Franchising Magazine USA by CGB Publishing

magazine usa

VOL 10, ISSUE 2, jan 2022

COVER STORY

A Kingdom For Everyone

special feature

health and fitness Franchising record business start-ups

fuel franchising creative methods financial and otherwise to keep the best! Franchising MAGAZINE USA 1 The magazine for franchisees • W W W.FRANCHSINGMAGAZINEUSA.COM

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

MAGAZ

INE USA

VOL 10, ISSU

E 2, JAN 2022

COVER STO RY

VOLUME 10, ISSUE 2, 2022

A KINGDOM

FOR EVERYO

SPECIAL FEAT URE

HEALTH AND FITNE SS FRANCHISIN G

On the cover: kingdom harvest

Welcome to our January issue of

RECORD BUS INESS

president: Colin Bradbury. colin@cgbpublishing.com

FUEL FRAN START-UPS CHISING CREATIVE ME FINANCIAL AN THODS TO KEEP TH D OTHERWISE E BEST! 5)& ." (";

Publisher: Vikki Bradbury. vikki@cgbpublishing.com editorial department: 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 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

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Businesses in every industry noted a number of changes in 2021 and some look to see even more in 2022. If you are a potential franchisee looking to change your lifestyle in 2022 then I hope this issue of the magazine gives you food for thought on the many options available. Featured on our Front Cover is Kingdom Harvest North Carolina’s original CBD and Hemp brand, we meet founders Shelle Rogers, David Payne and Frank Seuss who had the desire to create a hemp brand that was different. Kingdom Harvest is seeking motivated individuals who wish to share in Kingdom Harvest’s vision for wellness. In this issue George Knauf discusses Record business start up’s fueling the Franchising industry. Adam Povlitz CEO and President of Anago Cleaning Services gives his thoughts on Micro Franchising which is gaining significant attention around the world. Our Feature Supplement this issue is Health and Fitness. In this issue we meet a number of great franchises such as The Now Massage, Goldfish Swim Schools, Restore Hyper Wellness to name a few. We also have some great expert advice from Chris Conner who discusses why Health and Fitness is set to grow exponentially in 2022. Rick Bisio with our Feature article discusses how this industry is set to rebound in 2022 and beyond. The Veterans and Franchising Supplement Front Cover and cover story features Propelled Brands, we meet Darrin Lawrence army veteran and franchisee of FASTSIGNS in Richardson, Texas. FASTSIGNS is encouraging veterans and first responders by offering a 50% off the Franchisee fee This issue is packed full of useful information from a range of experts in the industry so if you are looking to become a franchisee in 2022, I hope this edition helps you make the right decision for you. Happy Reading

Proud member of the IFA:

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 | Publisher Franchising Magazine USA

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

january 2022 20

Snapshot

22 Kampgrounds of America offers Campground Franchisees Camper Friendly EV Charging Stations

Expert Advice 12 Evan Hackel: Creative Methods Financial and Otherwise to Keep the Best! 16 George Knauf: Record Business Start–Ups Fuel Franchising

Cover Story 10 Kingdom Harvest : A Kingdom for everyone

In evey issue 6 Franchising News

Announcements from the Industry

23 Special Feature Supplement

Health and Fitness Franchising

57 Veterans Supplement

News and Information for Veterans in Franchising

74 A-Z Franchise & Services Directory

Franchise in Focus 46 Scenthound: Scenthound is on a Mission

Franchisor in Depth 52 Nader Masadeh: It’s in My Blood

18 Adam Povlitz: Thoughts on Micro-Franchising for the New Year 44 Lil Roberts: How the Right Bookkeeping Support can increase Franchise Scalability as the Industry sees more Growth

54 Lucas Frey: Successful Franchise Owners make Precise Decisions Deliberately and Confidently

Have Your Say 48 Edward Pim: Winter Wise: Top Tips Facilities Managers need to Know to Create Safe and Secure Buildings

Women in Franchising 20 Angela Dodd: How Females in Food is working to close the Gender Gap in the Food and Beverage Industry Franchising MAGAZINE USA 5

WOWorks Family of Better-ForYou Brands Experience Growth of its Restaurant Co-branding Concept WOWorks, parent company of Saladworks, Frutta Bowls, Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh and The Simple Greek, experienced accelerated growth of its co-branded restaurant concepts with six locations opening and six additional franchise agreements signed across ten states in 2021. “We are seeing an accelerated growth in cobranded WOWorks restaurants because our healthy-halo brands meet growing menu and flavor demands, and have the flexibility in size and operation to open alongside current restaurants and inside many nontraditional spaces,” said Eric Lavinder, Chief Development Officer for WOWorks.

“By sharing a front and back-end, cobranded restaurants can build-out more efficiently to open quicker, have lower operating costs, and cover more dayparts to attract more guests and generate sales.” The company has also seen Saladworks and Frutta Bowls co-branded restaurant concepts grow in several store-within-a-store locations in Philadelphia area and Staten Island, NY. Other co-branded openings and franchise agreements include locations in West Bloomfield, MI; Middletown, DE; Reno, NV; Hermitage, PA; San Juan Capistrano, CA; Morgantown, WV; Norfolk, VA; and a threelocation signing in Draper, UT

Colorado-based FullSpeed Automotive closed out 2021 with remarkable growth Colorado-based FullSpeed Automotive, one of the nation’s largest franchisors and operators of automotive aftermarket repair facilities, closed out 2021 with remarkable growth, dominating the industry with its two flagship brands - Grease Monkey® and SpeeDee Oil Change & Auto Service®. In 2021, FullSpeed Automotive reported an impressive 50 awarded franchise agreements, 22 brand acquisitions comprised of 61 competitor conversions, and the opening 77 combined locations – marking the company’s milestone 700th unit scheduled this month. Largely unimpacted by the pandemic, the auto care industry is expected to grow nearly 25% and reach $477.6 billion by 2024, according to the Auto Care Association’s most recent research study. With more cars on the road, more miles driven, and the average age of cars growing into the teens, FullSpeed Automotive is well-poised for the future. FullSpeed Automotive’s growth and performance strategy remains centered on finding the right franchisees while continuing strong operations and maximizing unit-level profitability. It looks forward to a momentous year head for both brands, with goals to reach its 1,000-unit milestone by the end of 2022/early 2023. LINKS: FullSpeed: https://fullspeedautomotive.com/ SpeeDee: https://speedeeoilfranchise.com/ Grease Monkey: https://greasemonkeyfranchise.com/ 6 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

First of its Kind Digital Marketing Agency Utilizes “Pillars of Scalability” to Help Its Clients and Brand Grow

The Hummus & Pita Co. Celebrates its 10 year anniversary As bundling and convenience have steadily become more and more popular over the years, one entrepreneur had an industry-changing idea. JC Hite, Founder and CEO of Hite Digital, noticed that traditional marketing agencies weren’t doing enough for their clients. He went on to found Hite Digital, a white label digital marketing agency, franchising the brand shortly thereafter. The brand is changing the way people think about digital marketing after Hite identified that a traditional agency’s scope of services limits its clients. Hite Digital’s mission is simple: Help their clients’ growth rather than maintain their business. In order to achieve this, the brand focuses on what they have defined as the 4 Pillars of Scalability: Fulfillment, Systems and Operations, Prospecting, and Business Coaching. By creating cohesive momentum between the 4 pillars, the concept has provided the unique opportunity to help marketing agencies expand their reach with better-quality services that deliver enhanced results to clients. Offering marketing specialists in PPC, Facebook Ads, Web Design, Branding & Logo, and SEO services, Hite Digital hasn’t only become popular among clients, but franchisees as well. With 16 franchises across the United States, the brand has quadrupled in

In February 2022, The Hummus & Pita Co., one of the leading fast-casual Mediterranean concepts, celebrates its 10 year anniversary. The milestone marks a decade of the franchise transforming the fast-casual space with notable strides in vegan menu innovation, forward-thinking, and out-of-thebox creations that have positioned the restaurant chain as an industry leader. In 2012, Janice Axelrod and her son Dave Pesso opened their first restaurant in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, to showcase family recipes passed down generations that celebrate the best of Mediterranean cuisine. With a mission to provide diners with good-for-you food, they have since garnered a loyal fanbase which led to a securement with food-delivery platform Goldbelly to bring their healthy eats nationwide. As a pioneer of vegan offerings, they have led the pack by providing an inclusive menu including a bounty of vegan eats that do not sacrifice on taste or flavor, especially with diners trending towards health-focused options. Offerings include proprietary plant-based proteins such as Shawarma, Gyro, and Moroccan meatballs. In order to stay relevant by way of menu innovation, they also created the world’s first chickpea-based milkshake, the Chickpea Chiller, which is an all natural “milkshake” that is vegan and gluten-free and was nationally recognized by the media when it launched.

said Hite. “We’re helping people rethink not only what they want

What started as one location blossomed into a rapidly expanding franchise that now operates 5 successful locations along the East Coast, with a flagship Los Angeles location set to debut before year’s end as the first of an aggressive bi-coastal expansion plan.

out of an agency, but what they deserve.”

https://www.hummusandpitas.com/

revenue since it began franchising. “Success doesn’t have to include complications and outsourcing”,

Franchising MAGAZINE USA 7

First and Only High-End Painting Expands into Oklahoma City LIME Painting – the first and only high-end painting franchise – is continuing its rapid national expansion by opening its first location in Oklahoma. With the help of franchise owner R.L. Hunnicutt, LIME Painting will begin providing over 40 painting and restoration services to luxury homes and businesses in Oklahoma City and surrounding suburbs. This will set LIME Painting up for another successful year expanding through franchising from seven to 52 locations nationwide. “Oklahoma City is a young and fast-growing city that is paving the way for innovation and entrepreneurship, making it the perfect market for LIME Painting to expand into,” said Nick Lopez, CEO and Founder of LIME Painting. R.L. Hunnicutt was raised in a small town in the panhandle of Texas called Wellington. Since he was brought up in a tight-knit community, he has a natural ability to connect with people and wanted to apply that skill to a new role. Interested in the support that comes with franchise ownership, Hunnicutt reached out to a franchise consultant who then informed him about LIME Painting. Being family-oriented and community-driven himself, Hunnicutt discovered that his values aligned perfectly with LIME Painting’s philosophy of love, integrity, mission, and excellence.

I look forward to introducing Oklahoma City community to the LIME family that I am proud to be a part of.” For more information, go to https://limepainting.com/

Tint World® honors top 2021 franchises and looks to the future at International Franchise Convention Leading automotive customization and window tinting franchise Tint World® Automotive Styling Centers™ celebrated its top franchise owners with a variety of awards recently at the company’s annual International Franchise Convention held at Caesars Palace Resort and Hotel in Las Vegas. National Automotive Styling Centers™ franchise looks back at 2021 highlights, plans for continued success in 2022

The 2021 Tint World® International Franchise Convention, entitled “Race to Success: Full Speed Ahead,” featured a vendor trade show, seminars and training, and an awards banquet to recognize top-performing franchises. This was the franchise’s second convention this year. The first convention in February was a virtual event, while the Las Vegas convention was an in-person event held in conjunction with the 2021 SEMA Show, which is held each November in Las Vegas. “The annual convention is important to the Tint World® family,” said Charles J. Bonfiglio, president and CEO of Tint World®. “Our franchise owners have worked hard, especially with the challenges of the past year, and we want to recognize their successes. This convention is a chance for us to network, learn from one another and stay focused on our goals for 2022. We are thrilled to make this event happen for our Tint World® team.” To find out more, please visit www.tintworld.com and tintworldfranchise.com

8 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

PetWellClinic Signs 16-Unit Deal in Phoenix, First Agreement in Arizona PetWellClinic, an emerging pet-wellness franchise, has entered into a 16-unit agreement in Phoenix, the company’s first deal in the state of Arizona. The clinics will provide convenient preventative care for pets including general check-ups, vaccinations and treatment of minor ailments and chronic condition in a walk-in environment. PetWellClinic’s unique clinic model offers an affordable, easily accessible health care experience for pets and pet owners versus traditional veterinary clinics or pet hospitals. The multi-unit agreement (one of the largest in the system) has been signed by Cole Walling and his family, who have been Re-Bath franchisees for over 12 years. With a background in finance, Walling is now the youngest franchisee in the PetWellClinic system at 25-years-old. Cole Walling will oversee day-to-day operations as President of PetWellClinic Phoenix. He will work alongside CEO of PetWellClinic Phoenix, Jeff Walling, and Director of Marketing, Lisa Walling. Specific locations have not yet been selected for the initial clinics, but plans are currently underway for new clinic openings next year. The goal is for the first few Phoenix clinics to be staffed and fully operational by April 2022. For more information on PetWellClinic franchise opportunities, please visit www.petwellfranchise.com

Enterprise Opens at Colombia’s Medellin International Airport Enterprise Holdings announced recently that it had opened at Colombia’s Medellin International Airport. The new branch – which is already taking reservations – serves customers of the company’s flagship Enterprise Rent-A-Car brand, as well as National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car. Enterprise Holdings owns all three brands. The new Colombia branch, located in the country’s second largest airport, represents the company’s commitment to serving domestic and international customers as travel opens up around the world. Since the onset of the pandemic, the company has opened more than 100 new branches worldwide. “Colombia is a premier market for Enterprise’s global growth as we continue to expand to meet the needs of business and leisure travelers alike, wherever they choose to go,” said Peter A. Smith, vice president of global franchising at Enterprise Holdings. “As international travel begins again, we are excited to serve our

customers around the world and stand by our promise to provide them with a safe and convenient rental experience.” The Medellin branch increases Enterprise’s presence in Colombia to 11 locations. It’s the latest in the company’s ongoing international expansion in Latin America and surrounding areas. Enterprise Rent-A-Car made its debut in Latin America in 2015, joining the National and Alamo brands. Enterprise Rent-A-Car Franchising MAGAZINE USA 9

cover story: Kingdom Harvest ™

kingdom harvest

a kingdom for everyone

Kingdom Harvest™, North Carolina’s original CBD & Hemp brand, is making a lasting mark in the fast growing hemp industry across the country in a nonconventional manner. David Payne

Founders Shelle Rogers, David Payne, and Frank Seuss, desired to create a hemp brand which was different. The vision was simple, create an organically grown product which flows from farm to shelf and gets results. Kingdom Harvest™ sources its hemp directly from Kingdom Farms, an organic hemp farm located in a secluded area of Western North Carolina. Kingdom Farms was one of the first large scale organic hemp farms in North Carolina and has maintained its significance in the farming of high quality CBD hemp flower. Because Kingdom Harvest ™ has a direct connection with Kingdom Farms, it knows the source of the hemp flower and the quality of the same which is extremely important for the consumer; Kingdom Harvest ™ worked closely with local laboratories to create the premiere whole spectrum CBD brand on the market.

10 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

Frank Suess

Shelle Rogers

Kingdom Harvest™ desires continuity in its stores but also “ welcomes creativity; they seek motivated individuals who desire to share in Kingdom’s vision for wellness by way of nature’s goodness.

”

In short, Kingdom’s products provide naturally good results to the consumer. Kingdom Harvest ™ has secured its position in the fast growing hemp market through the manufacturing of the highest quality hemp derived products in the industry; the posting eye-catching content; the use of brand ambassadors and the routine exposure of its hemp products on social media platforms like Instagram & Facebook. Kingdom Harvest ™ approaches the hemp market in a proactive manner and balances quality, price and demand accordingly. Kingdom Harvest ™ is non-conventional; they desire to allow a “franchise”

opportunity without typical franchise components such as fees and royalties. Accordingly, Kingdom Harvest ™ is announcing expansion plans to achieve their overall goal of bringing individual wellness through organically grown hemp derived products with select individuals through the Kingdom Harvest Alliance™ program. “An ally is someone who shares a common goal; we want to allow our allies to share in the placement of these great products in hopes that the customer really finds relief. As such, our program is set up on the principal that if you want to be our ally; then we will help you get established and not burden you with fees and royalties.

Willam Ford, Marketing Director

A success for an ally is a success for all

time, and we wanted to bring products to

Executive Director of Kingdom Harvest.

intended. So, our team created what is

of us” said Shelle Rogers, Founder and

We do it right “Kingdom Harvest did a lot of research. As everyone knows CBD and Hemp are

popular but there wasn’t a whole-spectrum product on the market when we started.

We felt it was the right move at the right

the consumer which were just as nature

known as the whole-spectrum extraction process which utilizes over 480 of the

naturally occurring phytonutrients plus all cannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenoids

that the hemp plant supplies” said William Ford, head of Kingdom’s marketing department.

Kimi Roberson, Brevard, NC

Tyler & Jordyn Rogers, Grow Consultant

“We created our own proprietary method of dual extraction that allowed up to bring forth a new product which made it possible to bring balance and homeostasis to your endocannabinoid system, and we were able to bring it to the masses starting for only $1.62 per day. That’s less than a cup of coffee for your health and well-being.”

We are growing! Since the launch of its’ original two products, Kingdom Harvest ™ has grown to over 50 sku’s from CBD, CBG, CBN, CBDv to THC products such as Delta 8, THCo, and the new THC Plus ™ line. Kingdom Harvest ™ is taking the hemp industry by storm by always being one step ahead and introducing innovative products on a regular basis.

In the public eye “Kingdom Harvest started out on Facebook like everyone else, and we also joined Instagram, explained Ford. “ It took us a bit to get going but once we hit 10,000, it just went crazy.” Kingdom Harvest’s ™ educational posts and posts of various artists & musicians using Kingdom Harvest ™ products gained the attention of thousands on social media, leading it to become one of the most popular CBD Company accounts in the industry. Kingdom Harvest ™ utilizes traditional marketing platforms like billboards and radio and maintains a constant presence in the social media arena to perpetuate its brand and the benefits of hemp.

Franchising MAGAZINE USA 11

cover story: Kingdom Harvest ™

Joseph Lockmey, Canton, NC

Patrick & Chelsea Burch, Waynesville, NC

Trish Morgan, Pickens, NC

Kingdom Harvest ™ has been featured in HighTimes Magazine, Dental Product Report and made appearances at the 2019 Grammy Award event in Nashville, Tennessee, and numerous Expos across the United States. In March of 2019, Kingdom Harvest ™ was introduced to dental professionals from around the world at the 150th Hinman Dental Society Expo in Atlanta Georgia. Kingdom Harvest ™ became the first hemp company embraced by the dental industry since the industries’ inception in 1936. After successfully expanding into the dental trade, Kingdom Harvest ™ continued to enlarge its brand as the world faced instability during the COVID Pandemic in 2020. Wellness is now on the forefront of consumers across the United States.

