Veteran's supplement - Franchising USA May 2014

MAY 2014

Veterans in Franchising www.franchisingusamagazine.com

RimTyme

An Industry Leader

franchise

fee waived Operation American Dream

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feature

Page 41

To work independently To your workown independently To set work schedule To work independently To set your own work you schedule To work at something enjoy To set your own work schedule To To work at something you enjoy control your own salary To To work at something you enjoy control your own salary To control your own salary

Want To Be Your Want To Be Your Want Be Your OwnToBoss…

Own Boss…

Own Boss…

“BUILDING AMERICA WITH AMERICAN HEROES”

www.VeteranFranchiseAdvisers.com www.VeteranFranchiseAdvisers.com www.VeteranFranchiseAdvisers.com “BUILDING AMERICA WITH AMERICAN HEROES”

© ASUKA Inc. 2014

Veterans make great franchise Veterans make greattraining franchise owners!

Your military has Veterans make great franchise owners!

Your military training has taught you many things that transfer owners!

Your military training has taught youthe many things that transfer well into world of franchising. taught youthe many things that transfer well into world of franchising. well into the world of franchising.

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Take Advantage of Our Take Advantage of Our Take Advantage of Our Free Expert Help Free Help Free Expert Expert Help Today!

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You served your country proudly.

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You served your country Now its time to build a future for you andproudly. your family.

Now its time to build a future for you and your family.

V eterans in F ranchisin g S upplement may 2 0 1 4 Our Veterans in Franchising special supplement has become a regular feature of Franchising USA. To share your story in the June issue, please contact Vikki Bradbury, Publisher Phone: 778 426 2446 Email: vikki@cgbpublishing.com

Contents 44 Cover Story: RimTyme: Veteran Franchisee Paves the Way

in Leading Franchise Brand

46 Profile

Famous Brands International

50 Profile

Signal 88

52 Profile Maid Simple

48 Profile

Advantaclean

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V eterans i n Franch isi ng

COV ER STO RY

Veteran Franchisee Paves the Way in Leading Franchise Brand Not many business owners can say they’ve been involved in the start of an entire industry from the ground up. Fewer still can take credit for being a forerunner in two.

Jim Moore, of JDM Management, Inc. and a franchisee of RimTyme Custom Wheels and Tires, is one of those people.

He started in the rent-to-own business in 1991 in the training department for ColorTyme Rent-to-Own, working for Willie Talley, founder of ColorTyme, who, along with his brother Ernie, are widely regarded as the forefathers of the rent-toown industry.

In his time working for ColorTyme in the training and operations departments, Moore not only gained the knowledge that would serve as the foundation for his success in the industry, but he also started his path to becoming a pioneer in the industry himself. When he began, he told Willie Talley that he would serve in his role for two years, and if after that time he couldn’t raise the capital to open his own franchise, he would move on to something else.

In August of 1993 he made good on his promise, purchasing his first ColorTyme location in Raleigh, N.C. By December of that year, he had increased the monthly revenue four times what it was when he began, and by the following year he surpassed the $1 million annual revenue mark in that first store. Moore attributes much of this early success to the best practices he picked up from the ColorTyme

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franchisees with whom he interacted as their franchise consultant, learning as he worked side-by-side with them to open and operate their stores.

The growth of his business continued over the next few years. In all, Moore opened 10 additional ColorTyme locations, which were consistently at the top of the rankings among locations in annual revenue. Then, in the early 2000s, he saw an increasing demand for rental wheels and tires among his customer base. After nearly a decade learning and working with industry pioneers, it was now his turn to be at the forefront of a new movement in rent-toown.

In 2002, with the help of his franchisor, he began offering rental wheels and tires as an additional product to customers in three of his ColorTyme stores, alongside his inventory of appliances, electronics and furniture. A two-year struggle to find footing for this branch of his business led him, in 2004, to make the decision to separate his business and found RimTyme Custom Wheels and Tires.

“There were a tremendous amount of requests from our customers for wheels and tires,” said Moore. “We hired industry professionals to sell our tires and we invested in equipment for immediate installation… Our competitors cannot offer immediate or same day installation service. We have the competitive advantage.”

While it was a risk to depart from his widely successful ColorTyme locations and venture into an unknown and untested market, Moore was unfazed by the challenges ahead. As a decorated veteran of the United States Army who served his country in Vietnam as a Combat

Helicopter Pilot, he was used to risk.

During his time in the military, Moore logged over 3,400 flight hours in combat missions. He was shot down three times during the Vietnam War and earned a number of honors, including the Silver Star, Bronze Star and Distinguished Flying Cross.

