The Franchise King Blog

A Franchise Opportunity-Pet Funerals

                                          
The Pet industry is a multi-billion dollar one, with many different opportunities for the franchise industry to move in, and try to dominate things in different niches. It's actually neeshes, according to my friend, Jim Kukral. Some other friends of mine, the gals over at Sanderson PR, are reporting that there is a new franchise coming to a city near you. Read  

{If Sean Kelly, my friend over at IdeaFarm gets wind of this, a few paragraphs from him on his blog, could cause us some serious belly laughter...}

Franchise Research Steps. Have You Missed One?

Don't take this wrong, but if you have never embarked on something as big as investing in a business of your own, you may be missing some critical steps. How do I know? I know from experience. I have worked with hundreds of potential franchise owners, and taught them  how to expertly research the franchise opportunities they were looking at. For example, did you know that most great franchise companies are not trying to sell you a franchise? Or, that calling 4 or 5 franchise owners of the concept that you are interested in isn't nearly enough owners to call to get some basic questions answered.

Would you like to find out how many franchise owners you should call? Would you like to know specifically the right questions to ask them? Go here

Alltop.com Keeps You In The Loop

                                                            

Guy Kawasaki

With thousands of new websites and blogs being added to the internet every day, it is becoming increasingly difficult to absorb everything that is going on in our world.  It used to be easier. On the way to work in the morning, one only needed to tune in the radio....

Green Franchises; Which Major One Is Now Greening it's Operation?

                                          

    

If you guessed Wendy's, or Burger King, you would be wrong....If you guessed 7-11, or MAACO, you would be wrong. Are you thinking Arby's? Dunkin Donut's? Two Men And A Truck? The now famous 2 Dudes And a Junkyard Dog Franchise? Are you enjoying this little game? Running the Franchise Blog over at AllBusiness.com, {A Dun&Bradstreet Company} has it's perks. One of them, is experiencing web traffic that only a major organization can provide. This article has been one of the most popular, and I am proud to say, one of the coolest I am associated with. The major franchise concept that is totally immersing itself in all things sustainable is...Read

Check out this new GREEN website!

Franchise eBook Being Discussed On The Radio, May 22nd

If you would like some free tips on how to research a franchise opportunity, correctly, it will be the topic of discussion at 10:00 AM, Thursday, May 22nd on BlogTalk Radio.
I will be interviewed on the topic of franchise research, and how important it is to do. Learn how to lower your risk...

Marty McDermott and Don Johnson have been running this radio program for a couple of years, and have had some great guests.

www.Business.Gov Goes Green

Is going Green a fad? Or is it something bigger. Bigger than us? Ever since I wrote about a franchise out of California {Big surprise there} that is franchising it's solar energy business, I have been receiving emails from folks that want to know more about it. And..this is really telling, my posts about solar energy franchises are still the most read about on this blog. Now, the US Government...

#1 Franchise Article Chosen By EvanCarmichael.com!

                                 

Bragging rights are hereby claimed for a story I wrote for Anita Campbell's Small Business Trends website. Not only am I a guest author for Anita, an award winning blogger herself, but I am her "Franchise Expert In Residence."

My article on franchising titled "The Top Franchise Trends For 2008", was chosen as the Number #1 Franchising Blog Post of 2008, by the team over at Toronto, Canada's huge entrepreneur site, EvanCarmichael.com.

Here is the Post! Thank you, Evan!

Former Ford Motor Co. Employee Opens New Franchise!

Every time it rains, I want you to think about Gerald Krause. Gerald, a former Ford Motor Company employee, just opened up a franchise of his own....

Want To Learn Internet Video Techniques?

         

            

My friend, Jim Kukral knows video. He knows blogging. Heck, he knows how to market via the internet.  Jim is always on the cutting edge, and is willing to try anything and everything related to internet marketing.  His Video-Blog is awesome, and Jim just "gets it."
{Jim was responsible for gently encouraging me to start a Video-Blog. Look}
Franchise companies should attend...
If you happen to be in Cleveland, Ohio on May 28th, attend Jim's presentation:

"Internet Video Seminar: Boost Your Business"
Go Here To Register! Hurry Up! 

Those Darn Head Lice; A Future Franchise Opportunity?

Feeling a little itchy today? Scratching your head a little more? Are neighborhood mom's whispering about the "rash" of school nurse phone calls being received month to date? Have no fear! The head lice police are here!

I am not sure if this will be "franchise material" or not, but it seems that a fine lady in Missouri City, Texas {Or is that Texas City, Missouri}, has come up with a business model focused on head lice removal! I am serious here, folks. Fellow AllBusiness.com bloggers, and generally funny guys, Tim Devaney and Tom Stein, are reporting on this  much needed business, today.
Read More Here

Franchising In Australia

If you are interested in a franchise, and live down under, the Perth Franchising and Business Opportunities Expo hits the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre May 17th and 18th.

