pets in local communities by carrying only highend, select pet food and treats. Full-service grooming appointments are available, and a premium self-serve dog wash option for those who need frequent, quick and easy dog baths. Monthly membership options are available for self-serve dog washes and mobile nail trims make it even easier on the customer to care for their pets at the comfort of their own home. Pet Evolution is actively seeking single and multi-unit franchise partners. While they encourage those with franchise experience to apply, their approachable system is designed to accommodate first time franchisees as well. Above all else, Pet Evolution is searching for partners that have a love for animals. For more information about Pet Evolution, visit https://petevolution.com
IV Therapy Franchise Extends Presence Throughout Florida Looking to change the way people perceive intravenous IV therapy and turn cellular health into a lifestyle, The DRIPBaR, an IV nutrient therapy franchise growing expeditiously across America, is serving up vitamins via IV. The franchise has experienced tremendous growth throughout the nation, including the Sunshine State. The DRIPBaR is excited to announce that they have signed talented and driven area representatives who plan to expand the brand to over 100 new locations in Florida. “Now more than ever, people are starting to recognize the power of intravenous therapies to maintain their best health and are seeking new ways to complement conventional treatment options,” said DRIPBaR CEO, Ben Crosbie. “This has always been the mission of The DRIPBaR and I can’t wait to see the continued growth throughout the country and provide our services to people in need.” The brand currently has six locations open within Florida, located in Jacksonville, St. Johns, Tampa, Orlando, Melbourne, and Fort Lauderdale. The continued expansion of the franchise comes at a time when the public is more cautious about their health and more invested in finding ways to stay healthy. The DRIPBaR is expected to open as many as 50 locations in 2022 in areas across
the country with nearly 450 in various stages of development. Including a franchise fee of $55,000, the initial investment to open a 1,000 - 1,500 square foot location is around $136,500 to $338,300. The DRIPBaR is proud to offer first responder and Military discounts. For more information about the franchise opportunity, visit www.thedripbar.com/own-a-dripbar
City Wide Facility Opens New office in Savannah City Wide Facility Solutions, the leading management company in the building maintenance industry, is opening a location in Savannah — making this the third location in Georgia. The new office at 6001 Chatham Center Drive, Suite 255 in Savannah serves several areas, from down south in Brunswick to up north into Orangeburg, South Carolina. Playing an instrumental role in boosting local economies, City Wide Facility Solutions puts business back into the community by partnering with smaller, independent and locally owned companies to execute services. Local building owners and property management companies in the area now have access to a single-source solution for all of their facility management needs. Rick Cobden, president, and Nick MacKinnon, general manager, have partnered to open City Wide Facility Solutions. “Both Nick and I want to continue the City Wide mission of spreading the ripple effect and making a positive impact
on our communities— Savannah is the perfect opportunity to do that.” said Rick.
the City Wide Home Office for having
Rick Cobden has been involved with City Wide Facility Solutions since 2009 - finding it rewarding to be able to build the brand through the years. Cobden and MacKinnon together have lead both offices in Greenville and Charleston earning the highest honor of ‘Platinum Market’ from
client retention rate.
more than $1 million in revenue and a 95%
Founded in 1961, City Wide Facility Solutions simplifies managing janitorial services, commercial cleaning, disinfecting, and more than 20 additional facility solutions for every client. Franchising MAGAZINE USA 27
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FEATURE ACTICLE: Chris Conner | Founder | Franchise Marketing Systems
Franchise Trends for 2022 Summer 2022 has brought record highs across the country — but that’s not the only thing heating up this season. The franchise market has continued to experience highs with more and more people turning to business ownership for their future’s security. As we move into another booming quarter, we’re seeing several trends in franchised businesses pop up or stay steady. Most of these are consistently tried and true concepts that have continued to boom.
Education and Development For starters, kid-centric concepts never seem to waver in popularity nor need. There are over 73 million children in the U.S., so there’s no wonder they make excellent business opportunities. These can range from athletic instruction to playscapes to traditional daycares. Kula’s Children Center, a unique child care center where children can engage in learning 28 Franchising MAGAZINE USA
through a holistic approach that includes the mind, body, and spirit, is one such concept. The model showcases state and federal programs and transportation options, plus focused educational programs for infants up to 13 years of age. This particular concept gives its franchisees multi-streams of revenue.
from new brands hitting the market.