Today, 13 years and 27 stores later, RimTyme, a subsidiary of Rent-A-Center Franchising International, Inc., features thousands of custom wheels and tires with same-day installation across a growing number of states. Named the Number 1 Automotive Wheels and Tires Franchise

by Entrepreneur Magazine in 2013, RimTyme is one of the fastest-growing franchises available in the marketplace.

“With thirty-five years of experience and $3 billion in annual revenue, RentA-Center, Inc. allows for operational support and finances to build massive inventories to meet both the product and time demands of their customers,” says Michael Landry, Vice President of Franchise Development for Rent-A-Center Franchising International, Inc. A 4,000-unit inventory offers a variety of wheel brands, including rim sizes and materials ranging from chrome to black rims and alloy to aluminum wheels. With a high percentage of revenue coming from cash sales, inventory replenishment is necessary to keep up. Luckily for Moore, RimTyme’s parent company, Rent-ACenter, offers guaranteed financing to cover inventory purchases.

“Rent-A-Center’s guaranteed financing helped us build our product selection”, says Moore. “We would not have been successful without Rent-A-Center’s financing guarantee.”

The average investment for a franchise is $500,000 with a mature store generating on average $1.7 million in annual revenue.

Landry adds, “We’re so confident in the business model and skills of our franchisees we’re willing to co-guarantee the business loans ourselves.”

This support, in addition to his expertise and innovative business model, has helped make Moore RimTyme’s largest franchisee, with eight locations throughout the southeast United States. His stores are among the highest-performing out of Rent-A-Center’s portfolio of over 4,500 locations.

With over $3 billion in annual revenue, Rent-A-Center is the largest rent-to-own company in the world. Both the Rent-ACenter brand and the RimTyme brand are designed to appeal to a wide variety of customers by allowing them to obtain merchandise that they might otherwise be unable to obtain due to insufficient cash resources or a lack of access to credit.

Growth is at the forefront for this industry, particularly for RimTyme. Existing franchisees currently have secured development rights for 10 new stores in the next 18 months, and open opportunities exist throughout the southern United States.

For more information: www.racfranchising.com www.rentacenter.com

“Today, 13 years and 27 stores later, RimTyme features thousands of custom wheels and tires with same-day installation.”

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v e t era ns i n fra nch isi ng

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V eterans i n Franch isi ng

Fa mous B ra nds I nter national

franchise fee waived

for the first 50 qualif ying military veterans As a way of expressing gratitude and recruiting exceptional franchisees at the same time, Famous Brands International, the parent company of TCBY Yogurt and Mrs. Fields Cookies, has announced it will waive the franchise fee for the first 50 qualifying military veterans who join the brand.

The company is committed to giving away $1.75 million in free franchise fees through the program.

According to the Small Business Association, about one quarter of the country’s 23.5 million veterans are interested in starting or buying their own business. Eager to help meet that demand, Famous Brands is doing their part by helping veterans accomplish the dream of small business ownership, helping to make

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“Famous Brands is doing their part by helping veterans accomplish the dream of small business ownership.” it more attainable and affordable postmilitary service. The program waives the franchise fee of $35,000 per unit.

“Military veterans are reliable, tenacious and driven – all qualities that align perfectly with our company culture and result in long-term success,” said Chief Operating Officer David Bloom. “We have seen great success with our current veteran franchise partners, so we are happy to waive 50 franchise fees so these recognized individuals receive an opportunity to own their own business.”

Additionally, TCBY and Mrs. Fields are both part of the International Franchise Association’s VetFran program, which offers ongoing incentives, training and mentoring to military veterans interested in a franchising career path.

Together, TCBY and Mrs. Fields have more than 900 locations in 33 countries.

Famous Brands is now focusing on developing the two legacy brands through dual-branded stores. In addition to an updated design, the new stores offer three different revenue streams for owners:

TCBY, Mrs. Fields and Mrs. Fields instore gifting station via MrsFields.com.

Total initial investment for a dual-branded store ranges from $150,000-$450,000 depending on unit size.

For more information on this program, visit http://franchise.tcby.com/.

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V eterans i n Franch isi ng

Ad va ntaClea n

AdvantaClean

proud supporter of Military Veterans With proven processes and a highly structured business model, owning an AdvantaClean franchise is a great fit for individuals with military training. A large number of our most successful offices are owned and operated by military veterans.

“Owning an AdvantaClean franchise is a great fit for individuals with military training.”

Take for example, Barry Hintz, US Army Transportation Corps Officer 1986-1992, Gulf War veteran, one year as AdvantaClean franchise owner, Milwaukee, WI. His military background has helped him in the following ways: discipline to get the job done, organization and planning to prioritize his daily and strategic tasks, and leadership abilities to instruct and motivate his employees to do AdvantClean projects.

