2011top low cost franchises - franchise business review

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Top Low CosT

FRANCHIsEs2011

2011 Top Low CosT FRANCHIsEs

2 For more information on these opportunities, visit: www.FranchiseBusinessReview.com

Top Low CosTFRANCHIsEs2011

1 Heaven’s Best

2 Home Instead Senior Care

3 Weed Man

4 Aire-Master of America

5 Proforma

6 Showhomes

7 AdvantaClean

8 HouseMaster

9 Travel Leaders

10 Synergy

11 Oxifresh

12 Sit Means Sit

13 United Country Real Estate

14 Truly Nolen

15 Cruise Planners

16 Computer Troubleshooters

17 American Poolplayers

Association

18 Miracle Method Surface

Restoration

19 ColorGlo International

20 Disaster Kleenup International

21 FocalPoint

22 Stroller Strides

23 JumpBunch

24 Surface Specialists

25 Results Travel

26 ActionCOACH

27 CruiseOne

28 Sandler Training

29 CompuChild

30 Murphy Business & Financial

31 Fast-Fix Jewelry

32 5-Star Painting

33 Our Town America

34 Tax Centers of America

35 Omex International

36 ShelfGenie

37 Office Pride Commercial Cleaning Services

38 Buildingstars

39 Amazing Athletes

40 Bark Busters

41 Padgett Business Services

42 Just Between Friends

43 Mathnasium

44 Carpet Network

45 Snap-on Tools

46 Matco Tools

47 Kinderdance International

48 Signal 88 Security

49 Creative Colors International

50 Always Best Care

51 Visiting Angels

52 Coldwell Banker Commercial

53 Right at Home

54 Homewatch Caregivers

55 Total Golf Adventures

56 Simple Simon’s Pizza

57 Mars Venus Coaching

58 G.J. Gardner

59 i9 Sports

60 Roni Deutch Tax Center

61 ASP - America’s

Swimming Pool

62 TSS Photography

63 U.S. Lawns

64 Wood Re New

65 Pestmaster

66 Cybertary

67 Young Rembrandts

68 Propertyguys.com

69 Pillar to Post

70 Mosquito Squad

71 Cartridge Depot

72 Mr. Rooter

73 Passport Health

74 Images 4 Kids

75 Aire-Serv

76 Grout Doctor

77 College Nannies & Tutors

78 Pop-a-Lock

79 Happy and Healthy Products

80 Rainbow International

81 Town Money Saver

82 Fish Window

For more information on these opportunities, visit: www.FranchiseBusinessReview.com 3

2011Top Low CosT FRANCHIsEs

he franchise landscape has changed considerably since I founded Franchise Business Review six years ago. Unlike in 2005, when new franchise ideas popped

up almost daily, the franchise sector—like nearly every industry in America—has been beset by lending shortages and unit closures. Hundreds of franchisees were forced to close up shop, and unproven business models mostly disappeared. Today’s franchise industry is smaller, and franchise owners (not to mention lenders) are much more cautious. The most risky franchise concepts have been eliminated, and, in the aftermath of the recession, the franchisors that survive today are most likely those that will thrive tomorrow as the economy continues to rebound. What has emerged from all that financial mayhem is a stronger, more stable franchise space.

Here at Franchise Business Review, we talk to franchise owners every day, and what we’re hearing is not gloom and doom but hope and optimism. While the recession may have depleted the entrepreneurial spirit in some, opportunities still abound. Many franchisors have found ways to decrease the overall investment needed to start a business by reducing their equipment and physical space requirements or by lowering their royalties. These efforts should help franchisees be more competitive and profitable in a tighter economy. And while the lending landscape hasn’t greatly improved, lower investment opportunities like the ones in this report offer owners the ability to finance their investments through home equity or 401k plans.

In this special report, we present today’s top low cost franchises—those business opportunities that require an average overall investment under $100,000 and, in many cases, much less. Without the overhead of real estate, pricey retail locations, or large product inventories, this niche group of franchises has performed well during the economic downturn, and they are positioned for strong growth as the economy continues to recover.

The franchise businesses featured in this special report have some of the highest owner satisfaction ratings in their industries. Investing in a business is never without risk, but if you’re serious about owning your own business, this elite list of today’s top low-investment franchises is a great place to start.

The big question with any entrepreneurial endeavor is whether now is a good time to start a business. Our answer, based on this list and what we’re seeing in the franchise space, is a resounding, “Yes!”

Happy franchising!

Eric Stites

Founder and PresidentFranchise Business Review

suRvIvAL

The most risky franchise concepts

have been eliminated, and, in the aftermath

of the recession, the franchisors that

survive today are most likely those that

will thrive tomorrow as the economy

continues to rebound.

of the FITTEsT

1 HEAvEN’s BEsTStartup Investment: $28,900 - $64,000Cash Requirement: $15,000Domestic Franchises: 1,248 Heaven’s Best is a worldwide leader in carpet and upholstery cleaning. Their unique “dry in one hour” process yields exceptional results. Heaven’s Best cleaning experts can tackle the toughest stains and dirt leaving carpets clean and renewed.

2 HomE INsTEAd sENIoR CARE Startup Investment: $41,130 - $60,550Cash Requirement: $35,500Domestic Franchises: 572The Home Instead Senior Care family network of locally owned franchise offices was developed with a passionate desire to be your trusted source in helping your family keep your aging mother, father, grandparents, or friends in their homes as they grow older.

3 wEEd mANStartup Investment: $65,000 - $86,000Cash Requirement: $85,000 - $130,000Domestic Franchises: 366For close to 40 years, Weed Man has built upon founder Des Rice’s uncompromising commitment to serving the customer. Keeping true to his vision provides a competitive advantage and allows us to build a strong national brand based on keeping promises and exceeding expectations.

4 Aire-MAster of AMericAStartup Investment: $33,000Cash Requirement: $60,000Domestic Franchises: 82Aire-Master is a unique system of odor control and restroom fixture cleaning developed over 54 years. Aire-Master deodorizers and deodorant products actually eliminate odors. We offer complete training to build a customer base in all industries: medical, food, real estate, retail, and more. We are FDA-registered and manufacture deodorants, cleaning products, and hand soaps.

5 pRoFoRmAStartup Investment: $29,500Cash Requirement: $29,500 - $48,095Domestic Franchises: 723With over 30 years of experience, Proforma remains focused on providing solutions to businesses for their graphic communications needs. A leading provider of promotional products, printing services, business documents, and eCommerce solutions, Proforma is one of the top five largest companies in our industry. Proforma serves more than 50,000 clients through more than 650 member organizations in North America.

6 sHowHomEsStartup Investment: $43,400Cash Requirement: $10,000Domestic Franchises: 75Join Showhomes, a home staging business with a twist. One of the top 50 franchise companies in the U.S., and one of the top 30 low-investment franchises, Showhomes is growing and helping solve the housing crisis by staging one home at a time. If you love real estate, looking at homes and enjoy working with people, discover how a Showhomes franchise could be a great fit for you!

7 AdvANTACLEANStartup Investment: $73,600 - $104,300Cash Requirement: $75,000Domestic Franchises: 45Opportunities to join AdvantaClean as a recession-resistant franchise in the rapid-growth Indoor Air Quality service category. AdvantaClean is an award-winning franchise offering solutions that make every home and building a healthier place to live and work. Combining essential services like water damage recovery, mold removal, duct cleaning, and dryer vent cleaning, AdvantaClean improves air quality; system efficiency, and the comfort, safety, and health of every building we service.

