Feed the Entrepreneurial Bug in Two Minutes

Do you dream of starting your own business?  I like to call it the “entrepreneurship bug.”  It’s that urge to be in charge, taking control into your own hands and bypassing the corporate ladder by starting on top of the mountain.

I promised to take two minutes of your time.  Please watch the YouTube clip below.



Consider franchising.  You can find the business that fits YOU and your dreams without having to think of that million-dollar idea.  We have some FREE events coming up in which you can learn more about being your own boss and reaching the American Dream.

You can also give me a call at 616-891-1374 or email at bbetser@frannet.com.  I’m here to help you, totally free of charge.  Consider me your franchise coach and franchise matchmaker.

Friday, March 14, 2014
Local Seminar – Kalamazoo, MI
“Franchising as a Career, an Investment, or Both”
11:30am – 1:00pm    FREE
RSVP Required
More Info Register now

Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Online Webinar
Franchisor Spotlight: Absentee – Commercial Real Estate Business Model
8:00pm – 9:30pm    FREE
More Info Register now

Thursday, March 27, 2014
Online Webinar
Franchisor Spotlight: Absentee – Commercial Real Estate Business Model
2:00pm –3:30pm    FREE
More Info Register now

Does Franchising Truly Have a 90% Success Rate?

When doing research on “franchise success rate,” you may come across some extremely high percentages of franchisees that have remained in business over several years.

Jason Daley recently wrote an article for Entrepreneur magazine talking about The Stat.  The Stat is the notion that franchises have a success rate of 90 to 95 percent, which makes it seem like a no-brainer that everyone should look at franchising.

The number just didn’t come out of nowhere.  It’s based on a Department of Commerce voluntary survey asking nearly 2,000 franchisors about their stats.  The results said that 5% of the units closed.  The biggest thing to consider with this survey – it was a voluntary survey that was not audited.  I wonder how many unsuccessful franchisors reported their numbers accurately, if it all?

The franchising industry became heavily regulated decades ago, after seeing many high-profile cases of misrepresentation and fraud.  The Stat just adds fuel to the fire.

Another thing to consider is that not all franchise categories are created equal.  Some types of businesses have better success rates as than others.

So, why am I telling you all of this?

If you are expecting a guarantee of success when considering a franchise, STOP the process now and focus on your day job. There simply are no guarantees. However, if you’re willing and able to take a calculated risk, there are things you can do to increase your likelihood of success, such as finding the right franchise for you, in the right geographic area, that fits your lifestyle and best leverages your transferable skills.  

FranNet has a matchmaking system that truly considers you and your goals when looking for a potential franchise match. In order to gather some hard data on how effective that process is, FranNet looked at 1,500 individuals it had helped get into franchised businesses between 2006 and 2010. According to the internal research, 91.2 percent of the businesses were still open after two years, and 85 percent were operating after five years. But FranNet’s President & COO, Jania Bailey, is quick to point out that those stats don't extend to franchising in general--she attributes the high success rate to the FranNet system. "Arguably, the time period we studied had the worst economic conditions since the Great Depression," she says. "That success rate speaks volumes about our ability to match a person and their skill set to the right franchise concept."

There are also many times where after taking all things into consideration, we suggest that franchise ownership may not be the right road for you.

All of our consultations, events, workshops and webinars are FREE to you, and we want to give you the most thorough information in making this decision. 

In Conclusion

Going back to the question posed in the title of this blog article, does franchising truly have a 90% success rate?  There really is not a conclusive answer to that, and with over 3000 concepts out there, it’s near impossible to quantify the success rate of the industry as a whole. The good news is that once you’ve narrowed the field to a handful of franchises that seem to fit your personal criteria, you’ll be able to look at the track record for at the last three years of those specific companies you’re investigating by reading the Franchise Disclosure Document prescribed by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

But, how can you increase your likelihood of success?  Do your homework and call FranNet!  Take advantage of our FREE consultations, events, webinars and workshops and give yourself the best chance of success.

Ready to get started?  Give me a call at 616-891-1374 or email me at bbetser@frannet.com.  You can also visit my web site at frannet.com/bbetser.

Read more at http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/227394#.

Give Yourself a Valentine’s Gift – Learn About Doing What You Love as a Career!

We are coming up on Valentine’s Day, and I wanted to write about love.  Now, since this is a blog about franchising – only one topic made sense.  Do what you love!

I started the process of writing this article by doing a simple Google search of “doing what you love – franchise.”  The following categories came up on the first page of the search.
- Dog Training
- Bakery
- Personal Training
- Sports Coaching
- Party Planning

The beauty of franchising is that you can do what you love, and someone has figured out the way to turn what you love into a business.

ONE LOVE, DIFFERENT OPTIONS

There may be many different ways to look at what you love and start a business.

For example, franchises focusing on a love for animals can provide numerous different business options for consideration.

As that prior Google search indicated, a pet focused franchise is just one of the many franchised business concepts are out there.   Many people are looking for products and services focused on their four-legged member of the family.

