business opportunities journal | june-july 2014 edition

JUNE-JULY 2014 | ISSUE 531

HEALTHCAREPROFESSIONALS START HOMEHELPERS &DIRECT LINK

IMPROVE YOUR

SOCIALMEDIA

Social Media Mistakes to Avoid

FRANCHISE SHOWCASE SERIES

Success With TrueBlue

White Glove’s NewFranchise Model

Kiddie Academy Continuesto add Locations

Renew Crew Separates Itself

Bin There Dump That

Fit Kids America

Jani-King

PUBLISHERMuir Capital, Inc.

EDITORIALEditor: Mark Adkins

Phone: 760.930.1033

Email: [email protected]

CONTRIBUTORSIan Gere

Ashely Hause

Ian Hanner

Phone: 760.930.1033


ADVERTISINGDebbi Cooper

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Phone: 760.930.1033


DESIGNDevin Mays

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(ISSN 0193-3221)

BOJ.com

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We are the business-buyer’s monthly magazine. We special-ize in covering small business issues, franchising and entre-preneurship.

BUSINESS AS USUAL

22Franchise News

Find out what is going on in the Franchising world. Stories about specific franchises big and small.

24Mistakes Impede

Avoid these mistakes and you’ll be on a path to success, regardless of size, budget or location.

26Effective SEO

Small businesses must stay on top of the current SEO trends to have their websites found easily.

30New Franchise Alert

These are franchise opportunities that are either very new, recently registered in certain key states, or are making news right now.

June/JulyFeatures

Franchise Showcase Series | Senior Care Healthcare Pros Open Home HelpersKelly and Wayne Hadley have 20 year of healthcare experience, and now they are opening their new business, Home Helpers & Direct Link of the Treasure Coast.4

Franchise Showcase Series | Child Care Fit Kids America Improving Child HealthFit Kids America strives to fight childhood obesity by inspiring kids at a young age to find the love of fitness. By incorporating movement at a young age, chances are kids will stay active in adulthood.12

Improve Your Social MediaAlmost ninety percent of marketers feel that their efforts in social media have garnered more exposure for their business interests, this according to a Social Media Examiner study.

20

Franchise Showcase Series | Moving, Hauling, Storage Bin There Dump ThatWith a unique “Residential Friendly Dumpster” service for anyone doing a home project that requires junk or trash disposal, it’s hard to imagine a job that would be too messy or too difficult for Bin There Dump That to handle.

9

Franchise Showcase Series | Cleaning, Restoration Services Jani-King’s Evidence of QualityWith over 11,000 franchise units and more than 120 regional support offices in 19 countries, Jani-King has positioned itself as one of the world’s top ranked commercial cleaning franchise companies.

16

CONTENTS

& Direct Link, along with our dedicated staff, is here to fill that need,” Kelly said.

The Hadleys stress that every caregiver hired is an employee, not a subcontractor, and that each of them has had a level-two background check and is regularly drug tested. These upstanding employees are trained and supervised by Home Helpers & Direct Link, not an outside organization.

“It’s also important to mention that each client we serve has a specially matched caregiver and each caregiver has backup caregivers. That means you’ll have someone who really understands what you need, and there’s no risk

HealthcareProfessionalsOpen Home

Helpers &Direct Link

“Having daily contact with

patients in their homes, I realized how

great the need was for honest, hard-working,

compassionate and caring

caregivers – both medical

and non-medical.”

Kelly and Wayne Hadley have 20 year of healthcare experience, and now they are opening their new business, Home Helpers & Direct Link of the Treasure Coast.

Home Helpers is the nation’s leading franchise specializes in home care for seniors, new mothers, and any individuals needing recuperative and continued assistance. Direct Link has a proprietary line of round the clock medical alert systems, including a fall sensor, automated medication dispenser, and vital signs monitoring units. Home Helpers & Direct Link of the Treasure Coast serves the area including Port St. Lucie, Stuart, Vero

Beach and Fort Pierce in Florida.

Kelly is a physical therapist who owned an orthopedic clinic in Canada before the family relocated to Florida five years ago, and Wayne is a registered nurse with Critical Care and Emergency Medicine experience. Both are looking forward to bringing a new level of service to the home health industry in the Treasure Coast region.

“I’ve been in home health for the last few years and, having daily contact with patients in their homes, I realized how great the need was for honest, hard-working, compassionate and caring caregivers – both medical and non-medical. Home Helpers

Story by Ian Gere

FRANCHISESHOWCASE

SERIES SENIOR CARE

www.boj.com May - June 2014 Business Opportunities Journal 5

of a no show. We know how important home care is to the people who need the service,” Kelly said.

Home Helpers & Direct Link have been offering free in-home consultations since being founded in 1997. They work with each client to create a flexible, affordable care plan based on a client’s individual needs. Services offered include companionship, personal hygiene, meal preparation and transportation as well as medical services such as medication management, vital signs monitoring and care management.

“Kelly and I both love

involved in the Treasure Coat community, especially through the family activities at their church, martial arts studio, gymnastics, and the YMCA.

For more information about how Home Helpers & Direct Link can serve you and your family, call 800-216-4196 or visit http://www.homehelpers.cc/ or http://www.directlink911.com/

working in healthcare and the satisfaction of helping people. I’m grateful that God has given us the opportunity to serve our neighbors and friends as Home Helpers franchise owners. In this new role, we’ll be able to oversee the care of those who need it most,” Wayne said.

In addition to their Home Helpers & Direct Link business, Wayne and Kelly have three children and are heavily

“Each client we serve has a specially matched caregiver and each caregiver has backup caregivers.”

SENIOR CARE

6 Business Opportunities Journal May -- June 2014 www.boj.com

FRANCHISESHOWCASE

SERIES

Education Firm to TrainSenior Care Franchisees

The largest in-home non-medical care franchisor in America, Home Instead, Inc., has partnered with the Institute for Professional Care Education (IPCed), using them as a vendor for online CAREGiver training. This new initiative allows franchise owners who purchase ICPed’s training programs to become state compliant.