8 HousEmAsTERStartup Investment: $54,500 - $81,200Cash Requirement: $40,000Domestic Franchises: 366Choosing a home and building inspection company is not unlike choosing a home – it’s smart to shop around and always consider what you’re getting, not just what you’re paying. When you look at things this way, HouseMaster offers a combination of advantages that is second to none. Our unique level of experience, training and available annual inspector testing in conjunction with our easy to understand, yet comprehensive report format are just a few of the advantages that HouseMaster customers remember and appreciate. When it’s time for your home inspection, call HouseMaster. Home Inspections. Done Right.

9 TRAvEL LEAdERsStartup Investment: $25 - $10,425Cash Requirement: N/ADomestic Franchises: 756We are excited to offer you industry-leading supplier programs and business management tools. We offer programs and services to assist in creating a sales or yield opportunity, or assist in expense management. We are committed to helping you grow successfully, and look forward to discussing the benefits participation that results can bring you.

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10 syNERgyStartup Investment: $49,240 - $99,540Cash Requirement: $50,000Domestic Franchises: 100Synergy HomeCare stands out from the rest because they provide home care services to all ages and thoroughly screens their caregivers. Synergy HomeCare services clients in any age range and with any home care need. They fully understand the importance of both immediate and long term home care. For more information on Synergy opportunities, call (888) 659-7771 or visit www.synergyhomecarefranchise.com.

Top Low CosTFRANCHIsEs

2011


Top Low CosT FRANCHIsEs

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11 oxI FREsHStartup Investment: $28,900Cash Requirement: $28,900Domestic Franchises: 214Oxifresh Carpet Cleaning is now the frontrunner in the evolution of the carpet cleaning industry! The company’s key strengths are in its wealth of business experience and innovative products proven to reinvent carpet right before the customer’s eyes. For more information on Oxifresh opportunities, call (877) OXIFRESH (694-37374) or visit www.oxifreshfranchise.com.

12 sIT mEANs sITStartup Investment: $11,500Cash Requirement: $5,675 - $86,850Domestic Franchises: 40As a Sit Means Sit franchisee you receive all the training protocols, business support, and knowledge developed over years of success. In addition to becoming a Sit Means Sit dog trainer, the franchise system includes branding, advertising, and marketing help, sales training, add on products and more. You receive a lot more than just learning how to effectively train dogs; you learn how to make a living in the dog training business. There is a BIG difference.

13 uNITEd CouNTRy REAL EsTATEStartup Investment: $11,790 - $33,350Cash Requirement: $10,500Domestic Franchises: 600We’re the only national real estate franchise system specializing in properties in America’s small cities, towns, and recreational areas. When you join our family of more than 600 offices, you profit from nationwide advertising of your listings and an average of over 75 corporate-generated, no-fee buyer leads per week.

It all adds up to a unique Real Estate Franchise value fine-tuned since 1925. United Country is ranked as a top 1% franchise system.

14 TRuLy NoLENStartup Investment: $5,000 - $300,000Cash Requirement: $10,000 - $300,000Domestic Franchises: 17The Truly Nolen Four Season Approach plan fights pest invasion with common sense techniques and materials geared toward sending those pests packing. “Truly-Scape Lawn Care” offers a year round program designed to take the guesswork out of insect control, fertilization, fungus, and weed control.

15 CRuIsE pLANNERsStartup Investment: $1,595 - $19,200Cash Requirement: $10,000Domestic Franchises: 740Cruise Planners/American Express is a low investment business opportunity, which yields high returns with no travel experience required. Americans have trusted the brand name American Express above all others in travel for over 150 years. We are an American Express Travel Service Representative agency, which lends instant credibility to our new franchise owners with a trusted, well-recognized brand.

16 CompuTER TRouBLEsHooTERsStartup Investment: $26,800 - $41,500Cash Requirement: $14,000Domestic Franchises: 193Computer Troubleshooters provides a full range of computer and technology solutions to small businesses and home users. Computer Troubleshooters specialists are fully trained and are experts at diagnosing and implementing a broad range of technology solutions.

17 AmERICAN pooLpLAyERs AssoCIATIoN Startup Investment: $17,360 - $20,150Cash Requirement: $10,000 - $14,500Domestic Franchises: 295Today, the APA has grown to more than 260,000 members and boasts more members than all other “national” leagues combined.

“Truly Nolen is a family-based franchise, and I was very impressed by how much everyone was willing to offer their help when I went to the corporate office.” Jeremy Barney, Truly Nolen



} How long have you been a franchisee? Since July 18, 2008.----------------------------------------------------} Why did you decide to buy a franchise? My father-in-law owns a Truly Nolen franchise in McAllen, TX, and has had a good experience with it. The opportunity arose to purchase the franchise here, and I jumped on it.----------------------------------------------------} Why did you choose your franchise? Truly Nolen is a family-based franchise, and I was very impressed by how much everyone was willing to offer their help when I went to the corporate office in Tucson, AZ.----------------------------------------------------} Were there any big surprises about running your own business? The whole process of running my own business has been one big surprise after another. There is a lot that goes into running a successful business that I didn’t anticipate. There’s no such thing as working 9-5. I dedicate a lot of time and effort to ensure that customers are satisfied and are getting good service. ----------------------------------------------------} What is the worst part of being your own boss? You have to know when to stop working. In a typical job, once you clock out you can have a separate life, when you own your own business you never really “clock out” because you’re always thinking and working on ways to improve your business and sometimes it carries into your personal life.----------------------------------------------------} Where do you see yourself in five years? I would like to be in a position where I can be out in the field less and oversee the operations more. The ball is rolling in that direction now as we continue to grow.----------------------------------------------------} What advice do you have for prospective franchise buyers? When buying a franchise, I would recommend researching to see the amount of support offered by the corporate office. In the case of Truly Nolen, they are always willing to offer advice or help in all aspects, and that is a comfort to know that there is a source to pull from when help is needed.

JEREmy BARNEy Truly Nolen

The League is administered locally by a network of franchise operators. League play is conducted weekly with both 8-Ball and 9-Ball team formats offered.

18 mIRACLE mETHod suRFACE REsToRATIoN Startup Investment: $55,000 - $75,000Cash Requirement: $40,000 - $60,000Domestic Franchises: 121Miracle Method franchisees offer on- site surface refinishing services to homeowners, hotels, and property managers as a money saving alternative to removal and replacement of bathtubs, tile, fiberglass and kitchen countertops. We don’t just teach refinishing, we train franchisees on how to operate a highly successful and profitable business whose services are in big demand.

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19 CoLoR gLo INTERNATIoNALStartup Investment: $41,000 - $44,800Cash Requirement: $41,000 - $44,800Domestic Franchises: 107ColorGlo has developed and provides exclusive proprietary products and patented methods, which are today providing our franchisees a quality of life most people can only dream of. By forming a “dynamic partnership” with each franchisee, we are positioned in these billion-dollar markets to grow well into the future. Auto dealers and furniture retailers are but two of the numerous industries we are serving. For more information on Color Glo opportunities, call (800) 333-8253/(952) 835-1338 or visit www.colorglo.com.

