Franchise Blog

Let’s face it we live in a fast-paced society and the world does not seem to want to slow down even for the recession. In fact, some folks say they have to work harder than ever just to make ends meet. Amazingly enough, we have less and less time to take care of those little extras in life, the things that make us so very happy.

For a woman that might be getting a manicure, but who has time? Well, it just so turns out that there is a new franchise on the market that can do your nails in 10-minutes! That’s right one-sixth of an hour, you go in and you are done in under ten minutes. Sounds great right?

Sure, but what’s even better since this is a franchise business, you can buy your own Manicure Store, making money on something all women would like, but most realize they just do not have the time. Express Nail Salons are a new innovation, but highly suited for today’s society.

The franchise is reasonably priced with a $30,000 franchise fee and it includes all the training that you’ll need to run the business. So far, “10 Minute Manicure” has 12 franchises in 4 states and 2 countries and they are expanding fast since they started in 2005. The company is based out of Miami Florida and they sell franchises in the United States and Canada.

Have you ever imagined yourself in such a much needed business? If so, this might be a small business franchise opportunity that is right up your alley. Think on it.

“Lance Winslow” – Franchising Resource. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/.

As the economy tightens many small businesses and large companies are looking for ways control the high costs of advertising. They know they cannot stop advertising or sales will also come to a stop, so they have to find ways to continue to market with less money. That is where direct mail advertising comes in handy. Advertising executives and business marketing professors agree that it is direct mail ads get a bigger bang for the buck.

Thus, it makes sense that those in the profession who’ve been laid off are thinking about starting a direct mail business, which caters to the business community. Well, if you have also been thinking here then you are in luck. Turns out there are several very good Direct Mail franchise business opportunities out there, some with a franchise fee as low as $10,000 in fact.

Some of these franchises specialize in high-net worth residential mailings, some blanket zip codes, and some have special targeting software to really maximize the mailings. Now you have probably heard of Val Pac, they have been selling franchises since 1968 and Money Mailer, they have been around and franchising since the early 80s, but did you know there are about 20 other choices for small business franchise opportunities in this category?

It’s true, and there are many direct mail franchised businesses that have been franchising since the middle and late 90s. Turns out that these types of business are busy during the rough recession years, as well as the robust peaks, so if you are thinking about getting into the business, think about franchising.

“Lance Winslow” – Franchising Resource. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/.

Each year a few new franchisors enter the stage to begin offering their franchise concepts. Generally, a Franchisor has an existing store or several that have become successful over a long period of time. During this time they have like any business been through their share of hard knocks, thus, they are able to build all the mistakes out of their business models.

During recessionary times it is generally a time when franchising flourishes because folks that would have normally been gainfully employed seek new employment as their own boss. A franchised business therefore makes a lot of sense. One good business model that never seems to go out of style and always seems to do well during downturns in the business cycle is a tax preparation business.

If you have been considering getting into the tax preparing business look no further, as there is a new kid on the block; 1-800 Tax Preparation – I guess that name says it all, and such a name puts you at the top of the Yellow Pages in that category too. 1-800 Tax Preparation is based out of Texas and has been around since 1995, so I bet they have worked out all the bugs.

After reading through one of the Franchise Directories looking at all the new concepts, and having been a former Franchisor Founder myself, this one sure piqued my curiosity. And since they are relatively new, new to Franchising that is, it sounds like an opportunity that would allow a new franchisee buyer to get in on the ground floor.

Plus, with a franchise fee of $35,000 it surely comes with some decent training on how to run the business and market it as well. This Franchise also had another benefit, they have financing available for qualified franchise applicants that are approved by the Franchisor. Definitely on new franchisor that is worth taking a look at.

“Lance Winslow” – Franchising Resource. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/.

Franchising is definitely the safest way to start a business. The franchiser (franchise company) has already gone through the trials and tribulations of perfecting a business system for others to follow. Starting out with initial training, franchisees may spend up to two or three weeks in a classroom and then a similar period at an actual franchise location. They’re taught everything from soup to nuts, so to speak.

From there, franchisers provide location assistance and may even provide a set of blueprints for interior build out or construction. As grand opening nears, franchisers may provide assistance with recruiting personnel and provide marketing guidelines that have been used at grand openings at other franchise locations. Ongoing, franchisers make available marketing materials, provide operations support and financial analysis. All this, while protecting the integrity of the trademark and the brand itself.

Financing is still available to the franchise industry, except the guidelines and requirements are stricter than in years past. Think sub prime mortgage and the you’ll see virtually the same pattern. Unfortunately, many franchisees were approved financing with less than stellar qualifications and without appropriate assets as collateral. The result was similar to that in the housing market.

Fortunately, many lending and investors sources still view franchising as safe. The caveat is the concept itself must still be in high demand and where consumers will spend their money. Obviously, a franchise that sells high end items may not be a safe investment as many consumers have slowed down or eliminated spending on such items. Therefore, the chance of succeeding in this environment is certainly diminished.

On the flip side, many people still desire value and a social experience, which is why restaurants continue to grow as evidenced by the recent IFA report on franchising. The report projected the restaurant sector will experience positive growth in 2009. In addition, as more people seek out healthy alternatives, a new wave of unique food concepts have emerged. Providing freshly prepared food ranging from Mediterranean cuisine to organic pizza and burgers to flatbread to tempting salads, today’s food franchises have become targets for both sophisticated entrepreneurs and transitioning corporate executives alike.

These concepts are relatively low-cost to start as they don’t require the equipment of their fast food counterparts as there is no need for large industrial fryers, grills, etc. As the food is all fresh and healthy, the equipment requirements are relatively low. In addition, the space requirements are minimal. Instead of 4,000-6,000 square foot buildings and up, today’s emerging concepts work in 1,200-2,000 square leased space.

There are over 4000 Franchises and Business Opportunities in the USA to choose from. Where do you start? You may Love working with your hands and are handy, or you may have 20 Years of Sales Experience. Many of you have been Department managers or you like the food industry, but have no Idea where to start.

Have you been one of those that have been downsized, or laid off? Is Now a Good Time to Start a New Business? Over and Over you have searched the Internet and found promise after promise of income, with dead ends. STOP. There is Help available.