Kingdom Harvest Alliance™ Kingdom Harvest ™ opened the first store in Hendersonville, North Carolina just fifteen miles from the actual farm. The success of this retail location lead to Kingdom Harvest ™ to establish the Kingdom Harvest Alliance Program. The goal of this program is to expand Kingdom Harvest ™ by way of alliance with individuals who share the goal of wellness for the consumer. Kingdom recognized the burden of traditional franchise and royalty fees and has eliminated these elements from its alliance program. Since 2020, Kingdom Harvest ™ launched multiple alliance stores in locations across the continental United States from the Wellness Stores in Boise, Idaho to its

12 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

Levi Gardner, Hendersonville, NC

newest concept of a Wellness & Wine Café located in Brevard, NC. Kingdom Harvest ™ desires continuity in its stores but also welcomes creativity; they seek motivated individuals who desire to share in Kingdom’s vision for wellness by way of nature’s goodness.

The Industry The CBD/Hemp business is booming and is taking the world by storm and shows no sign slowing down. In 2018, sales in the United States alone were over $600 million dollars. In 2019 sales grew to over $5 billion dollars, and are estimated to be over $24 billion dollars by 2023. More products and variations such as CBNv, Delta 8, Delta 10, THCo, THCp continue to drive the market and ultimately sales.

“A Kingdom For Everyone” Kingdom Harvest ™ is expanding and seeks to form alliances with driven

Shelby & Cynthia Sauer, Boise, ID

individuals who share the commitment to both excellence and wellness. As with any new venture, there are initial costs. These include the costs you would need to invest in securing your location (rent/up-fit) as well as stocking your shelves. These costs can range between $10,000 and $25,000. However, unlike a typical franchise fee which supports the parent company, your costs will go towards the purchase of inventory which you can recoup by way of sales. Kingdom Harvest ™ has a proven track record of success and specialize marketing strategies which it desires to share with you; additionally Kingdom Harvest ™ has an extensive training program for all locations. For more information about the alliance program, please contact our Executive Director, Shelle Rogers: 828-243-8778 or visit www.kingdomharvest.com.

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globalpublishers@icloud.com Franchising MAGAZINE USA 13

EXPERT ADVICE: Evan Hackel | Founder and CEO of Ingage Consulting, and CEO of Tortal Training

CrEATIVE METHODS FINANCIAL AND OTHeRWISE TO KEEP THE BEST!

On the surface, hiring and keeping good employees in today’s competitive hiring market seems simple . . . If you just pay more than everyone else, you will recruit and keep the best employees. Of course, it is not that easy, because if you believe and apply that principle, another business can just outbid you. Believe it or not, money is only one driver of employee employment decisions.

14 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

Retention Builds Profits Let’s give this conversation some context. Losing a well-trained, successful employee is very expensive. Some considerations: • Hiring is costly. For me, I have found that I normally need to make two or three hires to find one really good employee. The cost to market for attracting applicants, interview and vet them, is very expensive. • The cost of bringing on new staff is costly too. The time invested in training new hires costs money. Plus you lose income when they provide poor service while they are learning. It adds up. It is better to pay more and keep your best people. To be clear, paying more to keep a weak employee is not a recipe for success. It can sometimes be necessary to do that if you are short-staffed, but you should avoid it long-term. • There is no guarantee of payback. Paying employees more doesn’t mean you’re necessarily going to get a better employee or improved retention. • Great employees are more productive. They make fewer costly mistakes and the high quality service they provide brings in more customers. Having a team of A Players will have a very positive economic benefit to the company. It is worth creating a culture that will retain them and keep them satisfied. • The payback can be greater than just the dollars you spend. If your cost of payroll Is typically 25% for example and you need to increase wages by 20% to be competitive, you could be moving your cost of payroll to 30%. I use the term maybe because with the 20% increase in wages, if you can hire better quality people and retain them, you will achieve increased sales, plus a lower cost associated with high turnover and a reduction in mistakes. It’s quite possible that you can increase wages and have a net effect of lowering your percentage of wages. So we see that simply raising wages isn’t the answer. The key to business success is the ability to recruit high quality employees and retain them.

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.

Here are the keys to being an attractive company to work for: • Provide good health insurance. People need it and will leave if you don’t provide it. Additionally it will allow you to attract high quality talent. • Train, Train! Younger generations desire to work at companies where they can grow. Providing training, which allows your employees to grow, will be a game- changer. Also, today most learning management systems (LMS’s) offer personal development training; some offer personal development courses that you can add on. Having a culture of training will make a big difference and will cost less than losing employees. • Offer retaining pay/bonuses. For instance, if you offer a $2.00/hour increase in compensation (retaining pay) on an employee’s work anniversary, the result can be a $4,000.00 increase in pay, which is something employees will find worth staying for. This will cause your employee not to want to leave before a year has passed, which will result in the loss of the retaining bonus. Is it better give someone a pay increase of $2.00 that is not tied to staying, or a $2.00/hour retaining bonus? The retention bonus will cost the same, but improve retention. Also, if the employee leaves early, you will never have to pay the retention bonus. • Also offer productivity bonuses. Clearly define key KPI’s (Key Performance Indicators) that your employees should aim for. Those incentive bonuses will enable your employees to earn more while you earn more at the same time. • Provide feedback. Employees like to know how they are doing. They want coaching too. Remember, many employees leave because they don’t feel appreciated.

• Use the 5/1 rule. This means making sure that you provide five pieces of positive feedback for every piece of feedback you give that employees could potentially perceive as negative. This is a simple principle which, in my experience, has provided exceptional improvements in employee satisfaction and retention. • Replace traditional yearly (or twiceyearly) job reviews with frequent touch base meetings. Traditional reviews usually are built around the question, “Tell me what you didn’t do well in the last year.” In contrast, touch base meetings can start with the positive question, “Tell me something you have done since our last touch base that you feel especially good about.” When you shift the paradigm from negative to positive, your employees will feel good about their work, enjoy working for you, and stay with you for the long run.

In Summary . . . There is more to retention than just paying more. With dedication and imagination, you can find many creative ways to get more value from every employee you hire and train and motivate with opportunities to grow. Furthermore, additional compensation doesn’t necessarily mean your business will be less profitable, it allows you to keep the top performers and reduce turnover. This is a two-pronged approach, made up of a combination of competitive compensation and a compensation package that offers retention bonuses and productivity bonuses. When you combine that two-pronged strategy with a culture that makes people want to stay, you will create an agile, world-class workforce. If you are determined to win, I encourage you to apply all the strategies I describe above. Franchising MAGAZINE USA 15

EXPERT ADVICE: George Knauf | Senior Franchise Business Advisor | FranChoice

Record Business Start-ups Fuel Franchising The migration of employees to business owners began in mid 2020 and continues to be strong. In the final US Census Bureau tally, 2020 was the best year on record for new business start-ups. We expect 2021 could likely exceed the previous year as the applications month by month have been robust. What drove this massive shift? When Covid set in there were three big contributing trends. The first was moving from office to home based work. Employees got used to working outside an office with a boss present, and they liked it. They got to avoid traffic to and from work. They could spend more time with their family and still get their work done by shifting work to hours after the kids leave for school or to weekends. In some cases, people even 16 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

changed where they work renting a home at the beach for a month or more to work from their dream home. Employees learned that work did not have to be an office based 9 to 5 Monday through Friday box. Secondly, as we entered this phase in our economy the types of services and how people sourced products shifted. This opened opportunities in a myriad of segments that did not exist in the same way previously. While sales in full-service restaurants and office cleaners may have fallen, sales in home renovations, online sales and other categories may have grown substantially. And finally, there were layoffs. Anytime we see employers shrinking their labor force we see a corresponding growth in entrepreneurship and, in our case, franchise brands. This has been true for my 30 years in franchising, every down economy or downsizing has seemed to lead to franchise growth. The one exception to that seemed

to be the great recession when the housing market fell as people did not have as much in savings and borrowing was challenging. This time around we have the layoffs and downsizings while savings rates are very high and borrowing is very approachable. These trends are layered on top of a shift in housing overall from cities to suburbs. This shift has driven the home sale and renovation market, along with home prices and home equity. As homeowners are getting ready to sell they renovate key parts of their home to maximize sale price. When buyers move into a new home they continue the renovations to make the space they will live and work more perfectly suited to their needs. And all of that money consumers saved up is hitting the market with huge demand for products, services and experiences like restaurants and gyms. While this increased demand has raised prices, many of those increases will retreat as demand wanes

after the spending flurry and as sully chains catch up. I believe the net effect of all of this is that how, where and why we work is changing for much of the workforce. Consumers are also shifting how they spend their money, focusing more on experiences and their daily environment.

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

As companies call their employees back to the office, many will go but their will be a sizable contingent that has found a sense of freedom that they don’t want to give up. Entrepreneurship and franchising are an outstanding option for those employees that don’t want to go back to the way they used to work. They can strike out, tap into strong trends and use proven systems from National brands that will train and support them as they build their family empire.

The growth we have seen “ over the past year resulted in franchisees that are ramping up now.

”

Franchise brands are often settled into relatively stable or very stable markets that tend to have some form of ongoing regular demand. Franchises are somewhat less common in highly cyclical markets or those that don’t have some form of longevity because the franchisor needs a long runway for their game plan and for overall success. The growth we have seen over the past year resulted in franchisees that are ramping up now. As we talk to franchisors they relate good feedback from their franchise owners on getting open and established. Beyond building their own business, the work of these franchisees will entrench these brands in the economy and provide opportunities for years or decades to come. What should you do if you are one of those workers that wants to control your destiny and build your family empire? Start with finding your perfect franchise. While you may be able to figure that out on your own, you may also find value in getting free coaching from someone like me that can advise you on the industry and how to approach it from a base of decades of experience. Your perfect franchise may not be your favorite place to spend money as a consumer today, though it could be tomorrow! What is your success story? Let’s go find it! Franchising MAGAZINE USA 17

EXPERT ADVICE: Adam Povlitz | CEO & President | Anago Cleaning Systems

thoughts on Micro-Franchising for the New Year Adam Povlitz is CEO & President of Anago Cleaning Systems, one of the world’s leading franchised commercial cleaning companies and a leader in technological advances relating to business operations and janitorial services. A previous IBM executive, Adam holds several business degrees and certifications, including an MBA in Marketing and Finance from the University of Miami. He is a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, an IFA Certified Franchise Executive, and an ISSA Cleaning Industry Management Certification Expert.

Originally, micro-franchising was a term used to mimic concepts of traditional franchising models but geared toward smaller-sized, pop-up or concession-style business models. Around the world, micro-franchising is gaining significant attention, especially as small business opportunities become attractive options for first-time entrepreneurs. The global pandemic created a new breed of entrepreneurs who are looking for more control over their finances. Examples of micro-franchising can be found in many industries, including food and beverage, retail kiosks, at18 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

home healthcare, and janitorial services. Micro-franchising can also describe small business franchising that can be operated from your home or car.

The COVID-inspired Gig Economy The pandemic, though horrible, gave many a new definition of work/life balance that is jeopardized by returning to the way corporate jobs used to operate. The other factor at play is the continuing rise of the “gig-economy” that surged during the pandemic. Working from home or ondemand, many people were able to seek side-gig work they found more interesting, more satisfying, and/or eliminated the traditional feel of corporate life. This also gave more power to the individual

to carve out their own definition of work/ life balance. In many cases, this translated to people seeking more freedom in their career path and micro-franchising opportunities became an attractive offer.

Be Bold One of the most important aspects to consider if you are making the jump into franchise ownership to think big—even if you’re starting small. The nature of microfranchising is to start small by offering a product or service in your market’s high-traffic areas. And just because the business starts out small doesn’t mean you have to stay small. Push your boundaries safely and with the proper calculation. Some of the most profitable companies in the world started at the micro-level and

As your micro-franchise “ operation grows, explore ways to re-invest your profits in areas that give you a reasonable probability of growth.

”

proven, successful business for a minimal investment without paying high upfront costs.

Consider the Long-term Scalability

grew into much more. As your product or service resonates with customers, more opportunities for growth will present themselves if you think big when starting a small business. When finding the right micro-franchise opportunity, pay close attention to the fees involved, especially if buying into a well-known brand. Some franchisors will offer low upfront costs but as a tradeoff, may end up taking a larger percentage of your ongoing revenue, so it’s best to conduct due diligence when researching. Also, be critical of barriers to entry and make sure you are asking for a detailed account of all cost structures – both upfront and any ongoing monthly, quarterly, and yearly fees. You will find that as a budding entrepreneur, you can become a micro-franchisee within a

The best entrepreneurs in the world spend a considerable amount of time planning for scalability. As your micro-franchise operation grows, explore ways to reinvest your profits in areas that give you a reasonable probability of growth. There are many examples of this including increasing a consumer product offering or expanding your customer base. Making smart, calculated investments back into your business model will allow longterm scalability. Commercial cleaning franchising offers a perfect example of scalability. When you first start out running your commercial cleaning business from your home (or out of your car), you can start with a specified number of contracts. As you become more experienced in delivering excellent customer service on time (while maintaining brand integrity), you have the option of adding more contracts, thereby increasing your revenues. As you add more contracts, you can start thinking about growing your staff. This is an excellent way for you to generate more frequent revenue streams and become a job creator within your community. Once you’ve reached this level, more opportunities open, and expansion seems more and more likely.

Be Unique: Think Outside the Box There are many different micro-franchise concepts available, and several franchise brands have done most of the upfront work for you. They have a franchise development structure in place that is based on years of research and experience to help entrepreneurs leap into small business

ownership. But don’t always rely on others. Do your own research! Don’t count on the franchisor to provide you with an analysis of your market. Do it yourself. Check out your competition. Is your idea already out there? Is your market saturated? What market share do competitors have? Are they successful? What are you providing that they don’t already? Can you compete with their cost offerings? These are just a few examples of the types of questions you will want to bring to the table when you meet with a prospective brand. Think outside the traditional means of small businesses and find an industry trending upward within your community, city, or state. This process goes hand in hand when thinking about scalability, so you will want to spend extra time outlining this segment of your journey into small business franchise ownership.

Imagine Who Your Clients Will Be A niche’ luxury product or high-end service will only target a small percentage of people. Consider franchises that offer immediate or relevant necessities and services to help safeguard your client base. For example, the food and beverage franchise industry is highly competitive because people need to eat to survive. On the other hand, if you create a product that is not necessary to everyday life, doesn’t solve an existing problem, or isn’t attractive or entertaining, it will likely fail. You must think like a consumer. Imagine who your clients will be and why they will benefit from your product or service when thinking about your business. Micro-franchising can be just as successful of a venture as traditional franchising, and in some cases better. As with any business, believing in yourself and your product or service will make all the difference. Be bold and stay the course. If choosing to invest in an established franchise, be prepared, conduct due diligence, and research and make sure you fully understand the brand’s franchise programs. Whatever you decide, have fun, and let your entrepreneurial spirit fly. Franchising MAGAZINE USA 19

WOMEN IN FRANCHISING: Angela Dodd | Founder of the Females in Food Community

females in food How Females in Food is Working to Close the Gender Gap in the Food and Beverage Industry About Angela Dodd A seasoned F&B industry professional, Angela Dodd is the founder of the Females in Food Community. Dodd understands that the best way to bring about systemic change is through active sector participation and also serves as the Senior Director of Business Development for Solecta. driven platform and talent marketplace dedicated to advancing women in the F&B industry. From women who aspire to hold a managerial role to women who already do, Females in Food supports women throughout their career journey, and its mission is simple – to advance women in the food and beverage industry. To help the F&B industry become a career destination for talented, ambitious women, and to close the gender gap within the industry, Females in Food focuses on three main commitments:

80 percent of food-buying decisions are made by women globally, yet representation at senior-level leadership positions across the food and beverage industry is less than 20 percent. This statistic is jarring, but most of all, it’s not sustainable for the future of the

food and beverage (F&B) industry. Angela Dodd, founder of Females in Food, is out to change things.

20 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

For many years, Dodd envisioned an industry where women could access the resources they needed to empower their careers. She imagined a network that easily connected women with femalefriendly organizations and she dreamed of a world where women didn’t have to choose between motherhood and career advancement. Fueled by the need to give women in the F&B industry a voice, the Females in Food community was born. Today, it’s the only membership-based and cause-driven community, data-

• Cultivated Community: Females in Food unites women across every F&B industry segment and allows women to support each other, access real-time feedback and form lasting relationships through their mentorship program and curated events. The community establishes intentional bonds and meaningful relationships to help women support women. • Career Acceleration: From job-search strategies to personal branding to enhancing executive presence, Females in Food empowers

Today, it’s the only membership-based and cause-driven “ community, data-driven platform and talent marketplace dedicated to advancing women in the F&B industry. ”

intent of helping women find companies where they can achieve their goals.

• Corporate Partnerships: Females in

Food’s corporate partnership program takes a 360-degree approach to help

careers by delivering resources for everyday realities. The organization offers resources to help all women, regardless of where they are in their career journey, and by providing women with the tools to accelerate their careers, Females in Food is putting women back in the driver’s seat. • Creating Opportunities: Females in Food works as a talent connector and provides visibility while advocating for change at both the company and policy level. The F&B industry needs to change and adapt to become more sustainable for women and their future. By advocating for opportunities to improve companies and careers, Females in Food is changing the industry for the better. Females in Food is equipping and connecting women with tools and a network to transform their careers. The Females in Food team builds a powerful ecosystem that facilitates connections and elevates memberships. Community members are provided with exclusive content and resources to female professionals that include: • Curated Content: The platform consistently posts original and sourced articles that offer advice on how to boost a career, gain industry insights and learn how women in the F&B industry are breaking the glass ceiling. • Job Board: The job board with pre-vetted careers at female-forward companies is an exclusive benefit to the Females in Food community members. With the goal to help women

and companies achieve their greatest potential, Females in Food connects job seekers with exceptional opportunities in the F&B industry. • Job Search Accelerator: Females in Food community members gain exclusive access to this course designed to help launch a successful job search with a strategic approach to the process. At the conclusion, participants will have an actionable plan to successfully launch a job search, tools needed to implement a plan, a head start among other job applicants and clarity on a next career move. • Career Coaches: The Females in Food community provides a network of career coaches to help navigate career paths. The trained career coaches will help each member get where she wants to be. • Resume Reviews: All members of the Females in Food community receive free resume reviews. Yes, free! Since the Females in Food community consists of members of the F&B industry, they know what job seekers are looking for and how to position each member to make her the most marketable. • Employee Reviews: To ensure that female voices are heard, Females in Food also provides a safe space for employer profile reviews -- written for women by women. Women who work in the F&B industry can anonymously rate current and previous employers on female friendliness factors, such as equal opportunities for both men and women, maternity and adoptive leave and female representation in leadership with the

companies increase gender diversity and attract high-level female talent.

