Franchise Guidepost

WINE NOT?

admin — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 20:58:18 +0000

A Wine Not International Custom Winery franchise is a full working winery equipped with an exclusive, state-of-the-art winery systems. The winery produces a large variety of wines made from juices secured from the world’s finest wine regions. Many of these wines are unique to Wine Not International and cannot be found in wine stores or supermarkets.

Please see this introductory video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eO3JlEGSaok

The winery is also reviewed at:
http://www.wineandjazz.com/posts/the-fast-track-to-owning-a-winery/

Wine Not International wineries are federally bonded wineries equipped with state of the art fermentation equipment. Wine is made in single batches (23 liters) and in larger volumes (starting at 550 liters and up to 2,200 liters) in the franchise’s exclusive wine making tank system. The winery also provides direct retail and wholesale sales, customized labeling and a unique customer participation experience.

Each Wine Not International winery maintains a fermentation room, bottling area, storage area, retail area, tasting bar and outdoor patio if applicable. There is also a custom label making station where customers can design personalized labels. Otherwise the wine is labeled with each franchisee’s own design suited to the community, landscape or winery theme. Giftware is also stocked with wine related items such as wine glasses, decanters, stoppers, books and other related products. Customers will have the ability to purchase wine by the bottle, case or batch. They are invited to make, sample, purchase and learn about wine in a local winery….

Originally developed in Canada, this innovative business model is now expanding in the US market as Wine Not International. These wineries are dedicated to providing customers with the highest quality international wines without the expense and risk of investing in a vineyard. Moreover, whereas conventional wineries have to be situated close to the grapes, Wine Not wineries brings the vineyard to the customers and offers more than forty different and internationally acclaimed varieties. And while conventional wineries only have one harvest per year, Wine Not wineries can produce fine wines throughout the year with the utmost quality and consistency. The total investment in this business ranges from approx $165k – $465k. More information can be found by contacting Jack Kuykendall or at this website http://www.wineryfranchise.com

Jack Kuykendall’s website is www.FranchiseGuidepost.com. He can be reached at JackKuykendall@msn.com or at his office 909 980 0698

SBA’s PATRIOT EXPRESS ON THE MOVE

admin — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 01:34:21 +0000

Patriot Express, a loan program started in June 2007 by the U.S. Small Business Administration, offers SBA loan assistance, counseling and procurement support to over 200,000 military veterans, reservists, National Guard members and their spouses. The program, which currently provides economical interest rates and enhanced loan guarantees of up to $500k for business start ups or expansion, related real estate or inventory purchases and working capitol, has just been renewed for another three years. The SBA utilizes a nationwide network of participating lenders and the program has been expanded over the past two years under the auspices of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Over $1 billion in loan guarantees to veteran-owned businesses have currently been extended by the SBA. CONTACT: Jack Kuykendall www.FranchiseGuidepost.com Office 909 980 0698 E-Mail: JackKuykendall@msn.com

URGENT CARE FILLS THE GAP

admin — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 04:13:34 +0000

Doctors Express (DRX) is a full service, urgent healthcare franchise that provides the convenience of walk-in service with minimal wait times. The franchise not only offers more convenience than many primary care offices or retail clinics, it often has a broader and deeper scope of services. At Doctors Express, a doctor is always on call, as well as a nurse and other healthcare personnel. This urgent care franchise is designed to fill the “gap” between the primary physician and an emergency room, providing immediate care for patients, particularly those who cannot wait a week or two to see their regular doctor and those with an acute, non-life threatening illness and injury who would rather not sit for hours in an ER and then pay the much higher rates often charged. This, in turn, can ideally allow emergency rooms to focus on treating more serious and life-threatening conditions—which was the original purpose of the ER. According to the CDC (The Center for Disease Control) and other sources, many patients would prefer to go to an urgent care center rather than an ER if one were locally available, in part because 84% of patients at an urgent care center wait less than forty-five minutes to be seen and 60% wait less than thirty minutes. There are currently over 8,000 urgent care centers in the US and this number should grow significantly during the next 10 -15 ten years as the size of the senior population doubles and the number of people with health insurance expands by over 35 million in the next few years.

