Sport Clips, An Industry Leader, Signs with Franchise Clique

Sport Clips practically invented the men and boys’ haircut niche. With their fun facilities filled with sports memorabilia, their huge TVs with games and highlights, and a fun and friendly staff, you’ve got the recipe for a very loyal clientele. That’s probably one reason they’re in the top 100 on Entrepreneur’s “Franchise 500” List.

Since they began franchising in 1995, the business has grown to over 750 franchisee-owned stores in the United States. This franchise has also innovated great ways to keep in touch with its franchisees through business newsletters, toll-free phone lines, sponsoring your Grand Opening and purchasing cooperatives. Since it’s such a recognizable brand, it’s safe to say that everyone in town will know that you’re opening your Sport Clips doors.

As a Sport Clips franchise owner, you will also be participating in a philanthropic business. Sport Clips has been a major donor to organizations like the VFW’s Operation Uplink, which has raised money to provide free calling from active-duty military to their families while overseas. It’s one of the many great benefits of working for a company that cares. We look forward to learning even more about Sport Clips and we hope that you will too.

Marijuana Vending Machine

There’s no end to all the crazy things people are sticking in vending machines these days. And this story is a testament to that. According to a TV station in New Zealand, a popular nightclub called the Daktory, is now selling 1 gram bags of cannibis out of a vending machine. Even though in America you can get live bait, a cupcake and maybe a pair of shoes, this is really raising the bar of oddities in vending. But this also seems to be quite lucrative of the vending business opportunities, says a local TV station.

Source: minyanville.com

However, we now understand that at least 4 patrons of the machine have been arrested and the machine has been confiscated off the site of the Daktory. Though the grams sold for only $16.20 each, there was said to be hundreds of dollars sold in a given night. Is this the oddest thing you’ve heard of being sold in a vending machine? Let us know!

What Will They Think of Next?

Did you think that cupcakes were the only weird thing found in vending machines? Well, think again. A British company has recently sold rights to two American women to own and operate a new vending machine in America according to the Washington Post. This vending machine distributes ballet flats for women who are fed up with their 6″ heels. You can find the vending machine, called Rollasole, outside of nightclubs in Vegas and L.A.

The two American girls found that they had been beaten to the punch with this shoe vending business opportunity, but found that they could buy the rights to operate Rollasoles in America. So that’s exactly what they did. Ashley Ross and Lindsay Klimitz are now making women’s feet happy out west. I hope they will be a great success, as the flats are not only cute, but affordable, at $20 a pop.

The New American Vending Machine

Vending machines have been a staple in the American landscape for years. But now it seems that they’re getting a little revamp from the country’s entrpreneurs. Taking cues from other parts of the world (in Japan, everything from soup to beer to iPads are in vending machines), business owners are looking to add unconventional things to vending machines. In this post from the Wall Street Journal, a man in Pennsylvania shops at a vending machine for his live bait. It saves him a lot of time and the bait is always in good condition.

Pennsylvania man with his live bait from a vending machine.

This kind of innovation may be just what the vending franchise industry needs. With dwindling numbers, it’s the perfect time to reinvent what goes in the machines and what customers expect from them.

Papa Murphy’s Gets Coveted #27 Ranking

Papa Murphy’s is used to getting accolades. For the last few years, the business has been booming and growing exponentially. This year, it has snagged its all-time high of #27 on Entrepreneur Magazine’s “500 Franchise” List. Just four years ago, this restaurant franchise hadn’t cracked the top 50! They’ve also managed to open over 200 new stores in the United States since 2008, which has been during the height of the Recession.

We’re happy to see the success of Papa Murphy’s franchise because we believe their business plan is the real deal. With decreased costs from other pizza chains, it is able to offer delicious and affordable food without all the overhead. It’s also great for the consumer because it’s the carry-out convenience that they’re looking for. Papa Murphy’s also stands out in other ways. Their franchise is committed to helping out franchisees during every phase of ownership–with week-long training, co-op advertising, meetings and a toll-free line available to their franchisees at all times.