Home Instead has been a leader in the home care industry by providing franchisees with unique training programs. In addition to these programs, Home Instead specializes in Alzheimer’s disease and other Dementia CARE: Changing Aging through Research and Education® programs, offering training in basic and advanced skills to aid CAREGivers in managing behaviors associated with these conditions.

Going beyond training programs, Home Instead has been looking for a vendor to provide states specific required training for their franchisees. This led them to partner with IPCed to make training available to the franchise owners. They feel the two companies share a passion to help nurture in-home providers the best they can. The additional training will help strengthen CAREGivers by giving them an opportunity to enhance their skills, therefore benefitting the Home Instead Senior Care® clients.

“IPCed’s passion comes through clearly both in its approach to training and in the content it provides,” says Kay Shields, Director of Training for Home Instead. “We both believe that having a well trained workforce is vital both to providing quality care as well as building a strong organization.”

IPCed’s leadership adds, “We

couldn’t be more pleased with this new relationship,” says Sharon K. Brothers, MSW, CEO of IPCed. “We’re a company dedicated to providing caregiving professionals with training and resources that help them to be the best caregivers possible. Partnering with Home Instead gives us the opportunity to support many caregivers throughout the US and Canada.”

The Institute for Professional Care Education is a training company that focuses solely on the senior care population. The company uses the widely utilized aQuire Training Solutions in its online courses, as well as Medifecta Healthcare Training for DVD and instructor resources, and EasyCEU for nationally accredited continuing education courses.

“Our company has experienced explosive growth in the past few years,” notes Brothers, “due in part to a growth in the caregiving needs of the country, but also due to our strong reputation in the field of training and certification. Families and caregiving professionals recognize that training excellence is essential to getting the level of care they want for their loved ones and their clients.”

The Franchise Business Review recently awarded Home Instead with the Best In Category- Senior Care Franchises honor in their annual Franchisee Satisfaction Awards. This was in recognition of its strong franchisee satisfactions ratings. There are currently over 1,000 franchise locations in 18 countries. According to research the reason for Home Instead’s high satisfaction rating is because its franchise owners receive “world class education and training.”

Story by Ian Gere

“Families and caregiving professionals recognize that training excellence is essential to getting the level of care they want for their loved ones and their clients.”

SENIOR CARE

Entreprenurial Couple Finds Success with TrueBlue FranchiseWhile living in the Northeast, Jeff and Bonnie Brasure were finding it difficult to locate a reputable full-service company to care for their retirement home in Florida. So when they decided to move to Florida, they decided to take charge and open TruBlue of St. Cloud, which they just launched at the end of February.TruBlue of St. Cloud specializes in offering complete house care, including maid services, home improvement, repair services, lawn care, and more. TruBlue of St. Cloud proudly serves St. Cloud, Kissimmee, Celebration, Poinciana, Lake Nona, and the southern and eastern regions of Orlando.“We are a locally owned and operated business designed to help homeowners and business owners maintain their properties and their property values,” Jeff said. “We are here to help the seniors, active adults and busy professionals who need someone to help keep their property in great shape, without all the hassle.”TruBlue also works with real estate professionals and those looking to sell their client’s homes, yet need to improve the look and features to sell the property

quickly. In addition to real estate brokers, TruBlue works closely with General Contractors in the final preparations to ready newly built homes for the

marketplace. In addition, property managers use the company to help them maintain their properties for their clients. TruBlue is there to keep homes in

pristine shape, whether the property is a rented year round, or as a short term vacation rental. All TruBlue franchises are fully insured and bonded, and all

employees are certified and have background checks.Jeff Brasure is no stranger to running his own business. He began his professional

career building custom homes and transitioned into the commercial fire and security business. He owned and operated his commercial security business for

eight years before selling it to join Tyco International as a Sales Manager and then District Manager. Bonnie’s led a career in the administrative field for over

19 years at the State of Vermont, Public Safety Department, which includes the Emergency Management Agency, and Vermont State Police. She is currently also a

Certified Nursing Assistant in the State of Florida.

“We bought a home in Florida a year ago, as a future retirement home, but a career change allowed us to move sooner. In the meantime though, we found it extremely difficult to find people to maintain and clean the house while we were gone. We asked the neighbors who they used and even chased trucks down the street to see what services they offered. It then became quite clear to us that there was a need for, and business opportunity, to combine home repair, maintenance, remodeling, maid service and lawn care. Furthermore, we wanted to make it easier for other families to find these services online, and through local advertisers,” Jeff said.When not running their TruBlue franchise, Jeff and Bonnie get involved in their community. They have joined the Osceola County St. Cloud Chamber of Commerce and are active in the local BNI group, business networking organization. As their business grows, they will be looking to support local charities and are becoming involved in the area’s 4th of July festival. To find out more about how TruBlue of St. Cloud can help manage your house care needs, call 407-979-4706

SENIOR CARE

Story by Ian Gere


FRANCHISESHOWCASE

SERIES

White Glove Storage & Delivery Creates New Franchise Model

White Glove (WG) Storage & Delivery (www.whiteglovedelivery.com) announced today its plans to expand its business throughout the United States

through a unique franchise opportunity. Austin, Texas-based WG Storage & Delivery is recognized as an industry leader committed to excellence and

discretion when providing moving, storage and relocation services for high-end clients, and is the premier white glove company catering to high-end art galleries, interior designers, antique dealers, furniture showrooms and

residential and commercial clients.“Setting the standard for excellence in storage, delivery and relocation

services, WG Storage & Delivery is poised for expansive national growth through our unique franchising model,” said James Miri, owner and founder

of WG Storage & Delivery. “We are looking for entrepreneurs who embrace our philosophy of white glove service with trained, professional and

experienced moving and shipping professionals dedicated to exceeding client expectations.”