I believe the best place to start is with a Franchise. Why? First, The Federal Trade Commission requires all Franchisers to submit to all potential Franchisees a document called the UFDD, before any money changes hands. The UFDD provides very detailed information on the franchise company, such as its history, information about the officers, litigation history, audited financial statements, the franchise agreement, and a current list of franchises with owners names and telephone numbers. The intent of the UFDD is that it provides enough information so that the prospective franchisee can make an informed decision.

Franchising is growing, because it offers aspiring, new business owners the best possible chance of succeeding with the least amount of risk. Within a decade or less, franchising will comprise of over 50% of the retail economy. Franchising will employ millions of people, and will enable hundreds of thousands to realize the American Dream of Successful business ownership.

The future of Franchising is as bright as can be. If you want to take the big step and go into business for yourself, NOW IS THE TIME!

So where do YOU start? Yes this is a bias, but, start with a Franchise Broker! They are Independent consultants who represent Dozens of Great tier 1 concepts. You will be receiving free unbiased consulting throughout the entire process. You benefit from Convenience and Selection. You work with an experienced advisor to find the best match for your goals and lifestyle. You avoid making costly mistakes, or wasting a lot of time and effort. You won’t get confused or overwhelmed by the thousands of available franchises.

You get introduced to the top decision-makers at each franchise company you select. You have the highest likelihood of being awarded the franchise you really want. You achieve your business and financial objectives more quickly.

All I ask is give it a try. Go to one of the following sites and submit some brief information. It is easy, fun and could be lucrative for you as you find a Franchise or business opportunity to match your skills.

As a retired franchisor and part-time consultant, folks often ask me about what they need to do to franchise their company. Not long ago someone asked about franchising an accounting company in the Northern Midwest.

This sector maybe perfect for the “franchising format” model; the accounting guy will need Audited Financial Statements, and disclosure documents (FDD -Franchise Disclosure Document). In looking at region they might consider it appears that;

-Michigan is a notification state as I recall.
-IL is a registration state,
-NY is a registration state
-IN is a notification state and I believe KY is also,
-OH is open.

Registration states, I think there are 14 of them that require filing and it is a process. Notification states you mail in a check, fill out a form, and enclose your disclosure documents. Check all this out with a franchise attorney and make sure they are specialists in the franchising industry.

In medical franchises, I believe the board of directors must have licensed medical doctors, and its suppose to be a ratio, as I understand it. So, I’d assume that in an accounting type franchise the same would be true. And god forbid, if you only had one CPA and he or she already quit?

The audited financial statements for the franchisor must be peer reviewed and no hanky-panky with regards to board members and auditors or peer reviewers, or you’ll set yourself up for litigation later. The main franchise should have CPAs on the board, and it may actually be required, you’ll have to seek legal advice on this. The franchisees ought to have a CPA in the company, like a co-owner. There might be rules on that too, and state laws, many of which might be different.

Oh by the way before we go too much further, realize that I am not an attorney, so I do not want you to assume I am practicing law without a license, this is just general stuff, you have to verify my comments with a franchise attorney specialist, just as I would as a consultant if I were being paid by a client who was looking into franchising an accounting company.

I’d look at “Jackson Hewitt” and some of the other franchisors in the sector. You can get their UFOC or rather FDD online at the California Department of Corporations. There must be 6-7 of these types of franchisees out there. Some have recently had issues with the regulators for various screw ups during last year’s tax season.

Now, I would assume that since there are independent small businesses that offer accounting services to other small businesses, that a franchisor could indeed, franchise in this sector and do quite well at it. So, there should be a potential here. Such firms may need licenses in some states, so it gets to be a pain to follow all the rules.

The more complicated it is the harder it is to stay out of trouble in the franchising industry, especially when you are selling lots of franchises in many different jurisdictions. It gets complex too when businesses are on the borders of states and the owners who are wishing to buy the franchise live in a different state or wish to later expand and take customers in nearby states. It’s a regulatory nightmare and it can lead to lawsuits and problems. Of course, the lawyers love it because you become good bait, and those that work for you have unending issues to deal with at $300 per hour!

Here is what I’d do, read through the FDDs of the top accounting, Tax and financial business consulting franchise offerings and read the paragraphs of “accounting services” then cut them all out and look at each one, from that you can deduce why they are doing what they are doing and how they are working around and within the law to do such services.

It’s almost as if you need to have regional Master Franchises that are CPAs to help expand the concept, plus run the Franchisor Owners region with individual franchises to make the model work first. One problem could be that finding CPAs that are interested in this opportunity could be a huge problem. Ever since Sarbanes Oxley, CPAs are all making lots of money and are very busy, franchising is a risky endeavor.

I can tell you this. It’s really a needed service, because most small businesses get into trouble, because they lack the accounting skills, entrepreneurs are often like that. The other thing I’d mention is that Franchise Companies need accounting services to help their franchisees, so once this thing took off just the franchising industry alone could support it!

As far as marketing is concerned, I’d suggest giving talks, speeches at local chambers of commerce, SBDCs, SCORE, SBA, economic development associations on accounting you’d sign up enough customers to keep every franchisee successful.

In fact, I’d make that part of the cost of a franchise and the blitz marketing team. Go in and promote for the franchisee as seminars to small businesses in the region. then teach them how to do it too. Then Master Franchises would do the same. You’d also be picking up additional franchise buyers for neighboring areas and such.

Couple that with a huge online campaign specifically targeted to those regions, with informational selling, free-information, forms, ideas. I see most accounting consulting type franchises use fear to sell, which works but it does not have to be that way at all.

I’d also say that those graduating from Community College could become workers that “work to own” their own franchise, kind of like Dominos Pizza did it. Well, those are my thoughts on the topic of franchising an accounting service. Think on this.

Lance Winslow – Lance Winslow’s Bio. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/.

Why on Earth is Procter and Gamble getting involved in the Car Wash Industry? Moreover, why is perhaps the greatest consumer product company of all times getting into the franchising business. You see, P&G is a great branding company, and some believe the best in the world.

What intrigues Corporate America about the car wash business anyway? Well, here are some of my thoughts: There is a contingency of Harvard Business School MBA’ers who have as part of their class assignments to access the concept of a nation-wide “Car Wash Company” and once these kids get out of school, they remember this and then think it’s a good idea.

Thus, some end up in large fortune 500s like P&G (which is a GREAT COMPANY, so don’t get me wrong), some end up as investment bankers, and a few turn up in the car wash sector every once in a while.

