June 2016 franchising usa 4#8

Franchising usa T he ma g a z ine for franchisees

VOL 04, ISSUE 8, june 2016

$5.95 www.franchisingusamagazine.com

the art of validation

Entrepreneur fills gap in

Tire Market special

pet franchising feature

mentoring

in today’s workplace LATEST NEWS

FINANCIAL ADVICE FROM THE BANKS

TOP LAWYERS’ ADVICE

Franchising usa T he ma g a z ine for franchisees

FRANCHISING USA VOLUME 4, ISSUE 8, 2016 president: Colin Bradbury. colin@cgbpublishing.com

Publisher: Vikki Bradbury. vikki@cgbpublishing.com

National Accounts Manager: Tuesday Royko. tuesdayr@cgbpublishing.com

Editorial Department: editor@cgbpublishing.com

Assistant editor: Diana Cikes editor@cgbpublishing.com

Editorial team: Diana Cikes Gina Gill Rob Swystun

Production: usaproduction@cgbpublishing.com

DESIGN: Jejak Graphics. jejak@bigpond.com

COVER IMAGE: RNR tire express

CGB PUBLISHING Canadian Office: 676 Wain Road, Sidney B.C Canada V8L 5M5 U.S. Office: 800 5th Ave, #101 Seattle, WA 98104-3102 Sales: 847 607 8407 Editorial: 778 426 2446 www.franchisingusamagazine.com 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

from the

Publisher “I’m a big fan of small business ownership.

I think it’s the backbone of American innovation.

But to be successful, you first have to have the courage to go for it.”

- Bill Rancic We’re excited to attend the fast approaching International Franchise Expo in New York from June 16-18th.

Our Cover Story this month features RNR Tire Express, a tire and custom wheel company that has seen one Tampa, FL franchise find massive success by helping everyday people afford good quality tires. Turn to page 10 to read how this Entrepreneur Fills a Gap in the Tire Market and Explosive Growth Ensues.

This year’s IFE is sure to be a valuable learning experience with plenty of opportunities to learn from the foremost experts in franchising, including a special presentation by CNBC’s ‘The Profit’ star Marcus Lemonis on franchise ownership and the benefits of being a small business owner.

Our Veterans in Franchising supplement has FASTSIGNS on the Cover. Here you will learn how U.S. Navy Veterans Bring “More Than” FASTSIGNS Promise to North Charleston, South Carolina. We also feature interesting stories from Kitchen Tune-Up and Tutor Doctor, where you can learn how Decorated Soldiers became Renovation Warriors and read how a Retired Marine Finds Fulfillment with Tutoring Franchise.

To help you get you prepared for the upcoming IFE, our own industry experts offer their own valuable tips and insights into franchising. Read about Finding Success in Visiting a Franchise Expo

by George Knauf. Get inspired with Our Franchising Startup Story by Brian Scudamore. Learn The Pros and Cons of LLCs for Franchises from Paige Zandri, and find out how to pick The Right Communications Network for Your Franchise from Eddie Fox.

We hope this issue helps to prepare and inspire you to make the most of your experience at the International Franchise Expo later this month. Be sure to grab your free expo pass and come visit us at booth #573.

See you at the Expo.

Vikki Bradbury Publisher

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

june 2016

On the Cover

26 Pets and Franchising Feature Article

10 Cover Story: RNR Entrepreneur Fills Gap in

Tire Market, Explosive Growth Ensues

48 Mentoring in Today’s Workplace

In Every Issue

36

30

14

36 The Art of Validation

Question Time

06 Franchising News Announcements from the Industry

18 Darin Hicks Chief Operating Officer, City Wide Franchising

26 Feature Article

Pets and Franchising

40 Derik Beck Vice President of Digital Marketing, Cottman Transmission

43 Veterans Supplement News and Information for Veterans in Franchising

26

67 A-Z Franchise and Services Directoy

and Total Auto Care

64 Stephen Dixon Director of Franchise Development, Children’s Lighthouse

Focus 16 Fastest Labs 58 pirtek

Profile 32 FranFund

14

Expert Advice 12 Our Franchising Startup Story: Shack Shine Brian Scudamore, Founder and CEO, O2E Brands

14 The Right Communications Network for Your Franchise Eddie Fox, VP Network Services, MetTel

20 Social Enterprise in the Millennial Age John Wuycheck, Senior VP of Development, Kahala Brands

24 Is Your Franchise Optimized for Search Engines?

Matthew Jonas, President, Top Fire Media

30 The Pros and Cons of LLCs for Franchises Paige Zandri, Attorney Network Director, Priori Legal

36 The Art of Validation David Banfield, President, The Interface Financial Group

Spotlight on Service 62 HECS

36

60 Finding Success in Visiting a Franchise Expo George Knauf, Senior Franchise Business Advisor, FranChoice

International News

48

34 Choose Wisely When Exploring International Opportunities Lee Knowlton, SVP of Global Sales & International, Massage Envy

f ra nchising usa

what’s new!

GPS Hospitality Adds Five New Inductees to Partner Program

GPS Hospitality, a rapidly growing BURGER KING® and Popeyes® Louisiana Kitchen franchisee, proudly adds five new Georgia-based inductees to its Partner Program.

Announced partners include: • Janice Dawdy, Controller • Beth Fisher, District Leader – Georgia Northwest • Todd Jackson, Director of Real Estate • Jen Forbes, Director of Training • Angie Occhipinti, Director of Lease Administration The GPS Hospitality Partner Program is designed to reward key team members based on their dedication to the Company’s values and abilities to help create long-term value for the company.

Partners are awarded Membership Units

Partner Program Offers new Long-Term Incentives additions, there are now 17 GPS Franchisee’s Top Performers Hospitality partners. units based onto the the company’s financial as they’re inducted, and receive additional performance each year. With these five

www.gpshospitality.com

Osteostrong Releases Second Wave of BoneBuilding Technology This summer, wellness brand OsteoStrong is releasing the second generation of osteogenic loading technology to help people age better and live stronger. The specialized equipment, dubbed Spectrum, was designed exclusively for OsteoStrong in partnership with John Jaquish, Ph.D., a leading researcher and the original inventor of the first generation of osteogenic loading technology.

Osteogenic loading is a brief set of highly controlled, acute exercises that let the body resist four or more times its body weight, the amount required to build new bone. This “impact level force” triggers the body to generate new bone tissue for

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days after each session. Over time, weekly sessions drastically improve muscle strength, posture, and balance. Sessions only take about 10 minutes once per week and people don’t even break a sweat.

The new Spectrum technology delivers an improved experience with updated safety features, more contoured ergonomics,

and four specialized models that work each bone and muscle group with greater efficiency. Spectrum also remembers each user’s settings regardless of which OsteoStrong location they visit and gives users deeper insights into their personal progress over the weeks and months. www.osteostrong.me

Juice It Up! Now Open in Beaumont, California Juice It Up!, one of the nation’s leading raw juice bar and hand-crafted smoothie franchises, has opened its first Beaumont, California location.

This will be Juice It Up!’s first storefront to feature the company’s updated prototype design and layout, bringing production of its mainline products right to the customer. This is also the first location operated by franchise partner, BMB FOODS, INC., which has signed a four-unit development agreement.

“We’re excited to open our first of four locations in Southern California, and we couldn’t be more pleased with the positive response we’ve received from the Beaumont community,” said the BMB FOODS, INC. franchise representative. “We’re proud to be the very first Juice It Up! location to offer the company’s updated prototype design, as well as being able to offer guests a product quality above and beyond our competitors!”

All Juice It Up! products are designed not only be delicious, but also meet the nutritional wants and needs of guests at every level of health. Menu items include fresh-squeezed functional raw juices, real fruit and veggie smoothies, and nutrient-rich bowls loaded with superfruits.

To view the full menu and complete nutritional information, visit www.juiceitup.com.

Native Grill & Wings Launches New Tech Tactics for 2016 Native has implemented WorkItem.com for efficient workplace structure and to better assist customer relations issues. When choosing a food costing and inventory control program, Native selected Crunchtime to best accommodate franchisees.

“Our needs were simple—we needed to give our franchisees and management teams a tool that allowed them to see, control, and gauge their purchasing and inventory systems,” said Native Grill & Wings IT/System Manager Stephen Snyder.

Native transitioned to the NCR’s Aloha POS system, and a partnership with QSR Automations for a kitchen display that will improve food quality and service speed. The Olo online ordering system boosts take-out sales, improves order accuracy, and provides insight to geo-target marketing efforts. The online ordering and kitchen display systems are set to launch later this year.

Native also introduced its Mobile Loyalty App in 2015 with its partnership with Punchh. “The mobile loyalty app delivered a robust data set that told us more about our guests then we ever could have imagined,” said Snyder. “Our loyalty program also gave us a channel to provide offers and discounts to our guests, and track their redemption rates.” nativegrillandwings.com

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what’s new!

Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom Signs FourUnit Franchise Development Agreement

Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom signed a four-unit franchise development agreement to open new restaurants in South Carolina in Greenville, Spartanburg and Horry counties.

The new restaurants will be owned and operated by CRG Pizza, Inc., comprised of long-time entrepreneur Brent Collier and his daughters, Lori Collier and Elise Collier Massey.

A restaurant industry veteran and wellrespected multi-unit operator, Brent Collier brings a wealth of knowledge from his five decades of experience to Old Chicago. He’s owned a variety of franchises throughout his career, including The Melting Pot, Quaker Steak & Lube, Golden Corral and TGIFridays, all of which he still owns today. Following the development of his first restaurant in Myrtle Beach, slated to open at the end of 2016, Collier will open additional locations in Greenville and Spartanburg over the next three years.

A growing brand with over 16 years of successful franchise partnerships, Old Chicago is an established multi-unit concept with proven processes to support franchisees with site selection, lease agreements, facility design, operational training and marketing. To fuel franchise

growth, the company is seeking multi-unit operators with business, management and foodservice and/or restaurant experience, and a passion for and commitment to exceptional customer service. www.oldchicago.com

Jose R. Costa Honored as Bronze Stevie® Award Winner Costa leads MAACO, CARSTAR and Drive N Style, which col-lectively operate more than 1,000 body shops across North America and gener-ate more than $1.2 billion in annual system sales.

Jose R. Costa, Group President for Charlotte-based Driven Brands, was recently awarded the Executive of the Year Bronze Stevie Award in the 2016 American Business Awards.

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The American Business Awards, which recognize outstanding performance in the workplace, are the nation’s premier business awards program. Costa was nominated in the automotive and transport equipment industry for his role in helping steer Driven Brands to one of the most successful periods in its history. He played a key role in helping Driven Brands

reshape its overall strategy by aiming for vertical expansion and growth through acquisition. In fact, he was closely involved in the company’s recent acquisition of CARSTAR U.S. and CARSTAR Canada, a large multi-store network of independently owned collision and glass repair centers.

More than 3,400 nominations from organizations of all sizes and across multiple industries were submitted. The award will be presented at a gala ceremony on June 20 in New York. www.drivenbrands.com

Captain D’s Announces Opening of New Location in South Carolina Captain D’s, the leading fast casual seafood restaurant, announced the opening of its newest location in Boiling Springs, S.C. on May 9.

Fish Consulting Expands with Five New Clients Fish Consulting, LLC, a national communications firm specializing in franchise public relations and marketing, announced it has added FASTSIGNS International, Inc., Fazoli’s, My Gym, Stevi B’s Pizza Buffet and Sea Tow Foundation to its client roster.

FASTSIGNS International, Inc., the leading franchise in signs, graphics and visual communications, enlisted Fish to lead its FASTSIGNS® franchise recruitment public relations strategy nationwide.

Fazoli’s, America’s largest Italian fast casual chain, has also hired Fish to execute a franchisee recruitment marketing program, which includes digital and content marketing, as well as traditional and social campaigns.

Fueled by the company’s aggressive expansion plans for South Carolina, this restaurant is the brand’s second new location in the Spartanburg area in the past six months, the first of which was opened in November of last year.

The firm is also working with My Gym, a leading fitness center destination for children, to implement all aspects of a grassroots integrated marketing campaign including development of local landing pages, SEO/PPC campaigns, email marketing and local public relations efforts.

The new Boiling Springs restaurant is corporately owned and operated, and marks Captain D’s second ground-up restaurant in the Upstate since the early 1990’s. The 3,567 square feet Boiling Springs restaurant showcases Captain D’s remodeled beach design, as well as a drive-through, and will employ 20-25 people.

Stevi B’s Pizza Buffet, a leading fast casual pizza buffet serving premium pizza, pasta, salad and dessert, recruited Fish to drive its local, consumer public relations efforts for the concept’s limitedtime offers in target markets across the country.

The company’s growth in the Upstate comes on the heels of the outstanding success it experienced in 2015, closing the recordbreaking year with a surge in franchise development and a 4.3 percent system-wide same-store sales increase for the entire fiscal year, marking its seventeenth consecutive quarter and fifth consecutive year of positive growth.

Lastly, Fish will handle national public relations and social media efforts for the Sea Tow Foundation’s Designated Skipper Campaign, which aims to help eliminate boating under the influence and alcohol related accidents on the water while keeping boating fun. www.fish-consulting.com

With 517 restaurants in 26 states, Captain D’s is the fast-casual seafood leader and number one seafood franchise in America ranked by average unit volume. www.captainds.com

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cov er sto ry

R N R T ire E x p ress

Entrepren Gap in Tir

Explosive Gro “We can teach people about tires and wheels, we can teach people about the transactions, but we can’t teach passion and desire.”

- Larry Sutton.

“It was quite an eye-opening experience,” the company founder said.

Helping everyday people afford good quality tires for their vehicles has led to massive success for one Tampa, FL franchise.

President and owner of RNR Tire Express & Custom Wheels Larry Sutton started the company in 2000, and the first franchise opened shortly after in 2003. Currently, RNR has 15 franchisees operating 83 stores across 23 states, mainly in the south.

RNR is a tire and custom wheel company that offers brand name quality tires and wheels on payment programs. Sutton said he realized just how much of a need there was for a business like RNR after he saw how quickly the initial store took off.

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“We found out early there was a real need for what we were trying to do,” Sutton explained during an interview from Franklin, Indiana, where he was helping a new franchisee with his store opening.

“When we first started, it was really more oriented toward the custom wheel industry as opposed to the passenger tire industry.

We were thinking of it as a custom wheel business.”

In fact, even before the doors opened to the first store in Tampa and the team were getting the store ready, potential customers were stopping by, peering through the windows and knocking on the door anxious to find out when they would open.

When the store finally did open Sutton described it like a rocket ship taking off and he knew immediately that he had found the right niche.

Considering what has happened to the price of tires over the last several years, though, it now makes perfect sense to Sutton that people would be clamoring for a business like RNR. Years ago, Sutton said, you could get a quality set of tires for around $300. Today, that price tag is more like $700 - $1,000 and with so many people living paycheck to paycheck, it can be difficult for them to find the money for a new set of tires.

That has led to the proliferation of used tire stores, the business owner explained, which in turn led to people only buying one tire at a time and having mismatched sets of previously discarded tires on their vehicles.

This situation created the perfect storm in the United States for RNR to fill the need

for a business centered on selling tires on a payment program. A top performing RNR store generates an average annual total revenue of $1,809,389.

neur Fills re Market

owth Ensues Getting Started

And Sutton was the perfect entrepreneur to fill this gap in the market. He got his start in his uncle’s television and appliance store at 16 and after opening his own appliance store at 21 and running it for a few years, he made his way into the rent-to-own sphere. He and a friend started Champion Rent-to-Own, growing that business to over 150 stores and then selling it in 1997.

After selling Champion, Sutton tried out a few other businesses, but chose to start RNR once he realized how many people he could help by selling tires on a payment program. Getting started wasn’t an easy task, though.

When he first got into the tire business, Sutton and his team didn’t know much about tires and wheels.

“There was a lot to learn in regard to picking the right wheels and the right tires for each car,” Sutton recalled. “It was a lot of trial and error at first. We relied a lot on our local vendors to help us with the learning curve.”

The Right Fit Now that RNR is rolling, Sutton is putting out the call for other entrepreneurs to join the growing business. Although the business owner doesn’t have a specific profile in mind for potential franchisees, anyone with an interest in automotive and a passion for helping people would be a great candidate, he said.

“We can teach people about tires and wheels,” Sutton said, “we can teach people about the transactions, but we can’t teach passion and desire.”

Potential franchisees should also be entrepreneurial in spirit and, of course, have the financial wherewithal to invest in an RNR. Most RNR franchisees are multiunit operators, he added, but the company does work with single unit owners.