20 Dki ( DisAster kleenup internAtionAl )Startup Investment: $17,895 - $40,000Cash Requirement: $30,000 - $90,000Domestic Franchises: 168DKI was originally founded in 1974 as Disaster Kleenup International. Headquartered in suburban Chicago, DKI is the largest disaster restoration contracting organization in North America.

The services that DKI provides to insurance, commercial, and residential clients include: emergency response, water damage mitigation, fire and contents cleaning, mold remediation, complete reconstruction, and much more, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. By pooling resources, members are able to take on disasters of any magnitude, while ensuring the very best of restoration expertise and efficiency.

21 FoCALpoINTStartup Investment: $49,950 - $65,000Cash Requirement: $49,950Domestic Franchises: 53FocalPoint Coaching, powered by Brian Tracy, specializes in training managers, entrepreneurs and executives who are passionate about coaching, teaching, and mentoring others. Franchisees receive exceptional training, support, and the resources needed to be successful. At FocalPoint, you’ll learn how to think and act like a business coach, how to find and acquire clients, and how to keep them!

22 sTRoLLER sTRIdEsStartup Investment: $4,009 - $17,889Cash Requirement: $3,700 - $6,050Domestic Franchises: 264We offer fitness classes for moms with babies. It’s fitness for mom and fun for baby. It’s a low cost, home-based business that fits with your family. We offer prenatal and postnatal workouts as well as weight loss programs and retail products. Stroller Strides is the 17th fastest growing franchise in the country according to Franchise Times magazine and is one of the top 25 companies in the country to work for according to Working Mother magazine. Feel good business that is supportive of motherhood!

23 JumpBuNCHStartup Investment: $40,700 - $73,900Cash Requirement: $35,000 - $77,000Domestic Franchises: 39JumpBunch offers structural sports and fitness programs for children 15 months to six years old, as well as for school- age children six to 12 years old. They are offered as part of a child’s day at school, daycare, after-school program, and recreation departments. JumpBunch is not a gym or facility; rather, they go out into the community to teach classes.

2011



KELLy LAvERTy FocalPoint Coaching} How long have you been a franchisee?I purchased my franchise in July 2008.----------------------------------------------------} How long did you spend researching franchises? I spent about three months seriously looking at franchises that could be a fit for me. I eventually narrowed that down to four final candidates and then did my due diligence on those four.----------------------------------------------------} Why did you choose your franchise?I chose FocalPoint Business Coaching as I believed in the concept of business coaching. I felt the management team from FocalPoint International was committed to franchisee success and was of high integrity and credibility. I believed in their strategy to grow this business and the support model that was in place to help grow my business. ----------------------------------------------------} Were there any big surprises about running your own business? If so, what were they?There were no major surprises at all with respect to the FocalPoint franchise, as I believe the discovery process was thorough and upfront. The biggest surprise for me was how well my professional background prior to buying my franchise prepared me to be a business coach. ----------------------------------------------------} What is the worst part of being your own boss? If there is a downside or worst part of being your own boss, I haven’t found it yet. Initially, it requires you to set your own direction and put in place all the necessary administrative tools and procedures to run the business, but once that is completed, you have the ability to run things as you need to achieve your dreams.

24 suRFACE spECIALIsTsStartup Investment: $46,000 - $75,500Cash Requirement: $25,000Domestic Franchises: 45Surface Specialists is among the largest and fastest-growing providers of surface restoration services in North America. Since 1981, our franchisees have been providing real value to their clients, and enjoying huge opportunities for profitable growth.

25 REsuLTs TRAvELStartup Investment: $25 - $10,425Cash Requirement: $25 - $10,425Domestic Franchises: 847We are excited to offer you industry-leading supplier programs and business management tools. We offer programs and services to assist in creating a sales or yield opportunity, or assist in expense management. We are committed to helping you grow successfully and look forward to discussing the benefits participation that results can bring you.

26 ActionCoACHStartup Investment: $82,500 - $108,441Cash Requirement: $40,000Domestic Franchises: 266ActionCOACH offers consultants an opportunity to become business and executive coaches and form a home-based company providing business and executive coaching services to other companies. ActionCOACH franchisees provide a valuable

service to business owners and executives, offering unique perspectives in evaluating current company structure, while helping improve business profitability.

27 CRuIsEoNEStartup Investment: $1,595 - $19,200Cash Requirement: $5,000Domestic Franchises: 680Do what you love and get paid for it! It’s as simple as that. We spend 35% of our day at work, so why not enjoy what you do? As a CruiseOne Franchise Owner, you can. For nearly 20 years, CruiseOne has grown to become one of the nation’s largest Cruise travel retailers with more than 680 independently owned cruise travel franchise locations. Today, as part of World Travel Holdings, we are the world’s largest seller of cruise vacations.

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28 sANdLER TRAININgStartup Investment: $82,150 - $98,750Cash Requirement: $68,000Domestic Franchises: 180Sandler Training is the leader in innovative sales and sales management training. We have over 235 training centers in major cities throughout the country and around the world, offering instruction in a dozen

languages. Our training is designed to create lasting “performance improvement” rather than the motivational “quick fix” typical of many seminar-based training programs. The demand for quality sales training has rarely been greater than it is today. As a Sandler franchisee, you can tap this vast market — and beyond. For more information on Sandler Training, call (800) 669-3537 x2005 or visit www.sandler.com.

29 CompuCHILdStartup Investment: $18,300 - $33,600Cash Requirement: $20,000Domestic Franchises: 71CompuChild is dedicated to preparing children for the academic challenges of tomorrow through technology education today. Classes are offered at existing child care centers, schools, and community centers. This easy to operate home- based business offers exclusive territories, low overhead and proprietary curriculum.

30 muRpHy BusINEss & FINANCIAL Startup Investment: $61,500 - $128,700Cash Requirement: $50,000Domestic Franchises: 124Murphy Business & Financial Corporation provides new or experienced business brokers with the support to build a successful business brokerage firm on several fronts. These include ownership transfers, business valuation and appraisals, mergers/acquisitions, and property management.



JumpBunch offers fitness programs as part of a child’s regular school day.

31 fAst-fix JewelryStartup Investment: $75,000 - $125,000Cash Requirement: $100,000Domestic Franchises: 160Fast-Fix perfected a system for delivering fast, efficient, professional repair work on jewelry and watches for men and women by locating its visible kiosks and inline stores conveniently in high traffic areas of regional shopping malls. The centers also sell ring sizing, chain replacement, remounting, engraving and eyeglass repair, in addition to replacing watch batteries.

32 5-stAr pAintingStartup Investment: $50,000 - $80,000Cash Requirement: $20,000Domestic Franchises: 63Five Star Painting is the #1 Painting Franchise, according to FBR. With cutting edge technology, online and offline marketing, multi–media and in person training, daily support and industry leading growth, you can truly change your life by joining our team of successful franchises. Five Star has a highly experienced management team that

creates success thru a personal touch and feel, yet our start up costs are the lowest in the industry.

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33 ouR TowN AmERICAStartup Investment: $74,800 - $105,450Cash Requirement: $89,000Domestic Franchises: 41For over 38 years, Our Town America has been providing new movers with traditional hospitality by mailing them housewarming gift certificates from neighborhood businesses, in a premium gift package. This is a marketing program that has satisfied thousands of business owners throughout the United States. For more information onOur Town America opportunities, call (727) 345-0811 x232 or visit www.ourtownamerica.com.