I can recall P&G’s Mr. Clean showed up to debut at the International Car Wash Convention back many years ago and I actually sensed a bit of angered from car wash owners. It appeared that P&G assumed that car washes would sell their ‘personal’ car washing systems for home washing and thought they are a kindred spirit to those in the car wash industry.

P&G advertised in all the Car Wash Magazines and spent huge money (in relation to the car wash industry, not the behemoth P&G, whose annual gross is 15 times the entire car wash industry combined). I laughed because, I thought it was good to rub it in the face of the arrogant and politically petty car wash industry, they deserve it, mostly knuckle-heads, only a few really get it (5-10%). [personal opinion from years of observing the industry].

The Mr. Clean product showed up at major box store retailers in little packages and sold well, as expected and well researched I am certain. Again, I felt the tension, it appeared to be making the industry angry, kind of like Maguire’s did when it turned on the auto-detailing industry and sold directly to the public, it pissed off everyone. Good move for their bottom line, but bad move for their dealer networks, especially with other strong product lines like Pennzoil’s sub-brands or Auto-Magic an industry mainstay, ready to pick up new dealers.

Car Wash Owners and the Car Wash Industry; well, it’s a cut – throat, throw you to the dogs industry, it’s a cash-cow business and it attracts disreputables, wannabe mafia types, it’s pretty sickening. Many have been critical of players like Mace Securities that got into the business for instance, interesting history there.

P & G could make a go of it, but I believe they should buy Mister Car Wash, change the name to Mr. Clean, and make the “Mister Car Wash” a mini-sub-brand, merging without disrupting either brand; I think I could make that happen well enough. This would give P & G market notoriety, but would cost them too.

Then, Mr. Clean could sell off those units as Master franchises, where they were clustered and use them for new training facilities, for new owners. P & G has big guns and could use this to help get financing since new car wash business building has come to a standstill, financing issues. Still, car washing is down straight across the board, virtually everywhere. Yes, it will pick up and the new model will have to be $5.00 car washes in 5-minutes. Only, a couple of companies have mastered that so far.

P&G plans to sell its franchises for $500,000 and that may not be enough to do a car wash venture, and I have not seen the FDD (Franchise Disclosure Documents), to see what all that gets the franchise buyer. Indeed, I’d like to see the “Pre-Fab” buildings first (if that is there strategy), then maybe it could fit into a 500K deal.

P&G could also make it work, as an all-hand-wash, mostly outdoor thing, like they do outside Tempe, AZ near the college, where college students wash cars on top of a concrete slab with a clarifier underneath, but that will not be so great for a inclement climate weather locations. And I doubt if P&G would be looking there because that is not their style, but it would work well. Although I have not seen the plans, I doubt they are looking there.

Instead they are looking at a full-on facility, it’s just not in the cards in my opinion and I question their strengths and weaknesses, I’d like to see their SWOT Analysis, and poke some holes in it. Plus, for a company like P&G, they want to sell their products, thus, they do not want to own the car washes so they wish to franchise them. Wrong! That’s not right for their corporate focus, or core-business. And franchising is a litigious industry, just as Amos their new CEO, he knows better than anyone in the industry that truth.

Most franchisors in the car wash sector; Bob’s Car Wash, Rapido Rabbit, etc, have failed due to undercapitalization, and selling to franchisees that didn’t get it. Whereas P&G doesn’t have to worry about that, it doesn’t mean they need to go and throw money into a car wash sludge pit!

The car wash industry is over-saturated now and with the economy down, more so, it will be clearly 18-24 months until it returns, meanwhile new outlets will not be hitting legitimate ROI targets in that climate. Sure, things will return, but it will be a while. Any company entering this market will have to be low-cost, extremely high volume to win.

Most cities will most likely expedite building permits now, meaning 6-9 months max between submitting plans and first shovel turn, and 6-months to build. That is 12-months and means 6-12 months of dismal performance. Yes, the best time to go for it is when land is cheap, available, and distressed sales. But there is a gap in the time lag here and biting the bullet now, for big a full-on-franchise system is the wrong strategy once again in my opinion. I could make it work, but I guarantee they can’t as it’s been laid out.

Mr. Clean brand is in a pickle, because NPDES and storm water rules are tightening, their home-use product puts consumers in jeopardy of breaking the law with water pollution rules. So, their only option is to do something different, but I do not think they have thought this through correctly. It will be interesting to watch, that’s for certain. Think on this.

Lance Winslow – Lance Winslow’s Bio. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/.

Almost every household in the country will visit a hardware store at least one a year. This potential for business is one of the reasons that a hardware store has always been one of the more popular businesses that an owner can start or buy.

The generic hardware store exists in the mind’s eye as a retail store that a person can go to and buy just the right nut and bolt or the odd sized screw. This mythical store is run by knowledgeable people who can answer almost anything that has to do with home repair. This is what the public has come to expect when visiting a hardware store. Some chain store outlets have gotten away from the help side of hardware stores and just sale products off the shelf. Getting answers to questions in these stores is not what the hardware store visit is about. The great help of the old type hardware store is missing. Except in those stores that are run the old fashion way and continue to prosper as their customers are repeat customers and would not think about going somewhere else to shop. Two franchises that carry on this tradition are True Value and Ace Hardware associated stores.

True Value stores

True Value is the third largest co-op in the hardware business. True Value is a cooperative that allows the store owner who is a member to buy merchandise at reduced prices since this group can make large wholesale purchases. The store owners can also enjoy the advantage of group advertising buys. Being able to buy at the large volume prices makes the advantage a significant profit maker. Group advertising can also reduce the cost of getting customers into the store.

The average True Value store investment

The average investment in a True Value store works out to about $35 a square foot for inventory. The fixtures or equipment will come in at about $8 a square foot. The start up cost can vary by area of the country, but the average is about $4 a square foot. The additional cost to become a True Value store can be found by contacting True Value corporate.

Ace Hardware stores

Ace Hardware is the largest hardware co-op Like True Value it offers members the capability to buy merchandise through the co-op at reduced prices and thereby make more profit from sales. They also offer the advantage of group advertising which reduces the cost of getting customers through the doors.

Group buying of the co-op saves all of the member’s money as the co-op gets better pricing due to large volume buying. This savings is then passed on to the members and allows them to make more money.

Ace Hardware Investment Structure

The Ace membership application is about $5000 Initial stock ownership is another $5000. Liquid capital needed to start a store is $250,000 with a loan from Ace of an additional amount of $390,000 to $740,000, which depends on the store size. The total investment is between $650,000 and one million dollars.Land and building cost are not included in this pricing.

