September 2016 Franchising USA 4#11

Franchising usa T he ma g a z ine for franchisees

VOL 04, ISSUE 11, sept 2016

$5.95 www.franchisingusamagazine.com

yamchops North America’s first plant-based butcher shop

getting approved

the essential guide

special

home based & home services feature LATEST NEWS

FINANCIAL ADVICE FROM THE BANKS

TOP LAWYERS’ ADVICE

Franchising usa T he ma g a z ine for franchisees

FRANCHISING USA VOLUME 4, ISSUE 11, 2016 president: Colin Bradbury. colin@cgbpublishing.com

Comments

from the p u blisher & editor

Publisher: Vikki Bradbury. vikki@cgbpublishing.com

advertising: Vikki Bradbury. vikki@cgbpublishing.com

Editorial Department: managing editor: Diana Cikes editor@cgbpublishing.com

Editorial team: Gina Gill Rob Swystun

Production: usaproduction@cgbpublishing.com

DESIGN: Jejak Graphics. jejak@bigpond.com

COVER IMAGE: Yamchops

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

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

Welcome to the September issue of Franchising USA. We all know that franchising in today’s market is still a safer way to start a business, but with any new business there are many things to consider when taking the leap to entrepreneurship.

In this issue we have some great concepts for you to consider along with great advice from the experts. And let’s not forget:

“Entrepreneurship is living a few years of your life like most people won’t, so you can spend the rest of your life like most people can’t.” - Steve Jobs So What the Heck is a Plant-Based Butcher Anyways? Turn to page 10 to learn more with our Cover Story on Yam Chops, and discover how North America’s first plant-based butcher shop is leading the way with one of the hottest new food concepts.

Our Special Feature this month is Home Based and Home Services Franchising, with Paul Davis on the Cover. Learn how this brand is celebrating 50 years

of restoration services and helping homeowners recover, reconstruct and restore their homes after all kinds of disasters. And be sure to check out our ever-popular Feature Article which weights the pros and cons of running a home-based business and outlines current opportunities in the industry.

This month we also feature a couple of interesting profiles on Big O Tires and Coverall. Hear from Big O Tires franchisee Tony Williams on how the brand operates from its Core Values, and learn about Coverall’s commitment to its franchised business owners.

Of course we’ve also packed in as much valuable Expert Advice as we could manage, starting with George Knauf’s Essential Guide to Getting Approved and 3 Things You Can Do to Reduce Your Risk When Buying a Franchise by Joel Libava, plus plenty more.

Stay updated with the latest in industry news on pages 6-9 and don’t forget to scroll through the popular A-Z directory listed at the back of the magazine.

I hope you enjoy this issue and it helps you move forward in your business with more insight and confidence.

Happy reading!

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

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Contents

september 2016

On the Cover

10 Cover Story: Yam Chops North America’s

21 Special Home Based and Home Services

First Plant-Based Butcher Shop

Franchising Feature

64

16

12

12 Getting Approved: The Essential Guide

54

In Every Issue 06 Franchising News Announcements from the Industry

28 Feature Article

Home Based and Home Services 49 Veterans Supplement News and Information for Veterans in Franchising

70 A-Z Franchise and Services Directoy

Profiles 14 Coverall 66 Big O Tires

Expert Advice

16 Understanding the Challenges of the Recent Joint Employer Rulings Jason Leverant, President and COO, AtWork Group

12

12 Getting Approved: The Essential Guide George Knauf, Senior Franchise Business Advisor, FranChoice

46 Three Questions to Ask Yourself About Your Franchise

Recruiting Website Matthew Jonas, President, Top Fire Media

64 What You Should Look for in a Franchise Kyle Zagrodsky, President, OsteoStrong

Home Based & Home Services Feature On the Cover:

66

68 3 Things You Can Do to Reduce Your Risk When Buying a Franchise Joel Libava, The Franchise KingÂŽ

24 Paul Davis Celebrates 50 Years of Restoration Services 28 Home Based and Home Services Feature Article QUESTION TIME 36 Bill Redfern, Global Franchise Opportunities (GFO) PROFILE 34 Grasons Co. FOCUS

FRANCHISOR IN DEPTH 42 Oxi Fresh EXPERT ADVICE 32 Is Home-Based the Answer?

David Banfield, President, The Interface Financial Group

40 Why Direct Mail Should Be in Your Marketing Plan Jim Fitzgerald, founder and CEO of Taradel LLC

68

38 Restoration 1

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what’s new!

CoreLife Eatery Seeing Rapid Growth with Customers Seeking Healthy Options CoreLife is planning to open four more corporate stores this year and an additional fifteen in 2017. The company plans on having 100 corporate restaurants and 200 franchises in operation by 2021.

Potential franchisees must show evidence of successful experience and established infrastructure in multi-unit franchising.

CoreLife has a deep sense of community and expects franchisees to embody that same philosophy. For more information, contact the internal franchise team at 855CORELIF(E) or 855-267-3543.

The CoreLife Eatery executive team is taking its active lifestyle restaurant national with the launch of franchising opportunities.

With the mission of making clean, healthy food accessible to local communities,

CoreLife is experiencing rapid growth as customers seek healthy options compatible with their busy lives. With greens, grains and bone broth as basic building blocks, CoreLife focuses on food first through high-level customization of top quality ingredients.

SafetyCulture iAuditor Mobile App Now Available on Windows 10

CoreLife Eatery locations are currently operating in Syracuse, Webster and Greece, New York as well as Strongsville, Ohio. Led by President Larry Wilson, the CoreLife executive team brings individual successes and skill sets to help the restaurant grow to meet the needs of more communities lacking convenient access to healthy and affordable clean eating alternatives. www.eatatcore.com

The SafetyCulture iAuditor mobile app and platform from SafetyCulture, the mobile-first technology company optimizing workplace quality and safety, is now available on Microsoft Windows 10, enabling a streamlined experience for collecting audit and inspection data.

Native Windows 10 functionality for SafetyCulture iAuditor allows managers across the globe to conduct quality audits, security inspections, employee training programs and asset maintenance tests to ensure quality and safety in work environments.

With SafetyCulture iAuditor, employees can take responsibility for their personal safety while managers are able to access rich data analytics about on-site operations.

As a result, organizations can cut inspection times in half, anticipate and avoid problems, reduce business costs, and build safer workplaces. SafetyCulture iAuditor is also available on iOS and Android, and has been used to facilitate more than 30 million inspections to date. www.safetyculture.io/iauditor

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AtWork Group Achieves Third Consecutive Inc. 5000 Ranking National staffing service franchise continues positive growth momentum AtWork Group, a rapidly growing national staffing franchise, has recently received acknowledgement as one of the fastest-growing privately held companies for 2016. For the third year in a row, AtWork Group has been recognized on Inc. Magazine’s Inc. 5000 list.

The recognition was announced on August 17 and AtWork Group was

listed at number 2605. This prestigious

business accolade comes at a time where the company has grown to more than 90 locations in the U.S., and gross sales of more than $164 million in 2014 to over $257 million in 2015.

“Through our vision and company-wide dedication from our talented franchise owners and their teams, we continue to work diligently to grow and accommodate staffing needs for our clients nationwide,” said Jason Leverant, AtWork Group president and COO. AtWork Group began in the 1980s and has evolved into a growing franchise that focuses on effective sales methodologies and operational excellence. The organization has become one of the leading staffing providers in the United States and a top franchise opportunity for those seeking to build their own staffing businesses.

“Earning our third Inc. 5000 ranking back to back is something we are extremely proud of,” said Leverant. “We are striving to continue this momentum and operate at a high standard of excellence in the staffing industry.” www.atwork.com

Romeo’s Pizza Leads the Pack at the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure One in eight women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime - and the Susan G. Komen

Foundation is dedicated to lowering that statistic and fighting for a cure.

This is part of an expanding effort Mr.

Rose is spearheading to make Romeo’s active in the fabric of the community

through charity and caring, including

supporting MDA and St. Jude Children’s Hospital. A new slogan - “Pizza Crafted With A Purpose” - was developed with this corporate directive in mind.

Romeo’s Pizza’s accolades include Best

Romeo’s Pizza, Northeast Ohio based

that his staff and customers had the

pizza leader, led the pack at the Susan

opportunity to join “Team Romeo’s” - a

G. Komen Cleveland Race For The

specially developed group of walkers and

Cure on August 27th.

racers that were united under the Romeo’s

$10,000 Pizza Challenge.

Ryan Rose, CEO of Romeo’s, is excited

Pizza banner.

www.romeospizza.com

Pizza in the Midwest, Best Gourmet Pizza in America, Best Pizza in Cleveland and

Columbus, and featured on Food Network

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what’s new!

City Kitty Offers Franchise Opportunities in the Lucrative Pet Industry

City Kitty, an exclusive cat grooming spa, is pleased to announce franchise opportunities in the pet industry.

City Kitty is a spa focuses on pampering your kitty in a serene, spalike environment providing them with dedicated and loving attention while they receive personalized care based on an individualized assessment on every visit.

At City Kitty®, they care about the whole cat — mind, body and spirit – as they believe in a holistic approach for the care of your cat and see beyond the needs of their hair.

Their groomers are experts on feline behavior, handling and grooming – and their interaction with kitties during the grooming process is a critical part of the process.

The pet services industry has been targeted as a growth industry for many years. One of the keys to this growth is the change in status of pets in the lives of families all across the United States.

Despite the fact that the economy is still battling back to normalcy, a continued increase in status of pets in the family for an increasing number of families

Unishippers Global Logistics Named to the 3PLs to Watch List for Fifth Consecutive Year More than 13,000 companies and shippers spread across 55 countries participated in Inbound Logistics magazine’s annual Readers’ Choice Top 10 3PL Excellence Award survey. The poll once again named Unishippers Global Logistics, LLC a “3PL to Watch” in 2016.

Companies large and small that spend millions on transportation each year showed their appreciation for their logistics partners through voting. The list, which includes a “Top-10” list of 3PLs that have made a lasting impression on the large sample size of companies, recognizes third-party logistics companies that have

Franchising USA

throughout the US, has driven more and more pet loving families to purchase quality, rather than quantity, products and services for their pets.

According to the American Pet Products Association, the pet market is the second fastest growing retail industry (second only to consumer electronics). www.citykittygrooming.com

provided excellent service from a customer standpoint.

“Year after year it’s an honor to know our platinum customer service doesn’t go unnoticed. Unishippers has built a premier system to ensure that the small-to mid-size businesses are being treated with the same exceptional customer service and shipping consultancy as larger companies,” said Kevin Lathrop, President of Unishippers Global Logistics. “For nearly 30 years, our franchisees have built one-on-one relationships with customers to deliver efficient and cost-effective transportation services.”

Unishippers’ nationwide system of franchises and affiliate outlets are small- and mid-size business advocate’s committed to providing customers with reduced shipping rates through top national, regional and local carriers. www.unishippers.com

Campbell Oil Company Partners with Little Caesars Pizza to Open the 1st and now 3rd Newest Express Locations Chain Brings Value, Quality and Convenience with New Store Format Campbell Oil Company like Little Caesars is a family owned and operated business, and we are proud to partner with such a reputable national brand as Little Caesars Enterprises, Inc. We began this venture last June to open the first Little Caesars Express site in the Nation located in one of our convenience stores in Supply, NC. By the end of this year we will have three Express locations in Brunswick and Horry County.

Little Caesars® pizza is celebrating the grand opening of its newest Express location in Ocean Isle Beach, NC, just inside Minuteman Food Mart/ Marathon convenience store. The restaurant will opened on July 6, 2016, will operate from 6:30a.m. to 10:00p.m., Monday- Saturday and 10:00am to 9:00pm on Sundays.

“We strive to provide our Guests with excellent customer service and a quality product fast. The partnership with Little Caesars will allow us the opportunity to exceed our guest’s expectations

in all of these areas,” said Little Caesars franchisee, Wesley

Campbell. “We look forward to servicing Brunswick County with delicious Little Caesars HOT-N-READY items in the Express grab-and-go format.”

https://littlecaesars.com

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit Expands into Mississippi Delta Dickey’s has executed a development agreement for three new stores in Mississippi Dickey’s Barbecue Pit announces expansion into the Mississippi Delta.

The three new locations will be the first in the Mississippi Delta. The first store will be located in Greenville, and will open by the end of 2016. The additional locations will open in Cleveland and Greenwood, with timeline to be determined.

“Dickey’s Barbecue Pit is proud to expand into this new area,” says Roland Dickey Jr., CEO of Dickey’s Barbecue Pit. “The South is known for its appreciation of great barbecue, and we look forward to bringing

our Texas-style flavors to the Mississippi Delta for the first time.”

Owner/Operator Dominick Trinca was

born and raised in New York, but moved to Mississippi in 1994 after getting

married and practiced medicine for 20 years there. Having always wanted to

open a restaurant, Trinca decided to take the leap into franchising with Dickey’s

Barbecue Pit after researching the brand

thoroughly. He tasted the food and knew he wanted to serve Texas-style barbecue

to his community. “I knew my community needed a new Fast Casual option,” Trinca says. “This area loves barbecue and I believe the brand is a great fit for my

family because of its support system and excellent quality.” Trinca hopes to leave his restaurants as a legacy for his three sons.

www.dickeys.com/franchise

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Ya mChops

WHAT THE HECK IS A

PLANT-BASED BUTCHER ANYWAY? Simply put, its one of the hottest food concepts to hit the market in, dare we say, decades!

YamChops is North America’s first plantbased butcher shop. Some might say that’s an oxymoron, but YamChops’ believes plant-based proteins can (and should) be a staple of any kitchen or diet. Their foods appeal to all types of eaters: vegans,

vegetarians and flexitarians – those who are choosing to reduce their meat, fish and dairy consumption.

YamChops is firmly rooted in one of the fastest growing categories (plant-based foods) serving three of the fastest growing market segments (flexitarian, vegan, vegetarian).

Opened in June of 2014, YamChops is a labor of love created by Michael and Toni Abramson, ad agency owners turned plantbased butchers.

“From the logo and branding; to store design, guiding principles and operation/ training manuals, YamChops has always been designed for franchise expansion”, explains Founder, Michael Abramson.

“Our efforts are echoed back to us not only in the tremendous media attention we have received since opening but also in the constant query of our customers and interested franchisees about whether we are a franchise or have multiple locations.”

Featured in hundreds of media vehicles, a stand-out highlight of YamChops first year in business was an invitation to appear on Canada’s top-rated ‘Dragons’ Den’ – a reality television show that sees entrepreneurs pitch their businesses to a panel of investors. YamChops, only nine months old at the time, was offered a deal on the show, but in the end, they chose not to close.

“The plant-based foods category represents a $4.9 Billion industry. ‘Cheese’ alternatives alone are growing at more than 30% annually.”

Source: The Plant-Based Foods Association with SPINS Data (June 2015 – June 2016).

U.S. representative data. Natural Channel growth.

