| We are pleased to present the following workshops:
Selecting a Franchise that's Right for You
There are 550,000 franchised businesses located in the United States which collectively generate more than $800 billion in sales. These franchised businesses sell more than $758 billion in goods and services. Franchising represents 35% of all retail sales in the United States, employing over seven million people. One out of every twelve business establishments is a franchised business. There are over 1200 franchise companies representing eighteen different industries.
US Department of Commerce
Buying a franchise can be a fulfilling way to start your own business. But how can you ensure that the franchise you select will make your investment grow, provide you with the annual income that you desire and inspire you to be passionate about your work? This workshop provides a roadmap that shows you how you can:
- Clarify your immediate and future business and career goals
- Research the franchise industry, specifically the brand names, products and services that appeal to you
- Identify those franchises that meet the needs of your business model, suit your lifestyle and support your personal goals
- Reach out to selected franchisors
- Conduct due diligence and understand what this entails
- Identify financing options available for purchasing franchises
- Indentify franchise coaches who can facilitate the decision-making process for you, at no expense to you
To enhance the value of this workshop, attendees will also receive information on useful websites, online magazines, seminars and training, workbooks with practical information, exercises, educational tools, copies of most commonly used franchise review and sale documents, referrals to private and government entities that provide resources to franchise owners.
Women and Franchising
Women own nearly half of the privately-owned businesses in the United States. That translates to over 10.5 million businesses, generating over $2.5 trillion.
Center for Women's Research
Although women have made greater strides than ever before in the workplace, they are still looking for a better work/life balance. For most women this means that their income and benefits, professional growth, and the ability to accomplish personal goals should be proportional to the quality and quantity of work they do. Franchise ownership may meet many if not all of these expectations. In this workshop, attendees will learn about franchise ownership from a young mother who is a multi-unit owner. Beginning with her decision to explore franchise ownership, her reasons for choosing the franchise that she did, how she was able to finance the purchase, grow her enterprise and replicate her success with yet another unit, her story is full of nuggets of useful information that will help and inspire all women who are about to begin this journey into the world of franchising. In this workshop, attendees will learn:
- Which types of franchises are most suitable for women and moms
- How to select a franchise based on personal and professional goals, income requirements and individual time constraints
- How professional support systems can guide your growth as a franchise owner
- How family and friends can encourage you towards success
- How to set goals for the business as well as for yourself as a person
- How to realistically evaluate your own performance and learn from your successes as well as from your mistakes
- How to manage your finances
- How to approach customer relationships
- How to create a work/life balance that nurtures your creativity and your soul
The Center for Women's Research reports that one in eleven women is an entrepreneur. Women are particularly good at running their own businesses because they are smart, have a great work ethic, are quick learners and competent managers. This workshop can be your first step towards entrepreneurship.
Home-Based Franchises
There are more than 25.8 million home-based businesses operating in the US, and these make up 53 percent of all small businesses.
Small Business Administration
Within 10 years, one out of every three households will have someone working from home. Almost $500 billion is generated each year by home based businesses. Almost 25 percent of all home based businesses have a yearly gross income between $100,000 and $500,000.
Entrepreneur Magazine
Home-based franchises can provide products, services and information. Some franchises are strictly Business to Business (B2B) and others are Business to Consumer. The start-up costs are typically lower than other franchise opportunities. The popularity of Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites have practically revolutionized the way Home-Based Franchises advertise and relate to their customers, making even small Home-Based franchises highly competitive. In this workshop, attendees will learn:
- What is a Home-Based franchise?
- How to tell if a Home–Based Franchise is the answer for you
- What are the differences between a Home-Based franchise and a Home-Based business? How do the two compare?
- What types of Home-Based franchises are available
- What are the advantages of a owning a Home-Based franchise? Are there disadvantages?
- How social networking can help Home-Based Franchises
- What are the costs (generally) of purchasing and operating a Home-Based franchise?
- What are the other financial aspects (including savings and cost offsets) of a Home-Based franchise?
- Is there a formula for success that applies specifically to Home-Based franchises as opposed to other business formats?
To enhance the value of this workshop, attendees will also receive information on useful websites, online magazines, seminars and training, workbooks with practical information, exercises, educational tools, referrals to private and government entities that provide resources to franchise owners.
Green Business Franchises
63 million American consumers arelikely to buy environmentally and socially responsible products.
Natural Marketing Institute
These are the customers who, have proven themselves willing to spend up to an astounding 20% premium on clean, green products...
Fast Company Magazine
There are two types of green franchise opportunities: Franchises whose business practices are environmentally friendly and franchises whose products and services help other businesses and individual consumers reduce their carbon footprint. Regardless of which type of green franchise we talk about, the fact is that the green consumer movement has created an enormous business opportunity. So, whether you are interested in a franchise that sells organic, earth-friendly, non-toxic cleaners or a dry cleaning franchise that uses eco-friendly liquid carbon dioxide-based equipment that is non-poisonous, there is a high probability that you will be in niche market that is growing rapidly. In this workshop, attendees will learn:
- What customers expect of green franchises
- Which green franchises meet the triple-net bottom line: People, Planet and Profit
- Which franchises have been through a "green certification" process
- What are the advantages of owning a green franchise regarding zoning boundaries, regulatory paperwork, taxes and insurances as well as awards and rewards from environment regulatory bodies
- Are there additional expenses?
