Business Franchise Opportunity

Image is so vitally important to a franchising companies brand-name, that each and every franchisee must maintain consistency of appearance in their franchised outlets. This means that maintenance and repair of the business location must be up to standards of the confidential operations manual of the franchised business at all times.

If a franchised outlet is in the state of disrepair and looks it, but customers will know and it will be difficult for them to maintain consistency and quality in the goods and services they perform and provide. It is for this reason that every franchisor must pay specific attention to this detail. Below is a clause I put into all of our franchise agreements to address this issue;

3.18 Maintenance and Repair

3.18.1 Maintenance and Appearance of Business Location

Franchisee must maintain the condition and appearance of the Franchised Business in a manner consistent with The Car Wash Guys System image. Franchisee will perform all maintenance that is reasonably required from time to time to maintain the condition, appearance and efficient operation of the Franchised Business, including replacement of worn-out or obsolete fixtures, equipment, signs, supplies and inventory, repair of the interior and exterior of the premises and periodic cleaning and decorating. If at any time in the Franchisor's reasonable judgement the general state of repair, appearance or cleanliness of the Franchised Business does not meet Franchisor's standards, then Franchisor will give Franchisee written notice specifying the action to be taken by Franchisee to correct the deficiency and Franchisee will initiate the required action immediately upon receipt of the notice.

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as a franchisor you would be well advised to talk with inexperienced franchise attorney about the maintenance, repair and appearance of the franchisee in their business location and be prepared to address this issue not only in the confidential operations manual but also in the franchise agreements. Consider this to those experts.

Lance Winslow

How do automotive detailing companies start? What makes them work and how do they grow? How do they choose which services they will offer? This is an interesting case study about a test market of a franchise company in the cleaning business and how they went about setting up Auto Detailing Shops. It maybe of interest to your business study and research; I am familiar with this story because it is one of the companies that I founded.

It all started in Reno, NV where we had set up a mobile car wash franchise of the Car Wash Guys for a franchisee there. www.CarWashGuys.com . Because we have significant market share in Reno NV, we wanted to expand into different lines. So we looked at co-branding with Ziebart, yet their corporate culture did not mix with our Entrepreneurial Fiber and the cost of their franchises were quite high. On top of that they had sold so many franchises in the US, there would be a problem later if we decided to roll out our system nationwide or continue buying their units to expand with our current franchisees, still we felt this might be worth pursuing. So instead going thru all the mistakes, which had already been learned we wanted to buy into a proven system and wanted to exhaust this possibility first. They turned us down. So we have decided to take the market, city by city. But first we needed to establish a prototype unit and this is where our Reno Franchisee came into play. Ziebart instead of partner would become a challenge, as they had 216 units already up and running. We visited many of their locations including Hilo, HA at the time.

We decided we would put in co-brands at car washes as well, express detail centers. Also at Park and Flys and High End Parking Structures. These permanent Detailing Centers would provide a wide array of services. We are detailing for large dealerships, adding oil additives, which are guaranteed by Lloyds of London for 100,000 miles, bed liners, gold plating, window tinting, auto accessories, pin striping, Gold Plating, Dent Repair, Windshield Repair, Wood grain and Interior Paneling, Vinyl and Leather Repair, Paint Touch-Up, Engine Steam Cleaning, Rust Proofing, Odor Elimination. The business plan is extensive, and the training intense.

We determined to be able to handle all the services we wished to provide the Centers would have to be 8 bay Detail Shops the largest of all organized Detail Shops. By having other WashGuy.com franchise systems customers to draw from there would be enough customers to allow maximum synergy. This is where the tires meet the pavement. The Super Centers are exactly that. The smaller co-brand version was tested at our fixed site car wash franchise prototype in WA. Now realize we have been in the detailing business for years, www.detailguys.com and we know what we are doing and we are good at it.
Tip! Many franchise businesses opportunities in the United States are a perfect fit for small business owners starting down the road to entrepreneurship. Starting with a small business franchise makes sense if you are looking for an opportunity that is a safer investment than traditional business.

This company was founded out of necessity to service the customers. Paul our franchise in Reno of the car wash guys kept getting detailing offers from the dealerships he was washing. One offer led to an onsite takeover of their in-house detailing facilities; a four-bay detail shop, which he grew out of in less than three months. Then he moved into an 8 bay detail shop keeping the four bay for a total of 12 bays in two shops. Before his second year he was on pace to do about $600,000.00 this year. He had only been in business 18 months. He was so busy trying to divide his car wash with all his detail work he had decided to sell part of it. We wanted him to be successful so we allowed the partial transfer and he will be using the money from the sale of one of his car wash guys franchised territories to fund his new detail center. He maxed the old center out and had to move into a bigger shop, and then at one point even that was not enough so he had to keep both. The next year we had set up smaller Detail Guys Centers in other parts of the country and established co-brands in WA, OK, OH, TN, and CA.
Tip! All in all, when determining what the �top franchise� actually is, it is best to do your research and think about what fits your needs. At the end of the day it is your business franchise that you will be investing into, not any top 10 lists franchise.

The entire business grew out of a mobile car wash operation, without any detailed advanced strategic thinking on our part until we had the customers breathing down our throats yellowing "We need more services" and that folks is how many opportunities are found in the market. You get into business and get tough and follow opportunity, this is why all the text books and business plans are not all they are cracked up to be and why reality based entrepreneurship come from the real world where people can. Not from the academia world where all they know how to do is teach. If you want to go from 0-60 in four seconds sure it is nice to have a venture capital bankroll, but all the real companies I know about started from scratch and then became built to last. From starting small to finishing big is all in the market place and minds of the greatest people on Earth, the Entrepreneurs.

Lance Winslow

On question I have been asked over and over again from prospective franchisees of our companies has been one in which I am very adamant about it; do we require prior experience? No, like many franchise companies we actually frown upon it and think it is such a detriment that we usually disqualify the franchise candidate if they do have prior experience. And we always ask the prospective franchise buyer what sort of experience they have in our industry. When people find out we specifically do not want to sell franchises to those in our industry we are often ask; "Why Not," as it would appear that a franchisee with prior experience has a leg up on the world and would have a better chance of instant success in our business models.

Generally it is like Ray Kroc found, I would rather take someone with no experience than one with experience. What he was saying in "Grinding It Out," his autobiography, which I recommend was someone with restaurant experience comes with preconceived notions, and since he was re-inventing the restaurant business, that would only hinder his progress. I agree. So I do not want people in my industry as franchisees, only to join the Founders Round Table (my master mind group). Mostly people I met by chance at places like Starbucks: Venti Mocha Power frappachino please...no whip." Need to go where people's neurons are transmitting fastest otherwise I get board and have to leave. Our business is customer driven; we cannot stop it if we had too. They want service and they want it now, and they demand that it be us, we are in the cleaning business and our franchise system has grown from customers desires to have things cleaned. The problem is how do you wash every house, roof, awning, mini-blind, window, deck, dock, boat, plane, tractor, truck, car, and then change the oil, wax them, and coat them? You have to divide it into smaller pieces because it is too ominous of a task. KISS-keep it simple. Specialize and over deliver, thus strengthening the brand.' THE GUYS." S

o what we did is what we had to do. If our franchisees are in a neighborhood washing houses but are suppose to be washing cars at the golf course, then how can we give good service? We can't. So we find the best people in the world at each type of washing and have them join our team, we train the team from those best and knock out the 20-year learning curve. Presto! We have a franchise that is actually worth more than just a name. With the synergy of each additional brand in the area and the sharing of customer databases it is easy to have power of presence. When someone thinks washing they think us. This way our franchisees get more calls and can service more customers and create more word of mouth and grow faster. In theory it looks easy. But it is a giant undertaking. Each new franchise we start and the more customers we service the better we get to service them more efficiently by learning from our network. The more valuable our franchise is to the newest team member and the faster the ROI, so the more trucks they can buy to service the more customers who call in. Our customers ask us for additional services. We should co-brand with ourselves, why? As not to lose secrets. Andy Grove is correct only the paranoid survive. Now if I could only double my speed and half the time to half the labor to do twice the work. The goal is simple we want to clean up the world.
Tip! One thing you should not do when purchasing a business franchise is to allow any business expert to decide for you whether or not you should buy a business. You can ask for opinions and advice, but it is your money that will be spent and your life that will be invested.

I think any franchisor who goes for brand extension needs to be very careful about how they go about it. There are many ways to excel in the market thru co-branding and franchising or licensing and equally as many theories of how to do it. In the end you need to pick a formula that is working and just go with it. Think on this.

Lance Winslow

Everybody dreams of becoming his or her own boss, but is it so easy to kiss your job goodbye? Yes, it is possible if you open a franchise business. Owning a franchise business opens limitless opportunities; you can become your own boss and lead a great lifestyle.

