FRANCHISE Journal LEARN Franchise Trends In A World Post-Corona Virus p. 48
THE SCOOP On How Tutor Doctor Learning Hits Home p. 130
HOW TO Invest In More Than YOUR Future p. 140
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contents
JULY 2020
102
134 es Mak ogy un l o p Sna rning F Lea
56
130
SMART ART BY ABRAKADOODLE
16 LOGISCOOL
42 International Franchise Expansion
Fast Growing International Franchise Network Invites Master Partners
20 From Toddlers On Up — Helping Kids Save
Continues To Climb Casey Qasem
48 Franchise Trends In A World
The World! Lisa McDonald
24 Think Stem Programs Are Just For Kids?!
Post-Corona Virus Jeff Dudan
52
Take A Look At LEVEL-UP LEARNING! Marilyn R Imparato
28 THE SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS Is Our “Real World – New Normal” Becoming Our “New Classroom” For Education? Dave Jones 34 Why Franchisees Fail Mark Schnurman
56 ABRAKADOODLE Smart Art By Abrakadoodle
76
Our Children Are YOUR Future Janice Charles
80
SCHOOLING FROM HOME Brands That Help Kids Learn Aaron Bakken
86
KITCHEN SOLVERS A Legacy Brand Far From Vintage
38
TIERRA ENCANTADA Where Daycare And Pre-School Become An Educational Gateway Into A Bi-Lingual Life Rhonda Sanderson
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Why Franchise Business Owners Are More Likely To Succeed Through COVID-19 Seth Lederman
90 10 Personality Traits Of Successful
122 The Business Of Education
Immigrant Franchisees In Canada Jim Gormley
Eddie Rodriquez
94 Bad Teamwork Will Give Your Business The Blues! Mike Martuza
98
126 How Educational Businesses Compliment The Public School Curriculum Bill Stark
130 TUTOR DOCTOR
Education, Franchising, and a Just Cause Rick Morgin
102 APEX LEADERSHIP COMPANY
The Tutor Doctor Difference: How Learning Hits Home Frank Milner
How Fundraising Supports Childhood Education Jeremy Barnhart
134 SNAPOLOGY
108 ROCK AND ROLL DAYCARE COMPANY Bridging The Gap Between The Classroom And The Living Room Christopher Vuk
140 Investing in More Than YOUR Future
112
NEXPLORE The Future of After School Enrichment — How Can You Be a Part of It! Dori Larea
116 HUNTINGTON LEARNING CENTER When Disruption Leads to Transformation Anne Huntington
Snapology Makes Learning Fun Laura Coe
John Ovens
144 Challenging The Normal Jeff Alexander
150 ECOMAIDS® Going Green Is Beyond A Trend At ecomaids® Cristina Merrill
154 MOSQUITO HUNTERS The Culture And Lifestyle Benefits Of Being A Mosquito Hunters Franchisee Cassidy McAloon
62
CARSON SCHOLARS FUND
The True Spirit Of America Lives On By Candy Carson & Pam Marshner WWW.FRANCHISEJOURNAL.COM | JULY 2020
7
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PLANNING ON ATTENDING A TRADE SHOW IN 2020? THERE ARE ALOT OF CHOICES! Download our Free White Paper on how to get the most from your time at WHATEVER show you go to! Go to www.FranchiseJournal.com/whitepaper
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welcome E
NOTES
conomic education is vital to the future health of our nation’s economy. It gives our students the building blocks for a successful f inancial future. It empowers consumers by giving them the knowledge and tools to improve their economic well being. It is the best investment we can make to strengthen our nation’s economy.
M
Dr. Ben Carson with his wife Candy.
ated to ic d e d is e u s is "This month's of the n o rs a C n e Candy and B Foundation."."." rs Carson Schola
In today’s ever-changing and increasingly competitive financial marketplace, knowledge is power. We are living in an age in which the communications revolution has inundated consumers with more information than ever before, even as the financial marketplace has become more complex. But simply having more information does not necessarily mean people have more knowledge. Education is something that is incumbent upon all of us to support. This month's issue is dedicated to Candy & Ben Carson of the Carson Scholars Foundation. They embody the best that is America as they work to ensure that all children across our great nation are given the tools they need to flourish. I hope you'll join us in supporting them!
Nick Neonakis Editor, Franchise Journal
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FOUNDER
NICK NEONAKIS DESIGN DIRECTOR
Pete Neonakis DIGITAL DIRECTOR
Chantae Arrington ART DIRECTOR
Brenda Lesch
SENIOR EDITOR Bill Polk ONLINE EDITOR Seth Lederman STAFF WRITER Megan Neonakis SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Ted O'Shea ASSOCIATE EDITOR Mariel Miller ONLINE EDITOR Mike Ciccarelli VIDEO PRODUCER Matt Panepinto CONTRIBUTORS Jeff Alexander Aaron Bakken Jeremy Barnhart Candy Carson
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Janice Charles Laura Coe Jeff Dudan Jim Gormley Anne Huntington Marilyn R Imparato Dave Jones Dori Larea Seth Lederman Pam Marshner Mike Martuza Cassidy McAloon Lisa McDonald Cristina Merrill Frank Milner Rick Morgin John Ovens Casey Qasem Eddie Rodriquez Rhonda Sanderson Mark Schnurman Bill Stark Christopher Vuk
FRANCHISEJOURNAL.COM
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Share with your friends. franchisejournal.com
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UNLOCK THIS UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY, A RECESSION-PROOF EDUCATION FRANCHISE! FUN-BASED CODING SCHOOLS FOR KIDS & TEENS
sales@logiscool.com
logiscool.com
THE EDUCATION ISSUE
Fast Growing International Franchise Network Invites Master Partners Logiscool is a leading fun-based coding school franchise network for kids and teens. It is currently present in 16 countries and has 100+ schools across the globe. Logiscool is a quick return on investment with a positive social impact in the trending education sector that is now inviting new master partners. 16
JULY 2020 | WWW.FRANCHISEJOURNAL.COM
LOGISCOOL HAS ITS OWN-DEVELOPED EDUCATION PLATFORM THAT ADAPTS TO THE AGE AND SKILL LEVEL OF THE CHILDREN AND THUS MAXIMIZES THE LEVEL OF SATISFACTION. At Logiscool, children do what they like the most: spend time with computer games. But they don’t just play with them; they create their own games. And while learning the main principles of computer coding, children acquire the most important skills of the future: problem-solving skills, logical algorithmic thinking, creativity, and endurance. Besides all that, our method helps them develop self-confidence. Logiscool has its owndeveloped education platform that adapts to the age and skill level of the children and thus maximizes the level of satisfaction. The method guarantees quick results and success: within their first lesson, children may create their first computer game with the supervision of the experienced trainers. Logiscool offers courses, camps, and other programs in connection with coding, robotics, and digital literacy for children aged 6-18. Offline and online course and camp products are both available.
the full-spectrum curriculum, as well as the education and marketing support are all guaranteed. Logiscool places extra emphasis on continuous development with regular updates and innovations. The Logiscool franchise has recently signed new agreements with MidGermany, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and now they invite new master partners. They have many successful partners; for example, their Romanian master partner managed to open 30 schools in her territory within 2 years. WHY INVEST IN CODING EDUCATION? Education is key to a better,
smarter future; governments and organizations all over the world place a huge emphasis on this sector. At the same time, there are sub-segments where education has yet to catch up to the market demand: one of them is the IT industry. In the USA alone, the job market is lacking 1 million coders. Parents see the IT industry and coding education as a route to their child’s future success. Even if the kid is not a Math genius or does not want to be a programmer, coding education still has a lot to offer. Problem-solving and algorithmic thinking skills will be valuable in any future profession.
FRANCHISE OFFER Logiscool’s franchise partner offer is a ready-made solution: own classroom management systems, proprietary education platform, and 800+ hours of uniquely developed curriculum ensure high lifetime value for students. The school and equipment design, the trainer’s portal and training, WWW.FRANCHISEJOURNAL.COM | JULY 2020
17
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THE EDUCATION ISSUE
FROM TODDLERS ON UP Helping Kids Save The World!
I
by Lisa McDonald, Consultant, The Franchise Consulting Company
f 2020 has proved nothing else to us, it has shown that we, as a society need to be adaptable. We need to be able to analyze and to react quickly to unexpected situations. We need to think out of the box for solutions. And, we need to know what has been, in order to make the best decisions for our future. In June, the past and present of racism took centre stage across the globe. It has become clear that we all need
communicating, of caring, of adapting, and of contributing. Creating better citizens for the future of humanity starts in a child’s youngest years. Having access to early education that includes the arts, humanities, sport and different cultures is important, not only for the child themselves, but to our future as a society as well. As children age, keeping them engaged with others to develop compassion, curiosity, creative problem solving and
changing environments for children to flourish. Among the many stand-outs are unique concepts like Apex Leadership Co, Idea Lab International, Ivy Brook Academy, Rock and Roll Daycare and Premier Martial Arts, just to name a few. With a robust offering of programs, children will be well equipped to create a fulfilling future for themselves by
IN JUNE, THE PAST AND PRESENT OF RACISM TOOK CENTRE STAGE ACROSS THE GLOBE. IT HAS BECOME CLEAR THAT WE ALL NEED TO DO BETTER AND THAT THERE IS HOPE. to do better and that there is hope. Statistically, half of the world’s population is under 30 years of age. Like many generations in the past, this cohort wants to change the world with a particular focus on the environment and on social justice. Technology has enabled connection and collaboration like never before, allowing change at a pace never before seen. Fortunately for us, this group will be raising the next generation with an eye to bettering the world for all. As we think about that future, it is imperative that we prepare our children for this new way of being; of
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commitment to others can be fostered through participation in activities inside and out of the education system. Companies are taking notice of the seemingly insatiable desire for programs as parents want the best for their children. The most exceptional of these businesses are refining their systems and offering franchises so that communities far and wide can benefit by offering variety and exceptional care in learning opportunities from a very young age. With a broad spectrum of specialties, all are focused on one thing creating interesting and life
sampling and pursuing things that spark light for them. At the same time, they will have gained healthy habits, developed confidence, learned how to work with others, honed problem solving skills and developed friendships that may last a lifetime. Most certainly we will all gain as the next generation contributes to a world of good. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Lisa McDonald is an active mom of 4, grandmother of 3 living in Vancouver, BC. She loves to help people realize their dream of business ownership through franchising and coaching. info@thefranchiseconsultingcompany. com
CREATING BETTER CITIZENS FOR THE FUTURE OF HUMANITY STARTS IN A CHILD’S YOUNGEST YEARS.
WWW.FRANCHISEJOURNAL.COM | JULY 2020
21
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THE EDUCATION ISSUE
Think Stem Programs Are Just For Kids????!!!! Take A Look At LEVEL-UP LEARNING! by Marilyn R Imparato, Senior Consultant, The Franchise Consulting Company
The Most Complete Learning System From Foundation Kindergarten To Career Certifications As a Former Chief Sales Officer in Technology and being a woman in a traditionally MaleDominated sector back in the mid Nineties, I wanted to learn first-hand from the CEO and Founder of Level-Up the impetus to start Level-Up as I was thrilled to see programs that helped anyone, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, etc… learn and grow in the Science, Technology, Mathematics and Engineering sectors and provide a vehicle for them to grow and thrive. Below is an Interview with Jeff Hughes, Visionary, Founder and CEO of Level-Up Learning Franchise. MARILYN: Jeff, how and why did you start Level-Up? JEFF: It all started the fall of 2014, when I was beginning to teach myself computer programming and through that I started worrying about my kids and how they were going to be prepared for jobs
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I was looking at in the future, and I noticed that other countries were doing a much better job of preparing kids and my kid’s school only had 3 computers for 300 students. So it looked like there was a need and an opportunity to provide STEM program education programs afterschool and through camps. My wife and the entire family helped me that first summer and as we did going to camps across the country, they were with me every step of the way.
MARILYN: What do you feel differentiates Level- Up from other STEM Franchises out there? JEFF: Really, our focus on career readiness. We are the only ones who can show a clear pathway from our programs to being ready for College or a Career. We actually can take a young child through middle school to high school to College Prep or a Career Certification path, to
Education Consulting and help with applying to Colleges, to actual Certification for career readiness for employment.
Build Relationships in their Community and believes in continuing education for all in STEM programs.
MARILYN: How do you support your Franchisees to help them become successful Franchise Owners?
MARILYN: Where do you see the Future for Level-Up now due to COVID-19?
JEFF: We have a lot of tools such as Weekly Coaching calls which is one of the most important tools in order to help them meet and/or exceed their goals for the business and helping them stick to them, it also allows us to do any troubleshooting and coaching that needs to happen. We also have extensive Marketing tools and an in-house Graphic Artist at their disposal that can usually create anything they need in a 24 hour window. We maintain and promote their Social Media presence, and it is all handled for them. We further have a Library of Processes and Procedures for them and their staff at any time to ensure they are running their Franchise the same way we do. Because we are a young and growing Franchise, as the Founder, I am committed to the success of all of my Franchisees and providing the necessary tools to be successful. MARILYN: Who are you looking for as a Prospective Franchisee? JEFF: The Prospective Franchise Zee is not required to have Technical knowledge, we can train for that. We are looking for an Outgoing Person who can Network and
JEFF: The reality is a lot of Educational Enrichment Programs will be cut so Level-Up actually can help by being a replacement to those programs or a replacement of those programs both virtually and in person safely, and now, it is becoming an alternative to High School programs, especially where they cannot get the classes they need for acceptance into Universities. Right now we offer over 200 high school classes in addition to our STEM classes so we really can be a flexible alternative to what the Students are missing in Elementary and High School. We also have a totally new White Label portable platform that can be used on tablets or phones that Franchise Owners can sell to Private Schools and Districts within their Territories. Our ultimate goal is to be the Leader in K-12 STEM Education and Lifelong Enrichment Education. My Vision has always been this for Level-Up. With this next release of LevelUp, High School Students will be able to work on College Programs and graduate with Career Certificates, so they will literally be “career ready” with Industry recognized Certifications. MARILYN: What else would you like people to know about Level-Up?
JEFF: I think it is important to know what we are doing for Societal and Philanthropic Enrichment Globally. We Sponsor street kids in Kenya and we help make them ready for formal education. They come in everyday for meals and training so they can qualify to go into schools. We also Sponsor Women in Bangladesh to learn Sewing skills to help them become Independent and run their own businesses. So it’s that same Vision of Empowering People through Education via overseas through Non-Profits. MARILYN: Where do you envision Level-Up to be in growth in the next 5 years? JEFF: I would like for at least 100 over the next 5 years globally. We really have enhanced our programs and products Internationally and have also released Educational Consulting for ACT and SAT Test Prep and Internationally we offer AP Classes and NCAPP Approved Classes and then we help them with their applications to the Universities so that is it a very seamless process for them. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Marilyn R Imparato, Senior Consultant with The Franchise Consulting Company is a former C-Level Executive in the Technology Industry and MBA Graduate that has been an Executive in the Franchising Industry for over 15 years. Marilyn is passionate and dedicated to assisting potential Franchise Owners navigate through the entire process from beginning to completion. Contact Marilyn at 727-735-7000 or at marilyn@ thefranchiseconsultingcompany.com.
WWW.FRANCHISEJOURNAL.COM | JULY 2020
25
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THE EDUCATION ISSUE
THE SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS
Is our “Real World – New Normal” becoming our “New Classroom” for Education? by Dave Jones, Consultant, The Franchise Consulting Company
S
ince the formal declaration of the COVID19 pandemic, we have all been experiencing what few ever predicted; namely a lockdown on work, business and of course education…. or maybe not education? Classroom Learning has
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always been different than Real World Learning: The School of Hard Knocks (also referred to the University of Life) is an idiomatic phrase meaning the (often painful) education we get f rom life’s sometimes negative experiences as often contrasted with formal
education. Given where the world is today and how life has necessarily had to change dramatically, one could argue that we have been unintentionally enrolled in a Doctoral Program at the School of Hard Knocks! Terry Heick, Founder & Director of Teach Thought – We Grow Teachers, recently wrote that there are 12 ways that learning in school is different than learning in the real world: 1. In school, learning has a beginning and an end 2. Inquiry and curiosity drive learning outside of school 3. The feedback loops are different inside and outside of school 4. In school, the quality judge is rarely the ‘maker’ or ‘doer’ 5. In school, the standards for quality are different 6. The learning is externally prompted outside of school 7. In school, learning is done inside the classroom (or is it now)?
THE ONE COMMODITY THAT HAS BEEN UNINTENTIONALLY CREATED BY COVID-19 IS MORE AVAILABLE TIME FOR MANY THINGS (E.G. FAMILY TIME, HOME REPAIRS/REMODELING, ETC.).
8. The collaboration is
different outside of school 9. In school, the learning often depends on the teacher’s ‘comfort level’ and expertise 10. In school, sociocultural ‘aspects’ are either noncritical or minimized / avoided 11. In school, it is based on content areas 12. In school, the work is graded So how does this relate to how learning is happening today during our lock down and re-emergence of our professional lives and our business world? How has this impacted us as entrepreneurs, current or aspiring? And how have we been learning from The School of Hard Knocks and how is it preparing us to be better educated in our professional lives?