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“YamChops, with production facilities in Toronto and Vancouver, is set to offer select franchise locations this Fall in key North American markets including Toronto, Vancouver, Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle, Denver, New York and Miami.”

Says Toni Abramson, “Our experience on ‘Dragons’ Den’ was amazing! While our sights were firmly set on expansion, we realized that we still had a lot to do before we were franchise ready!”

Fast forward one year… YamChops, shortly after their second anniversary, signed an agreement with Box Concepts Food Group, headed by long-time industry professionals Scott Bender and Lawrence Eade, to expand YamChops internationally.

YamChops will be the focal point of the Box Concepts’ entry into the fast growing plant-based foods industry. According to Bender and Eade, “We are thrilled to partner and grow YamChops. The passion, knowledge, and experience YamChops brings to our group is a perfect fit for our business model. We couldn’t be happier.”

“The response to YamChops since opening our doors in 2014 has been humbling”, continues Michael Abramson. “In addition to receiving amazing support from the media, YamChops has been flooded with requests to open additional locations across North America. It’s taken us two years to get to this point and now that we’ve teamed with Scott and Lawrence – we’re finally ready!”

YamChops really does look like a butcher shop with sweeping butcher counters displaying prepared, plant-based protein alternatives. Front and center is their top selling Szechuan “Beef”, surrounded by offerings including Indonesian Spiced & Grilled Tofu, TunaLess “Tuna”, Korean BBQ Chick*n, Carrot “Lox”, CrabLess “Crab Cakes, BBQ Seitan Ribs and FishLess “Fish”.

YamChops’ products include: butcher counter proteins – prepared fresh daily, salads, cold pressed juices, grab-and-go lunches, deli counter items (wraps, tacos and burgers), YamChops Own dry goods

$40,000-$80,000 Initial Capital Investment (Owner’s Equity) 6 Week Training Program (Coconut Ba-Con, chutneys, condiments), YamChops Own refrigerated items (sauces, dressings, soups) and YamChops Own frozen items (meatless meatballs, burgers, cutlets). Their corporate location also offers locally produced specialty items including a full line of dairy-free, plant-based cheese.

YamChops has a first-to-market advantage in the emerging plant-based butcher category. Their competitive strategy will focus on product performance in relation to taste, texture and value; quality of service; and the execution of an effective marketing and distribution structure.

Critical success factors include the capture of the emerging “plant-based butcher” or “plant-based protein” market share and the training and oversight of YamChops’ franchisees to enable success in our three “bottom lines”: extra-ordinary food, extraordinary service and solid finance.

The new team is in place to deliver YamChops to you starting this Fall. Entry for qualified, multi-unit franchisees is: $98,000 – $260,000 Investment

The Growth in Plant-Based Foods is Undeniable… +10.06% – Non Dairy Beverages +12.71% – Meat Alternatives +30.11% – Cheese Alternatives Source: The Plant-Based Foods Association with SPINS Data (June 2015 – June 2016). U.S. representative data. Natural Channel growth.

Plant-Based Eating is Mainstream…

36% of Americans eat at least one plantbased meal per week. (Harris Interactive) 26% of Americans intentionally reduced their meat consumption in the last 12 months. (Nutrition Business Journal) 1 in 10 American Millennials are vegetarian or vegan. (Nutrition Business Journal)

36% of American Consumers buy plantbased meats. (Mintels Meat Alt. Report) 36% of American Consumers prefer plantbased milk/cheese. (Nutrition Business Journal)

$30,000 Franchise Fee

60% of American Millennials consume plant-based meats. (210 Analytics Survey)

6% Royalty / 3% Marketing Fee

www.yamchops.com

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ex per t advice

George Knauf, Senior Franchise Business Advisor, FranChoice

get

The Essent

Have you seen something like this?

“Disclaimer: This information is not intended as an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, a franchise. It is for information purposes only.”

That is the legal jargon for “Even though we are providing you information on our opportunity we are not offering you a franchise yet and may not once we get to know you better, even if you want to buy one from us”, you will find it on virtually all franchise websites and much of their promotional material.

Franchising USA

A proper franchise investigation is a mutual investigation, not a sales process.

If you are investigating a reputable franchise company, you may have figured out that they probably don’t approve everyone they talk to for their opportunity.

Time and time again we see very capable franchise brands that have identified what they want to see in a candidate to feel that they might be successful.

Prospective franchise owners, especially first time candidates, often feel that the process of investigating franchises is a lot like buying a car where the salesman will sell a car to anyone with a checkbook.

Franchise companies have very different considerations than a car dealer has.

A mismatched franchisee may be more likely to fail. Savvy franchise companies know that there is not enough benefit in the franchise fee alone to make it worth selling to someone that

they don’t genuinely feel is capable of succeeding. Their goal is to find the right match and enjoy royalty revenues from that relationship for years to come in exchange for the training, support and other resources to help that franchisee build their own empire. The quality of the franchise opportunity will be judged on failure rate by future candidates.

A franchisee that won’t follow the systems and guidance of the franchisor may also damage the brand or the unity between the franchisees and franchisor. The strength of the system benefits greatly by everybody winning and working towards the same goals. While protecting the brand both sides have to focus on delivering high levels of service and a quality product. If consumers have a poor experience it can impact sales and reputation of the brand locally, regionally and possibly even Nationally.

While the franchisor and what they deliver

“Getting approved for a franchise takes some attention to detail and a good understanding of what the franchisor is looking for.”

tting

tial Guide

for their franchisees is an important piece of the equation, their performance in their space is established and often relatively easy to evaluate. The unknown in the equation is often the prospective franchisee.

Let me say that again, the unknown in the equation is often the prospective franchisee.

Yes, that is contrary to how most people go into the process of finding their perfect franchise. They think the franchise is the unknown, though it may be to them. In reality the candidate is often the harder piece of the equation to evaluate and define.

While the prospective franchisee has a work history the franchisor has not witnessed them on the job. Their data points will be more limited in evaluating the candidate than the candidate’s will in evaluating them. The franchise company

will have to use other means to try to determine if the candidate could fit into their system and are they likely to do the work necessary to build their business.

So, if you are a candidate for a franchise brand what do you need to be doing to make sure that the franchisor has the information they need to properly evaluate you as a potential franchisee?

First, keep in mind that all of your interactions with their team are typically noted in your file with the impressions that you leave on them. I have had candidates tell me that they treat each contact with a franchisor as if it was an interview for a job they really wanted to get. Making the right impression on the franchisor keeps the candidate in the position to either accept an offer to become a franchisee or turn it down. It positions you as the final decision maker.

Second, timeliness matters. When you set appointments be on time. Everyone understands that emergencies come up, but again remember that this is different than buying a car so go the extra mile to keep those obligations if at all possible. You can evaluate the franchisor on the same standard and expect that they will be on time for your appointment at well.

Follow the process, each franchisor has a series of steps that they go through with candidates to educate them on the franchise. Along the way at each step they will be learning certain things about you. Sometimes those bits of information they are collecting are obvious like an application form, other times it is learning how you handle new information or carry on business conversations. I know one franchisor that has candidates pitch themselves for the franchisee role at DDay since their owner role is heavy on sales skills.

Most franchisors feel that a candidate’s ability to follow the investigation process and let the franchisor take the lead is a suggestion of how they will follow the

George Knauf

system they are buying.

You should also keep in mind that when you do validation calls it is almost a certainty that the franchisee will call and give the franchisor feedback on their conversation with you. While they cannot be compensated, franchisees often take very seriously their role in helping build a strong brand. So, making a good impression flows through to those validation calls as well.

For Discovery Day, dress and present yourself professionally as a team player.

Ask questions and engage the franchisor team. Keep in mind that DDay is the franchisors last impression of you before they decide if they should offer you a franchise.

Getting approved for a franchise takes some attention to detail and a good understanding of what the franchisor is looking for. We guide our candidates through each step of this process but you can do it too.

What is your success story? Let’s go find it!

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

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

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C overall

Encourage.

Empower.

Educate.

Coverall’s Commitment to Franchised Business Owners “Our success as a team is key. We’re all in this together to help support our Franchisees. Their success is our objective.” – Steve Huck

Steve Huck, Divisional Business Development Manager

A franchise company is only as strong as the field team that supports its franchisees, and that couldn’t be truer for Coverall North America, Inc. (“Coverall”), a leading franchisor of commercial cleaning businesses.

Like other franchisors, Coverall takes great pride in supporting their Franchised Business Owners to help them in their business startup phase and consulting

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with them in the continuing operation of their independent commercial cleaning businesses. The Coverall System’s investment and commitment to its Franchisees are showcased by the structured approach to developing and strengthening the Coverall® brand. At the helm of this approach are Coverall’s Divisional Business Development Managers – Ronnie Harris, Steve Huck, and Mark Searcy.

What is your central focus as a Divisional Business Development Manager?

Steve Huck: My main role is to help develop our Regional Business Development Managers in our Support Centers across the country. It’s my job to ensure they are prepared with the right knowledge and tools to train our Franchised Business Owners, then serve as business consultants in today’s competitive environment in the operation of the commercial cleaning businesses owned by those Coverall Franchisees. From time to time the Regional Development Managers

also provide Coverall Franchisees with information relating to and training in new tools, methods, technology and chemicals for use in their businesses.

How do you support the development of new and/or ongoing training programs for Coverall Franchised Business Owners?

Ronnie Harris: The Divisional Business Development Managers are always looking for new ways to help improve the productivity, efficiency and innovation of the Coverall® Program. We share with the Regional Development Managers any new products we think could benefit the Coverall Program overall.

Steve Huck: As a whole, the Divisional BDM strives to lead by example. We believe that by empowering, encouraging and establishing a solid commitment and high level of professional integrity, we set the stage for all of our Regional Business Development Managers to keep educating themselves.

“I measure my success by seeing the Regional Business Development Managers deliver the Coverall training material successfully to our Franchisees. This allows our Franchisees to take the Coverall Program and run an effective commercial cleaning business.” – Ronnie Harris Mark Searcy: I truly believe Coverall has the best training and support network in the industry. Every manager is fully committed to the support of our Coverall Franchised Businesses. Our training doesn’t stop after they complete our Initial Training Program. It is an ongoing part of our continuing franchise support.

Mark Searcy, Divisional Business Development Manager Mark Searcy: In addition to sharing knowledge, I also research new and innovative commercial cleaning technology that could potentially fit the Coverall Program and ultimately help our Franchised Businesses effectively provide excellent services to their customers. All franchise systems want their franchisees to provide products and/or services that meet the standards associated with the brand. It is the essence of franchising.

And to that end, we strive to provide our Franchisees with the newest technological advancements in the commercial cleaning industry.

What differentiates the Coverall® System in regards to what it offers potential franchisees?

Steve Huck: The key differentiator is the Coverall Core 4® Process, which includes hundreds of specialized cleaning protocols using four advanced cleaning technologies: hospital-grade disinfectants, color-coded microfiber, no-dip flat and the HEPA backpack vacuum. The Core 4® Process is a unique, one-of-a-kind system.

Do you ever find you need to change your approach in how you assist and train Franchised Business Owners?

Ronnie Harris: Our approach may change slightly, but our delivery remains the same. We are committed to instructing and consulting with our Franchised Business Owners on how to use the Coverall Program, so that they and their employees can maintain the high Coverall brand standards in the operation of their commercial cleaning businesses. That, in turn, can lead to their ability to obtain and retain more business. We want them to succeed.

Mark Searcy: We all rely on one another from time to time. Sometimes we need to bounce ideas off of each other to see what’s working and what needs to be modified. This is an industry that is constantly moving and changing, so as managers, we all need to learn from one another and make changes to our training methods when necessary. Technological advances also make it necessary for us to alter our approach. We strive to be on top of the latest and greatest trends to keep the Coverall Program on the cutting edge, ultimately giving our Franchisees access to the most up to date advances for use in their businesses.

Ronnie Harris, Divisional Business Development Manager

How would you define success as a Divisional Business Development Manager?

Ronnie Harris: I measure my success by seeing the Regional Business Development Managers deliver the Coverall training material successfully to our Franchisees.

This allows our Franchisees to take the Coverall Program and run an effective commercial cleaning business.

Mark Searcy: Success comes in a variety of forms. As Ronnie mentioned, success can be measured by the effective delivery of the Coverall training material by our Regional Business Development Managers. Ultimately though, success is determined by the performance of Coverall Franchisees and their employees, which equates to the overall satisfaction of their customers.

Steve Huck: To me, success is surrounding yourself with the best of the best, which is what we do at Coverall. Our success as a team is key. We’re all in this together to help support our Franchisees.

Their success is our objective.

Interested in exploring Coverall franchised business opportunities?

Please visit, www.coverall.com/ franchise-opportunities.

Coverall North America, Inc., and its Master Franchisees license and support more than 8,000 independently owned and operated franchised commercial cleaning businesses worldwide under the Coverall® brand and System.

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ex per t advice

Jason Leverant, President & COO, AtWork Group

Understanding the Challenges

of the Recent Joint Employer Rulings What’s the joint-employer controversy about?

To say that the waters are muddy regarding the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) rulings on who is and who isn’t a “joint employer” is certainly an understatement. And for anyone following the joint employer situation in the U.S., it does not look as if the waters are going to clear up anytime soon.

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The confusion about this issue is not new, in fact the first employer/joint employer conflict to make headline news involving the NLRB was in July, 2014, concerning McDonald’s and about 30 McDonald’s franchisees. The fast-food giant’s franchisees were accused of using illegal tactics against employees who were protesting for a higher minimum wage. The NLRB found that McDonald’s could be held accountable as a joint employer, along with the accused franchisees, of unfair labor practices against their employees.

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ex per t advice

Jason Leverant, President & COO, AtWork Group

“In this volatile and changeable employment climate, the best policy is to watch carefully and be aware of any and all changes and rulings that could affect your business.”

The fear about this particular dispute revolves around how the NLRB will finally rule and if it will have major repercussions in the franchise world.

McDonald’s franchisees are rightly concerned that if the franchisor is to be considered a joint employer, the franchisees could lose what little authority they have to tweak or alter the franchisor’s master plan for franchisee –employee decisions. On the other side, large franchisors don’t want to be held accountable in legal disputes involving every franchisee-employee conflict. Not surprisingly, the McDonald’s issue is still being fought in the system, and has not been resolved as of this writing.

Grim predictions followed the initial McDonald’s controversy in 2014, and some went as far as to say this could end franchising entirely. It didn’t and franchising continues to be one of the best options for individuals wanting to start their own business in the U.S.

The problem goes beyond McDonald’s While this controversy is surely the most hyped, due in part to the McDonald’s highly visible brand, there are others in the news as well.

In 2015, a temporary staffing agency in California provided workers to staff a recycling plant for a company named Browning-Ferris. The dispute centered on the unfair treatment of the temporary employees by not only the staffing agency but by Browning-Ferris, the company who hired the staffing agency. The NLRB ruled that Browning-Ferris was indeed a joint employer, and was therefore liable in the complaint against it and the staffing agency.