With all the resources available on franchise opportunities nowadays, locating your ideal franchise business has become much easier. There are plenty of websites that provide detailed information on owning a franchise business. These websites help potential franchise owners find the best possible franchise information on business opportunities and franchises for sale. These franchise directories are essential tools to help entrepreneurs find new business ideas for any new enterprises. Most of the more established franchise directories extensively cover the franchise industry sectors such as retail, business services, home improvement, food services, and senior care etc.
Tip! Types of business franchises.

As there are a huge number of franchise opportunities available, how do you pick the right franchise opportunity for you? It is important that your interests match your choice of franchise business. To start with, carefully take stock of what you really enjoy doing, what you want out of your business and what you want to achieve out of life. Write down a list of your interests, desires and passions. What kind of jobs have you held before or what past opportunities have you explored? After you have reflected on these questions, give some thought on the type of franchise business opportunities that appeal to you and that can help you realize your ambitions and goals.
Tip! You can also log on to certain websites that aid in searches like yours. These sites make it easy for you to search for business franchises for sale.

Once you are committed to buying a franchise business, your next step will be to decide which service or product you want to invest in specifically. You should also investigate the scope and the details of the franchise business you want to get into in terms of profitability, investment opportunity, market viability etc.

Before starting a franchise business it is a good idea to consult with experienced entrepreneurs in the same field of business. Owning and operating a business is a large commitment as it involves a lot of money, time and energy, so you do not want to be stuck running a business that you do not enjoy nor is the right fit for you.

Many franchise businesses opportunities in the United States are a perfect fit for small business owners starting down the road to entrepreneurship. Starting with a small business franchise makes sense if you are looking for an opportunity that is a safer investment than traditional business.
Tip! Plan to take up to 50 of your business cards with you at each event. Social networking groups can have anywhere from 20 to 50 or more business franchise owners.

Explore the possibility of franchise business ownership if you want to lower the risk of owning a traditional business. Before investing in any franchise business, be sure to get a copy of the franchiser's disclosure document. Established enterprises such as coffee franchises or restaurant franchises depend on their franchises to penetrate untapped market segments at a lower risk of failure. For any franchise business, the brand recognition and the high quality standard already established by previous chains provide a huge advantage to new franchisees.

If you are thinking of starting your own Franchise Business, visit Susan's site at lucrative-franchise.info. Susan also enjoys writing on a wide range of topics at health-and-fitness-hub.info.

Once you've determined that buying a franchise is the right choice for you, your next decision will be to decide exactly which service or product you want to invest in.

And this decision had be harder than it seems. One of the biggest decisions a would-be entrepreneur has to make is choosing the right franchise system for them. After all, owning and operating a business is a large commitment--in time, money, and energy--and nobody wants to be stuck running a business that they don't like, or that's not the right fit for them. Someone who doesn't like cars, for example, might not be happy running an automotive tune and lube franchise.

With a multitude of franchise opportunities out there, how does an entrepreneur choose among them? One good place to start is by taking stock of what you really enjoy doing, and what you want out of your business (and your life). Write down a list of your interests, passions, and desires. What are your hobbies? What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? What kind of jobs have you done in the past? What type of franchise business could you get excited about?
Tip! At entrepreneur.com you will find a list of business franchise opportunities that may interest you.

With any luck, you'll be owning your new franchise for a long, long time, so it's important to find something that you could enjoy and become passionate about. Many people, for example, have turned a favorite hobby or pursuit into a successful business enterprise. Still others have retired or left jobs they disliked to pursue their passions in a franchise business opportunity.

Many others have turned to their current careers when choosing a franchise. If you've worked in a particular area for many years, you no doubt have a valuable well of knowledge and experience to draw from. What better way to use that experience that in your own business? After all, who hasn't had the feeling that they could "run things a lot better" at their workplace, if only given the chance?

Some additional things to consider when choosing a franchise:

Demand for this product or service Competition for this product or service Name recognition of the franchise Your ability to understand and operate this type of business Your potential earnings Training and support offered by the franchisor Growth potential

Another important consideration (for most people, anyway) is the cost of a franchise. You can count on a significant initial investment, and then you'll need additional capitol for real estate, buying the required equipment, ongoing royalty fees (for up to 10 years), advertising expenses, and other costs.

Before investing in any franchise system, be sure to get a copy of the franchisor's disclosure document. Sometimes this document is called a Franchise Offering Circular. Under the FTC's Franchise Rule, you must receive the document at least 10 business days before you are asked to sign any contract or pay any money to the franchisor. You should read the entire disclosure document. Make sure you understand all of the provisions.
Tip! When buying a business franchise you want to decide whether you are going to be in the business full-time or part-time and whether you want to go about the process and investment solely or with a partner. One thing that can be beneficial to you is to ask a franchiser the names of other franchisees in your area, and then talk with them about the process and about the franchise you are considering.

Also, make sure you consult your family before making this important decision. Being the owner can mean long hours at the office, plus the unexpected emergencies that can crop up from time to time, and you'll want to make sure that everyone in your family is on-board and supportive of your decision.

And lastly, seek out the advice of a good franchise attorney before making any commitments. An attorney can point out any potential legal problems you may encounter, and help you analyze the opportunity from an objective and unbiased point of view.

Kent Johnson - author, publisher, and career coach. For tips and information on buying a franchise business, visit http://www.franchise-success.net

Having a business franchise is an exciting and new opportunity in your life. Before investing in a franchise, you can choose what type of industry you are interested in and then decide which particular business stands out from the others. A business franchise is expensive and has its risks, but there are so many benefits and it is a new challenge in a person's life that it is worth the risks.

When buying a business franchise you want to decide whether you are going to be in the business full-time or part-time and whether you want to go about the process and investment solely or with a partner. One thing that can be beneficial to you is to ask a franchiser the names of other franchisees in your area, and then talk with them about the process and about the franchise you are considering.

It is important that you find a business franchise that fits you best and one that interests you. Consider your experience, skills and likes/dislikes to determine whether the franchise would be a good fit for you. When it comes to the financial aspect of the process, it is important that you consult a lawyer or financial consultant for help with the contract and even to help you with your decision. If you need financing, often times the seller is the best source to look at to help you purchase the business franchise.

One thing you should not do when purchasing a business franchise is to allow any business expert to decide for you whether or not you should buy a business. You can ask for opinions and advice, but it is your money that will be spent and your life that will be invested. Make sure that it is the business for you and not because some "EXPERT" said it was right for you.

While this is a big decision there is no rush on the process. Shop around and make sure you find the right business for the price that suits you. Give it plenty of time to allow your lawyers and accountants to go over the documents and review the records to ensure that it is a safe investment. If you do feel pressured to hurry the deal, don't be afraid to walk away from it. There are plenty of business franchises out there and it is important that you find the right one for you.

While it may seem like there is a lot of tedious work to be done to get the franchise up and running, in the long run it will be beneficial to the business. The best part about the process is you get to make all the decisions leading up to the purchase. Make sure that you pick a business franchise that fits according to your needs and wants.
Tip! One thing you should not do when purchasing a business franchise is to allow any business expert to decide for you whether or not you should buy a business. You can ask for opinions and advice, but it is your money that will be spent and your life that will be invested.

Jeff Lubthisophon is the owner of Buying-franchises.com and has devoted his efforts to offering useful information on Franchise Opportunities http://www.buying-franchises.com

With businesses soaring and franchises booming there has never been a better time to get a jump on a business franchise opportunity. There are hundreds of thousands of sites on the internet that can help you find the franchise of your dreams. Within a few clicks you can have all the information needed to start your process to having a business franchise opportunity.

The first thing you need to consider is what type of industry you are looking to go into. This will narrow the field down so that you can then choose from a variety of businesses in that particular field. Next you will want to determine how much money you have to invest in the franchise. Having a business franchise opportunity allows so many possibilities for the future, but it is very expensive to get started.

When determining how much you are willing to invest, you can also ponder on the thought of going solely into the business or possibly going into it with a partner. This will reduce the start-up cost that you will face, but if your business booms it will also take away half the earnings you make.

At entrepreneur.com you will find a list of business franchise opportunities that may interest you. There is a list of the platinum business opportunities which includes 7-Eleven and Cruise Holidays, and then a list of the gold business opportunities including Play It Again Sports and State Farm. This website can be found at:

http://www.entrepreneur.com/business-opportunities/0,3229,,00.html

When investing in a business you're in business for yourself, but not by yourself. You get to choose all of the details to get the business franchise opportunity of your dreams. In the early stages of the process it is important to shop around to find the business that is right for you. There is no time limit to when you can purchase a franchise, so take your time and do a little investigating.