Open to Ideas Along with planning advertising and promotions for franchisees and offering them media buying opportunities, RNR also provides them with comprehensive instore training in either Tampa or Arkansas.

New franchisees are also heavily assisted during the process of getting started and throughout their grand opening. After that, they are audited regularly to make sure they’re on the right track.

One of the unique things about RNR, the owner said, is a willingness to listen to franchisees and use their ideas to improve.

“We have a really open ear to our franchisee’s concepts and ideas,” he noted.

For example, the company was originally branded as Rent-N-Roll, then later to

RNR Custom Wheels and Performance Tires. Sutton was looking for a way to increase their passenger tire penetration.

David Harrison, a multi-unit franchisee and the company’s first area developer, suggested changing the brand name to, RNR Tire Express. Along with some other changes to the operating model, the Tire Express concept was rolled out about five years ago and has proven to be the most successful branding in the short history of the franchise, Sutton said. “Had I not been open to listening to my franchisee, we may have missed out on a tremendous growth opportunity.”

With opportunities available right across the country, RNR is the perfect fit for anyone with an interest in the automotive industry, but who also has a passion for helping people.

If you’re interested in learning more about the RNR Tire Express & Custom Wheels franchise opportunity, visit www.rnrfranchise.com or contact John Armatas at 877-960-3243 and JArmatas@rnrwheels.com

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ex per t advice

Brian Scudamore, Founder & CEO, O2E (Ordinary to Exceptional) Brands

Our Franchising Startup Story:

Shack Shine About a year ago, O2E Brands launched its fourth franchised company. Shack Shine is a home detailing service making the ordinary services of window washing and gutter cleaning exceptional. And while there are many exciting things about adding a new brand (and transforming an industry) there’s a lot of hard work and stress involved, too.

The early stages of startup life require you to invest time, heart, and grit. Cutting the ribbon is the easy part; implementing strong systems, managing expectations, and setting others up for success are the new, harder tasks at hand.

Here’s a story about starting up a new brand, some of the challenges that have come along with it and the lessons learned along the way.

Challenge 1: Putting Two Heads Together In 2014 I was approached by local entrepreneur, Dave Notte. He had spent a decade building a multi-million-dollar commercial painting business and wanted to try a new venture. He proposed that Shack Shine, a window and gutter cleaning company, join the O2E Brands family. In leveraging its systems, we could create an international brand through franchising.

I was hesitant to go into business with such an established entrepreneur. Author of The Founder’s Dilemma Noam Wasserman says founders feel a great sense of ownership over their “baby” and may be resistant to change.

Since partnering with us, Dave has had to transition from lone-wolf entrepreneur to a collaborative, managing director of a startup. He’s had to adopt O2E Brands’ franchising systems while working to launch a company in a new category (house-detailing).

“Collaboration slows down the decision-

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“The Shack Shine team is using the momentum of their early wins, both big and small, to propel them into the next stage of business growth.” making process. Every department at O2E Brands is involved in everything! The end results are better, but it hasn’t been easy going from making quick decisions and acting on them immediately,” Dave says.

From the outset we worked to mitigate any collaboration-related issues through the creation of a strong vision for Shack Shine.

Now, should any arise, we go back to this vision, or Painted Picture. It helps us focus on the road ahead - rather than getting bogged down with how to get there.

Challenge 2: Slowly Building Systems Most problems in business partnerships arise from the partnership itself, not from operations or external forces. One of the issues we’ve encountered is a combination of both.

“I assumed the systems were dialed, documented, and replicable,” says Dave.

“In reality, the launch of Shack Shine was a project that built a system to launch future brands for O2E Brands.

Documenting each step was a timeconsuming, expensive process.”

locations. To scale successfully, we had to fine-tune and test our systems before taking the brand public.

The solid systems Dave has created will be worthwhile down the road.

Challenge 3: Risking It All The fear of failure haunts any new business owner, no matter how many times you’ve done it.

Although it was arduous for Dave, I insisted on going slow with Shack Shine.

After launching You Move Me in 2013, I learned the value of doing the heavy lifting up front: we grew very quickly, launching 25 franchise locations in one day. Just as quickly, we realized that many of our processes and operations needed tweaking (or in some cases total overhauls). Retracing our steps to make up for imperfect systems was an expensive time suck and it curbed our momentum.

We’re on track now, but it came at a cost.

Dave says, “I’m concerned about having a sophomore slump. We’re taking a lot of risks.”

Michael Gerber is famous for saying, “people don’t fail, systems do.” With Shack Shine, we’re not building the system for just one business - we are creating a model than can be replicated in over 250

What encourages me most are Shack Shine’s franchise partners. They are spirited, young entrepreneurs, with their own strong visions for their businesses.

Dave is a veteran businessman with

We’re outside of our comfort zone here.

For example, our franchise partner recruitment is focused almost exclusively in the digital space - a tactic we haven’t pursued before. Expanding into multiple countries and states comes with red tape, which can be time consuming to navigate.

And we’ve created a new category with house detailing, and we are waiting to see how the market reacts.

excellent instincts, and we have built a solid, well-balanced partnership. And we have experience and proven systems to fall back on, which helps silence those nagging voices of worry.

Moving forward...

Life in a startup is a life of contrast: excitement, stress, collaboration, compromise and vision are all part of our day to day. The Shack Shine team is using the momentum of their early wins, both big and small, to propel them into the next stage of business growth. This is sure to bring new stress, anticipation and celebration; we’ll welcome new partnerships, put our strong systems to the test, and continue to navigate this entrepreneurial journey we are all on together.

Brian Scudamore is the founder and CEO of O2E (Ordinary to Exceptional) Brands, which includes companies like 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, WOW 1 DAY PAINTING,You Move Me and Shack Shine. Brian is passionate about helping others grow small to medium businesses and corporate culture.

Tweet Brian at @brianscudamore

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Eddie Fox, VP of Network Services, MetTel

The Right Communications Network for Your Franchise You did it – you took the plunge and decided to run a franchise. Maybe you’re building it from the ground up, or taking over and updating an existing location. Either way, there is a long checklist of items that need to be crossed off before even opening the doors, and another list needed to keep those doors open.

Top priority tasks such as securing permits and setting up electricity stand out on the checklist as items that require additional time (and in some cases, budget) to finalize. It’s important to not focus too much on those and miss other important pieces of the checklist.

One of the tasks that is often overlooked is setting up communications systems within your franchise. From outfitting the building with phone lines and wireless infrastructure to providing phones and devices to employees, it’s an imperative yet oft overlooked aspect of the success of a business. Without these systems in place,

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“As you work your way through the checklist of important items, don’t forget that the key to long term success is ensuring both internal and external communications systems are set up properly.” orders can’t be confirmed, customers can’t call and payments can’t be made meaning your business can’t run.

With close to 30 years in the telecom industry, and having helped many franchise clients, here are the three top considerations for setting up your franchise’s communications systems.

1

Determine where your current network infrastructure stands

No matter what industry you are entering, your franchise location needs two things: a connection to the outside world and adequate internal wiring. If you are building a franchise from the ground up, you’re in good shape – this means that the most up-to-date communications systems can be integrated into your location from the start. If you’re taking over an existing structure, it has the potential to get a little tricky. Some current systems (such as fiber optic cables) require complete replacement of old phone lines, which could entail tearing down walls and even ripping up a parking lot or lawn to modify underground systems. If you are updating an existing structure, ask upfront what current communications infrastructure is installed to manage your expectations on the degree (and associated cost) of upgrades.

2

Research what service and equipment works best for you and how you will manage it

With multiple carriers to choose from, it isn’t always obvious which will be the best for you. Perhaps one has a better deal in your area, but the service isn’t as great as a different carrier. It can even be as tricky as dealing with one carrier for one

of your franchises, but a different carrier in a different location. This can make it difficult to manage not only the limitations (such as minutes and data usage) for each carrier agreement, but also the billing.

Be sure that you are considering wireless networks as well as telephone networks in these decisions.

Outfitting your franchise and its employees with devices is also a major part of a proper communications system. A mistake or oversight in these decisions can be costly, as overage fees and equipment replacements are expensive on their own, but losing communication capabilities within your franchise (both internally and externally) can have an even greater impact on your bottom line.

Fortunately, there are resources available that allow franchises to keep their communications costs to a minimum while still receiving the best phone and wireless service for each specific location.

Look for an all-encompassing solution that can combine multiple plans for different carriers into one holistic overview of your communications accounts, from data usage to billing, for seamless account management.

3

Don’t forget the details

Every industry has specific details that may be small, but play a much larger role in the success of the franchise. For example, home caregivers are mobile employees and must have capability to bring their work with them, no matter where they are. They must have constant communication (both internal and external) to ensure that when patient data is shared, the transmissions are HIPAA compliant and transmit immediately, no matter if they are in a city or rural location.

Eddie Fox

When reviewing the best telecommunications carriers for your business, don’t forget to look for service bundles that include wireless packages.

Keep in mind the speed and capacity your franchise will need to support its customers, and pick an option that meets or exceeds those requirements.

Wireless should be integrated into your franchise’s communications system from the start, as it requires upfront installation infrastructure and planning just as phone lines do. And an added bonus to offering free wireless – these systems can often gather data on your customers, allowing you to target specific advertisements to users while they are in your location.

No matter what industry you are in or where your franchise is located, these considerations will help set you up for communications success. As you work your way through the checklist of important items, don’t forget that the key to long term success is ensuring both internal and external communications systems are set up properly.

Eddie Fox is the vice president of Network Services at MetTel, where he is responsible for the planning, deployment and operations of MetTel’s broadband, data and VoIP network infrastructure. Eddie has over 20 years of telecommunications and network experience managing massive organization and customer growth at major telecommunications providers.

Learn more at www.mettel.net.

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FOCUS

Fastest L abs

Niche Franchise

Differentiates Itself from Competition, Success Ensues

By focusing on speed in an industry known for making people wait, one San Antonio-based franchise is making a favorable impression with clients.

Started in 2008, Fastest Labs provides drug, alcohol and DNA/paternity testing for clients.

“Primarily, we are business to business where we take care of pre-employment, random and post-accident testing for companies,” founder and CEO Dave Claflin said during a recent interview from the company’s headquarters in San Antonio, TX. Although the bulk of their business is for companies, the company also performs tests for private use, as well as court-

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“We award franchises to folks that have the vision and drive for what we do, not just the ability to buy one.” – Dave Claflin. mandated tests. Fastest Labs can conduct tests via urine, saliva, hair and fingernails.

Franchising since 2010, Fastest Labs currently has 21 franchises with the majority of those in Texas. But the company also has a presence in New Jersey, Mississippi, Georgia, Ohio, Colorado and Wisconsin and will soon be opening locations in Pennsylvania, Arizona and Indiana.

Claflin said there are locations available across the country and Fastest Labs tries to target metropolitan areas that are big enough to support a professional sports team.

“Anywhere that has an NFL franchise seems to be good fit for us because they are large metropolitan areas with a lot of well-established companies that need drug testing services,” he explained.

Ideal Candidates Fastest Labs tends to attract people in the 48 - 55 age group who have a sales and customer service background, Claflin said, and who have left corporate America to open a business.

Potential franchisees need not have any medical background, he noted, and, in fact, the company actually prefers they have no medical background.

As none of the testing that Fastest Labs does is considered to be medical diagnostic testing, that means the company can easily train and certify its franchisees for drug and alcohol testing, plus the DNA/paternity testing. Certification is good for five years and allows franchisees to in turn train any employees they hire.

“We give them all the training they need

to do the types of testing that we do,” Claflin said.

One last trait the company looks for in franchisees is a willingness to be involved in the business. Fastest Labs only accepts owner/operator franchisees, eschewing investor-only franchisees.

The X Factor Claflin said he started Fastest Labs after seeing a need for speed in the drug testing industry and speeding up the process has been the X factor that sets the company apart from its competition.

Until Fastest Labs opened, he noted, most people would have to go to a medical facility for a drug screen. At medical facilities people who are there for drug tests are low priority and often end up waiting a long time.

Since Fastest Labs are not medical facilities and they’re only doing a simple drug screen, they can have people in and out within minutes.

“We’re able to see people who come in within five minutes instead of the one to two hour wait like at a medical facility,” the CEO explained.

That speed extends to reporting the test results, too. Because Fastest Labs use instant testing kits that give them results within minutes in most cases, they can have test results reported back to the employer or whoever else ordered the test before the test subject has even left the parking lot.

And, along with speed, Fastest Labs also offers affordability because they can charge less than a medical facility.

Some drug testing—like that done for court—require the testing be done in a laboratory rather than by an instant testing kit like Fastest Labs uses. In those cases, the test samples are still collected at Fastest Labs, but are sent to a laboratory via FedEx for overnight processing.

Any drug tests performed at Fastest Labs that come up positive also must be forwarded to a laboratory for confirmation testing, Claflin said.

Training New franchisees come to San Antonio for a week where they get all their necessary certifications for the testing involved.

“They come in on a Sunday and they leave on the following Friday afternoon after graduation,” Claflin noted.

Some of the training is federally mandated, and some of it is lab-required.

But, beyond the training for the testing the company does, it also teaches franchisees about the company’s business operations, how to sell the service, how to use the Fastest Labs marketing, service clients, collect on invoices, report results to clients and even how to enter it all into Quickbooks.

Fastest Labs helps franchisees pick a great location, but ultimately the new franchisee gets to decide on where their business will ultimately be located, the CEO noted, because we want them to be happy with their new office.

“We provide a full color floor plan layout so all of the locations have the same look and feel that our clients have come to enjoy at a Fastest Labs clinic,” said Claflin.

“Ongoing coaching and support is a big deal to us.” – Dave Claflin.

Along with training, Fastest Labs provides ongoing support and business coaching to franchisees with monthly conference calls and an annual general meeting in October that features ongoing education and awards.

Vice President of franchise support, Matt Curiel, checks in with new franchisees on a daily basis for the first six weeks they are open and then still provides as much support as needed after that.

“Ongoing coaching and support is a big deal to us,” Claflin said.

Entrepreneurs looking for a niche business that has perfected the art of setting itself apart from its competition should look into Fastest Labs, especially if their city has a professional sports team. But the business is not just appropriate for major sports team cities; it is set up to work in any city with 100,000 people and at least 7,500 businesses.

Fastest Labs runs thorough demographics to ensure there is a viable market before a territory is awarded.

“We made a decision that we are not just selling franchises,” said Claflin. “We award franchises to folks that have the vision and drive for what we do, not just the ability to buy one. We want to make sure that a potential franchisee is a good match for us and that we are a good match for them because we plan on working together for a long time.” www.fastestlabs.com

Franchising USA

FOCUS

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question time

Q & A w ith Da r in Hicks

with Darin Hicks Our team at Franchising USA had a chance to sit down with Chief Operating Officer Darin Hicks of City Wide Franchising to learn more about the growth and success of the company. Our questions are in bold.

Hope you enjoy reading.

What is your professional background, and what led you to your current role with City Wide?

I was appointed Chief Operating Officer of City Wide Franchise in November of 2015.

The move to City Wide made sense for

a number of different reasons. For one, I

Franchising USA

am passionate about franchising, which is why I have been in the industry for more than 20 years. In my previous position, I served as Vice President of Operations for AlphaGraphics. My role focused on guiding and driving the company’s franchise development efforts, which is a key priority in my new position with City Wide. We are hoping to drive the growth of City Wide’s franchise system by 20

percent in the next 12 months.

In addition to bringing more than two decades of experience in the franchising industry, I am a military veteran, former educator, athletic coach, and community volunteer. I share many common interests with our team members and franchise partners, which has allowed me to connect with our people and step into a mentorship role. I am looking forward to becoming a resource for our employees and our franchise partners as I continue to grow within my new position.

How are you leveraging your previous career experience in your new position?

I was fortunate to join the City Wide family with extensive experience in the franchising industry.

One of the defining phases of my career occurred early on in my professional development. I was serving in a key executive-level position for a private equity company that owned multiple concepts. I had the unique opportunity to learn about different types of businesses in a wide range of industries.

During this period, I learned to value the importance of proper business planning and financial forecasting. I recommend anyone who is considering launching a business, especially a franchise, carefully consider the earning potential of the concept before moving ahead with the investment. This is one lesson I came to understand very early on in my career, and have found to be extremely beneficial.

How does City Wide differentiate itself within the franchising industry?

City Wide is a single source solution for building maintenance services.

Our franchise partners contract with independent service providers to give businesses access to dozens of interior and exterior services including janitorial, painting, window washing, floor care, and landscaping, among others.

