FRANCHISING USA NOVEMBER 2021

Franchising usa $5.95 www.franchisingmagazineusa.com

The magazine for franchisees

VOL 09, ISSUE 12, nov 2021

remedy spa & salon suites A hair-raising business opportunity Effective Strategies for

Promoting Your Franchise Make your success:

Service Excellence Required

Feeling Stuck and Getting Free LATEST NEWS

FINANCIAL ADVICE FROM THE BANKS

TOP LAWYERS’ ADVICE

NOBODY GETS TO THE TOP BY ACCIDENT! We advise many of the top franchise owners in the world. You can get acces to the very same resources that build their empires at no cost!

Contact George Knauf to Start Building Your Empire TODAY! www.MyPerfectFranchise.com

Franchising usa The magazine for franchisees

FRANCHISING USA VOLUME 9, ISSUE 12, 2021 president: Colin Bradbury. colin@cgbpublishing.com

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f r o m t he p u bl i s he r & e d i t or

Publisher: Vikki Bradbury. vikki@cgbpublishing.com

editor: Ingrid Nelson. editor@cgbpublishing.com

advertising: vikki@cgbpublishing.com jasonb@cgbpublishing.com cidaliahodnett@cgbpublishing.com

Editorial team: Michelle Quinn Rob Swystun

Production: usaproduction@cgbpublishing.com

DESIGN: Jejak Graphics. jejak@bigpond.com

COVER IMAGE: Remedy Spa & Salon Suites

CGB PUBLISHING Canadian Office: Sidney B.C Canada U.S. Office: 800 5th Ave, #101 Seattle, WA 98104-3102 Editorial: 778 426 2446 www.franchisingmagazineusa.com Proud member of the IFA:

Welcome to our November issue of Franchising USA. On our cover this month, we are delighted to introduce you to Atlanta’s Mychel “Snoop” Dillard. A self-described serial entrepreneur, Snoop shares her plans to take advantage of changes in the highly profitable beauty industry by offering franchises for her Remedy Salon Suites.

As always, we hear from experts in their field who share their wealth of knowledge in the franchise industry. Marketing expert Chris Connor imparts some effective strategies to promote your franchise by connecting with your target audience, while Evan Hackel shares the power of mentoring for franchise owners On the cover of the Veterans supplement this issue, we introduce you to Image One USA, a commercial cleaning franchise company who offers military veterans a timetested model to be their own boss in a recession resistant industry.

To celebrate Veterans Day this month, this issue includes inspirational stories about those who have made the transition from serving their country to running their own successful franchises. Plus, we bring you all the latest news for Veterans in franchising.

We also shine the spotlight on two women who have made their mark in the franchise industry. Co-founder and Director of creative franchise company Abrakadoodle, Rosemarie Hartnett shares her passion for reigniting children’s imaginations through art and Founder and CEO of Neighbor’s Choice, Susan Schopp, is showing women across the country that they can make their own choices in business and build out their own path to success.

You’ll also find our A-Z franchise listing directory with all of the best franchise opportunities available right now.

Enjoy the read!

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

Vikki Bradbury & Ingrid Nelson Franchising USA

“Business opportunities are like buses, there’s always another one coming.” - Richard Branson.

The information and contents in this publication are believed by the publisher to be true, correct and accurate but no independent investigation has been undertaken. Accordingly the publisher does not represent or warrant that the information and contents are true, correct or accurate and recommends that each reader seek appropriate professional advice, guidance and direction before acting or relying on all information contained herein. Opinions expressed in the articles contained in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. The publication is sold subject to the terms and conditions that it shall not be copied in whole or part, resold, hired out, without the express permission of the publisher.

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contents

Franchising U S A $5.95 www.fran

chisingmagaz

THE MA GAZI

NE FOR FRANCH

ISEES

VOL 09, ISS

i

UE 12, NOV

REMEDY & SALON SU SP ITE A HAIR-RAISI NG BU

12

SINES OPPORTUNIT

EFFECTIVE ST RATE

PROMOTING GIES FO YOUR FRANCHISE MAKE YOUR SUC SERVICE EXCECESS: LLENCE REQUIRED

LATE ST NE WS

FIN AN CIA

L AD VIC E FR OM TH E BA NK S

FEELIN STUCK ANDG GETTING FRE E TO P LA WY ER S’

On the Cover 10 cover story:

Remedy Spa & Salon Suites – A Hair Raising Business Opportunity

24

14

20 Make Your Success: Service Excellence Required 24 Effective Strategies for

Promoting Your Franchise

In Every Issue 6 Franchising News

Announcements from the Industry

37 Veterans Supplement

20

News and Information for Veterans in Franchising

55 A-Z Franchise and

Services Directory

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AD VIC E

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ineusa.com

A 2021

november 2021

PA ES

SS TY

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Franchisee in Action

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16 Main Squeeze Juice Co - No Obstacle is Too Hard to Handle for This Brother and Sister Franchisee Duo

Expert Advice 12 What Your Home Service Franchise Could Do Better

Heather Ripley | Founder and CEO | Ripley PR

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14 Feeling Stuck and Getting Free

George Knauf | Senior Franchise Business Advisor | FranChoice

20 Make Your Success: Service Excellence Required

Lucas Frey | CE O | Bella Vista Executive Advisors

24 Effective Strategies for Promoting Your Franchise

Chris Conner | President | Franchise Marketing Systems

26 Staffing Woes: The Answers are Easy: Fair Pay and Respect

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George Lessmeister | Founder and CE O | LGC Hospitality

30 If You are a Franchise Owner, it’s Time to Put the Power

of Mentoring to Work for You

Evan Hackel | Founder and CE O | Ingage Consulting

32 Auto Repair Franchises Offer Consistent Demand

for Business

Rick Bisio | Franchise Coach | FranChoice

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Women In Franchising 18 Rosemarie Hartnett – A Creative Calling 34 Susan Schopp - Leading the Way for Female Franchisors Franchising USA

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what’s new!

Buff City Soap Brings Plant-Based Products to New Hartford

Buff City Soap – a rapidly expanding handmade retail franchise known for its plant-based soap and body products made in-store daily – has opened its first location in New Hartford.

“We are proud of the fact that our products are handmade daily by members of the local community,” said operating partner Mike Dingman. “We aim to impress our customers with a true interactive retail experience and cannot wait to open our doors.”

Founded in 2013, Buff City Soap has created a high-quality alternative to commercial soap products full of harsh chemicals, detergents, animal fats, and sulfates. By giving customers the chance to see the whole making process live in each Soap Makery, Buff City Soap is disrupting the consumer goods industry by focusing on transparency of ingredients and process.

Franchising since 2018, Buff City Soap continues its rapid growth trajectory across 23 states and 135+ stores. Buff City Soap’s delightfully smelling and uniquely handmade soaps are disrupting the retail beauty and consumer goods categories, and Buff City Soap was recognized in Entrepreneur’s Top 100 “Best of the New” franchise rankings.

Each Buff City Soap store offers more than 30 unique and

customizable scents across dozens of handcrafted soap products; including its famous soap bars, bath bombs, foaming hand soap, and even laundry soap. The brand’s products are crafted by local artisans at the in-store Makeries, which allow guests to customize the scent and ingredients used in the process to create a unique scent profile.

To learn more about Buff City Soap of New Hartford, please visit www.buffcitysoap.com

Once Upon A Child® Opens Its 400th Store Winmark Corporation, North America’s leading franchisor of sustainable resale brands, has announced the 400th store opening of its award-winning children’s clothing and accessories retail resale brand, Once Upon A Child®.

The brand celebrated the record opening this past month in Douglasville, Georgia on September 23, marking a key growth milestone for Once Upon A Child.

Winmark – the Resale Company™ celebrated this exciting development with multi-unit franchise owner, Allison Spartis. The 400th store launch marks Spartis’ second Once Upon A Child location and fourth Winmark franchise, as she also owns two successful Plato’s Closet stores.

“It’s an incredible feeling to have opened our 400th Once Upon A Child location and to witness the impact our brands have on their communities,” said Renae Gaudette, President of Franchising at Winmark Corporation. “I can’t think of a more fitting franchisee partner than Allison to be able to share this experience with. Allison is everything we look for in a franchisee – she is compassionate, community-driven, a leader in our network, and understands

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the sustainable value our retail resale brands bring to families.

As we continue to grow, our impact will only strengthen as we aim to further our position as the industry leader in resale and sustainability. Our team is regularly evaluating potential markets for future expansion of all Winmark brands – and, while we’re already a household name for many, we’re looking forward to reaching even more families across North America in the years to come.”

To learn more about Winmark – the Resale Company™, and its franchise opportunities, visit: winmarkfranchises.com For more information on once upon a child, visit: www.onceuponachild.com.

JUICE IT UP! CONTINUES TO SMASH SALES RECORDS IN THIRD QUARTER Juice It Up!, one of the nation’s leading handcrafted smoothie, superfruit bowl and raw juice chains, today announced year-over-year same store sales (SSS) increased 16.7% for the third quarter of 2021. Same store sales also impressively jumped 35% year to date. Additionally, Average Unit Volume (AUV) is up significantly over the past four quarters, with the chain’s top 25% averaging more than $800,000 in annual sales and the top 50% not far behind at nearly $700,000. 2021 is on pace to finish as the best sales year in the history of Juice It Up!, with Total System Sales expected to reach more than $42 million, a new all-time high for the 26-year old chain.

“We are extremely proud of our Q3 performance and encouraged to be headed toward the end of 2021 in top form with considerable brand momentum and more sales records in our sights,” said Susan Taylor, president & CEO of Juice It Up! “In many ways, our Q3 sales performance reflects what we’ve experienced for the previous two years – with same store sales growing impressively last year and even more so through the first three quarters in 2021 – driven by a growing number of dedicated franchisees who continue to embrace the Juice It Up! business model and fuel our success.”

Zoom Room achieves record breaking growth With the pet industry booming, Zoom Room, the venturebacked, revolutionary indoor dog training gym has quadrupled its footprint across the country since the beginning of the pandemic. This impressive growth includes the signings of 30 new franchise agreements.

Zoom Room entered 2020 with nine locations in four states and now has 41 units open or in development across 14 states. By January 2022, Zoom Room expects to have 20 units open and 30 in development for a total of 50 locations! Throughout the years, Zoom Room has built a sense of community and transformed dog training into an infinitely repeatable affair with its mission of positive reinforcement methods, emphasizing socialization while focusing on the relationship between dog and owner.

We credit our extreme growth curve to astute investors responding well to Zoom Room’s ability to serve the needs of dog owners with a demonstrably profitable business model, thus meriting our brickand-mortar place in communities across the country,” said Mark Van Wye, CEO of Zoom Room.

“Zoom Room has seen a tremendous growth in sales with an increase of 99% in same-store sales compared to the prior year,” said Anthony Polazzi, President of AP Franchised Concepts, the Venture Capital firm backing Zoom Room.

“Juice It Up!’s continued unprecedented sales growth is a true testament to our ever-increasing network of loyal and astute franchisees who are helping each day to author our brand story,” added Taylor. “The Juice It Up! family of franchise owners are not only savvy businesspeople, but authentic ambassadors who abide by our motto to ‘Live Life Juiced!’ With wellness products in ultra-high demand, and white space throughout the western U.S. for proven healthy fast casual concepts like Juice It Up!, there’s never been a better time to partner with our resurgent brand.”

“We’re excited to support Zoom Room in expanding into multiple markets where the pet industry is booming. Zoom Room has one of the strongest and healthiest profit margins and is truly a company to watch within the franchise industry.”

For more information about the Juice It Up! brand and available franchise opportunities, visit www.juiceitupfranchise.com.

For more information about Zoom Room, visit https:// zoomroom.com/. For those interested in learning about franchise opportunities: https://zoomroom.com/franchise/.

With an unusually low startup cost in the pet space, the franchise brand includes easy build-out and low payroll costs with staffing needs limited to only two people at a given time. The company also provides meticulous training as well as state-of-the-art marketing support for its franchisees.

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what’s new!

CARIBOU COFFEE LAUNCHES DOMESTIC FRANCHISE PROGRAM FUELED BY PANERA BRANDS

Caribou Coffee®, a national premium coffeehouse and Panera Brands portfolio concept, announced today the launch of its domestic franchise program.

Since its inception in 1992, Caribou Coffee has emerged as a leader in the coffeehouse segment known for innovative handcrafted products and award-winning customer experience, with over 718 locations systemwide including 314 company-owned primarily across the Midwest. Leveraging the successful model that has fueled continued growth for three decades, Caribou Coffee’s domestic

franchise launch marks the first time interested candidates in the United States have an opportunity to own and operate coffeehouses which were previously only available internationally, through nontraditional or licensing.

The Caribou Cabin design coupled with the concept’s traditional coffeehouse prototype, featuring a larger footprint for sit-down dining, offers franchisees flexible offerings that can cater to the unique criteria of their market and accelerate growth. Caribou Coffee is seeking experienced multi-unit operators to join its nationwide development efforts. Qualified

candidates have extensive franchising and food and beverage experience, ideally with a background in multi-unit franchise ownership For more information on Caribou Coffee’s franchise opportunities visit cariboucoffee.com/franchising.

Batteries Plus Signs 20 new store Agreements The nation’s largest and fastest-growing battery, light bulb, key fob and repair franchise, Batteries Plus, announced today significant third quarter growth with the signing of 20 new store agreements, bringing the brand’s total signings for the year to 66.

Included in the 20 new store agreements was a 10-unit signing which will expand the brand in Nevada and Utah, a three-unit signing in Philadelphia, PA and multiple two-packs set to expand Batteries Plus into Sacramento, CA and Wichita, KS. Additional single-unit signings will grow the brand in Georgia, Texas, Illinois and California.

Excitement around the brand’s growth is driven in large part

by Vice President of Franchise Development and Relations and Certified Franchise Executive (CFE), Joe Malmuth. Batteries Plus has its sights set on an additional 15-20 signings before the end of the year – solidifying the record-breaking success the brand has seen in 2021.

“Entrepreneurs and current store owners want to join and reinvest in our system because we offer a stable, lucrative business model and our third quarter growth is a testament to the strength of our brand,” says Malmuth. “We are very proud of our continued success and look forward to strengthening our presence in key markets throughout the country with dedicated and passionate owners.”

The brand has noted an exciting trend of multi-unit ownership, showcased nicely by the 10-unit signing in the third quarter.