Corporate partners create an employer profile, where they can include details

about why their company is a rewarding place for women to work as well as job postings. Other resources provided to

corporate partners include professional

development tools and coaching, access to Females in Food’s growing database

of talent, thought leadership and impact events, sponsored content creation, user

testing and focus groups, and co-branded research and insights. They proudly

work with employers who are committed to designing and supporting a better workplace for women.

Females in Food is committed to helping

women advance in the food and beverage

industry, including closing the gender gap at the top. Its initiatives empower careers,

provide visibility and help companies close the gaps across parity, pipeline and policy. For more information about the Females in Food Community, visit www.femalesinfood.community and follow @FemalesinFood.Community on Facebook and Instagram.

About Females in Food Females in Food is a membershipbased cause-driven community, data-driven platform and talent marketplace committed to closing the gender gap that exists at the top in the food and beverage industry.

Franchising MAGAZINE USA 21

snapshot: Kampgrounds of America

Kampgrounds of America Offers Campground Franchisees CamperFriendly EV Charging Stations Kampgrounds of America (KOA) recently unveiled a program to implement Level 2 EV Chargers designed by Jamestown Advanced Products at select campground locations across the United States and Canada. Campground owners within KOA’s network of 520 campgrounds are now eligible to purchase KOA-branded electric vehicle (EV) chargers for their properties with the intent to roll out at campgrounds early this year. The Level 2 EV Charging stations will be produced in partnership with Jamestown Advanced Products, supporting KOA’s goal of promoting sustainable transportation and infrastructure at KOA campgrounds. According to KOA’s latest research, one in five campers have an EV in their household, compared to 12% of noncampers. The national average for EV ownership is around 7%. KOA is excited to bring this amenity to campers and RVers who own electric vehicles at a higher rate than the national average. This program is an innovative way to bring power and efficient vehicle charging to guests with electric vehicles who enjoy the great outdoors. Each unit will be able to charge one electric vehicle while also providing amperage for RVs through an available outlet. The Level 2 chargers utilize a 240-volt electric supply and can charge the vehicle up to 10 times faster than a Level 1 (120-volt) charger. “KOA is always looking for innovative ways to make our properties more environmentally friendly and reduce our carbon footprint. This amenity is a first-of-its-kind for a campground network, and we could not be more excited to offer EV chargers as an amenity to campground owners and guests alike,” 22 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

KOA will be the first campground company to offer “ EV chargers nationwide. ” said Toby O’Rourke, president and CEO of Kampgrounds of America. “It’s an important step in promoting sustainability in the outdoor industry and making it easy for electric vehicle owners to enjoy their favorite activities such as camping, road tripping and RVing.”

and installs in a similar fashion to standard RV power outlets campground owners are familiar with. Each unit will also include universal access charging plug and twentyfive feet of cable. Registered campers will receive priority access to the charging stations.

“We’re thrilled to partner with KOA to introduce the first fully integrated RV and EV power outlet to campers who want to travel with their electric and hybrid vehicles,” said Josh Lodestro, director at Jamestown. “Our EV chargers will be fast and reliable, solving for the common problem of finding enough chargers on the road when you leave major urban areas. Best of all, the camper will never need to leave their campsite to charge.

KOA is the world’s largest system of open-to-the-public campgrounds with 525 locations across the U.S. and Canada united under the mission of “connecting people to the outdoors and each other.” The industry leader in outdoor hospitality, KOA offers its franchisees unparalleled support, marketing, and technology, while its proprietary reservation software, K2, delivers campgrounds a competitive advantage within the market. Today KOA serves more than a million camping families each year, who rely on the standards of excellence and unique outdoor adventures for which KOA is known for.

Each EV charging station will allow for added 50, 30, or 20-amp receptacles to make on-site installation a one-stop solution for all power needs. No prior knowledge of EV charging is required for installation, as each unit arrives pre-wired

To learn more about franchising with KOA, visit www.ownakoa.com.

JANUARY 2022

health and fitness will grow

exponentially in 2022

advice for

future fitness franchisees latest news

in healh & fitness franchises Franchising MAGAZINE USA 23

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.

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

Our Franchise

@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!

contents

health & fitness franchising 28 40

Expert Advice 32 Regan Stokes: Advice for Future Fitness Franchisees

What’s New 26 Franchising News

Announcements from the Industry

Feature Article 28 Rick Bisio: Health and Fitness Franchises look to Rebound in 2022 and Beyond

Focus Feature 34 The Now Massage: The Now Massage Revolutionized the Massage industry with its elevated design aesthetic and customizable services

40 Chris Conner: Health and Fitness will grow Exponentially in 2022

Franchisee in Action 38 Goldfish Swim Schools: From Wall street to Franchising, How Goldfish Swim School changed this Family’s Life

Spotlight on Service 42 VFP Next: How VFPnext is improving the Digital Member Experience

Have Your Say 30 Dan Pardi: Closing the Gap from Fitness and Nutrition to Restore

34 Franchising MAGAZINE USA 25

h e alt h & fi t n e s s fr an c hi s ing fe at u r e

RETRO FITNESS is hyping up consumers with new commecial Retro Fitness, one of the leading fitness franchises in the nation, is hyping-up consumers to head back to the gym in the new year by releasing their first ever nationwide holiday commercial. Running December 1st to January 2, 2022, the fitness industry’s the busiest time of year, the commercial aired on platforms such as Roku, Hulu and more, inviting viewers to “come sweat with us again,” and sharing advice on how to lose the “junk in your trunk,” post-holiday season through positive and encouraging messaging. The humorous and catchy commercial,

which comes off the heels of the company’s first ever commercial released earlier this year, showcases what Retro Fitness is known for nationally – the premier low-cost high-value gym franchise, with more than 120 clubs open across the country. The commercial offers new members 50% off their membership, access to top tier fitness equipment and access to expert trainers while encouraging viewers to “get real” this holiday season and to start 2022 on the right, and healthy foot.

Cheers, Cobb County! Reformer Pilates Concept Redefines “Happy Hour” in East Cobb

to share your latest news in franchising Please email vikki@cgbpublishing.com

https://retrofitness.com/

New Skyhawks Sports Franchise Opens in New Orleans Skyhawks Sports Academy, a national franchise specializing in skill-based sports instructions for children ages 4-14, opened a new location in New Orleans, LA in September. The franchise is owned by William Berry and his two sisters, Caroline Berry and Catherine Fabre and is the first in the state of Louisiana. Skyhawks Sports provides children a fun, safe and non-competitive environment. The organization currently offers programs in more than 11 different sports, including soccer, basketball, flag football, baseball, multi-sport, tennis, Mini-Hawk, lacrosse, golf, volleyball, cheerleading and track and field. The program 26 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

formats include traditional weeklong summer day camps, year-round after school programs, sports leagues, and clinics. William Berry oversees the daily operations of the New Orleans franchise while also serving as one of the program instructors. Catherine is a CPA who handles all the franchise’s finances. Caroline has experience as a startup specialist with new businesses and is taking take of marketing and social media to promote Skyhawks Sports to families in the area. Although the group’s efforts were delayed when Hurricane Ida hit New Orleans in late August, some of the first programs quickly

sold out as parents wanted to give their children a chance to get out of the house and engage with others. For more information, please visit https:// www.skyhawks.com/

BODYBAR Pilates Opens New Location BODYBAR Pilates (BODYBAR), known for its use of core Pilates principles with a modern twist, officially opened their second Georgia location on November 8th in East Cobb. Blending its focus on strength, toning and modern movement with a warm, welcoming, spa-like environment, BODYBAR creates an unmatched Pilates experience centered on fostering a destination where its community of members can come together daily to maintain sound mind, body and spirit. The new BODYBAR location is the first studio for local owner, Joe Stockman. With an extensive background in leadership, sales and business consulting, Stockman brings a progressive, results-driven mindset to his new studio. As a member of the Cobb County Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Cobb Class of 2020, past-president of the North Cobb Rotary Club, and chair for the

Northwest Cobb Family YMCA Advisory Board, Stockman is dedicated to the betterment of his community. He hopes to further that commitment by introducing his neighbors to the BODYBAR workout and help them meet their fitness goals. BODYBAR Pilates was founded in 2012, offering a modern take on Reformer Pilates in an environment that is conducive to building communities filled with members who love, respect, encourage and motivate one another to be strong, healthy and happy humans. Referred to as “Your favorite happy hour” workout, BODYBAR’s 40 to 50-minute classes can be customized to any fitness level. Whether a member is a 70-year-old wellness guru or a 25-year-old just getting started, BODYBAR workouts can be customized to meet everyone’s personal fitness goals. https://bodybarpilates.com/studios/ eastcobb/?presell=1

THE DRIPBaR Innovates Mental Health Support

With winter coming into full effect and daylight diminishing, it’s easy for our mental health maintenance to be pushed to the bottom of our to-do lists. As we all know, our brains require proper nutrition and care in order to function at its best. Sometimes we ignore stress and as a result, it can take a toll on our physical health. Luckily, THE DRIPBaR has developed new IV-infusion drips to help support mental health and reduce stress. This innovative treatment provides micronutrients to support stress reduction and boost energy. The brand has introduced the Soother drip,

a calculated blend of nutrients that can be administered in as little as five minutes. This drip is packed with a blend of magnesium, B vitamins, zinc, vitamin C and other micronutrients to support mental health and relieve muscle tension. In addition to the Soother drip, the brand offers many more IV lifestyle and health support drips. Founded in 2016 and franchising since September of 2019, this Rhode Island-based franchise is focused on helping people achieve their best health using advances in intravenous therapies. With nearly 200 locations in various stages of development across 16 states, THE DRIPBaR is committed to your health and well-being and wants to help people achieve their optimum health.

Juice It Up! Celebrates 20 Years of Açaí Juice It Up!, one of the nation’s leading handcrafted smoothie, raw juice, and superfruit bowl chains, is proud to celebrate 20 years of açaí alongside its longtime partner, Sambazon®. Juice It Up! was one of the first, if not the first, smoothie and bowl franchises in the U.S. to introduce the superfruit to its menus back in 2001, before the littleknown Brazilian berry had achieved its reputation as an antioxidant powerhouse. Vice President of Supply Chain, Melissa Aills, remembers traveling to each location, educating staff on the many benefits of açaí – and even its correct pronunciation! Since those days, Juice It Up! has continued to innovate with the antioxidant-rich berry, helping to make the powerful superfood a household name. Today, 20 years later, the original-formula Ultimate Açaí Smoothie and Bowl remain on the menu alongside a growing variety of functional and flavorful superfruit creations developed by the brand’s dedicated food science team. “A journey spanning two decades is a long one, and we are grateful to have worked in lockstep with an amazing company like Sambazon to emerge as one of the nation’s first chains to introduce açaí smoothies and bowls to our guests,” said Susan Taylor, Juice It Up! President and CEO. “Today, we are as committed as ever to remaining at the forefront of food science by utilizing vitamin-packed superfoods to provide our guests with the best tasting functional products in the smoothie and bowl market.” Web link: https://www.juiceitup.com/ Franchising MAGAZINE USA 27

h e alt h & fi t n e s s fr an c hi s ing fe at u r e

FEATURE ACTICLE: RICK BISIO

Health and Fitness Franchises Look to Rebound in 2022 and Beyond Businesses in every industry were impacted by the pandemic in some way over the past two years. Some faced subtle changes while others, like home service franchises, saw increased revenues due to more people choosing to do work on their home. Those in sectors such as restaurants and health and fitness suffered the most, primarily due to extended closures. Before we forecast how business will look in the new year as we continue to recover from the pandemic, let’s assess the damage and the toll that it has taken on the health and fitness industry. Certainly, the biggest impact is on their business operation came during the outset of the pandemic with the closing of their facilities. Large, public gatherings were banned to prevent the spread of the virus and like many other 28 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

public, non-essential businesses, gyms had to close. In some cases, they had to close for several months or even half a year depending on the location and local regulations. But here’s what speaks to the power of a franchise model. Many brands made adjustments and survived. Interestingly enough, some reached out to their customers and asked if they would continue with their membership. Even though the locations were closed, some customers continued to pay their monthly fees because they wanted to help support them and keep them in business. The recurring revenue model proved to be valuable. Some fitness centers moved their classes online allowing members to log on from the safety of their home. That worked well for some classes that didn’t require much equipment. Other locations moved classes and some equipment outside. Since people couldn’t congregate inside, the fitness centers held classes in their parking lot

or a nearby park. They were temporary solutions that helped fitness centers bridge that gap. It was actually very encouraging to see the their creativity and adaptability in the face of adversity.

Looking Forward in 2022 Almost all fitness franchises increased their sanitizing practices based on CDC guidelines and took extra precautions in cleaning their materials and equipment. I suspect we will see those practices remain in place, coupled with permanent sanitation practices like touchless check-ins. Keep in mind, gyms and fitness are part of a larger health and wellness umbrella. It is a $52 billion industry here in the U.S. that encompasses everything from spas to hair salons and medical clinics. The commonality among these businesses is that they are service related and dependent on on-site customers for survival. Which stands to reason that they would be attentive to stringent sanitation details amid a pandemic. I expect many of these

Rick Bisio is one of the countries most respected franchise coaches and author of the Amazon best seller, The Educated Franchise – 3rd Edition. Since becoming a franchise coach in 2002, Bisio has assisted thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs nationwide explore the dream of business ownership. www.afranchisecoach.com

newfound practices will evolve to the new normal. However, not all types of fitness franchises may implement these changes long-term. Big box gyms have done a lot to adhere to required government sanitation practices like spraying and cleaning down the machinery. But I think with a lot of the big box gyms, which generally attract younger people, you will find less of these practices remaining in place. Over time, I think people will revert pretty quickly to their old habits.

More than 60 million Americans belong to gyms, and I think a lot of those who used to be involved in going to fitness facilities and had stepped away are now comfortable returning. The reality is that Covid numbers will rise and fall and industries are adjusting. Generally speaking, the fitness industry has done pretty well between trying to maintain their membership, being flexible and utilizing government recovery programs.

The middle ground is the increasingly popular boutique fitness franchise, a smaller more specialized fitness establishment that is somewhat divided between male and female clientele. The average boutique fitness customer is female and I think there has always been a higher sensitivity to cleanliness and sanitization. Boutique fitness has a lot of interpersonal nature to it. People know each other and there is more of a familial relationship. Many of these centers have instituted new policies which will endure.

Moving forward, entrepreneurs interested in becoming a franchisee in the health and wellness industry, should look at least 12 months out. By the time they do their due diligence, sign a franchise agreement, find a location, negotiate a letter of intent and lease and do a build out, it is a yearlong process. At a minimum, someone will have to think about what the world will look like going into 2023. Even though we may have some bumps between now and then, it is hopefully unlikely that we go back to extended closures. We will be further removed from the worst of the pandemic as we gradually return to normal times.

Status quo is that this industry has rebounded and actually into the black.

As we look ahead, innovation will shape the future of health and fitness franchises.

Technology is playing a larger part in the fitness world, accelerated by the demands of the pandemic. Contactless sign-ins and on-demand fitness instruction are examples of ways in which fitness centers are providing members with exclusive online training and fitness classes. Look for apps to give real time checks-ins, payment options and online class schedules along with customized workouts designed through computer analysis. Wearable technology like a smart watch will sync with smart fitness equipment to gauge user performance. The remarkable and creative pivots made by fitness franchises in the past two years have kept them in the game and propelled the industry to the next level. For those looking into a business ownership opportunity in the new year, this may be the perfect time to flex your financial muscles. Franchising MAGAZINE USA 29

h e alt h & fi t n e s s fr an c hi s ing fe at u r e

HAVE YOUR SAY: Dan Pardi, MS, PhD | Chief Health Architect of Restore Hyper Wellness

Closing The Gap: From Fitness and Nutrition To Restore Since Restore Hyper Wellness started in 2015, we’ve opened over a hundred health centers nationwide and helped thousands of people take meaningful steps to bolster the effectiveness of their self-care routine. From clients with chronic conditions to

elite athletes hoping to speed up recovery and improve performance, Restore offers powerful science-based technologies and programs that help people get greater

return on their investment for their health efforts.

30 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

But how are we producing greater returns?

increasingly becoming aware of is that there are diverse ways to nurture health The modern world feels normal, because beyond diet and exercise. Many things it’s the world we live in, but from the matter for human health and each of those perspective of a human body, there are a inputs provides unique value to overall lot of important influences to health that functioning. Not only does this diverse are either missing or inadequate. Simply set of inputs contribute to the total health put, the way that most people live - the status one has, but they also reinforce one normal patterns of living in modern life another. For instance, you do sauna - is not conducive to optimized human If there is when a pattern of or cryotherapy, it doesn’t replace the need health. This leads to a large variety of increasing revenue each year, for sleep, but it helps deepen the sleep you undesirable consequences ranging from the buyer can feel confident that get at night. Similarly, when you get good under performance and reduced personal more customers are turning to sleep, you’re more likely to have a better flourishing, to eventual chronic conditions the business, with profit margins diet and have more energy to engage with that impact the quality and duration of life. to be optimized with improved other health behaviors. It’s all connected. Most people are fully aware that we need management. Take for instance, exercise. It’s broadly to take regular actions to nurture a better recognized as good for health, yet only health trajectory. What more people are

“

”

what they need and the results have been encouraging. We’re bringing a perspective to the world that has long been needed, but mostly absent. The solution for health in our times does not lie in any one service, technique, or health domain. We keep seeing disappointing results because we keep trying to solve the problem with incomplete solutions. But at Restore, we have been working hard on a cutting-edge, technology driven coaching program, called the Hyper Wellness Coaching Program, that helps our clients better navigate the complex world of personal health. When you pair services that everyone can benefit from with training that helps an individual embody knowledge everyone should be exposed to, you synergize on the core mission of helping people do more. Once people start to see and feel those synergistic actions in play, our system becomes increasingly reinforcing, and less disappointing.

22% of the U.S. meets the guidelines for physical activity set by the Department of Health and Human Services. How many people are turned off to exercise because the narrative of extreme athleticism scares them away? It’s as though exercise isn’t valuable unless you get hyper fit and aspire to train like a professional athlete. We know that isn’t true, and while we can certainly maintain high levels of physical activity and see our health benefit, we also see a tremendous impact on health from far more achievable levels. I do a lot of walking, various types of body weight exercises, and I also ‘de-convenience’’ my life. For instance, I take Zoom meetings while carrying a 30 lb. ruck sack while walking outside. Instead of overfitting my efforts to be healthy into one bucket, I spend my time diversifying into other health buckets. Within those buckets, I think the better vision for health, supported by data, is to try to have a very well balanced coaching interaction with how you are monitoring your day.

