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LOW-COST FRANCHISES Today’S Top Opportunities Under $100K

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LOW-COST FRANCHISES Today’S Top Opportunities Under $100K Franchise Business Ratings & Reviews of REVIEW Today’s Top Franchises SPRING 2013 SPECIAL REPORT: LOW-COST FRANCHISES Today’s Top Opportunities Under $100K One’s Not Enough: A Look Inside Booming Business: Why FirstLight HomeCare’s the Top Low-Cost FocalPoint Coaching Jason McGee Wants More Franchises Top in Business Services PAGE 17 PAGE 3 PAGE 12 SPECIAL REPORT: Top Low-Cost Franchises Letter from the Editor Although the word “franchise” usually brings to mind big, expensive businesses like restaurants and retail stores, there are hundreds of lower-cost opportunities available. In this special report, we present today’s top franchises requiring an average overall investment of less than $100,000. Without the overhead of pricey real estate, expensive equipment, or large product inventories, this niche group of franchises can be just as profitable (and sometimes more profitable) as their higher cost counterparts. If you’re considering a low-cost franchise Franchise Business Review annually surveys opportunity, this report is a great starting thousands of franchisees from hundreds of leading point for your research. Franchise Business Review annually surveys thousands of franchise brands to gauge franchisee satisfaction. franchisees from hundreds of leading franchise brands to gauge franchisee satisfaction. Not all brands willingly open their doors to an independent research firm like Franchise Business Review, but those who do can offer investors a wealth of information on the system’s leadership, culture, training and support, financial outlook, and franchisee community—all from the perspective of franchisees. (If you’re researching a brand that doesn’t provide third-party franchisee satisfaction data, you may want to ask why as this can be a sign of deeper problems.) This report highlights the top brands for low-cost franchises based exclusively on satisfaction, and we dig into what potential franchisees should consider as they research low-investment opportunities. Investing in a business is never without risk, but this elite list of today’s top low-investment franchises is a great place to start. Happy franchising! Molly Rowe Editorial Director Franchise Business Review is the leading Eric Stites, CEO market research company in the franchise Michelle Rowan, President industry, assisting prospective franchise Molly Rowe, Editorial Director buyers through the examination process of today’s leading franchise systems. Before you Michael Kupfer, Online Marketing Manager invest in any franchise opportunity, get the Nicole Kenney, Client Services Manager facts from Franchise Business Review. Our Jamie Lavigne, Client Consultant independent franchisee satisfaction reports measure the health of any franchise system, Linda Lorrey, Client Consultant based exclusively on the feedback of today’s Jay Metzenroth, Research Assistant franchise owners... the real franchise experts! The Secret Agency, Layout & Production 2 | For more information on this report, visit: www.FranchiseBusinessReview.com SPECIAL REPORT: Top Low-Cost Franchises Best of the Best: Today’s Top Low-Cost Franchises with the Highest Owner Satisfaction Advertising & Sales Page 12 Education Page 15 Retail Page 17 Money Mailer Mathnasium Just Between Friends Our Town America* THE TUTORING CENTER Kid’s Closet Connection Proforma UCMAS Mental Math Mainstream Boutique Welcomemat Services NYS Collection Eyewear Finance & Tax Page 15 Rhea Lana’s Automotive Page 12 American Prosperity Group Auto Appraisal Network Liberty Tax Service Senior Care Page 18 Color Glo International Tax Centers of America Always Best Care Senior Services Snap-on Tools* CarePatrol Fitness Page 16 Caring Senior Service Business Services Page 12 9Round Kickboxing FirstLight HomeCare* ActionCOACH* Baby Boot Camp Home Instead Senior Care* Bevintel Brickhouse Cardio Club Homewatch CareGivers* BlueGrace Logistics FIT4MOM Qualicare* Estrella Insurance Fitness Revolution Right at Home FocalPoint Coaching* Stay at Home Food & Beverage Page 16 FranNet Synergy HomeCare* Happy and Healthy Products InXpress Visiting Angels* Murphy Business & Financial Kona Ice RTOWN Communications Repicci’s Italian Ice Services Page 18 Sandler Training* A All Animal Control Home Services Page 17 The @WORK Group Bin There Dump That Budget Blinds Boulder Designs Five Star Painting Child Services Page 13 Complete Music HandyPro Handyman Amazing Athletes Creative Colors International HouseMaster CompuChild Critter Control Miracle Method Surface Refinishing Drama Kids International Paul Davis Emergency Services Mr. Rooter Plumbing i9 Sports Pop-A-Lock Pillar To Post* Images 4 Kids Safe Ship ShelfGenie* JumpBunch* Signal 88 Security Surface