“Our focus for 2021 has been to promote infrastructure investments

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that will continue to help our existing franchisees navigate the uncertain environment brought on by the pandemic. At the same time, we have kept our sights set on expansion of our brand through new ownership,” said Scott Williams, CEO of Batteries Plus. “As we look ahead to the end of the year and early 2022, we will put our efforts toward bringing our unmatched products and services to communities across the country that are currently underserved by our brand.”

With over 760 store locations in operation and development nationwide, Batteries Plus franchise owners are passionate about providing essential products and services for their local communities.

To learn more about Batteries Plus, including information on the franchise opportunity or tour a store virtually, visit batteriesplusfranchise.com

BUDDY’S HOME FURNISHINGS SIGNS EIGHT-UNIT DEAL IN GEORGIA Buddy’s Home Furnishings, a retailer specializing in the sales and rental ownership of furniture, electronics, appliances and home accessories, awarded Loren Pierce, PharmD, RPh, with eight franchise locations across Georgia. The agreement adds to Buddy’s recent spike in statewide interest, reaching 16 signed franchise deals in 2021 alone. Once open, Buddy’s will have nearly 40 locations across Georgia.

Pierce is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Pierce Pharmacy Management, Inc., an entity group comprising more than 20 retail pharmacies, durable medical equipment, drug wholesale and flower shops.

“With shrinking margins in the retail pharmacy environment, I started exploring other synergistic, community-focused retail businesses which led me to Buddy’s,” said Pierce. “As a pharmacist, my mission is to serve my community and to ultimately make it better. This philosophy aligned well with Buddy’s core mission and values, making the franchise opportunity a natural fit for my next venture.”

which is something we can all celebrate,” said Michael Bennett, CEO of Buddy’s. “We’re thrilled to have Loren Pierce on board as our newest multi-unit franchisee. His expertise as a seasoned entrepreneur paired with his commitment to the communities he serves makes him an ideal fit for the Buddy’s team.”

The new franchised storefronts are scheduled to open over the next three years and planned for the communities of Jackson, McDonough, Covington, Monroe, Winder, Athens and Milledgeville across the state of Georgia.

Founded in Buddy’s adopted the franchise model in 2009 and was acquired by Franchise Group, Inc. in 2020. This year, the company celebrates 60 years in business and has more than 300 operating stores, 269 of which are franchised locations.

“This deal allows Buddy’s to bring an affordable way to attain home necessities to eight new communities across Georgia,

For more information or to inquire about franchising, visit OwnABuddys.com.

First-Ever PropTech Franchise Now Selling Territories

Through its automated data capture and delivery platforms, the first PropTech franchise emerges from a likely source— MooveGuru. For five years, MooveGuru has been perfecting the consumer experience during their moving process. Now, the robust platform supports consumers throughout the homeownership lifecycle.

Its latest endeavor, YourHomeHub, is the first consumer portal that is “Everything Home,” meaning it allows homeowners to manage both the financial details and physical elements of their home. The consumer can monitor extensive information about their home and local market conditions, store important documents, generate accurate estimates for home repairs and find a local contractor for over 1,000 different home service categories.

The platform, provided by real estate professionals, gives a

powerful homeowner resource to their customers—at no cost to them. Real estate professionals also receive exclusive marketing opportunities to their spheres of influence, which prevents competitors from engaging with their most coveted contacts from the dashboard.

All of this is packaged into a unique franchise opportunity for existing MooveGuru partners, including real estate brokerages, lenders, title and MLS’s. Start up costs including the initial franchise fee for a unit franchise is under $50,000., YourHomeHub is ripe for rapid national expansion through an exciting, affordable franchise model that’s home-based and ready-made for anyone involved in real estate, home services, or local sales and marketing.

Your Home Hub franchise is the perfect opportunity for someone who loves to network, desires flexible work hours and is looking for a recurring revenue model.

To learn more about a Your Home Hub Franchise and available territories please visit yourhomehub.com.

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Remedy Spa & Salon Suites

A hair-raising business opportunity Salons across America are venturing into territories never before seen. From dyes to dreads and bobs to braids, salons of the 21st century go far beyond the cut-and-curl beauty parlors of our grandparents’ age, and with that change has come a remaking of the salon model itself.

Atlanta’s Mychel “Snoop” Dillard, a selfdescribed “serial entrepreneur,” plans to cash in on changes in the highly profitable

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beauty industry by offering franchises for her Remedy Salon Suites. Her company is seeking qualified people interested in buying into her salon model, one that leases suites to beauty professionals and offers semi-absentee ownership for franchisees in cities across the United States.

The Buy-In Remedy Salon Suites franchises are $20,000, and Dillard expects a total investment range from $60,000 to $100,000. Franchisees must also have $50,000 in liquid capital. Target location areas are mid-sized to large cities around the country, including Atlanta where Dillard already owns three.

“We’re looking for people who are headstrong and looking for a business that is semi-absentee ownership,” she adds.

There are three company-owned salon

suites established in the Atlanta area. One was a former doctor’s office, and another was a spa. Both locations are already set up for a suite of salons to move in with a minimum amount of construction needed.

The third location was a shell, so more work was needed.

Each salon contains suites leased out to beauty professionals. Franchisees are responsible for finding a space, fitting out salon suites and renting those suites to beauty professionals. Remedy Salon Suites provides training and support throughout the process.

“We support our franchisees from A to Z. From hiring the right contractors and architects and giving them the training they need to keep the suites at least 92% occupancy,” Dillard says.

Amenities and perks to leasing include 24/7 access to their suites, upscale studios,

spacious single/double suites, private parking, valet parking, premium fixtures, finishes and appliances.

Once approved, franchisees will obtain access to the brand; tested and proven processes and support; purchasing power and distribution chains; cooperative marketing; new product research; development and roll-out; experienced training staff; and continuing training and education.

The concept of leased suites is ideal for someone looking to invest in real estate rather than owning a hands-on business.

Once the build-out is complete, beauticians lease the suites and must provide their own business licenses and insurance, an ideal situation for beauty professionals who want to work their way up to owning their own salons - a business incubator, of sorts. It’s also good for beauty professionals who don’t want the overhead and upkeep of owning their own salons.

Maintenance requests and lease payments to owners are done through an app - each location has its own - making absentee ownership more of a reality. Franchise owners are responsible for the upkeep of the restrooms and common areas.

Staying Afloat During a Recession “The beauty business is one that’s recession-proof,” Dillard says. In addition to the salons, her portfolio includes co-ownership of five restaurants and commercial properties. It was the COVID19 pandemic, though, that made Dillard’s eye turn toward the salon business.

“The pandemic made me realize that I should invest more in the salon suites and open up more locations versus being highly invested in restaurants which, of course, provided more profit but, you know, there are so many more details - so many more overhead costs and operating costs. And, a restaurant is by far not a semi-absentee ownership opportunity or recession proof, which the beauty industry is, as well as being a brilliant, multi-million-dollar industry.”

Courses in financial literacy are offered through the company’s DHG University,

teaching people how to build business credit and clean up their credit reports in order to get funding to invest in a business.

While DHG does not offer funding, it has affiliate partners on its website that help with financing.

Dillard’s business philosophy?

“I’m pretty much direct when it comes to business. I believe in making sure that I know where every dollar is being spent and maximizing profits without having a lot of overhead costs.”

Her Path to Success Mychel Dillard is black. She’s a woman.

She became a teenage mom at 15. And she’s gay. It may not be the successful business profile set by Dale Carnegie in the 1970s, but with America now a moreaccepting country and the glass ceiling shattered, Dillard’s back story, along with dogged determination and her try-and-tryagain attitude, has made her among the most-successful black female entrepreneurs in the country.

“I’ve had lot of ups and downs, you know, on the road to success,” she says. “I’ve had businesses that have been stolen by my employees. I’ve had many failures and have done various types of businesses, along the way. So, it hasn’t been a walk in the park.”

Dillard, a native of Detroit, was accepted into Vanderbilt University when she was 16. She knew at an early age she wanted to take an alternate route in life and always dreamed of playing in the WNBA. However, her hoop dreams dissolved once she realized a passion for entrepreneurship and business.

Following graduation in 2005, she worked as a financial advisor and investor for an arm of American Express, while holding a license in real estate, investing in rental properties, and offering advice to those interested in managing their finances and purchasing new homes. The real estate market was hit hard in the recession of 2008, and Dillard’s properties were foreclosed on.

“It changed my credit and also my

confidence in investing in the real-estate industry,” she says.

She remained in Nashville, opened The G-Spot Lounge and when it closed, she lost her $35,000 investment. But a move to Atlanta proved to be her ticket to success. Dillard started a successful Party Bus (Kings), driving the bus herself to save money. That financial success led to investing in a hair salon and spa and a hookah bar, a win-win for Dillard. But she wanted more.

Partnering With Celebrity In 2016, Dillard met Grammy awardwinning rapper Tauheed “2 Chainz,” Epps, who, at the time, was looking for new business opportunities. Not long after their initial meeting, they partnered to open Escobar Restaurant and Tapas Lounge in Atlanta through Dillard Hospitality Group, and now have several additional food venues, including Crave Restaurant; Members Only, a VIP lounge that caters to Atlanta celebrities, socialites and business owners; and Escobar South. But it does not end there. Dillard’s and Epps’ latest collaboration is Esco Seafood, a restaurant near Atlanta’s Little Five Points neighborhood serving fresh seafood and made-from-scratch sauces.

The partnership has been a good one. Epps’ celebrity has been good for marketing; Dillard’s business acumen has been good for growth of their restaurant empire.

“He allows me to do my thing, which is to operate the restaurants because that’s not his forte. His strength is music,” Dillard says. “So, we have a good balance when it comes that.”

Epps and Dillard expect to offer franchises in Escobar in the next year.

Dillard also plans to get into real estate development in the next 12 months as well as teach people how to open their own salon suites business, even if it’s not one of her franchises on the website salonsuitesmastercourse.com.

To learn more about becoming a Remedy Spa & Salon Suites franchisee, visit http://www.remedysalonsuites.com/ franchise.

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ex per t advice

Heather Ripley | Founder and CEO | Ripley PR

What your home service franchise brand could do better

Heather Ripley

The home service franchise industry is doing well, but are you? Could business be better?

Could you use more qualified leads? Are you attracting the attention you want?

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If the answer is no, you may need to rethink your business strategy and partner with a PR agency that can help you jump start your business and enjoy the success you deserve. But before you dive into a relationship with a general PR agency that promises results, take it slow. Home service franchise businesses are very different than your typical fast-food franchise or tire and lube shop franchises. As such, you require an agency partner with know-how and experience in your industry in order to get the results that actually make a difference.

As a home service franchisor, not only do you want success for your brand, you also want success for your franchisees. In order for them to build their own franchise success story, they depend on your franchise brand to give them a leg up on the competition in the home services field.

So, if your brand isn’t getting all the attention, the business and all the leads you desire, what are you going to do about it? First off, if you have a PR partner, you might want to think about making a change. If you have never engaged a PR agency to boost your business, now

“The best thing about partnering with a home service industry pro is that you can feel secure in knowing they have your back at all times.” might be a good time to think about being proactive, rather than being reactive.

It’s true that business ebbs and flows, but if you could, use a dedicated partner to keep the flow going and actually increasing – here are some tips to hiring the right PR partner.

Do your homework Research PR agencies that specialize in home service businesses. Ask business contacts for recommendations, look at PR agency websites and social media to see who their clients are and what the agency is doing for those clients. See how they are promoting their clients, and think about what that agency might do for your business.

Investigate industry publications Start reading up on home service industry publications and trade group websites to see what PR agencies are active and regularly publish helpful articles. If an agency is active on industry-related social media and in the news themselves, then you know they’ll probably do a good job promoting your franchise as well.

Interview several agencies Once you narrow it down, interview each agency. Ask a lot of questions, especially about current and past clients in the home services franchise business. Does the agency have a proven track record with home services franchises like plumbing, HVAC, garage door, roofing, gutter, window, siding and decking businesses?

Ask about successes and failures and find out how they would approach your franchise’s unique challenges.

The best thing about partnering with a home service industry pro is that you can feel secure in knowing they have your back at all times. They know the industry

“Having that familiarity and deep knowledge of your franchise business makes a difference in knowing what PR techniques work and what don’t.

A specialized agency won’t waste your time and money learning on the job, because they already get it.” leaders, the top media to pitch stories to, the most respected publications and journals to publish in and the audiences you are trying to reach.

In addition, a specialized agency is familiar with your industry terminology and jargon and they actually understand your business model. Having that familiarity and deep knowledge of your franchise business makes a difference in knowing what PR techniques work and what don’t. A specialized agency won’t waste your time and money learning on the job, because they already get it.

Finally, a home service PR agency is an expert in lead generation and attracting new franchisees to your business. One of the most important facets of promoting franchise brands is helping to develop a strategy to obtain qualified franchisee

leads. Because growing your brand is what you want, choosing a PR partner who knows exactly how to prepare your brand for expansion is one of the most important decisions you can make for your franchise’s future success.

Heather Ripley is founder and CEO of Ripley PR, an elite, global public relations agency specializing in franchising, home service and building trades. Ripley PR has been recognized

by Entrepreneur Magazine as a Top Franchise PR Agency three years in a row and was named to Forbes’ America’s Best PR Agencies for 2021. She is the author of “NEXT LEVEL NOW: PR Secrets to Drive Explosive Growth for your Home Service Business.”

For additional information, visit www.ripleypr.com

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ex per t advice

George Knauf | Senior Franchise Business Advisor | FranChoice

Feeling Stuck and Getting Free

What does waking up on a Monday morning feel like for you? (Did the question alone cause a bad feeling?) Did you feel full of life and excited for the day and week? No? Why not?

Do you know the fires waiting to be put out at work? Do you dread seeing your boss or going to meetings? Is what you do not what you thought you would be doing at this point in your life? Working under this stress is unbearable.

Or have you already been laid off and

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waking up on Monday morning is a reminder that you have no place to go today, no projects to complete?

Finding employment is easy for some, and not for others. The biggest labor need is at the lower pay levels. At higher pay there are factors that seem to keep good workers out of the workforce.

All too often I talk to professionals. who feel like they are on a treadmill. When I ask how they got to their current job sometimes I just get a blank stare back because they didn’t really have a plan.

