Top 5 Franchises for Sales Executives

One of the reasons people buy franchises is because the franchisor provides initial training and ongoing support to help you make your business as successful as possible.  So for many food franchises you don't need a background in the restaurant business and there are a lot of service-based franchises where you don't need a strong sales background.  However, for the Sales Executive looking for a career change, there are franchises that will let you put your strongest skill set to work. 

Here are my picks, in alphabetical order, of the Top 5 Franchises for Sales Executives:

1. BrightStar Care
Named as one of the Top 10 Franchises for 2011 by Inc. Magazine, BrightStar Care is part of the Senior Care industry that takes care of the more than 38 Million seniors in the U.S.  Nearly 20% of seniors have significant long-term care needs and by 2020 the number of senior households is expected to grow by nearly 53%.  A U.S. government commission recently concluded "the need for Home- and Community-Based Services will grow substantially owing to the desire for seniors to age in place."  BrightStar is on this list because:

• Franchisees have access to multiple revenue streams within each major service offering: Senior Care, Kid Care, and Staffing
• BrightStar is one of the Top 10 Franchises for 2011, and has been recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine on the Franchise 500 list for 2011, Fastest Growing Franchises list for 2011 and America's Top Global Franchises list for 2011

2. HOODZ
HOODZ is the Nation’s Largest Kitchen Hood Cleaning Company. Positioned in a traditionally “mom & pop” industry, HOODZ is a name poised to become synonymous with “hood cleaning”. They started franchising in July 2009 and had 150 franchised locations by December 2010. The parent company is Belfor (the largest restoration company in the world). HOODZ is on this list because:

• Kitchen Hood Cleaning and its vast array of ancillary services is a REQUIRED NECESSITY (by law) for every Restaurant, Hospital, Hotel, University, Public School, Grocery Store, Nursing Home, etc. On average these institutions are cleaned 4 times a year
• HOODZ has secured national contracts, giving new franchisees immediate revenue for locations in their territory
• All products are "green"

3. Money Mailer
Money Mailer franchisees run their own local marketing consulting companies.  They help local businesses succeed by providing integrated direct mail, online and mobile marketing solutions that help business owners target and retain more of the right customers.  Franchisees do the consulting, Money Mailer does the rest. Money Mailer franchisees must have 5+ years of direct sales experience. They are on this list because:

• Coupon redemption is up 27%, but business owners lack time and expertise to implement online and mobile options
• Money Mailer is offering $20k in 1st year start incentives

4. Tutor Doctor
Since the late 90s, the supplemental educational services industry has grown at a compound annual rate of nearly 12%, and the for-profit tutoring industry has grown by double digits nationally. Tutor Doctor offers tutoring programs for children from kindergarten to college level and incorporates an understanding of all learning types. Tutoring is done at home or through their E-Learning System by college students and teachers (not the franchisee). Tutor Doctor is on this list because:

• Tutoring at home offers many advantages over the traditional learning centers, as tutors are working one on one with the student, focusing on their particular needs and challenges rather than the typical group setting with standardized curricula used by conventional learning centers
• Tutor Doctor's sophisticated CRM system helps franchisees manage and grow the business
• Tutor Doctor franchisees convert on average 7 out of 10 in-home consultations 

5. WSI
WSI is one of the most sought after franchises in the world! WSI stands for “We Simplify the Internet” and capitalizes on the explosive demand from small and medium sized businesses for effective Digital Marketing Solutions. They train their franchisees to be Certified Digital Marketing Consultants. WSI Production Centers handle all the technical and development work, which frees up the franchisees' time to develop long term business relationships with clients, resulting in substantial potential for recurring revenue.  WSI is on this list because:

• WSI has been the #1 Internet and Technology Franchise on the Entrepreneur 500 list for 10 years in a row
• In 2009, over $20.3 Billion was spent on Internet advertising. In the 21st century, all businesses big and small, need a good Internet presence to be successful and WSI provides affordable, high quality websites that bring qualified traffic and convert visitors into customers
• WSI franchisees help their clients move from converting just 2-3% of visitors on average to over 16%!

Contact Meta-Franchise Consulting to learn more about these Top 5 Franchises for Sales Executives.

