Tweet

Mary Tomzack Articles

Written by: Mary Tomzack

Why You Lost Yet Another Franchisee Prospect to Your Competitor - Click To Read Article
Franchisors are usually too busy managing their businesses or working with new franchise candidates to recognize why the prospects they almost brought into their franchise system decided to abandon the process or, worse still, join up with a competitor. Chances are they will keep losing candidates and never know why. Franchisors need to take a hard look at their franchise opportunity from a perspective franchisee's point of view to understand where they could be going wrong (and their competitors are going right). And for prospective franchisees, this article will give you a rare insider's view into what the folks on the franchisor (corporate) side are thinking when they are attempting to sell you on investing in their franchise business opportunity.

The Ten-Part Checklist You Must Complete Before You Take Your Franchise Concept Abroad - Click To Read Article
Deciding to go international with your franchise business system your franchise business international is a huge change. How do you make sure that you do it the right way? Below is our ten-point set of tips for taking your franchise concept global the right way.

How much can I really make in a franchise business investment? PART 1 - Click To Read Article
So you're considering a franchise investment, but you want to know before you plop down a big chunk of cash: how much can I really make in this business? It's a fair question and one that, contrary to popular opinion, you can do a reasonable job of actually answering. Read on for part 1 of FranchiseHelp's exclusive 3-part, in-depth guide to estimating the profit potential of nearly any franchise, where we cover some basic franchise accounting.

How much can I really make in a franchise business investment? PART 2 - Click To Read Article
You're considering a franchise investment and want to figure out what your potential profits and return on investment (ROI - which basically means how much money you will make for your efforts) might look like. In other words, you need to build a franchise business plan projection. It takes some effort and some expert guidance, but luckily we're here to help you through it! Below we feature part 2 of FranchiseHelp's 3-part series on how to calculate nearly any franchise's profit potential. Follow the outlined steps and you'll be able to develop a very good model for how much money you can make in your chosen franchise opportunity.

How much can I really make in a franchise business investment? PART 3 - Click To Read Article
You're considering investing a bunch of time and, in many cases, a huge portion of your savings in a franchise business opportunity. Maybe you're even quitting your old job and career to pursue your dream of owning your own business. But first you want to know how much money you could expect to make from your franchise investment. In part 3 of FranchiseHelp's 3-part series on how to calculate a franchise's potential return on investment, we dive into how you can calculate the cash flow and returns potential of your target franchise opportunity.

Advanced Franchise Business Accounting - Part 1 - Click To Read Article
In FranchiseHelp's 3-Part Guide on EvanCarmichael for analyzing the profit potential of a franchise business, we provided basic descriptions of several important accounting terms. Those descriptions were fully sufficient for building out a basic franchise business plan model, but some people like to dig deep into the weeds, so for you detail freaks we've assembled the following guide to Advanced Franchise Accounting Concepts. Read on for Part 1 of a 2-Part Series on Franchise Accounting Terminology.

Advanced Franchise Business Accounting - Part 2 - Click To Read Article
In FranchiseHelp's 3-Part Guide on EvanCarmichael for analyzing the profit potential of a franchise business, we provided basic descriptions of several important franchise business accounting terms. Some readers wanted to go beyond these introductory concepts, so we've written the following guide to Advanced Franchise Accounting Concepts. Read on for Part 2 of a 2-Part Series on Advanced Franchise Accounting Terminology.

What is a UFOC Uniform Franchise Offering Circular - Click To Read Article
What is a UFOC? What Does the UFOC Contain? How Do I Use this Franchise Document? Description of Standard UFOC Items

Opportunities and Challenges in International Franchising - Foreign Franchises Trying to Move into the U.S. - Click To Read Article
Although franchising is growing more rapidly outside the U.S. than in our more saturated U.S. market, the U.S. remains an extremely attractive - and prestigious - market in the eyes of many foreign franchisors. Thus, one trend that is seeing renewed interest is the influx of foreign franchise systems into the U.S. While moving from the U.S. to a foreign market can be a challenge for American businesses, it can be even more challenging fro foreign operations to establish a foothold here in the States, as they deal with our more complex regulations, a serious language barrier, and the ever-competitive U.S. market.

Franchising Your Business - the Key Questions to Consider - Click To Read Article
Franchising Your Business: Key Questions to Consider Why Does Franchising Make Sense? What Does It Take to Succeed as a Franchise? What are the Procedures to Franchise a Business? Becoming a franchisor can be the fastest, most efficient, and, in most cases, the most cost-effective way to expand a business. Many successful business owners investigate franchising a number of reasons.

How Can Casual Dining / Fast-Food Franchises Boost Sales with Almost No Additional Cost? - Click To Read Article
Despite all of the economic levers and factors that many experts might cite, the reality is that fast-food franchises that lack new and fresh ideas will continue to lose out to those that continue to innovate and offer consumers a fresh, exciting experience.

