Francorp Happenings

Francorp Upcoming Events
Francorp is the world leader in franchise development and franchise launches. As part of that, the ongoing responsibility for the firm is to provide information and up to date facts on the current franchise market and most recent happenings in the field of franchising.

Francorp has a podcast site for Francorp clients that can be accessed any time with continuously updated information and discussions on the franchise industry.

www.francorppodcast.com

With the most recent technology improvements in place this site will allow constant access to many informative video and audio recordings on franchising from Francorp's Chairman, Don Boroian and other Francorp professionals.

There you can also access Don Boroian's extensive discussion on franchising in today's economy and what strategies have worked best in the franchise field.

If you are planning on attending the International Franchise Expo in Los Angeles October 2-4, please come visit us at the Francorp Booth

Show Dates & Hours
Friday, October 2, 2009 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Saturday, October 3, 2009 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Sunday, October 4 , 2009 11:00 am to 4:00 pm

Location:
Los Angeles Convention Center
South Hall H & J
1201 South Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, CA 90015
PH: 213-741-1151
Fax: 213-765-4266

Booth # 821

Francorp will have a number of staff members there at the booth to discuss franchising and hold consultations. Several members of the Francorp team who are based throughout California will also be at the show.

Francorp also has an office based in Mexico City that has been established for nearly 20 years run and operated by Mr. Ramon Vinay. Mr. Vinay brings almost 35 years of franchise experience around the globe to Francorp and will be available for business owners to discuss franchise strategies and implementation in Spanish.

If you would like to arrange for a meeting with any members of the Francorp team please call 708-481-2900. Please call us for a free registration to the show before October 1, 2009.

Francorp will be conducting Franchise Marketing Training with former Francorp Client, Todd Sullivan at the Francorp world headquarters.
Francorp Marketing Training is focused on lead generation, developing a franchise brand and efficient marketing strategies for a franchise company.
October 20th & 21st
Francorp, Inc
20200 Governors Drive
Olympia Fields, IL 60461

Francorp - Franchise India Client Meetings
October 12-14th, 2009
Francorp will be inviting select franchisors to the Francorp corporate headquarters for meetings and discussions with Francorp India to break down strategies and implementation for entering the Indian Market. Francorp India will have several Francorp team members in attendance including the Francorp India CEO Gaurav Marya.
Francorp, Inc
20200 Governors Drive
Olympia Fields, IL 60461


Franchise Management Training Module
This training module is run by Mr. John Dukach, Vice President of Strategic Planning with Francorp. He discusses current management strategies for new franchise companies, system management, franchise relationship building and other processes to effectively run and manage a franchise company. Mr. Dukach brings over 30 years of franchise management to Francorp.

October 21st & 22nd, 2009
Francorp, Inc.
20200 Governors Drive
Olympia Fields, IL 60461


Franchise Expo South
January 15 - 17, 2010
Francorp will be Exhibiting at the Exposition
Miami Beach Convention Center, Hall C
1901 Convention Center Drive
Miami Beach, FL 33139

Show Dates & Hours
Friday, January 15, 2010 11:00 am to 6:00pm
Saturday, January 16, 2010 11:00 am to 6:00 pm
Sunday, January 17, 2010 11:00 am to 5:00 pm

For constant updates on Francorp, Francorp clients and global updates on the franchise industry, follow Francorp on Twitter, www.twitter.com/Francorp

Should I Franchise?

Should I Franchise?
Whether you have a totally new concept or an established business in need of faster growth that is lacking the capital, time and people to expand the question is, “Should I franchise?”
Today more Businesses and greater variety of businesses are implementing franchising to distribute their products and services. Virtually any business can be expanded through franchising. Franchising a business is often the only viable source of capital available for expansion especially in today’s tight credit markets. In most instances, the cost of franchising is often a smaller investment that the cost of establishing just one new location.

After paying the initial cost of developing your franchise program, the remaining cost of expansion along with most of the business risk is assumed by the franchisees. Because the franchisee pays an upfront franchisee fee the franchisor is often able to recoup the total cost of franchise program development rather quickly while establishing a monthly revenue stream from royalties paid by the franchisees.

Franchising can provide the capital for rapid growth when your business doesn’t have the capital, the people, or even the time to establish a company owned growth program. Franchising solves the problems of slow growth, the problems of finding outside capital and the problems of finding the right employees associated with company owned units. Franchising a business is the solution for the problems of money, time and people.

Money

Franchising transfers almost the entire cost of expansion to the franchisees. Franchisees build the building or pay the rent, buy the inventory, pay the employees, do the marketing and provide the working capital until sales make the business profitable. In reality, the growth of a franchise system is limited only by the number of people willing to buy the franchise and the number of locations that can be sold.

Time

If you’re anxious to move quickly before the competition catches on with a hot new concept franchising provides solution. Franchising is the one growth system that allows businesses to expand exponentially. A franchise can grow rapidly simply by selling individual units. Some franchises can grow even faster by selling multiple units or territories to sub franchises. Either way, it is almost always faster to open franchises than company-owned units.

People
Franchisees make excellent employees and managers. They have a vested interested in making the business successful. They own it. A franchisor not only gets a dedicated manager they are relieved from the daily problems associated with hiring, firing and managing employees.

In summary, if you are looking to expand your business and lack capital, time or people, franchising is a viable solution to all three problems. If this scenario applies to you and your business the answer to the question, “Should I franchise?” is definitely yes.

Francorp Client DirectBuy

Bart Fesperman announced as DirectBuy's new executive vice president

DirectBuy, the home improvement and home furnishings club with direct insider prices, is pleased to name Bart Fesperman as its new executive vice president.

