10. Trademark Search. Before registering, a search will be done to see if there are any similar trademarks or trade names that have been filed or registered.  You may want to use a Trademark registration service like Franchise Development Group to assist with this.

 9. Printing Costs and Signage. If you don’t register and you find out later that another company already has the same or a very similar name, you will have to redo all of your business cards, stationery, advertising, and signs.

8. Lost Customers. If you have to change your business name because you later find out that someone else is already using it, you could confuse and lose your customers.

7. Exclusive Use. Registering your mark gives you the exclusive right to use it within the relevant geographic area.

6. Option to Expand. You could lose the right to expand outside the original business area if you do not register.

5. Presumption of Ownership. Anyone else who uses your registered mark will be presumed to be a willful infringer, and you could be entitled to monetary damages as a result of the infringement.

4. State protection. Filing your corporation or LLC provides some protection against others attempting to file a business entity, but it does not provide the same protection as registering your trademark. Further, Federal registration supersedes any state registration.

3. Federal Protection. Federal registration serves as constructive notice to the rest of the country that you are the owner of the mark, even if you do not yet do business nationally.

2. Liability to Registered Owner. If you do not register and there happens to be a registered owner of the same or a substantially similar mark, that owner will have an indefinite period of time to find you and sue you for infringement.

1. Money, Money, and More Money. If you have infringed on someone else’s name or mark, you may be ordered to rename your company immediately; give up all profits earned by the use of the unregistered mark; and pay other damages, including punitive damages, fines, and attorneys’ fees.

Regardless of whether you intend to expand your business you should register your trademark with the US Patent & Trademark Office.  Call Franchise Development Group for franchise legal advice, from  registering  trademark to filing your franchise.

Market intelligence should play a key part in your decision to expand your business. You may be able to get important clues about the market, and some indication about your competitor’s situation. Getting information about your competitors can give you the leading edge, as it can show you ways in which your company benefit the customer and be unique. If your competitors are increasing their operations, it may mean that they have seen new, untapped opportunities in the market.

Your competitors may have stumbled upon a good idea. If this is the case, you can do two things: wait and see how the competitor does, or follow the competitor’s lead. By waiting for the results of a competitor’s venture into a new area, you can verify for yourself whether demand really exists and the benefits outweigh the risks.

Following your competitor’s lead does not necessarily mean that you have to duplicate exactly what they are doing. Instead, you can use their ideas to stimulate your own thinking.

If your competitor’s business expansion proved to be a mistake, then you can thank your lucky stars that it was not your business that was burned in a costly misjudgment. But if your competitor’s expansion proved to be the right move, then you may want to consider expanding before another competitor does the same.

Franchisees of businesses have are motivated managers of the business in which they have made substantial investments.  In a franchise network, the business plan is executed by business owners as opposed to employed managers. A franchisee has a direct and continuing financial interest in and committment to the success of your business.  With tested and successful operating and martketing sytems and training, continuing support, and other services available to franchisees, a franchise has some of the best chances for success.

Franchisees are also great resources for franchisers. A business owner general has a higher level of motivation to innovated than a non-owner manager. Franchisees can be a source for new products, services, marketing concepts, and operating methods.

A franchising company has simpler and more efficient management structure. A franchiser is an administrator and service provider, furnishing information and other services to its franchisees. Therefore, a franchiser needs fewer levels of management.

Franchisers can turn employees into franchisee.  Franchisers can offer franchises to experienced employees and thereby reduce the “dead end job” syndrome and motivate employees that have reached their highest likely management level. Experience employees frequently make productive franchise owners.

July 26, 2011 – ArchiveIT, a well-established brand, known for offering digital document scanning, storage and retrieval solutions to businesses throughout Southern California is now expanding its unique business model nationally through the offering of franchise opportunities.

About our concept 

 ArchiveIT entered the digital archiving arena in 2004 as Escrow Archive, when a paperless office was a pipedream, focusing on the Southern California real estate industry. The real estate downturn pushed ArchiveIT into unaffected verticals where it has recognized a wide range of businesses that benefit highly from our services. Today, businesses are moving towards paperless offices, but are faced with winding down years of paper storage, plus managing digital content to meet legal retention requirements. ArchiveIT provides an end-to-end compliant solution to this ongoing administrative and labor-intensive headache. This equates to multiple long-term revenue streams coming from box storage, info retrieval, scanning, cloud hosting, content management and document destruction. Now, federal mandates focusing on information confidentiality have done much to create a national demand for electronic archiving, making ArchiveIT’s services a hot commodity.