Specialists Systems Soccer Shots* The Traveling Photo Booth The Glass Guru TGA Premier Golf & Tennis Truly Nolen of America Young Rembrandts Pet Services Page 17 U.S. Lawns* Weed Man Cleaning & Maintenance Page 15 G’Day! Pet Care Window Genie* Aire-Master of America Pet Butler Sit Means Sit ASP - America’s Swimming Pool Co. Sports & Recreation Page 19 Buildingstars Real Estate Page 17 American Poolplayers Association Heaven’s Best Carpet Cleaning* G.J. Gardner Homes MaidPro* Travel Page 19 Help-U-Sell Office Pride Cruise Planners Realty Executives International OMEX International CruiseOne* Showhomes Home Staging United Country Real Estate Companies are listed alphabetically by industry category. *View this company’s full satisfaction report at: www.FranchiseBusinessReview.com Cover photo courtesy of A All Animal Control. For more information on this report, visit: www.FranchiseBusinessReview.com | 3 SPECIAL REPORT: Top Low-Cost Franchises Low-Cost Franchises Small on Investment, Big on Opportunity One of the best ways to WHO WE ARE of franchisor), general satisfaction, and Franchise Business Review is a national the franchisee community. An additional know if a franchise market research firm that performs 16 questions ask franchisees about their opportunity is really as independent research of franchisee market area, demographics, business good as it appears is to satisfaction. Our products include lifestyle, overall enjoyment running their franchisee satisfaction reports, economic franchise, and role in the franchisee look at its franchisee impact studies, customized surveys, sector community. From this data, we identify satisfaction data. studies, and other projects and services our list of franchises with above focused on driving franchise performance. average satisfaction. WHAT WE DO It is important to note that all Franchise To compile the data for this report, Business Review research studies are we surveyed over 11,000 franchisees, open to any North American-based representing more than 145 low-cost franchise companies with at least 10 brands and 29,585 franchise units/ operating franchisees at absolutely no locations. We contact all active franchisees cost. The franchise companies listed in within a franchise system and ask them our reports are based solely on franchisee to complete our satisfaction survey. satisfaction ratings. Franchisees answer 33 benchmark questions ranking their franchise system WHY SATISFACTION MATTERS in the areas of financial opportunity, By all accounts, this is a great time to training and support, leadership, buy a franchise. Franchise brands are operations and product development, outperforming non-franchised businesses, core values (e.g., honesty and integrity franchise units are experiencing healthy Photo courtesy of TGA Premier Golf & Tennis. 4 | For more information on this report, visit: www.FranchiseBusinessReview.com SPECIAL REPORT: Top Low-Cost Franchises Photo courtesy of FIT4MOM. Prospective franchisees may be surprised by MODELS, CONCEPTS, AND SERVICES The low-cost segment has traditionally the companies and brands that fall under the been very service-oriented because these “low-cost” umbrella—art studios, children’s concepts don’t usually need a big office consignment “parties,” commercial security space, inventory, or other resources that require lots of capital. Service brands companies—because they provide niche services like U.S. Lawns, Window Genie, and that aren’t typically considered in the mainstream Weed Man have been on our list of top low-cost franchises for several definition of “franchise.” years. We’re also seeing an increase in the popularity of businesses related to the home, either real estate franchise returns, and many people who’ve been One of the best ways to know if a concepts like Help-U-Sell or companies considering franchise opportunities for franchise opportunity is really as good that offer home services like Budget Blinds. several years are finally committing to as it appears is to look at its franchisee Home healthcare, fitness and recreation, their dream business. But, no matter satisfaction data. Not all brands survey and travel planning all continue to how rosy things look for franchising as a their franchisees, but those who do be popular industries for low-cost whole, nothing guarantees a franchisee offer a wealth of information on the investments. or a franchise concept will be successful. system’s leadership, culture, training Prospective franchisees must thoroughly and support, financial outlook, Food franchises, which typically require a research every opportunity they are and franchisee community. big investment in real estate, equipment, considering to determine if the concept is and supplies, don’t usually have much viable and the right fit for them. of a presence on our list. However, some For more information
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