Are you getting sunshine? Are you getting movement? Are you getting light at the certain times and not at others? And are you having cold and hot stress in your day? Soon, Restore will offer solutions to all of these often overlooked questions. And we intend to radically expand access to these valuable services, modalities, and programs. This holistic broad view of health is a key piece of what we call “Hyper Wellness.” But it’s more than that, it’s also fully grounded in the reality that we have busy lives, important responsibilities, and limited time. This is where technology comes into the hyper wellness mission: how can we harness the power of leadingedge health technologies to help us gain access to important aspects of a healthy lifestyle in an efficient, cost effective, and engaging manner? The human body is exquisitely sensitive to the natural world, but we don’t live there anymore. Telling people to give up their modern lifestyle is not a practical solution. We’re on a mission to help humans regularly get more of

Who doesn’t want to feel their best day in and day out? Who doesn’t want to maximize their healthspan, or participate in their own life to their fullest capacity? We are here to help people get results in all these important life goals. We not only plan to scale our health center locations so that most people have easy access to one, but we are also deepening our technology investment so that we can support people in more new and meaningful ways. Not only are we widening our footprint, but we are also deepening our impact on the individuals whose lives we touch. It’s an exciting journey! We really are helping people do more of what they love, and we’re only getting started.

Dr. Dan Pardi is the Chief Health Architect for Restore Hyper Wellness - the fastest growing franchise in the United States. He leads the Product and Health Sciences Department where he oversees product development, clinical trials, labs, and the Restore Hyper Wellness Coaching Program. Franchising MAGAZINE USA 31

h e alt h & fi t n e s s fr an c hi s ing fe at u r e

EXPERT ADVICE: Regan Stokes | President | Pure Barre

Advice for Future Fitness Franchisees Regan Stokes first entered into the field of franchising through a career opportunity to join the team of a budding franchisor in the fitness space. While Stokes was primarily working in client services management before that, she became fascinated by the concept of franchising and saw first-hand how the franchisor and franchisee could work together to create the strongest business possible. Appointed in 2021 as the president of Pure Barre, a boutique fitness concept with over 600 locations, Regan is responsible for building a business model and support system that allows entrepreneurs to achieve their dreams of business ownership.

Before deciding to invest in a fitness franchise, it is worth asking some valuable questions of yourself. What franchise is the best fit for you? What would be the best location for the brand? How can you create a community and brand loyalty? In addition to thinking about the business, you also need to know if you would personally thrive in a franchise system and the type of brand you want to align with and represent in your market(s). In my past roles, and my current one as the President of Pure Barre, I have helped franchisees in the health and fitness industry with each step of the process. So, why would someone want to invest in a fitness franchise? As cliche as it sounds, fitness really can change lives. Fitness not only has a large role in physical wellbeing, but also mental health, as evidenced throughout the pandemic. A study surveying 1.2 million people in the United States found that people who exercise report having 1.5 fewer poor mental health days a month, compared to people who do not exercise. The study also found that team sports, cycling, aerobics and going to the gym were the activities that made the greatest impact. By opening a fitness studio, owners are creating a space for others to feel their best and work toward the best versions of themselves in a welcoming, inclusive and supportive environment. Adding franchising to the mix gives these entrepreneurs the support of a company with a proven track record that has years of experience and tools to help them succeed. The first step you should take, and one of the most important, is figuring out what

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As Pure Barre continues to grow, we’ve found that what makes each franchisee successful is following our model and trusting the process and systems in place that have built the brand to what it is today and where it is headed At the same time, we like to ask our franchisees for feedback on that model – what is working and what is not. Then we can implement changes and roll out new initiatives when necessary. This in turn helps keep our franchisees passionate and invested in the brand, and at the end of the day, passion will drive success. you are passionate about when it comes to health and fitness. There are a wide variety of franchises in this space to invest in, and finding the right one for you will greatly impact your motivation and longevity in business. Do you love working out? Maybe a barre, indoor cycling or boxing franchise is the right fit for you. Do you invest a lot of time into self-care and wellness? Perhaps a massage, sauna or assisted stretching franchise is where you want to invest. The possibilities are endless in this industry, so make sure you choose something you love, especially as we emerge from a pandemic life is too short! Once you’ve landed on a concept you want to invest in and a specific brand you love, conduct in-depth research. This can include talking to current franchisees and asking them about how successful they have been and how their experience has been with the franchisor, especially from a support perspective. Another big factor to consider is the startup budget you have. Each franchise will have a different initial investment for opening a new location, which can vary greatly in the fitness space depending on whether or not the concept requires equipment or a unique buildout. If it’s too difficult to figure out alone, perhaps you should work with a franchise consultant/broker to help you work through this. Lastly, one of the most important factors to look at is the level of support provided by the franchisor. Ask the franchisor what their support system is like – do they give ongoing guidance and resources or just a simple toolkit with which you are left

to your own devices to figure out? If you have a previous background in business, you may feel that you need less support than someone who has no prior business experience. As someone who is involved in the training and vetting process for new franchisees, I do my best to set up all franchisees for success, regardless of their background. For example, at Pure Barre, we provide franchisees with three days of franchise partner training after they sign their agreement with us. We also help franchisees find a location, provide tools and training needed to build an incredible teacher and staff team, market their new studios, and sell memberships. But the support doesn’t stop after the grand opening. While a Pure Barre location is open, we offer ongoing training and engagement activities weekly which greatly contributes to the success of each owner. If a franchisee is going to be directly involved in the day-to-day operations of their location, which they usually are, we also encourage them to attend a 3-day general manager training. This training is designed to arm attendees with the core knowledge and practical examples of how to manage the studio operations including the sales process and management of KPIs. As a company, we give an immense amount of support to our franchisees, but again, it is best to consider if that is the right fit for you and your skill-set. Very free-spirited, independent people or those who seek complete creative control may not want that much of a blueprint or level of support that a franchise provides.

In addition to following the playbook, I’ve also found social media to play a large role when it comes to success in fitness franchising in particular. It was found that 82% of consumers have purchased or considered purchasing a product or service after a friend or family had posted about it on social media. There are franchisors that don’t provide a lot of marketing tools to their owners and leave the communications up to their discretion. That is not the case with Pure Barre, because we recognize how prevalent boutique fitness has become on social media. We provide templates for social media posts, email blasts and more so that franchisees can customize to reflect their studios while keeping a strong and consistent brand presence in their online communities. Having a social media presence from presale onwards is important so locals can learn about your business and to create a community within it, the cornerstone of boutique fitness. The younger generation is now turning to social networks as a primary resource to research brands, so it’s important for whatever fitness brand you invest in to have a strong social media presence for future growth! At the beginning of the pandemic, the future of group fitness was uncertain and some thought at-home fitness might become the main form of exercise. But what fitness franchises offer, and what people ended up missing more than anything, is the sense of community they bring their members. This comeback, combined with everything mentioned above, make now a better time than ever to look into being a fitness franchise owner. Franchising MAGAZINE USA 33

h e alt h & fi t n e s s fr an c hi s ing fe at u r e

FOCUS FEATURE: The now massage

The NOW Massage Revolutionized the Massage Industry

with its Elevated Design Aesthetic and Customizable Services The NOW Massage was co-founded by Gara Post in 2015 when she discovered there was a void in the wellness space for high quality massage services without the time commitment and cost of a traditional spa. The vision was to create an oasis for relaxation where guests could come to disconnect from the outside world and reconnect within. Soon after opening the first location in Los Angeles, success followed, and the company scaled from one to four boutiques in 18 months. The brand began franchising in 2019 and in less than two years, The NOW Massage has rapidly reached the monumental achievement of signing its 100th franchise location. At the helm is Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer, Gara Post, who keeps the vision and voice true across all boutiques, media platforms and product development. “With extraordinary growth in the massage and wellness space over the past decade, we understand that there is a lot of interest from all types of investors who see this emerging sector as a great opportunity. We look forward to bringing our unique aesthetic and elevated massage experience to cities all over the United States,” said Post.

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Disrupting the Wellness Industry The NOW has reimagined the approachable luxury of a neighborhood spa with premium massages and an original design inspired by beachside destinations from around the world. Since The NOW Massage opened its doors it has been covered extensively by press and social media influencers for its unique aesthetic. Dubbed “LA’s most stunning self-care oasis,” the boutique’s clean, modern interiors incorporate natural materials, and are heightened by the scent of their signature Jasmine Coconut candles. Each NOW massage boutique uses canvas draping to separate therapy spaces creating an airy feeling that adds to the calming atmosphere. Although there are distinct design elements throughout, some themes are the same: sheepskin throws, a carefully placed cactus or plant gallery, and whitewashed walls that echo the sounds of ocean waves.

The brand began franchising in 2019 and in less than two “ years, The NOW Massage has rapidly reached the monumental achievement of signing its 100th franchise location. ” Massages for All The guiding principle at The NOW Massage has always been that in today’s fast-paced digitally driven society self-care is a necessity. While massage was once seen as a luxury, more people understand the need for it on a regular basis and health professionals are recommending it at a higher rate to manage stress, anxiety, and muscle recovery. Massage therapists at The NOW receive advanced training on the custom menu that goes far beyond the traditional modalities, and are designed specifically for stress relief, relaxation, and muscle recovery. Guests can choose between three signature Swedish-inspired massage styles including: The NOW, a signature relaxation massage;

The HEALER, an energy-balancing massage designed to reduce stress; and The STRETCH, a sports-inspired recovery massage. Guests can pair their service with a variety of custom, exclusive enhancements such as: Herbal Heat Therapy, Deep Tissue, Fresh Eyes, Calm Balm, Hemp Calm Balm and Gua Sha, a traditional Chinese medicine technique that uses smooth rose quartz tools to target specific areas of the body. The goal of each bespoke massage service is to make self-care simple and easy to integrate into one’s daily life. Straightforward monthly massage memberships are designed to save repeat guests money and provide special monthly gifts and perks. Franchising MAGAZINE USA 35

h e alt h & fi t n e s s fr an c hi s ing fe at u r e

FOCUS FEATURE: The now massage

“

Our popularity grew so quickly on social media, with press and with industry insiders, and everyone was asking about our scented candles, products, and where they could get them,” said Post.

”

The NOW features a branded product line Nourish, Scent and Room by The NOW, and custom jewelry, designed by Post.

“Our popularity grew so quickly on social media, with press and with industry

insiders, and everyone was asking about

our scented candles, products, and where they could get them,” said Post.

The collection is available at boutiques and online for guests who want to bring a piece of The NOW lifestyle home with them at TheNOWMassage.com.

as Seattle, San Diego, Portland, Boston,

St. Louis and more. The NOW Massage

also brought on Jeff Platt as its President. Jeff became well-known in the franchise industry as co-founder and former CEO

of Sky Zone, where his leadership helped transform the company into the largest indoor trampoline park brand in the

world, with over 225+ locations in 12

countries, visited by over 20M people a

year. In his new position, Jeff helped The NOW Massage achieve its 100th license milestone and his top-notch leadership

will continue to support the brand’s future growth plans. For More information (www.TheNOWMassage.com)

The Future is NOW The NOW Massage has continued to

grow in 2021 despite closures during the pandemic that have caused other health and wellness concepts to halt franchise development. The NOW Massage’s

elevated aesthetic and affordable model remains attractive to business-savvy

entrepreneurs and proves that the future is bright for the $18 billion a year massage industry.

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“Every challenge brings with it growth. There has been renewed interest in franchising from business savvy operators who are re-thinking how people want to spend their time and what they put their energy into. The cultural narrative regarding the importance of self-care and personal health has only grown stronger, and we are meeting that need for business owners and the general public,” said Post. Looking ahead, the brand is aiming to open additional franchises in markets such

“Part of what makes The NOW Massage

special is our incredible group of dedicated

and passionate Franchise Owners, Massage Therapists and Experience Guides that

work diligently and intentionally to create

a unique escape from the stress of everyday life,” said Jeff Platt, President of The NOW Massage. “We are excited to celebrate our 100 boutique milestone with the

entire NOW family, and for our continued expansion in 2022 and beyond.”

magazine usa

our Next Feature:

Business Services

Next month our Special Feature on Business Services in 2022 provides the perfect opportunity to showcase your Franchise. For advertising opportunities please contact Vikki Bradbury at: vikki@cgbpublishing.com Franchising MAGAZINE USA 37

h e alt h & fi t n e s s fr an c hi s ing fe at u r e

franchisee in action: goldfish swim schools

From Wall Street to Franchising:

How Goldfish Swim School Changed This Family’s Life

22 years ago, Larisa and Jeffrey Posner met working for a large investment bank on Wall Street. Today, they are the proud parents of three kids and the successful operators of two Goldfish Swim School franchises in their home state of New Jersey. How does one go from being a Wall Street investment banker to being a swim school franchisee? The Posner’s story illustrates how making the right career choice for your family can open the door for incredible opportunity as multi-unit franchisees. After years of commuting into New York City, long hours at the office and the stress of the financial industry, the Posners were looking for a new professional challenge. An unexpected conversation between Jeffrey and his colleague led to a connection with a friend who owned a Goldfish Swim School franchise in Chicago. Intrigued, the Posners began their research into the brand. With their business background, the Posners were sure to do their due diligence when they dove into the Goldfish system. They spoke with other Goldfish franchisees, and eventually sat down with Chris McCuiston, co-founder & CEO of Goldfish Swim School, and the leadership team to talk about next steps.

Ryan Ursey (left) with Chris Wyland - Chief Development Officer at Roll-Em-Up.

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After meeting the leadership team and seeing who they’d be working with, the decision was clear: leave Wall Street and open up a swim school in their

After so many years of “ working in a demanding and high-stress environment, Jeffrey and Larisa get to show up to work together every day and have fun.

”

For Larisa and Jeffrey, this unexpected career pivot “ has changed everything about their day-to-day lives. The opportunity to work with families and teach children how to be safer in and around the water has meant the world to them.

”

community. The amount of support they felt from Goldfish on day one reinforced their decision. Jeffrey and Larisa have always had an entrepreneurial drive, and were excited by the opportunity to own a business together that provides the children in their community with access to a lifesaving skill. “Being a Goldfish franchisee is extremely rewarding,” said Larisa. “Since opening our first school, numerous parents have come up to us and said that their child fell into a pool on vacation, or saw a kid struggling to swim at camp, and that they were able to save themselves and others because of what they learned in class. We are teaching these kids how to be a hero in the water, for themselves and others.” The Posner’s first Goldfish Swim School opened in November of 2017 in Livingston, NJ. After the first location opened, Jeffrey continued working on Wall Street while Larisa ran day-to-day operations at the school. Just prior to the Covid-19 Pandemic, Jeffrey decided it was time to step away from his job and join his wife full time at Goldfish. Now that their first location was off the ground and running, it was time to begin the process of opening their second school. On November 2, 2021 the Posners opened the doors to their Springfield location.

For Larisa and Jeffrey, this unexpected career pivot has changed everything about their day-to-day lives. The opportunity to work with families and teach children how to be safer in and around the water has meant the world to them. The Posner’s Goldfish Swim School locations have also become a family affair, giving them lots of additional time to spend with their kids. After so many years of working in a demanding and high-stress environment, Jeffrey and Larisa get to show up to work together every day and have fun. Their passion for the business has also trickled down to their three children. Their youngest son was 10-years-old when they first started franchising with Goldfish and he soon began taking lessons at their first location. He was never a strong swimmer, but the Goldfish curriculum proved successful yet again, helping him grow in his swimming abilities and confidence in and around the water. Now, four years later, you can find him walking around the pool deck making sure everything is running smoothly during lessons. Their other two children, one a senior in high school and the other a sophomore in college, work at Goldfish on weekends and when they are home for breaks.

Running their Goldfish Swim School business as a family has been a true blessing for the Posners. “We originally met at work, so this was a full circle moment for us,” said Jeffrey. “Of course, we were excited to go on this journey together. We knew that to be successful in this next chapter of our lives, we needed to keep an open line of communication and come together as a team like we always do.” Goldfish Swim School has given the Posners the time and freedom to live the life that they have dreamed of. Owning a franchise with a purpose-driven mission and following a proven playbook for success has given them the opportunity to make room for what really matters in life. For the Posners, that means a healthy balance of entrepreneurial success while driving carpool, attending school sporting events and spending more quality time with their children. For more information on Goldfish Swim School and its franchise opportunity, please call 248-801-1850 or visit https://www.goldfishswimschool.com/ franchise-opportunities/ Franchising MAGAZINE USA 39

h e alt h & fi t n e s s fr an c hi s ing fe at u r e

EXPERT ADVICE: Chris Conner | Founder | Franchise Marketing Systems

Health and Fitness will grow Exponentially in 2022 It’s always easy to be an armchair quarterback, throwing out assumptions and big ideas on what will happen in the future. But this time I think I’m on to something. The health and fitness markets have been hit hard during COVID, for obvious reasons….it’s been difficult to get customers to do anything indoors, especially get sweaty together. According to Club Industry News, the Pandemic took out 22% of all of the gyms in the U.S. and over 1.5 million people lost jobs in the fitness industry. Major bummer stats and in dollars, that equated to almost $30 billion in lost revenue due to COVID. So part of this story is the comeback element, there kind of is nowhere to go but up from here, but there is also a bigger picture growth curve that has been on an upwards trajectory for the last fifty years, COVID was just a short term setback for the fitness space. Year over year growth for fitness has 40 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

Chris Conner has worked in the franchise development industry for almost 20 years and helped over 600 brands franchise their brand and develop franchise distribution channels. He founded Franchise Marketing Systems in 2009, which now includes a team of 27 franchise consultants based in and Canada and supports brands around the world to grow and scale through franchise expansion. Visit www.fmsfranchise.com for more information

generally been about 3% per year and if

you follow the old saying of buy low and sell high, now is the time to get into the

fitness segment to realize what could be

a big jump in industry growth to recoup

the downtrend in 2020 and 2021. People

want to work out and understand the value of exercise. You combine this sentiment

with a big part of the population that has

been stuck at home for a long time, gained

weight, gotten unhealthy and really want to get back into shape, I can already hear the gym membership register ringing! Look for a big 2022 and most likely an even

bigger 2023 in the fitness space as people run back into fitness and health.

What are the fitness models to watch for? There are a variety of different versions of fitness franchise models, all of which are viable business models and really just depend your personal preference and what flavor of fitness you are drawn to as an investor. Here is how I would break down the categories: The Big Box Model – think Planet Fitness or two brands that I like are New York Fitness Clubs and EPIC Health and Fitness, these are larger facilities with a range of equipment and experiences and offer great value to a wide range of consumer preferences for fitness.

