by UFG | May 21, 2024 | News
Once you’ve decided to buy, here are three steps for finding the franchise that’s right for you.
You’ve decided to take your career to the next level by investing in a franchise. Now what? With more than 800,000 franchise establishments in the United States, how do you find the one that’s right for you?
It’s a mix of objective performance indicators and gut-level instinct, in an ongoing balance until you purchase. First, list your wants and needs, your budget and the things you are good at and enjoy versus those you are not good at and hate doing. Friends and family are good sources for these insights; they know you best so they can tell you whether they think you’d be good at it.
You don’t have to do all of this alone; nor should you. Plan to have a team behind you: a broker if you’re buying an existing location, with a lawyer and an accountant when you’re in the final stages.
Once you’ve decided to buy, here are three steps for researching the perfect franchise for you.
Start with yourself
You will be one of your most critical resources when researching the franchise. Before you get to the financial or logistical aspects, you must be sure you’ve chosen the best industry and company for you – and if franchising itself is right for you.
Ask yourself the following questions:
- Why do I want to own a franchise? Can I really see myself doing this? If you’re in this to get rich quick, better look elsewhere. Prosperity should be your goal (who goes into business to not make money?), but you should know it will take a lot of hard work to get there. If your goal is to have more control of your career by running your own business, consider if you’re ready to be the boss in difficult times, when sales are slow, or the team isn’t performing.
- Do I know enough about this industry to buy into it? You don’t necessarily have to have run a restaurant, sign company or any business in the past to succeed in a franchise, but the more you know about the company and industry you’re eying, the more successful your investment will be. And the less experienced or knowledgeable you are, the more critical it will be to identify people you can turn to for answers you don’t have.
Research the company and its industry
You have a wide variety of resources: Publications like Entrepreneur‘s Franchise 500 can give you a sense of the industry as a whole. The brand’s website can help you analyze its products/services, history, mission and values; look at its social media and online reviews for customer feedback. Ask the franchise to connect you with a franchisee. Meet with a local representative and visit existing locations of the franchise and its competitors. Also, consider:
- Does the franchise have a history of success and strategic growth? A franchise that isn’t adding locations and attracting new franchisees is just another business with multiple venues. Check out the market for the product or service, including growth opportunities. If the franchise brand doesn’t have a clear plan for where and where not to locate new franchise locations, it may not be the best choice for you. The brand should also be willing to share backup materials for its earnings claims.
- Does the company have resources for training, setup and ongoing support? You should expect detailed help choosing and setting up your location, thorough training for your team and networking opportunities to learn from vendors and fellow franchisees. Initial training should last one to two weeks, followed by two to three weeks of set-up and periodic on-site visits for setting up technology and marketing.
- Discovery Day is an exploration day for prospective franchisees to learn more about the brand. Prepare for it by getting the agenda and learning whom you’ll be meeting with. Prepare three to five questions for each person. Your goal should be to get a good feel for the company and its culture.
- Franchisee feedback. The brand should be willing to let you speak to an owner without a corporate “chaperone.” Ask the owner about their experience with the brand. Has the company provided adequate training and support? Does it seem to care about its franchisees? And the bottom line: Would they do it again?
Be willing to walk away
Throughout your research, be alert to red flags, such as a lack of success in a flagship location, failure to provide manuals and reluctance to have a “discovery day.” You should be able to visit other franchisees on your own, outside the presence of a company representative.
Researching a franchise requires willingness to dive deep into the company you’re looking at and to keep asking questions until you understand and can accept the answers. You’ll be sinking a significant amount of your money, time and heart into this investment, so don’t rush into it – and don’t be afraid to walk away. It’s OK to drop a prospect that doesn’t look or feel right if you do so at the brand’s established “point of no return.” At United Franchise Group, we prepare for that possibility by making our deposit fully refundable before final signing, if the applicant isn’t comfortable with the marketing, location or lease before they commit to ownership. The last thing we want is a franchisee in a business they don’t like.
Of all the factors to look for as you research, the overarching one should be the franchise’s support and respect for you. You should get a sense that the brand is out for more than a cut of your revenue but is there to help you succeed. While you’re investing in the franchise, the franchise should be investing in you — setting you up for success, which creates their success.
by UFG | May 21, 2024 | News
St. Charles, IL – Fully Promoted®, a full-service promotional products franchise, is celebrating the recognition of its St. Charles, Illinois franchise as a winner of this year’s MarTech Awards, a program launched by Innovation in Business Magazine to shine a light on the latest developments, trends, and innovations across the marketing technology landscape.
