Tuesday, February 24, 2009

The Francorp Difference

The Francorp Difference
Our first step is always to determine your franchisability. Francorp differs from other companies that are focused on selling their services. It's important to us that we work only with companies that are franchisable . We want you to be educated about the franchising process, and about how long you should expect the successful franchise offering to take .
Do you own one of those companies? Is your company ready to succeed? We can fast track the process without interfering with your potential to succeed.
And if you don't yet have a company, but do have the necessary funds, Francorp can help you develop a franchisable idea from the ground up.
All Under One Roof
Successful systems create successful franchises, and our unique Proven Method maximizes your chances of success and minimizes costly mistakes. We also offer an array of resources that speak to our leadership in the industry.
In franchising as in so many other fields, there is no substitute for experience. Francorp's professional staff is the largest and most experienced in franchising, and you get the benefit of our collective credentials. It's no accident we're considered the industry leader.
As a result, your services and franchise help are performed "in-house," not delegated to outside contractors who may have no expertise in franchising. We employ a full-time staff of professionals to create franchise structure, franchise documents, marketing strategies and materials, operations manuals, sales training, video presentations, and general consulting.
Information about each client is shared among the professionals involved in order to keep the work product consistent from department to department.
A Comprehensive Franchise Program
It's normal to be nervous about what to expect when you've never done this before. Francorp has developed a step-by-step procedure to support you through the franchising process.
When you first contact Francorp, you won't get a sales pitch. You won't be pressured at all. But by time you leave your first meeting with one of our consultants, you'll walk out with an action plan to either become more franchisable, or to start the franchising process.
Franchise structure - As a first step in creating a franchise program, Francorp consultants prepare a written franchise analysis based upon your business, its competition, and the franchise industry at large.
Franchise agreement - Francorp's in-house attorneys, with input from Francorp's operations, marketing, and strategic consultants, will draft the principal agreement that binds you to your franchisees.
Franchise offering circular - Francorp's legal department will draft an offering circular which will meet both Federal Trade Commission requirements and those of the states in which you intend to sell franchises.
State registration materials - Requirements of the states differ, and Francorp personnel will gather the proper materials and prepare the necessary forms required by each state where you wish to sell franchises.
Operations manual - Everything from company philosophy to advertising, from franchisee reporting to employee recruitment, from inventory acquisition to day-to-day operating procedures is included in your operations manual.
Marketing plan - To aid your franchise sales lead generation, Francorp's marketing department provides the media strategy, media budget, and media schedule. We also develop advertising copy and layouts, and/or direct mail materials, to generate interest among your target franchise prospects.
Franchise brochure - Because the prospect's first impression of your franchise is often created by a brochure, Francorp will design a brochure with special emphasis on exciting graphic design, and will describe in detail the elements of your franchise which make it attractive to prospective franchises.
Franchise sales training - During a two-day seminar, Francorp will instruct your franchise sales staff on all elements of the process, from legal considerations to closing techniques.
Implementation consulting – you'll always have ready access to professional assistance in all of Francorp's specialties during the critical period of franchise development.
Whenever problems or questions arise during this period, you may consult at no charge with any member of our project team.
Plus, you'll also receive a copyrighted 400-page manual covering all topics introduced in the franchise sales seminar in even greater detail.
Francorp's Track Record Of Success
Francorp has the most success stories of any franchise consultant. See our proven track record of client references who've succeeded with Francorp, and how we made a difference in their success. Learn the story behind our success to understand how Francorp came to be the franchising leader, and why it matters to you.
Attend an upcoming event to spend some time with Francorp's consultants. Or, visit our Chicago headquarters to see where it all takes place.
Every company is different, so we give you options for getting the process started. If you think you are franchisable, and that we can make a difference for you, call us to speak directly with one of Francorp's senior consultants. Perhaps you'd prefer to ask a question or inquire about our services online. Contact us and see how Francorp can assist your franchising efforts.
Francorp's difference can also be seen in our pricing structure. We understand the financial concerns of owner-operated companies, and offer you pricing and payment options to fund the future.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Francorp India