Doctors Express represents a solid, recession-proof business opportunity. Many franchise owners do not have a medical background, which is not an issue as the franchise system provides the training and support required to makes sure that each Doctors Express clinic provides high quality healthcare. Urgent Care can play a major role in every community health care system. In a clean and comfortable setting, each Doctors Express clinic provides a range of services that not even many other urgent care centers provide:

• Quality care by certified physicians and nurses
• Convenient and efficient walk-in service
• Medical exams, x-rays, and on-site lab
• Prescriptions filled from an in-house pharmacy
• Economical rates and standard procedures widely accepted by insurance plans and Medicare

In cooperation with local primary care physicians and emergency departments, urgent care is designed to create a network of healthcare services that makes sure patients get the treatments they need without delay.

For more details contact Jack Kuykendall at JackKuykendall@msn.com Office 909 980 0698. Website: www.FranchiseGuidepost.com

We won’t be outsourcing our seniors to China

admin — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 20:03:41 +0000

In my franchise consulting work, I often place clients in the in-home senior care field. If it is the right fit, a candidate can do very well and build a business with great long-term potential. There are currently 36 million people in the US over the age of 65 and this number will nearly double over the next twenty years as the Boomer generation ages. This is the fastest growing segment of the population and 80% of seniors prefer to stay at home even if they require assistance. This is causing an enormous growth in senior-related services, which now includes over 7 million people who receive in-home care, according to the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging. As the elderly population climbs, families are relying more and more on in-home care for help. These services provide the elderly or infirm with assistance in their daily lives, including nonmedical duties such as companionship, bathing, cooking, light housework, running errands and even dispensing medication, to skilled nursing care.

The number of people requiring care will double within fifteen years. This is a huge domestic market. We won’t be outsourcing our senior population to China and a worker in Bangkok cannot give an elderly person in Cleveland a sponge bath. If Mom needs help, the kids will come up with the money to pay for care, even if that means cutting spending elsewhere, so the demand for this service is relatively inelastic. How many other industries will have that kind of growth curve? Not many. Long-term care in a nursing home ranges from $110 to $210 per day or $40,000 to $75,000 per year. By contrast, the cost of in-home care senior care averages $20,000 to $35,000 per year. That is a +50% savings for seniors who prefer to stay at home. They pay out of pocket or use long-term care insurance to pay for in-home care, though some with lower incomes qualify for help from Medicaid. Private home care costs an average of $18 per hour nationwide

There are currently over 11,000 licensed home-care businesses and in-home aids or care givers are one of the fastest-growing job categories, with the number of caregivers growing from 750,000 to 1.2 million by 2020. The “mom and pop” business model has dominated home care, but this is rapidly changing as franchises become more common. Home-care and other service-based franchises are very attractive to entrepreneurs because both the start up capital required and the on-going operational costs are much lower than “brick-and-mortar” retail franchises, such as restaurants. Two reasons why in-home care works as a franchise are technology and training. Though the product may be a service involving assistance and compassion, franchise owners (franchisees) rely heavily on systematic training programs and software products that ensure all units are operated in a standard, proven manner. Fundamentally senior care relies on tools very similar to those at the Neighborhood McDonalds. The earning potential for these businesses is high, with many franchisees earning six figures after several years of operation. Re-sale values in the years ahead should also be high, given the enormous size of the market 15-20 years form now.

Franchisers are responding to the demand for senior services and the appeal of the business model to would-be entrepreneurs. . Between 2002 and 2007, the number of in-home health-care franchise units in operation more than tripled to 3,400 from fewer than 1,000. At the same time, the overall number of franchise concepts increased by about 20%. In-home senior care is now one of the top business models in the franchising and it should remain so for many years.