APPLYING OUR LEARNING TO RE-EMERGENCE: Our learning has taught us to value cash in the bank like never before, especially for those businesses that have received Government funding through both the CARES Act as well as Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL). We have learned via real world recent experiences that LEAN principals are a MUST in many small businesses in the hospitality and retail space and not simply a Corporate Initiative for improving efficiency and profits. Certain franchises have learned to identify new opportunities created from the pandemic including: • Restoration Franchises like Puro Clean expanding their bioremediation services • Commercial Cleaning
Franchises like City Wide who are preparing office spaces for return to work • Home Services Franchises like Monster Tree Service who are experiencing increased demand now that we are in our “stay at home” mode and wanting to make property improvements HOW HAS THIS IMPACTED US AS ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS: I have often used the phrase “confused people don’t act”. Buying or starting your franchise business should always be an educated and well-informed decision, yet new entrepreneurs still working in their corporate jobs have struggled with allocating the necessary time for a thorough investigation and proper due diligence and validation. Today, WWW.FRANCHISEJOURNAL.COM | JULY 2020
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the one commodity that has been unintentionally created by COVID-19 is more available time for many things (e.g. family time, home repairs/remodeling, etc.), but importantly, we may now have ample time to make a well informed decision about business ownership.
Doctor”! Has this new learning made us more efficient or more impersonal in how we conduct our day to day businesses? That certainly could be debated, but most will agree that we have learned to forge ahead regardless of our like or dislike for this technology aid.
EDUCATION AND NEW LEARNING FOR OUR PROFESSIONAL LIVES: Prior to COVID-19, I would hazard to guess that many professionals never used Zoom for conducting meetings and discussions. Now we have necessarily received not just a superficial understanding of conducting virtual meetings, many of us are now “The Zoom
IN SUMMARY: Going somewhat personal, education has always been stressed in our household for our children and until recently, that has always meant formal education. Having 3 young adults (who have returned to the nest on and off since COVID19) will have this period of real-world learning indelibly etched into their lives. We
JULY 2020 | WWW.FRANCHISEJOURNAL.COM
can only hope as parents that education for our children has not only continued, but possibly has even been accelerated and redefined, and that it will serve these generations well as future business leaders. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dave Jones has 26 years of Corporate Experience with organizations like Proctor and Gamble and Matthews International, where he was Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Product Development. With an undergraduate degree in Chemistry and Economics from Washington and Jefferson College, a Master’s in Business from Carnegie Mellon University and two U S Patents in merchandising, he is well prepared to help with your evaluation of owning your own Franchised business. Contact Dave at 412-400-9209 or at david@ thefranchiseconsultingcompany.com.
DREAM BIG, RAISE MORE,
WORK SMART. Fundraising U is the leader in the school sports fundraising industry due to its focus on giving back to the community through fundraising and a non-profit organization – The Coaching Matters Foundation. With a quick ramp-up to revenue model,
OWN THE BEST-LOOKING
HOUSE ON THE BLOCK! Color World Housepainting offers 5 revenue streams for 5 times the revenue potential: painting, power washing, gutter installation, drywall, carpentry and holiday lighting. These services are proven to be essential and coincide with our recession-resistant business model, low overhead, no brick and mortar requirements, and few employees. This allows for continued growth and innovation. Color World is conveniently offering VIRTUAL estimates that allow customers to continue with home renovations and check items off their “to-do” list all while having a peace of mind during this uncertain time. The combination of the one-stop-shop and essential services that we offer not only increases customer retention rates but allows Franchise Owners to generate strong profits and operate their subcontractor crews year-round.
franchisees were generating revenue within the first 90 days. Fundraising U builds excitement in the community and multi-unit interest with 5 out of 5 buying groups at our most recent Discovery Day “Tryouts” becoming new franchisees! Our under $100k investment with 1-2 employees, averaging over 1.2M in revenue per location, has helped nearly 8,000 schools so far raised over $45 million. If the team can dream it, Fundraising U can help bring that dream to life. From launch to product delivery we help coaches and students have the best experience every step of the way. The plan, execution, and repeat fundraising success is what the students and community look forward to year after year with Fundraising U.
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J F Franchise Journal
EXPERT ADVICE
Why Franchisees Fail by Mark Schnurman, Consultant, The Franchise Consulting Company About 80% of franchisees are happy and achieving their personal and professional goals through franchising. But not all franchisees succeed. Indeed, part of my role as a franchise consultant is to help individuals understand if they are not a good fit for franchising or a particular franchise. I save them time, money and a lot of angst by “disqualifying” them. From my experience, here are the top reasons franchisees fail. 1. Lack Of Commitment To Business Ownership To succeed in anything you need to have a burning desire and sometimes franchisees are not fully committed to being their own boss and running a business. The most important question a potential franchisee can ask themselves is how much do you want to own your own business. On a scale of 1-10 if you are not at least a 6 or a 7 there is a good chance that being a business owner is not the right fit for you. 2. Low Effort Whether you are going into franchising full time or keeping your day job you must prepare to commit long hours to the new endeavor or hire a strong manager really early in the process. There is a negative correlation in any business between time and money. The more time you spend the
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ANOTHER WAY YOU CAN AVOID THESE PITFALLS IS BY WORKING WITH A FRANCHISE CONSULTANT. less money it costs to run the business because you are doing the work instead of hiring a person. But if you do not have the time spend the money so that someone does. It is important during due diligence to really understand what is expected of you and the effort needed to achieve your goals. 3. Skills Deficit While the requisite skills vary by brand typically communications, management, operations, sales and time management are crucial. The areas I witness the greatest skills deficits are communications, management and sales. For example, a franchisee lacking sales skills may not be able to attract clients and a one devoid of management skill cannot properly service clients. During discovery find out what the key skills are and be honest with yourself about whether you possess them. 4. Run Out Of Money Running a business requires more financial wherewithal than the initial capital investment. Working capital is crucial until the franchise turns cash flow positive. Lack of working capital can be caused by starting on a shoestring, not understanding the cash requirements, a slow launch or the franchise not suggesting enough money in the FDD. During validation ask franchisees how much money
is needed, if there were any unforeseen expenses or cash flow issues. 5. Not Following The Model Franchisees invest in a proven business model, systems and processes. Funny thing is that not all franchisees follow the plan. Poor execution dooms many businesses. Some franchisees think they can do it better and eschew the tried and true methods. Because they are not executing the plan their odds of success drop precipitously. The solution is simple: follow the plan! 6. Choose The Wrong Franchise Candidates often want a particular concept because they personally love a brand or think it is a cool business. However, there is a profound difference between having a strong affinity for a brand and operating that business. Put differently, a foodie does not necessarily make a good restaurant owner. You can avoid this pitfall by matching your personal and professional interests and skills to the franchise. During due diligence learn what a “day in the life” looks like. If you are not comfortable and/or excited to do them then it is probably not the right fit. 7. Bad Franchise Model All franchisee failures are not their own fault. Franchisees
expect a strong business model, training, support, etc., but if you choose a weak brand you will not get that. All franchises are not created equal. You can protect yourself in a couple of ways. First, review the FDD to see how many franchisees failed. A high percentage of failures is a red flag. Also, drill down into the training and support while conducting due diligence and validation. Another way you can avoid these pitfalls is by working with a franchise consultant. We know the leading franchises, what it takes to succeed and can match you to one. Please reach out to me to learn more. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mark Schnurman is a leading franchise consultant with a national practice and a franchisee himself. Mark helps people serious about franchise ownership find the right match for their personal, professional, financial and lifestyle goals. info@thefranchiseconsultingcompany. com
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THE EDUCATION ISSUE
TIERRA ENCANTADA:
Where Daycare and Pre-School Become an Educational Gateway into a Bi-Lingual Life by Rhonda Sanderson, CEO, Sanderson & Associates
T
KRISTEN DENZER
ierra Encantada offers Spanish immersion daycare and preschool services to parents of children up to age 5. In today’s world this seems so smart and simple, and yet it is not business as usual. In fact, this is a rarity. So much so, that there are waiting lists to get into the four corporate-owned locations in
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the Minneapolis metropolitan area, where the company is based. Founded by Minneapolis resident Kristen Denzer, the company began franchising in May, after securing a multiunit deal to bring locations to Charlotte, North Carolina, and Houston. Several of these independently owned locations are expected to open in 2020 and there are currently several new franchise deals pending. For a startup range of $591,520 - $1,055,000 and a franchise fee of $50,000, franchisees receive hands-on site development assistance and help with navigating zoning, permitting, and licensing processes. Ongoing support for franchisees includes weekly branded curriculums for each age group and purchasing support for supplies. One might wonder how a young woman like Kristen Denzer came to create such a clever, futuristic concept and brand. Here’s Kristen’s story in her own words: “Growing up, my grandfather was an entrepreneurial role
model for me. He owned a gas station and eventually, a variety of commercial properties. I started my first business while working on my master’s degree and provided consulting work, primarily in Evaluation (focus groups, surveys, program effectiveness) and worked on 20+ projects for a vast array of organizations from educational institutions to nonprofits and tribal organizations. I realized I wanted more of a “brick and mortar” sort of business vs one that required so much of my mind and personal time. At 23, I opened that first brick and mortar business – Deckci Décor (later re-named Cici Events) and provided event rental décor to weddings and special events. With only 20 events the first year, I grew it into a business that provided services and rentals to over 500 events annually before I sold it in 2016. The next business I started was The Woof Room with a dear friend from high school in 2010. We grew that, later purchasing a building and moving to a large space over the years. I sold my end to my partner in 2016. I have two children of my own and Tierra Encantada was born, like so many other
businesses, out of my own search for better options for my children’s care. I saw the enormous demand for language immersion in the industry in the East metro area of Minneapolis. Having multiple years of experience at that point starting businesses, I got my first business loan – an SBA loan – and opened Tierra Encantada in Eagan in the Summer of 2013 when I was 28 years old. It was MUCH different than my other businesses, and I definitely had a huge learning curve getting the various licenses, etc. to open. Within a year of opening, I was already thinking ahead to the next Center but my bank said they wanted a full year of financials (all of 2014) before they’d feel comfortable giving me
another loan. In 2015 I found a building in South Minneapolis, made an offer, and closed and opened Tierra Encantada Bryant in 2016 – which was full and had a waiting list in just 3 months. I immediately started looking for a third location, which I found in 2017 – an old church. I redeveloped the church site to be a very large early education center providing care for over 200 children and has the largest indoor gym in the entire state. That location, Tierra Encantada Windom, opened in June of 2018 and had a waiting list before it even opened the doors. I once again started looking for a fourth site – and ended up finding two at the same time in the Fall of 2018. The fourth location, Tierra Encantada Seward, opened in August of 2019 and our
fifth location will be a new construction 22,000 square foot building. Tierra Encantada means Enchanted Land. I wanted to offer families a “feel good” option for their children. Something they may not get at home – Spanish immersion, cloth diapers, and organic meals designed to expand young palates. My vision is for Tierra Encantada to be the largest early education provider for children 6 weeks through 6 years of age in the United States. We have big growth plans and want to be in every state within five years with over 100 locations nationally. On the corporate side, we are looking at expanding into new states as well as within our current market. In ten years, we plan to be the largest early education provider in the United States and aim to have 500 locations.” ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rhonda Sanderson is a franchise expert and who has owned and operated Sanderson & Associates and Sanderson PR, both PR, Social Media and Crisis Expert Practices specializing in franchising since 1986. She has authored many articles, helped grow numerous franchise chains is considered one of the Top 30 Small Business Influencers (Fit Business) in the U.S. Find her at Rhonda@ sandersonpr.com or on LinkedIn where she is the author of Franchise Stars at https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhondasanderson-a6b658/
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FRANCHISE UPDATES
International Franchise Expansion Continues to Climb by Casey Qasem, International Franchise Consultant, The Franchise Consulting Company Taking a franchise brand International is, in a way, hitting it big. The good news is that this is the tenth year in a row of establishment franchise growth says the IFA. In February, The International Franchise Association’s Business Economic Outlook for 2020 expects growth to remain strong despite the uncertain economy and projects the number of franchised business in the U.S. will increase by 1.5% to a total of 785,316 — adding 232,000 jobs this year to reach 8.6 million employees. The other good news is that International expansion is also on the rise. FRANdata projects the personal services to grow the most.
CONSIDER THIS, EIGHTY PERCENT OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION LIVES IN AREAS THAT ARE CONSIDERED EMERGING MARKETS. 42
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The U.S. Department of Commerce estimates that over 75 percent of the expected growth in the world's trade over the next two decades will come from developing countries, particularly big emerging markets, which account for over half the world's population, but only 25 percent of its gross domestic product, making a big opportunity for US brands to expand. WHAT YOU SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE INTERNATIONAL FRANCHISE EXPANSION Franchise representatives need to visit the countries or consider local regional partners they are considering developing into and devote
time and resources to studying these cultures very carefully. One of the first questions to consider is time of entry. Visiting and understanding the culture is important, but tailoring and testing procedures, marketing and personnel is also a key in ensuring success in outside markets such as: • Adapt to local culture • Understand local laws and politics • Be aware of regional economics and labor markets • Attract the right kind of investors • Ease of opening new business • Varying labor markets If and when the product or service sticks, and the market
is proved to be viable and economically attractive, then other brands, and concepts, can begin to move in as well as well as helping to develop already local brands. Many markets are also working to find ways to penetrate the US market with their International brands, but for now, a majority of other countries want US brands. Saudi Arabia wants to lead and has a plan to become the next mecca of franchising admiration with their “Vision 2030 plan.” The Kingdom of Saudi Franchise is the most populated country in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) with a population of approximately 32 million people. For years, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been the region’s largest economy, boasting consumers of the highest purchasing power, and young among those, an estimated 50 percent of the population are under the age of 25 and are tech-savvy, recent developments make this an especially opportune time to move into the Saudi scene. “The European market, specifically Ireland was first to experience the fastest economic International franchise growth between 2008 - 2018” But franchises should not rule out smaller countries or assume that lower GDP means lower market potential. As a combined number, Latin America had a large GDP of over 2.5% in
2014 and employed over 200 thousand employed. Today, most Latin markets are projected to grow with a gradual increase over the next two years. Australian and New Zealand continues to suggest more multi-unit ownership by franchises growth. The UAE has witnessed its own significant growth in franchising over the past two decades, most of which has come f rom corporate investments. Because of saturation in the retail and food beverage space (which is also challenged by online selling), new sectors of franchising are being explored more actively. But franchising isn't meant to be just a corporate domain, nor is it meant to be monopolized by a few sectors. With the culture of entrepreneurship getting stronger by the day, there are countless individuals from various backgrounds desiring to carve out their
own niche in the business universe. Whereas the recent migration of unconventional f ranchises from the fringes to center stage might be partly due to the Millennial mindset, it is also the result of circumstance, with some sectors saturated while others are grossly underserved. Said Sanjay Duggal, Vice President of Business Development, Middle East, and North Africa Franchise Association (Dubai) WHAT IS VISION 2030? Many countries are planning for a prosperous future and in line with its Vision 2030 objectives, Saudi Arabia is heavily investing in shifting economic growth away from a dependency on oil and supporting innovation and entrepreneurship instead. “The historic vision was developed by the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, which is chaired by Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin WWW.FRANCHISEJOURNAL.COM | JULY 2020
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Salman. It includes a number of goals and reform strategies for the Kingdom’s long-term economic success, including reductions in subsidies, the creation of a sovereign wealth fund, opening Saudi Aramco to private investment through a partial IPO, and reforms to several industries including tourism and defense.” MEGA DEAL SIGNED TO LEVERAGE EXPERTISE AND GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS “I am very excited to be part of the signing and international agreement between Pioneer Gate international groupSaudi based Company and The Franchise Consulting Company US based Company which exclusively holds the management of more than +350 of the most prominent brands as an integral part of vision 2030.” Mr.Saeed Alqahtani said along with
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delegated member Mohamed Faiz when they met with Nick Neonakis and Casey Qasem, of The Franchise Consulting Company earlier this year regarding coordination steps and procedures for contracting, reviewing and auditing to bring some of the top franchise companies to the market of Saudi Arabia. “Franchising is a vehicle that aligns entrepreneurs with great ideas and as the Crown Prince and Saudi Arabia continue its relentless march towards great achievements with its economy, franchising will play a larger role in providing goods and services to its citizens”. Says Nick Neonakis, CEO of The Franchise Consulting Company, “We are proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with the entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia as they seek to grow through franchising”.