In May of this year, Dominos, one of the largest pizza franchisors in the U.S. was named as a joint employer in a lawsuit over wage disputes involving company

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software. Dominos is expected to fight the allegations, but this is indicative of the climate change in employer-employee relationships following the McDonalds ruling and the potential for further lawsuits and labor and wage disputes for both franchises and staffing agencies.

Staffing agencies have been de facto joint employers for decades According to the American Staffing Association’s latest figures, in the U.S. there are about 20,000 staffing and recruiting companies, which altogether operate around 39,000 offices.

Approximately 16 million temporary and contract workers are hired by staffing agencies in the course of a year. The ASA says total staffing and recruiting industry sales accounted for $217 billion in 2015.

Staffing agencies and the workers they provide to U.S. businesses are an integral part of the U.S. economy, and even with the controversy and continuing confusion about who is and who isn’t a joint employer the staffing industry has the most experience with this type of employeremployee relationship. True it has not always been a smooth process when negotiating with third-party employment agencies, the businesses who hire them and the employees working for the staffing firms, however there has been a lot of give and take between all parties.

Until recently, these relationships have mostly been without the kind of heated national debate we’ve been reading about in the news regarding joint employer/ employer/employee disputes brought before the courts and the NLRB. With all the attention also comes a downside: although these issues so far have not caused a major problem, will this controversy affect the franchise business and staffing agencies?

Jason Leverant

What’s it all about and will the rulings affect franchise businesses?

You could say most of the current controversies are regarding wages and union organization conflicts between workers who are employed by a franchisee or a staffing agency. There are new allegations and cases being brought to the attention of the courts and the NLRB continually and the fact is, nothing has really changed since the unfair labor practices argument was leveled against McDonald’s in 2014.

The basis for all the debates can be traced back to the National Labor Relations Act of 1935, which was established by Congress to “protect the rights of employees and employers, to encourage collective bargaining, and to curtail certain private sector labor and management practices, which can harm the general welfare of workers, businesses and the U.S. economy.” No one can predict if these rulings and court cases will have a chilling effect on franchises or thirdparty staffing firms. In this volatile and changeable employment climate, the best policy is to watch carefully and be aware of any and all changes and rulings that could affect your business.

Jason Leverant is president and COO of AtWork Group, a national staffing franchisor with more than 93 franchise and company-owned locations. www.atwork.com

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FranchisingFeature Home Services/ Home Based

SEPTEMBER 2016

Paul Davis Celebrates 50 YEARS of Restoration Services feature article

Home Services and Home Based Franchising

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H OME SERV ICES / H OME BASED FR A NCH ISI NG FE AT U RE

what’s new!

ANDY OnCall® Connects Skilled Craftsmen with Homeowners ANDY OnCall® is a franchise run like a mom and pop business because let’s face it, that’s exactly what they are and they are proud of it. Unlike an impersonal franchise, the team provides you with all of the tools you need and the support you want in order to start and maintain a successful business.

In a nutshell, ANDY OnCall® connects skilled craftsmen with homeowners

who are looking for someone reliable to do their home projects. The franchise operators qualify and manage handymen who complete small jobs/maintenance for local residential and commercial jobs.

Once the franchisee finds the skilled craftsmen, who are independent contractors, they match their availability and skills with the demands of the customers. This means no employees, no inventory, and less hassle for you!

Franchisees are managing customers

and the craftsmen, they are not out there

swinging the hammer or doing the actual handyman work themselves.

If you’re not a handyman, don’t fret, if

you know business, understand the pieces of it, and if you can talk to customers

and manage the craftsmen, this franchise might be the perfect match for you. www.andyoncallfranchising.com

Dental Fix Rx Builds Corporate Team with New Chief Legal Officer and Director of Operations Dental Fix Rx, a fast-growing mobile dental equipment repair service franchise, has appointed Eric Masson to Chief Legal Officer and Tom Meiron as Director of Operations.

Masson will be responsible for all in-house legal actions, such as reviewing contracts, managing relationships with various law firms, working with various state departments, etc. He is an accomplished and proven senior in-house counsel with demonstrated ability to analyze and advise on complicated issues. Masson brings with

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him 20 years’ experience working with the U.S. Coast Guard in operations, finance and various legal duties.

Meiron will be responsible for enhancing company efficiencies and franchise operations. He is a dynamic and savvy operations and finance leader, with more than 25 years of experience as both a franchisee and a franchisor in franchise development, restaurant and hospitality management. His career includes PepsiCo, where he managed 40 Pizza Huts and opened 200-plus stores in six

months throughout Southern California.

Additionally, he owned 60 Papa John’s Pizzas locations in Arizona and California and served as President of the Los Angeles Marketing Cooperative, responsible for marketing and operations for more than 115 Papa John’s Pizzas and filling the role of Franchise Operations Advisor for the Western U.S. Further franchise experience includes: Subway, Taco Cabana, Holiday Inn Hotels, Big Boy Restaurants and Marriott Hotels. www.dentalfixrx.com

FirstLight Home Care Achieves Second Consecutive Inc. 5000 Ranking “Earning our second Inc. 5000 ranking back to back is something we are extremely proud of,” said Bill McPherson, executive director of franchise development at FirstLight Home Care.

“In the last three years, our company has grown by over 183 percent, and when you consider that we have only been franchising since 2010, that expansion is even more impressive.”

National home care franchise named one of the fastest growing private companies nationwide FirstLight Home Care a national provider of non-medical home care has recently received acknowledgement as one of the fastest-growing privately held companies for 2016. For the second year in a row, FirstLight Home Care Franchise has been recognized on Inc. Magazine’s Inc. 5000 list.

The recognition was announced on August 17 and FirstLight Home Care was listed at number 2036. This prestigious business accolade comes at a time where the company has grown to more than 134 locations in 31 states, and gross sales of more than $2.6 million in 2014 to over $3.9 million in 2015.

As a leading provider of non-medical, home care, FirstLight Home Care differs from other industry brands by offering assistance to a wide demographic of adults in need. Clients typically range from seniors to new mothers, veterans, adults with disabilities, and those who are recovering from illness, injury or surgery.

Founded in 2009, the company began franchising in 2010 and has expanded to include 134 locations throughout 31 states. In addition to earning a 2015 Inc. 5000 ranking, FirstLight Home Care was honored at number 21 for all private businesses based in the Cincinnati metro area. www.firstlightfranchise.com

Mr. Appliance Celebrates 20th Anniversary Mr. Appliance, the nation’s appliance service leader, is celebrating its 20th anniversary as the nation’s appliance service leader. A record 52 new owners joined Mr. Appliance in 2015, and the brand serviced more than 62,000 customers.

In addition, 2015 marked the brand’s 12th consecutive year of same store sales growth, reinforcing the company as a service industry leader. Today, Mr. Appliance has more than 220 locations throughout 47 states and Canada, making it North America’s leading home and commercial appliance repair franchise system.

“The 20th anniversary marks an impressive milestone for our brand. The continued success of Mr. Appliance is a direct result of the hard work and dedication from our entire team, from the corporate office to each and every franchisee,” said Doug Rogers, president of Mr. Appliance. “While the brand has evolved over the past two decades, we have stayed true to our customer-centric roots and values that set us apart. As we take time to look back

at all of our accomplishments over the last 20 years, we also look to the future and what the next 20 years will hold – undoubtedly continuing to provide our customers with the same high-quality service they have come to expect.” www.mrappliance.com

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what’s new!

Entrepreneur Realizes Dream Of Business Ownership With Fresh Coat “Right off the bat, it clicked. The team at Fresh Coat has been instrumental in making my dream a reality,” said Tolmachov. “The support system in place makes all the difference. They’re incredibly responsive and have been with me every step of the way as I got my franchise off the ground.”

Business ownership has always been a part of the plan for Grygoriy Tolmachov. But he knew he didn’t want to launch an entirely new concept on his own. That’s why he decided to explore franchising while earning his MBA.

He came across Fresh Coat, the leading residential painting company in the

country. After learning about the brand’s services including residential and

commercial painting, wood staining and refinishing and wallpaper removal, he applied to open his own franchise.

Tolmachov officially opened for business this summer, and it’s already seeing success. He notes that consumers are taking note of the brand’s commitment to quality and appreciates Fresh Coat’s ability to provide accurate estimates ahead of a project.

Fresh Coat currently boasts more than 120 successful units with many more territories available across the country.

Initial investments for new franchisees typically range from $53,850 to $81,750, including a franchise fee. www.freshcoatfranchise.com

Global Franchise Opportunities Expands A Buyer’s Choice Home Inspections and iHandyMan into Africa Global Franchise Opportunities, the system of internationally recognized, proven franchise concepts including A Buyer’s Choice Home Inspections (ABCHI), iCare – Intelligent Home Care Solutions and iHandyMan, announced that ABCHI and iHandyMan will soon be available to homeowners seeking their services in Africa.

The franchisor has signed eight master franchise agreements to significantly expand the two concepts in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Angola. Master franchisors in each country will lead the openings of several ABCHI and iHandyMan offices within their respective territories.

“After intense market research and ongoing discussions with professionals in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Angola, we’ve identified a need for reliable home inspection and maintenance systems capable of tackling a range of home projects,” said

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Bill Redfern, founder, president and CEO of Global Franchise Opportunities. “We’ve been working tirelessly to emerge into Africa through master franchising in order to continue making the woes of inspecting and maintaining a local home or business a thing of the past.”

ABCHI is Redfern’s first franchise concept and is the world’s fastest-growing home inspections business. iHandyMan is Redfern’s third franchise concept, which offers comprehensive services with specialized carpenters, electricians and plumbers. http://gfoonline.biz

Aire Serv Brand Refresh Garners Positive Response from Franchise Owners and Customers Last April, Aire Serv unveiled a brand refresh, including a new logo, marketing and website designed to break through the digital clutter, attract busy families and most importantly drive business growth.

As a result of the new look and feel, the company garnered twice as many onlinegenerated leads for franchisees in just 11 days than the company received during the

entire month of April last year.

“Given today’s ever-changing business landscape, brands are constantly looking for ways to move up the value chain and remain relevant to its customers’ preferences and values,” said Steve Truett, president of Aire Serv.

the needs of our customers. We couldn’t be more pleased with the positive response we’ve received from franchise owners and customers alike.”

AireServ.com

“After nearly 25 years of brand heritage, we felt it was time for the brand to reflect where the company is heading based on

Caregivers: The Critical Ingredient franchisor to the industry is that is making significant in-roads and is “raising the bar” in non-medical in home care. Utilizing a highly selective Caregiver vetting process, and looking for personality, energy and the “caring gene” and matching personality and interests of the Client and Caregiver, SAFE HOMECARE is changing the complexion of the industry.

Recognizing the vital role that Caregiver quality plays in the client relationship is essential to success. Without a reputation for providing well rounded care, not only technically, but emotional and intellectual care as well, an organization is likely to fall victim to the “warm body syndrome.”

Predominantly, if not pervasively, the non-medical in-home care industry has been, and for that matter continues to be, characterized by what I call the “warm body syndrome.”

Traditionally, the industry has recruited its Caregivers, with a nonchalance, almost irreverence, that considered the caregiver

to be simply one, static, “check the box” component necessary in arranging care for one of its clients. In other words, projecting the impression, if only by conduct, that as long as someone was “there” to help the client, the customer was “served.”

Make sure you communicate to your Caregivers that they are “where the rubber meets the road”, and that the entire team is depending upon them to fulfill their role by professionally carrying out their responsibilities as a compassionate, interactive Caregiver, always putting their client’s interests and well-being first.

Not so says SAFE HOMECARE, a new

www.safehomecare.com

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Paul Dav is

Paul Davis is There After a Disaster And Before With Their First Priority Program

The aftermath of a disaster can be as traumatic as the disaster itself. And unfortunately there has been no shortage of natural disasters in the past year.

The notion that a business, a home, information, data and even personal property can be gone forever is jarring and painful. Paul Davis is where consumers can turn to look to the future and a return to normal. The company helps homeowners and businesses restore property after a multitude of potential

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trademark) Program, which was created to anticipate emergencies and respond to the needs of property managers, facilities directors, risk managers and strategic practice groups. Proactive planning, expert execution, comprehensive communication and project management are all part of First Priority. Businesses that are members of First Priority are several steps ahead should an emergency occur.

Benefits of First Priority® Program • Fast mitigation work to prevent further damage • Reduction in loss of business misfortunes. Paul Davis is the authority in recovering, reconstructing and restoring after damage caused by fire, water, mold and natural disaster.

“Paul Davis has an international training facility located in Jacksonville, Florida, that includes a best-in-class “flood” house, training modules for water, fire, mold and biohazard cleanup, as well as advanced classrooms to learn the latest in technology and equipment.” says Rich Wilson, CEO of Paul Davis.

The process following a disaster can be incredibly complex and the experts at Paul Davis know all the ins and outs of recovery. They provide complete services, meaning there is no need to hire, and keep track of, multiple contractors, contractors that may have never worked together previously. The professionals at Paul Davis are certified in emergency restoration, reconstruction and remodeling and they are also nearby; the company has over 375 locations in North America. Whether the disaster was a fire, natural disaster, flood or even toxic mold, Paul Davis professionals are experts in restoring businesses and homes.

Paul Davis Emergency Services is the first on the scene. They focus on the mitigation process and preventing further damage from occurring in the immediate aftermath. If reconstruction or remodeling is required they bring in the Paul Davis Restoration arm to complete the job.

All Paul Davis technicians are professionally trained in the use of stateof-the-art techniques and equipment.

Crews are supervised by IICRC-certified personnel. The non-profit Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) sets the standard in the cleaning and restoration industry. They operate in over 20 nations and work with trade organizations to set these standards.

“Paul Davis prides itself on a 50-year heritage of outstanding customer service, expertise and craftsmanship in property damage recovery,” stated Wilson. “All of our trained professionals are supervised

by IICRC-certified personnel to ensure every industry standard is met. With over 375 offices in the U.S. and Canada, we have a commitment to the highest quality of service while demonstrating an unwavering compassion for all involved.”

Post disaster services provided by Paul Davis include: • 24/7 Emergency Response • On-site within Four Hours

• Emergency Board-up and Structural Stabilization • Soot and Residue Removal • Odor Removal

• Water Cleanup and Structural Drying • Mold Remediation • Debris Removal

• A response tailored to your company’s needs • Pre-disaster planning that saves time and money

• No need to manage multiple contractors (single-source accountability) • Peace of mind, knowing a plan is in place

• Storm tracking advanced alert system • Online First Priority communication portal

There are plans and services for virtually any emergency a business or homeowner may face. Consumers across North America have taken advantage of the opportunity.

Remodeling magazine listed Paul Davis as # 1 in revenue among insurance restoration companies in 2015. Qualified Remodeler magazine had them at #2 on their yearly Top 500 list for the same year. This translates to over $750 million in revenue.

