CLICK ON A FORTUNE
15 booming biz to start right now.
If you’ve been thinking of starting your own business, but aren’t sure what type of business to start, consider the following 15. They are not only “hot,” but every indication points to longevity for these businesses. If you don’t find exactly what you are looking for, scan through the pages of this magazine. It is filled with more than 500 ideas, tips, strategies and actual business and franchise opportunities for you to consider as you begin your small business journey. The following hot 15 are offered in no particular order. Cash-in with your service biz this year.
- ISLAND INK-JET
There are thousands and thousands of customers out there with ink jet printers. They need their cartridges to be sharp and ready to go. A lot of these customers are tired of purchasing new cartridges that are hard to find in stock at many mega-office supply stores.
But consumers can refill, reuse and reduce their costs at Island Ink-Jet, a growing chain of shopping mall kiosks that serve as ink-jet cartridge refill service centers. They hand your empty cartridge to the filler-upper on duty, and five minutes and $15 later they have a replenished “tank” that’s good for another few months of printing everything from your Great American Novel manuscript to full-color snapshots of baby’s first birthday.
From an environmental point of view, Island Ink-Jet’s refill service helps conserve both oil and landfill space by reducing new cartridge manufacturing, as well as the 300 million cartridges currently consigned to the garbage every year. It also enables consumers wary of using do-it-yourself refill kits to take advantage of the fill-’er-up strategy without fiddling with the syringes and other tools required to do the job.
With its mall kiosk concept, Island Ink-Jet is bringing an innovative delivery model to the rapidly growing ink cartridge aftermarket. In a trend reminiscent of the generic pharmaceutical movement, a thriving industry has sprung up in response to consumer demand for a less expensive alternative to the replacement ink cartridges sold by printer manufacturers under their own brand names.
According to Massachusetts-based Lyra Research, the percentage of off-brand cartridges and cartridge refill kits sold worldwide jumped from 11% of all cartridge sales in 1999 to 15% in 2002. Lyra forecasts that aftermarket sales will climb to 22% by 2006, spurred by expanding awareness as well as improving product quality.
Founded in 1997, Island Ink-Jet began as a wholesale supplier of refill kits and compatible cartridges. The company moved into the retail arena that same year with merchandising displays placed in computer stores and other venues.
Recognizing that many customers interested in the refill concept would rather have someone else do the work, founder Rob Dixon and CEO Carey Porcher then conceived of offering a refill service through kiosks in shopping centers where consumers can refresh their cartridges as part of their normal shopping routines.
The company began franchising in 2000, sticking primarily to regional shopping malls but also opening in a few smaller shopping centers, as well as within some Wal-Mart and bank locations. By mid-2004, there were 155 Island Ink-Jet outlets in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, with six new outlets or more opening every month.
Each location is staffed by personnel trained to provide refill services using the company’s procedures as well as 100 different ink formulations designed to be used in specific combinations to ensure the best performance with each cartridge brand. Specially designed drilling tools, syringes, printhead cleaners, vacuum machines to create a vacuum to get the ink flowing, resetting tools that reset the microchips in the cartridges, and other equipment ensure the refilled cartridge will function as well as the original.
In addition, each Island Ink-Jet outlet sells a full complement of ink-jet aftermarket products, including refill kits for Canon, Epson, Hewlett-Packard and Lexmark inkjet/bubble jet printers as well as ink-jet and laser toner compatible cartridges for most major models of printers. The company’s compatible cartridges cost up to 50% less than their name-brand counterparts. For more information, visit their website at: www.islandinkjet.com.
- WIRELESS TOYZ
Wireless Toyz, the rapidly growing Michigan-based franchise company that consolidates cellphone equipment and service plan information from the leading national wireless carriers, reached a major milestone with the signing of its 100th Cellular Superstore.
Nate Hamama, area developer for Southeastern Michigan, and the owner of three successful Wireless Toyz stores, purchased the 100th franchise in Taylor MI.
“The income potential relative to the size of the investment is fabulous,” Hamama noted. Our plans now are to add a fifth and sixth store in the region to form a circle of stores and create
a dominant presence in the market.”
