Category Archives: Franchise Interviews and Profiles

Franchise concept overviews, franchisee interviews and interviews with franchise concept top management members.

Franchise Financing – How to Get It

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If you’d like to purchase a franchise, but aren’t sure where to get the financing from, then you will want to read this article. Specifically in this article, we’ll discuss how to raise investment capital, what banks are looking for before they will loan money for a franchise, and alternative resources you can utilize to finance your franchise. After reading this article, your head should be swimming with ideas on how to get franchise financing.

The best way to get financing for your franchise is to have a good credit rating and a solid character. Most franchises will assist someone who they believe can run a business well but lacks the initial startup cash. Oftentimes these franchises have track records for picking successful business owners, so they have networks of investor groups who they can tap into for capital. Sometimes, your best bet for franchise financing is to get help from the franchise itself.

If that isn’t an option, then you need to know how to go about getting a loan. First of all, if you own property, that is your best bet at getting a loan. Otherwise, you might need the help of family and friends to sign on to share the burden by offering assets in exchange. Unless you have had several big loans in the past that you have made good on with your bank, then you’re going to need some assets. Unless your net worth is very substantial, don’t count on getting a simple signature loan.

If your credit is bad but you have a lot of cash on hand, then this works in your favor. My advice to you is to first find a franchisor that banks will be more apt to give money for. Investing in a new franchisor that only has 5 locations is probably not a good way to get financing from banks. If you were to invest in a McDonald’s franchise, I guarantee you’d have banks lining up at your door waiting to give you money. Before planning your business model, you need to take into account the bank’s point of view. They are in the business of giving money that they are 99% sure will be able to pay back the loan. If they have any doubt in their mind that you could go under, they will not give you financing.

Sometimes, if a franchise itself won’t help you with the financing, they will point you to the direction of someone who will. Because franchises want to sell their franchise to make money, they typically create resources that will help you in approaching venture capitalists and other people who are looking to loan money for a better than average return.

In conclusion, your best chance for franchise financing comes either from the franchise itself, the resources they can point you towards, or the loan you can get for the bank. Depending upon your circumstance, if you do it right it shouldn’t be a problem getting a loan from one of these three resources.

The Franchise Business is Alive & Strong

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New franchise opportunities are coming to the market regularly and the franchise industry is getting stronger and stronger. Franchise exhibitions are attracting many new exhibitors. Potential franchisees are coming in their droves to look at the many new & old opportunities that are eager to take their cash.

The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and kicking. People from all walks of life and different educational backgrounds are now thinking about going into business. More women are now looking to buy a franchise than ever before. Older people are joining the queue looking for part-time & full-time business opportunities for later life.

The banks and lending institutions are competing strongly to lend money competitively to new franchisees. It has never been a better time to buy a franchise. In some cases, the franchisors are even stepping in to provide guarantees to lenders to enable the franchisee to buy their franchise and set up the business.

Buying a franchise is much safer compared to starting a business on your own. Survey after survey carried out by official franchise organizations and lenders prove that people buying a franchise business are much more likely to still be trading profitably than people who choose to go into business on their own steam.

For those who are considering buying a franchise business, it is imperative that the right questions be asked to the franchisor.

How long has the franchisor been trading?
Are you a member of any approved organization?
What skills are required to operate the business?
How long will it take to recuperate capital invested?
How much turnover will I need to do to breakeven?
Who are your main competitors?
Is the market for your products growing, at a standstill or declining?
Will there be any unexpected fees?
Is there any ongoing training & support?
Which territories are available?
Do I have an exclusive territory?
What assurance do I have that my territory will be protected?
Are there any ongoing fees?
How long is the training?
How many franchisees do they have?
Can I contact all or some of your franchisees?
How many are trading successfully?
How many franchisees have failed in the past?
Why did they fail?
How are disputes handled?
How is marketing done?
What will be my contribution?
What is the procedure in selling the business?
What are the fees involved in selling the franchise?