Founder, Guy Puckett states: “ArchiveIT has seen competitors come and go in the records management arena but we have been able to come up with a winning formula for successfully helping businesses with their document needs while maintaining profitability. We assist businesses to become more efficient and green while saving them money, too. We now are well positioned to export our unique, necessary business model to new markets through franchising.”

ArchiveIT Franchise Corporation

4065 Oceanside Blvd., Suite R Oceanside, CA 92056 www.ArchiveIT.com Contact: Guy Puckett Founder & CEO Phone: (310) 618-0550 guy@archiveit.com

Geoffrey Hassan Franchise Consultant ArchiveIT Franchise Corporation 805-453-8574 ghassan@franchisedevelopmentgroup.com www.ArchiveIT.com

Of all of the alternative methods of business expansion, franchising is most likey the best method for you and your business. 

1) A franchiser does not require large amounts of capital to develop and implement a franchise expansion program. These relatively low entry barriers have made franchising an attractive form of business expansion. 

2) Franchising allows for rapid expansion of the franchisee network which enable a company to establish a large number of business outlets in a relatively short perid of time. 

3) Shared Risk – Franchisee share the risk of expansion of the franchiser’s network. The franchisee furnishes equity and borrowed capital to pay for real estate, leasehold improvements, equipment, fixtures, furnishings, inventory and working capital required to establish the franchisee’s outlet. 

4) A franchising company can realize a higher return on its capital. Because the investment in the development of outlets is typically made by franchisees. Try our franchise revenue calculator to get an idea of what your return can be as a franchisor.

5) Reacquisition of Franchised businesses – A successful regional or national franchiser may have the opportunity to buy back franchisee owned businesses to expand the number of franchiser owned and operated businesses.

For all of these reasons, and many more, franchising may be the right choice for you.

Sam Boyer is a senior level executive with over 25 years experience. He has provided numerous organizations with strategic and innovative business leadership. Sam has achieved unparalleled success in manufacturing and marketing consumer branded products in North America. He has proven success in partnering finance with operations to achieve long-term gains in business performance, revenues, market share and profits, while providing sharp problem solving, negotiation and decision-making skills.

Sam’s expertise streaches beyond sales and marking. From 1992 – 1996 he served as Brothers Gourmet Coffee media spokesperson on issues related to manufacturing and business affairs. In 1995 Sam was awarded a US patent for the first vacuum whole bean coffe display and dispensing desing. Then, in 2001, Boyer Products Group (Sam and Dennis Boyer, John Jackson) was appointed as the Master Licensor of the Mr. Coffee brand consumables, a division of Sunbeam North America. 

In 2004, Sam worked with the Bridgestone Winter Driving School to develop new market appeal and consumer awareness.   

He has been active in many organization and supportive of serveral charities, including Make-a-Wish Foundation, the Special Olympics, and Easter Seals.

Sam is alson an accomplished musician, playing guitar at the 1984 World’s Fair in New Orleans and traveling through London to play for grade school children. 

Sam bring all his expertise, experience and enthusiam to our Denver, Colorado office.  To get started franchising in Colorado, call sam today!

Move Cheap is now offering franchise opportunities throughout the US.

Why Move Cheap?

The answer is simple:  Why pay more? 

Move Cheap makes the moving process easy, convenient, and affordable.  Many moving companies charge their customers $100.00 or more an hour, but we feel those rates are too high and unfair!  With Move Cheap, you get licensed, insured, uniformed, screened, and experienced movers for a low and local price.

Why pay the other companies to use their trucks?  You rent the truck or trailer and Move Cheap charges a low and minimal fee for loading, unloading, packing, and unpacking.  Move Cheap will also supply moving pads, blankets, tools and various dollies at no additional charge.

Maybe you just need the extra pair of backs to help get the labor done or to load your storage unit.  Just give us a call and we’ll get the job done for you!  And, we’ll do it for less without sacrificing quality. The goal of Move Cheap is to give you the best moving experience possible!

Our staff is professional, well trained, and come from areas of moving backgrounds so that you can expect the best.

7 Steps to starting a Move Cheap Franchise

1. Receive and fill out a Request for Consideration Form.
2. Receive and review the Uniform Franchise Disclosure Document with exhibits.
3. Meet or conference call with franchisor.
4. Make decisions after meeting with your advisors.
5. Set closing date, sign documents and pay franchise fee.
6. Find a location to start your new business.
7. Attend on-site training at your new location.