This revenue came from the work of over 125,000 commercial and residential projects in the USA. They employ over 126,000 specialists at their 375+ offices.

Paul Davis is the first network to partner with the insurance industry and the first national company to have a three-day drying guarantee.

• Full Service Household Goods Cleaning and Restoration • Complete Documentation as Required

Entrepreneur Magazine has consistently ranked Paul Davis among the Top 500 Franchises on their list of the same name which runs every January in the magazine.

Another way to make disaster recovery less traumatic is to prepare.

Find out more about services at www.pauldavis.com

Paul Davis provides assistance before a disaster through their First Priority (note

Find out more about buying a franchise at www.pauldavisbusiness.com

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Featu re

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

Home Based & Home Services Picture it: your alarm clock blares to start the day; you jump in the shower and quickly get dressed for work.

You rush the kids to get ready, turn on the coffee and take a seat in your office, which is located conveniently in your living room.

Working from home can cut out commute time, keep you snug in your pjs throughout the day, there are few chances of being late and you are available to your family if you have to be. A home based franchise can lead to a wonderful work life balance, a schedule a franchisee creates and has full control over in the comfort of their own home.

It’s a lifestyle a lot of us dream about: no boss, no rush hour, no pressure and nowadays the possibilities are much more realistic and achievable than they ever have been. With technology accessible to the majority of people, communication and connection is easy to obtain with the outside world. In fact, over half of all U.S. businesses are now based out of the home.

Social media, online shopping, emails and texting has made business available from a home office and people are taking full advantage. Though there many different franchises to consider when one is interested in working from home, we will explore a few.

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e r u t a Fe

Tutoring

Children and their parents are hyperaware of their children’s learning abilities and disabilities. They want to strengthen their s strengths and help cater to their weaknesses. Parents seek tutoring more often than not to help their kids excel in all subjects at school.

Families with two working parents like to take advantage of after school programs with tutoring services.

Tutoring services is a great consideration for franchisees who are interested in a work life balance. Most hours would be later in the evening or after school, giving them the freedom throughout the day.

Of course, it would be best to have a thorough understanding of the lessons that will be taught and a passion to work with kids. However, some franchises offer tutor recruitment and even lend out the services to the students home. As a franchisee you would be able to organize and prepare tutors and students at a distance, if that is your preference.

Cleaning Services People are busy and their time is limited.

Housework and day to day errands are being thrown to the wayside. However, a lot of people are willing to pay for a cleaning service, to have more time to spare and out of convenience. Cleaning services used to be withheld for large businesses, but it is much more common amongst households than ever before.

“With technology accessible to the majority of people, communication and connection is easy to obtain with the outside world. In fact, over half of all U.S. businesses are now based out of the home. ”

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Featu re

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

This type of franchise is a service that can be managed from the comforts of a home.

It does not necessarily need a stationary office, with cleaners being responsible for their own products. Franchisees will not have much responsibility, as marketing and recruitment will either be prepared or completed by head office. It would simply be a manner of keeping on top of the business, implementing leadership and considering the schedule.

Cruise Planners and Travel Agents People can easily plan a lot of their own trips with research and internet browsing, but when it comes to cruises and large trips, there are so many choices, everyone needs some guidance. People trust in travel guides to help them with their trip and get the best deals.

“Home based businesses have a lot of competition nowadays. People have discovered their talents and are selling them on Facebook for a low fee.�

A travel agent has become more popular as a home based franchise opportunity.

It comes with little effort and allows franchisees to plan their own schedule and make a lot of their own decisions.

Some franchises offer travel agent discounts for trips and invite franchisees to take different trips to have a firsthand experience with what they are selling.

If you enjoy travelling and would prefer to work directly from your home, this is a great opportunity and investment. There is usually a low start up fee because there are not a lot of tangibles involved.

Again, a franchisee can choose to be directly involved in the business as an agent, or depending on their choice of franchise, can be recruiting and training agents who will go directly to the client’s house.

With 38 million home based businesses in the states, it is well worth the consideration. A lot more people are transitioning out of the office to be home where a business can be run from the tips of their fingertips. The world is connected globally through technology and we can reach so many more clients and employees while snuggled warmly on the couch.

Though home based franchises allow people to avoid shoveling their driveway and give them more time at home, there can be some downfalls to consider.

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This may not be the route to take for those that are extremely social and love working with others. It can lead to a lot of time alone, planning and preparing to ensure that a business runs successfully. However, that type of business approach can be extremely successful for those who are dedicated.

Another consideration is though home based business offer a lot of work life balance and most franchisees create their own schedule, sometimes the business can lead to some franchisees working odd hours. If they have to cater to the needs of the clients and the employees falter, it could lead to unbalanced work hours.

That is why it is important to have a great recruitment plan and hire staff who are reliable. Research your choice of home based franchise and see what type of support they offer in talent and hiring.

Home based businesses have a lot of competition nowadays. People have discovered their talents and are selling them on Facebook for a low fee. It can create a greater surface area of competition. However, franchises offer name brands, reputation and tremendous support. Personal run businesses can

“A lot more people are transitioning out of the office to be home where a business can be run from the tips of their fingertips.” falter because their owners burn out and are doing everything themselves, while a franchise run business allows for freedom and balance.

Most home based businesses have lower start up fees, because there is no construction or tangible products to provide. It’s usually focused on training and insuring a business plan that will help guide the franchisee to great success on their own.

A home based business can be extremely successful and lead to a wonderful work life balance that most people would only dream of experiencing. However, it’s important to do your research and see how much support and training you will be offered, to ensure you chose the proper franchise. Also consider your personal character and whether or not you are

disciplined enough to make a home based business run smoothly.

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

Look out for our next special feature: FOOD franchising PART 1 Franchising USA

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David Banfield, President, The Interface Financial Group

Is ‘Home-Based’ the Answer?

As franchising grows, with growth around the world, so does the range of brands.

Many people still associate franchising only with ‘fast food’ and ‘auto supplies/ repairs’. Those days, however, are gone and will not be returning. It is true that fast food helped build the foundation to the franchise industry, but much has changed

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since the foundation was cast.

Franchising today embraces a plethora of brands covering everything that you can think of. It seems almost anything can somehow be turned into a franchise with whatever success is appropriate. As the brand options expand dramatically, so does the franchise format. With fast food we all knew where we stood - it would be a highly visible location with suitable recognition symbols to make it stand out from the crowd.

Times have certainly changed and the location, location, location mantra for success has passed. Franchise business formats now still embrace the highly visible street location, but they also embrace everything from a single serviced office and a virtual office, to a strip mall outlet, to a mobile facility, and even a home-based office concept.

There is much excitement around homebased franchises, as they offer something viewed as very enticing to entrepreneurs

“The biggest challenge is going to be temperament and self-discipline. As an individual, can you set out a plan of action and follow that plan?” franchise that can be home-based. But are you as an individual well suited to such an environment? The usual and expected answer is always, ‘yes’. Usually offered without much thought about the underlying aspects of a home office.

Many new entrepreneurs working in a home-based environment have had a long and successful career - quite often with a major corporation. In that employment atmosphere they were well versed in how the business operated, who reported to them, to whom they reported, deadlines, customs, dress code and the all-important social aspects of employment.

Now entrepreneurship is the course of action they are pursuing, so it becomes a leap of faith to go from the confined employment arena to a home-based venue.

There also comes a second leap of faith in that many home-based entities represent a one-person operation - the incumbent has traded the large scale employment situation for a home-based single employee/owner status. Maybe not just a leap, but a quantum leap of faith.

that have a long career built around commuting for several hours a day.

The opportunity to ‘roll’ out of bed and literally be in the office in five minutes has considerable appeal if you have been used to an hour plus commute every day. Not only does a home base cut out the physical commute, but it also cuts down on the cost of commuting - an ever-growing element in the budget.

Reduced cost and reduced time have to be significant factors when considering a

For entrepreneurs seeking a home-based franchise opportunity, it is crucial that they really weigh the pros and cons of their proposed venture. Just not everyone can accommodate working from home - it is after all your home and not your office, and dedicated space needs to be acquired - home and office do not co-mingle well, so there needs to be a clear separation of where one starts and the other stops.

Creating space may be one of the easier aspects, as is obtaining appropriate equipment and furnishings. In most homebased situations there are no ‘outside’ visitors, so the economy level of equipment may work well.

The biggest challenge is going to be temperament and self-discipline. As an

David Banfield

individual, can you set out a plan of action and follow that plan? In a former life it was probably very easy, as there was a deadline involved and a designated standard to uphold. Now you are the ‘boss’ and you set the rules - notwithstanding it may be a franchise model - and you certainly set the time table. Are you disciplined to get it done today, or will tomorrow be fine?

Sometimes looking into your own personal resources is not a rewarding function if results show that you are not really entrepreneurial material and you really prefer not to take charge, and being #2 has certain merits as far as you are concerned.

Self-analysis, before the event is crucial to any measure of success in a homebased model. Don’t be lulled into the quick commute and the monetary savings involved - make absolutely sure that you can run a business on your own, in your own home.

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

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

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G rasons C o.

Grasons Co. Announces Franchise Opportunities for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Grasons Co. Estate Sale Services, the #1 Rated and Referred Estate Sale Company, is Now Offering Lucrative Franchising Opportunities for Those Who Are Experienced in Servicing Clients and Providing Superb Service in the Estate Planning Industry

Grasons Co. is proud to announce that they are currently offering franchises (nationwide) to qualified candidates, as of August 4, 2016. Chosen applicants will get the opportunity to run a franchise with an exceptional business model, extensive training, and consistent ongoing support from senior management.

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Grasons Co. Estate Sale Services has grown over the years due to the unwavering commitment the company has placed on customer service and client relationships. They often serve as the liaison between clients and buyers. Their purpose is to make one’s life easy and take care of the entire estate sale/planning process from beginning to end. “Grasons Co. has been growing faster than any other estate sale company, performing over 850 sales, because we sell your

items at the highest price, selling with professionalism and staging your home with the most care involved,” says CEO/ Founder, Simone Kelly. “We also have large support of industry leaders such as realtors, attorneys, probate courts & trustees.”

With being the company already being established as the #1 estate sale & liquidation company in California, Grasons’ franchisees will not have to reinvent the wheel – as programs have been put into place to train each franchise how to advertise economically, using social media to its most powerful attributes, how to continue to build their business, professionalism of business ownership, how to set up legally their business based on their state and federal laws, where to start, how to price, stage, market, and sell.

Grasons Co. already has a vast presence and substantial market penetration throughout the California, Nevada, and Pennsylanvia markets, but the company is currently looking to immediately expand its brand throughout the other 47 states throughout the USA. Although, the company is open to interest from all investors, Grasons Co. believes the most natural fit are enthusiastic and aspiring entrepreneurs who have a passion for providing customer service in estate liquidation, home staging, downsizing, and relocating. Franchisees are encouraged to be leaders and members of their industry communities.

“The estate sale business requires a certain level of emotional stability, and the ability to communicate with many different personalities,” adds Kelly. “Excellent organizational skills, combined with a deep understanding of human nature, and the responsibility of dealing with all your clients’ most prized possessions with the utmost respect and integrity is the key to success in the business of estate sales.”

Along with being a very desirable business, owning a Grasons Co. franchise comes with income that’s earned while: meeting the most amazing people, experiencing something unique at every estate sale, learning something new every day, building a network of professional contacts, gaining the trust of each client,

building a client base that’s loyal and refers you future clients, setting your own schedule, working from home, networking and getting advise from all of our very professional and well established franchisees and enjoying a different location every time (no cubicle).

Below are just a few support services we provide to you during your journey into business ownership with the Grasons Co. brand: • Exclusive usage of our brand • A territory you are comfortable with & have limitless growth • Ongoing training and support in person , on line and or via telephone • Business planning • Customized web site exclusive to your area and clients • PR support & training • Social Media Technology support unmatched by any company • On-site training support • On the job training • National brand exposure • Press releases provided by corporate • Grand Opening support • Marketing strategies & programs exclusive to your client and territory • Ongoing operations support • Forms and contracts • Financing • Refining Interviewing and preparing to meet with client support

• Ongoing support for staging, inventory & pricing guides • Auction on site and on line training • Final Estate Sale & liquidation document preparation • Debris removal and clean out training • Charitable donations • Customized marketing material branded for your territory • Blogs, newsletters & SEO services • Information gathering for seniors, downsizing and Baby Boomers • Several streams of income in your franchise When we asked Simone what she is most proud of is the newly established Veterans program: “One item I am very proud of is our desire to involve Veterans in our business. We have developed a discounted plan for Veterans to be able to own their own business and be a part of our family at Grasons Co. Being born on the Naval Base in Lake County, IL I will always have a strong desire to help our Veterans and I am so proud to be able to help our Veterans establish an amazing company with our assistance.”

For more information on Grasons Co. Estate Sale Services, please visit: http://grasons.com.

If you interested in learning more about becoming a franchisee, please contact Simone Kelly, CEO of Grasons Co. Estate Sale Services at simone@grasons.com or 877-204-2295.

Franchising USA

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H OME SERV ICES / H OME BASED FR A NCH ISI NG FE AT U RE

Q & A w ith B ill Redfer n

with

Bill Redfern Our team at Franchising USA had a chance to sit down with Bill Redfern from Global Franchise Opportunities (GFO) to hear advice from this serial entrepreneur on how to achieve international growth through master franchising.

What are the benefits of master franchising?

Master franchising is a great way for

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aspiring entrepreneurs to serve as franchisors of a recognized brand over a large geographical territory. Those who sign a master franchising agreement also have access to an established support system and promising marketing horsepower. All in all, master franchising enables a licensee to run a business and create residual income without having to create an entire system from scratch.

What attracted you to utilize master franchising for growing your brands internationally?

Ten years ago, we discovered that we could efficiently expand our concepts across large geographical distances through master franchising. We now have a growing presence spanning four continents. We’ve signed experienced

businesspeople as master franchisees and they have successfully introduced our brands in their local cultures and demographics.

What master franchising opportunities are you currently pursuing with Global Franchise Opportunities?

We have signed international master franchise agreements for all three Global Franchise Opportunities concepts (A Buyer’s Choice Home Inspections, iHandyMan and iCare Intelligent Home Care Solutions). We recently signed agreements for A Buyer’s Choice and iHandyMan into Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Angola, and we continue to see growth opportunities within Africa. Additionally,

“An ideal master franchisee possesses strong business acumen, a diligent work ethic and a credible financial background.� we are furthering our reach into the Australasia market with each brand.

In terms of growth, how is master franchising helping to take Global Franchise Opportunities to the next level?

Master franchising has allowed us to significantly expand the geographical footprint of operations across a total of 19 countries and counting. It has created a way for our sales team to give more consumers worldwide the benefit of our home inspections, home maintenance and home health care services.

What are some qualities to look for in a potential master franchisee?

An ideal master franchisee possesses strong business acumen, a diligent work ethic and a credible financial background.