The next category would be the Class Fitness Model which is focused on consistent and focused interaction with members in a classroom setting where coaches are helping keep people accountable and drive results. The 800 pound gorilla in this space is Orange Theory with over 1,000 locations, but I like several new franchise brands in the category, Rock Box Fitness, EZE Fit and HYLO Fitness all come to mind as brands that are in high growth mode. Another two brands I’m really high on are Industrious, a Seattle Based model which created a new HALO system to keep members apart from one another and offer a great fitness experience. These models don’t require as much space and offer a high margin, repeatable revenue stream which is always a great formula for a strong investment. The third category would include the new kid on the block in mobile fitness where the services comes to the customer. It’s innovative, it’s low investment and it’s a fun way to help people get into shape in the comfort of their own home. Gymguyz is the leader in this segment with over 200 locations, but there is a new brand in All Terrain Fitness I like a great deal as well in this category of mobile fitness models. The fourth segment of fitness franchising I would define as the check-in and workout model where it is essentially a fitness center and members purchase the rights to visit the location, they are generally smaller than the big box model and many times offer keycard entry. The Anytime fitness franchise has hit this model out of the park and defined the entire market segment with this approach to fitness. Last but not least, you have the fifth segment of fitness franchises in senior fitness brands where the target audience is 55 and up and the experience is geared to a more “seasoned” member. 55 Fitness is a brand I like a great deal and has built an entire model around catering to this population and creating a great workout experience for seniors.

Some of the key elements that I would look for in a fitness franchise model to determine what might be the best bet would include marketing, operating systems and unique selling points. Marketing is critical in this business segment both to attract new clients and also to keep them, any fitness franchise worth their salt will have a franchise marketing system that is tight, proven and consistently proven in company and franchise owned locations. The operating system should have technology interwoven throughout the day to day operations. A good solid POS, CRM, Membership tracking system and scheduling model need to all be in place to help manage the day to day functions and minimize fires in the business. The last might seem a bit fluffy, but if you look at what has driven some of the world’s most successful brands in the fitness franchise market, there is always some unique selling point that the brand has been built around. Maybe it’s the heart rate monitor at Orange Theory, the no banging weights thing at Planet Fitness or a culture of Body Building heritage at Gold’s Gym…something is used to promote that brand and separate the service offering from others in the segment. Whatever your flavor of fitness might be, the market is ripe for a rebound and if you ask me, I would bet this market segment does some major ramping up in revenue, memberships and number of franchise locations in 2022. People want to look good and feel good and are willing to pay for it, find the right fitness franchise brand and capture this upswing in the fitness market. Franchising MAGAZINE USA 41

h e alt h & fi t n e s s fr an c hi s ing fe at u r e

spotlight on service: VFPnext

How VFPnext is Improving

the Digital Member Experience Standardization is a key principle for any franchise organization, especially with the staffing challenges that exist today. Health and fitness organizations in the United States are seeing the benefits of having a digital member journey to help lessen the load on the staff and enhance the member experience.

One of the most popular examples would be an Apple store

experience where Apple employees have an iPad with them to assist customers right on the spot.

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Hundreds of health and fitness franchisees in the United States have switched to a technology platform that allows them to have a true digital member experience. Members are now enjoying the frictionless benefit of having to fill out information only one time and have it pull through all their digital communications. Members feel more connected to the brand when relevant content is delivered to them based on their personal preferences. In the past this experience was difficult to achieve for many health clubs that utilized multiple software platforms to run their fitness facilities, creating a disjointed member experience that required

“

Create a better experience for your members where they are constantly wowed by your understanding of their fitness goals.

”

1Data capture:

Long gone are the days of paper; but data capture is so much

more than just gathering name phone number and email. Data capture now includes the entire digital footprint of the customer - all their

interactions with the club’s digital content, the club’s staff, and all of the club’s digital fitness. One member could have thousands of data points that begin with their web browsing, their lead capture form, their visit to the club, their signing up as a new member, and their

fitness orientation. The in-club data capture can happen on the Digital

Guest Registry, the staff’s iPads used during the membership tour, the digital enrollment process and during the digital fitness orientation. Capturing all these data points and putting them into a central

database that can be leveraged should be a critical mission of all

clubs. The obvious benefits of capturing more data on each member and prospect are that you can better understand your marketing attribution and deliver more relative personal content to your

members and prospects, giving you the ability to retain and upsell

Franchisees can capture the entire member “ journey and place all data into a single database, changing how these organizations operate. ” multiple points of data entry for the consumer and staff. With the VFPnext technology platform, franchisees can capture the entire member journey and place all data into a single database, changing how these organizations operate. By having all the member data in a centralized database, clubs are discovering the benefit of having a full 360° view of their prospects and members. With a full 360° view clubs have a better ability to market and upsell their products and services. VFPnext now offers an industry specific enterprise level CRM, digital guest registry, membership tour, digital enrollment, and PT orientation that are accessible through an iPad. The entire application is API connected to the club’s billing and management system so that the entire member journey is now digitally captured. Health clubs can now capture thousands of data points about their members that they can use to enhance the member journey.

each member.

2Frictionless member experience:

Create a better experience for your members where they are

constantly wowed by your understanding of their fitness goals, personal preferences, and intuitiveness of your systems. Text

reminders of appointments, congratulations for reaching fitness goals, emails reminding them of classes they may like are all examples of how understanding your members through their data can make an

amazing experience for a member. Prospects who are welcomed into the club, already have their information preloaded into the Digital Guest Registry and have a seven-day pass waiting for them are impressed by the club’s personalization and efficiencies.

3Reduce staffing requirements:

Having a centralized database that the staff can access through

an iPad gives them the ability to continually service members more efficiently and with an increased level of wow. With data being

pulled across all systems, staff now is required to do much less data entry. Staff who used to be in charge of sending out emails and text messages now can have those tasks automated for them so they can

There are three distinct benefits from digitizing the entire member journey:

concentrate on the members in front of them.

1. Capturing the data

proven in many industries but is now available in the health and

2. Reducing the friction for your members 3. Creating efficiencies for your staff

Digital member journey is not an entirely new concept. It has been fitness industry.

For more information go to getVFPnext.com or email info@vfp.us Franchising MAGAZINE USA 43

EXPERT ADVICE: Lil Roberts | CEO and Founder | Xendoo

How the Right Bookkeeping Support Can

Increase Franchisee Scalability

as the Industry Sees More Growth The pandemic has accelerated the trend of people quitting their jobs to shift careers or become entrepreneurs. Lil Roberts is CEO and founder of Xendoo, a cloud-based fintech company that specializes in online bookkeeping and accounting for small businesses. Roberts is a serial entrepreneur with a passion for small business, and is known as an innovator with an enviable ability to foresee market trends. For more information, visit: www.xendoo.com

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released data stating 4.3 million Americans quit their jobs in August 2021 alone, increasing the nationwide quit rate to 2.9% of the workforce, the highest percentage the BLS has ever reported. The trend has become known as the “Great Resignation,” fueled by the growing desire for people to align their professional aspirations with their life’s purpose amid the current life-altering event that is affecting the entire world. As a result, there is a skilled and motivated workforce looking for a fresh start and finding it in the franchising world. As the franchise market continues to grow, current owners have the opportunity to reevaluate their plans for scaling their business and staying a step ahead. Additionally, while new franchisees buying into a franchise system are essentially purchasing a playbook for success,

44 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

delivering franchise-focused, personal oneon-one advice. For the franchise owner, it’s like having a team of accountants without the hefty overhead. Every moment a franchisee is engaged in activities they are not formally skilled in or have the potential to be overly timeconsuming, they take on a tremendous mental burden while being pulled away from a better use of output. Without sufficient support in certain areas, such as bookkeeping, franchisees can also run the risk of not executing those tasks properly, which could ultimately have dire financial consequences.

AThenumbers growth we have Knowing and understanding your is vital forseen a “ “ over the past year resulted in business to achieve sustainability and success. ” franchisees that are ramping up now. ” While traditional accounting services can it’s important for them to identify and understand the right tools that will help them stand out and achieve that desired success long term.

One often underestimated operational tool that can make or break a franchise business is bookkeeping. The digitization of traditional professional services, such as bookkeeping and accounting, is playing a major role in helping franchisees reach the next level in their businesses as the world undergoes digital transformation. Unless a franchisee has a strong accounting background, and even if that is the case, digitally outsourcing in this area is an important consideration to ultimately save time, offer financial peace of mind, and provide insight for better decision making. Also, it increases the likelihood of franchisors receiving financial reports in a timely manner, therefore, allowing the opportunity to coach or guide franchisees based on the information.

be useful during tax season, particularly for IRS compliance and reporting, a traditional CPA may lack specialized knowledge in franchise bookkeeping, technological connectivity, and time to support the franchisee. Additionally, “one-size-fits-all” accounting software still requires high proficiency and time from the owner or staff to accomplish necessary accounting tasks just to stay up to date, which takes time away from sales, marketing, strategy and other activities to grow the business. As a result, finance and technology have advanced and merged in many ways, creating new cost-effective solutions that incorporate the best of both digital and traditional bookkeeping services. The goal is for technology to help simplify and automate everything from accounting, expenses, revenue, procurement, reporting, and other bookkeeping activities, while

Knowing and understanding your numbers is vital for a business to achieve sustainability and success. Your financials provide insight into profitability, income, and cash flow, the lifeblood of your business. Franchisees that engage the right tools for their business position themselves to make productive short- and long-term financial and operational decisions. And, when evaluating return on investment, time savings and peace of mind are priceless. Growth looks bright in the franchise world. The International Franchise Association projected more than 26,000 franchised locations to be added last year, with franchise employment growing by more than 10% to nearly 8.3 million workers. Overall, franchising contribution to the economy was forecast to grow by 7% and reach pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2021. Franchising continues to be big business. With one in four people quitting their job last year – according to October 2021 data from people analytics firm Visier – the franchise industry could see even more growth as workers reassess their priorities. Apart from the industry uptick, the secret sauce for individual franchisees realizing true success in franchising is in identifying the most efficient and effective operational tools for achieving maximum profitability while creating an entrepreneurial opportunity that drives passion and purpose. Franchising MAGAZINE USA 45

franchise in fous: Scenthound

Scenthound is on a mission With over 90 million dogs in the United States, consumers spend an average of more than $100 billion per year on their furry companions. Looking for a first-of-its-kind opportunity to break into this lucrative and rewarding industry? Look no further than Scenthound. What is Scenthound? In 2015, founders Tim and Jessica Vogel developed the revolutionary concept intended to reinvent the traditional grooming model. After a decade in the industry, they realized there are many misconceptions about dog grooming. The grooming industry is focused on stylized haircuts, but only 10% of the most popular dog breeds need regular trims. Yet, 100% of the 90 million dogs in the U.S. need regular maintenance, leaving a massively under-served market of dogs who need basic hygiene and routine care to stay clean, comfortable, and healthy. Scenthound’s membership-based business model is designed to create a scalable and sustainable source for routine and preventive dog wellness that makes regular care accessible and affordable for all dog parents. The brand’s services are elevated through the integration of innovative technology; following each visit, members receive a digital S.C.E.N.T. Check™, a detailed assessment of their dog’s overall external health. This trackable, datadriven health record has helped countless Scenthound members identify and address 46 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

variety of industries. The first membershipbased dog grooming franchise in the country focused on pet wellness, Scenthound offers a unique opportunity to bring a wellness-driven concept to dogloving consumers in markets around the U.S.

Additional Qualifiers:

Markers of Success

• People-People: As much as Scenthound talks about dogs — and that is a lot — it’s the pet parents, human customers, who ultimately choose Scenthound for their dog care needs. Every prospective franchisee is expected to deliver outstanding service to customers of all breeds.

Getting in on the ground level with Scenthound is a viable opportunity for anyone looking to become a franchisee. In fact, in 2021 alone Scenthound saw major markers of success including: small issues before they escalated into lifethreatening problems. Scenthound is on a mission, through each franchise partner in every market, to transform the dog grooming industry on a global scale. Many dogs aren’t getting the care they need because either their parents don’t know they need it, or they can’t find an easy and affordable way to get it. Routine care programs not only help dogs stay on schedule with necessary care, but also deliver recurring revenue and cultivate fierce customer loyalty. Dog parents choose a membership option that works for their budget and schedule to maintain their dog’s health and happiness. The Scenthound business model is built on a customer retention framework for longterm profitability and has tapped a vast white space in the pet industry, creating a new market space and a huge opportunity.

Why Scenthound? The pet wellness pioneer offers an ideal opportunity for those looking to venture into franchise entrepreneurship. With ongoing training and support, alignment with a trusted brand, and the chance to create a fulfilling career for the entire team, Scenthound has created a niche in the pet industry that franchisees and customers alike can truly benefit from. The company focuses on health over beautification and offers customers a way to keep dogs clean, happy and healthy. Scenthound’s blue-ocean strategy, innovative business model, and proprietary technology has continually attracted established multi-unit operators from a

• A total of 77 Scenter units sold across 12 states in 2021, which helps account for 113 units sold since the brand’s inception in 2015. • A rise in franchising as open franchise Scenters grew from 1 unit in 2020 to 17 units in 2021. • The impressive 283% increase in open units year-over-year with 17 units opening in the last twelve months in major U.S. cities. • Financial backing from investors including Groupon Co-Founder Eric Lefkofsky and Orangetheory Fitness CEO and Co-Founder David Long, who also serves on the Scenthound advisory board. • Development and implementation of a consumer-facing mobile app with the digital S.C.E.N.T. Check that helps to provide users with a trackable digital health record of their dogs. • Scenthound’s proprietary technology and blue-ocean strategy have helped bolster the brand’s overwhelming success, including their debut on the Inc. 5000 this year.

Who is Scenthound Looking For? With the APPA (American Pet Products Association) projecting that the pet industry will continue to see growth and with no signs of the booming niche slowing down, Scenthound is looking for franchise operators around the country. Ideal candidates are business-minded individuals who love the idea of improving the health and lives of every customer’s fun-loving, four-legged friends.

• Must Love Dogs: People who share a love for dogs and enthusiasm for taking a holistic approach to their wellness. Being a Scenthound franchise owner will offer the chance to help dogs lead happier, healthier lives.

• The One Pack Rule: Scenthound operates under a value of One Pack — one company, one team, with one mission. One advantage to a franchise vs. a startup is the proven systems, processes, and branding that comes along with it. At Scenthound, the trail has already been blazed. Yet, that also means that all franchisees follow the system in order to maintain operational efficiency and deliver a consistent customer experience. Scenthound wants team players who understand the company’s mission, what makes them unique, and how they can best have fun and grow together.

How Do I Franchise with Scenthound? Opening a new Scenthound franchise is serious business for everyone and adding a new member to the Pack is a big deal. Ideal franchise partners are customer service-focused team leaders, businessminded “early adopters”, financially sound individuals seeking an investment, and people-people — not just dog lovers! Fit that description? Then Scenthound wants to meet you. Scenthound currently has franchise opportunities in markets across the United States. For more information about development opportunities, visit Franchise.Scenthound.com. For more information about Scenthound’s unique membership offerings, visit Scenthound.com or follow the brand on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. Franchising MAGAZINE USA 47

HAVE YOUR SAY: Edward Pim | Senior Vice President of Operations & Experience | OpenWorks

Winter Wise:

Top Tips Facilities Managers Need to Know to Create Safe and Secure Buildings Edward Pim is Senior Vice President of Operations & Experience of OpenWorks, a national leader in facilities management, providing unparalleled quality and customer service through robust technology solutions and a proven network of elite service providers. OpenWorks’ facilities maintenance services include cleaning and disinfecting, landscaping, supply replenishment, HVAC service and more.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The old adage has never been truer, especially when it comes to preparing a building, as well as employees and visitors, for winter. Whether in the snow belt or rainy regions, getting ready for one of the most unforgiving seasons on the calendar is vital to ensuring the preservation of facilities and safety in and around them. But often times, with limited staffing and sometimes unfamiliarity with best practices, efforts can be piecemeal at best, which can open companies up to a range of risks from accidents and injuries to costly facility repairs or even business stoppage. Depending on the property size, use and a host of other variables, the cost of properly winterizing a property is a fraction of the maintenance budget, which pales in comparison to the cost of repairing flooring, fixing burst pipes and even worstcases roof failure. In addition to thousands of dollars spent repairing various damage, there could be weeks, or even months, of non-quantifiable work interruption, inconvenience and risk. While winter weather oversights can happen in the world of facilities

48 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

While scenic snowscapes can be dreamy, snow and ice can “ spell disaster, especially around building driveways, parking lots and entryways. ”

maintenance, educated facilities managers, operations directors and property managers can prepare themselves for the worst the season can bring by following a few simple steps.

Don’t leave yourself open to slip and fall liabilities While scenic snowscapes can be dreamy, snow and ice can spell disaster, especially around building driveways, parking lots and entryways. Take an eagle-eyed approach to evaluating slip-and-fall liabilities by having a plan in place to deal with the elements to prevent incidents and injuries. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 27% of the 888,220 nonfatal work injuries resulting in days away from work in 2019 were related to slips, trips, and falls. Property owners are responsible for maintaining safe premises that are free of hazards that can cause injuries. Ways to reduce slip and fall risks include: • Removing snow and ice from walkways and points of entry, while continually monitoring for and removing any ice or slush build-up that can occur over the course of the day. • Implementing a “six-step rule” that ensures employees and guests have at

least 4’ of non-slip mats outside and 4’ on the inside to properly dry their footwear. The mats also serve to protect flooring from ice melt, salt and puddles. • Working with a facility management company to ensue regular monitoring of high-risk slip and fall areas to eliminate any issues before they become potential hazards.

Stay on top of little issues before they become significant problems While salt and ice melt are lifesavers in preventing slips and falls, they can quickly compromise the lifespan and safety of flooring. From carpeting and tile to hardwood and even the almost indestructible concrete-coated floors, the chemical compounds from ice melt and salt can do a number on facility floors from superficial damage to largescale degradation that requires full-scale replacement. Additionally, melting snow and ice can find ways to slip into buildings unnoticed, working their way under flooring. A solid strategy to mitigate these issues includes: • Ensuring that cleaning and facilities management staff implement regular inspection and maintenance of flooring in high-traffic areas, especially around doors and windows.

• Taking care of issues as they arise, instead of putting them on a long list of repairs that eventually need to be made. • Maintaining weather stripping around windows and doors, and making certain that entryways are mopped regularly and non-slip mats are frequently replaced to avoid permanent damage and potentially costly repairs.

