All you out there with entrepreneur minds who are looking to start a business, do you really think that’s the best idea? Wouldn't you rather put your money into something that you know is going to be successful? In my search to know whether I would want to start a business or buy a franchise, I realized it is much safer to buy a franchise.

When one buys a franchise he or she is set up for success. Franchises already have their name out their. One does not have to spend a ton of money on advertising, it is taken care of. Another reason why franchises are more successful is because a franchise has more credibility. (more…)

Southern California-based LA BOXING Franchise Corporation continues its aggressive growth pace with the signing of one franchise per week, taking the organization to 90 units in 18 states and Puerto Rico.

LA BOXING Franchise Corporation, a membership physical fitness company consisting of unique boxing, kickboxing and MMA training regimens, which utilize a system and products that are proprietary to LA Boxing, announced that it has signed exclusive franchise agreements for further expansion into Texas and Massachusetts. (more…)

NJBIZ, Amper, Politziner & Mattia, Wolf Block, and Rutgers Camden School of Business announced last week that Huntington Learning Center had been selected as one of seven finalists for the NJBIZ 2007 Business of the Year Award in the “Business of the Year 101+ Employees category.” (more…)

Nicole Eubanks-Lambert was honored by the International Franchise Association as a Franchisee of the Year. Eubanks-Lambert owns the newly opened Rainbow Station school in Wyndham. The award is given to International Franchise Association (IFA)-member company franchisees to honor outstanding performance and contributions to the growth and development of the nation’s franchising industry. (more…)

Before you ask yourself this question, you should ask yourself whether any franchise opportunity would be right for you. Are you the sort of entrepreneur who would succeed in a franchise setting? There are many reasons you might say 'yes' to this and many reasons to explore franchise opportunities, but here are the top ten according to about.com:

1. Franchising significantly decreases the amount of time it will take your business to turn a profit.

2. Franchise opportunities have a much lower failure rate than new, independent businesses. (more…)

Jack in the Box Inc. has signed a franchise development agreement to expand Jack in the Box® restaurants into Albuquerque, N.M. The agreement reflects the company’s strategic initiative to grow the Jack in the Box brand by increasing franchise ownership.

The company signed the agreement with Laura Olguin, a veteran Jack in the Box franchisee who currently operates 28 restaurants in the Tucson area, to open 10 restaurants in Albuquerque. The first restaurant is tentatively scheduled to open in late 2008. (more…)

Pet Care, America’s largest and most sophisticated pet care franchise offering professional pet sitting and dog walking services, today announced it has launched a new location in North Carolina’s North Raleigh region to provide area residents with unsurpassed pet care services. This new franchise marks the 98th FETCH! Pet Care location that, in aggregate, now service more than 7,500 active clients throughout 1,200 cities and towns in 31 states across the U.S. (more…)

DeShannon Shearer has been a franchise owner with the Bonus Building Care in Cincinnati branch since May of 2006 from which time she has continued to grow her business and provides top quality commercial cleaning services. “We are proud to have DeShannon as part of our BONUS team here in Cincinnati and are honored that Knowlton Manufacturing has recognized her excellence” stated Susie Fox, Vice President of Bonus Building Care in Cincinnati. (more…)

An experienced franchisee hopes to turn up the heat in the Charlotte region with at least 10 El Pollo Loco grilled chicken restaurants.

Princess Street Partners recently signed a multiple-unit agreement with El Pollo Loco Inc. to open restaurants in Mecklenburg, Union and York counties — marking the West Coast brand’s debut in the region.

AmCheck is pleased to announce the opening of a new franchise in Las Vegas, NV. AmCheck Las Vegas opens for business on 09-17-2007 and will be lead by experienced payroll industry professionals Jason Stanfield and Deen Gumerson.

AmCheck, a leading independent payroll providers in the United States is pleased to announce the opening of a new franchise in Las Vegas, NV. AmCheck Las Vegas opens for business on 09-17-2007 and will be lead by experienced payroll industry professionals Jason Stanfield and Deen Gumerson. Mr. Stanfield and Mr. Gumerson are extremely enthusiastic and focused to bring 1st class services and products to the active and dynamic Las Vegas business market. They intend not only to grow the office, but to grow it with direct involvement in the community. (more…)

Play N Trade Franchise, Inc. today announced that Manuel Velez, owner of the Play N Trade video game store in Hatillo, Puerto Rico, was honored by the International Franchise Association as a Franchisee of the Year. The award is given to IFA-member company franchisees in recognition of their outstanding performance and the contributions they have made to enhance the growth and development of the nation’s franchising industry.