Pioneer Gate International Group CEO Al Zain Abdin Abdul added, "This partnership is the first of its kind in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where a contract is made with one of the largest American companies in the franchise establishment sector." A master f ranchise agreement with a large US fitness f ranchise will bring 5 different fitness studios to Saudi Arabia, where women-only gyms have been gaining popularity since the government began licensing them in 2017 as part of Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman’s Vision 2030 plan. Sultan and Mohammed Alhokair, who previously brought United Kingdombased Fitness first to the Middle East, formed their First Agility Company and will open more than 50 studios in Saudi Arabia over the
next three years with this US fitness franchise. “Sultan and Mohammed are the younger generation that’s leading Saudi Arabian business into new areas – They’re progressive. WHICH MODELS ARE USED MOST TO EXPAND INTERNATIONAL FOOTPRINTS? Before considering expansion, a franchised business needs to determine if they are truly ready to expand. Strategic advantages of experience, scale economies, product differentiation, capital requirements, and location are important determinants of international franchise expansion and must be considered prior to launching any expansion plan. • Master Franchise: The simplest way to grow your business internationally is with the master franchise set-up. You award master franchise rights to your chosen entrepreneur in the target country, and they make a considerable investment. The master franchisee then starts and runs several new businesses under your brand and business model. Essentially, the master franchisee becomes the franchisor in that country. • Area Development: Sometimes, regional franchising is not allowed in a country or industry. If the territory is too large to be managed by one franchisee, it’s divided. But, where a regional franchisee would sell franchise units
to individual franchisees, an area development agreement requires a single franchisee to run all the units in their location. • Wholly-Owned Subsidiary: The wholly-owned subsidiary enters into franchise relations with franchisees, whether they are single unit franchise, regional master franchises or area development agreements. In this case, the subsidiary is entirely separate from the foreign parent company and therefore the parent company is insulated from liability. As exciting as f ranchise growth is. Franchising impacts economies as a whole when considering the impact of a consumer, employee, franchisor and staff to all of the vendors and resources needed to thrive in the f ranchise ecology. First and foremost, growth comes after leveraging an
already successful franchise concept and providing consistent education, tools and resources. Franchising is a duplication of a proven system and saves the “will be f ranchisee” precious time and money figuring out what has, in many cases taken decades to perfect. A proven model allows f ranchisees to thrive by scaling and becoming exponentially wealthy and can provide more control over their life versus having a job. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Casey Qasem is an International Franchise Consultant and Chair of the Islamic-American Franchise Council specializing in helping both English and Arabic speaking clients. Casey has owned and managed multiple businesses overseas and in the US. He understands there can be cultural barriers and is eager to help his clients navigate to ensure great communication and support throughout their journey. Contact Casey at 734-707-1095 or at casey@ thefranchiseconsultingcompany.com.
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THE SERVICE SECTOR FOR FRANCHISING IS
EVER-GROWING. According to the Franchise Business Economic Outlook for 2020, prepared by IFA, franchise industry growth is expected to continue riding the momentum of the U.S. market boom in 2020, despite an uncertain economy. Even during this unprecedented time, we have seen our brand partners step up, take ownership, and prove their resiliency as an essential business. From virtual discover days to revamping how day to day business is run in order to achieve goals, our brand partners have exemplified empathy and are doing what it takes to help their franchisees, staff, and customers feel safe and taken care of. In particular, our service brands present a great opportunity for future franchisees. With the opportunity for mobile franchises no lease – no mortgage requirements to low overhead – 1 to 2 employees needed to reoccurring revenue models, Franchise FastLane brand partners are showing there is still an essential need for their business at this time.
FRANCHISEJOURNAL.COM/SUBSCRIBE
FRANCHISE UPDATES
Franchise Trends in a World Post-Corona Virus by Jeff Dudan, CEO, Dudan Partners It’s no secret that COVID-19 wreaked havoc on the global economy the past few months. Despite this, franchising as an industry is still doing remarkably well. A March 2020 online survey by FranConnect revealed that almost two-thirds of franchisors are continuing to pursue efforts to sell franchises throughout the pandemic. The survey also revealed that Personal Services, Quick Serve Restaurants, and Full-Service Restaurants are expected to
DO YOU KNOW WHAT KRISPY KREME, MORGAN STANLEY, AND ALLSTATE HAVE IN COMMON? They are all able to trace their founding dates to the Great Depression, a time when you wouldn’t think that founding a business would be at the top of mind for most people. 48
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suffer the most damage. On the other end of the spectrum, Business Services and RealEstate franchises will undergo the least damage. Pushing franchise sales during such a time may seem counterintuitive, when almost 15% of the U.S. population is unemployed and businesses across the world are declaring bankruptcy. But, when you consider the millions of unemployed Americans frustrated with the lack of control they have over employment and now looking
for new business opportunities, it makes sense that buying a franchise is a viable option. Among those that have recently been laid off, there are those with years of experience in different industries who have probably thought about becoming a small business owner themselves. A few of these are bound to have some cash saved up or the ability to find the financing for such a cause. Combine that with
the desire to take their lives into their own hands, and franchising fits. Do you know what Krispy Kreme, Morgan Stanley, and Allstate have in common? They are all able to trace their founding dates to the Great Depression, a time when you wouldn’t think that founding a business would be at the top of mind for most people. The housing crash in 2008, although similarly devastating for many industries, led to an increase in entrepreneurship as millions of laid-off workers were determined to do something for themselves. WhatsApp, Venmo, Smashburger, BlueKai, and Groupon are all examples of companies that took advantage of the economic downturn and came out on top. Knowing this, it's plausible that franchisors during COVID-19, while perhaps not experiencing a boom in franchise sales, will at least not experience a significant decrease. There is an inverse relationship between franchising and the larger economy, and the desire for entrepreneurship does not disappear when the economy takes a hit. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jeff is the CEO of Dudan Partners, a published author, Forbes contributor, speaker, YPO Member, founder and consultant to emerging brands. Dudan Partners is a venturing and private equity family office and a catalyst for enterprise growth in the franchise industry via the deployment of capital, operational expertise, or other appropriate resources to emerging and established brands. Contact Jeff at 704-309-4472 or at jeff@dudan.me .
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DELIVERY OF FDD THAT IS READY FOR FILING WITH ALL REGISTRATION STATES Managing Partners Jason Power and Jonathan Barber
STARTUP FRANCHISOR FORMATION PACKAGE Executive meeting with Attorney to gather all information required for preparing Franchise Disclosure Documents and Exhibit
Review of all existing corporate documents and marketing materials
980-202-5679 info@franchise.law
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COVID-19 GUIDANCE
Why Franchise Business Owners Are More Likely to Succeed Through COVID-19 by Seth Lederman, Franchise Consultant, The Franchise Consulting Company
N
o one could have expected how the impact of the coronavirus would ripple through, well, everything. If you wanted to start a business this year, you might be thinking that those plans are out the window. But that’s not necessarily true. Here’s why investing in a franchise may be your ticket to owning a successful business. COVID HAS CREATED MORE OPTIONS FOR INVESTORS Interest rates are down, landlords are more willing to negotiate shorter lease terms and rent concessions, and banks are willing to negotiate on loans with better interest rates. These conditions are surprisingly good for those looking to set up shop. Securing favorable terms now, when people are more flexible, can accelerate a franchise's growth — especially when things start to pick back up again. For franchise investors, another area where there’s room to negotiate is with the franchisor. If you are
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considering becoming a franchise owner, there are more incentives and flexibility of franchise agreement language that normally would not be achievable. Even if it’s just temporary, you can talk about what changes can be made to help you get through the pandemic. And if you need further assistance, the U.S. Small Business Administration can also help. Currently the SBA is waiving the first 6 months of payments on any franchise
acquisition loan originated before September 27th, 2020. They have additional information and useful resources such as small business guidance, disaster assistance, and other relief options. YOU ARE NOT ALONE With all the uncertainty about the future, it pays to have someone you can turn to, someone who can
WHEN TIMES ARE TOUGH, CUSTOMERS ARE MORE LIKELY TO CHOOSE A BRAND THEY TRUST. provide franchise industry expertise in navigating franchise ownership. A Franchise Consultant can be an invaluable resource for guidance and support, especially in times like these so you won't have to take the leap alone. With extensive industry knowledge and experience, a Franchise Consultant will help you reach your goals even during global unrest. It's important to lean on your resources and on people with experience during these times. In addition, when you are in business as a franchisee, you
will have corporate support who are trained with best practices and, that means you don’t have to create procedures and processes from scratch. You can simply follow the “recipe for success” provided by your f ranchisor. And of course, don’t forget about your potential customers. When times are tough, they’re more likely to choose a brand they trust. A franchise associates you with a name that people know they can rely on. At the end of the day, both you and your customers are taking on less risk.
FRANCHISES ARE BUILT TO HELP EACH OTHER OUT Franchisees are part of a large network of business owners. You can learn from each other and develop collaborative and effective solutions in conjunction with your franchisor’s support. For example, some businesses are looking at texting to help with communicating with customers during COVID-19. If that’s something that can work in one location, it’s likely to work for many others. If you’re looking for brands with the support structure that’s ready to weather this storm, Franchise Consultants can help by providing the highest level of expertise in all f ranchise industry sectors and operating models. We’ll find a f ranchise that you can partner with for the long run. As you think about how your life is going to change, don’t forget that everyone’s experiencing the same thing. We’re all a little anxious about what the future might bring. While it’s good to be empathetic to those sharing the same struggle, don’t let that stop you from making progress. Rise to the challenge and you’ll build a business that can get through anything. Remember “rising tides raise all ships.” ABOUT THE AUTHOR Seth Lederman, a Franchise Acquisition and Development Specialist, is a multi-faceted entrepreneur with 30 years of experience in small business success, including ownership and sale of his own business enterprises. Contact him at seth@thefranchiseconsultingcompany.com or call 312-307-1297.
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THE EDUCATION ISSUE
Smart Art by Abrakadoodle
A
rt is smart! There is a huge need for children’s educational programs that build creativity! Our leading art education franchise taps a strong and growing industry in the children’s services sector, where there are almost 80 million children within our program demographic. Our fine art programs, along with our STEAM based programs, build important skills needed for students to compete in a global economy. Yearly spending for specialized products and services for children is estimated at over $500 billion dollars in the US alone! With multiple program revenue streams, franchise owners build sustainable and recurring business throughout the entire year. The magic behind Abrakadoodle is “creativity,” which in addition to visual literacy abilities, empowers
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THE ART OF A TRULY BENEFICIAL ART EDUCATION PROGRAM ENTAILS “PROCESS ART,” IN WHICH STUDENTS DISCOVER AS THEY CREATE. young students to use their imaginations, problemsolve and instills them with confidence for lifelong learning adventures. Abrakadoodle's newest online art enrichment program offerings also reflect the creative and innovation nature of our brand and culture by continuing engagement with our students, families and partner sites during times when we cannot meet faceto-face. We call that Art Smart! Abrakadoodle has taken the once exclusively in-person classes and camps into the virtual world of online learning, and the results so far have been great. In all ways, Abrakadoodle students are makers and enjoy hands-on discovery while learning about artists, cultures, art history, art styles and techniques with creativityfocused curriculum that is impactful for learners. The art of a truly beneficial art education program entails “Process Art,” in which students discover as they create. Abrakadoodle’s mobile art education programs ensure that schools do not have to put the brakes on creativity education due to lack of staffing, supplies or travel constraints. Abrakadoodle delivers award-winning art solutions with well-trained art teachers, abundant art materials and supplies, as well as comprehensive, standardsbased visual arts lesson plans. Sometimes life challenges
prevent children for taking part in art, which Abrakadoodle has sought to remedy with its Arts for All scholarship program. Since 2008, Abrakadoodle has awarded annual scholarships to help fund beneficial art programs for children in need – from art camp for low income deaf children and multi-week art classes for children residing at a shelter to art programs for developmentally disabled preschoolers and holiday art activities for hospitalized children, Abrakadoodle knows the healing power of art. As an immediate response to community needs during Covid-19, Abrakadoodle launched the Splat Doodle Art Movement. Each week, Abrakadoodle introduced a new art challenge activity online free to the public. This enabled continued engagement with our families during a time of
extreme uncertainty, fear and stress. It puts the heart in our smart art programs! As our country continues to reopen, students benefit from Covid-compliant, safe and portable Abrakadoodle programs provided as part of academic art partnerships during the school day; inschool field trips and after school classes, as well as individual art workshops and multi-day/week and year-long art programs. From preschools and public elementary, charter and private schools to parks
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of success, Abrakadoodle is a leader that offers entrepreneurs a rewarding journey with an impressive palette of artfully designed business lines that connect kids of all ages to art in ways that are smart. MEET OUR CFE
programs, community centers and other sites, Abrakadoodle franchise owners/educational directors enjoy the relational aspects of this moveable concept and cite the strong desire to make a positive impact in their respective communities. Abrakadoodle’s impact is visible in its student
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participants, who create art as unique as themselves. Abrakadoodle puts children in the driver’s seat, engaging them with imaginative lessons that inspire deeper learning and creative self-expression. When it comes to a mobile (or online) franchise concept with a proven track record
Rosemarie Hartnett, CFE, is Co-Founder and President of Abrakadoodle Inc., an international franchisor of children’s art education services. A well-known advocate for women in franchising, frequent speaker and winner of IFA’s Crystal Compass Award, Ms. Hartnett oversees all Abrakadoodle’s operations, franchise support, sales, growth initiatives and training services worldwide. Contact Abrakadoodle Inc. at 925-708-2179 or at http://www. abrakadoodle.com.
FRANCHISEJOURNAL.COM/SUBSCRIBE C O N TA C T U S I N F O @ F R A N C H I S E J O U R N A L . C O M
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THE EDUCATION
ISSUE
AMERICA LIVES ON BY CANDY CARSON & PAM MARSHNER
IN THIS SEVENTH MONTH OF THE YEAR, WE HONOR THE AMERICAN SPIRIT AS WE REMEMBER OUR FOREFATHERS AND ALL THEY FOUGHT FOR SO THAT EACH OF US CAN LIVE THE AMERICAN DREAM.
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25 YEARS of GIVING The American spirit is… • A spirit of problem-solving creativity • A spirit of dedication to the pursuit
Dr. Ben Carson and his wife Candy Carson
of excellence • A spirit of humanitarianism: sharing with those less fortunate and helping our fellow man • A spirit of self-sacrifice • A spirit of entrepreneurialism • A spirit of valuing the individual, considering each person has potential, and affording each one the opportunity to develop themselves to be the best they can be to pursue their dreams!
The Carson Scholars Fund (CSF) has been recognizing and rewarding students who embody the American spirit for 25 years! These young people from all 50 states not only dedicate themselves to excellence in their lives, particularly academics, but they also demonstrate their humanitarianism through volunteer work, by creating their own charitable initiatives, and by addressing community needs through creative problem solving. Consider the coronavirus crisis and Carson Scholar Dhruv Pai, an aspiring physician and researcher who volunteers at Walter Reed Hospital. This young man noticed a need and stepped up to the plate to help those who are vulnerable, starting a volunteer movement that has spread from Maryland to New York, the West Coast and Canada. Consider an eighth grader with autism who recognizes that his perspective on the world is unique. Carson Scholar Michael Kennedy sees this as a positive and something that makes him special. His perseverance and optimism have made him not only a stellar student and the president of his class, but also a student who
cares for his peers and community through mentoring and volunteer work. Consider Flint, Michigan, where tainted water has been a huge problem. Thirteen-year-old Carson Scholar Gitanjali Rao, after viewing the community problem on the news, invented a lead-testing device (Tethys, named after the Greek Titan goddess of clean water) that is effective and inexpensive to make. She is working with a Denver water facility to develop a prototype to mass produce. She not only has her own Wikipedia page, but last year was on Forbes’ “30 under 30”! She is currently working on a solution for opioid addiction! These are just a few examples of the thousands of Carson Scholars who continue to keep the American spirit alive, by valuing excellence in education and service.
WHAT IS A CARSON SCHOLAR?
A Carson Scholar becomes a positive role model for his/her peers as early as fourth
THE COMMON FACTOR THAT EACH SCHOLAR POSSESSES IS THE INCLINATION TO USE THE GIFTS THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN, THE OBSTACLES THEY HAVE FACED, AND THE CHARACTER THEY POSSESS TO CREATE SOMETHING BIGGER THAN THEMSELVES. WWW.FRANCHISEJOURNAL.COM | JULY 2020
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West Coast Carson Scholars Zachary Patterson, Elizabeth Orkeh and Jazlyn Peraza show off their medals
grade. Carson Scholars are truly representative of what it means to be an American. They come from all walks of life, ethnicities, and backgrounds. The common factor that each scholar possesses is the inclination to use the gifts they have been given, the obstacles they have faced, and the character they possess to create something bigger than themselves. A couple of questions arise: But why fourth grade? Isn’t that a little young to be thinking about college, and receiving a scholarship for it? The common saying, “Through third grade children are learning to read; after third grade students read to learn.” should not be taken lightly. Only one-in-three students read proficiently by
that point. Studies have shown that having college and career discussion early on in the life of a student leads to better preparation in understanding and achieving goals in high school. The Carson Scholars Program is unique in the fact that it recognizes and rewards students as young as fourth grade with hopes to encourage young learners to persevere. The program encourages educators to nominate students who they believe show excellent leadership potential through their academic pursuits, but also character in solving civic problems and giving back to their communities. To be considered for the prestigious recognition, a student must possess
Hall of Fame Carson Scholar Swetha Prabakaran with Dr. Ben Carson
THE COMMON SAYING, “THROUGH THIRD GRADE CHILDREN ARE LEARNING TO READ; AFTER THIRD GRADE STUDENTS READ TO LEARN.” SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN LIGHTLY. 64
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Carson Scholars celebrate with Candy Carson at North Carolina Banquet
THE STUDENTS ARE CELEBRATED IN GRAND STYLE AS THE BANQUETS OFTEN HOST 500-1,000 PEOPLE INCLUDING CELEBRITIES, BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS, EDUCATORS, FAMILY, AND PEERS. at least a 3.75 GPA and demonstrate humanitarian qualities or caring about others through community service or other volunteer initiatives. Students in grades 4-11 across the country are recognized as Carson Scholars without regard to race, gender identification, faith, political affiliation, or financial need. Upon selection a student receives a $1,000 college scholarship which is invested on their behalf until they matriculate at a four year accredited institution. They also receive a medal,
certificate, recognition package, local press and an invitation to a regional awards banquet. Their school receives a trophy that is every bit as impressive as any others in the school’s display case. The students are celebrated in grand style as the banquets often host 500 to 1,000 people including celebrities, business and community leaders, educators, family, and peers. Once named, the scholars are encouraged to reapply each year through their senior year in high school. The repeat recognition
encourages students to continue on their path and lead by example. Throughout the years the organization maintains communication with the students to encourage and reinforce their accomplishments. This extends beyond graduation as the CSF has an impressive Hall of Fame and is in the process of creating an Associate Leadership Council encouraging past scholars to guide and mentor future generations. In his application to become a 2020 Carson WWW.FRANCHISEJOURNAL.COM | JULY 2020
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CARSON SCHOLARS ARE SOLVING PROBLEMS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE NEEDS AND CHALLENGES FACED BY SOCIETY BOTH DOMESTICALLY AND GLOBALLY. Scholar, Landon Vyhmeister, an eleventh grader from Soldotna, Alaska, succinctly expressed why empowering youth to value education and remain civic-minded is so important. Landon wrote, “Education is a fundamental facet of a working society and everyone has knowledge that gives them opportunities to positively impact their world. ...With formal education, opportunities arise to help which can eliminate a problem at its center, instead of merely mitigating its negative effects.”