Recognizing a void in the moving and storage industry, Miri launched WG Storage & Delivery to provide competitively priced services with a professional service focus. Several years later, the franchise has quadrupled in size and provides white glove service to residential and commercial clients in Austin, Dallas and Houston.“This is an exceptional opportunity to become an integral part of an award-winning elite logistics provider,” Miri added. “We are excited to offer this franchise opportunity with WG Storage & Delivery to expand our industry leading commitment to excellence and discretion in moving, storage and relocation.”ABOUT WG STORAGE & DELIVERY - WG Storage & Delivery, recognized as an official ProMover by the American Moving & Storage Association, is a full-service relocation, storage and delivery franchise with locations in Austin, Dallas, and Houston, and available for franchise opportunities across the Southeast and nationwide. Recognized as

an industry leader committed to excellence and discretion when providing moving, storage, and relocation services for high-end clients across every

industry and profession, WG Storage & Delivery is the premier white glove company. Whether handling fine furnishings, art, antiques or relocation, WG Storage & Delivery is an elite logistics provider offering exceptional,

professional service. With WG Storage & Delivery, clients know to expect only the best.

WG Storage & Delivery’s first franchise location recently opened March 2014 in Houston. Plans are in place to open several dozen more units across Texas

and the Southeast in the next three to five years.

For more information on franchising,visit www.wgfranchising.com or call (877) 527-1500.

Story by Ian Gere

MOVING,HAULING,& STORAGE

Dumpster services sector. In fact, at our recent National Business Development Conference in Orlando this was the first year that there were more US franchise operators than Canadians in attendance. It was very exciting for us all!”

With strong franchise marketing effort and growing social media presence, Bin There Dump That is tapping into new markets and is poised to compete as the leading Residential Friendly Dumpster and junk removal service in the United States and Canada.

Bin There Dump ThatSees Strong Growth

With a unique “Residential Friendly Dumpster” service for anyone doing a home project that requires junk or trash disposal, it’s hard to imagine a job that would be too messy or too difficult for Bin There Dump That to handle. The company has positioned itself perfectly as the leading bin and dumpster rental franchise in northern America.

The company has shown rapid growth since they began franchising in Toronto in 2004, boasting expansion to over 70 locations across North America and growing fast. Their bins can be seen regularly on both Canadian and American TV through their relationships with celebrity home building expert Mike Holmes from Holmes on Homes and the very popular Property Brothers, seen on HGTV and W Network.

“Bin There Dump That has been the North American leader in the Residential Friendly Dumpster business for years,” said John Ferracuti, vice-president of Bin There Dump That, on the official company blog. “We have a rich history of success and rapid growth. We’re eager to share our knowledge and experience with [franchisees]. It’s wonderful to help new franchise operators grow their businesses and change their lives!”

Ferracuti seems to represent the overall feeling at Bin There Dump That that franchisees are not just investors, they’re part of the team.

“It seemed like a family from our first phone call,” said James Spink, a Bin There Dump That franchisee from Indianapolis, in an interview with Entrepreneur.com. “There was zero pressure and a lot of getting to know each other. They investigated us and our background and we did the same with them. Their track record is proven and it’s an industry that continues to grow.”

According to Spink, one of the major draws to the company was the relative ease with which it was structured. Spink said, “As first time business owners, my wife and I valued the support from the franchise and other franchisees. The proven business model was something we could follow as a solid nucleus and build upon.”

The company is not ready to be content with its achievements, however. In 2010, Bin There Dump That, which began operations in Toronto, Canada turned their eye toward American expansion.

“Following our growth and success in Canada, expanding into the USA was a natural step for us and we have already generated a great deal of interest and new locations across the country,” Ferracuti said in a news release. “We are excited about our successful expansion across the US, where our unsurpassed level of customer service and support has helped us to develop very quickly and establish ourselves as the leading brand in the Residential Friendly


Story by Ian Hanner

The company has shown rapid growth since they began franchising in Toronto in 2004, boasting expansion to over 70 locations across North America and growing fast.

SMARTBOX will continue to operate under the current brand and will keep the 19 current franchise locations throughout the United States

SIRVA Aquires SmartboxIn Move To Compete

A leading global relocation and moving provider, SIRVA Worldwide, Inc., has acquired SMARTBOX, the Virginia-based portable moving and storage company.

SMARTBOX will continue to operate under the current brand and will keep the 19 current franchise locations throughout the United States, and the call center will remain in Richmond, Virginia. CEO and Founder Bryan Bostic will continue to operate as a franchisee and provide consulting services to SIRVA.

“The acquisition of SMARTBOX gains us entry into the portable, self-service moving and storage segment with a reputable brand. It’s a low cost option that vertically integrates with our product and service offerings, and expands our value proposition for customers and clients while providing great synergies for our existing van

line agents,” said Drew Coolidge, Chief Operating Officer of Moving Services at SIRVA. “We welcome SMARTBOX to the SIRVA family and are excited about our shared growth potential.”

“We are excited to join the SIRVA family and to fill a gap in their product offering,” stated Bryan Bostic. “SMARTBOX franchisees operate in a multi-billion dollar industry and are committed to delivering affordable and flexible storage and moving solutions, which will integrate well with the existing suite of SIRVA offerings.”

This investment into the “Do-It-Yourself” marked adds to SIRVA’s extensive investment portfolio of mobility solutions. It will enable the corporate clients to further realize options for different services in their mobility program by offering a self-service, DIY solution with storage, moving and containerization capabilities.

Story by Ian Gere



FRANCHISESHOWCASE

SERIES

“My intentions of becoming a Physical Education teacher were crushed as budget cuts hit the state. Fit Kids America was the perfect opportunity for me and my family. In two short years, we have grown to 14 schools and 15 coaches with over 200 kids per session that participate in the program!”

