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With Recession Expected To Last, Which Franchise Businesses Will Succeed?

Obviously, we’re in the midst of a recession; that’s been the buzzword for too long now to ignore it. But the question rising to the surface of people’s minds now is exactly how long this downward trend is going to last.

A recent survey of top economists has concluded that, if professional estimates are right, recession is likely to last through 2009. Of course, no one can definitively say what the future holds, but of 102 of today’s great economic minds, all but 10 held far more pessimistic outlooks than they had only 3 months prior. Of them, 79% expected an economic growth of no more than 1% over the next year, and 38% felt that the economy would most likely continue to shrink. Only 36% of those surveyed believe that all the government’s efforts to turn things around were having any kind of a positive impact, while the vast majority see no fruit from all the government has tried to do to free up the credit situation. All things considered, these 102 professionals do not have high expectations for 2009.

If their predictions prove true, those in the business world do not have a great deal to look forward to, and those hoping to break into the business world have a potentially steep road ahead of them. There is, however, a very stark difference between steep and impossible, and even though the economy, present and future, may not be pretty, there are still ways that franchises can help new business owners make their way even in long-term recession. The following are some of the business opportunities that franchising offers in what some people consider recession-proof industries.

Alliance Cost Containment

Thriving for the very reason that so many businesses are suffering, Alliance Cost Containment franchisees are some of the best in the business at analyzing a client company spending to establish new ways of cutting costs and saving money in tough times. Franchisees work from home and are trained how to address 35 specific areas of business finance that most companies struggle with. There is limited travel involved, and franchisees have consistent access to ongoing training and support from central staff and other franchisees who have a wealth of knowledge to share.

Grease Monkey

A great recession-proof business opportunity is the auto industry. Though manufacturing and sales of cars decrease during economic downturn, people are more likely than ever to seek auto service because they don’t want to buy a new car. A Grease Monkey franchise is the perfect way to capitalize on this trend. The only nationally recognized lube chain that is not owned by an oil company, this franchise gives franchisees a first class business experience with full training, support, and site-selection services without mandating the use of certain products over others. There is quite a bit of potential success and financial freedom to be had for a Grease Monkey franchisee.

Meineke

This is one of the most well known auto franchises around, with a nationally recognized name that has been seen by millions on TV and print advertising. With a more-than-successful 36-year track-record, Meineke has kept itself up-to-date with current industry trends without losing connection with its traditional, service-oriented roots. Join over 900 other franchisees on their road to success with this shockingly successful business franchise.

Precision Tune Auto Care

Franchisees with this business are brought into a family of franchises whose focus is on serving clients in addition to servicing cars. Though each franchise tends to numerous automotive needs, including air conditioning, brakes, fuel injection, air induction, fluid maintenance, and tune-ups, the key to their success in the industry is being able to call their clients by name, because they keep a standing relationship with each one.

Case Handyman and Remodeling

Home service franchises offer another great business opportunity in the midst of recession, because, though many Americans can’t purchase new property, they are still interested in repairing and updating the properties that they have, in case the market turns and they can sell. Case Handyman and Remodeling offers them just such an opportunity, with a home service business model that mixes neighborly treatment with Harvard-level knowledge of the industry. Franchisees are able to start their businesses at whatever size fits them best and are given plenty of room to grow as necessary.

Homeworx

Taking a different approach to the home improvement industry, this business for sale doesn’t directly serve clients who want construction services; instead it aids the other businesses doing the construction and remodeling by providing warranty services on their behalf. This frees the other companies to focus on doing the labor that they’re assigned to. Franchisees don’t necessarily need previous home industry experience, just the willingness to learn from an expert team that does have the experience and can teach them all they need to know.