Interview with VP of Franchise Development for The Maids Home Services

Ronn Cordova has been a part of the franchise industry in one way or another for the better part of two decades. He’s been a franchisee, a broker, an outsourced vice president for several different concepts, and now, he’s the Vice President of Franchise Development for The Maids.

 

“You can make a lot of money in the franchise business,” he says, “but few afford that slice of heaven [that The Maids does.]”

 

That slice of heaven Ronn Cordova speaks of is time– time most people, franchisees or otherwise, don’t have to spend with their friends or family because they’re working. It’s the typical trade-off: success and money versus time with your family. Luckily, for those who choose to be a part of The Maids franchise, that’s a choice you’ll never have to make.

 

The Maids, long before Cordova arrived in May of 2011, has been wrought with success. It’s been ranked number one by the Franchise Business Review for the cleaning services industry. The Maids has also been ranked number 1 in industry and 42 overall by Entrepreneur 2012 Top 500 magazine. (There’s been only one lawsuit between the franchise and a franchisee that occurred over 10 years ago.) The franchise still likes to keep that information on its FDD so prospective franchisees know absolutely everything about the company. In fact, it was that kind of honesty that attracted Cordova to The Maids in the first place.

 

As a former franchisee, Cordova understands and anticipates the questions someone interested in The Maids might have.  His “knowledge of the trenches” comes from personal experience: he used to own a few pizza franchises. While the pizza franchises didn’t work out for Cordova, he took to heart all that he learned as a small business owner. “I’m very careful to [properly] place franchisees,” he says.

 

When it comes to selecting and placing new franchisees, Ronn and the rest of the franchise development team go over each application case by case. “We evaluate on a per individual basis,” Cordova says. Of course business acumen, sales, marketing and managerial skills are welcome and necessary. Financial fortitude is important too, though the franchise does help with financing via a third party. As a franchisee, you’re given mountains of support: 7-week long online pre-training course, 9 days of training at The Maids headquarters in Omaha, NE, a week of on-site support when you’re up and running, a business coach for the duration of your franchise agreement, and you’re assigned a mentor.

 

It may surprise you that the cleaning services industry has become a necessity as opposed to a luxury in recent years. “It’s been hard to make the cleaning industry sexy,” admits Cordova, but the Great Recession certainly helped to boost business. Now, in a traditional family unit, both heads of the household work in some capacity. The time that once was used to clean bathrooms and vacuum carpets is now spent at work. “There’s a lot of money to be made in the everyday services [industries],” Cordova says.

 

“One of the best parts of our business is that it affords a family lifestyle,” asserts Ronn. Customers who use The Maids’ services usually work Monday-through-Friday between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. and not on the weekends, which is exactly when they want their homes to be cleaned.

 

As someone who works for The Maids or owns a franchise, you’re home when your clients are: in time to have dinner with your kids.

 

 

Chem-Dry Signs with Franchise Clique

Chem-Dry is a highly specialized upholstery and carpet cleaning franchise that has been featured on the Entrpreneur Magazine’s “Franchise 500” list many times. This year, it’s in the top 50. Cleaning franchises are set to grow exponentially in the next few years. The smaller start-up costs and home-based business model has intrigued many people it seems.

The Chem-Dry franchise should also intrigue you, as it is one of the fastest growing and successful businesses today. There are over 2,165 in the United States and almost 2,000 more abroad. They train you at the headquarters in their unique cleaning method called the Hot Carbonating Extraction process. Their innovative technology will have your clients loyally returning.

Since they’ve been in the business since 1977, Chem-Dry not only has a great reputation, but they have great brand awareness. The name is synonymous with clean homes! We at Franchise Clique are very lucky to have Chem-Dry on board and we look forward to telling you more about their franchise and its success.