“We are excited about our 100th franchise. We are committed to supporting our franchisee’s successful expansion and delighted to have Nate Hamama as part of our Wireless Toyz family,” said Joe Barbat, Wireless Toyz founder and president. “Many people today are bypassing lower-end phones for ‘the new smart phones’ equipped with computer-style functions such as email and personal information management systems and much more. Our customers have been responding enthusiastically to our concept. Our concept offers consumers the flexibility to compare a wide range of carrier service plans, cell phones, batteries, hands-free headsets, and other accessories side-by-side. The result is a better-informed customer, finding greater values in far less time.”
Wireless Toyz offers cellular phones, accessories and service plans from Sprint, Nextel, T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, Cingular and regional carriers in some local markets, as well as satellite TV from industry leaders DirecTV and Dish Network. Consumers are presented with a broad selection, the concept eliminates the tiresome and often grueling store-by-store evaluation typically required to compare competing carriers’ equipment and service plans.
The company’s impressive growth reflects that of the cellphone market. Between 2001 and 2003, the number of handsets sold worldwide surged from 423.4 million to 520 million according to market analyst Gartner Inc, and it continues to expand at a virtually unprecedented level. Gartner forecasts an increase to some 580-million units in 2004, with the expansion coming both from strong replacement demand as well as from first-time buyers. Wireless Toyz has locations in 17 states throughout the United States and expects to have 250 locations by the end of 2007.
Founded in 1995, Wireless Toyz thrives on an aggressive marketing approach with the most knowledgeable wireless experts. The first Wireless Toyz store opened its doors in Ypsilanti, Michigan, in June of 1998, offering customers almost every cellular and satellite provider in one location, a concept that was met with immediate acceptance. In September 2001, Wireless Toyz began franchising and now has 100 locations. For more information, visit www.wirelesstoyz.com.
- START YOUR OWN
FOOD BUSINESS
Food trade consultant, Mary Carter, was always bottling her homemade sauce and giving it to friends and family. They all said, “You should sell this and you’d make a million dollars.” Not only did Mary go on to bottle the sauce by starting a company with her husband, Bruce, but Mary has compiled her know-how in the food business into a handy, easy to read, step-by-step guide that will teach you how to do it, too. It contains valuable resources and explains the ins and outs of food labeling, approvals, ingredient suppliers, contracts, working with a certified kitchen and much, much, more.
The comprehensive guide is $99.95 and you can order it by visiting www.foodtradeconsultants.com or by sending an email to: staff@foodtradeconsultants.com. The headquarters is in Capistrano Beach, California and the phone number is: 866-703-4382. You can also visit jazzfoods.com to learn more about Mary.
- CHILDREN’S ORCHARD
The economy has been in trouble for some time now; it has sent shoppers to gently-used clothing shops or resale stores. It will soon be a $200 billion annual market.
The 25-year-old Children’s Orchard, an upscale boutique environment offering gently used and new name-brand children’s clothing, toys, furniture and accessories, is seeing renewed growth with the recent addition of Taylor Bond, who has a strong background in franchising and resale. The concept also exists in a healthy marketplace in today’s economy: The children’s products market is growing and will soon reach nearly $200 billion per year. In addition, according to the National Association of Resale and Thrift Shops, there are more than 15,000 resale shops across the country, with growth expected at approximately 5 percent a year. NARTS projects that resale will continue to gain popularity and become an even more important segment of the retail industry as today’s savvy shoppers continue to seek the best value for their dollar.
According to the USDA’s “Expenditures on Children by Families 2000 Annual Report,” a middle-income family in 2000 spent about $165,630 to raise a child to age 18, and the average three-child, two-parent, middle-income family spends $26,940 a year on child-related expenses
Children’s Orchard has nearly 100 thriving locations in 23 states, selling 5 million items to approximately 1 million customers each year. Bond believes there is room in the marketplace to reach 300 Children’s Orchard locations throughout the country by 2007.
Based on current monthly revenues for its 100 stores, projected systemwide sales for 2004 are $20 million, and $23 million for 2005.
