"HORN IN" On Franchise / Business Ownership - January '18 Edition

[OrangeLarry]

 

 

“HORN IN" On Franchise / Business Ownership

a monthly post with blurbs, links, and other words-of-wisdom

regarding self-employment; career transition;

and franchise / business ownership;

as well as information for business owners

who may be interested in franchising their business.

  

January  2018

 

Franchise Opportunity Knocks

Self-employment Beckons

Start answering the call right here.

News you can use to help you find

The right franchise / business opportunity for you.

 

 

Dream It, or Live It…the choice is yours.

By Larry S. Powell

Blake Mallen, a very successful entrepreneur, once told me, “The moment you stop doing what you think you are supposed to do, and start doing what you were meant to do, is when the script ends and life begins”.  Is it time for you to break from the script and go after a life that offers you greater flexibility, freedom and independence?

Studies show that 82% of Americans say they would like to own their own business.  But, only 5% will ever realize this dream.  Perhaps that can be best explained by a quote from Brian Tracey.  Mr. Tracey has said, “A thousand dreams die unborn every day because the dreamer lacks the courage to take the first step”.

 Please allow me to describe a common scenario…You are ready for a career change-you get the urge to tell your boss what she / he can do with the latest company policy. The reality of corporate life is becoming more painful …job security is an illusion…your work-life and income is being dictated by someone else…your employer isn’t investing in your future.  Now, your brain is on a mental trampoline and you exclaim, “Well, why don’t I invest in myself?”  Then, your mind begins to race back and forth between the known reality of the uncertain life in corporate America, and the unknown aspects of how you can get independence through business ownership. If you are one of the 82% don't let the "FUD (Fear, Uncertainty & Doubt) Factor" stop you.

There is a book written by John Ortberg, If you want to walk on water, you’ve got to get out of the boat. The “boat” is what you hang on to, or whatever represents safety and security to you and that which pulls you away from the high adventure you actually seek. For many, moving towards the dream of being a business owner is simply letting go of the boat we call “corporate America”.  What it really entails is going after what you were made to do, leaving the illusionary lifeboat behind and setting sail for uncharted waters.

If owning your own business has been an aspiration of yours, do you want to continue to dream, or are you ready to take that first step towards turning your dream into reality?

Perhaps you are like the clients I work with every day…

• Want to leave their corporate America job,
• In career transition,
• Desire to be self-employed,
• But, don’t know what type of business is right for them, where or how to start the process.

My free and no-obligation consultative and coaching service will help you to crystallize your lifestyle needs, goals and objectives, as well as whether self-employment is even the right path for you to take at this time.  If so, then through a search process we will identify franchise and business opportunities (“biz-op”) that are aligned with your talents, interest, goals, and financial requirements. My role is NOT to sell you a franchise “biz-op”.  My objective is to help you identify and refine your goals and needs, present to you options that align with those goals, and then to help you make a sound decision that is best for you, your family and your lifestyle.

Whether you are a first time buyer wanting to operate a single business unit, or an experienced operator seeking the right Master Franchise opportunity, I can help you find the option that fits your needs.  There are thousands of franchise and “biz-op” concepts available today and cover just about everything from advertising to casual dining, laundry / dry cleaning, home repair, maid services, printing / copy services, real estate and weight control. And, since the franchisor knows the business, they aren’t looking for prospects with industry experience.  They want franchisees who possess decision-making ability, customer service, business and management skills, and drive to succeed, not technical expertise. 

Thus, buying a franchise / business opportunity (“biz-op”) has proven to be a great vehicle for thousands of people to effectively transition into a new industry and self-employment.

In the final analysis, the choice and responsibility for researching business / franchise opportunities are yours, but as you contemplate such a huge decision, you should not leave any stones unturned.

Getting professional assistance from a Registered Franchise Consultant may be one of the best resources you can employ and since the company selling the franchise / “biz-op” pays the fee, my service is free to you.  You will be able to save considerable time and effort, as well as learn about opportunities that you are unaware of…for instance the right business for you may be one that you have never heard of, and would not even guess.

Why not work from home…

…and enjoy the advantages of…living where you work & working where you live.  Betty Bender once said, “When people go to work they shouldn’t have to leave their hearts at home.”  A modern-day version of Betty’s quote would be…”When people go to work, they shouldn’t have to leave home—period!”  Today, the home-based franchise industry is growing exponentially, enabling people who desire to be self-employed the opportunity to run legitimate and successful businesses with relatively low complexity and cost.  So, why not work from home?  Who wouldn’t prefer a ten (10) foot vs. a ten (10) mile (or more) commute?  Home-based businesses offer optimum convenience with a relatively low cost and provide greater flexibility / independence for an enhanced lifestyle

Home-Based Franchises Mean BIG BUSINESS.