Bear in mind that a good franchise opportunity will only work if you are prepared for the hard work involved in running a business. It is absolutely vital to find a business that will stimulate you for years to come. Far too many people choose an opportunity primarily based on profitability, rather than choosing the right business for them.

The franchise agreement is the cornerstone of your business and, as such, demands close scrutiny. Legal advice should always be sought to ensure that it is evenly balanced. Some franchise agreements that I have seen are far too one-sided and give more protection to the franchisor than the franchisee.

A final word of caution, even the best franchise will struggle in the wrong territory and marketplace. Always get independent advice from professionals to determine if your ideal franchise opportunity will work in your area.

How to Research Low Cost Franchises

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There are many franchise opportunities for people with small budgets. A low cost franchise does not necessarily mean a business with low income potential. Trawling through the franchise market, I have discovered that some of the best franchises only need a small initial outlay.

In some cases it is possible to recover the entire franchise fee in the first year of trading. With many of these businesses, you do not need any premises as you can work from home. This greatly reduces overheads and enables you to reach profitability very quickly.

Another very important benefit of low cost franchises is that some of them can be run full time or part time. This is ideal for people who do not have large monthly outlays and only require a small income to supplement their existing business. Just be very careful when analyzing any new business opportunity. If you cannot see a market for the product then it probably does not exist!

One low cost franchise opportunity specializes in cleaning carpets. They use extra powerful industrial vacuum cleaners to remove 80 percent of the dirt and dust in carpets before applying specialist chemicals which dissolves most of the oily and greasy particles that still remain. Their specialist equipment then removes almost all of the fluids used in the cleaning process. This means that your carpet is bone dry within a couple of hours.

Householders benefit because they get their carpets cleaned to a high professional standard at a reasonable cost. This then leads to repeat business possibly every couple of years for the franchisee and his reputation spreads quickly by word of mouth. The franchisee also benefits from professionally created marketing material including leaflets and business cards.

This business also benefits from positive cash flow as the franchisee gets paid for his work on completion and he receives generous term from his suppliers for his cleaning materials. The ideal franchisee for this company is a person who is still relatively strong and does not mind the hard physical work involved.

Another franchise for people with low budgets specialize in bringing single people together. Again this business can be managed from home. The franchisee has to follow a predefined local marketing programs that generates enquiries. This is then followed by a professional consultation so that a suitable match can be found.

This franchise requires people who have decent communication skills and are very presentable. This business is ideal for people who sincerely like to help other people and do not mind networking. The one downfall of this business is that if you do your job properly then you will not get any repeat business although you might get referrals!

Another interesting business opportunity is providing asset finance (lease & hire purchase) to local businesses. Again you do not need expensive premises (and can possibly work from home) but an aptitude for basic arithmetic definitively helps. If you already have many business contacts then this might be right up your street!

This business targets a very specific niche in business and has well proven marketing strategies to help you identify your most lucrative clients. The best factor in this business is that you can generate a lot of repeat business with the same client and if the business is handled correctly then most of your new clients will be generated by referrals.

In this type of business you will most definitely have to be prepared to learn new skills and some cold calling is required. From the point of initial contact to actually generating new business might take months and in some cases years. Patience is a virtue in this business.

My advice to anyone thinking of buying a franchise is:

-Do not just think about the earning potential.

-Find a business that suits your personality and lifestyle.

-Always take professional advice before embarking on a new business.

-Be prepared to “go back to school” and learn new skills.

In short, if you have a small budget, are prepared to learn new skills and choose the right niche, then one of these opportunities could work for you.

David Schwartz of Franchise Clique Announces New Daniel Island Headquarters to Accommodate Increased Growth

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Charleston, SC (May 31, 2018)— Franchise Clique, LLC, a leading franchise recruitment and lead generation company serving the franchise industry, today announced it has moved into new corporate offices at 133 River Landing Drive in Daniel Island’s growing business district to accommodate rapid company growth.

Franchise Clique was founded in 2009 in Charleston, South Carolina. The company offers lead generation and business development services for franchises and businesses of all kinds. It is privately held and boasts that its leadership team has decades of combined experience in lead generation.