The Ace investment numbers are based on a 12,000 square foot store. Dollar amounts are for fixtures, inventory, office equipment, computer system and operating costs.

Other factors that will help the owner

Both of these hardware operations offer the owner training and seminars, which are designed to help the store grow. Suggestions for operating the store more efficiently can be taken in and used to good effect. Special purchases that include a targeted advertising campaign will attract customers into the store. The staff’s helpful attitude will impress the customers and insure they will come again.

Buying a local hardware store

Local stores that are affiliated or not do come to market every now and then for purchase. The owner may be willing to deal very favorably in order to make the sale. Contact a business broker or look up businesses that are for sale listed on the Internet. A good business broker may be wise to contact, as these pros are very good sources of current information. If an existing business is for sale, the price may be excellent due to the store being established. A store with cash flow is always a business to be considered. Customer habits are in the favor of the new owner as long as the service stays the same or gets better. If you are going to make some significant changes, make sure they are well thought out before putting them into practice. If there is a strong benefit to the customers, they will probably be met with enthusiasm.

An old owner may be willing to help with the financing of the business. In most cases the price of the business will increase some and will have to be negotiated as part of the sales contract. The other way to get the needed money is to see if a business lender would be willing to give you the needed loan. Many of these money lenders are easily found on the Internet.

Conclusions

The hardware business is one business that has a variety to customers that need what the store is offering. Every person of age is a possible customer. This large potential customer base is what will make a new hardware store quickly grow and in the right location become profitable. . As with all retail stores location is important. Name recognition is also very helpful which is why the two co-ops have so many members. Customers will come to a store with a familiar name.

Friendly, helpful and knowledgeable staff is critical if you want to stand out from the box stores. Their pricing will be competitive to yours, so you have to beat them by having better help. If you try to compete on price alone, you will be fighting a losing battle. Store hours are also important in this business. Early openings are almost a necessity of the business. People like to get up and get started on projects.

Every business operation has the dream of expanding his or her business. If you have this goal but seem to lack the finances to expand rapidly, you may want to consider being a franchiser. This means allowing people with the same interest in business to operate your business on their own. You are not selling your business to them but in a way they will be paying you to use your business and everything that goes with it.

If your company has become an established brand and some people want to be able to open a store under your brand, you can offer them to franchise. There are certain terms to this such as they would need to carry only your business name and products. You will be supplying them with the materials and products and pay a franchise fee. The terms and conditions of a franchise may vary depending on what is agreed upon but what ever the case is it’s a great way for you to be able to expand your business and at the same time get paid for it. Franchising is not new. It is being done all over the world and even through the internet there is some franchising that is going on.

The internet being a global information hub and market has allowed people to get to know more about different companies and has allowed franchising of these companies to grow. You too can be a part of this and allow people to know about your company and the benefits of being in business with you by way of franchising.

If you would like to enter the business world but have no idea what product or services to offer, you may be better off with franchising. With a franchise, the product or services are already established and what you just need is to keep the business running and get more customers if possible.

To get more customers you can make use of your current online network or create a totally whole new one. The idea is to let people know about your franchise. You can disseminate information though your network and ask people if they can refer other people who might be interested with your business. A lot of people can be afraid of networking but you should not be. Networking if done properly can be very beneficial to all concerned not just to the person on top.

By creating your own market network you are also generating leads for your business. These leads could be your potential clients for the future. With your network you will be able to expand your market not just with the people you know but to others who would be your potential clients. Online marketing is a good way for you to expand your franchise since many people go to the internet for various reasons. You just need to create a good advertising and marketing plan for your franchise and people will soon be contacting you.

Franchising offers a lot of benefits though it may require you to pay a franchising fee. However this fee is not that difficult to get back once the business starts. Just be sure to choose the franchise or business that would best suit your and you think you will be able to market.

A good way to start your online business is through franchising. It may require a serious amount of down payment however you are more likely to succeed with a franchise since there is already a market involved. You do not need to establish a name for your business if you want to franchise a certain business.

Often businesses who offer franchising to people have a more or less stable market and all you need to do is to provide another venue for people to reach the products that the company is selling. If you happen to be a franchisee what you need to do is just find the right market for your product in your area. A good way to do this is by advertising through the internet and creating your own network. People in your community will be able to locate your physical store immediately. When you franchise all products are usually provided and what you just need to do is market them well. Often is the case that the franchising company will have their own website and they can offer to put your franchise in their website as one of the areas or locations that their goods are sold at.

You also have an option to create your own market network where you can reach more people to sell your goods and services. Online marketing is a good way to let people know that you are a franchise of a certain company and this way you get to reach more people in the online community. Further more can work at home while you continue to market the goods and services of your business.

Online cookbooks are one of my favorite ancillary benefits of today’s current technology. I’ve never been great in the kitchen, but once I found that I could find step-by-step instructions for making all kinds of food, I no longer had to worry about my own pitiful culinary sense, because someone had already done the hard work for me, and all I had to do was follow their lead. If everything in life were like that, this would be such an easier place to live, unfortunately, not everything in life is so easy. And though I’m sorry to say it, one of the most dauntingly non-recipe things in life is career: no one can tell you exactly what career is right for you and what steps you’ll have to go through to get there. And franchise opportunities aren’t any different; there are so many variables to every individual person that no one is capable of detailing the best experience for everyone beforehand. What I can offer, however, are some tips for helping you figure it out for yourself.

One of the most important things to take into consideration when piecing together your personal franchise plan is who you are. And because a full analysis of that will take us each a lifetime, let’s start broad. Aside from gender, one of the broadest personality classifications is the difference between introvert and extrovert, the first being people who are fueled by being with others, and the second being those of us who are energized by being alone. What you naturally are will help determine exactly what kind of business opportunity you should be looking for.

For example, knowing where you get your energy will help determine whether a home-based business or a franchise with a public storefront and a host of other employees will be a better environment for you. The difference, in this way, between a HomeVestors work-at-home operation and a Maui Wowi Hawaiian Coffees & Smoothies shop is huge. At the one, you will spend hours upon hours by yourself, in your home, making phone calls, studying housing market trends, shopping for real-estate, posting advertisements, and potentially not seeing another human being for days on end, which, for some of us, sounds like the ultimate vacation. At the other business, every day will be out of the house, dealing with a handful of employees in close proximity and line after line of guests looking for a tasty treat and personal service. If you’re like most people, one of these prospects will be very appealing and the other may sound like a nightmare.