Keith DoughtieNorthern California Franchisee

Fit Kids America Improving Children’s Health, One Class at a Time

Since its 2005 opening in Carlsbad, CA, Fit Kids has grown exponentially, now offering over 300 classes per week in the Southern California area.

Fit Kids America strives to fight childhood obesity by inspiring kids at a young age to find the love of fitness. By incorporating movement at a young age, chances are kids will stay active in adulthood. Fit Kids America offers afterschool programs that are convenient for busy families and fun for kids to participate in with all of their schoolmates.

The founders of Fit Kids, Hal and Joan Misset-Gambill, have 30 years of franchise ownership experience. Together, with their staff’s extensive background in sales and marketing, they make the perfect combination of providing franchisees with everything they need to be successful. They understand that the only way to provide consistent, quality children’s programs at convenient locations for their parents, is to provide superior support and guidance for the franchisee.

Upon obtaining a Fit Kids

America franchise, new franchisees will take part in an extensive two-day workshop, reviewing all aspects of obtaining classes, training coaches and setting up the business. A corporate representative will also visit the location to assist with any and all aspects of building the business.

Fit Kids America offers annual meetings that enable franchisees to network with each other and take part in seminars that help build the business. Additionally, the meetings are a time to roll out new and upcoming programs.

Constant communication between Fit Kids America and the franchisees is another key element. Monthly newsletters containing upcoming events, top franchisees, and reminders on preparations for upcoming sessions are just one method of ongoing communication between the office and the franchisee. There is always a corporate team on hand to speak to franchise owners about marketing, website help, or training coaching staff.

Story by Ian Gere

CHILD CARE

Little Gym Honored With Franchise Satisfaction AwardIndependent market research firms, The Franchise Business Review, has recently announced the results of their annual survey of companies with the highest satisfaction rankings. The Little Gym International is proud to be honored with a 2014 Franchisee Satisfaction Award.The Little Gym is the world’s premier experiential learning and physical development center for kids 4 months to 12 years old.It is ranked highly in the areas of franchise system strength, core values, and how owners rate their personal enjoyment while operation their business and being a part of the organization as a whole. Additionally, the company has exceeded child services category benchmarks in the areas of training and support, as well as general satisfaction.“The high satisfaction index scores we received reflect the overall, rewarding experience that The Little Gym owners provide to children and families,” said Ruk Adams, president and CEO, The Little Gym International. “Our gym owners consistently tell us that being part of The Little Gym enables them to make a

difference in children’s lives by providing foundational skills that get children active and benefit them as they prepare for school and beyond.”

The Little Gym also received high marks for innovation, creativity, and quality of products and services from franchise owners who were surveyed. The Little Gym provides franchisees with a highly developed, age-appropriate curriculum, easy-

to-implement detailed lesson plans, teaching aids, and a library of music.“We provide the curriculum, music, tools and training for owners to successfully

implement our non-competitive, gymnastics program. Our nurturing class environment encourages children to attempt and learn new physical skills,

increase their retention and understanding of complex instructions, and practice cooperation and other socialization skills,” said Adams.

Started in 1976, the company began franchising in 1992, and now The Little Gym is a leader in the children’s activities space. The chain currently has over 294

locations in 28 countries around the world. The initial investment for opening a The Little Gym franchise ranges from $200,000 to $3000,000.

“Kid-focused franchises are increasingly popular to people looking to invest in

a franchise, and I am thrilled The Little Gym has decided to make its franchisee satisfaction data available to candidates,” said Franchise Business Review president Michelle Rowan. “This is their 4th appearance in our Top Franchises report, so they have a lot to be proud of.”In the last nine years, Franchise Business Review has surveyed over 100,000 franchisees from more than 700 brands. All franchise owners who have been in business for over three months are invited to participate in the surveys.Over a third of The Little Gym franchise owners participated in the recent independent survey, which asked questions related to training and support, franchisor/franchisee relations, financial options, business lifestyle, system communication, and overall satisfaction with their business.“Our standard franchisee satisfaction survey includes 33 benchmark questions,” Rowan said. “Franchise companies use our survey data to help better understand the experiences of their franchisees, and pin-point areas within their systems where improvements can be made to help increase satisfaction and engagement—which leads directly to overall increases in franchisee performance.”

CHILD CARE

Story by Ian Gere

The new additions will join the already 117 locations in the system of franchises across 23 states in the country.

Kiddie Academy Continues to Add Locations, Impact Communities

A nationally recognized provider of comprehensive education-based child care, Kiddie Academy, has recently expanded into Naperville, Illinois; West Caldwell, New Jersey and O’Fallon, Missouri, all within the last month.

The child care company was founded in 1981, and has been franchising since 1992. The new additions will join the already 117 locations in the system of franchises across 23 states in the country.

Greg White, vice president of franchise development relates that Kiddie Academy teams provide thorough support services to all of the academies in the system. By maintaining constant interaction with the franchise community, they can provide relevant tools, assistance, and ideas to each franchisee in site selection, construction, marketing, training, and pre-opening/grand openings.

“Opening a business is a very exciting and challenging

endeavor, but to finally be open and enrolling is what our franchise owners have been waiting for. We are excited for our franchisees in Naperville, West Caldwell, and O’Fallon, as they join the Kiddie Academy system in providing child care options to their local families and making an impact in their communities,” White said.

