What to Look For in a Franchise

What to look for in a franchise

In the long run, there are many criteria to consider when evaluating a franchise opportunity. But initially there are just three main questions I ask in order to determine whether a given opportunity warrants further investigation. In attending a Discovery Day, I want to know:

Is this the right market to get into?

It doesn’t matter if a franchise has the greatest products or services in the world if consumers aren’t ready, willing and able to buy. Are industry sales growing? If so, do credible sources predict that growth will continue? This was one of my main concerns about the Hand & Stone Massage concept: Isn’t massage one of those luxury items that gets cut in recessionary times?

Is this the right concept to meet the market need?

If you determine that there is a market need, then ask: Is this concept designed to meet the needs of both the consumer and you – the operator? The best franchise concepts are streamlined for both operational efficiency and profitability. They are designed to provide value and a superior experience for your customer, and growth through multiple revenue streams for you.

Is this the right management and support team to guide my growth… now and in the future?

This is a critical consideration for several reasons. When you purchase a franchise you are agreeing to follow the systems and policies set forth by the franchisor for the duration of your franchise contract. For that reason, it’s critically important that you are confident that the leadership team has both the experience and judgement to make the right strategic decisions, and that they are truly committed to franchisee success. Additionally, you should consider the franchise fees and royalties you will pay as fees for services rendered and evaluate them on that basis. Does this management team have the experience and expertise to provide value to your business not only in the start-up phase, but on an ongoing basis? Can they provide benefit in excess of the monetary contributions you will make?



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New Divorce Franchise Opportunity

Established in 2006, Fairway Divorce Solutions offers a first-of-its-kind alternative to the traditional system of divorce by offering a new divorce paradigm that saves money, time, stress and protects the children. Charging a flat fee, Fairway Divorce Solutions uses a common sense step-by-step proven approach called The Fairway Process™. The Company is growing rapidly with franchises in Victoria, BC; Edmonton, AB; two in Calgary, AB; and one in Saskatoon, SK. Expansion plans into Eastern Canada and the United States will begin in 2009.

On January 15, 2009,  Fairway Divorce Solutions, Ltd. (Fairway) announced the opening of the Fairway Divorce Solutions® franchise in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

”We are excited to be offering Saskatoon a new alternative to divorce. In the traditional system, divorce can be costly, and Fairway offers a strategic step-by-step process with win-win resolutions that saves time, money, stress and protects the children,” said Karen Stewart, President and CEO of Fairway Divorce Solutions.

Carolyn Genest and Don Rosten are the new franchise owners who see significant value in offering Fairway’s new divorce paradigm to families in and around the Saskatoon area. Genest, the Saskatoon franchise’s spokesperson, is currently the Chief Financial Officer for a tourism and hospitality company in Saskatoon, and also acts as the company’s sales and marketing director.

“After learning about Fairway’s divorce paradigm through Dean Bergsma, the Edmonton Fairway franchise owner, we thought it was a fantastic opportunity. We felt that a company like Fairway would help keep people’s integrity while going through a divorce,” said Genest. “We have seen many people go through divorce, and there is a lot of animosity that follows years after. I fully appreciate the importance of a well-managed divorce, and the Fairway Process™ is a proven business model that I am proud to be a part of. This would be our way of giving back to the people of Saskatoon and Saskatchewan.”

Fairway Divorce Solutions is the brainchild of Karen Stewart, whose turbulent divorce using the traditional system not only prompted her to open Fairway Divorce Solutions and design The Fairway Process™, but to pen her first self-help book, Clean Break: How to Divorce with Dignity and Move on with Your Life. Source:  Fairway Divorce Solutions

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New Real Estate Franchise Opportunity

New franchise: Nothnagle Realtors Real Estate Agency Franchise

Armand D’Alfonso, Nothnagle Realtors’ president and chief executive, recently announced that Nothnagle Realtors plans to offer franchise opportunities to real estate agencies across the country “similar to Century 21 and Coldwell Banker.” According to an article in the Democrat and Chronicle:

Nothnagle will initially offer franchising rights in cities such as Buffalo, Syracuse and Albany and areas downstate, said John Arquette, vice president of franchise sales and new business development… The most likely franchisees would be small agencies that could benefit from Nothnagle’s technological and marketing knowhow. Under a franchise arrangement, the agencies would remain independently owned.

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Nothnagle also has a history of franchising. In 1950, John T. Nothnagle opened the first Gallery of Homes at the Granite Building in downtown Rochester, where prospective buyers could view photos of houses for sale. Before that, houses were sold to buyers visiting the property. John Nothnagle franchised the concept and, at its peak, there were more than 1,200 galleries around the country. The gallery franchise was sold in 1983, Arquette said. The Gallery of Homes concept was the forerunner of today’s Internet marketing, said John Masters, broker at Nothnagle’s Greece office.