MISSION
The CSF’s mission is to ‘Discover Promise and Reward Excellence.’ The scholar spotlights in this article emphasize why supporters feel so strongly that by recognizing this promise early, we are directly impacting the course of this country’s future leadership. Carson Scholars are solving problems directly related to the needs and challenges faced by society both domestically and globally. When Dr. Carson was on the speaker’s circuit in the 1990s,
the schools where he spoke had many large trophies for students who excelled in sports and entertainment, like band, orchestra and cheerleading, but the academic role models had close to nothing to celebrate their achievements. “During that time, an international survey was released comparing the math and science aptitude of high school students from 22 countries. And the mighty United States with all its resources and status was not number one.
Ben Carson Reading Room Project: Reading is fun at Boca Raton Elementary!
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It was not in the top five or even the top ten! Our students ranked #21 out of 22 countries, and the only country we beat out was one where children have to dodge bullets all day! That was a wake-up call for us. We knew something needed to be done if the United States would be able to continue to enjoy the same benefits and opportunities its citizenry had in the past. In this day and age of Thomas Friedman’s “flat world,” global competition is no longer a possible theory but an actual statement of fact. Consider the fact that the United States has approximately 330 million people. However, India has four times that many people, and China has four times the American populace as well! America cannot afford NOT to develop all of her people! Having a Carson Scholar in each and every school in the nation would mean that these positive academic role models would be opening the eyes of their peers to actually visualize and dream of possibilities of their own success.” —Candy Carson To understand the commitment Dr. and Mrs. Carson have to the Carson Scholars Fund and this country’s youth, it is important to know their story. As with most great leaders, the Carsons’ story did not begin on the day they created the Carson Scholars Fund. Their character, great faith, and drive to create a better world for those who follow them were strong motivators. While the Carsons did not
Carson Scholar Mia Ottolini meeting Dr. Carson
meet until college, both grew up in Detroit. They saw firsthand the outcomes of society’s problems including poverty, racism and a lack of education. In the book and movie, Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story, Dr. Carson describes the obstacles he was forced to overcome and credits those who inspired him to believe in himself including his mother, Sonya, who was his driving force. He reflects on the premise that believing that he was smart was the first step in accomplishing his goals. Once he started to apply himself through perseverance and commitment, he started seeing results and realized he could accomplish whatever he set his mind to. His mother, with only a third grade education, held the stark belief that education would free her children from a life of poverty and discontent. While
she struggled herself, she was steadfast in making sure her two sons achieved their inherent potential. “The fact of the matter is, once I developed confidence in myself and began to believe that I was smart, then all of those innate abilities began to come out. Everybody has them, everybody who has a normal brain, because there is no such thing as an average human being. If you have a normal brain, you are superior. There’s almost nothing that you can’t do.” — Dr. Ben Carson While the road was not always a smooth one, young Ben did abide by the wisdom of his mother and other adults who saw his potential and fortified his drive. Ben Carson went on to become a worldrenowned neurosurgeon, author of nine books, bearer WWW.FRANCHISEJOURNAL.COM | JULY 2020
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CARSON SCHOLARS WILL BE THIS COUNTRY’S LEADERS IN BUSINESS, MEDICINE, EDUCATION, AND IN CAREERS THAT HAVE NOT YET BEEN DEVELOPED. of more than 70 honorary doctorates and the recipient of countless accolades and awards. During his career, Time magazine named him as one of the country’s foremost physicians and scientists; a “Living Legend” by the Library of Congress; a NAACP Springarn Medal winner and a Presidential Medal of Freedom honoree, the country’s highest civilian honor. Investing in a Carson Scholar is a chance to not only fulfill the dreams of a student who shows both promise and compassion, but also enable them to shine as a positive role model and inspire their peers to strive harder. Carson Scholars will be this country’s leaders
in business, medicine, education, and in careers that have not yet been developed. As early as elementary school, these students are characterized by an entrepreneurial spirit evidenced in their commitment to finding solutions to problems they see in their schools, communities, and globally. The belief that investing in a child’s future will help shape society and provide for a greater outcome has led to immeasurable support and generosity for the organization from a diverse group of individual donors, corporations, and foundations. The CSF, along with their educational partners and volunteers,
work diligently to recognize and reward America’s youth, their ultimate goal being to have a Carson Scholar in every school in the country. Due to the dedication of the donors, educators and volunteers, the CSF is able to invest 90 cents of every dollar raised to support educational initiatives. To date over 9,300 scholarships have been awarded to deserving students across the country. As the organization approaches their 25th anniversary of the first awards ceremony, they are close to awarding the 10,000th scholarship recipient! You can be a part of this landmark achievement!
477/912
OVER 750
More than
New/Recognized Carson Scholars in 2020
9,300
Scholarships have been Awarded in 50 States & Washington D.C.
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Colleges/Universities have Carson Scholars
Our Alumni Network has
OVER 6,100 Members
$7.1
MILLION
Has Been Paid Out on Behalf of Carson Scholars
878
Schools had Carson Scholars in 2020
RECOGNITION
Over the years the Carson Scholars Fund has won awards for their vision and impact, including the William E. Simon Award, the Ronald McDonald House Award and a Grammy Award for a Public Service Announcement (PSA). The Carsons will tell you “We don’t do this for the awards; it’s for the effect that these dedicated, selfsacrificing, creative students are having on our nation! We want to remain competitive in this ever-changing world, and the way to do that is to get behind these future leaders to help them maintain their motivations and continue to strive for success, thereby influencing others to do the same.”
Click to View Grammy Award winning PSA
90$ ¢ OF EVERY 1 RAISED
Goes Toward Benefiting Young Students
230
Over Reading Rooms in
23
BEN CARSON READING ROOMS "Just 5 more minutes" is often heard from students when a teacher tells them it is time to wrap up their time in a Ben Carson Reading Room. The Ben Carson Reading Project, the second initiative of the Carson Scholars Fund, was launched twenty years ago as a complementary program to the Carson Scholar Program. The first hurdle which must be crossed to help a student become successful is fostering a love of reading. Dr. Carson credits much of his success to his mother nurturing a love of reading in his early years. While he acknowledged that there were times he would have rather been outside running with friends, his mother’s insistence that he and his brother spend time reading was life-changing. So often, for children, especially in areas where reading materials are scarce, dated, or nonexistent, reading is seen as a chore. Ben Carson Reading Rooms are created with the sole purpose of providing a pleasurable environment where children feel safe, have the ability to relax and explore their own interests; ultimately allowing a child to be transported to a place within their own imagination. Third grader, Thamar, said of his reading room, "It is comfortable and makes me feel smart." Empowering children to seek their full potential is what will ultimately drive them to change the world in which they live.
75+
$3.1
MILLION
Reading Room Sponsors
Invested in the Reading Room Program
106,000+
115,000
Student Participants
Books Purchased
States
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SPOTLIGHT ON
CARSON SCHOLARS DHRUV PAI
2020 CARSON SCHOLAR SILVER SPRING, MD
Dhruv Pai hopes to become a physician
who does clinical work and also biomedical research. He is interested in pursuing a combined MD/PhD degree allowing him to help vulnerable populations using clinical
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skills and also allowing him to do research on developing new approaches to treating medical concerns. Dhruv volunteers at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, as a Red Cross volunteer. He shares that “Volunteering has been an eye-opening exercise for me as it has enabled me to observe a wide range of medical professionals and their approaches to treating and working with their patients. Besides increasing my appreciation and gratitude to the active duty military as well as our veterans for their service to our country, this volunteering effort has made me sincerely appreciate those serving in the medical field. It also made me realize that serving my community altruistically gives me a lot of satisfaction and pleasure.” During the coronavirus pandemic, Dhruv started a group called Teens Helping Seniors. Through efforts to help his own grandparents, he recognized the need of many in his community who had no one to help them with errands and critical needs such as food and medicines. He gathered a group of other teens to help. Dhruv received media recognition for his efforts and his group has gained nationwide traction with chapters springing up in New York, on the West Coast and in Canada.
Click to Read More About Dhruv’s Story
Gitanjali Rao is a 9th grader from Highlands Ranch, CO. She is currently conducting research through the University of Colorado, in the department of Cell Biology, to find a solution for prescription opioid addiction using the latest in genetic engineering. This initiative provided her recognition as a world finalist in a Technovation challenge and a Health Pillar award by TCS Ignite Innovation. She introduced the device in TEDtalksNayibaat India. Gitanjali was previously named America’s Top Young Scientist of 2017 by the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge, with a patent pending device to detect lead in water faster than any other current techniques. She is also the winner of a global Paradigm science challenge and was named a Forbes 30 under 30 scholar.
ClDicokntaote
M
GITANJALI RAO
2-TIME CARSON SCHOLAR HIGHLANDS RANCH, CO
Gitanjali recently launched an anticyberbullying service based on AI/Machine Learning using Natural Language Processing in the community called "KINDLY" under the guidance of Microsoft. She was awarded an eCYBERMISSION STEM in Action grant to implement the solution. She is an active STEM promoter and is involved in promoting STEM based activities in schools, clubs and the community. She was selected as the National STEM Scout of the Year. She runs innovation sessions weekly and has impacted about 20,000 elementary, middle and high school students by running innovation sessions globally. Gitanjali has open-sourced her lead detector invention processor, her colorimetry based algorithm for prescription opioid detection and app code for the community and it has been used for other applications. Some of Gitanjali’s hobbies include playing the piano, Indian classical dancing and singing, swimming, fencing, and baking. She has been playing classical music for almost nine years. She shares her talent of playing piano in local assisted living centers. Gitanjali aspires to study genetics combined with computer science. She hopes to keep writing, discovering, and sharing her knowledge in the future. She is an avid problem solver and thrives in collaborating with organizations that promote innovation and creativity.
Click to Read More About Gitanjali’s Story
“THE CSF HAS ENABLED ME TO BE MOTIVATED AND EXCEL IN MY ACADEMICS WHILE CONTRIBUTING TIME TO OUR COMMUNITY. OUR GENERATION IS GROWING UP IN A TIME WHERE WE ARE SEEING PROBLEMS THAT NEVER EXISTED BEFORE. CSF IS DEVELOPING LEADERS OF TOMORROW WHO NOT ONLY EXCEL IN EDUCATION, BUT GIVE BACK THEIR TIME AND SOLVE OTHERS’ PROBLEMS ENSURING THERE IS A WORLD WHERE KINDNESS PREVAILS.” — Carson Scholar, Gitanjali Rao WWW.FRANCHISEJOURNAL.COM | JULY 2020
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MICHAEL KENNEDY 2020 CARSON SCHOLAR PITTSBURGH, PA
Eighth-grader Michael Kennedy acknowledges that part of what makes him special is that he has autism and sees the world differently than his peers. He believes that small acts of kindness go a long way. Michael acknowledges, “I have a kind caring heart and I love helping people in need. I love helping people that are less fortunate than me. I want to make the world a better place.” Michael is involved in his schools ‘Langley’s Blessings in a Back Pack Program.’ He packs food and delivers it to students who are in need every Friday. He also helps organize Langley's clothing closet. The clothing closet is for students in need of clothes, coats, hats, etc. He participates in a mentoring program called Boys 2 Men and is the president of the student council.
“I HAVE A KIND CARING HEART AND I LOVE HELPING PEOPLE IN NEED.” — Carson Scholar, Michael Kennedy
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ALEXANDRIA HENSON 7-TIME CARSON SCHOLAR CAPE CORAL, FL
Alexandria Henson’s academic excellence, including her current 5.38 GPA, and humanitarian goals have inspired her to create a grant winning youth environmental outreach program, Project L.E.A.D. (Local Environmental Activist Development), which educates and mobilizes a network of local youth through beach cleanups and youth seminars. Energized by participating in the last seven Youth Ocean Conservation Summits, organizing multiple World Oceans Day celebrations, and as a five-time Team Leader for the annual Global Youth Service Days, Alex has successfully cleaned hundreds of pounds of trash and marine debris from the ocean. She is the Youth Council Chairwoman for both the Keep Florida Beautiful and Keep Lee County Beautiful organizations. Proud of her Carson Scholar achievement, Alex continues to work with other civic organizations, including Rotary Youth Leadership, SeaWorld/Busch Gardens Youth Advisory Council, Keep America Beautiful Youth Advisory Council, and the Florida Gulf Coast University Accelerated Collegiate Student program.
CARSON SCHOLARS Alumni & Hall of Fame
CSF ALUMNI: Bowen Jiang
Bowen is a fellowship trained neurosurgeon and spine surgeon in Orange County, CA. He attended college and medical school at Stanford University. After graduation, Bowen completed his neurosurgery residency at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where Dr. Ben Carson had served as Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery and as a professor of Neurosurgery, Oncology, Plastic Surgery, and Pediatrics. Bowen served as the Assistant Chief of Service 2019 and also completed fellowship training in robotic and minimally invasive spine surgery while at Hopkins. During his training, he was awarded the Walter Dandy Award for Excellence in Neurosurgery and the Frank Coulson Jr. Award for Clinical Excellence. The latter honor is awarded annually to the resident who exemplifies clinical excellence defined as a level of mastery in certain aspects of patient care.
HALL OF FAME: Diana Wilson
Diana is a Social Entrepreneur, Googler, Ecosystem Builder, Published Author and International Speaker. Diana is a proud first generation college graduate. After graduating from the University of Virginia with degrees in Sociology and Women Gender Studies, Diana created Yielding Accomplished African Women to provide other women with the opportunities she had experienced. Yielding Accomplished African Women is an expertly crafted, innovative and forward-thinking non-profit organization that serves to economically empower the lives of African women, and in turn enrich the global market. Due to her incredible leadership and community service, Diana received the Forbes 30 Under 30 Scholar Award, Future of Ghana 30 Under 30 Award and the McKinsey's Woman Impact Award to name a few. She has served as a keynote speaker and panelist at top conferences around the world. For more information about the Carson Scholars Fund, please visit their website at www.carsonscholars.org WWW.FRANCHISEJOURNAL.COM | JULY 2020
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THE EDUCATION ISSUE
Our Children are YOUR Future by Janice Charles, Consultant, The Franchise Consulting Company
Many small business owners look for ways to get involved in the community. The education system is a fantastic way to do this! Whether this is pre-school through university programs, your businesses can help – often in more ways that you could imagine. Getting involved in your local schools is a great opportunity to impact the future of your community as well as giving back to your community. School activities can also drive sales but is not the first priority or goal of these programs. There are many ways to help with schools. Here is one program we developed to help at-risk High School Students stay in school and go to college. It was called “McPride”, developed by Bob Charles, McDonald’s Owner/ Operator out of Boulder, CO. The basic purpose of the McPride Program was to encourage functionally disadvantaged “at risk” high
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school students to remain in school while providing these students with an employment experience which will aid in career planning. In order to achieve this purpose, the McPride Program will strive to: • Stress the importance of an education in society and to increase each student’s desire to complete high school; • Help generate an enthusiasm for learning; • Increase each student’s ability to perform successfully in school and on the job; • Provide each student with the opportunity to gain course credit; • Acquaint each student with a variety of educational and/or vocational alternatives; • Provide opportunities to participate in a wide variety of activities, curricular and extracurricular; • Provide an orientation toward health care and good hygiene; • Involve persons and resources from both the host campuses and the community; • Have a long lasting, positive impact on the school districts, the communities and the families of the participating McPride students; and • Provide each student with an understanding of the need for and the benefits of both a
higher education and career planning. • Jobs at McDonald’s were provided as long as attendance at school and at work was acceptable and the employee maintained passing grades. • According to Research Director for Boulder Valley Schools Peggy Miles, “For the kids who went onto graduate, the McPride program made a very big difference in their lives. There are kids who have said, ‘Without this program, I never would have made it through school.’ And they have Bob Charles to thank for that. His commitment to his community is absolutely Bob Charles, McDonald’s Owner/ Operator out of Boulder, CO.
