Franchise Flag Maker

Because his money is involved, a prospective franchisee must be extremely careful in scrutinizing franchise offers. He should have a ready set of questions that the franchisor must be able to answer convincingly and show basis for his replies. Some of the important questions to ask a franchisor are:

How long has the franchisor been in the business? How many franchises are there at present? How many have failed? The answers to these questions will give the franchisee an overview of the business and its present franchise network.

Specifically, what will the franchisee get from paying the franchise fee? The franchise fee is usually a large sum of money paid to the franchisor once the agreement is signed. Therefore, it is important to know the advantages that the franchisee will be getting in return.

How intensive and effective are the initial and continuing training programs of the company for opening and running the franchise unit? The quality of the training programs of the company for start-up operations and running the business smoothly will determine the ease or difficulty with which the franchisee will run his unit.

What support services can the franchisee expect from the company on an on-going basis in terms of helping him deal with problems that may crop up in the course of the business? Continuing support from the franchisor is essential for the unit to run as projected. The franchisor must be able to enumerate in detail the support services that the company will provide in a variety of scenarios wherein the franchisee is confronted by different problems relative to the business. These problems may concern labour, customer complaints, equipment breakdown, and stock shortage.

Is the central management transparent in the appropriation of pooled funds for advertising and promotions? Did the past marketing programs of the company have a positive effect on sales? Part of the unit’s revenues is paid to the franchisor for the company’s advertising and promotions, therefore, the franchisee must know how well the company handles this fund and if its past marketing programs helped boost sales for its franchisees.

Is there a guarantee from the franchisor that the quality of the products and services offered by suppliers through him will be consistent and delivered promptly? The reliability of suppliers will be a big factor in the successful operation of the business. Hence, it is important that the franchisor is willing to guarantee the dependability of his suppliers and the quality of their products and services.

How long will it take the franchisee to recoup his investment? Naturally, every franchisee is very keen on knowing the company’s projection on this matter. The franchisor’s estimate must be supported by documents giving credence to his projection. However, it would be wise for the franchisee not to merely take the franchisor’s word for it but to research on the matter with other franchisees.

How well has the company studied the marketplace in terms of the ideal number of franchises in a given area to ensure the success of each? Is there a guarantee that the company-owned unit will not compete with the franchises? If it does, what will the company do? There are instances wherein the mother unit directly or indirectly competes with its franchise perhaps due to lack of a proper market study. In any such case, the company must be prepared with a viable solution that will be beneficial to both parties.

How receptive is the company to the idea of adapting its products and systems to the culture and preferences of the market in a given location? If the franchisee is considering a business site wherein the culture and preferences of the people are markedly different from that where the mother unit and other franchises are located, it would be detrimental to the success of the franchise if the company will persist in strictly adhering to its original product line.

A franchisee must carefully list the questions before arriving at the final decision. The aforementioned questions are only some of the most basic among the crucial questions that a sensible franchisee must ask. The manner by which the franchisor answers them can help determine the level of his sincerity. In addition to asking the franchisor, the franchisee will be able gather valuable insight into the actual state of the franchise from the other franchisees themselves. More often than not, they are more than willing to share their problems, frustrations, and advice. Asking the right questions will certainly help the prospect make the right decision

Deciding to get a franchise is only the first of several major decisions a prospective franchisee will have to make. The next is determining the best franchise opportunity.

The best franchise opportunity is a totality of many factors. These factors are like parts that make up a whole. They work together to achieve a beneficial result.

Foremost of these factors is the prospect’s financial capability or ready access to financing since a large amount of money is required for the franchise fee, down payment on the lease, and other expenses. In addition to being financially ready, he should make a complete self-examination to determine his personality and preferences so that he can find the right kind of business that will match his style.

Preferably, the prospect must have conducted his own research and market study before setting up a meeting with the franchisor. This will enable him to inquire intelligently about important details relative to the company and the arrangements under the franchise. This way, he does not enter into something that he does not know much about, wherein he will have to depend mainly on the franchisor for information. This kind of information is unreliable since it has already been edited to come up with a highly convincing franchise presentation.