We also look for existing or previous business owners who are passionate about generating a residual income stream. They must be entrepreneurially spirited with a vision to make a difference, a drive for success and the ability to work well with a team.

What advice do you have for franchisors looking into master franchising for expanding their brands?

I urge them to for the gold! Master franchising gives franchisors a unique opportunity to expand in a financially efficient manner, so long as they conduct the right market research and possess an open mind for molding their concept to fit into various cultures. Master franchising also allows franchisors to empower entrepreneurially spirited individuals across the world to find financial success and achieve their professional business ownership goals.

Serial entrepreneur Bill Redfern launched Global Franchise

Opportunities (GFO) after achieving international success with the recognized brands of A Buyer’s Choice Home Inspections, iCare Intelligent Home Care Solutions and iHandyMan. GFO offers master franchise and unit franchise opportunities. Existing businesses in these sectors worldwide can be converted to GFO and receive support and ongoing training from the proven concepts. GFO also offers assistance to those wishing to begin franchising their brand. gfoonline.biz

Franchising USA

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H OME SERV ICES / H OME BASED FR A NCH ISI NG FE AT U RE

Restoration 1

Franchise that Rescues Buildings Doesn’t Require One In a bit of franchising irony, owning and operating one of the nation’s top building restoration franchises doesn’t actually require owning a commercial building, at least not to start.

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Founded in 2008, Restoration 1 performs emergency restoration on homes and businesses, cleaning up mold and restoring buildings from fire, smoke, and water damage, among other services.

And while Restoration 1 rescues other buildings, franchisees don’t actually need a commercial building to start a location, as it doesn’t have any inventory. Once the franchisees’ locations get big enough, the company will aid them in finding the right building to set up their shop.

Started in Pompano Beach, FL, Gary Findley, took over as president in January 2016 and moved the company headquarters to Waco, TX. It has been franchising since 2010 and currently has over 85 locations throughout the United States.

Findley has over 25 years of experience in helping new and experienced entrepreneurs get on the right track towards owning their own business. In addition, he has been instrumental in

“We truly believe teamwork makes the dream work.” – Gary Findley tool for all franchisees to assist them in becoming more profitable.

500 in 5 Restoration 1’s ambitious growth plan of adding 100 new locations per year sees the company expanding to 500 stores in five years.

building over 9500 locations with two brands as well as helping to launch several new concepts along with taking existing concepts and growing their development.

Under Findley’s leadership, Restoration 1 has added over 55 locations this year and is on pace for its target of 100 new locations by the end of the year.

The Right People Findley says Restoration 1 is looking for driven, service-focused and passionate entrepreneurs. Veterans or civil service workers looking to start their own business would be an especially good fit, he noted, and, veterans can enjoy a $7,000 discount on their franchise fee.

With disasters happening across the country, it is fitting that Restoration 1 has committed franchisees throughout the US to respond rapidly to bring the needed restoration to a home or business.

“Disasters don’t wait for a convenient moment to strike, but we want to be available when they do,” Findley said.

“Addressing the issues early on can make a big difference in the extent of the damage.”

Part of the company’s appeal for customers is the help it offers throughout the entire process after a disaster happens. The company aims to cause the least amount of disruption to people’s lives.

Restoration 1 also prides itself on using only the best materials and being able to restore people’s property to its predisaster condition. Plus, it provides free consultations and ‘round the clock emergency services.

Top Notch Training Findley, who has over 25 years of experience helping people start their own businesses, said Restoration 1 provides new franchisees with a 12- day training program that fully prepares them to offer the company’s services as soon as they return home.

Experienced field consultants meet with franchisees weekly to analyze and strategize for the growth of their individual franchises. And Restoration 1 also has annual convention, monthly newsletter and provides avenues for the franchisees to work together, brainstorm, share information and ask questions.

“We truly believe teamwork makes the dream work.” Findley said.

Future plans include continuing to develop programs that will increase revenue for franchisees such as a content program, reconstruction program, and national disaster response team.

Findley said the company will also continue to add experienced staff to help franchisees and add a new management

Findley is perhaps the perfect person to helm this expansion, as he’s seen everything there is to see after two-and-ahalf decades of helping entrepreneurs start their own business.

“Not every good idea makes a good franchise and not every franchise is a good idea,” he shared. “What makes a great franchise system are three things: your support, your staff, and the success of your franchisees. If franchisees aren’t happy, nobody’s happy.”

Findley takes inspiration from one of the first people he worked for, who is also a legend in the franchising sphere.

“I believe in giving credit where credit is due. I started my career working for Don Dwyer, Founder of the Dwyer Group.

I was in my early 20’s and I distinctly remember sitting up in Don’s office at 10 at night talking about franchising and my personal goals,”. “He took the time to mentor me and help me to become a successful franchise development person and to really gain a passion for franchising. I loved and still love how you could use franchising to expand your idea across the world and at the same time assist others in achieving their dreams of owning their own business.”

Now that Findley is at the helm of his own franchise, he’s realizing his dream of passing along his hard earned knowledge and experience to a new crop of business owners … and they don’t even need a building to start one. www.restoration1franchise.com

Franchising USA

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H OME SERV ICES / H OME BASED FR A NCH ISI NG FE AT U RE

Jim Fitzgerald, Founder & CEO, Taradel LLC

Why Direct Mail Should Be in Your Marketing Plan Think about the last time you went to the mailbox and pulled out a postcard. Did you bring it inside, or even look at it?

split-second decisions on whether the coupon stays or goes. Many well designed postcards find their way to your kitchen counter or living room for at least a short stay.

If it was well designed and targeted to you, you probably did. If it made a compelling offer for a service or product you needed, I can almost guarantee you did.

The average person will see more than 5,000 advertising impressions every day.

Most advertising executives agree that it takes 7-12 impressions to reach a prospect.

Digital advertising helps in this regard but there is no more powerful impression

Chances are, you’re among the millions of families who open their mail and make

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Simply put, direct mail works. Especially when done right.

than direct mail. Think of the hundreds of digital ads you saw today. How many do you remember?

According to True Impact MarketingÂŽ, consumers who received direct mail advertisements were able to recall 75 percent of the time, compared to 44 percent for digital ads. And, according to the CMO council, direct mail has the highest rate of success in new customer acquisition at 34 percent compared with other marketing channels. Bottom line, most franchises and small businesses

should incorporate direct mail into their marketing plans.

According to the Direct Marketing Association (DMA), the response rate on direct mail to an existing customer is 3.4 percent, compared to 0.12 percent for an email solicitation. And the DMA reports that 90 million Americans make purchases from catalogs each year, even if the Ikea and Harry & David catalogs don’t look like the J.C. Penney catalogs we grew up with (incidentally, J.C. Penney brought back its catalog in 2015 after a five-year break).

One more stat: According to the DMA, 2.5 billion coupons from direct mail pieces were redeemed in 2015. For an industry that has taken its hits – from do-not-mail lists to cutbacks in marketing dollars – direct mail continues to prove effective for a variety of businesses.

Direct mail succeeds in large part because it’s invasive. Once you pick up your mail, you have to touch it and read it, even for an instant. That time to think leads to time to consider making a purchase, whether it be right away or down the road. And the longer that piece sits around the house, the better the chance it might lead to a purchase.

Overall, this is an important detail, but even more so for those offering home services. Before homeowners make a buying decision on their most important asset, they seek credibility. They’re often looking to start or build a relationship with someone they can trust. Direct mail can be an introduction, with subsequent pieces being used to build familiarity, showcase distinct qualities and make specialized offers.

“Direct mail succeeds in large part because it’s invasive. Once you pick up your mail, you have to touch it and read it, even for an instant. That time to think leads to time to consider making a purchase, whether it be right away or down the road.” return on investment with its direct mail campaigns is vastly higher than anything else the company does.

Why does it work for Chlanda’s small business?

Lawn Jockey is able to design pieces that showcase its story that encourages potential customers to learn about them and lead them to do their research. Those pieces tend to hang around – it’s not uncommon for Chlanda to hear back on a piece a year (or more) later. And by using Every Door Direct Mail® (EDDM), a service through the postal service to better target potential customers, Chlanda has been able to focus on specific demographics that best fit his company’s offerings in a cost-effective way.

Mosquito Squad, a franchise early, is one of the biggest tick and mosquito control companies in the United States. As its continues to build its brand, it employs ROI-driven marketing for its franchises, including direct mail.

Jim Fitzgerald

mistake of assuming it’s too expensive and write off the thought. Franchises and small businesses should focus on the ROI, not the cost.

Also like any marketing effort, the success of direct mail is based on establishing a plan and seeing it through. It takes some time to get off the ground, and it often takes a little patience.

And you don’t have to be a behemoth like J.C. Penney to get into the mix.

First, the company streamlines the look, messaging and feel of its direct mail pieces so the individual franchises don’t have to, which creates consistency and limits confusion. Then, it leverages demographic data analysis to mail only highly targeted carrier routes with EDDM to reach the right customers in a cost-effective way.

For Tory Chlanda, president of Lawn Jockey Inc. in Amherst, Mass., direct mail serves as a backbone of his full-service landscape design and construction firm’s marketing efforts. While social media, media, email marketing and sponsorships also are a part of his 21-year-old company’s marketing mix, direct mail is a big part of that mix. And he believes the

One of the main benefits is that by streamlining direct mail pieces from a franchisor level, the individual franchises quickly can plan effective direct mail campaigns that complement other marketing efforts and enable them to focus on managing their businesses.

Jim Fitzgerald is the founder and CEO of Taradel LLC, an advertising and marketing services firm that offers solutions like Every Door Direct Mail®, integrated marketing, digital marketing and more for small businesses, franchisors and national corporations.

Jim has more than three decades of marketing experience and has helped thousands of businesses grow.

Like any marketing effort, there is an expense to direct mail. Many make the

To learn more about Taradel LLC, visit www.Taradel.com.

But the proof is in the numbers…and in the returns.

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H OME SERV ICES / H OME BASED FR A NCH ISI NG FE AT U RE

O x i Fresh

Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning

Focuses on More than Just Selling Franchises, Continues Support of Water.org

Throughout the past 10 years, Denver-based Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning has become the nation’s fastest-growing carpet cleaning franchise, growing to more than 300 locations in 45 states.

In October of last year, however, the company began focusing on more than just selling franchises. They committed to supporting Water.org in its efforts to end the global water crisis.

Co-founded by Academy Award-winning actor Matt Damon and social entrepreneur Gary White, Water.org is a non-profit organization that has transformed hundreds of communities in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean by providing access to clean water and sanitation.

Over the past 10 months, Oxi Fresh customers have been encouraged to book their carpet cleanings online with $2.00 per job being donated to Water.org. The proceeds have gone directly to helping Water.org build water wells and help a portion of the nearly 700 million people in the world worldwide who do not have access to clean water.

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Since announcing its support of Water.org, Oxi Fresh has booked more than 13,000 jobs online and donated nearly $27,000 to the cause, helping provide access to safe water and sanitation for more than 1,000 people.

“Business philanthropy is a relatively simple thing, but it is a very powerful action. It sends a huge message that says, ‘We are more than just an earnings machine. We are a partner with you.

We are in it with you. We care.’ And that makes a difference,” said Oxi Fresh Founder and CEO Jonathan Barnett.

“We couldn’t be more proud of our contributions to such an important and worthwhile cause, and doing our part to enable a life of health and dignity to the world’s most vulnerable.”

Those most affected by the global water crisis are women and children that are risking their health and safety each day with contaminated water.

Water is the Way When Matt Damon got into the water business, he worked with H20 Africa Foundation, a non-governmental organization that raised awareness about

“For every hundred homes cleaned, Oxi Fresh saves water. We use 200 gallons of water or less, while other systems use up to 4,000 gallons.” – Jonathan Barnett clean water initiatives specifically in Africa.

“I did what I think a lot of people do, which is they kind of get right into the direct impact, like well-digging and how many people can I help if I dig x number of wells,” he said in a 2014 interview with CNN. But Damon said as his understanding of the issue grew, he realized that charity wasn’t going to solve the problem.

In 2009, he teamed with Gary White, cofounder of WaterPartners. They merged the two organizations and formed Water. org. Since, their organization has provided 4.3 million people access to safe water and sanitation across 12 developing countries.

According to Water.org, the world doesn’t stand a chance without safe water.

Water spreads disease. Compromises safety. Makes education elusive and economic opportunity farther out of reach.

The lack of access to safe water is deadly, dangerous, and a major obstacle to the people of developing nations becoming economically empowered. It is what is standing between billions of people and their health, safety, and the opportunity to unlock their true potential.

Facts about water and sanitation: • 663 million people – 1 in 10 – lack access to safe water.

• 2.4 billion people – 1 in 3 – lack access to a toilet.

• Women and children spend 125 million hours each day collecting water.

• Every 90 seconds a child dies from a water-related disease.

• On average, every one US dollar invested in water and sanitation provides an economic return of four US dollars.

For only $25, Water.org can bring someone access to safe water.

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H OME SERV ICES / H OME BASED FR A NCH ISI NG FE AT U RE

O x i Fresh

“We couldn’t be more proud of our contributions to such an important and worthwhile cause, and doing our part to enable a life of health and dignity to the world’s most vulnerable.”

– Jonathan Barnett

Oxi Fresh and Water Conservation The importance of water is nothing new to Oxi Fresh.

When Barnett began researching carpet cleaning, he saw an opportunity to handle jobs more efficiently and sustainably than in the past. Working with a team of chemists, he created an innovative and environmentally-friendly carpet cleaning system.

Carpet cleaning traditionally involves a process called hot water extraction, which usually uses 40 to 50 gallons of water.

Oxi Fresh’s carpet cleaning method only requires two gallons of water per home.

Since starting in 2006, the company has completed more than 500,000 jobs and saved more than 25 million gallons of water.

“Water conservation has always been one of our highest priorities,” Barnett added.

“For every hundred homes cleaned, Oxi Fresh saves water. We use 200 gallons of water or less, while other systems use up to 4,000 gallons. That’s twenty times what other carpet cleaners use – a perfect example of water conservation in action!”

What’s more, the dirty water other cleaners extract from a carpet, which is only about half of what they put in, is usually considered “waste water,” and it’s simply discarded. However, Oxi Fresh and its environmentally friendly carpet cleaning seek to conserve water through its low moisture cleaning agent that enables carpets to dry in one hour, far less than the standard 24 or more hours that other methods require.

Looking Ahead “Without water, life would not exist. It is a prerequisite for all human and economic

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development. Yet today, nearly 700 million people lack access to safe water and more than twice that many, 2.4 billion people, do not have access to a toilet,” Barnett said. “We are dedicated to do our part to change this and look forward to continuing our support of Water.org well into the future.”

According to Barnett, Oxi Fresh has been donating around $3,000 to $4,000 a month to Water.org and he has no reason to believe those numbers won’t continue to increase.