My favorite day of the week is Monday! I always wake up early on Mondays, get to the gym early, stop for coffee and at my desk before 6am. I don’t ever have a day that feels like work!

Fridays are my hard day because the people I would do business with take the weekend off, but Mondays I get back to growing my empire and doing what I love doing.

The difference between my Monday and your Monday may be having the freedom to use my skills how I want, when I want and grow something that fits my vision. My Monday may be better than your vacation.

I got there via business ownership and franchising. Once you control your cash flow you can have the freedom to make all the other decisions in your life independent of how you will pay your bills.

Want to spend more time with family? Be at your children’s school and sports events?

Go on an actual date with your spouse?

George Knauf

deliver you a good retirement.The rules changed 20 years ago. You still do the work but they don’t owe you anything.

Franchise companies, on the other hand, have a vested interest in your success as you build your asset. They are paid to support you and as you grow they get a little slice of that success they helped you achieve.

“Want to get unstuck, then take an action that changes how you work, your lifestyle and start building an asset you own! It may be easier than you think. There are professionals like me as well and others that help you figure out the pieces of the puzzle.”

Travel more, explore the world? All you have to do is build a cash flow that supports your lifestyle.

Does it sound too simple? Well, in a sense it is. Someone has already done much of the work for you. They built a business, proved that there is demand, documented the systems it used, created a training program and now are set up to teach you how to run the business they started and support you as you grow it.

is owning your home a goal you have?

Why? Either way you often pay similar amounts monthly, so it must be the equity you can build as a home owner, that’s what makes owning your home more attractive.

Business is a lot like a home, you buy it or fund its creation, you work on it and own it over time and your goal is the same as your home. You want it to build equity.

Your job is like renting your home.

Minimal in, no real plans to “We needcost to to bemove constantly 90% of first-time business buyers are stay, no sense of ownership and when you looking for new ways to grow looking to create a better life. The other leave you have built equity for 10% are living an awesome our life and just business, find new customers, develop someone else. You traded your time, lifestyle for trying to make itnew even revenue better! Dostreams you and better develop our teams.” some money and a false sense of security identify with one of those categories? Have to build their dreams. you ever wondered why owning a business is more attractive?

Here it is in a nutshell: Do you own or rent your home? If you rent,

Why do you own your home but rent the income that pays the mortgage? I know it is because we have all been taught that if you work hard that corporate America will

As it turns out, franchises may be exactly the place your parents and grandparents envisioned helping you build a great life and retirement, they just didn’t have a crystal ball to see what today’s business environment looked like.

Want to get unstuck, then take an action that changes how you work, your lifestyle and start building an asset you own! It may be easier than you think. There are professionals like me as well and others that help you figure out the pieces of the puzzle.

What will it cost you not to? What is your success story? Let’s go find it!

George Knauf is a highly sought after, trusted advisor to many of the top franchise ownership groups in the world.

With over 25 years of experience in both start-up and mature business franchise operations he is uniquely qualified to advise individuals that have dreamed of Building their own empires. Whether you have an existing portfolio or searching for your first franchise, he can help you to pursue your dreams. www.MyPerfectFranchise.com

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FR A NCH ISEE I N ACT I O N

Main Squeeze Juice Co.

No Obstacle is Too Hard to Handle for This Brother and Sister Franchisee Duo Main Squeeze Juice Co. franchisees, Andrew Blackwell and Jennifer Perkins, have opened five locations in the New Orleans area in the past three years, three of which opened in the last nine months.

If opening three businesses in under a year wasn’t hard enough, the brother and sister duo have also faced many challenges including the COVID19 pandemic, hurricanes, and raising young children.

Blackwell and Perkins dove into the juice and smoothie business after deciding they wanted to own a business that contributed to the overall wellbeing of the communities they would operate in. After owning three Anytime Fitness gym franchises, they discovered the need for a healthier, quickservice restaurant. Main Squeeze Juice Co. was the perfect franchise opportunity for the duo with its nutritionist-designed, superfood-centric menu that offers a daily source of plant-based nutrition packed with natural and quick energy.

Blackwell Family

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While the pair has had much success with Main Squeeze Juice Co., it has not come easy as Blackwell and Perkins have been presented, with many obstacles, the most recent being Hurricane Ida. The storm

“Blackwell and Perkins dove into the juice and smoothie business after deciding they wanted to own a business that contributed to the overall wellbeing of the communities they would operate in.”

caused severe destruction across Louisiana and the New Orleans community. Perkins and her family were displaced from their home due to severe damages and are currently living out of a hotel while repair begins. The duo’s Main Squeeze Juice Co. stores were mostly unaffected from a damage standpoint but were without power for over 2 weeks. Being without power for such a long period of time resulted in the loss of all their fresh inventory. It took nearly 5 days for them to clean out all of their freezers and coolers as well as disinfect each location. When the power finally came back on, Blackwell and Perkins wasted no time opening their doors and they received an overwhelming amount of support from the local communities.

“Being able to offer a fresh, plant-powered smoothies to people who have been living off of MRE’s (meals, ready-to-eat) felt amazing and is the very reason we decided to join Main Squeeze Juice Co. in the first place,” said Blackwell. “While our community has a long uphill road ahead of us, it’s rewarding to know that we can offer a sense of normalcy to our loyal customers as they deal with the aftermath from the storm.”

Despite the catastrophic damage to

their community, Blackwell and Perkins were still able to open their fifth Main Squeeze Juice Co. location just weeks after Hurricane Ida tore through New Orleans.

During this time, all of their locations were able to offer the community fresh options, which many were unable to access elsewhere. While many other businesses hit pause over similar circumstances, Blackwell and Perkins took on the challenge and stayed committed to their customers. Their resilience comes as no surprise because of their loyal customer base and great family support system.

Raising young families while owning five Main Squeeze Juice Co. locations has been a lot of work for the duo. Finding a work-life balance can be complicated when owning multiple franchises. Luckily, as siblings and co-franchisees, Blackwell and Perkins have seamlessly integrated family into their business. From their children always stopping into the locations for a quick treat to Perkins’ oldest daughter, Brooklyn, working for them, they have been able to spend time with their families while living out their entrepreneurial dreams.

“Our spouses, Ricky Perkins and Lizzy Blackwell, are crucial to our success,” said

Perkins Family

Blackwell. “They have spent countless nights and weekends helping out when we are short staffed and the kids love spending time with their amazing grandparents! Jen and I owe our success to our family, our employees, and our customers because we couldn’t do it without them!”

While it is no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has put a strain on the restaurant industry, Blackwell and Perkins have not let it stop them from continuing to build their franchises. By offering nutrient-rich, whole, natural foods, they have been able to thrive throughout the pandemic. The ingredients used at Main Squeeze Juice Co. are fresh, never pasteurized, 100 percent plant-powered, and have been shown to increase immune systems. With many consumers becoming hyper-conscious of what they are putting into their bodies since the start of the pandemic this has led to an overall increase in sales.

While Blackwell and Perkins have experienced many challenges in their first few years as Main Squeeze Juice Co. franchisees, they have shown that they have what it takes to be successful leaders and franchise all stars. As they continue to thrive, the duo has no plans of slowing their roll in their home state of Louisiana.

To learn more about franchise opportunities with Main Squeeze Juice Co. please visit https://www. mainsqueezefranchise.com/

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WOMEN IN FRANCHISING

Rosemarie Hartnett | Abrakadoodle

A creative calling When it comes to creative impact, Abrakadoodle’s President and CoFounder Rosemarie Hartnett brings clear focus, powerful resolve and imaginative solutions.

Through an exhausting pandemic, Ms. Hartnett knows that weary parents need to know that they can trust children’s services program providers to re-engage and uplift their children as schools and related extracurricular programs restart. “We want to reignite children’s imaginations and love of learning,” says Rosemarie Harnett. For 19 years, awardwinning Abrakadoodle has brought the most comprehensive, well-rounded art education that fuses creativity development with hands-on learning, weaving in important educational experiences with STEAM, world cultures, along with classic and contemporary artists, art forms and styles. During 2020-2021, Ms. Hartnett acted with speed and innovation as her franchise system faced the global pandemic. She launched Operation Splat Connects, which entailed the creation of new, Abrakadoodle Online Art programs, newly designed Doodle Kits to meet home-bound art programming needs and franchisee and teacher training. “These Covid-19 times have tested us all,” remarked Ms. Hartnett. “We knew it was important to stay connected with the communities we serve in order to share experiences and to best understand what they needed. We knew art could uplift us all, especially the children.”

“In good times and in challenging times, art connects us and inspires wonder.”

From listening to franchise owners, organizing franchise ownerled tasks forces and surveying parents and sites that host the Abrakadoodle program, to sharing leadership experiences and engaging women within the franchise industry, Ms. Hartnett has greatly impacted franchising overall. She collaborated with franchise owners and guided her Abrakadoodle team with a strategic plan designed to focus on meeting the evolving needs of the award-winning art education franchise. “In the darkest of times what did we all need?” asked Ms. Hartnett. She responded to this question by saying, “The answer was clear. We needed to stay connected, share experiences and support each other.” From the outset of the pandemic, Abrakadoodle quickly launched a 13-week Splat Doodle Art Challenge with art activities to stimulate creativity for children sequestered at home. This program has enabled franchise owners to connect with families, site partners, schools and even community leaders during this

Franchising USA

long journey. Local mayors and other local leaders could be seen joining Abrakadoodle live videos doing art and connecting with their communities! Ms. Hartnett remarks, “Art uplifts us all!” In addition to the sizeable challenges facing her franchise system, Ms. Hartnett continued to be a leader and a listener, providing assistance through webinars, such as participating as an IFA Panelist designed to highlight the reopening of the Franchise Educational Sector.

Ms. Hartnett has always championed the belief that the key to success in business and life is to remain an active learner.

Abrakadoodle is a franchise company centered on this philosophy of active discovery learning to help young children become problem solvers and innovators. As a past Chair for the ICFE Board of Governors, she continues to promote the program. In a recent video released by the ICFE, Ms. Hartnett says, “The CFE program has enabled me to keep current, helped me develop invaluable relationships, remain future focused and be always learning!” She has inspired many others in franchising to join the program.

In good times and in challenging times, art connects us and inspires wonder. Abrakadoodle’s Rosemarie Harnett, through her savvy and swift, creative actions demonstrates how a woman of impact can inspire others and create pathways for progress.

For more information, visit: www.abrakadoodle.com/franchise/

“From the outset of the pandemic, Abrakadoodle quickly launched a 13week Splat Doodle Art Challenge with art activities to stimulate creativity for children sequestered at home.”

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Lucas Frey | CEO | Bella Vista Executive Advisors

Make your success: Service Excellence Required

What IT is: Service excellence, the IT factor is a positive by-product of a High-Performance Team and a company’s overall culture.

The Zappos’ customer service story is famous and bears repeating. “Mrs. Smith” placed a special order for her husband;

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however, her husband passed before the gift arrived. Mrs. Smith called to cancel but the order had shipped. After finding out why, not only was the shipment stopped, the Zappos’ agent sent flowers to Mr. Smith’s memorial. This behavior doesn’t happen by chance. Service excellence is embedded in the habits of a company from the CEO down. IT is made part of a company’s DNA. Conversely, my wife and I recently had an experience with a well-known

appliance manufacturer known for having compressor design defects (class action lawsuit settled). The refrigerator was less than three years old and one Sunday we noticed everything in the freezer wasn’t frozen. I called the manufacturer’s customer service and was told an authorized service technician would be available six days out simply to diagnose the problem. The refrigerator was stocked so that was a negative option but the only option the representative was allowed

“Consistency in the Service Excellence realm sets expectations for the customer service experience on every level internally and externally.”

a new (albeit different brand) was delivered and installed, 3 full days before a manufacturer’s authorized tech could even diagnose. The submitted invoice was rejected because “an authorized tech” did not diagnose the issue. The poor experience could have been stopped at any number of levels. This company made a conscious decision to continue to produce defective units AND created roadblocks to a positive customer experience.

Service excellence is measured every day when we complete satisfaction surveys.

Quantifiable numbers are important to measure past performance but the feeling a particular client experiences for both excellent (endorphins kick in) and poor service is long-lasting and likely to determine the level that customer will go to praise or criticize or worst of all, dismiss the company altogether (apathy). Too many customers feeling apathetic will spread like a wildfire. Conversely, excellent service provides an airbag to soften the blow when a company doesn’t deliver up to normal standards. Remember though, airbags are one-use tools and hurt when activated.

Establish your Service Excellence Plan from the moment you sign the franchise agreement.

The Why’s to offer. I had a reputable, though not manufacturer authorized, service company verify and document my suspicion the next day (Monday) that the compressor failed.

The technician told me, “This is common.

The particular manufacturer had settled a class-action lawsuit the previous year for defective compressors.” The cost of repair (replaced with another defectively designed compressor) was 85% of the cost of a new unit. We opted for door “B.” We packed all of the food in coolers and by Wednesday

Two powerful selling tools for your franchise are customer loyalty (repeat sales without extra selling time) and testimonials. The most efficient selling tool is a customer referring you to someone they know in need of what you offer.

Customers like to help those companies that help them feel good and provide what they need. But, give a customer a bad feeling about your company and they are quick to shout it from the social media mountain top.

Excellent customer service increases the internal efficiencies of your franchise.

Lucas Frey

“Service excellence is embedded in the habits of a company from the CEO down.

IT is made part of a company’s DNA.” Without adding extra resources fixing, apologizing and agonizing over bad experiences, your franchise can focus on how to add more value to your company and its customers’ experiences. Now, let’s say your franchise consistently performs in the excellent to phenomenal range but Mr. Jones is not happy with your customer service representative (who just lost their pet that week). This anomaly will stick out. You have the opportunity to not only win back Mr. Jones as a customer, but also, increase his loyalty depending on how your franchise handles the after-effects of poor service.

Working for your Service Excellence Striving Franchise is also rewarding for your employees and will aid with employee retention. Most people like to feel good about what they do for a living. A company that is always scrambling to “make things right” is bound to have finger pointing, chaos and dissension with its employees.

Consistency in the Service Excellence realm sets expectations for the customer service experience on every level internally and externally. This allows for outliers to be recognized and corrected quickly and efficiently.

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Lucas Frey | CEO | Bella Vista Executive Advisors

How to Move Service Excellence Forward Dig deep with the following questions: • What do customers really expect (not what we think they expect)?