Franchising in most parts of the world is well established and part of everyday life. In the U.S. over $1 trillion is spent per year in franchised outlets, 1 out of every 12 retail locations is a franchised operation. Now franchising is moving into other parts of the world, most notably India.
India now presents and enormous opportunity for franchise organizations. The country has over 12 million retailers which surpasses even China. This makes India the country with the highest retail outlet density in the world.
Indians have taken to franchising like the U.S. Already in this young and undeveloped franchise environment there are over 600 franchisors franchising in the Indian marketplace today. Along with that comes over 40,000 franchisees spread out across the country and across different sectors, over 300,000 Indian employees are employed directly by Indian franchise companies there. The market is enormous with almost unlimited potential. Currently the education sector of franchised businesses is the leading franchise model, but retail is catching up. The size of the consuming class means big opportunities for more franchise development.
The potential downsides of the new Indian market are what comes along with any developing market. For one the lack of regulation can still be an issue, real estate can be tricky and skewed in some cases and financing can be difficult. But if you can deal with those, this market has loads of potential.
There are a lot of companies in the services sector that are actively looking at India to set up their franchise operations today and will continue to be in the future. The growing popularity of the franchise model among Indian business men is evident in and around the country of India. The same issues that are taking place in the U.S. are also happening in India today. More people are losing their jobs, the big companies are downsizing with the slowing the economy in many sectors. This puts more people in the franchise market who would otherwise be working in a management position at a salary.
A franchise is a way for someone to earn a living without the risk of starting their own business. The other side of the equation is that as is the case in the U.S., investors are becoming more and more wary of putting their money into the stock market today. Earning the kinds of returns that were possible 2-5 years ago are extremely difficult today. This prompts more and more Indian business people to invest in themselves through a franchise model. Overall, the Indian franchise market represents one of the largest franchise opportunities in the world today.
Franchise organizations with applicable concepts and good planning will absolutely take India into account when planning their franchise system expansion for the coming years.
Christopher J. Conner
Vice President
Francorp, Inc.
708-481-2900
http://www.francorp.com

Children's Orchard Franchise

Francorp developed the original franchise program for Children's Orchard franchising systems. The Franchise company is the industry leader in children's resale clothing. They currently have almost 100 locations and continue to define their industry. Here are the details on the company and background on the company.
Children's Orchard
900 Victor's Way, # 200
Ann Arbor, MI 48108 800 #:(800) 999-5437Tel:(734) 994-9199 + 222Fax:(734) 994-9323E-Mail:campaign364@mail.emaximation.comWebsite:www.childorch.comContact: Ms. Lisa Morgan, Franchise Development DirectorBusiness Description:
Upscale children's retail/resale stores, featuring clothing, toys, furniture, equipment, books and parenting products. We buy top-brand items from area families by appointment, and re-sell in boutique-style stores, along with top-quality new children's items from nearly 200 suppliers. These are large volume stores selling thousands of items per week.

Franchisor Background
Year Established: 1980
Franchising Since: 1985Operating Units:Franchised Units:84 98.8%Company-Owned Units:1 1.2% Total Operating Units:85 100.0% Geographic Distribution:U.S.: 85 100% North America:States/Provinces with the largest number of operating units:Density
Units1. Michigan 62. Massachusetts 143. California 18

Registered in Following Registration States: California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, District Of Columbia, Alberta Financial Requirements Investment:Minimum Net Worth:$200KCash Investment:$30-50KTotal Investment:$72.5-158KAverage Total Investment:$150K Fees:Initial Franchise Fee:$22.5KAverage Franchise Fee:$22KOn-Going Royalty:5%Average Royalty:5%Advertising Fee:1.0%
Average Number of Employees: 1 Full-time, 3 Part-time

Space Needs (in square footage): 1,200-2,000

Preferred Sites: Storefront, Strip CenterOther Sites: Encourage Conversions? YesEarnings Claims Provided?: NoFranchisee Qualifications Ranked from 1 (unimportant) to 5 (important):
Financial Net Worth:5General Business Experience:3Specific Industry Experience:2Formal Education:4Psychological Profile:2Personal Interview(s):5 Terms of Contract Term of Initial Contract:10 Year(s) Term of Renewal Period:Year(s)Passive Ownership:Allowed, But DiscouragedArea Development Agreements?Yes, for 1 Year(s)Sub-Franchising Contracts?NoFranchisees Allowed to Expand Within Territory?No Support and Training International Franchise Association:YesCanadian Franchise Association:NoFranchisee Association/Member:Yes, MemberSize of Corporate Staff: 15Site Selection Assistance?YesLease Negotiation Assistance?YesFinancial Assistance?Yes, Direct Projected New Units Over Next 12 months: 15U.S.: Yes, All US Except HI, AKCanada:NoOverseas:No

Sunday, February 8, 2009

How to Franchise a Children's Business - Mad Science Group

Francorp worked with Mad Science Group in developing their original franchise program and assisting them in the development and implimentation of the franchise expansion. Mad Science is the industry leader in their segment and continues to set the bar for children's oriented franchise organizations.

Here is a wonderful interview with Francorp President, Patrick Callaway and Mad Science CEO Ariel Schlien. Mad Science was originally founded in Canada and has since become a global phenomenon with the help of Francorp.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVLNmlEr5gw

For more information on how to franchise, visit the Francorp corporate site:www.francorp.com