Finding the right franchise for you

During times of financial difficulty people are considering what they might do with their futures. Many of us are pushed forward by the impulses of ambition, redundancy or sometimes retirement preparation and looking at self employment through franchising as a step in the right direction. Clearly self employment through franchising is not right for everyone.

The tips below are a guide to help you decide on the right franchise for you. The tips will also help you determine if in fact franchising will work for you.

1. Determine what it is you enjoy doing and what your strengths are. Deciding on a significant lifestyle change will usually work the best if your work activity is focused around doing what you enjoy and do best.

2. Talk to your partner or spouse and explain your thoughts about wanting to build your own franchise business. Make sure that the people that will be most affected by any change in your employment status understand your motives. Make sure that yo ur family will be there for you emotionally and if possible financially.

3. Admit that business is hard work and can have its ups and downs. Happy franchise business is all about replicating proven best practise so this helps to reduce the downs and maximises the ups. It is vital therefore that its necessary to <strong>follow</strong> a system that has been tried and tested.

4. Visit information rich sources online such as franchise directory sites and reading franchise publications where you can study information about franchising and genuine franchise business options that could be of interest to you.

5. Make an appointment to visit the franchise companies that interest you the most. Meet the key people that would train and support you. Do you like them? Could you work with them? Does the visit create confidence in you?

6. Ask for contact details of their franchisees. Speak to the franchisees and ask about their experiences. Ask questions such as, are you happy with the franchise? Do you make a profit? What support do you get? How has the recession effected your sales and profit? Would you buy this franchise if you were me?

7. After you have completed your research, decide which franchise opportunities are of genuine interest to you. Make a short list.

8. It is vital now to speak to your bank. Ask the bank for a report of what they know about the franchises on your short list. Lenders tend to keep records about franchises they know about. With this information you can gain an independent report about the bank''s view of your preferred options.

9. Often you will need to borrow money to start a proven franchise and for this banks may lend up to 70%. This is by virtue of the fact that over 90% of UK franchisees run their businesses at a profit according to the British Franchise Association National Franchise Survey and this gives the banks a lot of confidence to lend to franchise start up owners.

10. The fin al step will be to look closely at the franchise contract which your chosen franchisor will present you with. This document governs the trading agreement between you and the franchisor. A British Franchise Association accredited lawyer should be consulted.

After completing the above steps you should be well positioned to decide which franchise is right for you. It will then fall to you and the franchisor to sign contracts, arrangement payment of fees, set up training and agree on your franchise business launch programme.

Take your time, find the right franchise for you and then work with the franchisor and your customers to build a profitable franchise business.

Four Seasons'' Care Homes Achieve New High Standard of Quality in England

Care Quality Commission rates 83% of Four Seasons Health Care homes in England as good or excellent

(03 September 2009): Four Seasons Health Care today announces yet further improvement in its quality ratings with more than four in five of its homes in England (83% ) being recognised as either good or excellent by the Care Quality Commission. This puts Four Seasons amongst the highest rated large care home providers in England.

The Care Quality Commission evaluates homes using a number of methods, placing a heavy focus on interviewing those using the services about their experiences. Alongside this, Care Quality Commission inspectors also visit every home to inspect each one individually. This takes the form of both planned and random inspections.

Four Seasons Health Care focuses on person-centred care, ensuring that residents are treated with dignity as individuals and given the personal attention to help them maintain a good quality of life. Everyone using FSHC s ervices has a personalised care plan prepared for them, designed to cater for all of their needs to help make their stay a positive experience. Four Seasons strongly believe the starting point for good care provision is engaging with the resident, together with their family, friends and social workers, to understand the individual''s needs.

The Group has developed specialist services for people who are physically frail or suffering from the onset of dementia, chronic neurological conditions, or in need of respite care, intermediate care and rehabilitation or end of life care. Almost 80% of current residents require nursing or high dependency care and this continues to grow.