Let’s try another angle: the difference between hands-on work with the public and the administration of people who do that frontline work. A franchisee with 1-800-905-GEEK has a completely different business role than an owner of a One Hour Parties small business, mainly because the 1-800-905-GEEK owner is primarily responsible for maintaining operations and receiving calls from clients, whom his employees then go out to help. In contrast, the One Hour Parties owner is actually the person at the client’s office, arranging the event and schmoozing with partygoers. Both are serving the public and corporate world, but their positions in doing so are utterly different, requiring two separate kinds of people for optimum success.

There’s one more way to look at this to help pick out whether you’re suited for a more introvert- or extrovert-ready business opportunity. Are you a bigger fan of people or projects? A Snap-On Tools franchisee is responsible for one thing: selling tools, which requires a high degree of interpersonal contact and an outgoing spirit, generally traits of an extrovert. Not that introverts are naturally mean or unlikable, quite the contrary, but after hours and days of sales, some get worn down. In contrast to this business model, whose success is built on personal interaction, the model of a franchise like Sure Step involves communication with the client, but the majority of the actual work revolves around physical labor. Some franchisees would much rather work on getting a task done than working directly with clients all day. What about you?

In the end, most of us are neither wholly introvert nor wholly extrovert, and the franchise business right you, whether work-from-home, project-based, or otherwise, is going to reflect a very specific combination of human relations and independence natural to your personality. Sit and spend some time thinking all these options through and then investigate in detail the franchises that sound best for you.

Find more franchises including food franchises and low cost franchises at Franchise Gator

If you intend to be a franchisee there are a couple of things you may want to find out. You would want to know how profitable the business is and what your target market is. It would be ideal to get the business that would best suit the demographic that you are more comfortable with.

Being a franchisee would often entail that you would shell out an initial franchise fee to start your business and continue to operate. Now this need not be a big worry for you since you are most likely to be able to get back the initial cost of acquiring the franchise in a few months depending on how well you handle the business. You must be creative enough and be resourceful in getting those clients through your doors or to start doing business with you as soon as possible. One fast way to get customers is through the internet. There is a large population of individuals who go through the internet just to surf and look at different things. Now it would be wise to take advantage of this and advertise about your business. Your franchiser may be a well known company and have many branches available; you would want to be known as well as one of those branches offering the products. You can target your local community through the internet by providing them information that you are operating a franchise.

As a franchisee it is your responsibility to make the business flourish. You would need to make use of all your network and contacts to do this and the internet is a great place for you to spread the word fast.

On face value, buying a franchise can seem like a sure way of taking charge of your financial future and earning a healthy profit, with the added bonus of becoming your own boss. Proven business models, established brand names, popular products and access to training programs form a comprehensive framework which can leave potential franchisees asking – How could I go wrong?

While the framework often provides great assistance for owners to maximise their initial investment, there are a number of key factors that must be considered to ensure a franchise operation takes full advantage of the selected business model and eventually turns in a healthy profit for its owners. Some of these include:

• capitalisation – avoiding the trap of under-capitalising the business;

• getting the right fit – choosing a franchise system that is aligned with the interests and passions of a franchisee;

• undertaking due diligence – thoroughly researching the investment and preparing a detailed business plan that will help to secure the required funding and;

• exit strategies – considering where, when and how the business can be sold.

Taking the time to understand the franchise system is crucial. Franchisees must be honest and realistic in assessing opportunities and make sure that they select a system that suits their lifestyle and aligns with their interests.

For example, a person averse to early mornings should perhaps avoid investing in a bakery franchise because if the baker can’t make it into work, they will have to stand in. However to others this is not a problem as the thought of an early start is attractive. Interests, passions and background should all be considered when researching the options. Finding the right fit is crucial to the success of the business and ultimately to maximise the return on investment.

Once the best fit has been found, franchisees also need to be realistic about the level of risk they are prepared to take. Higher risk can potentially reap higher returns, but the franchisee must be comfortable and willing to accept the challenges this may bring.

Choosing to buy a brand-new store, for example, may be considered a higher risk option than investing into one already established with proven cash flows. Whilst it may be cheaper to purchase, you will need to build up the customer base and there are no personal relationships with suppliers and no proven return on investment to track against. There are benefits and pitfalls with both options, neither right nor wrong – it ultimately depends on the level of risk that the franchisee and their financier is prepared to take.

A successful franchise is always one that has been fully researched, diligently planned and properly financed from the outset. Under capitalisation is one of the easiest and most fatal mistakes a new franchisee can make and generally stems from unrealistic, incomplete or misguided planning.

To help avoid falling into the trap of undercapitalising the business, a prospective franchisee would be well advised to seek out the services of an experienced accountant or financial advisor with knowledge of the specific franchising system and an understanding of its working capital structure. Getting the right advice up front will help to ensure a smooth transaction and start-up process, setting the business up for a successful launch and potentially healthy returns. The franchise system will also encourage this even though many also have consultants for system specific advice.

The right accountant or financial advisor with specific franchising experience will be invaluable in the due diligence process. They can help a new franchisee produce realistic and viable business plans, reducing the chance of initial under-capitalisation. They can also offer invaluable insights into the industry, making even first-time franchisees appear well versed and sophisticated to the bank or financier – vital when trying to secure funding.

It really can’t be stressed enough how crucial this initial research and planning phase is for a prospective franchisee. Put simply, failing to plan effectively and under-capitalising the business from the outset will lead to a slowing 12 of the cash flow cycle, a short fall in projected sales and limited return on investment. Once these factors come in to play, it’s an uphill battle to get the business back on a level ground.

Unless a franchisee is able to finance the franchise with his or her own funds, a bank or financier must be engaged to arrange a loan. In order to secure the financing required, a well researched, comprehensive business plan must be prepared, including goals and objectives, market position, business strategies and projected turnover.

This document shouldn’t just be viewed as a means to secure financing. A business plan is a blueprint for the business and should be a regularly updated working document that enables franchisees to identify the strengths and weakness of their business. The more detailed this plan is and the more knowledgeable franchisees are of their selected system and store, the more likely they are to secure the financing they are seeking.