Jack Kuykendall www.Franchiseguidepost.com Office 909 980 0698 E-Mail: JackKuykendall@msn.com

Yente the Matchmaker

admin — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 20:14:07 +0000

Yente the Matchmaker

When people ask me what a qualified franchise consultant does, I often put it this way: “We are matchmakers–like the character Yente in the musical Fiddler on the Roof.” Of course, Tevye the Milkman’s three daughters all married for love, which, as we all know, may or may not work out. Most people want more certainty when it comes to buying a franchise and finding them the right one involves both a bottom line business evaluation and a personal one. This matchmaking can be a fairly complex process. Yente did a lot of work but never earned a commission from Tevye. There are a lot of moving parts that have to be aligned and balanced: client’s temperament, skills, interest, level of risk tolerance, financial goals and resources, AND the degree of family (spouse) support PLUS the industry trends, short to long-term earning potential of particular business models & their future resale value. IF any major piece is missing or does not fit properly, the match will not be consummated. No point in buying a lemon and then trying to make lemonade. Seek the Golden Apple–or at least one that is crisp & juicy.. Sometimes I think Yente had an easier task.

Jack Kuykendall www.Franchiseguidepost.com Office 909 980 0698 E-mail: jackkuykendal@msn.com

WORKING FROM HOME

admin — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 09:07:24 +0000

Working from Home
Over 20 million businesses are run from home offices in the United States. With lower start-up fees and overhead, home-based businesses are a smart choice for many. With computers and other communication technology at people’s finger tips, a wide variety of franchises can now be run successfully from home.
Many franchises now see home-based operations as a realistic option for their franchisees, given the desire of many people to stay closer to home and have a more flexible work routine. These opportunities are generally service-type franchises, of course, such as senior care, commercial and residential cleaning, home inspection, handyman, maintenance, child development and educational tutoring franchises, pet care and various financial services.
The investment in a home-based business is often a fraction of a retail model because there is no commercial lease to pay or build-out costs. Operating costs and other overhead tend to be much lower and many businesses can write off part of the home mortgage as rent. There is no commute, which saves on gas and wear and mileage on vehicles, and provides more time for family and doing the business itself rather than sitting in traffic. There may be restrictions in some localities, however, and business licenses are still required as a rule.
Self-discipline is essential for the temptation to linger over coffee, get distracted on Facebook or catch an episode of a favorite TV program is ever present. But franchisees with cooperative families and a set routine can find working from home a workable way to make a living, Clearly separating personal from work time, setting up a practical workspace with a minimum of distractions and keeping to a regular schedule are strongly recommended. It is also essential to have a well-thought marketing plan that gets the home-based franchisee into the marketplace, whether that be through regularly scheduled sales calls and conventional advertising or by using the internet to reach and communicate with customers by e-mail and various other social media. The day-to-day operating of this kind of business can take some getting used to for those without a background in sales & marketing, but the opportunities are real and reflect the rapidly changing way in which business is being conducted. The day when owning a franchise more or less equated with “flipping burgers” in a strip mall outlet are a thing of the past.
Jack Kuykendall www.FranchiseGuidepost.com Office 909 980 0698 E-mail: JackKuykendall@msn.com