Franchise Clique, LLC New Corporate Headquarters

“Going into our tenth year this is a monumental time for Franchise Clique and is the start to large company improvements that have the staff and customers eager to benefit from the unique opportunities this expansion provides,” said Franchise Clique Chief Executive Officer David Schwartz. “Franchise Clique’s new office space provides an updated and healthier work environment for existing and incoming employees while also leaving room for even greater company growth in the future.”

The new space reflects Franchise Clique’s proactive company goals that are meant to bring customers top-notch service while maintaining a high level of efficiency.  The new location is near Daniel Island’s public dock and walking/biking trails which are walking distance from multiple restaurants and shops.  The new office provides each employee with a personal office space which is a drastic improvement from the cubicle-style space from before.

Perks of Being a Gymboree Franchisee!

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For over 30 years, Gymboree Play & Music’s carefully crafted programs have been helping both parents and children to grow young minds. The company has continually developed classes and program content to incorporate cutting edge learning and fitness activities. They strive to bring fun, creativity and friendship to both customers and franchisees alike.

There are more than 700 Gymboree franchises in over 40 countries. As the creator and leader in interactive children’s play, music, art and development programs, Gymboree Play & Music built a business system with an unequalled reputation. The company’s unique approach has created a loyal customer base that continues to grow worldwide. Gymboree franchisees also have the advantage of being part of a rapidly growing Gymboree brand. Gymboree is quickly expanding in U.S. markets and opening new franchises all over the world.  Some existing locations are also for sale.

Want the details?

Key markets are available in the US and internationally.

Gymboree Play & Music Center
Franchise Fee: $45,000
Royalty: 6% of gross receipts
Estimated total investment: $126,000-$270,950

Gymboree Metro Play Center
Franchise Fee: $25,000
Royalty: 6% of gross receipts
Estimated total investment: $77,000- $178,350
If you are interested in learning more, contact us here.

A Conversation with Luke from Mighty Kicks Soccer: A Franchise Investment Worth Checking Out

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This past week I spoke with Luke Vercollone, the president and founder of Mighty Kicks Soccer, a mobile soccer program designed to build motor skills, life skills, self-confidence and basic soccer techniques to children ages 2-7. The program brings soccer to where the children are, whether it is a childcare facility during the day, an after-school program at an elementary school, or other various locations in the community for home-schooled children and the general public. Mighty Kicks Soccer is unique in introducing sports and concepts of teamwork to children at a very young, impressionable age – and the coolest part? It’s a franchise.

Following Luke’s graduation from Seton Hall University (where he majored in Sports Management), he was drafted into the MLS and has been playing professional soccer since 2004. He is an NSCAA certified coach, with his USSF National B License and over 17 years of coaching experience. It was his coaching experience at other programs that inspired Luke to develop his own program.

I asked him how long after he began Mighty Kicks did he realize it had the capability to be franchised. Luke said “It wasn’t until I started the program in 2008 that I realized the program had potential to become a franchise. It was early in the first season; I immediately saw the popularity of Mighty Kicks and I realized there was a demand for this type of program and it was profitable.”

He went on to explain the unique aspect of this franchise, “Soccer is extremely popular, many other soccer programs play evenings and weekends, and we don’t compete with those programs. Mighty Kicks brings the program to the children. It’s, convenient, it’s economical, and it’s unique.” Mighty Kicks primarily focuses on preschool-aged children, at their preschools, where children can partake in the enrichment program on site during school hours.

Mighty Kicks Soccer is highly successful in developing many skills, including balance, agility, coordination, teamwork and good sportsmanship. Luke says “Our goal is to give young children an overall positive experience with sports, and specifically soccer. If they’re having fun, they’re learning. If they are enjoying soccer, they are more likely to play it in the future.” Even beyond the basic skills Mighty Kicks Soccer helps children develop, he says “We are indirectly teaching them life skills. We provide them with a positive experience, and keep them active.”