34 TAx CENTERs oF AmERICAStartup Investment: $15,000 - $45,000Cash Requirement: $10,000 - $35,000Domestic Franchises: 165Tax Centers of America is a recession-proof business with an unlimited opportunity for growth and the greatest franchise business opportunity available in America today. We are the only company that offers “buy one tax franchise and get four free.”

35 omEx INTERNATIoNALStartup Investment: $40,000 - $70,000Cash Requirement: $25,000Domestic Franchises: 20OMEX International has delivered superior cleaning services to first-rate offices and Fortune 500 companies for almost 30 years. The OMEX franchise is designed for the entrepreneur looking to build and develop a professional commercial cleaning business, not a small franchise where the owner is the principal worker. It is an opportunity to manage your own company and management staff while managing the maintenance needs of professional offices.

visit our website www.CruiseOneFranchise.comor call (888)628-4135

JUST FIT

2011



36 sHELFgENIEStartup Investment: $70,000 - $125,000Cash Requirement: $40,000Domestic Franchises: 44 As a ShelfGenie franchise owner, you’ll be part of a dynamic company with well established standards and procedures. We have meticulously planned everything down to the last detail. And you’ll enjoy countless advantages. You’ll have the opportunity to offer an extraordinary product, and operate under the trusted ShelfGenie brand name and logo. You’ll benefit from our professionally designed, highly informative website; benefit from our experience and our ongoing research and development of the ShelfGenie brand; own a business with low overhead; and utilize our state of the art proprietary web-based WishPortal management system.

37 oFFICE pRIdE CommERCIAL CLEANINg sERvICEsStartup Investment: $34,000 - $59,900Cash Requirement: $11,000Domestic Franchises: 110Office Pride Commercial Cleaning provides top quality janitorial services while



building mutually beneficial relationships with customers, employees, vendors, and franchises. At Office Pride, employees are trained on how to specifically give an office or facility the most thorough cleaning it has ever had, every time they clean.

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38 BuILdINgsTARsStartup Investment: $2,000 - $36,000Cash Requirement: $1,000Domestic Franchises: 328Buildingstars has developed the most advanced business model in the commercial cleaning industry. This unique business model provides our franchise owners with the best way to start their business, the best way to manage their business, and the best way to grow their business. This is not just an empty claim; we provide a written Financial Performance Representation that shows our corporate franchise owners have the highest average revenue in the industry.

Buildingstars is the only cleaning franchise with a focus on office buildings, and we manage only the highest quality accounts. For more information on Buildingstars opportunities, call (314) 991-3356 or visit www.buildingstarsfranchise.com.

39 AmAzINg ATHLETEsStartup Investment: $42,650 - $465,020Cash Requirement: $25,000Domestic Franchises: 30Amazing Athletes is a mobile sports and fitness franchise for young children ages 2.5 through six years. We specialize in teaching the fundamentals and mechanics of numerous sports incorporating the necessary hand-eye coordinationa and learning skills each child should know before entering first grade.

40 BARK BusTERsStartup Investment: $50,600 - $69,100Cash Requirement: $39,500 - $57,000Domestic Franchises: 252Bark Busters offers dog-friendly training techniques and products that leverage the same communications methods — body language and voice control — that dogs follow as part of their instinctual pack

“Given the uniqueness of the franchise and the demand for the service, this is a very promising opportunity for anyone with a passion for kids and/or education and learning.” Greg Bundens, Mathnasium Franchisee

Mathnasium franchisees know that a child’s confidence in math will build confidence in life.


THE 80:20 RuLEAs with just about everything

in life, Pareto’s Principle—commonly known as the 80:20 rule—applies to franchising as well. That said, 80 percent of the franchises in the marketplace are simply average or below average investment opportunities. The team at Franchise Business Review has made it our mission to focus on the Top percent – “Best in Class” franchise companies that put the success of their franchisees first.

FITWhile all the franchises

featured by Franchise Business Review are great business opportunities, they may not necessarily be great businesses for YOU. Franchises come in lots of different shapes, sizes, and colors. It’s critical to clearly define your business ownership goals and make sure your new chosen opportunity will meet your objectives.

THE 10 KEy sTEps To youRFRANCHIsE suCCEss

“Before investing in any franchise, it is critical to have a deep understanding of how current franchisees feel about the business.”

sATIsFACTIoNBefore investing in any

franchise, it is critical to have a deep understanding of how current franchisees feel about the business. Are they getting the training and support they require? Are the marketing and promotional programs effective? Are franchisee relations strong? Are they profitable? And are they optimistic about future growth? Don’t expect all franchisees to be 100% happy but solid validation of the business by the vast majority of franchisees is a must.

FINANCEsIt will probably take your

new business several years to become profitable. You need to plan accordingly and have enough extra cash set aside to cover your living expenses and unforeseen business expenses. Whatever amount of money you think you’ll need to get your new business up and running, DOUBLE IT! Most entrepreneurs report that their businesses took twice as long and cost twice as much to get going.

To be a highly successful franchise owner takes a lot of hard work, passion, and a little bit of luck. Here are 10 keys to your franchising success...



pAssIoNWhen you’re an employee and

you don’t like what you do, it’s relatively easy to find another job. When you buy a franchise and you find out that you don’t like what you do, it’s much more difficult to make a change. Your new business is going to be a big part of your life—today, tomorrow, and most likely 10 years from now. Buying a franchise is very exciting but when the excitement wears off, will you still be happy? Are you truly passionate about the business?

FRANCHIsE suCCEss “Whatever amount of money you think you’ll need to get your new business up and running, DOUBLE IT!”

CuLTuREWhen you join any franchise

system, you are joining a group of business people with a well defined culture. Franchise cultures come in lots of different flavors... professional, fun, corporate, casual, religious, money-focused, community-focused, and more. Be sure to have a good understanding of the company’s culture and the people involved. Is this culture a comfortable fit for your beliefs and business objectives?

LIFEsTyLEOwning a franchise, like owning

any business, is a much different lifestyle than having a job. While business ownership can be very fulfilling, it can also put a lot of demands on you and you’re your family. Typical franchise owners will work very long hours and almost always struggle financially for many years prior to achieving success. So before you jump off the entrepreneurial cliff, be sure that you are fully committed to a long-term plan and that your spouse and family are onboard.

“Before you jump off the entrepreneurial cliff, be sure that you are fully committed to a long-term plan and that your spouse and family are onboard.”

pRoFITThere are lots of different

reasons to buy and own a franchise business and while making money may not be your #1 priority, it’s most likely #2 on your list. Unfortunately, there are lots of franchise companies —including many large, national brands—where the franchisees struggle to make little or no profit. Understand how your business model works—not just top line sales but bottom line profitability as well. Confirm with current franchisees that the business will meet your financial expectations both short and long term.

FoCus, FoCus, FoCus!Your long term success as

a franchise owner is all about keeping your eye on the ball and executing your business plan effectively. The big problem will be knowing which ball to focus on! Distractions will come along... new opportunities will present themselves... ideas will pop in to your head... and the many, many details of running a successful business will try to drag you down. In every business, there are just a handful of key performance indicators (KPIs) that really matter. Figure out which KPIs drive your business and focus all your energy on improving them.