It’s not just children who are benefiting
concepts.
Area Scouts is an athletic training
program also seeing growth that caters to a wide age range. Keep in mind that
the sports industry valued at over $600 billion globally alluding to the very
inherent viability existent within athletic development and sports education
Home Services The U.S. is home to around 141.5 million residences. Franchised home service concepts continue to thrive thanks to the ever-growing need for upkeep, new construction, remodeling, landscaping, and more. A couple of factors affect this trend, such as the millennial generation now engaging in home buying. According to Angi.com, the total addressable market for home services is now $595 billion , with households completing around 728.3 million projects per year. People are seeking to upgrade or make their homes a perfect reflection of their families. Fame Hardwood, a Californiabased luxury hardwoods company, offers a franchise opportunity that is flexible and caters to those who are seeking to upgrade their homes to stay long term or to up the price tag on their house within a still-steady real estate climate. Another type of home services concept that we don’t see on the back burner any time soon is cleaning and sanitizing services. Using state-of-the-art tech-driven steam washers to detail cars and to sanitize homes and businesses is Cleanable. This Virginia-
based concept gives franchise owners an easy sale due to incredibly affordable, high-demand packages, highly skilled employees, and a platform through which it’s easy to schedule appointments. Another notable feature of this concept is that they are completely chemical-free, using only cleaning products that are registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and are environmentally sustainable.
Specialty Fitness With covid-19 taking a backseat in the news, people are opening their eyes to a fresh view on health. With that, there are several specialty fitness trends popping up across the country. Push Pull is a unique senior-centric fitness experience, created for people who are 55 and older that are looking to work out with low impact and to keep the focus on overall health. The senior population, which grows by the day thanks to the aging Baby Boomer generation, is craving new ways to stay active and to ward off aging. This concept comes complete with recurring monthly membership revenue, low staffing needs, easy-to-follow procedures, and established vendor relationships. It utilizes senior-
Chris Conner has worked in the franchise development industry for almost 20 years and helped over 600 brands franchise their brand and develop franchise distribution channels. He founded Franchise Marketing Systems in 2009, which now includes a team of 27 franchise consultants based in and Canada and supports brands around the world to grow and scale through franchise expansion. Visit www.fmsfranchise.com for more information
friendly Keiser pneumatic resistance equipment, easy-to-learn 20 minute circuit sessions, and recumbent steppers. Another type of specialty fitness concept is BodyBarre Fitness. This one focuses on personal training and group classes in a womens-only setting. An added bonus to this concept is the training revenue. BodyBarre FItness offers courses for instructors, giving franchise owners not only a steady recurring monthly revenue membership stream, but a steady flow of tuition from its students. It’s not just ballet-inspired fitness that’s thriving. It’s yoga, pole dancing, cycling, swimming — you name it, there may be a niche focused concept out there. These examples of trending franchises all have one thing in common — they give their franchisees a strong, ongoing support model, which is a vital component when it comes to value. These segments are all doing great thanks to the value we place on our children, bettering ourselves, our health, and keeping our homes in top shape. The entrepreneur revolution is here. More than ever people are ditching their less-than-appetizing day jobs for something they have passion for. We’ve helped thousands of people find the perfect business for them and guide them on the path to business ownership. Likewise, we’ve partnered with hundreds of businesses throughout the world to grow their footprint through franchising. Whatever your need, FMS Franchise will make it happen for you and with you. If you’d like to have a conversation, get in touch with us at www.fmsfranchise.com Franchising MAGAZINE USA 29
t r e n d i n g FRANCHIS e s f e at u r e
franchisee in action: Ellie Mental Health
Mental Health Matters: Why We Are Bringing Ellie Mental Health to Indianapolis
As the demand for mental health care services continues to skyrocket, we are determined to provide our beloved community of Indianapolis with the services that are so desperately needed. We are proud to be opening Ellie Mental Health of Fishers in August 2022.