If the bank or financier agrees to lend only part of the requested amount, it is vital to step back and reassess the viability of the entire business plan. There will be valid reasons why they are agreeing to only partial funding and it is crucial to understand what those are to ensure they are addressed and amended. Without making a solid case about the implications of under-funding to your banker or financier and simply ploughing ahead with too little initial capital, the likelihood of running into financial problems further down the road is almost guaranteed.

Also, always be up-front with your banker or lender. If the business plan requires a loan of $250,000 for the franchise to succeed, either secure $250,000 or re-plan. Failure to do so can make a moderately successful business look like a failing one when compared back to its original business plan.

The other major factor to consider, and one that is frequently ignored, is the exit strategy for the business. Franchise agreements are generally for a specified fixed-term and having a plan about how to exit the business will not only provide additional reassurance to the bank or financer that the business plan has been carefully considered, but also an exit plan of how and when to sell the business will ensure that the eventual returns are maximised.

It is important to remember that buying into a franchise system is a lifestyle change and will be very different to a typical PAYE job. As the franchise typically has a finite life expectancy it is in the interest of the franchisee to consider all aspects of the running of and ultimately the selling of the business. These not only include keeping a current and thorough set of financial records, but also giving some thought to not only where and when the franchisee will sell, but also how. It doesn’t need to be fully scoped, but consideration of an exit strategy from the outset is strongly recommended.

Ultimately, reaping a good return on investment underpins the running of a franchise. With the right due diligence and a well thought out and thorough business plan capturing as much information as possible about the site itself, goals and objectives, business strategies, projections and exit plans, prospective franchisees should be able to secure the required funding and ultimately have the foundations to run a prosperous business.

Franchise specialists will be vital throughout every phase of the set up and a franchise specialist banker can help to ease the process.

This article appeared in Issue 2#1 (Nov/Dec 2007) of Business Franchise Australia & New Zealand

It is an indisputable fact that the economy is in a mess. If you think 2 million job losses in the US and 1.9 million unemployed in the UK is bad, how about the 26 million migrant worker jobs lost in China?

Large multinationals are shedding jobs at such an alarming rate that panic seems to be setting in and nobody dares to predict when the turn around will come. But in contrast look at many franchisors. which are showing the purpose of spirit in which they were founded and still have the will and the hard-headed thinking-on-your-feet to not only survive, but also excel. A case in point is Dunkin Donuts which has just announced a $100 million dollar advertising campaign, which is an increase in over 5% from 2008. You can almost hear the cheering from their franchisees! This is yet another example of the advantage of the franchise model.

Collectively the franchisees of Dunkin’ Donuts are about to ramp up their advertising, increase sales, save the jobs of their employees, therefore boosting morale and making the place not only a better place to work, but also a better place come in and relax with a coffee and donut. At the risk of laboring the point, let’s go over that again. Although ostensibly it is the franchisor who is responsible for the coming advertising campaign, it is also true that it is the franchisees who are doing it collectively. So in essence you have 5,769 coffee and donut stores in the US banding together to promote their brand, service and products.

How can a little mom and pop coffee and donut shop ever do that? The answer is, they can’t. No matter how good their shop is, or their coffee, or their donuts, or their friendly customer relations. Although it doesn’t stop them, of course from one day turning their business model into a franchise and eventually competing with Dunkin’ Donuts. Here is another example of what a creative franchisor can do.

Burger King has obviously put considerable resources into conceiving, conceptualizing, designing, testing and launching their new “Whopper bar”. It has a “Whopper Topper” area to encourage customers to customize their burger to suit their taste. It is a excellent concept, I think and it reminds me a little of the McDonald’s Cafe. Leveraging on the brand name and the fact that you already have plenty of customers, some of whom might want a slightly different experience that the normal McDonalds.

So as you see, times are tough, but many franchisers are not letting that slow them down as they wheel out better products, entice more customers and provide a rewarding and worthwhile business for their franchisees and their employees.

Michael Burdett is a frequent contributor to Every Franchise & Business Opportunity http://www.everyfranchise.com

Let’s face the reality of the times. The US government has officially admitted to over 2 million jobs lost in our current economy. If this is true, what does it mean besides the obvious for the potential of buying a new business or franchise opportunity?

The fact is that times like this never last forever and right now may just be a perfect time to take the initiative to investigate the potential of owning your own business whether you are affected by the downsizing or not.

Interest rates are lower than usual and with a new Presidency and administration right around the corner, the time might be better than believed to start a new business.

As the year unfolds, we are going to be keeping a close eye on the franchise scenario and doing our best to keep you informed about franchise opportunities that may be worth learning more about.

While the economic downturn ripples through the US economy, numerous Franchisers are looking at the challenging business landscape and ramping up ad buys.

Take Dunkin’ Donuts for example. They are launching a $100M ad campaign that represents an increase of more than 5% over 2008. I believe that what they are saying is that we are going to fight even harder to maintain and even increase market share.

In so called “normal times” a 5% increase would also be considered normal. In these times of relative uncertainty, 5% sends a definite message. It speaks to a bullish position on the market and is exciting to see taking place. Remember that even though Dunkin’ Donuts has 5,769 U.S. stores that are relatively well positioned, they are right up there on the front line doing what they do best bringing in consumers for coffee and donuts.

The same levels of ad expenditures can be seen across the board in some areas and demonstrates that many Franchisers share the same thinking i.e. yes, it is going to be a challenging year but we are going to do our best to maintain and surpass past performance.

I say that is what we need more of. A positive attitude, a smart business plan and perseverance can really reap big rewards even when the environment is less than optimal.

For more franchising information about franchise, franchises, buy a franchise, franchise opportunities, franchises for sale, franchise directory visit http://www.franchiseinteractive.com/.

As you continue on your journey in purchasing a franchise, there are a number of factors you will need to know. Of the many, one that rises to the top is understanding the demand for your targeted franchises product or service. Knowing this one element, will help you avoid common pitfalls

From the jump, you should be able to assess the level of demand for the franchisor’s product or service within your specific and general area of operation. The demand should be adequate, that is, the number of people willing and able to buy must be there in sufficient quantities. Sound obvious? Most beginning business seekers fail to understand this basic principle.

In addition to sensing the level of demand, you should also consider its nature. Is it seasonal, cyclical or stable? Businesses with seasonal demand will lead to forecasting problems and possibly cash flow issues, especially during the off-peak season. Therefore, if you require a dependable forecast, then seek a franchise with a stable demand.