Make winter facility management about people It is easy to get caught up contracting with snow plow companies and distributing ice melt, but winter care goes beyond that to ensuring a company’s most precious commodity – its people and guests – are well protected during the winter months. A facility services partner should help companies make their worlds work better by making their facilities cleaner, safer and healthier. In addition to seasonal cold and flu, which runs rampant during the winter months, the emergence of COVID19 and the Omicron variant has heightened businesses’ determination to protect people making it more important than ever to put special focus on keeping employees, vendors and customers healthy during the season. In addition to setting out hand sanitizer in high-traffic areas and ensuring restrooms are stocked with antibacterial soap, consider incorporating some easy-toFranchising MAGAZINE USA 49

HAVE YOUR SAY: Edward Pim | Senior Vice President of Operations & Experience | OpenWorks

implement changes to support wellness in the workplace, including: • Taking a critical look at the HVAC system and proactively making indoor air quality and properly operating ventilation a priority. • Incorporating air cleaners that can help reduce airborne contaminants, including particles containing viruses. Dry Hydrogen Peroxide (DHP) systems are one such system that turns humidity from the air into hydrogen peroxide that can safely and effectively reduce microbes in the air. Safe for humans, it can be used in occupied settings and provides an effective no-touch addition to a manual cleaning process, which can assist with ongoing decontamination in high-traffic areas. • Transitioning to CDC-recommended HEPA fan/filtration systems to enhance air cleaning, especially in high-risk areas. • Giving employees access to basic cleaning supplies such as antibacterial wipes to help them maintain their individual spaces. • Supplementing regular cleaning with deep cleaning, especially in common areas, that encompasses getting into nooks and crannies to keep germ breeding grounds at bay.

Plan ahead to avoid supply chain headaches From delivery delays to stock shortages, it seems every business has experienced challenges related to supply chain issues. Although winter comes every year, most organizations find themselves scrambling to keep up with weather-related issues – and this year may pose even more significant challenges to get the supplies and resources a company needs on time. Even in a milder winter climate, unexpected circumstances arise; a light dusting of snow can create snowmageddonlevel havoc in cities like Seattle, Las Vegas or Phoenix, so it becomes more important than ever to have a plan in place to prevent crippling facility issues when they arise. In fact, implementing preventative measures on a regular basis helps prevent 50 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

unnecessary, unexpected and costly repair bills. This winter, get ahead by: • Working with a facilities management firm to secure snow plow services, which will ensure priority services when snowfall occurs. • Inspecting and repairing any HVAC to ensure top performance during the winter season. • Stocking up on ice melt and salt before the season begins to ensure plenty is inhouse and on hand when it’s needed. • Topping off fuel tanks and ensuring there are back-up resources available should roads close and deliveries be delayed. • Winterizing your irrigation and any exposed pipes to protect them from the impending freeze.

Surround yourself with resources to protect your facility Facilities management has come a long way in recent years, especially as new technologies emerge to protect and preserve structures and their inhabitants. Staying on top of the latest developments, undertaking cost-benefit analyses and understanding how to right-size an approach to effective facilities management can be a full-time job in itself. Contracting with facilities management specialists to stay organized, ensure implementation of best practices suited to your unique facility

and, hopefully, avoid complicated and costly problems is a critical piece of the building operations team. Highly-qualified facilities management teams can help facilities managers, operations directors, landlords and cleaning staff by: • Providing access to the latest commercial-grade technology that enables service providers to work more efficiently and effectively, as well as the knowledge and ability to use technologies to their maximum ability. • Reducing the burden of hiring during a labor shortage through outsourcing ensures that companies do not need to worry about turnover or finding talent, while ensuring you have well-trained service providers who follow your facility management protocols using commercial-grade tools and resources. • Reducing high turnover rates, which in 2018 averaged an astounding 300% according to a report from 4M building solutions, with added support from firms that specialize in facilities management on your timetable. Ensuring safe and secure facilities over the winter months does not have to be a burden. By planning ahead, identifying where potential issues can arise and working closely with your facilities services and commercial cleaning provider, facilities managers can help safeguard their businesses against anything Mother Nature delivers.

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franchisor in depth: Wings and Rings CEO Nader Masadeh

IT’S IN MY BLOOD As someone raised in a family of restaurateurs and owners, “ I always knew I was a natural fit for the foodservice industry. I worked my way up from dishwashing to later helping my father run a Wings and Rings location. evolving what customers already love about us, I’m a big fan of the franchising industry because we are able to focus on the profitability of our franchisees and help people achieve their dreams of business ownership.

Why Wings and Rings is a Franchisee-First Organization

Masadeh discusses how he came to join the sports restaurant and bar franchise, how he’s helped guide the brand throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and more. As someone raised in a family of restaurateurs and owners, I always knew I was a natural fit for the foodservice industry. I worked my way up from dishwashing to later helping my father run a Wings and Rings location. After earning a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Cincinnati and a master’s of business administration in international business and negotiations from Xavier University, I joined the Wings and Rings corporate team in 2005. Since then, I’ve spent the past 16 years working to develop a fast-growing, club-level sports restaurant and bar franchise with more than 85 units globally. Today, as the CEO of Wings and Rings, I help guide the corporate team and lay the framework to continue growing and improving the brand. In addition to 52 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

Since day one, we have continued to refine our franchise model and enhance our mission to provide an unmatched club level, elevated sports restaurant and bar experience at Wings and Rings. For example, I participated on CBS’s Undercover Boss a few years ago, which proved to be an extremely valuable experience to further our company’s vision and make sure that the Wings and Rings experience is second-to-none throughout the system. Not only did the appearance boost brand awareness and systemwide sales, but I also learned several lessons throughout the experience that I’ve been able to utilize to better optimize our business model. For example, I realized that a lot of times, the things we hope to see in our employees—like passion, charisma, loyalty and hospitality—sometimes get lost in translation as they trickle down the management ladder. That is why, when you have someone who embodies what the company stands for, you have to hang on to them. It’s important to focus on longevity and a low turnover rate by creating a safe environment and a culture that inspires personal and professional growth. As a franchisor, Wings and Rings has always strived to ensure owners felt as though they had a voice in the overall trajectory of the brand. That is why we

”

created a franchise advisory council, for example, which is a group of franchise owners who review topics and go over what the company is working on every month. They then give the corporate team feedback from the franchisee perspective. This ensures that franchisees can feel confident that their voices are being heard and that they are having a direct impact on corporate decisions. In that way, the franchisees aren’t the only ones who benefit from the council — the corporate team relies heavily on its network of franchisees to advance the brand. As we continue to grow across the country, our franchisees are the eyes and ears of the operations. Having a unified franchise advisory council that can speak on behalf of all of our franchisees is an invaluable resource in ensuring we grow the right way and position all of our incoming and existing owners for success. It was especially helpful to have their insight and guidance during the pandemic when the restaurant industry was constantly changing.

How Wings and Rings Has Continued to Thrive Over the Past Year Now, in these tumultuous times, we’ve continued to do all we can to support our franchisees and continue to grow the brand. For example, our new restaurant model (called G4), launched in Greater Cincinnati in September 2021, and is designed to meet evolving customers preferences and includes a reimagined dining room and patio and additions to the brand’s existing take-out and valet drive-thru model. With this new restaurant model, we’re creating an

change from “Buffalo Wings & Rings” to “Wings and Rings.” For a long time, customers confused us with our larger competitor, Buffalo Wild Wings. People would try to use BWW gift cards at Wings & Rings or write reviews directed at BWW on our web pages. Some even enjoyed an entire meal thinking they were at a BWW, and then wondered why the food was different from their other experiences. So finally, after years of thinking about it, we officially dropped the “Buffalo” from our name. We’ve also refreshed our logo and layout in a handful of new and existing stores over the past year and determined that it contributed to higher sales and traffic. In fact, many longtime fans of the brand didn’t even notice the change, and most already referred to it as Wings & Rings anyway. But it did attract people who weren’t familiar with it and who were open to an alternative to Buffalo Wild Wings. Overall, as a brand, we are trying to differentiate ourselves from our competitors from a food quality and service standpoint, and this rebranding will definitely help us do that. exciting opportunity for those who want to grow with a brand that’s been around for decades, while evolving to meet the current consumer and franchise demands. We also introduced a development incentive program for franchisees who signed on with our new full-service restaurant of the future model last year. We waived the initial franchise fee of $40,000 and eliminated royalties for the first six months for existing and prospective franchisees who qualified. This program will continue through 2022. Overall, it felt great to be able to help our owners make it through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Wings and Rings kept all of our locations open in 2020 and even continued to grow from within as existing franchisees signed on for more locations. Although 2020 wasn’t easy for any of us in the restaurant industry, COVID-19 expedited where we were already headed, shifting to offpremise, delivery services and adding new technologies.

Then, one of the biggest moments from this past year for me was being recognized by the Ohio Restaurants Association for the work I did leading the brand through the pandemic. It felt like a great culmination of our efforts and it wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible network of franchisees, corporate employees and team, and vendor partners.

Why the Wings and Rings Team is More Excited Than Ever Looking ahead, we’ve used the downtime that we’ve had from the pandemic to improve systems, processes and strategies for Wings and Rings. This will allow us to slingshot into the future with more momentum than we would have otherwise had. This is a really exciting time for our current and prospective franchisees, as well as for us on the corporate team. In terms of the future, some of the things I’m most excited about include our recent name

We’ve also continued to increase our international presence this year with multiunit signings in Mexico, as well as new franchisees signing on in new domestic markets. Additionally, one of the most rewarding parts of my job is watching franchisees within our system open additional restaurants, and during the last year we’ve seen a significant increase in franchisees reinvesting in the brand. For example, some of our existing franchisees in Texas and Kentucky have recently signed on to open new locations. Nearly half of our system is made up of multi-unit operators and more than half of those operators grew from just one location when they joined. Now, after almost two decades with the brand, I am confident that our future is brighter than ever as we plan to grow intelligently and strategically, with market availability existing for franchisees across the U.S. We will continue to anticipate the changing needs and desires of the emerging generation of customers and our business model will continue to cater to new and existing franchisees. Franchising MAGAZINE USA 53

EXPERT ADVICE: Lucas Frey | CEO | Bella Vista Executive Advisors

Successful Franchise Owners Make Precise Decisions Deliberately and Confidently Good decision making in business and life is a learned skill and can be practiced immediately.

This article focuses on the decisions we make consciously. This isn’t a discussion about synapses firing, conscious versus unconscious (habits) or emotional intelligence. It is about a practical process built on 39 combined years of experiences as a Successful Franchise Owner and Fire Chief. This article gives you a process to make positive decisions more often than not. 54 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

FOUR General Decision Categories:

There are a few unimportant decisions that have little impact

on your life and business today. A simple example is eating a

banana or cantaloupe as your morning fruit. Both are healthy for long-term impact but unimportant for today.

Some decisions are routine to the point of being positive

habits. Deciding you like to get your blood flowing with a

brisk, 7 am walk around the neighborhood with your 3-year-

Luke Frey improves franchise owners’ businesses where corporate support alone fails. He brings 26+ years of varied professional experiences including 20 years as a franchise owner of ImageFIRST Cincinnati, 6 years as an industrial engineer for a Fortune 250 company and 19 years as a volunteer firefighter. All of these experiences, in addition to his drive to learn, have brought him to be a positive driving force for other franchise owners’ successes. To learn more about Luke and how Bella Vista Executive Advisors can help, please click HERE www.bellavistaexecutiveadvisors.com

Deciding to keep your body healthy each day has a long-term effect on all. Likewise, deciding on the best candidate for your outside sales role also affects the all 3. • What happens if I do nothing about this issue? Is it worth missing out on another day of training with your new salesperson to find the “perfect” one? Or does this person check enough boxes and what is lacking can be taught? • How will this decision move us forward? In the fire service, each decision is made to mitigate an emergency situation in the safest way possible. And lastly,

There are a few unimportant decisions that have little impact “ on your life and business today. A simple example is eating a banana or cantaloupe as your morning fruit. Both are healthy for long-term impact but unimportant for today.

”

old German Shepard is a positive routine you decide to follow even on mornings you don’t feel like it.

Each day we make decisions for efficiency. We decide to plan our day/ week/year to be as convenient as possible. Efficiency decisions help Successful Franchisees save time, money or both. You plan your day to get the most done and minimize downtime, for example, reducing time spent in traffic or waiting on a late appointment.

The topic for the rest of this article is about the process I use with success concerning the issues most important to you. Important decisions may need to be made urgently or not. The commonality is that these decisions are highly impactful for your Franchise, your team and you.

How to Know What’s “Important?” After just doing a search for “how to know a decision is important” and “what is the definition of ‘important decision’” all kinds of “how to make important decisions” websites and videos came up. BUT nothing found addresses this simple question: “How do you know what decisions are important?” Some decisions are made important by law, stopping at a stop sign and paying taxes are two simple examples. Others are important out of common courtesy like calling 911 if your neighbor’s house is on fire. The decisions discussed here are about you and your business when you have options. The following questions help determine if a decision is important or not: • Will this particular decision have a long-term effect on my company, my team and/or me and my family?

• What is your estimated cost/benefit analysis telling you? Occasionally, you’ll have the luxury of time gathering data to know as much as possible about a decision. At other times, a minimum amount of data is available and you must make a decision now. Either way, an analysis is helpful to know if your decision is important.

Learn to Make Positively Impactful Decisions Successful Franchisees make important decisions looking at five areas of impact:

Long-term impact may cause some short-term hurdles to overcome. This type of decision positively impacts the future of your company. These decisions can impact the value of your company when you pass it on, your legacy and the lives of those working with you.

Impactful short-term decisions can avert disaster. During the 20 years with ImageFIRST there were only a couple of times the GM and I decided not to let the rest of our team go out to make deliveries. If the roads were icy at 4:00 am, we reverted to our pre-plan to alter the rest of the week’s deliveries.

What processes are impacted by your decision? Tightening process standards on the front end of a set of processes certainly has an impact on processes deeper inside. In the laundry Franchising MAGAZINE USA 55

EXPERT ADVICE: Lucas Frey | CEO | Bella Vista Executive Advisors

industry, setting the drying time correctly for the relative humidity daily determines if that batch needs to be processed again because all of the patient gowns are damp.

Successful Franchise Owners look at who is affected by their decisions, how to best communicate the reason(s), and why this decision is made now. This is amplified if the decision made impacts your team financially in any way. Major decisions also bring on emotional reactions. The Covid-19 vaccination policies of companies is a current example.

As best as you can, predict what unintended consequences can occur because of your important decision. This fortune-telling is certainly not foolproof. You can, however, make this exercise a part of your decisionmaking process to vet out possible impacts your decision will have. The Terrace Park Fire Department Officers decided early in my tenure to formalize and strategize the training process. What we didn’t intend nor predict was the positive effect this decision had on recruiting and retaining our unpaid-professional members.

Photo Credit: TPFD Captain John Maggard

If the decision comes from a group, especially the “ management team, everyone on the team MUST be fully committed to the decision. Even if there is disagreement within the team, the outward communication needs to be the same song.

”

What factual information is

to operate efficiently while providing

1 2

fair wages. These studies allowed the management team to make decisions based on data.

Predict the possible outcomes of your

• Whom does this affect and how? • Who is the ultimate owner of the decision? • Who can provide relevant input? • Who will communicate the decision and plan-of-action to those affected and how? 56 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

decision. If you have time, determine a range of outcomes and assign a

probability to each point in the range.

Determine the “who’s” • Who needs to be involved in making the decision?

a stopwatch for the many time

studies needed for the sewing plant

The 7 Steps to Making a WellThought-Out Decision: Understand the context of the issue. Is the current problem a one-off or is it consistent? Who is communicating the issue? Working in a 1000-person sewing plant taught me quickly how to look for context when an issue was raised.

necessary? In my past life, we used

This is helpful when considering a

cost/benefit of a particular decision.

Make your decision and act.

Consensus isn’t always possible or

desirable. If the decision comes from a group, especially the management team, everyone on the team MUST be fully committed to the decision.

Even if there is disagreement within

the team, the outward communication needs to be the same song.

Measure the actual outcome(s) of your decision and compare to the hypotheses.

Debrief as a team and refine your decision-making process and skills. What worked well and what can be improved? Vulnerability and trust within a team are critical here. This is not the place for personal agendas to flourish. After each significant emergency TPFD response, there was an informal debrief with everyone on scene away from the noise of Engine 94. This was a chance for everyone to discuss and learn how to improve together. Additionally, these incidents were discussed with the entire department at the next training. In the end, a summary was created and emailed to each member.

Follow these steps to improve your positive decision making in business and life skills and build your confidence for decisions to come.

JANUARY 2022

on the cover

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Encourages Veterans and First Responders to Join with 50% off latest news in

veteran franchising there’s no halfway when

choosing the franchise that’s right for you

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

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contents

veterans supplement On the Cover 62 Propelled Brands - FASTSIGNS: FASTSIGNS Encourages Veterans and First Responders to Join by Offering 50% off the Franchise Fee

What’s New 60 Franchising News

Latest News from Veterans in Franchising

Franchisee in Action 64 Jason Gibson: Storm Guard Franchisee

66 Andrew Cruz: The Camp Transformation Centre

Profile

70 Frank Earnest: Military Experience Helps CCI Franchisee’s Business Grow

Expert Advice 68 Charles J Bonfiglio: There’s no Halfway when Choosing the Franchise that’s Right for You

Franchise in Focus

72 Always Best Care: Always Best Care Bringing Quality Senior Services and TeleHealth

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Neighborly seeking gr

Neighborly, the world’s largest franchisor of home service brands, is seeking growth opportunities in roughly 150 New York Metro territories, targeting both multi-unit and single-unit prospective owners to open franchise businesses with the following trusted Neighborly brands: The Grounds Guys, Mr. Electric, Window Genie, Molly Maid, Aire Serv, Real Property Management, Dryer Vent Wizard, Five Star Painting, Mosquito Joe and Mr. Handyman. “The recession-resilient nature we’ve seen within the last year from the home services sector has led to increased investment interest in our franchise opportunities,” said Brad Stevenson, Chief Development Officer of Neighborly. “Today’s homeowners are relying more than

Patti Rother named as President of Frios Gourmet Pops frios gourmet pops recently named Patti Rother as President of the brand. Rother will oversee the company’s operations, marketing, franchise development, and innovation while also leading the charge on initiatives around charity and diversity, values that have positioned frios as a profitable and fun business opportunity for investors of all backgrounds. Rother brings more than 15 years of franchise experience to her new role, including a background working in various sectors of the franchise industry with restaurant, pet care and fitness concepts. “I believe whole-heartedly in frios. It is a refreshingly approachable franchise for the average person,” said Rother. “Candidates don’t need a million dollars to buy in, thanks to the low investment and mobile format. It’s a company that focuses on nostalgia, fun, and happiness; I’ve experienced this all first hand.” For information, visit www.friosfranchise.com/. 60 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

rowth in New York Metro

ever on professionals for home maintenance and enhancements. Neighborly is eager to partner with aspiring business owners in the New York Metro area looking to deliver Neighborly’s essential services to their communities.” Across the 150 territories being targeted, four of the New York metro area’s counties -- Suffolk, Westchester and Rockland, New York, as well as Bergen, New Jersey -- stand out as they encompass about 40 of these available territories. Neighborly’s franchising brand initial investments range from $70,800 to $652,980 depending on the specific Neighborly brand, with incentive programs available for veterans. Interested prospects can find out more information here.