LAugHAs a franchise business

owner, you will experience a wide range of emotions —joy, uncertainty, excitement, frustration, fear, humility, and pride... to name just a few. And while your business “rollercoaster ride” will have many ups and downs, never lose your sense of humor. You’ll make lots of mistakes and there will be significant challenges along the way. But if you keep your cool and remember to laugh at yourself, you’ll always end up on top. BEST OF SUCCESS!



mentality. Training takes place in the home and their all-natural methods are effective with any dog, any age — including puppies. Bark Busters is recognized as the leader of the pack in dog training.

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41 pAdgETT BusINEss sERvICEsStartup Investment: $98,955 Cash Requirement: $98,955Domestic Franchises: 400Over 25,000 small businesses rely on Padgett Business Services franchise owners for a wide array of business services including accounting, financial reporting, tax, government compliance, payroll services, and general business consulting. For more information on Padgett opportunities, call (877) 729-8253 or visit www.smallbizpros.com.

42 JusT BETwEEN FRIENdsStartup Investment: $24,500 - $32,500Cash Requirement: $12,900Domestic Franchises: 109Just Between Friends is the nation’s leading children’s and maternity consignment sales event franchise. Franchises offer sales events in organized shopping venues two to three

times per year where shoppers can find all they need for their families at substantial savings. Just Between Friends franchises lead the market through use of proprietary POS software with back-end internet software and support, and professional branding through targeted marketing materials. At Just Between Friends, we pride ourselves on our sales events, our franchises, and our commitment to customer service.

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43 mATHNAsIumStartup Investment: $66,600 - $92,500Cash Requirement: $100,000Domestic Franchises: 228Mathnasium is a learning center where students go year-round to boost their math skills. The centers are highly specialized and teach only math. Their goal is to significantly increase a child’s math skills, understanding of math concepts, and overall school performance, while building confidence and forging a positive attitude toward the subject. At Mathnasium, we make math make sense to children. For more information on Mathnasium opportunities, call (877) 531-MATH(6284) or visit www.mathnasium.com.

44 CARpET NETwoRKStartup Investment: $67,405 - $92,705Cash Requirement: $75,000Domestic Franchises: 30Carpet Network was the pioneer in bringing shop-at-home convenience to the $20.9 billion flooring and window coverings industry. Our home-based business brings state-of-the-art mobile vans, the very latest sales support technology, unsurpassed buying power from the nation’s top manufacturers, innovative products, comprehensive marketing support, and decades of experience to our network of franchisees.

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45 snAp-on toolsStartup Investment: $17,906 - $278,492Cash Requirement: $17,906 - $74,271Domestic Franchises: 3,219Snap-on Incorporated is a leading global innovator, manufacturer, and marketer of tools, diagnostics, and equipment solutions for professional users. Product lines include hand and power tools and are sold through its franchisees, company-direct sales, and distributor channels, as well as over the internet. For more information on Snap-on Tools opportunities, call (877) 476-2766 or visit www.snaponfranchise.com

46 mATCo TooLsStartup Investment: $79,000 - $188,000Cash Requirement: $35,000Domestic Franchises: 1,462Matco Tools is a 63-year-old organization supplying professional grade tools, automotive service and diagnostic equipment to professional repair technicians in the automotive, truck, marine, and aviation industries. Matco’s franchised mobile distributors operate from a home-based office in an exclusive territory and service a pre-identified potential customer base.

47 KINdERdANCE INTERNATIoNALStartup Investment: $14,950 - $46,100Cash Requirement: $14,950Domestic Franchises: 113Kinderdance is the original nationwide dance, motor development, gymnastics, and fitness program that combines academic readiness skills specifically designed for children ages 2 to 12. What makes Kinderdance unique is that all of our

Another Snap-on Tools franchisee delivering top- notch customer service.



programs incorporate educational concepts in a developmentally designed curriculum that teaches to the total child. We place special emphasis on building self-confidence and self-esteem in young children.

48 sIgNAL 88 sECuRITyStartup Investment: $86,870 - $106,670Cash Requirement: $40,000Domestic Franchises: 59Signal 88 Security Group, the leading security service franchisor, was founded in 2003, in Omaha, Neb. where “signal 88” is police code for “situation secure.” Signal 88 Security was created to bridge the gap between the large inefficient security company and the small, local security shop. Signal 88 Security provides a superior security services offering through the utilization of the latest technology and a management process with intrinsic efficiencies and capabilities powered by this technology; none of which is available to or utilized by the competition. This approach is unique in the industry and provides a competitive edge for the success of all Signal 88 Security Franchises.

49 CREATIvE CoLoRs INTERNATIoNAL Startup Investment: $53,035 - $63,295Cash Requirement: $37,500Domestic Franchises: 38Creative Colors International offers the motivated entrepreneur the opportunity to operate a proven business, which provides immediate income and unlimited potential for growth. With modest start-up costs, a complete training program, and support, we can put tremendous growth potential at your fingertips. Act quickly because each franchise is awarded its own exclusive territory.

50 ALwAys BEsT CARE Startup Investment: $50,125 - $92,700Cash Requirement: $90,000Domestic Franchises: 128For over 13 years, Always Best Care has been providing exceptional, trusted senior care. A passion for people and a conviction to the highest standard of care has made Always best care the leading senior health care franchise in the country. Our three revenue sources include in-home care, assisted living placement services, and skilled care. This enables our franchisees to enjoy an unparalleled edge over our local competition.



51 vIsITINg ANgELsStartup Investment: $55,285 - $76,035Cash Requirement: $35,950Domestic Franchises: 420 Visiting Angels has established over 400 senior home care franchises (non-medical) in 47 states across the United States. We advertise and market nationally for home-care client leads and distribute thousands of home care client leads every month to our franchisees! Visiting Angels has been ranked by Entrepreneur Magazine as one of the fastest growing franchises in America.

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52 CoLdwELL BANKER CommERCIAL Startup Investment: $30,000 - $100,000Cash Requirement: $10,000Domestic Franchises: 2,425Coldwell Banker Commercial (CBC) is a worldwide leader in commercial real estate and part of one of the industry’s most respected real estate brands. The organization is comprised of over 220 companies and 2,000 professionals throughout its international platform. For more on Coldwell Banker Commercial opportunities, call (973) 407-7250 or visit www.cbcworldwide.com.

53 RIgHT AT HomEStartup Investment: $63,590 - $99,680Cash Requirement: $100,000Domestic Franchises: 206Right at Home, a leading franchisor of in-home care and assistance for seniors and others, is looking for individuals with a strong business ethic, great management skills, and a desire to run their own business. We provide the proven concept, training, tools, and support; you provide the passion to serve those in your community with one of the fastest growing franchises in the nation.

54 HomEwATCH CAREgIvERsStartup Investment: $90,000 - $140,000Cash Requirement: $50,000Domestic Franchises: 184With more than 30 years of experience and success, Homewatch CareGivers is the largest and most experienced franchise system that penetrates 100% of the home care market. While most franchisors focus only on non-medical companion care for seniors, Homewatch CareGivers offers non–medical AND medical services for seniors and people of all ages with any home care need.