My wife, Heather, and I have been interested in entering the franchising space for 20 years, but we put that dream of owning our own business on hold to build our net worth and focus on raising our two children. Approximately one year ago, we were finally in a good place to make some moves towards entrepreneurship. Our kids are older, our careers are stable, and it just felt like the right time for us to go down the path to owning our own business. We began working with a franchise consultant who told us about Ellie Mental Health. Our family has experienced the lack of accessible mental health care firsthand. We knew immediately that becoming franchise partners with this brand was the perfect fit, not only for us but also for our community. Heather was born and raised in Indianapolis, where she attended Butler University and obtained a teaching degree. After years in the field, she then pivoted to recruiting for a large company in their HR department and later got 30 Franchising MAGAZINE USA
knew immediately “thatWebecoming franchise partners with this brand was the perfect fit, not only for our family, but also for our community.
”
positions, I helped grow several companies’ sales teams and processes.
into project management in technology. In addition to her new role as an Ellie Mental Health franchisee, Heather leads a team of software engineers for a cloudbased software services company that implements and monitors the infrastructure of their cloud environment. I am originally from St. Louis, but moved to Indiana to attend Purdue University to study hospitality management and haven’t left the Hoosier State since. For the last 25 years, I have been in sales and sales leadership roles, mostly working for technology and healthcare tech startups. In these various
With my experience in Sales and Heather’s background in project management and operations, it was a no brainer or us to move forward with the Ellie Mental Health franchise. Starting our own business will allow us to apply the skills that we have acquired throughout our careers together. It’s really like every road of both of our careers led us to Ellie. Not only has our family experienced the lack of accessible mental health care, but in the last year the media has brought to light the mental health crisis. As big fans of the Olympics, our family watched as star athletes like Michael Phelps and Simone Biles shared their struggles with illnesses such as depression and anxiety.
We are so proud to carry out their mission: To compassionately transform the culture of mental healthcare by providing creative solutions that make wellness accessible in every community.
“
”
Ellie prides itself on work life balance for the clinician. We offer a warm and welcoming office environment that feels more like home and less like a stale medical office. Our therapists have flexible schedules with in-house clinical supervision. Unlike solo practices, they have a team of other clinicians to provide peer support and case guidance. As we did our homework on opening a mental health clinic, several things became clear to us. Therapists are looking for work life balance in an extremely strained occupation right now. They are also craving a work culture that thrives on creativity, authenticity, humor, compassion, acceptance and determination….which just happen to be Ellie’s core values. Our goal is to hire an amazing staff, offer a great culture where they will have fun and love work that makes a positive impact. The Ellie Mental Health franchise model is operationally different than traditional mental health clinics. Centralized scheduling ensures phones are answered and appointments are scheduled timely and efficiently. The technology stack the clinicians will use at Ellie streamlines the day to day administrative tasks which allows them to focus on the patient, not doing hours of paperwork. The Ellie model says, “Happy employees do better work, are more customer service focused, and feel good about the work they do.”
Seeing people with such a huge platform openly share their challenges with mental health was inspiring. Talking about and normalizing mental health issues is absolutely a step in the right direction, and a long overdue one at that. It is extremely important for us to take it to the next level and turn this conversation into action.
of qualified therapists is a very real
The majority of mental health clinics in our area are at capacity. The shortage
Health will help us “fill the gap” of mental
burden. Many clinics are not accepting
new patients, or appointment waitlists are
months long and the therapists are burning out. We cannot stand by and accept the lack of care availability. So instead of
tolerating it or complaining about it, we
decided to open our clinic. Ellie Mental health services in our community.
We are beyond excited to officially open our doors in Fishers this August. We are already looking forward to our next project which would be opening four to five more Ellie Mental Health locations in Hamilton County within the next three years. A brand like Ellie Mental Health is needed today and every day in every community. We are so proud to carry out their mission: “To compassionately transform the culture of mental healthcare by providing creative solutions that make wellness accessible in every community.” Article by Scott Cramer.