MERRILLVILLE, IN, February 26, 2009 /Franchise PR News/ -- Mr. Fesperman has been with DirectBuy since 2004 when he joined DirectBuy's executive team as vice president of sales & marketing. Fesperman has nearly doubled DirectBuy's annual membership enrollments each of the last two fiscal years.

Mr. Fesperman's career with DirectBuy dates back to February 1995 when he and his wife LeaAnn, along with partners Lynn and Tammy Corbin, opened their first franchise in Springfield, Missouri. In addition to being recognized as top performers in the network, the Fespermans and Corbins were the recipients of the prestigious Founder's Award in 1998 in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the company.

In July of 2002, the Springfield ownership team opened their second franchise in Johnson County, Kansas. In 2003, at DirectBuy's International Sales & Service Conference in San Diego, both franchises were recognized as Top 10 centers in the network for the conference year 2002-2003.

"We congratulate Bart and look forward to a prosperous future as he leads DirectBuy's sales organization to even greater levels of success," said DirectBuy President and CEO Scott Powell.

DirectBuy offers consumers thousands of items, including kitchen cabinets, flat-screen televisions and major appliances from more than a thousand top manufacturers and their authorized suppliers throughout North America. At more than 160 clubs throughout the United States and Canada, DirectBuy members enjoy a comfortable, welcoming setting and design center where they finally have the financial control of buying direct.

To assist members with their home renovation projects, DirectBuy also offers access to interior designers and product specialists who are specially trained in one of five areas of merchandise: Home Furnishings, Home Improvement, Flooring, Entertainment/Outdoor, and Accessories. Additionally, members benefit from the use of a children's play area, cafe and a member's lounge to relax while shopping.

DirectBuy members also have access to renowned designer Christopher Lowell. Lowell has designed twelve room settings - created exclusively with products available through DirectBuy - using his Seven Layers of Design. An innovative approach to home decor, The Seven Layers of Design keeps homeowners on budget and from feeling overwhelmed by their project.

DirectBuy Membership
Consumers who are interested in joining DirectBuy are encouraged to attend an exclusive Open House event, which is designed to educate families about DirectBuy's unique business model. The Open House also helps consumers better understand how DirectBuy members avoid traditional retail markup when purchasing brand-name merchandise.

To request a "Free Insider's Guide to Buying Direct" and a Visitor's Pass to learn more about the superior value and benefits of a DirectBuy membership, call 1-800-DIRECTBUY or visit www.directbuy.com.

About DirectBuy
For more than 37 years, DirectBuy has been showing thousands of consumers unparalleled ways to save as they shop for virtually everything for in and around their homes - from furnishings, home improvement and flooring, to entertainment and outdoor products, accessories and much, much more. With more than 160 locations in North America, DirectBuy offers its members access to approximately 700 brand-name manufacturers and their authorized suppliers in the US, and more than 500 brand-name manufacturers and authorized suppliers in Canada.

Consumers interested in seeing DirectBuy's savings, service and selection up close may obtain a Visitor's Pass to attend an Open House by visiting www.directbuy.com or www.directbuycares.com.

El Pollo Loco

El Pollo Loco Passes the Buck Back to Consumers with Hot-Off-the-Grill Competitor Coupon Program

Nation's Leading Flame-Grilled Chicken Restaurant Heats Up the Economy Offering Guests Special Dollars-Off Discounts

COSTA MESA, CA, February 21, 2009 /Franchise PR News/ -- After watching Wall Street fat cats pocket huge bonuses of taxpayer money, El Pollo Loco has decided now is the time to pass the buck back to the American people... and in some cases three bucks. Hot off the grill, the nation's leading flame-grilled chicken chain will gladly accept competitors' chicken coupons for a limited time in all 400 plus locations across the country. Just bring in any printed chicken coupon from another restaurant and El Pollo Loco provides a special discount of:

• $1 off any El Pollo Loco Combo Meal (if competitor coupon features an individual chicken meal or entree)

• $3 off any El Pollo Loco Family Meal (if competitor coupon features a family chicken meal)

Consumers can visit www.elpolloloco.com for additional details about this limited time offer.

"Though this offer may ruffle a few feathers, we want to do our part to heat up the economy and reward our guests by offering this special dollars-off discount on our fresh, healthful flame-grilled chicken," said Steve Carley, chief executive officer. "El Pollo Loco doesn't need to lock its recipe in some well-armed underground bunker. It's no secret that El Pollo Loco's juicy, citrus-marinated, flame-grilled chicken has perfected a traditional family recipe with 30 years of grilling expertise."

El Pollo Loco is famous for the unique preparation of its award-winning "pollo" - fresh chicken marinated in a special combination of herbs, spices and citrus juices, then flame-grilled, hand cut and served hot off the grill with warm tortillas, freshly prepared salsas and a wide assortment of side dishes. Rounding out the healthful menu are fresh flavorful entrees inspired by the kitchens of Mexico, including signature grilled burritos, Pollo Bowl entrees, Pollo Salads, tacos, quesadillas, Chicken Tortilla Soup and more.

Francorp Client Success in 2009

Francorp Clients Continue to have Success in 2009.

Francorp clients continue to drive forward through "interesting" economy.


Francorp Client Updates:Real Property Management: Currently have 42 locations across the country. Real Property Management is an industry leader in property management and has a wonderful system for teaching and training franchisees how succeed in this business.Here is an excerpt from the Real Property Management Website:Real Property ManagementThe Leading Property Management Companyin the United States and CanadaFeaturing Over 200 LocationsProperty OwnersReal Property Management is the one property management company that can offer high quality, standardized property management services in all major markets. Real Property Management has managed thousands of properties for over 20 years.Franchise OpportunitiesReal Property Management provides each franchise with a competitive edge through training, innovative and proven business systems, lead-generating marketing methods, Internet-based property management software, and on-going support.