Finally you should consider whether the demand for the franchisor’s product is short-term (i.e. a fad) or whether it is sustainable over the long term. Long term demand is preferable since it assures the business of continuity. There have been far too many stories in the news about the latest “fad” franchises closing it’s doors. Be wise, and choose a franchise with long term demand.

Understanding the demand for a product or service is crucial. Keeping this fact in mind while seeking a franchise will help mitigate your risks, and eventually add to your business success.

Rob Bennett is a experienced franchise consultant for FranFinders, LLC.
FranFinders, LLC is a no-fee, franchise consulting company that provides guidance through the entire franchise purchasing process. Based in Atlanta, GA, FranFinders has help clients nation-wide with their dreams of owning their own business.
http://www.franfinders.com

Without sufficient energy given to marketing your new franchise, your financial returns will be no better than your fellow franchisees. If your rewards are less than the average, it is unlikely you will be able to get ahead.

One of the few levers you may be able to pull is marketing, usually represented by the four Ps of price, product, promotion, and place. For most franchisees, price will normally be set by your franchisor. Similarly, your degree of control over product selection will also probably be highly constrained. I have already spoken about the significance of place, or location, in Lesson 1. It remains a hugely important variable in the success or failure of your business.

This leaves promotion. While I am compelled to contribute a fixed percentage of revenue to a central advertising fund, local marketing efforts are pretty much up to me. This may also be true for you.

I’ve tried several promotional strategies. Around this time last year, I ran an Australia Day promotion coinciding with our national holiday. I had signs made for the store and distributed almost 20,000 brochures in the local area. It was a dud. I gave away a 20 percent discount only for a short-term loss of profit. Long-term benefits to the franchise through greater local recognition remain unclear.

Next, I attempted to win a competition run by one of my suppliers for the highest increase in sales for their travel books. While my sales grew by almost 400 percent in the month of the competition, I was merely a runner-up. One store increased their sales by more than 1,000 percent, although I remain intrigued by the reality that their equivalent sales of the same books in the previous years must have been close to zero. In other words, I’ve learnt that while I may be highly motivated and strongly focused to win such competitions, there are others in the franchise system whose knowledge about the keys to victory is based on years of ensuring that they stay in front.

I have tried hard to encourage more of the book spend among employees in the local business district to remain in the area. I created a local loyalty card that complimented the loyalty program of my franchisor. In particular, I thought that this would appeal to local school teachers and similar educators who tend to buy more books than others from different professions. Again, while incremental sales have undoubtedly been enhanced, this strategy has not provided the more significant improvements I had sought.

Arguably, the bargain-hunting book buyer is a different animal to the normal member of the book buying family. For this reason, I have held several sales in the surrounding area. While this strategy worked relatively well prior to Christmas, the most important retailing period of the year, it has been less successful since that time. One attempt cost me thousands of dollars after I chose a rotten location. Another was lucky to break even.

The big wahu of all promotional strategies was the exclusive deal I made to sell books at the three Donald Trump events scheduled for various states in Australia last November. I spent weeks to win this deal, subsequently signing an exclusive deal with the local promoter. I paid him $7,500 for the privilege, and ordered more than 4,000 books to sell at the events. I was sure I had a huge winner on my hands. In addition, I was negotiating with Trump University to sell their range of Trump wealth-creation products at these events.

When Wall Street tanked, ticket sales stalled. The promoter went bust, taking my money with him. Donald Trump had been paid almost $2 million in fees to attend, however the promoter’s inability to come up with the final payment caused Trump to cancel his visit and pocket the money. I am but one of the 650 creditors of this disaster.

Given that I tend to have the perseverance of a bulldog, I actually attempted to resurrect the tour, offering to sell the tickets at more realistic prices, allow those who had already bought tickets to come for free, and to split any profits arising from the tour with Trump, suggesting that his share go to charity. While I didn’t know if I would make any money myself, I truly wanted to do something for those folks who’d already paid an average of $350 for their tickets. It would also have been nice to sell some of the thousands of books I’d ordered.

So, there you have it. Promotional strategies from the realistic to the ridiculous. It remains the nature of marketing that we must, to paraphrase Built to Last, try a lot of stuff and keep what works. In the absence of the kinds of marketing research available to executives in large corporations, franchisees must feel their way cautiously along the dark promotional path.

This is especially challenging during tough times, since marketing dollars are one of the few costs over which we have some semblance of control. The overwhelming temptation is to back off and spend as little as possible. While I wouldn’t recommend spending money that you cannot afford to lose, both new and existing franchisees must promote their businesses frequently and with gusto. Set your budget at the outset, keep thinking creatively, and look around for new approaches that may provide a competitive advantage for your franchise.

Dr Dave Poole owns a franchised retail bookstore in Sydney, Australia. He is also a popular corporate speaker and has taught leadership and corporate strategy at business schools in Australia, the United States, and China. Co-author of two popular management books, Dave Poole was recently the successful CEO of a major industry association for the real estate development sector. His speaking topics include “Making Your Small Business Work in Tough Times”, “Abundance Leadership”, and “Communicating Passionately and Persuasively.” He holds a bachelors degree in marketing, an MBA and masters degree in management, and PhD from the School of Management, University of Technology, Sydney. For more information, please see http://www.stratleadership.com

Franchise businesses are successful for one reason: they have a proven system in place. That is why franchise businesses have a failure rate of only 25% within the first five years, and traditional businesses have a failure rate of about 80%. Quite a difference. Other facts according to ‘The E-Myth’ are: in the year 2000 there were 320,000 franchised businesses in 75 industries. Franchises produce $1 trillion in sales every year. McDonald’s in particular is a $40 billion a year franchise with 28,707 restaurants worldwide that serves 43 million people a day.

The E-Myth states that the franchise, or turn-key business, is a way of running a business that ‘has the power to dramatically transform a business from a condition of chaos and discord to a condition of order, excitement and continuous growth.’ Why is this? It’s because a franchise is a system-dependent business, not a person-dependent business. This means that as long as a person can simply follow directions, the business will most likely be a success. Ray Kroc was the first to realize this, and from this realization McDonald’s was born. Since McDonald’s is the most popular franchise recognized by people, and also the most successful, we will concentrate on the reasons that have made McDonald’s ‘the best’ and what Ray Kroc did to create that model.