Did you know that the Australian franchise industry is worth over $130 Billion? Did you also know that it employs 600,000 people?

“The franchising sector is extremely dynamic, and is increasingly becoming the best option for anyone looking for a low-risk option to start running their own business,” said Jon Perry, exhibition director, Franchising & Business Opportunities Expo.
“Our alliances with the key industry bodies, such as the Franchise Council of Australia, means we can guarantee visitors to the show will have access to the most up-to-date and relevant information currently available.”

Here is the Expo website! 

Franchise Contest Update! Almost 50 Franchise Entries So Far

                                                 

                               

The Coolest Franchise Website Contest is still in progress, and so far, almost 50 contest entries have been received.

There are thousands of franchise companies out there, and some of them may have Cool Websites. Are there franchise company websites that have not been entered into the contest yet? There are prizes...

Go to the Contest Website

More About Those Silly Meal Prep Franchises

In July of last year, I discussed the "Meal Prep" franchise model, and how I felt that it wasn't very well thought out. Here is part of what I said:

"Since I am part of the dual income we have no time to do anything crowd, I thought of these 2 problems with the concept, when I was introduced a couple of years ago:

1. If one has no time to cook on weeknights, how would one find the time to spend 2-3 hours cooking meals?  {Personally, there is no way I would spend a Saturday morning doing it!}

2. What if one has no large freezer? {We don't}"

I still stand by my assertion that this franchise model is not viable. It may become viable, if it is somehow reworked, but for now, it is just not there. My friend, Sean Kelly goes a tad farther than I in a story he recently published.
{Caution! Don't have cooked rice in your mouth while reading it. It will be sprayed about...}
Read It!

The Franchise King's Video Response To Papa John's 23 Cent Pizza!

          *********Update****** Update******

Go here {today only May 8th} for Live Updates of 2,000+  people waiting in line for these 23 cent Pizza's. WKYC-TV's website. Police involved, now.Line jumping starting as patience wears thin!

 

Internet marketing guru, Jim Kukral, has requested this Franchise King's take, via video, to the Papa John's Pizza Franchise PR push. He posted his thoughts via video, and asked me to highlight mine.

So by popular request, here it is, on my Video Blog...

Attn: Northeast Ohioans in Career Transition

                                                          

                                                                                           

Yes, The NEO economy is pretty tough, currently. Yes, it will get better. If you are one of the recently downsized, and are at a crossroads, maybe it is time to start at least thinking about some career alternatives. This Monday, over at Lorain County Community College there will be a panel of experts discussing this important topic:

The Self Employment Alternative

 Exploring Business Ownership

 

Fellow Franchise Blogger Featured In Franchise Times Story

Jim Coen, a Boston area franchise consultant, and a guy who shares many of the same views as I do-concerning the franchise industry was just featured in Franchise Times, a leading industry publication.

The topic was business blogging, and how Jim recently started his second blog, this one focused on Franchising In New England/The New England Franchise Association. With a beautiful blue header, and the same great design used in his other blog, Let's Talk Franchising, Jim seems to be on the right track, with his locally focused blog.

Jim and I have gotten to know each other, and Jim enjoys helping his candidates choose opportunities that are a nice fit, while at the same time, helping them lower their risk. Nice job, Jim!

A Franchise PR Firm's Take On Papa John's 23 Cent Pizza Apology

Chicago based Sanderson PR, the public relations agency for everything franchise, says that the DC franchisee who imprinted the infamous "Crybaby" T-Shirts for the Wizards-Cavs basketball playoff game was a bad boy. But.....finish reading Sanderson's take

Does Papa John's Franchise Dislike The Cleveland Cavaliers Franchise?

 

Being a franchise industry blogger based in Cleveland has it's ups and downs. Here is a down:

"Cuyahoga County, metropolitan Cleveland's largest county, is now ranked  #1!"

Number #1 for what, you might ask? Cuyahoga County has more people moving away, than any other county in the country. Terrrrific......

Here is an "up"......

Taking John Jantsch's Duct Tape Marketing Advice

John Jantsch

I was reading John's Duct Tape Marketing Newsletter a couple of weeks ago, and I really liked his idea of having a one page web "hub."  In a web hub , interested parties are sent to a central web page to learn about a person that they are interested in possibly working with. In my case, "working with" might involve franchise related consulting, my Free strategic franchise matchmaking services, some franchise marketing help,or to ask a question about franchising.  My ebook is prominently displayed, as well as links to my Press Room.

I love this idea, and I think I have a finished product. Thanx, John! See you in Cleveland, Friday!
See it here. What do you think?

{If you are thinking about getting into a franchise of your own, please contact me. I know what works, and what doesn't, in franchising, in Northeast Ohio. If you live outside of the area, I will connect you to someone local. Call 216-831-2610. Joel Libava}