55 ToTAL goLF AdvENTuREsStartup Investment: $13,150 - $62,200Cash Requirement: $13,150 - $62,200Domestic Franchises: 41A TGA franchise is your opportunity to own your own business while growing the game of golf, positively affecting children’s lives, contributing to the betterment of your

community, and experiencing the personal and financial rewards of owning your own business. TGA offers franchisees all the tools and support they need to succeed. Combining what we offer with your personal commitment and enthusiasm could create the lucrative business that introduces golf to the next generation.

56 sImpLE sImoN’s pIzzAStartup Investment: $89,500 - $593,500Cash Requirement: $50,000Domestic Franchises: 230Simple Simon’s Pizza was founded in 1982 based on a simple philosophy to serve the best quality pizza, calzone, and sandwiches at the most affordable price in a family atmosphere that people can enjoy.

57 mARs vENus CoACHINgStartup Investment: $35,000 Cash Requirement: $50,000Domestic Franchises: 17At Mars Venus Coaching, we provide training programs, workshops, life coaching, and executive/business coaching services that dramatically enhance personal and organizational performance in the areas of leadership, teamwork, communication, relationships, and life skills. What sets us apart from other coaching and training companies is that over $50 million has been spent establishing and marketing our brand.

58 g.J. gARdNERStartup Investment: $70,000 - $100,000Cash Requirement: $70,000 - $100,000Domestic Franchises: 14Joining G.J. Gardner Homes means we put systems and procedures in place so the franchisee’s time is used to their best advantage. We ensure that people are trained in our systems so the office runs effectively and efficiently. This means that once the franchise is up and running effectively the franchisee can have a manager take their place and run the business on a day-to-day basis and leave the franchisee to just oversee the business and focus on doing the things they are passionate about.

59 i9 spoRTsStartup Investment: $44,900 - $69,900Cash Requirement: $50,000 - $60,000Domestic Franchises: 135Nationally based in the Tampa Bay area, i9 Sports is the first and fastest growing franchise of youth sports leagues, camps, and programs in the United States. With over

Senior Care franchisees, like those with Visiting Angels, have a strong desire to help others.


Build a businessas safe as houses

www.gjgardner.com

G.J. Gardner Homes is the largest building franchise in Australia, and is now building

the same solid reputation in America. With 14 franchises already, and moving into

4 states shortly - now is the time to join the team.

Learn more online or call 858 309 2545


100,000 participants since 2003 and 100 franchise locations in 25 states, i9 Sports offers the most popular team sports for kids with a focus on fun, safety, and good sportsmanship.

60 RoNI dEuTCH TAx CENTERStartup Investment: $85,000 - $119,900Cash Requirement: $75,000Domestic Franchises: 72Roni Deutch Tax Center is a rewarding business developed to provide competent and professional tax preparation services. Every franchisee has the opportunity to earn extra income via additional business services or through one of our outreach programs. We have low investment cost, minimal overhead, no inventory, and our royalties are low.

61 Asp - AMericA’s swiMMing pool co. Startup Investment: $49,200 - $89,500Cash Requirement: $50,000Domestic Franchises: 35ASP - America’s Swimming Pool Co., the Southeast’s most respected swimming pool maintenance and repair franchise, was established in 2001 by Stewart Vernon of Macon, Ga. The company was built on the belief that providing the highest-quality pool

maintenance with competitive pricing and a high level of dependability would attract customers.

62 Tss pHoTogRApHyStartup Investment: $30,250 - $75,150Cash Requirement: $9,075 - $22,545Domestic Franchises: 210If you love photography, enjoy working with kids, or have an interest in sports, now you can enjoy a picture perfect future as a franchise owner with TSS Photography.

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63 u.s. LAwNsStartup Investment: $55,000 - $85,000Cash Requirement: $30,000Domestic Franchises: 232Commercial landscape management is one of the most sustainable new businesses you can start. Grass and plants grow every day. Commercial property landscape must be maintained year round and annual contracts produce recurring revenue. U.S. Lawns is the

landscape industry’s leading commercial landscape management franchise. We provide full service landscape services to commercial customers throughout the United States. For more information on U.S. Lawns opportunities, call (407) 246-1630 or visit www.uslawnsfranchise.com.

64 wood RE NEwStartup Investment: $50,000 Cash Requirement: $10,000Domestic Franchises: 21Wood Re New offers cleaning and protecting decks, fences, docks, gazebos, cedar, and redwood siding. Our cleaners and wood protectors are environmentally safe for people, pets, plants, and grass and are private labeled products unique to Wood Re New. The thick foaming cleaner we apply was specially formulated for wood. It achieves amazing cleaning results and also gives us a marketing advantage.

65 pEsTmAsTERStartup Investment: $35,500 - $80,500Cash Requirement: $10,000 - $20,000Domestic Franchises: 24Pestmaster Services, Inc., has always been an industry leader in performing

CommercialLandscapeManagementatitsbest

NATIONALSTRENGTH¥LOCALCOMMITMENT

i9 Sports franchises make youth sports fun and safe.



Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Our Mission is to provide the most effective pest management services with an earnest concern for the environment, and for the safety of our customers and employees. We offer a vast menu of services, including but not limited to, general pest, general weed control, exotic and aquatic weed control, and mosquito abatement, as well as bee, bat, bird, and termite control. Our first and foremost concern is the safety and health of our customers, their families, and their pets.

66 CyBERTARyStartup Investment: $39,000+Cash Requirement: $37,500+Domestic Franchises: 25Join the virtual assisting (VA) industry leader and the “first and only” turnkey virtual assisting franchise in the United States. Cybertary is a network of highly skilled professional VAs, who provide on-demand administrative, creative, and technical support to businesses, entrepreneurs, and busy people. The Cybertary network provides reliable, cost-effective support services to meet each client’s needs and increase productivity.

67 youNg REmBRANdTs Startup Investment: $40,265 - $48,600Cash Requirement: $40,000Domestic Franchises: 77Young Rembrandts is the art program with a difference. We view art not merely as a talent, but as a skill that can—and should—be learned by all children. Young Rembrandts teaches the drawing skills children need. Our original curriculum introduces concrete ideas and techniques that enlarge and enrich their visual vocabularies, their imaginations and their minds.

68 pRopERTyguys.ComStartup Investment: $25,000 - $50,000Cash Requirement: $25,000 - $50,000 Domestic Franchises: 120We are North America’s largest, most respected, and fastest growing private sale network. Over ten years ago, we pioneered the assisted private sale concept. Today, PropertyGuys.com is known for our wildly successful system for selling homes privately. We are a Canadian-based company owned by Canadians. We have over 120 locally owned franchise locations serving over 600 communities across Canada.

69 pILLAR To posTStartup Investment: $14,900 - $35,900Cash Requirement: $15,000Domestic Franchises: 320Pillar to Post is the largest and leading home inspection company in North America. If you’re ready to make your next move in life, why not consider a home-based business that allows you to make a difference in your customer’s lives. Pillar to Post is a low startup cost franchise with 17 years of proven success. We provide the solid technical training and support you need to take your business to the next level.

70 mosquITo squAdStartup Investment: $32,000 - $57,000Cash Requirement: $17,500Domestic Franchises: 22Mosquito Squad is a proven, effective, and dependable treatment solution that kills mosquitoes, ticks, and other outdoor pests, helping you fight the spread of West Nile Virus, Lyme Disease and Encephalitis in your community. Starting with our proprietary insect treatment program and an innovativemarketing plan, you can be up and running in 30 days.

