"HORN IN" On Franchise / Business Ownership -July '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.

  

July 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.

 

 

How Two NFL Retirees Are Tackling Their Challenges

With A Strong Game Plan

By Darren Heitner, Forbes 

 David Garrard made a smooth transition from quarterback at an NFL team to quarterbacking as a franchise owner.

Former NFL quarterback David Garrard has found personal success in life after football despite a lack of financial literacy obtained during his years in the NFL. Specifically, he chose to invest in the franchise industry and open up three Retro Fitness locations after an introduction from his financial advisor. He is not alone. Another six-year NFL veteran Jameel McClain, who now serves as Assistant Director of Engagement for the Baltimore Ravens, is invested in the same business as Garrard.

"Franchising allows you to be your own boss and gives you a playbook that sets you up for success if you follow it," says Delancey Street CEO Max Soni, who knows the players as well as what it takes to be an entrepreneur, starting his first business at 17-years-old. Here is what the duo of NFL retirees have to share about being in the franchising business after successful careers as football players.

Always have a game plan ready for your next move.

After a six-year career playing a professional sport, Garrard knew that he liked having a set game plan to follow. This allowed him to always be looking forward and staying one step ahead.

"There was never a training session, practice or game that I played that didn't involve a game plan," says Garrard. "My teams, collectively, followed the plan - feeling confident that it would always help us."

A game plan can curb surprises and provide you with measurable benchmarks. These plans are fluid; they are amenable to change and should be modified depending on how things are progressing within your organization.

You must be realistic about your capacity to get things done.

"Look at the type of business you're considering getting into. Look at what you're going to ask from people," says McClain. "Once you do, look at what you're going to be required to push out as a result of asking people for something. If you can't put out what you've asked for or if you can own a gym and can't still mop the floors - then you can't put out. You have to be able to run all parts of the business - especially if the people you've asked to help out don't show up."

People look for leadership. There is a difference between someone who can do the task and someone who can instruct another person to perform. You need to be realistic about who you are and what role(s) you perform best so that others will follow your lead.

Active listening to experienced businesspeople is necessary to identify your blind spots.

"I didn't know everything there is to know about the business of franchising; however, I chose to listen carefully to what those around me were teaching me about the world of business," says Garrard. "I was not hard headed. In this business, being hard headed isn't an option.

Garrard and McClain both stress the importance of having a financial advisor you can trust, which goes hand-in-hand with what McClain says about trusting the team you choose to be surrounded by.

"One thing I will say that has helped be successful and financially stable was that I worked with financial advisors before I entered the league, during my time in the league and after I left the league," says McClain. "With their help, we created a pyramid that would help me measure success throughout those times during my life.

 

“Some men see things as they are, and ask why. I dream of things that never were, and ask why not. ”

 -Robert F. Kennedy

 

"Everything Big Starts with Something Little"

Excerpt from An Enemy Called Average

by John Mason

All successful people are faithful in the small things. There is power in taking small steps.

Many people are not moving forward today simply because they were not willing to take the small step placed before them. If you have a dream to go into any particular area, you should leap at the opportunity—no matter how small—to move in the direction of your dream. For example: if you dream of being a college basketball coach and are sitting at home waiting for an invitation from Roy Williams at North Carolina University, you should know that call will never come. You need to find an opportunity to coach somewhere, anywhere. Find a young person, a young team. Jump in and coach with all of your heart, like you would if you were coaching at the highest level.

Don’t be afraid to take small steps. There’s something powerful about momentum…no matter how small. Many times the impossible is simply the untried.

I can remember a time in my life when I was immobilized with fear, consumed with what I was supposed to do. It seemed so huge a task; I was unable to bring myself to face it. A friend came to me and spoke two words that broke that paralysis in my life. He said, “Do something!” I’ll never forget that day…taking some small, seemingly insignificant steps. Momentum began to come into my life.

If you are at a point of paralysis in your life because of what you feel you’re supposed to do, the words today are, “Do something!” Don’t worry about the long-term goal right now; just take the steps that take you past the starting point. Soon you’ll get to a point of no return. As you climb higher, you’ll be able to see much farther.

As you begin, don’t be afraid. Eric Hoffer said, “Fear of becoming a ‘has-been’ keeps some people from becoming anything.” Every great idea is impossible from where you are starting today. But little goals add up, and they add up rapidly. Most people don’t succeed because they are too afraid to even try. As incredible as it sounds, they decide in advance they’re going to fail.

Many times the final goal seems so unreachable we don’t even make an effort. But once you’ve made your decision and have started, it’s like you’re halfway there. Start—no matter what your circumstances. Take that first step!  

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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

 ********************************************************************************************* 

Outdoor Living Spaces Concept

·         A more mature market, but still growing. 

·         Provides variety with tangible and visible results.

·         Solve problems…figure out ideas / solutions…present creative concepts.

·         Involves degree of creativity.

·         Project management…planning.

·         Have fun.

·         Family friendly hours….flexibility…lifestyle.

·         Service Orientation…with value added.

·         Outdoor stuff.

·         Make things.

The world's oldest and largest designer and builder of custom decks, screened porches, open porches, outdoor kitchens, fireplaces and other outdoor living spaces. In business for 28+ years. has completed over $0.5 billion in projects for over 75,000 clients since 1980. Provides rigorous training, a proven sales methodology, in-depth franchise support and marketing systems that enable our franchisees to sell, design and install professional outdoor living environments – with unparalleled service and attention to detail.  This is a strong choice for franchise candidates seeking a home-based business with few employees, low overhead, design creativity and great growth potential. This is a design and project management business.  No construction experience is required.  Flexibility-franchisees control their own hours.  Product line includes more than decks…design custom sunrooms, screened porches, outdoor kitchens, pergolas, gazebos and outdoor fireplaces.