“From a consumer standpoint, our concept strongly appeals to parents because we help them afford fashionable, quality clothes and other products for their children, and at the same time we pay cash or give them store credit for quality clothing, toys, cribs, strollers and accessories that their kids no longer use,” said Taylor Bond, Children’s Orchard President and CEO. “And entrepreneurs are attracted to our franchise opportunity because it’s a fun concept that, with the aid of our business system, is easy to operate,” said Bond.
Children’s Orchard also provides an outlet for charity. Items brought in that don’t meet Children’s Orchard quality standards for selling can be left at the store for donation to local organizations serving the needy.
Citing the company’s mission to build prosperous retailers and valuable businesses, Bond said Children’s Orchard trains its franchise owners to think like businesspeople, not just good salespeople. The company’s top priorities are initial and ongoing support for Children’s Orchard franchise owners, starting with a two-week training session at corporate headquarters in Ann Arbor, Mich., where franchisees learn how to run and manage a store, including how to source and buy product, marketing, and financial management. Children’s Orchard franchise professionals also assist with site selection, lease negotiation, and the Grand Opening. Ongoing support includes two annual national conventions, websites and email for franchisees and an online network to help franchise owners manage their businesses, source vendors and communicate with each other.
Children’s Orchard franchise owners include former schoolteachers, daycare professionals, manufacturers, engineers and retired grandparents wanting to remain active and vibrant. Many Children’s Orchard franchisees, as well as Bond, are former customers who loved the concept. “The key to our success is that it’s a fun business,” Bond said. “It allows owners to be a part of the community and do something to help kids and their parents feel good. It’s a wonderful feeling when a parent picks out an outfit that their child feels great in, and then see how thrilled they are to be able to afford even more outfits.”
Children’s Orchard locates in high-traffic areas in middle-income towns with a minimum of 10,000 children up to 7 years old. The initial investment ranges from $70,000 to $155,000, which is a lower investment than most other retail concepts; the build-out or space requirements are complex, and inventory costs are low. For more information, please visit the website at www.childorch.com or call 800- 999-KIDS.
- CARPET CLEANING
Busy people don’t seem to have the time to clean their carpets. Neither do busy business owners, making this a booming biz for you to start right now. Your clients will range from homeowners, apartment dwellers, hotels, motels, restaurants, car dealerships, and so on—wherever carpets are to be found. Carpet cleaners make up to $200 an hour depending on what part of the country they live in. The following companies can help you start a carpet cleaning business. Check with them for other services you can purchase, too, such as upholstery cleaning systems:
ChemDry: A franchise that is ranked as the number one in the industry. You can get all the details at their website: www. chemdry.com or by calling 877-307-8233.
CleanPro USA: This company offers a carpet cleaning system and package to help you launch your own business. For more information on their system and package, visit www.cleanpro.com or call 888-888-7771.
Rainbow International: Since 1981, Rainbow International® Restoration and Cleaning has become a leading world chain of carpet care and restoration services ranging from carpet cleaning, repair and dyeing, deodorization and comprehensive water, smoke and fire damage restoration and cleanup. Rainbow International has more than 300 U.S. and Canadian locations and approximately 162 international locations. It is a subsidiary of The Dwyer Group, Inc., one of the world’s largest franchise holding companies in the residential and commercial service business. For further information or to find the location nearest you, visit www.rainbowintl.com.
Rotovac Corporation: This company sells a business opportunity turnkey package for less than $3000 to help you start your own carpet cleaning business. Their system employs rotary vacuum slots to clean the carpet from all directions with 1500 injection/extraction cleaning passes per minute. The unit glides over the carpet and Rotovac says it is effortless. For more information, call 888-768-6822 or visit their site: www.rotovac.com.
Von Schrader: This company has been in business for a long time helping entrepreneurs establish their own carpet cleaning and upholstery cleaning businesses. For more information, call 800-626-6916 or visit their website at: www.vonschrader.com.
- CONCIERGE ENTERPRISE
If you live in a market full of busy workers, single parents, active people and movers and shakers, then you could start a business offering a personal concierge service for folks too busy to make their own travel arrangements, dinner reservations, etc.
