Franchising usa The magazine for franchisees
VOL 05, ISSUE 12, OCT 2017
$5.95 www.franchisingusamagazine.com
Hooters
Continues Robust Expansion Globally
Putting Risk In Its Place Tips to Reduce Employee Turnover & Absenteeism special
Food Franchising Feature - Part 1 LATEST NEWS
FINANCIAL ADVICE FROM THE BANKS
TOP LAWYERS’ ADVICE
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Franchising usa The magazine for franchisees
FRANCHISING USA VOLUME 5, ISSUE 12, 2017 president:
Comments
Colin Bradbury. colin@cgbpublishing.com
Publisher: Vikki Bradbury. vikki@cgbpublishing.com
advertising: Jane Jacob. advertising@cgbpublishing.com
Editorial Department: managing editor: Diana Cikes editor@cgbpublishing.com
Editorial team: Gina Gill Rob Swystun
Production: usaproduction@cgbpublishing.com
DESIGN: Jejak Graphics. jejak@bigpond.com
COVER IMAGE: Hooters
CGB PUBLISHING Canadian Office: Sidney B.C Canada 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:
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Welcome to the October issue of Franchising USA. In the wake of recent natural disasters and political and economic unrest, people are searching for sources of stability. In such unpredictable times, it’s comforting to know that we can rely on the stability of the franchise model to act like a solid anchor amidst the chaos, and it is this strength that mobilized some of the big brands to step in and assist in the relief efforts for victims affected by recent storms and earthquakes. Franchising has historically proven to withstand times of economic upheaval and has helped light the path back towards success for many, and we’re proud to work with and feature some of the key players in this industry. On the Cover this issue we take a look at a brand that’s poised to continue its track record of wild success, with Hooters charging forward with 120 commitments for future franchise development worldwide. Turn to page 10 to learn how this franchise plans to continue its growth in multiple markets and find out if you have what it takes to join their highly successful global system. This month kicks off our 2 part Special Feature on Food Franchising, with sweetFrog on the Feature Cover. Turn to page 26 to read how this frozen yogurt franchise is going non-traditional with
its locations, with plans to open its first kiosk on a military base within the next few months. And be sure to continue on to page 29 with our Feature Article, which looks at the various options in the food industry and how fast food restaurants are proving to be the top guns in this sector. Our Veterans in Franchising Supplement features FASTSIGNS, a leading sign, graphics and visual communications franchise. Turn to page 50 to learn how this franchise recognizes the courage and strength of military veterans and is dedicated to helping them find success and purpose through its franchise opportunities. And last but not least, our Industry Experts weigh in on a variety of issues, like Ben Davis on the 3 Common Characteristics of Any Successful Franchisee, and John Waldmann with Tips to Reduce Employee Turnover & Absenteeism. George Knauf also looks at Putting Risk in its Place and how with the right plan, skills and drive you can accomplish anything you set your mind to and eliminate risk in the process. I hope the success stories we’ve put together this month inspire you to keep confidently moving forward in this time of uncertainty and serve as a beacon of light to help you find your way out of any darkness. Happy reading!
“People are looking for stability in a shaky world. They want something they can get hold of that’s firm and sure and an anchor in the midst of all of this instability in which they’re living.” - Gordon B. Hinckley
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
OCTOBER 2017
On the Cover 10 Cover Story: Hooters Continues Robust Expansion Globally
21 Special Food Franchising Feature - Part 1
10
14 Putting Risk In Its Place 56 Tips to Reduce Employee Turnover & Absenteeism
In Every Issue 6
12
What’s New! Announcements from the industry
28 Food Franchising Feature Article 45 Veterans Supplement
News and Information for Veterans in Franchising
61 A-Z Franchise and Services Directory
14
Expert Advice 12 3 Common Characteristics of Any Successful Franchisee
Ben Davis, Chief Franchising Officer, Lendio
14 Putting Risk In Its Place
George Knauf, Senior Franchise Business Advisor, FranChoice
56 Tips to Reduce Employee Turnover & Absenteeism
18 Franchising USA
in Your Franchise Business
John Waldmann, Co-founder and CEO, Homebase
58 The Home-Based Office is Here to Stay
David Banfield, President, The Interface Financial Group
28 Focus
18
Jiffy Lube
Have Your Say
42
Paul Bosley, Managing Member, Business Finance Depot
32
Food Franchising Feature - Part 1 On the Cover 26 sweetFrog: New Developments a Cause for Excitement
for Growing Dessert Franchise
36 4 Steps to Resolve Guest Complaints 34 Driving Restaurant Results with the Family Experience
36
In Every Issue 22 Feature News 28 Feature Article Expert Advice 32 People are Eating Up Food Franchises!
Christopher Conner, President, Franchise Marketing Systems
42
34 Driving Restaurant Results with the Family Experience
Tania Haigh, CEO, Magnolia Insights
36 4 Steps to Resolve Guest Complaints
Simona Krebs, Brand & Guest Services Manager, Togo’s
40 Why It’s Important to Create Food Safety Culture
Across a Franchise Chris Boyles, VP of The Steritech Institute, Steritech
58 Franchising USA
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what’s new!
FASTSIGNS® on the Fast Track to Growth with Record Attendance at the 2017 Outside Sales Summit
for sales achievement, including 11 individuals who received a Platinum Sales Award for achieving over $1 million in sales during a 12-month period. Additionally, 27 individuals were recognized as Certified FASTSIGNS Sales Executives after completing an extensive certification program. Held at the St. Louis Union Station Hotel, 126 vendors participated at this year’s Outside Side Sales Summit Vendor Show, including 42 first-time exhibitors. Special thanks to Diamond Sponsor Grimco Inc., Platinum Sponsor Epson, Gold Sponsors Fellers and Graphic Solutions Group, and Silver Sponsors 4over and Guru DM.
FASTSIGNS International, Inc., a sign and visual graphics franchisor with more than 660 locations worldwide, hosted over 300 franchisees, sales professionals and corporate employees
at the seventh annual FASTSIGNS® Outside Sales Summit in St. Louis, Missouri. During the event, 137 FASTSIGNS outside sales professionals were recognized
Legendary Philadelphia Eagles Player To Be Keynote Speaker During Filta’s 2018 Conference Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions is pleased to announce that Vince Papale, the man who inspired the Disney movie Invincible, will be the keynote speaker for the 2018 franchise owner’s conference. Papale became a legend in the NFL after his incredible journey from school teacher to NFL player. At the age of 30, Papale defied all odds by trying out for the Philadelphia Eagles during an unprecedented open try out
Franchising USA
FASTSIGNS Outside Sales Summit attendees heard keynote presentations from Kirsty Spraggon, International Speaker and Talk Show Host; Lance Allred, the First Deaf Player in NBA History, Motivational Speaker and BestSelling Author; and John Boyens, Sales Coach and Co-Founder and President of Boyens® Group, Inc. www.fastsigns.com
held by, then, new head coach, Dick Vermeil—and made the team! In a matter of months, Papale went from being an Eagle’s fan who was down on his luck to a hero that inspired his team and the entire city of Philadelphia. The amazing story was destined to become a movie and did in 2006 with Hollywood superstar, Mark Wahlberg, playing Papale on the silver screen. During the conference, the legendary Eagles player will be joined on stage by his wife Janet, who was also portrayed in the movie, and deliver a special keynote that centers around the theme of teamwork. Filta’s 2018 conference will take place in Orlando, Florida, at the Crowne Plaza Inn & Suites near Universal Studios, February 16-18. www.gofilta.com
San Mateo Poop-Scoopers Also Help Protect Police K9s from Bullets When Rick and Paulette Nava started looking for a service franchise to buy ten years ago, they were looking for more than just a business opportunity – they also wanted to be able to help their San Mateo, CA community. Reading about a New Jersey DoodyCalls franchise whose owners were helping to raise money to provide bullet-proof vests for police and military dogs helped them make up their mind. “The Cover Your K9 Foundation was just the beginning,” says Rick. “Owning the franchise has allowed us to help pet owners with physical limitations, help out SPCA and the Humane Society, and clean up parks and public areas.” Of course, the couple has had to contend with their share of jokes. But there is nothing funny about the relationships they build with their customers with physical challenges, says Rick. “Like other DoodyCalls franchise owners, we have found that our service provides help for disabled veterans and others with physical issues. Pets increase the emotional wellbeing of the disabled and aged, so for us providing our service is a win-win situation on many levels.” The couple’s first clean-up was for a cancer patient with three months of deposits in their yard. They also helped a disabled woman living in a crime-ridden area. When she could not afford it, they did it for free.
Their efforts to help protect police dogs are ongoing. The Cover Your K9 Foundation provides protective K-9 vests, trauma kits, car heat alarms and grants for retired police dog medical care in Northern California. An annual summer Cover Your K9fundraising effort in the Bay area has just ended, but the event has raised more than $200,000 in just 3 years and helped more than 100 police K9s throughout Northern California. www.doodycalls.com
AAMCO Expands Brand Footprint with 18 New Centers Nationwide AAMCO Transmissions, Inc. recently announced plans to open 18 new service center locations with new and existing franchisees across the country. The new AAMCO service centers will be located throughout the U.S. in cities from Los Angeles; Queen Creek, Arizona; and Katy, Texas to Teaneck, NJ; New Orleans and Miami. In addition to these openings, AAMCO is targeting select cities in Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri and Pennsylvania to continue to fuel national expansion for the remainder of the year. “AAMCO has been working tirelessly with new and existing franchisees to identify opportunities for growth and help them achieve their business goals,” said Brian O’Donnell, senior vice president of franchise sales at AAMCO Transmissions, Inc. “As the company continues expanding its national footprint, we look forward to opening more service centers with these talented men and women and bringing our brand of total car care to even more markets.”
For more than 50 years, AAMCO’s network of locally owned and independently operated automotive service centers has employed the latest technology. With nearly 650 centers across North America, AAMCO is actively seeking single- and multiunit franchisee operators who are passionate about the brand and committed to providing the highest quality service. aamcofranchise.com
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what’s new! Male Grooming Franchise to Open First Club in San Antonio The Gents Place, a lifestyle club bringing men’s grooming to the next level, has signed a new franchise development agreement, further expanding their presence throughout the state of Texas, to now include the brand’s corporate flagship of San Antonio. New franchisees, Cecilia and Jack Johnson, will plan on opening the region’s first location in the fall of 2018 with future plans to expand into neighboring markets thereafter. This agreement is part of The Gents Place aggressive expansion plans to grow the brand’s presence throughout the state and beyond, with the ultimate goal of opening 150 clubs over the next five years. The company currently has three lifestyle clubs in North Texas (Dallas, Southlake and Frisco), a location in Leawood, Kansas in addition to the development of locations in Austin, Houston and Chicago. The company is seeking qualified franchisees to join the brand and currently has opportunities nationwide in markets such as Texas, Georgia, Florida, California, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, and Virginia. The brand is aggressively targeting Atlanta and South Florida for franchise expansion. Financing is available through the Small Business Administration for qualified franchisees. For more information visit www.franchiseregistry. com. To learn more about ownership opportunities with The Gents Place, visit www.tgpfranchising.com.
Franchising USA
Always Best Care Senior Services Celebrates Tenth Year of Franchising Always Best Care Senior Services, one of the leading senior care franchise systems in the United States, announced that Bill and Diane Mathis renewed their initial franchise agreement for another 10 years, making them the brand’s first franchise owners to have achieved a decade of successful operations. The Mathises are the owners and operators of Always Best Care of San Diego and have been serving local families throughout San Diego since 2007. “The renewal of the Mathis’ franchise agreement couldn’t come at a more perfect time, as we celebrate our 10-year anniversary of franchising this year,” said Jake Brown, CEO of Always Best Care Senior Services. “Over the last decade, Always Best Care has grown to become one of the nation’s leading providers of nonmedical in-home care, assisted living referral services and home health care. We’re so proud of how far we’ve come, and attribute much of the company’s success to our dedicated franchisees. We are truly grateful Bill and Diane are continuing this journey with us.” Always Best Care is one of the nation’s leading providers of non-medical in-home care, assisted living placement services and skilled home health care. The company delivers its services through an international network of more than 200 independently owned and operated franchise territories throughout the United States and Canada. www.alwaysbestcare.com
Hair Saloon Continues its Expansion with New Franchise in Pittsburgh, PA Hair Saloon has awarded a new multiunit franchise agreement that will bring the St. Louis brand to Pittsburgh. Earlier this year, Hair Saloon revealed plans to open additional saloons in St. Louis and expand outside the St. Louis market to Louisville, Kentucky with another multi-unit franchise agreement. The Pittsburgh franchise group, owned by Craig and Kay Fowler, expects to open their first Hair Saloon in early 2018. The Fowlers’ goal is to open three saloons in the Pittsburgh market within the next few years. While exact locations have not yet been identified, they are exploring several sites in the North Pittsburgh area. “The Hair Saloon team is excited about the Pittsburgh market where we have an opportunity to impact the men of Pittsburgh by delivering our trademark customer service and comfortable
atmosphere,” said Thomas Twellman, Sr.,
and commitment to customer service
happy to have found a franchise partner in
business.”
Hair Saloon Founder and CEO. “We were Craig and Kay Fowler, whose core values
matched well with our way of doing www.hairsaloon.com
UNH Franchising Index Surges +10.4% in Q2 Fueled by double-digit gains by 20 of its 50 component companies, the University of New Hampshire’s RCF 50 Index™ surged 10.4% in Q2, a clear indication the U.S. franchise sector is doing better than most other sectors of the economy. “This is the largest percentage gain of the RCF 50 Index in more than four years, and far outpaces the 2.6% gain in the S&P 500,” said Dr. Hachemi Aliouche, director of the Rosenberg International Franchise Center (RIFC) at UNH’s Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics. The index is a key output of RIFC’s research and is the first stock index to track the financial market performance of the U.S. franchising sector.
Period
RCF 50 Index™
S&P 500 Index
Q2 2017 1-Year 5-Year 10-Year Since Inception (2000)
+10.4% +18.8% +49.6% +80.5% +210.6%
+2.6% +15.5% +77.9% +61.2% +73.8%
Read the full RCF 50 Index Q2 report at www.unh.edu/ rosenbergcenter.