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Some competitors said Nothnagle’s plan makes sense because it reduces the cost of doing business for franchisees while enabling Nothnagle to become a national player. The company already ranks 36th in the country with more than $1.2 billion in annual real estate transactions. “It’s very difficult for a mom-and-pop to keep their costs down,” said Larry Mastrella, manager of RealtyUSA’s Pittsford office, explaining why a small agency in some other part of the country might want to affiliate with Nothnagle.

Professional Pet-Sitting and Dog-Walking Franchise

“I created this business with a mission that no pet should go uncared for,” said Paul Mann, founder and CEO. “When a pet owner hires FETCH! Pet Care, they know they will come home to a happy pet. The majority of FETCH! Pet Care customers prefer not to kennel their pets due to health or safety concerns, or they simply feel better having their pets at home, in the safety and comfort of the pet’s own environment.”
After experiencing frustration in finding professional, reliable care for his own pets, FETCH! Pet Care franchise founder Paul Mann walked away from a lucrative career in the technology industry, determined to fill an obvious hole in the market. Since its founding in 2002, FETCH! Pet Care has blossomed into a multi-million dollar franchise that continues to grow by more than 200 percent each year in this rapidly growing industry. Mann notes more than two-thirds of U.S. households own pets, and an estimated $43 billion will be spent in the pet industry this year — double the amount spent only a decade ago. The industry is expected to grow to $52 billion in just two years.

Paul Mann claims to have built the nation’s largest and most professional at-home pet sitting and dog-walking franchise, with 200 FETCH! Pet Care franchise locations in more than 1,800 communities across 35 states.

FETCH! Pet Care, with a fitting tagline of “We’ve Got Your Tail Covered,” continues to expand at a rapid pace, opening 10-15 new franchises per month, nationwide, by breaking down the No. 1 barrier to pet ownership: a lack of proper care for pets while their owners work or travel. The franchise provides professionally trained, bonded and insured pet sitters for owners of any kind of pet, from dogs and cats, to hamsters, birds, fish, iguanas and more. Caregivers can be hired for ongoing daily services, as well as on weekends, during busy holidays or on short notice.

In addition to its basic pet care services, FETCH! Pet Care also offers daily pet visits, private dog walks, group off-leash dog outings, in-home overnight sitting, private boarding, day and evening care, pet fitness services, pet taxi services, home care, yard pet waste cleanup, and medication for pets.

Mann maintains that while there are many independent pet sitters who are loving and caring, the vast majority don’t have great business acumen, which has affected the perception of the pet care industry. With criminal background checks for all of its caregivers, a sophisticated telephone dispatch system and advanced software that tracks assignments and delivers real-time electronic client order confirmations and automated sitter assignment reminders, FETCH! Pet Care is changing that image. The business can be run from home and requires an initial franchise fee of only $12,000.

Are you familiar with the FETCH! Pet Care franchise? Leave a comment… tell us what you think.

New Pet Waste Cleanup and Removal Franchise

Since launching its franchise operations in the fall of 2005, Pet Butler has grown from a company servicing a single market to 100 franchises, covering half of the country. Its newest franchises are located in St. Petersburg, Florida; Randolph, New Jersey; Boca Raton, Florida; The Woodlands, Texas; and Naples, Florida. Existing franchise partners in Philadelphia; Houston; and Bartlett, Illinois, have expanded their businesses by acquiring additional franchises, which has contributed to the company’s recent franchise milestone.

Pet Butler provides professional pet waste cleanup and removal services and supplies for individual yards, parks, and multi-family communities. The company’s mission is to make life more convenient, enjoyable, and safe for pet owners and to give them more quality time with their pets and families. Together with its nationwide network of franchise partners, the company has been cleaning up poop for 20 years.

For a small per-visit fee, Pet Butler animal waste specialists clean up and safely dispose of grass-killing dog droppings. They keep the yards of individual homeowners and their pets, as well as multi-family communities and parks across the nation, poop-free. The company proudly bills itself as “#1 in the #2″ business.”

Pet Butler’s franchise model offers clients best-in-class customer service and support through the company’s national customer service center, known as “Poop Central Command.” Franchise partners also benefit from ARF (Administration, Routing, Franchising), the company’s fully automated and integrated Web-based network that manages the daily operations of each franchises’ routing, accounting, customer service, and field activities. Pet Butler has also recently launched an online customer service feature that has enabled franchise partners to expand their business by signing up, scheduling and accepting payments for new clients 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The company also provides a wireless mobile software solution through its PoopNet network, which allows franchisees to easily track their routes and communicate with the company’s customer service center via handheld computers while in the field. Pet Butler franchise partners are able to leave the administrative details to the home office, so they can focus on business development and providing excellent service to their commercial and residential clients.

Pet Butler attributes much of its franchise growth to the fact that they take the headaches out of owning a small business. Pet Butler generated more than $3.5 million in revenue in 2007 and expects substantial growth, including the addition of 50 franchises, in 2008.

Are you familiar with the Pet Butler franchise opportunity? Share a comment below.

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