71 CARTRIdgE dEpoTStartup Investment: $50,000 Cash Requirement: $40,000Domestic Franchises: 17Cartridge Depot wants to change the way people buy ink and toner cartridges for printers and fax machines. We are committed to becoming the industry leader in cartridge remanufacturing and recycling. We are a growing American company headquartered in Maryland, with operations in four countries around the world.

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72 mR. RooTERStartup Investment: $24,000Cash Requirement: $55,450 - $150,750Domestic Franchises: 266Mr. Rooter is an all-franchised, full- service plumbing and drain cleaning company that provides services to both residential and commercial customers.

} How long have you been a franchisee? We purchased the business from Mike’s father in June of 2006. ---------------------------------------------------- } Why did you choose your franchise? Mike has a BS in Welding Engineering, and Alison has a degree in Voice Performance with a minor in business. Our backgrounds are very diverse and different, and we wanted an opportunity to work together and build something together that would allow us to still focus on our individual strengths but provide a common interest. Building the business together the way we have has also helped us build our relationship and marriage because we are both working toward a common goal but are still able to focus on our strengths and interests. ---------------------------------------------------- } Were there any big surprises about running your own business? We work much harder and much longer than we did in our traditional 9-5 jobs but the level of freedom we have with our business was surprising. At the time we purchased the business, we figured we would still have the inflexibility that comes with most traditional jobs, so we were very happy to discover the flexible schedule that owning our own business allows. This allows us to build a great life for ourselves and our family. ---------------------------------------------------- } What is the worst part of being your own boss? Bookkeeping! ----------------------------------------------------} Where do you see yourself in five years? Owning two more Pillar To Post franchises.

mIKE + ALLIsoN sCHRAy Pillar to Post



Mr. Rooter Plumbing technicians follow a professional and customer-focused system, wearing shoe covers inside homes and businesses to protect a customer’s property. For more information on Mr. Rooter opportunities, call (800) 298-6855 or visit www.MrRooterFranchise.com.

73 pAsspoRT HEALTHStartup Investment: $70,000 - $120,000Cash Requirement: $70,000 - $90,000Domestic Franchises: 70Passport Health is a simple, low overhead service company, which provides immunizations for travel, back-to-school, immigration and naturalization, bio-defense, military readiness, clinical trials and wellness. We also provide country specific travel counseling, health products and information to those about to travel to a foreign country. Our on-site wellness programs include various screening clinics and drug screens tailored to our client needs. Passport Health office sites are chosen for their central location, convenience, and accessibility to their target market. They are designed as a one-stop shop for a traveler’s health needs. Since such services are rarely covered by insurance, payment is immediate, usually in cash, and prices are competitive and profitable.

74 ImAgEs 4 KIdsStartup Investment: $38,600Cash Requirement: $38,600Domestic Franchises: 67Images 4 Kids is the premier school photography franchise specializing in daycare, private school, and preschool photography. We bring studio quality photographs to school picture day, and the difference is spectacular. Our business model is based around a love of children, photography, and the need for a flexible work schedule. Images 4 Kids provides a state-of-the-art secure online system for parents to view and order their child’s portraits as well as a computer management system that organizes each franchisee from the point the photo shoot is booked to delivering the final portraits to the school.

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75 Aire-servStartup Investment: $59,251 - $174,200Cash Requirement: $29,800 - $94,800Domestic Franchises: 172Aire Serv Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. franchises are independently owned and operated, built on the need to exceed the expectations of each customer with professional team members, knowledge, flat-rate pricing, 24-hour emergency service and more. Aire Serv is a global franchise organization that provides installation, maintenance and repair of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and indoor air quality systems to both residential and commercial customers. For more information on Aire-Serv opportunities, call (800) 583-2662 or visit www.AireServFranchise.com.

76 gRouT doCToRStartup Investment: $23,405 - $39,915Cash Requirement: $23,405 - $39,916Domestic Franchises: 62Ranked in Entrepreneur Magazine’s 2010 Franchise 500, The Grout Doctor is the most experienced, respected, and recognized brand in the business! The Grout Doctor renews existing grout, tile, and natural stone to its original beauty.

77 CoLLEgE NANNIEs & TuToRsStartup Investment: $60,000 - $154,000Cash Requirement: $50,000Domestic Franchises: 66College Nannies & Tutors is the nation’s largest resource for customized nanny and tutoring services. Combine that with strong and dedicated local ownership, we have the passion and the means to provide a role model precisely targeted to a family’s needs. College Nannies & Tutors offers several attractive advantages to our franchisees. Low startup costs, a home-based startup option, a business model designed for early cash flow to expedite your success are just a few.

“ The communication and support that I receive from fellow franchisees is invaluable to me. Everyone works together and they are truly concerned about your success.” Pinky & Thomas Bradford, Fish Window Cleaning

Fish Window Cleaning franchisees and staff keep their customers seeing clearly.



78 pop-A-lockStartup Investment: $30,000 - $120,000Cash Requirement: $45,000Domestic Franchises: 182Pop-A-Lock, a lucrative, necessary service business with a time-tested, proven business model. Pop-A-Lock, the only franchise system offering a complete range of leading edge technology and traditional mobile locksmith, credential and security services for all commercial, automotive, residential customers. This includes many national and regional customers who have locations in cities all across the country and around the world. The efficiency aspect of one reliable name point of contact is one of many dominant differences for a Pop-A-Lock franchisee.

79 HAppy ANd HEALTHy pRoduCTs INC. Startup Investment: $32,222 - $68,339Cash Requirement: $32,222Domestic Franchises: 50Low investment, full or part-time home-based distributorship for frozen fruit bars, snacks, breads and cookies. No royalties and low overhead with working capital built in. No storefront necessary, and initial accounts and training guaranteed.

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80 RAINBow INTERNATIoNALStartup Investment: $22,000 - $101,000Cash Requirement: $25,000Domestic Franchises: 186Rainbow International is an exclusive, worldwide restoration franchise organization offering exciting franchise opportunities in the residential and commercial restoration and cleaning business. For more information on Rainbow International opportunities, call (800) 280-9963 or visit www.RainbowFranchise.com.

81 TowN moNEy sAvERStartup Investment: $29,900Cash Requirement: $29,900Domestic Franchises: 36Town Money Saver has been structured to provide you with the tools and management knowledge to effectively and profitably produce a monthly community publication. There is no storefront, inventory, or employees required to start your franchise. Town Money Saver handles your graphic coordination, printing, and mailing—allowing you to focus on customer relationships and growth. Exclusive territories allow you to develop long-term relationships that will result in a solid future.

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82 FIsH wINdowStartup Investment: $65,000 - $125,000Cash Requirement: $65,000 - $125,000Domestic Franchises: 165Fish Window Cleaning provides service to commercial and residential customers nationwide. They specialize in cleaning: ground-level storefronts; one-, two-, and three-story office buildings; restaurants; banks; churches; schools; and homes. Whether at work or at home, they offer a variety of services such as exterior windows of all types, storm windows, construction clean ups, screens, mirrors, chandeliers, ceiling fans, gutters, and skylights. For more information on Fish Window opportunities, call (877) 707-3474 or visit www.fishwindowcleaning.com.