Best Q2 performance: Weight Watchers International Inc. (WTW), gaining almost 115%. Worst Q2 performance: Hertz Global Holdings Inc. (HTZ), owner of the car rental brands Hertz, Dollar, and Thrifty, losing 34.4 % in market value. RCF 50 Index™ and S&P 500 Index: Total Returns
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cov er story
H ooter s
Hooters
Continues Robust Expansion Globally Known for its world-famous Hooters Style chicken wings, the first Hooters opened its doors in 1983 in Clearwater, Florida. Expectations were so modest at the time that the simple fact the doors opened was deemed worthy of a toast.
Since then millions have been liberated from the ordinary at Hooters while enjoying great food, fun, and one-of-a-kind hospitality that can only be served up by the Hooters Girls. The Hooters brand has grown to have more than 420 locations in 39 US states, and in 30 countries. Today, the brand continues its global expansion, with over 30 new locations opening in 2017, with almost half of those being within the United States. With over 120 commitments for future franchise development worldwide, Hooters has plans to open and continue its growth in multiple markets across the United States, including Texas, Florida, and California. Furthermore, Hooters continues to ramp up its new corporate development in the US, with 10 new restaurants opening in 2017, and at least 12 each year for the next few years. In addition to new restaurant growth, Hooters’ remodeling program continues on with an additional 9 remodels in 2017. By the end of the year, Hooters will have over 200 restaurants built to the new prototype design. Hooters’ new restaurant design appeals
Franchising USA
to a broad range of customers with more contemporary seating and interior finishes, and top-of-the-line Audio and Visual packages. It also includes a centrally located bar area, offering a wide selection of cocktails, craft beers and wines. It’s a fun, lively atmosphere where customers get a great meal and enjoy a beer while watching their favorite sporting event. Hooters is not just good looking, it is renowned for its diverse and craveable menu, including fresh entree salads, a great lineup of hand-formed burgers, delicious seafood dishes, and fanfavorite fried pickles. Of course, Hooters Girls always serve their world-famous traditional and boneless chicken wings with Buffalo sauce favorites, ranging in heat from mild to 911, as well as additional signature sauces and rubs, such as teriyaki-style samurai, lemon pepper and chipotle honey. The variety of wings Hooters offers has expanded to bacon wrapped and smoked, too! Can you imagine all of the possible combinations? It would take more than just a few trips to try them all! Hooters continues to seek new franchisees throughout the world, as well as development with new partners in the United States. According to Chief Development Officer, Mark Whittle, Hooters is taking “a more proactive approach” when it comes to identifying the right candidates, rather than simply waiting for the right person/organization to look them up. With 100% brand awareness in the US, and over 93% around the world, the Hooters brand is not one that needs a lot of introduction to the local consumers. “One of the great things about selling this concept is that you never have to overcome
“One of the great things about selling this concept is that you never have to overcome a brandawareness hurdle. Whether here in the U.S. or abroad, everyone knows Hooters and most people have a genuine fondness for the brand.” - Mark Whittle a brand-awareness hurdle,” Whittle says. “Whether here in the U.S. or abroad, everyone knows Hooters and most people have a genuine fondness for the brand.” In addition, Hooters is seeking real estate sites in various markets for its’ existing franchise partners that are aggressively growing the brand. The ideal franchisee, he says, is someone who’s operated multiple restaurants in a given market, or someone who’s entering the project with access to an experienced partner. Also key, in addition to financial wherewithal, is a desire to develop multiple restaurants. “The three (3) common elements with our largest franchisee partners in the United States are a passion for our great brand, solid operational execution, and the financial capability to grow the brand in each of their markets,” says Whittle. Whittle also says Hooters looks for potential franchisees with $1.5 million in available cash on hand, and a $3 million net worth, but these levels can vary depending upon the market. But it’s not simply about the money, Whittle says. Hooters is first and foremost a people business. “We want our associates and our franchisees to be passionate about the business and the concept, and to have a
desire to be with people,” he says. “This is a people business and we happen to sell food. Introverts don’t seem to be successful, or, if you’re an introvert by nature, you need to have the outgoing sort of people working with you. If Warren Buffett called me tomorrow, the first question I’d ask him is ‘Who is going to operate the restaurant?’ and if he couldn’t give me an answer, I’d ask him to get an operations partner secured, then we could talk about Hooters.” In terms of markets, Whittle says, Hooters is predominantly looking at places with populations of at least 100,000 or 125,000 with an upper-middle income base, a high preponderance of daytime activity and a strong residential base surrounding the site. In addition, Hooters prefers sites that are within close proximity to regional malls, theatres and/or sports arenas to help drive evening and late night traffic. Some of the most successful Hooters restaurants are located in the hearts of large downtown areas. For more information, please visit www.Hooters.com/franchising or www.linkedin.com/in/hootersfranchising-7674a4126/, or follow us at twitter.com/hooters, facebook.com/ hooters, instagram.com/hooters, or on Snapchat at “hooters”.
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ex per t advice
Ben Davis, Chief Franchising Officer, Lendio
3 Common Characteristics of Any Successful Franchisee
It takes a special person to run a franchise. You have to see the value in living at the intersection of being an independent business owner and working to build the broader franchise organization. However, at some point, the cost and risk of failure associated with the steep learning curve of starting a new business
Franchising USA
likely drove you to consider the franchise path. After all, when it comes to running a franchise, 95 percent of the factors of success are the same factors that any small business owner is thinking about: maintaining cash flow, finding new customers and retaining quality employees to name a few. However, the best practice for any franchisee is to align and work together with the franchisor in building the franchise unit. As an entrepreneurial franchisee, you must learn the balance of give and take, as well as how to manage innovation within a franchise organization. To be successful in both the individual
franchise and the franchise organization, franchisees must learn to strike that perfect balance. Here’s how:
1
Know when to be a TAKER and when to be a GIVER
As a new franchisee, especially within a mature brand, you have to realize that in the beginning you’re going to take a whole lot more than you’re going to give. Part of the franchisor’s role is to engage with the front lines to gather performance data, test marketing strategies, identify best practices and package them up for easy implementation amongst the franchise network. You paid a franchise license fee
“When you position yourself as both an entrepreneurial spirit and an interdependent member of the organization, you, your franchise, your peer franchisees and your franchisor will be much more successful.” mastermind behind the development of the bucket packaging and emphasized the “finger-lickin’ good” motto, both of which became staples for the KFC franchise.
2
Engage relationships and leverage peer data
Part of taking shamelessly and giving freely in a franchise organization is creating personal relationships. Be engaged with your franchisor and peer franchisees. If the franchisor holds an annual convention, conference call, webinar, training event or retreat where a significant number of your peer franchisees are engaged, you should be engaged in the same way. Spend time learning everything you can from more seasoned franchisees.
to get access to the blueprints and best practices for “the wheel,” now don’t pay to reinvent it! Franchisees can be competitive – the insatiable drive to “win” is one of the most common and admired traits of successful small business owners – but a key to becoming a successful franchisee is sharing your good ideas and innovations with the franchisor. Any internal competition should be fuel for growth and fun, never a resource-consuming or goodwill-killing headwind. Consider the story behind the KFC bucket. The idea came from Leon Weston Harman, a KFC franchisee in Salt Lake City. He was the
Good franchisors will measure each franchisee’s engagement with the broader organization in some way: participation in webinars, conferences, online communities, surveys and other activities. Measuring engagement can also help with crafting goals, and projecting profitability and performance. There is an abundance of evidence to show that franchisees that engage their franchisor and their peer franchisees achieve their goals more often and in less time than those who don’t. By engaging in relationships and using peer data, you can glean valuable insights and set your franchise unit up for continued success.
3
Don’t Forget the Big Picture
The one thing that franchisees tend to do better than non-franchise small business owners is to look at the bigger business picture. While most small business owners would agree on the value of investing time in working on the business, many are so bogged down with the day-to-day
Ben Davis
operations of running a business, they only have time to work in the business. Their days are so consumed by things that feel most urgent, they never make time for things that are most important. The work you do in your business provides you with a paycheck, the work you do on your business provides you with a retirement and perhaps your kids with an inheritance; working with a franchisor tends to help you take that step back to look at what needs to be done on your business. As an entrepreneurial franchisee who is involved in and committed to making your own franchise location run like a well-oiled machine, remember to listen, to follow and to execute the franchise model in your business every day. When you position yourself as both an entrepreneurial spirit and an interdependent member of the organization, you, your franchise, your peer franchisees and your franchisor will be much more successful. Ben Davis is the chief franchising officer at Lendio. The franchising teams he’s built consistently outperform the market by significant multiples. From leading the integration of franchising into a Dow 30 component, to managing successful M&A processes in franchising, to meeting one-on-one with new franchisees to review their business plans, Ben loves everything about building great franchise organizations. Aligned with his passion for franchising is Ben’s belief that empowering small business ownership should be a cornerstone of any collective effort to strengthen individuals, families, communities and countries. www.lendio.com
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ex per t advice
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ex per t advice
George Knauf, Senior Franchise Business Advisor, FranChoice
Putting Risk In Its Place With the right plan, skills and drive you can accomplish anything you set your mind to and eliminate risk in the process. Franchising USA
A lot of people think of business owners as big risk takers, but really they are big risk avoiders! We work to eliminate all
the risk we can and understand those risks we are unable to eliminate. Once we have done that then business owners will take a calculated risk.
As I look at the field of franchise
opportunities I see a wide range of great options, but know it is scary for candidates that would leave a job to start them. Some of the most compelling franchises out there are so confident in their abilities and how well their systems are built that they will create ways that their new owners can mitigate risk and make taking the leap more palatable.
Click here to find out more...
FRANGUIDE.COM 703-424-2980 FIND YOUR FRANCHISE WITH FREE GUIDANCE FROM INDUSTRY EXPERTS
ex per t advice
George Knauf, Senior Franchise Business Advisor, FranChoice
“There may never have been a better time to look for an existing semi-absentee franchise to purchase for your portfolio.” There are a number of ways a franchisor can help new candidates. Outright eliminating the franchise fee, oddly enough, would not remove risk. It might even have the opposite effect as there is a benefit to an owner having money in the deal. One of the older ways that franchisors made it easier for candidates to take the leap was to create semi-absentee (very hard to be fully absentee where your money is concerned) franchises where new franchisees can keep their job while they begin building their franchise empire. The business model has to be simple, streamlined and easily run by a manager. There has to be a relatively stable employee base and they are more likely to provide a service than products or food. These semi-absentee models have been used by countless corporate executives looking for a future transition out of their jobs and business owners looking to grow a portfolio without selling their first full time business. The game plan is to make a reasonable down payment (often on a SBA loan), leverage the bulk of the investment , pick a location, hire a manager and then manage the manager with 10-15 hours per week (often a married couple splits the responsibility). Once you have your first store open and doing well then you open another. And so on, and so on. We have seen some owners grow this into a cash flow and asset that while not huge is a great resource for them. Others have grown truly enormous portfolios that they keep as long as they like for the ongoing revenue then sell the asset they built when they want to retire. Please note: The fact that a franchisor offers a semi-absentee franchise alone does not make it a smart buy. There are still a lot of criteria that need to be met for it to be successful. Some investors want to build an even
Franchising USA
greater perception of investing safety by acquiring an existing operating franchise. While you do have to select a resale business carefully, we have been able to help our candidates find some true values out in the market (so they do exist). Right now there are hundreds of these operating portfolio building franchises for sale. There may never have been a better time to look for an existing semi-absentee franchise to purchase for your portfolio. But wait, there’s more… Within the past year we saw another approach where a franchisor who is immensely confident in their offering found a way to mitigate risk for their franchisees. It is the first of its kind and we hope we see it again from other brands. While they offer a traditional franchise fee plus startup costs get you 100% ownership in your business, they added a second option. In this alternative approach they ask the franchisee to pay $79,000 up front. As the franchisee operates the franchise all of that franchise fee is paid back over 3 years. If the franchisee hits certain performance goals they kick in added bonus money. Starting to sound like a job? Noting of the sort! The franchisee owns 50% of the business (for the $79K that they get back over time), having just partnered with a huge brand. The amazing thing is that for their 50% of the business the franchisor kicks in over $300,000 the first year or two for your office, staff, vehicles and equipment! If you grow aggressively they keep expanding the team, facilities, vehicles and equipment without you giving up any more of the business. Through the other brands under their umbrella they even funnel some lead flow. The franchisee gets 50% of the profits, medical insurance (you know it is a big deal), access to 401K and much more. Additionally the franchisee owns 50% of
George Knauf
the asset they built with their new partner, so you get paid if you sell the business too! 25 years in the franchise business and I am not sure there is any program I have ever seen that offers this much risk mitigation for a franchisee who is ready to go to work and begin building their empire. Long gone are the days where every franchise offered an unmeasurable risk. You can better evaluate the opportunity in front of you than ever before. Jobs are still less risky, you say. How is that working out for you? Do you risk being downsized, having your comp plan restructured, being replaced by the (lower paid) person just below you in the food chain? Are you building an asset, just not your own? With the options above, it is getting harder to say that a job is safer than controlling your destiny! What is your success story? Let’s go find it! 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.myperfectfranchise.com
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JOIN THE TEAM THAT EVERYONE’S REVVED UP ABOUT. To learn more, visit www.jiffylube.com/franchise or call 800-327-9532.