Explore Your Financing Options

admin — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 17:22:01 +0000

Explore Your Financing Options
When considering your franchise ownership options, you should first decide how much money to invest in a new business. Most franchises require some amount of cash down when a new franchisee plans to purchase a business. Regardless of total investment, some franchisors require that prospective franchisees possess a large amount of available cash, while others require less liquid capital to cover the initial investment. Unless you have enough cash to completely cover the initial investment, you will definitely need to find a source of funding in order to purchase your franchise.
Many franchises offer discounts to women, minorities and veterans and some also offer in-house financing.
Buy within Your Budget
Debt should not be taken lightly, particularly in this economic environment. Franchises tend to have a higher success rate in comparison to start-up businesses, but there will still be risk involved in purchasing your franchise. Start your business search by determining how much liquid capital you have available. The less you have to finance, the quicker and smoother your business buying experience will be.
Businesses Are Available in a Wide Range of Investment Levels
You might be surprised by the wide range of investment levels at which businesses are available. Many factors influence initial investment levels, from how much overhead and inventory you’ll need to get started to whether the business can be run from home, a vehicle, or a storefront. If you’ve always dreamed of owning a café, explore your options in this category. If you do not have an industry in mind, keep your options open and search by your available liquid capital to see what businesses might be available in your price range. A qualified franchise consultant can be very helpful to you in finding the right type of business at an investment level you can afford.
Finding Funding that Works for You
If you do require financing for your new business, you have options. These range from bank loans, which are more difficult to get approval for these days, to a variety of non-traditional forms of financing. Additionally, if you cannot get financing but you want to pursue your dream of business ownership, consider asking friends and family to invest in your business or find a business partner who might be willing to invest in your new business and act as a silent partner.
Some Franchisors Offer Their Own Financing Programs
Some franchisors offer their own in-house financing programs, or they have partnerships with a particular lending company. The lending company is familiar with their concept and convinced of the validity of the brand, therefore it may be easier to gain funding from a partner company. If a franchisor doesn’t offer financing and borrowing the money from friends and family is not an option, you can explore the range of financing options available…
• Traditional Financing
You can get a loan from many banks. You must have a good credit rating, some liquid capital available, and a strong business plan, as banks tend to be conservative in whom they award business loans to. With that said, bank interest rates tend to be competitive. Some franchisors will help you prepare your business plan so it reads well and is convincing.
• SBA-Backed Financing
The Small Business Administration (SBA) offers SBA-backed loans. These extremely popular business loans can be obtained by many individuals who do not qualify for traditional financing options. These loans have been pre-screened by the SBA and this screening process makes it easier to gain financing.
• Investing Your Retirement Funds in a Business
There are several innovative companies that will roll your 401K or other retirement plan into a business loan. There are no penalties associated with this type of retirement fund conversion. This type of loan enables you to invest in a business without mortgaging your home or using your property as collateral.
• Home Equity or 2nd Mortgages
If you feel comfortable and confident in your decision to purchase a business and own enough of your home to take out a home equity line of credit or second mortgage, this option can be a simple way to obtain the necessary cash to finance a business. You will not need a business plan to obtain this type of finding.
• Other Sources of Non-Traditional Financing
With the popularity of business ownership increasing, there are more and more financing options available to meet your needs and preferences. For example, with solid credit, you may be able to obtain a business loan almost instantly and online. Additionally, there are smaller private lenders and brokers that can work with you if you’d like more personalized service.
Jack Kuykendall can be reached at www.FranchiseGuidepost.com Office 909 980 0698 E-Mail: JackKuykendall@msn.com

Veterans Discover Franchise Opportunities

admin — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 00:25:50 +0000

Veterans Discover Franchise Opportunities
Thousands of military veterans are realizing the dream of small-business ownership and entrepreneurship. The International Franchise Association (IFA) helps veterans develop civilian careers and the franchising industry has several programs to help veterans become franchise owners:
• A veterans’ outreach program called “Vet Fran”
• An overview of franchising and specific franchise types and options
• Federal programs that assist veterans in becoming franchise owners
• Profiles of likely franchise candidates among veterans

In April the IFA announced that purchases of small business franchises to former military personnel through Vet Fran reached 1,778, an increase of more than 250 since the end of 2009. And the association reports that there were nearly 250 other purchases pending. More than four hundred franchise companies participate in Vet Fran. Franchises tend to see veterans as a very promising source of owners for their long-term growth plans. Former military personnel can make great business owners because the military provides formal training and valuable experience using the skills franchises value: leadership, planning and following a proven system. Soldiers are disciplined, they value teamwork and loyalty, and they are dependable. Please see the April 2010 issue of Franchising World for a discussion of the Vet Fran program and the IFA’s outreach to veterans.