6 Questions to Ask Yourself before Investing in a Home-Based Franchise Business - Click To Read Article
As families continue to face rising commute costs, grinding traffic jams, and drab or dispiriting office environments, they are increasingly looking to home-based franchise opportunities as a possibility. However, while certainly attractive on the surface, working from home is simply not for everyone. There are several key questions you must ask yourself (and answer honestly!) before deciding to invest in a home-based franchise opportunity.

Marketing Your Franchise - Click To Read Article
Marketing Your Franchise The foundation for any successful franchise company consists of a good concept and a proven system. But the greatest system in the world will languish away into oblivion without a sharp marketing strategy. And although selling franchises may be the first order of business, good marketing can't stop there. Since a franchisor only makes money when its franchisees make money, the real challenge is in consistently generating business at the ground level. In this issue we talk to Todd Woods of Guerilla Marketing and Dwight Gould of Aviatech to get their views on the best ways to market your franchise.

International Franchising-A World of Opportunity - Click To Read Article
It's a big wide world out there with billions of consumers and tons of profits to be made. Expanding a franchise company into international markets is an exciting and potentially rewarding venture. Is your franchise ready to take on the world? We went to the experts and those who have done it to learn what it takes to move a franchise concept from country to country. In this issue we speak with Joe Lindenmayer from TSS Photography and Craig Slavin from Franchise Architects to get their views on international franchising.

The Money Connection - Click To Read Article
New franchisees need to come up with a lot of money, especially when considering the total cost of building a location, supplies, overhead, and living expenses while you get started. Franchisors need to find big bucks, too, especially when they're trying to keep up with the demands of a growing system. Where do franchisees and franchisors find the money to finance their franchise dreams? We talked to Bernard Siegel of Siegel Capital and John Rinaldi of Irwin Franchise Capital for their views on how to make the money connection.

How to Sell Franchises at Trade Shows - Click To Read Article
Trade shows are well known as suitable venues for selling franchises. Trade shows aren't looking to attract franchise buyers; they're focusing instead on attracting target audience. That target market could be your franchise company's industry.

Reasons to Invest in Hotel Industry Franchises - Click To Read Article
The lodging industry comprises what is probably the world’s fastest-growing business, employing one in ten people worldwide. Even with worldwide economic problems the lodging industry is projecting growth in the next few years. The most exciting aspect of the hotel industry’s growth and popularity is the fact that many of the most influential players in the sector are franchise systems.

Franchise Discounts for Military Veterans - Click To Read Article
VetFran is a simple voluntary program designed to be a win-win. It provides franchise companies with a pool of exceptional potential franchisees while offering very real help to veterans who want to acquire a franchise.

Before you Buy: How to Interview Franchisees to Get the Real Scoop - Click To Read Article
The most honest and forthcoming franchisor can’t tell you what it’s like to be a franchisee. So, you should take the time to call existing franchisees and get some candid answers to your questions. Be careful that you don’t get a limited list of hand-picked contacts. It would be a waste of time to talk only to the most successful operators or those who are coached to give the “right” answers. Calling franchisees at random will give you the clearest picture of what you’re getting into.

Tips to Succeed at Franchise Expos - Click To Read Article
Expos can offer fertile hunting grounds for franchisors. But there's a considerable investment required in terms of time, money, and effort. Make sure your investment pays off by checking out this list of tips.

The Multi-unit Movement benefits Franchisors and Franchisees - Click To Read Article
There is growing evidence of a trend toward multi-unit and multi-brand ownership. The advantages to both franchisors and franchisees are clearly compelling, and dramatic growth in multi-unit and multi-concept franchising is expected over the coming years. Read more...

The Latest on Casual Dining - Click To Read Article
The Latest on Casual Dining Casual dining has been the darling of the franchised food service industry for decades. But the slowdown in same store sales in recent months raises some interesting questions. Does the price of gas really affect the dining habits of consumers? Does it matter if mortgage rates go up? Or are consumers getting bored with the same old fare? In this issue we talk to Ron Paul of Technomic, Inc. and Ron Parikh of Genghis Grill to get their thoughts on why some casual restaurants are hot while others are not.

Should You Franchise Your Business? - Click To Read Article
Practical advice for all with "Should you franchise your business?"

Retail Franchises No Food Served - Click To Read Article
Retail Franchises, No Food Served When it comes to retailing, food-related concepts continue to dominate the world of franchising. One franchisor we talked to remarked, "there seems to be no end to the new ways you can make a sandwich." But for many of the corporate dropouts looking into franchising as a second career, moving into food service lacks appeal. When we went looking for some non-food retail franchises, we were pleasantly surprised by the number of interesting and profitable ideas. In this issue we talk to Ray Margiano of Foot Solutions and Bob Wilke of HobbyTown USA to get their views on franchise retail concepts.

Kids and Pets Still Popular - Click To Read Article
Kids and Pets: Still Popular Kids represent huge opportunities for franchise companies. There are 4 million babies being born every year in the U.S. and most families are dual-income households. That combination has created $60 billion in annual revenues for the childcare industry. As the number of children increases, so does the competition to get into the best schools. Parents are feeling the pressure to help their kids get a competitive edge and a growing number are willing to pay for supplemental education services. In this issue we talk to Dr. Nick Whitehead of Oxford Learning and Amy Peterson-Smith of Kiddie Academy to get their views on the business of kids.