- What are the challenges to prospective green franchise owners in evaluating their franchisors before purchasing the franchise?
- Are there state and federal government grants and loans to encourage green franchise ownership?
- What are the future trends of green franchises?
- Currently are there certain geographic areas within the United States that are more receptive to green franchises than others
To enhance the value of this workshop, attendees will also receive information on useful websites, online magazines, seminars and training, workbooks with practical information, exercises, educational tools, referrals to private and government entities that provide resources to franchise owners.
Understanding Franchise Law
The concept of franchising was developed in the 1950s-60s by such companies as McDonald's and Holiday Inn. The industry has enjoyed steady growth since its inception and has come to account for an estimated 35-40% of the Gross National Product.
Within the last decade, noting the disparity in the bargaining positions of the franchisor and franchisee, the state and federal governments have stepped in to regulate the offering and maintenance of franchise relationships. Most notable is the FTC's Franchising Rule codified under 16 CFR 436.1-.3. Also, many states have taken further action to require franchisors to register with the state prior to doing business or offering franchises.
The Franchise Law Journal
In this workshop, attendees will learn the following:
- What is a franchise in the eyes of the law?
- Does a franchisor have to meet certain legal and business standards before he/she can begin to sell franchises?
- How is the sale of a franchise regulated at the state and federal levels?
- What support can the franchisee expect, at a minimum, from the franchisor in return for the purchase fee?
- Does the franchisee owe the franchisor other fees?
- How is the ongoing relationship between a franchisor and franchisee regulated at the state and federal level?
- If the franchise is unsuccessful can the franchisee demand a refund of the purchase fee and all other fees?
- Can a franchisee terminate the relationship with the franchisor? Is there a penalty for doing this?
- Can a franchisor terminate a relationship with the franchisee? In this case what would the franchisee be owed?
- Do federal laws pre-empt state laws concerning franchising?
- In general, how can a franchisee safeguard his or her financial position during the purchase as well as during his or her ongoing relationship with the franchisor?
To enhance the value of this workshop, attendees will also receive information on useful websites, online magazines, seminars and training, workbooks with practical information, exercises, educational tools, copies of most commonly used franchise review and sale documents, referrals to private and government entities that provide resources to franchise owners.
Best Practices in Franchise Ownership
From 2001 through 2005, the franchising sector expanded more than 18 percent, adding more than 140,000 new establishments, while creating 1.2 million new jobs. Entrepreneur Magazine
The long-proven source of most new jobs and new growth in America are its entrepreneurs.
Wall Street Journal, Feb. 24, 2009
A panel of successful entrepreneurs, owners of franchises in the Mid-Hudson region, will discuss business, personal and professional practices that have served them well in expanding their businesses. At one time or another, each of these panelists has been in the position where the workshop audience now finds itself – struggling with the dilemma of either continuing to work for someone else or starting their own businesses. Panelists will share why they decided to become franchise owners and the knowledge, skills and background experiences that they drew upon to cautiously but courageously move forward. Discussion will cover a wide range of topics as they relate to franchising and the active participation of audience members is encouraged. All questions on franchising are welcome. In this panel discussion, panelists will describe their best practices relating to:
- How they developed their entrepreneurial vision
- How they prepared to become franchise owners
- How they approach their relationship with their respective franchisors
- How they developed strategic goals and annual objectives for their franchises
- How they developed a client base
- How they manage their employees
- How they manage their marketing and networking functions
- How they plan and manage their finances
- How they developed a culture of excellence within their franchises
- How they work on personal and professional development goals
To enhance the value of this workshop, attendees will also receive information on useful websites, online magazines, seminars and training, educational tools, referrals to private and government entities that provide resources to franchise owners.
Financial Planning and Management for Your Franchise Business
Most entrepreneurs are concerned about the size of investment they are about to make whether starting a business or purchasing a franchise. A thorough understanding of the financial planning and management function can alleviate most of this anxiety. To begin with, new business and franchise owners should know what their business is potentially worth. In raising money to purchase their business, they should know that all sources of capital are not the same, some are more expensive, some are more strategic, etc. Furthermore, they should also know how they can strategically realize the desired return on their investment. The financial planning and management function is comprised of short-term and long-term goals and strategies that can help business owners earn their desired income, support their working capital needs, systematically recover the purchase price of their franchise and provide for other personal needs such as medical benefits, insurance, retirement, children’s college education, etc.
In this workshop, attendees will learn:
- Which sources of capital, both private and public, are available for small business start-ups
- How to apply to these sources and the role of a business plan in this application process
- How to determine the value of the business (franchise) that they are thinking of buying
- How to determine if the franchise purchase price is a fair market value price
- How to estimate the return on their potential investment
- About the types of financial and other professional management supports franchise owners will need, e.g. accountant, banker, bookkeeper, attorney, etc.
- Which types of financial planning and management functions the franchise owner will have to perform on a routine basis (as opposed to outsourcing)
- About any monetary incentives from federal and state governments for small businesses, particularly from the American Recovery and Re-investment Act
To enhance the value of this workshop, attendees will also receive information on useful websites and online magazines, online seminars and training, workbooks with practical information, exercises, educational tools, referrals to private and government entities that provide resources to franchise owners.
|