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t r e n d i n g FRANCHIS e s f e at u r e
franchisee in action: Zoom Room
Zoom Room Dog Training:
A Community of Dog-Loving Franchise Owners
Jon and Shannon Van Dyke, Troph store management and social media for Zoom Room. Their goals for Zoom Room this year are for the franchise to become a huge part of the dog community and a place where the local community can enjoy hanging out with their dogs.
Sarah Sung, Torrance (Los Angeles, California)
During the pandemic, pet adoption rates have increased by more than 700% according to PetPoint, a software program utilized by some 1,200 shelters nationwide. This wave of adoptions resulted in doubledigit year-over-year growth in the pet service industry which continues to thrive. With a passion for the dog community and a keen eye for opportunity, many businessminded dog-lovers have made the move to pursue a new endeavor with the Zoom Room dog training franchise. Mark Van Wye, CEO of Zoom Room, explains that the pandemic has contributed to the stimulation of growth for the proven concept. According to Van Wye, “The pandemic has accelerated the trend of retail flight while increasing the number of entrepreneurs looking to start a new venture. The pet sector has always fared well even during the most economicallychallenged times; the recent boom in dog ownership is no exception. We credit our extreme growth curve to astute investors 32 Franchising MAGAZINE USA
responding well to Zoom Room’s ability to serve the needs of dog owners with a demonstrably profitable business model, thus meriting our brick-and-mortar place in communities across the country.”
Jonathan and Sally Scroggs, Ankeny (Des Moines, Iowa) Jonathan and Sally Scroggs’ love for sports and raising their labradoodle Murphy played a major role in their journey to bringing Zoom Room to Ankeny, Iowa. Prior to opening, Scroggs conducted months of research on various franchise concepts and Zoom Room stood out. Determined to leave their full-time jobs, the couple wanted to provide an outlet for the dog lovers in the area to help strengthen the bond between dog owners and their dogs. Opening a Zoom Room in a dogcentered community, allowed the Scroggs to build connections and have a strong social network of dog owners. The Scroggs have always envisioned owning and operating a family-run business. The couple’s children will be a huge asset to the business by helping with
Outside of Zoom Room, both are active in their community. Sally Scroggs is a long-time, dedicated soccer coach, and both have actively served as volunteers in their church for more than 20 years. Jonathan Scroggs also volunteers at their local animal shelter, AHeinz57 Pet Rescue & Transport, a non-profit animal rescue organization that is committed to saving homeless companion animals, assisting other shelters/rescues through rescue transports, and educating the public on the issues of responsible pet ownership and puppy mills. To further promote the cause, they raised funds for AHeinz57 Pet Rescue & Transport during their grand opening. “The city of Ankeny loves kid sports and many pet owners here consider their dogs as part of the family,” said Jonathan Scroggs. “Sally and I are excited to provide an opportunity for people to participate in sporty activities with their dogs at Zoom Room, especially with our popular agility classes. Every dog, no matter the age, breed, or size can enjoy dog agility training and you’ll be amazed at how these courses will deepen the bonds of communication between you and your dog.”
Sarah Sung, Torrance (Los Angeles, California) Sarah Sung was one of many pet owners who adopted a pandemic pup that needed training during COVID which played a role
hy Club (Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas) in helping her look into owning a Zoom Room franchise. Coming from a world of fitness, Sung was actively working in a boutique fitness studio before she pivoted to Zoom Room. Sung wanted to open a business that was active and surrounded by people and their pets as opposed to sitting behind a desk. Sung’s friend introduced her to Zoom Room, an engaging and profitable concept, and eventually, Sung’s intrigue for the business model grew. As a first-time business owner, Sung was attracted to Zoom Room’s simple franchise structure and program. Sung became interested in Zoom Room as a local franchise option and Mark Van Wye offered to sell Sung the then corporateowned Redondo Beach store; it was a perfect match. Sung is an active mother of one and owner of a Corgi named Riley, along with two cats and two chickens. Heavily involved in the Venice community, Sung ran the local elementary school Booster Club/PTA for two years, and currently serves on the board of a local arts non-profit, Venice Arts, which provides a media arts education to lowincome students throughout Los Angeles. Sung also runs a volunteer bi-monthly food program for LA Works and Hollywood Food Coalition where she helps to provide lunches to aid organizations that operate throughout Los Angeles. “I’ve always been passionate about being involved with the community and Zoom Room is the hub of the dog community,” said Sung. “Working in a different field, I wanted a change in my lifestyle and to get involved in more opportunities. Zoom Room has a great story behind it, and I was attracted to the structure and concept.