I AM DOING WHAT I LOVE

After spending over 10 years with a non-medical home care franchise training, supporting and recruiting franchise owners on an international level, I decided it was time to do something on my own.  But it had to be something that gave me greater control over my schedule.  It needed to be something with less travel away from home, something with greater flexibility.

When I began searching for a business of my own, I considered several different options, even the option of starting a business on my own.  It quickly became apparent to me that I really didn’t know what I wanted.

Thank goodness for the FranNet system of assessment and business model creation, as it’s this process that allowed me to focus on what I wanted from a business, and not necessarily what the business or industry was.

Now, I have found a love and passion that I never knew I had in coaching others through the very same process I myself went through.

Now here we are three years later and I still love the business and lifestyle FranNet has given me! The decision was certainly a leap of faith at the time, but it’s proven to be quite successful for me!

ARE YOU DOING WHAT YOU LOVE?

A small percentage of people can say they are truly doing what they love, but many more could be!  I want to help you get to that point.  All of my services, consultations, events and webinars are FREE!

Let’s talk about what you love.  I can help identify business opportunities that align with what you want to do and the lifestyle you want to live.  Wouldn’t you love to be your own boss?  Wouldn’t you love to set your own schedule?  Give me a call 616-891-1374 or email me at bbetser@frannet.com.

Mark your calendar for 2/18, as I am holding a seminar in Grand Rapids, MI entitled “Franchising as a Career, an Investment, or Both!”  We will go over franchising basics and how you can find a franchise that fits your lifestyle wants and needs!  For more information, visit michiganfranchiseforum.com.  You can also contact me via the methods in the previous paragraph.

A WARM Invitation to Our FEB. 5 Webinar and Learn About Franchised Business Concepts that THRIVE in this Insanely COLD Weather!

It’s been amazingly cold outside.  A lot of the Midwest has been under a wind chill watch or winter weather advisory and, as entrepreneurs can attest, there is money to be made.

Let’s examine a few franchise categories that can still thrive when it’s so cold!

1. Auto Repair:  The cold temperatures can create havoc on automobiles.  Batteries have to work harder.  Motor oil thickens to molasses.  All-season tires could harden and lose grip.   Road salt can lose its effectiveness as well if it gets too cold.  And, of course, there are more collisions!
2. Restaurants Serving Soup:  Just think about those quick remedies to cold weather.  Hot soup and hot coffee.  Sounds good right now, doesn’t it?  
3. Fitness:  Probably not something you immediately thought of when reading the title of this article, but typically – it’s cold on January 1st in Michigan.  When do you think the busiest time for a gym is?  January 1st.  We referred to New Year’s resolutions just a few weeks ago in our blog, and think about how many people joined a gym as part of their resolution.  

Take advantage of the warmth of whatever room you’re in, and take a visit over to WEBSITE to learn more about the services and events that FranNet has to offer!  Our FREE webinar on February 5th introduces various forms of business ownership, including franchising.  Visit frannet.com/bbetser to find out more about our other upcoming FREE events and webinars that will help you learn about franchising.

Keep in mind, all of our consultations and events are FREE!  If you have any questions, give me a call at 616-891-1374 or bbetser@frannet.com.

FEBRUARY EVENTS

Feb 05, 2014 / Online Seminar, US and Canada

Business Ownership Exploration Webinar
MORE INFO          REGISTER

Feb 18, 2014 / Grand Rapids, MI

Business Ownership Options

MORE INFO          REGISTER

Feb 26, 2014 / Online Seminar, US and Canada

Franchisor Spotlight: Mature Franchise Enjoying Accelerated Growth

MORE INFO          REGISTER

Franchising – Let’s Find Your Dream Business

Most entrepreneurs have a dream of starting a specific type of business.  But, when they think franchises, the immediate thought is of drive-through restaurants.  Almost every type of business has a franchise concept; food services are just the tip of the iceberg.

The US Census Bureau issued a report about franchising in 2007, which included the number of franchise business units in particular economic sectors.  Take a look at the list below, can you find the sector for your dream business?

• Accommodation & Food Services:  196,806
• Retail Trade:  124,952
• Real Estate, Rental and Leasing:  29,656
• Other Services:  28,572
• Administration, Support, Waste Management, and Remediation Services:  25,404
• Professional, Scientific and Technical Services:  14,365
• Arts, Entertainment and Recreation:  9,800
• Construction:  6,330
• Transportation & Warehousing:  6,293
• Educational Services:  5,086
• Health Care and Social Assistance:  4,503
• Manufacturing:  1,696
• Finance and Insurance:  986
• Wholesale Trade:  388
• Information:  286

So, what is your dream business?  The odds are really good that there is a franchise concept that is perfect for you.  Give me a call and let me help you get started on the path to your dreams.  All of my services, consultations, events and webinars are FREE to you.

Call me at 616-891-1374 or email me at bbetser@frannet.com, and let’s get started today!

