FOCUS ON FRANCHISES
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Jack and Jill Johnson
BET ON YOURSELF
“Although 90 percent of our clients use some form of financing, they all end up having teeth in the game financially,” Jack Johnson says. And he should know. He and his wife, Jill, co-founded The Franchise Insiders, which specializes in connecting future franchise owners with opportunities best suited to them. When it comes to investing their personal savings or retirement accounts in a new business venture, Johnson asks his clients an important question:
“What do you feel better betting on—the stock market or yourself?” An important first step is to determine the liquid assets you have and can readily invest. “Some potential franchisees know that number down to the dollar, and some don’t even know their credit score,” Johnson says. The Franchise Insiders can help potential franchisees on their way to business ownership. “Because of our experience and volume, we can quickly interview potential franchisees and recommend the best directions for them to explore,” he says. That includes not just financing methods, but also the most suitable franchises and insur-
ance for each client. Johnson is also a proponent of SBA loans and has seen the process change since founding The Franchise Insiders 10 years ago. “It has really improved,” Johnson says. While SBA loans were once notoriously slow, SBA Express loans can now provide funds relatively quickly. In fact, the SBA promises to respond to applications within 36 hours. “On average,” Johnson says, “SBA Express funds are available to borrowers within four weeks.”
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