It’s Harvest Time – Tips On Selling Your Franchised Business

You have used the franchise system, brand, and people to build your business. Don’t be afraid to use them to exit.
They have a critical interest in a successful transition. Use them to help you close the deal.

In today’s post, Tom Spadea, Founder and Partner in Spadea-Lignana Franchise Law shares his thoughts on the best way to sell your existing franchise business. As you might imagine there are steps that you need to be aware of while moving through this process. Working with your franchisor is just one way to expedite and ensure a smooth transition. Selling your business is a big decision. If you’ve worked with the end in mind then it should be a payoff, not an act of desperation. The payoff after years of smart work should be reflected in the multiple paid on EBITDA from an eager buyer who sees value. One thing I’ll remind you; Buyers want “potential” but they don’t often actually pay for it. Smart buyers will pay based on a specific set of guidelines to determine “valuation” or “enterprise value” which directly equate to selling price and price paid. This article explores best practices and tips when selling your franchise.

Franchise Attorney

Where Do I Start if I Want to Sell My Franchise or Buy an Existing Franchise?
By Tom Spadea – Spadea Lignana Franchise Law

If you have made the decision that now is the time to exit a franchise, you need to accomplish three critical things before placing your business on the market. If you are interested in buying an existing franchise, it’s also important to understand these three factors because it can affect how you move forward.

1. Discuss Future Plans
First, you should discuss with your franchisor what your plans are. All franchise relationships eventually come to an end. You are probably not the first and won’t be the last franchisee to exit the system. You have used the franchise system, brand, and people to build your business. Don’t be afraid to use them to exit. They have a critical interest in a successful transition. Use them to help you close the deal. If you have a specific reason why you think telling the franchisor will compromise your exit, then you should discuss that with your franchise attorney. If you don’t have an attorney that you are comfortable working with, please give us a call for a free initial consultation at 215-544-2452.

2. Gather Documentation
Second, you need to gather documentation and clean up any inconsistencies, errors or omissions in your paperwork. The list is extensive and you can never have too much documentation. Buyers will take lack of documentation or documentation they have to fight to get as a sign of trouble and it will break down the trust between you. Not only will it potentially affect your value, it will cause unnecessary delays.

In a small business transaction, the trust between the buyer and seller is critical. Without trust, the deal will not happen. The way you can build trust is by having all the documents readily available for any buyer who is serious about making an offer. You need to tell a story to the buyer, and that story has to be validated by documentation.

Read the entire article here: https://www.spadealaw.com/franchise-law/buying-or-selling-an-existing-franchise

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About Tom Spadea
Tom Spadea spent more than 15 years in corporate and entrepreneurial positions before completing law school at Temple University’s Beasley School of Law. His undergraduate degree is in finance from Marquette University, where he graduated Cum Laude. Tom is a Certified Franchise Executive (CFE), a non-legal designation earned from the International Franchise Association. He has also been named a “Legal Eagle” by Franchise Times, a distinguished award recognizing Tom as a leader among his peers in franchising.

Tom is the founding member of the Philadelphia Franchise Association and is the current President and Chairman. The Philadelphia Franchise Association holds quarterly networking and educational meetings, bringing together franchisors, franchisees, and suppliers.
Read more about Tom here: https://www.spadealaw.com/attorney-profiles/tom-spadea
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If you’re considering selling your business or buying a business contact Franchise Growth Solutions.
We can help you sell you business quickly and at the highest possible price.
Contact: [email protected] and visit: www.franchisegrowthsolutions.com. We can help!

This Week’s Top Picks – Emerging Franchise Brands

If you’re considering entering the world of “Self Employment” one of the best way to reduce risk is to purchase a franchise. A franchise affords you the opportunity to join a company with a proven business model and a track record of success. It’s better than “going it alone” …When you consider the number of “moving parts” connected with starting your own business, franchising makes all the sense in the world. You’ll get a business system along with the guidance and experience of the franchisor. Here are just three brands in our portfolio that are featured as our Top Picks this week.

By Gary Occhiogrosso – Franchise Growth Solutions
Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash
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Skinny Pizza franchise

GET THE UPDATED SKINNY ON THIS FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITY
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SKINNYPIZZA
* New Territories available
* Smaller retail footprint
* Lower cost of entry
* Great co-band opportunities

America has a real passion for pizza. Since the first pizzeria opened here in New York City in 1903, pizza has grown to the most popular food in America. An incredible 93% OF AMERICANS gladly admit they eat pizza at least once a month.

Our passion for pizza is staggering. The National Restaurant Association (NRA) indicates that pizza sales represent almost $38 BILLION IN AMERICA — over $100 BILLION worldwide. Where is our love for pizza heading? The trending is actually very clear.

The research firm Technomic® in their most recent “Pizza Consumer Trend Report” found that 41% OF AMERICANS say they would be happy to pay for healthier ingredients including ORGANIC TOPPINGS AND CRUSTS, as well as all-natural LOCALLY SOURCED ingredients.
What makes it SKINNYPIZZA®? We have spent years creating a thin pizza crust that has great taste and complements any topping. At the same time, we have carefully crafted our entire menu for those that are health- and environmentally conscious, as well as those that simply love great tasting pizza, salads and soups.

Our PIZZA CRUST is made with NO PRESERVATIVES or ADDITIVES. That alone is something that is incredibly rare, actually reserved to the top 1% of pizzerias. Our PIZZA SAUCE is made with 100% USDA CERTIFIED ORGANIC tomatoes.