Owned by Michelle Bottino, Fully Promoted of St. Charles was named Promotional Products & Apparel Company of the Year, an honor fueled by the franchise’s zest for creativity and unwavering efforts to help brands leave a lasting impression on their new customers and employees. With a commitment to quality, Fully Promoted of St. Charles provides ongoing training to further the professional and creative development of its team so they can best serve their clients. The business also regularly invests in its equipment to ensure they can produce the highest quality products in-house and at a lower price point than larger vendors, emphasizing its dedication to value.
“Our focus is on providing solutions for our clients including bulk orders, welcome and new hire kits, and online shopping portals,” said Bottino. “We want all of our clients to be successful and we work hard to make sure we can provide quality products and affordable prices.”
As stated by Innovation Business Magazine, the winners of the 2024 MarTech Awards are continually enriching modern digital marketing practices and providing advanced solutions. With new technologies emerging all the time, automation, data analytics, and AI – among others – are altering the way we find, handle, and process information. The next step is translating and harnessing the power of this uncovered data to tailor those all-important digital services to achieve the best results.
Recognizing their excellence, the 2024 MarTech Awards delve deeper into the unique offerings of those innovating and fueling their industry. MarTech Awards Coordinator Jack Ford commented on the achievements of the 2024 awardees, “This program marks milestones for our winners as we commemorate their success. I want to personally wish them all the best for the future ahead as we continue to see them nourish their teams, offerings, and clients.”
To learn more about the 2024 MarTech Award winners and to gain insight into the working practices of the “best of the best”, please visit www.innovationinbusiness.com.
About Fully Promoted
Fully Promoted® operates a full-service branded apparel, promotional products, and marketing service business with approximately 270 individually owned and operated locations around the world. It is an affiliated brand of United Franchise Group™, the global leader for entrepreneurs. Fully Promoted has established its reputation as a one-stop-shop for branded swag, merchandise, and apparel, perfect for business conferences, tradeshows, incentives, recognition and award programs, corporate gifts, and company stores, building brand recognition that can take your organization to the next level. To find the Fully Promoted nearest you, visit www.fullypromoted.com, and for franchising opportunities, visit www.fullypromotedfranchise.com. To shop Fully Promoted e-commerce, visit www.shop.fullypromoted.com.
by UFG | May 19, 2024 | News
In our weekly list of business people on the move, we highlight Palm Beach County professionals who are making a difference. These are people from across the spectrum of public and private endeavors, those working in charities, court houses, private practices and beyond. They are moving up within their industry, advancing their careers and standing out for their services within our community.
Here are this week’s professional standouts:
County cancer support group adds to board of directors
Cancer Alliance of Help & Hope is pleased to announce that Michelle Robson Worth recently joined its board of directors. Robson Worth, an entrepreneur and advocate for women’s health, has dedicated her life and career to making a lasting impact on women’s health and well-being. Cancer Alliance of Help & Hope, Inc. is a Palm Beach County not-for-profit organization that eases the burden of qualified local cancer patients by paying a portion of their non-medical bills, supplementing basic needs, and providing support and information resources.
Local company hires dream coach to help employees
West Palm Beach-based United Franchise Group, the global leader for entrepreneurs with more than 1,600 franchises within 10 brands in 60 countries, has created a new benefit-access to a ‘dream coach.’ Not a life or career coach, this new position helps people work on goals to improve their fitness, grow their relationships, clarify their career paths and cross things off their bucket list. It is being filled by life coach and holistic health counselor Mary Jo Kurtz.
Pediatrician recognized in group’s Physician Hero category
The Palm Beach County Medical Society recently announced Dr. Shannon Fox-Levine, pediatrician and owner of Palm Beach Pediatrics, as the organization’s 2024 Heroes in Medicine Award Recipient in the Physician Hero category. The 21st Annual Heroes in Medicine Awards Luncheon takes place on Thursday, May 23. The medical society is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to uniting physicians to serve the common interest of the profession, developing and maintaining the highest professional and ethical standards of the medical profession, advocating the interests of physicians and their patients, and collaborating with others to improve the community’s health.
Firm adds lawyer to West Palm Beach office
Gunster, one of Florida’s oldest and largest full-service business law firms, is pleased to announce the continued growth of the firm with the addition of attorney Brian J. Carr to its West Palm Beach office. Prior to joining Gunster, Carr served as a corporate attorney for a large Boston-based law firm.
Property management firm earns accreditation for second year
MCM Estate Services of Stuart has earned second-year accreditation from the National Home Watch Association.Owner Christopher Miluunderstands the care needed to serve and manage property meticulously and has worked for and with politicians, celebrities, and various other VIPs. MCM Estate Services serves the Palm Beaches and the Treasure Coast.
Law firm bolsters West Palm office with intellectual property attorney
Shutts & Bowen LLP recently announced that Patricia M. Flanagan has joined its West Palm Beach Office as a partner in the intellectual property practice group. As a leader in the field of trademark and copyright law, Flanagan focuses her practice on the protection, monetization and enforcement of such intellectual property rights, both domestically and internationally. Shutts & Bowen LLP, established in 1910, is a full-service business law firm with offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Sarasota, Tallahassee, Tampa and West Palm Beach.