One thing that sets Kiddie Academy apart from the rest is its proprietary Life Essentials® curriculum. The three new locations will use Life Essentials to focus on social/emotional, physical and cognitive outcomes that are aligned with state preschool standards. These standards are based on skills, knowledge and abilities that children can achieve through developmentally appropriate activities and experiences. The Life Essentials curriculum meets or exceeds the requirements in each state. Story by Ian Gere

CHILD CARE


FRANCHISESHOWCASE

SERIES

Award for Jani-King is Evidence of Quality Service

With over 11,000 franchise units and more than 120 regional support offices in 19 countries, Jani-King has positioned itself as one of the world’s top

ranked commercial cleaning franchise companies.The company has found its latest success in announcing their ranking as 1st

ranked commercial cleaning franchise by Franchise Direct. The franchising source also awarded the place of 18th overall franchise among all listed in

the top 100 to Jani-King.“We’re proud of this latest accolade for our system and commitment that

supports more than 11,000 unit franchise owners,” said Jerry Crawford, President of Jani-King International, in a news release. “Franchise Direct has

its pulse on the franchise industry and presents information on outstanding business opportunities to entrepreneurs wanting to be their own boss while

having the support of a successful franchise system behind them.”The top 100 Global Franchises were selected from thousands that are

invested in international expansion strategies. They were ranked using measurable criteria including sales revenue for the system, market expansion, stability and growth, and system size based on numbers of units. Additionally, the rankings take into consideration environmental policies, social responsibility and best practice in franchisee support and training.Environmental policies are something Jani-King has been focusing some effort on for a while now in a move to make the company greener and ultimately, more sanitary.“Historically, we’ve been known as just a regular commercial cleaning franchise company,” said Ted Looney, vice president of Jani-King Franchising, Inc. “Now we’ve expanded and hired experts in fields such as environmental services for hospitals and doctors’ offices so that we now have an environmental services program that’s certified and recognized by healthcare professionals as being a great way to clean the facilities to combat infections and things of that nature.”

This isn’t the only market that Jani-King has seen expansion in. According to Looney, since 2008, the company has been gaining a great deal of traction in

the cleaning services industry for both schools and sporting institutions.“We now [clean] many sport venues, such as the Dallas Cowboy’s stadium, Washington Redskins, Buffalo Bills, a lot of professional basketball, as well

as AAA and Major League Baseball. We’re putting our franchisees into larger, more prestigious accounts so that that we can give them a sustainable

business that they can operate.”While this can make it sound like Jani-King is as much about play as

it is work, Looney cautioned that what the company is looking for are professionals.

“We’re not looking for people who are buying a job,” Looney said. “We want someone that wants to invest money and become successful and active in

the commercial cleaning business in a significant way.”

Story by Ian Hanner

CLEANING &RESTORATIONSERVICES

hardscape. In 1993 when I started the business, we focused on treated wood. Nobody really felt like it need cleaning and protection since it was already treated. We built a big business adding UV and water protection to that. I look at the hardscape business with the same potential—nobody is doing it so we want to provide it.”

Renew Crew is continuing its trend of steady growth by offering opportunities to more franchisees. To ensure the success of their franchisees, the company takes a very active role in training, offering extensive information and even training on everything from equipment knowledge to accounting to marketing. According to Krempges, the company is also proud to take part in the VetFran discount, offering $2,500 off franchising fees for active or retired military servicemen.

Renew Crew’s Quality Sets It Apart From Competition

From its start in 1993 to the franchise success story it has become today, Renew Crew is changing the commercial and residential power washing industry one pristine outdoor surface at a time.

Founded by Stan Krempges in Springfield, Missouri, Renew Crew originally began as Wood Re New. According to Krempges, who had previously owned a fence installation company, customers were frustrated by the lack of options available for keeping their fences looking as new as the day they were installed. Seeing an industry vacuum, Krempges got to work developing a proprietary blend of environmentally safe wood cleaners and protectants that has formed the backbone of the 3-step process used to this day called “Renew Crew Clean.”

“All of our cleaners are environmentally friendly and we protect every surface that we clean,” Krempges said. “We are not your typical get in, bleach, power wash, collect check and go company. We want to be the go-to outdoor surface brand that they rely on.”

Following the development of his formula, he opened a few company-owned stores that offered the same cleaning and protecting process and the business took off. With increasing demand for Wood Re New’s service, Krempges began franchising in 2002 and the company quickly expanded to service offerings in 11 states from 21 locations.

In early 2012, Krempges discovered Outdoor Living Brands, one of the

only franchising companies in the country “dedicated exclusively to serving America’s outdoor living needs.” Deciding it was a good fit; Wood Re New became the fourth World Class Franchise Concept with Outdoor Living Brands.

The company quickly gained traction and began offering the same cleaning and protecting process for outdoor surfaces including pavers, hardscapes, concrete, siding, gutters, and more. “The hardest part was finding quality proprietary products that would provide superior results, while still being environmentally friendly,” Krempges said. “The way we overcame that was by researching numerous chemists and vendors. At this point the Wood Re New name wasn’t as fitting, thus we rebranded to Renew Crew to account for the expanded service offerings.”

“[We’re seeing] very strong growth,” Krempges said. “We’ve got a good foundation of satisfied franchisees and the company is getting ready expand. We’ve added new franchisees in the last few months whose business is taking off.”

According to Krempges, wood used to be the primary, if not nearly exclusive, material used in backyard surfaces, but today there has been a shift toward hardscapes. To stay a leader in the exterior cleaning and protecting industry, Renew Crew rolled out a new hardscape cleaning and protecting service.

“We’re really excited about this,” Krempges said. “I don’t know any national companies that maintain


Story by Ian Hanner

As one of the nation’s fastest growing and most steady industries, cleaning services is here to stay. Cleaning service companies represent a $46 billion dollar industry in today’s economy.

Much AdoAbout Cleaning

As one of the nation’s fastest growing and most steady industries, cleaning services is here to stay. Cleaning service companies represent a $46 billion dollar industry in today’s economy. Today’s projections show that the industry is on track to grow 5.5% annually with expectations that it will create as many new jobs as the overall economy through 2014.

While the economic recession over the last few years impacted the cleaning industry, the healthcare industry played a large role in managing to keep this sector of the market profitable. In addition, business trends show that outsourcing cleaning services is the most efficient and cost-effective way to clean offices buildings. On top of that, the number of elderly Americans has grown as well as the increase in two-income families ensures that household disposable income is able to afford cleaning services and is preferred to make way for more leisure time.