“The best part of being my own boss is that I can set goals and objectives that suit what I want to get out of my business.” Kelly Laverty, FocalPoint Coaching


Over the last five years, FBR has surveyed more than 100,000 franchisees from over 500 of today’s leading franchise brands. When we survey a franchise company, all active franchise owners that have been in business for three months or longer are invited to participate in this survey process. FBR contacts each franchisee individually and supplies them with a unique login to complete the survey. We make at least three attempts to reach each franchise owner directly by email and/or by telephone. We average a 70 percent participation rate from franchise owners. Our standard franchisee satisfaction survey includes 40 benchmark questions. The first 20 questions relate directly to the franchise owner’s experience and satisfaction. The remaining 20 questions are focused on market area, business lifestyle, and other demographic questions. Each franchisee has the option to complete the survey anonymously yet over 60 percent will typically share their identity.-----------------------------------------------------Each of the franchise opportunities listed in this guide have above average franchisee satisfaction. A company’s ranking is based on their overall franchisee satisfaction rating, which is weighted slightly for larger, more established companies. For example, if a 50-unit franchise company and a 500-unit franchise company had the same overall franchisee satisfaction rating, the 500-unit company would be ranked slightly higher. While franchisee satisfaction is clearly not the only factor to consider when researching franchises, it is one of the most important factors in our opinion. All FBR research is conducted independently with franchisees. FBR is not affiliated with, nor do we endorse any franchise company. Please conduct your own thorough research before investing in any franchise concept.-----------------------------------------------------ABouT FRANCHIsE BusINEss REvIEwFranchise Business Review is a national franchise market research firm that performs independent surveys of franchisee satisfaction. Our products include franchisee satisfaction research reports, economic impact studies, franchise sector studies, and individual franchise investment guides. We administer the Franchisee Satisfaction Awards—an annual rating of the top franchise companies based on the highest level of overall franchisee satisfaction. The franchise opportunities listed in this Top Low Cost Franchises guide are award-winning low-cost concepts from our most recent awards project.

suRvEy ANd RANKINg mETHodoLogy


INITIAL INvEsTmENT RANgEThe initial investment range of a franchise

business is the estimated costs you will incur starting the business. It typically includes the franchise fee (a one-time licensing fee paid for the initial term of the franchise agreement), training costs, equipment, marketing materials, and build-out costs (for businesses with a physical location). It may also include some allowance for initial working capital. The initial investment is given as a range as there are many variables that can affect the costs, such as local market conditions, size of location, size of territory, etc. To be clear, every business requires additional capital investment over time. These costs can be significant and vary dramatically depending on the type of business you are investing in. Additional costs may include employee training, equipment upgrades, new signage, updated marketing materials, and office furnishings. These additional costs are NOT included in the initial investment estimates.

NET woRTH REquIREdMany franchise companies also have

minimum net worth requirements for their franchisee candidates, and these can be significantly higher than the initial investment itself. Higher net worth requirements are typically tied to your ability to be approved for financing to cover the initial investment, working capital, or other additional capital should you need it. This is an area where you want to be absolutely sure that you are well within the franchise company’s recommendations. No matter how successful a franchise business model, you do not want to go into business undercapitalized.

BEyoNd THE Fdd:Five Metrics to Consider Before Buying a Franchise Business

AvERAgE uNIT sALEsAverage unit sales is calculated in order

to give a more accurate picture of unit-level economics compared to information that may be presented in the financial performance representation (Item 19) of a franchise company’s FDD. Often times, a franchise company will “massage” its data, leaving out newer units or emphasizing top performing units to enhance unit performance. We believe that our calculated estimate of average unit sales, which includes ALL open and operating units, delivers a more accurate predictor of actual unit performance.

Our estimated average unit sales figures are calculated by dividing total royalty dollars collected in a given year (typically disclosed in the corporate financials) by the average royalty percentage that the franchise company charges franchisees. This will give an estimate of total system-wide revenues, which then needs to be divided by the total number of units to get to average unit sales figure. Since the number of open units is changing all the time, we use an average number based on open units at the beginning of the year and open units at the end of the year. It is important to note that this is only an estimate of gross unit revenue. While this figure can be very useful when comparing similar business concepts, it is not a projection of net profit. Actual operating expenses vary significantly from business to business, making it extremely difficult to calculate an accurate estimate of unit profitability. Confirming actual cost figures from operating franchisees in similar markets will help you develop a more accurate picture of the long-term business performance and potential profitability.

TERmINATIoNsFDDs are required to list changes in

units over the past three years. This will include new units opened and those that didn’t renew their franchise agreement, ceased operating for other business reasons, or franchise units that were terminated by the franchisor (meaning that the franchise agreement was legally terminated and the franchisee is no longer part of the system). While it is necessary for a reputable franchisor to occasionally terminate the franchise agreement of an individual who is significantly under performing and/or not in compliance with the franchise agreement, a high rate of terminations in any given time period should be considered a big red flag.

FRANCHIsEE sATIsFACTIoNOne of the most critical factors when

considering any franchise investment is the overall attitudes and satisfaction of current franchisees. Franchise Business Review has surveyed over 500 franchise systems since 2005, and we are constantly surveying new companies, as well as resurveying existing brands. Franchisee satisfaction is only a snapshot in time, so we encourage companies to survey with us on an annual basis. While Franchise Business Review will survey a franchise company at NO COST, many companies decline to allow us to survey their franchisees. Without the support of the corporate office, it is difficult to achieve the level of franchisee participation required for statistically relevant results.

When conducting your own franchisee satisfaction due diligence, it is important to talk with a good number of franchisees to get a broad understanding of satisfaction system-wide. In many cases, this will require contacting or visiting several dozen franchisees and getting their feedback on key issues like training and support, operations, franchisee-franchisor relations, financial performance, and overall business satisfaction. Don’t expect every franchisee to be 100 percent satisfied with the franchise business or their franchisor—every franchise company will have some level of discontent. But by talking with many different franchisees, you’ll quickly understand if their challenges are simply isolated issues, or something the whole franchise system is experiencing.

Regardless of the investment range, deciding to invest in a franchise business requires a lot of careful consideration. Prospective franchisees must look at numerous metrics before settling on a franchise, including the type of business, the investment level, and the health of the corporate company. While franchise disclosure documents (FDD) will provide a lot of this information, franchise candidates should look beyond the FDD to determine the true value of an investment. Here are a few of the factors we at Franchise Business Review consider before declaring a company a good investment.


WHAT IF YOUR FAMILY BUSINESS WAS THE BEST IN THE WORLD?

BE IN BUSINESS WITH THE BESTSM

You know Snap-on® as the #1 professional tool brand in the world. What you may not know is that Snap-on is also a fantastic business opportunity. Along with our legendary innovation and relentless determination to be the best, the business model we’ve honed over the course of nine decades has made us a franchise that stacks up well:

• More than 4,000 franchises worldwide• Most in-demand product in the category• Protected list of customers• Mobile store where you go to your customers• No real estate investment• Exceptional training and support• Proven franchise model

TOP TOOL FRANCHISE IN FRANCHISE BUSINESS REVIEW 2010

2011top low cost franchises - franchise business review

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