“For the right investor, we provide a oneway ticket to achieving their income, lifestyle, wealth, and equity goals. It’s definitely a winning business opportunity.”

With regard to franchising, the business model has excellent earnings potential.

It’s a proven business model with high profit margins, solid unit economics, and a strong return on investment. We offer our franchise partners expansive territories, which allow owners to grow the business throughout an entire region. Many of our franchise partners have the flexibility to travel and enjoy time with their family. For the right investor, we provide a one-way ticket to achieving their income, lifestyle, wealth, and equity goals. It’s definitely a winning business opportunity.

Can you explain the company’s business model?

City Wide’s franchise partners are in the management industry. We subcontract service providers who provide an assortment of interior and exterior building maintenance services to our clients. We serve as an important resource for facility service executives, property managers, and landlords who would typically have to schedule, supervise, and pay providers to complete these services. We allow our clients to focus on caring for their tenants, employees, customers, and others who visit their property, instead of managing service vendors.

We are a one-stop shop in the industry for property management. For this reason, there are so many ways our franchise partners can earn a profit. In addition, because our business model requires our franchise partners to interact with so many different types of people, we have a strong commitment to ensuring our owners are committed to relationship building. It’s through building strong relationships that our franchise partners are able to drive

growth both now and in the years to come.

Who is your typical franchisee?

Our typical franchise partner has a background in sales, marketing, or business development. Our owners hire facility managers who schedule and oversee the completion of services. Our franchise partners are committed to selling the services, which is why they need to be effective in driving sales and managing a small team to guide operations.

It’s key that our franchise partners are assertive and work with a sense of urgency and self-discipline. We look for people who are independent, intrinsically driven, and intelligent.

Where do you see City Wide in the next five years? What about the next ten years?

By 2018, I believe City Wide will be widely recognized as one of the nation’s top 200 franchise concepts. We expect to have close to 70 units in operation and $275M in total earnings.

In the past few years, we have achieved a series of awards and accolades with less than 50 total units, so I know this goal is achievable. There is no doubt the performance of our business model is helping City Wide stand out within the franchising industry.

We are one of the best-kept secrets in franchising. I can’t wait until more people learn about our business model and come to see what we have achieved with only about 40 locations. The time is now for us to spread our wings. www.citywidefranchise.com

Franchising USA

question time

Page 19

ex per t advice

John Wuycheck, Senior Vice President of Development, Kahala Brands

Social Enterprise in the Millennial Age Why Brands Offering Franchise Ownership Opportunities with a Higher Purpose Are Thriving economy driven by young, millennial minds who love business models built for a higher purpose. This innovative concept sets up both the franchise and the nonprofit for a mutually beneficial and sustainable business venture.

Benefits for franchise locations

John Wuycheck

In recent years, there has been a trend of nonprofit organizations teaming up with well-known franchises to create brilliant social enterprises.

In a social enterprise arrangement, a nonprofit typically owns and operates a franchise location that donates most or all annual profits to the nonprofit organization. At the end of the fiscal year, profits from the franchise are either donated to benefit the nonprofit or are declared a dividend payment toward the nonprofit shareholder, depending on the amount of revenue that is generated.

Brands that have offered their franchise owners the opportunity to invest in this business model are thriving in a modern

Franchising USA

Partnering with a nonprofit organization can be a very beneficial endeavor for a franchise location. The nonprofit is often well-known in the area prior to the franchise being built, so the nonprofit’s pre-existing relationship with local residents expedite the pace with which the new franchise location finds and secures loyal customer relationships.

A franchise location that is run by a nonprofit organization also possesses an inherent marketing advantage.

Obviously, the franchise’s contribution to the nonprofit, and thus the community, is important in and of itself. However, promoting the nonprofit relationship with in-store/point of purchase signage and handouts accompanying meals ensure the customer understands their purchase is supporting a greater cause. This inspires customers to return to your location and continue supporting the cause as opposed to patronizing a competitor who is not affiliated with a charity/nonprofit.

An affiliation with a nonprofit organization will also help build a franchisee’s reach, influence and reputation. Contributing to a charity in a personal and involved

manner will set the franchisee apart from competitors. It demonstrates a deep community involvement that leads to networking opportunities and meaningful relationships with other business owners and community leaders.

Finally, this business model incentivizes franchisees to open additional locations to generate more money for the nonprofit with which they’re affiliated. In a modern age where government funding and grants are dwindling, nonprofits are in desperate need of diversified revenue streams. So, if the first franchise location proves successful, it’s wise for franchisee to work with the franchisor to expand the franchise operation to multiple units.

Benefits for nonprofit Nonprofits typically rely heavily on private donations. While those donations are valuable, they often are quite limited.

Plus, many private donors specify how they’d like the nonprofit to use their contribution – often leaving basic needs like mortgage payments, electric bills and payroll unaccounted for.

Thus, a franchise location specifically designed to benefit the nonprofit is incredibly important because it can establish a predictable and viable revenue stream that the organization can use to cover any costs. This reliable income source can make up for the inevitable dips that come with private donations, thus making the cost of the organization’s day-

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Your Golden Opportunity This advertisement does not constitute an offer of a franchise. A franchise offering can be made by us only in a state if we are first registered, excluded, exempted or otherwise qualified to offer franchises in that state, and only if we provide you with an appropriate franchise disclosure document. Franchises may not be available in all states.

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ex per t advice

John Wuycheck, Senior Vice President of Development, Kahala Brands

to-day operations easier to afford.

To increase the likelihood of success, many nonprofits choose to team up with proven franchise systems that possess a recognizable brand name, such as Blimpie. When an established brand name is paired with a community need for a specific product or service, these programs thrive. For example, Bobby Calvillo, executive director for Affordable Homes of South Texas, decided to launch a social enterprise Blimpie location outside of San Antonio when he realized students at a local nursing school frequently patronized a competing sub shop miles away from where he launched his Blimpie.

His location is thriving as it makes lunch easier for those students and allows them contribute to the cause.

And lastly, it’s much easier for nonprofit executives to set up a franchise business as opposed to starting their own company.

Compared to launching your own business, purchasing a franchise minimizes risk and eliminates some front-end costs while providing franchise owners with a brand name with which local residents are already familiar. Additionally, the franchisor will provide proven systems and training programs that help stores get up and running much quicker!

Interested in learning more about social enterprising? Talk to Blimpie!

If this business structure seems appealing, visit Blimpie.com to learn more. Blimpie is an ideal franchisor for a nonprofit organization seeking to establish a diversified portfolio of more reliable and consistent revenue streams. As the Affordable Homes of South Texas example suggests, Blimpie has a proven track record with social enterprise entrepreneurs and would be happy to guide you every step of the way.

Investing in a franchise location with a higher purpose is a modern and sustainable concept that resonates with younger customers and potential investors. Blimpie can help you be a part

Franchising USA

“Investing in a franchise location with a higher purpose is a modern and sustainable concept that resonates with younger customers and potential investors.” of this phenomenal social enterprise that continues to grow in this new millennial age.

John Wuycheck has served as Kahala Brands’ Senior Vice President of Development since September 2014. Mr. Wuycheck is a distinguished franchising professional who has worked for a wide variety of successful and nationallyrecognized franchise brands, including HomeSmart International, Edible

Arrangements, and Seattle’s Best Coffee.

As an accomplished and visionary development executive, Mr. Wuycheck helps Kahala franchisees make smart decisions when buying a world-class food franchise. He works hand-in-hand with each franchise business owner to design concepts, strategies and processes to build profitable franchise locations. www.kahalamgmt.com

Page 23

FRANGUIDE.COM 703-424-2980 FIND YOUR FRANCHISE WITH FREE GUIDANCE FROM INDUSTRY EXPERTS

ex per t advice

Matthew Jonas, President, TopFire Media

is your franchise Optimized for Search Engines?

Franchising USA

Search engine optimization (SEO) plays a vital role in effectively marketing your franchise.

It is simple to search your business on popular search engines, but does it appear at the top of the first page of search results where it is visible to everyone?

If your business or brand isn’t SEO friendly, here are some simple tricks to help you get your name near that number one spot.

Heighten keywords How often are you updating content on your franchise website? Rich keywords are integral when it comes to optimizing your site for search engines, though you don’t want to alienate your readers

in the process. To increase the search engine visibility on your website, start by figuring out what keywords are of high value to your concept. In addition to making it easier to find your site on search engines, this practice will provide a solid foundation for writing high-quality content. Consistent keyword research early in the writing process is a great help, and you can revitalize older content this way, too.

Blog, blog, blog!

“If you want your franchise to survive and prosper in the marketplace, SEO is one facet of your marketing strategy that must not be ignored.”

• Coordinate fundraisers that will result in links back to your site and your business

Keep your local standing high

Blogging is one of the most effective ways to increase your search engine optimization - not to mention, it consistently keeps the reader coming back.

Adopting a consistent blogging strategy ensures that you’re frequently updating your website with new content, which is the best way to keep search engines like Google interested. Posting videos, photos, and referencing your site on social media are additional ways to effectively increase visibility. Taking advantage of this common yet powerful technology can help you drive more readers to your franchise site.

Another popular way to boost your SEO is to focus on local search engine results, ensuring that people in your area are able to find you and your services. The best way to do that is to claim your Google My Business page, which is a free local listing service run by Google. After confirming contact information like your business’ name, address and phone number, people searching your name or your targeted search terms can easily find ways to contact you. Pair that with local reviews (if applicable to your franchise) and include geographic terms on your page, and you’ll be able to keep your local market covered while you focus on broader SEO efforts.

Pandas and penguins

Mobilising your resources

Panda 4.2, Google’s newest algorithm, is designed to prevent websites with poor quality content from moving up in Google’s top search results. In order to avoid being labeled as “poor quality content,” create tags on your website, including title, meta description, web content and optimization tags.

Create Inbound Links Inbound links are one of the most important tools for increasing SEO for your franchise website. Inbound links allow other websites to link back to your original site, making you a top priority on Google search. Here are some common ways to create inbound links: • Have guest bloggers link back to your website • Create contests that encourage users to visit your site via links • Maintain directory listings that contain links for your site and your business

Finally, you want to make sure you’re using SEO strategies that are effecting on mobile devices as well as within traditional web browsers. The game changes on a yearly or even monthly basis—about as fast as telecommunication technology evolves—but recent trends point to shrinking screen space for search results. This means that even the most meticulous SEO strategies will be pushed farther down the result list by paid search listings. More major search engines are providing information up front, without requiring the user to click through to a webpage (franchise or otherwise). This, too, pushes your keyword-seeded blog post covering your shiniest widget farther and farther down the page. Two fairly straightforward things you can do is make sure your site is indexed, as well as fix as many mobile-friendly errors as you can.

Once you have that down, you can start thinking about mobile-specific keywords and content.

Matthew Jonas

These are some of the more basic SEO strategies you can employ, but even they will become irrelevant as the complex online landscape grows and changes. If you want your franchise to survive and prosper in the marketplace, SEO is one facet of your marketing strategy that must not be ignored.

Matthew Jonas is the president of TopFire Media, an award winning, integrated public relations and digital marketing agency specializing in franchise marketing and consumer branding. Together with the leaders of iFranchise Group and Franchise Dynamics, Matthew established TopFire Media to provide a strategic and synchronized method for digital marketing in the franchise industry.

As a digital marketing strategist with over a decade of in-depth experience in SEO and PPC, social media publishing, conversion-based marketing, inbound marketing, sales management, and online lead generation, Matthew has built a career dedicated to delivering an integrated marketing approach that achieves client success and long-term relationships. www.topfiremedia.com

Franchising USA

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Page 25

pets and FR A NCH ISI NG

Featu re

b y G i n a G i l l Fr a n c h i s i n g U S A

for the

s t e P f o e Lov

Pets are a part of the American family. They are an essential member of the unit that is loved, feed and sheltered in all aspects. n fact, Americans love to drop cash on their pets. They get Christmas presents, they celebrate birthdays, they attend weddings and sleep in fancy hotels when their parents are on business trips.

Animals are domesticated and well cared for in the States. In fact, approximately 63 per cent of pet-owners consider their animals part of the family and a lot of people own animals in the states, so that is a big number.

In a 2016 survey, there were approximately 79.7 million households with a pet in this country alone. This creates a market with a plethora of venues and opportunity. The market has grown accustomed to this number and zoned in on pet owners to create a very successful business venue.

People want their pets taking care of and they are willing to pay top dollar.

Franchise owners can hone in on this great business opportunity in a variety of ways.

Pet lovers can follow their passion through their careers by working with animals and servicing their owners. It’s a great way to combine a great love, while also turning a

Franchising USA

“The pet industry is booming right now. People’s love for their pets has created a whole new industry of clients.�

profit. In 2015, over $60 billion was spent on pets in the States, which is a pretty big market on one specific area.

There are numerous types of franchises for pet lovers to consider, from food to shelter, the broad range of needs for animals has become very large over the last decade.

Pet Food There was $20 billion spend on pet food in 2015, making it the highest sales in the pet market that year. Pet owners are no longer satisfied to give their pups run of the mill dog food anymore. People need choice and they want high quality pet food with

healthy ingredients. Their animals deserve the best.

People have more demands nowadays and would like to subject these specific needs on their animals as well. There is allergyfree food, old age food, diet food, food made from free range animals, vegetarian foods and the list goes on and on.

Pet food can be sold within a franchise, but could also be a specific market that supplies veterinarian offices and stores.

However, with social media exploding and easy access to the internet, small niche markets have taken advantage of the

pet food market. Small businesses have increased in the pet food industry and created a competition for large franchises.

However, franchises carry a variety of brands, which hold value and a large costumer base. Franchises can be trusted and are easily available to a wide area of consumers. Well known pet foods have credibility and now indulge in a large array of flavours and choices.

A lot of the franchises have established relationships with suppliers. This stability guarantees sales, customers and a continuous output of products.

Franchising USA

pets and FR A NCH ISI NG

Page 27

pets and FR A NCH ISI NG

Featu re

b y G i n a G i l l Fr a n c h i s i n g U S A

Pet Stores Pet stores have now opened their doors to pet parents, as well as their four legged friends. Customers can shop the aisles with their animals on leash to gain a first hand experience of their pet’s needs. There is usually water and snacks provided for the animals, creating an extremely pet friendly environment.

Pet stores obviously offer pet adoptions and purchases of a variety of animals from fish to hamsters, to dogs and snakes, but there are also many services and products available.

“Pet franchises come with a solid choice of well-established brands and customer base that guarantees profitability. It’s a safe and enjoyable industry for the pet lover that is an exciting and ever changing industry for the business lover as well.”

People love buying accessories for their animals and pets come with a lot more baggage, including kennels, cages, collars and dish bowls.

A lot of retail stores offer grooming services or provide kennel rooms. Pet retail franchises specialize in many areas, with guaranteed results, it allows for a great profitability.

Pet Grooming and Pet Services This is truly an opportunity for those who want to work with animals. The Pet grooming franchise allows owners the option to work on the floor, while easily obtaining skills to care and groom animals. This type of franchise would be preferable by true animal lovers and would be a great career opportunity for someone passionate about animals.

People want the best for the animals and they want a professional to help them along the way. In fact, in 2015 pet grooming produced over $5 billion in sales.

There are some franchises that allow owners to be apart of the grooming experience, while mobile pet groomers can come to costumer’s house with a mobile service.

A mobile service allows franchisees a lot of freedom to create a work life balance according to their schedule. Though, a lot of franchisees may have to be more hands on in this field of services.

The pet industry is booming right now.

People’s love for their pets has created a

Franchising USA

“People want the best for the animals and they want a professional to help them along the way. In fact, in 2015 pet grooming produced over $5 billion in sales.” whole new industry of clients. Consumers have created needs and wants for their animals and the franchise industry has responded in numerous ways, through accessories, services, natural whole foods and so many other profitable venues.

The pet industry is a great opportunity for animal lovers. It allows people to work and care for animals, while also creating a successful business. The pet industry is continuously growing in profit and more and more needs are being created.

Owners want the best for their pets and it’s something they are willing to not only pay for, but also indulge in.

Pet franchises come with a solid choice of well-established brands and customer base that guarantees profitability. It’s a safe and enjoyable industry for the pet lover that is an exciting and ever changing industry for the business lover as well.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: After receiving an English Degree, followed by a Journalism Diploma, Gina Gill became a freelance journalist in 2008. She has worked as a reporter and in communications, focusing on social media. She currently works as a community information officer with Epilepsy Society, while pursuing her writing career at the same time.