The cleaning industry franchises typically fit into one of the three areas: cleaning and janitorial services, carpet and upholstery cleaning service and dry cleaning and laundry services. As of 201, there were upwards of 824,394 employees in the industry. Today the cleaning services market is fairly top-heavy with the fifty largest companies accounting for about 30% of total industry revenue. Currently about 7% of cleaning workers were self-employed.

Spray bottleThe cleaning

services industry can also be broken into two main markets: residential and commercial. The residential marketing primarily consists of maid services, carpet, window and similar surfaces; whereas the commercial cleaning segment focuses on janitorial services which include expanded services such as general floor care, vacuuming, etc.

As expected, empty-nesters and women are driving the growth of the residential maid service market. With the high number of baby boomers (households in the 55-64 age bracket) and an increase in disposable personal income, these two factors will continue to further support the demand and growth for this market segment. One other trend for the residential market is the building/home cleaning service industry is on track to outpace the carpet industry due to the increasing popularity of hard surface flooring in homes rather than carpet.

As for the commercial cleaning sector, the Southern region of the U.S. leads in the number of janitorial services, as well as total sales. With low vacancy rates in office buildings, commercial cleaning franchises see a strong future ahead. Green cleaning products and procedures also represent the future of the cleaning industry in the U.S. Environmentalism has become more and more popular with consumers demanding “green” solutions for everything, including cleaning services.

Story by Ashley Hause


improve your social media

Companies often site collecting marketing intelligence, developing a fan base, increasing SEO, and selling more products as their main objectives in using social media.

However, with so many social media options available, it’s easy to make mistakes using these networks.

HipLogiq, a social media marketing company that advises companies on the best use of social media. “It’s important to have a clear plan in place and understand how it integrates with other marketing initiatives so you maximize the time, energy and money you’re investing,” says Lindsey Madison, HipLogiq co-founder and chief products officer.

“Each social network has its own type of audience and style, and businesses will find the most success if they tailor their strategy to the individual social network,” says Madison. “Just having a presence on Facebook or Twitter isn’t enough to reach your goals. You have to maintain closer relationships with customers and

Almost 90percent of marketers feel that their efforts in social media have garnered more exposure for their business interests, this according to a Social Media Examiner study.

With so many social

media options

available, it’s easy to make

mistakes.

Story by Ian Gere

SOCIALMEDIA

understand what they’re looking for and what you can offer to help.”

In order to avoid mistakes, Madison identifies the biggest gaffes to beware of while using major social networks.

1) Facebook – When using Facebook, simply creating a business page is not enough. Small businesses’ make the mistake of not posting consistently and not using the social network to engage customers. This can become a bigger problem if a negative comment is not addressed. Ignoring such posts or going silent for an extended period shows a lack of communication with customers, especially on a site that is tailored for such relationships.

2) Twitter – Small businesses should join in online conversations relating to their business and demographic. Connect with users through direct messages or with @Replies and using popular hashtags.

3) Instagram – Instagram is all about the

visuals. A big slipup by a business is posting a picture of text. Save these posts for Twitter and Facebook. For example, instead of posting a photo of a copy-heavy coupon, businesses should take advantage of the app by highlighting a specific product and writing about the coupon or promotion in the caption.

4) Pinterest – Consumers like to be entertained, making Pinterest a great network for accessing customers. Using a business’ Pinterest board to simply share marketing materials or discounts will drive customers away. Customers see ads all day, and don’t want to feel like they are being sold something. By creating boards and sharing pins that are specific to your

audience will engage them much more.

5) Google+ – One of the biggest blunders a business can make with Google+ is to ignore it. The social network didn’t take off as Google had expected it to, but it is quickly gaining momentum, and is anticipated to make a splash this year. Google+ is more visual than Facebook, which allows for a different marketing approach. Additionally, the requirement to have a Google+ account to be a part of YouTube has created new users. The network currently has over 300 million active users, and by not using it, a small business is making a costly oversight.

Instead of offering mistakes to avoid, HipLogiq blogger Bailey Young offers five successful strategies for social media marketing. As well as customizing messages, social marketers should stay on top of trends, look for customers who intend to buy your product or service, leverage content marketing, and communicate good customer service.

Businesses will find the most success if they tailor their strategy to the individual social network.

SOCIALMEDIA


FRANCHISENEWS

Considerations Before Franchising Your Restaurant

Restaurateurs with a successful business may assume that franchising is the best way to expand. However, attorney Tom Pitegoff has outlined circumstances in which the

popular model can be a poor strategic choice for brand growth.“A fine restaurant is not easily cloned,” writes the veteran franchise attorney, who

is based in the national law firm’s New York City office. “After all, a chef who enjoys developing creative dishes is not likely to be interested in mass production. If the

restaurant’s format cannot be easily described in an operating manual and taught in a training program, why bother to franchise?”

In Pitegoff’s column titled Expanding Smart: Is franchising right for your restaurant concept?” – Pitegoff provides insight from his years of experience in advising owners

and managers of restaurants of all types and sizes. As noted in his column, the franchise model can offer restaurateurs a great way to expand, but it doesn’t work well

for every restaurant concept. “The key is to conduct a careful analysis that takes into account the potential risks and rewards for your specific business,” the attorney writes.

In addition to being both successful and replicable, the concept must clearly distinguish

itself from the competition. “A strong brand identity is more than just a trademark: It includes the look and feel of the shop, the culture of the business and the distinct characteristics of the products or services offered,” Pitegoff writes. “Be honest and look within. If you get the feeling your concept is a late-to-the-party imitator, think twice about franchising—at least until you can truly carve out a viable niche in the market.”The article delves into the other models of the business, such as the grey area between franchising and the non-franchise concept. Starbucks grew via an IPO, he notes, while Dunkin’ Donuts grew through franchising. “At first glance, they appear to be quite different,” the attorney writes. “On closer analysis, though, these distinctions break down.”Yes, Starbucks has begun franchise-like arrangements with some to operate some of the stores. “These and other arrangements with third-party owners are done through exemptions to the franchise laws, requiring legal monitoring to ensure that none of the deals crosses the line and triggers legal requirements for registration or disclosure,” Pitegoff notes. “Dunkin’ Donuts thrives under the franchise model, while enjoying a burst of growth thanks to a private equity investment.”