At franchiseadvantage.com you can search through a variety of industries to see which business interests you most. You can also narrow the search down even more to the amount that you will be willing to invest. If that's not enough, you can then click on where you're looking to invest in your business franchise opportunity. With all of these tools available, it will narrow your choices down so that you can begin investigating and calling for information right away.

http://www.franchiseadvantage.com/

There is no rush to finalize anything by no means, but it is important that you get on the ball and start investigating. As soon as you begin searching for the perfect business franchise opportunity, things will begin to get exciting and you will become anxious to start your business immediately.
Tip! There is no rush to finalize anything by no means, but it is important that you get on the ball and start investigating. As soon as you begin searching for the perfect business franchise opportunity, things will begin to get exciting and you will become anxious to start your business immediately.

Jeff Lubthisophon is the owner of Buying-franchises.com and has devoted his efforts to offering useful information on Franchise Opportunities http://www.buying-franchises.com.

Franchise businesses are everywhere, but what are they exactly? The most famous franchise today is the McDonald's corporation. This company has established itself all over the globe and is one of the leading companies in the world.

What exactly is a franchise? Take a look deeper into the heart of the business world and discover the information about the business of franchising.

The Root Information on the Franchise Business

A franchise is an imitator of an original business concept. When someone is interested in purchasing a franchise opportunity, what they are actually purchasing is the right to repeat the original business operations in another area. A franchisee receives complete instructions to the success of the original business and they get the benefit of having the business plan and marketing done in advance.

By definition, a franchise is being granted the authorization to sell or distribute a company's goods or services in a certain geographical area. For example, because a restaurant's marketing area is limited, usually to people in the local vicinity, creating a similarly run restaurant in a different area would be considered a franchise.

A business figures out a formula for producing the same result as the original business and how it can be repeated by anyone who follows the same formula. Because of this pattern structure, the business can technically be packaged and sold. The solutions to a business opportunity are prepared and can be established anywhere with success simply by following the formula.

Why Do Businesses Sell Franchises - Information on Expansion

Why wouldn't a business just open in multiple locations? It's possible to open a number of restaurants in one city or county or even within a state. One owner could manage to run their business quite well, especially if they have the necessary control over each one. The difficulty comes with the owner and their ability to handle more than one location. The more pots you have your hand it, the more likely you are to get burned.

It would be impossible for someone like Roy Croc, who developed McDonalds, to run each individual McDonald's restaurant around the world. To expand your business without running it into the ground, you need quality people who have an interest at your own bottom line.
Tip! When investigating a small business franchise, it is important to know the industry related to that franchise. Restaurant chains, supply stores, and many service-oriented businesses have franchises available and the first step is finding a company that you believe in.

Information on Buying a Franchise Business

Many ‘would be' entrepreneurs would like to start a business but may be new to the business world. They may not realize the ins and outs of making a business run smoothly.

An owner of a well established business may be thinking of selling off their success. A business owner often knows the formula that makes their business successful, and that system is what a new entrepreneur can purchase.

This is beneficial to both the original owner and the entrepreneur. The business owner makes a profit by selling his system and the entrepreneur gains the knowledge from an experienced owner with a successful business. There is limited guesswork for the entrepreneur, which allows for a greater chance of success.

Paul Stuart is a writer for whichfranchise.org. whichfranchise.org provides potential franchisees with free and impartial information, advice and opportunities. For more information visit http://www.whichfranchise.org

The franchise business has been around a long time, in fact they go back as far back as the 1850's. The notion of selling off a business or a part of a business in order to expand into new areas usually came from the lack of investment funds from the business owner. Through their creativity they were able to keep the business alive by selling franchise opportunities to would-be entrepreneurs.

While the business of franchising has grown over the years it all had to start somewhere. The concept of franchise businesses began with none other than the sewing machine manufacturer, Singer.

The Singer Franchise Business Opportunity

In the 1850's the Singer Company produced sewing machines but didn't have enough capital to actually pay their salesmen salaries. Instead, they created a network of dealers. These first franchise owners paid Singer a fee to work in a particular territory and earned money for each sale of a sewing machine they bought from the company and resold.

Their significance in the start of the franchise and the opportunities it created came from the creation of the contract that is still used today between the original business owner and the new entrepreneur. Many feel the contract was what really sparked the creation of franchises in the future as it allowed business owners to keep some control over how the franchisees were run.

The Coca-Cola Company Franchise Business Opportunity

When Coca-Cola was originally created, it was only sold as a fountain drink. In 1899 two men obtained a short 600-word contract and the permission to bottle the soda.

Thomas and Whitehead soon realized that even though they had a great idea, they couldn't afford to actually create a bottling company. As an alternative, they created a franchise company selling the right to bottle the product to individual bottling plants.

The KFC Franchise Business Opportunities

One of the most famous start-ups in the franchise industry was Kentucky Fried Chicken. The franchise opportunity began when Harlin Saunders, or the ‘Colonel' was about to go under. His business started to fail when a highway was created seven miles away from his restaurant. With his business going under, Sanders had to find new ways to get his famous chicken to people.

When Sanders finally lost his business, he went practically door-to-door to sell his chicken recipe. His popularity improved with time and within a few years he had restaurant owners coming to him. He set up franchises and today there are over 10,000 KFC restaurants all over the world.
Tip! There are usually fees or dues paid to the corporation that heads up the small business franchise for operating under their brand. There are also guidelines that you will have to adhered to, in order to maintain the franchise and brand name.

Companies Leading The Way For Franchise Business Opportunities

The establishment of KFC and others like it led the way for businesses to expand all over the world. It also gave the opportunity for new entrepreneurs to find the path to success. Many of KFC's first franchise owners became millionaires. People who joined in with similar companies like McDonald's also found success.
Tip! Home based business franchise's are becoming the wave of the future.

Thanks to these companies, we now have the opportunity to share in the success of other businesses and business owners have the opportunity to expand their dream. By reaching out to others, they can build a franchise empire out of a business opportunity.

Paul Stuart is a writer for whichfranchise.org. whichfranchise.org provides potential franchisees with free and impartial information, advice and opportunities. For more information visit http://www.whichfranchise.org

Franchise business is being part of a successfully proven business that has a name or trademark that is well known and profitable. Franchise businesses are strategically tried and marketable with options to expand by offering products and services that appeal to the consumer. Having to make the decision on which franchise business to buy can be challenging. Franchise business consultants can offer assistance to evaluate current franchise opportunities with valued insight. A franchise business consultant may also be able to offer assistance to the business owner who wants to make a current business franchisable.

Franchise businesses encompass many industries, offering variety of products and services. Before making a final decision in purchasing a franchise, evaluating skills and experience is a good idea in determining the right industry to indulge in. Is there a demand in the economy for these products and services? What kind of competition is out there? Is the franchise business a successful and reputable company? There are many questions to ask and answer before coming to a final decision on franchise businesses. Talking to a franchise business consultant will help with determining factors on what franchise businesses are the best to invest in.

One of the drawbacks to purchasing a franchise business is capital necessary to invest. There are institutions and financial groups on the Internet that offer help for financing franchise businesses. Some of these financial groups offer options in using a current retirement plan as collateral for franchise businesses. It is a very good idea to have an accountant to perform financial analyses of the business of interest. A franchise business should offer a disclosure statement about their company. This would include names of additional franchisees, a financial statement, costs associated with the business and the responsibilities of the franchisee.

Some franchise brokers will help in the negotiation process of purchasing a franchise business. It is wise to check on the broker's credentials before engaging in business. Some can offer assistance with working out a plan to franchise an existing business. Benefits to franchise a company may include, capital investments by franchisees, gaining a foothold over competition by opening multiple units, greater buying power through volume purchasing of products and supplies as well as greater name recognition. Whether desiring to purchase a franchise business or make an existing business a franchise there is valued assistance available on the Internet. Do a search on franchise businesses and start the process of unending possibilities. "Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me". (Philemon 1:11)
Tip! Franchise Businesses provides detailed information on Franchise Businesses, Franchise Business Opportunities, Small Business Franchise, Franchise Business For Sale and more. Franchise Businesses is affiliated with Franchise Opportunities.

For more information, visit: http://www.christianet.com/articles/ http://www.christianet.com/

Hair care has been around as long as humans have been on the planet. The earliest record of personal hair care dates back 2.5 million years ago, when brushes used to create cave paintings in Spain and France were adapted for use in hair grooming. Interestingly, many of the innovations in hair design that are still used today originated in the late 19th century.

According to 2002 statistics, there were 1.4 million personal care services in the United States, 313,000 of which were beauty and hair salons. The hair salon service industry alone had revenues of $55.9 billion, while salon product sales were $5.5 billion. Coloring alone brought in $10.4 billion for the beauty industry in 2002.

The biggest single customer group is the baby boomer generation, who by the way now constitute the largest population segment in America, and who are more than willing to spend money on a hair care services.

What this means is that the prospects for owners of hair care businesses are solid and strong. The 2003 Job Demand Survey, distributed by the National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences, indicated that average total income (including tips) for salon owners was $53,150 per year.