Jack Kuykendall is a consultant at www.FranchiseGuidepost.com Office 909 980 0698 E-Mail: JackKuykendall@msn.com

Small Business Financing Update

admin — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 22:28:37 +0000

Small Business Financing Update

The Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 has recently become law. This is a very important step for small businesses and the economy. Here is a summary of key benefits for current and potential business owners regarding SBA and commercial lending:

(1) Raises the guarantee on the SBA 7A loan from 75% to 90%
This means that the government will guarantee 90% of the losses on an SBA 7A loan, capping the loss risk of banks at 10%. This should make loan approval much easier and allow people to get funding for franchise start ups that might otherwise be denied
(2) Raises the SBA loan limits on the 7A loan from $2 million to $5 Million and on the 504 loan from $1.5 Million to $5.5 million.
These days many banks do little lending outside the SBA program. Loans for debt consolidation and lines of credit outside the SBA 7A program lending are way down, so increasing the size of possible SBA loans will make more money available to all business owners, not just new owners. Total lending will increase and both the size and number of transactions will increase for both business loans involving real estate and ones “business only” loans.
(3) Permits refinancing on the 504 Loan Program
Until now only new purchases could utilize this program but moving forward existing business owners can use this program to pay off debt or consolidate it at lower interest rates, which now are in the low 5% range. This will make more cash available for other purposes and help businesses expand and re-tool.
(4) Waive SBA fees
These have been running at about 2% of the loan amount and they will be dropped at least until the end of 2010. The benefits of these savings speak for themselves.

Jack Kuykendall Franchise Consultant Office 909 980 0698 E-Mail: JackKuykendall@msn.com Website: www.FranchiseGuidepost.com

Related Links:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/09/27/president-obama-signs-small-business-jobs-act-learn-whats-it

http://economy.cbh.com/2010/10/small-business-jobs-act-of-2010-offers-tax-incentives-for-businesses-of-all-sizes-and-individuals/

INVESTING IN THE RIGHT FRANCHISE

admin — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 19:53:23 +0000

INVESTING IN THE RIGHT FRANCHISE

Investing in the right business opportunity involves analyzing key consumer demand trends. Rather than focusing on current or short term trends, the demand for products or services during the course of the next 10 – 15 years is more important. When looking at franchises it is important to:
• Determine what types of franchises interest you and match your skill sets.
• Calculate the amount of capital required and decide how to fund the business.
• Forecast which products and services will still be in demand when you are ready to sell the business
• Find promising franchise opportunities that meet these standards.
• Evaluate and validate the franchises selected.
Each of these steps requires reviewing the right information. A key aspect is seeing what the future may hold for a particular category of franchises and individual franchises. Some franchises are expensive cash cows in mature or declining industries. Others are faddish stars that will fade away. The best are proven models in growing industries that will still be attractive to buyers 10 – 15 years from now.

Let’s examine some mid-term demographic trends covering 2010 to 2015:

U.S. Census Bureau Population Projections
• The number of people in the U.S. over 65 years of age will grow from 40 million to 47 million. (It will reach 80 million by 2030)
• The percent of the population 65 and older will go from 13% to 14.4%
• By 2015 over 1 in 7 people in the U.S. will be 65 or older.
• The number of Hispanics in the U.S. will grow from 50 million to 58 million
• The percent of Hispanics in the population will go from 16% to 17.7%
• By 2015 approximately 1 in 5.6 people in the U.S. will be Hispanic.
• By 2015 almost 1 in 20 people in the U.S. will be Asian
The franchise categories that should benefit from these population trends and resulting demand for products and services are:
• Health and Fitness Franchises that include home healthcare, fitness and recreational sports centers, medical services and other services for the elderly.
• Personal Care Services including beauty products and services, massage therapy and related services.
• Facilities support services such as office administrative services, janitorial services, IT services, temporary employment agencies.
• Home Service Franchises such as lawn care and landscaping, cleaning services, pest control, handyman, home care services focused on the elderly and security services.
• Accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping and payroll services
• Food Franchises such as Mexican and Asian restaurants and healthy cuisine concepts. Food delivery concepts.
• Children’s Services that provide tutorial, supplemental educational services and programs for learning disabled children. Educational and recreational services reduced or eliminated as a result of funding reductions.
Demographic trends will alter the marketplace and the demand for particular goods and services. Franchising will respond to and mirror these changes. Individuals looking to purchase a franchise determine if a particular franchise reflects a fad or has a sustainable market to sell to.

Jack Kuykendall is a consultant at www.FranchiseGuidepost.com He can be reached at: Office 909 980 0698 or JackKuykendall@msn.com