Click here to learn more about Real Property Management franchise opportunites.


Francorp Client Deck Rescue currently has 12 franchises openned currently!


Deck Rescue is an industry leader in the deck powerwashing industry.Here is an excerpt from the Deck Rescue Website:About deck rescueSince 1995, Deck Rescue has been professionally servicing decks. We care for over 1,500 commercial and residential decks, fences, gazebos and other wood structures each year.President of Deck Rescue, Dave Hydock, was appointed to Wolman's seven-member National Contractor Advisory Board in the fall of 2006. Then, in the winter of 2007 upon learning of Deck Rescue's plans to franchise, Wolman agreed to support the franchising endeavor. Wolman has been with us since the beginning and will continue to support us into the future.Licensed, bonded and insured, our professional staff has been recognized for our outstanding services. Most notably by the Cleveland Plain Dealer, The Columbus Dispatch and WEWS News Channel 5.Also, Angie's List awarded Deck Rescue the Super Service Award for Northeast Ohio in 2008 - that's SEVEN awards in the past eight years!We are also the proud recipients of the Torch Award from the Better Business Bureau - only 11 other companies in the area were nominated for this award in 2003, and we were one of only four winners! Deck Rescue also received Honorable Mention in the 2005 biennial competition.We look forward to bringing you our impeccable service!


For more information on franchising and Francorp's clients visit the corporate site:http://www.francorp.com/

What will 2009 bring for Franchising?

What will the new year bring for franchise growth?
Talk about getting started on the wrong foot! Could everyone in the United States be in a more cautious and precarious situation then right now in the days soon after New Years 2009? Most people are still asking, "What just hit us?" as they try to collect themselves both financially and emotionally from a devastating 2008 where over 3 trillion dollars of wealth was lost throughout the year. My guess would be that my Holiday was similar to a lot of other professionals in the United States, less presents under the tree and much less extravagant all around.
Francorp works closely with virtually every major franchise system in the U.S. and around the world. The consulting firm continually analyzes the health and future of the franchise market to better serve and implement new franchise companies.
So what does 2009 bode for franchising? How will franchising respond to the inclimate financial times and what is sure to be an interesting road to recovery for the U.S. economy this coming year?
In my opinion, 2009 will be a good year for franchising and for many entrepreneurs getting started in their own franchised businesses. Here are the reasons.
1. There are no corporate jobs out there right now. Almost all of the large corporations in America save a few niche industries have made enormous cutbacks in their labor forces. When college educated professionals were coming out of school into the job market 3 years ago, those $100k jobs were plentiful and offered a very nice alternative for new workers. In the 2009 market finding a good job anywhere will be like winning a car from the monopoly game at McDonald's, not that likely. Franchises offer a valid alternative for those either newly out of school or looking for new opportunities. The absence of work opportunities will make franchise offers that much more attractive.
2. Real Estate Opportunities. Commercial Real Estate prices are at all time lows per square foot in most U.S. markets. When times are good and the Starbucks of the world are dishing out rents at $100 per square foot in Dekalb, Illinois, its impossible for the "little guys" to keep up. Today, if you have been living in a cave and haven't heard, Starbucks is closing 700 locations as well as many other major corporate chains. This leaves ample opportunities for smaller, emerging chains in many different business categories.
3. The Flock Mentality. Most people are pretty depressed right now. People tend to base their decisions on what others around them are doing or saying. Because of this mentality many of the "pretenders" in any given industry will not be participating in 2009 to the extent they would be when the economy is booming. Looking at the investment community, the really successful investors make opposite moves of the general public. During this massive sell-off in stocks during the second half of 2009, Warren Buffett invested over $20 Billion. The franchise companies that make aggressive expansion moves in 2009 will take market share from their competitors and be in extremely good positions when the economy comes out of this slump.
With the increasing numbers of unemployed workers in the United States franchisors have a growing audience and number of potential franchisees. As more and more creative finance tools are uncovered and the federal reserve does everything in its power to loosten the financial markets, the access to capital will begin to come easier. This combination stands to fuel franchise growth at unprecendented levels in 2009 and beyond.
Francorp is the world leader in franchise consulting and development. For more information and analysis on whether a business is suited for franchising, please visit our corporate site where a multitude of free information on franchising and franchise development is available.
Francorp was founded in 1976 and has worked with over 2,000 successful franchise systems from the ground up. Francorp has four separate companies, Francorp Consulting, Francorp Capital, Francorp International and Francorp Connect. The company was founded by Don Boroian who runs and operates Francorp's four companies to this day.
www.francorp.com

Dunkin' Donuts sells out Mobile franchises

Dunkin’ Donuts announced Wednesday that it signed a development agreement to open 40 restaurants in Mobile and Pensacola, Fla.

In the deal with Gulf Coast Franchise Group LLC, six restaurants will open in Mobile and three in Pensacola in 2009, with the rest opening in the next six years.

Continue to read at:
http://www.bizjournals.com/birmingham/stories/2008/12/08/daily29.html

Franchise Brands buys HomeVestors

Franchise Brands LLC has bought majority ownership of HomeVestors of America Inc., the company behind the "We Buy Ugly Houses" billboards.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Founded in 1989, Dallas-based HomeVestors sold its first franchise in 1996 and has grown to a national franchise that specializes in buying homes that need repair. HomeVestors' network includes more than 230 franchised offices in 35 states. The company said its franchisees sell most of the houses to other investors and first-time home buyers.

