By: Co-Editor, RB:
Typically, a franchisor makes its money selling franchises and then receiving additional fees from franchisees for training, advisory services and products. While many franchisors (such as McDonald’s) take great pride in the repeat success of its franchisees, others have sold the franchises to anyone and everyone who would take it regardless of the likelihood of success. They reap short term benefits and their franchisees ultimately fail.
Moe’s Southwest Grill is taking a different approach. Moe’s believes that franchise owners should also understand both the industry and what the entry-level jobs within the company are like. In other words, you might be a terrific businessman, but if you don’t what it’s like to get behind the counter, are you really cut out for the industry?
Moe’s Southwest Grill is a fast-casual concept featuring fresh southwest fare in a fun and engaging atmosphere with over 400 locations in 34 states and in Canada. At Moe’s, each meal is prepared right before your eyes and is accompanied by free chips and salsa, including the Homewrecker burrito, the Billy Barou nachos, and the Close Talker salad. Founded in 2000, Atlanta-based Moe’s Southwest Grill was named a Top Ten Growth Chain by Restaurant Hospitality in 2007 and is a Gold Award winner of the 2008 Consumer’s Choice in Chains Awards.
Read more
By: Co-Editor, RS:
As the decade came to a close, I took a small amount of time to reflect on another year of my life and how the business world has changed. For one reason or another, I started to think about various businesses that used to be in my neck of the woods on Long Island, New York.
One of the things I started to realize is that despite all of the advances in technology its impact on business over the last 10-15 years, the overall effect has not been good for the entrepreneur or the small business owner.
Can you imagine if you wanted to open a hardware store in the suburbs of any large or small city? Good luck. You will never be able to compete with the likes of The Home Depot. How about opening an office supply business? Once again, good luck, as Staples or Office Depot buys in such bulk that one cannot possibly compete on pricing or national advertising.
My recollection of the beginnings of this trend of “Big Business” domination ruining it for entrepreneurs, started in the mid to late 1980’s. It seemed that on every corner of the universe you were able to find a neighborhood video store. Then in the late 1980’s after Wayne Huizenga acquired the Blockbuster name, we started to see these mega-video stores all over the place. There were times you could find numerous Blockbuster stores within a few miles of each other. This phenomenon crushed the small mom and pop video retailer as everyone enjoyed the variety that Blockbuster could offer the consumer due to its ability to carry more inventory.
Read more
By: Co-Editor, Bobby B:
I am one who has always been skeptical of personal coaches and self-help gurus. However, there are organizations in this space that are doing good and valuable work. EntrepreneursSource.com is one of those organizations.
Franchising’s leading career and business coaching company recently launched a free, innovative online virtual coaching experience. The virtual coach elicits ideal income, lifestyle, wealth and equity dreams from visitors. While defining their objectives in a series of questions, a picture board dramatically builds on the screen allowing people to visualize what they aspire to attain through business ownership. Once the series of questions have been completed, the virtual coach helps identify the type of investment that could ultimately provide personal fulfillment.
Additional enhancements to the site include a blog that will be routinely updated with business buying tips from company leadership and more than 100 pages of valuable insight into entrepreneurialism. Studies show more than 70 percent of the U.S. population looks to be self sufficient rather than working for somebody else but only 5 percent of the population actually accomplish the feat. The problem is that many of them call it quits before they even get started.
Read more
By: Co-Editor, Bobby B:
Ice cream trucks are part of the quintessential American summer. The sound of the Good Humor man or here in the Northeast Mister Softee were part of your child, if you are of a certain age.
High gas prices, noise restrictions and media accounts of ice cream trucks being used for nefarious purposes have made the sight of an ice cream truck is a rare occurrence in most neighborhoods.
Captain Ice Cream, a Los Angeles based start-up aims to change all that. Captain Ice Cream is a franchise of 3-wheeled, moped-powered, novelty ice cream vending trucks. The unique size of Captain Ice Cream’s ice cream mopeds allow the franchisee to go where the other ice cream trucks can’t go: deep into parks, farmer’s market booths, parades and other places that are simply impractical for trucks.