Top 5 Franchises for the Passive Franchise Owner

Starting a business is a scary proposition and a lot of people do not want to quit their job until they feel confident they can make money running their franchise. Whether you want to hire a general manager or work on your franchise part time, you will be looking for a franchise that allows a passive investor. Here are my picks for the Top 5 Franchises for the Passive Franchise Owner:

1. Doc Popcorn
Doc Popcorn built their organization around one of America's most popular and enjoyable snacks. Add in their proprietary blends of all natural delicious flavors and ingredients, and we are talking about a smile that goes ear to ear. Healthy and Natural, Doc Popcorn fills a unique niche in high traffic venues such as malls, stadiums and events including farmer markets, art festivals and any/all sporting activities. Doc Popcorn has several business models ranging from approximately $50K-150K. They have developed a scalable, profitable, simple business model that is ideal for an individual (or family) that is looking for an opportunity to take control of their life and finances.

2. Gamin Ride
Gamin' Ride is an entertainment theater on wheels. The adventure rolls up to doorsteps hosting events from birthday parties and corporate functions to community and fundraising events around town. Gamin' Ride is an affordable alternative to traditional parties offering something new and exciting. Best of all, it's all held in the convenience of the host's own location. Their air-conditioned and heated unit has the latest and greatest gaming systems such as XBOX 360, PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii. All of the events are hosted by a Game Guru who brings all participants together regardless of skill level.

3. Great Clips
Great Clips, headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, is the largest single salon brand in the $50+ Billion-a-year hair care industry. It is also one of the fastest growing franchise companies in the United States. Established in 1982, Great Clips has perfected a system for delivering high quality haircuts and perms to the entire family in a convenient no-appointment environment. Today, with over 2300 salons and new salons opening almost every business day, Great Clips is well positioned to reach their goal of becoming clearly the #1 hair care brand. Here's an interesting tid bit: On December 22, 2010 Great Clips announced their 100th new franchisee for the year.  Not bad in a stalled economy!

4. LaVida Massage
The fastest growing segment in business today is the Health & Wellness industry. Did you know that Americans indulge more today on anti-aging and health products than ever before? In fact consumers (especially aging baby boomers) spend over 6 billion dollars on massage therapy each year! Research shows that since 1988, the number of Americans relying on the benefits of massage therapy has doubled. Therapy by massage is now recognized as a legitimate medical treatment. The awareness of the effects of stress through everyday events and the link between stress and disease is extraordinary.

5. Pack and Ship Specialists (PASS)
PASS is a family business, run by Mike who opened his first store in 1981 and his daughter. Since licensing the concept in 1984, they have opened over 900 locations. PASS is different than other pack and ship concepts because they do NOT charge a royalty or advertising fee, saving business owners 7% of gross sales a year, on average. The other thing that makes PASS different is their product mix. Licensees, with help from corporate, figure out the product mix that will work best for their location. Sign making, inkjet cartridge refill, digital photo processing, and mailbox rentals are just a couple of things PASS licensees can choose from in addition to standard packaging and shipping services.

Meta-Franchise Consulting can help you determine whether a passive franchise investment is right for you, and which opportunity best meets your other requirements.

Top 5 Recession-Resistant Franchises

One of the most common statements I hear from clients is "I want a business that will be successful." Of course success means different things to different people and there are no guarantees in business. However, aspiring business owners can mitigate some risk of business ownership through owning a franchise, and owning one that time has proven to be recession-resistant.

The following 5 franchises, in alphabetical order, are my picks for the Top 5 Recession-Resistant Franchises:

1. Liberty Tax Service
As the saying goes, there are two certainties in life: death and taxes.  Every year, by April 15th, most Americans have to file a tax return.  Liberty Tax franchisees work on the business, not in the business, and do not need a background in accounting or tax law. Liberty Tax is on the list because:

• They were #21 on the 2011 Franchise 500 Rankings, the highest rated tax preparation franchise
• During the challenging economic times of the last 3 years, they have added over 1,000 retail locations
• For 8 years in a row, Liberty Tax Service has grown by more returns than H&R Block and Jackson Hewitt...COMBINED!