In asking questions, the prospect must solicit important information such as those about the track record of the company insofar as its franchises are concerned; how committed it is in providing continuous support to the franchise and ensuring its success; how effective its training and marketing programs are; and if the company has an continuing product research and development program to make the business updated and competitive. The franchisor must be able to provide this information to the prospect’s satisfaction.

If the business is large and enormously popular in the market, its franchise network is most probably successful. Accordingly, the franchise fee alone will cost the prospect a large sum of money. If he does not possess the financial capability required by large companies, the next best thing is to look for a lesser-known company that has a high market potential but a lower franchise fee. However, the risks involved here are definitely higher than with a large-company franchise.

In considering the franchise offer of a less popular franchisor, the prospect has to conduct a thorough study on the background of the company, its present management, and the market potential of its products or services in his intended business location. He must also be able to find substantiated answers to the following questions: Is the business concept innovative enough to attract customers? Will it draw enough interest in the marketplace to make loyal customers? Is the company willing to allot a reasonable budget to fund marketing programs in the area to help the franchisee realize more profits? Am I willing to risk my money on a novel concept such as this? If so, am I up to the challenge of turning the franchise into a profitable venture? If the answer to all these questions is “yes,” the other equally important factors must also be considered.

The planned business site for the franchise unit is another crucial factor if the business is to succeed. Ideally, the business must be established in a place where there is a lot of human traffic, possibly inside a shopping centre, near a school, or downtown where all the shops are situated. It must also be easily accessible to its target market. In this regard, the franchisor’s willingness to provide support in pinpointing determining the ideal location and negotiating the lease will be a good indication of his sincerity.

In addition, the prospect has to determine the availability of competent people in the area who can be considered for possible employment in his franchise. Staffing the business with quality employees who can be trained in operations and management will be an essential factor in running the business smoothly.

As the prospective chief operations officer of a franchise unit, the prospect must be assured of an effective training program that will arm him with adequate knowledge in starting the business and running it smoothly later on. A good training program for the employees should also be in place.

Furthermore, local legislations that are favorable to business will make the franchise opportunity more encouraging, assuming, that is, that the general economic condition is good for business.

The best franchise opportunity materializes when the prospective franchisee is financially ready; he has made a thorough study of his chosen company, its viability, products, and franchise network; he is assured of the commitment of the company to provide him continuous support; he has a good business site in mind; and the prevailing economic condition is conducive to starting a business.

The moment this opportunity presents itself, seize it!

UK Franchise Directory Franchise blog

Franchises are among the fastest growing business opportunities available. Once the purview only of those who could afford to invest many, many thousands of dollars – often as many as several hundred of thousands – franchise opportunities now exist that will fit almost any budget.

If you are looking to buy a franchise that carries a low price tag but can yield high profits, you’ve come to the right place. Here are ten top franchise opportunities that can be yours for right around $20,000!

GLOBAL BROKER SYSTEMS

You don’t have to be on Wall Street to earn a Wall Street-level income. Global Broker Systems offers the opportunity to do jus this by offering commercial loans to businesses.

With national name recognition, Global provides you with training and support so you are equipped to handle financial issues ranging from debt restructuring and business acquisition financing to accounts receivable and lease financing.

With a total capital investment is $19,950, you could be well on your way to a successful entrepreneurial career in finance.

FAST-TEKS ON-SITE COMPUTER SERVICES

This unique opportunity places you directly in the manager’s seat. As a Fast-Teks franchisee, you do not repair or service any computers directly. Rather, you manage a team of trained technicians who travel to client sites to perform all repair and maintenance work.

The total capital investment is just $19,500, with an additional requirement of $6,000 to $10,000 for start-up expenses and advertising.

In return, you gain the benefit of working for yourself in a multi-multi-billion dollar industry. No computer experience is required, so check out Fast-Teks today.

BLUE COAST FINANCIAL GROUP

With a motto of “Bring Wall Street to Main Street,” this franchise opportunity allows entrepreneurs to become Blue Coast Advisors who offer “second opinion financial services” to businesses and corporations.

No financial experience? No problem! The parent company’s support staff of expert analysts provide you with all of the information you need to give the best and most accurate advice and guidance to your clients.