But the SKINNYPIZZA® concept does not end there. Along with the best tasting pizza you will ever eat, we have carefully developed our menu to complement our healthy approach to great Italian fast-casual dining.

To Learn More About SkinnyPizza Click Here https://www.skinnypizza.com/franchise.html

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Ice Cream Franchise
It’s always a good day to…GOFER Ice Cream

IT’S ALWAYS A GOOD DAY TO …
GOFER ICE CREAM

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Our Brand is based on the simple premise of selling high quality American Style ice cream in clean and inviting retail environments, without the use of gimmicks or catering to the latest ice cream fad.We focus equally on hard hand-dipped and premium soft serve ice cream products. Our menu also includes fat free treats like “Gofer Lite” and new innovations like Plant Based ice creams and “Gofer Bites”. We also feature ice cream cakes, party boxes, online ordering and catering options for multiple income streams.Our shops are bright and family oriented.

Warm welcomes by our staff are often accompanied by the smell of fresh made waffle cones, which are created several times a day.The concept, from a franchisee’s point of view, is to be a quick service and efficient operation. The system allows for a typical shop to function with minimal staff led by a motivated owner operator.

We support our franchisee partners through the entire process.
* Site selection
* Design and Construction
* Comprehensive training
* Grand opening
* Marketing Programs
* Benchmarking with industry experts

We teach you everything you need to know to open and operate your own Gofer Ice Cream shop.

To Learn more About This Sweet Brand Click Here: https://goferfranchise.com/
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Acai , franchise, profit

Acai Express
Be in the Business of Better…
* Better for You
* Better for the Planet
* Better for Franchisees.

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Our Beginnings

Not long ago, I was just like you. Smart, savvy, and tired of working hard for someone else’s benefit. I spent 10 years in the traditional restaurant business and knew the hard work I was doing could be made simpler with a system, made more enjoyable and less complicated, and better fit my lifestyle. My dream was to be able to put my experience to work in an easy and fun restaurant concept and support my family doing something I love. Acai Express is that.

When Passion Turned to Profit

I’ve always been an active guy who loved surfing and perfecting Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in my native Puerto Rico, but finding healthy and delicious food on the go and at the beach was a challenge. So, I started selling my own homemade organic super food bowls and smoothies. I used only the freshest ingredients and the centerpiece of all my creations was the 100% organic Grade A acai berry, a rich anti-oxidant stone fruit that grows on trees in the Amazon river basin. I just knew then that it was packed with flavor and goodness, but today the acai berry is considered a benefit to all kinds of health and well-being: cognition, heart health, aging, and weight loss. My acai-based menu got so popular, I started adding to the menu and selling out of my own food truck. When the number of my trucks went from one to thirteen and were located throughout Puerto Rico, I knew I had a business concept that small business owners anywhere could use. And, one that could marry an active lifestyle and career with an appreciation of honest, organic and nutrient rich foods. That’s the best part of Acai Express for me. I was able to be successful on my terms without sacrificing my intrinsic values.

Join the Family
When you become a member of the Acai Express family, even though our system is simple and easy to follow, you’ll work one-on-one with me and my team of franchisees and employees to ensure your success. We’re not some faceless corporate giant, we are the guys who get it done, and like you, are committed to success. Because your success is our success. You’ll also benefit from our hard won knowledge of what works, how to market and what consumers want. And, you’ll be part of a healthy lifestyle movement that has quickly gone from trend to established consumer demand.

To Learn More About this LifeStyle Brand Click Here: https://acaiexpressfranchise.com/
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TO SEE ALL THE BRANDS IN THE FRANCHISE GROWTH SOLUTIONS PORTFOLIO CLICK HERE: https://www.franchisegrowthsolutions.com/clients

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Franchise Disclaimer
None of the communications on this website should be construed as an offer to sell a franchise. We will not offer any franchise for sale: (1) until your state has duly registered our franchise offering or duly exempted our franchise offering from registration, if your state requires registration or exemption; and (2) until we have duly delivered our franchise disclosure document to you in compliance with applicable law.

Using Technology To Build Your Brand

It’s essential that you develop a strong marketing strategy, which should include goals, tactics, and measurements. Having a plan can maintain you on a set course with an established style, and it can help you track your development

Using Technology To Build Your Brand
By Veronica Lopez Siverio
Photo by Austin Distel on Unsplash

It’s widely known that technology and social media can basically “make or break” a brand. Every business owner has to think about ways to adapt the media to their company or restaurant.

A successful company does not see technology as only a way to brand itself or reach more audiences, but also to discover new ways of doing business.

How Digital Marketing Can Grow Your Audience
When a company is starting, usually, it doesn’t have a big marketing budget. Consequently, you have to be very wise about how you are going to spend it.

Communication is essential in the business world, therefore having an active social media presence can help your business, explains the Forbes Agency Council. Social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook are the best tools a company can use to track their audience, engagement, and growth.

Using platforms like Hootsuite, Google Analytics, and SEM Rush, marketing teams can strategize on content for social media and measure audiences, social media progress, engagement, and traffic.

It’s essential that you develop a strong marketing strategy, which should include goals, tactics, and measurements. Having a plan can maintain you on a set course with an established style, and it can help you track your development.