Additionally, the column examines challenges that often come with opening a franchise, including the need to deal with a franchisee who does not follow the

company guidelines. “Franchise owners can take steps to maintain their direct connection to the brand’s loyal customers,” he writes. “To monitor the public’s pulse,

for example, many franchisors maintain some company-owned locations even as they track the performance of their franchised locations by extensively surveying

customers.” Having a balance is key, as independent franchise owners have an incentive to succeed, which can help the overall brand, while franchisees know their

local market and are quick to let the franchisor know what works in their area.In the end, franchising has its advantages and disadvantages. “Before pursuing

this path, it is important to carefully consider your business model and personal preferences,” Pitegoff writes. “If, in the end, you choose to franchise, there are many

successful people who went before you. Study their stories and learn from both their successes and their missteps.”

Story by Ian Gere

“The survey was conducted by asking 50 high-level executives who attended the Microsoft Dynamics Convergence Conference.”

“Companies should view the entire user experience as the product being purchased,” said Zamani. “It’s not just the tangible product that customers are interested in. They are interested in ordering an item, receiving notifications as it’s ordered and shipped and returning or exchanging a product if it’s not the right one.”

Your Customers Want Easier Online Ordering

Logicbroker Inc, a provider of EDI and eCommerce integrations, has released the results of a survey that shows what customers care about when it comes to ordering online, and how companies can improve the process.

The survey was conducted by asking 50 high-level executives who attended the Microsoft Dynamics Convergence Conference. According to 72% of them, ease of ordering is the most important part of online ordering, and 33% said that better communication within eCommerce companies could improve the most.

“It’s no surprise that consumers want online ordering to be painless,” said Peyman Zamani, CEO of Logicbroker. “The companies that serve these customers spend a great deal of time perfecting the products they offer but often neglect to look at the ordering process. Unfortunately, it only takes one negative experience to lose a customer and a late or delayed package, a lack of communication or a clunky ordering process could cause a customer to purchase goods from another company.”

Other findings from the survey include:

• In addition to ease of ordering (72%), the speed in which orders are processed (10%) and the accuracy of orders (10%) were other areas that respondents said were the most important parts of the online ordering process.

• Thirty percent of respondents said receiving the wrong product is the most frustrating part of the online order process, followed by little to no communication (24%) and slow shipping (24 percent).

• While respondents thought better communication (33%) was the top area that could be improved in the online ordering process, the ability to return an item to a brick- and-mortar store (28%) and simpler shipping processes (24%) also registered high as areas for improvement.

• The majority of respondents (88 percent) said that Amazon has the best shipping capabilities over Zappos (10%) and ebay (2%) because of its ease of ordering.

FRANCHISENEWS

Story by Ian Gere


Avoid these mistakes

and you’ll be on a path

to success, regardless of size, budget or location.

5 Mistakes that impede small business growth.

Mistakes ImpedeIt’s all about marketing. Active and consistent

marketing is essential to the growth of any business. You might have the best product or service, but if no one knows about it, it doesn’t matter. In order to keep your market share, you need to actively promote in every facet of a business.

Here are some mistakes that are all too common in small business and franchise ownership. Avoid these mistakes and you’ll be

on a path to success, regardless of size, budget or location.

Underestimating the power of networkingNetworking is a great way to make

professional connections that can serve you well in the future. As a small business owner, you’re a tiny fish in a very large pond. Get to know other business owners in your community – you

can gain valuable perspective, meet a mentor and get the word out. Make sure to go prepared with business cards, a clear purpose and, most of all, a passionate attitude.

Not budgeting for marketing

My rule of thumb is putting 6 percent of sales toward marketing activities.

Networking is cheap – talking to neighbors and community

Story by Ian Gere

SMALLBUSINESS


members doesn’t cost a thing, and is a great way to connect with your client base.

Only going after new customers

The best customer is the one you already have. Be courteous – send thank you notes and give unparalleled service.

Recognition isn’t everything

If you go the extra mile for your customers, they’ll go the extra mile for you. Word of mouth is powerful, so be sure to give them the best service possible and introduce them to all the things you do to keep them coming back. Your goal is to help them grow their

business so they, in turn, can give you more business. It’s not about selling; it’s about solution selling. Give timely service, meet deadlines and exceed expectations. Always keep their goals in mind.

Not being proactiveMarketing occurs from

the outside in, and from the inside out. Outside in means getting customers in the door through activities like direct mail, email marketing, use of SEO and Google Analytics, online marketing, BNI groups and other networking opportunities, and simply interacting with your community and neighbors. Inside out, means going the extra mile to keep the customer happy with the best timely

service possible. And don’t get discouraged: it takes several times for a marketing message to stick. Be repetitious.

Relying on name recognition alone

If you’re buying into a franchise, you might think that having a well-known name above your door will

Interact with your community

bring customers in. Name recognition isn’t everything. The worst location with an active owner does wonders, while a prime location with a lazy owner performs terribly. Remember that you get out what you put in – hard work plus perseverance = success.

Ralph Askar is the CEO and President of Instant Imprints

www.instantimprints.com

www.boj.com

marketingoccursfrom theoutside in

SMALLBUSINESS


Effective SEOSMALL BUSINESSES MUST STAY ON TOP OFTHE CURRENT SEO TRENDS TO HAVE THEIR

WEBSITES FOUND EASILY

SEO tips for B2B and Small Business.