Boca/Gardens law firm appoints chair of commercial litigation group
Nason Yeager Gerson Harris & Fumero, P.A., a full-service law firm, recently announced that shareholder Michael Nullman has been appointed as chair of the firm’s commercial litigation practice group. Nullman represents individuals and businesses in a wide array of litigation in state and federal courts, and in arbitrations.
by UFG | May 17, 2024 | News
Southern California wine country gets another stylish culinary option, offering beautifully designed, hand-crafted grazing boards and picnic boxes
Graze Craze® has opened a new location close to the wine country of Southern California, where its artfully arranged sweet and savory grazing boards and boxes create a perfect pairing for food lovers. Located at 24530 Village Walk Place, Suite C, in Village Walk Plaza, the 1,021-square-foot store is owned and operated by disabled veteran Chris Stout and his wife, Stephanie Stout, with assistance from their teenage children.
At Graze Craze, highly trained experts known as Grazologists™ skillfully design charcuterie arrangements that feature an assortment of fine ingredients perfect for grazing, like fresh fruits and vegetables, premium meats and cheeses, artisanal sweets, nuts, house-made jams and more.
Chris Stout enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 2001 and served several deployments before being discharged in 2012. Since then, he has worked as a field service engineer for an electronics company and in manufacturing sales. Stephanie Stout has a bachelor’s degree in business accounting from the University of Phoenix and worked for an insurance broker before the couple’s first child was born; she then devoted herself full-time to raising their three children, who are now in high school.
Graze Craze charcuterie boards offer something for every lifestyle, dietary preference or palate and are available in a variety of size options to cater to any occasion, big or small. They incorporate a medley of flavors, like the fan-favorite Gone Grazey board, a perfectly balanced mix of cured meats, premium cheeses, crackers, fresh produce, nuts and more. The Vegegrazian is impeccably designed with a plethora of fresh fruits and vegetables for anyone embracing a plant-based lifestyle. Those with an undeniable sweet tooth can enjoy the Sweet & Grazey, a hand-crafted board featuring an abundance of delectable desserts like chocolates and baked goods paired with sweet dips to accent the irresistible flavors.
New to the Graze Craze menu is the Brunch Board, a gourmet and innovative twist on any morning routine. Packed with breakfast meats, fresh fruits, eggs, pastries and more, this board is the perfect bagel-and-donut brunch alternative. Grazers can also tackle watch-party cravings with a seasonal Game Day Board, featuring a feast of
crowd-pleasing ingredients, like peppered salami, Italian prosciutto, goat cheese, cranberry walnut bread, raspberry jam and chocolate bark, to name a few.
The artisan-inspired charcuterie offerings at Graze Craze are available in different size options, from Char-Cutie-Cups and Picnic Boxes for nibbling to sharing-size boards with enough fresh food to feed a large party. The food displays are ideal for elevating work meetings, family gatherings, lavish events and more, while they also make for memorable gifts that impress.
Besides sharing the flavorful menu with the area, the Stouts are actively involved in numerous local school, business and community organizations. The pair supports the Murrieta Valley High School Marching Band Boosters and California High School Rodeo Association District 8, in addition to the Boy Scouts of America California Inland Empire Council and Friends of Temecula Troop 309, where Christopher Stout is a part of the adult leadership team. The couple has also worked with Homes For Our Troops, an impactful nonprofit organization that builds specially adapted homes for post-9/11 disabled veterans.
Graze Craze Murrieta is open for pick-up, catering and free local delivery Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call 951-942-7293.
by UFG | May 16, 2024 | News
Our monthly roll call of new restaurant openings covers the South End, the Eastside and the North End. In the South, we found two, new all-you-can-eat deals for sushi and grilled meats. On the Eastside, we have tips on how to get in on the hottest new dim sum spot without waiting three hours — as many did last month. And up north, a big-name Seattle chef debuts a grand bar restaurant in Edmonds. For more details, read on.
South End
In Kent, Sumo All-You-Can-Eat serves a smorgasbord of sushi and Asian comfort food for $29.95. Just from word-of-mouth, the line has been long during its soft opening. You’ll hear more about this popular all-you-can-eat restaurant, as Sumo plans to open five more branches in the Seattle area over the next two years, management said. Unlike a buffet setup, all sushi and hot dishes from spicy tuna rolls to karaage fried chicken are made to order. You can order up to 15 dishes every 15 minutes, using the QR code menu. (There won’t be enough room at the table to fit more than eight plates at a time anyway.)
