Business Services :: Franchise FYI

The Staple Sectors of Franchising: Business and Professional Services

Posted Friday, October 28, 2011 in Business Services, Professional Services

By Kristine Archer

If you are a veteran of the corporate world, business and professional service franchises could be an excellent choice, as they tend to build on skills mastered in your previous careers. Many can be run from a home office, with minimal overhead and investment.

Business-to-business (B2B)
These franchises cater to other professionals and small businesses; you may find some of your clients are fellow franchisees in other industries. Services include business consulting, executive coaching, sign making and print and copy centres.

Business-to-consumer (B2C)
This category of business appeals to consumers, as opposed to businesses (though some of the services are equally appealing to professionals). In this segment, you can operate anything from a real estate brokerage or tax and accounting firm to a direct marketing or advertising-based newsletter business.

Read the full article: The Staple Sectors of Franchising

Tags: Achieving Success, B2B, B2C, business-to-business, business-to-consumer, Kristine Archer

New president for Cartridge World Americas

Posted Friday, July 8, 2011 in Business Services, Franchise Info

Cartridge World has promoted Frank Case to the role of president of Cartridge World Americas. Having previously served as the company’s vice-president for North America, in his new role Case will guide Cartridge World’s franchise business in Canada, the U.S., Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.

Tags: business services, Cartridge World, Franchise Buzz

A Family of Franchisors

Posted Friday, February 11, 2011 in Business Services

By Diane Peters

When your family has been in the printing business for four generations, it’s hard to not get involved yourself. However, Gigi Harding, CEO of Kwik Kopy Canada, did try to do something else.

Harding’s father, Kent, brought the Kwik Kopy franchise system to Canada from the U.S. in 1979. Harding knew growing up she could simply work at the family business.

“I felt like I should go out and get my own experience,” she says. “I wasn’t ready to work for my father just yet.” Instead, Harding studied business at the University of Western Ontario and got a job at a computer hardware company.

Then, in 1988, a franchisee called asking Harding for some help opening a new centre in Markham, Ont. Six months later, a call from an Australian Kwik Kopy franchisor had her overseas for a year, opening new locations all over that continent.

When that job finished, she came home to work at Kwik Kopy Canada’s head office, where she did the books, advertising and several other jobs. (She kept her international contacts and frequently took off to help open Kwik Kopy locations in places like Mexico, Argentina, Chile and Brazil.) She wasn’t the only family member at the company: her brother, Brett, worked as a franchisee and now heads up the company’s second franchise system, Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa, which recently launched in Canada.

By 1996, when her father decided to retire, Harding had considerable experience in every aspect of the business and was ready to take over as CEO. In her leadership role, Hardin has one priority: her franchisees.

CEO of Kwik Kopy Canada, Gigi Harding

Read the full article: A Family of Franchisors

Tags: Diane Peters, Meet the Franchisor

A Life I Love in Franchising: Embracing entrepreneurship

Posted Thursday, February 3, 2011 in Business Services

By Jack Dawkins

Being a franchisee with The Entrepreneur’s Source really allows me to give back. My success is measured by more than just the bottom line. A lot of clients I work with are really looking for a new lifestyle, just as I was when I signed on.

Also, after being out of work nearly three years, I was drawn to the educational opportunities the franchisor was offering. It gave me time to learn how to be a coach, rather than a boss or typical consultant. Instead of merely supervising or helping a client work on a specific project, I would be helping them long-term, providing awareness, education and accountability, in order to help them get to the next level as entrepreneurs.

My primary role is helping individuals try to find the next business opportunity for them. I’m not a business broker; I’m only interested in whether a business fits my client’s goals, needs and expectations. My role is not to give them the answer, it’s to help them find it.

The process is very methodical, what I like to call a journey of discovery. We start with an interview, to determine what they’ve done in their career so far and try to uncover their transferable skills. I also want to know what they’ve done previously that they really liked—or really disliked.

Next, I ask about the strengths they feel they bring to ownership. At the same time, I also want to uncover their weaknesses, which a lot of people can be hesitant to discuss.

I also want to know what their expectations are. I also need to know what motivates them, whether those things are positive or negative.

Read the full article: A Life I Love

Tags: Education, Getting Started, Jack Dawkins

A Life I Love in Franchising

Posted Friday, January 14, 2011 in Business Services

By Jack Dawkins

When I was taking my first steps into entrepreneurship, I read a statistic that has stayed with me: 75 per cent of adults in North America dream, at one point or another, about owning a business. However, only about five per cent ever do something about it. It is not a matter of motivation or drive; they just don’t know how to get there.
Now, as a self-employment coach and multi-unit franchisee with The Entrepreneur’s Source, I can help people realize their dreams while building a business of my own.

Growing up in a small town
I was born and raised in Belleville, Ont., where I lived until I was 22 years old. During school, I always had a job—my first ‘real’ one was at a grocery store, stocking shelves and working the cash. After high school I landed a job in the automotive parts department at the local Canadian Tire. I didn’t realize it at the time, but it turned out to be the first step in a lengthy career with the company.

While I was excited about my new business opportunity, I was careful to ensure it didn’t upset the work-life balance Cheryl and I had created.