Now, the audience can be very visual. For that matter, it’s crucial that the content you portray on social media or your website be visually compelling. Meaning it should be thought out, planned, edited, it has to have a pattern, and it should always represent your brand and its identity.

Also, creating an outstanding website will contribute to your online presence. For a website to be successful, it should be user-friendly, optimized for search engines, updated every few months, and it has to be mobile responsive.

A platform that has an excellent performance is Google Ads. You can track conversions regarding how many people visited your page, from which outlets they were referred, and if they filled out an email subscription form.

Using Technology to Increase Productivity
For starters, using technology can increase productivity. Applying different software to specific departments of your company can help you see where you spent your time. It can help develop a productive filing system, and it makes communicating much simpler.

For example, cloud-based applications like DropBox can accelerate productivity by being accessible from different devices and locations at the same time.

Another critical element of a successful business is handing an excellent customer service experience. Soft ware like Customer Relationship Management (CRM) can contribute to data analysis to benefit the company’s interaction with current and potential customers.

There are many applications that great companies have adjusted to their needs and help them boost both productivity and efficiency.

Also, the use of mobile technologies has increased over the last few years. Using this technology can as well improve productivity and efficiency. For starters, these mobile devices can contribute to a happier staff. As many experts say, happy employees can be more productive, and this can minimize staff retention percentage.

This technology helps employees complete a wide range of tasks because they can do them from any location. The technology achieves more things, getting done, creating more significant opportunities for companies to grow and be even more successful.
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Acai , franchise, profit
To Learn More About a Franchise Using Technology to Build Its Business, Click Here

Can a Company Be Great Simply By Doing Good?

When we embed corporate social responsibility initiatives into the culture of an organization, we create a culture of caring for employees and greater value and accountability to all business stakeholders.

Can a Company Be Great Simply By Doing Good?
By Bizman
Photo by William White on Unsplash

Today we hear so much about corporate responsibility. Organizations focus on building sustainable products and taking a proactive interest in the communities where they operate. Many budget for initiative programs designed to ensure that the company is connecting and engaging the people they classify as “customers.” This shift to “Corporate Conscience” is due in part to how younger workers think about the world and choose the companies they decide to work for.

Corporate Mission With A Broader Approach
Companies now employ people who have a specific mission; to create and/or seek opportunities in the community whereby the company can connect and participate in outreach aimed at at supporting locally motivated programs.
When we embed corporate social responsibility initiatives into the culture of an organization, we create a culture of caring for employees and greater value and accountability to all business stakeholders.

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franchise, small business, senior citizen
Own the Franchise of your Dreams…Click Here to Learn more
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Stakeholders can include any and all – customers, communities, employees, the environment, investors and shareholders.

It’s this conscientious business philosophy that can help companies not only in their pursuit of profits but also in leading and inspiring their people, customers, vendors and partners to greater responsibility, enrichment and sustainability.

In Conclusion:
* Corporate Conscience is not a fad or publicity narrative, rather it is a focused effort to give back to the community.
* Corporate Social Responsibility has grown into a more “grassroots” approach to creating a better work/life balance in and out
of the company.
*Corporate Conscience initiatives lead to increased customer engagement, employee moress , productivity and eventually ROI.

Comment below if you believe in the idea of  Conscious Capitalism?

 

 

 

Franchising: The Best Investment Older Americans Can Make?

Franchising allows the silver economy to invest in themselves, and have an active hand in their own success.” Occhiogrosso adds, “Older Americans are one of the fastest-growing segment of franchise buyers. The percentage of adults 50+ who are franchise owners has grown from 20 percent in 2010 to an estimated 35 percent in 2020.

Photo by Simon Wijers on Unsplash

Franchising: The Best Investment Older Americans Can Make?

Over 10,000 Americans turn 65 every day (*1) and by 2030, it is estimated (*2) that the entirety of the Baby Boomer generation will be over the age of 65. For corporations, this older workforce presents challenges. An estimated 41% workers over the age of 60 choose to work well past age 65 for social or financial reasons (*3). Many companies would prefer to clear the way for younger, less costly employees, and as a result, more than half of older U.S. workers are being pushed out involuntarily, or are being asked to take a voluntary early retirement. (*4)

For these still active workers, and especially those with a large buy out in the bank, franchising may be a viable Act II. “Many adults by age 60-65 have an investment or retirement portfolio of stocks and bonds,” says Gary Occhiogrosso, Founder and CEO of Franchise Growth Solutions LLC, a New York-based strategic planning, franchise development and sales organization. “That means that for years mature adults have basically invested in other businesses, passively counting on the success of those businesses for their own financial success. Franchising allows the silver economy to invest in themselves, and have an active hand in their own success.” Occhiogrosso adds, “Older Americans are one of the fastest growing segment of franchise buyers. The percentage of adults 50+ who are franchise owners has grown from 20 percent in 2010 to and estimated 35 percent in 2020.”
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franchise, fast food, Japan
www.gogocurryfranchise.com

WELCOME TO Go! Go! CURRY USA Franchising. Since 2007 we have been serving our Japanese Curry to our hungry customers, and are proud to be at the forefront of the growing Japanese Curry craze. Over the last decade, Go Go Curry has established itself as the industry leader in this emerging culinary market which brings a unique style and flavor to the fast casual industry. Click Here For Franchise Information
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The appeal of a franchise for an older American looking to take an active role in their own business, includes:

Benefit from the success of an established business
– Almost like a business in a box, when you align with a successful brand you are buying the benefit of their established brand, and their marketing, distribution and supply chain.