Google is constantly changing and updating its algorithm to aid users in finding relevant results from their queries. Because of this, small businesses must stay on top of the current SEO trends to have their websites found easily through the search engine. Web marketing agency Bop Design, of San Diego, recently released tips designed to help business websites maintain their SEO gains.

“Effective SEO for a website requires the smooth interaction of lots of little parts. Quality on-site content, regular content updates, and links from other reputable websites all have an impact on a B2B website’s search engine rankings. However, the structure of your B2B website design can contain lots of less obvious errors that work against your SEO efforts,” says Bop Design principal Jeremy Durant.

Here is a list of errors that may result in the downfall of a company’s hard-earned SEO progress.

Haphazard keyword use – Keywords are very important in a website’s SEO. Marketers should keep a constantly-updating list of relevant and important keywords for their business before launching their content marketing plan

or beginning a web redesign. Durant says, “Overuse of keywords can cause search engines to get suspicious of your content so be sure not to over-saturate.” Marketers should read all of their website’s pages to determine if the content contained on the page is relevant and useful for human readers looking for helpful information. If the page is full of syntax problems due to keyword stuffing, then the business is probably not utilizing keywords efficiently. “It’s better to strategically use less keywords than to drown your pages in keywords that don’t make sense,” says Durant.

Not using permalinks – Marketers need to look at their website’s URLs for each page. Permalinks that have keywords instead of strings of letters are more favored by search engines. Therefore, marketers should speak with their webmasters about updating their links to contain keywords.

Not linking to other content on your site – Search engines find websites are more legitimate if its pages are cross-linked within the site. “Review all the content on your website and see where you can cross-link to blog posts, product or services pages, contact information or special offers,” explains Durant. “These

Story by Ian Gere

SMALLBUSINESS


TIPS DESIGNED TO HELP

BUSINESSare also great ways to keep users clicking within your site and thus deepen their relationship to your firm.”

Using too much flash animation – Flash animation is showy, but search engines find it difficult to crawl. When pertinent information is contained within the animations, search engines can’t see it. Marketers should speak with their website’s designer to find a common ground between design and SEO needs.

Using images instead of important information – Search engines crawl websites to find important information that makes the site seem trustworthy. “While it’s tempting to upload just an image for your business logo, location, or page titles, be aware that this robs you of an opportunity to supply important information to the search engines,” says Durant. “If you must use images, be sure to update your meta-tags with the correct information or find other places to insert the information in text form, like header bars or footers.”

Page errors, dead pages and obsolete links – Search engines don’t like websites that appear abandoned. Marketers should comb through their websites and identify all outdated links and dead pages, then remove all dead links and update page redirects to make sure that the pages are leading to fresh content.

Durant concludes, “A web design and on-screen content can have a huge impact on your site’s SEO rankings and B2B lead generation. If you’re not sure how to make the updates above to your website, work with your site administrator to develop a plan to amend your site’s content.”

SMALLBUSINESS

SAVE TIME, EFFORT AND MAYBE EVEN SOME MONEY ON YOUR TAXES.

VISIT IRS.GOV

Make this your fi rst stopbefore you do your taxes.

Everything you want to know is all in one reliable place—irs.gov. You’ll fi nd all the tax information and

forms you need. There are easy online tools to help you calculate your eligibility for tax credits and track

your refund. And it’s all free. Prefer the phone? Call 1-800-829-4477 for 150 tax topics in English or

Spanish. Either way, you know the information is good because it’s from the offi cial source—the IRS.

irs.gov. See how it can help you.

http://www.irs.gov

4059-IRS_Ads_7x10_couple.indd 10 1/6/09 10:32:39 AM

Panchero’s Mexican GrillPanchero’s Mexican Grill is a fast-casual Tex-Mex restaurant chain that started in

1992, and has been growing ever since. Customers order burritos, bowls, tacos, and

quesadillas, and add an array of fresh, house-made ingredients, using fresh, hand

pressed tortillas. There are currently 62 Panchero’s Mexican Grill locations, yet there

aren’t any in California. The initial investment for opening a Panchero’s location

ranges from $346,575 to $794,040.

Tippi Toes DanceTippi Toes Dance Company owners will operate dance studio that provides a fun,

positive, nurturing environment for children ranging from 18 months to 12 years

old. The dance classes are designed to promote self-expression, the joy of dance, and

develop motor skills and body awareness. There are currently 3 Tippi Toes Dance

studios open in California. The cost of opening a location is $52,000 and $62,500.

ActiveRXWith a large population of aging baby-boomers, there will soon be a big demand for

elder care and health resources. As we age, our strength and mobility decrease. This

is where ActiveRX comes in. The franchise business provides Active Aging Centers

where adults 55 and older will receive specialized care that enables them to gain

back anything lost due to the aging process. Experts will take clients through Active

Physical Therapy, and ActiveRx Strengtherapy. The owner of an ActiveRx Aging

Center will provide clients with “a variety of non-medical, proactive health, wellness

and rehabilitative services.” The initial cost of opening an Aging Center ranges from

$146,500 to $241,500. There is currently one ActiveRx Active Aging Center located in

California.

Teaja Organic Tea BoutiqueOwners of a Teaja franchise will operate a single retail store selling “loose leaf organic

and wildcrafted teas, high-quality herbal tea blends, botanical remedies, specified

condiments and ingredients, brewed proprietary tea beverages, and other authorized

merchandise, food, and related products and accessories.” Single units are available

throughout the United States, and if a franchisee meets certain requirements, multi-

unit agreements are considered as well. The initial cost of opening a Teaja Organic

Tea Bar ranges from $137,200 to $148,000. The initial investment for a Teaja Tea

Market ranges from $241,700 to $255,500. There are currently no Teaja franchises

located in the United States. This is a true ground floor franchise opportunity.

NEW FRANCHISE ALERTThese are franchise opportunities that are either very new, recently registered in certain key states, or are making news right now. An exclusive BOJ.com feature.

NEWFRANCHISE

ALERT

business opportunities journal | june-july 2014 edition

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