There are three ways you can enter the hair industry. You can open a franchise hair salon, in which you pay money upfront to use someone else's established name and resources such as advertising campaigns. You can buy an established salon from someone who is retiring from the business or has damaged the business and is forced into bankruptcy. Thirdly, you could establish your own salon.

So what does it take to be a successful salon entrepreneur? First, it helps to be a risk taker, you have to be willing to try anything to succeed, you have to have determination and an entrepreneurial mind-set to be successful and you need to have a vision and goals for your business long term.

Learn more about owning your own hair salon business: http://www.hjventures.com/hair-salon-business-plans.html

Howard Schwartz is a partner in several business strategy groups, including HJ Ventures International, Inc. Howard has worked with hundreds of entrepreneurs worldwide with a focus on writing business plans for companies interested in raising capital from Venture Funds and Angel Investors. Howard's business plans have secured several million dollars in funding. http://www.hjventures.com

Often small business types consider starting their own business and are smart enough to figure it out. However, they lack financial resources to get it done. They have little up front monies. Let's say under $20,000 available to them. Should these folks consider a low cost franchise? Would a low-cost franchise service business fit the bill?

Does it make sense to buy a Franchise Business if your Initial Capital is tight? Some franchises have financing, but does going into that kind of debt make sense? Of course nothing is black or white in such scenarios. But let us consider someone starting up a mobile auto service type business, for instance lets take a Mobile Oil Change Business.

Recently I was discussing this with a small business type and he had looked into a mobile oil change unit to buy and all the franchises and business opportunities out there too. He stated; "I've looked at Oil Butler and the others and just don't have the capitol right out of the gate, they do seem like viable options. Their is a guy on e-bay selling a nice rig from Lube-on-location complete Ford e-van 30,000 miles with a start bid of $15,000,seems like a good deal."

This is an interesting thought; buy a mobile oil change van used? Good enough idea, as long as the vehicle is in good running order. Yes, that makes sense, I was contacted by a guy in Florida with a van like that. That does seem like a good deal. Sometimes there are other options out there and anyone considering starting their own business on a shoestring with little capital should consider such things. Think on this in 2006.

Lance Winslow

When considering buying a business franchise, it is important to consider opportunities abroad as well as in the domestic market. For this reason, it is highly advantageous for the potential franchise buyer to familiarize himself with the international franchising and licensing market.

Franchising and licensing involve a minimal commitment of resources and effort on the part of the international marketer, and are easy ways of entering the foreign markets. Under international licensing, a firm in one country (the licensor) permits a firm in another country (the licensee) to use its intellectual property (such as patents, trademarks, copyrights, technical know-how and marketing skill).

The monetary benefit to the licensor is the royalty or fees that such a licensee pays. In many countries, the government regulates such fees or loyalties. These feeds do not exceed five per cent of the sales in many developing countries. A licensing agreement may also be one of cross licensing, wherein there is a mutual exchange of knowledge and/or patents. In cross licensing, a cash payment may or may not be involved.

Franchising is a form of licensing in which a parent company (the franchiser) grants another independent entity (the franchisee) the right to do business in a prescribed manner. This right can take the form of selling the franchisor's products, using its name, production and marketing techniques or general business approach. One of the common forms of franchising involves the franchisor supplying an important ingredient for the finished product.

The major forms of franchising are manufacturer-retailer systems, manufacturer-wholesaler systems and service firm-retailer systems. International franchising/licensing agreements have grown very substantially. As an entry strategy, franchising and licensing requires neither capital investment nor knowledge and marketing strength in foreign markets.

Another advantage of franchising is that it may be employed as a pre-emptive strategy against competitors by combing the foreign markets before the competitors is able to enter. In addition, franchising has been used by many companies to harvest their obsolete products.
Tip! Once involved in a successful small business franchise, it is easy to expand and own more than one location of the same brand. Many franchise owners will typically own between three and five locations, sometimes more.

Businesses For Sale provides detailed information on Businesses For Sale, Small Business For Sale, Internet Businesses For Sale, Franchise Business For Sale and more. Businesses For Sale is affiliated with Business Loan Brokers.

One of the greatest decisions and largest risks of a person or organizations life is starting a business. The next big decision? Whether or not to go franchise. A franchise business is one which is basically a duplicate of a previous business. The business owner rents the franchise logo and way of running the business. Examples of franchise businesses include McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, etc. But what are the pros and cons of starting a franchise business, and what does the law say about the subject.

The pros of opening a franchise business are numerous. First of all, there is a lower risk of failure. This is often due to name recognition and the standard that is set by previous businesses. For example, most diners know what to expect when they go to McDonalds. Another pro of starting a franchise business is buying power. The collective buying power of franchise businesses is often enormous, creating an easy way for business owners to save money.
Tip! Home based business franchise's are becoming the wave of the future.

Still, there are cons to buying a franchise. On the on hand, the startup cost for a franchise business is often much greater than starting other businesses. In addition to this, buying into a franchise leaves little room for deviating away from the standard. Subway subs, for example, are to only contain a certain weight of meat and cheese. Everything is standard and there are few ways of making your stand out from the typical.

So what does the law say about the process of buying into the franchise business? When you start searching for the right franchise for you, you need to be sure that the franchise is legitimate. This is especially true if the franchise is a small franchise, a new franchise or one that you have never heard of before. Franchise law varies from state to state so this is going to depend slightly on the state in which you live. One of the best pieces of advice for any new business owner is to locate an attorney that can help you sort through the issues.

Sara Chambers is a marketing consultant and an internet content manager for http://www.franchiseopportunitiesblog.com

If you are considering buying a franchise business of your own as part of your American Dream, you may wish to consider studying up on exactly what franchising is and how it works? It would also behoove you to know a little history on the business model as well. Or perhaps you would like get a job as a franchising executive?

Let me recommend some resources to you if you are studying franchising from a historical viewpoint. Indeed you may wish to study different companies in franchising not just the ones, which make up what is good about franchising, but also the rest of the other companies out there doing it the old way. More and more associations and Industry leaders in franchising are going through a cosmic shift trying to decide how to implement the new with the old.

I can recommend information on Franchise Education Programs such as the IFA-International Franchise Associations Educational Foundation click the link below;

http://www.franchise.org/edufound/edufound.asp

There are plenty of great jobs in franchising and I would advise all business students to check out this industry, because it is challenging, rewarding, and makes you think. The IFA can help you find an intern job near your school, it will be some of the best experience you ever get. They are progressive and are teaching some of the new tactics to compete in the future economy. Well I better let you go for now, as I have already assigned you quite a bit of information here to go thru. Be well and think on this in 2006.

Lance Winslow

If recent media coverage were any indication, it would appear that virtually nobody in the United States has had any success at losing weight. Crash diets, weight loss pills and get-thin-quick gimmicks are more prevalent than ever, yet two-thirds of our population is still overweight. Even more startling is the fact that approximately one-third of the people in our country are clinically obese.

Yet more and more Americans are finding that weight loss success is not only within their grasp, but also actually easier to achieve than they thought possible.

Due to the rapid growth of women-only circuit-training gyms, women in particular are finding that weight loss is an achievable goal. Workouts just for women have become a common sight from sea to shining sea, with the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association reporting that as of July 2005 there were 26,046 health clubs in the United States (a 10.8 percent increase from just six months previous). Women-only circuit training clubs account for more than one out of every three fitness centers in the nation.

Sales at fitness clubs have also been on the rise. In January 2003, the latest figures available, the industry collectively took in $14.1 billion in revenue, a jump from $13.1 billion a year earlier.

Why has the women-only circuit-training exercise model worked so well? The short answer is that it works. Circuit training is a proven exercise system that, for many women, has proven to be more effective than dieting or nutrition programs alone.

The routine at these ladies express gyms is quick and simple, allowing each woman to progress at her own pace. The ladies exercise in a circle, each at a station. They spend 30 or 45 seconds at each station, either working a hydraulic resistance machine or doing aerobics. The entire routine takes 30 minutes.

Pick Up The Pace is one such gym for women that has carefully tracked the success of its members for years. Deanna S., a member of Pick Up The Pace in Libby, MT, lost 14.75 inches in just one month. Kim M. reduced her body-fat by 4.2 percent in just one month at Pick Up The Pace, while at the same time losing 10.75 pounds of fat.

With results like these, it's easy to see why this fitness center concept has skyrocketed in popularity with today's average woman. For perhaps the first time in their lives, women are finding that it's possible to slim down and tone up in only 30 minutes each day.

What many women see as just a great way to achieve some quick weight loss, others see as a business opportunity. Despite the incredible growth of these hydraulic gyms, there seems to be no shortage of customers. As reported by CNN on 1-14-05 "Americans were expected to spend more than $40 billion in 2004 on weight control pills, gym memberships, diet plans and related foods, estimates Marketdata Enterprises, which studies the weight loss industry." Furthermore, statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that 80 percent of overweight individuals and almost 87 percent of obese individuals are trying to lose or maintain their weight.
Tip! One thing you should not do when purchasing a business franchise is to allow any business expert to decide for you whether or not you should buy a business. You can ask for opinions and advice, but it is your money that will be spent and your life that will be invested.

