Background

Year Established: 1969
Year First Franchised: 1974
Franchised Units: 480
Company Owned Units: 0
Projected New Units (12 months): 120
States/Countries Registered in: All U.S. states and Ontario, Canada
Availability in Canada: Individual unit franchises only
States, Countries or Geographical Areas from which Broker Referrals are being accepted: U.S. only; all states available at this time

Financial/Terms

Cash Investment: $29,900
Total Investment: $20k - $25k additional working capital required
Minimum Net Worth: $100k
Franchise Fee: $29,900
Discounts: Member of VetFran with $3000 discount off of initial franchise fee qualified
VetFran Program Participant: Yes
Royalty: Descending scale from 9% to 7% based on cumulative revenue levels
Ad: 4% at all times
Average # of Employees: 1-3 on average
Passive Ownership Allowed: Possibly, as long as certain qualifications are met.
Earnings Claim: No

Background

Year Established: 1980
Year First Franchised: 1994
Franchised Units: 50
Company Owned Units: 8
Projected New Units (12 months): 10-15
States/Countries Registered In: USA all states, Canada in late 2008
Availability in Canada: Single Unit with DMA to grow
States, Countries or Geographical Areas from which Broker Referrals are: All of USA only as of now, Canada in 2008

Financial/Terms:

Single Units ONLY
Cash Investment: $40k to $60k
Total Investment: $85k to $158k
Minimum Net Worth: $200k to $250k
Franchise Fee: $17k plus $5k Training deposit
Discounts: VetFran, Women, Minorities: VetFran 25% off initial franchise fee
VetFran Program Participant: Yes
Royalty: Varies
Ad:
Average # of Employees: Link franchise can be operated by two people. Depending on the role of the Franchisee, a small inter-office staff maybe needed–one to two employees.
Passive Ownership Allowed: No, this is a very hands-on business but if grown correctly, ownership could lean towards passive after a few years.
Earnings Claim: FDD Item 19 lists average sales breakdown of Link’s Franchise system and corporate-owned locations.

Bear Creek Coffee will provide you with a host of services and supports when you join. The cart/kiosk and double drive-thru come in pre-ordered modular forms, which you can customize according to your choice. Moreover, they come fitted with all the necessary equipments (which you can buy at special discounted rates, thanks to the companies tie up with leading manufacturers) and will have all the necessary safety requirements as per the local rules. No matter which model you take up, there will be an extensive training of forty hours. You will be taught the fine art of coffee making and maintaining the health and sanitation procedures. There will be further training on the marketing, advertising and managerial aspects of the business. Bear Creek Coffee will also teach you how to train your employees.

The support system of Bear Creek Coffee includes assistance in finding a financier, selecting real-estate, leasing and negotiation as well as remodeling the site. The company will also help you in getting necessary building permits and licenses. Now you may be thinking that this is what most top franchises offer, so what’s special about Bear Creek Coffee? Since it doesn’t operate as a franchise, there’s no FRANCHISE FEE! In addition, there’s no royalty fee or advertisement fee of any sort! What’s more, Bear Creek won’t dictate how your location will look like and what you can sell from your location other than coffee. As long as you use the excellently-roasted coffee beans from the company to make the gourmet cup of coffees and maintain the brand-name and logo properly, Bear Creek Coffee is happy with you!

Contact Bear Creek Coffee to learn more.

In an interview with brandEXPANSION Hot Press, Vicktoria Baylor, VP of Franchise Development for AmeriCare Alliance, Inc., explains why:
Why is now the right time to buy your franchise concept?
The home care industry is one of the fastest growing industries in franchising. It is one of the few industries which are truly recession-resistant. Combine that with the fact that the AmeriCare franchise system serves all age groups and you have a winning combination. This means that virtually everyone you talk to either needs our services or knows someone who does. The facts support the business – nearly 1.4 million Americans live in nursing homes, 6 million live at home and receive in home care and millions more go without the care they need. And America’s largest recent generation, the Baby Boomers, will seriously impact the need for in-home caregiving services as they continue to age.

How has the economy affected your expansion plans in terms of new franchises opened this year?
The economy really hasn’t been a factor in our business. Since AmeriCare is a recession resistant business we have actually seen an increased interest in our franchise offering.