One of the latest to open is Premier Concierge, Inc.; one of the San Francisco Bay Area’s first individual and corporate concierge services has announced its official opening of doors.
Premier Concierge, Inc. was formed recently to offer both individual and corporate concierge services to Bay Area families and companies. This inception will enable Premier Concierge, Inc. to offer concierge services to companies as part of their complete human resources and employee benefits program, as well as increase the free time of busy executives, domestic engineers and senior citizens. As free time and good workers become increasingly difficult to find in the U.S. economy, businesses and individuals are looking for new and effective ways to attract and retain valuable employees, increase the amount of time spent with family, and just enjoy everything life has to offer.
According to Kenya M. Moses, President of Premier Concierge, Inc: “Bay Area families and companies will be able to increase their free time and begin concentrating on the more important things in life. Some of the many services we offer include: errand running, dry cleaning, personal shopping, dinner reservations and managing catered events; to say the least.”
“If you wish, we will buy your groceries, make your travel arrangements and arrange for a courier,” she said. “Instead of making 20 calls, the individual has to make only one.” Their concierges are equipped to help people manage some of those nagging ‘to do’s’ in their lives; and for people who recently relocated to the Bay Area, they can help eliminate all the wasted time looking for appropriate providers of various services.
The concierge idea has been around the hotel industry for some time and can be found in hotels throughout the world. Its transition from the hotel industry to the residential and corporate world has been a more recent development. Over the past few years, the idea has begun to take hold, as families and companies located in areas such as Washington, Chicago, Boston and New York have started reaping the benefits of personal and corporate concierge services. Real estate management companies are also getting involved, offering lobby concierge services to their tenants to add value to their properties and increase their marketability. In the Bay Area, Premier Concierge, Inc. will place concierge services in office buildings and, virtually, in the home to provide personal and business services to those who need it.
Companies are increasingly using concierge services to not only attract and retain key employees, but also because they are reasoning that the less time people spend doing personal errands during the workday, the more time they can spend at their desks during the day and with their families at night. In other words, these services can increase productivity and employee morale.
“The popularity of concierge services comes from the fact that people are stressed out, overworked and need help managing life. Increasingly busy people want to spend what free time they have with their families. The last thing they want to do is run errands. We are pleased to bring this service to individuals and businesses in the Bay Area.” For more information on Premier, visit their site at: www.premier-concierge.com
- FAMILY BOOKS AT HOME
We don’t write too often about direct selling programs in our magazine because many of our readers want to start their own independent businesses. Family Books At Home, however, might be onto something. It’s a direct selling opportunity linked to Penguin Books. Hundreds of titles, the majority of them for children, are available through home consultants.
According to statistics made available from the Population Division of the U.S. Census Bureau in Washington, D.C., there are 10 million children between seven and 11 who performed below the most basic level of reading achievement.
The U.S. Department of Education’s National Assessment of Educational Progress tested children nationwide for reading skills and found that 38% of fourth graders were below the most basic level, 31% were proficient, and a mere 7% were advanced.
The Family Books At Home program could help get kids to read with the assistance of their parents. Family Books At Home Consultants arrange work schedules around their family responsibilities and work as many or as few hours as necessary. Book Looks are the names given to the get-togethers to sell the titles. They last about 90 minutes and consultants earn 25% of sales. Book Looks are held in the comfort of private homes. Friends and family members attend and learn about the extensive collection of high-quality books available, many of which are from the revered and beautiful Dorling Kindersly (DK) line of children’s books. For more information on the program, visit www.familybooksathome.com.
- PUTT-PUTT GOLF CENTERS
We all remember the fun and excitement of our first miniature golf game. Many of these games were played at a Putt-Putt Golf. Don Clayton, who founded the company in 1954, passed away in 1996. David Callahan was named president and CEO of the privately held company in August 2000.
Putt-Putt is now transforming its miniature golf franchises into complete family entertainment centers that offer a variety of attractions including laser tag, go-karts, batting cages, rock climbing, make your own stuffed animal center and game room, plus much more.