incredible. It’s so important to him to make a difference and I think he really has.” The McPride program earned the Service Award from the Colorado High School Activities Association. If you would like additional information on the McPride program, send an email to Janice Charles: janice@ thefranchiseconsulting company.com. Need Simple Ideas? Getting students to perform certain tasks or rewarding & incentivizing good behavior can fall by the wayside. It’s important to “Catch them doing something right”. These ideas are a direct reflection of effort, participation and behavior. More specifically for the Elementary Levels, here are a few to consider: • Perfect Attendance • Extra Effort • Caught You Doing Something Right • Reading Awards • Math Awards • Music/Performance Awards The Middle School level will have other needs. Here are a few ideas for this level: • Host a Teacher Appreciation Night • Host a Student Council Meeting • Host a PTA/PTO Meeting • Be a Mentor for Student Council Leadership • Offer tutoring assistance • Offer fundraising programs for various clubs • Publicize school events
High Schools offer a whole different level of opportunities. • Use your business as a laboratory • Publicize school events • Work with Business Classes by utilizing real world examples • Host a Resume Building Class • Host an “Apply for College Night” • Help with fundraisers • Offer tutoring assistance • Host a Teacher VIP Night • Host Back-to-School nights • Provide a discount to Coaches, Teachers and Students • Encourage Students to show you their report card and reward “A”s • Host an Art Show • Volunteer to help with a Club or Team • Mentor students who are at risk of dropping out of school
• Encourage the Marketing
• •
Class to develop and implement a Marketing Plan for your business. Assist Accounting Classes with real world P&L’s Host practice Job Interviews
The list goes on and there are so many ways to participate with schools. Many are low to no cost options. Don’t get me wrong, schools are grossly underfunded and understaffed. Financial donations will go a long way! The bottom line, it is YOUR responsibility to get involved with the schools. Don’t think someone else will do it, it is up to YOU. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Janice Charles is a franchising veteran with over 40 years of franchising experience. Janice can be reached at: janice@ thefranchiseconsultingcompany.com
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THE EDUCATION ISSUE
Schooling From Home Brands that Help Kids Learn by Aaron Bakken, Consultant, The Franchise Consulting Company
WITH KIDS AT HOME POTENTIALLY INTO AUTUMN, DEMAND GROWS FOR ONLINE LEARNING As a father of 4 kids ages 16, 12, 4 and 2 years old, I know I’m not alone in saying that this pandemic has really shifted our family dynamics. While I was accustomed to working from home already, I had had the luxury of doing so alone. Since March that changed and I’m now even sharing an office with my wife who will be at home for the remainder of the summer. Our school age kids struggled a lot at first, especially with the social isolation that came with the
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get serious about considering supplemental educational resources – especially those that offer online and virtual learning opportunities. Since my wife and I both work during the day, we have limited bandwidth to help our kids. We doubt we’re alone with this challenge, so I’ve highlighted a few brands that we’re considering for our kids this summer and autumn and hope they may be useful for you. It just so happens that The FCC represents each of these brands, so reach out to me or your preferred consultant to learn more. shelter-in-place order. While we’re fortunate to have kids that do relatively well in school, we were surprised that our older kids began to really fall behind on assignments and with a decreasing level of accuracy. Turns out that, for our kids at least, being able to go to school resulted in positive outcomes with assignment completion and grades. Since it’s still unclear whether or not our local public schools will be open in the fall, like millions of parents around the country, we’re concerned about our children’s scholastic outcomes this year and next. Which is why we’re having to
Tutor Doctor https://www.tutordoctor.com/ coronavirus/ With a pre-existing remote/ online tutor option, their business easily pivoted during the pandemic. With the onset of school closures, they quickly mobilized their 94,000 strong network of tutors to prepare for primarily online sessions, which now gives Tutor Doctor’s online learning subscribers even more options for the best fit tutor match. Every online session is recorded so students can easily review each session as they fine tune their skills/assignments.
Whether tutoring online or offline the same process applies. Students are assessed and matched with the best possible tutor. They receive a tailored program and support throughout their learning journey. They've teamed up with software provider Bramble to give students and tutors the best possible online tutoring experience.
Snapology https://www.snapology.com/ post/adapting-your-businessin-uncertain-times When a company or program can get kids to learn, most would consider that to be a win. But when a company or program can get kids to learn while also having fun, that’s even more impressive. And that’s exactly the type of learning that Snapology aims to offer with its over 60 different program topics & themes for classes, parties, summer camps, scouting events, etc. Snapology educates and entertains children using LEGO® bricks, K’Nex, and other technologies and interactive tools. Snapology provides interactive classes, camps, parties, scouting events, and other activities in the community, Snapology Discover Centers, a mobile S.T.E.A.M Lab bus, and/or in private homes. With the onset of COVID-19 restrictions their schools and Discovery Centers have closed, so they added online class options and daily building challenges to keep client children busy. The
programs can provide some fun, focused activities and challenges for students who have access to LEGO bricks at their homes.
Huntington Learning Centers https://huntingtonhelps.com/ Having placed one of my clients into an existing center this year, just before the shelter-in-place orders went into effect, I was pleased to learn that Huntington was rather prepared for a pivot to online/remote sessions, while still being able to accommodate in person sessions at their centers – while employing appropriate distancing protocols. As a result, their tutoring and test prep clients hardly had to skip a beat and their center-based employees have been kept busy and employed, for the most part. Huntington is a family owned franchise that has been around over 40 years, treating students as individuals, and tailoring
their tutoring programs to fit student’s unique needs, academic goals and schedules. Their programs help with simple homework assignments, subject specific needs to help students who have fallen behind, focused programs on phonics, vocabulary, writing, reading, math, study skills and state and standardized tests for college.
IDEALab Kids https://www.idealabkids.com/ covid-19/ IDEA Lab Kids inquiry-based S.T.E.A.M [Science,Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics] learning that merge the principals of STEM Learning with Creativity to build critical-thinking skills through hands-on FUN preschool enrichment, afterschool classes, camps, birthday experience, and workshops. As IDEA Lab is considered as an essential business to help first responders, law
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enforcement and anyone who is required to work during these times, several of their locations have remained open throughout the pandemic. They are currently offering virtual classes, camps and LIVE educational videos on our social media channels too. Their goal with their videos and free online classes is to help families fill their children’s days with fun and engaging activities. Plus, as the world was adjusting to how to learn online, they came forward and offered STEAM enrichment classes online like: Engineering, Minecraft, Art, 3D printing and Coding & Programming via their local franchisee’s iCamps and iClasses.
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LevelUp Learning Have a Child That Wants To Become A YouTube Star? https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=xiQiumwU274 Ok, so this is clearly not a scholastic endeavor, but since we have a gamer child in our house who is quite serious about doing this, it seemed relevant to include. LevelUp offers international tech camps for kids where real computer science and technology learning is fun. Their programs engage students in supplemental Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education, giving them the skills and motivation they need to succeed in life.
Did you know that nearly 75% of children in North America want to become YouTube stars? LevelUp franchise has stepped up and is offering guidance on how to do so. They have created the first YouTube Camp directed at teaching children the fun techniques of composing videos. By focusing on what is new and innovative for their campers, Level UP Franchise Owners help solidify their customers passion for learning and creating. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Aaron has owned 7 businesses over the past 20 years, is currently an owner of a trampoline park franchise in the Minneapolis/St. Paul market and worked 5 years as a franchise development director for an international franchise group. Contact Aaron at 608-576-4592 or at aaron@ thefranchiseconsultingcompany.com.
FRESHNESS ISN’T JUST A SAYING, IT’S A COMMITMENT. A SINCERE BELIEF THAT A GOOD MOOD BEGINS WITH GOOD FOOD AND EVERYONE HAS A PLACE AT THE TABLE. VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR FRANCHISE INFORMATION MAHANAFRESH.COM MEET MAHANA AT THE WORLD'S BIGGEST VIRTUAL FRANCHISE EXPO! FOR DATES AND REGISTRATION DETAILS GO TO: WWW.FRANEXPOUSA.COM
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ABOUT US
A Legacy Brand Far From Vintage by FranDevCO Team
Z a ch Nolte
when I took over as President of Kitchen Solvers, I was able to instill a culture that drives success through three things: franchisee satisfaction, innovation, and per unit metrics.”
Kitchen Solvers is a 38-year old brand that has built its legacy on both the long-term experience in the remodeling industry and innovative business ideas brought forward by the expertise of the home office team. President, Zach Nolte, sat down with FranDevCo’s Vice President of Development John Moreau to discuss how Kitchen Solvers has shifted hardworking remodelers into successful business builders and his plans for future growth. As is essential in any business, Kitchen Solvers strong culture and mission can be attributed to the company’s leadership team and franchise partners. Zach Nolte, president
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of Kitchen Solvers stated, “My background prior to Kitchen Solvers was in operations and manufacturing. In 2014, I was approached to come on board with Kitchen Solvers as the Operations Manager. This was my first real taste of the franchise world and what it had to offer. Almost immediately, I fell in love with the model. I was able to take my operational background and really start applying a “franchisee first” approach to Kitchen Solvers. My Philosophy is, and will continue to be, driven by one simple question--If I were looking to start a franchise, what would I want and need to be successful? In 2017,
A 38-Year Old Business Model is Renovated Kitchen Solvers, a 38-yearold brand with a wonderfully rich story of overcoming challenges, was built on the backs of people who loved woodworking, remodeling, and installation. In the beginning, the business model was set up to be lean and very profitable, but the franchise quickly found it difficult to sell their businesses with it being built around one person, the owner. In 2010, under new ownership, they started to change the business model. “We wanted those hardworking remodelers to also be hard-working business builders. We added processes, procedures, more product and support vendors, and more home office staff to help our franchise partners build their legacy.” says Zach. Leveraging the business expertise of the new home office staff, Kitchen Solvers supported their franchise partners in building businesses (not just jobs). All
“WE WANTED THOSE HARD-WORKING REMODELERS TO ALSO BE HARD-WORKING BUSINESS BUILDERS. in the midst of a $150 billion kitchen and bath remodeling industry that is and will continue to grow. The Kitchen Solvers Way “Our franchise system is driven by one thing -- providing an unforgettable moment for customers. When we walk into a finished kitchen project with our customers, we want to see their jaw hit the floor. We want to see our customers struggle to find the right word to describe their feelings and leave them with no other word but, ‘WOW!’”, explains Zach. In the world of remodeling, it can be a tough task to achieve over and over again for every customer. Kitchen Solvers takes that challenge head on by providing each customer with the Pleasant Remodeling Experience. An eight point credence into how they treat their customers, it is a promise to their customers, and outlines what their customers can expect from franchise partners. Everything Kitchen Solvers stands for and delivers is customer-focused. From marketing verticals, to the structured sales processes, and the product, Zach states, “We know that we are not for everyone, but we are for every one of our customers. We mirror this mission with our franchise partners. Putting our franchisees first and treating them in a way they then will pass on to their customers has been the key o building our culture.”
A Culture that Runs Deep Kitchen Solvers franchise partners come from all different backgrounds and experiences. Ranging from steel construction project managers, to clothing retail store managers, and real estate agents, they all have two things in common: 1) they currently own a Kitchen Solvers franchise, and 2) they believe in the corporate mission and culture. Business partners that have a strong management background, great people skills, are community involved, competitive and have a customer-first attitude do very well in this business model. The energy, passion, and the culture exudes in every conversation with the home office and franchise owners. “At the end of the day, it is all about finding the right franchise partner. We are not necessarily looking for owners with industry or construction experience. Instead we have found that successful owners are those who share our passion for customer service and vision for success.” The success seen over the years can certainly be attributed to sharing the same values, but it also is due to the experience and expertise Kitchen Solvers has in the remodeling space. "We do this first and foremost by establishing great partnerships with our vendors so we are always at the forefront of the latest design trends and material
being used. We are constantly adding and testing out new ways to improve our customer experience through new and innovative technology. We’re also very mindful that kitchens are an emotional purchase for homeowners. It’s the most used room in the home, and it’s where families and friends gather. We always need to think about that when we interact with our customers and see how they’ll live in the space.” explains Zach. Over the years, Kitchen Solvers has continued to build on a strong foundation, culture, and business model that is anything but stale. After 38 years, this legacy brand has strong roots, has been re-energized, and will continue to grow across the U.S. To learn more about the Kitchen Solvers franchise opportunity, check out their website at kitchensolversfranchise.com or reach out to kitchensolvers@frandev.co! WWW.FRANCHISEJOURNAL.COM | JULY 2020
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OH, CANADA
10
Personality Traits of Successful Immigrant Franchisees in Canada
by Jim Gormley, Ethical Franchise Consultant, The Franchise Consulting Company Canada
There is growing research both in Canada and globally that shows how immigrant entrepreneurial success is greater than that of Canada - born entrepreneurs. As franchising continues to fuel small business growth in Canada, it’s interesting to look at personality traits of immigrants that may contribute to their success. A
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2016 Statistics Canada study revealed that immigrants to Canada are more likely to own businesses than Canadianborn citizens. Personal Attributes that Contribute to Immigrant Entrepreneurial Success Academic research shows that work ethic contributes to greater immigrant
entrepreneurial success than Canadian-born entrepreneurs. Immigrants may often demonstrate traits related to:
• Positive work ethic • Tendency to work longer hours
• Greater self-reliance
These factors may explain immigrant entrepreneurial success relative to Canadianborn entrepreneurs. But, what does it say about people who are willing to pick up and immigrate to another country? Willingness to leave a home country, often leaving family behind, may indicate someone who is highly:
• Open to change • Tolerant of risk with an • •
ability to deal with uncertainty Determined and not willing to give up Positive and optimistic about new ways of doing things.
In a Harvard Business Review article, the author discusses the immigrant mindset. As the author states: People who are willing to uproot their lives in search of something better are the types of people who are determined to make change happen themselves. To migrate to a new country also takes a high level of confidence in one’s ability to change and a high level of tolerance for uncertainty. More importantly, they believe in their ability to figure out and adapt once they get there.
Immigrant Entrepreneurial Success and Franchising These findings support what we know about the 10 traits that highly successful franchisees demonstrate. If you possess these traits, you would likely be a great fit for franchising.
10 TRAITS OF SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES 1. Extraversion Ideal franchisee candidates will be most happy working with a group, and will thrive in a leadership role. 2. Agreeableness Ideal franchisee candidates want group harmony among their work team, with everyone working towards shared goals. 3. Conscientiousness Ideal franchisee candidates want to do what is right, and do it in the best way. 4. Stability Ideal franchisee candidates will be calm under pressure. They will remain logical and objective, even when things go wrong or if business gets exceedingly busy. 5. Openness Ideal franchisee candidates will consider implementing new methods of working, if there is a strong business case for trying something differently. 6. Resolve Ideal franchisee candidates really care about their jobs, and take personal pride and enjoyment from their work. 7. Reliability Ideal franchisee candidates will stand out for consistently following through on their commitments to others. 8. Control Ideal franchisee candidates are natural leaders who are focused on achieving success. 9. Optimism Ideal franchisee candidates have a positive outlook regarding people and processes, and are usually enthusiastic about innovation and new ways of doing things. 10. Assurance Ideal franchisee candidates are not suspicious of others. They will delegate tasks to staff and trust them to deliver results, without needing to constantly watch over them. If you’re interested in exploring franchising as a business opportunity, it’s important to have self-awareness and to consider if you would be a fit for franchising. This is one of the first critical steps to take before exploring franchising any further. As a new Canadian, your immigrant mindset and experience may lend itself nicely to franchising success in Canada.
PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO UPROOT THEIR LIVES IN SEARCH OF SOMETHING BETTER ARE THE TYPES OF PEOPLE WHO ARE DETERMINED TO MAKE CHANGE HAPPEN THEMSELVES. WWW.FRANCHISEJOURNAL.COM | JULY 2020
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FRANCHISING! Online Trade Show Marketing is the #1 Way to Meet New Opportunities!
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BUSINESS ADVICE
Bad Teamwork Will Give Your Business the Blues! by Mike Martuza, Consultant, The Franchise Consulting Company
M
any years ago my wife and I attended a concert headlined by the legendary blues harmonica artist James Cotton. James had been performing for close to 70 years and whenever he left his Chicago base on a tour he was well known for having some of the best blues musicians accompanying him. During the concert my wife mentioned to me how “tight” the band was; they did not take breaks between songs segueing from one number directly into the next. While most of the transitions were pre-determined I noticed that there was some improvisation occurring. If James Cotton felt like playing a certain song at that time the other band members were able to recognize what was occurring and react to the change seamlessly. During a discussion with some of the band members after the show, I learned that they each have a certain level of autonomy and freedom during certain segments where they are able to showcase their individual talents. Each band member each knew his role and was able to perform it at a masterful level while
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GIVE EACH TEAM MEMBER A CERTAIN LEVEL OF DECISIONMAKING CAPABILITY AND INPUT INTO THE PROCESS. understanding that the ability to work together as a cohesive team was the most important element in creating a great show. This level of teamwork created a very high-energy atmosphere and an outstanding experience for the audience. To achieve this type of customer experience in my businesses I focus on a few key teamwork points: 1. I, along with each member of the team need to understand his or her strengths and weaknesses. Each person must play to strengths and improve upon weaknesses. 2. Make sure that each member knows what his or her role is and the expectation that goes with that role. Confused or unsure employees will destroy moral and drive away the customer. 3. Give each team member a certain level of decisionmaking capability and input into the process. Each member does not have to have the same level of freedom and autonomy; remember to utilize strengths and give them room to grow and overcome weaknesses. 4. Make sure each team member understands that
his or her contribution plays a big part in the success of the business. When people feel that they are important, the quality and quantity of their output increases. So, If you are going to a blues concert, outstanding teamwork will provide you with a great musical experience. On the other hand lack of teamwork in your business will give you a case of the blues that will certainly not lead to a great experience for your staff, customers or yourself.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mike Martuza is a serial entrepreneur, lecturer and author of the best selling book “The Franchise Rules”. Mike has over 30 years of business ownership, business creation, franchising, consulting, coaching and management experience. He has been helping people find great “fitting” franchises for more than a decade. Reach him at 617.337.3033 or mikemartuza@ thefranchiseconsultingcompany.com
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DISCOVER
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THE EDUCATION ISSUE
Education, Franchising, and a Just Cause by Rick Morgin, Consultant, The Franchise Consulting Company
Can Franchising help achieve equality in education? Can Franchising influence social change? These are the questions I asked myself as the cries for social change rang throughout America. I think the opportunity for Franchising to lead in the “just cause” of providing equal opportunity for education so that the best and brightest can be discovered wherever they are.