Jiffy Lube continues to grow its footprint across the U.S. and welcomes qualified franchisee candidates to join the system of more than 2,000 service centers. We offer a proven business model that includes oil changes using premium quality Pennzoil lubricants, brake and tire services as well as ancillary service offerings. In addition to having a low cost of entry, Jiffy Lube supports every owner with national advertising, a proprietary Point-of-Sale system, robust training programs and a local field support team to help grow their business. Š2017 JIFFY LUBE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Franchising USA
FOCUS
Jif f y Lube
Looking to Expand Your Portfolio or Open a Franchise? Jiffy Lube May be the Solution for You Jiffy Lube continues to grow its footprint across the U.S. and is seeking qualified franchise candidates to join the system of more than 2,000 service centers throughout North America. A proven business model, Jiffy Lube offers significant opportunity whether you want to diversify your existing
Franchising USA
franchise portfolio or seeking to pursue your entrepreneurial dreams. A Jiffy Lube franchise provides low cost to entry, in terms of both initial start-up costs as well as royalty fee. And, Jiffy Lube offers a program for Veterans, which waives the initial franchise fee. In looking at the changes in consumer preferences and the overall automotive aftermarket, Chris Dykes, Director of Network Development for Jiffy Lube International, views the current environment as an excellent opportunity for growth for Jiffy Lube. “As the average age of the vehicle population continues to grow and as consumers continue to
demand more and more with regards to convenience, the recently introduced business model is designed to take advantage of this opportunity.� Jiffy Lube offers a variety of ways a new franchisee can join the system. Jiffy Lube will assist the franchisee with identifying potential markets and site locations, providing prototype construction drawings, and other business consulting services. Franchisees also have the ability to self-develop new Jiffy Lube Service centers, convert existing lube centers to Jiffy Lube or participate in a Build To Suit development program. In addition to offering various options for becoming
“As the average age of the vehicle population continues to grow and as consumers continue to demand more and more with regards to convenience, the recently introduced business model is designed to take advantage of this opportunity.” - Chris Dykes
a franchisee, Jiffy Lube also offers a number of financial incentives and support programs for new Jiffy Lube service centers.
dedicated local field team designated to help you grow your business. Additionally, Jiffy Lube International offers service center employees an award-winning training program, Jiffy Lube University, with robust computer-based curriculum and hands on training; employees can even earn college credit. Training and operational excellence are the foundation of the brand’s commitment to customers to provide convenient, quality service and an outstanding experience.
the largest footprint in the quick lube
Jiffy Lube International also helps facilitate national fleet companies including Rideshare customers. With
about becoming a Jiffy Lube franchisee,
industry, Jiffy Lube offers fleet companies the ability to be serviced at select or
all locations based on their geographic
presence. The ability to offer consolidated billing and cost controls assures fleet managers that Jiffy Lube is a valued partner.
Jiffy Lube International, Inc. is a wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of Shell Oil Company. To learn more please call 800-327-9532 or visit www.jiffylube.com/franchise.
An industry leader, Jiffy Lube serves over 20 million customers annually, providing preventive automotive maintenance services including oil changes using premium Pennzoil lubricants, brake and tire service as well as ancillary service offerings. As a Jiffy Lube service center owner, franchisees are supported with a proprietary Point-of-Sale system, comprehensive marketing support including national advertising, and a
Franchising USA
FOCUS
Page 19
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FranchisingFeature food - part 1
october 2017
New Developments a Cause for Excitement for
Growing Dessert Franchise 4 Steps to Resolve Guest Complaints Driving Restaurant Results with the Family Experience Franchising USA
food FR A NCH ISI NG FE AT U R E – part 1
what’s new! Duck Donuts Welcomes Change in Season with Fall-Inspired Menu Items Duck Donuts is welcoming the change in season with the return of pumpkin, a signature fall flavor. Now through November 24, pumpkin icing is available at all Duck Donuts locations, as well as a fall-inspired donut harvest assortment. The assortment features donuts such as pumpkin icing with
graham cracker crumbs and marshmallow drizzle, vanilla icing
with caramel drizzle and glazed with cinnamon sugar. In addition to serving its signature coffee blends, Riptide Roast, Light House
Blend and Sunset Pier Decaf, most locations are offering pumpkin flavored coffees to settle into fall.
Duck Donuts was founded in 2006 by Russ DiGilio in Duck, North Carolina. By 2011, Duck Donuts had expanded to four
Outer Banks locations and the donut business was so successful that DiGilio was continuously approached about franchise
opportunities by fans who begged for a Duck Donuts in their
community. The first franchise opened in Williamsburg, Virginia, in 2013, and there are now more than 50 open franchise locations. www.duckdonuts.com
Melted Sandwich Concept, Melt Shop, Launches Domestic & International Franchise Program Melt Shop, the pioneers of the melted sandwich movement, announced the launch of its domestic and international franchise program. Founded by Spencer Rubin in 2011, Melt Shop has eight corporate locations — in New York, Philadelphia, and Minneapolis — and is seeking experienced entrepreneurs to help the brand grow to 100 locations over the next five years across the U.S. and internationally. Melt Shop recently expanded into the Middle East and will open seven locations in the region, with four opening in Kuwait by March 2018. “Melt Shop has spent the last six years
Franchising USA
tirelessly perfecting our brand and
Melt Shop’s focus is simple: melted
bring our New York-born fast casual
ingredients. Its bread is freshly-baked
business model. The timing is right to concept to the world,” said Josh Morgan,
sandwiches made with high-quality daily and its high-quality cheese is
Operating Partner of Aurify Brands,
sourced from meticulously selected
sandwiches possess the unique ability to
create melted sandwich masterpieces — it
any market and we see immense potential
in the fast-casual space.
Melt Shop’s parent company. “Melted
dairies. But Melt Shop does more than
be instantly recognizable and familiar in
creates a culinary experience unmatched
to grow through franchising.”
meltshopfranchise.com
MOD Pizza Appoints Tracy Cioffi as Chief Marketing Officer and Names Kate Jaspon of Dunkin’ Brands to The Board Women, Next Generation” list and was recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal as “Executive of the Year.”
Tracy L Cioffi
Kate Jaspon
MOD Super Fast Pizza Holdings, LLC (“MOD Pizza”, “MOD” or the “Company”), today announced two major appointments: Tracy Cioffi joins as the company’s first chief marketing officer (“CMO”), and Kate Jaspon has been named to MOD’s Board of Directors, effective immediately.
customer insights, local store marketing, digital marketing and communications. Cioffi brings more than 20 years of expertise in building and developing national retail and culinary brands, and most recently served as senior vice president for Sur La Table, Inc., where she developed and managed the integrated marketing strategy for their 130-plus stores and 75 culinary locations. Cioffi was named to Fortune’s “Most Powerful
As MOD’s first CMO, Cioffi will lead the company’s global marketing strategy, including brand marketing, design,
Kate Jaspon, who joins MOD’s board of directors, is an 11-year veteran of Dunkin’ Brands where she currently serves as chief financial officer. Jaspon has led several key financial initiatives while at Dunkin’ including the company’s IPO and followon offerings, and has steered a crossfunctional team responsible for financial and SEC reporting, debt management, cash management, insurance, enterprise risk management, contract administration and records management. “Tracy and Kate join the MOD team at a critical point in our growth, and Ally and I are excited to welcome their guidance and expertise as we continue to expand the company footprint across the globe,” said Scott Svenson, co-founder and CEO of MOD. For more information, please visit www.modpizza.com
Captain D’s Opens New Location In Johnson City, TN Captain D’s, the leading fast casual seafood restaurant, has opened its newest franchised location in Johnson City, Tennessee and emphasizes Captain D’s aggressive development plans for Tennessee. There are currently 71 Captain D’s open in the state, with three additional locations slated to open before the end of the year in Cordova, Dayton and Smyrna. The new restaurant is owned and operated by Edward and Chris Benner of Trident Holdings LLC, marking their 23rd Captain D’s location. The partners currently operate across five states and recently signed an additional agreement to develop
three locations throughout Roanoke, Virginia. “We began franchising with Captain D’s in 2015 and haven’t looked back since. The brand’s commitment to continually investing in its people, products and processes has established it as one of the best franchising opportunities in the industry today, and our success is a true testament to Captain D’s commitment to its franchisees,” said Chris Benner. Captain D’s expansion in Tennessee is fueled by the outstanding success the brand experienced in 2016, achieving its sixth consecutive year of same store
sales increases and fourth successive year of record high system-wide AUV. This ongoing success has propelled Captain D’s franchise expansion, with agreements signed to open an additional 25 new restaurants in states across the country. www.captaindsfranchising.com
Franchising USA
food FR A NCH ISI NG FE AT U R E – part 1
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food FR A NCH ISI NG FE AT U R E – part 1
what’s new! Dunkin’ Donuts to Open 6 New Restaurants in Atlanta/Macon, GA Dunkin’ Donuts, America’s all-day, everyday stop for coffee and baked goods, announced a signing of store development agreements with franchisees QSR Group, LLC, and Guzaratti LLC to develop six new restaurants throughout Georgia. QSR Group will develop five Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants in Macon, Georgia, including two multi-brand locations with Baskin-Robbins. Guzaratti, LLC will develop one Dunkin’ Donuts location in a gas and convenience store. New franchisees Nishith and Navnit Patel of QSR Group, LLC are both experienced multi-unit operators of quick service restaurants. Nishith and Navnit are dedicated to further developing the brand in the region with their first restaurant scheduled to open in 2018. New franchisee Smita Patel of Guzaratti LLC will include Dunkin’ Donuts in a new “green” gas station and convenience store location in the Buckhead suburb of Atlanta. This new “green” location features three different power sources which will allow Dunkin’ Donuts to continue serving customers if the surrounding area loses power. The Buckhead location is scheduled to open by the end of 2017. With more than 190 Dunkin’ Donuts locations in the Greater Atlanta and Macon areas, the company is continuing to recruit franchisees in the Atlanta and Augusta areas. To learn more about Dunkin’ Donuts visit www.DunkinDonuts.com.
Franchising USA
The Melting Pot Signs Largest Development Agreement In Brand’s History To Bring Additional Restaurants To Mexico World’s Premier Fondue Franchise Partners with GIN group to Open 17 Restaurants The Melting Pot® Restaurants, Inc., the world’s premier fondue restaurant and a leading polished casual dining franchise, announced the signing of its largest development agreement in the brand’s 42-year history – a 17-unit deal to expand the brand’s presence in Mexico. GINgroup, one of the largest privately held companies in Mexico, will develop 17 new Melting Pot restaurant franchises throughout the country over the next seven years. GINgroup’s next restaurant will be located outside of Mexico City, in a yet to be determined market, and is slated to open in 2018. A nod to its name, The Melting Pot is known worldwide for providing a blend of traditional and modern fondue – incorporating both global and local flavors. The Melting Pot’s new Mexico locations will feature recipes infused with local flavors and ingredients, such as Manchego cheese from Queretaro and chocolate from Puebla. The brand operates more than 120 restaurants across 35 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. www.meltingpotfranchise.com
Houston Company BrisketU Expands Its Smoke Ring By Offering Franchises Houston-based BrisketU (Backyard Pitmasters, LLC) is now franchising its three-hour brisket smoking class business model throughout Texas and beyond. The $74 classes currently take place at local breweries. Class topics include selecting firewood, choosing a rub, trimming a brisket, smoke profiles, and controlling the temperature during cooking. “Our brand embodies a culture of true Texas hospitality, celebrating life through the pit master’s trinity of family, friends and feasting,” said Jon Kane co-creator. “This fact, coupled with a quick start-up time and affordable cost, make this the perfect franchise for someone who wants to make money, while having a great time.”
Visitors Authority, Google, Prudential, and NASA are a few companies that have held these events.
In addition to brewery events, BrisketU offers private corporate events. Spirit Airlines, the Las Vegas Convention and
Franchise start-up time is 8 to 12 weeks, and costs are extremely reasonable. BrisketU offers franchisees support on
promotion and operations. Franchises come with a custom branded trailer pit, eliminating the need for costly overhead like a building lease. To inquire about a franchise, visit brisketu.com/franchise.
Performance Food Group and NCR to Deliver Powerful Point-of-Sale Solutions to U.S. Restaurants NCR and Performance Food Group Company have announced a strategic referral partnership to bring NCR Silver point-of-sale technology to more restaurants throughout the United States. Customers of PFG’s 36 Performance Foodservice distribution centers will be able to purchase NCR Silver software and hardware under a subscription service model. Solutions available through the relationship include NCR Silver core and NCR Silver Pro Restaurant Edition, both of which are enabled on iOS and Android platforms. With NCR Silver, restaurateurs will be able to check out customers quickly and gain access to sales, inventory and employee scheduling reports. They will also be able to offer customers targeted loyalty discounts and promotions. In addition, PFG will soon expand its relationship with NCR by integrating its order management system with NCR Silver to further streamline restaurant operations. The planned integration will enable
restaurant operators to not only ring up orders, manage inventory and employee schedules, but also order from PFG’s vast inventory of food and food-related products – all from one platform. For more information on NCR Silver, visit: www.ncrsilver.com. For more information on Performance Foodservice, PFG’s broadline food service division, visit: www.performancefoodservice.com.
Franchising USA
food FR A NCH ISI NG FE AT U R E – part 1
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food FR A NCH ISI NG FE AT U R E – part 1
S weetFrog
New Developments a Cause for Excitement for Growing Dessert Franchise “It’s going through construction now, which is really really exciting,” she said. Franchisee Timothy Barber, who is opening the kiosk on the military base, is also hoping to expand further to other bases in Virginia and Maryland, Pucel added. On top of that, sweetFrog is also continuing its push to go mobile.
While many businesses have strong traditions they like to follow, one Virginia-based frozen yogurt franchise is going nontraditional with its locations. Franchising USA
SweetFrog, headquartered in Richmond, is currently opening non-traditional locations for its brand in some promising places. This year, the brand has added a kiosk at the Fredericksburg Field House and will have its first kiosk ready to open on a military base within the next few months, Director of Franchise Marketing and Development Shemar Pucel said during a recent interview.
“Our mobile trucks are really taking off now,” Pucel said. “We’ve added two new units already and I have several more in the works for the end of the year. So, we’re much more than just the traditional shop nowadays.” Those two new mobile units are in Fort Worth, TX and Cleveland, OH. They join the three mobile trucks already in use in Richmond. But sweetFrog hasn’t forgotten about its traditional locations. In fact, the company wants to get to 400 opened locations by the end of next year, Pucel said.
“Over the next six months, that’s pretty much the main goal,” the director of franchise marketing and development noted. SweetFrog is busy holding two discovery days per month that usually have three to eight potential franchisees taking part. Currently, the brand has 342 locations open in 27 states and three countries, including Egypt and eight in the Dominican Republic. While sweetFrog is well represented in the eastern United States, there are still many opportunities in places like New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Vermont, Maine and Massachusetts. The company has its sights set on expansion in Minnesota, Illinois, California, Nevada, Arizona and Texas. “We are making a very strong push to get more and more people in the midwest, the west coast as well as the southwest to open up sweetFrog locations,” Pucel said. Mobile units and kiosks aren’t the only new things sweetFrog has been exploring. Pucel said the company is always testing new products with the public to see how it might potentially expand its offerings. Recently, sweetFrog has tested both donuts and Rolled Froyo.