• How will we set up systems to exceed customer expectations?

• What is the most efficient way to find relevant information?

• What systems are needed to periodically challenge and review these expectations?

• Establish systems to measure internal and external performance against expectations. Transparency and an action plan for constant improvement are crucial.

• Constantly review all processes in place for relevance and accuracy. Six Sigma teaches pure perfection is not possible and near-perfection is prohibitively costly; however, Successful Franchise Owners can implement cost-effective systems to move closer.

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• Look for results outside the norm (positive and negative) daily and address immediately. Heaping praise for the positive interactions and correcting the interactions that fall short.

• Incorporate Service Excellence in periodic strategic planning sessions.

Embed IT in your franchise’s daily life.

• Find out if customer expectations change and never assume what works today is going to work next week.

• Each expectation should be reviewed with an associated cost/benefit analysis.

• For each external customer, map all interaction points and have the systems in place to exceed expectations. The volunteer ushers at every Cincinnati Reds game are taught from the start that after showing a fan to their seat, wipe the seat for them. This happens in the nose bleed seats as well as the Diamond seats. A small but powerful message that makes a single fan feel important 21,000 times per game.

• Do what’s right especially when no one is looking.

• Be kind to everyone. There is no extra

effort required to smile and be kind to anyone you meet.

Service Excellence is a process that few companies deliver consistently. Your

franchise operations manual is a start. But expectations of customers in Mid-Town

Manhattan may be different than those in Tulsa. Know YOUR customers and their expectations. Work smart and hard and exceed those on a regular basis.

Lucas Frey improves franchise owners’ businesses where corporate support alone isn’t enough. He brings more than 26 years of varied professional experiences including 20 years asa franchise owner of ImageFIRST Cincinnati, six years as an industrial engineer for a Fortune 250 companyand 19 years as a volunteer firefighter. www.bellavistaexecutiveadvisors.com.

Don’t miss an issue Page 23

Get the App spacious single/double suites, private parking, valet parking, premium fixtures, finishes and appliances.

Once approved, franchisees will obtain access to the brand; tested and proven processes and support; purchasing power and distribution chains; cooperative marketing; new product research; development and roll-out; experienced training staff; and continuing training and education.

A HAIR-RAISING BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Salons across America are venturing into territories never before seen. From dyes to dreads and bobs to braids, salons of the 21st century go far beyond the cut-and-curl beauty parlors of our grandparents’ age, and with that change has come a remaking of the salon model itself.

Atlanta’s Mychel “Snoop” Dillard, a selfdescribed “serial entrepreneur,” plans to cash in on changes in the highly profitable

beauty industry by offering franchises for her Remedy Salon Suites. Her company is seeking qualified people interested in buying into her salon model, one that leases suites to beauty professionals and offers semi-absentee ownership for franchisees in cities across the United States.

The Buy-In Remedy Salon Suites franchises are $20,000, and Dillard expects a total investment range from $60,000 to $100,000. Franchisees must also have $50,000 in liquid capital. Target location areas are mid-sized to large cities around the country, including Atlanta where Dillard already owns three.

“We’re looking for people who are headstrong and looking for a business that is semi-absentee ownership,” she adds.

There are three company-owned salon

suites established in the Atlanta area. One was a former doctor’s office, and another was a spa. Both locations are already set up for a suite of salons to move in with a minimum amount of construction needed.

The third location was a shell, so more work was needed.

Each salon contains suites leased out to beauty professionals. Franchisees are responsible for finding a space, fitting out salon suites and renting those suites to beauty professionals. Remedy Salon Suites provides training and support throughout the process.

The concept of leased suites is ideal for someone looking to invest in real estate rather than owning a hands-on business.

Once the build-out is complete, beauticians lease the suites and must provide their own business licenses and insurance, an ideal situation for beauty professionals who want to work their way up to owning their own salons - a business incubator, of sorts. It’s also good for beauty professionals who don’t want the overhead and upkeep of owning their own salons.

Maintenance requests and lease payments to owners are done through an app - each location has its own - making absentee ownership more of a reality. Franchise owners are responsible for the upkeep of the restrooms and common areas.

Staying Afloat During a Recession “The beauty business is one that’s recession-proof,” Dillard says. In addition to the salons, her portfolio includes co-ownership of five restaurants and commercial properties. It was the COVID19 pandemic, though, that made Dillard’s eye turn toward the salon business.

“We support our franchisees from A to Z. From hiring the right contractors and architects and giving them the training they need to keep the suites at least 92% occupancy,” Dillard says.

“The pandemic made me realize that I should invest more in the salon suites and open up more locations versus being highly invested in restaurants which, of course, provided more profit but, you know, there are so many more details - so many more overhead costs and operating costs. And, a restaurant is by far not a semi-absentee ownership opportunity or recession proof, which the beauty industry is, as well as being a brilliant, multi-million-dollar industry.”

Amenities and perks to leasing include 24/7 access to their suites, upscale studios,

Courses in financial literacy are offered through the company’s DHG University,

teaching people how to build business credit and clean up their credit reports in order to get funding to invest in a business.

While DHG does not offer funding, it has affiliate partners on its website that help with financing.

Dillard’s business philosophy?

“I’m pretty much direct when it comes to business. I believe in making sure that I know where every dollar is being spent and maximizing profits without having a lot of overhead costs.”

Her Path to Success Mychel Dillard is black. She’s a woman.

She became a teenage mom at 15. And she’s gay. It may not be the successful business profile set by Dale Carnegie in the 1970s, but with America now a moreaccepting country and the glass ceiling shattered, Dillard’s back story, along with dogged determination and her try-and-tryagain attitude, has made her among the most-successful black female entrepreneurs in the country.

confidence in investing in the real-estate industry,” she says.

She remained in Nashville, opened The G-Spot Lounge and when it closed, she lost her $35,000 investment. But a move to Atlanta proved to be her ticket to success. Dillard started a successful Party Bus (Kings), driving the bus herself to save money. That financial success led to investing in a hair salon and spa and a hookah bar, a win-win for Dillard. But she wanted more.

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Remedy Spa & Salon Suites

Partnering With Celebrity In 2016, Dillard met Grammy awardwinning rapper Tauheed “2 Chainz,” Epps, who, at the time, was looking for new business opportunities. Not long after their initial meeting, they partnered to open $5.95 www.franchisingmagazineusa.com Escobar Restaurant and Tapas Lounge in Atlanta through Dillard Hospitality Group, and now have several additional food venues, including Crave Restaurant; Members Only, a VIP lounge that caters to Atlanta celebrities, socialites and business owners; and Escobar South. But it does not end there. Dillard’s and Epps’ collaboration is Esco Seafood, a VOL 09, ISSUE 12, NOV 2021 Rlatest FR ANCHISEES restaurant near Atlanta’s Little Five Points neighborhood serving fresh seafood and made-from-scratch sauces.

Franchising USA THE MAGAZINE FO

“I’ve had lot of ups and downs, you know, on the road to success,” she says. “I’ve had businesses that have been stolen by my employees. I’ve had many failures and have done various types of businesses, along the way. So, it hasn’t been a walk in the park.”

Dillard, a native of Detroit, was accepted into Vanderbilt University when she was 16. She knew at an early age she wanted to take an alternate route in life and always dreamed of playing in the WNBA. However, her hoop dreams dissolved once she realized a passion for entrepreneurship and business.

Following graduation in 2005, she worked as a financial advisor and investor for an arm of American Express, while holding a license in real estate, investing in rental properties, and offering advice to those interested in managing their finances and purchasing new homes. The real estate market was hit hard in the recession of 2008, and Dillard’s properties were foreclosed on.

“It changed my credit and also my

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REMEDY SPA & SALON SUITES

The partnership has been a good one. Epps’ celebrity has been good for marketing; Dillard’s business acumen has been good for growth of their restaurant empire.

“He allows me to do my thing, which is to operate the restaurants because that’s not his forte. His strength is music,” Dillard says. “So, we have a good balance when it comes that.”

A HAIR-RAISING BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

Epps and Dillard expect to offer franchises in Escobar in the next year.

Dillard also plans to get into real estate development in the next 12 months as well as teach people how to open their own salon suites business, even if it’s not one of her franchises on the website salonsuitesmastercourse.com.

EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES FOR

PROMOTING YOUR FRANCHISE

To learn more about becoming a Remedy Spa & Salon Suites franchisee, visit http://www.remedysalonsuites.com/ franchise.

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Chris Conner | President | Franchise Marketing Systems

Effective Strategies for Promoting Your Franchise

You’ve built a model that works, went through the process of developing the franchise, and have those i’s dotted and the t’s crossed. Now what? It’s time to get the word out.

Promoting your franchise is about messaging and target audience. We aren’t pitching this to just anyone. We have to really understand a buyer’s profile before any other key stroke.

Firstly, we need to look at the overall

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investment numbers. Are these people investors? Is this business a passion project? That will help decipher our demographic. Secondly, we need to understand the person and where they are in life. Can your franchisees be a part of your network as a side gig? Do they need to be owner-operators? These factors are part of our messaging. Once we know our audience, it’s go time.

Digital advertising isn’t a maybe — it’s a must-have. Social media campaigns, PPC advertising, and local SEO are all viable options. Developing an effective strategy will take time at the beginning. At the outset of a social media campaign and PPC ads, we need to understand which ads are

attracting our buyers the most effectively.

After that, pour more money into the ads that worked and ditch the ones that didn’t.

Don’t forget email marketing when devising your promotion strategy. A wellcrafted email can reap a lovely 4300% ROI . These emails can be sent out to your current customer base to begin with.

Many franchisors point out that quality leads come from their customers, either as referrals or the customers themselves.

PR and content marketing is another form of advertising that is extremely effective.

Quality content earns the trust of the reader. A simple press release announcing the launch of your franchise or the grand

“Once you’ve made the choice to franchise, taking your time in selling to the right people will make less work, and more income, for you down the road.”

place with a consistent customer base.

These people trust your business to the point that they are brand believers.

opening of a new unit is interesting for the local market and can catch the eye of a soon-to-be entrepreneur. If possible, PR can be linked from other sources as well, spinning a web of related content to your benefit. Placing ads in publications like Franchising USA gives you the stage in front of a general target audience who are actively seeking out franchise opportunities and is not a tool to be missed!

If you are a mobile operation, you may be surprised by the power of a simple Now Franchising or Franchises Available message on the side of your vehicle! The same goes for restaurants, entertainment venues, educational concepts, or any other

At my firm, we begin creating marketing collateral in tandem with our development process. Our team builds out a useful marketing tool suite that includes a web page or microsite, plus print materials.

Things like trifolds, postcards, tabletents, window clings, and brochures can share your message in a tangible way directly to your customers. These items can be placed in your store. Depending on your travel expense, trade shows are a great avenue for franchise promotion as well.

The difference here is that your potential franchisees are meeting you in person from the start and can get many of the questions answered right away in a low pressure setting. If you foresee trade show attendance being a regular thing, invest in quality booth materials upfront.

When it comes to implementing an effective strategy for your franchise, there is no shortage of tools out there. If you need help in marketing your current franchise, my team can help. We have a

Chris Conner

digital and print marketing team at our fingertips! Not a franchise yet? Our full service firm can get you there.

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 the U.S. and Canada and supports brands around the world to grow and scale through franchise expansion Visit www.fmsfranchise.com for more information

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George Lessmeister | Founder and CEO | LGC Hospitality

Staffing woes?

The answers are easy: fair pay and respect Franchise owners trying to fully reopen restaurants assumed, as the rest of us did, that when extended unemployment benefits ended in September, workers would come flooding back to jobs. That didn’t happen.

Instead, we continue to see signs for jobs everywhere. What’s happening? Where are all the workers?

George Lessmeister

Since the start of the pandemic in early 2020, the world has been turned upside down and us with it. We expected a couple months of quarantine and then back to work and life. Right?

Here we are 18 plus months later still tripping through every sector of the economy and life with starts and stops trying to figure out the new world, including job hiring and retention.

Quick serve and sit-down franchise owners continue to navigate the hiring conundrum daily trying to balance supply chains, health/safety and staffing. News stories are consistent across the country. Jobs are open, but year over year and labor participation in the United States is at one of the lowest points since the late 1950s— at under 62% of adults.

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They are out there. Indianapolis headquartered LGC has been in the staffing industry for almost 20 years and has offices in 40 cities across the country.

Our team continues to ask our hourly gig workers what they want, and we’re supporting sourcing restaurant managers at quick serve and sit-down locations.

Bottom line, hourly managers and workers think differently now and have the upper hand since they’re in demand. We asked our office leads nationwide what they’re seeing, hearing and feeling. Here’s what we learned.

• Despite staffing shortages, job openings continue to grow.

• Managers are receiving applications, showing the desire to find work is here.

• In some cases, applicants simply are not finalizing the hiring process.

• Here’s the key: Success in hiring and staffing is being seen in states where benefits ended early and wages were increased. The effect took up to 60 days to realize.

• And workers want respect, appreciation and balance.

Recent research confirms this. A white paper published in August by researchers at Columbia University, Harvard University, the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the University of Toronto, says states ended federal benefits early saw larger job

gains among the unemployed. Employment jumped 4.4 points relative to jobless individuals in states that kept benefits flowing. The report uses data through the first week of August. Sounds great right?

But it translates to just one in every eight unemployed people going back to work.

If you’re team needs to increase hiring, respond to how hourly workers live and work.

Think about how you hire. Several national news outlets have printed stories about job seekers who say employers are unresponsive. With a lot of job openings human resources professionals don’t have enough time to respond to everyone. On average for every job opening, an employer receives over 100 applications. Just 20% of those are interviewed, according to Forbes. Many companies are using talent management software with AI technology and recent articles show it’s weeding out the wrong (talented) applicants. And it’s simply not accessible for some hourly workers who do not have the same access to technology as a white-collar worker.

They may access computers at community centers, for example, and find it easy to job hunt in person.

If that happens and a job applicant comes in off the street to apply, what’s the process? Does staff know when an applicant is in the building what they should do? If not, it’s a lost opportunity to bring someone on your team who can fill gaps and serve customers. Communicate the hiring process to your staff, especially if there’s a help wanted sign posted on your building.

As noted in the statistic above (just 20% of applicants get interviewed due to the number of applicants), there just aren’t

“Bottom line, hourly managers and workers think differently now and have the upper hand since they’re in demand.”

enough people to find more people.