How are you helping franchisees be more efficient in this economic climate?
We have always been acutely aware of the benefits of operating an economically efficient business. We are always striving to find ways for our franchisees to be more effective in their processes. Our distinguished upfront training program does more than leave franchisees with “the book.” It gives them the tools and the plan to be more efficient, most effective from day 1 of operations.

Have your franchisees seen a decline in their businesses?
The fact is, people need home care in order to stay in their homes longer and avoid the exorbitant costs of nursing care. We have found that our business is relatively unaffected by the slowing economy. Clients will go without other amenities so that they can stay in their homes longer and still receive the care they need.

Money is a huge issue for most folks these days. What are you doing to help potential franchisees find financing?
Since our business has a low point of entry and a potential for a high return on investment, most people are able to easily secure the financing on their own. However, for those who face challenges in financing we recommend they go to their local credit union or personal banker to discuss their options.

What are your big goals for the year?
This year we hope to add an additional 10 franchises and we are on track to making that happen. There is even the possibility that we will be able to exceed that goal. It is important to note though that we are a very selective franchise system. We will only award a franchise to someone who we truly believe is going to be successful in this industry, who believes in our commitment to quality care and personal commitment to the business, and who will be able to achieve their financial goals.

To learn more, contact AmeriCare Alliance.

Look at your experience: All kinds of experience are required in running a business. If you have garnered experience in sales and marketing, all types of businesses can become suitable for you. That is because at the end of the day, every business sells something! Most franchisors offering franchise business for sale consider this as the main criteria for franchisee selection. If you have experience in accounting and other administrative works, then businesses related to payroll maintenance, tax planning and other financial franchises are good choices.

Consider your hobbies: Along with your experience, your hobby or your passion can have a significant influence on your starting a business. When you are proficient in doing something and love it, can anything be better if you make profits from that too? But a word of caution here; some amount of experience for running a business is also necessary along with that passion, otherwise your business won’t prosper. Of course, if you buy a franchise from a field where your hobby lie, then running it will be easy. That is because of the training and support top franchises provide to their franchisees. It turns novices into mature businesspersons within a short time-span.

Have a look at your family and finances: If your family is dependent on you, then starting a business on a whim can ruin them, if you fail in your venture. So, taking your family into confidence is necessary to prepare yourself as a businessperson. They may have to make much adjustment for your new endeavor. There may be change in lifestyle, as you will need some money to finance your business. Moreover, they will have to get used to you spending longer hours at your business. But, much hassle will be reduced, if you are starting a franchise, as the franchisor takes care of many start-up problems.

Read about the topics: Getting information has become too easy nowadays; so make the most of all the resources to learn about your chosen field. If you are going to buy a franchise, then read about the franchise industry as much as you can. Try to know what the current trends and statistics of the market are and how the business is carried on. Also, learn about different franchisor opportunities and what makes some franchises best in their respective fields.

The best thing you can do, though, is to take the first step. Explore the various franchise business offers for sale.

There are pluses and minuses of low-cost franchises. A lower cost franchise typically offers a lower reward. If you have the capacity to invest, then invest in a franchise business for sale offer that costs somewhere between 60 to 70% of your estimated net worth.

But people, who think that low cost means little support from the franchisor can’t be more wrong. Sometimes, a franchise business is tagged as low cost or affordable, because it is either home-based or doesn’t include recurring buying of materials. Many service-based franchise concepts fall under this category and they are recognized as the best franchises from their group. So, going for them is quite a good idea as is opting for franchises that come with a good price tag.

There are some categories that have more low cost franchises than others because they are service-based franchises. But, the earning potential of these franchise concepts is many times at par with other leading franchises from the industry. Senior care, maintenance and maid service are some categories that have franchise opportunities, which can be run successfully by people with a budget of even $25,000! But it doesn’t mean that the franchisor has any less training program or support system for its franchisees. The comprehensive training and effective support can make a successful businessman out of a novice.

Of course, it doesn’t require a slow season to explore complementary franchises. In fact, there are many franchise opportunities that can work well in synergy with established businesses. Here are some potential pairings:

Decorating Elves: Decorating Elves attracts many small independent business owners. Most attracted are the owners of lawn-care businesses who find themselves out of work in the winter.They can happily complement their business with this franchise that deals with holiday decoration. It keeps them occupied from the month of October to February when the demand for their original business start picking up and this one diminishes.