Choose a franchise concept and size that works for you
– Today, there are franchises of every size and budget. Most important is to find a concept you can get behind and champion.

Take advantage of a franchisors image, marketing, and location services
– In addition to speed to market, when you invest in a franchise, you are buying into a proven concept and a proprietary operating system. Rather than DIY, a franchise means in-depth training and hands-on support in every aspect of the business: from financing and location to store design and local marketing.

Franchising lessens the obstacles of financing through a bank
Many franchisors are registered with the SBA (Small Business Administration) thus reducing SBA obstacles to getting financing. Lenders take into account the franchisor’s experience and reputation when deciding whether or not to lend money.

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MATTO FRANCHISE
A Revolution is Brewing
LEARN MORE HERE:
https://www.mattofranchise.com/

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Work the system to make it work for you
– Many older workers have been successful by following a system or way of doing business. Adapting to a proven formula helps you avoid costly small business mistakes. Once you are up and running you are no longer working the system, the system will be working for you.

Long term growth
– Franchising can offer a shortened timeline to profitability. The structure a franchise offers lessens the learning curve, allowing you to get up to speed faster. Once you have the brands system working for you, you can think about expanding to become a multi-unit franchisee.

Fulfill a lifelong dream
– Nearly two-thirds of Americans would rather have their own business than to work for someone else. The idea of starting a business from scratch can be intimidating, but a franchise provides a proven model of success and unmatched support.

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franchise, small business, senior citizen
Own the Franchise of your Dreams…Click Here to Learn more

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Create a legacy
– In addition to creating an asset, successful franchisees create a legacy for their families. Older franchisees can pass on their business to their children as a growth opportunity and enjoy continued income during retirement. If you do decide to sell, most franchisors will help you locate a new buyer and assist with the arrangements.

Occhiogrosso, who has over 30 years experience in selling and marketing brand name franchises, states, “As the saying goes; If you want to go into business for yourself but not by yourself, then franchising is a great option. This is especially true for experienced older people looking for an exciting and rewarding Act II.”

For more information on franchising over fifty, visit the Franchise Growth Solutions website at www.franchisegrowthsolutions.com or call 917.991.2465

ABOUT FRANCHISE GROWTH SOLUTIONS, LLC
Franchise Growth Solutions, LLC is a strategic planning, franchise development and sales organization offering franchise sales, brand concept and development, strategic planning, real estate and architectural development, vendor management, lead generation, and advertising, marketing and PR including social media. Franchise Growth Solutions’ proven “Coach, Mentor & Grow®” system puts both franchisors and potential franchisees on the fast track to growth. Membership in Franchise Growth Solutions’ client portfolio is by recommendation only.

For information on Franchise Growth Solutions or any of its franchise opportunities, please contact Marisa Rae at 917.991.2465 or via email at [email protected]

Sources: (*1) Yahoo Finance 2018 (*2)AARP (*3) Gallup Poll 2018 (*4) ProPublica

Financing a Business? – What You Need to Know About SBA Loans

Photo by Vladimir Solomyani on Unsplash

Many people are often misled to believe the money from an SBA loan is essentially “free.” That the funds are provided with the help of government grants and no-interest offerings; however, that is not the case.

Financing a Business?
What You Need to Know About SBA Loans

By Gary Occhiogrosso – Managing Partner, Franchise Growth Solutions, LLC

Whether you’re taking the plunge and starting a small business, or you’re interested in purchasing an existing one, or buying a franchise, you may benefit from utilizing an SBA loan program.

What Is an SBA Loan Program?
The Small Business Association (SBA) 504 Loan, also known as the Certified Development Company (CDC) program, was created to assist small businesses with the financing of their startup or growth. SBA loans are used to purchase everything from franchises to equipment to inventory. The SBA loan program was also created to help eliminate the “risk” banks take.
Through an SBA loan program, applicants can take out loans at below average market rates, which makes it an affordable option for small business owners.
Because of the complexities, it’s crucial to speak with a lending officer at a local bank. They may offer many options. Often, SBA loan benefits go untapped because many people are unaware of the program. In some cases, the information is not generally provided upfront.

Who’s Eligible
Only small business owners are eligible for an SBA loan. Specifically, their business’s net worth must not surpass $7 million, and their income cannot be more than $2.5 million in the preceding years.
Applicants must be able to provide records from the past two years that show stability and income, and they must have a credit score of at least 650. However, it also helps if the applicant has a background in the field of business they wish to start.

Setting the Record Straight
Many people are often misled to believe the money from an SBA loan is essentially “free.” That the funds are provided with the help of government grants and no-interest offerings; however, that is not the case.
Like any loan, SBA loans are offered through banks, but only SBA-approved banks can offer the program. You do not pay the SBA back; you pay the bank back directly.

Undoubtedly, taking advantage of an SBA loan can be a game-changer in the world of small business. If your interested learning about funding your new business please contact us at [email protected] – We can schedule a call.