“Putt-Putt is synonymous with family fun and has some of the highest name recognition of any entertainment company in the country,” said Brent Smith, Putt-Putt’s director of operations. “The new Putt-Putt Fun Center locations will be dynamic mini-amusement parks with multiple attractions for all members of the family. Our guests are thrilled about the expanded variety of attractions, our employees are excited about the new experience, and our franchisees are pleased with the expanded earning potential of the new image and the new attractions.”
Currently, Putt-Putt is actively seeking new franchisees to expand its chain of family entertainment centers, and the management team is working with existing franchisees to help them transition to the new look and feel of the new Putt-Putt Fun Center brand image.
“We’re taking Putt-Putt’s original vision of family fun to the next level and anticipate even greater success in the next 50 years,” said Smith.
Putt-Putt’s mission is to provide families with a safe, clean enjoyable entertainment experience at a reasonable price in their own communities. Putt-Putt, which has more than 100 locations in 26 states, is the leading family entertainment center franchise in the U.S. For more information about Putt-Putt, visit the website at: www.puttputt.com.
- REPLACEMENT GLASS
You can start a business replacing cracked and damaged windshields—and they seem to be everywhere.
Glass Mechanix has a program that will teach you how to handle any job. They include training in their business opportunity package. Visit their site at: www.glassmechanix.com or call 800-826-8523 or 702-932-1281 for details.
Glass Doctor is a franchisor offering glass replacement. The company’s website is: www.glassdoctor.com.
“After tripling the size of our franchise network and expanding the scope of our services nationwide, we saw a large increase in traffic on our website,” said Robert Tunmire, president of Glass Doctor. “It was important for us to redesign our site to provide quick and accurate access to franchise locations, to answer customers’ questions and to interact with prospects who want to join the Glass Doctor network.”
The redesigned website features more graphics and Flash features, making it easier to navigate and find the desired information. Enhancements include a new “Ask the Expert” section that provides answers to frequently asked questions; an online survey that invites customer feedback; and three sections on Auto, Home and Business services for a comprehensive look at the company’s complete expertise.
Established in 1962, Glass Doctor® offers complete glass replacement, service and repairs to the automotive, residential and commercial markets. Glass Doctor is an affiliate of The Dwyer Group, Inc., one of the world’s largest franchise holding companies in the residential and commercial service business.
- ONLINE AUCTION SALES
Online auction frenzy spans the globe. There are more than 2 million auctions that close each day on eBay alone. There are currently 100 million registered eBayers out there. A wide variety of services and products have been launched to cater to online auctioneers. These include shipping services, tracking software, tax-related products and a bevy of books devoted to increasing online sales. Folks who use eBay and sell $1000 in goods each month are called Power Sellers. Some Power Sellers maintain more than $150,000 in monthly sales.
The beauty of setting up your own online auction business is that you don’t need any experience. You need access to a computer and an email address to register, post and track your sales. eBay makes it very easy to get started, but do a search online to learn about other auction sites in which you can participate.
In the case of logging onto eBay.com and setting up an account, you really don’t need much money. It’s less than a dollar to list an item and the account setup process is very easy. Go to the site and familiarize yourself with current auctions; watch a few and see what happens. When you realize how much someone got for their old ukulele, you’ll be inspired to start emptying your closets, attic, etc. The franchise opportunities can best be reviewed, by visiting their specific websites (listed below).
Americans love eBay, but do they have the time to sell everything they’d like to merchandise on the popular site? The answer is “no” and three new franchises have popped up to cater to folks who want to sell their stuff, but who don’t have time to take photos, post listings, monitor auctions and wrap and ship the goods. You can explore options with these new franchise opportunities. They are not all available in every area of the United States, but check them out and send an email and get your name on the list if you so desire. The companies merchandise and sell the materials, but take a hefty commission. Here are three companies looking to expand:
QuikDrop (www.quikdrop.com) is based in Nevada, but plans to open 300 U.S. locations in the next three years. They take between 20% and 38% of the selling price. The larger the sale price, the lower the percentage of the commission.
NuMarkets (www.numarkets.com) has a flat commission rate of 30% at press time.
Snappy Auctions (www.snappyauctions.com) takes a commission ranging between 15% and 35%. You’ll need a storefront to run this business and a small staff to help you. Visit the websites for more information.