Look out for our next special feature: MOBILE FRANCHISING Franchising USA

pets and FR A NCH ISI NG

Page 29

ex per t advice

Paige Zandri, Attorney Network Director, Priori Legal

The Pros and Cons of LLCs for Franchises Franchising offers an opportunity to own your own business without some of the risks commonly associated with startups. This makes them incredibly appealing.

In fact, most franchisors require you to incorporate before signing the franchise agreement. Not only does this limit your liability as a franchisee, but it also increases your credibility as a potential partner. Still, knowing which legal business entity is ideal for your company is a challenge. While C-Corps, S-Corps, and other options are attractive, more franchises incorporate as LLCs every year.

or “members” can limit their personal liability, and similar to partnerships in that income from your franchise doesn’t have to be taxed at the corporate level.

Still, franchises aren’t without liabilities.

Understanding LLCs

Why LLCs Can Be Ideal for Franchisees

Unless you are properly incorporated,

you still carry personal liability for your

franchise—despite being affiliated with a larger corporation.

Franchising USA

LLCs, or limited liability companies, are not actually corporations. Instead, LLCs are hybrid legal entities. LLCs are similar to corporations in that owners

As importantly, LLCs are flexible and easily customizable unincorporated business entities. With the help of the right corporate lawyer, you can customize the operating agreement of your LLC to run simply and easily.

The following are some advantages that may make LLCs a good choice for some franchisees.

“LLCs are flexible and easily customizable unincorporated business entities. With the help of the right corporate lawyer, you can customize the operating agreement of your LLC to run simply and easily.” required to keep strict records and submit regular public filings, while LLCs aren’t. LLCs do not have to hold shareholder meetings or appoint a board of directors. This way, structutung your franchise as an LLC makes it easier to limit the bureaucracy. Just remember, however, that your franchise agreement may still require certain filings, and state law requires you to meet certain standards for accounting practices.

r s

• Your personal assets are protected from business-related claims. LLCs limit your personal liability from claims made against the franchise. You are personally protected from lawsuits and other business claims in most cases.

• The business will remain intact even after your death. Partnerships and sole proprietorships generally dissolve after the death of an owner. LLCs remain intact after the death of a member, making passing it easier to pass on your business without disrupting operations after the death of a partner.

When LLCs Can Be a Disadvantage for Franchisees • You can choose the most beneficial tax structure for your financial situation. LLCs can be taxed as sole proprietorships, partnerships, or corporations, offering you a lot of flexibility in accounting practices and tax filings. Most people choose LLCs because they can be treated as pass-through entities for tax purposes.

Essentially, the company does not pay tax at the corporate level. Net income is taxed only at the individual level, avoiding double taxation and potentially minimizing your tax burden.

• You are subject to fewer bureaucratic requirements. Corporations are legally

Of course, LLCs are not without disadvantages. There are some clear downsides of incorporating as an LLC. • Your personal liability for the franchise agreement is not limited. Most franchise agreements require you to give way to the corporate shield provided by LLCs and accept personal liability for your obligations to the franchisor. Be aware of this risk, but keep in mind that you cannot avoid this pitfall as a corporation, either.

• You’re legally on your own to figure out how your business should operate.

Because few statutory requirements dictate how LLCs must be set up

Paige Zandri

and operate, it can be challenging to

structure your company. Luckily, this is mitigated somewhat in most franchises.

Your franchise agreement likely gives you some operations guidance and

required structure, minimizing this disadvantage of LLCs.

• Getting investment to grow your

business can be tricky. LLCs can’t issue

shares in the same way that corporations can. This sometimes makes it more

difficult to find investors and give them equity in the business. If you have big

expansion plans for your franchises, it

may be better to consider incorporating as a corporation.

Making the Right Choice for Your Business Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide which

business entity is right for your needs. Talk to an experienced incorporation lawyer

to discuss all the pros and cons of LLCs

and other incorporation options. They can

help you decide if an LLC is right for your business— or if you may want to pursue other options.

Paige Zandri is the Attorney Network Director at Priori Legal, a legal services startup based in New York City. Zandri is in charge of recruiting and vetting the most qualified business attorneys for the exclusive Priori network and is passionate about helping entrepreneurs find quality, affordable legal solutions. www.priorilegal.com

Franchising USA

ex per t advice

Page 31

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internati o nal franchising

Massage Envy

Choose Wisely W International For any successful business, the discussion around growing never ends, especially for those based in the U.S. and seeking to expand beyond its borders.

And while the opportunity to dip your business toes into international waters is a thrilling one, there are numerous factors to consider when thinking about international expansion. This is especially true for franchise-based businesses like ours here at Massage Envy.

For 14 years, Massage Envy has been the go-to brand here in the U.S. for affordable massage and skincare services, thanks to an industry-leading membership business model. To date, we have grown to over 1,145 franchise locations and delivered more than 100 million massages and

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facials. So after more than a decade of success here, we felt it was time to expand Massage Envy’s belief in total body care internationally and become a global brand.

After all, massage and facial therapy are internationally understood and accepted as a way towards better body maintenance.

This May, we opened our first international location in Sydney, Australia, the first in a 100-unit, 15-year deal between Massage Envy and Australian-based Collective Wellness Group, which will manage our Australian operations.

Where and Why Expanding on a global stage is a major step and franchise leaders should put serious thought into where they should venture. In looking at the top 50 countries around the world, we first ranked them using 14 different metrics including, GDP, Economy, Political Environment and awareness of our industry to name a few.

This ranking generated a “Top 10” list with Australia landing in the top three.

Australia was an amazing fit for us, given the country’s strong belief in health and wellness and its focus on well-being techniques – like regular massages – to better its citizens’ quality of life.

Though considered a complementary and alternative medicine form in Australian healthcare, massage services are part of a $3.5 billion industry in the country.

And that number is steadily growing. We were fortunate to leverage some earlier relationships already established and we agreed to a master franchise agreement in a relatively short time.

The Perfect Partner Choosing the perfect partner for any venture in life is not a knee-jerk decision and we have very specific attributes we are looking for that are a fit with our brand, such as passion for overall health and wellness. But an optimal partner for us is also one with meaningful presence or an established network in the restaurant, retail or entertainment categories and who

“With the help of our Australian partners, we have overcome them, demonstrating why having an experienced “on-the-ground” partner is so crucial for the success of any international expansion.”

When Exploring Opportunities has the infrastructure to support either company owned stores or franchised stores like our model in the U.S. We chose the Collective Wellness Group as our Australian partner because they already have an experienced, on-theground team in all the key areas: real estate, operations, training and marketing.

They have an incredible reputation and currently have the master franchise agreements for two other wellness-focused businesses totaling over 450 stores.

Working with them, we’ve seen how aligned they are with our core values and enthusiastic belief in our brand promise to help you take care of you.

Working Out the Kinks Opening in a new country is always an exciting venture - but there can be challenges. With the help of our Australian partners, we have overcome them, demonstrating why having an experienced “on-the-ground” partner is so crucial for the success of any international expansion.

For example, due to an internet latency issue from Australia to the U.S., we had to establish a technology hub in Sydney to better support our franchise partners.

We’ve also had the opportunity to proactively train the Collective Wellness Group team on our industry-leading policies and procedures and established a dedicated international department with its own operations and training team that will closely oversee the Australian expansion.

There have been some considerations and adjustments we’ve had to make. While flexibility is a must when you explore ventures of this sort, keep in mind you don’t need to change your core offerings or beliefs too much. In terms of services, Massage Envy members and guests in both the U.S. and Australia will enjoy the same high-quality customer experience and service offerings. However, due to a separate technology hub and the management of the current exchange system in Australia, U.S. Massage Envy memberships cannot be used in Australia.

Franchise Considerations Another caveat to consider is the business “win-win” international expansion should create, especially for future franchisees.

Because of our success in the U.S., Collective Wellness Group leaders are eager to introduce the membership model to Australia and potential franchisees there. There is great opportunity for franchise growth when new markets are opened and in our case, we’re partnering with a management company with a stellar reputation and who already support two other wellness-focused businesses.

We have an ambitious outlook for international growth in countries where wellness is highly touted, with master franchise partners that provide the right business and operations support. We’ve had exceptional success here in the U.S. providing members and guests the access to incorporate massage and facial services into their total body care routine and now is a perfect time to share this with the world. www.massageenvyfranchise.com

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internati o nal franchising

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ex per t advice

David Banfield, President, The Interface Financial Group

The Art

of Validation Buying a business or franchise is usually a long-term commitment, in many cases not too different from buying a new car or even a new house.

One of the important things we do when buying a car is the all-essential ‘test drive’.

Unless we have been on the road and actually driven the vehicle for ourselves, rarely would we consider buying it.

Likewise, with a house purchase rarely, if ever, would a person buy a property if they had not visited and viewed it on several occasions. They would not normally proceed unless they had employed a competent ‘home inspector’ to review and check the condition of the property. And if there is a spouse involved then almost certainly the decision-making is a joint event.

When it comes to buying a franchise, the logic and investigation process should be just as thorough - a spouse should be

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ex per t advice

David Banfield, President, The Interface Financial Group

“While email is a great way to reach a lot of people quite quickly, it does not replace a voiceto-voice conversation for the validation exercise.” consulted and be part of the approval process. Franchisors as a general rule encourage potential franchisees to do as much due diligence as possible to ensure that there is a good ‘fit’ before any franchise award is made and a new business established. It is fairly easy to put a franchise agreement in place, but usually much more difficult and costly to undo the process.

It’s important, therefore, to get it right the first time. Inasmuch as franchisors encourage this process, all potential franchisees should take the validation process very seriously and ensure that they do a thorough job of making the calls. In some instances, calls might be substituted for a visit. Where there is an opportunity to meet with an existing franchisee and perhaps even see their franchise in operation, then this is a situation that candidates should readily embrace.

What purpose does the validation process serve? Reviewing web sites, printed promotional material, disclosure document, etc. all have a purpose, and that is to provide the candidate with background information. However, it must be remembered that promotional material is prepared by the company that is being promoted. It is, therefore, important to get a ‘third party’ view of the business.

The purpose of validation then is simply to grasp a firm understanding of how all of the promotional material and discussions translate into a fully functioning and profitable business. The only way that

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information can be gleaned is through direct contact with individuals that are fully engaged in the business on a dayto-day basis. As mentioned, if there is an opportunity to actually visit a franchise and see their operation first hand, this is a great validation exercise and one that any potential franchisee should jump at.

However not all franchises are modeled around such a business model and, in many cases, a telephone ‘interview’ will be the best means of information gathering.

When conducting validation due diligence through a calling approach, there are a number of things the caller should observe. The first is the list of questions to be asked. Create a list in advance make them as brief yet comprehensive as possible, and certainly do not seek out information that might be inappropriate.

The best way to judge the appropriateness of the questions is for the caller to switch places with the franchisee and see how comfortable they would be answering specific questions - a position that the caller may well find themselves in, in the not too distant future.

Callers should always be consistent with their questions. In other words, have a script and stick to the script. If you ask existing franchisees the same questions and are diligent in collating their answers, then at the end of the exercise you can quickly compare the answers to the same questions to see if there is a consistent response, and if that response is what you wanted to hear.

David Banfield

It is always a worthwhile exercise - before you start making calls - to seek input from the franchisors as to the best time to approach their franchisees and the best method. While email is a great way to reach a lot of people quite quickly, it does not replace a voice-to-voice conversation for the validation exercise. Email may be a good way to get a meeting set, but the substance of the discussion always needs to be person to person.

Validation is not an exercise to be taken lightly or pursued in a hurry to get it finished. Validation is usually the end of your due diligence process, and is often the element that tells you to go ahead or pull back. Input from existing franchisees is a key component in information gathering, and needs to be undertaken systematically and thoroughly.

David Banfield is the President of The Interface Financial Group, a position that he has held for over 20 years.

He has been instrumental in starting Interface as a franchise opportunity and building it to its current international status. Prior to his involvement with Interface, he worked extensively in the banking, credit and factoring financial service areas. www.interfacefinancial.com

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R.O.I.

question time

Q & A w ith Der ik B eck

with Derik B Our team at Franchising USA had a chance to sit down with Derik Beck, vice president of digital marketing for Cottman Transmission and Total Auto Care. We were excited to learn more about Cottman’s future growth plans, the brand’s educational video series and Derik’s advice for those looking to open their own franchises.

Our questions are in bold.

Hope you enjoy reading.

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What is your professional background?

Throughout my career, I have held various management roles within global organizations and within those roles I had the opportunity to lead interactive web projects, launch corporate and product websites, oversee social media programs, including public relations efforts and forge strong partnerships with key outside partners.

How has your background prepared you for your current role with Cottman?

Currently, I oversee all digital aspects specifically for Cottman Transmission and Total Auto Care including SEO, social media and the national and local franchise websites. My responsibilities also include leading public relations and marketing

Beck

efforts for the Cottman brand, budgeting P&L, as well as assisting in franchise development efforts.

How does Cottman differentiate itself from other auto repair franchises in the U.S.?

With franchised locations across the U.S., Cottman is a transmission and auto repair brand that services almost any make or model vehicle, foreign or domestic. Our services include complete transmission service, brakes, suspension, air conditioning service and more. As for the ways that our brand differentiates itself, we always make it a point to put our loyal customers and the community first. Not only do we commit ourselves to giving our customers excellent auto repair experience, we also have close ties to the community. Most of our franchisees are closely involved with their local charities, non-profits and hospitals. The way we see it, we cannot become a true community partner unless we are fully immersed

“When choosing the best franchise to invest in, it is imperative to make sure that the franchise’s mission statement is one that you can get behind and advocate for.” within our neighborhoods and striving to make them a better place all-around.

Where do you see Cottman in the next five years?

In five years, we see Cottman only further solidifying its reputation as one of the nation’s most trusted auto repair centers.

Since the brand’s founding in 1962, we have been welcomed into more than 50 communities throughout the nation and look forward to working with our centers on expanding their neighborhood footprint.

Who is your typical franchisee?

Our typical franchisee is passionate about owning a business and working within their respective community. While a person does not need to have mechanical or technical experience, they do need to be customer service oriented. Additionally, a franchisee should have an entrepreneurial drive and a desire to control their own destiny through business ownership.

What type of support does Cottman provide its franchise partners?

When a franchisee joins the Cottman team, they also gain a wide range of support from our dedicated home office and franchise system. We take great pride in giving our franchisees one-on-one attention, an excellent franchise training program and full marketing and PR support.

Do you have any advice for our readers who are exploring franchise opportunities?

When choosing the best franchise to invest in, it is imperative to make sure that the franchise’s mission statement is one

that you can get behind and advocate for.

Also, perhaps the most important piece of advice, is to ensure that the franchise you are committing yourself to is one you are enthusiastic and passionate about. Some franchises end up becoming a life-long endeavor, so you want to ensure you are making a wise investment for the longterm.

Could you tell us about Cottman’s Educational Video Series?

The Cottman Man Educational Video Series was released back in February, and we added additional videos for April in honor of National Car Care Month.

Featuring the brand’s signature Cottman Man as an animated character, the videos provide user-friendly tips on topics relating to car care, such how to address annual car service needs, routine maintenance, road trip precautions and many more relevant consumer preventative and proactive car care tips. He’s an image of the very best in each of us: our centers and ourselves. And he’s someone we want to emulate every day in our centers, all across the country.

Presenting him as an animated character for our web sites allows us to breathe new life into our most cherished concept: serving the motoring community.

We created this video series as a fun and informative way for our loyal and growing base of customers to learn more about how to avoid car problems, and what to do if they occur. Putting the animated Cottman Man to work in these short videos helps to demystify car care for our customers by solving common car problems. We strive everyday to garner respect from our consumers, and the video series is a sincere way for us to show the depths to which we care. www.cottman.com/videos

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Veterans in Franchising june 2016

www.franchisingusamagazine.com

financial resources for vetrepreneurs

U.S. Navy Veterans Bring “More Than”

FASTSIGNS Promise mentoring

in today’s workplace Franchising USA

SAME DRIVE. DIFFERENT BATTLEFIELD. TAKE THE NEXT STEP > VETFRAN.COM OFFERING FINANCIAL SUPPORT, TRAINING & MENTORSHIP Veterans interested in franchising can take their skills learned in the military to successfully own and develop small businesses. Learn more and support veterans in franchising at www.vetfran.com.

• 650 franchise companies participating • 151,000 veterans and their spouses found careers in the franchise industry • 5,100 veteran franchise owners

Page 45

V eterans in F ranchisin g S u pplement j u ne 2 0 1 6 Our Veterans in Franchising special supplement has become a regular feature of Franchising USA. To share your story in the next issue, please contact Vikki Bradbury, Publisher Phone: 778 426 2446 Email: vikki@cgbpublishing.com

Contents On the Cover

News & Expert Advice

FASTSIGNS International, Inc.