“When I first started Oxi Fresh, our client base was wholly residential, but over the past few years we’ve expanded into the commercial sector by doing work for

property managers. Coupled with the fact

that we’ve ramped up our expansion efforts in both the United States and Canada, that means more franchisees, more customers, more online bookings and even more donations for Water.org,” he said.

Schedule Online to Help the Cause To learn more about the work that

Water.org is doing to break down barriers between people and access to safe water and sanitation, visit www.water.org.

To schedule a carpet cleaning online and help the cause, visit www.oxifresh.com/water-org.

Your Golden Opportunity

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Midas is a globally recognized leader in the tire and automotive service industry for nearly 60 years. We are looking for motivated people to become part of our Midas franchise family! Build your long-term success with a brand name customers know and trust.

• Powerful local and national marketing $FFHVV WR QDWLRQDO µHHW DFFRXQWV WR KHOS \RXU EXVLQHVV JURZ • Ongoing training and support • Excellent point of sale and shop management systems

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

midasfranchise.com 800-365-0007

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ex per t advice

Matthew Jonas, President, TopFire Media

Three Questions to Ask Yourself About Your Franchise Recruiting Website

Are you getting good site traffic but not enough leads? It’s time to do a quick self-audit and figure out what you could be doing better.

If you ever played baseball or softball growing up, you know that feeling of building anticipation while taking practice swings in the on-deck circle. I bet you also remember (even if you hate to admit it!) the disappointment you felt when you instead struck out and dejectedly headed back to the bench.

Let’s shift this analogy to your franchise’s digital marketing tools, specifically your website. The agony of a baseball “swingand-miss” is not unlike the feeling you get as a franchise brand when you see your website getting plenty of traffic, but producing no leads. It leaves you wondering what you should have done differently to achieve the results for which you hoped.

Sure, you might have the most beautifully designed, aesthetically pleasing website, but if you have few or no franchise leads to show for it, what is it worth?

All too often, franchisors forget to put themselves in the shoes of a potential franchisee. From a franchisee’s point

Franchising USA

of view, your website is an indicator of

whether your concept is something worth buying into. The site should be organized and informative, and effectively convey what your company and opportunity are all about. The key is to design a

website that requires franchisees to use as little energy as possible to develop

interest, navigate pages, and request more

information. Think about user experience,

and about what, ultimately, you want users to do.

Ask yourself these three questions when evaluating your website:

1

What kind of first impression are you making?

You have 30 seconds — or less — to make a good first impression with any website visitor. When a potential franchisee first visits your site, ask yourself: “Is it easy for them to get the main idea?” Make sure you have succinct copy, compelling images and visible calls-to-action so that users grasp your central theme, and know how to take the next step.

2

Does the messaging hit home?

First, you need a message that speaks directly to your target audience. Maybe

your content presentation is too consumerfocused, and therefore confusing or misleading to franchise prospects. Or, maybe once prospects start reading, they decide it’s not worth their time. How do you even know if people are connecting with what you’re saying? A good place to start is by digging into your website’s analytics. If you see warning signs such as high bounce rates or users spending one minute or less on your website, chances are, your message isn’t hitting home for many folks. Plus, if your website conversion rate is low — in the 1 percent to 2 percent range — you really need to do a deep dive into your message. If it is not effectively targeting your intended audience (franchisee prospects), both you and your website visitors are going to be wasting time.

3

Do franchisees have functional next steps?

Are you providing franchisees with accessible information or easy-to-complete forms? If you make navigation or form-

filling too complex, potential franchisees likely will get frustrated and move on to another website or concept. You need to lay out your website in a logical and clear manner that gives franchise prospects a precise path to their final destination — your inquiry form. Once there, best practices include enticing users with a free “report” or “digital brochure,” something tangible they can take away with them after you’ve captured their information.

After considering these tips, it’s time to step back into the batter’s box and aim for the fences. As a franchisor, you must make it as easy as possible for franchise prospects to decide yours is a company worth investing in. And, remember that website development is a continuous process, and your site should never be a static marketing vehicle. It may take regular at-bats to refine and update your website’s appeal, to continue to attract quality leads. The key is to keep your head up and stay focused. The very nature of franchising means that you won’t always be able to have a perfect batting average

with franchise candidates. But in the words of baseball great Babe Ruth, “Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.”

Matthew Jonas is the President of TopFire Media, an award-winning integrated public relations and digital marketing agency specializing in franchise marketing and consumer branding. Together with the leaders of iFranchise Group and Franchise Dynamics, Jonas established TopFire Media to provide a strategic and synchronized method for digital marketing in the franchise industry. As a digital marketing strategist with more than a decade of in-depth experience in SEO and PPC, social media publishing, conversion based marketing, inbound marketing, sales management, and online lead generation, Jonas has built a career dedicated to delivering an integrated marketing approach that achieves client success and long-term relationships. www.topfiremedia.com

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ex per t advice

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Franchising USA

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Veterans in Franchising september 2016

www.franchisingusamagazine.com

change...

handle with care

3 traits

that attract military veterans to your franchise

Q&A

with Ty clifton Franchising USA

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

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

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

Contents News and Expert Advice

Profiles

54 3 Traits that Attract Military Veterans to

Your Franchise Omar Soliman, Co-Founder and CEO, College

60 Pool Scouts

Hunks Hauling Junk & Trash Butler

58 Change‌Handle with Care!

Darcella K. Craven, Veterans Business

56 Real Property Management 62 Farleigh Dickinson University

Resource Center

Question Time 60 Ty Clifton, Patrice & Associates

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V e t er ans in Fr anchising

poo l scou ts

Pool S Turns to V

to Set Up N for Quick Buzz Franchise Brands is diving into a new lane of franchise success and is searching for driven, entrepreneurial-minded franchise partners who want to take the plunge toward a more lucrative future.

The Virginia Beach, VA based franchisor, well-known for its wildly successful mosquito abatement service Mosquito Joe, introduced its latest franchising concept earlier this year: Pool Scouts, a franchise focused on cleaning, maintenance and minor repair services of pools at commercial and residential properties.

To set the new brand up for quick success, Buzz Chief Operating Officer Brian Garrison is turning to a group he knows well: veterans. A 22-year U.S. Navy veteran himself, Garrison immediately recognized the passion, discipline and work ethic that veterans bring with them into civilian life. One of his top priorities as the brand took shape was to partner with VetFran and offer a $2,500 discount on franchise fees to all veterans. Pool Scouts’ business model is also an ideal fit

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New Brand k Success for transitioning military members, who work in an innovative, outdoor industry and use a proven systematic approach to streamlined operational excellence to excel quickly. The concept also allows a wide range of flexibility, from scheduling to location, allowing for more time with family, who can also be closely involved in the business.

The Pools Scouts executive leadership team also works to feed the success of its franchisees by offering support, structure and access to resources designed to leverage each owner’s unique skill set. The brand seeks driven, trainable and collaborative individuals; similar characteristics to those gained from military service.

It’s a lucrative time to join the growing brand, as the already lucrative $3 billion U.S. market for swimming pool equipment and maintenance is projected to grow by an additional 4 percent by 2018 due to strong economic recovery, according to a recent IbisWorld study.

“We want to incentivize the right people to join our growing brand,” said Pool Scouts President Michael Wagner. “So, we’re eliminating as many obstacles as possible and setting our franchisees up for success.

Veterans are an ideal fit in that formula and we look forward to joining forces with even more successful veteran partners this year.”

Pool Scouts plans to open four new locations by the end of 2016 and is currently looking for business-minded entrepreneurs to help expand the business nationwide. Pool Scouts offers the lowest franchise fee in the industry with a total initial investment between $54,500 and $98,000. With no need for a physical retail location, a recurring revenue model, and a leadership team capable of running a 500-unit company, Pool Scouts will be a competitive force for years to come in the most active pool markets in America.

ABOUT POOL SCOUTS Virginia Beach, VA-based Pool Scouts is a premier pool service franchise focused on delivering a quality, consistent brand experience while providing pool cleaning, maintenance and minor repair services at residential and commercial properties.

Technicians are trained in testing, monitoring, treating and servicing pools and can provide ongoing service as well as help at the beginning and end of the summer season. Growing from its first location in Virginia Beach, Pool Scouts offers a great opportunity as a low cost franchise in the pool services industry with available territories across the United States.

For more information or franchising opportunities, visit http://poolscoutsfranchise.com

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Scouts Veterans

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Omar Soliman, Co-founder & CEO, College Hunks Hauling Junk and Trash Butler

3 traits

That Attract Military Veterans to Your Franchise

Why would franchise owners make a conscious effort to align their company cultures and operations with key traits military veterans look for in business opportunities?

It’s simple: Veterans bring experience that translates extremely well to franchise ownership. Owning a franchise requires dedication and dogmatic execution of the system, the ability to lead and motivate a team, grit, and perseverance — the same

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qualities one needs to excel in the military.

By leveraging the strengths and talent of amazing men and women from the U.S. Armed Forces, my company has grown to more than 100 franchises and 1,500 employees in record time. In fact, when surveyed about the top qualities they feel they bring to the workforce, service members cited leadership, a strong work ethic, and the ability to work under pressure as part of a team.

Recognize those? They are the primary hallmarks of a successful franchise owner.

Cultivating an Environment Where Heroes Feel at Ease To successfully recruit talented military

veterans as owners and team members, we work hard to create a culture that satisfies their innate drives to help others, appeals to their operational comfort zones, and leverages their special training.

To do the same, franchisors should foster these three traits within their companies:

1

Operate from core values and a sense of purpose

Having a clear set of core values and a purpose that encompasses more than simply making a profit is important to military veterans. After all, their work experience is grounded in being part of something much bigger than themselves.

“Having a clear set of core values and a purpose that encompasses more than simply making a profit is important to military veterans.”

2

Strive to support and maintain a winning system

The military is probably the most systemized organization on the planet; every job function has a specific set of rules and guidelines.

We emulate this structure by ensuring that each of our business functions follows a standard operating procedure. We believe “people don’t fail; systems do” — so our goal is to ensure that our franchise owners and executives can work on the business, not in it.

By continually reviewing the system, seeking ways to improve it, we allow our owners and managers to focus on valuedriving activities.

3

Foster a culture of accountability and trust

For us, the most critical step to becoming a healthy organization — across all lines, not just the bottom line — was creating a cohesive leadership team.

“I’ve experienced working with companies that don’t have a purpose, and they usually dissolve,” says Carl Carter, a former captain in the U.S. Army Reserve and one of our College Hunks Hauling Junk franchise owners.

Our company motto, “Move the World,” is one of the biggest reasons we’ve attracted so many former members of the military as both owners and employees. They want to make both a positive impact on the world and a difference in their local communities.

For Carter, this allows him to pursue his commitment to mentor younger employees and set them up for success: “My business card title isn’t owner — it’s head coach. I want to be more than just an owner.”

Our leadership strives to give all employees a personal sense of responsibility and pride in the company’s success.

Omar Soliman

seen the results implied by a recent study linking military service to successful entrepreneurship.

We attract franchisees and team members with characteristics consistent with entrepreneurial A-players: high-achieving, trustworthy people with independent streaks and the ability to make sound decisions in a pinch. Military veterans take ownership of their respective business areas and, in turn, recruit and empower others of similar caliber.

By continuing to encourage this selfsustaining cycle of success, we’ll not only keep our organization healthy and our workforce motivated, but we’ll also create what all franchisors seek: the necessary conditions for a world-class organization to emerge.

Purpose-Driven Businesses See Exponential Growth

Omar Soliman is the co-founder and CEO of College Hunks Hauling Junk and Trash Butler. CHHJ, named one of the fastest-growing franchises in the nation by Entrepreneur Magazine, is a junk-removal and moving franchise that services over 50 markets in 30 states, and Trash Butler is a door-to-door valet trash service. As an author and TV personality, Omar has appeared on FOX Business News, MSNBC, ABC’s “Shark Tank,” and AMC’s “The Pitch.”

Since incorporating these traits into our business to appeal to skilled leaders, we’ve

www.collegehunkshaulingjunk.com www.trashbutler.com

For example, our drivers are expected to run their moving trucks as their own small businesses. They’re responsible for their own marketing, sales, and profits, with no top-down office hierarchy. Without an aligned team at the top focusing on accountability and results, we couldn’t afford employees such autonomy — or reach our full potential.

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Real Proper t y M a nag ement

Military Veteran Finds Second Act

with Property Management Franchise

While veteran employment has been making gains in recent years, Army veteran James Campbell saw firsthand what it’s like to make the transition to civilian life when he retired from the Army after a 30year career.

property management, an industry fueled by the millions of Americans who choose to rent. James found Real Property Management, purchasing his first franchise in 2012 in Columbia, South Carolina.

Faced with a struggling economic climate and lack of fulfilling opportunities, James had to find a way to discover what his next career would be – and he found it in franchising.

James was attracted to Real Property Management because of its brand experience, reliability, and generous discount for veterans. He knew he was in good hands with Real Property Management’s franchise blueprint, along with the significant support and resources the home office offered to new franchisees.

He hit the ground running, and began making a profit after only eight months in business.

Upon retirement, James began looking for his next venture, and ultimately decided to pursue his longtime interest in real estate.

Unfortunately, the housing market was difficult to break into at the time due to its instability, but James knew there was one thing that could be counted on: rent.

Tenants had to pay their rent every month, and so he decided to pursue a career in

Real Property Management is the leading property management franchise in the nation, with over 280 locations across the United States. The brand has been consistently recognized as a leading franchise for veterans, receiving awards including Franchise Times Magazine’s 2016 Best for Vets, Franchise Business Review’s Top 100 for Vets, and Military Times’ 2016 Best for Vets.

James is now the franchise owner of two Real Property Management offices, managing small teams at both locations.

James Campbell

Although he still handles the high-level marketing and financial oversight for the offices, he is able to delegate a majority of work to his teams – a skill set the military prepared him well for. The leadership skills and work ethic he acquired from the Army translated well into his new role as a business owner and leader. His thoughtful delegation also allows him time to spend with his wife and kids, allowing him to achieve the highly sought after work-life balance.

His advice for other veterans looking to find their next ventures is to also look at franchising opportunities. James recommends doing your due diligence by researching revenue streams both monthto-month and year-to-year. Real Property Management worked for James because he was able to expand his property base every month, allowing his revenue to consistently grow, and add new employees as his revenue allowed.

“Franchising was the perfect opportunity for me to achieve everything I wanted after my military career,” said James.

“Real Property Management allowed me to gain financial stability, more time with my family and the opportunity to own a business I’m passionate about.” www.realpropertymgt.com

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www.interfacefinancial.com/franchise

V e t er ans in Fr anchising

Darcella K. Craven, Veterans Business Resource Center

Journal Activity:

Change‌

Handle with Care!

The end of the year is near and it is time to evaluate if the business strategy you put into place in January is working out the way you envisioned.

Business owners often forget that there are many moving parts in the process of change not just themselves. If you have ever tried to initiate a change in your business and received significant push back from the market or employees, it may be because you forgot to account for these other players.