Good Health and BeautyAlways in Style - Click To Read Article
Good Health and Beauty - Always in Style The business of making our bodies look and feel good has never been healthier. The hair care industry alone rings up over $55 billion a year in the U.S. And while the massage industry isn't that big yet, the field has exploded over the last few years, rising to $6 billion annually so far. According to the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), getting a massage has become a mainstream practice - consumers last year visited licensed massage practitioners 114 million times. In this issue we talk to John Marco of Hand and Stone Massage Spa and Raymond Barton of Great Clips to learn why their franchises shine.

From the Publisher Good Health Beauty - Click To Read Article
In a recent article in The New York Times, it was reported that an alcoholic drink a day can significantly reduce the risk for heart disease in men while women get the same benefit with only one drink per week. A Danish study suggests that simple alcohol intake for women is protective but for men it is drinking frequently. That's my tip on this month's focus, Good Health and Beauty. Now that we are in the relaxed summer season, aren't you all happy to hear that I am not encouraging you to exercise more, eat healthier food but simply to drink more alcoholic beverages? So be sure to sip a cold beer, wine cooler or an iced martini while you read about all the new health and beauty franchises being marketed.

From the Publisher: Kids & Pets - Click To Read Article
At FranchiseHelp we have information, services and products for the entire franchise marketplace. One of the largest groups we attract is the Potential Franchise Buyer and the one question I hear the most is, "What do you think are the hottest categories of franchise businesses today?" In this month's issue we address two of the current favorites: Kids and Pets. By "kids" we refer to all the franchises which are geared to providing children's services and products, pretty much from birth to college age. In that same vein, the popularity of "pets" franchises have come to encompass not only the standard dog and cat services and products, but also tropical fish, iguanas, and various exotic creatures.

From the Publisher Retail Franchises - Click To Read Article
Over the years we've had a number of calls from would-be Franchisees who are attracted to retail concepts but don't want the business to involve food. They needed our ideas and assistance because they were not finding an opportunity that wasn't food-related. In this issue, we take a look at a selected group of non-food , retail franchise concepts and I am happy to report that there are a number of good concepts available for consideration.

From the Publisher The Money Connection - Click To Read Article
The Money Connection or, shall we say, "money makes the world go 'round" is our topic for this month's newsletter. Money and all its incantations-how to get it, how to spend it, how to keep it, how to invest and grow it-is pretty much inescapable in today's world.

Franchise Buying Tips: Purchase Without Passion - Click To Read Article
Pop quiz: what's the number one rule of buying a franchise? If you answered: meet with the franchisor, go with a popular brand, or read the UFOC - you're wrong. The first rule of buying a franchise is this: Do Not Buy On Emotion.

Franchise Discounts: Straight from the veteran's mouth - Click To Read Article
VetFran is a program created to help veterans who want to own a franchise. We thought it would be interesting to talk to a real life veteran who actually took advantage of VetFran to get the real scoop, so we interviewed Lenny Geibel, owner of Spring-Green Lawn Care in Lawrenceville, Georgia.

For Franchise Buyers: What the UFOC Tells You - Click To Read Article
Tips on how to understand and use the Uniform Franchise Offering Circular.

Finding the Money for a Franchise - Click To Read Article
The cost of buying a franchise can be substantial, but you don't have to be a trust fund baby to get into the franchise of your dreams. Find out more...

Debunking Franchise Myths - Click To Read Article
We all know the upside to franchising: proven systems, training and support, purchasing power, brand recognition, and lower risk of failure top the list. But before you utter those three little words, "it's all good," take a reality check. Consider this list of common myths surrounding franchising and get the true facts...

Buying a franchise? Avoid these costly mistakes - Click To Read Article
Buying a franchise? Avoid these costly mistakes. It takes a lot of money to build a business, and you certainly don't want to waste any. Check this list of 7 costly mistakes to avoid...

Ask the right questions before you buy a franchise - Click To Read Article
You're in the market for a franchise and after months of reading brochures, watching slick videos, and poring over UFOCs, you've pared down the list of possibilities to two or three. Now what? It's time to meet with these franchisors and start asking questions. You may feel like you're already on information overload and the franchisors have been eager to spill their guts, so what more is there to know? Ask the right questions, listen closely to the responses, and you'll be surprised how much more there is to learn. The UFOC provides answers to many of these, but you should expect details and clarification.

A Checklist for Franchising Your Business - Click To Read Article
Franchising your business is a major undertaking. Here is an essential to-do list for the prospective franchisor.

10 Tips for Selecting the Best Franchisees - Click To Read Article
Franchisors, the following tips will help you find qualified, competent franchisees who can and will promote the brand, add value to the organization, boost the unit success rate, and increase revenues and market penetration.





Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Mistakes Made by New or Inexperienced Sales Staff

Ten Twitter Tips For Work-at-Home Moms

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.