Additionally, Blue Coast offers service-provision options that make your services even more appealing to potential clients. Carrying a total capital investment of $19,995, this business franchise opportunity truly does make Wall Street Main Street-accessible.

J. BRANDT COMMUNICATIONS

No one likes to be on-hold, but the fact is that people today will spend a significant amount of time on-hold waiting for information, assistance, or conducting business. The good news is that, as a J. Brandt Communications dealer, you can capitalize on this by marketing Music and Messaging On-Hold (MOH) services to companies and corporations.

The benefit to your clients is that they gain an additional opportunity to market their products and services; the benefit to you is that you can establish a source of recurring income for today and for your future.

The start-up cost capital investment cost for this exciting opportunity is $20,000.

GUARD-A-KID – CHILD ID SYSTEMS

Oftentimes, people look into starting their own business so they can spend more time with their families and create a future for them. This franchise opportunity allows you to do exactly this while protecting your family in the process.

Guard-A-Kid is a child safety ID kit that provides parents with wallet-size and file-size printed IDs as well as a CDROM containing their child’s information. Because the information is in digital format, it can easily be sent to law enforcement personnel in the case of an emergency.

In addition to this basic package, Guard-A-Kid offers parents the option of purchasing additional safety accessories, including wearable IDs, Internet safety software, and more.

The capital investment cost is $19,900, and you can choose to operate your business either from the comfort of your own home or through a Guard-A-Kid kiosk.

CTI – CONCRETE TECHNOLOGY

Concrete isn’t just for sidewalks. Through CTI, you can become a business owner in the field of concrete restoration and beautification. Even if you’ve never worked with concrete before, you can succeed as a CTI dealer by benefiting from the company’s comprehensive training program and round-the-clock technical support.

CTI operates in the United States and in 22 countries around the world, and you can become a part of this exciting and growing market for just $19,500.

AMERICAN BUSINESS ADVANTAGE

With interest rates on the rise, more and more homeowners are finding they are unable to meet their mortgage payments, and, as a result, foreclosure looms on the horizon.

You can help homeowners avoid taking this difficult step by becoming a Certified Foreclosure Consultant (CFC) through American Business Advantage. Whether you want to work full-time or part-time, from an office or from the comfort of your own home, American Business Advantage allows you the freedom to choose.

You will receive training and complete support in this business venture for a total capital investment of $19,995.

CRUISE PLANNERS FRANCHISING LLC/AMERICAN EXPRESS

For the past several years, this award-winning franchise opportunity has consistently been ranked #1 in its category by Entrepreneur Magazine. And it isn’t hard to see why.

With a price tag of just $9,995-$19,950, franchisees can capitalize on the growth and success of the cruising industry.

Cruise Planners Franchising LLC/American Express offers top commission levels, the latest in technology, training and support, and unique industry programs and benefits, among other things. If this exciting opportunity sounds like it could be for you, cruise over to the above website for more information.

INFINITE MARKETING

Every business needs marketing collateral, so why not go into the business of providing marketing collateral to businesses?

For a total capital investment of just $14,900, you can become the owner of your own Video Business Card Distributorship. Video Business Cards (VBC) are the new wave of business promotions, and they include personal messages from the business professionals as well as printable marketing materials and e-mail and website links.

Small businesses want to stand out among their competition, and VBCs allow them to do just this. As a VBC business owner, you can earn an income while helping other small businesses succeed at the same time.

DVDNOW KIOSKS

Today’s society is all about convenience. People want to accomplish more in less time. And DVDNow Kiosks allows them to do just that by providing automated DVD rental kiosks so renters can pick up a Friday-night movie without ever stopping at the video-store.

DVDNow Kiosks can be found in grocery stores, convenience stores, office buildings, or any location prone to high foot-traffic. As a DVDNow Kiosks distributor, you earn income every time someone rents a DVD from one of your kiosks. This means that your earning potential continues even when you are not actively working.

This industry is set for an exponential explosion, and for a start up capital of $20,000, you can secure a piece of this pie.

As you can see, low-cost franchise opportunities exist in a variety of industries. Whatever your budget and your area of interest, it is almost a sure thing that there is a franchise that’s perfect for you. So what are you waiting for? Start building your future today with one of these top franchise opportunities.