As reported by mygoals.com, 80 percent of Americans made a New Year's resolution in 2005. A whopping 26 percent of those resolutions were to improve overall health and fitness, making this the top category for self-improvement. This year was no anomaly, either, according to Amy O'Connor, deputy editor of Prevention magazine: "Fifty-nine million people every year resolve to lose weight."
Tip! At entrepreneur.com you will find a list of business franchise opportunities that may interest you.

With so many potential customers, many women seek to start their own circuit-training business only to find themselves discouraged by the typical franchise opportunity. They're finding that a hydraulic gym franchise such as Curves for Women can be expensive, restrictive, and sometimes difficult to purchase.

According to the International Franchise Association, one of the women-only workout franchises recently announced that they are raising their franchise fee from $9,995 to $12,500. Another franchise package costs anywhere from $85,000 to $225,000, including a $36,000 franchise fee and startup cost. Monthly franchise royalty payments, which can range from $395 to $590 per month, place an additional burden on the franchisee. Assuming that the franchise agreement permits the buyer to use the franchise name for 10 years, the gym owner will be paying approximately $60,000 in royalty payments over the franchise term. These figures can scare off many would-be health club owners.

Many women who do opt to open a circuit-training franchise find that the franchise agreement does not grant them the liberty to add amenities as they wish. Many franchise operations restrict their fitness centers by not allowing them to add tanning, nutrition counseling, supplements, vitamins, massage therapy, body wraps or other extras for which ladies are clamoring.
Tip! The special features of this franchise opportunity are the following: turn key, absolutely no experience is needed, it is not a seasonal type of franchise opportunity, it is a business to business franchise opportunity, it needs only two employees and is a part of a $20 billion plus industry.

Relying on good old American made ingenuity, many women entrepreneurs are choosing to either open a completely independent workout center or opt for a license package. While going independent carries the inherent risk of having to reinvent the wheel, it still may be the best option for some women. The other option is to capture most of the benefits of a franchise while at the same time avoiding the financial burdens of that system. This is done with a license package, such as the one offered by Pick Up The Pace 30-Minute Workout For Women.

For many women, getting fit, slender and in shape themselves has not only been good for their health but has also prompted them to enter the fitness market as a gym owner. With obesity rates still climbing, this is a trend that may continue for years to come.

Tracie Johanson is the founder of Pick Up The Pace, a 30-minute exercise studio for women, focusing on fitness, health and nutrition for maximum weight loss. Please visit http://www.letspickupthepace.com/ for more information.

Many businesses offer small business franchise opportunities. There are many things that are needed for a small business of this kind, but the rewards are great. Franchising allows you to take on a proven and marketable brand and logo, without having to go through the time, effort, and money to build a name or a reputation.

When investigating a small business franchise, it is important to know the industry related to that franchise. Restaurant chains, supply stores, and many service-oriented businesses have franchises available and the first step is finding a company that you believe in. Your faith and commitment to the product or service that you market are imperative.

Small Business Franchise opportunities in the restaurant industry are extremely profitable. This will not be an undertaking for the faint of heart though. There will be a larger investment monetarily and time wise initially that you would not have with smaller endeavors. However, once established, you will see your profits rising.

There are usually fees or dues paid to the corporation that heads up the small business franchise for operating under their brand. There are also guidelines that you will have to adhered to, in order to maintain the franchise and brand name. These guidelines are different for each company and some research will have to be done in order to make sure you are clear on the details before hand.

Small Business Franchise opportunities will usually require that you sign numerous contracts to the effect that you will adhere to their company restrictions and policies. This is done to ensure that the basic quality and company reputation is maintained to a minimum level. You will have to be open to those restrictions and open to the corporation's guidance.

Market research is important in any business, but especially so in franchising. Some companies have both corporate owned locations and franchise owned locations. These are generally set up in areas designated by the corporations. You will have to know what area is available to you and whether or not that is acceptable to you.

You will also have to be aware of any conflict of interest clauses with the corporation. It is frowned upon, for example, to own more than one brand of restaurant. This would present a conflict that the corporations would not appreciate. Again, this is where your research and brand faithfulness will help you.

Once involved in a successful small business franchise, it is easy to expand and own more than one location of the same brand. Many franchise owners will typically own between three and five locations, sometimes more. Each franchise will operate, as is own business, so you will need to educate yourself and your management staff about all the accounting and taxation regulations.

Of course with a larger franchise, you will have employees and will need to be aware of human resources laws federally and locally. Finding a good accounting and payroll service will be important if you are dealing with a great number of employees. Most corporations will assist you in this regard, often taking care of the human resources and payroll aspects of your operation for you. Don't forget that you will need to research benefits and insurance packages if the corporation does not handle this.

Another advantage to franchising is being able to take advantage of the assistance with advertising. If your location is close to a corporation market area, you will share in the rewards of television and other types of advertising. Having the support of the corporation behind you also gives you the added benefit of assistance in the broader points of sales and marketing.

If you have management experience with a corporation that offers franchise opportunities and are interested in owning one, some corporations will even help finance the initial investment. Depending on how extensive the franchise is will depend on your up front investment. If you have to construct a building from the ground up, of course this will cost more than purchasing an already existing location. Checking with various banks and financial institutions will be a must to get your franchise off the ground.
Tip! When buying a business franchise you want to decide whether you are going to be in the business full-time or part-time and whether you want to go about the process and investment solely or with a partner. One thing that can be beneficial to you is to ask a franchiser the names of other franchisees in your area, and then talk with them about the process and about the franchise you are considering.

Franchise business opportunities are profitable but not without their responsibilities. Proper research and investigation must be done in order to ensure a successful partnership with the corporation that maintains the franchise. Once involved, however, you should be able to reap the rewards and share in the profits with a franchise opportunity of your own.

© Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved.

Randy has dozens of home based business articles such as Start a Mattress Cleaning Service, Unusual Home Based Businesses and Start a Catering Business.

Now that you have invested your time, energy and money in buying a franchise, how do you work within the system? How do you take advantage of all your franchisor has to offer? How do you deal with your counterparts, other franchisees?

In this chapter, I will give you tips that will help you thrive and prosper in your new business.

Communication

In any franchise organization, it's important to maintain open communications lines. A franchise is like a marriage. You are now married to your franchisor and communication is the key.

Communication in a franchise relationship occurs in numerous ways. You should remember to keep communication friendly, helpful, upbeat and honest. Too many times a franchisor/franchisee relationship will become adversarial, hostile and aggressive. If this happens, communications lines tend to go down and everyone suffers. You as the franchisee have the power to keep communications on a positive note. There are many things that can be done to help your franchisor communicate with you.

Try not to be a chronic complainer. If you have a legitimate complaint, perhaps you could offer some praise first. Something that is being done right and how happy your are. Then mention the little something that's caused a stress for you at your business. If you think you might have a solution - offer it or offer to sit down and brainstorm a little with a regional director or company representative. Offer to meet them at your store, your point of power so you can negotiate from a stronger position. Be friendly. Try to meet when you're having peak hours. Show the franchisor or their representative how efficient you are, how clean your place is and how you are following standards to a tee. Treat it like a military inspection. Then explain the problem. Tell them your suggestions and ask what should you do? Remember:


The art of diplomacy is letting someone else get your way.

Regional Directors

Chances are your regional director has encountered your same problem in one of the other franchised outlets or perhaps many other outlets. Your regional director can tell you what other franchisees did to improve that problem and which solutions worked best and which ones didn't work at all. Also, which solutions were approved by the company and which ones were not and why. Any solutions you might have could be of great interest to your regional director because even if your solution may not work at this time, it may be a missing puzzle piece to a long-term solution which will work system wide. Staying on good terms with your regional director can be very valuable.

Let's say your franchisor want s to test a new product in a certain region and they ask the regional director in that region which outlet would be the easiest to use for the test market. If you are on good terms with corporate office staff and your local regional director, then you might be picked. Franchisors take test markets of new products very seriously. They usually:

Spend lots of money in local marketing
Tip! There is no rush to finalize anything by no means, but it is important that you get on the ball and start investigating. As soon as you begin searching for the perfect business franchise opportunity, things will begin to get exciting and you will become anxious to start your business immediately.

Set up well designed store signage

Re-do menus, brochures etc.

This will help you attract new business to your store and pay for new signage. Even if the test market fails and the new product or service is never implemented system wide, you still win because you now have a larger customer base and more local awareness of your business. By the way, over 50% of new products fail and it's certainly nice to have someone else pay for it. It might put a small non-franchised company out of business if they had a new product failure.