Hiring vets has helped Barry’s franchise in many ways: Veterans are mission oriented, Veterans can make decisions when he is not around, Veterans can

succeed under adverse conditions, and put the mission above themselves when required.

thank you for your service to our great

Barry is seen here in the picture with fellow franchisees:

who are military veterans including

Justen Jubb, US Marine Corps Sergeant, 1998-2004, Iraq War veteran, one year with AdvantaClean franchise.

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country. Additionally, we do offer a

number of discounts to new franchisees participating in the IFA VetFran program offering a 10 percent discount, a value

of up to $10,000 off the initial franchise

fee to qualifying men and women of our

Mike Peterson, US Marin Corps reserves Lance Corporal, 2010-current, three months with AdvantaClean franchise.

armed forces.

We invite you to learn more about the AdvantaClean franchise program and

http://www.veteransbusinessservices.us/

For more information about the

AdvantaClean franchise opportunity, visit product-item/advantaclean/

'3&& 4&0 "OBMZTJT BOE 2VPUF $BMM /PX 901-672-7243

www.highervisibility.com

info@highervisibility.com

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75 Page 49

V eterans i n Franch isi ng

Signal 88

Operation American Dream Giving Veterans the Chance to Be Their Own Boss Military veterans with entrepreneurial dreams are invited to compete for start-up money to open their own business.

Signal 88 Security’s contest, Operation American Dream, is in its second year and will again provide veterans with an opportunity for success.

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, veterans own 2.4 million, or approximately one in 10, small businesses. It also notes that in the private sector, veterans are 45 percent more likely than those with no active-duty military

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“According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, veterans own 2.4 million, or approximately one in 10, small businesses.”

experience to be self-employed.

Between April 1 and May 15, 2013, Army and Air Force veterans are invited to submit a video explaining why they want to open their own business. Submissions will be accepted online at www.signal88. com/OperationAmericanDream.

The winning submission will be decided through a public vote on Signal 88 Security’s Facebook page on Thursday, May 22, 2014. The contestant with the most votes will receive $5,000 to start his or her own business, or $10,000 if he or she chooses to open a Signal 88 Security franchise.

Signal 88 Security has been listed among the top 10 percent of militaryfriendly franchises by G.I. Jobs as well as recognized as a Top 100 Franchise for Veterans by Franchise Business Review.

For additional contest information, or to submit a video, visit www.signal88.com/ OperationAmericanDream. Marine and Navy veterans, stay tuned. Your chance will come in October 2014. http://www.veteransbusinessservices. us/operation-american-dream-frombattlefield-to-boss/

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V eterans i n Franch isi ng

M aid Simple

Veteran Celebrates

as Maid Simple Franchisee Medically retiring from the military in 2011, Tai Jeffries relocated to Fort Wayne, Indiana with her husband and five daughters and embarked on the next step in her career – franchising.

“I always knew I wanted to run my own business.

I didn’t want to work for anyone else and I was determined to set a positive example for my daughters.”

Celebrating a year of success this month, Jeffries is the proud owner of a Maid Simple House Cleaning franchise.

“After my career in the military ended I pursued franchising because it was a perfect fit for me,” says Jeffries. “I always knew I wanted to run my own business. I didn’t want to work for anyone else and I was determined to set a positive example for my daughters.”

Jeffries thoroughly researched many different franchise concepts before making a decision. Due to the vast potential of the cleaning services industry, she decided on a maid service franchise. Jeffries contacted Maid Simple House Cleaning and the rest is history.

“Maid Simple House Cleaning was the best fit for me and my family. The model is low cost, flexible, and offers a lot of training and support,” comments Jeffries.

“They came out to train me in person and any questions I have had along the way, they are willing and ready to help. So far they have been incredibly supportive.”

Currently Jeffries is both cleaning herself and managing a team of cleaners. Her long-term goal is to step away from the cleaning altogether and leave it to her team members.

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“I’m really involved with my customers,” she says. “I call and make home visits to ensure they are taken care of. Customer satisfaction is my concern for each and every visit.”

Her advice to transitioning veterans looking to possibly own a franchise of their own?

“Do your research. Make sure it is something you are ready to give 100 percent towards. Owning your own franchise means you are responsible for every aspect of your business. It has to be something you are passionate about,” she says.

Jeffries credits her nine-year military

career to giving her the confidence to own a franchise business.

“Attention to detail, dependability, and

dedication are just a few of the valuable skills and traits veterans bring to the

table,” says Jeffries. “I encourage other veterans who are looking for a career change to consider franchising.”

To learn more about Jeffries’ story

or the Maid Simple House Cleaning franchise opportunity, visit www. maidsimplefranchise.com.