2. Meineke
Automotive aftermarket maintenance and repair is a $275 Billion a year industry and the "do it for me section" of the industry is $150 Billion. Meineke franchisees do not work on cars and do not need auto industry experience. They concentrate on running the business. The Meineke real estate team can help you find and convert and independent garage so you can started for a lower cost. Meineke is on the list because:

• Every year the number of cars on the road grows, and the average age of those cars is getting older
• Meineke is recognized by 95% of the US adult population, driven by National TV commercials, the Meineke Car Care Bowl, and millions of direct mail pieces
• Average sales for 6 bay centers in the system is $556,000

3. Sharkey's Cuts for Kids
Sharkey's Cuts for Kids provides an unique salon that caters to children of all ages. They provide prompt service for on-the-go parents, a fun environment for children, and reasonably priced services. There are a variety of services for customers to choose from including cuts, color, up-dos, mini manicures, make-up application, and private parties. Hair care is a $55 Billion dollar a year with built in demand and a recurring customer base.  Sharkey's is on this list because:

• They are the fastest growing chain of children's salon in the country. In their first 2 years of franchising they opened 20 franchised locations and had global commitments for 235+ salons
• Children have to get their hair cut multiple times a year and even in a down economy people will spend money on their children
• Sharkey's franchisees enjoy 3 amazing revenue streams: hair care for boys and girls, birthday parties in their famous Glamour room, and specialty merchandise/party favors

4. Stratus Building Solutions
Stratus Building Solutions Master and Unit franchisees are part of a $140 Billion commercial cleaning industry. Stratus franchisees provide their clients with a "one stop shop" for all maintenance services that include "touchless sanitization", specialty floor care, pressure washing and exterior cleaning, "green" recycling, lawn care and landscaping, pest control, energy conservation, and security/safety.  Stratus is on this list because:

• All commercial spaces must be maintained (built-in demand), and they must be maintained regularly (recurring revenue)
• They have doubled system-wide sales each year for the last 3 consecutive years ($30M, $60M, $120M)
• They were recognized as the Fastest Growing Franchise for 2011 by Entrepreneur Magazine

5. Tutoring Club

The Tutoring Club is a family-owned and operated franchise that guarantees one full grade level improvement with 32 hours of tutoring time. Using proprietary software called TutorAid, tutors create custom lesson plans and track students' progress. Franchisees work on the business, not in the business, and don't need a background in education. Tutoring Club is on this list because:

• People will always spend money on their children, and education becomes even more important in a down economy
• Tutoring Club locations are open Monday - Thursday from 12PM to 7PM so you don't have to take away time from your own children
• Since the late 90s, the supplemental educational services industry has grown at a compound annual rate of nearly 12% and the for-profit tutoring industry has grown by double digits nationally

What other franchises do you think should be on this list?

Franchising to See Stronger Growth in 2011

In my January newsletter, I highlighted the findings of the International Franchise Association Educational Foundation's 2011 edition of the annual Franchise Business Economic Outlook, prepared by PwC. If I had to highlight the report in one sentence it would be, "Franchising is poised for stronger growth in 2011."

At a high level, there are three key metrics in the report. Looking at the projected percent change from 2010 to 2011,

• The number of Franchised Establishments will increase 2.5% (compared to 0.3% last year)
• The number of jobs in Franchised Establishments will increase 2.5% (compared to 0.6% last year)
• The Economic Output of Franchised Establishments will increase 4.7% (compared to 3.4% last year)

The report looked at the three metrics across 10 franchise business lines.  Ranked by largest expected increase in Economic Output in descending order, the top 3 lines are:

• Automotive at 7.2%
• Commercial and Residential Services at 6.9%
• Personal Services (education, health, pet care at 6.5%)

So how do you use this information as an input to finding the best franchise for you? Of course we all want to be in a business that is poised for strong growth, but if the franchise doesn't fit your unique goals and requirements, then your chances of success diminish significantly. This is where Meta-Franchise Consulting can help.  Let us help you find that intersection between great franchise opportunities and your requirements.

Franchising Economic Outlook for 2011

Meta-Franchise Consulting's January newsletter is now available! Check out the information on the franchising economic outlook for 2011 and the spotlight franchise this month, Stratus Building Solutions.