Jon and Shannon Van Dyke, Trophy Club (Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas) The South Bay area fits the Zoom Room demographic very well with a population of young professional and active retirees who want to spend more time on training and building a deep relationship with their pets.”
Jon and Shannon Van Dyke, Trophy Club (Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas) Prior to opening a Zoom Room in Trophy Club, Texas, Jon Van Dyke spent 35 years as an exotic (tigers, cougars, leopards) and domestic animal trainer for the film and television industry, where he deftly achieved key performances while maintaining the absolute well-being of all animals involved in the production. Van Dyke’s animal-first advocacy work in Hollywood lent itself to many memorable moments in iconic films and shows. He enjoyed being with animals and being an owner of Zoom Room was something he envisioned long-term. As animal lovers, Jon and Shannon Van Dyke currently have five dogs: four Chinese Crested dogs, and a Shih tzu. After making the move to Texas from California, the Van Dykes began looking for opportunities outside of the film
industry but still within Jon Van Dyke’s area of expertise after his more than three decades of dog training experience. After looking into dog-based franchise opportunities, Van Dyke determined that Zoom Room would allow him to continue doing what he loved - helping people get the most out of the relationship with their pets. The Van Dykes were intrigued by Zoom Room’s unique concept of helping dog owners in the community build deeper connections with their pets. Zoom Room was the only franchise the Van Dykes could find that had an interesting model and that was based around helping people understand and develop better relationships with their dogs. Still new to the area, the Van Dykes are passionate about connecting with rescue organizations and local shelters. “Owning a franchise is hard work, but this hard work comes with a tremendous upside,” said Jon Van Dyke. “There is nothing better than working for yourself. Manage your staff well, respect and appreciate them and they will work hard for you. I hope to have a successful year running this Zoom Room location and to expand and purchase one or two more units in the future.” Franchising MAGAZINE USA 33
t r e n d i n g FRANCHIS e s f e at u r e
EXPERT ADVICE: Rick Bisio | Franchise Coach & Author
Rick Bisio is one of the countries most respected franchise coaches and author of the Amazon best seller, The Educated Franchise – 3rd Edition. Since becoming a franchise coach in 2002, Bisio has assisted thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs nationwide explore the dream of business ownership. www.afranchisecoach.com 34 Franchising MAGAZINE USA
Choosing the Best Franchise For YouWill it be Trending or Trendy? You Do the Homework
Trending Franchises 2022 As any entrepreneur will tell you, doing the proper amount of homework and researching a brand can make a big financial difference. One very important nugget that’s important to decipher is the difference between “trending” and “trendy.” Simply put, trendy is something that is new and hot in the moment. Trending is something that is steadily growing in popularity with possibilities for staying power and long-term success. Question is—how do you know?
Trendy The first step is figuring out if the concept is an industry or a product. I often go back to the bagel business in the 90’s when everyone was excited about bagels. Turns out, bagels, delicious as they are, are not an industry. Bagels are a product and pretty much anyone can add a bagel to their menu. Although bagels themselves are here to stay, bagel-only establishments either reinvented themselves with additional offerings on the menu or they fizzled. The next step is to determine if a concept is economically viable. Back in the early 2000’s eBay stores were very popular. Nobody looked at their economic stability. They hadn’t really been invented yet and there wasn’t a set of economics that worked. Although they were a great idea, many eBay stores went away just because they were not financially feasible. The average product would have to be $200 just to make a profit.
Trending There are some ideas out there that have worked, like women’s-only fitness. A fitness center targeting women was nonexistent until Curves came out. Curves saw a need and filled that gap. The result was great business, and they are celebrating 30 years of providing a niche experience to women. What Curves essentially did, was to create more of a business model issue than a segment issue. Women’s-only fitness continues to be a strong segment and has evolved, paving the way for boutique fitness concepts positioned for long-term success.