- MYSTERY SHOPPING
Yes, you can get paid to shop. According to Judith Rappold, a pioneer in the industry and author of Get Paid To Shop (Business Resources, $39.95), “When we entered the mystery shopping business in 1984, the young industry was virtually unknown by small businesses and individual consumers. In the late 1990s, interest was such that we expanded beyond providing mystery shopping services to publishing books about how to become a mystery shopper or start a shopping company. The industry has been evolving quickly since then.” Rappold’s guide is celebrating its third edition.
There are more than 500,000 mystery shoppers out there who are hired to visit stores, restaurants, theaters, bank, apartments, etc. and act like ordinary customers and write reports on the quality of the service they receive. Part-time mystery shoppers, says Rappold, who do at least 20 assignments a month, could make $500 to $1000. The book features comprehensive explanations and pointers about using the tools the Internet has brought to mystery shopping.
- EARL OF SANDWICH BIZ
A hot new fast-casual concept called Earl of Sandwich, whose founders include a direct descendant of the man credited with inventing the sandwich in 1762, is drawing standing-room-only crowds at its first location at Walt Disney World Resort.
Earl of Sandwich is a collaboration between Robert Earl, who pioneered entertainment and celebrity-themed restaurants such as the Hard Rock Cafe and Planet Hollywood, and direct descendant of the fourth Earl of Sandwich, John Montagu, who is credited with inventing the sandwich in 1762. Today—242 years later—John Montagu, the 11th Earl of Sandwich, and his son Orlando, are reclaiming and re-inventing their culinary namesake.
“With a strategic plan for aggressive U.S. expansion in place, Earl of Sandwich has all the makings for the next franchise brand empire: a successful, high-volume model location; a natural brand spokesman in the Earl of Sandwich; and, most importantly, an exceptional menu at a great value,” said Earl, who acquired the U.S. rights to the name from John Montagu, the 11th Earl of Sandwich.
“It is very exciting to be expanding throughout the United States after a successful launch at Disney. Everybody’s talking about the value, the great food and terrific service,” Earl said of the 100-seat Earl of Sandwich that opened in March 2004 at Downtown Disney Market-place in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. “We are seeing numerous repeat customers for breakfast, lunch and dinner. With this positive initial response, we anticipate opening as many as 60 company-owned or franchise-operated units nationwide by the end of 2005.”
Earl of Sandwich is setting the stage for multi-unit franchise expansion using three different prototypes ranging from a take-out/food court model of 900 sq. ft. to a 3,000-sq.-ft. unit with about 100 seats. It is anticipated that the average size unit will be around 1,800 sq. ft. with seating for 30 and will cost under $300,000 to open. All locations will offer the same menu, Davis said.
According to Davis, hot sandwiches account for 70 percent of the store’s daily revenue. The menu includes 12 signature hot sandwiches each costing $4.95; a range of hand-made Tossed Bowl salads at $5.95; and classic grab-and-go cold sandwiches and wraps for $3.95 and $4.45, respectively. The restaurant also offers hot breakfast sandwiches for $4.95 each. Desserts include fresh baked cookies, brownies, scones, tarts and homemade ice-cream sandwiches ranging from $1.95 to $2.45.
The franchise fee is $25,000 and the total investment for the three models begins at $175,000 and goes up to $370,000. Earl of Sandwich provides a mandatory two-week comprehensive training course in Orlando. For more information, visit www.earlofsandwichusa.com or call 407-992-2988.
- INSTANT FX
Imagine being able to create a website for your small business in much the same way that you order a sandwich and pay for it at your favorite sub shop: built to your specifications and ready in a week’s time. It does take a little bit longer to build a website than a hoagie, after all.
That’s the premise behind InstantFx (pronounced “instant effects”), a provider of website design and hosting services. It is a new franchise offering of parent company Expetec Corporation, based in Aberdeen, S.D. The company’s original concept, Expetec Technology Services, has been a leader in the information technology services industry since it began franchising in 1996. It has 151 service locations in 30 states.
If Expetec Technology Services is the respected older sister, Instant FX is the brash little brother. It’s a lean, mean, fun and easy business for franchisees and customers alike.