Support and Training SweetFrog has a number of active duty and retired military members as franchisees, as well as families who own a location together. No matter their background, they all have some common elements. “Our owners are all strong, business savvy professionals who have great managerial skills, are outgoing and like connecting
with the community,” Pucel said. “We look for that bubbly, vivacious personality to become owners.”
“We’re much more than just a place to go to grab frozen yogurt and walk out,” Pucel stated.
When franchisees come on board, they meet Director of Training Alan Delano for their initial training in sweetFrog’s corporate training store and classroom in Richmond.
Along with its community involvement, the brand’s two beloved mascots, Scoop and Cookie, help it stand out. Children love to run up to the frog mascots and hug them, the director of franchise marketing and development said.
Delano walks them through all facets of the business, both front of the house and back of the house. They also receive training in marketing tactics and how to use the various platforms sweetFrog has set up to help their franchise businesses grow. The company also holds monthly owners calls and an annual three-day convention that is held in different locations each year. Many of the higher up executives also like to get out into the field and the company ensures they are visiting the stores at least once or twice per year.
Community involvement Another area sweetFrog offers training for its franchisees is how to connect further with their communities. They encourage franchisees to join their local Chambers of Commerce, sit in on Parent Teacher Association meetings, attend fairs and festivals, connect with nonprofits and churches and ask those places if there is any way sweetFrog can help them. In addition to serving frozen yogurt, sweetFrog holds paint parties, spirit parties, birthday parties, fundraisers, it has a field trip program and it also partners with the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts so the youngsters can get their financial literacy badges.
It also has 12 proprietary frozen yogurt flavors; including cookies n’ cream, cake batter, NSA Vanilla and original tart; plus two proprietary soft serve ice cream flavors. The community involvement, along with its comprehensive support network has garnered sweetFrog numerous accolades from various franchising organizations. Started in 2009 by founders Derek and Ana Shaw, the brand was purchased by Boxwood Capital Partners in 2015. Pucel became involved after CEO Pat Galleher found her profile on business networking site LinkedIn. She was working for another Richmond-based franchise company at the time when Galleher invited her for coffee and explained the sweetFrog concept and its vision for growth to her. “After several meetings and some hardnosed negotiation, he convinced me to join the team.” And now Pucel wants to convince others to join the sweetFrog team as franchisees. Whether as owners of a traditional location, a nontraditional location or a mobile unit, sweetFrog has a franchising opportunity suitable for everyone. www.sweetfrog.com/franchise
Franchising USA
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food FR A NCH ISI NG FE AT U R E – part 1
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
FOOD
FRANCHISING FEATURE
~PART
“Though there are consider, fast food top guns. Their reputation to keep them well
Some consider the first franchisee of America to be John S. Pemberton who invented Coca Cola. Pemberton set the path forward for a different approach to business that included mass marketing and production. Coca Cola is associated with the food industry, and a lot of restaurants align
Franchising USA
OOD
RANCHISING EATURE
ART 1~
are many franchises to food restaurants are the reputation alone is enough well ahead of the game.” themselves with a specific soda brand or market directly off the brand name of the beverage. Pemberton truly had a great influence on the food franchise of his future and the food industry is now considered one of the most recognizable franchises in America. In fact, the largest franchise chains are primarily restaurants because it’s become a vital part of the American economy and it’s in demand. The golden arches of the McDonald’s restaurant mark every corner of Main Street, with a Starbucks mermaid posed as its friendly neighbor. The food industry is familiar, plentiful and comforting. Which also means it’s profitable. With a
definitive branding and highly established reputation, the food franchise is one of the easiest markets to consider as a new franchisee. The process has become tried and true for the consumer, it’s quick and easy to learn and already a part of the country’s culture. Plus, everyone eats and will always have to eat in order to survive. It’s a win win situation with never ending demand. The success rate is almost guaranteed and therefore it comes with a price; start up costs are pretty hefty. As someone considering a food franchise as a career, the cost is worth considering but you wouldn’t want it to be too big of an investment that you couldn’t catch up with after the fact. Though the money would eventually come back around, consider all the numbers before committing fully. Another downfall is the over saturation of the great food franchises. There is likely a lot of well known restaurants directly in your desired neighborhood. Consider a lot of research of territories and locations that would be best for a work life balance. A lot of home offices are open and accessible to a lot of interested investors making research simple. Discussing the process with current franchisors should be considered before investment as well. Franchise names are now competing with small business restaurants. Local chefs and professionals have decided to step outside of the franchise and start their own food
business. These restaurants are becoming more popular with the use of social media and though they are a competition within the field they have not had much of a hit on the food franchise. These are specialty restaurants with less frequent visits, while franchises have a constant flow of customers who come for all meals at all times of the day. That being said, local restaurants are usually situated within the same area with high foot traffic. Is it best for a brand named restaurant to be within this neighborhood or veer outside the strip of local cuisine to get a leg up on the competition? One of the biggest food franchises is the fast food industry. The American family is busy and strapped for time, especially in bigger cities. Working families are stuck in traffic and need to eat quickly. For the most part, mealtime has become a necessity in the day-to-day life, rather than an enjoyable and lengthy moment. McDonald’s changed the way food was produced, making its mark as a quick and easy means to access food. The McDonald brothers transformed the food economy into a quick service production and by last year the restaurant had 14, 155 restaurants in the country and 22, 744 locations globally. Not bad for a barbeque joint in the 50s.
Franchising USA
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food FR A NCH ISI NG FE AT U R E – part 1
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
“Franchise names are now competing with small business restaurants. Local chefs and professionals have decided to step outside of the franchise and start their own food business..”
The success has many factors behind it including recognition, affordability, brand name and consistency to name a few. Many other chains have followed suit in the McDonald’s success template: from the Big Mac to the Whopper, from Ronald McDonald to Colonel Saunders, kid’s meals toys and drive thrus – the big league fast food industries have formulated a guaranteed process. For a safe and profitable franchise, this is the way to go. In 2015, the fast food industry produced $200 billion in revenue in the US. If you’re looking for an easy transition, a quick process, a great success rate, it’s the best option. Of course, no great feat comes without its work. Though most fast food restaurants have great supports, training and marketing, there are times franchisees will have to put the work in. The industry employs over 4 million people, but it has a fast turnover rate, keeping a committee and consistent staff makes it difficult to step away from the plate and allow the business to run itself at all times. That being said, the supports are a safe and sure way to keep the work life balance at its peak. Most fast food franchisees can live a comfortable lifestyle, checking in from time to time, while enjoying the perks of a profitable business. There is no need for past experience or understanding of how such a restaurant operates, but a passion for the food
Franchising USA
industry would be helpful. Just like its food, the running of fast food restaurants is quick, easy and consistent.
by all family members. Though it’s
There are over 200, 000 restaurants to choose from and research would be the best way to narrow down your top choice. Reaching out to current owners, the community and franchisors would help a franchisee determine what market best suits them. Though a lot of the franchises run on the same platform, their structure and expectations might differ.
million people eat at a fast food restaurant
The franchising world has been redefined and recognized mainly as a fast food industry. Though there are many franchises to consider, fast food restaurants are the top guns. Their reputation alone is enough to keep them well ahead of the game. Though some have gained a negative connotation as being an unhealthy food choice, a lot of adhered to the demands of its consumers and offered a healthy choice option. They tend to cover a lot of bases: breakfast, lunch and dinner menus that are enjoyed
taken a hit for being unhealthy, many
Americans are still enjoying it. About 50 everyday in this country alone.
If profit and success are your main goal
with easy and quick training, the fast food
industry is your fit. If your pockets are big, but your dreams are even bigger, it’s the best first line franchise to consider.
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:
food FRANCHISING part 2
OPPORTUNITY IS KNOCKING. GET YOUR FOOT IN THE DOOR BEFORE IT CLOSES.
Visit LittleCaesars.com or Call (800) 553-5776 to Join the Fastest Growing Pizza Chain in America *
*Based on 2015 U.S. store growth. © 2017 LCE, Inc. 62622
food FR A NCH ISI NG FE AT U R E – part 1
Christopher Conner, President, Franchise Marketing Systems
People are
eating up
food franchises! Food Franchising has always been front and center for the entire franchise industry. After all, the industry was essentially brought main stream by some of our favorite hamburger and chicken food purveyors in the 1950’s. Franchising USA
The recent movie, The Founder, helped retell the story of how the franchise industry was brought to the general public by an excitable Ray Kroc who discovered the McDonald’s brothers invention. Chicken, hot dogs, burgers….more burgers and now sushi seem to have a never ending assembly line of new concepts and innovative food service franchise brands always coming into the franchise market. The food service segment of franchising has taken it’s lumps over the recent past and in 2008 and 2009, the food service industry was as close to going extinct as the market segment ever has been. Now, in 2017, The Entrepreneur Franchise 500 has McDonald’s at #2, Dunkin Donuts at #3, Jimmy John’s at #5, a reinvented Dairy Queen at #6 and a surging Wingstop at #8. The Food Service franchise market is as alive and well today than it has ever been. How is this all possible when you hear again and again that restaurants are so high risk, the food service business has no profit margin and other negative slants towards food service businesses? Are food service entrepreneurs defying logic with businesses that work around traditional issues in managing a profitable food service business? Has the restaurant business changed for the better significantly in some way? There are a variety of factors that drive the food service space and probably at the top of the list is the fact that food service has been so prominent and has more established brands than any other market segment of franchising. This maturity has helped a wide range of franchise brands grow from large systems to very large franchise systems over the past ten years since the recession. With mature franchise brands comes people’s willingness to look into the category, even if in some cases people do not invest in well known food service franchises, they end up investing in the market segment itself. The pizza franchise market is a good example, brands such as Pizza Hut and Little Caesar’s have global recognition and bring people into the category who to some extent have chosen to invest in new, more innovative pizza franchise models like Blaze. The next reason that the food service market in franchising has performed
well is the shrinking profitability in food service establishments. One would think that this would work against franchising, but the opposite is true. Food supplies, inventory costs, restaurant supplies and cost of labor are all increasing faster than sales have been for the food service market segment. Franchise systems offer franchisees the benefit of purchasing power negotiating better rates with food suppliers and more marketing power for food service establishments. The individual franchisees have the opportunity to leverage these economies of scale and “win” at the unit level. This paradox is seen to an even greater extent in the pizza segment where an increasingly large percentage of sales are being driven through online ordering platforms. Large scale pizza franchises have the capital to invest in technology and systems that a mom and pop couldn’t afford and the growing difference in online sales supports the case for franchising. Another area where food service franchises seem to be beating the system is in managing labor costs and operational expenses. Recently in the U.S., the labor board made their most recent attempt to take a swing at franchising by declaring that the Franchisor should be deemed a joint employer for the staff employed by all franchisees in the system in a case against McDonald’s. With the support of the IFA and a group of franchise industry professionals, the case was overturned and the concept of independent franchise ownership was successfully defended. In a franchise system, each business is independently owned and operated, through the Franchise Agreement all businesses operate under a common brand and are able to leverage the volume of business and resources available to the sum of the units in the network. This combination of small business owners working together and as a team offers benefits to each owner and to the growth potential of the entire network. Finally, the food service franchise market has gone through a massive overhaul since the recession in 2008. With the rebirth of our global economy, there has been a reinvention of many mature brands and the development of new and exciting food
Chris Conner
service franchises. The Middle Spoon is a Halifax, Nova Scotia food service franchise that offers high end cocktails with fancy dessert options and recently established new ownership of a location in Sugarland, Texas. The concept is exciting, full of personality and offers the franchisee an incredible financial model. Blaze Pizza went ahead and reinvented the pizza market with the “Subway-version” of pizza restaurants making pizza quick, easy and convenient for everyone. Sushi has been reinvigorated and re-established as a market segment with quick serve Poke Sushi offerings such as a new Atlanta franchise brand, Poke Burri. Poke Burri offers a compact, efficient and simple operating model with incredible food quality. Long story short, the food service franchises are back. Today’s food franchises are full of innovation, technology, excellent branding and systems that allow for scale. If there’s ever been a good time to look at becoming a Franchise Foodpreneur, that time is now. Christopher Conner is the President of Franchise Marketing Systems and has spent the last decade in the franchise industry working with several hundred different franchise systems in management, franchise sales and franchise development work. His experience ranges across all fields of franchise expertise with a focus in franchise marketing and franchise sales but includes work in franchise strategic planning, franchise research and franchise operations consulting. www.franchisemarketingsystems.com
Franchising USA
food FR A NCH ISI NG FE AT U R E – part 1
Page 33
food FR A NCH ISI NG FE AT U R E – part 1
Tania Haigh, CEO, Magnolia Insights
Driving Restaurant Results with the Family Experience A growing franchise restaurant concept is unique, has a cool appeal, and legs to expand across the country. However, these attributes don’t always
guarantee what restaurants want most – repeat visits.
Franchising USA
Our company, Magnolia Insights, conducted a comprehensive study on franchise marketing efficacy and we have found that the most successful concepts spend precious marketing dollars to position themselves to win with families. When a restaurant leverages its assets to appeal to the Family, it sets itself up for repeat business and long-term success. There is no one silver bullet to win business with families. Restaurants need to have a stellar combination of menu offerings & service that appeal to the
entire family. The best restaurants are
strategic with their approach because it’s
often hard to please people at different life stages with differing tastes in food.
It’s important to note that this does not mean that a restaurant should try to
be “all things to everyone”. The best
restaurant brands have attributes that are
integrated with family insights that drive repeat visits. Here are some blocking-
and-tackling basics to win with the entire family:
“When a restaurant leverages its assets to appeal to the Family, it sets itself up for repeat business and long-term success.”