68 Mentoring in Today’s Workplace Darcella K. Craven and Damon Chaffin,

Cover Story 46 U.S. Navy Veterans Bring “More Than”

FASTSIGNS Promise to North Charleston,

South Carolina

Profiles 50 Kitchen Tune-Up

Veterans Business Resource Center

52 Serving Those Who Serve Us:

Financial Resources for Vetrepreneurs Candice Caruso, President, Pango Financial

56 The Veterans Corporation Comes

to Oregon!

Jim Mingey, Founder and Managing Director,

Veterans Business Services

54 Tutor Doctor

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Veterans in Franchising

C over S tor y - FASTSIG NS

U.S. Navy Veterans Bring “More Than” FASTSIGNS Promise to North Charleston, South Carolina In April 2006, U.S. Navy veterans Woody Poole and Milton Guerrero met aboard a world tour of the USS Carl Vinson…little did the two Junior Petty Officers know that less than seven years later as Chief Petty Officers, the newly found friendship would ultimately blossom into a prosperous business relationship with FASTSIGNS International, Inc. So, how did the two decide on the leader in signs, graphics and visual communications as their franchisor of choice?

With thousands of franchise business opportunities available, Woody and Milton, then Propulsion Plant Watch Supervisors in the Naval Nuclear Power Program, needed to review several elements before selecting the franchise system that would best fit their lifestyles and overall business goals. Choosing a franchise that offered a set schedule and work/life balance was paramount for the two – they knew that owning a food

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service business, for example, was not in the cards for them due to the industry’s notoriously unpredictable schedule.

Another factor that played into their decision to sign on with FASTSIGNS International was the impressive amount of franchisee support offered before, during and especially after the center’s opening. Each franchisee benefits from the brand’s team of dedicated Business Consultants who assist with business/ finances training, marketing and sales, as well as production and staff management.

In addition, onsite training includes one week at a FASTSIGNS® center, followed by two weeks at the company’s Carrollton headquarters and one week onsite at the new center. The entire leadership team is truly dedicated to each franchisee increasing sales and profitability. This high level of support reinforced Woody and Milton’s decision to join the FASTSIGNS family – the pair knew that FASTSIGNS International, Inc. would not lead them in the wrong direction.

Additionally, the company offers complete transparency through its Franchise Disclosure Document. Woody and Milton appreciated that when reviewing the financial requirements and fees associated with owning their own center, there were no hazy loopholes or unclear verbiage within.

Direct accessibility to FASTSIGNS International, Inc.’s CEO, Catherine

Monson, was another huge selling point for the duo. Every six weeks, the CEO makes herself available for a “Connect with Catherine” conference call where she discusses various topics of interest to business owners.

The pair was most attracted to the brand’s commitment to veterans. FASTSIGNS is a proud participant of the International Franchise Association’s VetFran program (Veterans Transition Franchise Initiative), which assists military veterans by helping them access franchise opportunities through training, financial assistance and industry support. Veterans that join the FASTSIGNS U.S. network (which boasts 10 percent of its centers are veteran-owned) can take advantage of specific incentives including a reduced franchise fee of $22,250, a savings of 50 percent, in addition to reduced royalties and advertising fees for the first year.

FASTSIGNS International has also been recognized as a top franchise for military veterans by publications including USA Today, G.I. Jobs Magazine and Military Times Magazine, due to the recognition for the company’s financial discounts for

military veterans, corporate support and outstanding growth.

Most recently, FASTSIGNS International received the prestigious Pro Patria Award, which is presented annually by each Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve State Committee. The company was nominated by Stephen MacKenzie, a Franchise Consultant for FASTSIGNS International and Air Force Reservist from Indianapolis, Indiana after his recent deployment overseas. As recipient of the Pro Patria Award, FASTSIGNS International demonstrated support to MacKenzie and his family through leadership and by adopting policies that support Guard and Reserve employees.

Additionally, the company was a finalist for the 2016 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, the highest recognition presented by the

Department of Defense to employers for their exemplary support of National Guard and Reserve members.

strong candidates who have an impressive military background who meet the net worth requirements.

After much discussion, the duo decided to move forward with investing into FASTSIGNS International, Inc. Fastforward to three years later, Milton and Woody are hard at work at their North Charleston, South Carolina FASTSIGNS center. Woody, who hails from Queens, N.Y. and Milton, originally from Macon, Georgia, describe their relationship as a “Ying to my Yang� partnership. In addition to leaning on the support received from their franchisor, the two continually motivate each other.

The fast-growing FASTSIGNS brand currently has over 600 locations worldwide in nine countries, but is looking to expand with additional veteran-owned centers.

Due to the ongoing worldwide need for visual communications and digital signage technology, the company expects to open another 45 to 50 locations in 2016, as well as finalize master franchise agreements in two new countries.

As a veteran-friendly franchisor, FASTSIGNS International wants its veteran franchisees to succeed - this means the brand will only partner with

For information about the FASTSIGNS franchise opportunity, contact Mark Jameson (mark.jameson@fastsigns.com or 214-346-5679) or to learn more about the FASTSIGNS veteran program, visit www.fastsigns.com.

Franchising USA

Veterans in Franchising

Page 47

Veterans in Franchising

Darcella K. Craven & Damon Chaffin, Veterans Business Resource Center

in Today’s Workplace The term “mentoring” has its roots in Homer’s Odyssey. Mentor was the name of Odysseus’s friend whom he entrusts to serve as teacher and overseer to his son.

Today, the term “Mentor” has evolved to mean advisor, teacher, and friend.

considers their technical skill sets are developed, but their mental and emotional needs are considered. A vibrant mentoring program ensures that all employees take an active role in spreading knowledge and best practices throughout the organization while nurturing interpersonal relationships that increase engagement. Employees learn the skills to advance in their careers and feel connected with the organization.

This leads to happier and longer term employees.

millennial women place a high value on mentorship, only 60 percent of them have mentors. More importantly, this 60 percent also felt they were on the path to achieving their professional goals. If we want an innovative, creative, and vibrant workplace, a varied workforce is imperative. This helps build an inclusive corporate culture.

Mentoring is a critical part of human development where a person invests time and energy to pass along knowledge and know-how to assist in the development of another. Today, successful mentoring is a collaborative relationship where senior leadership, future leaders and the businesses they work for all gain.

Every company wants to obtain and retain high performers. These are the future leaders of a firm and they are critical to successful growth. A vibrant mentoring program is a great way to differentiate from competitors. Rewarding the most valuable assets – PEOPLE- prepares them for future management positions.

Promoting a relationship between today’s leaders and identified successors, allows the company to develop high performers sooner.

More experienced employees benefit from mentoring as well. Today, many companies are partnering seasoned, established employees with newly hired staff. This helps foster a reciprocal relationship where senior members pass on best practices while gaining new knowledge on emerging technologies and innovative ideas to market. Mentorship programs are particularly beneficial for small business owners. In fact, several franchises are partnering more successful franchisees and with new owners. This cooperative communication aids in overall company productivity.

To obtain and retain skilled employees, businesses must provide them with the opportunity to learn and develop into future leaders. These means creating a holistic environment that not only

Mentoring encourages a diverse workforce to share ideas, knowledge, and experience with others while acquiring cultural awareness. A recent survey by Zeno Group found that while

Of course, mentoring programs work best when with top down leadership support. Including the mentoring function in performance reviews and providing rewards for participation afford personal

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satisfaction and assurance that this is important to the firm.

want to get out of the relationship and these should be linked to organizational goals.

Here are a few steps to start pulling together a mentor program:

4. Assess progress

1. Lay the Groundwork

a. Assess specific needs and set the programs objectives – Clarifying exactly where the gaps in information are helps create a program that is specific for your company. Develop measurable objectives to accomplish from the program. Be specific and link the objectives with overall firm goals. b. Determine the structure of the program – Will people formally register for the program or be informally matched?

Your organization’s culture will play a big role here. What metrics will you use to determine success? Who in the organization can help meet the objectives? Will the mentoring be oneon-one, in groups, or even virtual?

2. Prepare for the launch

How will you communicate the program to all levels of the organization? How will you gain buy-in? Communication is critical for support.

3. Launch the program

The launch should begin with training.

Everyone should identify what they

Most of the responsibility for the relationship belongs to the participants, but regular monitoring and follow up should be conducted to ensure goals and objectives are being reached.

5. Evaluate effectiveness

Were organizational goals met? Were personal goals met? What needs to happen to ensure alignment?

Today’s business world is volatile and everchanging. In order to thrive, businesses should stimulate employees intellectual and emotional well-being. Mentoring shows employees that they are a vital part of the organization, helps the bottom line, improves employee engagement and retention, and improves buy-in to the vision of the organization. If you do not have a mentor program in your firm, get going! It is only going to become more critical as the next generation of employees moves into the workforce.

Darcella K Craven has over 20 years of experience in corporate, government, non-profit and military organizations.

She is currently the Executive Director of the Veterans Business Resource Center, a non-profit organization

Darcella K. Craven

dedicated to assisting Honorably Discharged Veterans, National Guard and Reservist and Active Duty personnel and their families with transitioning back into civilian life with starting and expanding businesses.

An Army Veteran, she holds a Masters of Arts in Management from Webster University and is currently pursuing her Doctors of Management focusing on impact of military experience on small business decision making. Darcella has been featured in numerous articles for her transition from the military and the welfare system to an accomplished business woman and is actively involved in many civic organizations. www.vetbiz.com Article co-authored by Damon Chaffin, Business Performance Consultant, VBRC

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Veterans in Franchising

Page 49

Veterans in Franchising

K itchen Tu ne-Up

From Decorated Soldiers

to Renovation Warriors

short time later as they continued their Army service overseas, earning two Good Conduct Medals, Overseas ribbons, and Army Achievement Medals between the duo.

Coming Full-Circle After retiring from the military in 1987, the Pierce’s moved to Florida where they quickly found work and decided to take on yet another pursuit – obtaining their college degrees while both holding fulltime jobs and raising their young sons.

For many people, the decision to join a branch of the military is a huge commitment not to be made lightly. It takes strength, dedication and willpower that is unique to a small group – traits that make servicemen and women exceptional small business owners and franchisees.

For Matt and Lorna Pierce, however it was a natural next-step in their lives that provided the discipline, confidence and resilience that led them to embrace their entrepreneurial spirits and open their own franchise.

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Following the Family Path Raised by fathers who both spent time in the service, Lorna and Matt were military born-and-bred. Shortly after high school, Matt enlisted in the Army and was stationed in Germany as a combat engineer, working on building bridges, construction and the demolition of enemy roads, minefields and other obstacles.

Lorna, meanwhile, began her military service with the 4th Infantry Division in Colorado Springs as an administrative specialist working with officer assignments and Division staffing. She then went to work for the 15th Postal Detachment assigned to the military post office in Karlsruhe, Germany.

As fate would have it, Lorna and Matt met at none other than a German driving school, where they were enrolled in the same course to obtain their German driver’s licenses. They were married a

Although Lorna and Matt had been out of the military for nearly three decades, the couple’s Army careers came full-circle in 2013. Feeling it was time for a change, Matt reached out to Markus Reidler, a former Army comrade and the best man at his and Lorna’s wedding, for advice.

Markus had recently joined the Kitchen Tune-Up franchise family and had mentioned to Matt what a great decision it was proving to be. Pairing Matt’s culinary background and eye for creative design with Lorna’s business acumen and keen financial strategy, the duo decided to take the leap into franchising with Kitchen Tune-Up, where they continue to see tremendous success with their business.

The combination of their expertise allows them to help homeowners see their dream kitchen come to life – providing services like cabinet refacing, redooring, one-day wood restoration and more – and making the hub of the home an even more special place.

The Pierce’s military service not only provided them the confidence to take the

risk to leap into entrepreneurship, but also provided them the ability to think about everything strategically. They credit their time in the Army with shaping their character, teaching them discipline, accountability and providing them a deep sense of personal integrity. These skills allow Matt and Lorna today to provide the best experience to their customers while running a successful franchise business.

Much like the bonds forged between military comrades, the bonds formed within a franchise system are strong and unique. We are proud of our veteran franchisees who stop at nothing to find success with our company. One way that Kitchen Tune-Up, and several other franchises, honors the men and women who have put their lives on the line for our freedom, is to offer a generous discount on our franchise fees.

The qualities that our veterans gain during their service align directly with our core

“Much like the bonds forged between military comrades, the bonds formed within a franchise system are strong and unique. We are proud of our veteran franchisees who stop at nothing to find success with our company.� values and trust-points, meaning our franchisees are motivated, trustworthy and compassionate.

Heidi Morrissey joined Kitchen TuneUp, a family-owned kitchen and bath remodeling company with 170 locations nationwide, in May of 2003 at the urging of her father and Kitchen TuneUp founder, Dave Haglund. During her tenure, she has helped the company undergo a full rebranding and activated the National Advertising Fund. Heidi has significantly grown the sales and

marketing departments, allowing her to get out of the day-to-day tasks and concentrate on growing and strengthening the Kitchen Tune-Up system.

After working with the Home Office for more than a decade, Heidi interacts constantly with each individual franchise partner, all of whom she knows by name. Heidi is passionate about bringing an outstanding level of assistance and guidance to each franchise owner. www.kitchentuneup.com

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Veterans in Franchising

Page 51

Veterans in Franchising

Candice Caruso, President, Pango Financial

Serving Those Who Serve Us:

Financial Resources for Vetrepreneurs

On average, 500 or more servicemen and women transition from the military to civilian life every day — that’s around 200,000 Americans each year.

These Americans are returning to places that still may be short on job opportunities for them, forced to learn new skills to accommodate the market.

A growing number of veterans are taking an entrepreneurial leap of faith and opting for business ownership. In fact, nearly 14 percent of businesses in 2016 are owned by veterans; up from 12 percent just four years ago.

The franchise model is one that is particularly appealing for veterans — it presents the opportunity to follow a timetested business model and allows them to be in business for themselves but not by themselves.

Despite evidence of a business climate that supports vetrepreneurs — with 70 percent of Americans saying they would rather shop at a veteran-owned business than any other — and a growing number of business ownership opportunities, entry into self-employment is still fairly difficult for many military veterans.

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Self-Employment Obstacles More often than not, access to funding and limited capital is what limits these veterans from achieving their entrepreneurial dreams — even more so for veterans who served in active duty overseas. Military service abroad can impact a person’s credit history and financial health, both of which have a significant impact on qualifying for financing.

Fortunately, for many returning veterans, there are a number of government assistance programs, unique college and university training courses and even opportunities developed by private sector companies designed to help navigate the often complex world of business and franchise investment.

One of the most extensive and widely accessible resources for veteran entrepreneurs is the U.S. Small Business Administration. Through the SBA’s Office of Veterans Business Development, veteran business owners and entrepreneurial hopefuls have access to a number of training programs, outreach centers, government grant programs and financial aid, educational programing and exclusive access to small business loans.

SBA Vetrepreneur Resources In addition to education and training, the SBA also features a variety of financial assistance programs offering favorable and even discounted services to veteran business owners. While the SBA itself doesn’t provide any financial backing, the organization has partnered with a network of nationwide lenders and works to facilitate loan approval and application.

Two of the most successful veteran-related funding programs are the Patriot Express Pilot Loan Initiative and the Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loan.

The Patriot Express Pilot Loan Initiative is offered by that network of lenders and features one of the organizations fastest loan approval times. Patriot Express loans are available up to $500,000 and offer attractive interest rates for business loans, generally between 2.25 percent to 4.75 percent over prime, depending upon the size and maturity of the loan.

“A growing number of veterans are taking an entrepreneurial leap of faith and opting for business ownership..”

These loans can be used for most business and franchise purposes, including start-up, expansion, equipment purchases, working capital, inventory or business-occupied real-estate purchases.

Similarly, the Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loan (MREIDL) provides funding to help eligible small businesses and franchises meet their necessary operating expenses that are hindered because an essential employee was called to active duty as a military reservist.

While the MREIDL isn’t a financial resource for business startups and cannot be used in lieu of regular commercial debt to refinance long-term debt or to expand the business, it is an essential segment to the longstanding health of a veteranowned business. Imagine a non-veteran owner vacating his or her business for an extended period of time — the prosperity of that business is most likely to have a significant decline.

With a maximum loan amount of $2 million, each MREIDL loan is determined by the actual economic injury to the veteran-owned business. The purpose of the loan is not to cover lost income or lost profits, it is to protect the business owner and the investment.