ScreenMobile: It’s a business that attracts home repair business owners very much. These businesses often have their slow time during summer months and this time, pesky flies torment the house owners. By offering services of this franchise, such an owner can survive the summer drought. And, he can offer this additional service to his existing home repair clients.

Tax Centers of America: Cash checking and insurance service providers who take up the franchise business find themselves knee deep in clients during tax season. So much so that it sometimes surpasses the income of the main business! But, it’s only for a few months (during the time of electronic filling of tax returns) and the business-owners can pursue their own business for the rest of the year.

Besides these, there are other businesses that can complement an existing business. For example, there are many juice bars and smoothie franchise opportunities that can be installed in general stores. Then there is eAuction Depot, which can be run from an existing store or packaging business premise.

Of course, these complementary businesses are limited only by your imagination and unique circumstances. Explore franchises business opportunities.

Handyman franchises: These franchise opportunities are becoming Man Friday for most working couples as well as senior couples who live alone. From changing bulbs to fixing broken roofs and doors, these companies offer world-class services to these time-starved families. So, if you are thinking of starting a franchise, look out for Handyman Matters, Mr. Handyman, DuctMedic and others. Many concepts also offer area development programs and large territories to operate your business.

Maintenance: There are various parts of a house that need to be regularly maintained, if you want your house to be perfect. For example, if you like beautiful lawns, you have to regularly maintain them. Similarly, widows need to be cleaned and roofs and vents regularly checked, especially if they are parts of a commercial property. So, you can think how much companies, offering these services, are in demand. Most of them are low cost franchises while many are home based franchises as well. .

Restoration: Despite our best efforts, we can’t avoid certain mishaps in the house and something gets broken. But no one likes looking at a chipped tile in the bathroom or a broken porch screen. Houses have to be painted from time to time. Hence, repair and restoration companies have their hands full most of the time. So, if you buy a franchise from this category, you can get quick return of your investment owing to the abundance of work. What’s more, many of the companies have very affordable franchise fee and royalty fee.

If you are looking for franchise opportunities, the senior care sector is a booming field and one of the most lucrative franchise businesses at present. Moreover, people are realizing the importance of top-notch senior care service providers, since they are more reliable and offer genuine caregivers. Thus, top franchises in the sector such as AmeriCare Alliance are finding a number of interested takers. AmeriCare Alliance scores above its competitors and is rapidly rising up the charts. The concept was initiated in 2004 and has already established 10 thriving units while 11 more are under construction.

The best part of this franchise is the moderate start-up fees and the extensive training program it provides. AmeriCare Alliance, moreover, offers the largest territory size and also allows you to establish your franchise business in your own pace. The company also offers care for people of other age groups apart from senior citizens. The franchisor conducts one-to-one consultation with every client before sending a caregiver to them. Caregivers are also made to meet the clients before they start up with the job. AmeriCare Alliance will also help to arrange for inexpensive coverage from national insurance companies for your employees. So, if you are interested in the senior care field, AmeriCare Alliance can be a great choice. Want to know more about the franchise opportunity?

Contact AmeriCare to learn more.

You have enough experience: Given the hard time, it’s harder to back an inexperienced player. If you are planning to buy a franchise, remember the best franchises ask for general business skills from the franchisees that are starting a franchise under them. Some require or recommend specific industry experience as well. Even in franchising, you have to gain some experience to be your own boss.

You have sufficient funds or the means to get the required funds: No business ever closed down because it had too much capital; but many businesses have definitely come to an end, because the owners couldn’t calculate how much money they will need to survive. But, when you are financing a franchise, you are in a better position. An experienced franchisor is there to guide you in writing a business plan. What’s more, many businesses arrange for third-party loans while some are small business franchises.

You have the time: When you are starting a stand-alone business, you have to multi-task a lot. You will have to scout for good locations (if you are not going for home-based business), arrange stocks from manufacturers and suppliers and meet prospective lenders. You are also required to advertise the business, hire employees, keep the accounts and improve your business! To avoid all these, people tend to buy a franchise, as the franchisor helps in many of these activities. Still, you will have to work hard, so make sure you can afford the time and energy for it.