Is there a way to create an investment AND help your child start their professional career?

It’s tough watching as your child sits by looking to enter the real world, fighting a tough job market. Stats show that it takes an average of 8 months for recent college graduates to find a job.  Approximately 22 million young adults are living with their parents (Source:  SmartMoney). Terms like fiscal cliff and debt ceiling probably add a bit of doubt to whether if your child will still be waiting tables, or starting into a professional career with a steady paycheck. At the same time, you may be wondering about your stocks and 401(k).  Is there a better investment that isn’t as dependent on Wall Street?

Franchising can give you a solution to both of your problems.
Starting a franchise is truly an investment in yourself and your family, backed by a proven business system.

Getting your child involved.
Will there be another manager that you can trust more so than one you know intimately?  If you truly believe that your child can succeed, and they just need a chance, why not give it to them?  Get your child involved early in the process, including doing the research on the available franchises – they will become further vested in the process and feel like a true managing partner.  At the same time, you can help mold and guide them as an early manager.  You may have some disagreements about how to run the business, but you will know how to work with your child (compared to a unrelated person).

Real-life stories from the COLLEGE campus.
Many colleges and universities are beginning to recognize the important role that entrepreneurism may very well play in their students NEAR future. As a matter of fact, on March 10, I’ve been asked to speak to a Management/Marketing 346 class at Saginaw Valley State University. This course takes an entrepreneurial view of starting and managing a new franchise from both the perspective of the franchisor and franchisee. Emphasis is placed on recognizing and evaluating opportunities for franchise entrepreneurs, the development of appropriate strategies and plans, and the implementation and launch of a new franchise. The instructor, Andrew Anderson, MBA, tells me that FOUR of his students have gone on to open franchises in the past couple years, upon graduation. You can learn more about the college’s unique curriculum at www.svsu.edu/cbm.

A better investment.
Can owning a franchising (and believing in your family) be a better investment tool than stocks? Now, every situation is different, and some can do better than others in the stock market.  But look at the results from 2012.

• Dow Jones Industrial Average: +0.13%     
• NASDAQ: 0.12%
• S&P 500:  -0.00%  (barely down)
  

Pretty flat!  Do your research, team up with FranNet, and make an investment in your future (and your child’s future!)

USE FRANNET
FranNet exists to start you on the road to success through FREE consulting services.  I am here to meet with you, talk about your goals and aspirations, and see if franchising is right for you and your family. There may be one or more options that fit your criteria, and the skills and personality of your son or daughter. I can help you and your family investigate the perfect franchise concepts that may prove to be a great match for you.  Give me a call at 313-821-5060 or email me at mcory@frannet.com, and let’s have a conversation about how franchising can give you a better investment vehicle, and help your child start their professional career!

Can You Sit on Your Couch and Still Learn About Franchising?

FranNet is offering several FREE webinars throughout the rest of the month that you can sign up – which will help expand your knowledge of this type of business ownership AND delve deep into specific businesses looking to offer their franchising concept.

·    Wed., January 16th - 8:00 - 9:30pm
“Franchisor Spotlight: Semi-Absentee Health and Fitness Concept"
Are you looking for one of the fastest growing concepts in a $29 billion industry? Not only is this franchise exploding, but its industry is also seeing incredible growth. This franchise is truly a “lifestyle business” as the energy permeates across the Brand – and throughout its outlets.

• Ongoing, residual income.
• Semi-absentee ownership opportunity.
• Dynamic, exploding franchise.
• No industry experience required.
• You can change people’s lives.

Register now at http://michiganfranchiseforum.com/registration.php.
 
·    Thursday, January 17 - 2:00 - 3:30pm"Franchise Business Opportunities for Hispanic-Americans"Franchising is like the support one might see within a family. Franchisors assist their franchisees with operational, marketing and administrative help much like the support many will find in their family. And franchisees talk with each other in order to share best practices and uncover business-improving opportunities at the ground level. And with the advantages of technology and the internet, the support has become much easier and allowed for cultural and language barriers to be addressed much more easily.

During the webinar, we’ll cover:

• How to easily find the right franchise.
• The advantages to start a business.
• A look at franchise ownership.
• Misconceptions about franchising.
• Building your personal business model.     

Register now at http://michiganfranchiseforum.com/registration.php.