Supplemental Funding Options Even with the wealth of support from the SBA to encourage lenders to extend credit to Ventrepreneurs, sometimes it’s still not enough. That’s where independent and alternative funding options come into play.

Entrepreneurs and financial advisors are now looking outside of the box to gain capital for their business investment.

One option that has gained popularity over the years is Rollovers as Business Startups.

ROBS is a tax deferred and penalty free investment opportunity in which entrepreneurs rollover and invest- 401K, Thrift Savings or other eligible retirement savings and turn it into business capital.

Candice Caruso

By gaining access to early retirement funds, and leveraging those funds to finance a small business, veterans are able to minimize their debt accumulation and secure necessary capital. ROBS financing can also be used in conjunction with those aforementioned SBA programs and business loans.

While there’s still work to be done on behalf of veterans, improvements are being made. These programs are beginning to focus more and more on supporting the individuals who sacrificed so much to protect the people of the United States, and these advocacy groups, both publicly and privately held, are continuing to build momentum so that veteran support in all aspects of life becomes a nationwide priority.

Candice Caruso is the President of Pango Financial, with close to 20 years of experience in the financial services industry and 10 years as an innovative business funding expert.

For more information on Pango and its DreamSpark plan, visit pangofinancial.com.

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Veterans in Franchising

Tu tor Doctor

Retired Marine Finds Fulfillment with Tutoring Franchise

James Hardy spent thirty years in the military and, when he retired from the Marine Corps, he wanted to start a business that would make more than a profit. He wanted something that would make a difference too.

What better way to build your community than to help students to achieve their goals?

James appreciated the structure and organization that the Tutor Doctor Franchise offered. Owning a franchise meant that he could go into business for himself, but not by himself. He could avail himself of all the advantages of a big corporation; large-scale marketing initiatives, an established brand, preferential rates from vendors and proven systems for administration and accounting.

We talk to James about his experience with owning a franchise:

Which franchise did you buy?

I’ve owned the Tutor Doctor in Stafford Virginia / Northern Virginia since January 2016.

Why did you choose franchising over owning your own business?

I wanted to own a business, but I didn’t want to have to start from scratch with creating a name for myself. With a franchise, I am still an independent business owner, but I get all the support of belonging to the Tutor Doctor family.

What were you doing before you became a franchise owner?

After a 30-year career in the Marines, I recently retired. I spent a little over a year working in the financial industry and both of these experiences gave me the discipline I would need to start my own company.

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“At Tutor Doctor, we don’t just fill in the missing building blocks, we also teach the skills that students will need to be good earners for life.”

Why did you choose the Tutor Doctor franchise?

My wife and I wanted to do more than just make a profit, we wanted a business where we could contribute to the needs of the community. We are both firm believers in the value of education. We relish the opportunity to help families who are struggling, to build our community and to make a real difference in the lives of our students.

Where did you do most of your research?

I focused on the internet and also researched at the library to find the pros and cons of franchise owning. Once I had decided that it would be better to own a franchise, I worked with a franchise recruiter to find a business that was a good fit.

What were the most unexpected challenges of opening your franchise?

The challenges of really getting my name out in the surrounding communities, and competing against the other entities that

have been in place before I arrived is my biggest challenge to date. I have to put a

lot of time into building up a network and a client base and I have to work on this aspect of the business every day.

What advice do you have for individuals who want to own their own franchise?

Be prepared to spend more time in

achieving success in your franchise than

you probably have ever spent with regular employment.

What sets your franchise apart from other tutoring franchises in your area?

None of the other tutoring franchises in my area offer one-to-one, in-home tutoring. They also don’t have a program that specializes in academic discipline to reinforce academic knowledge. At Tutor Doctor, we don’t just fill in the missing building blocks, we also teach the skills that students will need to be good earners for life. www.tutordoctor.com

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Veterans in Franchising

Jim Mingey, Founder Founder& &Managing ManagingDirector, Director,VBS’ VBS

eteran & Community Opportunities ™

The Veterans Corporation

comes to Oregon!

“TVC aims to fill the gap and be the SDVOSB vendor of choice for future franchise acquisitions, concept development and feasibility studies for Veterans nationally.”

When it to comes to success in reintegrating Veterans with their communities, it’s the “last mile” that counts the most.

Connections to economic opportunities in the local economy are most important to the individual Veteran and his/her family.

The Veterans Corporation (TVC), (now a trade name of Veterans Business Services, LLC) believes its new business model will help accelerate those connections in a local economy, especially in Oregon.

The TVC model has been beta tested

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over the past 2 years by advertising revenue from major franchisors; support from the Entrepreneurial Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities; Certification by the Veterans Administration (VA) as a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business (SDVOSB) and has become the only SDVOSB for franchising on the VA’s Entrepreneur Portal.

linking Veterans with regional social services. But self-employment processes have never been a strong point for the VA nor are they a focus point in the new MyVA model. TVC aims to fill the gap and be the SDVOSB vendor of choice for future franchise acquisitions, concept development and feasibility studies for Veterans nationally.

The original TVC was created

by Congress to help accomplish entrepreneurial reintegration for Veterans in small business. However, political fumbling in DC never really allowed it to accomplish its mission, let alone connect with local communities. Now, as a private entity, TVC has been enabled to help Veterans entrepreneurs and is a selfsustaining private enterprise.

The federal government small business service structure for Veterans is limited which presents an opportunity for TVC to facilitate franchising. What’s needed is ondemand private partners at the local level who can enhance existing small business services as a complement to MyVA in the last mile.

Recently the VA has come up with a new holistic concept called MyVA for

TVC will base its operations in Oregon City and begin building relationships

Boots2Business/Franchising ™

Veterans are some of the best new pioneers with grit in Oregon

James Mingey

that eventually toppled the power. They simply created the best competitive value added products and services for their community.

Pioneer Mike Ashland Oregon

that can help accelerate franchising opportunities for Veterans, especially combat veterans. TVC will also offer its Boots2Business/Franchising ™ via webinars and provide free business strategy sessions for any Veteran who qualifies for the VA Rehabilitation Services. Generally, these Veterans must have a disability rating of above 20% to qualify. TVC will offer a best price guarantee for Veterans on any franchise acquisition.

So why Oregon, one word -“Grit” Back in day, the Oregon Territory was viewed as a land of opportunity but was controlled by a government sanctioned monopoly power known as the Hudson Bay Company. They owned the “franchise” on the whole economy. Over time the American pioneer entrepreneurs of Oregon City, working together, developed their own business cooperative

VBS Founder and Managing Director, Jim Mingey, is a decorated Vietnam veteran raised from a proud military background. An entrepreneur for more than 35 years, Jim can relate on a personal level to the needs of the veteran small businessperson, and possesses the practical knowledge to implement his experience in today’s market. Jim participated in the EBV Program at Purdue University, is a mentor at American Corporate Partners, developed the first approved franchise training program for the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) Program at Veterans Administration, and was instrumental in forming the first equity fund in the United States exclusively for veteran owned small businesses and franchises: The Veterans Opportunity Fund. Jim intends to keep on ‘advocating’ for veterans in franchising. www.VeteransBusinessServices.us

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FOCUS

PI RT EK

Lift Off: Spousal Team Now Owns PIRTEK Space Coast, Launches New Location

The Space Coast of Brevard County, FL, has seen plenty of launches over the years. One of the latest is the launch – or rather, the re-launch – of a Florida PIRTEK Service & Supply Center.

PIRTEK Space Coast is under new ownership with a brand-new facility and location. The husband-and-wife team of Dan and Karin Ferretti is holding a

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ribbon-cutting and grand opening June 24.

Previously a corporate-run location, PIRTEK Space Coast will continue to serve the hydraulic hose maintenance and repair needs in Brevard County. The newly constructed center is at 1265 U.S. 1 in Rockledge.

“The potential is unlimited,” Dan Ferretti said. “It all depends on how much exposure you create for the business and raise its visibility.”

The only franchise of its kind in the United States, PIRTEK provides hydraulic and industrial hose replacement sales and services. There are 57 PIRTEK Service & Supply Centers and a fleet of Mobile Service Vehicles throughout the United

States. Globally, PIRTEK has more than 400 locations and 2,000 Mobile Service Vehicles in 23 countries around the world.

“When a piece of industrial equipment ruptures a hose or needs other emergency hose maintenance, we send our vehicles to the site, where a trained, certified PIRTEK technician performs the work,” said Karin Ferretti, CFE, a member of the Institute of Certified Franchise Executives. “This prevents excessive downtime, which can cost businesses a lot of money. We help get things up and running again.”

The Ferrettis plan to pursue business in a number of industries: construction, transportation, ports and marine, defense, salt mining, among others. “The hydraulic

“The key to success is to follow PIRTEK’s well-honed franchisee business model.

It’s as simple as that.”

– Karin Ferretti.

industry is a hidden market. There’s a wide diversity of businesses that use hydraulic hoses, they’re everywhere,” Dan Ferretti said. “We expect to have a strong presence here.”

“I’ve always had the desire to lead my own group of employees and to go out, do something and make a difference. I believe this is that opportunity.” – Dan Ferretti.

A native of Long Island, one of Dan Ferretti’s early jobs was working with his father on the family electrical business.

But he dreamed of having a business of his own. “I’ve always had the desire to lead my own group of employees and to go out, do something and make a difference,” he said. “I believe this is that opportunity.”

that lead to a successful franchise. “After so many years of working in this business and observing franchise owners, I became convinced that adhering closely to the company’s plan is critical,” she said. “The key to success is to follow PIRTEK’s wellhoned franchisee business model. It’s as simple as that.”

Also raised on Long Island, Karin Ferretti has worked at PIRTEK’s corporate headquarters for 14 years. That experience helped her identify the most critical factors

Being married to a PIRTEK franchise development team member, Dan Ferretti got a close look at how the franchises run. He was also impressed with the high

level of cooperation among the franchise owners. PIRTEK quickly became an obvious choice.

“With my wife working for PIRTEK corporate and seeing how well the franchises did, I wanted a PIRTEK franchise of my own,” he said. “When the corporate office was ready to make the Space Coast franchise available, I said, ‘Hey, I’d like to buy that.’ The rest is history, as they say.” www.pirtekusa.com

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ex per t advice

George Knauf, Senior Franchise Business Advisor, FranChoice

Finding Success in Visiting a Franchise Expo

Attending a franchise expo is easy, getting value out of it takes solid prior planning.

All too often attendees at franchise expos walk in the door and have no game plan to work their way through the hundreds of booths they will wander past. They walk out the door at the end of the day with a bag full of brochures after countless franchise brands scanned their badges and the food concepts took up their time standing in line for free food samples.

When they get home all those brands that scanned their badges will start calling and sending emails trying to get their attention again.

Many expo attendees are more confused and less focused after attending than before. Here is how to avoid that:

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Before going to the expo do some soul searching about what you are good at and enjoy doing. This is less about the product and more about the tasks you would do daily. Detail your ability and interest in: 1. Managing people, what kind of employees and how many a. Consider white collar vs. blue collar staff and your comfort with each 2. Selling, managing salespeople or networking to build business a. Nothing happens until somebody sells something to someone 3. The days and hours each week that you want to work 4. The types of customers you want to serve 5. Brick and mortar vs. service businesses a. Your comfort with the possible higher start-up cost in brick and mortar

b. Your comfort in not working from the same desk all day in a service business c. Your desire for variety in daily tasks d. How close the owner’s role is to the level you achieved in the corporate world e. Multi-unit growth plans vs adding territory f. Desire for Recession resistance g. Comfort with fads, vs long term trends 6. Once you have this personal outline you will have a rudimentary representation of what we build for our candidates and refer to as their model. This basic outline should help you plan your visit to the expo so that you get more value out of the experience. If you need help with this personal outline drop me a note.

“Your goal will be to visit brands that fit you as an owner, those may or may not be the ones that fit you as a customer.”

1. The all in TOTAL estimated start-up cost 2. How long have they been franchising?

3. How many franchisees do they have?

4. Ask them about the areas important to your personal outline. Don’t compromise here, if they are not a fit then more on, you can’t “make it work” if their model does not fit you.

When you get to the expo pull out your map, start on one side of the room and mark off the ones you have visited as you go.

Get a list of the brands that will be attending, preferably with a map of where each brand will be in the expo hall. With a highlighter, possibly multiple colors if you want to prioritize, highlight those brands that fit the outline you built. Your goal will be to visit brands that fit you as an owner, those may or may not be the ones that fit you as a customer. There are countless brands that I am a raving fan of as a consumer that I should never own, you will likely find the same thing.

You may see various other service providers, just focus on the franchise brands for now.

Put together your list of questions that you will ask each vendor so that you can compare the answers across the pool of brands you talk to. Being able to do side by side comparisons is important in this process. Here are some questions I would not overlook:

See that restaurant concept with the long lines waiting for free food samples?

Are they on your list? If not then keep moving! These booths can be a huge time sink where folks lose more than half their day waiting for food with no intention of running a restaurant every day. Free food is like flypaper for attendees that did not plan their visit. In trade for the food sample you generally have to get your badge scanned which starts the calling process.

1. If you are genuinely interested in running that restaurant every day simply walk past the line and find one of their salespeople to get your questions answered, they would love to talk to you.

As you work your way through the list are you finding that the concepts that you thought would fit you are not? Do you need to step back and reconsider what types of businesses you are checking out?

1. There is no harm in stepping off the floor to retarget the booths you want to visit. Remember this is not about being sold something it is about finding your perfect match.

When you get home it is time to organize your notes on each brand and start considering how well they fit your personal outline. If they didn’t then you should not invest considerable time beyond the

George Knauf

expo. If a brand fits your outline, pulling together your notes is the beginning of your investigation. Next steps would be to have an overview call with their sales team and get their Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD).

If you are visiting with an International territory in mind or a special model like a Master Franchise or Area Developer, you can follow the same basic roadmap and add in your particular considerations.

These investigations have many questions we would add particular to the candidate and their goal.

As you look at brands consider both mature and emerging brands. For those newer brands you will have to do added work to confirm the experience of the executive team and their ability to grow a new brand.

Have fun, learn a lot. I am your franchise adviser, reach out to me if you have any questions.

George Knauf is a highly sought after, trusted advisor to many companies; Public, Independent and Franchised, of all sizes and in many markets. His 20 plus years of experience in both startup and mature business operations makes him uniquely qualified to advise individuals that have dreamed of going into business for themselves in order to gain more control, independence, time flexibility and to be able to earn in proportion to their real contribution.

Contact the Franchising USA Expert George’s Hotline 703-424-2980. www.FranGuide.com

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spotlight o n serv ice

H ECS

hecs Aims to Prevent Franchise Gouging HECS Solutions Inc. wants to extend its expertise into the realm of franchising so it can help stop franchise companies from getting ripped off.

Started in 2010, HECS offers IT, human resources and financial services for Stephen Roche

companies. It has mostly been working with major Fortune 500 companies up

“We just want to make sure whatever services we are providing are outstanding so as they grow, they will remember us and come back to us for additional services.” – Stephen Roche.

Franchising USA

until recently, CEO Stephen Roche said

during a recent interview from New York.

The decision to start targeting

franchises came about last year when he accompanied his wife, who works for a

franchise, to the International Franchising Expo where he saw some dubious things going on.

“There was an IT company there selling websites for $4,000 and a monthly fee of something like $450 to host it and I said ‘they’re just gouging the franchises’,” he recalled. “It’s ridiculous the amount of money they wanted, plus it was taking them three to six months to complete a website.”

Roche knew HECS could offer better and faster service to franchises at a much lower cost, so he decided to start specifically targeting franchises as clients. This year, HECS will be at the Franchising Expo to offer its services to franchises at much more reasonable rates.

By outsourcing the IT, human resources and financial components to HECS, it will make it easier for these small and mid-size companies to flourish and grow.

But, the CEO noted, people shouldn’t think that outsourcing means outsourcing to a different country. HECS is headquartered in New York with satellite offices in Chicago and Los Angeles and all of its employees are based in the United States and most of them have a minimum of 10 years of experience in the industry.

In addition to its US locations, HECS also has an office in London and one in Prague.

The HECS Difference

Focus on Core Business A lot of business people aren’t IT experts and don’t have the ability or the time to commit to the human resources or financial part of their business, Roche noted. By outsourcing those services to HECS, it allows small and mid-sized companies to focus on their core business, whatever that may be.

“We take that burden off their shoulders so they can concentrate on what they do best,” he explained.

From graphic and web design to brand creation to strategic planning and workflow processes, HECS helps their clients with the peripherals of business.