After speaking to Luke, I was very interested in checking out the benefits of franchising with Mighty Kicks Soccer. There are many: including a high profit margin with little overhead to maintain, flexible and family friends work hours, tax benefits, saved time (not wasted on the learning curve), as well as the enjoyable and rewarding work that makes a difference to children in the community. There are many other benefits one can receive when franchising with Mighty Kicks Soccer and you can check the rest of them out here.

And Luke’s message to those interested in franchising? “I think we have the greatest value.  As a new franchise, we are eager to bring on quality franchisees. If a candidate is interested in sports, in kids, and in business, this is a great investment.” Luke says this is an “Unbeatable value with a great investment opportunity.” I most certainly agree.

Mobility: A Time-Tested Specialty and an Alternative Entrance into the Senior Market

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Headquartered in Wilmington, North Carolina, and sweeping its way across America, 101 Mobility is one of the nation’s largest providers of mobility solutions and one of the most exciting alternative opportunities for entrepreneurs seeking out their niche in the senior boom.

101 Mobility sells, installs, rents, and services a complete line of home health, mobility, and accessibility products for the elderly and disabled. From stair, porch, pool, and auto lifts, to ramps, bridges and walkways to power scooters, safety baths, and more, they service residential and commercial clients alike and are the top dealer of many of their products’ manufacturers.

In an industry historically predominated by “mom and pop” shops and anonymous online firms, seniors and their caretakers often don’t know who to trust for professional and reliable mobility products and aren’t aware of the broad variety of mobility solutions available. As one of the first nationally franchised organizations of its kind, 101 Mobility has been leading this specialty into the 21st century.

101 Mobility’s is a scalable business model designed to grow with your operation, and can be launched in 90 days or less. Their franchisees receive comprehensive training, protected territories, established relationships with equipment vendors and core national accounts, marketing assistance, and their unparalleled, all-inclusive “Mobilink” business operating system.

101 Mobility is on the move and is seeking motivated entrepreneurs who can help them reach their national goals. If you have strong sales and marketing skills and are shopping for solid alternative options in the senior market, consider the time-tested specialty of “mobility” and contact their franchise development team today.

To learn more about this up-and-coming franchise opportunity, please visit: http://www.franchiseclique.com/franchise/101-Mobility.

Franchise Profile: Ziebart International

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For over 50 years, Ziebart International has developed its own renowned products and technology to protect vehicles against such damaging elements as dirt, pollution, heat, ultraviolet rays and rust.

Ziebart International Corporation is headquartered in Troy, Michigan, representing a global franchise network of vehicle appearance and protection services for over 53 years. The company was founded on rust protection in 1959 and currently operates 400 locations in 30 countries with over 800 processing centers worldwide. Ziebart is the world’s leading name in automotive services that protect, preserve and enhance the appearance of cars and trucks.


Ziebart offers superior proprietary products and services and a diverse business model. Specializing in professional automotive detailing, window tinting, paint protection films, fabric and rust protection, sprayed-on bed liners, glass repair, scratch repair and accessories, Ziebart is recognized as the No. 1 franchise in the automotive appearance services category by Entrepreneur magazine and is ranked #122 out of 200 of America’s Top Global Franchises. For 2012, Ziebart ranked #153 in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500.

Are You A Good Fit? Ask Yourself These Questions:

  • Do you have the entrepreneurial desire to be in business for yourself but not by yourself?
  • Are your interests aligned with the automotive aftermarket industry?
  • Are you sales oriented and driven to succeed?
  • Would you embrace commitment to follow a proven business model that will guide you to reach your full potential?

If you answered ‘Yes’ to any or most of these questions, please click the following link to learn more about the Ziebart International opportunity: http://www.franchiseclique.com/franchise/Ziebart. Use the form on this page to submit your contact information to have a Ziebart representative contact you.

Licensing Opportunity Profile: Save-A-Lot Food Stores

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Save-A-Lot is the nation’s leading hard discount grocery chain with over 1,300 stores across the U.S. and Caribbean. Approximately 70% of these locations are owned and operated by individuals or corporate entities under Save-A-Lot’s licensed retailer program.