1
Make Mom (Woman) Happy
This is not a sexist cliché. The business data and consumer insights are clear and reinforce the fact that mom (or woman in the scenario – read: aunt, grandma, sister) is the primary food decision-maker and if she sees something appealing on the menu at the restaurant, then chances are she will bring along her brood. In addition to the food, this influential consumer values cleanliness and customer service. A restaurant can win with women by keeping tables clean, bathrooms clean and training staff to be attentive to family needs such as potty emergencies for young children. Everyone has head the old saying, “If mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy…” The best restaurant concepts understand this implicitly.
2
Menu Variety Makes Everyone Happy
As outlined above, a restaurant wins with mom when she identifies something on the menu that she likes. Now it’s time for her to find something that can keep her toddlers happy (simple menu items without too much of a fuss) and the older kids who may want larger menu items. We have found that the most successful restaurants offer shareable menu items that can be split amongst a group, like Carl Jr.’s festive Jalapeño Poppers or McDonald’s unstoppable Chicken McNuggets. The best restaurants can appeal to kids, parents and grandparents. Everyone wants to reach across the table to grab a McNugget!
3
A Meal Bundle Makes it Easy
Meal bundles make it easy for restaurants to increase sales and provide value to customers by offering discounts over a
la carte purchases. Almost all successful restaurant concepts provide multiple bundling options. Even Starbucks has dabbled with meal bundling to compete with fast casual “combo meals” during the highly coveted lunch rush hour. In 2016 they launched a limited-time Power Lunch Bundle. It remains to be seen if they will decide to continue meal bundling on a permanent basis going forward.
4
A Kids Call Out
Incorporating tactics that make a restaurant kid-inclusive drives repeat business. Something as simple as coloring sheets & crayons let customers know that children are welcome and a dedicated kids menu helps to keep the children engaged. Russells BBQ, a local restaurant in Elmwood Park, IL offers tokens to every child that walks in the front door. The kids put the token into a large gumball-like machine and out pops an inexpensive prize like a sticky-hand or wax figurine or a temporary tattoo. Kids love it! An example of kid-inclusive menu integration on the national level is at Denny’s. Their kid’s menu variety is a dream—ranging from classic meals like spaghetti to a section for building your own sundae. The most successful restaurant concepts find value in being kid-inclusive.
5
Keep up the Fun!
Depending on the restaurant concept, a dedicated family night or a themed night may boost revenue and drive repeat business. In an age of social media, restaurants often find that they are more likely to receive free publicity when running specials that involve price discounts. Many restaurants offer
Tania Haigh
“Kids Eat Free” specials on Mondays or Tuesdays, which are typically the slowest nights of the week in the restaurant industry. The restaurant chain O’Charley’s has taken a bold approach and recently announced that kids eat free “all day every day” with the purchase of a dine-in adult entrée. It remains to be seen whether they will keep this policy in place permanently, but it certainly shows that they are targeting families with this bold approach. The most successful restaurant concepts leverage their money and resources to appeal to moms and families and turn them into repeat customers. By offering the right food variety and kid-inclusive touches, restaurants can appeal to the entire family. Tania Haigh is CEO of Magnolia Insights, a Chicago-based integrated marketing communications company that supports franchise brands and organizations. Prior to launching Magnolia Insights, Tania spent a decade at McDonald’s USA and was recognized for her thought leadership by the Association of National Advertisers and Brand Innovators. Tania has been featured in Advertising Age, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Chief Marketer Magazine and the Wall Street Journal; and has written articles for Chicago Woman magazine and Chief Marketer. She is also a TEDxWomen organizer and curator. magnoliainsights.com
Franchising USA
food FR A NCH ISI NG FE AT U R E – part 1
Page 35
food FR A NCH ISI NG FE AT U R E – part 1
Simona Krebs, Brand & Guest Services Manager at Togo’s
4 Steps to Resolve Guest Complaints 1
Acknowledge
In today’s socially connected environment the voice of the customer cannot be ignored. Social media and direct corporate channels allow Guest feedback to be instantaneous – often customers are still in line as they document their experience. This new way of giving instant feedback is a real-time report card of how your restaurant is performing. Good feedback is easy to read, accept and reward while the F’s and 1 Star reviews are not so easy. Sadly, the negative ones matter most to
Franchising USA
customers making a decision between your restaurant and another brand.
The challenge in a Franchise restaurant
system is that the brand is affected by each
customer visit. Great customer experiences at one location will often lead to repeat
visits, brand loyalty and the willingness to visit other franchise locations. A bad
customer experience at one location can
permanently damage brand perception. It’s not just one location that loses a customer, it’s the entire system. Handling customer complaints is truly a focus on customer recovery.
Having responded to thousands of
customer complaints over the years, I’ve found they tend to play out the same -
regardless of what the issue was initially - leading me to develop four key steps to handling customer complaints:
Hearing negative feedback about your business is tough. However, you must read them as a customer, not the business owner. Choosing to quickly address the complaint with empathy signals to the customers that they have been heard, and everyone wants to be acknowledged. It’s the first step to winning them back. Typically, customers who take the time to share their feedback are loyal to your location and the brand. Either something happened that was atypical or they’ve recently seen a pattern that should be corrected. Sometimes new customers have a bad first visit and the level of response they receive will determine whether they will give your restaurant a second chance. Plus, with today’s social media a response to one customer is then seen by thousands of future customers.
2
Apologize
This is often the hardest step because you have to accept that your team failed the customer somehow. However, whether the complaint is truthful or colorfully inflated, the best remedy is to quickly apologize. Apologize because the customer made a choice to spend their money in your restaurant, and for whatever reason, they perceived their experience to be less than excellent. Offering a quick and sincere apology is the easiest way to smooth over any issue and regain the customer’s goodwill and loyalty. Failing to apologize sends a message that you don’t care or value your customer’s feedback. Not surprisingly you’ll then lose that customer.
Page 37
Own your own sandwich shop. Franchise opportunities are now available locally and worldwide with new and existing shops. If you enjoy working with people, leading your own team, learning new skills and are ready for an exciting new challenge, contact us today! The Subway® franchise fee is $15,000 which is included in the total investment. The total investment can range from $116,000 to $263,150+ (See Franchise Disclosure Document for further details.) Restaurant owners should have half of the total investment in cash and finance the other half. Please visit subway.com or call Ralph Piselli, Franchise Sales Manager: 800.888.4848 x 1312 .
SUBWAY® is a Registered Trademark of Subway IP Inc. ©2017 Subway IP Inc. This is not an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy. Offers are only made in states where we have complied with applicable law and an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy a franchise shall be made solely by a Franchise disclosure document. All financial information is as shown in Section 19 of the FDD to be disclosed to potential Franchisees during the awarding process.
Franchising USA
food FR A NCH ISI NG FE AT U R E – part 1
Simona Krebs, Brand & Guest Services Manager at Togo’s
“Offering a quick and sincere apology is the easiest way to smooth over any issue and regain the customer’s goodwill and loyalty.”
3
Resolve
We’ve all read our share of “fake” reviews and complaints, and while they shouldn’t be given too much thought, a public apology for the sake of future customers is never out of line. Customer complaints that are genuine and clearly from a regular guest, necessitate going beyond just an apology. Inviting the guest back in for a free meal or sending a gift card shows the guest that you’re taking appropriate steps to correct the issue and that you value their business.
4
Improve
While the first three steps are often about current customers, the last step is about future damage control. In a franchise system, utilizing readily available customer feedback is an opportunity to see how your brand and location are doing. It shows you a clear
Franchising USA
picture of what needs need to be corrected. Sort through the one-off customer complaints and learn to recognize the pattern in the issues. If you look closely enough you can identify key service or product quality issues. These are opportunities to make improvements to your business by streamlining processes and retraining the crew in order to prevent future complaints. Remember, few customers take the time to complain, so ignoring one complaint here and there can cause you to miss the big picture. Your Customer Service Department can help turnaround a negative review but the best defense against complaints and growing compliments is a properly trained restaurant crew team. It’s vitally important to take feedback as information to help retain loyal guests and make improvements. Failure to listen and take action will only cause more complaints
Simona Krebs
and loss of business, as well as erode the brand.
Simona Krebs is the Brand & Guest Relations Manager at Togo’s and she oversees all guest response and engagement for the Togo’s brand. She has vast experience working with individual operators, corporate support and outside partners to maintain one brand voice. ww.togosfranchise.com
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food FR A NCH ISI NG FE AT U R E – part 1
Chris Boyles, Vice President of The Steritech Institute at Steritech
Why It’s Important to Food Safety Culture A a Franchise The term “food safety culture” is widely used, but not widely understood. Fundamentally, it means making food safety a valued, integral, and indivisible part of a company to achieve and sustain reduction in risks.
Food safety programs may sometimes be seen as something that the Quality Assurance Department wants to “add-on” or is being mandated by corporate offices, without communication as to why they are being implemented. However, when it becomes a priority, this shift positively impacts all levels within a franchise to safeguard the business and mitigate risk. With this in mind, how should a franchise create a culture of food safety and, once created, how can you determine if it’s working?
This concept is important as it creates uniformity across locations and franchisees.
When changing how a franchise functions, thinks, and talks about food safety, leadership must be aligned. If you don’t
Franchising USA
It starts from the top
have participation at every level, then it will not be a united franchise ethos. If leadership incorporates food safety into written statements and when they speak to their team, others will see this and will adopt methodologies from management to line level. When embracing this change, strive to put the mission into action. For example, encourage leaders, including those from above the restaurant level, to implement policies surrounding items including handwashing and wearing proper hair restraints. Line level workers need to believe in the fairness of the expectations set out for them. While learning facts about safety is beneficial, it is observing action that drives this shift home.
effective to simply tell food workers they have to avoid contacting ready-to-eat food with their hands because studies show they could have invisible norovirus germs. A better approach is to use stories about a real norovirus outbreak and how it affected not just those who got sick, but everyone who worked at the location. This storytelling educates on the “why” behind policies for employees to understand that their actions could affect not just them and their families, but also their friends, coworkers, and the franchise brand’s reputation and livelihood. Chris Boyles
Build momentum across the company
Create Across Provide skill and will It’s important to teach skills and reinforce through motivation. Regarding training, food safety shouldn’t be a separate exercise. Instead, it should be infused into everything. When you’re discussing loading a dishwasher, discuss food safety and how correctly handling dishes helps to ensure proper cleaning and sanitizing. When you’re teaching how to fry a chicken, discuss food safety and how to know when the chicken is fully and safely cooked. When food safety is not incorporated into every training touch point, it appears to be optional, when it should be a priority. Beyond training, it is personal stories that motivate employees to commit to food safety culture. It’s not
When a culture of food safety is created, it is incorporated into company values, budgets, job descriptions, and performance indicators. For budgeting, food safety may manifest itself by supporting technology, including purchasing automated temperature monitoring system for walk-in coolers, online training with electronic checklists that can be completed on a smartphone, and more. Budgets may also incorporate items such as food safety certification courses for managers. These budgetary choices are an investment in your team that in turn can offer significant ROI for your brand. When a cultural shift occurs, it will also be evident in job descriptions. For example, for managerial jobs, a requirement could be to acquire and maintain a Certified Food Safety Manager credential. A job description could also require completion of internal food safety training and compliance with franchise hand washing policies and wellness policies.
Assess how your culture is working Any periodic measurements of food safety should demonstrate the results: regulatory inspections, self-assessments, third-party assessments. While assessment scores are only a measurement and do not drive change, it’s what a franchise does with an assessment that matters most. With regular and consistent assessments, it’s been shown that teams perform best when feedback purposefully highlights
the positive attributes of what the team is doing, as well as suggesting opportunities for change. When a team is complimented on a procedure, they are more receptive to hearing critique and changing behaviors. It is a difficult feat for one person to change culture. Franchises can also consider recruiting an advisory committee, with representatives from across the brand, to serve as champions of change and tie new food safety initiatives into other projects, such as when a new menu item is introduced to infuse food safety training. The concept of “food safety culture” has been an industry buzzword, but is only effective when put into action. Through encouraging genuine, comprehensive behavioral shifts, your franchise will protect the brand, safeguard employees and sustain a reduction in risk, thus propelling your company for exponential growth and ROI. As Vice President for The Steritech Institute at Steritech, Chris Boyles is responsible for the Consulting, Training and Quality Assurance functions within Steritech’s Brand Standards Business. He manages the design and implementation of configured audit programs that meet and exceed clients’ expectations. Chris holds a M.S. in Microbiology and B.S. in Biology, from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and the Certified Professional - Food Safety credential from the National Environmental Health Association. www.steritech.com
Franchising USA
food FR A NCH ISI NG FE AT U R E – part 1
Page 41
H AV E YOU R SAY
Paul Bosley, Managing Member of Business Finance Depot
The Best Working Capital Loan Available Today In 2014, the Small Business Administration (SBA) introduced the Small Loan Advantage loan program often referred to as the SLA loan.
Franchising USA
One lender created an “SBA Express Loan� and capped the loan request amount at $150,000 to limit the risk since real estate collateral is not required. Instead, only business assets are used to collateralize the SBA Express Loan. The main approval requirements are good personal credit & a reasonable amount of liquid assets which includes $ in checking, savings and retirement accounts as well as marketable securities. New and existing
business owners are eligible for this unique loan product.
Small Business Administration (SBA) Express Working Capital Loan This government backed loan is designed to provide working capital ranging from $20,000 to $150,000 for start-ups and
existing businesses. The main purpose of
Page 43
The public and policymakers need to understand franchising. Our purpose
@OurFranchise is an industry-wide campaign created to spread the word about the value of franchising and share the stories of men and women just like you, who are leading the way as franchisors, franchisees, and franchise employees. The franchise business model has been proven time and time again to work, but it’s threatened when the public and politicians don’t understand how it operates to benefit local, independent franchise establishment owners and their communities. Putting a spotlight on real leaders succeeding with the franchise model is how we’ll ensure franchising is stronger than ever before.
Follow us
Share the tools and resources offered on AtOurFranchise.org/resources
Help us keep the momentum going
Since our launch in June 2016, we’ve reached 1.7 million people through outreach efforts, including events in key cities and states, where we spoke directly with business owners, employees, policymakers, and the media. Additionally, we’ve reached people across America through our website and social media channels, digital advertisements, and the promotion of We the Franchisees on Politico – but there is much more work to do. As a franchisor, franchisee, or franchise vendor, you are a leader in your community – and we need your support, now more than ever.