The 2010 Ice Cream Mopeds feature a cold-plate freezer that holds approximately 500-600 novelty ice cream treats. You can plug the freezer into any standard 110-volt outlet at night and its internal temperature will drop down to -15°F. The freezer will maintain 0°F for 6 to 8 hours in 100°+F temperatures.
Read more
By: Co-Editor, Bobby B:
Those looking for new business opportunities ought to look into this franchiser I am about to discuss.
The franchises that seem to be thriving in this economy bring something new to the table. For instance, we previously covered a franchise called DoodyCalls.com that was rapidly expanding by providing franchise opportunities in the dog-waste removal industry.
Now comes San Diego, California-based Stroller Strides.com. Stroller Strides is the country’s largest and fastest-growing stroller exercise program for new moms. While not a start-up per se Stroller Strides until recently operated out of the founder’s home.
The success of Stroller Strides leads some to believe the future of franchising is the home-based business model. Started by Lisa Druxman in 2001, the Franchise 500 fitness company has enabled its more than 300 franchisees – most of whom are moms – to own and operate a rewarding business from home. As mentioned, until recently, the Stroller Strides corporate office was headquartered in Druxman’s own residence.
A low-cost and lifestyle-friendly option, the model enables franchisees to create their business hours around the needs of their family, and they don’t incur the expenses and liability of a brick and mortar office.
Read more
By: Co-Editor, Bobby B:
For one week, millions of young people around the world will join a growing movement of entrepreneurial people, to generate new ideas and to seek better ways of doing things. Countries across six continents are coming together to celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week, an initiative to inspire young people to embrace innovation, imagination and creativity.
From November 16-22, 2009, Global Entrepreneurship Week will connect young people everywhere through local, national and global activities designed to help them explore their potential as self-starters and innovators. Students, educators, entrepreneurs, business leaders, employees, non-profit leaders, government officials and many others will participate in a range of activities, from online to face-to-face, and from large-scale competitions and events to intimate networking gatherings.
Global Entrepreneurship Week 2008 was a great success and a brilliant example of what can be achieved by bringing together different ideas and cultures around the theme of enterprise. In 2009, the goal is to unleash young people’s ideas around the issues that matter most to society, from poverty reduction through to climate change, and to foster a global culture which recognizes entrepreneurs as drivers of economic and social prosperity.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton videotaped a public statement of support for the Kauffman Foundation’s Global Entrepreneurship Week, praising its efforts to create new opportunities and businesses; encourage youth to pursue fresh ideas; and improve the global economy. This year, Global Entrepreneurship Week will be celebrated by more than three million people and 8,800 organizations (1000+ in the U.S.) in 85 countries.
By: Co-Editor, Bobby B:
Oh Crap!! Actually, I am just being glib. However, since I am like many 8 year olds who think scatology is funny, I will try to avoid the bad puns while describing the latest entrepreneurial venture that is a tad different from what you usually see on this site. DoodyCalls and its website DoodyCalls.com offer a slightly “different” business concept in that it is based on dog poop. Moreover, as a franchising concept, it would not seem to have a chance, but apparently it is working, plus it makes for an interesting good story.
DoodyCalls started as a home business in 2000 and began franchising in 2004. In slightly over five years, DoodyCalls has expanded to 45 locations in 23 states, 29 of which locations have launched in the past two years – despite the recession.
The franchise fee is $29,500 and the initial investment range is $39,730 to $63,920.
Dog waste removal is a growing industry as more and more local governments pass ordinances providing strict regulations for dog waste. Schools, offices, parks, and playgrounds require routine waste management services. Procuring such clients can be the backbone of a solid business.
According to DoodyCalls.com, there are over 77 million dogs in the United States today and roughly 46% of households own at least one. Additionally, the United States pet owners will spend $45.4 billion on their pets in 2009, up 5% from last year.
Read more