If not, you may be considering making

1. They do not have the skills to do what is being asked.

an adjustment in order to capture a new

market, increase revenue and/or expand

Understand that people often resist change for a number of reasons such as:

an office. This means change is coming.

2. They examined the change and do not think it is right or it will work.

However, it does not need to be. Change,

3. They do not trust the sponsor or champion of the change.

can be exciting, positive and smooth.

4. There is a history of failed change.

Just that sentence can be a daunting.

planned appropriately and thoughtfully

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5. Apathy and procrastination have taken hold.

The sad truth is most of us are a little bit afraid of change. Even the most positive of us can dread change and move through it reluctantly. To maintain productivity during change: business owners need to examine the proposed changes from three perspectives: yours, your customers and your employees. Here is a quick exercise to complete prior to instituting any changes.

This can be done relatively quickly with a small group or you can make it an employee exercise at a company retreat.

First, identify the reason the change is being made. Second, answer these questions through the lens of all three groups – yours, your customer and your employees! Third, check in with each

Business Owner Perspective Change:

Action Needed

Driver

Impact

Who / How

• New location needed

• Identify new space • Hire mover

Sales because there is no parking or the trolley will take them past our building

• Customers (cannot get to us)

• Upgrade our current location

A trolley is being added to street taking away our parking

• Have new rent or consider buying

Change Resisters

2: this is a perfect location, business history, fits in with mission, owner likes the space, owner doesn’t want to move

Plan to Address

Better understand urban plan with developer to see if company still fits in with new environment….etc.

Above is a quick strategy chart to use during this process. You will want to make a chart for each perspective so that you can view your company completely.

If you are facing change in your business and want to discuss this, call us. We would be happy to guide you through the transition.

Following are a few solutions to these resisters. If skill set is a challenge, there are many free or low cost training courses available either through the franchiser, a local agency or the Veterans Business Resource Center. In fact, LinkedIn has training through Lynda.com. You can access the program for free if you are a veteran through your own LinkedIn profile.

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

She is currently the Executive Director of the Veterans Business Resource Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting Honorably Discharged Veterans, National Guard and Reservist and Active Duty personnel and their families with transitioning back into civilian life with starting and expanding businesses.

An Army Veteran, she holds a Masters of Arts in Management from Webster University and is currently pursuing her Doctors of Management focusing on impact of military experience on small business decision making. Darcella has been featured in numerous articles for her transition from the military and the welfare system to an accomplished business woman and is actively involved in many civic organizations.

If you do not think the change is right for your customers, contact your mentor or this Center. We can help you think through your plan.

If trust if the issue, examine facts and address any personality issues which may be interfering with a positive movement.

group using the identified reasons to resist change noted above. Forth, address these change resisters immediately and as thoroughly as you can. Fifth, create the strategic plan based on the answers to these questions. Sixth, implement the plan.

Questions to ask: • What is the change needed?

• What will it take to make it happen?

• What is driving the change?

• Employees (no hours/sales)

If failed attempts are stifling your movement, identify what is different now. Again facts can help clarify many decisions. If negative thinking is a problem, think about different ways to communicate. There are many language exercises easily accessible online to assist you with reframing conversations towards a positive outcome.

www.vetbiz.com

If apathy and procrastination has impacted your company, and you will make the changes when you “get around to it”.

Cut out the image below.

• What is the impact if there is no change?

• Who will be impacted by change and how?

Remember…view this from three perspectives – yours, your customer and your employees!

TUI tuit T

Darcella K. Craven

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Q & A w ith Ty Clif ton

Ty Clifton Our team at Franchising USA had a chance to sit with Ty Clifton, franchisee for Patrice & Associates, the nation’s largest staffing firm in restaurants and hospitality. As a veteran in franchising, we were excited to learn more about his journey to entrepreneurship. Our questions are in bold.

Hope you enjoy reading.

Tell us about your military professional background.

In 1987, I attended University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) and majored in Hotel & Restaurant Management and I participated in US Army ROTC at Salisbury State University. After my 2nd

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year of college, I was awarded a two-year ROTC scholarship. In 1991, I received a Bachelor of Science in Hotel & Restaurant Management from UMES, and I received a US Army commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in Field Artillery.

While on active duty in the US Army for 25 years, I served in a variety of leadership positions that include Fire Support Officer in the Republic of Panama, unit commander in the 82nd Airborne Division, Detachment Commander in the 8th in Korea, and Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of the Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon. My deployments include: Republic of Kuwait in support of Operation Intrinsic Action (’94), the Kosovo Campaign in Albania and Kosovo (’99), Operation Iraqi Freedom at Camp Taji, Iraq (’07), and Operation Enduring Freedom at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait (’13).

I proudly served our nation and in 2016, I felt that it was time to retire and pursue my dreams of being a successful entrepreneur.

So, I officially retired from the US Army in the rank of Colonel in July 2016.

Why did you decide to enter the hospitality recruiting industry?

I have always had a dream to start my own business in the hospitality industry and that is why I majored in Hotel & Restaurant Management in college. My initial dream was to have a full service restaurant with a menu inspired by all of the cuisines I have encountered in my travels abroad. So when I decided to retire from the Army, I knew it was time to pursue my dreams again. Shortly thereafter, I was introduced to Patrice & Associates by a franchise consultant.

What attracted you to the Patrice & Associates franchise opportunity?

I was very impressed with Patrice & Associates’ Hospitality business model, mission statement, and the cohesiveness within the organization. This opportunity is a dream come true for me because it allows me to enter the hospitality industry as an entrepreneur (without the associated costs or risks of opening a restaurant)

“My advice to veterans that are leaving the service is take full advantage of all of the resources available to you within your services and within your community.” and it allows me to service a variety of restaurant concepts. As a franchisee, I get to work in all aspects of the hospitality industry and it allows me to influence and shape our candidates to meet the needs of our hospitality clients.

How are you leveraging your military experience at Patrice & Associates?

As a leader, I have leveraged my military background and discipline to focus on Patrice & Associates’ mission statement, goals, objectives and daily tasks to be achieved.

What are some benefits of franchising in general?

I believe the best benefit of franchising is that the business model has already been tested and proven successful by the franchisor. Therefore, success is achievable and the risk of failure has been mitigated and reduced.

What is your advice for veterans looking into franchising?

My advice to veterans would be to find the franchise that fits your passion and drive to be successful. Also, veterans should maximize all the resources from their service’s Transition Assistance Program (TAP) to help find the right business opportunities and to help you set up your business licenses and practices.

For example, through the Army’s Soldier For Life / Transition Assistance Program (SFL/TAP), I had access to plenty of valuable information. Additionally, the SFL/TAP Financial Advisor at Fort Belvoir, VA helped me with my business plan and she helped me set up my LLC for my business for free. Therefore, as far as advising veterans looking into franchising,

I had an excellent experience with the TAP and I highly recommend that veterans take full advantage of these types of programs.

Are there any additional steps to take?

My advice to veterans that are leaving the service is take full advantage of all of the resources available to you within your services and within your community.

I also recommend setting up your BAIL team: Banker, Accountant, Insurance Agent, and Lawyer.

Another key piece of advice is to begin networking with other business owners within your community because they will help you. For example, go to SBA meetings and attend your local Chamber of Commerce meetings. All in all, these steps will help you plan your plan and work your plan!

Ty Clifton is a franchisee for Patrice & Associates, the preeminent hospitality recruiting service in the U.S. since 1989. Patrice & Associates helps thousands of managerial candidates every year find rewarding jobs in the restaurant and hospitality industry.

The company has exclusive recruiting partnerships with some the nation’s largest restaurant chains and hotels to ensure those hospitality venues recruit the top managers in their industry.

Currently, there are more than 70 franchise units across dozens of states.

Patrice & Associates is growing its franchise base dramatically in the next few years, expecting to add more than 100 franchisees to help fill 1,100 open territories nationwide.

For more information about Patrice & Associates, visit www.PatriceAndAssociates.com.

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Fa r leig h Dick inson Univer sit y

Veterans Launching Ventures The Veterans Launching Ventures program put on by the Rothman Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is a tenweek entrepreneurship course for veterans to prepare “vetrepreneurs” in the art of business planning, and is fully funded by the Walmart Foundation, TD Charitable Foundation, and Bank of America.

The course teaches key business planning skills and helps veterans with financial forecasting, marketing, and how to raise capital for a startup. Part of the Silberman College of Business since 1989, the

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mission of the Rothman Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is to teach and support entrepreneurship and innovation in the academic, business, and nonprofit communities. An outstanding entrepreneurship curriculum taught by an excellent faculty has helped make the academic program among the top 20 in the nation (as ranked by the Princeton Review).

An example of one of the graduates who completed the course, a Marine Veteran, Tom Wicklow, shows how successful the educational experience was. Tom is a graduate of the Spring 2016, 10-week Veterans Launching Ventures (VLV) program offered by Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison, NJ. Tom was planning on buying a franchise called “Let Mommy Sleep”, which provides overnight newborn care and other support to new parents. The franchisor is a Bristow, VA based company that currently has one other franchisee in Philadelphia. Tom, a resident of New

Jersey, plans to address the northern New Jersey market, but needed more guidance about the entrepreneurial process of starting a franchise.

As Tom expressed, he has benefited in many ways by taking the course: “Taking the program made a huge difference in my understanding of what needs to be done to successfully launch my business. I realized that I was not as prepared as I thought I was, prior to taking the program. It forced me to do the due diligence and work required before launching the business. In particular, the program helped me develop a business plan, including a marketing strategy and a financial plan. It also helped me with my presentation skills.”

The FDU’s mentor program also benefited Tom by finding the right mentor, “Charlie Faure, SCORE Mentor, was instrumental in helping me evaluate the

“Taking the program made a huge difference in my understanding of what needs to be done to successfully launch my business. I realized that I was not as prepared as I thought I was, prior to taking the program.” – Tom Wicklow

franchise agreement. His 30+ years of franchise experience left no doubt that his recommendations held water. And during the evaluation process, his guidance helped me further understand the potential of the business. I have every intention of keeping Charlie on my team for as long as he is willing, as I’m sure I will rely on his advice in the future. By utilizing a wealth of educational information you get from working with SCORE, I would say the value of this course was incredible.”

Thanks to the support of Walmart Foundation, TD Charitable Foundation, and Bank of America, Veterans can take this course for free and benefit from the resource partnerships that have been established to support the participants of “Veterans Launching Ventures” program.

The next course begins on October 6th.

For more information, please visit www. fdu.edu/vlv or call 973-443-8842.

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ex per t advice

Kyle Zagrodzky, President, OsteoStrong

What You Should Look for in a Franchise If you’re interested in working with a franchise, these tips will help you narrow your search and get more out of the process.

What really interests you?

Kyle Zagrodzky

Plenty of entrepreneurs have turned to franchising as a great way to open their own business.

Franchising can take a lot of the guesswork out of entrepreneurship, and it can offer proven systems and support that will help you start, run, and sustain your own piece of an empire.

However, because franchising has become so popular, it’s harder and harder for prospective franchisees to shop all the various brands. There are so many to choose from, and they range from ambitious one-unit startups to global giants. Every customer-facing industry seems to have its own growing army of franchises, making the marketplace downright dizzying.

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When talking about the best strategies for investigating a franchise, lots of experts jump straight into topics like profitability, forecasting, and recession resistance.

Don’t get me wrong, those are all essential factors to evaluate when looking at an investment, but potential franchisees should really start their search based on something a lot simpler: Things they actually like. Any business you become part of should provide a product or service that you enjoy and believe in. For example, if you haven’t used a pair of scissors since kindergarten, running a scrapbooking shop probably isn’t for you. If you aren’t passionate about fitness but have traveled the country in search of the perfect burger, you’d probably be happier running a fast casual burger joint than a gym. Step one of the search should begin with an honest assessment of what businesses actually interest you; this makes it a lot easier to narrow down the search, and you’re ten times more likely to feel satisfied with your choice.

Is there room for this franchise in my local market?

You may be passionate about frozen yogurt, but if there are already 24 yogurt shops in your town of 24,000 people, opening a yogurt shop isn’t a good idea. Ask yourself—and your top list of franchises—whether there is realistically

room in your local market for the concept.

It’s important to understand every franchise’s ins and outs when it comes to territory management and growth plans, and you want to be as realistic as possible.

You should also check out each franchise’s sales philosophy. If you’re working with a known and established product, how does the brand retain customer trust and keep them coming back for more? If it’s a new concept, how does the brand explain and define their product or service? You ultimately want to sign up for something you can sell a lot of, so pay attention to every brand’s sales approach. Practice on a few friends who don’t know the brands and see if they “get it.” The more you compare and contrast the way each franchise approaches marketing, the more you’ll get a feel for what brands would mesh well with your market.

How accessible is the support system?

The process of opening and running a franchise is incredibly involved, and when you buy into one, you want to make sure you know what level of support you can expect. Franchises are all about duplicating the same great results, but if a business doesn’t have solid systems and support in place, you’re going to feel very lost very quickly. Too many franchises focus on their growth numbers more than they focus on the franchisee experience, and that eventually leads to wasted time, lost money, and a damaged brand. When you explore different franchise options, do some serious research on what kind of support the franchisees receive. Do

“A good franchise will be as interested in your success as they are in building their numbers, and the best franchises will be just as choosy as you are.” the current franchisees you meet with feel stable, comfortable with running the business, and supported? What kind of training and maintenance resources are available, and how do you access them?

Look for a company that has a balanced support system that offers comprehensive written resources as well as a regional developer who can answer questions live and help connect you with other franchisees.

What’s your overall sense of the people?

As you explore your top few franchise picks, talk to as many people within the business as possible. Visit franchise units in person as a customer, and listen to what

other customers around you are saying.

Chat with current franchisees to see whether they feel connected, supported, and stable in the business. Visit with the franchise’s key leadership team to get a sense of how they work together, what their vision is, and how well you get along.

The most successful franchises have a defined culture that sets the tone for the entire brand, and you should feel right at home with that sense of identity. Finally, you want to make sure that the franchise is choosing you. They should ask you plenty of questions that are about more than the financials. A good franchise will be as interested in your success as they are in building their numbers, and the best franchises will be just as choosy as you are.

Kyle Zagrodzky is president of OsteoStrong, the health and wellness system with a focus on stronger bones, improved strength, and better balance in less than 10 minutes a week using scientifically proven and patented osteogenic loading technology.

OsteoStrong introduced a new era in modern wellness and anti-aging in 2011 and has since helped thousands of clients between ages 8 and 98 improve strength, balance, endurance, and bone density. In 2014, the brand signed commitments with nine regional developers to launch 500 new locations across America. Today, the OsteoStrong brand is staying true to its growth towards a brand with global reach with the addition of more franchise sales and new regional developers. www.osteostrong.com

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ex per t advice

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prof ile

Big O T ires

LIVING

SPOTLIGHT ON: TONY WILLIAMS Tony’s passion for legendary customer service is standard operating procedure as he has built a culture of taking care of his team and they in turn take great care of each and every customer. A top performer year after year, Tony and his team are so focused on training their employees that they built a dedicated training center to ensure that their associates have access to the resources and education to better service customers.