Continue to read at:
http://dallas.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2008/06/09/daily15.html

Francorp Expanding Into India

PRESS RELEASE


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
Francorp
(800) 372-6244

Francorp Expanding Into India


(Olympia Fields, IL) – Francorp Chairman Don Boroian announced today that Francorp has awarded Franchise India Holdings Limited the Francorp India franchise.

The contract was signed between Don Boroian, Francorp India U.S.A. Representative Atul Bhatara, and President of Franchise India Holdings Limited Guarav Marya.

“Franchise India Holdings Limited has already paved the way with franchise expos, franchise and business publications, and franchise consulting in India,” shares Boroian. “We are honored to have them as part of our team.”

Franchise India Holdings Limited has been Asia’s leading integrated franchise consulting company since 1999, with an authority on franchising, licensing, retailing, real estate, and marketing. With its strategically formed divisions, Franchise India Holdings Limited has created its own niche as the pioneers of the franchise industry and a small business authority in India.

According to Marya, “Francorp India will help boost investor confidence by providing professionally managed franchise consulting and development support, all under a common one-step gateway to facilitate entry into India and vice-versa.”

India is home to over a billion people, with a flourishing class of urban consumers possessing considerable amount of disposable income. With the continued growth of the economy, India has strengthened its claim to be a viable and beneficial destination for a foreign franchisor.

Since its beginning in the early 90s, the franchise industry has grown in leaps and bounds in the Indian sub-continent, and there is still much to explore. Based on the successful growth of many franchise brands in India, the future of franchising in India is highly promising.[1]

This promising future of the Indian franchising industry is backed up by an equally powerful market report that shows statistics of this thriving sector.
According to reports, for the past five years the Indian franchise market has recorded a steady growth of 30 to 35% per annum. Also, the annual turnover of the Indian franchise industry soared to 3.3 billion USD and is projected to soar higher in the coming years.[2] “We are very excited about the opportunity to enter the Indian market at a time when the concept of franchising is experiencing tremendous growth and acceptance,” noted Boroian.

For over 30 years, Francorp has been the leader in the franchise consulting industry. They have assembled a team of experts whose talents are coordinated seamlessly to create customized materials that fit the specific needs of their clients. As an international company, Francorp has the global reach to help clients expand their business, with a local presence to adjust their business to fit each country’s unique culture and laws. Headquartered in Chicago, IL, Francorp has assisted more than 10,000 companies for expansion, and has developed more than 2,000 franchise programs throughout the U.S., Japan, South Africa, Middle East, Central America, Malaysia, Philippines, Argentina, Chile, and Mexico.

For more information, visit http://www.francorp.com/ or call (800) 372-6244.

# # #
[1] Franchiseek, Indian Franchise Statistics and Information. November 17, 2008, available at www.franchiseek.com.
[2] Franchiseek, Indian Franchise Statistics and Information. November 17, 2008, available at www.franchiseek.com.

Carlson Restaurants announces management changes at TGI Friday's

18th November 2008

By Staff Writer

Carlson Restaurants Worldwide, the parent company of TGI Friday's restaurants, has named John Neitzel as president and COO of TGI Friday's USA, and Ricky Richardson as executive vice president and COO of TGI Friday's International.

Continue to read at:
http://www.food-business-review.com/article_news.asp?guid=31167B79-C4DC-4E02-B9D3-75D7AC13D53F

Don Boroian Leads Francorp into Continued Growth

Francorp's Chairman, Don Boroian held a meeting three weeks ago with the entire staff of 60 people at Francorp. The meeting was focused on the economy and the direction of our business, country and global economy. Mr. Boroian is extremely well read, he goes through 6 papers every day and reads numerous publications focusing on the economy and economic news.

He voiced some of the concerns that every American is going through right now. Where is the light at the end of the tunnel here? What is tomorrow going to look like? When could I possibly retire with all these swings in the market? Don Boroian has not acheived all of the successes and accolades he has compiled in his 55 years of business by being one of the "flock". Mr. Boroian expressed an extreme displeasure with the media and their focus on the negative aspects of our economy. Mr. Boroian spoke of the negative effects. "When an average consumer hears a news report that talks of doom and gloom, they don't go on that vacation or buy that car they were thinking about getting." It is a vicious cycle, the consumer's behavior is driven by the information they have, right now it is all negative information about the economy.
We see many companies downsizing and shrinking their businesses as a result. We then have less employment and therefore less spending. Mr. Boroian pointed out that of course there are some deep underlying economic issues at hand here, but the fact is that we create our own destiny. If we succomb to the media and the swirl of negative publicity, then we ourselves will fall into that trap.
Don Boroian is a bold person. He throughout his life has made decisions and moves with his business and clients that others would not have the gumption to do. As a result, he is Chairman of the world's largest franchise consulting firm, Francorp. Prior to Francorp Mr. Boroian created an industry in the music business by franchising a chain of music operations. He also did the same in the restaurant industry. It is this temperment for tumultuous times where most business owners are "pulling in their horns" that Don Boroian makes aggressive moves.
It was announced at the Francorp meeting that we would be bringing on some new staff. Could this really be true? That when all the news and publicity is saying that every company in America is faltering and Francorp is hiring new people?
Mr. Boroian mentioned, that now, more than ever, Francorp clients need the resources and attention of Francorp staff. Look at the world's most successful investors, they make their moves when the market is down...not when it's up! Having been in business for almost 33 years, Francorp has seen several recessions and market downturns, this is nothing new to Don Boroian.
Francorp has recently hired Gail Doonan on full time as Regional Director Administrator. Ms. Doonan brings over 30 years of business experience to Francorp and Francorp clients. She has owned her own businesses and successfully managed client projects for some time. Ms. Doonan will be working closely with the Francorp Regional Directors, who are a nationwide network of franchise brokers and franchise sales people.
Francorp also recently brought on Tiffany Franco as a full time person. Ms. Franco works closely with Mr. Christopher J. Conner, Vice President of Francorp Consulting. Ms. Franco brings over 10 years of business experience to the consulting firm.
Francorp will also be adding some additional staff to support and manage client development. Mr. Boroian closed the meeting with Francorp Staff with a final thought. "As long as we can continue to develop successful clients who sell franchises, Francorp will continue to sit at the top of it's industry. Everything we do is to be of the highest quality workmanship and nothing leaves this building without every bit of our effort and attention. At Francorp, the client is king."
http://www.francorp.com/
http://www.francorpconnect.com/