Partnering with a staffing firm provides extra staff and a flexible option to be able to respond to job applicants personally and professionally. Often staffing firms have gig workers who can go to work quickly fill staffing gaps that include managers along with hourly line staff.

Staffing agencies have experienced staff waiting to find and confirm their next gig. And companies, including LGC, use websites and apps to post open positions that can be filled quickly. Once a job is filled, how are you retaining staff?

Think about culture and respect in the workplace. Clients finding success staffing up and hiring are providing better wages and workplace environments.

We’ve all read the stories and heard from employees that flexibility is now a priority.

Technomic’s new research in the Crisis on the Front Lines Multi Client Study says 85% of workers responding cited work-life balance and professional management as the most important factors in a job.

The same study shows 66% of respondents view independent restaurant operators positively as employers compared to 55%

who say the same for chains. In fact, 20% say their perceptions of chains as employers are negative or very negative.

Ouch! What is your team doing to fix that perception?

Get back to the basics. Employees want simple things: a solid living wage, a positive working environment, appreciation and respect. The Technomic’s study says nearly 35% of workers said their tips and additional wages did not bring them up to their state’s minimum wage; and nearly half (47%) said they were not compensated for overtime.

Have your team’s back. A September report from One Fair Wage shows a startling reality from the point of view of hourly workers.

• Three quarters (75%) of tipped workers said gratuities have decreased and more than half (54%) reported an increase in hostility and harassment related to enforcing COVID protocols.

A report from Black Box Intelligence echoes the data and goes a step further: • More than two-thirds of current and former restaurant workers said

disrespect from customers is a factor in the industry’s labor shortage. We’ve all read the stories about workers trying to enforce COVID protocol and being harassed by customers.

• Almost half of those workers cited emotional abuse from their managers as a factor in the decision to leave the industry. In fact, 15% said they were sexually harassed by managers or coworkers, and another 15% said they were sexually hara ssed by customers.

The current employment and economic environment are not going to correct themselves in the short-term. A solid management team should know what they can control. The answer is easy. Pay a fair wage and treat staff as you’d like to be treated with respect, appreciation and dignity creating a workplace they won’t want to leave now or in the future.

George Lessmeister is CEO and founder of LGC Hospitality, a hospitality staffing firm that works with franchisees including quick serve and sit-down restaurant owners. The company is headquartered in Indianapolis operating in 40 cities across the country.

Franchising USA

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Page 27

The public and policymakers need to understand franchising.

Our purpose

@OurFranchise is an industry-wide campaign created to spread the word about the value of franchising and share the stories of men and women just like you, who are leading the way as franchisors, franchisees, and franchise employees. The franchise business model has been proven time and time again to work, but it’s threatened when the public and politicians don’t understand how it operates to benefit local, independent franchise establishment owners and their communities. Putting a spotlight on real leaders succeeding with the franchise model is how we’ll ensure franchising is stronger than ever before.

Follow us

Share the tools and resources offered on AtOurFranchise.org/resources

Help us keep the momentum going

Since our launch in June 2016, we’ve reached 1.7 million people through outreach efforts, including events in key cities and states, where we spoke directly with business owners, employees, policymakers, and the media. Additionally, we’ve reached people across America through our website and social media channels, digital advertisements, and the promotion of We the Franchisees on Politico – but there is much more work to do. As a franchisor, franchisee, or franchise vendor, you are a leader in your community – and we need your support, now more than ever.

You benefit by joining

By joining @OurFranchise, you’ll get access to exclusive stories and resources that can help grow your franchise business, educate employees at all levels about the franchise business model, and share the economic importance of franchising with consumers. You will also have the opportunity to share your franchise success story with your peers.

Visit AtOurFranchise.org Contact Erica Farage, Senior Director of Political Affairs and Grassroots Advocacy and Multi-Unit Franchisee Engagement International Franchise Association efarage@franchise.org (202) 662-0760

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b

a

x

Our Franchise

@OurFranchise

@OurFranchise

This is just the beginning

Make sure you stay up to date with the campaign’s latest efforts through email updates and social media.

Visit our website to read and share the latest stories of franchisors and franchisees making an impact in their communities. Become a franchise advocate to help ensure Americans, now and in the future, have the opportunity to start franchise businesses. Take the lead today!

our Next Feature: Food Franchises

Next month our Special Feature on Food Franchises provides the perfect opportunity to showcase your Franchise.

For advertising opportunities please contact Vikki Bradbury at: vikki@cgbpublishing.com

ex per t advice

Evan Hackel | Founder and CEO | Ingage Consulting

If You Are a Franchise Owner,

It’s Time to Put the Power of Mentoring to Work for You I have also had mentors of my own – in many cases, highly experienced executives who shared their knowledge with me - who have guided and encouraged me more than I can tell you.

At every stage in my mentoring activities, I felt as though I always saw some extra benefit happening – something I could not explain. People on both sides of mentoring activity – both mentors and mentees – were doing more than just sharing information.

They were being elevated in a mysterious way.

Evan Hackel

I have always been a great believer in mentoring. I have mentored young people in the organizations I have run. I have mentored people outside of my own companies too, including young people who were just starting out in their careers and starting new companies.

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And I Was Right!

It turns out that I was not imagining the extra benefits of mentoring.

I realized that was true recently when I moderated a Training Unleashed Podcast with Kevin Harrington and Mark Timm, two highly successful entrepreneurs who believe that the more you mentor others, the more success will come back to you.

Kevin was one of the original sharks on the hit television show Shark Tank. He is also recognized as the man who invented the infomercial. Mark, who calls himself a “serial entrepreneur,” has built successful companies in more than a dozen countries, from retail to wholesale to manufacturing and real estate.

“Positive mentoring relationships will reduce the cost of any mistakes you make and increase the chances of achieving success sooner.”

They believe so strongly in mentoring that they made it the focus of their new book, Mentor to Millions: Secrets of Success in Business, Relationships, and Beyond.

Both men told me that their success was transformed when they were working with the son of Zig Ziglar, the visionary business thinker who believed “you can have everything in life you want if you just help enough other people get what they want.”

Opportunities to Benefit from Mentoring in Your Franchise You can ask a more experienced franchise owner in your franchise company to act as your mentor. In fact, that is a terrific idea because someone who knows the ropes – and who has experienced both successes and setbacks – can teach you so much that you need to know about success.

Yet working with a more experienced person as a mentor is only one of the many ways you can put the power of mentoring

and increase the chances of achieving success sooner.

Never Stop Mentoring a Wide Range of People!

You can mentor younger people who are just starting out in their franchising careers. You can mentor people who are at mid-career transition points. The fact is, you can mentor people at all stages of their life journeys – and they can mentor you.

If you embark on this path, I believe you will discover what I have about mentoring.

It repays you in more ways than you expect. That’s what Kevin and Mark told me. And do you know, they are right.

to work as you build your franchising success.

Mentor Your Employees If you do, they become better employees who will support the success of your

franchise, sell more for you, remain with

you longer and help build your success in other ways.

Tap Other Franchise Owners to Mentor You or to Become Your Mentees They could be long-term owners, new owners, or anyone in between. The fact is, you don’t need to discover everything through a process of trial and error.

Positive mentoring relationships will reduce the cost of any mistakes you make

Evan Hackel, a 35-year franchising veteran is a nationally recognized expert and speaker on franchising. Evan is founder and CEO of Ingage Consulting, and CEO of Tortal Training, a leading training development company. Evan is an active advisor in the C-Suite Network.

He is also author of Ingaging Leadership, and host of “Training Unleashed,” a podcast covering training for business.

Contact him here, follow him at @ehackel, or call 781-820-7609.

Franchising USA

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ex per t advice

Rick Bisio | Franchise Coach | FranChoice

Auto Repair Franchises Offer

Consistent Demand for Business Anyone who owns a car knows the need for maintenance and repair on a vehicle doesn’t wait for a convenient time or when the economy is good.

As an industry, automotive repair has been considered recession-resistant exactly for this reason. Regardless of the economic climate, auto repair is a necessity and was considered an essential service during the pandemic.

One of the longtime calling cards of the auto repair industry was always having a demand for their services, which is a tremendous benefit for an automotive franchisee. Car repair services have always been and will continue to be in high demand. We have also seen that play

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out over the past year and a half. While some industries suffered greatly, the need for auto repair continued and may have experienced an increase in business.

In a down economy, there is an even greater need for vehicle maintenance. That is because people are less likely to buy new cars when things get tight. The older a car gets, the more mechanical issues come with it. Right now, the average age of a car is 12.1 years. Older cars on the road, prone to breakdowns, equate to good profit for car repair shops. It also means solid investment for entrepreneurs looking to buy into a high demand industry.

Manufacturing shortages at the onset of the pandemic, shutdowns and recent computer chip shortages have slowed the pace on the production of new cars. It is certainly affecting new car sales. According to J.D. Power, new vehicle sales are down 14 percent from this time last year, and down 25 percent from 2019.

The Traits of an Auto Repair Franchisee It is important to know that an auto repair franchisee doesn’t need to be a mechanic or be able to fix cars themselves to be an owner. Certainly, they will need to have an interest in cars and know the basics behind how a vehicle works and the ways to fix them. Over the past 10-20 years, there has been a shift in which franchisors are now looking for operators with business acumen and management skills.

Much of the physical work in repairing vehicles will be done by others, so franchisees need to be able to attract, hire, manage, retain and motivate employees.

It is not easy to find the right employees in any economy, but especially right now.

A good owner needs to be able to identify those individuals and connect with them to the point they like working for the franchisee.

A franchise owner in auto repair will

“One of the longtime calling cards of the auto repair industry was always having a demand for their services, which is a tremendous benefit for an automotive franchisee.”

a few manufacturers of electric cars.

Within several years, every single U.S. manufacturer will have a line of electric cars.

need to excel in customer service. People will come in with car problems and the news relayed them is not always good.

Usually, repairs are needed and it will cost them more money than they think.

In these situations, being fair and treating customers with respect builds trust and brand loyalty.

There can be an unfortunate stigma in the auto repair industry in which many customers are intimidated and feel like they will be taken advantage of. The ability to build positive customer relationships and trust is very important. That goes for employees as well and being able to hire the right person and teach them the values of customer service is important as well.

Building customer relationships helps create customer retention.

There are also several other requirements for a modern-day auto repair franchisee.

They need to understand the bookkeeping, expenses and the correct charges for the work being done. They also need to know

Rick Bisio

the right number of employees to hire based on the workload they will face.

While the franchisor will typically have marketing and advertising plans available to franchisees, the operators will have to engage customers in their community through traditional marketing and social media to become top of mind as the trusted automotive repair shop in their area.

Changes Coming to the Industry One major change on the horizon that may signal a massive shift in the auto repair industry within the coming years will come from the burgeoning electric car trend. There is a very real probability that within the next two decades, 50 percent of the cars on American roads will be electric. Right now, there are only

When the fleet of cars in the U.S. starts to shift to electric, what will that do to the automotive industry? It will potentially require a new type of shop. It may be specifically designed for fixing electric cars. It may mean the need for traditional services like transmission repair will decrease because it doesn’t exist in an electric car. In its place will be other types of service for electric cars that are not currently common. As a result, we will probably see existing brands reinventing themselves. They will expand their scope of services to include traditional work, along with electric car repair.

We are going to start seeing a lot of changes coming with the evolution of the auto repair industry. Some people may find that scary while others believe it will be an exciting time. This could create massive opportunity in the future as these new sectors come into play and the existing brands reinvent themselves. Regardless, there will be plenty of excellent franchise opportunities in the auto repair market.

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, Rick has assisted thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs nationwide explore the dream of business ownership. https://afranchisecoach.com/

Franchising USA

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WOMEN IN FRANCHISING

Susan Schopp | Founder and CEO | Neighbour’s Choice

Leading the way for female franchisors Franchising as we know it has shifted in recent years. Traditionally chalked up to be a man’s world, franchising systems across the nation have seen an influx of women claiming their stake.

Women have emerged prepared to start their own businesses and control their own future by becoming franchisees and demonstrating their entrepreneurial spirit.

While the number of female franchisees is increasing dramatically, the number of female franchisors is not. One franchisor, Susan Schopp, is showing women across the country that they can make their own choices in business and build out their own path to success.

As the founder and CEO of Neighbor’s Choice, a community-centered neighborhood newsletter franchise, Schopp has demonstrated that women have just as much entrepreneurial drive as men do and have the opportunity to gain equal footing in the franchise marketplace. Mainly, the key to creating a woman-owned franchise is exhibiting commitment and faith in oneself. When Schopp started the national franchise, Neighbor’s Choice, she knew that business ownership was in her future.

Schopp began her journey with a career in journalism where she freelanced and sold advertising space. Of course, she had

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feels as though she is too new to the role to say just yet. Although, she did discuss what sets women apart, and gives them advantages that level the playing field.

Schopp noted that being a woman has never served as a handicap in her career, but rather an advantage. Schopp adds that when women put their mind to a task, they tend to find a way to get it done and the quick thinking and adaptability they have needed in their lives will serve them well in business. She also encourages women to trust their intuition. She believes that intuition is a key advantage that women hold in the business world. no way of knowing at the time that this career choice, and those that followed, would prepare her for the position she would ultimately have. A position that allows the flexibility to work from home and spend quality time with her family as well as provide the financial security needed to maintain a good life. In addition to work life, Schopp was very involved in her community. For many years, she enjoyed serving on a non-profit that offered neighborhood leadership education, as well as various Homeowners Association (HOA) Boards and working with others on making a difference in the community.

Some say life experience is the greatest teacher, and for Susan Schopp, this held true. Schopp had garnered skills throughout her career and home life.

With experience in journalism, sales, networking, graphic design, multi-tasking, and technology, Schopp had created the perfect recipe to become a powerhouse in her own right. The combination of skills she gained throughout her career, mixed with non-negotiable aspirations of working from home, has cumulated into a perfect mix of financial security, personal satisfaction, and service to her community.

While serving on her own neighborhood HOA Board, she realized the need for better communication between neighborhood residents and the HOA. The natural transition to fostering that communication by developing a

distribution channel that would reach residents in a positive manner seemed like the perfect win/win for all involved.