About 30 varieties of sushi, sashimi and rolls are offered daily featuring crab, shrimp, tuna, salmon and eel, though the highlight at Sumo might be its hot plates and deep-fried offerings including grilled New York steak, tempura shrimp, the deep-fried battered coconut shrimp, takoyaki octopus, curry katsu pork and fried rice.
To avoid the line, check the waitlist online before you go. You can also put your name on the online waitlist from home. Sumo runs a cheaper $19.95 weekday lunch special with fewer sushi items, but you can still get the full menu if you pay the $29.95 dinner rate during lunch. It’s less crowded during lunch.
Or if you prefer all-you-can-eat grilled meat on a stick, Shinya Shokudo in Tukwila runs its “Tabehōdai” deal where you can order an “unlimited” number of beef, chicken, pork and veggie yakitori for $35. Note that only at its new Tukwila branch can you get this daily special at all hours. At its locations in Seattle and Redmond, the “unlimited” deal starts at 9 p.m. Monday-Saturday and at 3 p.m. on Sunday.
In Federal Way, home of arguably the best Korean cuisine in the Northwest, there are three more hot spots to try: the rice bowl cafe Bibim Express, the Korean-Mexican fusion counter GoGi on the Go and Moobongri Soondae which specializes in blood sausage.
In Renton, Shawarma Tiger does gyro and lamb dishes. A half-mile north is GameTime Pho Tavern, which does the deep-fried catfish that’s all the rage at Vietnamese restaurants. After we ran our story on this trendy dish, readers flooded our inbox with questions on how to score this secret menu item. This new Renton restaurant makes it easier for you: there’s no 24-hour reservation required. Walk-ins are accepted for the catfish feast (cost is about $17.50 per pound and the largest catfish weighs 10 pounds).
Speaking of Vietnamese food, The Pho opens in Burien.
The Eastside
Redmond
Seattle’s Jack’s BBQ, which specializes in Central Texas-style brisket, makes its Eastside debut. At this carnivore’s den, even its signature salad comes with beef belly bacon. For vegans (why are you eating at Jack’s?), there are beer-braised oyster mushrooms. A favorite among the meat connoisseurs is Jack’s dino-sized beef rib served on Thursdays. And on Fridays, its beef rib comes with flour tortillas. That Friday special made the cut for our list of 30 best tacos In Western Washington last year.
Five miles north is the Filipino fusion Neighborhood Cafe doing lechon burritos, ube biscuits and lumpia chopped salad. Also LUMI Cafe, the popular Korean dessert and milk tea spot in Lynnwood, expands to the Modera Overlake complex.
Bellevue
The wait for a table at Sun Sui Wah, one of the year’s big openings, ran three hours long after fans read our story about its hush-hush soft opening last month. The wait is up to two hours now. Your best bet to score har gow shrimp dumplings and sticky rice is to go on Mondays or Tuesdays. Otherwise, check the online waitlist and plan accordingly. Or come in a pack. The dim sum mecca only takes reservations for parties of five or more. For dinner, this Cantonese restaurant isn’t as packed, so you can get a table without a reservation. But note that this shopping center, Bellevue Marketplace, houses so many big-name restaurant tenants that it’s hard to find parking during the weekends.
Wild Wasabi Signature is a swanky sushi-and-teppanyaki spot for the expense-account set that offers 100 different sushi rolls and A5 wagyu beef and other fancy cuts. For Hunan cuisine, hit Shaoshan Impression for braised pork feet and sauteed lamb. All the takeout staples are also available from fried rice to mapo tofu.
In Issaquah, Bobae, a hit in Kirkland and Redmond, expands north of Confluence Park.
In Kirkland, Uptown Pho by the waterfront serves its namesake noodle topped with filet mignon. Two miles north, Ding Tea + 36th Streets Vietnamese Coffee does bubble tea and trendy Saigon and Hanoi iced coffee drinks. Asian international students also come for the panini-pressed banh mis.
In Woodinville, the Graze Craze shop specializes in charcuterie boards along with party platters and picnic boxes.
North End
Edmonds
Ethan Stowell makes his debut in the North End with The Victor Tavern, a bar restaurant that can seat at least 200. A half-mile east of the ferry terminal, the space boasts a dozen TVs and a gaming area with three mini bowling lanes and shuffleboards. The Victor Tavern is currently in soft opening mode but is in the process of making its upstairs gaming area handicap-accessible before it does a full opening.
And a stone’s throw away is Stillhouse Coffee. In related news, the owners of Walnut Street Coffee in Edmonds have moved on, but the coffeehouse will remain under new ownership.
Lynnwood
Yeh Yeh’s, the best Vietnamese deli in the North End, has competition now that Banh Mi Land has rolled into town. About two miles north, Seoul Bowl, a hit with college students in Seattle for its rice bowls, Korean fried chicken and Mexican-fusion burritos, expands to Alderwood mall.