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Simon Sinek in his book The Infinite Game defines a Just Cause as a specific vision of a future state that does not exist. Companies, scholars, and politicians have expressed a vision of equality and education. Dalton McGuinty at the Global Education Competitiveness Summit in 2009 described a world where you can borrow capital, copy technology, buy natural resources, there is only one thing left to build
your advantage, to build a strong economy and society, and that is talent. That is the competitive advantage now days. (McGuinty 2009). Franchising has been able to provide parents with additional resources beyond what public and private schools provide. How can Franchising go beyond that? As we work to increase a child’s interest in science, art, technology, engineering, and math, perhaps this could be
FRANCHISING HAS BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE PARENTS WITH ADDITIONAL RESOURCES BEYOND WHAT PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS PROVIDE. the opportunity for Franchise companies to develop and implement a curriculum on public service, safety, and community action. Could the eruption of our people demanding social change be a cry for Franchising to help develop the best and brightest public servants? I believe we should be reaching out to our children about public service at the same time we try to connect them to follow a path that helps America stay a global leader in S.T.E.A.M. How can I do my part as a consultant who tries to find the best qualified candidates for Franchise companies in Education? I could focus my efforts on finding candidates seeking social change and community involvement who want to become part of a franchise system. I can seek a role of within the International Franchise Association that addresses equality in education. I could work with local franchise owners in this field and help them develop a value proposition for outreach. If Franchising’s role in achieving equality in education is to supplement a child’s education beyond what they receive within their
school system. Would it be in the best interest in Franchise companies in education work with their franchise owners and local internet providers to expand the reach of their customer base. This would help franchise owners maintain a level business during COVID. This could be a proactive approach while educators across the country deal with the complexity of providing access to a virtually provided education on an equal basis. Could Franchise companies assist or incentivize their Franchise owners to provide outreach to service communities both within their territories or in communities not n anyone’s defined territory. Could Franchise companies offer a reduced royalty on the revenue derived from parents who cannot afford their standard tuition. Could Franchise companies subsidize their franchise owners who provide outreach and serve families that cannot afford the franchise owners tuition at all? I’m more than willing to become involved and stay involved in helping the
industry I’ve chosen to finish my career achieve the just cause of developing talent – finding and nurturing the best and brightest wherever they are and regardless of age, race, religion, gender, and economic status. Connect with me, help me, engage with me, guide me.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rick Morgin is a Consultant with The Franchise Consulting Company and alumnus of Santa Clara University. We assist clients with the educational process of researching and selecting available franchise businesses that best suit desired lifestyles and financial goals. The research, qualification, and application service we provide is free; our fees are paid by the Franchise company when a client opens their business. For more information please email rick@ thefranchiseconsultingcompany.com, call/text at 925-324-6371 or visit www. thefranchiseconsultingcompany.com WWW.FRANCHISEJOURNAL.COM | JULY 2020
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EDUCATION FUNDRAISING
How Fundraising Supports
CHILDHOOD EDUCATION by Jeremy Barnhart, Apex Leadership Company
Childhood education is one of the most valued gifts that parents, guardians and community leaders can give to today’s youth, the future stewards of the world. Through the Apex Leadership Company, we aim to support
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childhood education through important lessons as part of our suite of programs. Fundraising itself is a highly impactful way to help support childhood education. Through our Apex programs such as the Apex Fun Run, which is geared toward elementary school children, our energetic and youthful team members come into the classroom with valuable life lessons that are never too early to learn!
In addition to empowering children to understand the importance their role in the financial responsibility of a fundraiser to help their schools, our Apex programs incorporate fundamental lessons that youth can use throughout life as they navigate adulthood. For example, Apex programs teach children the importance of accountability. By showing children that they are
accountable for their actions such as their participation in a group effort, they can understand the importance of their role in any situation — and how they can impact things in either a negative or positive way, depending on their actions! Team work is another powerful lesson that Apex Leadership Company fundraisers help instill in children. Working together helps students learn to compromise and to value others’ opinions. Putting a group of students together
for the sake of a common goal also teaches compromise, cooperation, utilizing each person’s unique skill set to best benefit the entire group, delegating, taking responsibility for one’s “role” in the team and effective communication. Through fundraising, children also learn another skill that supports childhood education — leadership. In a group environment with a goal in mind, students will need to plan, be innovative and use creative thinking and problem solving skills
to overcome obstacles and find solutions to problems. These are all great qualities in a person — especially the leaders of tomorrow, who may become future entrepreneurs! Entrepreneurs are such a valuable part of society as they are the ones that use those life skills mentioned above — and dare to take the leap to do something different. Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart! It takes commitment, accountability, leadership and team work skills, and self-confidence — all the characteristics that Apex
WE AT APEX AIM TO MAKE OUR FUNDRAISING FRANCHISE DIFFERENT — AND MORE IMPACTFUL FOR SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS — BY NOT ONLY OFFERING STUDENTS A WAY TO MAXIMIZE THEIR MONEY-RAISING EFFORTS, BUT ALSO BY PROVIDING THEM WITH IMPORTANT LIFELONG LESSONS. WWW.FRANCHISEJOURNAL.COM | JULY 2020
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Leadership Company aims to teach through its programs in support of the fundamentals of childhood education. Through the Apex franchise, we encourage our entrepreneurs to go out and make a difference in their communities — starting with the kids! We at Apex aim to make our fundraising franchise different — and more impactful for schools and students — by not only offering students a way to maximize their money-raising efforts, but also by providing them with important lifelong lessons. Each year, we develop a new theme to ensure that the lessons we are teaching kids
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(along with the importance of fundraising and fitness) are relevant, helpful and in line with the childhood education they are receiving at school. One of the biggest ways that Apex aims to make a difference is through the lessons of fitness and leadership skills for students. For parents and fundraising supporters, the programs’ online format is intended to give students a wider reach and also provide a no-hassle, no-stress way to donate. As leaders and entrepreneurs ourselves who discovered a concept that we knew we could take to the next level to help students,
teachers, schools and parents around the country, we are thrilled to see our company grow and f ranchises expand. We are proud to be making a positive impact in the lives of children today, who will be our leaders of tomorrow! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jeremy Barnhart, his wife Lisa, and business partner Scott Donnell combine the elements of fun and exercise into one-of-a-kind youth fundraising programs through their company Apex Fun Run, which has served more than 4,754 schools — including 3.1 million students — and raised $77 million dollars (net) for schools nationwide with its events, that began with the Apex Fun Run and have evolved to include Apex Remix, Obstacle Course, Color Battle for middle schoolers, and Anython.
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THE EDUCATION ISSUE
Bridging the Gap Between
the Classroom and the Living Room by Christopher Vuk, CEO, Rock and Roll Daycare Company
Our experiences as a global society have heightened awareness about the importance and challenges of education. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic every parent has in some way become a homeschooler. For those familiar with the routine and flow of teaching their children at home, not much has changed. However, those experiencing it for the first time have developed a whole new level of respect for teachers. Creativity is necessity in this brave new world, and Rock and Roll Daycare is among those providing solutions for families and educators in these trying times. There is a gap that exists between parents and teachers. What may be considered as the unreasonable demands of parents can be alienating
to educators in a classroom. Conversely, parents often feel confused or uninformed as to what’s happening at school, and whether their child is in fact learning anything. Rock and Roll Daycare encountered this program during our first years as a company, and here’s what we did to bridge that chasm. As a lover of world music, art, and culture, I established a cultural education program at our childcare centers. Over the course of two-month cycles, children in each of our classrooms learned about the music, art, and language of a specific country. The program was a great success, and soon children were singing in Japanese, Spanish, and Turkish. However, in a conversation with one of our enrolled families, they identified that while they were excited that their child was coming home each day singing, they had no understanding of what
AS A LOVER OF WORLD MUSIC, ART, AND CULTURE, I ESTABLISHED A CULTURAL EDUCATION PROGRAM AT OUR CHILDCARE CENTERS. — Christopher Vuk, LCEO, Rock and Roll Daycare Company
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“JUST AS EVERY CHILD LEARNS HIS OR HER NATIVE LANGUAGE, EVERY CHILD CAN LEARN TO PLAY A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.” — Dr. Shinichi Suzuki, Legendary Japanese educator language he was singing in. They wanted a connection with the classroom. In response to that feedback and others, we created something called Fiddlefox Music, a cultural education program which introduces children to the music of the world through folk music. While studying four folk songs of an individual country, children would learn through a system that we called “read, sing, play”. Each child would first read through the song lyrics in the native language (transliterated to assist with pronunciation), and in English with a parent or caregiver. Next, children would sing along with our professionally recorded versions of each song with optional accompaniment in American Sign Language. Lastly, using our innovative system of color coded sheet music and rainbow bells, children would learn to play the music on an instrument of their own. What we discovered during the implementation of this program was that parents were eager to participate in their child’s education. Without the urging of teachers, parents began to read, sing, and play in their own homes. Fiddlefox recordings could be heard playing from the car stereos at school drop-off and many
parents began learning music for the first time, and doing so along with their own children. Developing a musical ability can be intimidating for some, and many see musicality to entirely depend on some sort of inherent talent or gifting that some have and others don’t. What Rock and Roll Daycare has recognized is that a paradigm shift is needed in the area of music education. The legendary Japanese educator, Dr. Shinichi Suzuki said that “just as every child learns his or her native language, every child can learn to play a musical instrument.” Rock and Roll Daycare doesn’t believe in inborn talent. What we do believe is that every man, woman, and child has the opportunity to share music, and we do it best when we leave our preconceptions or fears, and we learn music together. Teachers, parents, and children alike are true collaborators in the search for each of our own musical voices. In a virtual world, the opportunity to bridge this gap exists all the more. Rock and Roll Daycare has created a Virtual School to implement techniques and continue the collaboration to deeper musical relationships despite
the physical separations that exist. As the Rock and Roll brands evolve in ever changing times, we are committed to creating a bridge that connects both parents and caregivers in a united effort to provide the greatest level of education to those children we serve.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Entrepreneur, award-winning violinist, and homeschooling father of four incredible children, Christopher Vuk is the CEO of Rock and Roll Daycare. Contact Christopher at 857-762-9892 or at chris@rockandrolldaycare.com. www.rockandrolldaycare.com.
WWW.FRANCHISEJOURNAL.COM | JULY 2020
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Join the premier managed IT services franchise, TeamLogic IT IN-DEMAND BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
TeamLogic IT provides businesses with technology support and services that range from simple computer systems support to managed IT services and project outsourcing. As an owner of your own TeamLogic IT business, you’ll help small- and medium-sized companies with a broad range of IT services. Your clients will come to rely on you to keep their technology current and their businesses running efficiently. You’ll help them with proactive, preventative and responsive IT services. Our monthly recurring revenue model is a win-win for you and your clients. And, the camaraderie, peer support and drive among our network of franchisees are like none other in the industry.
• The Channel Company® MSP 500 ELITE 150 • Channel Futures™ MSP 501 #37 • Entrepreneur ® Magazine Top 500 Franchise • Forbes Best Franchise to Buy • Franchise Business Review™ Top Franchise • Franchise Times® Top 200 Franchise • Franchise Gator Top 100 Franchise • Inc. 5000
FRANCHISE OWNER PROFILE The ideal candidate for a TeamLogic IT business is a person who wishes to work in a business environment, understands technology, has an aptitude for sales and/or building relationships, and enjoys working with other business professionals while building a team to deliver outstanding service and support. Many of our franchise owners were previously IT directors for small companies, executives in corporate America, engineers or technology consultants.
READY TO LEARN MORE? CONTACT US TODAY.
866.TEAMLOGIC
TeamLogic IT 949.683.3314 26722 Plaza, Mission Viejo, CA 92691
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THE EDUCATION ISSUE
The Future of After School Enrichment— How Can You Be a Part of It! by Dori Larea, M.A. Edu. , CEO, Nexplore
As an afterschool enrichment provider for many years, I get asked the same question over and over again. “How will after school look like post COVID-19?” The only thing that we can say with certainty is that no one really knows yet what the near future of after school will look like. Recently, I had the privilege of speaking at a forum called: "Let's Talk the Future of Afterschool," a Zoom conversation hosted by the NAA (National After school Association). During the talk many ideas were shared, and questions were asked with one recurring theme: “What CAN Afterschool service providers do to move forward?” Here are some thinking points and how I believe enrichment providers are facing an immense opportunity to make a different in their communities as well as to build a stronger business model. No one really knows yet what the near future of afterschool programs will look like. It will largely depend on the state
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they are located in, financing available and administrative/ community support. Many sites are working to create a variety of plans based on different scenarios, so that they can be as prepared as possible. WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU? Be as flexible and creative in your offerings as you can be to fit your partner schools developing needs. For example, as a National service provider Nexplore adapted fairly quick to offer virtual programs and
set forth a hybrid model that allowed us to offer both onsite and virtual services with the ability to navigate with ease between the two. As a result, in a matter of months we have tripled our virtual enrichment bookings and have gain new clients. Afterschool programs will be more critical than ever. Many will be working closely with school administrators as they could become an integral part of serving all students and perhaps families who are heading back to work.
WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU? This is good news for all enrichment providers! After school programs will need enhanced offerings as their own expectations evolve and grow. Ask yourself, what can you offer that you hadn't thought of previously for this market? Virtual learning has to be fun and engaging! If there is one thing, we learn over the past months is how unexciting and challenging distance learning can be. Here at Nexplore we asked ourselves how can we boost our virtual experience while staying true to our mission of “Fostering the joy of learning.” We have incorporated into our virtual programs our four characteristics of playful learning: Joyful, Actively Engaging, Socially Interactive and a Meaningful Experience. Our secret sauce so to speak is our unique learning supplies and handson consumable kits. We have decided to save no cost in incorporating these learning supplies into our virtual programs. We are offering to our partner schools to ship the materials directly to them or to their families. By doing so, we have created a new trend of virtual experience which is HANDS ON. Our students are tenfold more engaged and interactive. The feedback is overwhelmingly positive. WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU? Find ways to engage your students using our four characteristics of playful
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS WILL NEED ENHANCED OFFERINGS AS THEIR OWN EXPECTATIONS EVOLVE AND GROW. learning: Joyful, Actively Engaging, Socially Interactive and a Meaningful Experience. #1 priority is still the youth we serve. Yes, reality has changed but priorities have not. Keeping youth safe, while providing environments that foster growth and enrichment and allow for engagement will not waiver. WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU? As long as there are children and as long as parents need to work - there will always be a supportive aftercare and enrichment services. Be Part of the solution! Nexplore is a one stop shop for virtual and onsite enrichment services. Nexplore's programs provide hands-on experience in key areas of learning and development, such as STEAM, life skills, and physical education–with new courses added regularly. Nexplore’s programs are designed to foster the joy of learning and are offered weekly at over 300 schools across 8 states and growing. To learn more about Nexplore please visit them at www.nexploreusa.com.
FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITY WITH NEXPLORE We live in a world where STEAM and Fitness enrichment is firing up the field of education. Nexplore’s business model leverages this excitement to help future generations find and pursue their passion for learning. If you are looking for a low-stress, high energy environment to grow your own business and achieve your financial goals while shaping the hearts, minds, and spirits of children and young adults, Nexplore franchise is the right fit for you! NEXPLORE’S COMPETITIVE EDGE Most child education businesses are one-program operations; Nexplore, on the other hand, is a one-stopshop that offers over 18 mind, body, and spirit enrichment programs. Plus, they are always continuing to reinvent themselves and stay ahead of the curve. Nexplore’s unique model makes them more valuable to client schools and creates more revenue potential than other enrichment franchises. This is your chance to jump on board, share our success, and become your own boss in a fantastic growth industry.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Nexplore’s founder and CEO, Dori Larea. Mr. Larea holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and Management and has been offering enrichment services to schools Nationwide for the last 15 years. To learn more about Nexplore please visit them at www.nexploreusa.com.