Assist Your Franchisor

Due to the expansion rates of franchisors, sometimes they will have to call on franchisee for help. To move fast in the market place you need a strong team. Franchisors know this and no one is more dedicated than individual small business owners. That's exactly what franchisees are. Sometimes there is not enough time to gear up to meet the demand of a growing system. Franchisors must call on franchisees to help in:

Training Product Development Sales of New Units Streamlining Systems Marketing of Services Etc.
Tip! All in all, when determining what the �top franchise� actually is, it is best to do your research and think about what fits your needs. At the end of the day it is your business franchise that you will be investing into, not any top 10 lists franchise.

Usually the franchisors are willing to pay for this help. If the franchisor out sources some of it's services to franchisees, it's really outsourcing in house. There are many reasons behind this strategy:

It costs less than if the franchisor does it

It improves franchisees profit since the franchisees are paid for their help

Secrets are not lost to industry wide consultants

You as a franchisee have a vested interest to make sure the system succeeds, therefore you will do a better job

It builds a "teamwork" atmosphere in the system

Of course, if you are a chronic complainer and a problem franchisee, none of these extra perks of belonging to a system will be available to you.

So how do you maintain a positive relationship with your franchisor and promote a win/win situation? The answer is very simple. Almost too simple to write in a book, yet it is so important and few franchisees do it.

Be Nice To Office Staff, Vendors And Consultants
Tip! There are usually fees or dues paid to the corporation that heads up the small business franchise for operating under their brand. There are also guidelines that you will have to adhered to, in order to maintain the franchise and brand name.

We have talked about regional directors who are the personal arm of the franchisor. The one on one human side. This is not the only contact you will have with your franchisor. Your franchisor will have office staff, vendors and consultants, all of which are there to assist you in your business. Each of these groups should be treated differently, but all should be treated with respect. Treat them like you want your customers to treat you, because essentially you are their customers and they work for you. If you have ever gone out of your way to help a good customer, then you have an idea of why you should try to be on good terms with your franchisor's office staff, vendors and consultants.

Office staff at franchisor headquarters are usually very efficient and very sharp individuals. They have to be to keep up with the busy schedules and fast moving pace of a franchisor. As a matter of fact, a lazy or inefficient employee would never survive in the hectic day to day operations of a franchisor. Every one is calling, e-mailing, faxing, in a hurry to get things done. They realize that you are equally busy in your outlet and don't have time to be left on hold. You need to run your business. However, don't take your frustrations out on office staff. They are as busy as you. Think about it this way: fifteen other people just like you who are very stressed and very short while on the phone. If you are very sincere, polite, upbeat and thankful when you call, you quite possibly could be the only person who was nice all day. They will remember that. If you are abrupt, rude, arrogant, etc. your request may be placed at the bottom of the pile, which at a franchisor's headquarters may be a long way down.
Tip! If you have a substantial amount of knowledge in the business franchise for sell and have a good credit record, it will make it much easier to get the money. It is extremely important that you put together a business plan describing your stability and how successful you have been in paying off previous obligations.

What if you need a new piece of equipment for your store and all you need from headquarters is something faxed to your bank from the franchisor's office staff. If you're nice, the staff person may simply walk down the hall and pull out your file and fax it right then. If you're rude, they might put your request in a basket of things to do and wait for required signatures which might take a week. Either way is most likely within accordance of the Franchise Agreement. It's really up to you. I suggest you make things easy on yourself. Try to get on the unspoken, unwritten "good franchisees" list.

Vendor's of the franchisor can make a lot of money by working with franchisors. It's like having a captured market with guaranteed volumes and sales. Unfortunately, sometimes vendors bid so low to get the account and the opportunity to have that captured market that they make very little on each individual franchisee. You should realize that their money is in the volume. If they help you with too much personal service, then they will lose money on you and the best to hope for is that they'll make it up with orders from other franchisees.
Tip! Owners of business franchises need not worry and spend time planning strategies or coming out with new products and service concepts. They do not need to finance marketing or conduct product development research.

Now this doesn't mean you shouldn't demand to get what you pay for. It means to demand in a nice way. Explain your situation in detail. Invite them to your store. Show them the problem. This may be the insight they've needed not only to serve you better but also your entire system. They may even think of ways to build their units more efficiently, more practical and less costly. Vendors of franchisors, once they've landed the big account, want to keep it. After all they've probably:

Re-Tooled Hired More Staff Borrowed Money Restructured Their Operations

In order to take on the franchisor's business. You shouldn't use this knowledge to threaten to go to your franchisor if the vendor doesn't give you what you want. That is counter productive. You should understand the vendor's situation as they try to help you and your system.

Consultants of the franchisor usually work on billable hours. You should help them with their search for knowledge. Remember, whatever they recommend to the franchisor might be implemented. So if you deny them reasonable access to your business or purposely hide things from them, you run up consulting costs and any recommendations may be worthless. Worse yet, whatever is implemented by the franchisor from the consultant's recommendations will effect your outlet.
Tip! Social networking is not only a fantastic way to build your business franchise but, it is fun and rewarding. Through social networking you will not only make wonderful friendships that will last for years but, you will more than likely end up doing business together as well.

Let's say your franchisor has hired a computer consultant to look over the computer system and how the franchisees are using it. Chances are your franchisor hired a great computer consultant who bills at a rate of $200 per hour. If he/she comes to your store for a scheduled appointment, you should have your computer turned on and booted up and offer them a cup of coffee when they walk in. You should allow yourself free time to talk with the consultant without being interrupted. You should tell them what you like and dislike about the current system and what should be improved. By doing this, you'll make it easy to give input and make a big difference in the computer consultant's recommendations and save money. Not only is this the ethical thing to do, but it's also the attitude you need to survive and prosper within a franchise system.
Tip! Small Business Franchise opportunities in the restaurant industry are extremely profitable. This will not be an undertaking for the faint of heart though.

All franchisors are not the same. Some have a very corporate attitude and some are very down to earth and almost folksy. No matter what type you belong to, communication is still the key. With a small franchisor, you may be able to call the president or founder directly. A franchisor with fewer than thirty units needs your input at the top level. He or she will still be working out administrative and organizational bugs in the system. Your success is a very serious issue with them. They can't afford very many franchisee failures this early in the game. Your problems and suggestions take precedence over all other aspects of their business. If you fail, it will effect future sales. It is important for the Founder to know how the franchised model performs in different locations, demographics and local economic environments. If they can solve these problems at a unit level now, it will insure the success of the future units one hundred fold.
Tip! Plan to take up to 50 of your business cards with you at each event. Social networking groups can have anywhere from 20 to 50 or more business franchise owners.

In medium sized franchises, you may not have the opportunity to be on a first name basis with the Founder or President. However, you will certainly get the chance to meet them. You most likely will be dealing with a master franchise and a regional director who will most likely mirror the attitude of the Founder or President. You should get to know your master franchise operator and regional director on a first name basis. They will be concerned about your outlet because a regional director may receive incentives for your performance and a master franchise actually receives part of your royalty payments. Therefore, the more money you generate, the more money they make.

A large franchisor will have layers of corporate management and possibly a combination of master franchises, international franchises and lots of regional directors assigned to different areas or run out of regional master franchise areas. Some large franchisors may not have a Founder any more. The original Founder may have sold most of their stake in the company and no longer oversees any part of the actual franchisor's operation. Many large franchisors may be publicly traded companies that may also own other franchise systems and may during your franchise term either buy more franchisors out or sell their interests to another franchisor. Since this may happen at any time, it's even more important to know your master franchise operator or regional director and be on good terms with them. They will still be there tomorrow no matter who buys, sells or trades stock ownership or rights at corporate headquarters.
Tip! Many franchise businesses opportunities in the United States are a perfect fit for small business owners starting down the road to entrepreneurship. Starting with a small business franchise makes sense if you are looking for an opportunity that is a safer investment than traditional business.

Franchisee Initiative

Now that you've learned how to get along within the system, you are probably wondering ‘What else can I do with all this knowledge?' The following are some examples of things you can do:

Help With Public Relations

Let's say you sponsor a little league team that wins the county championship or you sponsor a contestant in a city wide beauty contest who becomes Miss Any Town. Tell your franchisor. They'll want to put it in their newsletter and send it to all the other franchisees. They will show it as an example of good local public relations.

Improve Efficiency

In your day to day operations you may design a form on your computer to help you increase efficiency at your store. Fax it to the Vice President of Operations with a note:

Bob - This form helps us run more efficiently. Perhaps other franchisees might like it. Do you want me to mail you a disk with the file on it? I used Microsoft Excel 7.0

Help With Your Expansion

If you want to expand your area and add another store, do some preliminary demographic work and a financing study. Ask your franchisor to review it and call you to talk. You'll definitely improve your chances of being approved. Also include a schedule of estimated increased income from royalties and purchases in your package to the franchisor. Show them how you can help them.
Tip! The special features of this franchise opportunity are the following: turn key, absolutely no experience is needed, it is not a seasonal type of franchise opportunity, it is a business to business franchise opportunity, it needs only two employees and is a part of a $20 billion plus industry.