The number of dementia sufferers in the UK is projected to increase by nearly 40% in 15 years and a recent critical All-Party Parliamentary Group report calls for better training provision to accommodate this growth in need for specialised care. Four Seasons is helping to lead the way in responding to this agenda following the development of its PEARL specialized dementia care service which has already started to demonstrate positive outcomes for residents. Four Seasons Health Care has already trained over 2,000 staff in this specialist aspect of care and currently provides dementia care services to over 5,000 residents across 150 homes

Julia Clinton, Manager Director for England, said, "The fact that such a large proportion of our homes are now rated as good or excellent by the Care Quality Commission is verification of our commitment to continuously improve our services. We are now one of the highest quality performing Care home providers of our size, and our drive is now to bring even more of our homes into the top rated category. I am enormously proud of our staff that continue to make this possible"

Four Seasons Health Care is one of the largest independent providers of care services in the UK More information can be found at www.fshc.co.uk.

Pizza Industry Latest Facts and Figures

Franchise Direct (www.franchisedirect.com) has analyzed the latest facts and figures from the pizza industry. What emerges is a snapshot of a food franchising sector that is well-positioned to thrive during the current economic downturn.

This research comes from assessing FDD (UFOC) documents of a sample size of 20 pizza franchise chains, as well as published industry sources.

Generally-speaking, the restaurant industry has shown initial resilience in coping with the downturn. Americans continue to rely on restaurants, primarily take-away establishments, for their daily eating. National restaurants surveys show an industry bracing for hardship, but confident that consumers will remain loyal.

Franchise Direct''s research shows that pizza franchises (http://www.franchisedirect.com/foodfranchises/pizzafranchises/80) make up a majority of America''s restaurants. Our findings state that pizza franchises experienced consistent sales growth up until last year, when the industry slowed. There are a number of reasons why pizza franchises are projected to remain strong. Commodity prices will fall in the coming years, creating savings for the purchase of ingredients. Pizza franchises will also seamlessly fit into new consumer trends, such as the switch towards healthier and organic food options and the integration of new technology in ordering food. Our research suggests that pizza franchises present a deft balance for consumers searching for a quality at an affordable price. It is believed that pizza franchises will succeed as other more expensive dining options fail.

Pizza franchises also boast a number of advantages as far as purchasing a restaurant is concerned. New entrepreneurs can avail of a franchisor''s assistance in getting their business up and running. Our research reveals the typical franchise fee for a pizza restaurant. That figure tends to drops signi ficantly for carry-out restaurants and double for larger, full-service pizza franchises.

The total investment sum for a pizza franchise can also vary greatly depending on location, unit size and whether the restaurant is take-out or dine-in. Our research tracks the range in investment in owning different types of pizza restaurant, factoring in fixtures, signs, inventory, training expenses, payroll and more. There are also a number of ongoing fees that the franchisee must be accountable for and our analysis details every payment that one can expect to make.

Most pizza franchises come with an exclusive territory, although some franchisors maintain a right to open new outlets within a given territory in certain circumstances.

In all, it remains hard to forecast the total earning potential of owning a pizza franchise. Every franchised industry is facing challenges at the moment, with the economy flailing and the sales expected to drop across the board in 2009. Cost con trol, management efficiency and slumping commodity prices will help to offset the sales decline brought on by the slump in the economy. According to research by Franchise Direct, pizza franchisees who can enhance their service and offer true quality to consumers will be the ones that will enjoy positive outcomes in 2009.

First National Provider of Non-Emergency Transportation Services Plans 100 Franchise Locations to Meet Growing Need

Bernie Squitieri started off in the taxi business, imagining driving kids to school or riders to the mall, not shuttling the elderly to doctor''s appointments. But when he moved his business to Arnold, MO that''s exactly what he was doing. About this same time, Missouri implemented a managed health care program and federal Medicaid regulations mandated that the state provide transportation for eligible recipients to and from health providers.