Currently, Roche said, HECS is in talks with a couple of different franchises and will also be at the International Franchise Expo in New York to show franchises that they don’t have to pay ridiculous amounts for a service like website creation and hosting.

Roche, who has been doing consulting work for 25 years, is interested in working both with entire franchise organizations or individual franchisees.

One of the things he enjoys best about working with small and mid-sized companies is their agility when compared to HECS’ larger clients.

“They can turn things around a lot quicker than our larger clients,” he said. “We go into a meeting with our large clients and we could discuss the workflow of how to hire an employee for—and this is no joke—six weeks. Whereas, if you’re a small business owner, you want it done yesterday so it can affect your bottom line.

So, that’s why we’re shifting over to the small and mid-sized organizations.”

Small and mid-sized businesses are driving the economy, he opined, and HECS wants to work with people who have amazing ideas, but who may not have all the components to bring those ideas to fruition.

The focus for HECS is on helping clients be successful, Roche said, whereas their competitors are more interested in how many hours they can bill clients for.

Building long-term relationships with clients is important for HECS, he added.

If a client only needs one or two services to begin with, HECS is going to offer that client the same level of care as any other client.

“We just want to make sure whatever services we are providing are outstanding so as they grow, they will remember us and come back to us for additional services,” he said.

Not a typical consulting firm, Roche noted, HECS listens to customers’ needs rather than just trying to get them to buy a certain product.

For any franchises that need IT, human resources and financial services for reasonable prices, HECS’ decision to start targeting franchises is welcome news.

HECS Solutions, Inc. O-888-429-9439 ext. 105 www.hecssolutions.com

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question time

Q & A w ith S tep hen Di xon

with Stephen Dixon Our team at Franchising USA had a chance to sit down with Stephen Dixon, Director of Franchise Development for Children’s Lighthouse, to learn more about the growth and success of this organization.

Our questions are in bold.

Hope you enjoy reading.

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What were you doing before you became involved with Children’s Lighthouse Learning Centers?

I joined Children’s Lighthouse in April 2010 as Director of Franchise Development. Prior to this, I served as Regional Sales Manager at Authoria for a year. In my early career, I held the Director of Franchise Development at Gold’s Gym International position and before that, I was the Franchise Development Director for Nick-N-Willy’s Pizza Franchise Company. I had such passion for franchise development and education, that I knew Children’s Lighthouse would be the perfect fit!

How does your background apply to your current role at Children’s Lighthouse Learning Centers?

I joined Children’s Lighthouse with

nearly 20 years of experience in franchise development, which has given me much exposure into the industry and helped prepare me for my current role. My

professional business background has

aided in managing and leading all aspects of awarding new franchise agreements, marketing of the company’s franchise

opportunities, legal compliance and other responsibilities.

“I had such passion for franchise development and education, that I knew Children’s Lighthouse would be the perfect fit!” education – Science, Technology, Reading, Arts Engineering and Mathematics. We added this second phase to cover the entire spectrum of a children’s development.

Likewise, we stress the importance and strength of parent-school communication.

We provide parents with weekly information on classroom activities, child development and suggest opportunities for parent involvement. Our goal is to provide children with a holistic approach to learning in a way that is exciting and enjoyable for the child and parents.

Who is your typical franchisee?

How does Children’s Lighthouse Learning Centers differentiate itself from other early childhood education concepts?

Children’s Lighthouse Learning Centers is unlike other concepts. We provide a safe and secure environment that gives parents peace of mind. Our integrated learning strategies focus on students’ intellectual development, as well as on social, emotional and physical growth through hands-on lessons and embedded content, which emphasizes the fundamental basics of phonics, reading, math, science and social studies. We also offer specialized services for families such as online video links to classrooms, computerized building entry, security monitoring, and transportation to and from area elementary schools. Likewise, we also like to

emphasize that learning is fun. Our centers offer ten individual classrooms, covered play areas and a splash pad! Finally, our franchise company is family-owned by operators that have over 20 years of dayto-day child care operational experience.

Can you share more about the brand’s comprehensive curriculum?

I’d be happy to! Lighthouse C.A.R.E.S emphasizes hands-on focused learning through the use of the Circle Time Learning Wall, individual and group lesson plans and “Centers that Shine” classroom learning center activities. The most recent addition to our curriculum also highlights STREAM-based learning activities, which focus on a variation of the widely recognized “STEM” approach to

We have a wide variety of franchise owners in our system. Our typical franchisee has successful business experience, is passionate about educating children and wants to begin building financial independence after working in corporate America. Usually the franchisee partners with her spouse. Children’s Lighthouse franchisees all believe in the importance of early childhood education and are excited to be with an organization that does just that.

Where do you see Children’s Lighthouse Learning Centers in the next five years? Ten years?

In five years, we plan to have more than 150 Children’s Lighthouse locations open. By 2026 we expect to be close to 400 schools open. Due to our impressive stability, financial strength and franchise company family ownership we are not limited and plan to be sharing our franchise message across the country! www.childrenslighthouse.com

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question time

Page 65

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Big O Tires® is proud to be one of the most progressive tire and automotive service franchises in the nation. When you join our family, we supply you with a powerful set of tools to help bring your business to the front of the pack: This website and any request for information or forms are not a franchise offering or an offer to sell a franchise.

Camp Bow Wow Camp Bow Wow® is the largest dog day care and boarding franchise in North America!

Established in 2000, we have grown to become an $86 million business with more than 150 franchises in forty states and a location in Canada.

The Camp concept provides the highest levels of fun, safety and service for its Campers, and peace of mind for their parents. Dogs romp together in an open-play environment and pricing is all-inclusive. As the company

Clayton Kendall Clayton Kendall provides a simple, easy to use e-store platform that connects your franchisees to Clayton Kendall’s integrated front-to-back inventory management system allowing for the creation, production, fulfillment, distribution and shipping of all your marketing and sales materials (uniforms, signage, branded merchandise) to be controlled with a

Coverall® Coverall is a leading franchised brand in the commercial cleaning industry and one of the most respected franchisors of professional office cleaning companies focused on killing germs, removing soil and helping to create cleaner, healthier work environments. We help people start their own franchised businesses using the Coverall® brand, and processes, so they may deliver commercial cleaning services to their customers.

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grows, its simple philosophy remains the same — it’s all about the dogs! Camp Bow Wow is focused on the well-being of its furry clients and the success of its franchise owners. Join the Pack and fetch your share of the rapidly growing $60 billion pet industry!

Phone: 1-877-700-BARK Website: www.campbowwow.com Email: ppounders@cbwcorp.com Contact: Patrick Pounders, ppounders@cbwcorp.com, 720-259-0835

simple click of a mouse.

Clayton Kendall is the single source marketing solution for national franchises such as Massage Envy, Orange Theory Fitness, European Wax Center, and Blaze Pizza.

Contact: Dan Broudy, CEO Email: dan@claytonkendall.com Phone: 412-798-7120 (1-888-799-4757) Website: claytonkendall.com

businesses and their employees professionally clean over two million square feet of commercial office space every day.

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Website: www.coverall.com/franchise-opportunities

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franchise & serv ices directo ry

Page 67

franchise & serv ices directo ry

Dunkin’ Brands Named the top ice cream and frozen dessert franchise in the United States by Entrepreneur magazine’s 31st annual Franchise 500® ranking, Baskin-Robbins is the world’s largest chain of ice cream specialty shops.

Baskin-Robbins creates and markets innovative, premium ice cream, specialty frozen desserts and beverages, providing quality and value to consumers at more than

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

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

Contact: Laurel White Phone: 781-737-5286 Email: laurel.white@dunkinbrands.com Website: www.baskinrobbinsfranchising.com

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

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

fingernails2go

• Fast return on investment

Finernails2Go have built the nail art kiosk that is going to revolutionise the cosmetic world.

If you want a single kiosk for your business premises or to distribute multiple kiosks in an agreed area, we are open for business.

• The only Nail Art Kiosk with bespoke HP printing • The only Nail Art Kiosk with Tritron Speciality Ink – compliant with all major health regulatory bodies.

The Fingernails2Go Kiosk delivers:

Fingernails2Go Kiosks will not only create excitement they will increase the time people spend at the location. You or your customers will be able to sell both nail art, and other products as more people come in to discover Fingernails2Go

• Unlimited design opportunities – • High res HP printing • On screen advertising opportunities

Go to http://fingernails2go.com/business/contact/ to get started with this fantastic new business opportunity.

Fastest labs

progress. Ongoing coaching and technical advice help support your new venture.

Fastest Labs® offers drug, alcohol, DNA paternity and background screening. We focus on providing clean, fast testing services and a phenomenal customer experience. We serve clients within 5 minutes rather than a typical 1 hour wait at a medical facility, rapid test results are sent immediately, instead of 1 to 3 days and our tests are more affordable.

Qualifications: Fastest Labs® looks for individuals with outgoing personalities, great customer service and sales/marketing skills. No medical background or drug testing experience is necessary because all certifications are provided.

• The only Nail Art Kiosk built by Tensator.

Low start-up costs, high margins and 9-5 banker’s hours, Call Fastest Labs® today!

Training: Fastest Labs® provides 1 week of training in San Antonio, TX. All certifications, sales instruction, internet marketing strategies and business operations training are included. Prior to arrival, we provide online training modules, videos and tutorials to track your

Website: www.fastestlabs.com/franchise Email: dave@fastestlabs.com Phone: 210-641-2058

Foot Solutions

• Satisfaction of Helping Others

What Are You Looking For In A Business?

• Opportunities from $85,000 - $240,000 Single and Multi-unit

• Reasonable Hours • High Margins • Low Labor Requirements • High Consumer Retention • Not Impacted by Economy • Not Seasonal • Fastest-growing Market Age 40+

Franchising USA

6,000 retail shops in 33 countries. BaskinRobbins was founded by two ice cream enthusiasts whose passion led to the creation of more than 1,200 ice cream flavors and a wide variety of delicious treats.

Contact: Dave Claflin

Foot Solutions is the world’s largest specialty wellness franchise focused exclusively on helping people feel good from the feet up.

For more information, visit www.footsolutions.com, email fscorp@footsolutions.com, or call 770-916-5997.

FRANFUND FranFund provides a comprehensive set of funding solutions for your new or expanding business including our exclusive FranFundSelect® program which provides working capital loans for up to $150,000. This program enables lightning fast approvals and funding in 5 to 7 business days or less with no personal assets, no SBA guaranty fee, no training certificate required, and minimal paperwork.

Fresh Coat With Fresh Coat, you bring scaling and professionalism to a fragmented industry. The quality, expertise, technology, and customer service that you offer as a Fresh Coat owner will set you apart and bring in recurring revenue through loyal customers and referral programs.

You Don’t Paint! As a Fresh Coat owner you work on your business, not in your business. Our operations system helps you hire and retain quality painters who fulfill the jobs that you sell.

Multiple Profit Centers • Residential (interior, exterior).

• Commercial (businesses, office buildings).

honkamp krueger Honkamp Krueger & Co., P.C. is a Top 100 CPA and business consulting firm and the eight-fastestgrowing CPA firm in the U.S. (Accounting Today, 2015) Specializing in franchise services, HK offers 40-plus forward-thinking, innovative solutions to franchise organizations in all 50 states.

In addition to our tax, accounting and consulting services, HK offers total hire-to-retire solutions through our human capital management affiliate, HKP. Through our HK Financial Services affiliate, HK offers world-class wealth management solutions.

HuHot Mongolian Grills

Our team of funding experts are here to work with you to create a customized capitalization solution for your specific situation, whether you’re launching a new business or expanding a current one. After all, it’s our mission to get your business up and funded in a fraction of the time!

Phone:817-730-4500 Fax:817-546-1291 Website: www.franfund.com Email: info@franfund.com Contact:ksenay@franfund.com

• National Accounts.

• Government Contracts.

• Real Estate-Based Programs.

Be in business for yourself, not by yourself. We provide up front and ongoing training and support to help you succeed. We also leverage the size of Fresh Coat as a whole to develop relationships with well-known brands like Sherwin-Williams®, getting you the best price on the quality materials that meet customer expectations.

Contact: Beth Boecker Phone: 855-832-8284 Email: bbboecker@strategicfranchising.com Website: www.freshcoatfranchise.com

Our depth and level of franchising expertise along with our track record for providing independent and objective franchise advisory/consulting services clearly differentiates HK from all other franchise advisors across the country.

When you partner with HK for your franchising needs, you will always have easy access to one of our owners who will walk in your shoes with you and who has a unique perspective on being an entrepreneur and business grower.

Phone: 888.556.0123 www.honkamp.com

locations in 16 states and that focus has remained unchanged.

Hot is a national create-your-own stir fry concept offering a wide variety of meats, seafood, noodles, fresh veggies, and signature sauces to suit your tastes. Select your favorite ingredients then be entertained as your meal is cooked to perfection by our grill warriors on a 6-foot, scorching hot grill. It’s always all-you-can-eat, so you can create a different meal every time.

In 2015 HuHot was ranked for the fourth consecutive year in Franchise 500 by Entrepreneur and on Technomic’s Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report.

HuHot has been ranked as one of Franchise Times Next 300 Franchise Chains 3 years in a row, and named as one of Nation Restaurant News’ Next 20 Chains of 2014.

HuHot Mongolian Grills, LLC opened its first restaurant in Missoula, Montana in 1999 focusing on fresh food, signature sauces and great service.

Over the past 15 years, the concept has grown to 58

Contact: Laura Sporrer Phone: (303) 297-1200 Email: franchise_info@huhot.com Website: www.huhotfranchising.com

International Franchise Professionals Group

IFPG to power their business. All of these individuals understand the value of being associated with IFPG.

The International Franchise Professionals Group (also known as IFPG) is a membership based organization that has over 700 members. Our members consist of Franchisors, Franchisor Brokers, Lenders, and other Franchise Professionals that help potential candidates in the process of buying a franchise.

The IFPG is a strictly membership based organization that does not participate in any referral fees from our franchisor members or our brokers, thereby allowing all of our members to work freely together.

Our long-term success is predicated on retaining our members and providing all the tools needed to help you sell more franchises, and close more deals.

Hundreds of nationally recognized franchise companies have chosen the IFPG and its members to represent their brand; hundreds of experienced franchise consultants and brokers have chosen the

If you’re a franchisor, franchisor broker, or another profession that serves the franchising industry call us today at (888) 977-IFPG to learn about membership opportunities.

MONGOLIAN GRILL

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

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

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

Little Caesars

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

Little Caesars offers strong franchisee candidates opportunities in select locations across the country. As America’s fastest growing pizza chain, Little Caesars provides candidates an opportunity for independence with a proven system, a simple operating model and strong national brand recognition.

Little Caesars’ requires candidates desiring to open one store to have a net worth of $150,000 with a minimum of $50,000 in liquid, unencumbered assets (such as cash).

Franchisees must also be able to obtain financing to cover the total costs of opening a franchised location.

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

Massage Green Spa International Massage Green Spa is positioned to outpace the competition with our membership-based business model, easy cost of entry, value positioned concept, easy real estate, low overhead, beautiful distinctive retreat design and multiple revenue streams.

Owning a Massage Green Spa franchise has an amazing opportunity for professional and personal growth. It most importantly focuses on the ever changing wellness revolution. By combining massage therapy with an ecofriendly environment, we have addressed the need for improving both our internal and external health.

Midas Midas, a recognized brand throughout the world and highly renowned name in complete car care, is proud to be one of North America’s original franchise opportunities – and one of its best.

With Midas, you experience the best of both worlds - the support of an experienced franchise organization and the satisfaction of operating your very own auto service enterprise. As a Midas franchisee, you become a trusted name the day you open your doors for business. Building consumer trust is at the heart of our brand. We work every day to earn that trust by providing expertise, responsiveness, and the best value to every customer every time.

Benefit from nearly 60 years of “The Midas Touch”

Our Town America For over 40 years, Our Town America has been providing new movers with traditional hospitality by mailing warm housewarming gifts from local businesses in a premium welcome package.

It is Our Town America’s mission to welcome new movers into their communities, to help local businesses gain new loyal and long-term customers, and to provide franchisees with an excellent business opportunity.

Thousands of satisfied business owners throughout the United States attest to the success and effectiveness of the Our Town America program

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

For the sixth year in a row, Little Caesars was named “Best Value in America”* of all quick-serve restaurant chains.

Phone: 800-553-5776 Email: USdevelopment@LCEcorp.com Website: www.LittleCaesars.com

We make you eligible to take advantage of all corporate services: site selection, design and construction, marketing, financing, training and grand opening program. We continue to offer support with the following (not limited to): training, national and regional advertising, operations procedures and assistance, ongoing supervision and management support, increased spending power, access to bulk purchasing and a community of like-minded individuals that are as passionate about your success as you!