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THE EDUCATION ISSUE
When Disruption Leads to Transformation by Anne Huntington, President, Huntington Learning Center
Families and students are facing difficult challenges right now, especially with education. Students are losing out and the entire education system has been upended by the pandemic, COVID-19. Whether the disruption is that of school closures, learning from home, SAT or ACT test cancellations, or in our case, government mandated temporary location closures, it is now clear that this is the “new normal”. In order for us to survive, we needed to pivot to ensure that our locally owned and operated in-person centers across the country could continue to fulfill our mission, which is to give every student the best education possible. The problem the team and I had to solve was how to make a 43 year old brick and mortar company online overnight, which is what we did. Through disruption, innovation is born. When the pandemic first hit, we began to hear from thousands of parents across the country, as well as our hundreds of franchisees, all of whom were looking for solutions, tools, and guidance
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on how to manage learning and teaching from afar. As an in-center franchise model, we knew that meeting our students and families inperson may no longer be an option. Therefore, we needed to meet them where they were now in order to help. That’s when I made the decision to drastically innovate and create a new model within our existing one in order to do what we do best helping students build skills, confidence and motivation to
succeed in the classroom and beyond. As president of Huntington Learning Center, the company my parents founded in 1977, facing this challenge headon was one that I welcomed with open arms - as a leader, I thrive in periods of disruption and transformation. We’ve changed many things over the years - from moving to a franchise model in the 1980s, to expanding our services to include 1:1 exam prep programs in the 1990s,
including an ADHD program in the 2000s, to offering homework help now. For 43 years, we continue to embrace change when it aligns with our vision of world-class student results and franchisee profitability. Now, due to the pandemic, with many of our physical center doors closed, we had to open online to better serve our business, our franchisees, and most importantly, the students who progress and succeed through our proven programs year after year. This is what we did, and it worked. In this uneasy, fearful pandemic time, it was critical to lead by example and ground all decisions in fact, not on fear. It was important to over-communicate to ensure that our community of franchisees and staff members understood what I and the team were doing, and continue to do. Even before this time, we’ve always understood that clear and timely communication with our franchisees is critical to the health of our system, and that became all the more necessary during this time of uncertainty. In the beginning of March, when it became clear that the pandemic was impacting our centers in the Seattle area, I began setting up individual calls with franchisees and system-wide calls with our approximately 300 franchisees and staff to share what we knew, the steps we were taking, and the tools we were making available to our franchisees in order to help them continue to serve
WITHIN A MATTER OF DAYS, OUR VIRTUAL TUTORING AND TEST PREP SERVICE, HUNTINGTONHELPS LIVE, WAS UP AND RUNNING. their communities and fulfill Huntington’s mission. From there, we underwent the largest transformation our company has ever seen. Within a matter of days, our virtual tutoring and test prep service, HuntingtonHelps LIVE, was up and running. We created and conducted training sessions with our franchisees, provided them the tools, language and materials to share and provide this new offering with their students and families, we expanded our free offerings such as our annual Reading Adventure program and our consumer webinar program on relevant topics such as remote learning and mental health, and worked with experts in fields such as ADHD and partnered with organizations such as the Learning Disabilities Association of America. Internally, we enhanced our help desk processes to ensure that issues were resolved quickly and effectively, and we set up an internal communications board dedicated to our response to the virus. I began sending daily systemwide update emails; holding weekly video calls with our franchisees and staff on specific topics; holding at
least once a week video calls with groups such as our Franchise Advisory Council and Advertising Fund Board; and regular calls with additional groups such as our Test Prep and Tutoring councils. Since my team and I began working remotely, I started meeting with my teams daily and holding a daily 5pm check-in with my directors and specific members of the corporate team. We also began weekly morning huddles with the corporate team and a Friday “happy huddle” to celebrate the week and the incredible teamwork that was making this all possible. Through rapid response
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WE’VE SEEN INCREDIBLE SUCCESS WITH THE LAUNCH OF OUR ONLINE TUTORING AND TEST PREP SOLUTION, HUNTINGTONHELPS LIVE. and clear communication, the message we were able to send to our employees, franchisees and families was clear: that no matter what happens - be it school closures, SAT or ACT test cancellations, or learning loss from school disruptions - Huntington is here to help. One thing that we’ve always believed is that learning is possible no matter the forum; whether it’s in a classroom, at home on a computer, or even in the kitchen learning how
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to measure ingredients and follow a recipe, the sources for knowledge are never-ending. We’ve seen incredible success with the launch of our online tutoring and test prep solution, HuntingtonHelps LIVE, because it is true to our core and continues the Huntington methodology. It is also successful because we took action fast, knowing we had to problem solve, and worked together to ensure that our students could continue learning. We have
been able to continue to help hundreds of thousands of students reach their potential, and although we may not have expected that our business model would change so significantly almost overnight, we know now that what could have been a setback has instead set us up for even greater success in the future. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Anne is President of Huntington Learning Center overseeing business strategy and growth initiatives, marketing, and franchise expansion. Previously, Anne was Vice President of Business Development and served as Head of Public-Private Partnerships within the family business.Contact Huntington Learning Center at 866-206-4547 or at www.huntingtonhelps.com.
JOIN THE FAMILY Ivybrook Academy - A Half Day Progressive Preschool
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THE EDUCATION ISSUE
The Business of Education by Eddie Rodriquez, Consultant, The Franchise Consulting Company Parents are looking for ways to enrich their children’s education. Two areas where parents are having a difficult time finding quality programs are preschool programs and STEM enrichment programs (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) where children need more exposure to concepts and hands-on activities. The education industry is exploding and becoming big business. Now is the time to look at an education franchise and find a model that could work for you. Each one is a little different. Here are two franchise opportunities you don’t want to ignore: EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION FRANCHISE Daycares, churches, and Montessori-style programs are the most popular educational options for preschool children. Many traditional daycares do not provide enough instructional time and experiences to get a child ready for Kindergarten. Also, full days in daycare provides long exposure to germs, leading to days
out and disrupted family schedules. This franchise offers a proprietary curriculum and is focused on education, not childcare. They offer a hybrid curriculum that incorporates several education models and approaches. Learning is tailored to meet each child's specific academic, social, and emotional needs. The ratio of teacher to student
is low to provide more individualized attention. Most of the families that choose this program have a stay-athome parent or childcare provider helping the family and are actively choosing a valuable education for childcare. If you’re interested in making an impact on your community, franchisees have the opportunity to help
PROGRAMS PROVIDE THE RIGHT BALANCE BETWEEN FUN AND EDUCATION TO APPEAL EQUALLY TO CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS. 122
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hundreds of children fulfill their potential, setting them on a journey to success for the rest of their lives. This model is built around FREEDOM for the owner. It was created to balance business ownership with priceless family time. Hours are much shorter than a typical daycare center. There is no before or after-care to staff, and there are two, 3.75-hour sessions each day, with different students in the morning and afternoon. Schools are open an average of only 229 days a year, allowing six weeks off with your family. During summer, camp sessions run for only six weeks in the morning. Are You an Ideal Owner? This franchisor is looking for owners who are: • Passionate about enriching the lives of children • Parents themselves • Experienced in education or business • Excited about engaging with employees and customers • Able to manage the business, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll and HR • Comfortable running the school as the Principal EDUCATIONAL ENRICHMENT MOBILE FRANCHISE This franchise understands that children are meant to learn through play. When engaged in interactive, handson learning activities, creativity takes off, showing more interest in school. Happy kids lead to happy parents and result in recurring revenue for your business. Programs provide the right balance between fun and education
to appeal equally to children and their parents. Over 60 different program topics and themes are offered for classes, evening classes, home schools, social skills programs, summer camps, field trips, assemblies, scouting events, birthday parties, and the list goes on. Did you know birthday parties are a $10 billion industry? With this franchise, you have a vast operating territory so you can build the business of your dreams. And this point makes it an even more exciting opportunity: this is a low-cost, homebased mobile business. With the current pandemic, online programs are also available to keep revenue coming into the business. Are You an Ideal Owner? This franchisor is looking for owners who are: • Passionate and enjoys working with business partners, parents, and children.
• Organized and proactively prepares for events
• Motivated – has a lively
•
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personality and can-do attitude and is willing to put in the work. Business savvy, knows a business takes time and is prepared for the responsibility. Ready by having access to start-up capital and rainy-day funds
Bottom line, education franchises mean BUSINESS!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Eddie Rodriguez is a serial entrepreneur who has built multiple successful businesses, and has been a franchise consultant for 12 years. info@thefranchiseconsultingcompany. com
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Allegra Centers provide graphic design, printing, mailing, promotional products and marketing services needed by virtually every local business and institution. As an owner, you’ll benefit from the unsurpassed network support provided by Alliance Franchise Brands – a world leader in marketing and visual communications. Among the other advantages of acquiring an Allegra Center:
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Explore your Allegra Center ownership opportunity. Contact us today. 866.433.4131 | allegrafranchise.com © 2019 Alliance Franchise Brands LLC. All Rights Reserved. Alliance Franchise Brands LLC is the parent company of Allegra Network LLC and KK Printing Canada ULC. This advertisement is not an offering. An offering can only be made by a disclosure document filed first with the Department of Law of the State of New York. Such filing does not constitute approval by the Department of Law. MN F-4115
THE EDUCATION ISSUE
How Educational Businesses Compliment
the Public School Curriculum by Bill Stark, Consultant, The Franchise Consulting Company One of the fastest growing franchise opportunities in the country is an education Franchise and it’s on the rise for three key reasons: The public education system in the US is out of step with a relative rapidly changing world; people want a more focused learning experience for their
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children that makes the most efficient use of the time and money invested; and lastly the business world is demanding people to have a deeper understanding of certain specific areas of study for more and more jobs advanced manufacturing, aerospace automotive engineering,
cyber security and basically anything that requires education and science. Education franchises are sometimes called enhanced learning experiences because they add depth to the curriculum that students may be getting in grade school and middle school. But because they are personalized learning experiences for students, with many offering one-on-one instruction, they also add a broader skillset of organizational understanding and productive social interaction not available in public school classrooms. Education franchise are finding popularity now because adults want an edge for their children. Adults are looking to get their children immersed early into a chosen field, in part because the workforce competition has become more fierce and the perception that a broader understanding of social interactions makes their child a more rounded and well informed individual. Most of the earlier educational franchises were focused on only young children and many were
EDUCATION FRANCHISES ARE FINDING POPULARITY NOW BECAUSE ADULTS WANT AN EDGE FOR THEIR CHILDREN. founded by either teachers or parents who discovered that their child wasn’t getting the best education at the local public school. More recently, educational franchise concepts are not just some glorified daycare centers with lesson plans, but more advanced learning programs. These franchises are real businesses that offer valuable curriculum to children and high profit potential for investors. Dr. Abdelghani Bellanchia (or Dr. Bell), a software engineer and former associate professor at George Washington University is a center director of the StemTree Education Center franchise, offering what he calls a “digital playground”. Families spent a lot of money on different sports, he says “this is a brain exercising sport”. The fact that you have little kids coding and building robots, enhancing their building skills and their logic skills has a direct impact on how they perform in school. Unfortunately, many of these skills are not taught in the public curriculum. Research has shown that participation in after school programs has been proven to positively impact a child’s academic achievement, school performance, and improve test scores. It also enriches their knowledge and provides new skills that can range from science and engineering to sports and art. Dr. Bell’s franchise, StemTree, is a premiere
franchise business model that offers a fun educational playground for kids to learn the concepts of science, coding, robotics and electronics. They offer 1-on-1 instruction and customize learning plans for each child, in each program and at each grade level. StemTree has broken away from the traditional classroom learning environment. Their educational model introduces children to STEM concepts in a less intimidating and fun learning environment. StemTree is considered an enrichment educational program. Enrichment programs are programs that support learning outside the classroom. These programs
were once limited to only physical activity or music type programs. However, today children now have other option of brain exercising programs. If you want to make a positive impact in your community by directly impacting children’s academic advancement, you may consider exploring educational franchise busines models as your next career opportunity or business investment.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Bill Stark is a Franchise Business Advisor that helps people explore business opportunities in franchising and help their professional dreams become a reality. Contact Bill at 602-793-3915 or at billstark@ thefranchiseconsultingcompany.com.
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grow a healthy business Saladworks is the original create-your-own, fast-casual salad franchise. Healthy – USDA reports that American adults are choosing healthier foods such as fruits and vegetables to support a healthier lifestyle. That’s why nearly half of all Millennial and Gen Z consumers buy 3+ entrée salads per week away from home. Saladworks is on-trend.
grow a healthyequipment-light business and easy Simple – Our concept is asset-light, Saladworks is the original create-your-own, to operate. No fryers and salad no hood means less expensive fast-casual franchise. buildout costs for Healthy you.– USDA Just chop, sliceadults and dice to serve the reports that American are choosing healthier foods such as fruits and vegetables to support a tastiest create-your-own salads is turn-key. healthier lifestyle. That’s whyaround. nearly half of all Saladworks Millennial and Gen Z consumers buy 3+ entrée salads per week away from home. Saladworks is on-trend.
Accessible – The fast-casual landscape is overbuilt and Simple – Our concept is asset-light, equipment-light and easy to operate. No fryers and no hood means less expensive cluttered with create-your-own burger, sandwich, pizza, buildout costs for you. Just chop, slice and dice to serve the tastiest create-your-own salads around. Saladworks is turn-key. Mexican and smoothie concepts. Landlords are looking for Accessible – The fast-casual landscape is overbuilt and healthy concepts like ours. We have market, venue, format cluttered with create-your-own burger,the sandwich, pizza, Mexican and smoothie concepts. Landlords are looking for Saladworks is the original create-your-own, concepts like ours. We have the venue, format and footprint you healthy want. Saladworks ismarket, available. fast-casual salad franchise.
grow a healthy business
and footprint you want. Saladworks is available.
saladworksfranchising.com
fransales@saladworks.com
* Details located at Item 19 inside Saladworks Franchise Disclosure Document.
Healthy – USDA reports that American adults are choosing healthier foods such as fruits and vegetables to support a healthier lifestyle. That’s why nearly half of all Millennial and Gen Z consumers buy 3+ entrée salads per week away from home. Saladworks is on-trend.
$1,227,858 median net sales for top quartile*
saladworksfranchising.com
Simple – Our concept is asset-light, equipment-light and easy to operate. No fryers and no hood means less expensive fransales@saladworks.com buildout costs for you. Just chop, slice and dice to serve the tastiest create-your-own salads around. Saladworks is turn-key.
* Details located at Item 19 inside Saladworks Franchise Disclosure Document.
t sales for top quartile*
Accessible – The fast-casual landscape is overbuilt and cluttered with create-your-own burger, sandwich, pizza, Mexican and smoothie concepts. Landlords are looking for healthy concepts like ours. We have the market, venue, format and footprint you want. Saladworks is available.
$1,227,858 median
saladworksfranchising.com
fransales@saladworks.com
* Details located at Item 19 inside Saladworks Franchise Disclosure Document.
$1,227,858 median net sales for top quartile*
THE EDUCATION ISSUE
The Tutor Doctor Difference: How Learning Hits Home by Frank Milner, President, Tutor Doctor
Tutor Doctor is the fastest growing in-home tutoring franchise in the world. Our franchisees manage a team of tutors and work closely with families to identify the needs of students. As a successful business owner at the heart of the local community, franchisees help children to achieve their potential and change lives for the better. In today’s modern, hectic world, the tired old centre-based model lacks convenience and the personal touch. For a truly bespoke, personcentred service, our tutors visit students at home or work with them one-to-one via our online platform. The company was established in North America in 2000 and we set off on our path to global domination in 2003. Since then, we’ve secured over 680 territories in 16 countries. With over 30,000 tutors around the globe, Tutor Doctor has helped change over 200,000 students’ lives. And that number is expected to grow—the brand
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is actively looking to saturate the markets that it already exists in and is targeting international growth in an effort to help the next generations excel both in and outside of the classroom. That ability to instill confidence in students and change their attitudes towards their educational potential is what makes Tutor Doctor stand out. While other supplemental education brands are creating curriculums off of standardized best practices, Tutor Doctor is making learning personal. The brand’s
tutors work with students one-to-one in their homes and base their educational strategies off of each child’s unique set of challenges and assignments, ensuring that every student is receiving the exact type of attention and help that they need. The private tutoring market is expected to reach $260.7 billion by 2024 – demand is high and the market continues to expand. Franchisees benefit from operating an exciting and scalable business, while also having the power to create a lasting impact on children. We
THAT ABILITY TO INSTILL CONFIDENCE IN STUDENTS AND CHANGE THEIR ATTITUDES TOWARDS THEIR EDUCATIONAL POTENTIAL IS WHAT MAKES TUTOR DOCTOR STAND OUT. refer to this as changing the trajectory of students’ lives. The Tutor Doctor opportunity offers a low-risk model with a high ROI. Franchisees can work from home for added flexibility and all tutors work on a self-employed basis so, there’s no need to worry about the usual overheads. As a management franchise, a large percentage of our franchisees eventually employ a team of staff, including education consultants and admin assistants, giving them more time and freedom to focus on business development and growth. Tutor Doctor franchisees come from all walks of life and aren’t all ex-teachers, as you might think. In fact, 80% of our network don’t come from an education background at all. No matter your experience, we’re committed to going above and beyond to help our network succeed. We’ve won awards for the way in which we train and support our franchisees, not just as new recruits but for the life of their business. Expect an online course and group training followed by a 12-month support program from a dedicated Launch Support Specialist. Our Launch Support Programme is designed to maximize growth potential in year one. At the end of year one, franchisees begin ‘Active Coaching’ and
receive specialized support to achieve their goals. This includes the option to work with a business coach on a strict mentoring scheme and to tap into a highly focussed sales programme. The sky really is the limit! Collaboration and a real sense of togetherness sets our network apart. Franchisees, new and established, have regular regional meetings, webinars and calls with our field support team. Not forgetting our annual conference that brings together the whole network for a chance to learn, celebrate and plan for the future. Our franchisees are at the heart of the business and our constant support is designed to inspire, assist and motivate them to strive for greatness!
Something very special happens when our franchisees combine their desire to truly make a difference with our world-class training and support systems. Our company’s vision, mission and values resonate with everyone – over 680 franchisees, 30,000 tutors and 200,000 students worldwide. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Frank Milner, president of Tutor Doctor since 2007, recognized its unlimited growth potential since education is one of the only segments universally valued across nearly every culture and continent. Coming from 10+ years in tutoring franchising as well as working in the insurance industry, Frank and his team outlined a strategy to cater to the growing demand for private tutoring by introducing the unique Tutor Doctor concept to new cities and countries around the globe. Contact Tutor Doctor at 416-646-0364 or at www. tutordoctor.com.