You benefit by joining
By joining @OurFranchise, you’ll get access to exclusive stories and resources that can help grow your franchise business, educate employees at all levels about the franchise business model, and share the economic importance of franchising with consumers. You will also have the opportunity to share your franchise success story with your peers.
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Our Franchise
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This is just the beginning
Make sure you stay up to date with the campaign’s latest efforts through email updates and social media. Visit our website to read and share the latest stories of franchisors and franchisees making an impact in their communities. Become a franchise advocate to help ensure Americans, now and in the future, have the opportunity to start franchise businesses. Take the lead today!
Visit AtOurFranchise.org Contact Erica Farage, Senior Director of Political Affairs and Grassroots Advocacy and Multi-Unit Franchisee Engagement International Franchise Association efarage@franchise.org (202) 662-0760
Franchising USA
H AV E YOU R SAY
Paul Bosley, Managing Member of Business Finance Depot
“If a business has high interest debt, this loan product is perfect for refinancing existing business debt if the resulting monthly loan payment be at least 10% lower than the current debt repayments.” this loan is to provide the funds necessary to support the company until the business generates positive cash flow. The loan process takes between 30 to 90 days to complete before the loan funds. The SBA loan process requires attention to detail to complete the application and contingency requirements. The interest rate for this loan is calculated by starting with the prime rate as published in the Wall Street Journal which is currently 4.25%. The bank charges a risk premium ranging from 2.75% to 4.75% on this loan so the interest rate will range from 7% to 9% depending upon the loan amount. The larger the loan amount, the lower the interest rate. For example, a $25,000 loan has an interest rate of 9% while a $150,000 loan has an interest rate of 7%. This loan has a variable rate which will change when the Federal Board of Governors raises or lowers the rates. The most recent .25% rate increase raised the SBA loan payments on a $150K loan by approximately $18.00 per month. All SBA loans have closing costs which are typically 3% of the loan amount. The loan’s repayment term is 10 years and there is no pre-payment penalty so if the business is profitable, the loan can be prepaid to save interest expense.
Franchising USA
A Wide Variety of Business Uses • Financing a New Business - If the use of the loan funds is to help finance a new business, the loan can be approved in advance to the business’s opening, however the funds will not be distributed by the bank until the new location has received a certificate of occupancy. This insures that the money will be used to operate the new business & will not be used to pay for build out construction costs. • Consolidating Existing Debt for an Existing Business – Many existing businesses have turned to alternate lenders to provide financing after the financial crisis because banks have tightened their lending standards. If a business has high interest debt, this loan product is perfect for refinancing existing business debt if the resulting monthly loan payment be at least 10% lower than the current debt repayments. This is almost a given in all cases because the interest rate is 7-9% and the repayment term is 10 years. The best part is that existing businesses should fund in 15 days or less! • $25,000 SBA Working Capital Loan for New and Existing Businesses -
Paul Bosley
The $25,000 loan amount deserves its own paragraph because it is a totally unsecured loan! No business or personal assets are required to be pledged as collateral for this loan! It is a quick process that can take less than a month to close if the business owner focuses on the required forms. There is absolutely no competitive product available to a new or existing business owners now! In short, this is the best product on the market today for a $25,000 business loan that can be used for any business purpose! The purpose of using SBA loans is to access other people’s money (OPM) and preserve the business owner’s capital. The goal is to borrow the money at a cost that is less than the business profit percentage. For example, a SBA working capital loan has a 7% interest rate. Assuming the business operates at a 15% profit margin, the business owner is using OPM at a cost less than half of your anticipated return on capital! The best part about the SBA Express loan is that the collateral is your business assets… not your home … just your business assets! Paul Bosley is a Managing Member of the Business Finance Depot. www.businessfinancedepot.com
Page 45
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Veterans in Franchising october 2017
www.franchisingusamagazine.com
fastsigns offers veterans
fast way to success
How a 26-Year Navy Vet became Rookie Franchisee of the Year
Cleaning Franchise Honors Military Veterans With
Franchise Giveaway Contest
FASTSIGNS, CEO Catherine Monson shown with FASTSIGNSUSA of St. Louis Franchising Franchisee Steven Hill
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 49
V e t e r a n s i n F r a n c h i s i n g Suppl e m e n t october 2017 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 and Expert Advice
50 FASTSIGNS Offers Veterans a FAST Way To Success
52 How a 26-Year Navy Vet became Rookie Franchisee of the Year Tim Adams, Owner, Mr. Handyman of
52 How a 26-Year Navy Vet became Rookie Franchisee of the Year 54 Cleaning Franchise Honors Military Veterans With Franchise Giveaway Contest
Virginia Beach
54 Cleaning Franchise Honors Military Veterans With Franchise Giveaway Contest Todd Hopkins, CEO, Office Pride
Franchising USA
Veterans in Franchising
fastsigns
Leading Sign, Graphics and Visual Communications
Franchise Offers Veterans a FAST Way To Success The transition from military life to civilian life is often a larger undertaking than meets the eye. While many veterans look forward to being reunited with their families and returning to a life outside of deployment, many also find themselves starting from scratch while having to build a successful career. Companies across the United States, notably FASTSIGNS International, Inc., have programs in place to give veterans the opportunity to establish a strong foundation that will allow them to create a
Franchising USA
fulfilling life and career to prosper in. FASTSIGNS® recognizes the courage and strength of military veterans and is dedicated to helping them find success and purpose through its franchise opportunities. Today, FASTSIGNS International, Inc. is the largest sign and visual communications franchisor in North America, and is the worldwide franchisor of more than 660 independently owned and operated FASTSIGNS centers in eight countries. Currently, over 10 percent of the total number of franchisees in the FASTSIGNS system are military veterans. The increasing number of veteran franchisees within the company’s network is a true testament not only to the brand’s recruitment efforts and commitment to the veteran community, but also the unlimited potential for success partnering with an established industry leader can bring. “FASTSIGNS has made recruiting military servicemen and women a priority over the last decade,” said Mark Jameson, executive vice president of franchise support and development. “With their leadership experience and mission-focused work ethic, military veterans bring a host of skills to the table that make them ideal candidates for our brand and translate well into franchise ownership, and we’re proud to support those who have served our country.” Steve Adrian, a Retired Army Musician and FASTSIGNS franchisee, discovered the brand on a top military-friendly franchises ranking while researching the best concepts to invest in as a veteran. He joined the company in 2015, and today he and his wife are owners of a successful FASTSIGNS franchise in Lynchburg, Virginia. “We liked the business model and wanted to work for ourselves. FASTSIGNS gave us the autonomy we wanted but without the risk normally associated with starting a new business on your own,” said Adrian. “We’ve only been open for just over two years, but we’ve already exceeded our sales goals and have plans to double our space in the next year.” Recently, FASTSIGNS International
was honored with the 2016 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award at a ceremony at the Pentagon. The Freedom Award is the highest recognition presented by the Department of Defense to employers for their exemplary support of National Guard and Reserve members. FASTSIGNS International, Inc. was one of 15 employers from across the nation receiving the prestigious award. Additionally, FASTSIGNS has been recognized as one of the “Top Franchises for Veterans” by Franchise Business Review and as a top “Military Friendly Franchise” by G.I. Jobs. “It is our priority to ensure that our veterans have the opportunity and support to successfully immerse themselves in a career within the franchising model,” said Jameson. “We pride ourselves on our strong network of franchisees and encourage all potential franchisees to connect with existing franchisees to validate the business opportunity. Specifically for veterans who are franchise candidates, we supply a list of our franchisees that are military veterans so they can validate with veterans and also connect based on similar backgrounds.” Stan Gray, a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy Reserve who opened his FASTSIGNS center in January 2015, went through the onboarding process and attributes his positive experience to speaking with existing FASTSIGNS business owners. “When I began talking to franchisees, I
instantly felt like they were willing to help each other out and share best practices and support one another,” said Gray. “Today, we offer to speak to prospects considering joining the franchise and support the brand in any way we can.” FASTSIGNS offers military veterans the most comprehensive support and financial incentives available in the signage industry. FASTSIGNS participates in the International Franchise Association’s (IFA) VetFran program that provides military veterans with special incentives and assistance to open a franchise. Veterans can take advantage of specific incentives, including a franchise fee of $23,750 (a savings of 50 percent). FASTSIGNS is the only franchise in its industry to offer a 50-percent discount to any veteran, without stipulations. The average total investment range for a new center is between $182,329 and $267,520. The minimum requirements for prospective franchisees include $80,000 in available capital and a $250,000 net worth. FASTSIGNS is committed to offering competitive resources and financial support to veterans in an effort to assist in every part of the process. For information about the FASTSIGNS franchise opportunity and specific veterans incentives for veterans, contact Mark Jameson at mark.jameson@fastsigns.com or 214-346-5679, or visit www.fastsigns.com.
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Veterans in Franchising
Page 51
Veterans in Franchising
Tim Adams, Owner of Mr. Handyman of Virginia Beach
How a 26-Year Navy Vet became Rookie Franchisee of the Year During my 26-year career with the Navy, I accumulated a variety of experiences and titles, but mainly trained as a nuclear submarine mechanic. Perfectly aligned with my interests in building and fixing, the military training I received allowed me to quickly develop additional skills. In the military, you receive a blueprint to success, but having a passion for what you do is what keeps you motivated to deliver superior results. This combination of support and passion is something all entrepreneurs pursuing franchising should consider – what interests you and what support does the franchise system provide? Tim Adams
Hearing my name called for Rookie Franchisee of the Year solidified my decision in selecting the right franchise. I wanted to join a franchise concept where I could work with my hands,
but I searched for the right fit for two
years knowing I needed to find the right
business plan and have a strong belief in the franchise organization to commit. I
found my success in the military through
hard work and structure and I was looking
to replicate that success in my professional career.
Franchising USA
The military operates like a successful business. You have one person stating the mission and the soldiers executing the orders. A good business structure has a plan in place for any situation, just like the military. In a franchise model, the franchisor has taken the time and gone through trial and error to find the best possible business plan for any situation. Once the strategies are in place, it’s up to the franchisee to execute. No different than when a soldier follows orders. The military also greatly prepares business owners for a crisis. In business, things don’t always run smoothly, but you have to be prepared for the worst case scenario with a contingency plan in place. When something goes awry in the customer service industry, you need to assess the situation and make a decision quickly. The military helps you master that. You train
and prepare for things to go wrong and it has proven to be such a valuable lesson to apply to business – be ready for anything. When I first opened my franchise, I wanted to make sure every employee understood what every job in the company was responsible for. I wanted my office worker to know what my field worker is doing and vice versa. It instills a true team atmosphere. I believe that everyone understanding that we’re all working together to accomplish the same goal will develop a strong team. If someone unexpectedly calls off one day, the other employees have the basic understanding of what job they need to pitch in with. The transparency of roles is especially true in the military and it creates a sincere sense of trust and collaboration. I try to do the same in business. Franchising and the military have so many similarities. In the military, failure is not an option because you’re preparing to protect your country. When I retired from the military and went into franchising, I decided that I will not accept failure and this venture will be my final career. Just like the military wasn’t a hobby for me, neither is this business. When you’re in, you have got to be all in. Veterans do well with structure which is why franchising is often a good avenue for us. As a veteran, it’s hard to go into anything without a strong foundation, so when you go into a business, make sure
you know the requirements of the job and understand and agree with the business structure. It took me two years to find the right situation and I suggest everyone to do their due diligence and research instead of settling on something you may not want to do long-term. Being a franchise owner is similar to being the commanding officer in the military. For veterans that have been in that position, you’ll be able to apply that experience to reach success. For those that always wanted to be the commanding officer, now is your chance as a franchise owner. If you’re thinking about going into franchising or if you’re not as successful as you thought you’d be in franchising, remember your military training and incorporate it into your business. While I always had a passion for building and
“In the military, you receive a blueprint to success, but having a passion for what you do is what keeps you motivated to deliver superior results. This combination of support and passion is something all entrepreneurs pursuing franchising should consider – what interests you and what support does the franchise system provide?” fixing, it was the military that really taught me how to be an effective business owner. Veterans, no matter their careers, need to leverage that expertise.
in 2005 after 26 years in the Navy.
Tim Adams is the owner of Mr. Handyman of Virginia Beach. After high school, Tim Adams enlisted in the Navy as a nuclear submarine mechanic and chemist before being selected to attend the U.S. Naval Academy, where he graduated in 1986 with a degree in engineering. He returned to the submarine force before retiring
Defense. He resigned from General
Tim then went to work for General Dynamics in Suffolk, Virginia for ten years supporting the Department of Dynamics after researching service franchises for him and his wife to invest in, before deciding on Mr. Handyman, a Neighborly company and the nation’s leading home repair and maintenance franchise. www.mrhandyman.com
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Veterans in Franchising
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Veterans in Franchising
Todd Hopkins, Founder & CEO, Office Pride Commercial Cleaning Services
Cleaning Franchise Honors Military Veterans With
Franchise Giveaway Contest
Office Pride CEO Todd Hopk waive $35,000 franchise fee f veterans in Veteran’s Day G As a U.S. military veteran transitions or retires from the Armed Forces, they have a big decision to make: what’s next?
possess a set of skills. Those who have served have acquired substantial proficiency in viewing problems as opportunities and often have leadership and teamwork abilities as well as a diligent work ethic. They also know the value of training, systems and support.
entrepreneurial ambitions within a proven system.
With endless questions and dozens of directions, it can be a daunting task to determine what the next step is for their civilian career.