Return-a-pet

Though it may come as a surprise, the pet industry seems, so far, to be recession-proof. Despite economic decline, people are unwilling to stop spending money on their family pets, and one home based business putting that knowledge to use is Return-a-pet. The system is simple: Return-a-pet has developed a pet registry that people can add their pets to, in case the pet is lost, and receive tags with a custom registration number and a phone number to call if the animal is found. Every home business franchisee pays a one-time licensing fee to become a Return-a-pet distributor and is immediately taught how to market and sell the product.

Though everyone had hopes that this recession would pass quickly, that has not been the case, and according to economic pros, it won’t be the case in the near future, either. Recession, however, is not the same as economic collapse. There are still numerous business opportunities that either survive downturn well or miraculously thrive in it. As you give heavy thought to whether or not this is the time to start up a franchise of your own, keep your eye on these industries and see how they continue to prosper in the midst of this economic crucible.

Find more franchise businesses including pet franchises and home service franchises at Franchise Gator

With Recession Expected To Last, Which Franchise Businesses Will Succeed?  / Author: Candice Clem

Turning A Small Business Franchise Into Big Business

Often, people looking at purchasing a franchise have their sights and hopes set on wealth and prestige, attaining success with a large business dominant in its market. Of course, that can seem pretty well impossible when what you’re starting with is considered a small business. After all, a small business and a big business are by definition two very different things. Still, the ambitious, upwardly mobile entrepreneur needn’t fear that beginning with a franchise business considered “small” means that it has to remain that way, because there are ways to turn something small into something big, in fact, there are two primary ways of accomplishing that in the small business world.

1. Start Big

Yes, it seems somewhat like a contradiction in terms to say that a small business can start big, but surprisingly, it’s true, and depending on your financial status and business history, it may be the most sensible route to take. Many longtime businessmen agree that if you have the desire and ability to go big at the outset, it will financially profit you in the long run. There are at least two examples of franchises with which this is an option.

Mars Venus Coaching is the first. There are two offers on the table for anyone who wants to initiate a franchise with this organization: starting a single franchise unit or a master franchise. There aren’t many businesses that offer the latter, but Mars Venus Coaching does, which makes jumping right into large-scale business possible. As the master franchisee, the business owner is responsible for selling and overseeing single-unit franchises in his territory, ensuring that new Mars Venus Coaching coaches are consistently being added to his area and are successfully finding clients for their business and life coaching services.

Another opportunity to jump right to the top of the food chain and establish yourself as a business power, WSI Internet doesn’t offer master franchises like Mars Venus Coaching does, but it does offer an abundance of possible business sizes, ranging from simple, one-man work from home to office-based, multi-employee scenarios. Possibly the best internet marketing franchise out there, WSI Internet is designed to allow the up-and-coming franchisee with an itch to succeed to save time by starting big.

2. Start Small and Grow

Though many do recommend starting out with a large business if that’s where you eventually want to get to, not everyone has the financial or temporal resources to dive headlong into the huge business of their dreams. And really, taking that leap into a big operation isn’t for everyone anyway, because some people need that extra time to grow into the patterns and practices of a small business before applying the same procedures to a larger business is a good idea. It’s kind of like starting with training wheels, not because you expect to use them forever, but because you want to get at least a little stable before riding the “big kids’ bike.

Fortunately, there are more business opportunities available to the entrepreneur wanting to grow rather than start large, and a good starting point is the Home Team Inspection Service. As the owner of your very own home inspection franchise with this brand, you are quickly made ready to succeed in the field, given everything from a complete territory analysis to national marketing and call-center backup. Most importantly, you receive one of the best business models in the industry: instead of inspecting a full home single-handedly, Home Team Inspection Service franchisees work in small teams on each inspection. It’s a great way to take care of the day-to-day work, and by training new inspectors, right alongside them, you can slowly build a larger and larger team and a larger and larger business until you, one day, can step back and leave inspecting to your teams of employees while you work on further expansion.