By The Franchise Dictionary Magazine Staff

Franchise Dictionary Magazine

January 2018

THE HOME-BASED BUSINESS MARKET HAS EVOLVED SIGNIFICANTLY over the past decade. What was once considered a second-tier version of employment now has professional appeal. Today, home-based companies have the same stature as businesses in office or retail locations, and the volume of people choosing to launch them is growing.  

“The mass exodus of employment

created a push for entrepreneurship” 

According to IncFile.com, there are more than 38-million home-based businesses in the U.S., and an increasing number of them are home-based franchises. These franchises combine the value of a franchise system along with the convenience of a home-based business.   These days, there are a variety of industries to choose from. Handyman services, painting, financial services, accounting, and sales are just a few of the franchise industries that you can manage out of your living room. Brands such as JaniKing®, which now boasts 12,282 locations worldwide, and CertaPro Painters®, with 385 locations in the U.S., are largely home-based.

A key driver for the expansion is the low upfront investment. Traditional franchise models, such as restaurants or retail models, typically require significant capital just to get the doors open, way before the franchisee sees a single dollar in revenue.  Many times, traditional franchises could require investments of $200,000 or more and limit the pool of potential buyers due to capital constraints. The homebased model doesn’t have construction or leasehold expenses and typically carries an investment ranging between $50,000 and $75,000, depending on the franchise brand.  This lower initial investment allows for the franchisee to get into business with lower capital commitments and look forward to a potentially higher return on investment. 

LOW OVERHEAD

Another advantage of a home-based operation is that once the business is open and running, the overhead expenses associated with managing the day-to-day are very low. You can avoid a commercial lease and the high equipment costs that come with a restaurant or retail business.  Since many run without staff or employees, the cost of operation is minimal.  While working from home doesn’t necessarily mean fewer hours on the job, it does offer flexibility. Home-based businesses help improve work-life balance.  You can spend more time with your family and create a schedule that works with your kids’ activities and home-improvement chores. 

WHY NOW?

Why has this market segment expanded so greatly?  The recession between 2008 and 2010 certainly helped. According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 8.7- million jobs were lost from 2007 to 2010.  This mass exodus of employment created a push for entrepreneurship, partly out of necessity and partly because professionals were feeling that the corporate world had become just as risky as venturing out on your own. During this time, employers who were hiring were preparing for another economic turndown and thus, paying far more conservatively than they were before the recession.

“Small business is a good thing for the economy,

and home-based businesses are playing a huge role in that.”

NEW ENTREPENEURS

The U.S. saw fewer high-paying employee positions and more unemployment and underemployment.  Many of these recently unemployed folks had never owned businesses or been entrepreneurs, for which the franchise value proposition is strongest.  Coming from professional office settings, these new entrepreneurs could easily transition to home office locations and were more comfortable with lower capital investments.  Remember at the time, capital was difficult to come by as banks had tightened their lending and Small Business Administration (SBA) loans were extremely difficult, if not impossible, to obtain. This perfect economic storm pushed people towards home-based franchises and created a market for work from-home business owners. 

The increased interest led to new, innovative, forward-thinking franchises that offered everything from home handyman work like The Patch Boys® to professional event planning like EventPrep.® Accounting, financial planning, import/export businesses, and others launched franchise models, and the home-based franchise industry took off. 

SUSTAINABLE GROWTH

Since then, the home-based franchise market has continued to see sustainable growth putting more and more people on the road to business ownership. According to the SBA, from 1996 to 2014, the number of small businesses in the U.S. had declined year over year, but in 2014, that trend reversed and more small businesses opened between 2014 and 2015.  Perhaps this is due to what the SBA describes as “Micro Companies,” which are firms with 10 employees or less. One thing is for sure, though: Small business is a very good thing for the economy, and home-based businesses are playing a huge role in that.

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 Every year, thousands of people dream of owning a business and are drawn to the independence, flexibility and freedom of being self-employed. The job market as we have known it continues to change, so people are retooling their vision of how they will make a living in the years to come. This is driving people of all ages and career types to pursue self-employment options, including small business ownership as the “new” career of choice. Today, creating your own job has become the new path to job security. 

A franchise / business opportunity may not be right for everyone and they are certainly not all created equal, but a good business model can lower the risk factor and accelerate one’s potential for long term success. The key is finding the right match between the franchise / business opportunity model and the owner-operator.

Oliver Wendell Holmes once said, “The great thing in this world is not so much where you stand, as in what direction you are moving.” Are you allowing your professional life to wander aimlessly, or stand still? Do you dislike your corporate job, but don’t know how to find your real niche in life?