1-800-DRYCLEAN Franchise Launches Contest To GO GREEN and Win FREE GAS

http://www.franchising.com/pressreleases/9278/

Top prize $500 to winner drawn January 5, 2009
October 22, 2008 // Franchising.com // Ann Arbor, MI., - Shannon Toler, president of 1-800-DryClean Franchise Company, announced details for 15 environmentally responsible customers to win FREE GAS."Now until December 31, 2008, each time customers use our free pick up and delivery drycleaning service, we'll enter their names in a drawing to win free gas," said Toler. "The more entries the better the odds with the winner ringing up $500 at the pump."1-800-DryClean franchise customers save themselves time and money, and help save the environment by car-pooling their clothes--reducing carbon emissions and cutting our dependency on foreign oil."We want to reward our customers for going GREEN. And when they do, we all win," said Toler.
About 1-800-DryClean:
1-800-DryClean is a quality dry-cleaning and laundry pick-up and delivery service franchise, and a member of the Service Brands International family of brands. 1-800-DryClean is the world's largest drycleaning delivery service franchise. It's ranked number one in its category, and a "Top Home-Based Business" among Entrepreneur magazine's Franchise 500Ò. The company has franchised since 2000, and currently has more than 130 franchise units across the United States.

Francorp 12 Criteria of Franchisability for a Business

Don Boroian founded Francorp on the premise of working only with companies in a position to take the next step of expansion and growth through franchising. Francorp closely evaluates every business it meets with to determine whether or not that particular business has the viability needed to be a successful franchise organization. Francorp has put together the 12 steps of franchise criteria that the company uses as a benchmark for determining whether franchising could be a successful growth vehicle.

Francorp 12 Criteria of Franchisability for a Business
While it is impossible to determine the franchisability of a business concept without a significant amount of analysis, Francorp has identified a series of 12 criteria that assess the readiness of a company for franchising and the likelihood that it will achieve success as a franchisor.

1. Credibility – To sell franchises, a company must first be credible in the eyes of its prospective franchisees. Credibility can be reflected in a number of ways: organization size, number of units, years in operation, look of the prototype unit, publicity, consumer awareness of the brand, and strength of management, to name some of the most prominent factors.

2. Differentiation – In addition to credibility, a franchise organization must be adequately differentiated from its franchised competitors. This can come in the form of a differentiated product or service, a reduced investment cost, a unique marketing strategy, or different target markets.

3. Transferability of knowledge – The next criteria of franchisability is the ability to teach a system to others. To franchise, a business must generally be able to thoroughly educate a prospective franchisee in a relatively short period of time. Generally speaking, if a business is so complex that it cannot be taught to a franchisee in three months, a company will have difficulty franchising. Some more complex franchisors offset this handicap by targeting only franchise prospects that are already "educated" in their field (e.g., a medical franchise targeting only doctors).

4. Adaptability – Next, measure how well a concept can be adapted from one market to the next. Some concepts do not adapt well over large geographic areas because of regional variations in consumer tastes or preferences. Others (e.g., dental practices) are constrained by law. Still other concepts work only because they are in a very unique location. And some work because of the unique abilities or talents of the individual behind the concept. Finally, some concepts are only successful based on years of perseverance and relationship building.

5. Refined and successful prototype operations – A refined prototype is necessary to demonstrate that the system is proven, and is generally instrumental in the training of franchisees. The prototype also acts as a testing ground for new products, new services, marketing techniques, merchandising, and operational efficiencies.

6. Documented systems – All successful businesses have systems. But in order to be franchisable, these systems must be documented in a manner that communicates them effectively to franchisees. Generally speaking, a franchisor will need to document its policies, procedures, systems, forms, and business practices in a comprehensive and user-friendly operations manual and/or computer-based training module.

7. Affordability – Affordability merely reflects a prospective franchisee’s ability to pay for the franchise in question. This criterion is as much a reflection of the prospective franchisee as it is of the actual cost of opening a franchise.

8. Return on Investment – A franchised business must, of course, be profitable. But more than that, a franchised business must allow enough profit after a royalty for the franchisees to earn an adequate return on their investment of time and money. Profitability is always relative. It must be measured against investment to provide a meaningful number. In this way, the franchise investment can be measured against other investments of comparable risk that compete for the franchisee’s dollar. Typically, Francorp would like for the franchisee to achieve a ROI of at least 20 percent by the second to third year of operations.

9. Market trends and conditions – While not an indicator of franchisability as much as a general indicator of the success of any business, these trends are key to long-term planning. Is the market growing or consolidating? How will that affect your business in the future? What impact will the Internet have? Will the franchisee’s products and services remain relevant in the years ahead? What are other franchised and non-franchised competitors doing? And how will the competitive environment affect your franchisee’s likelihood of long-term success.