The same qualities that allow an individual to succeed as a member of the Armed Forces allow veterans to find significant fulfillment and success within franchising – that is, by tapping into their
However, taking a deeper look into franchising truly reveals how strong the business model can be for a veteran making the investment. Consider these points:
The good news is that military veterans
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Owning a franchise allows these individuals to create a secure future that lets veterans diversify their investments while operating their own businesses and earning experience being their own boss.
new products, services and customer/ client experiences each year The skill set veterans possess positions them favorably as a franchisee: their ability to carry out a developed, proven plan within a system that aligns with their values, the opportunity to work closely with members of a team, methodical organization and mission planning – and that’s where choosing a reputable franchise model comes in. This is often just as important as choosing a career path itself – the system in which a veteran chooses to establish his or herself sets the tone for their future. It is critical to align with a franchise that shares a compatible set of values. Many veteran franchisees have found that a faith-based franchise is a good fit. At Office Pride, we want to make sure that our prospective franchisees align with our mission and values. Honesty, integrity and a hard work ethic are just some of the values we have in common with veterans, along with a commitment to service and success.
kins to for three Giveaway • Within franchise systems, the knowledge sharing that occurs between each owner sets the stage for best practices to be implemented in every unit • Ongoing initiated marketing support provides franchisees with the branding and messaging to effectively communicate their service offerings • Franchise models put time, money and energy into research and development, which brings to market a collection of
Because of Office Pride’s gratitude and deep respect for veterans, we are offering up to three qualified U.S. military veterans the opportunity to win a waived initial franchisee, a $35,000 value, for a new Office Pride Commercial Cleaning franchise. It is very important for us to show our gratitude to those who have bravely served our country. We want to provide a path to franchise ownership for as many veterans as we can, and this franchise fee giveaway is just one way to go the extra mile to making business ownership obtainable for these brave men and women. The brand’s connection to veterans runs deep, beyond just the contest. As an International Franchise Association (IFA) VetFran 5-Star rated brand, Office Pride is proud to offer all qualified and honorably discharged military veterans a 25 percent discount off of the franchise fee. The winning veteran contestants must meet all of the franchise company’s standard franchisee qualifications. The contest is open to all active duty service members and honorably discharged veterans from any branch of the U.S.
Todd Hopkins
armed forces. Potential winners will be announced on Veterans Day, Saturday, November 11, 2017. Now through October 20, Office Pride is inviting prospective franchisees to submit an essay as well as complete a Franchise Application and Personal Financial Statement and a Spot-On assessment. The brief essay should focus on how an applicant’s background and career goals align with Office Pride’s mission and values and why they would like to become a member of the Office Pride franchise family. This is an exciting time to join Office Pride who is actively seeking entrepreneurial individuals and veterans who have an interest in participating in our march to 300 locations nationwide. To apply, veterans must visit www.VeteranBusinessOpportunity.com and submit the request for consideration. They will receive an email with contest rules and the required steps to complete their entry. Todd Hopkins is the founder and CEO of Office Pride Commercial Cleaning Services. Todd sits on the Building Service Contracting Association International’s board of directors and also was the recipient of the Walter L. Cook Award in 2008, the highest honor given by The Building Service Contractors Association International for distinguished service to the commercial cleaning industry. www.VeteranBusinessOpportunity.com
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Veterans in Franchising
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ex per t advice
John Waldmann, Co-founder and CEO, Homebase
Tips to Reduce
Employee Turnover & Absenteeism
in Your Franchise Business
Franchising USA
“Putting systems in place that improve the ability to quickly and clearly communicate with employees can have a huge impact on their output.”
Your employees are your business. They greet and serve your customers, they open and close the shop, they handle the money, and they work alongside you in the kitchen. Each night, they leave, and each morning, you hope they come back. There are a lot of other employers that would love to hire your employees. In the city of Houston, there are around 650 job postings a day just on Craigslist for hourly workers. In Los Angeles, there are 800. Each day! You’ve got to ensure that your employees are happy, or they might look elsewhere. So what are the driving motivators for employees to change jobs, and what can you do to improve employee retention?
1
Create flexible working hours
There’s a lot of chatter about millennials and how to manage them. Over two-thirds of all service-industry employees are under 35 years old, and 3 out 10 are between ages 19 and 26. Often, they’re students balancing inconsistent study schedules or people working multiple jobs. Millennials value flexibility, and being flexible to your employees’ personal obligations when building a schedule will greatly improve their satisfaction. Better yet, provide them the ability to give input into their start and end times.
2
Be consistent
Recently, Reuters profiled an employee at McDonald’s whose work hours fluctuate almost weekly, which is a common practice now getting attention. Last-minute changes can make income and life unpredictable for workers, and is now getting attention from politicians in states like Oregon and New York. Creating consistent weekly schedules, weeks in advance, is a big win if you’re looking to improve employee retention. Look for a software provider, like Homebase, that enables you to create reusable scheduling templates, can inform your employees of their schedule weeks in advance, and can enable them to submit requests for time off or trade a shift with a colleague.
3
Offer training
Professional development is a powerful way of keeping employees happy and productive. Can you offer your employees training in some new skills? Can they work in another department one day a week, or move over entirely, in order to see a new part of the business? Is there a relevant seminar or class they want to take that might also improve their work? Think outside the box, and you’ll watch your employees’ contentment and productivity rise.
4
Incentivize results
Even when times are busy (always), don’t forget to reward your star performers. Results that go unnoticed can be very deflating to employees and gives them a reason to start looking elsewhere. Look at ways to keep track of employees who consistently perform. For example, acknowledge their on-time arrivals (some software solutions like Homebase can
John Waldmann
track this automatically) and reward them with a small token of appreciation. Your employees will appreciate the recognition and feel inspired to continue their efforts.
5
Communicate!
Last, but definitely not least, communication is fundamental to any relationship, and it is particularly important in the workplace. Some messages need to be communicated verbally and in-person, like feedback on how an employee is doing at their job. But other messages can be delivered electronically. Most small businesses still handle time-off or shift trade requests on paper or verbally, and these can easily get lost or forgotten. Putting systems in place that improve the ability to quickly and clearly communicate with employees can have a huge impact on their output. Reducing employee turnover should be a goal for all owners and managers. If you follow these suggestions, your employees will want to remain with you. And you’ll be glad they did. John Waldmann is the co-founder and CEO of Homebase, which provides a new free real-time software solution that helps over 60,000 small businesses eliminate the paperwork of managing their hourly employees, help manage overtime and curbs absenteeism and turnover. www.joinhomebase.com
Franchising USA
ex per t advice
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ex per t advice
David Banfield, President, The Interface Financial Group
The Home-Based Office is Here to Stay Franchising has come a long way in a short time – long gone is the notion that franchising is only about fast food. Similarly, long gone is the notion that a franchise location will always consist of a ’bricks and mortar’ structure. The era of the home-based office has arrived and is surely here to stay. People are often drawn to a franchise because it offers a home-based environment – individuals transitioning from the corporate world to that of selfemployment and business ownership often see substantial benefits in a home-based environment. This can be especially true if an individual has spent several hours a day commuting to their place of employment. Transitioning to a home-based office is, however, not just about the commute and perhaps a more relaxed life and work style. When considering a home-based approach there are some fundamentals that must be remembered. Here are five things that every would-be home-based entrepreneur should consider and examine carefully before they launch a home-based business.
1. Do I really need an ‘office’? We think the answer is yes – you need a dedicated specific space that is your office. Working from the kitchen counter or the back of your garage is not a professional environment - you need a clearly defined
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area that is the office where you ‘go to’ work. It should, therefore, not be a dual purpose area that doubles up as an office for a certain period of the day. Not all ‘homes’ are conducive to an office environment.
2. Office equipment Just because you are in a home environment does not mean that you do not need appropriate office equipment that will enable you to run your business effectively and professionally. You must have the right tools to do the job and if that requires some expenditure, then that is all part of your investment.
3. Work when you feel like it? Running a business from the home office is just that - it is running a business, and is not something that you can do as and when you feel like it. You should always have specific hours when you are ‘available’, and they should naturally be in the normal core business time range. Even though you are in a home-based environment, you’re still interacting with clients and customers who are running businesses from perhaps a more conventional environment.
4. Dress for success This statement opens up the debate as to whether in a home-based environment you can conduct business in your PJ’s - we think the answer to this is, No. It would be argued that one of the reasons why a home-based office is desirable is the fact that you can dress ‘down’ and not be overly concerned about your appearance. That may well be the case, however you must establish some appropriate standards that work – it is generally accepted that an individual works better when they dress appropriately.
5. The right business Not all businesses lend themselves to a home-based environment, and you need to examine any business or franchise carefully to ensure that it would fit into such a framework. Normally if you are looking at a franchise, then the franchisor will have already predetermined if a home-based approach is acceptable. If it is a non-franchised business, then you certainly need to consider all of the aspects of the business and how they relate to your home environment before you take the plunge. Running a home-based franchise certainly has many positive advantages, however
there are still some ‘rules’ that one should adopt in order to make the home office a productive place. In trying to determine what is right and appropriate and acceptable, the easiest approach may be to just compare the home-based situation with the corporate office situation. Most people have experienced life in the corporate office at some point in their career, and they clearly understand the standards that are expected. Translating those into a home-based office is an appropriate process in order to determine what is workable and acceptable. Before you take the step of establishing a home-based office, run down the checklist and make sure that you have appropriate
“Running a home-based franchise certainly has many positive advantages, however there are still some ‘rules’ that one should adopt in order to make the home office a productive place.” space and equipment and, above all, the self-discipline to make it work.
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
David Banfield
Franchising USA
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The Ultimate Professional Franchise Opportunity
www.interfacefinancial.com/franchise
Franchising Franchising USA USA
franchising usa 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.
7-Eleven Franchising with the world’s #1 convenience store is easier than you think.
Excellent for branding and recognition. Choose a 12 or 6 month package or simply add the A-Z directory onto your Focus, Profile or Ad! To learn about the A-Z directory or any other products please contact Vikki Bradbury: advertising@cgbpublishing.com or 778-426-2446
Been looking for. Your earning potential is as big as you want to make it. We offer a gross profit split, which means your success is as important to us as it is to you.
It also might be the smartest business move you’ve ever made.
It’s turnkey – we provide the store, land and equipment. Start-up is fast (3-6 months). You get extensive training and support from 7-Eleven pros.
As a 7-Eleven Franchisee, you’ll be partnering with a brand known and loved around the world. We’re consistently ranked as a top-five franchisor with more than 54,200 stores worldwide.
Our field consultants and operations teams offer a wealth of support and information. Leveraged vendor relationships mean national buying power.
World-famous brand. World-class opportunity. Take a second and learn why franchising with 7-Eleven could be the career changer you’ve
America’s Swimming Pool Company Dive into the America’s Swimming Pool Company Opportunity ASP is the nation’s most recognized swimming pool franchise with over 254 locations in 20 states. If you are seeking an affordable, turn-key business with proven profit potential, the ASP swimming pool franchise opportunity is the clear choice. As the recognized industry leader, ASP offers a proven pool service franchise system to help you succeed faster, grow bigger and enjoy all the benefits of working
Airport Van Rental At AVR we continue to be a pioneer in the van rental industry We have expanded to 14 locations in 7 states & we are excited for what lies ahead. Why Should I Join the Airport Van Rental Franchise Network? • We Have a Solid Model for Success. We became a specialized van rental company since 2007.
Phone: 1-800-782-0711 Fax: 972-828-5017 Website: Franchise.7-Eleven.com Email: Franchise.Inquiries@7-11.com
for yourself—no pool experience necessary! An ASP franchise opportunity offers a proven system to succeed and grow in the thriving swimming pool business. Our franchise leads the industry with a commitment to reliable brand reputation, world-class training, technologically advanced systems, original marketing strategies, exceptional franchisee support. Ready to test the water? Contact: Jef Flournoy Phone: 888.814.8093 Email: jefflournoy@asppoolco.com Website: www.ASPfranchising.com
• We’ve Fulfilled a Major Need. We are confident that with our extensive fleet, we will be able to provide our clients with the van that fits their needs. • We Provide Complete Training & Support. During training, we address the key points to running your own van rental franchise. Even after you open the doors, we will be here to help you continue to grow your business.
• We Prove There is Strength in Numbers. As recognized leader in Passenger Van Rentals, when you invest in a van rental franchise, you will join a network of highly determined individuals.
Contact: Alex Emdadi Phone: (844) 372-6100 Email: franchise@airportvanrental.com Website: www.airportvanrental.com/franchise
bluefrog Plumbing +Drain
loyal, cheerleader clients,” describes the inspiration of the business.
bluefrog Plumbing + Drain is a Limited Liability Company that was formed on December 30, 2013. Franchises have been offered since January of 2014 and are granted for the operation of a plumbing repair business using proprietary methods and the bluefrog Plumbing + Drain mark. The headquarters are located in Phoenix, Arizona. The bluefrog Plumbing + Drain management team consists of Gary Findley, CEO, Jeff Moody, President and COO.
bluefrog Plumbing + Drain is a modern day approach to the plumbing industry. It is a strategic plumbing company that strives for perfection and makes customer service it’s number one priority. The market for plumbing products and services is well established and highly competitive; By utilizing state-of-the-art technology and streamlined systems and processes, the owner operates his or her business with simplicity, efficiency, and profitability.
The mission of bluefrog Plumbing + Drain is to make a positive difference in people’s lives. The vision statement: “bluefrog Plumbing + Drain, the premier franchise plumbing service company in North America. Founded on brand
Contact: Gina Roberson Phone: (888) 354-2806 Email: gina@bluefrogplumbing.com Website: www.bluefrogplumbing.com
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franchise & serv ices directory
BurgerFuel Worldwide Meet the ultimate gourmet burger franchise We’re BurgerFuel, a global, gourmet burger concept – and we like to do things differently. We live, eat and play by the motto ‘life’s too short to eat bad burgers’ and this drives us to provide an even better, healthier, more gourmet alternative to fast food. As a BurgerFuel Franchisee or Master Franchisee, you’ll benefit from the robust operational support, and sophisticated systems, world-class training and innovative marketing programs that we provide to support our premium brand.
Clayton Kendall Clayton Kendall provides comprehensive branded merchandise programs for more than sixty franchise communities nationwide, resulting in greater brand exposure, cost-savings, streamlined operations and brand compliance. With a customized online store as the organizing principle, our websites give franchisees the ability to purchase their advertising and marketing tools in one easy-to use program. We provide marketing collateral, signage, POP
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
Foot Solutions Are You Passionate About Helping People Look Good and Feel Great? Foot Solutions is the world’s largest specialty wellness franchise focused exclusively on helping people feel good from the feet up. We offer an individualized Holistic Foot Analysis, top-quality customized orthotics and expertly-fitted stylish shoes that are comfortable and supportive. If you want a business that gives back to your community and improves the lives of people with foot
Grease Monkey Franchising, LLC Grease Monkey® and SpeeDee Oil Change and Auto Service® centers provide preventive maintenance and repair services that help customers meet vehicle manufacturers’ recommendations and warranty requirements. With over 500 locations, Our Less Hassle, More Hustle customer service approach is designed to help customers make educated, informed decisions about maintaining their vehicles in a comfortable, nopressure setting.