Gotcha Covered supports the troops by raising awareness for Fisher House and True Patriot Love foundations

I believe that organizations should always emphasize charitable giving as a companywide initiative. Since running a business results in generating revenue and profits, it is our job to give some of that back to the community. At Gotcha Covered, one group that we like to focus on is veterans. These brave men and women put their lives on the line daily for our freedom, and they deserve our support once they end active service. In November, we dedicate our efforts to veterans in the United States and Canada by focusing on the Fisher House Foundation and True Patriot Love. The Fisher House Foundation provides a home away from home free of charge for families of patients receiving care at military and VA medical centers in the U.S. True Patriot Love honors the sacrifices of members of the Canadian Armed Forces and provides

resources to meet the needs of veterans and their families. To garner attention for these organizations, Gotcha Covered adds banners to each website that includes a link back to the charities. We also make several promotional social media posts during the month, and franchise owners receive a series of newsletters about each charity that can be sent out to their clients. Both the Fisher House Foundation and True Patriot Love receive a corporate donation as well. While it’s not mandatory, we also encourage our franchise owners to donate a percentage of their monthly sales to the charities. For more information about Gotcha Covered and our efforts supporting veterans, please visit https:// gotchacoveredfranchising.com/ supporting-our-veterans-this-november/

Aqua-Tots Signs Franchise Agreement to Build Confident and Safe Swimmers in New Jersey Aqua-Tots Swim Schools is gearing up to bring high-quality swim lessons and life-saving skills to children in New Jersey!

“We’ve been planning on bringing Aqua-Tots to

The world’s largest swim school franchise signed an area development agreement with franchisees Howie and Pete Berman, as well as a franchise agreement with separate franchise owner group Stephanie and Ruddy Lopez to introduce its year-round, indoor swim instruction to families in New Jersey. New Jersey’s first AquaTots facility opened in Clark on Nov. 18, with its second location projected to open in 2022.

and Ruddy lead the way,” Wright said. “Their

New Jersey for quite some time and we couldn’t be more thrilled to have Howie, Pete, Stephanie unique experience and skills are a tremendous addition to our team. We’re confident that both teams will do a great job at spreading Aqua-Tots’ mission far across the state to save lives one swim lesson at a time.” For more information visit Aqua-Tots Swim Schools Franchising MAGAZINE USA 61

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cover story: Propelled Brands | FASTSIGNS

FASTSIGNS Encourages Veterans and First Responders to Join by Offering 50% off the Franchise Fee FASTSIGNS, the leading sign, graphics, and visual communications franchise, is currently seeking qualified franchisees to become owneroperators to help the brand grow across the United States. To facilitate this growth and find productive franchisees with a good work

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ethic, FASTSIGNS views veterans as ideal candidates for the skillsets they cultivate during their military experience. “FASTSIGNS is proud to support and offer our veterans the opportunity to open their own business and become successful entrepreneurs,” said Mark Jameson, chief support and development officer at Propelled Brands. “Over the past several years, we have seen many veterans become

We are encouraging “ everyone--from people who have been working for many years to the next generation-to consider a career in the sign and graphics industry.

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highly successful franchisees due to their strong work ethic and motivation to succeed. Because of this, we look forward to each chance we get to add a veteran to our growing network of FASTSIGNS franchisees.” FASTSIGNS commitment to veterans is recognized on Entrepreneur Magazine’s Top Franchises for Veterans list. This is the fifth year FASTSIGNS has been included, highlighting a wide variety of franchises that provide profitable opportunities for veterans. Already associated with low start-up costs, FASTSIGNS provides veteran-friendly financing options, including 50 percent off the initial franchise fee for veterans and first responders as well as reduced royalties for the first 12 months of business. “We are encouraging everyone--from people who have been working for many years to the next generation--to consider a career in the sign and graphics industry,” said Catherine Monson, CEO at FASTSIGNS International, Inc. and Chair of the International Franchising Association. “We’re seeing demand for our services continue to escalate as events return and business resumes. As a result, our franchisees’ role of being the go-to resource for visual communications in their communities continues to grow stronger every day. The growth and momentum we’ve experienced is a true testament to the strong FASTSIGNS network, our brand’s adaptability, and the rising demand for our services.” To date, FASTSIGNS operates more than 750 locations in 46 states and eight countries. Of these FASTSIGNS franchisees, around 10% are owned by veterans.

“What makes FASTSIGNS stand out is the high-quality support offered by Catherine Monson and the team at FASTSIGNS International,” said Darrin Lawrence, Army veteran and FASTSIGNS franchisee in Richardson, Texas. “During the pandemic, I could see FASTSIGNS constantly working to ensure their franchise centers were deemed essential businesses. Their support allowed me to open my doors in 2020 when everything else was shutting down and helped me transition into my current role as an owner and operator.” The total investment for a FASTSIGNS

franchise is approximately $233,555 $307,308 including a $49,750 franchise fee. Ideal candidates have a net worth of $300,000, of which $80K is liquid. Additionally, FASTSIGNS offers a special incentive for veterans and first responders, including paramedics, emergency medical technicians, police officers, sheriffs, and firefighters, which includes a 50% reduction on the franchise fee -- a savings of $24,875. For information about the FASTSIGNS franchise opportunity, contact Mark Jameson at 214-346-5679 mark.jameson@propelledbrands.com

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FRANCHISEE IN ACTION: Jason Gibson | Storm Guard

Why this Military Veteran Turned to Franchising for his Second Act of Service My Credentials Since the day that I was born, I have always lived within a military family. My father, uncle, and cousin were all in the military and I knew that I wanted to follow in their footsteps. My first infatuation with the military came in high school where I became obsessed with becoming a pilot. I worked as hard as I could and had the opportunity to attend school at the United States Naval Academy. At the academy, I had the opportunity to spend a few of my summers with the Maries, learning more about their occupational specialties.

Jason Gibson, a United States Military Veteran turned Storm Guard franchisee, shares his story and the valuable lessons that he learned while in service that have helped him to succeed within the franchise industry. Gibson served in the Marine Corps before returning home and now owns and operates one of the most successful Storm Guard Franchises in the state of Texas. 64 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

During my time, I started to resonate with the culture and missions that made the Marines exceptional. I learned more about the occupation and started to make close friends with the people I was working with. This drove me to explore the Marines more intently. I learned that it was possible to become a pilot while in the Marines and decided that this was the path for me. After graduating, I spent my first six months at the Basic School (the initial infantry officer training for Marine officers) and then I went to flight school to learn how to pilot and maintain the cobra

helicopter. While I was there, I learned how to provide close air support of ground troops and provide reconnaissance. Shotly after my graduation, I was assigned to my first squadron. We were a high preforming and intelligent unit based just north of San Diego. The lessons that I learned were incredible as you had to be able to think on your feet and be able to work in any situation. I then worked with the First Tank Battalion as one of the pilots on staff, providing liaison for the ground forces. Throughout my nine years in the Marine Corps, I was typically deployed to Okinawa, Japan where I would serve two, six-month deployments. On one occasion, I was deployed to Iraq during the initial invasion of the country. Throughout my time in the military, I learned valuable lessons that are applicable to my life today. Being able to think on your toes and learning while on the job are all things that I had to master to stay alive during my service. Today, I use these skills to help the people closest to me. Once my time in the Military was over, I knew that the skills I learned would be applicable to a future career.

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Take your exit from the military as a fresh start. You have learned valuable skills and life lessons that can be used in any business venture you choose.

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What Led me to Franchising When I returned to the United States, I thought that I needed to make a change in my life. I had a wife and two young kids at home and I wanted to spend more time with my family. I had always had an interest in investing and finance so I decided to apply to business school. I applied to Harvard Business School on a whim and was ecstatic when I found out I was accepted. My family and I moved to Boston in 2008. While taking classes I had an internship at The Boston Company, an asset management company which is owned by the Bank of New York Mellon. I started right before the market crashed which ended up opening more opportunities for me within the company. I soon became a senior analysist and ended up working for TBC for the next 11 years. While I was there, I worked on a natural resources’ portfolio with another analysist, within the central research team, picking stocks in the basic materials sector. During my time, we were able to grow the resource fund from $25 Million in revenue to $1.3 Billion by the time I left. After spending 11 years in Boston, my family and I wanted to be closer to relatives in Texas. We moved to Austin and I was interested in finding a new growth opportunity. I became interested in franchising after having a conversation with my daughter’s lacrosse coach who was in a similar position. I came out of that conversation with a new-found interest

in franchising and decided to research different brands. What intrigued me about franchising, and more specifically Storm Guard, was that I didn’t have to recreate a business model or plan of success because Storm Guard already had a proven model. After my time at TBC, I wanted to franchise a brand that could be recession resilient and be successful in an expanding city like Austin. I did some research and found Storm Guard, an innovative and recession-resilient roofing and construction brand. I fell in love with the company, the culture, and the exceptional service that they provide. Soon after I met with Shane Lynch, President of Storm Guard, to discuss the next steps and ended up opening a Storm Guard location in Austin.

Military Skills Help Veterans Navigate the COVID-19 Pandemic The skills that I have learned throughout my military service have been incredibly helpful within my new career as a small business owner. I was able to learn valuable leadership, time management, and logistic skills that have helped me to put together a team that I can trust. During the pandemic, we were forced to think on our toes and adapt to the changing world around us. With the skills that I learned; we were able to develop a targeted plan in which we saw continued growth of the brand. Not everything goes according to plan and you must support your team and establish a clear objective that everyone can buy into and get behind.

What Makes Veterans WellSuited for Franchising Military veterans are well-suited for franchising because we are all trained to constantly think on our toes and be able to succeed in any environment that we are thrown into. During my time in service, there were instances where you had to make split second decisions that could save your life. Every veteran has that instinct and it can be the difference between running a successful business during a time of uncertainty or going bankrupt. Every service member that I have had the pleasure of meeting is more than qualified to overcome these obstacles. We have learned what it takes to succeed in the harshest conditions through resiliency and strategic planning and can apply these characteristics to the franchising space.

Advice for Military Veterans Looking to Transition into the Franchising Industry My advice for veterans looking to get involved with the franchising industry would be to do your research and find a brand that resonates with you. One resource that I recommend would be Franchising for Heroes, a newly formed organization with the goal of helping servicemen, women, and first responders find jobs and break into the world of business ownership. Take your exit from the military as a fresh start. You have learned valuable skills and life lessons that can be used in any business venture you choose. Your life experience is unique, use that to your advantage. Franchising MAGAZINE USA 65

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FRANCHISEE IN ACTION: The Camp Transformation Center

Opportunities Abound at

The Camp Transformation Center for veterans and Others Seeking a Fresh Start

Andrew Cruz knew his time as an active-duty U.S. Marine was coming to an end when he started pursuing entrepreneurial endeavors over the last several years. Like many veterans in transition, he wanted to make the move from public service to civilian life as smooth for his family as possible. As a military recruiter in Southern California who guided young people through the stages to join the military, he knew he needed something meaningful, something that allowed him to continue impacting people’s lives. Around the same time in 2015, Lauren Young says she was at rock bottom. The decorated high school athlete with a passion for pole vaulting was hit by a car while jogging with teammates in a Los Angeles suburb during her junior year, and the accident drastically changed her future. While she eventually recovered physically, the mental impact left her feeling adrift through much of her 20s. At 247 pounds by age 33, Young was eager to take back control of her life and her health. Their journeys and goals are different, but ultimately the paths Young and Cruz took led them to The Camp Transformation Center, a Californiabased health and wellness franchise that has given them both the fulfilling sense of purpose they each craved. “My job in the military was to guide young men and women through the process, from paperwork and planning to mental and physical evaluations and then through boot camp,” says Cruz. “That work was fulfilling because I knew I was playing a role in changing people’s lives. That’s where The Camp is similar to me. You support and cheer on the ones that see it through and enjoy a transformation. It’s rewarding to play a role in their journey.” Prior to retiring this summer, Cruz began his business career in tandem with his military service. He ran an ATM business in local barbershops and a photo booth rental company. Having experienced the challenges of managing businesses independently, franchising appealed to him. He learned about The Camp from Co-Founder Sam Bakhtiar. The two became early-morning workout buddies in 2018. “For me, it was that relationship with The Camp’s team and the great business model that ultimately encouraged me to sign franchise agreements,” says Cruz, who owns camps in Ontario Ranch, Laguna Hills, and Anaheim. “Franchising removes the guesswork of what to do and how to do it; you’re not reinventing the wheel.” Alejandra Font, The Camp Transformation Center Co-Founder 66 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

Founded in 2010, The Camp Transformation Center was born out of the realization that despite universal

Lauren Young lost 70 pounds at The Camp and now owns her own franchise in Parma, Ohio. Andrew Cruz, Ontario Ranch, Laguna Hills, and Anaheim Franchise Owner

knowledge of how to lose weight — eat healthier and work out regularly — millions of people still struggle to get results. During an era of skyrocketing obesity, The Camp created a proven system to help this massively underserved audience achieve their goals. “I have an opportunity to continue impacting people’s lives, and there’s broad appeal at our gyms,” adds Cruz. “From former athletes to people who have never stepped foot in a gym, we have a welcoming space for everyone.” Young was one of those former athletes who found The Camp Transformation Center’s welcoming environment when she joined The Camp as a member at the Pasadena, California, gym in 2015. “I was a broken person when I became a member at The Camp,” Young says. “People who know me now can’t imagine what I was like before. I’m so much happier. The mental impact is as profound as the physical transformation. So many great things happen when you take care of yourself. It allows you to help take care of others and guide people who are also ready to make a change.” Now, as the franchise owner of The Camp in Parma, Ohio, Young is helping others enjoy the same life-changing transformation. Home of the free “20-Pound Weight Loss Challenge,” The Camp Transformation Center’s flagship program consists of group training with dynamic interval workouts, nutrition, and supplement plans, highly qualified trainers, and a ton of positive emotional support. The Camp is a community of people who treat fellow members like family. Young signed up for the 20-pound challenge and lost the

first 20 pounds. She immediately signed up for a second challenge and shed 18 more pounds. Today, she’s 70 pounds down from her heaviest weight. With every pound lost, her passion for the program grew. She eventually became an employee at the Pasadena gym, first working the front desk, then as assistant director, then director. On a conference call with corporate one day, she was asked if she had interest in opening her own location. Excited for a new challenge, Young jumped at the opportunity to move across the country and take over the corporate-owned location in Parma, Ohio, as a franchisee in 2018. She is helping the growing fitness franchise impact men and women nationwide with its unmatched system for changing lives. “There’s a humanness that gets lost with most gym models,” says Young. “They don’t grasp human complexities and the need for connection. The Camp meets its members where they’re at in their fitness journey. We support the mental component of weight loss and prioritize a focus on nutrition education. Acknowledging individuality and focusing on a foundation of support is what makes The Camp different. People come here, and they never quit.” Now transforming lives like Young’s for more than 10 years, The Camp Co-Founder Alejandra Font was ready for a fresh start herself when she and Bakhtiar opened the doors to their first gym. As the busy mom of two young kids and coming off the heels of a stressful recession, Font was eager to focus on her own health and well-being but had no idea achieving her personal goals would eventually flourish into a fitness franchise that’s impacting lives and creating opportunities for entrepreneurs across the United States. “The Camp Transformation Center has changed countless lives for the better, and those transformations have had a ripple effect from day one. Our members invite friends or loved ones to work out with them, or — like Lauren and Andrew — open their own gyms to help the broader community,” Font says. “Our franchisees are passionate and purposeful, and that accelerates our mission as a franchise.” Franchising MAGAZINE USA 67

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EXPERT ADVICE: Charles J. Bonfiglio | President and CEO | Tint World®

There’s no halfway when

choosing the franchise that’s right for you

Charles J. Bonfiglio is president and CEO of Tint World®, an award-winning franchised provider of automotive, residential, commercial, and marine window tinting and security film services. With Automotive Styling Centers™ in the U.S. and abroad, each franchise location houses approximately 20 profit centers, ranging from in-store accessory installations to offsite sales and installation of residential, commercial, and marine window tinting and security films. To find out more, please visit www.tintworld.com and www.tintworldfranchise.com.

There are almost an infinite “ number of franchises you can

choose to join – so how do you go about finding the right franchise for you?

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After years of working for someone else, perhaps you’re ready to take the blind leap of going out on your own. You see yourself as a leader with great business acumen, and now you need to find an outlet that allows you to stretch your entrepreneurial wings. It doesn’t necessarily need to be a blind 68 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

leap, though. In fact, one option people consider is joining a franchise rather than opening a business from scratch. Then again, there are almost an infinite number of franchises you can choose to join – so how do you go about finding the right franchise for you?

Evaluating a Franchise When determining if a franchise is the right fit, you’ll first need to decide if you’re ready to be a part of something bigger than yourself, or if an independent operation is

better suited for your goals. Remember that being part of a franchise is a team sport! Everyone plays a part in supporting each other and growing the brand. From initial site-location to becoming fully operational, you’ll want to learn as much as you can about franchise location ownership and what it will entail. A rapidly growing franchise is also a strong indication that they’ve established a successful business model, and that’s something you’ll want to take into consideration.

day is a time for you to research the positives and potential pitfalls of joining a franchise. You can also use this time to ask for financial information such as the average sales numbers and how long it generally takes to become profitable. As I’ve stated from the beginning, franchisees and the franchisor are on the same team – and as with any winning team, it takes transparency and plenty of communication. Prepare a list of questions, cover them all, and make sure to provide detailed answers to the franchisor so that nothing is left unknown.

Onboarding For Ownership

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One of the first items a prospect should review is the desired territory or market for them to develop. It’s not uncommon to also seek council from third-party research consultants to provide an impartial analysis of that area’s demographics?