A well-constructed industry has been created, opening the door for strong trending franchises like Xponential fitness. From my vantage point, Xponential has done an amazing job in regard to consolidating boutique fitness with a robust back-end system. Again, there was a solid foundation to build on.
convinced it is going to last, but it is very trendy.
• Look for what is in high demand. If it is an ice cream shop and there is a line of
people standing out front every Saturday night then everyone will get excited and want to invest.
You can’t ignore the trends. Service-based businesses are hot, have been for at least a decade and will continue to thrive thanks to market demand. These are businesses like insulation, gutters, roof replacement, window coverings, garage refinishing, and remodeling. There are hundreds of service-based home concepts that work out of offices, work out of homes and best of all, are low-cost. They are performing well, economically, with a good return on investment. There is an economic need for these businesses. With inflation up, housing prices still unattainable for many, and the economy unstable, consumers are more apt to make necessary repairs and improvements on their current homes.
• Lower investment opportunities tend
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these types of concepts expanded at more than 8% per year. While many other concepts were closing or shrinking, these businesses exploded. There are a lot of reasons, structurally speaking, why they will continue to do well. They compete very well in large market spaces in which there is highly fragmented competition.
understand is that change is inevitable.
The “It” Factor So, what is the “it” factor? What makes a certain type of franchise or emerging industry trendy? What makes people stand in to sign franchise agreements regardless of viability? There are several things. • The industry itself matters. If it is in the restaurant industry or something that is considered sexy, there will be a lot more interest. Let’s face it, if there’s a cool new concept restaurant that’s showing up on celebrity Instagram accounts, everyone wants in on that investment. • A new idea or a new product tends to catch people’s attention. Restaurants that serve poke bowls, for instance, are very popular and trendy. I’m personally not
to get people more excited than higher investment opportunities. They are
more attainable, because there are more people who can invest $150,000 dollars than a million dollars.
• People are also more interested in
storefront businesses. It doesn’t mean
those are better business opportunities,
but they are more popular in the eyes of prospects.
Study the Franchise from Many Angles What prospective franchisees should
What’s working now, may not be viable long term. Conversely, trends can be
cyclical and what’s old is new again. There are many variables that come into play. Right now, for example, the cost
of metal has gone up dramatically. Any business that deals with metal, such as
containers for junk removal, has had their P&L impacted.
In a down economy, investors tend to focus on lower cost office or home-
based businesses. They don’t want to
get into leases in a down economy. In
an up economy, you see more interest in storefront businesses.
Trends, economics, the general sense
of what is happening in a community
really does affect what is trending, for entrepreneurs looking for a lucrative franchise. People need to do their
homework to know the proper combination of opportunity and staying power.
Additionally, having a sense of history can also be helpful in predicting the future.
Franchising MAGAZINE USA 35
t r e n d i n g FRANCHIS e s f e at u r e
focus: SENIORS HELPING SENIORS®
Seniors Helping Seniors® In-Home Services
Offers a Meaningful Opportunity for Potential Caregivers and Investors Amid Economic Uncertainty With many “unretiring” in record numbers and watching their retirement savings shrink, the in-home senior care brand provides a chance for seniors to make a difference in their fellow seniors’ lives as a caregiver or franchise owners 36 Franchising MAGAZINE USA
3.3 million more people retired in 2021 than in 2020 - an era appropriately named “The Great Retirement.” The trend is largely attributed to a combination of economic circumstances that bolstered retirees’ nest eggs and a challenging job market that encouraged many to cut ties with the working world earlier than planned. 2022, however, has many retirees re-
thinking this decision. According to CNBC, as of April, 3.3% of people who were retired a year earlier are now employed — meaning about 1.7 million people “un-retired” over that time. It’s no wonder as a 20% stock market decline, and an 8%+ inflation rate has significantly decreased the value of seniors’ retirement savings, forcing many to rejoin the workforce.