10. Capital – While franchising is a low-cost means of expanding a business, it is not a "no cost" means of expansion. A franchisor needs the capital and resources to implement a franchise program. The resources required to initially implement a franchise program will vary depending on the scope of the expansion plan. If a company is looking to sell one or two franchised units, the necessary legal documentation may be completed at costs as low as $15,000. For franchisors targeting aggressive expansion, however, start-up costs can run $100,000 or more. And once the costs of printing, audits, marketing, and personnel are added to the mix, a franchisor may require a budget of $250,000 or more to reach its expansion goals.

11. Commitment to relationships – Successful franchisors focus on building long-term relationships with their franchisees that are mutually rewarding. Unfortunately, not all franchise organizations understand the link that exists between relationships and profits. Strong franchisee relationships enable the franchisor to sell franchises more effectively, introduce needed changes into the system more easily, and motivate franchisees and their managers to provide a consistent level of products and services to their customers.

12. Strength of management – Finally, the single most important aspect contributing to the success of any franchise program is the strength of its management. Franchise Connect has found that the single most common contributor to the failure of start-up franchisors is understaffing or a lack of experience at the management level. Many times, new franchisors will try to take everything on themselves. In addition to absorbing several new jobs for which the franchisor has little to no time, the franchisor needs to exhibit expertise in fields in which he or she may have little or no experience: franchise marketing, lead handling, franchise sales, ad fund management, training, and multi-unit operations management.

For more information please visit the Francorp corporate site, www.francorp.com

Francorp Client Plains & Prints to Move into Asian Markets

Plains & Prints sets sights on Asian market
Plains & Prints was established in November 1994 by Roxanne and Erickson Farillas. Then known as Prints & Plaids, the first boutique opened in Shoppesville, Greenhills. The company’s first products were lace-edged towels and basic polo shirts.
Later on, the brand ventured into women’s apparel, carrying the concept of classic and stylish, which became a hit with teenagers and young professionals.
In 2002, Plains & Prints took on Gretchen Barretto as endorser and this move brought the brand to the national consumer’s consciousness.
Plains & Prints has strengthened its position as a major player in women’s apparel by providing stylish and classic apparel. The present product line includes shoes, handcrafted bags, belts, Bread and Butter (basic tees), Down Under (underwear), Eve (eau d toilette), and Intuitions (body spray).
In terms of brand recall and market share, Plains & Prints ranks among the top 5 local women’s apparel brands. The brand has become synonymous with quality clothing for women with style.
Plains & Prints offers franchise opportunities to entrepreneurs who wish to own and operate their own Plains & Prints boutique. Plains & Prints has been franchising since November 2002 and has franchised outlets in Cebu City, Bacolod, Iloilo, Davao City, Cagayan de Oro, Baguio, Dagupan, Cabanatuan, Marilao and Valenzuela.
Plains & Prints was awarded the Most Promising Filipino Franchise (retail category) in the 2004 Franchise Excellence Awards. The company’s franchise program was developed by Francorp, a leading international franchise consultancy firm with offices in the Philippines, Malaysia, Japan, United States and South America.
The brand now embarks on a bold expansion move that, hopefully, will introduce the Plains & Prints concept to the Asian market.
Leading the expansion plan is the introduction of new collections that highlight the creativity and ingenuity of local fashion designers. Plains & Prints has collaborated with designer Rajo Laurel for its high-end R.A.F. (Rich and Famous) line.
Roxanne explains that the new collection highlights Laurel’s avant-garde approach to fashion, featuring designs that incorporate architecture, romance and luxury.
Another major leap for Plains & Prints is its choice of Thai-British model Paula Taylor as its image model.
“With Paula as the model of our new campaign, we are confident that Plains & Prints will be given more exposure globally and hopefully, discovered as a brand that provides a new twist on classic fashion,” says Roxanne.
Next on the brand’s agenda is opening stores in key cities in Asia, starting with Thailand and Malaysia. The brand has 49 stores in the Philippines, including the newly opened branch at the fifth level of the Shangri-La Plaza Mall. Aside from its Asian expansion, Plains & Prints also wants to open more branches in prime locations in the country.
“Despite stiff competition from international brands, Plains & Prints still emerged as a top local brand which Filipino women prefer,” says Roxanne. “The next step is really to move forward and introduce Filipino fashion to the world. Now that we’ve been given an opportunity to do so, we have big plans to make our mark in the international fashion community.” Dinna Chan Vasquez

www.francorp.com

www.francorpconnect.com

What's Up Dog! To Expand Through Franchising

What’s Up Dog to Expand Through Franchising
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San Francisco, CA, October 01, 2008 --(PR.com)--

What’s Up Dog has announced they will be launching an aggressive expansion program through franchising.For over five years, What’s Up Dog has offered the hot dog enthusiast a variety of gourmet hot dogs and sausages within the San Francisco area. Their tantalizing menu consists of old carnival favorites like the corn dog, chili cheese nachos and garlic fries. But the eclectic selection of frankfurters and sausages (“Lemon Chicken”, Veggie Tofurky”, “Kielbasa”) has reinvented an American favorite.Americans eat an estimated 20 billion hot dogs a year, with 150 million consumed on Independence Day alone. We love hot dogs so much that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce actually dubbed July as National Hot Dog Month over 50 years ago.It was this shared love for hot dogs that inspired What’s Up Dog owner King Lei to open his own hot dog shop. To ensure that he only offered the best, he visited hundreds of hot dog stores from Los Angeles to New York. And his research resulted in rave reviews. “People love our name and products,” remarks King.This response has led What’s Up Dog to Francorp, the world’s leader in franchise consulting, to assist them in the development of their franchise program.

