IFA Lights Up the Path to 2021
The International Franchise Association (IFA) is gearing up for its 2021 Annual Convention called IGNITE, which will take place virtually February 11–25. By Rose Mango
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11, 2020
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11, 2020
Welcome to Our Annual Game Changers Issue!
This year’s edition of Game Changers affirms that franchising is a robust thoroughfare to business ownership. Franchising has grown substantially because of new opportunities in various categories. Home-based businesses have taken 2020 by storm and don’t show signs of stopping anytime soon.
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09, 2020
Are You Ready?
Springboard Reboot Virtual Event for Emerging & (Re)Emerging Franchisors. Broadcasting LIVE / September 21-23, 2020 / Free Registration. It’s time to get some much-needed face-to-face (or, screen-to-screen) with each other by attending the Springboard REBOOT Virtual Event. No social distancing is required in this virtual event. It’s face-to-face virtually, which is so needed today. By Rose Mango
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09, 2020
FranchiseHER: Female Perspectives on Franchising
Franchising is no longer a man’s world. As of 2019, women own or co-own over 35% of the franchise outlets in the U.S. – around 265,000 – according to the Franchise Business Review research firm. And in some industries, such as interior decorating, they far outnumber their male counterparts. A June 2018 Forbes article reported that back in 1995, the proportion of women-owned franchises was less than ten percent. By Sherri Wehner
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05, 2020
Millennials: Welcoming a new generation of entrepreneurs to franchising
Millennials are often described in popular culture as “entitled, unambitious, lazy.” But to Alesia Visconti, chief executive officer and president of FranServe, Inc., the world’s largest franchise consulting and expansion organization, they are none of those. She sees them instead as an entrepreneurial generation poised to take the business world by storm. By Rochelle Miller
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03, 2020
Understanding the Power of Franchise Brands
According to the International Franchise Association’s most recent data, franchising has had a dramatic impact on the national economy. These franchise statistics are so powerful, we felt compelled to share them with you. By Rose Mango
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03, 2020
Important Factors to Becoming a Franchisee
The Franchise Business Radio show is a platform to bring together business professionals to connect, educate and collaborate to serve the franchise community and those considering franchise ownership.
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12, 2019
ComForCare of Hendersonville, TN Employee Recognized as 2019 Caregiver of the Year
Beth Trivett honored with prestigious award at ComForCare’s annual franchise conference
DETROIT — ComForCare Home Care, a franchised provider of in-home caregiving services, announced their Caregiver of the Year at the company’s national conference. Beth Trivett, a ComForCare caregiver in Hendersonville, TN, was awarded the 2019 Caregiver of the Year from over 125 nominations.
“Beth represents the gold standard of our ComForCare values,” said Mike Sluder, franchise owner of ComForCare in Hendersonville — a suburb of Nashville. “She is attentive, caring, efficient and confident in her abilities, which all make her a superior caregiver. The families she cares for trust her unconditionally. There is no value you can put on her heart and compassion for others.”
Through this award, Beth was recognized for her years of extraordinary commitment, hard work and dedication. She consistently goes above and beyond for her clients, while also juggling caring for her own family at home. She is particularly sensitive to caring for clients at the end of their life and supporting the family during that difficult time.
“Caregivers are the heart of the ComForCare franchise system across the U.S. and Canada,” said Mark Armstrong, founder and president of ComForCare and At Your Side Franchise Systems. “And it’s stories like this one that remind us why caregivers are so important. We are honored to have Beth as a part of our ComForCare team and recognize the impact she has had on so many lives.”
ComForCare of Hendersonville provides home care to the area’s older residents and those who are disabled or recovering from injuries or surgery. Services include companionship, personal care, mobility assistance, medication reminders and more. The Hendersonville office is also DementiaWise®-certified, meeting the corporate office’s high standards for dementia education and caregiving excellence. DementiaWise is also recognized by the Alzheimer’s Association for incorporating the evidenced-based Dementia Care Practice Recommendations in the following topic areas: Alzheimer’s and dementia, person-centered care, assessment and care planning, activities of daily living, and behaviors and communication.
Beth has been with ComForCare of Hendersonville since 2013 and is part of one of the fastest-growing franchise business sectors in the country. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of people 65 and older is expected to increase to 55 million in 2020, and demand for businesses like ComForCare will continue to increase as people prefer to age in place.