SBA Loans and Franchising

It is a common misconception that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loans money to potential franchisees. Instead of loaning the money, the SBA provides a loan guarantee. If your loan application looks too risky to a bank for a traditional loan, you may apply for an SBA loan through an SBA approved lender. The SBA has approved these lenders and loans made by these lenders will be guaranteed (up to 80%) so your loan application looks less risky to the lending institution.

There are many benefits to an SBA guaranteed loan. Those benefits include:

• Lower capital requirements
• No points or balloon payments
• Longer amortization periods
• Increased loan-to-value financing

Just like banks are pre-approved to be SBA lenders, franchises can be registered with the SBA. The registry is not an endorsement of a franchise by the SBA. Additionally, a franchise not listed on the registry can still be eligible for an SBA guaranteed loan. To be listed on the registry, a franchise must provide the SBA with a copy of the franchise agreement which the SBA will review. Once approved and listed on the registry, the turnaround time and paperwork required are reduced for a potential franchisee.

Need more information on the SBA loan process? Contact Meta-Franchise Consulting.

Tax Franchises: Winners and Losers

Potential franchisees love tax franchises because the initial investment is reasonable, the income potential is great, and they are recession resistant business...death and taxes...right?

UnhappyFranchisee.com just wrote an article about the tax winners and losers of 2010. At Meta-Franchise Consulting I have always felt strongly that I work with the best franchises in the tax industry, and this article helps validate that belief.

The two largest tax franchises (as measured by number of franchisees) are Liberty Tax and H&R Block. I work with Liberty Tax which grew by over 700 units from 2008-2010 while H&R Block lost 261 units.

Tax Centers of America and Roni Deutch also realized great growth in their franchise systems.

Maui Wowi Hawaiian Franchisee Is Blending Up Success

Maui Wowi Hawaiian Franchisee Is Blending Up Success

Maui Wowi continues to be one of my favorite franchises for four reasons.

1. Maui Wowi offers multiple business models to give franchisees flexibility in both where they locate their business as well as varying investment levels.
2. Maui Wowi offers multiple revenue streams with coffee, smoothies, and other Hawaiian products.
3. Maui Wowi does NOT charge a franchise fee!
4. Maui Wowi offers a joint partnership with Doc Popcorn to give franchisees a second franchise and another revenue stream for a small additional fee (significantly less than the cost of two separate franchises).

What are your experiences as a Maui Wowi customer at any of their 550+ franchised locations? Do you want to own your own Maui Wowi Coffee & Smoothie franchise?

CNBC Cancels Reruns of Franchise Documentary

On December 19th I wrote a blog about CNBC's Untold Story of Franchising documentary. In that blog I talked about what I thought the story got right and what the story missed for the franchising industry and the franchises they highlighted. Apparently I neglected to highlight a major criticism of the show!

I did not spend a lot of time talking about negative spotlight that was shining brightly on Cold Stone Creamery, primarily because I have not worked with them and don't have enough information to have an informed opinion. However, those closest to the details found many flaws with the Cold Stone Creamery segment and hired the top franchise attorney in the country to represent the franchisees and a separate law firm to represent the franchisor. Robert Zarco, the new franchisee attorney, said in a letter that CNBC acted "irresponsibly, wrongfully and with malicious intent, negligently, and with reckless disregard for the interests of the franchisor, the franchisor’s employees, the franchisees’ employees, and consumers." Now CNBC has "temporarily" cancelled planned reruns of the documentary to investigate the facts as presented in the original airing.

This was not the first piece of controversy about CNBC's "The Untold Story of Franchising." After the original airing, CNBC posted a clarification that the CEO in charge of P&G's franchise subsidiary said that Mr. Clean and Tide franchise royalties were based on net sales instead of gross sales, which would be a good deal for franchisees. It turns out that what P&G calls net sales is what other companies call gross sales. As if current and potential franchisees need something else to be confused about.

Top 10 Franchising Trends for 2011 and Meta-Franchise News

The December newsletter is now available! Check out the hot industry news this month and the spotlight franchise for December, Tutor Doctor.