For more information about What’s Up Dog, call (415) 864-3707

or visit www.whatsupdogs.com

###

Sonic Franchise Stores Outperform Company Operations

Sonic slips on same-store sales outlook
Associated Press 09.24.08, 5:37 PM ET

NEW YORK -
Several analysts trimmed their fourth-quarter profit estimates for Sonic Corp. on Wednesday, after the drive-through restaurant chain said preliminary fourth-quarter same-store sales were "slightly negative."
Shares of Sonic fell 53 cents, or 3.3 percent, to $15.41.
After Tuesday's closing bell, Sonic said same-store sales were positive nationwide for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, but partner drive-in sales declined for the fiscal year and in the fourth quarter. Same-store sales measure sales at stores open at least a year and are considered a good gauge of ongoing retail health.
In the fourth quarter, Sonic said same-store sales were positive at franchised drive-in locations, but same-store sales for partner drive-ins were "significantly negative," causing slightly negative same-store sales systemwide. Partner drive-ins are locations where the company owns a majority interest.
Oklahoma City-based Sonic is set to report fourth-quarter results Oct. 16, and analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expect 35 cents per share in earnings for the fourth quarter.
Stifel Nicolaus & Co. analyst Steve West trimmed his quarterly profit forecast by a penny to 34 cents, and expects Hurricane Ike and input costs to weigh on fiscal 2009 results. West said the impact from Hurricane Ike is much worse than previously expected because of massive power outages.
West, however, kept a "Buy" rating on the stock, expecting new products to drive sales and boost margins.
Meanwhile, KeyBanc Capital Markets analyst Lynne Collier, who rates the stock "Hold," also trimmed her fourth-quarter estimate and noted higher commodity costs and softening consumer spending. The company has significant exposure to rising beef and dairy costs, Collier said.
Collier also said a happy hour promotion increased customer traffic, but ended up hurting the average check.

Franchise Brokers

People often ask me about franchise brokers. On the surface, the idea of a franchise broker seems simple enough. Brokers put buyers and sellers together so whether a buyer or a seller, brokers would seem to be a very important component in the equation.

The fact is, brokers get paid to put buyers and sellers together. After all, they need to get paid too. Thus, by the pure nature of that relationship, they typically have a biased opinion. Odds are, they are representing a party that pays them upon procurement of a sale.

So, let us look at this from both perspectives, the franchisor and prospective franchisee.

For you franchisors or perspective franchisors - Brokers fill a void as a nice additional franchise sales outlet, but do not make the mistake in thinking that brokers are going to be your only source of sales for your franchise company. We have found that companies that sell their own franchises have the greatest success in the long run. The reason for this is that a company selling their own franchises has to live with them for the term of the contract. This causes in house sales teams to have more stringent criteria placed on them.

Thus, my advice is to first deploy an in-house sales initiative. In order to be successful with an in-house sales force, they will need to deploy a marketing program in order to generate leads for those sales people to follow up with. This strategy needs to address the following marketing opportunities:

1. Internet
2. Trade Shows
3. PR / Publicity
4. Print
5. Direct mail

Francorp believes that this multi-pronged approach is the best way to address franchise sales and marketing.

As a secondary plan, brokers can add additional prospects to the equation. Though, be weary of deploying a marketing program and sending all of your leads to outside brokers. I would not recommend that strategy. Your leads are then likely to be distributed among that brokers other franchisor clients in the event that they have a qualified franchisee prospect that is not interested in your particular business off hand. My advice would be to only use brokers that generate their own leads. In addition, be careful not to enter into an exclusive broker arrangement.

For those of you that are prospective franchisees, be weary of brokers steering you to a particular business in which they are obtaining a commission. Not all franchise companies pay commissions. What happens if you work with a broker and they do not show you a particular franchise that you are interested in learning more about? GO DIRECTLY TO THAT COMPANY.

There are many brokers that are great people and and help people find their dream business. Though, brokers are not for everyone. I am not aware of any large national brokerage networks that are paid directly by the buyer. All of the brokers that I have met are paid by the actual franchise companies upon the sale of a franchise. In a perfect world, you perspective buyers should work with a broker for a fee that you pay so that your interests are being represented, not those of a hand full of franchisors.

Now you sellers and prospective buyers are in a better informed position to be able to find the right opportunities that are out there for you all. You heard it here from Francorp, the franchising leader.

Francorp - Franchise Consulting - Franchise Sales

Franchise Sales Strategies:
Christopher James Conner
Vice President
Francorp Consulting

As the Franchise World continues to move towards technology like all other industries, more and more sales processes become automated, it becomes easier and easier to forget and lose the most critical ingredient of what has made salespeople successful for centuries, "Building Relationships."

People still buy from people they like and that they can relate to. Technology can't create this, it can only enhance what we as salespeople do during the process. To most potential customers, all the "fluff" becomes white noise and people don't read or listen to mass emails and bombardment of marketing materials.

It is up to the franchise sales professional to create a feeling of caring for the potential franchisees future. The sales process should evoke a sense of "mutual exploration" for both the candidate and the sales person.

Initial contact for a franchise sales person needs to be through the phone. I have never awarded a franchise solely through email contact. This is an enormous decision for most franchise buyers, a cold email and information requests don't convey very much sincerity to a prospective franchisee. Most franchise buyers are refinancing homes or closing out 401k's to make this possible, they must feel very confident in the franchise sales person to pull the trigger on a decision as big as this.

It is important for the franchise sales person to combine emails with phone calls, the prospect should know your voice as well as personal background about the franchise sales person....after all, isn't that what "building a relationship" is all about!?! The franchise sales person should think of themselves as a consultant, work with the franchisee by taking a personal interest in their success.