One meeting with an InstantFX franchisee is all it takes for a small business owner to have a web presence, usually in a week’s time. Customers select a website design from a fast-food-inspired menu system that features an inventory of hundreds of templates specifically suited to different industries, along with other options and custom features. After making their selection, customers cannot only see what the site will look like when completed, but they are also given a price on the spot.
“My goal was to make the process similar to the way you would order a sub sandwich,” said Lonnie Helgerson, founder of InstantFX and the Expetec Corporation. “You get to choose the type of bread, meats and condiments you want and then you’re told how much it will cost. To me, there was no reason you couldn’t do websites the same way.”
The franchising process is equally simple. The franchise fee is only $3,500 along with a $25 per week system access fee. The only required equipment is a laptop computer, scanner, printer and Internet access, which most people likely already have. Franchisees earn profits by taking a percentage of the initial design fee and build residual income by receiving a monthly share of the hosting revenue for each of their customers.
Helgerson expects most franchisees to run InstantFX on a part-time basis and says it should be particularly appealing to individuals such as college students or stay-at-home mothers looking to earn extra money. However, it can easily be run as a full-time business for those with greater aspirations. Because business is conducted at the client’s location, there is no need for an office.
“The simplicity and cost of owning an InstantFx franchise is very attractive,” Helgerson said. “Plus, it has a little sex appeal because it’s part of the Internet movement.”
Spice is exactly what Helgerson was looking to put into InstantFX, whose creation somewhat evolved from customer demands fielded by sister brand Expetec. While Expetec Technology Services might be considered staid and professional (an image Helgerson admits he’s looking to change), InstantFX not only has a catchy name, but a jazzy, simple, vibrant logo with eye-catching colors and a website (www.instantfx.biz) that captures its essence.
“We wanted to be the fast food of the web services business,” Helgerson said. “We wanted to have fun with InstantFX. So far, I think we’ve hit a home run with it.”
InstantFX is a perfect complement to sister company Expetec; so much so that existing Expetec franchisees were given the opportunity to add the InstantFX brand at no cost, creating an instant network of more than 60 InstantFX service providers.
“We thought it was a perfect extension of what we were already doing,” said Helgerson. “It made sense for us to create a co-branding opportunity for our franchisees much like KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut. Plus, creating a separate brand for web services makes it easier for our Expetec franchisees to go after another segment of customers.”
While there are established competitors within the industry, Helgerson sees no one having an established national foothold, or as he puts it, “Nobody is the McDonald’s of web services, by any means.”
Potential customers for InstantFX include not only small and medium-size businesses, but also organizations, schools, individuals or virtually any entity that needs a web presence. InstantFX offers a three-tiered pricing structure, starting with a basic package geared toward customers who have never had a website. The second tier offers more advanced options while the third offers customized programming.
InstantFX franchisees won’t be able to run their business from in front of their computer. They’ll have to actively solicit customers, but InstantFX offers a variety of advertising, marketing and promotional materials, including an optional direct mail program.
A small business owner might pay an average of $500 to $700 for the design of a basic website, plus additional monthly hosting fees that include e-mail capabilities. Creation of customized e-commerce sites is also available. The design process is handled by one of InstantFX’s multiple operations centers.
Helgerson said he was once a layman himself when it came to technology and understands the needs of an auto body shop operator, insurance salesman or Main Street business owner. Most of these people don’t have the knowledge to create their own website, don’t have the time, or don’t want the usual delays associated with such an undertaking.
“Our customers will know exactly what they’re getting when they pay for it,” Helgerson said. “When it comes to website design, no one has taken the level of service to the customer like we’re doing with InstantFX.” For more information visit www.instantfx.biz
- COMFORT KEEPERS
Building on the tremendous success of more than 420 franchises awarded in the United States, Comfort Keepers recently announced plans to expand its leading senior care franchise into Canada.
Comfort Keepers has plans to open in upwards of 80 locations throughout Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta by 2007. Their rapid growth and expansion throughout Canada is a result of a growing national trend focusing on the dramatic need for alternative senior care.