The Neighbors Choice brand assists neighborhoods of all sizes to stay better connected. In addition to assisting the HOA with required announcements, the service also assists neighborhood residents by providing space to include important events, accomplishments, and classified ads. This two-way communication brings neighbors together and facilitates a better relationship between HOAs and neighborhood residents. A third and very important factor to the success of the Neighbors Choice brand is the inclusion of local businesses. The service assists local businesses in and around each respective neighborhood by providing them an opportunity to include advertising that reaches their target market – residents within a 10-mile radius of the business.

When making the transition from being a business owner to a franchisor, Schopp offered some simple advice: You must be committed to your concept. Developing a brand with national reach is no easy feat, it requires skill, dedication, and the ability to be acutely aware. In her experience, Schopp doesn’t feel as though she missed out on any aspects of her life, because her business has allowed her to have the life she wanted. It allowed her stay true to her goals and never waver on her commitment to spend time with her family. In addition, she noted that business doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, patience, and hard work, something that she is confident that most women in franchising exhibit. She noted that becoming a franchisor is more than just defining a brand, what it stands for, and how it looks. More so, becoming a franchisor requires long nights, difficult conversations, and crunching numbers.

Since 1996, Schopp has been setting the groundwork for all women in business.

Although a long journey, the brand made a pivotal decision to begin franchising in 2020, after seeing the impact its services made in communities throughout its home state of Texas. The brand expanded from San Antonio into Dallas and Austin as their former clients relocated across the state.

In the end, Schopp along with Neighbor’s Choice redefined the franchising world, highlighting the power of women serving as franchisors. For Neighbor’s Choice, it’s not only important for the brand to be invested in connecting with and enhancing its community, but also to gain a feeling of security within the franchising family in which it operates. In Schopp’s opinion, this is one of the greatest advantages of being a woman in franchising: Creating a sense of community in more ways than one.

When asked what the future holds for women serving as franchisors, Schopp

For more information visit: https://neighborschoice.com/

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WOMEN I N FR A NCH ISI NG

Page 35

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Page 37

Veterans in Franchising november 2021

www.franchisingusamagazine.com

Image One

Commercial Cleaning Franchise Shows Their Dedication to Veterans

latest in

veteran news

trending upward:

balancing new ideas with a solid business model in franchising Franchising USA

Leadership.

Teamwork.

Executing SOPs. Connecting veterans with education, resources and opportunities at vetfran.org

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Page 39

V e t e r a n s i n F r a n c h i s i n g S u ppl e m e n t november 2021 Our Veterans in Franchising special supplement has become a regular feature of Franchising USA. To share your story in the next issue, please contact Vikki Bradbury, Publisher Phone: 778 426 2446 Email: vikki@cgbpublishing.com

Contents On the Cover

Have Your Say

44 Image One - Commercial Cleaning Franchise Shows Their Dedication to

Veterans

46 New Joint Venture to Benefit Veterans

with Mobility Challenges

40 Latest in Veteran News 50 Trending Upward: Balancing New Ideas

with a Solid Business Model in Franchising

Veterans News 40 Dogtopia 41 Office Pride | bluefrog Plumbing + Drain 42 Tint World | Cyberbacker 43 Anago Cleaning Systems

Expert Advice 50 Trending Upward: Balancing New Ideas

with a Solid Business Model in Franchising Bill McPherson | Vice President | AlphaGraphic

Profile 48 Geese Chasers

Snapshot 52 Moran Family of Brands Supports Veterans Franchising USA

V e t er ans in Fr anchising

veteran news

Dogtopia Foundation Celebrates Milestone Dogtopia, the nation’s leading dog daycare, boarding and spa franchise, announced today that the Dogtopia Foundation has helped sponsor more than 100 service dogs for veterans.

Since the Foundation’s inception, Dogtopia daycares have collectively achieved this milestone by raising nearly $1 million, including almost $60,000 during September this year. In addition to this milestone, several Dogtopia daycares across the country were able to celebrate additional sponsorship goals. During September, 11 new service dog sponsorships were added to support the training of loyal, caring canine companions for the heroes who served our country.

“We are so proud of our Dogtopia owners, team members and pet parents for their commitment to the Dogtopia Foundation and for raising money to support our veterans in need of service dogs,” said Neil Gill, CEO and President of Dogtopia. “We know the waitlist is long, and we will continue to do all we can to support the brave men and women who served our country.”The Dogtopia Foundation enables dogs to positively change our world and providing service dogs to veterans is just one of the three key pillars of the Dogtopia Foundation that helps to achieve this mission. Since its inception in 2017, the Foundation has also supported causes centered on youth literacy programs and employment initiatives for adults with autism. “In addition to being kind and loving animals, dogs don’t pass any judgement and can really help those in need of emotional and physical assistance with the companionship they need to fulfill

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their daily life with confidence,” said Liz Meyers, Director of the

Dogtopia Foundation. By connecting dogs with the organizations

it supports, the Foundation can help returning veterans, adults with autism and children reach their full potential.

For more information about the Dogtopia Foundation and how you can help sponsor future service dogs, visit www.dogtopiafoundation.org.

If you are interested in learning more about the Dogtopia franchise in general, visit www.dogtopia.com.

Office Pride Ranked in Franchise Times’ Top 400 Office Pride Commercial Cleaning Services has been named to Franchise Times’ annual Top 400 ranking, the only ranking based on worldwide revenue. The list published in the October issue of Franchise Times.

“We are proud to be ranked among the top franchise systems in the world,” said Todd Hopkins, Office Pride’s founder and CEO. “Office Pride has been on a solid trajectory of growth, and it’s very gratifying to see how we rank against other very successful brands.”

A respected national franchise system, Office Pride is ranked on Entrepreneur magazine’s prestigious Franchise 500, Top Franchises for Veterans, Top 100 Franchises for Less Than $100,000 and Top Home-Based and Mobile Franchises lists.

Office Pride is a member of Franchise Business Review’s Hall of Fame and has been listed among FBR’s Top 200 Franchises to Buy for 14 years. Office

Pride also is listed among FBR’s

set of core values that ensures business

Businesses, Top Franchises for Women,

every customer receives the highest level

Culture100, Top 100 Best Recession-Proof Top Low-Cost Franchises and Best Franchises for Veterans.

Based in Palm Harbor, Fla., is one of the most respected full-service commercial

cleaning companies in the nation. Office Pride’s business was built on a strong

is conducted with integrity and that

of commercial cleaning and janitorial services.

To learn more about OfficePride, please visit OfficePride.com. For franchise opportunities, visit OfficePrideFranchise.com.

bluefrog Plumbing + Drain® to Expand in Arizona bluefrog Plumbing + Drain®, a leading provider of plumbing repair and installation, plans to award 12 franchise agreements in 2022 with two locations in Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona, at the top of the list.

States, generating more than $110

As part of the network’s aggressive expansion, the company announced a conversion partnership program, offering existing plumbing businesses a 50% discount for converting that business into a bluefrog franchise. In addition, bluefrog will invest in the business by paying for the upfront rebranding and marketing costs associated with converting to a bluefrog franchise, which will then be repaid through an amended royalty schedule.

heater repair, and more.

The plumbing industry is one of the fastest-growing industries in the United

billion annually. Across the country,

bluefrog Plumbing + Drain has assisted customers with premium plumbing

services from drain cleaning to leak

detection, emergency mitigation, water The network’s rapid expansion plans are part of bluefrog’s larger goal to open

50 new locations in the United States over the next five years. The initial

investment for a bluefrog Plumbing + Drain franchise is approximately

$127,130 to $370,915, with a discount

for veterans. Existing businesses looking to convert to a bluefrog franchise will do so at a reduced rate.

For more information, visit www.bluefrogplumbing.com

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V e t er ans in Fr anchising

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V e t er ans in Fr anchising

veteran news

Tint World® recognized as a Top 400 brand

by Franchise Times

Tint World® Automotive Styling Centers™, a leading auto accessory and window tinting franchise, has been named to the prestigious Franchise Times Top 400 list, solidifying its claim as the No. 1 auto styling center in the world. With a ranking of 363, the company saw a sales growth of 20.9% and a unit growth of 16.4%.

“Making the Franchise Times Top 400 list showcases our dedication and commitment to our customers as well as our team’s willingness to go above and beyond,” said Charles J. Bonfiglio, president and CEO of Tint World®. “Our footprint in the industry continues to grow internationally because of our determination to offer the best automotive styling experience in the world. That is one of the primary reasons we remain competitive and a leader in the automotive styling industry.”

“While many businesses struggled to keep their doors open throughout the pandemic, the Tint World® team made the necessary adjustments and had the resources in place to power through and keep our stores open,” Bonfiglio said. “None of this would be possible without communication with leaders

at every level, from our support staff at headquarters to the individual franchisees. We made sure everyone had the tools to continue thriving despite the pandemic, and this placement is an acknowledgment of that.”

To find out more, please visit www.TintWorld.com or www.TintWorldFranchise.com.

Cyberbacker Announces One-of-a-Kind Franchise Opportunity

The leading provider of world-class virtual support services for businesses anywhere in the world – is announcing its franchise opportunity.

The brand is ready to help more businesses grow and succeed. This announcement comes at a time where more people are choosing to work at home or leave their job to pursue other avenues. Cyberbacker

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understands the need for convenient support at an affordable cost and is ready to bring its services nationwide.

focus on growth rather than get bogged down

Recognized as the largest and leading virtual assistance platform, Cyberbacker has acquired an impressive 1,700 clients and is now seeking franchisees that have large influence networks and leadership. to expand its national presence. To accelerate its rapid growth, the brand has a set goal of adding 24 territories by the end of 2021 with plans to add 48 new franchises in 2022, including new areas in Canada and the United Kingdom.

To continue providing premium virtual

“With the number of people working from home increasing in recent years, it’s clear that business owners around the globe can benefit from our services,” said Jason Stowe, Vice President of Franchising at Cyberbacker.

“We’ve been able to help so many business owners leverage themselves with our Cyberbackers, which has allowed them to

with administrative work that should be outsourced.”

administrative support to businesses of

all sizes across the globe, Cyberbacker is

actively seeking franchisees who are business leaders with large networks and geographic influence. In addition to helping business

owners accomplish their goals, franchisees can use this opportunity to leverage

themselves and add to their portfolio.

Cyberbacker’s initial franchise fee of $30,000 and total investment under $95,000 which

includes three Cyberbackers that specialize

in sales, onboarding, and client relationships.

The brand also offers a discount that takes

$5,000 off of the franchise fee for veterans.

For more information about Cyberbacker’s franchise opportunity, all inquiries can contact claudiogalsim@cyberbacker.com.

ANAGO Commercial Cleaning Franchise Ranked #3 Nationally Anago Cleaning Systems announced its prestigious inclusion in Entrepreneur Magazine’s 2021 Top Home-Based & Mobile Franchise Business ranking.

Anago’s consistent inclusion within Entrepreneur Magazine’s business and franchising ranking series is highly respected among new and existing entrepreneurs looking for profitable business ventures that continue to demonstrate relevance, strength, and financial viability within the landscape of ever-changing global trends and business functions.

“Anago Cleaning Systems is honored to be unceasingly recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine for the trust in our brand, strength of our franchise model, and the results it offers our franchisees,” said Adam Povlitz, CEO & President of Anago Cleaning Systems. “The commercial cleaning industry continues to demonstrate its strength and staying-power even when faced with uncertain economic times. As we’ve learned through global pandemics like COVID-19 and H1N1, and economic hardships such as 2008’s Great Recession, commercial cleaning has the viability to

thrive as a reliable small business revenue source.”

and running from the start,” added Povlitz.

Because of Anago’s unique, proven franchise system and world-class corporate support, the company was able to shift and pivot during the COVID-19 pandemic, absorbing the responsibility of being an essential, frontline business tasked with keeping schools, hospitals, and many different types of businesses safe.

top franchise for veterans and offers a

“The Anago franchising system is very much a turnkey business that is ready and waiting for new unit franchisees to get up

Anago is proud to be recognized as a

discount to our service members. Anago is accredited by the IFA’s Vet Fran initiative and offers a discount to any honorably discharged Veteran. Anago Cleaning

Systems welcomes all veterans looking to open a Master or Unit Franchise.

For more information on the Anago Franchising Model, visit: www.anagocleaning.com/franchising/

WE WANT YOUR VETERAN FRANCHISING STORIES Are you a Veteran with a franchising business?

Want to share your story with us?

Whether you run a fleet of franchises and want to get the word out to prospective Veteran franchisees, are a new franchise business owner with an inspirational story to tell, or a service provider that supports Veteran franchises – we want to hear from you.

Email editor@franchisingusa.com with your story ideas now!

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cover story: Image One

Commercial Cleaning Franchise Shows Their Dedication to Veterans Image One USA offers military veterans a timetested model to be their own boss in recessionresistant industry.

It’s no secret in the franchise industry that veterans make for great franchise owners.

In fact, one in seven franchises in the United States are owned and operated by a veteran, according to the International Franchise Association.

Some franchisors go the extra mile to help military veterans on their road to business ownership as they transition from being in the line of duty to running a business as a civilian.

Franchising since 2011 and with a corporate headquarters in the Chicago

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suburb of Rolling Meadows, Image One USA has had the utmost dedication in helping and supporting those who served this country.

To honor service members, Image One offers a significant discount on their initial franchise fee. And, on top of that, help acclimate their veterans as they take on more responsibilities as a franchisee. It’s why they are named a top franchise for veterans by the likes of organizations such as VetFran and publications like Entrepreneur.

The ideal franchise bootcamp: Image One helps owners get moving As a commercial cleaning franchise, Image One provides all the necessary training, tools and support to help franchise owners

build their business, including teaching franchisees the latest cleaning techniques and empowering them with insights on best-in-class equipment and technology.

Ongoing training is delivered both at Image One’s corporate headquarters and onsite at existing client locations to ensure that franchisees continue to grow their own businesses.

“We are proud to honor those who have fought for our country and offer them an exciting and rewarding career,” said Tim Conn, president and CEO of Image One, who started commercial cleaning at the age of 14 in the 1980s. The seed planted in that entrepreneurial teenager has blossomed into a decades-long passion for helping others. Image One has been a franchise for the past decade and has supported many people across the country launching their own cleaning business.

fall. He said he looks forward to leading and mentoring his employees in the same way he did as a chosen leader while deployed in the Middle East.