CNBC's The Untold Story of Franchising

Last week CNBC aired a story called "Behind the Counter: The Untold Story of Franchising." The report looked at five brands including Five Guys, Camp Bow Wow, Tide Dry Cleaners, Mr. Clean Car Wash, and Cold Stone Creamery. CNBC's story included some useful information, but I don't think anyone who has been looking at franchising will find any of the information "untold." Here is what the story got right and what it may have missed.

What It Got Right

• Franchising is big business! 1 out of 10 business owners become their own boss through franchising and franchising is a trillion dollar industry
• When doing your due diligence, you should talk to franchisees that have been open for less than 1 year as well as franchisees who have been in business for a while to get a variety of perspectives
• Franchisors are not required to make an earnings claim (Item 19)
• The FDD is a big document (Cold Stone Creamery's was 700 pages!) and it is important to have the document reviewed by lawyers and accountants so you are aware of all of the fees (one time and on-going) associated with buying a particular franchise
• Not all franchisees will be successful. All businesses have risk, but a good franchise system can significantly reduce your risk

What It Missed

• The story looked at Camp Bow Wow and seemed to say that because they have high initial costs, it is not a good franchise to buy. I don't work with Camp Bow Wow, but I do work with many franchises that have costs equal to or greater than Camp Bow Wow's. The costs to start a franchise are primarily driven by the cost of real estate and the costs to outfit (equipment and supplies) the business, and do not correlate to the chances of success for the franchisees in the system
• Since 2008 the United States has been in a credit crisis, making financing very challenging for potential and existing franchisees. While doing your due diligence, you should be careful about drawing conclusions from what Don Sniegowski of Blue MauMau called SNO (sold but not open). There are lots of reasons (like access to credit) that might leave a franchisee stuck in SNO that say nothing about the quality and profitability of a franchise system

Contact Meta-Franchise Consulting today for more information about how to find the franchise that is the best fit for your requirements.

Franchise 500: The Top Franchises for 2011

Entrepreneur.com has released their 2011 Franchise 500 Rankings*. Meta-Franchise Consulting is proud to work with many of the franchises on the Franchise 500 list. Here are a couple highlights:

• Servpro made the "Top 10 Franchises for 2011" list
• Servpro and Stratus Building Solutions are both on the Franchise 500 list as the "Top 10 Homebased Franchises for 2011"
• Stratus Building Solutions and ServiceMaster Clean are on the Franchise 500 list as the "Top 10 Low Cost Franchises for 2011"
• Always Best Care Senior Services and The Senior's Choice made the "Top 10 New Franchises for 2011" list
• Stratus Building Solutions is the #1 "Top 10 Fastest-Growing Franchises for 2011" and Liberty Tax Service is #7 on that list

Contact Meta-Franchise Consulting for more information about these or any of the other franchises on the list. I look forward to helping you identify which "top" opportunity is the best fit for your unique requirements.

*Every year Franchisors submit data to Entrepreneur.com, including their full FDD. Only franchises that have at least 10 units will be considered and a franchise will not be considered if it has filed for bankruptcy. All companies are judged on objective and quantifiable data and Entrepreneur.com uses their proprietary formula to give eligible franchises a score. The franchises are then ranked based on their cumulative score. Entrepreneur.com makes it clear that their ranking is "not intended to endorse, advertise or recommend any particular franchise. It is solely a research tool you can use to compare franchise operations."

4 Numbers Showing Molly Maid's Resistance to Recession

Many people are scared away from starting a franchise because of concerns over the economy. These are certainly legitimate concerns, especially related to sources of financing and the ability to grow a customer base. However, not all businesses are affected by the economy and some manage to thrive despite the economy. Here are 4 numbers that show Molly Maid franchisees are resistant to the recession:

1. $3.5 Million: System-wide sales for week 46
2. 10.5%: Increase in sales over same week last year
3. 150,000: Total web contracts delivered to franchisees year-to-date
4. 42%: Increase in web contracts over last year

In addition to these amazing results, Molly Maid franchisees also enjoyed the highest sales for a Thanksgiving week and the second highest sales for any week in the history of the franchise!