Proven sales process: While many competitors might scribble deck dimensions and a rough layout on a napkin, you’ll deliver a fabulous 3-D computer generated rendering and construction drawings that will knock your customers’ socks off. The designs will be presented as professional CAD drawings accurately depicting the superior visual impact of the finished product. Customers’ worries are put to rest by construction standards proven on over 100,000 projects and 30 years of exemplary operation. And to nail the deal shut, you’ll offer not only an unsurpassed warranty, but a third party guarantee of project completion on all projects.

Ideal Candidate:

• Interpersonal skills: Energetic individuals with strong interpersonal and communication skills that enjoy networking with other professionals. (Sometimes a spouse excels at this and becomes a valuable business asset.)
• General Management Experience: Experience managing both people and the P&L (Construction background helpful, but not required).
• Solid work ethic: Type A, driven personality and demonstrated leadership abilities. Diligence and a determination to provide the best possible service and product are an essential part of the customer service that sets us apart.
• Creative: Appreciate design and outdoor living.

 Role of Franchisee:

High personal satisfaction: For the right person, running this franchise is a dream job. Your schedule can be flexible. You don’t have to be stuck in an office all day. You’re not tied to a brick and mortar business – low overhead, home-based, and very scalable. You can exercise your creativity. You get to interact with appreciative customers. You see the tangible results of your efforts with every amazing structure your company builds. Plus, you enjoy the support not just our helpful corporate staff, but scores of other franchisees who are always happy to answer your questions or assist you in resolving any challenges

Investment:  $103,550

Average # of Employees: 2--(Full-time office manager; installation crew are subcontractors and design consultants are commission-based staff)

·         Executive Model

·         Passive Ownership

·         Home Based

 Please call if you have questions, or desire additional information.

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Quick-serve Snack Food Concept

A quick-serve snack food restaurant serving specialty, gourmet French fries with over 20 different seasonings, sauces and toppings; and fountain drinks, bottled water and home-made milkshakes for beverages.

Our Menu offers three options to achieve simplicity and creativity: a Specialty Menu of ‘go-to’ topped fry baskets that promote popular national and local dishes; a Finger Food Favorites Menu comprised of classic fried appetizer-style dishes-Original Pizza Logs; Buffalo Crunch Rolls; Crispy Chicken Fingers; and our Dutch Style Menu, which allows customers to choose a fry and one of 15+ dipping sauces.

In addition to these items, customers are able to customize their baskets across six styles of fries and over 20 sauces, seasonings and toppings.

There is a familiar saying you hear often when referring to the Lone Star State-   "Everything is Big in Texas". Well, that saying sure rings true for one of the most unique and novel franchise brands to come onto the QSR scene in years.

Our presence is fixin' to get big and introduced to fellow Texans statewide in the coming months in our largest Texas markets: Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. This phenomenal growth spurt comes just over a year after opening our first Texas franchise unit in the Alamo City, Labor Day weekend of 2016. Now is the time for prospective business owners and opportunistic entrepreneurs to consider our exciting franchise model and discover for themselves an opportunity where timing really is and can be everything.

 Four (4) flexible Franchise Business Models are offered:

·   Food Truck/Trailer/Cart,

·   Inline (food court, no dining room)

·   Kiosk (free standing 12 x 20 unit) and

·   Brick and Mortar (free standing,drive thru, dining room).

Our flexible concepts fit any real estate format including freestanding restaurants, end caps, in-line sites, gas and convenience, airports, malls, outlet stores, entertainment and tourist districts, cinema, travel plazas, universities, as well as other retail environments. There simply is no other competitive QSR franchise brand offered to prospective franchisees with such flexibility of choice in business model, endless store location sites to consider, and all achieved at an attractive development cost range of $105,000 - $250,000 dependent on the business model selected.

We are currently looking for hard working, motivated individuals to join our growing list of franchisees. Franchise opportunities are currently available in communities and towns throughout Northern, Southern Eastern, and Western Texas, of all major metropolitan areas.

We are looking for regional development groups that have a proven track record and are community leaders who may already operate other local businesses, such as other multi-brand restaurant development groups, retail outlets, convenience store chain operators, and movie theater operators who have the passion and financial qualifications to develop anywhere from five (5) to fifty (50) restaurants in these regions across the state. We are looking for qualified candidates with career work experience in any field (no restaurant experience required) and that are dedicated to their fields of expertise with proven track records to join our Texas team.

Our Texas franchisees will have endless opportunities to grow quickly into successful multi-unit franchise operators supported by our Texas franchise development team based right in the heart of Texas, San Antonio.  The Texas Master Franchise is owned and operated by native Texas businessmen with a vast array of industry knowledge and seasoned track records as successful business owners. One of the Texas Master Franchisors is a Texas Ex.

Franchisees get unsurpassed local support and services in every stage of franchise development from start to finish.

⇒ Texas Master Tenant Broker and Site Selection Services

⇒ Local pre-opening, grand opening and ongoing training and operational support

⇒ Statewide vendor & supplier network customized for our Texas franchisees

⇒ Franchisee business planning, consulting, financial and coaching support and services.

Please call if you have questions, or desire additional information.

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I highly recommend:

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

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

 

Don't Just Change Your Curtains...

Change Your View. I Did. My Story 

 

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

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Hook 'em.