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Sources:
https://www.smartbizloans.com/requirements-eligibility
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SBA_504_Loan
https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/79254
https://www.sba7a.loans/sba-7a-loans-small-business-blog/2017/12/1/sba-7a-loan-for-a-restaurant

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About the Author
:
Gary Occhiogrosso is the Founder of Franchise Growth Solutions, which is a co-operative based franchise development and sales firm. Their “Coach, Mentor & Grow Program” focuses on helping Franchisors with their franchise development, strategic planning, advertising, selling franchises and guiding franchisors in raising growth capital. Gary started his career in franchising as a franchisee of Dunkin Donuts before launching the Ranch *1 Franchise program with it’s founders. He is the former President of TRUFOODS, LLC a multi brand franchisor and former COO of Desert Moon Fresh Mexican Grille. He advises several emerging and growth brands in the franchise industry. Gary was selected as “Top 25 Fast Casual Restaurant Executive in the USA” by Fast Casual Magazine and named “Top 50 CXO’s” by SmartCEO Magazine. In addition Gary is an adjunct instructor at New York University on the topics of Restaurant Concept & Business Development as well Entrepreneurship. He has published numerous articles on the topics of Franchising, Entrepreneurship, Sales and Marketing. He was also the host of the “Small Business & Franchise Show” broadcast in New York City.
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franchise, fast food, Japan
www.gogocurryfranchise.com

WELCOME TO Go! Go! CURRY USA Franchising. Since 2007 we have been serving our Japanese Curry to our hungry customers, and are proud to be at the forefront of the growing Japanese Curry craze. Over the last decade, Go Go Curry has established itself as the industry leader in this emerging culinary market which brings a unique style and flavor to the fast casual industry. Click Here For Franchise Information

Leads – A Never Ending Challenge For All Companies

Photo by Berkeley Communications on Unsplash

He explained that through his experience and the help of a little sonar gadget on his boat, that he knew there was a shoal of fish below. We all slung our rods over the side and dropped our lines.

Fishing for Leads – The 5 Steps
By: Peter Lawless

The first thing that I noticed when I got onto the small boat at the harbour in Enniscrone, Co. Sligo, was the cleanliness and order of the boat. The skipper in charge had all of the rods, upright, with their lines neatly tucked away, in holders. The holders were made out of piping, about 30cm long, which had been welded to the side of the boat.

A simple, inexpensive aid had made me sit up and pay attention. This skipper thought about his customers, and this device left a strong impression. We then got a very short lecture on safety, checked we had our life jackets on, and off we went. About 12 of us!

balloon kings franchise opportunity
A Balloon Kings Franchise may be exactly what you need in 2020, click here to find out!

Finding your target market
About 12 minutes later, the skipper stopped the boat, and told us we should find some mackerel here. He explained that the lures on the hooks looked just like what mackerel wanted to eat. It certainly was not something I would have fancied!

He explained that through his experience and the help of a little sonar gadget on his boat, that he knew there was a shoal of fish below. We all slung our rods over the side and dropped our lines.

Reeling in the sale
Now I don’t know about you, but this was totally new to me. I wound up the line frantically, as soon as I felt a tug, and hey presto, there were three fish dangling off the hooks. I started flailing about, one jumped off before I even got it in over the side, and when I was trying to reel it in the final bit I lost another one. The one that I got in, I lost down the gutter when I finally got it off the hook.

The skipper explained to me, that once a fish took the bait, I should give a quick tug on the rod, to make sure it was firmly hooked. I should then take my time, to reel it in. Secure the rod in the holder, with the fish hanging over the bucket and deal with them one by one – I did, and I ended up with 20 fish, which delighted me, as I had set a target of 10, since my friend had caught 9 on his first time

So what are the lessons for marketing – if you are still with me, and have not already got most of them, here they are in business speak;
1. Set goals and targets that are realistic, and based on some valid foundation or research.
2. Have simple procedures set up, to make it easy to operate and for your customers to conduct business with you.
3. Speak in your prospects language, about what they want – it’s a bit like the fish bait, unlikely that strawberries and cream will catch many mackerel!
4. Once you know what your prospects like, find out where they are, do some research and target them accordingly – as in our example, not much point in putting down shark bait in a shoal of mackerel.
5. Once you get your customers attention or have a lead, qualify it, and ensure you follow up at all time to close the sale. Again the use of a good sales process is essential here.

hoagies, philadelphia, franchise, sandwich, cheesesteak
Lee’s Hoagie House – 64 Years of Success. Click here for franchise info

The bottom line, if you know what problems or desires your customers have, and you can solve or fulfill these, while providing value for money, you will always be a winner.

And if you don’t know the answer to that question, go ask the people who have already bought from you – they do!

Author Bio
Business Owners who need more sales and better marketing advice, turn to Peter Lawless, of 3R Sales & Marketing. For previous articles and interviews like this, visit our website and subscribe to Success. We also provide free Sales & Marketing Assessments for Business Owners with an Irish Connection.

Article Source: http://www.ArticleGeek.com – Free Website Content

franchise, royalties, profits, expansion
Click Here To Learn About Franchising Your Business

How to Achieve A Competitive Advantage With The Help of Key Customers and Suppliers

Photo by Cytonn Photography on Unsplash

The greatest barrier to successful collaboration is the conventional mindset of a combative relationship with suppliers. Negotiations are perceived as a zero-sum margin tug-of-war, with the relative power balance determining the result.

Achieving Competitive Advantage through Collaboration with Key Customers and Suppliers
By: Don Johnston

An Evolving Operational Focus
In the past when companies pondered corporate strategy, operations had been peripheral to the discussion. Operations were considered a technical matter with one way of doing things and therefore not, strategic. Strategy is about products, markets, and competitive advantage with divergent possibilities.