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Preparing For Your Discovery Day Keep in mind that selecting a franchise should be the right fit on both sides. You’ll want to join something you’re confident you can grow with, and the franchisor will want someone who’s ready to fullyembrace their brand’s lifestyle. While it’s great to already have relevant industry certifications or expertise, most franchisors provide extensive training for new owners that can help bring you up to speed regardless of prior experience. To most franchisors, it’s generally more valuable when your passions align with their brand, and they see you have the aptitude to grow as a successful franchisee. Once you have reviewed the company’s franchise kit and feel confident that this is the right opportunity, you can then have the franchisor’s sales development manager schedule what’s commonly referred to as a “Discovery Day”. This is a critical step that provides both the prospective franchisee and the franchisor with an opportunity to meet in person and further evaluate each other for the right fit. One of the first items a prospect should review is the desired territory or market for them to develop. It’s not uncommon to also seek council from third-party research consultants to provide an impartial analysis

of that area’s demographics. These details, in combination with the franchisor’s own research data, are critical to understand in order to successfully connect with your potential customers and establish a longstanding relationship within the communities therein. Make sure to inquire about every aspect of the franchisor’s business model. You’ll also need to understand what the obligations are if you plan to run the store yourself, or how much of that can be delegated to your staff. Additional questions can pertain to finding locations, assistance with build-out, help with recruiting staff and what training is available from a marketing standpoint. Also, find out if they have a marketing fund and what it covers, or if they provide on-site training and vendor support. Don’t forget to prepare for any questions the franchisor will have for you, too. Anticipate furnishing documentation that verifies you are financially capable of funding the business’ start-up process. Amongst other qualification questions, they may also ask for confirmation that you have the minimum liquid assets available, minimum net worth, and that you’ll meet a certain credit score threshold. While you may feel as though you are being put through an interrogation by the franchisor, remember that the discovery

After your Discovery Day has taken place and you’ve officially become a new owner, every franchisor usually has their own variation of the development process. At Tint World®, we consider our franchisees to be part of our franchise family from day one. As such, new owners are immediately encouraged to introduce themselves. No matter how long you’ve been with the franchise, everyone is encouraged to work together in reaching their success goals. One of the best ways to go about connecting with other franchisees is to pick up the phone. Although this may seem intimidating, remember that even the most senior franchisees were new at some point. Tint World® franchisees are always happy to share advice and insight from when they were in your shoes. Owners also pose questions to each other in an open forum setting on an on-going basis. This allows anyone to share their expertise on any given topic.

Race To Success Some of the most important advice I’d like to leave you with, is to stick with the program and follow your training. They say it takes 21 days to establish a good habit, and after that first month of operating, these habits will almost become second nature. Remember that the franchisor’s program was developed by franchisees and extensively revised for success. Afterall, you’ve joined the franchise for some of these reasons, so let the program work for you – while you focus on the race to success! Franchising MAGAZINE USA 69

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PROFILE: Frank Earnest | Creative Colors International franchisee

Military Experience Helps CCI Franchisee’s Business Grow Frank Earnest, a Creative Colors International franchisee and U.S. Army veteran, relies on lessons learned navigating war zones during his decorated military career to help his Oklahoma-based business thrive. After completing their time in the military, many veterans apply the skills they learned in the service to start their own businesses. There are 2.52 million businesses owned by veterans in the United States, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Although veterans make up only about 7 percent of the population, they account for 14 percent of all franchisees in the U.S., and 97 percent of franchisors surveyed believe veterans make excellent franchisees. Many franchisors offer discounts to encourage veterans to tackle entrepreneurship. Attention to detail, dedication, and leadership skills enabled Earnest to rise in the ranks of the military. Earnest enlisted in the Oklahoma Army National Guard in 1981 to help pay for college. After graduation, Earnest was commissioned as a second lieutenant and retired as a full colonel after 30 years of service. Early in his career, Earnest traveled to Germany with his young family, where he served as an infantry officer, while his wife, Lena, taught classes in the Department of Defense Education Activity school system. Once he returned stateside, Earnest attended the Infantry Officer Advance Course and Airborne school with a follow on assignment to Fort Lewis, WA, and his wife continued her career teaching children with special needs. With each promotion, Earnest was consistently tapped for posts in dangerous locations, including Bosnia, Iraq, Columbia, and numerous stints in Central America. Earnest’s leadership skills were put to the test when he coordinated land operations with FEMA to evacuate civilians during Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita in Louisiana. While he was stationed in Central America, Earnest had the opportunity to work with the civil authorities, which included a medical readiness exercise where the medical unit was able to treat the local population. At least 1,000 people per day showed up for treatment, and people would receive anything from shots to dental work. During his military career, Earnest spent more than 14 years deployed away from his family in some of the world’s most dangerous war zones. After his retirement, he searched for an opportunity that would keep him close to home. A Creative Colors International franchisee from Texas inspired Earnest to look at the mobile, on-site leather and vinyl repair service as an option for business ownership.

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CCI is the leader in the leather, vinyl, and fabric repair business. Certified technicians can fix rips, tears, burns, scratches, and fading. The business is designed to be scalable and offers multiple revenue streams to help build a robust client base. CCI services a variety of industries, including aviation, marine, and automobile.

In the military, you couldn’t quit because “ you’d die. It’s not life or death, but each job is unique and requires us to think creatively to get the job done. In the military, quitting was not an option, and I have the same view as a CCI franchisee.

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Currently, Earnest and Lena operate four CCI vans and have five employees. He fills in as a technician when his employees take vacations, and Lena does the company’s books. They own exclusive rights to the area north of Oklahoma City, but their vans operate throughout the state, and also provide services in nearby Arkansas and Missouri. “Owning my own business lets me be in charge of my own success,” Earnest said. Earnest’s tenure in the military required him to be flexible and find unique ways to solve problems. Being adaptable helps his business flourish. Initially, Earnest focused on growing his business in the automobile industry but opting to place a special focus on RVs has been profitable for his company. CCI technicians need to evaluate options to determine the best strategy for a repair. “In the military, you couldn’t quit because you’d die. It’s not life or death, but each job is unique and requires us to think creatively to get the job done. In the military, quitting was not an option, and I have the same view as a CCI franchisee,” he added. CCI is dedicated to providing a path to business ownership for veterans. The company takes part in VetFran, a strategic initiative of the International Franchise Association and the IFA Foundation. If you are a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, served at least four years of military service, and received an honorable discharge, you are eligible to receive a $1,500 discount off of the initial franchise fee. VetFran strives to connect talented veterans with franchise business opportunities when they return to civilian life.

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FRANCHISE IN FOCUS: ALWAYS BEST CARE

ALWAYS BEST CARE BRINGING QUALITY SENIOR SERVICES AND TELEHEALTH

We are committed to raising the “ standards of in-home care through technology innovation and additional services and resources that enhance our clients’ quality of life.

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As one of the nation’s leading providers of non-medical inhome care and assisted living referrals, Always Best Care Senior Services is responding to the ever-increasing demands of a rapidly aging population by expanding into new markets across the country and introducing new telehealth programs throughout its franchise network. The senior service franchise model combines non-medical in-home care, assisted living referral services and home health care to create three potential revenue streams for franchisees. Always Best Care is currently looking to expand 72 Franchising MAGAZINE USA

in many major markets including Orlando, Miami, Atlanta, Little Rock, Pittsburgh, Kansas City, St Louis, Cincinnati, Detroit, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Omaha, Boise, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Orange County, Portland and Washington State. “Always Best Care has continued to respond to the rise in demand for our services brought about during the COVID19 pandemic. With long-term care facilities like nursing homes identified as hotspots for the virus’ transmission, more and more seniors and their families sought the peace of mind of in-home care,” said Jake Brown, President and CEO of Always Best Care. “We now have franchise opportunities available in many new territories for individuals interested in leveraging our clear strategy and proven track record for

delivering affordable, dependable service to seniors in their local areas.” Always Best Care also grew its brand presence over the past year in existing states like Texas, North Carolina, California and Georgia, as well as debuting a first-ever location in Hawaii. New owners, recognizing the brand’s best-in-class franchise opportunity and upside potential for success, took over territories in Chicago, New Jersey and California, while established operators seized opportunities to expand or renew, serving as a true testament to the brand’s sustainable positioning and long-term viability in a rapidly evolving landscape. As the years pass and the senior population grows, more older Americans will need compassionate care to help them age gracefully at home. According to the Pew

As the years pass and the “ senior population grows, more older Americans will need compassionate care to help them age gracefully at home.

”

able to invest in employee support. Local offices across the country offer various benefits including flexible schedules, competitive wages, employee recognition initiatives, ongoing training programs and certifications, among many others. Research Center, the number of individuals 65 and older in the U.S. is projected to double during the next 30 years, and the 85+ population is expected to increase nearly 150%. Today, almost 80% of seniors are dealing with a chronic health condition, while 50% of seniors have at least two chronic illnesses. Simply put, the senior care industry is maturing into the hottest market in the country and is expected to grow regardless of the social and economic climate. Amid this demand, Always Best Care continues to look for opportunities to provide technologies that benefit its clients as well as franchisees. “We are committed to raising the standards of in-home care through technology innovation and additional services and resources that enhance our clients’ quality of life,” added Brown. “Protecting our clients is a big part of our value proposition.” Most recently, that commitment meant deploying its own Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) program across the entire franchise system and throughout 30 states. In partnership with Anelto, Always Best Care is now able to provide clients with access to real-time monitoring of vital statistics, fall alert/fall detect services, medication management, and two-way communication between client, clinician and physician. With the launch of RPM telehealth capabilities, Always Best Care is offering a new level of clinical oversight as patients are discharged into home care environments, helping clients avoid readmission or trips to the doctor’s office, clinic or emergency room.

The RPM system magnifies the transitional care program afforded by Always Best Care, which encompasses a broad range of services and environments designed to promote the safe and timely passage of patients between levels of health care and across care settings. This level of innovation is nothing new for the company. In 2020, Always Best Care introduced the Balance Tracking System, which provides an objective, accurate and reliable measure of a client’s postural sway – known as a key indicator of balance ability commonly used in fall risk assessment. This tool categorizes a person’s fall risk across a spectrum ranging from low, to moderate, to high and is particularly useful to individuals 60+, where the consequences of a fall are amplified. Always Best Care is also one of the only major senior care franchise systems to provide Always in Touch, a proprietary telephone reassurance program of daily check-ins or weekly socialization calls, providing a virtual alternative for companionship and a sense of security that the senior is not alone. Founded in 1996 and delivering its services through an international network of more than 200 independently owned and operated franchise territories throughout the U.S. and Canada, Always Best Care employs thousands of caregivers and is recognized for being an employer of choice within its sector through its impressive caregiver benefits. Because franchisees are provided with the resources needed to successfully run their business, they are

“Always Best Care’s team members and caregivers take pride in their work and serving their clientele,” said Brown. “The senior care industry draws a group of passionate and eager individuals, and we have been able to establish a variety of charitable community efforts based on our founding purpose of inspiring change and improving quality of life.” Always Best Care caregivers provide assistance for individuals that suffer from cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, traumatic brain injuries and other lifealtering and threatening diseases. To build on its team’s desire to help, the company has partnered with the Alzheimer’s Association on a national level, and franchisees assist in initiatives to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s within their communities. The company has also collected many accolades along the way in over 25 years of business. Most recently, Always Best Care was recognized by Franchise Dictionary magazine as a Top 100 Game Changer for creating opportunities for aspiring business owners, filling a niche in the home health care industry and helping the local communities it serves. It was also named to the 2021 Franchise Gator Top 100, an esteemed list developed to assist prospective franchisees in their search for a franchise opportunity to invest in, recognizing the top franchisors based on strong growth, financial stability, experience, and more. For information on franchising with Always Best Care, please call 855-430-2273 or visit www.franchisewithalwaysbestcare.com Franchising MAGAZINE USA 73

FR A N C H I SE & SERV I CES D I RECTORY

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.

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

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. We provide marketing collateral, signage, POP

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In addition to automatic brand recognition, AAMCO franchisees benefit from an Executive Leadership Team who established themselves by servicing the automotive aftermarket as franchisees.

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

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

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

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

FirstLight Home Care FirstLight Home Care offers comprehensive, in-home, 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, &

Image One USA 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

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 with

franchisees all across the United States. 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. Ph: 717-969-8481 E-mail: info@doughandarrows.com www.doughandarrows.com

FR A N C H I SE & SERV I CES D I RECTORY

Dough & Arrows

• Franchise Research Institute World Class Franchise 20112015 • 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 baby-boomers 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

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 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

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/

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FR A N C H I SE & SERV I CES D I RECTORY

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.

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 distribution

www.remedysalonsuites.com/franchise

The red Chickz

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 operate. We designed

Sheenco Travel Sheenco Travel began trading in 2012 under the name Shamrock Vacations. Nowadays Sheenco is the leading name in luxury travel to Ireland and the UK and has just launched a brand new Travel Franchise in the USA. Our focus on luxury helps us to stand out as we only use 4* and 5* properties and have a special focus on the wonderful Castle accommodations available throughout Ireland and the UK. But more than anything it’s the level of service we offer, from the first point of contact until after your reluctant arrival home. Our friendly and close knit team go beyond your expectations with ease. Despite the difficulties of

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

the Global Pandemic, Genevieve continued with the companies plans (albeit on a delayed timescale) to expand their operation in the US and the Sheenco Travel Franchise was launched in June 2021. When asked about the timing of the expansion Genevieve laughingly asks “having started a business in a recession when else would you expand but in a Pandemic?!” Thanks to a solid team and great communication with guests and team members alike, Sheenco Travel have come out the other side of the Pandemic relatively unscathed and the future looks bright for this progressive and innovative company. Opportunities@sheencotravel.com www.sheencotravelfranchise.com

Slim Chickens

10 years, is targeting qualified and experienced multi-unit groups to develop in dynamic markets across the country.

Slim Chickens, a leading fast casual franchise which features dine-in and drive-through in the better-chicken segment, opened in 2003 in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

The brand prides itself on its cooked-to-order fresh food and strong devoted fanbase, also known as “Slimthusiasts.” Fans also resonate with the southern contemporary look and feel and open and inviting layout of Slim Chickens restaurants, which speak to the hospitality mindset that anchors the brand.

Offering high-quality food with a focus on fresh, delicious ingredients, the brand prides itself on its southern flair and commitment to hospitality, all in a fast-casual setting. Food is cooked to order, and the differentiated menu features chicken tenders, fresh salads, sandwiches, chicken and waffles, chicken wings and unique side items, alongside 17 house-made dipping sauces. Today, there are more than 145 Slim Chickens locations open and 700 restaurants in development. The brand, which recently launched a strategic multi-unit franchise growth initiative to reach 700 units in

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

The Slim Chickens franchise opportunity differentiates itself with prime markets available for multi-unit development, a passionate leadership team and world-class franchisee support system. As Slim Chickens expands, it is awarding franchise opportunities to qualified, experienced and passionate multi-unit groups looking to add a dynamic segment to their portfolio. For more information on the Slim Chickens franchise opportunity, visit slimchickensfranchise.com

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

Y A W T A E R G A E R A S G N I T A-Z LIS S S E N I S U B R U O Y E T O M O TO PR

Making an appearance every month in Franchising USA magazine. Each detailed, 4 color A-Z listing comes with a 150 word write up and your logo. Excellent for branding and recognition. 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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Don’t miss an issue

Get the App COVER STORY: Kingdom Harvest ™

KINGDOM HARVEST

A KINGDOM FOR EVERYONE

Willam Ford, Marketing Director

A success for an ally is a success for all of us” said Shelle Rogers, Founder and

Executive Director of Kingdom Harvest.

We do it right “Kingdom Harvest did a lot of research. As everyone knows CBD and Hemp are

Kingdom Harvest™, North Carolina’s original CBD & Hemp brand, is making a lasting mark in the fast growing hemp industry across the country in a nonconventional manner. Founders Shelle Rogers, David Payne, and Frank Seuss, desired to create a hemp brand which was different. The vision was simple, create an organically grown product which flows from farm to shelf and gets results. Kingdom Harvest™ sources its hemp directly from Kingdom Farms, an organic hemp farm located in a secluded area of Western North Carolina. Kingdom Farms was one of the first large scale organic hemp farms in North Carolina and has maintained its significance in the farming of high quality CBD hemp flower. Because Kingdom Harvest ™ has a direct connection with Kingdom Farms, it knows the source of the hemp flower and the quality of the same which is extremely important for the consumer; Kingdom Harvest ™ worked closely with local laboratories to create the premiere whole spectrum CBD brand on the market.

Frank Suess

intended. So, our team created what is

known as the whole-spectrum extraction process which utilizes over 480 of the

naturally occurring phytonutrients plus all cannabinoids, ﬂavonoids, and terpenoids

popular but there wasn’t a whole-spectrum

that the hemp plant supplies” said William

We felt it was the right move at the right

department.

product on the market when we started.

David Payne

time, and we wanted to bring products to the consumer which were just as nature

Ford, head of Kingdom’s marketing

to share in Kingdom’s vision for wellness by way of nature’s goodness.

”

Kingdom Harvest ™ has secured its position in the fast growing hemp market through the manufacturing of the highest quality hemp derived products in the industry; the posting eye-catching content; the use of brand ambassadors and the routine exposure of its hemp products on social media platforms like Instagram & Facebook. Kingdom Harvest ™ approaches the hemp market in a proactive manner and balances quality, price and demand accordingly. Kingdom Harvest ™ is non-conventional; they desire to allow a “franchise”

opportunity without typical franchise components such as fees and royalties. Accordingly, Kingdom Harvest ™ is announcing expansion plans to achieve their overall goal of bringing individual wellness through organically grown hemp derived products with select individuals through the Kingdom Harvest Alliance™ program. “An ally is someone who shares a common goal; we want to allow our allies to share in the placement of these great products in hopes that the customer really ﬁnds relief. As such, our program is set up on the principal that if you want to be our ally; then we will help you get established and not burden you with fees and royalties.

We are growing!

MAGAZINE USA

Shelle Rogers

Kingdom Harvest™ desires continuity in its stores but also “ welcomes creativity; they seek motivated individuals who desire

In short, Kingdom’s products provide naturally good results to the consumer.

Tyler & Jordyn Rogers, Grow Consultant

COVER STORY

Kimi Roberson, Brevard, NC

VOL 10, ISSUE 2, JAN 2022

Since the launch of its’ original two products, Kingdom Harvest ™ has grown to over 50 sku’s from CBD, CBG, CBN, CBDv to THC products such as Delta 8, THCo, and the new THC Plus ™ line. Kingdom Harvest ™ is taking the hemp industry by storm by always being one step ahead and introducing innovative products on a regular basis.

In the public eye “Kingdom Harvest started out on Facebook like everyone else, and we

also joined Instagram, explained Ford. “ A KINGDOM FOR EVERYONE It took us a bit to get going but once we

SPECIAL FEATURE

HEALTH AND FITNESS FRANCHISING

hit 10,000, it just went crazy.” Kingdom Harvest’s ™ educational posts and posts of various artists & musicians using Kingdom Harvest ™ products gained the attention of thousands on social media, leading it to become one of the most popular CBD Company accounts in the industry. Kingdom Harvest ™ utilizes traditional marketing platforms like billboards and radio and maintains a constant presence in the social media arena to perpetuate its brand and the beneﬁts of hemp.

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Articles inside

A-Z Franchise & Services Directory

Lucas Frey

Nader Masadeh

kampgrounds of america offers campground Franchisees camper Friendly Ev charging stations

Angela Dodd

Adam Povlitz

Edward Pim

Kingdom Harvest

Franchising News

George Knauf

Scenthound