From military to civilian life: The traits that make a great franchisee When it comes to operating a commercial cleaning business, there are certain traits that make someone fit to lead a unit. Image One has said that they look for candidates who make for good team leaders and who know how to complete jobs on time. Such skills are transferable from a veteran’s experience serving in the military.

Becoming a franchise owner for a retired veteran provides job security and personal freedoms unlike any other sector.

“We are very proud of all the men and women who have served our country, but especially the ones who join our Image One family,” said Tim Conn. “We extend our service member benefits beyond just military personnel to also include first responders, such as police officers, firefighters and EMTs.”

Andy Avila

Examples of Image One owners who have made the transition Andy Avila, who is now currently a franchise owner in the Chicago suburbs, spent over six years in the Army National Guard as an E-5 Sergeant.

“When I invested in my own Image One, the opportunity and benefits they offer to veterans like me was a huge help,” said Avila. “I think the benefits Image One offers, and the continued support from Tim and the entire corporate team, speaks highly of the franchise and demonstrates their incredible appreciation of veterans.”

Avila knew how to keep going and handle every stress factor. He knew he could succeed on his own and in 2018 he bought an Image One franchise. He noted that his military skills transferred over to his business strategies, where he identifies a problem, assesses the situation, and

Chris Norwood

takes an actionable plan in order to find a solution. The cost to open an Image One franchise ranges from approximately $43,000 to $91,000, which makes the startup cost among the most affordable in the franchise industry.

Chris Norwood, who was an active duty Commission Officer stationed in Afghanistan and an Artillery Officer deployed in Iraq, initially struggled to readjust to civilian life when he returned to the states. After bouncing around jobs for about a decade, he found his calling in the world of franchising.

“I was in charge of 40 men to protect locals against the Taliban during my time overseas,” said Norwood. “I learned a great deal of discipline. From that, I am able to apply to my employees and customers, to ensure safety and satisfaction.”

Norwood officially opens the doors of his franchise in northwestern Arkansas this

Image One hopes to expand into other communities to help veterans across the country achieve their business goals and aspirations. Image One currently operates primarily in the Midwest and Southeast and is actively accepting franchise applications from military veterans around the country.

Cleaning and sanitation are even more important now than ever. While Image One hopes that the severity of the pandemic is behind us, they realize that disinfecting surfaces and common areas will always be necessary. Image One appreciates the hard work and dedication their veteran franchisees put in while they’re serving clients, and these retired veterans have a significant amount of admiration for company leadership at Image One. “I’m proud that I have the opportunity to grow my own business with a respected brand like Image One,” said Avila. “It affords me the opportunity to hire other veterans.”

For more information about Image One, visit http://ImageOneFranchise.com

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have your say: BraunAbility & NuVinAir Global

New joint venture to benefit Veterans with mobility challenges NuVinAir Global, which offers a suite of patented and proprietary products that safely and effectively create healthy vehicle interiors, is pleased to announce its partnership with BraunAbility, the leading manufacturer of wheelchair-accessible vehicles and wheelchair lifts around the world.

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With a nationwide dealer network, BraunAbility caters to individuals with mobility challenges, including veterans with disabilities, by providing its participating mobility dealers with clean and sanitized vehicles treated with NuVinAir Global’s ‘Total Health’ protection, a proprietary product line that utilizes sanitization science and a patented cleaning process.

“Since launching several years ago, we’ve been focused on bringing ‘clean driving’ to drivers and passengers across the country, a mission that’s been catapulted by the pandemic over the past 18 months,” said Kyle Bailey, NuVinAir Global’s CEO and

founder. “With an unprecedented urgency for ensuring all vehicles are sanitized and disinfected, joining forces with BraunAbility enables us to pay homage to our valiant veterans who may have mobility challenges — a community close to our hearts — while also empowering them with a sense of confidence that we’re putting their health at the forefront, every time they step foot inside their vehicle,” said Bailey.

Reporting to Mr Bailey is new Franchise Development Officer Marty Schoenthaler.

In his new role, Mr Schoenthaler is responsible for identifying growth strategies for increasing national franchise

“BraunAbility is a leading manufacturer of mobility transportation solutions, including wheelchair accessible vehicles, wheelchair lifts and seating, storage, and securement products.”

Franchise Development Officer Marty Schoenthaler

“Joining NuVinAir’s leadership team enables me to work alongside fellow passionate, entrepreneurial individuals, while growing an industry-leading innovator that’s dominating the automotive space with its patented technology and proprietary products.”

coverage, as well as enhancing and maturing growth of NuVinAir Global’s existing franchise network

a BS in business administration and an AS in computer programming from Missouri Southern State University.

“As we rapidly expand our brand, adding passionate, seasoned industry veterans to our leadership team will help take our company to the next level,” said Bailey.

“We have been looking to fill this critical role for some time, but we had to be patient until we found the right individual. The caliber of our Franchisee team demanded an executive who deeply understands how to forge the right partnerships for driving success, and we know that Marty will be a tremendous asset to all of us.”

“Throughout my career and across various industries, I focused on developing organizational strategies and working with our teams to effectively deliver on those strategies,” said Mr. Schoenthaler.

With over three decades of leadership experience in various industries, Marty brings a proven track record in optimizing organizational capability, strategy development, and business transformation, as well as focusing on customer relationships. He joins NuVinAir Global from Tate Boys Tire & Service, the largest independent tire dealer in NE Oklahoma, where he served as CEO. Marty started his career at IBM Corporation where he worked for 16 years. He earned an MBA from the University of Arkansas, as well as

“Joining NuVinAir’s leadership team enables me to work alongside fellow passionate, entrepreneurial individuals, while growing an industry-leading innovator that’s dominating the automotive space with its patented technology and proprietary products.”

About NuVinAir Global Based in Dallas, NuVinAir Global offers a suite of patented and proprietary products that safely and effectively create healthy vehicle interiors. The company delivers a ‘Total Health’ product line that utilizes sanitization science and a patented cleaning process to dealerships, rentalcar companies, and other automotive businesses. NuVinAir Global’s patented ReStore and ReFresh treatments are used

to clean the interior air of the vehicle, including the HVAC system, and remove contaminants, odor, and pollutants by dispelling a dry, hygienic vapor that reaches places that sprays and wipes simply cannot. Products and programs are sold through its franchisees, who own exclusive rights to their defined territories.

For more information, visit: https://www. nuvinair.com/franchisee/

About BraunAbility BraunAbility is a leading manufacturer of mobility transportation solutions, including wheelchair accessible vehicles, wheelchair lifts and seating, storage, and securement products. Founded nearly 50 years ago

by Ralph Braun, an entrepreneur who spent most of his life in a wheelchair, the company has grown into a well-known and trusted name in the mobility industry, bringing independence to millions of individuals across the world. BraunAbility is a wholly owned subsidiary of Patricia Industries, a division of Investor AB. For more information, visit BraunAbility.com

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profile: Geese Chasers

Local Entrepreneur, Army Veteran Brings Geese Chasers to Northern Virginia

Professional geese management service uses trained Border Collies to safely clear Canada Geese from public and private properties.

Geese, start packing your bags: Geese Chasers™, LLC, a professional geese

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management service that uses trained Border Collies to humanely drive the relocation of unwanted geese, opened recently in Northern Virginia. Geese Chasers’ method for geese elimination is safe, effective, and affordable, relying on highly trained Border Collies, herding dogs by nature, and their handlers to bother Canada Geese into permanently fleeing the premises. Fredericksburg resident and Army veteran Bill Edwards owns and operates the local business, along with his Border Collie, Anna-Liz.

Edwards began his 12-year Army career as an infantry soldier in the Alabama National Guard while attending the University of Alabama, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Human Environmental Science. He was then Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, assigned to Camp Casey Korea, and served as a Headquarters and Headquarters Battery (HHB) Executive Officer as well as a Battery (MLRS) Platoon Leader.

Edwards proceeded to rise through the ranks until completing his military career

as a Captain providing strategic counsel to top leadership on the best employment of artillery, land, and air assets. He is also a combat veteran who was directly selected and assigned to the 1st Security Forces Assistance Brigade (Advisors), as directed by the Department of Defense.

“Fredericksburg resident and Army veteran Bill Edwards will own and operate the local business, along with his Border Collie, Anna-Liz.”

Edwards first learned about the opportunity to own his own Geese Chasers franchise during a program for Army members transitioning to civilian life. Geese Chasers and its unique service, established business model, and built-in support appealed to Edwards and lined up well with the skills he developed through his military experience. Edwards is excited to bring this offering to the Northern Virginia counties of Arlington, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William, Spotslyvania, and Stafford, as well as into Washington D.C. “When I first saw the Geese Chasers process in action, how quickly, effectively, and responsibly it eliminates bothersome geese, I was simply amazed and knew this was a concept I wanted to be part of,” said Edwards. “Thanks to the incredible support of the Geese Chasers team, the Northern Virginia community will soon benefit from this innovative service.”

The company’s roots go back to 1998, when CEO Bob Young was playing fetch with his new Border Collie, Boomer. A golf course owner stopped him to share how Border Collies were used in the MidWest to chase geese and asked Young if he would be willing to try out the method on his course. Boomer cleared 200-300 geese that first week! From there, Young added another golf course to his client roster and the company took off from there.

Young sold his first franchise in 2011 in North Jersey. Northern Virginia will be the brand’s eighth location, with expansion into Connecticut and Chicago expected later this year.

“The Canada Geese population grows by 15 to 20% every year – and so does our business,” said Young. “Wherever you find geese, grass, and a body of water, you’ll find Geese Chasers working to safely and effectively clear bothersome geese to enable community members to fully enjoy their beautiful outdoor spaces. We

look forward to bringing this humane and effective service to Northern Virginia and are confident Bill will find great success as an entrepreneur.”

Franchises are available throughout the country, with a 25% military discount. See additional information here.

About Geese Chasers Geese Chasers™, LLC is a professional geese management service that uses specially trained Border Collies to humanely drive away unwanted Canada Geese for clients including homeowners’

associations, property management, parks and recreational sites, commercial and corporate sites, K to 12 schools, and colleges and universities – among many other locations where Canada Geese can damage properties.

Founded in 1999, the company will open its tenth location in late 2021. Geese Chasers has been featured on national media including Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, Fox News, ABC News, CBS News, and NBC News.

For more information visit: https://geesechasers.com

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exert advice: Bill McPherson | Vice President | AlphaGraphics

Trending Upward:

Balancing New Ideas with a Solid Business Model in Franchising

Franchising is an exciting business. There’s a brilliant, new idea born every minute. Some trendy concepts catch fire quickly, generating a lot of interest including drawing the attention of enthusiastic entrepreneurs.

Like any other potential business investment, though, before investing in a

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trendy franchise idea, it’s important to do your due diligence.

How to Evaluate When you get down to the basics, evaluating a trendy new franchise is no different than investigating established franchise brands. Entrepreneurship through franchising is one of the most important financial decisions of your life, so take your time and check the new brand out thoroughly: • Attend a Discovery Day. An important step is meeting the executive team during a Discovery Day. This gives you a chance to learn about the leaders of the brand and get a feel for them personally.

Due to current circumstances, this very well might involve a virtual visit, but, in the months and years ahead, in-person visits will once again be a feasible option.

• Investigate the executive team/Culture.

The franchise disclosure document (FDD) is an invaluable resource when evaluating franchises. Check whether any previous litigation or bankruptcies have been disclosed. Take the time to get to know the executive team personally. What is their professional experience? Do they have a background in franchising? Have they been involved in a string of businesses in a fairly short time?

“Like any other potential business investment, though, before investing in a trendy franchise idea, it’s important to do your due diligence.”

they offer training? Is there operational support, financial, and HR processes? Is there ongoing coaching and education?

Does the franchisor embrace changes to technology? Joining a brand that only offers a name and concept, but little ongoing support, will lesson your chances of success.

• Do your homework on the fees. Once you join a franchise, in addition to the initial franchise fee, there will be ongoing charges to deal with. Be sure to do your homework on what to expect.

This generally include royalty and ad fund fees. Find out whether the brand charges a license fee for things like proprietary software or for technology.

Make sure to compare the fees to those charged by other franchisors. Do they seem excessive in comparison?

Test of Time

• Talk with franchise location owners.

This can be little tricky when it comes to very new franchise brands with only a handful of locations that might not have been operating very long. Still, the experiences of existing location owners are an indicator of what you might expect. Get a feel for their satisfaction with the franchise. Do they regret the choice? Are they doing well financially?

Does the corporate team support them?

Does the brand provide the services and support they were promised?

• What kind of support is offered? One of the main benefits of joining a franchise is the behind-the-scenes support provided by the corporate team. Do

Instead of focusing on trendy, it can be more useful to evaluate whether a franchise is trending. An exciting value proposition is one thing. Whether the brand has an established track record for fully capitalizing on the value proposition is another. The test of time helps determine whether franchisors are able to fulfil their promise over the long run.

A mature franchise can often offer more stability and a higher level of support, but even younger brands benefit if they are led by corporate leaders who have long-term experience in the franchising industry.

Make sure that the guiding vision and strategy for the brand looks beyond just the first 3-4 years. Is there a solid plan for growth?

Can They Pivot?

Another consideration is the resilience of the franchise brand. Is the value proposition dependent on a very specific fad? Does the brand have the ability to pivot when times, tastes, or economic conditions change? Can the corporate

Bill McPherson

leadership support franchise location owners during widespread, unforeseen circumstances? The past year has certainly shown the need for franchise brands to be flexible in responding to radically changed circumstances.

Look for Value Joining a franchise brand should never be on impulse. It is a financial investment that can affect the rest of your life.

Keep in mind that franchising success depends on more than a flashy idea. It requires dedicated and well-thought-out corporate support, experienced executive leadership, and a long-term strategy. Do your research, shop around and investigate many other franchise brands, carefully weigh the expenses and potential income opportunities. If the franchise brand has the solid business foundation to successfully execute on the new idea, then consider pulling the trigger. The franchising industry can offer great opportunities. Just make sure it is the right opportunity for you.

Bill McPherson is vice president of franchise development at AlphaGraphics, one of the largest U.S.based networks of locally-owned and operated Business Centers, offering a complete range of print, visual communications and marketing products and solutions.

For more information about AlphaGraphics services, visit www.alphagraphics.com.

To learn about franchise opportunities, visit www.alphagraphicsfranchise.com.