The initial phone call should be to set an appointment, don't jump into the sale! A franchise sale sis very different from most sales where you are providing a traditional good or service. This is a partnership we are selling now. The first call should be an explanation as to what the next call will cover.

The first phone appointment is about the customer! Remember you should be doing no more than 25% of the talking! If you find that you are doing most of the talking during the call....it probably isn't going very well. Key points to cover during this appointment, timing, why should they be looking at franchising now? Background, what is your level of interest in franchising and why? Goals, what would you like to achieve through franchising? Where, what locations would you like to consider opening the franchise? When it comes down to it, people really don't care about how smart you are until you show concern for their well being and interests.

Here is an acronym we use at Francorp when describing franchise sales. The franchise sales person should strive to be a "Star".

S - Support - Family, Friends and Peers
T - Timing - Now is the right time for Franchising
A - Assets - Building wealth through owning your own business.
R - Recreation - It's fun and exciting!

Building a relationship with a potential franchisee unlocks unbiased information from a franchise candidate, this allows the franchise sales person to make legitimate recommendations. Typically the most guarded area of information will be in regards to financial well being - franchise buyers will not be up front about financial facts until they fell comfortable with a franchise sales person. It is impossible for you as the sales person to provide valuable assistance for them without accurate information! Build the relationship first, then the information will be unbiased and your recommendations will be authentic.

Franchise buyers, much like any other buyer want to feel that they are getting involved with people who are like them. A big part of the franchise sale is drawing connections with the buyer and making examples of existing franchisees who are similar to the prospective buyer. Throughout the sales process, it is important for franchise sales people to remember that the franchise opportunity they are selling is just that....an opportunity. People who are awarded the right to operate as a franchisee will unlock their financial future, this should be about helping people!

www.francorp.com

www.francorpconnect.com

Francorp Breakfast - West Coast Franchise Exposition

Each year Francorp holds a breakfast debreifing before every major franchise exibition around the country. These meetings are held for the specific purpose of working with clients to get them ready for the show that weekend and help strategize how to most effectively utilize your time as a franchisor at a large tradeshow.

The Breakfast Breifings are designed to focus on "booth tactics", booth design, tradeshow set up, staffing the show, collateral material design and handouts, managing a tradeshow and following up with prospective franchisees after the event.

This coming November Francorp will be holding the West Coast Franchise Breakfast on Friday, 11/07/08 at 7:30am. This meeting is for Francorp Clients only, but Francorp will also be exibiting at the Franchise Exposition as well at booth #325.

Show Dates & HoursFriday, November 7, 2008
10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Saturday, November 8, 2008
10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Sunday, November 9, 2008
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Location:
Los Angeles Convention Center
1201 South Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, CA 90015
PH: 213-741-1151
Fax: 213-765-4266

Booth # 325

Register for Free before November 6, 2008 go to www.wcfexpo.com enter in source code GPEX8. Registration link: http://www.wcfexpo.com/registration.cfm

Francorp is the world leader in franchising and franchise development. Francorp has consulted with over 10,000 companies over it's 32 year history. For more information on the work and clients that Francorp has developed, visit the corporate site, www.francorp.com.

Franchising Your Business - David Washington

VMG Vivere Management Group, LLC. Bringing energy, passion, and vigor to your business… INFLUENCE • INTEGRITY • INNOVATION Book Review
Franchising Your Business is the Quintessential Resource
For Growth Expansion in Today’s Marketplace
By J. David Washington


After reading "Franchising Your Business" by Donald D. Boroian and Patrick Callaway, I felt that the veil of the franchising world had been removed. Don and Pat carefully unravel all the myths that surround the world of franchising. One of the most important ingredients to success is to have a winning formula & blue print. The blue print required for success in franchising is mapped out clearly and succinctly in sixteen exciting and fast moving chapters. In chapter one the reader learns the rules of engagement and gets a 30,000 feet view of where the industry was and where it’s heading. Don and Pat have clearly shared gems of wisdom that can only be acquired through vetted industry experience. "Franchising Your Business" is filled with charts, examples of operation manuals, and a very practical franchiseability test to help a business owner to determine where there my stand in becoming the next great franchise success story. Chapter fourteen was very intriguing for me"Going International"; with the globalization of the world’s economy it’s important that one has a balanced prospective on the opportunities and pitfalls that lurk about in the international marketplace. Don and Pat do a good job of sharing their good and no so good experiences in the shark infested world of international business. The eight-step international checklist is a must read and review for entrepreneurs that aspire to expand their business beyond the shores of their local, regional, and domestic markets. Even though I'm not a teacher, this is a well written book based on first-hand experience and industry knowledge I give it an A+! It truly is a "must read" for anyone wanting to go into franchising and really want to expand their business. As a franchise consultant, I recommended "Franchising Your Business" to every prospective client with information garnered from this book you will be at the "head of the class" Clearly Don is a Guru in the world of franchising. Patrick, Don’s grandson merges their experience and prospective in a way to anticipate every thought you would have, every question, and every action you would take as you investigate, start up of your franchise system. Their goal is to equip the reader with "franchise blueprint knowledge." They have achieved this goal and more. If you are thinking of expanding into a franchise, "Franchising Your Business" is the book for you. If your goal was to take your business to the next level through franchising, the secret to success has been reveled in this resources guide, what you want to accomplish in terms of your franchise goals and what you need to know has been made available in "Franchising Your Business An Owner’s Guide To Franchising As A Growth Option". Good luck and many blessing to you on the journey!

www.francorp.com