Operations were seen as a series of puzzles with single best solutions. The realization that optimization of parts did not optimize the whole led to new focus – operational management went up a level from looking at individual tasks to looking at whole processes. During the 1960s, Japanese manufactures obtained competitive advantage by optimizing operational efficiency, which meant lower prices, flexible production capabilities and a reduction in lead times. Operational considerations became a key theme in strategic discussions.

During the 1990s, companies like Dell took this further. The computer market was changing faster than any other market had done in history. Dell began managing operations by synchronizing functional activity into a single corporate heartbeat. An order instantly drove procurement, which drove production and then distribution. The result was a further drop in lead times, inventory requirements, and operating costs along with flexibility. Operational efficiency was Dell’s sole source of competitive advantage and it reaped enormous market share gains.

Collaboration – The Next Step
The historical trend is clear. The impact that one activity has on the next means they cannot be optimized in isolation. The result is that operations have become the key corporate strategic consideration. Yet the nature of competitive advantage is to elapse as competitors replicate it, which places a continual onus on companies to find new differentials. This begs the question – what next?

The answer lies in another step up in the way we view corporate operation. We need to look beyond the borders of the firm in our search for operational efficiency. Optimized company operations can only be achieved through alignment and coordination with the agents up and down stream. Collaboration with suppliers and customers is the essential vehicle of the 21st century for achieving competitive advantage from operations.

The benefits of Collaboration

1. Sharing demand signals
The first step to collaboration comes through information sharing. Across nearly all industries, companies play a guessing game (called forecasting) to estimate the products and quantities that their customers will demand across different markets. Even if a company gets it just right it still needs large inventory buffers to cope with demand variability, thus dramatically reducing its capital efficiency. It is imperative to compress lead times to meet demand rapidly and lessen these negative effects – this can negate the production-cost benefits of today’s off-shoring vogue in China. The butterfly’s wing effect on forecasting and ordering means the end demand signal gets wildly distorted as it echoes up the supply chain being reinterpreted and exaggerated at each turn. Inaccuracies are amplified at each stage, leaving suppliers facing high-stake production gambles.

The answer is simple – relaying end user demand signals and likely future order quantities to suppliers up the chain. This is the single biggest benefit of collaboration and it comes at virtually no cost reducing much of the variability from the forecasting calculation. A supplier’s response will be a much closer fit to market demand if information about likely order quantities is shared. Typically, inventory levels can be reduced by two thirds, service levels sky-rocket while lost revenues evaporate, and supply costs are cut by a quarter when demand information sharing is implemented correctly.

2. Efficiency through alignment
The next step is operational coordination. Working capital naturally collects at the borders of the firm. Finished Goods nearly always account for much more inventory than Work in Process, mainly because of the typical inadequacy in coordination between supply chain entities. Accounts receivable tend to be swelled by disputes and billing problems, which would be ironed out instantly if they were internal issues. Most companies currently allow working capital to accumulate at the point where their processes meet those of their customers and suppliers, which provides a great opportunity for freed cash flow and increased capital efficiency.

Costs can also be reduced dramatically through simple operational coordination between suppliers and customers. Systems, processes, and organizations can be joined up much more effectively to eliminate unnecessary duplication and increase the through-put and flexibility of both supplier and customer organizations.

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The interfaces of goods delivery/goods-receipt, invoicing/invoice-processing and collection/payment all exhibit the same misalignment and duplication. The painstaking effort spent on internal efficiency is negated by a clumsy operational weld between suppliers and customers. Functions get managed to performance metrics, which encourage activity that runs, counter to the efficiency of the organization, let alone the total supply mechanism. Firms should optimise their impact on their key customers’ total cost of supply. Configuring and managing the organization to better align with key customers and suppliers facilitates a more fluid transfer of goods, cash and information up and down the supply chain. This provides a win/win of capital and cost reduction at the same time as enhanced revenue levers for all organizations involved.

3. Joint exploration of strategic options
The final step is a strategic coordination-unlocking new market development and product development possibilities based on co-exploring avenues to competitive advantage. This is only attainable once trust has been built through information share and some steps in operational integration. With the foundation of operational collaboration set, customers and suppliers can combine in entering new markets, coordinated off-shoring and shared selected R&D to explore exciting product development opportunities and condense launch times.

Overcoming the Zero Sum Mindset
The greatest barrier to successful collaboration is the conventional mindset of a combative relationship with suppliers. Negotiations are perceived as a zero-sum margin tug-of-war, with the relative power balance determining the result. This precludes a focus on win-win value driving activity. Suppliers and customers end up perpetually wasting and reworking because they see opening a constructive dialogue as weakness or even as surrender. Many executives fear a loss of flexibility through higher switching costs from greater collaboration. The truth is that most firms’ key supplier base has not changed dramatically over the last 2 years, so collaborative activity would have been massively beneficial as the payback period can be. Still, this does not irreversibly affix firms together – competitive pressures still work to drive down prices and provide the incentive to offer the best value.