Their business model is designed to help retailers succeed and compete effectively in the grocery industry. They combine the expertise of the nation’s second largest grocery chain under a single banner with the unique talents of licensed operators. Save-A-Lot is focused on driving down costs to give their independently owned retailers a competitive edge.

 

  • Smaller, Efficient Stores: The average Save-A-Lot store is 15,000 square feet – much smaller than a traditional grocery store. This reduces startup costs, inventory, occupancy and other operating costs.
  • Hard Discount: Save-A-Lot carries the food items shoppers buy most often. By offering a carefully selected assortment of approximately 2,000 grocery items, they create unparalleled efficiencies throughout the supply chain, enabling their retailers to offer customers the lowest prices possible.
  • Save-A-Lot Exclusive Brands: Over 70% of their store is devoted to their own exclusive high quality brands. These trademarked brands offer substantial savings because they don’t carry the costly advertising expenses built into national brands.
  • Buying Power: Their large network of stores and the consolidation of entire categories into single items give Save-A-Lot incredible buying power.
  • Handling Efficiencies: Products ordered from one of their 16 dedicated distribution centers are shipped and merchandised in custom cartons that make stocking much more efficient, cutting labor costs and streamlining operations.

Save-A-Lots are not franchised. Their retailers operate under license agreements and adhere to company operating standards, building design, equipment criteria and merchandising concepts. This helps ensure consistency and success across their network of licensed and corporate stores. They provide ongoing services such as training, retail accounting, advertising and operations consultation. Our goal is to help you succeed.

 

Save-A-Lot welcomes the opportunity to further discuss their unique business opportunity regarding owning and operating a Save-A-Lot food store. To learn more, please fill out the form here: http://www.franchiseclique.com/franchise/Save-A-Lot-Food-Stores.

Franchise Profile: NexGoal Helps Athletes Transition to the Corporate World

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NexGoal is a specialized search and career development business focused on candidates who are former professional and/or collegiate athletes. These former athletes possess core traits (biographical data “biodata”) which have proven over time to be an accurate predictor for future performance.

For decades, businesses of all sizes have benefited from the core traits that athletes bring to a corporate team. As a result, the athlete-candidate can give the hiring manager greater confidence in the hire over a candidate who does not have these defined traits in their background.

Their management team is comprised of former collegiate and professional athletes who clearly understand the challenges which athletes face as they make their transition from sports. As experienced search consultants, NexGoal’s team also understands the challenges businesses face in acquiring and retaining the best talent for their team. They are the “go to” resource for both athletes and businesses, acting as an effective bridge between these two groups.

NexGoal serves as the conduit between former collegiate and professional athletes and corporations throughout North America. NexGoal’s mission is to be the premiere most reputable, athlete focused placement career transition resource for former athletes.


The NexGoal Franchise Concept:

  • Business Model – NexGoal International, LLC. serves as a strategic talent acquisition partner for businesses who seek competitively driven talent and who benefit from the core traits that athletes bring to their corporate teams. Their proprietary process of recruiting combined with an exclusive resource of candidates allows NexGoal to serve a niche market that other recruiting companies cannot penetrate.
  • Franchising – Their affiliate, NexGoal LLC, has been in operation for the past 3 years and has placed candidates all over the country for corporations in a variety of industries. The NexGoal concept really resonates with former athletes.  In fact, many former athletes have asked how they can get involved with what NexGoal is doing. Typically, after leaving the sport, athletes retain a network of business owners and team mates that they stay in touch with.  NexGoal plans to franchise similar offices throughout the U.S. and globally.

NexGoal has partnered with one of the premier recruiting trainers in the industry (Doug Beabout) to help new franchisees learn the business. We have also sought out strategic franchising partners who have worked in the recruiting business and have successfully opened recruiting franchises throughout the U.S.

To learn more about how you can become part of the NexGoal team, please click the following link: http://www.franchiseclique.com/franchise/NexGoal-Professional-Athlete-Recruiting-Franchise.

A Load of Rubbish Works: How a Junk Removal Franchise Goes Green

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junk removal franchise

The worlds of junk removal and green entrepreneurship collide within Rubbish Works, a franchise concept that offers its franchisees the opportunity to provide a much-needed service while owning their own business.