Ray Kroc’s story begins with him walking into a hamburger stand with the intention of selling milkshake machines to the owners. What ended up happening was Ray observed a hamburger stand that ran like a ’swiss watch.’ Hamburgers were produced ‘quickly, efficiently, inexpensively and identically.’ The method allowed anyone to be able to do it. He watched as high school kids efficiently and happily served customer after customer with minimal supervision from the owners. Ray convinced the brothers to let him franchise their system and 12 years later bought them out and created what is known today as McDonald’s.

Even though franchises have been around for about 100 years, Ray Kroc’s creation of McDonald’s changed what a franchise was. A franchise used to be simply the right to sell a name brand product for a company and make some of the profit yourself. Ray changed that by making a franchise not only the right to sell the products, but also the right to use the proven system created for distributing the product. Ray’s beliefs were different from original business owners. They believed that the name brand that you sell is what makes the business successful. Ray believed that it was the ’system’ you use to sell a product that makes a business successful. In other words, he was ’selling’ McDonald’s itself, not just hamburgers. In Ray’s opinion, a person looking to start a business didn’t care if they were selling hamburgers or not, all they cared about was ‘does the business work and make money.’

From that point on, franchising became a revolution. Franchise after franchise was opened, not only McDonald’s, and not only in the food industry, but in almost every kind of industry in existence. Starting a business became as simple as thinking of a business you want, then finding a franchise that has created a proven system for running that kind of business.

David Eigenfeld is a top internet marketing and home business coach, working with people from around the world. Most recently David has partnered up with other like minded business mentors teaching others how to achieve their goals, dreams and aspirations. To learn more about David and his team of mentors visit him at http://link2profits.com.

Deb Shugg pulled herself back from illness and despair to become founder and director of The Award Bookkeeping Company and she is now ready to talk openly about her life.

There was a time when Deb Shugg covered up her past. For a long time she would just tell people that she needed a change from corporate life and decided to start a bookkeeping business, working from home. It was a partial truth that glossed over a story of suffering and guilt.

“There was a time in my life when I couldn’t leave my own front door. I was such a broken person that I really didn’t think that life was worth living.”

As a child, Deb was subject to both violence and sexual abuse both from within her family and from a stranger who forced his way into the house while she was at home by herself. Deb’s mother, who worked to make up for the excesses of a violent and alcoholic husband, had no choice but leave her children alone.

“There was not enough money, not enough food, not enough of anything but I guess I could always see there was something more to life than whatever circumstances you’re in. There is always a bit more to it than where you are at.”

Later as a young mother herself, Deb worked full-time but found that it was compromising the parental care and involvement she had promised herself she would provide for her own children. She didn’t want to drop them off early in the morning to have breakfast with someone else, then pick them up at teatime just in time for a quick take-away meal and then bed. She wanted a family where everyone was there to care for everyone else.

The divided loyalties became too much, the past caught up with her and anxiety took a debilitating hold.

Despite the inner turmoil her goals in life hadn’t really changed, she still wanted to earn a living and to care for her family, but she no longer enjoyed the freedom that others, who have never suffered agoraphobia, take for granted.

Yet, she found that her childhood experiences had given her determination as well as pain.

“I won’t let this keep me here.”

And with that thought she used the skills she had in a new direction and started a home business working as a bookkeeper. She just focused on meeting her immediate needs – to earn an income and to care for her family – as best as she could at that time.

“I had been earning an income a long time until everything caught up with me and so I decided I’d start my own home-based business – I had the skills – and I wouldn’t have to go anywhere.”

As the business grew so did her confidence and more and more she was able to leave home to visit clients when they requested it. It was a challenge, and there was no single turning point in her recovery, just a gradual return to the world outside the four walls that had contained her.

In time, she was able to seize the opportunities that the introduction of GST brought and expand the business. Franchising saw the company spread throughout Australia but Deb maintained a steady, controlled pace, not compromising the care of her children, the quality of her work or the importance of her franchisees.

“Really, what my whole management style is based on is ‘we are going to do it one step at a time’. We are going to do it with one foot in front of the other. We are going to see the big picture – where we want to go. But all we are going to focus on for today is just getting today’s things done and understand that this one thing is going to take us to the next thing.

“It is not just in business, anything you have got to confront is really a day to day thing.”

Firstly working as a bookkeeper herself, and now through her franchise, Deb is helping others making their way in the business world.

“Bookkeeping isn’t an industry; it is a profession and a bad bookkeeper can do as much damage to a business as bad management.

I am able to give back to the people who are looking for a bigger picture, who are looking for something else. What I didn’t want to do was generate a business that had lots of employees who were just stuck in that same mould. What I wanted to do was encourage people, and women in particular, to actually look outside their circumstances.”

Although she measures the success of her business financially, Deb understands that flexibility can be a precious gift to those whose role includes the care and support of a family.

“We are not a franchise system where pressure is on franchisees every minute of the day to be earning lots of money. The pressure is on the franchisee to get the most out of their business so if that means flexibility then that’s what we are going to be helping them focus on.

“As much as we like to think that we’ve come a long way in terms of equality, a lot of family issues are still left to the woman in the household to manage, especially children and elderly parents. Those things are still seen as a woman’s role in a lot of aspects and you need to be able to fit those in and you need to be able to still make a reasonable income.”

As her children have grown, Deb has been able to commit more time to growing the business and her husband, Harold, has shared the role of caring for the children.

Harold is now also sharing her business success, running franchise development and franchisee training. As an insolvency expert, his experience with failed and salvaged businesses means he is able to help his franchisees build a solid business and avoid the pitfalls that can lead to failure.

Their close working association is successful because each brings different strengths to the business. “We are not here to put labels on people and fit them in boxes and to play politics with that. We’re here to be cooperative in the outcomes we get and everybody in the organisation is part of that.”

With over 45 franchisees nationally, Deb now travels the country and she is well enough to travel with ease. Her children are now in their twenties and Deb is allowing the expansion bug to bite. As well as furthering her national expansion she is looking to build opportunities in America. Deb believes the complex taxation environment is suited to a highly trained and professional organisation like The Award Bookkeeping Company.

The prospect of travelling around the globe holds little fear for her now and, at 43, Deb is proud of her achievements. She hopes that others will be inspired by her story.

“It is a case of trying to empower people and to let them know it is not a forever thing. It doesn’t matter what circumstances you are in today – it is not forever.”

This article appeared in Issue 1#6 (Sept/Oct 2007) of Business Franchise Australia & New Zealand – http://www.businessfranchiseaustralia.com.au