It is important to note that Molly Maid franchisees do NOT clean homes. This is an executive franchise where franchisees are responsible for marketing, sales, and managing the team of employees who do the cleaning. Molly Maid franchisees enjoy the recurring revenue stream achieved through repeat customers. Visit our Molly Maid site and contact Meta-Franchise Consulting for more information about joining this successful group of business owners.

Listo Tax for the Hispanic and Low Income Communities

I just read this blog post about Listo Tax Solutions. They are opening new offices in Texas and California over the next two months to provide high quality services for their niche market: the Hispanic community and lower income families.

Listo Tax franchisees are well positioned to serve our country's largest emerging market by providing tax, accounting, payroll, and translation services. To be successful in this business you do NOT have to be bilingual and you do NOT have to have prior tax experience. The team at Listo will show you how to be a successful business owner catering to an under-served client base that continues to grow every year. And of course this business is recession-proof. As Benjamin Franklin said in 1789, "The only two certainties in life are death and taxes."

Contact Meta-Franchise Consulting for information about how to have your own tax franchise to provide valuable services to the Hispanic and lower income communities across the country.

Stratus Building Solutions Recognized as "Top" Franchise

Stratus Building Solutions opened their first unit franchise in 2005, and since then they have been included in many "top franchise" rankings including:

• #1 Top New Franchise
• #3 Top Fastest Growing Franchise
• #4 Top Home Based Business
• #5 Top Low Cost Franchise
• #11 Top Global Franchise
• #13 Franchise 500

Stratus Building Solutions recently added another accolade when they were named one of the "50 Top Franchises for Minorities" by the National Minority Franchising Initiative. As reported by NMFI founder Rob Bond, only 5-6% of franchises were owned by minorities in 2000. Today, minorities accounts for over 15% of franchisees. Stratus Building Solutions is leading the way with their Master and Unit programs that make business ownership more attainable.

Stratus Master franchisees are former business executives, sales professionals, and entrepreneurs looking for the next great opportunity in a recession-resistant industry. Master franchisees benefit from quick cash flow and return on investment, multiple recurring revenue streams, high-volume sales growth, high-margin earnings, exclusive territories, national accounts, and multiple franchise concepts under one roof. Stratus Master franchisees provide the contracts, training, billing, and financing for Unit franchisees.

Stratus Unit franchisees are small business owner/operators. Unit franchisees benefit from comprehensive training, guaranteed contracts (and guaranteed income!), the ability to start their business part-time, and the flexibility to execute the contracts or hire a team. Unit franchisees can get started for as little as $1,000 down payment.

Stratus Building Solutions Master and Unit franchisees are part of a $140 Billion industry. Few industries are that big, and even fewer are recession-resistant. Stratus franchisees provide their clients with a "one stop shop" for all maintenance services that include "touchless sanitization", specialty floor care, pressure washing and exterior cleaning, "green" recycling, lawn care and landscaping, pest control, energy conservation, and security/safety. Contact Meta-Franchise Consulting for information on how you can be part of the Stratus Building Solutions team.

Small Improvements in Financing to Spur Franchise Sales Boom

I have published a few blog posts this year about how to find the necessary financing for a franchise when the traditional lenders aren't working for you. In July I covered Benetrends who will help you convert your retirement account into cash for your business (tax and penalty free). In September I wrote about FranFund who provides a service similar to Benetrends but can also help with more traditional loan packages. I just read this article on the PR Newswire about franchise financing improvements that will help more people find franchise financing and open their doors for business.

Before deciding to post this PR Newswire article by Mark Siebert, I looked into his bio. He has been in franchising since 1985 and has taught graduate-level courses on franchising. I trust that Mr. Siebert knows what he's talking about and I am excited for my clients that have the drive and desire to be business owners but until now lacked the financial resources to buy a franchise. Let's get started on your franchise search process now!

Small Improvements in Financing to Spur Franchise Sales Boom

November Newsletter is Available

Meta-Franchise Consulting's November newsletter is now available. This month I highlighted the amazing business opportunities presented by Doc Popcorn and Maui Wowi Hawaiian Coffee and Smoothies. Check out the newsletter and pass it on to your network.