Another fear is that companies would give away their competitive advantage to customers or suppliers if they collaborate. The reality is that core competencies do not vanish through sharing demand information, or through bridging operational rifts. The reason that there are few truly vertically integrated industries is testament to this – core competencies dilute and effective organization is impossible over too lengthy a chain. Such anxiety may be unfounded, but the fear is real and debilitating. This is why companies should commit progressively and in parallel, reaching a point acceptable to both parties; from information share, to operational alignment, through to symbiotic strategic planning. As a further development, (depending on the concentration of the end user markets for a product), a company can then extend its collaborative relationships further up and down the supply chain to suppliers’ suppliers, customers’ customers and beyond.

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As with preceding operational evolutions, collaboration will doubtless be pioneered by some companies and shunned by others. Far from the micro/technical operational thinking of the past, collaboration offers a strategic perspective, divergent options and colossal profit, and capital efficiency benefits. Until it becomes universally adopted, collaboration is the most promising source of competitive advantage from operations available today.

Author Bio
Don Johnston is a consultant with the REL Consultancy Group www.relconsult.com – REL’s financial consulting services are all about generating improvements in cashflow. As experts in working capital management REL has been associated with some of the world’s most successful companies for over 30 years, focusing on all of the three key areas of payables, receivables, and inventory.

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How To Start Your Own Daycare Center And Be Your Own Boss

Photo by Gautam Arora on Unsplash

When you first decide to open up your own daycare, you need to check with your state and government agencies to find out what rules and regulations you need to follow. For example, you are only allowed to have a certain number of children per square foot of space your building has, so you need to know this right off the bat.

Start Your Own Daycare Center- Be Your Own Boss
By: Susan Anderson

Many people are now looking for ways to get out of today’s corporate business world, and to become their own boss. One way that some have been successful is by opening up and running their own day care center. More moms than ever before now have to return to work after their baby is born. Few families are able to make ends meet on one income. So, why not start your own center that caters to these busy moms, and open up a loving and safe place where they can leave their young babes and go to work knowing that will be well cared for?

When you first decide to open up your own daycare, you need to check with your state and government agencies to find out what rules and regulations you need to follow. For example, you are only allowed to have a certain number of children per square foot of space your building has, so you need to know this right off the bat. You will need to locate a site that is large enough to house the number of children that you plan to care for. Many have been successful with purchasing actual homes, and making any needed renovations. You may also have some luck with your local churches or city organizations, either with locating a space, or possibly leasing space from them. It is crucial that you pay attention to all of the zooming rules in your area, so you don’t rent a place, then find out you are not allowed to run a business out of it. It does take quite a bit of overhead to open up your own center, a lot of which goes into getting the location you need.

You will need to try and locate funds to get everything you need. Develop a business plan, and set it before your local Chamber of Commerce, local churches, and businesses. If you have a sound plan, and they feel that the community needs your center, they may help you with funding your endeavor. You may also look into getting a business grant from the government, as this would save you from having to make large payments before your business ever gets off the ground. You can find additional resources online or at your local library that should be able to help you with locating funding, other than taking out a bank loan. If all else fails, then try to get a business loan, but there are better resources available to you, you just have to know where to find them at. If you have an empty store in your area, this may be the ideal place for your daycare center. You may have to do some work to the inside to make it meet your needs, but you should be able to rent it at a reasonable price, especially if it has been vacant for a while. This would also give you the advantage of having a good location, as it would probably in a highly trafficked area of your town, which would be convenient for your clients.

Once you have pretty much gotten everything down as far as laws and your location taken care of, you will need to advertise your new center. One of the best ways to do this, especially if you are on a busy street, is to have a nice sign up that states your business name and that you are accepting children. You will also want to let people know the hours your center will be open, and what days of the week, and most importantly, have a contact number shown. If you can’t get all of this information on your sign, at least have your business name, hours, and phone number, then potential customers can call you for more information. You may also want to drop off fliers at your local pediatrician’s offices, schools (get permission first), or maybe run an ad over your local radio station or newspaper. If you don’t let people know what you are offering, and get the word out, how can you expect to have clients?

Another major decision to make is choosing what hours your day center will be open. If you really want to make an impact, I would recommend being open outside of the normal business hours, maybe opening at 5 or 6 am, and staying open until around 7pm. This would help you get clients that many other daycares are unable to cater to, giving you more customers. Keep in mind, that you will most likely need to provide meals, so if you are open the above hours, you will probably be serving three meals a day. You will want to make sure you remember that when you determine what the cost per child will be. Remember that you also will need to provide at least two healthy snacks a day. Let your parents know what you will be offering, so they will know what they are paying for.

Children tend to do best when they have set routines, so you will need to make a basic daily plan, and give your teachers and parents a copy. It is important that you plan the day according to the age range of the children. Include in a rest or nap time, or two for the younger ones. You will also want to have some learning activities, arts and crafts, outside time, free play time, and story time. If you will be accepting children that are working on toilet training, you will need to set aside specific time slots in the day to be potty time as well.

When you know how many children you will have, and what their ages will be, check your local rules and federal laws to find out how many teachers you need. Depending on the children’s ages, you need one teacher for every so many kids. When hiring your teachers, look for moms or young adults that have taken some early childhood education courses. You want to try to get certified teachers, if possible, to ensure that you not only have a caring center, but one that offers learning opportunities as well. If you can fit it in your budget, it is also a good idea to have some kitchen staff, maintenance people, and possibly even a nurse or CNA on staff in case of emergencies.

All parents will need to fill out medical forms for their children, letting you know their history and of any known conditions or allergies. You will need a release to seek treatment form, the child’s insurance information, contact numbers for the parents in case of emergencies, and contact info for the child’s doctor. It is important to be prepared in advance, in case any emergency situation did arise.