Contact: Jim Belanger Phone: 248-849-9600 Email: jbelanger@massagegreenspa.com Website: www.massagegreenspa.com

Midas has built a stellar reputation in the automotive service and repair industry nearly six decades. We want to help you succeed. Before you open a location and as you continue to operate your shop, Midas will help you with the following: • Business management system for your shop • New franchisee orientation • Ongoing training and training resources • Operational support.

• Development support • Optimizing and marketing your business: Join Midas today by calling 1-800-365-0007 or visiting www.midasfranchise.com!

This website and any request for information or forms are not a franchise offering or an offer to sell a franchise.

while dozens of locally owned franchises validate the Our Town America concept as a viable business opportunity. Franchisees are neighborhood marketing consultants, showing local business owners how to target their best prospects with enticing offers via direct mail.

Since beginning to franchise in 2005, Our Town America has been consistently ranked a Franchise Business Review Top 50 Franchise making them the only Advertising brand to land a spot in the 10-year Hall of Fame and the sole company to be crowed Franchise Business Review’s Top Company.

Website: http://www.ourtownamerica.com Email: franchising@ourtownamerica.com

Pestmaster Franchise Network, Inc. Pestmaster Franchise Network offers franchises throughout the USA that specialize in pest, weed, termite, rodent, bird and other services related to the pest control industry.

We specialize in Small Business participation on federal contracts and successful franchise applicants are trained to utilize the GSA

Pet Wants Pet Wants creates fresh and all-natural pet food and delivers it to our customers on a monthly, subscription basis...that ensures the food is fresh for the pets and that you generate consistent and on-going revenue streams. As a franchise owner, you will need to share this love of pets and their well-being.

But no experience is needed. No matter if you start in your home, a small office or store, we teach you everything you need to know about

pinot’s palette Pinot’s Palette is a pioneer of the paint and sip experience – a revolutionary way to enjoy art and wine, meet new people and bond with friends. #1 paint and sip for franchisee satisfaction – Pinot’s Palette is a unique, art-inspired entertainment concept catering to adults, corporations and kids.

By combining art and wine into a single concept, Pinot’s Palette now offers an inclusive, social activity for guests to enjoy with friends, family or work team members.

PIRTEK USA PIRTEK is the fluid transfer solutions leader in sales and service and the only franchise of its kind in the United States. With more than 30 years of experience in this field, PIRTEK boasts more than 400 Service & Supply Centers and a fleet of Mobile Service Vehicles in 23 countries.

Powered by an industry-leading approach to sales and service and backed by a corporate center passionate about its franchisees and customers, PIRTEK offers unmatched service and logistics.

This is a sales-driven, service-based business that

PrimoHoagies PrimoHoagies specializes in gourmet, Italian Specialty Sandwiches. Their entire menu is built around quality. PrimoHoagies uses only the finest Thumanns meats and cheeses on the market to its signature Italian bread baked in the stores throughout the day. Quality will never be compromised in a PrimoHoagies restaurant. This one of the reason we have become ranked in the Franchise 500 by Entrepreneur magazine.

Because we have built our reputation on the

schedule for opportunities in their territories.

Services are provided with an emphasis on sustainable “green” technologies to residential, commercial and government clientele.

Contacts: Jeffrey M. Van Diepen, President/ CEO and Jacque Lechler, Franchise Administrative and Sales Manager Phone: 775-858-7378 Email: pfn@pestmaster.com Website: www.pestmaster.com

operating and growing a successful pet food business. You just need a passion for pets, the drive for success and the ability to follow our proven operating system. In return, you will be rewarded with the great benefits of being a business owner. Bottom line, this is a fulfilling, financially rewarding and enjoyable “people and pets” business.

Contact: Beth Boecker Phone: 513-331-3647 Email: bbboecker@strategicfranchising.com Website: www.petwantsfranchise.com

Pinot’s Palette’s entertaining environment, expert guidance from trained local artists and exceptional customer experience creates strong word of mouth, community recognition and a loyal customer base.

Pinot’s Palette looks for franchisee partners who love to entertain and values that fit comfortably within the Team Pinot culture. Not art experience required!

Franchising since 2010 with more than 130 locations in 33 states, Pinot’s Palette is an established, awardwinning concept leading the paint and sip industry.

Website: www.PinotsPalette.com/Franchise or Email: Franchise@pinotspalette.com

focuses on repairing and maintaining hydraulic- and pneumatic-powered machines. Although the brand might sound like an opportunity better suited for someone who can work a wrench, it’s a business well-matched for entrepreneurs who understand the value of building relationships and are prepared to capitalize on the opportunity to thrive wherever industrial equipment is used—and it is used virtually everywhere.

For more information contact: Gwyn T. O’Kane, CFE, Vice President of Franchise Development, PIRTEK USA Phone: 321.504.4422 Email: gokane@pirtekusa.com Website: www.pirtekusa.com

quality of our products, our brand has become iconic in all of its markets. We experience a level of brand loyalty that in rarely seen in the sandwich franchise marketplace. Our neighborhood Deli feel has made us welcome in communities up and down the East Coast. This is why our products have won hundreds of awards.

Visit our website at www.PrimoHoagies.com or Contact Mike Aruanno at mike@primohoagies. com to learn how this brand has created such a stir in the sandwich marketplace.

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SH Franchising, LLC.

c) Very experienced corporate support team

Senior Helpers is the growing global brand that provides on-medical home care for seniors with mobility, cognitive, and other age-related health issues.

d) Mature brand positioned for growth

®

With the U.S. population over 65 years old expected to grow 56% over the next 20 years and senior care options becoming limited, the time has never been better to invest to help an important segment of our communities.

community while making a living f) Senior Helpers unique brand offerings, such as their Senior Gems Alzheimer’s and Dementia program (seniorhelpers.com/seniorgems).

Advantage over the Competition: Key Advantages:

Contact: Amy Petersen-Smith

a) Low initial investment (100K) – Total Investment includes working capital

Phone: 866 – 353 – 3743

b) Strong income potential

Website: www.seniorhelpers.com/

Signal 88 Security

Our security programs are successful because we fully understand the nature of the businesses we secure, the properties and personnel we protect, and the deterrent effect we promote.

Signal 88 Security was founded to revolutionize and establish a higher standard of professionalism in the security industry. Signal 88 Security was founded in 2003, in Omaha, Nebraska, by law enforcement professionals. In Nebraska police code, Signal 88 means “situation secure.” We offer law enforcement* and community-based security personnel, incorporating state-of-the-art technology to provide customized security services to the business community.

From its Omaha roots, Signal 88 Security has quickly grown to providing services in over 37 states with more than 160 Franchises serving nearly 300 territories across the country – with more offices opening every month. We are equipped to handle any size property, event or business with a customized security solution.

Sports Clips Established in 1993 and franchised in 1995, Sport Clips is one of the nation’s leading franchises with more than 1,500 stores nationwide. Founder and CEO Gordon Logan is a pioneer of the unique sports-themed haircutting franchise, including the development of the Sport Clips All-Star haircutting systems, operating procedures, and marketing programs. It’s a great recession-resistant business that’s all cash, no receivables, and no haircare industry experience is necessary.

Email: asmith@seniorhelperscorp.com

We have developed a business model designed with our Franchise Partners’ success in mind. Our model tackles all phases of business from start-up to maturity, admin to operations, and marketing to sales to offer our Franchise Partners’ the best opportunity to successfully run a Signal 88 Security franchise, creating peace of mind to pursue passion in life.

Phone: 254-870-2767 Website: www.signal88.com/home.aspx Email: jhinnen@signal88.com Contact: Jessica Hinnen

FORBES as a “Top Ten Best Franchise” to buy for its investment category.

Qualified veterans who are interested in owning a Sport Clips are eligible for a 20 percent discount off of Sport Clips’ franchise fee of $59,500 through participation in the Veterans Transition Franchise Initiative, also known as VetFran, which was created in 1991 during the Gulf War. At Sport Clips, it’s good to be a guy but it’s great to be an owner! Visit sportclipsfranchise.com to learn more.

For more information, contact Karen Young:

Sport Clips is ranked by Entrepreneur Magazine as one of the top 20 “Fastest-Growing Franchises” and in the top 20 in the “Franchise 500.” It is also ranked by

Email: franchise.recruitment@sportclips.com Phone: (800) 872-4247 x. 1 Website: www.sportclipsfranchise.com

Texas Laundry Service Company

Our clients range from investors seeking maximum return on investment in the coin laundry business to laundry managers at hotels, schools, prisons, restaurants, hospitals and long term health facilities in search of greater efficiency.

From our corporate facility in Pasadena, Texas, as well as our satellite offices in San Antonio, Corpus Christi and LaFeria we sell, service and install Speed Queen washers Extractors, commercial dryers, flatwork ironers and small commercial home-style laundry equipment for vended and on-premises laundries.

The Growth Coach You Can Create the Life – and Business – You’ve Always Wanted Growth Coach, a low-overhead, home-based business, can be that vehicle you seek to give you MORE LIFE, freedom, fulfillment and financial success. If you are ready to invest in yourself and your own business, and take control of your own destiny and schedule, here’s a way for you to feel good about both making a substantial difference AND making substantial money.

Becoming a franchisee with The Growth Coach allows you to build a coaching business with the

Franchising USA

e) Opportunity to combine helping others in your local

Contact: Diane Klingman Phone: 713-472-4083 Email: laundrylady2015@gmail.com Website: www.telscoequipment.com

potential to give you the wealth, freedom, and fun you have always wanted. By combining your previous business experience with our proven systems and world class training services, you’ll be able to serve your local area businesses with expert advisory services. No travel is required, and the business structure is flexible. Because of that flexibility, coaching franchise investment requirements are low and profit margins are robust.

Contact: Beth Boecker Phone: 855-832-8284 Email: bbboecker@strategicfranchising.com Website: www.growthcoachfranchise.com

The Interface Financial Group – IFG 50/50 The Interface Financial Group – IFG 50/50 is an affordable home-based franchise that provides short-term working capital to small and medium-sized businesses by purchasing current, quality invoices at a discount, thus accelerating the client’s cash flow and growth.

All transactions are syndicated 50/50 with the franchisee and the franchisor, and that means less working capital required to fund transaction: IFG does the bulk of the due diligence and the ‘paperwork’ for the transactions, and IFG 50/50 franchisees will concentrate their efforts on building the referral relationships – they do the ‘people work’.

Key advantages of being an IFG 50/50 franchisee include: • No staff to hire, fire, or manage

The UPS Store The UPS Store, Inc. is the world’s largest franchisor of retail shipping, postal, printing and business service centers. The UPS Store comprises nearly 4,500 independently owned locations in the U.S., providing convenient and value-added business services to the smalloffice/home-office (SOHO) market, corporate “road warriors,” and consumers.

With more than 30 years of franchising experience, The UPS Store has provided thousands of people with franchise opportunities

TopFire Media TopFire Media is an integrated digital marketing and public relations agency, specializing in the franchise industry.

Our clients benefit from our years of experience in franchise SEO service, public relations, media relations, content writing and management, social media marketing, and web design. We work to bring all of these elements together to achieve a common goal – our clients’ success.

uBreakiFix Founded in 2009, uBreakiFix specializes in the repair of small electronics, ranging from smartphones, game consoles, tablets, computers and everything in between.

• No storefront to own, lease, or maintain • No Inventory or stock to purchase • No extensive travel because IFG franchisees do business locally • Business-to-Business, professional environment with regular business hours of operation • Flexibility to relocate for part of the year or permanently and continue doing business Our franchisees are excellent communicators, relationship builders with decision-making and problem-solving skills, and much more sales & marketing oriented. IFG has been in the ‘invoice discounting’ business since 1972, and employs its franchise network in the US, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, the UK, Ireland, Australia, Mexico and South Africa. www.interfacefinancial.com

that enable them to become their own boss. In our network, you’ll find franchise owners from all walks of life, everyone from entrepreneurs to white collar professionals to corporate leaders have chosen The UPS Store Franchise to advance their financial and personal success. Take a look at the currently available franchise opportunities and contact us for more details.

Contact: https://theupsstorefranchise.com/ contact-ups-franchise Phone: (877) 623-7253

Web: https://www.theupsstorefranchise.com/

Our integrated approach combines our public relations and franchise SEO service prowess and is designed to generate brand awareness, drive consumer engagement, and build credibility for your company.

Phone: (708) 249-1090 Fax: (708) 957-2395 Website: www.topfiremedia.com Email: info@topfiremedia.com Contact: Matthew Jonas

other problem can be repaired by visiting a uBreakiFix store across the U.S. and in Canada.

For more information, visit ubreakifix.com.

Contact: Brynson Smith

Cracked screens, water damage, software issues, camera issues, and most any

Phone: (877) 320-2237 Email: b.smith@ubreakifix.com Website: ubreakifix.com

franchising usa

Excellent for branding and recognition.

A-Z Listings are a great way to promote your business, giving you a presence within our publication and also the Franchising USA website.

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

Choose a 12 or 6 month package or simply add the A-Z directory onto your Focus, Profile or Ad! To learn about the A-Z directory or any other products please contact Vikki Bradbury: advertising@cgbpublishing.com or 778-426-2446

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

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

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

WELLBIZ BRANDS, INC WellBiz Brands, Inc. is headquartered in Highlands Ranch, Colo. and is one of the largest health and wellness companies in the United States. The company owns three separate franchise entities: Elements Therapeutic Massage, Inc., which franchises massage studios, providing custom therapeutic massage to meet clients’ individual needs, Fitness Together Franchise Corporation, which franchises one-on-one and semi-private personal training studios, and Fit 36, Inc., which franchises high intensity interval training studios, with workouts done as a group.

WineStyles Tasting Station More than a wine shop, WineStyles® Tasting Station® offers guests a one-of-a-kind retail experience with the opportunity to Taste, Learn, and Enjoy ® the best in wine, craft beer, fine chocolates, artisanal cheeses, and gourmet items.

In addition, customers can enjoy a full menu of small plates featuring a variety of pizzettes, cheese and charcuterie boards, paired with draft beer and wine on tap or by the glass.

Franchisees benefit from multiple revenue streams, including monthly wine and beer club memberships, a customer loyalty program, plus an assortment of wine

ZIPS Dry Cleaners Founded in 1996 and franchising since 2006, ZIPS Dry Cleaners is an aggressively expanding dry cleaning franchise known for its same-day, one-price business model.

A customer can have any item of clothing dry cleaned for $2.29. It doesn’t matter if the item is a necktie, a wedding dress or a pair of pants, the price is $2.29, almost half the industry average. Garments are cleaned on-site, allowing for same-day service.

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

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

Elements Therapeutic Massage, Inc. began franchising in 2006 and has approximately 210 Elements Massage™ locations. Fitness Together Franchise Corporation began franchising in 1996 and has approximately 175 Fitness Together® locations across the United States. Fit 36, Inc. began franchising in 2014 and has a single FIT36™ location in downtown Denver.

For more information Websites: wellbizbrands.com, elementsmassage.com, fitnesstogether.com, fit36fitness.com

accessories and gift baskets. Furthermore, WineStyles Tasting Station hosts weekly tastings and in-store events, as well as private parties.

As the nation’s largest wine and craft beer specialty chain of its kind, WineStyles Tasting Station is committed to delivering unmatched quality and customer service while building a community gathering place where food, drinks and friendship are celebrated in a clubhouse atmosphere.

Contact: Andrea McGinness Phone: 866-WINECLUB Email: uncorked@winestyles.net Website: www.winefranchise.com

sentiments in regards to eco-friendliness, ZIPS uses a filter system to avoid the need to cook solvents, and uses approximately 75 percent less solvent than other dry cleaning companies, creating 90 percent less waste than most operations in the process.

Headquartered in Greenbelt, MD, ZIPS currently operates more than 40 stores throughout the MidAtlantic region of the United States.

Also, in an industry that often coincides with negative

Contact: Aaron Goldberg Phone: (240) 437-4747 Email: agoldberg@321zips.com Website: www.321zips.com

franchising usa

Excellent for branding and recognition.

A-Z Listings are a great way to promote your business, giving you a presence within our publication and also the Franchising USA website.

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

Franchising USA

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

Choose a 12 or 6 month package or simply add the A-Z directory onto your Focus, Profile or Ad! To learn about the A-Z directory or any other products please contact Vikki Bradbury: advertising@cgbpublishing.com or 778-426-2446

Want to stay on top of the latest news and whats happening at the forefront of franchising?

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