About ComForCare:
ComForCare is a premier provider of in-home caregiving services with nearly 200 independently-owned and operated locations in the U.S. and Canada helping older adults live independently in their own homes. ComForCare is committed to helping people live their best life possible and offers special programs for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Founded in 1996, ComForCare was acquired by private equity firm The Riverside Company in 2017 and now is part of Best Life Brands, which has plans for continued expansion of service brands across the continuum of care for aging adults. ComForCare operates as At Your Side Home Care in Houston. For more information, visit www.comforcare.com.
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05, 2019
It’s a Process
It’s a Process
Franchising is about following a winning formula
by Don Clayton
Certified Franchise Consultant
I recently had a conversation with a young woman interested in owning a franchise. She was excited, friendly, joyful, and asked great questions. But once I began explaining the next steps in franchising, the conversation took a turn.
She quickly informed me that she didn’t operate that way and we’d do things her way. To her, the process is just like buying a car. The salesman needs to bow to her requests. That makes sense, right? It does when you’re buying a car, but not when you’re investing in a franchise.
After I explained that there are standard operating procedures to follow, she responded by standing her ground. Needless to say, she’s now looking for her next W-2 job.
A business in a box
Investors do not buy a franchise the same way they purchase a car or any other product. Franchises are awarded, not sold. The woman in my example is a nonconforming individual, and this type of person goes against everything in franchising. A franchise is a business in a box. For the most part, all of the kinks, errors, trials, and models have been hashed out and neatly packaged together. If someone wants to reinvent years of trial and error, that person should do so, but not through the franchise system.
The people best-suited to own franchises are open-minded life learners who are adaptable and follow instructions. Highly successful franchisees let the system work while incorporating their unique personalities into the business to make it their own.
The benefits of franchising
Franchisees enjoy the rewards of countless hours (sometimes years) of blood, sweat, tears, trial, error, money, and other sacrifices that someone else endured in order to make this opportunity available. Investing in a franchise allows one to jump right in, learn, follow protocol, make money, and have fun.
Don Clayton has spent more than 15 years helping others achieve their dream of business ownership. Starting as a franchise consultant for FranServe in 2001, he quickly became a top producer. His passion for the business led Don to the position of VP of Talent Acquisition, where he is committed to recruiting successful candidates. Contact Don at don@franserve.com or 919-777-0178.
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02, 2019
Leading Home Care Provider Releases Annual Client Satisfaction Survey Results
FirstLight Home Care’s national network of franchises earns exceptional overall rating in 2018
CINCINNATI — FirstLight Home Care, a leading provider of non-medical home care, has released its annual client satisfaction survey results for 2018. The report found that the company’s national network of franchise locations earned an exceptional score in overall client satisfaction with an average rating of 4.7 stars out of 5.
FirstLight has a proven commitment to client satisfaction. The company conducts live phone interviews with its current clients every quarter through independent third-party research firm Infosurv. The quarterly results are then rolled up into an annual client satisfaction star rating, which is based on a five-point scale. Consistent with FirstLight’s Culture of Care, Infosurv conducts these surveys to gather honest, unbiased feedback in specific areas, including quality of care, communication and responsiveness and overall satisfaction. Clients are also given the opportunity to provide feedback in areas where FirstLight excels, as well as areas where the company should improve.
Non-medical home care provides the support people need to live independently in their homes. Traditionally, home care providers focus services exclusively on older adults who are aging in place. But FirstLight also delivers services to adults with disabilities; those recovering from illness, injury or surgery; new and busy mothers; and anyone 18 or older who needs assistance managing daily activities.
The home care segment is experiencing significant growth, making superior client satisfaction a critical component in helping consumers make the most informed decisions about home care services. Regularly surveying clients and considering their feedback is the first step toward achieving the goal of providing exceptional care.
Since opening its first franchise location in 2010, FirstLight Home Care has experienced steady growth and is now serving or in the process of serving clients in more than 250 locations in 34 states throughout the U.S. FirstLight provides Personal Care and Companion Care Services, as well as specialty services, such as Dementia Care, Respite Care, Veteran Care, Disability Care and Travel Companion Programs.
About FirstLight Home Care
FirstLight Home Care is a leading provider of non-medical home care, helping individuals in more than 30 states achieve the quality of life they deserve. The company has set a new standard in home care by creating an unmatched Culture of Care that drives industry-leading client and employee satisfaction. FirstLight is a lifeline not only for seniors, but for people recovering from illness, injury or surgery; adults with disabilities; new and busy mothers; and anyone over the age of 18 who needs extra assistance. Care can be provided at private residences, as well as independent and assisted living communities. Visit www.FirstLightHomeCare.com.