Own Your Own Business, <$25k Cash, Continued

In August I blogged a 3-part series about Franchises and Business Opportunities for Less Than $25,000 Cash. Franchises at this investment level are so popular, several new ones have joined my network since that series was published. In this post, I will introduce you to these new opportunities.

Eyestop: Emerging as a new powerhouse on the retail optical market, EyeStop is opening "full service" optical retail locations with a new concept never done before in malls; authentic designer eye wear at the lowest prices, guaranteed! EyeStop stores are conveniently open evenings and weekends and located in the most popular and busiest malls. They offer quality eye exams and designer eye wear at the lowest prices. You can expect to find designer products from: Gucci, Dior, Armani, Diesel, Fossil, YSL, Fendi, Kors, Juicy, Kate Spade, Marc Jacobs, Anne Klein, Brooks Brothers, Burberry, D&G, DKNY, Polo, Bebe, Nicole Miller, Guess and more.

Fiesta Auto Insurance: With a Fiesta Auto Insurance & Tax Service franchise you gain immediate access to over 50 personal lines insurance programs, as well as commercial insurance programs for every type of business and the ability to process every kind of tax return as well as offer refund anticipation loans. Additional revenue from services such as Travel, Money Transfers, Motor Vehicle Registrations and Real Estate are available in some states. Fiesta was recently named a Top 50 Franchise for Minorities!

G'Day! Pet Care: Founded and operated by the same award-winning management team that operates Bark Busters, the world's largest, most trusted dog training company, G'day! Pet Care is the premium service provider for pet parents offering a full suite of pet care and home services including pet sitting, dog walking, premium pet food with free home delivery, home sitting and more. All services are customized to clients' needs and delivered by certified pet care professionals. G'day! Pet Care stands (and sits) alone as the only nationwide pet-care provider to offer specialized services in all three of these categories: Pet Care, Pet Food - FREE Home Delivery, and Home Care.

Global Broker Training Systems: As a full-service finance company, you will be able to meet most of your clients financial needs whether they need a loan for working capital, to purchase new equipment, acquire a new business, restructure their current loans or whatever else their needs may be. You can do it all! You will also be able to give them the personal service that they are lacking from the banks to discuss and achieve their short and long term financial goals. You don't need prior experience, just the desire to be your own boss, the ability to learn, good people skills, and a passion to succeed and make a lot of money.

Sanvertizer: Sanvertizer was started for the sole purpose of providing a unique and innovative product that provides a win for all involved based on this innovative concept. Sanvertizer manufactures and distributes advertising kiosks that provide free sanitizer gel to the public. The LCD screen and brochure racks allow businesses to advertise their goods and services to the public. As a distributor, you secure the locations and sell the advertising.

For more information about these, or other franchises and business opportunities that fit your unique requirements, contact the consultants at Meta-Franchise Consulting.

Street Corner, the Alternative to 7-Eleven

Convenience stores are popular franchises and I talk to many clients who are interested in a 7-eleven or a similar concept. It is understandable why a potential franchisee would first consider a 7-eleven given their name recognition. However, after further investigation into the costs and franchisee responsibilities, many of my clients choose to pursue other convenience store franchises like Street Corner. I thought it would be interesting to compare some of the key characteristics of Street Corner and 7-eleven in a side-by-side table. All of this information is available on the internet and in books about franchising, but it is consolidated here for your convenience.

Aside from the differences in initial and ongoing costs, there are big lifestyle differences between Street Corner and 7-eleven. Street Corner franchises can be found in any high traffic location like malls, hotels, office buildings, airports, train stations, etc., and they are open during standard business hours. Additionally, Street Corner allows owners to be passive, which means franchisees do not have to be in the store every day (or at all). Comparatively, 7-eleven stores are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year (with the possible exception of Christmas) and 7-eleven franchisees must be full time employees in their own store.

Which option is right for you? Which franchise best fits ALL of your requirements? Meta-Franchise Consulting can help you sort through all of the data about these and other franchises to help you find the best business given your unique set of requirements.

'King' Size Expansion

I have blogged about Junk King in the past and was excited to come across this article. Meta-Franchise Consulting can help you own your "green" franchise.

'King' Size Expansion