Now that you’ve decided to franchise, the next thing you need to do is find Franchisees for your business. This process isn’t just about franchise sales, the Franchisor/Franchisee relationship is a partnership.  You are essentially choosing a business partner. So you should be asking yourself which qualities to look for in a Franchisee.

Trust:  The best business partnerships are built on trust. As a franchisor, you will have to trust the franchisee to work with your concept and with you to make your franchise business a success.   

Professionalism: It goes without saying that franchisees must create and maintain a professional image.  As part of a franchise system, the experience a client has with one franchisee, in most cases, has a direct effect upon the entire franchise business.

Management Ability:  A single most common contributor to the failure of franchisees is under staffing and lack of experience. You want ensure your prospective franchisee has management experience and will work hard to maintain the high standards you strive for. 

Personality:  Every business is different, you’ll want to find franchisees with a passion and understanding for the type of business you run.  Whether your business is based on customer service, geared toward children, or trendy and stylish you’ll want to make sure the franchisee understands your corporate image and will participate in and uphold it. It helps if you share and understand your corporate mission. 

Ability to Follow the Franchise Model:   One of the most important things to look for in a franchisee is the willingness to follow the model. Here is one time you are not looking for the most creative, out-of-the-box thinker.  You should be looking for someone that can follow your plan and execute it accordingly.  Of course, suggestions are always welcome but you want someone who can follow your proven model successfully.

No doubt you have a list of things you personally are looking for in a franchisee and those are also great to consider. It is your business and your past success has brought you this far.  Do not forget to trust your instincts to do what is right for you and your company.

Designated Drivers Now Offering Franchise Opportunities

Designated Drivers of Buffalo New York, now offers exclusive franchises across the United States. The company offers a service that provides people under the influence of alcohol a safe, responsible alternative of driving them home in the comfort and convenience of their own vehicle.

Although many of the company’s clients are individuals, they also offer Corporate Benefit and Wellness Programs, Special Events Services, and AAA, as well as local bars and restaurants.

“We are currently looking for partners and franchises with similar ideas regarding responsible drinking.”

Designated Drivers Across America offers a no excuse solution to drinking and driving by providing a safe ride home for you in the comfort and convenience of your own vehicle. The service ensures that you will never again have to risk driving after drinking just because you need your car home at the end of the night. 

“We have created a great system and training program that franchise owners will find extremely helpful and we’re one of the most certified and trusted driving service in the country,” say Mike Mule’, co-founder.

“We know we have a business model that can be duplicated anywhere in the country and now is actually a perfect time to start your own business.”

As more and more people learn the dangers of drunk driving and the costly penalties and consequences of drinking and driving they will need a Designated Drivers program to keep their streets and community safe. Call 1-800-222-3251 today for more information.

As franchise consultants, we hear plenty of excuses for why someone has decided not to franchise, but the excuse we hear the most is, “I don’t think this is the right time to franchise.” We understand life can get pretty chaotic, especially when you are operating a successful business. If you’re thinking about franchising, but not sure if it’s the right time, ask yourself when the timing will be right and answer honestly. If your answer is any of the following, you may be stalling:

I’ll franchise when business slows down, I’m too busy right now: We understand you’re busy and that’s a good thing. So, you want to wait for a slow period. But when business is booming, I’m sure you don’t want business to slow down. We all need to catch our breath from time to time, but when doing well, there’s not much you can do about it. Waiting until you are not busy to franchise might not be the best idea. You could be waiting for long time.

I’ll franchise after the next big change (renovation, staff change, etc):

Business is all about change and continual improvement. Any business owner will tell you that there will always be a renovation, improvement, or staff change on the horizon. If you wait for your projects to come to an end, you will never franchise.

My Personal Life is so busy, I’ll franchise once things slow down:

I think this is one we can all relate to. Things come up in our lives; children, homes, family, pets, and unfortunately, even illness. These things can make it difficult to get anything done. Just remember, there is no perfect time to do anything, even franchising, so just getting started on your franchising plan during these trying times can help you reach your goals.

Franchising is just like most good things in life, there is no perfect time to do it. If you wait, the opportunity just may pass you by. At Franchise Development Group, we have seen this happen time and time again. Our suggestion to you is to do some soul searching. Make sure that you absolutely want to franchise your business. Don’t ask yourself when you want to franchise; ask yourself if you want to franchise. If you decide that franchising is the right decision for you, just get started. If you don’t have the time, give us a call, we can help.