The IFA Franchisee of the Year Awards were presented during the IFA’s Eighth Annual Franchise Appreciation Day celebration in the nation’s capital. In addition to the awards ceremony, attendees met with congressional lawmakers and staff to discuss key issues facing the franchise industry. (more…)

Right at Home Inc. will open its first local franchise this month at 8701 Philips Highway to serve what company president and founder Allen Hager said is a community with a lot of opportunity.

“Jacksonville is certainly one of the major cities in Florida,” he said. “Its growth is accelerating and it’s a really nice place to live with a lot of people needing our kind of service.”

People interested in becoming franchise owners and managers can apply for scholarships to attend the Franchise Management Certificate Program at the University of Texas at El Paso.

The deadline to apply is Sept. 28.

The program is offered by UTEP’s Franchise Center, and the next seminar will be Oct. 25-27.

Bill Stocks spent a big part of his life with his head in the clouds.

Long trips to exotic locales such as India and Japan were common for the American Airlines pilot. While the overseas routes were exciting and lucrative, they also required Stocks to spend time away from his family.

With retirement looming and pension plans at competing airlines being jeopardized or lost altogether, the 53-year-old pilot began looking at business opportunities that would provide financial security, just in case.

He also wanted something that his wife, Jackie, and their six kids could be a part of.

A friend suggested he look into franchise opportunities with Rug Decor, a national chain with 40 stores and plans to add about 20 more by the end of 2008. (more…)

A local company has put its best foot forward in the franchising industry.

Mary Beth and John Greco, owners of Foot Solutions of Glen Allen, have been selected by the International Franchise Association as a franchisee of the year for Foot Solutions, a worldwide franchiser that focuses on custom shoe inserts, specialty footwear and technology-driven health and wellness products.

The award recognizes member-company franchisees for contributions made to enhance the growth and development of the nation’s franchising industry.

“The Grecos have been successful leaders and innovators in the Foot Solutions group of more than 200 franchise locations and have been instrumental in helping new Foot Solutions franchises become successful,” a franchise association official said. (more…)

I want to let potential franchise buyers know that because a franchise is listed on a website under “franchises under $50,000” doesn’t mean that you’ll be able to get one of those franchises if you have $50,000 or less. This “less than $50,000″ amount is what we call the initial investment, which most of the time includes franchise fee. (more…)

Surfs up for Bahama Buck’s, the nation’s premier tropical dessert franchise featuring 91 flavors of the “greatest snow on earth” as well as their famous blended tropical smoothies and fresh fruit cups. The Lubbock, Texas-based “Original Shaved Ice” concept is shredding through its most aggressive growth phase in the company’s 17-year history. The surf-themed franchise company has grown to 26 units, expanding more than 60 percent from 2005-2007. Further, the brand’s development pipeline is gushing.

“We are at an exciting point in the company’s life,” said Blake Buchanan, founder and president of Bahama Bucks. “Our customers are coming back five and six times a week because they know they can get the sweets they want with our snow products that come without the crazy calories of other heavy, frozen desserts. Consumer demand is driving the concept’s unprecedented rate of growth.” (more…)

When an idea driven entrepreneur opened the first Batteries Plus in Green Bay, Wis. nearly 20 years ago, no one thought Ron Rezetko’s idea to open a store that just sells batteries could grow into the nation’s largest chain focused on the $24 billion battery category serving both retail and commercial customers –except Rezetko.

Today, under the leadership of CEO Russ Reynolds, who took over the franchise in 2001 when Rezetko retired, the retail battery leader has grown into a 300-unit system, with many more planned locations to follow. (more…)

Are you wondering what it takes financially to franchise or how to get funding? I did some research especially for you then!

Franchisors usually require you to get funding, unless you are a home-based business. The purpose of this funding is to put money down until the franchisor sees a profit. This money is for cash advancement as well as for franchise expenses. Lenders expect franchisees to have at least enough money to pay 30% of the expenses. The person you want to talk to more in depth about funding is your future franchisor. They have all that information in their UFOC. Franchisors sometimes have agreements with lenders or have their own financing agreement. Franchisors sometimes help carry the burden of the funding. This is called “debt financing”. The franchisor might also have hook-ups with companies who lease or finance out equipment needed for a franchise. Equipment can be 25-75% of your expenses. (more…)

Rug Decor of Spanish Fort is pulling the rug out from under the competition and bringing a new concept to the Mobile market. The store will open its doors on September 15, 2007 and is located at 10200 Eastern Shore Boulevard, Suite 510, in the Eastern Shore Plaza shopping center. Owners Keith and Vicki Rhodes are well prepared to fulfill the area’s demand for a design destination specializing in area rugs.

Currently 37 Rug Decor franchise locations are operating in North America. The Spanish Fort location is part of the company’s national expansion plans, seeking entrepreneurs to open up to 40 new stores nationwide by the end of 2009. (more…)