Tony & Fawn Williams

Tony Williams has been in the automotive industry his entire life. In 2006, he joined Big O Tires, opening his first location in Phoenix after a 10 year career with Firestone.

Tony and his partners now own eight Big O locations in the Phoenix market.

Core Value: Deliver Legendary Customer Service Franchising USA

Whether it is merchandising for a sale, cleanliness of the building, top-notch vehicle inspections, quality work in a timely manner, comfortable waiting area with all the amenities, Tony’s desire is to create the ‘WOW FACTOR’ in every aspect of his business. And the results speak for themselves - not only in the top line sales performance and his team’s morale, but in overall customer satisfaction and retention. Just last month, a customer sent Tony a gift card asking that he buy pizza for the team as a token of his appreciation for taking such great care of him.

After taking over a challenged location in Chandler, Arizona in 2013, Tony increased sales by 35% in just six months.

There is no question that Tony has consistently been a top performer in the Big O system.

Core Value: Preserve Our Heritage As We Execute Our Future Tony serves on Big O’s Franchise Advisory Council, his regional dealer committees as well as hosting or traveling to other stores across the Big O system to train fellow franchisees. To him, Big O means Big Family.

Core Value: Give Back to Our Communities Tony is dedicated to giving back to the communities in which he serves. He sponsored the Relay for Life to benefit the American Cancer Society in Gilbert, AZ, raising more than $18,000 this year in addition to participating in several charity events sponsored by the Big O dealers in Arizona. Additionally, Tony has generously donated to the Big O Tires Scholarship Fund which awards educational funding for Big O employees and employees’ family members nationwide.

Tony and his wife, Fawn, have three children: Bryce, Melanie and Miley and live in Gilbert, AZ. He is truly a real life example of living Big O’s Core Values. www.bigotires.com

Ready Ready for for the the Big Big Leagues?

Leagues?

You have what it takes to be successful, and Big O Tires has the industry-leading knowledge and You have what it takes to be successful, and Big O Tires has the industry-leading knowledge and resources to help get you there.

Enjoy the freedom of operating your business independently while resources help get you there. Enjoy the freedom of operating yourofbusiness independently while leveragingto the support, resources and established brand recognition a multi-million dollar network. leveraging the support, resources and established brand recognition of a multi-million dollar network. • •• •• •• •

More than 50 years of experience in the tire & automotive service industries More than 50 years of experience in the tire & automotive service industries Proven business expertise and strategy designed to exceed customer needs Proven business and strategy designed to exceed customer needs Premium buying expertise power of hundreds of locations Premium buying powerfranchise of hundreds of locations Nationally-recognized networking Nationally-recognized franchise networking

This advertisement does not constitute an offer of a franchise. A franchise offering can be made This advertisement does not constitute an offer of a franchise. A franchise offering can be made E\ XV RQO\ LQ D VWDWH LI ZH DUH ´UVW UHJLVWHUHG H[FOXGHG H[HPSWHG RU RWKHUZLVH TXDOL´HG WR RIIHU E\ XV RQO\ LQ D VWDWH LI ZH DUH ´UVW UHJLVWHUHG H[FOXGHG H[HPSWHG RU RWKHUZLVH TXDOL´HG WR RIIHU franchises in that state, and only if we provide you with an appropriate franchise disclosure franchises that state,are and only if we provide you with an appropriate franchise disclosure document.in Franchises not available in all states. document. Franchises are not available in all states.

www.bigofranchise.com www.bigofranchise.com 877-890-5874 877-890-5874

ex per t advice

Joel Libava, Author of Become A Franchise Owner!

3 Things You Can Do to Reduce Your Risk When Buying a Franchise There’s risk associated with buying a franchise.

Don’t let anyone tell you there’s not. You’re putting some of your hardearned money on the line in order to be your own boss. There’s no guarantee your franchise business will be a successful one.

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But, there are things you can do to reduce your risk before you take your checkbook out. I’m going to share 3 of them with you.

1

Watch the Trends

Before you embark on your search for a great franchise opportunity, you should have a good idea of what the current trends in franchising-and small business are. In other words, be a trend-watcher. I have a couple of ways for you to do it.

1. Set up a few Google Alerts.

To set these up, all you need is a free Google account. Once you’re signed in, go

to Google Alerts, and create a few of them, so you can be alerted via email when the topics you’re interested in receive a mention online.

Examples: “franchise trends” “what’s hot in franchising” “new franchise opportunities” “trends in franchising” Once you have those setup, subscribe to get new blog posts from the following online publications: Small Business Trends

“Before you embark on your search for a great franchise opportunity, you should have a good idea of what the current trends in franchising-and small business are. In other words, be a trendwatcher.”

The Franchise King®

number should be the maximum amount of money you’d be willing to put on the line in order to be your own boss. Call it your maximum total investment.

To do that-to figure out the top-end of what you’re willing to invest in a franchise, you need to determine your net worth. Have you done that yet?

If you know your net worth, great. If not, you can use the free net worth calculator a friend of mine (who’s a coder) put together.

It’s crucial to know exactly where you stand financially before you start doing a serious search for a franchise.

Once you have come up with your net worth, it’s up to you to figure out what you’re comfortable investing and where the money is going to come from. Seeing your financials in black and white makes this exercise much easier to do.

Important: I’m not a financial expert. If you need help figuring out how much money you may want to risk, sit down with a financial planner and go through a few scenarios.

Business News Daily Small Biz Daily The writers at these publications are good at spotting trends and writing about them.

They make it easy for you to keep your eye on what’s new. You need to see what people are talking about. You can lower your risk and increase your chances of success if you can get in on the ground floor of a franchise that’s aiming squarely at both current and up and coming trends.

2

Determine Your Budget

You need to come up with a number. This

You can lower your risk substantially by doing things right at the beginning. Like coming up with a budget for your potential franchise business that won’t put too much of your assets at risk.

3

Meet the People at Franchise Headquarters If at all possible, visit franchise headquarters in-person, so you can meet the executive team-and some of the employees.

It’s one thing to have a video-conference via Skype with your franchise representative; it’s quite another to shake a few hands and engage in face-to-face

conversations with the folks you’ll

be interacting with once you get your franchise business up and running.

The only way that you’re going to be

able to good sense of the operation is by meeting the entire team in-person.

Fact: Most franchisors put on what’s often

called a Discovery Day. It’s an event put on by franchise headquarters for people who are interested in learning more about the

operation. It’s usually reserved for serious franchisee prospects-ones who have been financially vetted and are getting close to

making a yes or no decision on whether to become a franchisee or not.

Making an in-person visit is a great way to lower your risk when buying a franchise.

Not only does it enable you to see the

business-behind the scenes in real-time, it allows you to get a feel of what the

company culture is like. You’ll also be able to determine if the company is for real,

and if they seem to have the capacity (and

the personnel) to support you as an owner.

It’s important to do whatever you can to

lower your risk when buying a franchise.

The tips I shared will help you do just that.

The Franchise King®, Joel Libava, is the author of Become A Franchise Owner!

The Startup Guide to Lowering Risk, Making Money, And Owning What You Do. He also owns and operates Franchise Business University, which offers invaluable online franchise courses. www.thefranchiseking.com/about-joellibava-the-franchise-king

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

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

Big O Tires® BIG O Is Your BIG Opportunity.

With more than 50 years in the tire and automotive maintenance industry, Big O Tires® is proud to be a worldclass leader. As we continue to thrive in an ever-expanding market, we invite you to be a part of the exciting opportunities as a member of the Big O Tires® family.

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

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

Cookie Cutters Haircuts for Kids For more than 20 years, Cookie Cutters has offered an interactive haircut experience that both children and parents won’t soon forget.

Upon entering the salons, neon lights lead children to an in-store playground where they can climb and slide.

Come time for the haircut, each station on the cutting floor is outfitted with unique fantasy chairs

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

Coverall began in 1985 as a three-person company headquartered in San Diego, California and now supports more than 8,000 Franchised Businesses in 90 markets across the United States and Internationally.

Those independently owned and operated franchised

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Excellent for branding and recognition.

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

• Leading name-brand recognition.

• Experienced franchise system.

• Competitive marketing strategies.

• Dynamic and perpetuating consumer engagement • Comprehensive start-up training.

• Sales guidance from a network of retail experts.

• Multiple warehouses stocked to meet inventory demands.

• National and regional meetings/conventions.

• Access to exclusive marketing resources.

• On-site visits and strong support from Franchise Business Consultants.

Contact us today! www.bigofranchise.com

simple click of a mouse.

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

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

– from race cars to motorcycles, firetrucks to airplanes – as well as televisions for the kids to watch shows or play video games.

With a balloon, sucker and a smile at the end of each haircut, the Cookie Cutters experience is designed to keep children coming back again and again.

Contact: Neal Courtney Phone: (801) 232-5697 Email: neal@haircutsarefun.com Website: www.haircutsarefun.com

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

With Coverall, becoming your own boss is easier than you might think, no experience necessary, and financing is available! Our Initial Training Program emphasizes franchised business operations and professional commercial cleaning tools and techniques, helping prepare you to run your business. The Coverall® Program sets the bar higher for healthy cleaning and differentiates Coverall franchised businesses from traditional janitorial service providers in the market.

Start your franchised business with the leader in healthier office cleaning!

Website: www.coverall.com/franchise-opportunities

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Foot Solutions

• Satisfaction of Helping Others

What Are You Looking For In A Business?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Phone: 888.556.0123 www.honkamp.com

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

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

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

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

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

Kid to Kid

why Franchise Grade ranked Kid to Kid as the #12 Best Franchise for 2015.

For more than 20 years, Kid to Kid franchisees have been a fixture in their local communities, serving parents and families with growing kids. This recession-thriving store concept allows parents to sell their outgrown kids clothes and buy gently-worn toys, clothes, and baby gear at affordable prices.

Kid to Kid stores provide a bright, clean, and upscale experience for customers that result in nearly 70% gross margins to the franchisee.

With more than 117 stores in operation and a track record of solid franchisee earnings, it’s easy to see

Kid to Kid is seeking energetic individuals with great management skills who want to make a difference in their community while earning a living. Our owners enjoy operational, technical, marketing, and financial support from our corporate headquarters and a great community of successful store owners who work together to continually improve.

For more information call our business development team: 801 359 0071 ext 100, or email sales@bcfranchise.com.

Little Caesars

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Benefit from nearly 60 years of “The Midas Touch”

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

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

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

Franchising USA

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Paul Davis For 50 years, Paul Davis has restored residential and commercial properties damaged by fire, water, mold, storms and disasters.

The experts at Paul Davis understand the complex process of recovering from property damage and provide complete services; there is no need for the expense and confusion of hiring multiple contractors.

Paul Davis is a one stop shop for disaster

Restoration 1 Restoration1® is a recognized national leader in the emergency restoration industry for mold, water, fire and smoke damage, handling jobs of all sizes across the nation for residential and commercial property’s.

Our business is based on local and regional relationships with insurance adjusters, building inspectors, subcontractors and policy holders.

It is always in high demand and not affected by economic trends because it is based on necessity, not discretionary spending.

Our model is a powerful opportunity for the right candidates, as it involves no inventory, no brick-

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

damage and restoration and has over 365 independently owned franchises in the USA and Canada.

The professionals at Paul Davis are certified in emergency restoration, reconstruction and remodeling. The company is consistently featured on Entrepreneur Magazine’s Top 500 Franchises list.

Go to www.pauldavis.com/ for services.

For franchise info go to: www.pauldavisbusiness. com or email Ddavies@pauldavis.com

and-mortar location and high-volume growth that continues through almost any economic climate.

Our ethics, professionalism, quality and availability are carried out at each of our franchise locations.

Our team is committed to giving franchisees the support system they need to succeed in these same areas. Restoration 1 Franchisees can reach full potential with our superior training, technical support and in-territory support.

Website: www.restoration1.com Email: gina@restoration1.com Phone: 800-993-0803 Contact: Gina Roberson

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

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

For more information, contact Karen Young: Email: franchise.recruitment@sportclips.com Phone: (800) 872-4247 x. 1 Website: www.sportclipsfranchise.com

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Sprout Financial Sprout specifically created this financial program to help new & existing Franchise owners.

We strive to ensure you have the working capital needed to promote a thriving business.

Contact: Russell Hibbert Phone: 800.358.1052 Email: contact@sproutfin.com

NO collateral required, NO financials submitted

Website: www.sproutfin.com

The Interface Financial Group – IFG 50/50

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Franchising USA

as we work from STATED information and your good personal credit history.

www.interfacefinancial.com

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

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

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

For more information, visit ubreakifix.com.

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

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

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

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

Uptown Cheapskate At Uptown Cheapskate, we buy and sell stylish clothing for teens and twenty-somethings in a fastpaced, upscale retail environment that enjoys nearly 70% gross margins. Our inventory changes every day as our stores hand-select current fashions and price them using Uptown Cheapskate’s proprietary software.

Our ideal candidates pair their love of fashion with management experience, and are energetic leaders to their store teams. Our franchise owners are trained in person at corporate headquarters and in internship stores, and are given access to a robust training portal for franchisees and store employees. This tool is best-

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

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

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

YamChops – Plant-Based Butcher & Market Welcome to one of the hottest food concepts to hit the market in, dare we say, decades!

YamChops is North America’s first and Canada’s only plant-based butcher shop. Some might say that’s an oxymoron, but we believe plant-based proteins can (and should) be a staple of every kitchen or diet. YamChops’ goodies appeal to all types of eaters: vegans, vegetarians and flexitarians – those who are choosing to reduce their meat, fish and dairy consumption.

YamChops is firmly rooted in one of the fastest growing

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

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

in-class and allows new employees and franchisees to rapidly learn the ins and outs of the business.

You’ll also receive personalized operational support, professional marketing design, and assistance with everything from site selection to financing to operational tools.

Explore our award-winning franchise that has rapidly grown to more than 50 locations across the United States, and learn why our franchisees find financial and personal fulfillment as Uptown Cheapskate store owners.

For more information call our business development team: 801 359 0071, ext 100, or email: sales@bcfranchise.com

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

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

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

categories (plant-based foods) and serves three of the fastest growing market segments (flexitarians, vegan, vegetarian). With acclaim from around the world, YamChops is now offering select franchise locations in key North American markets including Toronto, Vancouver, Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle, Denver, New York and Miami. Please contact us for these or other locations not listed. We look forward to welcoming you to the Yamily!

Phone: 778-545-0233 | 416-645-0117 Website: www.YamChops.com Email: TalkToUs@YamChops.com Contact: Toni Abramson / Lawrence Eade

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

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

Also, in an industry that often coincides with negative

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

franchising usa

Excellent for branding and recognition.

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

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

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

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Nearly every industry represented!

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