Dante’s Pizza Vending Kiosk

This vending franchise has coined itself “recession-proof” and “gimmick-free,” but what does it do? Well, Dante’s is a low investment vending franchise provides low cost Italian food in a vending machine. That’s right, you can get pizza from a vending machine. All your customers need to do is slip their money in and choose their product. The machine will then simply grab the item and drop it down for them.

Products include pretzel bread sandwiches, mini pizzas and Blue Bunny ice cream.

For just a few hours a week (restocking), you can make some side income with your Dante’s Pizza Kiosk. And if it’s working well, there are always options to expand your vending franchise and put more Dante’s in more locations for a great revenue stream. Some places that Dante’s recommends for their machines are: skating rinks, parks, college, hotels, family fun centers, arenas, bowling alleys and large offices.

You can get started on your vending franchise business by requesting more information on FranchiseClique.com.

Starting a Vending Franchise Business

There is a lot to consider when looking for a franchise opportunity. What kind of industry would you like to go into? What kind of time commitment can you make? What does the initial investment look like? How long will it take you to be successful? Well, it’s easier than you think to start planning if you are planning on buying a vending franchise.

Here are five things to consider when looking for a vending franchise:

1. Location, location, location. This isn’t a clichéd saying for no reason! Location is of the utmost importance with many businesses, but with vending, it’s even more so. If you are planning on buying a DVD vending franchise, for instance, it’s probably best to go with high-traffic areas like gas stations or grocery stores. With healthy snacks, it might be best to go for gyms, schools and churches.

2. Initial investment is lower. With a restaurant franchise, you’ve got to worry about hiring cooks, learning the menu, training wait staff, marketing, and more. With vending machines, you can simply place it wherever you want and stock it with in-demand items. There’s no guessing about investment range.

3. Maintenance. Have a clear plan for who is in charge of maintenance and stocking your machines. You want to make sure they are always working properly so that people come back.

4. Time commitment. Luckily for you, owning a vending franchise isn’t as time consuming as most other franchise opportunities. You’ve got time to be with your family and you won’t be working late hours or holidays.

5. Make profit in less time. It doesn’t take a long time to start turning a profit for vending franchises. Even though the merchandise does not cost much money, neither does the machine and maintenance. Therefore, you’ve got a higher return on investment potential. This means, too, that you can open up more opportunities for yourself in new locations.

Franchise Clique Signs Automotive Giant Meineke

Meineke Car Care has just signed with Franchise Clique and we couldn’t be happier. This automotive franchise is one of the best in the business and has been on Entrepreneur Magazine‘s “Franchise 500” list for years. This year, it’s in the top 100!

So what don’t you know about Meineke? Perhaps you don’t know that this franchise has grown to over 900 businesses or that it has been a market presence for over 30 years. Franchisees agree that the business is a great one to own. As one franchisee put it, it’s difficult to be an independent business anymore. Owning a Meineke is great because it has serious brand recognition and people know that it stands for outstanding service not only to its customers, but to its franchisees.

So, in short, we’re extremely pleased to have the Meineke Car Care franchise as a client at Franchise Clique. We’re excited to hear more success stories from franchisees and encourage you to leave any stories you might have about Meineke in the comments below!

Franchise Clique Helps DwellGreen Secure Three Territory Deal

We couldn’t be more excited to bring you this great news about a green franchise client of ours, Dwell Green. Thanks to Franchise Clique, DwellGreen just welcomed a new franchisee, Roger Taylor. Taylor, who hails from Texas, is now the proud owner of three franchise territories in the Dallas, TX market.

DwellGreen’s President and CEO, Jim Majirsky, contacted us yesterday to give us the following good news:

DwellGreen Franchising, LLC, expert advisors in the field of building and environmental science, awards 3 franchise opportunities in Dallas, TX market.

DwellGreen Franchising, LLC today announced that is has awarded 3 franchise opportunities in the Dallas, TX market to former Perot Systems/Dell  IT executive, Roger Taylor.  