 A window of opportunity won’t open itself…  

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You desire to be self-employed…

What is preventing you from moving towards that dream?

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Is Living A Few Years Of Your

Life Like Most People Won’t,

So That You Can Spend The

Rest Of Your Life Like

Most People Can’t.

                  -Unknown

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Textile Recycling

I am always looking for new, unique, and innovative concepts.  Recently, I found a concept which I believe is interesting, unique and will fill a need in the recycling (green) market… Until I learned of this business, I never knew there was an industry specializing in “textile recycling”. 

I had an interesting teleconference with the company’s Franchise Development Manager.  He helped me to better understand this business and the market niche it serves.  He also told me that recently he bought a shirt in an upscale retail outlet for $47.00.  The shirt had a tag… Made from 100% rewoven / recycled textile material.  The same stuff my wife and I don’t know what to do with, so we just chunk it in the trash…and it goes to the landfill / garbage dump.

Passive Ownership: Yes… Retain your job or career, or continue running business during job transition… Low cost, part-time, semi-absentee, work from home ownership.  Supplement / complement your present business.

If you would like additional information, or to discuss in further detail, please call or send me an email with phone number and a good day(s) / time(s) for me to call you.

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Would this scenario be of interest and value to you… a process where you receive assistance to help you better identify your goals, financial requirements, lifestyle needs and what you would like for your work-life to look like; then provided information on self-employment options and guidance on exploring these opportunities within the confines of a safe and no-obligation environment. 

Remember, a window of opportunity won’t open itself!

If you are ready, let’s discuss a methodical approach (not a one-time event) and an informative journey through the exploration / discovery process. 

Are you in career transition, or contemplating making a change?  Would you like a "sounding-board"?  As a former Human Resources executive and now a Franchise Coach / Consultant, I have over three (3) decades of assisting folks with career transition.  Plus, I have personally walked down that path a couple times myself.  If you would like to visit about career transition in general, entering self-employment via a franchise or business opportunity and / or UT sports, please call me at your convenience… 210-479-2491, or if outside San Antonio, 888-479-2491.  Or shoot me an email with your phone number and a good day(s) / time(s) to call you.  I will gladly provide complimentary advice and counsel. And, remember, I'm a coach, not a sales person.

Have a job you don’t like?  Seek other employment:  I call that “Changing Your Curtains”.  Perhaps, you prefer a bolder approach which may provide a new and invigorating work-life:  I refer to that as “Changing Your View”.  In 2001, I decided to “Change My View”.  If you are ready… Let’s Talk.  I can help you “Change Your View” too…

Don't Just Change Your Curtains... Change Your View. I Did. My Story 

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Looking for Texas Hill Country Property

Cabin, storage building, workshop, ponds, water well, and septic on 166 acres.

30 miles northwest of San Antonio / 9 miles southeast of Bandera. 

http://listings.texas-landman.com/texas-landman/pipe-creek-ranch  

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If you are seeking top-quality financial / investment advice, I highly recommend

Teamwork Financial Group and Doug Moe...Texas Ex.

Doug is the CEO of Teamwork Financial Group in San Antonio.  He is an attorney and CPA.  He has provided valuable insight to me and my wife regarding investment / financial advice, including guidance on having a Will vs. Revocable Living Trust, re-balancing our investment portfolio, as well as assisting us move a portion of our IRA investments into Fixed Asset Annuities.  Over the past several months, I have had a number of very enjoyable meetings with Doug, since we have a tendency to spend time talking sports, as well as financial / investment stuff. Doug played basketball at UT in the 80s and is the son of Doug Moe, the former coach of the San Antonio Spurs. And, a great guy.

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Do You Need Furniture Repaired...

If so and in the San Antonio area, CALL Pat Bonney...Texas Ex... Owner of a Guardsman Furniture Pro. franchise...The Most Trusted Name in Furniture Repair. Pat was on the UT baseball team in the early 70s.  I have used Pat's service multiple times for a variety of furniture repairs in my business and home.  Great guy and fantastic service.    

210-849-9663   Email: gfpsa@sbcglobal.net

  

2017 newsletters; as well as copies of 2016 and 2015 newsletters can be viewed by going to the Franchise Quest Website.  

Click on the Website link below, or go to:

www.franchise-quest.com 

Resource Center > Newsletter

  

Small / medium size business owners:

Would you like to grow your business by franchising.

 

$1,000 Referral Bonus $1,000

 

Additional Information Is Available at Franchise Quest

 

If you would like to visit, please don’t be shy about reaching out:

I’m a coach, not a sales person.

 

Hook 'em.