 

Self-describe as, “not just another junk hauler,” Rubbish Works makes a concerted effort to solve the junk removal demands of residential and commercial clients while keeping their businesses practices green and environmentally-friendly. The junk-removal franchise concept specializes in the removal of old furniture, appliances, garage items and renovation debris, much of which is recyclable. A large number of Rubbish Works’ commercial clients are real estate agents or contractors, who require the junk-removal franchise’s 20-yard roll-off containers sized to each project’s specifications.

 

Rubbish Works’ list of acceptable items and provided services includes:

 

Appliances:

  • Refrigerators
  • Kitchen Appliances
  • Water Heaters
  • Washers / Dryers
  • Electronics / TV’s
  • Computers / Monitors

Outdoor / Yard Debris:

  • Bricks / Concrete
  • Brush / Leaves
  • Dirt / Gravel
  • Wood
  • Hot tubs

Household Items:

  • Garage Items
  • Tires
  • Old Furniture
  • Trash

 

All appliances, televisions and computers are recycled 100% of the time. Of the other removed items, up to 50% is recycled on an ongoing basis.

 

As a franchisee, Rubbish Works partners are provided with all of the operational tools necessary to be up and running immediately, including: a customized hook-lift truck, a centralized call center, web-based scheduling capabilities, GPS mapping capabilities, crew tracking and a proprietary web-based software. This, leveraged with the franchises’s training and support systems and the industry’s project growth through 2020 puts Rubbish Works’ franchisees in the black– and green.

 

One of the biggest benefits to owning a Rubbish Works (versus another junk-removal franchise) is the ability to operate a business with two separate revenue streams. As Rubbish Works services both residential and commercial clients, the opportunities for junk-removal, recycling or other clean-up projects is doubled.

 

For more information about going green, becoming a Rubbish Works franchisee or owning your own business, please visit www.franchiseclique.com.

A Healthy Choice: Wok Box Fresh Asian Kitchen

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There are plenty of lunch and dinner choices to make when you’re looking for Chinese food, Japanese dishes and other Asian food specialties. As a franchise operator, wouldn’t it be convenient if your customers could find all of their favorite Asian dishes and other exciting new specialties under one roof?

Wok Box Fresh Asian Kitchen has put together a delicious variety of flavorful and healthy meal choices from popular Asian regions all in one menu. Expect favorites from Thailand, Malaysia, China, Singapore, Vietnam, Japan and many more. Wok Box Fresh Asian Kitchen’s lunch and dinner selections are made to order with fresh ingredients and unique sauces made exclusively for the Wok Box in their test kitchen.

The Wok Box pioneered the concept of freshly made pan-Asian food in Canada and packaged it in a quick serve restaurant model that fits into 1,200 to 1,500 square feet. Their growth has attracted abundant interest from would-be franchisees across Canada, resulting in more than 70 stores opening in three years.

Their diverse menu selections appeal to many tastes and attract both lunch and dinner customers. The restaurants are designed to create a comfortable, pleasant and unique Wok Box experience, encouraging customers to return often. But why limit your opportunities to serving dine-in customers only? Their Group Share menu selections encourage family style dining that easily lends itself to take out ordering too. Their customers enjoy the convenience of picking up their favorite menu items on their way home, so they can serve their family with practically no effort at all. Boost your sales further with Wok Box’s extensive catering menu. Give customers the opportunity to think of you when they need to cater a family gathering, business meeting, birthday party or sporting event.

With a management team boasting many years of practical hands-on experience, the Wok Box offers comprehensive support to its franchisees, starting with helping you understand how their markets are laid out, and then guiding you through the real estate process where you choose your store location. They will make sure you build a beautiful store complete with their interior designs and colors, tiled walls, big screen televisions and a unique and inviting kitchen design.

 

To learn more about the Wok Box franchise opportunity, please click the following link: http://www.franchiseclique.com/franchise/Wok-Box-Fresh-Asian-Kitchen.