With the number of Canadians aged 65 and over expected to triple to 7.8 million in the next three decades and emerging health care pressures throughout Canada, a fertile new industry is ripe for growth—and it’s rapidly drawing entrepreneurs who are enticed with making a career through touching people’s lives.
Clearly, Comfort Keepers is at the forefront of the movement, setting industry standards as the #1 Senior Care franchise in North America, based on offering companionship and other non-medical services for aging adults, new mothers and others needing assistance. Founded in 1998 by a registered home health care nurse and her husband, Comfort Keepers has quickly grown to more than 420 locations throughout the United States and is now planning on opening upwards of 80 locations throughout Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta by 2007.
“We have established a great success story in the United States and we now see tremendous opportunity to adapt our service model for Canada,” said Allen Riggs, president and CEO, who joined Comfort Keepers in 2002 after more than 30 years of executive management with leading franchise organizations, such as Pearle Vision. “Over the next few decades, seniors are projected to make up 25 percent of the population in Canada, compared with only 20 percent of Americans. The growth potential for Comfort Keepers throughout Canada is enormous.”
A huge selling point for Comfort Keepers is that all of its caregivers are employees. Before hiring any caregivers, franchise owners conduct criminal, driving and credit background checks with automated screening software that ensures dependability and reliability. Franchisees also receive employee training and policy manuals that ensure consistent procedures throughout the franchise system.
As Comfort Keepers expands into Canada, the company is looking for individuals qualified in personal care and companionship, who have a strong interest in positively contributing to the community. Most important, Comfort Keeper franchisees bond and insure their caregivers, and cover worker’s compensation and other taxes.
Company executives often hear people compare Comfort Keepers to a ministry or public service organization—an analogy they consider the highest compliment a company can receive. While some Comfort Keepers franchisees include attorneys, physicians and psychologists, the overwhelming majority are simply entrepreneurial types with a general business background who seek a niche to run their own company and feel fulfilled with their contributions to society.
“There’s a warm spot in all of our hearts for the senior population throughout Canada,” noted Riggs, adding that the majority of Comfort Keepers’ franchisees throughout the United States were drawn to the concept because of personal experiences in caring for an aging adult. “Our core service is based on passion and compassion for people who need help. At the end of the day, our franchisees are successful business owners who also feel good about what they do. That’s what most people strive for in their jobs, and we offer it through a franchise where you can feel satisfied with your work and be your own boss. It’s the best of both worlds.”
The vast majority of Comfort Keepers franchisees in the United States rent or own or lease relatively small office space. Territories include a cluster of postal codes that total 200,000 people. The initial investment ranges from $49,500 to $76,000, which includes a $25,000 franchise fee for a 10-year agreement with no renewal fee. The fee includes extensive initial and ongoing training and support. A unique royalty structure rewards franchisees as their business grows.
Founded in 1998 by a registered home health care nurse and her husband, Comfort Keepers has grown to 346 franchise owners and 422 locations in 45 states and Canada. The company is actively seeking individual franchise owners throughout Canada. For more information contact Neera McNeil at (866) 363-0072 or richmondhill@comfortkeepers.ca.
- HOMEVESTORS
Real estate investing is hotter than ever. There is a franchise that buys old houses in need of TLC, fixes them up, and sells them for a bundle. HomeVestors of America, Inc., the company best known for advertising “We Buy Ugly Houses” added 13 new franchise offices in two months.“This is a dynamic group of franchisees representing some of the top real estate markets in the nation,” said David Young, president of HomeVestors.
The new franchisees recently completed an intensive 10-day program designed to train them on the HomeVestors method of buying, repairing and selling properties. In addition, new owners learn about HomeVestors’ extensive finance and advertising programs, and a mentoring program to assist franchisees with any needs they have after graduation. Advanced Training sessions are offered for all existing franchisees as well.
Founded in 1989 and franchising since 1996, Dallas-based HomeVestors of America, Inc. has more than 200 franchises throughout the United States. The first franchise company of its kind, HomeVestors trains and supports franchisees that specialize in buying homes in need of repair. HomeVestors strives to make a positive impact in each community. More information is available at www.homevestors.com.
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