·    Thursday, January 17 - 2:00-3:30pm "Light Manufacturing Business Opportunity" Learn the in the outs of of one of FranNet's Unique business opportunities that offers many of the features and benefits of a franchise, but with NO ROYALTIES and NO RULES!
Light manufacturing, professional business-to-business format:

• Leverages owner’s marketing/sales/management skills
• Traditional business hours (M-F, 8:30-5:30)
• Requires few employees and with higher skill levels
• Offers recession-resistant products that every business needs
• High repeat business: About 80% of sales are generated by 30 to 50 corporate accounts. 
• Hear from the founder and president of the company, as well as several business unit owners in varying stages of growth.

Register now at http://michiganfranchiseforum.com/registration.php.
 
·    Wednesday, January 23rd - 2:00 - 3:30pm"Franchisor Spotlight: High Tech, Proprietary product, Retail Concept" Many businesses claim to be the technology leader in their field, but when you have 57 patents to your company’s name, only one company speaks the truth. And that’s exactly what this Franchisor Spotlight features – the undisputed technology leader in its industry.
This high gross margin business captures share in a $15 billion business, while catering to a demographic with built-in demand. The low cost store location only requires 600 -1000 square feet in order to operate efficiently and effectively. Given its retail aspect, owners receive immediate payment by check or credit card with very little cash handling, if any.

• 2-for-1 retail opportunity.
• Franchisor is the technology leader.
• Caters to a booming demographic.
• Quick ramp up.
• Get your weekends back.

Register now at http://michiganfranchiseforum.com/registration.php.

·    Wednesday, January 30 - 2:00 - 3:30pm"Business Ownership Exploration" Learn franchising basics, including the array of categories and investment levels available (starting at around $50K), and how to go about defining your own personal vision, matching that up with viable choices, and conducting proper due diligence to make sure your selecting the RIGHT fit for YOU!

Here is a brief outline of the topics covered in the "Business Ownership Exploration" webinar:

• How franchising can provide a desirable alternative to traditional employment by reducing the risk of ownership to an acceptable level through proven business systems, comprehensive training and ongoing support. 
• Basic information on franchising, including the range of industry categories, investment levels and fees. 
• The legal regulations governing franchising that protect the buyer.  
• A strategic approach to defining your personal business model, quantifying your returns and safely researching and selecting the business opportunity that best fits your unique personality, skills, needs and goals. 
• Growth trends and choices in franchising that offer stability and success in weak and strong economies. 
• A brief overview of FranNet’s no-fee, no-obligation consulting service.     

Register now at http://michiganfranchiseforum.com/registration.php.
 

Does Your Career Need a Check-Up?

Just like getting an annual physical at the Doctor, your career needs an annual check-up too!

Think about starting your career over right now. Knowing what you know, what would you do differently? What would you do the same? Would you work for someone else, or be your own boss?

There are lots of questions that you should be asking yourself when assessing your career. Here are a few more:

• Would you change industries if you could, or doesn’t that really matter?
• Are you achieving your financial goals in your current role?
• Does it provide you your desired lifestyle?
• Do you find yourself constantly telling yourself “Oh, hang in there, I’ll have a better day tomorrow.”?
• Do you jump out of bed in the morning, eager to head to work , or does the very thought of another day at the office make you want to roll over and hibernate for the winter?

After assessing the answers to these questions, many of us realize that we need to take control of our professional growth and explore new career options. The world of work is constantly changing and the process of change must begin with you.

At FranNet, we work with clients to find them a great fit in franchise ownership as a career option to provide them the opportunity to achieve all of their financial and lifestyle goals. Even those that aren't ready to make the jump 100% into full-time business ownership, can explore options for semi-absentee franchise option in order to start building their "Plan B".

It all starts with an evaluation of core competencies, communication styles, and management and sales abilities through the completion of our proprietary online personal franchise assessment. Once the results of the assessment are analyzed, a unique "Business Model " is created by having discussion on goals and personal preferences. Matches to franchise opportunities are then made and explored hand-in-hand with a FranNet Franchise Placement Specialist.

If the results of YOUR Career Checkup indicate that a new path is order, perhaps we can help you with that.

To learn more about working with FranNet to explore Franchising as a Career Option or to learn more about my upcoming franchising seminar, please contact me, Mark Cory, at michiganfranchiseforum.com, mcory@frannet.com or 312.821.5060.