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When you buy a BurgerFuel franchise, you’re not just buying into gourmet burger business. BurgerFuel is a 360-degree lifestyle experience where fast cars, street art, music and creativity reign supreme, and our unique culture is something other brands can’t emulate. We’re currently seeking Franchisees and Master Franchisees to join the BurgerFuel movement as we expand within Indiana (and beyond). Hit the application link to take the first step in your BurgerFuel USA journey. Contact: Chris Mason Phone: +1 646 287 1078 Email: chris@burgerfuel.com Website: www.burgerfuel.com
displays, printed materials, promotional products and apparel. Our services include graphic design, merchandising, sourcing, warehousing and fulfillment, kitting and proprietary technology with advanced management reports. All programs are scalable and user-friendly. Customer service is our forte’. Contact: Dan Broudy, Chief Executive Officer Phone: 412-798-7120 Email: dan@claytonkendall.com Website: www.claytonkendall.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
and alignment conditions including diabetes, arthritis and more, Foot Solutions might be the perfect fit for you: Reasonable Hours | High Margins | Low Labor Requirements | High Consumer Retention | Not Impacted by Economy | Not Seasonal | Fastestgrowing Market Age 40+ | Opportunities from $85,000 - $240,000 Single and Multi-unit For more information: Call 770.955.0099 Email fscorp@footsolutions.com Visit www.footsolutionsfranchise.com.
With over 60 years of combined automotive experience, Grease Monkey ® and SpeeDee® franchise owners enjoy a proven system and business model. Each process offers a flexible approach, so franchisees can customize their facility and menu of services for a specific market and investment profile. Contacts: Jeff King, Director Franchise Development; Jon Piper, Manager of Franchise Development Email:
jking@greasemonkeyintl.com; jpiper@greasemonkeyintl.com
Phone:
303-308-1660
Website: www.greasemonkeyfranchise.com
HealthSource –America’s Chiropractor HealthSource — America’s Chiropractor ® — is the industry leader in chiropractic and physical rehabilitation care. Our highly profitable franchise clinics provide state-of-the-art care to their local communities. We offer single and multi-unit opportunities
honkamp krueger Honkamp Krueger & Co., P.C. (HK) is a Top 100 CPA and business consulting firm in the U.S. and the 3rd fastest-growing Midwest-based firm (Accounting Today, 2017). 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.
franchising usa 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.
Hooters of America, LLC Since being founded in Clearwater, FL, in 1983, Hooters has become a part of Americana. From day one, Hooters has committed to making customers happy. With our world famous, often imitated but never replicated, chicken wings, and numerous other quality menu items, Hooters
Huntington Learning Center Huntington Learning Center is the #1 revenue producing tutoring franchise, with an average earning of 61% more revenue than our closest competitor. Huntington was founded in 1977, began franchising in 1985 and has grown to be one of the most established and well-respected brands in education. Today, Huntington operates nearly 300 centers in 38 states from coast to coast as a recognized pioneer and leader in the tutoring industry, providing quality instruction to tens of thousands of students through our national network of franchised and company-
for individuals looking to join the recessionresistant healthcare industry. Contact us to learn how you can own a business that cares for the community, is highly profitable, and that you can be proud of! Contact: Wes Sattler Phone: (440) 934-5858 Email: development@healthsourcechiro.com Website: www.healthsourcechiro.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
Excellent for branding and recognition. Choose a 12 or 6 month package or simply add the A-Z directory onto your Focus, Profile or Ad! To learn about the A-Z directory or any other products please contact Vikki Bradbury: advertising@cgbpublishing.com or 778-426-2446
is that special place where everyone can enjoy a great meal, in a warm and inviting environment, with exceptional customer service. Contact: Stephen Sweetman Phone: 770-951-2040 Email: franchising@hooters.com Website: www.hooters.com/franchising
owned tutoring centers. For over 40 years, Huntington Learning Center has been the leader in the tutoring and test prep industry with an established reputation of providing highquality, individualized programs for students of all ages and in all subjects. As a Huntington franchisee, you will inherit our reputation for excellence and be recognized in your community as an industry leader and premier brand of tutoring services. For more information, contact Gina Elliott at: Email: Franchise@HLCmail.com Phone: 800.653.8400 Website: www.huntingtonfranchise.com
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franchise & serv ices directory
International Franchise Professionals Group 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.
Jiffy Lube International
A proven model, Jiffy Lube offers convenient, quality service including the Jiffy Lube Signature Service® Oil Change using premium Pennzoil lubricants, brake and tire service as well as ancillary service offerings.
Jiffy Lube pioneered the fast-lube category more than 35 years ago, changing the way millions of drivers care for their vehicles. Today, Jiffy Lube remains the #1 name in the quick lube industry in North America. With more than 2,000 independently owned and operated service centers across the U.S. and Canada, Jiffy Lube sees more than 20 million customers each year.
Contact: Aimee Menard Phone: 800-327-9532 Email: aimee.menard@shell.com Website: www.jiffylube.com/franchise
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.
Little Caesars As the largest carryout-only pizza chain in the world, Little Caesars is doing something right. Little Caesars is an international brand and household name. It’s come a long way since starting as a single store in metro Detroit in 1959. The Little Caesars brand and distinction of being named “Best Value in America”* for the last ten years is proof of its commitment to satisfying customers by providing one of America’s favorite meals at an affordable cost. Today, Little Caesars is looking for franchisees to bring HOT-N-READY® pizza to a wide range of communities
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”
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IFPG to power their business. All of these individuals understand the value of being associated with IFPG.
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
nationwide. The company also offers opportunities in non-traditional franchise venues, including convenience stores, college campuses and military bases. Little Caesars works closely with franchisees to develop locations with customized architectural and build-out plans. *“Highest Rated Chain-Value for the Money” based on a nationwide survey of quick service restaurant consumers conducted by Sandelman & Associates, 2007-2015. Phone: 800-553-5776 Email: USdevelopment@LCEcorp.com Website: www.LittleCaesars.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.
Our Town America For 45+ 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 community, 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, while dozens of locally-owned franchises validate the Our Town America concept as a viable business opportunity. Franchisees are neighborhood
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
Remedy Intelligent Staffing Remedy Intelligent Staffing is a nationwide staffing organization with over 50 years of recruiting and selection expertise to match qualified candidates with employment opportunities where they will succeed. Our franchise brands, Remedy Intelligent Staffing and Westaff, place candidates in a variety of positions, primarily light industrial with a secondary niche of administrative/clerical. Our three core offerings include temporary, direct hire and temporary-to-hire staffing services.
Restoration1® Restoration1 is the fastest growing restoration franchise in the emergency restoration industry for mold, water, fire and smoke damage, handling jobs of all sizes across the nation for residential and commercial property’s. ®
Our business is based on local and regional relationships with insurance adjusters, building inspectors, subcontractors and policy holders. It is always in high demand and not affected by economic trends because it is based on necessity, not discretionary spending. Our model is a powerful opportunity for the right
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 Top 50 Franchise by the Franchise Business Review, making them the only Advertising brand to land a spot in the 10-year Hall of Fame and the sole company to be crowned the Franchise Business Review’s All-time Top Company. Website: http://ourtownamerica.com Email: franchising@ourtownamerica.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: Lu-Ann Senia, Executive Assistant Phone: 321.504.4422 Email: lsenia@pirtekusa.com Website: www.pirtekusa.com
The parent company, EmployBridge, with corporate headquarters in Atlanta, GA, operates more than 490 offices nationwide and is the 10th largest provider of staffing and workforce solutions in the world. With annual sales over $3.2 Billion, we employed over 460,000 associates on assignment at more than 19,900 companies throughout the USA. Contact: Chad Wright, Franchise Development Director Phone: 877-478-4033 Email: franchise@employbridge.com Website: www.remedyfranchise.com
candidates, as it involves no inventory, no brickand-mortar location and high-volume growth that continues through almost any economic climate. Our ethics, professionalism, quality and availability are carried out at each of our franchise locations. Our team is committed to giving franchisees the support system they need to succeed in these same areas. Restoration 1 Franchisees can reach full potential with our superior training, technical support and in-territory support. Contact: Gina Roberson Phone: 800-993-0803 Email: gina@restoration1.com Website: www.restoration1.com
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the inspection boys The home Inspection business is one of the most In-Demand trades in the country and The Inspection Boys is the lowest Start-Up franchise inspection business opportunity in the nation. The Inspection Boys has a unique marketing structure to get you up and running quickly, has an amazing training and support system to ensure that you’re ready to go out and conquer your territory and most of all it offers a corporate team that will be with every step of the way. Besides for being the lowest start-up inspection
ServiceM8 Field service & franchise management software ServiceM8 is a field service management app which empowers small business to thrive. It’s a cloud-based Software for field-based contractors and home services businesses like electrical contractors, plumbers and pool care specialists. Field staff use the software via a native app for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. With powerful communication, job dispatch, estimating and invoicing capability, and real-time visibility on job status and staff location in the field, ServiceM8 helps businesses get work, complete work, and get paid faster.
SUBWAY® When you own a Subway® sandwich shop, you’re part of the world’s largest Quick Serve Restaurant chain and one of its most recognized brands, and you’ll get the support and experience that comes with it. Be part of a winning brand that keeps customers coming back for delicious meals made just the way they want. Subway® is the undisputed leader in fast, wholesome food. Our sandwiches are made to order right in front of the customer, precisely the way they want - using freshly baked breads, select sauces and a variety of delicious
Reach out to us today at 800 819-4403 or at info@theinspectionboys.com and find out for yourself. You may also check us out at TheInspectionBoys.com
ServiceM8 Franchise further extends the job management platform to empower field service franchises. Franchisees use the ServiceM8 app to manage and streamline their daily operations, while each franchisee account links back to the franchisor’s head-office account. This provides amazing network-wide visibility of operations and performance, and the ability to instill great business processes and professional brand representation across an entire franchise. Contact: Steve Olson, Business Development Manager North America Phone: (844) 688 2880 - USA Toll-free Email: steve.olson@servicem8.com Website: www.servicem8.com/us/franchise
toppings. When you join the Subway® family, you’ll get world-class support before you even make your first sandwich and well beyond. Our franchise support system features: training, product development, advertising, purchasing cooperative, field support and much more. Contact: Ralph Piselli, North American Franchise Sales Manager Phone: 203 877 4281 Email: Franchise@subway.com Website: www.subway.com
and even birthday parties. At sweetFrog, we take pride in being a part of our community and we treat our guests like family.
sweetFrog Premium Frozen Yogurt is not only one of the most rapidly-expanding frozen yogurt concepts; we are one of the fastest growing franchises of any category in the nation!
In addition to offering the best in quality service to our communities, sweetFrog has a proprietary line of our very own yogurt which ranks well above the rest in taste tests across the globe. As the industry leader, our Research and Development team is constantly searching out and testing for the next great and most delicious flavor!
Our stores have become pillars in each community, hosting little league celebrations, school fundraisers,
Phone: 804-835-6761 Website: www.sweetfrog.com/franchise Email: shemar.pucel@sweetfrog.net Contact: Shemar Pucel
The Dry Boys
We are the ONLY water-damage restoration franchise that rewards exclusive territories.
The Dry Boys is a water-damage restoration company that concentrates strictly on floods, water damage and any water related disasters of any size.
You will receive customized One-On-one training on your schedule from myself, I will teach you and relay to you everything I have learned and experienced over the past 25 years on the field, I will duplicate real-life scenarios, floods and disasters in our state of the art training center so when you go out in the field, you have already seen it all. But training is only the beginning; the support that follows is what will make the big difference.
From a small flood in your basement to a major hurricane disaster we are ready and capable of restoring your residential of business property in rapid fashion. We’ve implemented a unique system that allows us to be more efficient when we respond to any job and our locations have an advantage of getting the work done with a resourceful process that benefits the home owner and the franchise owner alike.
Franchising USA
When you join the Inspection Boys, you will join more than just a franchise business, you will join a family oriented team that cares and looks out for your success and accomplishments.
sweetFrog Premium Frozen Yogurt
Voted the #1 frozen yogurt shop in the US in 2016 by The Daily Meal, sweetFrog continues to offer amazing franchise opportunities for all entrepreneurs.
The
franchise business in the nation, The Inspection Boys also offers you the lowest royalty program, the lowest overhead cost and the largest territory sizes in the trade.
You can get more information about our business at our website www.TheDryBoys.com or call us at 844 99-DRYBOYS – I urge you to take a look at the site and learn more about our company.
Page 67 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
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.
UFC GYM Mixed martial arts is the fastest growing sport in the world, and UFC is the leader of MMA. UFC GYM allows everyone to train like MMA athletes. Members can get in incredible, shape in a UFC Gym. Each class offered is an experience. Being the brand extension of UFC®, UFC GYM is the first to combine the world of mixed martial arts and fitness
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.
• 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
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
together. UFC GYM’s TRAIN DIFFERENT® approach has developed a fun and energetic atmosphere where members can feel and see their fitness results. UFC GYM is not what you expect, and more than you can imagine. Contact: Jason Losco, Director of Franchise Development Phone: 714.668.0911 Email: Jason.Losco@ufcgym.com Website: www.ufcgymfranchise.com
campaigns, news press releases, and online franchising e-magazine articles, VBS gets the message to qualified Veterans who are invested in starting a franchise. VBS supports service disabled Veterans who are enrolled in the self-employment track within the Veterans Administration and provides outreach efforts to transitioning military through TAP and ACAP programs. As a graduate business of the Entrepreneurial Bootcamp for Veterans (“EBV”), we also assist other graduates of EBV and provide coaching support through mentoring programs. VBS is where Veterans turn to make their franchise dreams a reality.
VBS offers multiple marketing methods that have proven effective with helping franchise organizations with their expansion plans. Utilizing custom email marketing
Contact: James Mingey Phone: 202-349-0860 Email: info@veteransbusinessservices.us Website: www.veteransbusinessservices.us
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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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