Squitieri saw an opportunity. He launched Express Medical Transporters in March 1996 and soon after it became the state''s largest for-profit, non-emergency transportation company. Today in St. Louis, EMT operates more than 170 vehicles, employs more than 200 employees and does more than 500,000 transports each year. In these dour economic times, EMT had its best year ever in 2008 with revenue surpassing $6 million.

In October 2007, EMT launched a franchising program. With an ever-increasing senior population EMT offers countless r evenue streams to its franchisees. A new Student Transportation Division is dedicated to providing routed and individual transportation for school districts.

While experience in transportation, healthcare or logistics is helpful, industry experience is not required. "We teach our franchise owners everything they need to be successful," Squitieri said. "We''ll teach you the transportation industry and how to grow your business."

With EMT having proven its success and viability in the St. Louis metropolitan market, Squitieri said a research firm identified 157 additional markets throughout the country with similar non-emergency transportation needs. In fact, Squitieri said organizations and potential clients across the country contact EMT on a regular basis asking about expansion to their area.

"It''s really an attractive selling point to tell somebody that if you buy an EMT franchise, you could have business before you open your doors," Squitieri said. "There aren''t many businesses that are in that position today." For more information on EMT or to start your own franchise please visit emtusa.net.

FRANCHISOR EXPANDS OFFERINGS THROUGH CREATIVE PARTNERSHIPS

DAYTON, OH (September 1st, 2009) As the recession lingers on, many private businesses are looking at creative partnerships as a means to weather the storm. Abe Weinzimer and Stu Greenvald are two of these plucky entrepreneurs.

Abe Weinzimer co-founded DCAP Insurance in 1982. It went public in 1997, and quickly became the largest chain of independent insurance franchises in New York. In 2000, Abe stepped down as company president but continued running the five offices he owned. Sales were great, but he knew he could do better.

In 2008 - as times got tougher - Abe and his partner Stu Greenvald became New York Area Developers for Instant Tax Service, the 4th largest income tax preparation firm in the country. They quickly discovered that tax preparation was a perfect complement to their insurance business.

Abe and Stu bought back DCAP insurance on May 1, 2009. They are now creating DCAP Insurance and Instant Tax Service duel entities and encouraging other local insur ance companies to do the same.

"The tax franchise is not tied to DCAP. It is available to all insurance brokerages," says Abe. "We see what it has done for our own insurance group and we are sure it will help everyone else too."

As franchisees, the partners have also been able to take advantage of the support and recognition offered by a nationwide brand. Instant Tax Service spends millions of dollars in advertising campaigns nationwide to support the growth and success of its franchisees.

"We''re currently developing a comprehensive co-branding strategy for companies like DCAP," says Greg Woryk, Vice President of Marketing at Instant Tax Service. "Co-branding allows our partner companies to cash in on their existing brand name while expanding their customer base to include Instant Tax Service customers. The cross-marketing benefit has been a win-win for everyone involved."

It''s certainly been a win-win for Abe and Stu. They currently operate 35 DCAP Insuranc e franchises and 28 Instant Tax Service franchises in the New York area.

About Instant Tax Service

Instant Tax Service is a retail income tax preparation company franchising over 1,200 locations in 34 states. Founded by Fez Ogbazion in 2000 and franchising since 2004, Instant Tax Service offers tax preparation, electronic filing, and refund anticipation loan services. For more information, visit www.instanttaxservicefranchise.com.

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Stockings - An Essential Wardrobe Accessory!

Nylon fiber was first introduced to the public at the New York World''s Fair in 1939. The first thing nylon was used for was nylon stockings in 1940. Women liked the nylon stockings because they were as pretty as the silk stockings they had previously worn and they lasted much longer. The nylon stockings also dried much faster than silk after they were washed.

Nylon stockings were scarce during WWII because all available nylon was needed in the war effort. A lot of nylon was used in making parachutes. Production of nylon stockings started up again at the end of WWII.