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THE EDUCATION ISSUE
Snapology Makes Learning Fun by Laura Coe, Co-Founder, Snapology
W
hen you walk into a Snapology class, sometimes the kids are laughing so hard that you don’t realize they are learning. And that is exactly what Laura Coe wanted when she co-founded Snapology with her sister Lisa Coe in 2010. While educating students in S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) concepts have never been more important, the Coe sisters knew that traditional
enrichment was not going to get kids jumping out of their seats with excitement about engineering. What does get kids excited is Snapology’s three-prong approach to education. They have developed a curriculum that puts equal emphasis on educational enrichment, social development and of course, fun. Snapology teachers use LEGO® bricks, building toys and technology to introduce S.T.E.A.M. concepts through an extremely fun playbased learning model. The
curriculum offers over 1500 hours of hands-on lessons with themes such as superheroes, Pokémon, and animation. The lessons are so varied that a child could participate in programs with Snapology for years without repeating a class. It’s no wonder they were recently named the #1 S.T.E.A.M. enrichment provider in the world. “The most important thing for us is to get kids excited about learning," says Laura Coe. "We knew we could not
“THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR US IS TO GET KIDS EXCITED ABOUT LEARNING." — LAURA COE
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SNAPOLOGY’S PROGRAMS HELP KIDS BUILD CONFIDENCE AND PERSEVERANCE AS THEY LEARN IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT THAT MISTAKES ARE JUST PART OF THE PROCESS. do that by using textbooks and worksheets, so instead we use things like Minecraft and Drones.” Snapology understands that kids must enjoy the process before they can reap the rewards. The Coe sisters also saw the gap in soft skills like teamwork and social skills that too often plague a generation growing up in an age with increased digital communication. All of Snapology’s classes include elements of teamwork and presentation. Soft skills paired with S.T.E.A.M. is the winning combination that will create the successful leaders of tomorrow. Getting children involved
in S.T.E.A.M. early and often is a key to success. Early childhood S.T.E.A.M. programs have been shown to dramatically increase a child's awareness and interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math. Whether it is a four-year-old learning to program a dolphin to wave its tail or a ten-yearold competing in a robotics competition team, students are learning these concepts in an environment that puts them in charge and lets them harness their creativity along the way. Snapology’s programs help kids build confidence and
perseverance as they learn in a safe environment that mistakes are just part of the process of learning and that there can be many solutions to one problem. These skills have become the cornerstone of the future economy. According to the Georgetown Public Policy Institute, STEAM is one of the fastest growing fields in America. By the end of this WWW.FRANCHISEJOURNAL.COM | JULY 2020
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year, the number of STEAM jobs is expected to have grown 26 percent since 2010. S.T.E.A.M. jobs are profitable too. The average median hourly wage for S.T.E.A.M. related jobs is $38.85 and of 100 S.T.E.A.M. occupations, 93% had wages above the national average. Yet somehow, with all these statistics at our disposal, there is still a huge skill gap in our emerging workforce. Thankfully, Snapology saw this need and is working to inspire children as young as 2 years old to get excited about learning the skills that will benefit them for a lifetime. In addition to inspiring kids to pursue their dreams, Snapology is also giving a path to business ownership to aspiring entrepreneurs across the world. With over 160 locations, Snapology’s brand is strong and a good bet for those looking to start a business in the children’s entertainment industry.
SNAPOLOGY IS WORKING TO INSPIRE CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS 2 YEARS OLD TO GET EXCITED ABOUT LEARNING THE SKILLS THAT WILL BENEFIT THEM FOR A LIFETIME. Snapology offers a ‘choose your own adventure’ model for franchisees, allowing for mobile/community-based operations, a brick and mortar Discovery Center or even a mobile STEAM Lab
bus option! Snapology’s strong support team and tools are there to support owners on whichever path they choose. Beginning as a mobile operation gives new f ranchisees the chance to kick off their business with a relatively small up-front investment, allowing for a quicker path to profitability. Snapology is currently accepting applications for new franchise owners in the United States and Internationally. If you are interested in learning more, don’t delay; they are one of the country’s fastest growing franchises. Visit Snapology.com to learn more about bringing play-based education to your community. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Laura Coe is the co-founder and CEO of Snapology. Contact Laura at 412295-1545 or at laura@snapology.com.
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THE EDUCATION ISSUE
Investing in More Than YOUR Future by John Ovens, Consultant, The Franchise Consulting Company
T
he world has changed. We hear it all day, every day because of the pandemic. Education delivery has been changing for a while. The traditional 8 am-3 pm Monday through Friday model is now only one of many options. Online universities, community charter schools, virtual
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schools, and homeschooling are becoming more popular. Parents and students have more choices than ever. Many industries are franchises. Education is one franchise-type many people don't think of because we already have so many public and private schools. STEM enrichment franchises, art, and music enrichment franchises, tutoring franchises that focus on learning disabilities, academic subjectspecific franchises, and even college planning franchises are becoming more popular each year. Education is one of the primary needs everyone has, and with education delivery changing quickly, other services will be needed to help round out educational experiences for home school and virtual school students. As colleges and universities become more challenging to get into and as prices rise for a four-year degree, a franchise that sets students up for success and allows them to be eligible for more scholarships will be in high demand. Parents are willing to invest now for a more substantial payoff later. If you're not interested in a brick and mortar franchise, education franchises offer
different models. A homebased business or virtual sessions are possible with some of the models. Investments for education franchises also vary greatly. They range from a smaller investment for franchises that do not require a brick and mortar location to more significant investments if a retail space is needed. While you are reviewing your business ownership opportunities, I recommend you take a hard look at education franchises. Helping students get the best education possible is rewarding and profitable. If you are interested in owning a business, but you want to really serve others, this could be an excellent fit for you and your financial future. With an education franchise, you're selling skills, confidence, curiosity, and paving the way for the next generation to be successful. ABOUT THE AUTHOR John Ovens has over 30 years of leading domestic and international businesses in the US and overseas, extensive experience operating multi location businesses globally. For over 10 years John has helped individuals find alternative business opportunities to corporate employment. info@thefranchiseconsultingcompany. com
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on your career and run with our pack Fetch! Pet Care® is America’s largest and most trusted professional dog walking and pet sitting franchise. We offer an affordable, flexible and turnkey solution designed to enable you to become successfully self employed. We streamline all operations for you and provide you with marketing, technology and operational support needed to grow your business in the booming $70 billion pet industry. We invite you to learn more about being part of our growing family! Low Cost
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THE EDUCATION ISSUE
Challenging the Normal by Jeff Alexander, Consultant, The Franchise Consulting Company
S
omething was off and I just could not put my finger on it. The looks on the student’s faces were unfamiliar, why were they not excited about a week off of school? I took one of my students aside and asked, “What’s going on? You look upset.” He said, “I am not sure how I’m going to eat next week, I only get to eat at school.” The words hit me like a ton of bricks. It was hard to imagine a world in which kids dreaded school vacations. After talking to several of the other students, this was just a way of life. Breakfast and lunch served by the school was the only food they ate. Earlier that year a small team and I founded an alternative high school. We called it, The Eastern Plains Career Accelerator in rural Colorado. Our team consisted of a school counselor, a retired teacher/administrator and myself. Utilizing an Expelled and At-Risk Students grant from the
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Colorado Department of Education, we worked diligently alongside twenty-eight severely at-risk students. The students came from six school districts, ninth thru twelfth grade with a variety of familial, socio-economic, and situational concerns. The majority of the students were over two years behind with little hope of graduating high school. With the staff to student ratio, we were able to develop strong relationships with each student and worked fervently to help them catch up. One of the systems benefits, was the ability of the student to work as fast, or as slow as they chose. The speed of the coursework was always in the hands of the student. If they wanted to work diligently and put extra time in, almost no barrier would prevent them from graduation. This placed their educational responsibility in their own hands and gave them the ability to be more than just a number in the system.
WE MADE SURE THE CUPBOARDS WERE ALWAYS FULL AND MADE SURE THE STUDENTS KNEW THEY WERE WELCOME TO WHATEVER THEY NEEDED, TO INCLUDE TAKING FOOD HOME. For our students, education in a traditional classroom environment was not relevant to their lives. Finding a place to sleep, food to eat and clothes to wear was more critical. For others, a systemic experience of poverty and hopeless prevailed. One student’s parents told me, “The farthest any of us made it thru high school was 8th grade, he is already in 10th, why shouldn’t he drop out?” Figuring out a way to make school relevant was going to be an uphill battle. We realized that food security was a major factor. We quickly partnered with a local food bank and due to our building being the former administration building, it was equipped with modified kitchen. We made sure the cupboards were always full and made sure the students knew they were welcome to whatever they needed, to include taking food home. One of the biggest struggles operating in a rural area with socio-economic concerns is the lack of both job opportunity and transportation. Our students did not have access to transportation and we were almost forty miles from the closest major city. We needed to approach this differently. Instead of bringing the students to the opportunity, we brought the opportunity to the students. We had a large empty
parking lot adjacent to our building. As a former car dealership owner, I realized we could run a car dealership out of the school. It created the opportunity to teach accounting, bookkeeping, sales and marketing, mechanical and detail work and so much more. It allowed the students a chance at a hands on entrepreneurial experience. It would give them valuable, marketable skills and could be a differentiator on their resumes for future employment. EDUCar opened in November
of 2018, and we were and continue to be surprised by its success. The students, working alongside the team have sold over 120 cars in their first year. As of this article, EDUCar has sold over 300 vehicles, while being run 80-85% by the students. The students had found a way to make their work relevant to them, while gaining valuable on the job experience. In running a fullfledged automotive dealership, the students gained elective high school credit, while also giving them a reason to come to school every day. This feeling
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IN OUR FIRST YEAR OF OPERATION, EPCA GRADUATED 100% OF ITS SENIORS, 13 OF 13 STUDENTS. of personal accomplishment was something these students lacked. In our first year of operation, EPCA graduated 100% of its seniors, 13 of 13 students. In our second year and third year, we graduated over 90% of seniors and all of these students have graduated under the advanced Colorado 2021 graduation standards. Post-graduation, 95% of the students who participated in our program, are employed fulltime, serving in the military or enrolled in a two or four
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year university. The traditional system is not compatible for all students. For some students, challenging the normal, while making education relevant will yield life changing results. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jeff Alexander presently owns multiple business interests thru out a variety of different sectors to include franchising, retail, real estate, medical,, and personal services. He has a passion for building the entrepreneurial spirit into future generations. Contact Jeff at 719-964-3284 or at jeffalexander@ thefranchiseconsultingcompany.com.
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Going Green Is Beyond A Trend At ecomaids®
The Home Cleaning Brand Seeks Franchisees Who Are Interested In a Lucrative and Environmentally Conscious Business Opportunity That Provides Recurring Revenue. by Cristina Merrill
C
onsumers are becoming more and more ecologically conscious and aware of their own carbon footprints. Brands that do not stay on top of their “green game” by committing to sustainable practices risk losing even the most loyal of customers. No brand understands the importance of sustainability and going green quite like the
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cleaning franchise ecomaids. The emerging concept offers residential and light commercial cleaning services using Green Seal certified products and supplies that are non-toxic, chemical-free, all-natural and biodegradable. The ecomaids leadership team understands that “going green” is not a fad that will be
going away. “There is more awareness of the health and environmental benefits of using eco-friendly cleaning products,” ecomaids CEO Lindsay Dellasega said. “ecomaids, as an eco-friendly home cleaning service, addresses those customer demands better than any other brand. As a full-service cleaning franchise that dispatches trained, bonded and trustworthy teams that use only eco-friendly products, ecomaids is setting itself apart from the rest as our nationwide footprint begins to grow.”
will be far more difficult and costly, taking a toll on our supply chains, our business and more importantly the lives of everyone involved, including coffee farmers, our suppliers, Starbucks partners, customers and every community we serve.” Heineken has a sustainable development strategy called “Brewing a Better World.” “We are determined to contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” the company states on its website. “Our focus areas are linked with specific SDGs
performance and the future of our playing field: Planet Earth.” COMPANY SUPPORT Even though the ecomaids brand itself is very early in its development of locations, the leadership team is highly determined to commit to sustainability. The brand is not alone in this, as it recently came under the umbrella of its parent company, Happinest. Happinest is also the parent company for bug-banishing franchise Mosquito Hunters and lawn-care franchise Lawn Doctor, and currently
“ECOMAIDS IS WELL-POSITIONED TO BECOME A LEADER IN THE GREEN SEGMENT.” — ERIC MARTIN, HAPPINEST VICE PRESIDENT OF FRANCHISE DEVELOPMENT BRANDS ADOPTING SUSTAINABE PRACTICES The cleaning franchise is not the only company taking this route. Brands of all sizes are making public declarations in favor of sustainable practices. Starbucks and Heineken are two larger examples of such companies. “Today, more than ever, the world needs leadership in environmental sustainability,” Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson said in a statement. “We agree with the consensus of scientific experts who note that without drastic action from everyone – governments, companies and all of us as individuals – adapting to the impact of climate change in the future
and their targets, ensuring that we make a meaningful and transparent contribution to the global goals to protect the planet, ensure prosperity and end poverty. We have defined new 2030 strategies for water and climate change, and we are in the process of developing strategies and targets beyond 2020 for other focus areas.” Another major brand committed to sustainability is Nike. “If there is no planet, there is no sport,” the company states on its website. “To understand how this affects all of us, we’ve partnered with expert researchers at the Climate Impact Lab to show the connection between a stable climate and athletic
oversees nearly 700 franchised locations. Now that ecomaids is under the Happinest umbrella, it is well-positioned for an elevated profile in 2020. “ecomaids is well-positioned to become a leader in the green segment,” Happinest Vice President of Franchise Development Eric Martin said. “There are many reasons to invest in an ecomaids franchise, such as a simple, low infrastructure business model that offers recurring revenue. The support of Happinest will undoubtedly help ecomaids make waves in 2020 and beyond, as the leadership team continues to recruit prospective franchisees who share in their vision for a more eco-friendly world.” WWW.FRANCHISEJOURNAL.COM | JULY 2020
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Your Home Thoughtfully Clean The Green Clean Customers Need At ecomaids, we help franchisees tap into the vast supply of consumers who want eco-friendly solutions for their home cleaning needs. Our safe, natural cleaning products, and our thorough 64-point checklist, help us shine brighter than anyone else in the industry.
Why Our Franchisees Love Our Spotless Opportunity
In House Financing
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Proud to offer $10,000 Discounts to Military Veterans, First Responders and ethnic minorities
Recurring Revenue
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Corporate call center to close sales
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Better for Planet Earth
We’re a Happinest Company
People want safe, natural products
Keep chemicals out of the environment
Franchise experts with 50 years of experience
To get more info on this eco opportunity, contact: 855-424-8683 or franchiseinformation@ecomaids.com
ABOUT US
The Culture and Lifestyle Benefits of Being a Mosquito Hunters Franchisee Running A Mosquito Hunters Business From Home Is Just One Of The Advantages The Brand Offers by Cassidy McAloon
T
here’s no shortage of reasons to franchise with Mosquito Hunters. From a recurring revenue stream to a low cost of entry and simple business model, the financial advantages that come with being a part of the Mosquito Hunters brand have resonated well with business owners across the country — in 2019 alone, the brand had 42 new franchisee signings, nearly 70 new units awarded and over 80 units open before the end of the year. But not all of the reasons to franchise with Mosquito Hunters are financial. Another thing that makes the Mosquito Hunters franchise opportunity attractive to aspiring business owners and entrepreneurs is the wealth of culture and lifestyle benefits that come with ownership. For example, because Mosquito Hunters is a seasonal concept, franchisees have more flexibility during the quieter winter months to work on their business.
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This was one of the main reasons that Anthony Scheeda, a franchisee with Mosquito Hunters in Buffalo, New York, was interested in franchising with the brand. He said, “Not only are we not working yearround, but having that break also gives us time to reflect on the business. We get to see where we did well, what we can improve and how we can make the next season even better.”
Owning a Mosquito Hunters f ranchise also gives f ranchisees like Scheeda and his wife, Eliza, the ability to spend more time with their families. The business model is designed so that it can easily be run out of a home, which makes it an ideal option for parents of children who want to save on childcare expenses. As an added bonus, those children can then be raised around a business and
learn first-hand from their parents what it takes. “My wife is a stay-at-home mom, and she wanted to transition back into the workforce,” said Scheeda. “This business model has been perfect for us because we can run it out of our home.” The Scheedas’ children are ages 5, 8 and 13, and they’ve noticed that their eldest son is already showing interest in the business operations behind the scenes. Scheeda added, “He wants to learn how to do some of the things my wife does like invoicing and scheduling. Our children see the technicians coming to the house and they always ask a ton of questions.”
By providing franchisees with a business model that boasts benefits outside of work as well, Mosquito Hunters stands out from the competition. Ronald Ens, franchise development manager for Mosquito Hunters, said, “At the end of the day, we’re only successful when our franchisees are successful.
That’s why our entire business model is set up with them in mind — we want our local owners to be excited to be a part of the Mosquito Hunters team. We’re proud to be able to offer a business ownership opportunity that supports a positive work-life balance while also providing the opportunity to take charge of your financial future.” The total investment necessary to open a Mosquito Hunters franchise ranges from $71,937 to $94,937. The franchise license fee ranges from $25,000 to $35,000. For more information on franchising opportunities with Mosquito Hunters, visit https://mosquitohuntersfranchise.com/.
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90¢ OF EVERY $1 RAISED Goes Toward Benefiting Young Students carsonscholars.org