Doody Calls is another small home based business that provides plenty of room for growth. Built on the fact that dogs make messes in the yard that owners don’t want to clean up, this franchise operation is in the business of scooping poop on designated client routes. As the business begins, it can be nothing more than the franchisee with a truck and a shovel, but from that starting point, the sky is the limit. A franchisee wanting to make a big splash can eventual have fleets of Doody Calls vehicles driving around town scooping pet leftovers for grateful clients who appreciate saving that time.

Though it’s a slightly different brand of cleaning, Merry Maids provides the same opportunity for the enterprising entrepreneur. Regardless of whether you begin your work with this renowned company as owner and operator or as the overseer of just a handful of employees, there is always room to expand, take on more employees, and serve more homes with your residential cleaning services. This company has 25 years of experience, getting over 1400 franchises up and running and keeping them so, which means that however big you plan to get, they can help you.

Some businesses, like the work from home business Fresh Coat Painters, even require franchisees to have a mind for management and expansion. The Fresh Coat Painters mantra is “painters paint… we want business owners.” So as you build your painting franchise, you can be certain that the franchisor’s goal is to help you grow.

What it Comes to

Not everyone wants to keep their business small forever, and if growth is something that you want, know that an initially small size does not limit your potential. Whether you begin with a literal “small business” or choose to dive right into the deep end of the larger franchise pool, your outlook remains just as bright and hopeful, so do what works best for your leadership style and your particular business.

Find small business opportunities, work from home franchises, more business opportunities and information for entrepreneurs at Small Business Sale.

Turning A Small Business Franchise Into Big Business / Author: Candice Clem

Internet Fax for Small Businesses

Sending and receiving faxes is an important part of many businesses. Fax machines have come a long way since they first became a common fixture in offices, but they still have their difficulties.

Privacy Issues
In an office with a central fax machine, received fax pages can pile up. It’s difficult to tell if a fax you sent or expect has been received, and if it has, by whom. An unknown number of your colleagues may have seen the contents of your message before you read it. Consequently, it can be dangerous to send sensitive or personal documents by fax.

Fax Machine Costs
The costs for the equipment, toner, and upkeep can be overwhelming for many small business owners. Beyond those expenses are the costs of maintaining a phone line for faxing as well as any long distance charges that are incurred.

The Internet Fax Alternative
All of these problems cause many business owners to seek another option. Fortunately, an internet fax service like eFax provides an excellent alternative.

Privacy Solutions
With an internet fax, your faxes can be delivered right to your personal email address. No prying eyes will be able to reach your document. You will know immediately when your fax arrives and won’t have to hunt for the piece of paper in an accumulated stack. It also makes it easy to keep track of your faxes anywhere you can receive email. When you send a fax, you receive easy confirmation that the fax has gone through successfully to your recipient.

Internet Fax Cuts Costs
With no machine to buy and maintain, an internet fax service saves your business money up front. However, it also means that you have a predictable cost that you can budget rather than the unpleasant surprise

of a massive fax machine repair bill. If your business sends a significant number of long-distance or international faxes, you may be astonished by the amount of money an internet fax saves you.

What to Look for in an Internet Fax Service
Before choosing your internet fax service, think about what would make it most successful for you and look for a service with according features. Are you most concerned about reliability? Check out the track record of services you consider. Do you need mobile flexibility? Make sure that the service you choose will be compatible with the way in which you want to access it. Do you have a fax number that you want to keep? Choose a service that offers this feature. If you need a toll-free number or a number with a specific area code, ensure that this service is available from the provider you choose.

You will certainly want to know that your internet fax service is secure. Look for a service with a communications network protected by a firewall and other security technology. In case you ever run into problems you will also want responsive and fast customer support, so find out what kind of support your service provider offers.

The internet fax is a great leap forward in the world of communicating by fax for small businesses. Give it a try for your business or personal matters and find out for yourself how easy, convenient, and cost-effective an internet fax service can be.

Joy Davis is a small business owner who has discovered the benefits of internet fax. Learn more about eFax internet fax service at www.efax.com

Internet Fax for Small Businesses / Author: Joy Davis