Your center will need to have a designated outside play area, equipped with safe, sturdy toys for the children to play with. This are should be fenced in with locked gates to protect the children. You will want to have swings, sandboxes, slides, any kind of outside equipment you wish, as long as it is safe, and age appropriate.

Stock the individual rooms with toys, books, games, televisions, educational movies, maybe a computer or two for the older children, anything that you wish to have on hand for the teachers and children to use. You will need to have an eating area in each room, and a place for naptime, diaper changes, etc.


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When dealing with parents and financial issues, you will be better off asking them to pay the month or week in advance. By having them pay ahead, you aren’t dependent on them for the funds to buy needed supplies, or pay teachers, and don’t have to worry about losing children due to non-payment. A lot of daycare centers have to close because they financially cannot make ends meet, usually due to parents not being able to pay them when payment is due. Let parents know that you need them to pay in advance so that you have sure funds to use to care for their children with.

You may want to run the center yourself for the first little bit, to keep costs down, and to ensure that everything is running as you want it to. Eventually, when profits rise, and everything is going well, you may want to hire a manager to oversee the day to day running of the center for you. They would be responsible for hiring teachers, taking care of new customers, purchasing supplies, planning lesson plans, meals, etc. You basically would sign the checks, and still make all of the major decisions, but would free to pursue other endeavors if you wish.

Every community could benefit from a well-run daycare center, and with a little patience, and effort you could be the one to give it to them. Just make sure that you follow all of your local, state, and federal laws regarding childcare centers, and that the safety of your children is your number one concern. Everything else will pretty much fall into place over time.

Author Bio
Susan Anderson enjoys writing articles for families and consumers which are informative and adds value to their lives.

For more information on how to create a great monthly income by opening your own daycare center, visit www.nipty.com/daycare

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Advice for Franchisor CMOs When Dealing With Digital Marketing Vendors

This post is to simply inform and alert any franchise CMO who inherits one of these troubling vendor relationships. If you don’t own control of your online assets, you’re going to have unfriendly challenges ahead of you. We’re currently on boarding several clients that are experiencing these challenges. Here are a few results that we’re seeing with brands that are transitioning from this arrangement.

Digital Marketing Advice for Franchisor CMOs


By Andrew Beckman
Chairman, Founder Local Marketing Expert

The franchising community is complicated. With thousands of franchisees operating under thousands of corporate brands, breakdowns in communication are inevitable. As partners of these brands and franchisees, the franchise marketing community should be working to build trust and stability throughout the franchising network, not actively adding to the confusion.

Unfortunately, many franchise marketing vendors are misleading the franchising community. As some vendors put franchise websites on custom content management systems, they’re neglecting to tell these brands the consequences of this arrangement. Mainly, that franchise brands are unknowingly relinquishing ownership of their site and other web assets.

This arrangement might not seem like a big deal at the outset of an engagement. But when these brands decide to change course, it’s the brands that are left with the complicated transition — a transition that threatens long-term damage to not only their online presence, but the brand itself.

This post is to simply inform and alert any franchise CMO who inherits one of these troubling vendor relationships. If you don’t own control of your online assets, you’re going to have unfriendly challenges ahead of you. We’re currently on boarding several clients that are experiencing these challenges. Here are a few results that we’re seeing with brands that are transitioning from this arrangement.

* It’s your logo. They’re your words. But they aren’t your pages. Your site pages are being hosted and managed by a third-party business.

* When transitioning off the vendor-owned pages, if you don’t own your content (images, videos, etc.), you will be starting from scratch.

* Some vendors are including proprietary tracking code within your site structure. If not identified properly, this can cause significant issues during site transition.

* If you’re using a subdomain hosted on a separate IP address, you will not get the same SEO benefit, and will need to spend time pointing links to new subdirectory location pages.

* Lack of custom Content Management System (CMS) build out.

* Limitations with Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) strategies.

Whether these imbalanced vendor-client relationships stem from a genuine misunderstanding or an unethical approach, it’s imperative that all franchise brands are aware of the potential pitfalls of the arrangement. I’d love to continue the discussion.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR – Andrew Beckman
As Chairman of Location3,
Andrew Beckman oversees strategic direction and business development initiatives in conjunction with the agency’s Executive Board. Andrew founded Location3 Media in 1999 as a direct response digital partner with a portfolio of services that included PPC management, SEO, local search marketing, display marketing, social media marketing, content strategy, website design & development, web analytics management and more. Since 1999, Location3 has evolved into a full service digital marketing agency that delivers enterprise-level strategy with local market activation.

Prior to founding Location3, Andrew was an international sales manager for DoubleClick, Inc. where he was charged with opening new sales offices, as well as training teams on U.S. search marketing strategies for the original AltaVista Search Engine. Andrew is an expert in local search marketing strategy and is a frequent presenter at industry conferences including SES, SMX, StreetFight Summit, ClickZ Live, PubCon, BIA Kelsey and more. Follow him on Twitter.
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ABOUT LOCATION3
Location3
is a digital marketing agency that delivers enterprise-level strategy with local market activation.
As the premier digital marketing partner for franchise brands and multi-location businesses, we operate under the belief that Everything Is Local. That means using our digital expertise and proprietary technology to connect businesses with the customers who are searching for their solutions.