SERVPRO® is the premier cleaning and restoration company in the nation. In business since 1967, SERVPRO has helped people pursue their dreams of being an entrepreneur for more than 30 years. SERVPRO currently has over 930 franchises from coast to coast. SERVPRO serves the insurance restoration, commercial cleaning and residential cleaning markets. saving insurance carriers money by the "restore versus replace" philosophy of returning property to is pre-loss condition after fire, smoke and water damages.

The SERVPRO National Training Center has a state-of-the-art training facility specifically designed for new franchisees. A 2,400-square-foot house inside the center provides a real-world training ground to lean the basics of cleaning and restoration. New franchises spend two weeks in a comprehensive training program and "hands-on" training after completing a two-week home study program. Following this initial training, new franchisees are assigned field trainers to assist them with setup and ongoing support.

Steak-Out is a rapidly growing member of the hot meal delivery industry, with 76 stores in 14 states throughout the Southeast, Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. As the largest chain in the U.S. dedicated to convenience delivery of a balanced menu, Steak-Out is the answer to home meal replacement. It's the perfect alternative to the ordinary choices in delievered food.

Steak-Out stores operate as a take-out and delivery service, offering a wide selection of food items from New York strips to salads to desserts. Home and office delivery business accounts for about 81 percent of a Steak-Out store's sales volume, with the other 19 percent coming fomr take-out business. The franchise offers entrepreneurs a chance for variety and consistency in the industry.

Franchisees will find that Steak-Out provides the support -- including initial training, site review and a detailed system of opportunities -- to optimize store success and growth.

Building Your "Success Team"

We frequently hear people say they want to save money in their selection process by doing it themselves, or using a friend of family member instead of qualified counselors. By failing to obtain experienced counsel, your own "success team" can be "penny wise and pound foolish." Cutting corners in your franchise selection process is not a very good idea.

Given the level of your potential investment -- including site acquisition, build-out, and fees and commissions -- make allowance for a reasonable budget for expert advice. Typically, a budget of two-five percent of your total investment is sufficient to afford a competent success team to steer you through the selection process. Building your own success team wont' guarantee your success, but our experience shows it will save you from the "penny wise, pound foolish" trap.

Your success team should include:

• You, as an educated buyer of the franchise and the most important part of the team.
• An experienced franchise attorney who understands franchise agreements and can review your offering circular and assist you in establishing your business.
• An experienced franchise consultant or accountant who understands franchise business and can review your offering circular with a view to projecting the profit potential and risk, as well as assist you in setting up proper financial control systems.
• A FRANNET consultant, who is an able and willing ally in helping you identify your aptitudes and suitable options to narrow down your choices, and who can un point in helping you assemble your success team.
• The American Association of Franchisees & Dealers (AAFD), which can provide referrals to experienced professionals through its Franchisee LegalLine™, FinancialLine™ and CounselLine.™

Not Ready to Retire?

Most middle managers or executives who are nearing retirement are not ready for bentwood rockers or plaid shorts and fishing poles. Many people approaching retirement age are choosing self-employment instead, as a means of adding to their retirement nest-egg.

According to Howard Bassuk, president of Franchise Network of San Diego, there is definitely a trend toward older entrepreneurs. And many of them choose franchising after considering its advantages: the legwork has been done -- there is a system in place that has proven to be successful, and there is an established mane that should or will be worth its weight in gold. In addition, banks and landlords are typically more receptive to financing and leasing space to franchisees due to their success rate.

There are businesses that allow you to work form your home office, which allows you the flexibility to play gold once or twice a week, depending on your goals for the business. And even if you choose a business that involves a storefront, you can hire employees to carry out the daily activities to maintain your own flexible lifestyle.

Many people approaching retirement may be leery about sinking their life's savings into a business venture, but choosing a franchise that has many years of success behind it will minimize the risk. Bassuk notes, "retirees and others who want to do something for themselves and yet want the support network and don't want to reinvent the wheel are perfect for a franchise. The key to success is following the operational plan."

The next step is to get some processional assistance in looking at a business that will be comfortable for you. Many franchises are actively recruiting second career-minded individuals.

Fifth in a Series - Secrets to Success: Visual Merchandising

Many small business owners are confused about visual merchandising. They don't understand its potential effect (as a function of their image) and in many cases have never been taught how to use it effectively. Actually, visual merchandising is very simple: it is promoting or packaging the sale of goods, services and products.

Good visual merchandising is an art and can take some time to master. The key is a strong sense of design, simplicity and above all, imagination. In addition to ensuring that your products and services will be long remembered by your customers again and again. Visuals can add tremendously to your image or significantly detract from it. Your visual merchandising should:

• Feature products
• Call attention to your store
• Assist in selling services as well as commodities
• Lead the customer around the store
• Have an educational aspect that is easy to understand
• Use color to attract attention
• Promote your positive and unified image
• Be professional in presentation
• Expose the customer to more merchandise
• Increase add-on and impulsive sales

The basic elements of visual merchandising are:

1. Window displays. These can be one of the most important forms of advertising you have. It is best to change displays monthly, using props that you can find at yard sales, second-hand stores and prop companies, of you can build them.

2. End caps (end of shelves or gondolas). This is one of the most over-looked visual merchandising opportunities for small business. You should use them to promote new products and services, sell higher profit impulse items, call attention to key isles in your store, and feature educational information about products or services offered.

3. Power islands or freestanding displays. These can set the tone for how customers will accept you and your services. Make them colorful enough to direct customers through the store or to certain areas of it.
4. Counters and shelves. Facing (keeping all the stock on your shelves pulled to the front to give the appearance of a full shelf) creates a more positive image of your store. Of course, they must also be clean of dust.

You will find that your business will increase while you're having fun going to garage sales and putting your imagination to work building new visual images for your business.

Back to Archive