Volunteer To Help With Teamwork

If your franchisor has a franchisee advisory board, offer to join and help franchisor/franchisee relations.

If you are in default of your Franchise Agreement, talk with your franchisor. Develop a time line that you can live with to come back into compliance. Franchisors don't want to terminate good franchisees.

Franchisee Relations

Now that you've learned about franchisor relations, let's discuss the rest of the team. Think of the franchisor as your coach and the other franchisees as your team mates.

Remember: TEAM is an acronym.

T E A M = Together Everyone Accomplishes More

How can you boost your relationship with other franchisees? This is relatively easy and here are a few ideas that can help you.

Talk Highly Of Other Franchisees

Whenever you hear anything said about a fellow franchisee, say positive things such as:
Tip! Once involved in a successful small business franchise, it is easy to expand and own more than one location of the same brand. Many franchise owners will typically own between three and five locations, sometimes more.

Bob is one of the top producers in the company

Betty runs a tight ship

Everyone loves Bill, he's such a great guy

Linda's store is so well kept up that you can tell she is on top of things

As a matter of fact, no matter which franchisee is mentioned, say something positive. On rare occasions you may hear something negative. Be sure to down play anything you hear that is negative about a fellow franchisee. If it happens a lot, call the franchisee and say "You know Bob, I thought I'd call you directly. I'm sure it's nothing, but Mrs. Smith, one of your customers said…." If it's still a problem, you may want to call your regional director or mention it next time he/she comes to visit.
Tip! Franchise Businesses provides detailed information on Franchise Businesses, Franchise Business Opportunities, Small Business Franchise, Franchise Business For Sale and more. Franchise Businesses is affiliated with Franchise Opportunities.

Clubs And Organizations

It is important for you to join at least one service club. It helps your business become part of the town. If your neighboring franchisees belong to certain groups, you should belong to a group which they do not. For instance, if one belongs to the Rotary, another to Kiwanis and a third to the Optimist Club, you should join the Elks, Lions or be on the board of directors for the hospice, YMCA, Boy Scouts or city run committees. Most service clubs work on big projects with their local affiliates committees and if you and your neighboring franchisee are in the same club, you'll be duplicating services. After all, if a fellow franchisee needs help with a service project, they will call you anyway. You don't need to spend time in meetings when you can be out and about meeting new people, making friends and establishing new business contacts. If you meet someone from another area, you'll be happy to take that information to your neighboring franchisee. They will do the same for you and this is what brings your referral network with fellow franchisees full circle.
Tip! Types of business franchises.

Chamber Of Commerce Meetings

It is important to attend Chamber of Commerce meetings. Since most of the people at these meetings will already know you as a local business person, they will typically engage you in conversation and this will prevent you from meeting new people. It really helps to have more than one franchisee of a system at a Chamber of Commerce meeting or mixer. With two franchisees that can answer virtually any question under the sun, you'll knock ‘em dead.

Co-Op Marketing

If you have a countywide newspaper and want to place an advertisement, find out if you have other franchisees in the area that may be intrested. You can put each phone number and location at the bottom of the ad and divide the costs. If you've been on good terms with your vendors, they may share in the costs and if you've been on the ‘good list' with your franchisor, your advertising request will surely be approved. It's all about communication, team work and attitude.

Call And Say Hi

It is important to call up and just say hi to your fellow franchisees. It will remind them that you are always near by. You will get something positive out of the phone call such as:

A good lead A streamlining technique A way to handle a new employee Someone who will listen A time efficient way to attract new customers A mistake which was made

You can also talk about the worst customer of the week or the most ridiculous complaint of the year. You can tell them a story about ‘the customer from hell' and they will surely have a story to match. You can both laugh and be thankful you own your own business and that wasn't a boss giving you a hard time.
Tip! No matter what form of business Franchisee decides to use, the person assigned to running the day to day operations of the business must have completed the initial training course. Anyone in Franchisee's employ who is a manager or crew leader of a mobile car wash truck/unit or anyone who will be operating your car wash truck/unit unsupervised must also have completed the required training course.

Monthly Meetings

Round up the nearest four to five franchisees and have a monthly meeting. Invite your regional director to join you and take notes. Invite a company representative from the franchisor. The higher up the better. Make the meeting low key, a brainstorming session perhaps. Talk shop. The company representative will take your concerns to the top. Make it a happy atmosphere over a meal. Perhaps pizza. Keep it light, with few complaints and lots of solutions (ideas).

Vacation Management

When a fellow franchisee goes on vacation, they may or may not have a manager that is capable of handling every aspect of their business. As you know it isn't easy. You must be on time, keep up quality, keep the store neat, answer phone calls, greet new customers, manage employees, etc. You might set up an arrangement with neighboring franchisees to help keep an eye on things while they are away. If you work out a trade, they can help you when you will be away. Also alert your regional director. That way, between your manager, regional director and the arrangement with your neighboring franchisee, your business will be safe while you're on vacation.
Tip! From the retail sales of products to service providers, the growth of franchise possibilities rests on the ability of a company to cultivate customer preference and loyalty. Good products and services, coupled with highly recognizable brand names and rich corporate equity make for a good business franchise opportunity.

Joint Accounts

There may be times when you are overloaded with business. An order you can't fill, merchandise you don't have, a contact or account that is too large for you at this time. Rather than losing customers, call a neighboring franchisee and spread the wealth. Your fellow franchisee will be thankful for the extra business and you will have satisfied customers.

Referrals

If a customer wants service outside your exclusive territory or is too far away to shop in your store, try to refer them to another franchisee in your system. This will strengthen your company's good will and name recognition. It will also make someone just like you very happy. I'm sure you'll get referral customers in exchange.

Remember: When owning a franchise, you are in business for yourself, but not by yourself. Use this fact to your advantage. Use the resources of your franchisor, your vendors, your fellow franchisees. Make your business great. Enjoy your American Dream. And no matter what you do don't ever give up. Communication is the first step. You're gonna do fine.
Tip! Networking is a gathering together of entrepreneurs who want to build relationships with other business franchise owners. In doing so, they gain a friendship and trust that can lead to very successful business transactions.

Lance Winslow

There are a growing number of people who have become disenchanted with the rat race and are looking for to strike out on their own and start their own businesses.

For these workers, a franchise business plan is often the best choice.

After all, with a franchise business plan you already have a business model that has been proven to work, and with a franchise business plan you can have a quality company standing behind you and guiding you through opening and running a business.

==Consider The Level Of Support For Your Franchise Business==

It is important to carefully evaluate any franchise business plan you are considering, however, and to make sure that you know just what it is you are getting into.

The level of support offered by various franchise business plans can vary quite a bit, so it is definitely a good idea to thoroughly evaluate not only the franchise business plan but the company behind it.

==Use The Internet To Get Advice On What To Look For And What To Avoid==

Luckily, it is easier than ever these days to evaluate any franchise business plan which you are considering.

Thanks to the power of the internet, it is now possible to easily swap information with current owners of the franchise business plan you are considering, and to share their real world experiences and get advice on what to look for and what to avoid.

Of course it is important to get impartial information when it comes to evaluating a franchise business plan and this can sometimes be difficult.

Whether online or offline, it can be hard to sort out who has a vested interest in the franchise business plan they are discussing, and that is why it is so important to solicit as much advice as you possibly can.

==Choose A Franchise Business That Match Your Passion For Business==
Tip! Once involved in a successful small business franchise, it is easy to expand and own more than one location of the same brand. Many franchise owners will typically own between three and five locations, sometimes more.

A franchise business plan can be your ticket to financial freedom, but it is important to know that the franchise business plan suits your needs and your abilities.

It is best to choose a franchise business plan in which you have a real interest and a real passion. Choosing a franchise business plan that matches what you already know how to do is the best way to ensure a successful venture and a solid future.

Shaunta Pleasant is a professional web writer and editor on business plan topics. Visit my site to learn more about writing a business plan at http://www.business-plan-made-easy.com/franchise-business-plan.html

If you own a mobile franchise business and wish to expand you will need to have a strategy that involves your franchisor. Additionally if you are a franchisor it is important to have some sort of policy in place in advance so that there are no hurt feelings as franchisees expand.

Our company has such a policy but as per our franchisee survey less than 20% of the franchisors who participated in the Franchising.org had such a policy. I recommend that if you are a franchisee or franchisor that you take this outline below and modify it to fit your small business or franchising company and use it as a guideline for franchisee expansion decision-making. Go ahead and print this article and then sit down and modify it. Then for each number or lettered item write three or four paragraphs of what if scenarios. This will help assist in proper franchise outlet expansion while keeping peace in the franchise family. Additionally it will insure smooth system wide expansion where everyone on the team knows what to expect. This outline has been made using our franchise business model for a mobile car wash business, but it serves as an excellent starting point.