Sarasota, FL (PRWEB) March 8th, 2012 — DwellGreen Franchising, LLC, a Sarasota, FL based company that conducts residential and commercial building evaluations, has awarded three franchise opportunities (territories) in the Dallas, TX area.  Started in early 2009, DwellGreen spent nearly 3 years developing and perfecting its business model aimed at making buildings greener, more energy efficient, safer and healthier, and better fortified, and has successfully transitioned that model into a viable franchise opportunity that is now being offered throughout the U.S.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cI7enop7j-4

Launching the franchising effort in August of 2011 and quickly signing its first franchise agreement in Florida, inquiries about this unique and exciting business opportunity have been pouring in from around the country.   DwellGreen’s most recent expansion is into the Dallas, TX market by awarding 3 franchise territories to Roger Taylor of Fairview, TX.  Roger will start by opening his first territory in Collin, Rockwall, and eastern Denton Counties.  He has purchased rights to two other territories in Dallas County and expects to expand his business into that area over the next 18 months.    Taylor, a longtime IT executive and consultant, has nearly 25 years of experience working for Perot Systems/Dell  as a Director of New Business Development and served as a direct advisor to the President and COO of the company.  He has recently completed both BPI Building Analyst and RESNET training and is now a Certified Energy Auditor.  He also completed his 5 day initial training program at the DwellGreen Learning Center where he learned all of the day to day operational aspects of running a DwellGreen franchise.  Taylor, who is an honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. Navy, was also able to take advantage of DwellGreen’s military discount program and received a 20% reduction on his franchise fee.  He will now begin to reach out and introduce himself throughout his territory by implementing a two month long Grand Opening program.

“The continuing interest and growth makes this a very exciting time here at DwellGreen corporate headquarters and we couldn’t be more pleased to welcome Roger to our franchise family.  We’re thrilled to have our first Texas based franchisee on board and are very confident that Roger will bring great success to his market. ”, Jim Majirsky, DwellGreen President was quoted as saying.  Majirsky further stated that he is very encouraged by the high level of interest in DwellGreen’s franchise opportunity and expects strong company growth into many key markets over the next few years.

To learn more about DwellGreen Franchising, LLC please visit www.dwellgreen.com and www.dwellgreenfranchise.com.

 

As it turns out DwellGreen’s newest franchisee, Roger Taylor, found out about the green concept and contacted DwellGreen through Franchise Clique’s website. We couldn’t be more excited for Jim Majirsky and Roger Taylor about their new business partnership.

Here’s what Jim had to say about Franchise Clique:

“Working with Franchise Clique has been a really great experience for us at DwellGreen.  They are providing qualified leads and we couldn’t be happier with the response rate from the prospects.  Guy, Annabel, and the rest of the staff are highly responsive and have been extremely helpful.  They exemplify what you would want in a business relationship, especially in a difficult field like lead development and generation.  All in all, we are very pleased with Franchise Clique.  Results always provide the proof and we just closed a three territory deal from a Franchise Clique lead — one out of the first 10 that we received.  Thanks guys!”

– Jim Majirsky, President and CEO of DwellGreen

 

 

 

Fresh Healthy Vending Has New Leadership

Fresh Healthy Vending has appointed a new CEO and President, Dan Negroni. Negroni has over 20 years experience in growing businesses and should come in very handy to the franchise’s growth plan for the coming years. With over 1,100 locations in the United States and Canada, Fresh Healthy Vending has grown exponentially in the last two years.

“I am honored and excited to lead Fresh Healthy Vending at this time because I believe they matter as a company – it matters to both our children’s and adults health and to communities across North America,” said Negroni (vendingmarketwatch).

Fresh Healthy Vending offers healthier vending machine options like fresh fruit, yogurt, granola and baked chips. The dual cooling climate is perfect for holding healthier food and drinks, which makes it a perfect vending franchise opportunity.