A new trend in stockings was started in the 1960''s with the introduction of pantyhose. Until the introduction of pantyhose, stockings had to be worn with garter belts or girdles. The stockings were held up with clasps attached to the girdle or garter belt. Today, pantyhose are available in a multitude of styles. These stockings come in sheer, ultra sheer, nude, sandal toe, and reinforced toe. Some pantyh ose come with built in body shaping and control tops to trim and smooth the tummy, rear, and hips. Women can even buy an anti-cellulite pantyhose. These stockings promise to reduce cellulite appearance by using micro beads imbedded into the fabric. Results are visible after four weeks. The beads remain effective for five washings. The stockings firm and tone legs for a sleeker look.

Nylon stockings come in a wide variety of colors and are also available as anklets, knee highs and thigh highs. Support hose are even available for those women who need some relief from the pain of vericose veins. These stockings are designed to relieve pain caused by varicose veins by relieving the pressure of the stocking against the leg. No part of the leg gets too much or too little pressure.

Many women enjoy sexy thigh high stockings. Some stockings need a garter belt to stay in place, while others use a knit in elastic or grip to help them stay snug against the thigh. Women can choo se to wear fishnet thigh high stockings or ones with lace tops, or even ones with back seams running down the back of the leg.

Nylon stockings are an essential accessory to every woman''s wardrobe. Go ahead and try some of the new and exciting styles available today

A Franchise Business Opportunity Vs An Internet Marketing Business: You be the Judge!

These days many new entrepreneurs want a business that can provide them with flexible hours, being their own boss, having more free time and making the big bucks. That is why most entrepreneurs prefer to start a franchise style business, such as a Subway or McDonalds. A franchise business opportunity gives an entrepreneur a chance to try to be his own boss and add more free time to their schedule. However, starting a franchised business is a daunting task because it requires a huge up front investment and a lot of personal time. Most franchises don''t see a profit until there 5 year anniversary, if it lasts that long. One should really consider the risks before becoming a franchiser.

The risks of buying a franchise opportunity are there will be rules that must be adhered to in regards to how you run your business. In fact, most franchise agreements have stipulations that the franchisee gives. You have to play by their rules, what location is best, the size o f the location, restrictions on autonomy because you''re buying the rights to participate in a system and more. You will have to pay huge up front costs and franchise fees for the whole time your business is up. You will need to know if buying a business franchise opportunity is the right course of action for you. Most franchise agreements are for ten year terms. This locks you in even if you fail. Some other disadvantages are high overhead, Workers Compensation, insurance on the property, hiring and firing. When all is said and done, financing is one of the most confusing, and often frustrating, aspects of opening a franchise. You also need to run marketing campaigns that are approved by the franchisee. There is a lot of money and time spent only to see if you make it past 5 years. Most franchise owners spend 60-80 hours a week running their businesses. The hope of adding free time is a distant memory. The only thing that you have added is a higher stress level. What if you don''t make it? How much debt will you be in if you fail? Putting up a franchise business is more costly than putting up an online business.

There is a better way to make money, add more free time to your life and be your own boss. That better way is starting an internet marketing business. Anyone can easily make money, add more free time and be their own boss with an internet marketing business, but you have to know how to do it. Internet marketing refers to the promotion of products and services over the internet. The internet is a rapidly growing medium which has also become one of the most successful avenues of making a good deal of money.

The pros to becoming an internet marketer are getting paid today and not having to wait 5 years to see a profit, having up to 80% profit margins, no employees, no leasing or renting space, and no overhead, just to name a few. This also means no hiring and firing, and no workers comp. An Internet marketing business can be done from anywhere in the world. All you need is a computer and cell phone to do business. With an internet marketing business you can work from the comfort of your home full-time or part-time and still advertise to the world through the internet. Another great benefit is there is no huge up front investment and no contracts to lock you in. Also, with an internet marketing business, you will build a team that you can leverage their efforts to give you more free time.

If you want to discover the real truth about internet marketing and get some solid tips to take your business to the next level: http://franchiser.co.cc