FINANCING OF BUSINESS EXPANSION

I. APPROVAL FROM FRANCHISOR

A. Advanced Notice

B. Truck And Equipment Set Up

II. FINANCING

A. Borrowing

B. Leasing

C. Charging

D. Out Right Expense

III. APPROVAL OF CREDIT

A. Time

B. Documents

1. Profit And Loss

2. Tax Returns

3. Balance Sheets

4. Bank Statements

5. Credit Card (Balance Of Account)

IV. DELIVERY

A. Truck

B. Equipment

C. Paint

D. Signs

E. Check Out
Tip! Franchise provides detailed information on Franchises, Franchise Opportunities, Business Franchise, Franchise For Sale and more. Franchise is affiliated with Small Business Franchise.

V. FUNDING OF VENDORS

Lance Winslow

If you are a successful franchise of a large franchise brand or chain, chances are you will wish to expand. The most important thing to do is make sure you are on the most positive terms with your franchisor. You should tell your franchisor at the earliest point of your plan to expand. It is important that you ask the franchisor for help when you are expanding. Growing your business is not an easy task. It requires systematic checks of your business. The kind of checks your car does electronically such as sensors telling you:

Your alternator is charging

Your battery is good

Your seat belt is on

You have gas in your tank

Oil pressure

You are not overheating

Your speed is ok

Your RPM's are appropriate for the gear you are in

As long as the little warning lights are good, everything is ok. Right. Wrong. As you know, those are important indicators. However, what about the warning buzzer that says; Your door is ajar. Your door really isn't a jar. It's a door, not a jar. This sounds funny but think about it. There are warning lights in a car but they may mean more than they say or they may be a false alarm.

For instance, when you turn on your engine all the lights are on. Most modern cars display malfunctioning lights at least once during their life. These lights are great for idiots, as a matter of fact they are often called idiot lights, but they are bad for do-it-yourself mechanics. Some cars display lights automatically at a certain number of miles. The check engine light goes on. The dealership is the only one who can reset the lights. If you are a do-it-yourselfer and have maintained the car yourself, the light still goes on and stays on. Later, when something does go wrong, the do-it-yourselfer doesn't know because the light has always been on. Whoops.
Tip! Plan to take up to 50 of your business cards with you at each event. Social networking groups can have anywhere from 20 to 50 or more business franchise owners.

Like a car, franchisors have built safety switches into there business models. They have out all the mistakes for you before they happen. These set of idiots lights will help you, but make sure you are interpreting them correctly. An erroneous reading of a warning light will create unnecessary hardship for you as a franchisee. An example of an erroneous reading would be:

Your sales are up 50% and you just signed a huge one year contract. You should expand because you are doing 1.5 times what a normal franchise does right.

Most would say yes, business is up, new contracts coming in, you are good as gold. On the surface this may look good. But any good franchisor will tell you this is a typical sign of a cash flow issue. Sales are up, but how are receivables? One year contract is good, but are they also net 90 days? If you do not have proper cash flow funding you could wind up waiting for a check in the mail the day the bank comes in and wants to repo your entire store? This is why you need to talk with your franchisor and have a game plan, pay attention and use their expert advice? After all that is why you bought a franchise in the first place. Think about it.
Tip! From the retail sales of products to service providers, the growth of franchise possibilities rests on the ability of a company to cultivate customer preference and loyalty. Good products and services, coupled with highly recognizable brand names and rich corporate equity make for a good business franchise opportunity.

Lance Winslow

Suggesting the use of a franchise business as a vehicle for family estate and tax planning. Specifically using as an example, The Car Wash Guys, a portable car wash franchise, where you will be purchasing a completely designed and outfitted car wash truck and the right to develop a specific city or regional area with out of pocket start-up costs between $25-50,000. There are many other types of mobile franchise busiensses in the same general price range due to competitive market components.

Many questions on the minds of parents wishing to establish and perpetuate multigenerational estate assets for growth and eventual transfer. Programs they wish to develop can range from the simple gift to complex estate restructuring.

How can you help your children start a business that does not have extreme start-up costs, extensive asset liability and has a greater chance of being profitable?

What type of business could you establish, nurture and grow, that has a greater chance of being successful, increase in value over the years and is easily divisible among children with different management abilities, different interests in owning or running a business and who live in different cities?

What type of business can be owned and operated by a family limited partnership that wishes to diversify their holdings and add a "business interest" to insure qualification by the IRS for the valuation discount when gifting minority interests?

Family Gifting Using the Annual $10-20,000 Exclusion Gift Per Child

Usual gifts are the funding of IRA's, pensions, additions to stock, bond, mutual fund or annuity accounts, purchase life insurance, fund education or special travel expenses. There is a desire for these gifts to be productive, protective, have long-term value, distribute income and have growth potential. A franchise business addresses all these issues.

Why not help your heirs purchase a mobile type franchise, such as a Decorating Den, Oil Butler, Dog Grooming Franchise or perhaps a Car Wash Guys franchise business? Two parents can gift in one tax year the out of pocket start-up costs to purchase this business. The other costs can be financed. When there are several children that live in different cities or just have different ideas of how to run things, the purchase price of this franchise business is low enough so that each child can have their own business. To accommodate the annual exclusion gift amounts per heir for families with multiple children and grandchildren and for families that wish to establish business area dominance, arrangement can be made with These types of mobile franchises like the Car Wash Guys can be purchased for several cities or several regions. If you discuss this strategy with the franchisors of such businesses they can assist you in accomodating your needs, after all they also want to sell franchises and extend their brands in as many places as possible.
Tip! All in all, when determining what the �top franchise� actually is, it is best to do your research and think about what fits your needs. At the end of the day it is your business franchise that you will be investing into, not any top 10 lists franchise.

Planned Asset Transfers To Children

Assets managed by parents for later transfer to their heirs include securities investment portfolios, real estate portfolios and personally owned business interests. There is a desire for these assets to have a greater chance of maintaining their success, increase in value over the years and be easily divisible so that all the children can be treated individually and fairly. A franchise business addresses all these issues. And when selecting an appropriate opportunity, why not make your new business venture an adventure full of personal growth, civic recognition, financial reward, fun and enjoyment for all.

Why not purchase a multiple city or multiple region Mobile Franchise franchise business? As a franchise purchaser you will be joining a proven system so that no prior business experience is needed for your new venture. You will be putting more odds for success on your side. As a Franchisee purchaser you will be joining a dynamic team that will enable you to be in business for yourself but not by yourself. A franchise business has an established ‘floor value' that should increase over time with good management. The Car Wash Guys franchise can easily be broken up into individual cities or regions or organized and managed from the beginning as different cities and regions so that your heirs, who each have different interests and abilities, who may live in different cities across the country and who don't want to be tied to their siblings or to one project in one city, can receive a separate and complete business interest. This is possible now in a variety of franchised businesses.
Tip! Social networking is not only a fantastic way to build your business franchise but, it is fun and rewarding. Through social networking you will not only make wonderful friendships that will last for years but, you will more than likely end up doing business together as well.

The Family Limited Partnership

Effective estate planning is intended to provide for family members and others, while minimizing taxes and expenses. Intergenerational transfers and gifts often involve assets with joint ownership, partnership and/or other types of multiple person/entity ownership. There is a need to limit family and asset liability exposure. Many families create a family limited partnership that provides a means to own, manage and maintain control of assets while providing a vehicle for the orderly transfer of wealth to a younger generation. They transfer various personal, securities, real estate and business interests into this partnership. In the future it may be necessary for family limited partnerships to own and participate in an ‘active business' to insure qualification by the IRS for a valuation discount when gifting minority interests to your heirs. What type of business can families with varying business backgrounds as well as varying interests in owning and running a business purchase to insure IRS qualification?
Tip! Networking is a gathering together of entrepreneurs who want to build relationships with other business franchise owners. In doing so, they gain a friendship and trust that can lead to very successful business transactions.

Why not have your family partnership purchase a multiple city or multiple region franchise business? This would be a mobile business so there is no business property to own, lease or negotiate as well as no need for property to use as a store or office. In some mobile franchise businesses there is no need for a telephone answering service or additional telephone lines as this business comes with a nationwide 800 number and pagers. Calls for your business are received via this number and alphanumerically paged out to you or your staff. And there is no need for inventory, warehouse or shelf space as all equipment and supplies to run your business fits and can be stored on your truck. The ease of starting and owning a mobile franchise busienss or a business like the Car Wash Guys franchise business makes it a practical and rewarding addition to a family's assets. You can start small and grow as your family grows or start regionally and continue your family's life long legacy of quality and domination. Think on this concept.
Tip! When investigating a small business franchise, it is important to know the industry related to that franchise. Restaurant chains, supply stores, and many service-oriented businesses have franchises available and the first step is finding a company that you believe in.

Lance Winslow