UPCOMING EVENTS
Jan 21, 2014 / Grand Rapids, MI
Business Ownership Exploration Seminar
MORE INFO          RSVP

UPCOMING WEBINARS
Jan 22, 2014 / Online Webinar, US and Canada
Business Ownership Exploration Webinar
MORE INFO          RSVP

Jan 23, 2014 / Online Seminar, US and Canada
Franchise Business Opportunities for Hispanic-Americans
MORE INFO          RSVP

Feb 05, 2014 / Online Seminar, US and Canada
Business Ownership Exploration Webinar
MORE INFO          RSVP

Feb 26, 2014 / Online Seminar, US and Canada
Franchisor Spotlight: Mature Franchise Enjoying Accelerated Growth
MORE INFO          RSVP

Thanks for Coming To Your Annual Happiness Check-up

Can you imagine a conversation at the doctor’s office that sounds like this?

---

Hi, I wanted to thank you for stopping in for your annual check-up.  It’s important every year to take a look at your happiness, just as much as your physical health.

I typically hear that people “can’t complain” when it comes to how they are doing.  Truthfully, that is a good place to be.  But, what if I could tell you that things could be better.

I understand that its difficult to enjoy life to its fullest when the corporate world keeps knocking on your door.  Companies are doing more with less, which means that your 40-hour weeks are turning into 50 and 60-hour weeks, and may even require even more of those dreaded business trips!

Did you know that you could start your own business, and maybe only work 20 hours a week?  Certain franchise models exist where the management team and staff does most of the work, and you just provide some ownership oversight, marketing and administration. With such limited involvement, you can even chose to keep your day job for a period of time before transitioning out of corporate life completely!

You can also broaden your scope by looking at full-time ownership options, if you’re thinking about leaving the corporate world behind.   Do you think you’d be happier being your own boss?

You might say, “Well, I’m leaving behind a steady paycheck and taking a big chance on this investment.”  That depends how you look at it. As you’ve probably taken notice, the “steady paycheck” can be yanked by a ruthless employer at a moment’s notice, and the returns of the financial markets can be less than stellar, and always unpredictable. So where’s the REAL risk?

If you think a different path will lead to more happiness, I strongly recommend you take a look at FranNet.  FranNet provides FREE consultation and educational events to help you determine if owning a franchised business is right for you.  They will educate you on the different options out there, and maybe just change your life.

Go ahead and contact them at bbetser@frannet.com or 616-891-1374.  You can also check out their events below and see if one of them strikes up your interest.

Thanks for stopping in, please see the receptionist on the way out, and I look forward to seeing you in 2015 to see that increased HAPPINESS!

EVENTS AND WEBINARS
• Local Seminar:  "Franchising as a Career, an Investment, or Both "
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
9:00 AM to 10:30 AM NO COST
Grand Rapids
RSVP Required
more info | register now

•  Webinar:  Business Ownership Exploration
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
2:00 PM to 3:30 PM NO COST
more info | register now

•  Webinar:  Franchise Business Opportunities for Hispanic-Americans
Thursday, January 23, 2014
2:00 PM to 3:30 PM NO COST
more info | register now

FranNet Can Help You be One of the 8%

You probably haven’t heard much about the “eight percent” in the news.  It’s an exclusive group, that everyone has the chance to be part of.

The number of people that complete their New Year’s Resolutions:  8%.[1]

Unrealistic expectations are bound to fail, especially if trying to change your life “cold turkey” or without a support system.  Losing weight, exercising more, finding a mate are all tough resolutions to see to fruition.

If you have one of the resolutions below, how can you increase your chances for success?     

• Start Your Own Business
• Be Your Own Boss
• Create a Successful Investment
• Working in a Specific Field
• Matching a Career with a Desired Lifestyle

The answer is: FRANNET.

FranNet partners with aspiring entrepreneurs to help determine the best franchise opportunities to match your goals, skill sets and lifestyle.  If we can find that match, we can help you take the first steps towards owning your own business. 

We provide free consultation, seminars, workshops and webinars to help you get started.  Everything is free to you, so don’t worry about hidden costs or fees.  We even have some webinars that you can attend from the comfort of your couch.

Take a look at the list below, and sign up for one of our events or webinars.  You can also contact me with any questions at 616-891-1374 or bbetser@frannet.com.  Remember, we are here to be your support system and to go step-by-step into examining if business ownership is right for you.

UPCOMING LOCAL SEMINARS

January, 21, 2014
Franchising as a Career, an Investment, or BOTH!

Grand Rapids, MI
RSVP Required
MORE INFO          REGISTER

ONLINE WEBINARS

January 8, 2014
Franchisor Spotlight: Family-friendly, Community-benefiting Franchise
MORE INFO          REGISTER

January 22, 2014
Business Ownership Exploration Webinar
MORE INFO          REGISTER

January 23, 2014
Franchise Business Opportunities for Hispanic-Americans

MORE INFO          REGISTER

---

[1]  University of Scranton, Journal of Clinical Psychology - http://www.statisticbrain.com/new-years-resolution-statistics/