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snapshot: Moran Family of Brands

Moran Family of Brands supports veterans

Albert Daniels - United States Navy Veteran and owner of Milex Complete Auto Care Shop

Moran Family of Brands, one of the nation’s leading automotive repair franchises, counts 14 United States veterans among its 120 total franchisees.

Moran franchise owners have been enlisted in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines branches of the military, as well as the national guard. They have served the country in parts of the last seven decades and were deployed in countries from Vietnam to Iraq.

Moran is a longtime active member of VetFran, an initiative that grants a $5,000 franchise fee discount, mentorship and training programs for any honorably

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discharged qualified veteran transitioning to civilian life. Experience in the military has proven to be a great fit for franchise ownership.

Members of the military exhibit strong leadership and motivational skills, something that is important for business owners. Like the military, franchise ownership involves following proven systems and defined procedures. This means a veteran can enter a completely new field and be likely to succeed by following the franchisor’s proven business model and completing the training program. Although veterans make up only about 7 percent of the population, they account for 14 percent of all franchisees in the United States.

In addition to helping provide franchise ownership opportunities for veterans, Moran is also actively involved in

attracting veteran employees as service technicians at its stores. The franchise has developed a recruiting process that works with local veteran affairs offices in search of workers with experience in the truck pool, heavy equipment repairs and aircraft repairs. These veterans often make excellent automotive service techs.

As part of this process, Moran notifies veteran offices whenever a local shop is in need of adding a tech position at its location. Many of these veterans are younger and searching for opportunities shortly after returning from service. The program has been mutually beneficial for both Moran’s individual shops and veterans looking to begin a successful career in auto repair.

For more information, visit: https://moranfamilyofbrands.com/ auto-franchise-opportunities

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

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

To learn about the A-Z directory or any other products, please contact Vikki Bradbury: vikki@cgbpublishing.com

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AAMCO First started in 1963 by Anthony Martino as a transmission repair shop, the company now has nearly 700 locations throughout North America and about 12 years ago expanded into total car care.

AAMCO franchisees benefit from joining a brand that has been in business for over 50 years. Our iconic, Double A, Beep Beep, M-C-O mnemonic brings instant recognition and trust from the American consumer. In

Bloomin’ Blinds Founded the morning of 9/11...our incorporation papers received their approval stamps within minutes of the towers being struck...Bloomin’ Blinds is a family company.

Karen McGuffin founded the company in Dallas and was joined by her three sons within a handful of years. Together they created Bloomin’ Blinds over the next 16 years before the franchise was formed.

Now Karen is retired and the boys are still running the show. Bloomin’ Blinds has always been a “repair company that happens to sell a ton of blinds”.

Business Finance Depot

addition to automatic brand recognition, AAMCO franchisees benefit from an Executive Leadership Team who established themselves by servicing the automotive aftermarket as franchisees. With this franchisee focus in mind, AAMCO provides the brand, tools, guidance and education necessary for new franchisees. This includes financing support, real estate support and training through the entire opening process. http://www.aamcofranchises.com

Early on we realized that retailers were primarily sales only and Bloomin’ Blinds had a significant differentiator in the addition of the repair concept.

The business model has weathered the economic storms that followed 9/11 and the housing bubble pop in 2008.

Bloomin’ Blinds is a technology based, fresh, new approach to an industry otherwise resisting modernization.

For more information contact Kelsey Stuart at: Ph: 1-214-995-1062 Email: kelsey.stuart@bloominblinds.com https://www.bloominblinds.com/

Business Finance Depot specializes in packaging equipment leases and SBA Express Working Capital loans for start-up and existing businesses.

Our company also works with SBA 7(a) lenders, alternate financing sources, crowd funding financing sources and companies that specialize in using retirement funds to capitalize a new business. Please visit our website for more information.

Our main clients are franchisors seeking financing for their new franchisees and manufacturers seeking financing for their equipment purchases.

Website: www.businessfinancedepot.com Email: paul@businessfinancedepot.com Phone: (800) 788-3884 Contact: Paul Bosley

caring transitions

with the hassles or laws that involve elderly medical care, though you might want to invest in knowing the companies that do supply such services in your area. Many times our services are needed in order to fulfill the lifestyle changes recommended by healthcare professionals, so putting your leads into contact with upstanding medical professionals can create a favorable impression that causes them to return to you for help with non-medical side of their changing circumstances.

Caring Transitions is a solution-oriented company, and we accomplish this by bringing three services under one roof that are normally all accomplished by separate companies. The three services we combine to provide unique solutions for our customers are: • Senior Relocation • Estate Sales • Downsizing & Decluttering One final thing – we are NOT a medical service company. As a franchisee, you will not be dealing

Clayton Kendall Clayton Kendall provides comprehensive branded merchandise programs for franchise communities nationwide, resulting in greater brand exposure, cost-savings, streamlined operations and brand compliance.

With a customized online store as the organizing principle, our websites give users the ability to purchase their advertising and marketing tools in one easy to use program.

Phone: 1-800-647-0766 Email: CaringTransitionsFranchising@gmail.com Website: https://caringtransitionsfranchise.com

We provide marketing collateral, signage, POP displays, printed materials, promotional products and apparel. Our services include graphic design, merchandising, sourcing, warehousing and fulfillment, kitting and proprietary technology with advanced management reports. All programs are scalable and can be customized to the unique needs of your community. Customer service is our forte.

Contact: Dan Broudy CFE, Chief Executive Officer Phone:412-798-7120 Email: dan@claytonkendall.com Website: www.claytonkendall.com

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Dough & Arrows The owners of a family oriented business Dough & Arrows aim to expand their business through nationwide franchising opportunities.

Dough & Arrows is well known for their famous Edible Cookie Dough, Gourmet Ice Cream, delicious homemade desserts, and family atmosphere. Based in Hanover, PA, Dough & Arrows is currently looking for potential franchisees all across the United States.

Fastsigns® Now more than ever, businesses look to FASTSIGNS® for innovative ways to connect with customers in a highly competitive marketplace. Our high standards for quality and customer service have made FASTSIGNS the most recognized brand in the industry, driving significantly more traffic to the web than any other sign company.

We also lead in these important areas: • #1 Ranked Sign Franchise in Entrepreneur Magazine Franchise 500 three years in a row • Franchise Business Review FBR50 Franchisee Satisfaction Award 2006-2015 • Franchise Research Institute World Class Franchise 2011-2015

FirstLight Home Care FirstLight Home Care offers comprehensive, inhome, non-medical and personal care services to seniors, new mothers, disabled adults and others needing assistance.

FirstLight’s team brings more than 170 years of collaborative experience in health care, franchising and senior services, creating FirstLight’s Culture of Care foundation.

The last 10 years, we’ve received numerous awards, most recently including ranking among Entrepreneur Top 500 Franchises, Forbes’ Best Franchises to Buy,

Infinity Martial Arts Infinity Martial Arts was established in 2005 on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. We began as a single club focusing predominantly on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, with only a handful of members under the guidance of our head coach and black belt Neil Owen.

Ph: 717-969-8481 E-mail: info@doughandarrows.com www.doughandarrows.com

• Franchise Research Institute #1 Rated Sign & Graphics Franchise 2014-2015 • CFA Franchisees’ Choice Designation 2004-2015 • FASTSIGNS is one of only a handful of franchises approved for $21 million in SBA financing for approved franchise candidates FASTSIGNS has over 400 markets approved for development in the US and Canada and is also seeking Master or Area Developer expansion in markets worldwide.

For more information: Phone: 1-214-346-5679 Email: mark.jameson@fastsigns.com Or visit our Website: www.fastsigns.com

& Franchise Business Review’s Top 200 Franchises for franchisee satisfaction. In the $80 billion home care, demand for our services already exceeds market supply in many areas. In 2015, the babyboomers turning age 65 in the U.S. reached 10,000 per day! By 2025, it will grow to nearly 72 million.

We’re looking for people who are passionate and strive to provide exceptional service. If you want to make a difference in people’s lives while building a powerful business, THIS is this franchise for you.

Phone: 866-985-4031 Email: jdavis@firstlighthomecare.com Website: Firstlightfranchise.com

Our programs focus on a self-defence style of martial arts and combat sport, which is predominantly based on grappling and submission holds. Our curriculum focuses on the skill of taking an opponent to the ground, controlling one’s opponent, gaining a dominant position and using a number of techniques to either force or defend a submission.

Over the years, many of those initial members became black belts themselves and helped to grow our business into what it is today. With 13 academies now in QLD and two other affiliate clubs in NSW & QLD we are one of the largest franchised martial arts academy names throughout Australia, leading the way in Brazilian JiuJitsu.

With classes ranging from expert to beginner and suitable for both adults and children starting as young as 2 years old, our academies are warm & friendly environments. We have a strong focus on creating a fun culture where our members become part of the family.

Image One USA

provides necessary training, tools and support to help franchise affiliates build their business, including teaching franchisees the latest cleaning techniques and empowering them with insights on best-in-class equipment and technology. Ongoing training is delivered both at Image One’s corporate headquarters and onsite at existing client locations to ensure that franchisees continue to grow their own businesses.

Image One USA is a commercial cleaning services business. The Image One franchising model was formed on the principles of transparency, training, and top-notch financial and customer service support. It is regularly recognized as a top franchise by third-party franchise and business publications, including CNBC.com, Entrepreneur.com and Franchise Business Review.

Image One franchisees work for themselves in a unique relationship with the franchise company. Image One provides them with customer support for their business, ongoing training, along with assistance with billing, equipment and sales training. Image One

Franchising USA

For potential franchisees who are family oriented and who wish to spread joy to the community while being at the forefront of a burgeoning food trend, Dough & Arrows might just be the business family you are looking to join.

For more information visit: www.infinitymartialarts.com.au

Image One has commercial cleaning franchise locations covering Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Fort Myers, Nashville and Orlando. Franchise territories are available nationwide.

For information on the franchise, visit http:// ImageOneUSA.com

QC Franchise Group (DBA QC Kinetix) QC Kinetix is a Charlotte, North Carolina-based franchise company leading the way in helping people maintain an active lifestyle using comprehensive regenerative medicine treatments to address musculoskeletal conditions and joint pain.

QC Kinetix is the place to go when you’ve been told invasive surgery is your best option, or after you’ve tried everything to eliminate the pain and immobility of your condition without success.

We provide comprehensive regenerative medicine injection treatments, including stem cell therapy

Remedy Spa & Salon Suites Remedy Spa & Salon Suites first opened its doors in Atlanta, Georgia in 2018. As an attempt to enter the highly profitable health and beauty industries, Remedy Spa & Salon Suites came equipped with 22 fully leased salon suites. To date, they have opened three locations through Metro-Atlanta.

Amenities and perks to leasing include: 24/7 access, private upscale studios, spacious single/double suites, private parking, valet parking and premium fixtures, finishes and appliances.

with BMAC, regenerative cell therapy with amniotic membrane tissue, A2M therapy and PRP therapy. With such a wide array of regenerative medicine treatments available, we make sure to discuss all the therapeutic options with each of our patients. While not all patients may be candidates for all therapies, we will help guide you to make the most appropriate decisions for your particular condition. We treat everyone from weekend warriors and professional athletes to active aging patients who want to stay active.

QC Kinetix clinics are dedicated to maximizing the body’s ability to help heal and repair itself from the inside out for vastly improved function and overall quality of life. https://qcfranchise.com/

distribution chains, cooperative marketing, new product research, development and roll-out, experienced training staff, and continuing training and education.

Franchising opportunities are available to entrepreneurs and investors in all industries but will be particularly appealing to health and beauty enthusiasts.

Remedy Spa & Salon Suites already has an established market presence and substantial market penetration in Atlanta. From this successful platform, the company is looking to expand the brand in select key areas domestically.

Franchisees will obtain access to the brand, tested and proven processes and support, purchasing power and

www.remedysalonsuites.com/franchise

The red Chickz

operate. We designed this with systems and growth in mind, so you can become the next proud owner of a The Red Chickz restaurant franchise with ease.

We’ve Done the Heavy Lifting for You We know the restaurant business and have done our homework. From the homestyle kitchens of Nashville to The Red Chickz restaurants that will be popping up everywhere, we’ve created something really special in an untapped, sizzling market.

We make it simple. Our team has worked our tails off to create a superior business model that is streamlined and simple to

Veterans Business Services Veterans Business Services provides the most advantageous franchise acquisition terms for Veterans and provides innovative entrepreneurial training for qualified Veterans seeking grants under the VA Vocational Rehabilitation Program.

Veterans Business Services (“VBS”) specializes in entrepreneurial opportunities for Veterans and has an extensive reach into the Veterans community and can generate significant interest from qualified Veterans who wish to start a franchise or small business.

VBS offers multiple marketing methods that have proven effective with helping franchise organizations with their expansion plans. Utilizing custom email marketing

VFPnext VFPnext - So much more than just a CRM. VFPnext delivers complete marketing automation that provides a 360° view of prospects and members.

Speed to Lead is the winning formula in 2021 and VFPnext connects staff to leads in less than 60 seconds with our innovative Hot Lead Notification.

remedysalonsuites@gmail.com

An investment in a restaurant franchise like The Red Chickz is an excellent way to break into the foodservice business or expand your already existing restaurant portfolio. We seek qualified business owners who understand or appreciate the restaurant industry and are fired up about our brand. www.theredchickz.com

campaigns, news press releases, and online franchising e-magazine articles, VBS gets the message to qualified Veterans who are invested in starting a franchise.

VBS supports service disabled Veterans who are enrolled in the self-employment track within the Veterans Administration and provides outreach efforts to transitioning military through TAP and ACAP programs. As a graduate business of the Entrepreneurial Bootcamp for Veterans (“EBV”), we also assist other graduates of EBV and provide coaching support through mentoring programs. VBS is where Veterans turn to make their franchise dreams a reality.

Contact: James Mingey Phone: 202-349-0860 Email: info@veteransbusinessservices.us Website: www.veteransbusinessservices.us

orientation to increase personal training sales - all on a single platform.

The VFPnext platform collects more data on your prospects and members and is built “API first” for seamless data integration and leverage across your softwares.

Increase speed to member conversion with a complete member tour.

Join in the excitement of the fastest growing marketing automation system (CRM) in the fitness industry and switch to an enterprise solution used by the best clubs.

Enroll members faster with our seamless, branded digital enrollment, and provide a compelling member

Email: info@vfp.us Website: getvfpnext.com

Franchising USA

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Franchising USA