What may be an unexpected turn of events for these retirees may actually be an enormous benefit to businesses struggling to find workers. This is especially true for Seniors Helping Seniors, the in-home senior care brand that employs active and mature caregivers to help their fellow seniors age in place. “The Great Retirement followed by this need to return to work is a clear indicator that the world has changed following the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Seniors Helping Seniors® business model has never been more relevant,” said Namrata Yocom-Jan, Seniors Helping Seniors® president. “We are in a position not only to employ those seniors needing to return to the workforce but to provide them with fulfilling and life-changing experiences to help their fellow seniors.”
The Booming Senior Care Industry The in-home senior care industry has seen unprecedented growth in recent years, as the baby-boom generation has reached the phase in life where these services become necessary. An estimated 10,000 baby boomers turn 65 years old every day, and by 2050, nearly 20% of the U.S. population will be age 65 and older. According to the National Council on Aging, 90% of those seniors say they plan to remain in their homes for the next 5 to10 years. With more than 400 nursing homes projected to close in 2022 based on money and staffing issues, and the U.S. home care market is expected to grow to $225 billion by 2024, in-home senior care companies across the country are pushing to meet the demand. The rapidly aging population combined with the demand for in-home care means Seniors Helping Seniors® locations are in more need than ever of active and mature caregivers to help their fellow seniors.
An Opportunity for Seniors to Make a Difference in “Unretirement” “The Great Unretirement” certainly benefits businesses like Seniors Helping Seniors® offices seeking employees and caregivers, but it also benefits seniors re-entering the workforce. Many are looking to more meaningful and fulfilling
A Meaningful, CommunityFocused Investment Opportunity Unfortunately, 2022 has not been kind to many people’s bank accounts. $1 million in savings a year ago is now $750,000 in real terms, and $500,000 is now $370,000. Although many retirees are returning to work, others are exploring ways to secure their retirement savings further and make smart investments that will support them in light of a possible future recession.
Founder Kiran Yocom
A Seniors Helping “ Seniors® franchise offers an opportunity to invest in a booming industry as well as a meaningful opportunity that provides value in the community to those in need.
”
industries to devote their time to this point in their careers. Seniors Helping Seniors® locations focus on fostering long-lasting and compatible relationships between the client and caregiver. In addition to these connections, senior caregivers can earn extra income, enjoy a flexible schedule, and lend a hand with a fellow senior’s daily living needs. “We’ve put a lot of work into ensuring that Seniors Helping Seniors® in-home care is not only the best option for our clients but also for caregivers across the country,” Yocom-Jan said. “There is so much that goes into high-quality senior care, including both medical and non-medical services, but central to all of that is a genuine and caring relationship between the caregiver and client. We will continue to make sure anyone with the passion and skills to be a great caregiver will find an opportunity to grow and impact with Seniors Helping Seniors® services. Our caregivers truly have…a way to give and to receive®.”
A Seniors Helping Seniors® franchise offers an opportunity to invest in a booming industry as well as a meaningful opportunity that provides value in the community to those in need. Seniors Helping Seniors® franchise system was founded by husband-and-wife duo Kiran and Philip Yocom. Kiran, who grew up in India, later worked to advance humanitarian efforts alongside Mother Teresa. After moving to the U.S. in 1995 and marrying her husband Philip, the Yocoms felt called to provide loving care to seniors and to cultivate an exchange of gifts at every generational level. Together, the Yocoms founded Seniors Helping Seniors® in-home services in 1998, opening the brand up to franchising in 2006. Today, the brand remains the only company that prioritizes hiring active seniors to provide care services to their less-active counterparts. The franchise system has grown to over 200 locations worldwide and is looking to continue its growth to change the lives of seniors. The brand’s success cannot be denied as it’s welcomed 30 new franchise owners to its system covering 65 territories over the past 12 months. “Seniors Helping Seniors® franchise has been able to establish itself as a standout company in the in-home senior care segment thanks to our multiple points of differentiation,” said Yocom-Jan. “We have a strong focus on our franchise owners, mature caregivers, an optimized and proven business model, a communitydriven atmosphere, strong operational support and a mission to focus on love. These factors have all contributed to our ability to provide compassionate care to the nation’s growing population of individuals aged 65 and above for the last 20 years.” Franchising MAGAZINE USA 37
