home based franchise Archives | Franchise Dictionary Magazine

8 11, 2024

Cruise Planners Announces New Marketing Initiatives

Paul Zboichyk2024-11-08T18:16:43-05:00November 8th, 2024|Tags: Cruise Planners, home based franchise, travel advisor franchise network, vacations and travel experiences|

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. — Cruise Planners, the nation’s largest home-based travel agency franchise network, introduced a series of innovative marketing initiatives at its annual convention, designed to spark fresh travel inspiration.

These initiatives highlight Cruise Planners’ commitment to delivering industry leading marketing programs that empower advisors to achieve new levels of success. Targeted, personalized and automated marketing allows advisors to focus on their primary strengths—selling travel and providing exceptional client experiences.

The Cruise Planners in-house design and marketing team publishes over 30 direct mail pieces each year with distribution to clients on behalf of their advisors. Paired with multi-channel, digital campaigns, these award-winning, turnkey marketing solutions are the best in the industry and help advisors stay top of mind with their clients.

New marketing tools and programs include:

Retargeting Marketing Campaigns:
Leveraging customer behavior and intelligence tools, Cruise Planners will deliver marketing campaigns tailored to clients’ specific travel interests, budget and life stage, ensuring personalized and timely engagement to boost the chances of making a sale.

River & Expedition Guide:
Launching in Q1 2025, the new River & Expedition Guide brochure will provide a comprehensive resource for clients interested in river or expedition cruising. It includes details on popular ports, must-see natural wonders, landmarks, cultural sites, and key differences between cruise lines. This guide will be available in print and digital, expanding the potential reach.

Where2Next Consumer Series:
The award-winning Where2Next consumer series enters its sixth year, spotlighting trending destinations like Alaska, Europe, Hawaii, Australia/New Zealand, Japan, and the South Pacific. Each campaign features an exclusive offer available only through Cruise Planners travel advisors and is marketed for their advisors through email, social media, and advisors’ websites.

CP Social Enhancements:
The CP Social program, an award-winning social media platform, now offers AI-powered tools that automatically create post suggestions, review responses, and aids advisors in optimizing their local search presence.

Other new tools unveiled at Cruise Planners Convention:

Cruisetours:
Advisors can now access Cruisetour information directly within CP Maxx for select sailings. Searches provide detailed tour data, including name, code, length, and dates. This will allow advisors to better offer enhanced experiences to their clients sailing to Alaska or Europe.

Trip Summary Enhancements:
Enhancements to the existing Trip Summary tool include new filters, easier bundling of multiple trip summaries, trip proposals and a better interface to improve the user experience enabling advisors to provide professional, robust trip summaries to their clients leading to higher sales close rate.

Hotel Sheets:
Advisors can select specific rooms and rates from over 2 million properties worldwide and share them with clients, with dynamic live pricing ensuring the most up-to-date information.

Navitrip Hotel Comparisons with Live Booking:
Hotel Comparison sheets allow clients to view multiple hotel options. New for 2025, clients can now book their preferred hotel directly through the Hotel Comparison tool.

“At Cruise Planners, we’re constantly innovating to equip our advisors with cutting-edge, award-winning marketing tools that make client engagement and business growth effortless,” said Michelle Fee, founder and CEO of Cruise Planners. “By providing fresh, dynamic content with ease, we empower our advisors to focus on what they excel at—crafting unforgettable vacations!”

Cruise Planners announced 20 new and exciting initiatives during their annual convention. For a full list of those announcements, click here.

Company Background:

Cruise Planners was founded in 1994 and is the nation’s largest home-based travel agent franchise network. As a leader in the travel franchise industry, Cruise Planners positions a nation-wide network of 2,500 franchise owners for success by providing innovative marketing programs, proprietary and cutting-edge booking and technology tools, as well as professional development and hands-on training with the industry’s top executives. The company continues to be an industry leader and was named the No.1 travel franchise by Entrepreneur magazine for 18 consecutive years and awarded by Franchise Business Review as “Best-In-Category” for 2 years.

Cruise Planners received a 99% franchise owner satisfaction report from Franchise Business Review for 2024. Franchise Business Review also ranked Cruise Planners #3 OVERALL on their list of Top 200 Franchises of 2022. Cruise Planners was recently featured in Entrepreneur as one of the top 30 franchise innovators in technology, has been consistently named as one of the Top Women-Owned Businesses by the South Florida Business Journal, is on the Inc. 5000 list as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America, and was recognized as one of the Top Workplaces by the Sun Sentinel.

Visit our website, www.cruiseplanners.com, for more information or to view the complete list of awards and honors. For those interested in becoming a franchise owner, please visit https://www.cruiseplannersfranchise.com/.

20 10, 2024

Cruise Planners, the Nation’s Largest Travel Franchise, Launches Annual 2024 “CP World” Convention

Paul Zboichyk2024-10-20T00:27:10-04:00October 20th, 2024|Tags: Cruise Planners, home based franchise, travel advisor franchise network, vacations and travel experiences|

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. — Cruise Planners kicked off their annual convention with over 900 franchise owners and advisors in attendance. The 4-day event in Fort Lauderdale concludes with a 3-night inaugural sailing to the Bahamas onboard Princess Cruises’ new ship, Sun Princess.

This year’s convention is centered around the theme “CP World: You’re a Star,” emphasizing how every Cruise Planners travel advisor is a shining star with limitless potential. CP World embodies Cruise Planners’ five brand pillars of providing best in class Marketing, Technology, Training, Support, and Community. These elements are what set Cruise Planners apart from other host and franchise networks, driving success and innovation.

“At Cruise Planners, we take pride in being a leading, innovative host/franchise, and this year is no exception. Our most exciting announcement is the launch of our ASK MAXX AI tool. This cutting-edge technology has excited our advisors, as it dramatically reduces their research time to just mere seconds, making their work faster and more efficient than ever before,” said founder and CEO of Cruise Planners, Michelle Fee.

Cruise Planners announced over 20 new initiatives designed to help Cruise Planner Advisors be more efficient and provide exceptional industry leading service to their clients.

A few of the big announcements included:

“Ask Maxx” AI Personal Assistant: An industry first, AI-powered assistant, designed to help Cruise Planners advisors quickly access information about destinations, suppliers, itineraries, and all Cruise Planners programs and tools. Ask Maxx delivers fast and accurate responses, making it an essential, time-saving advantage that will serve as their personal assistant to find information quickly. What used to take multiple steps and several minutes to find can now be accessed in just seconds!
Vax Integration: Advisors can now easily retrieve VAX VacationAccess bookings directly into CP Maxx, Cruise Planners proprietary booking and CRM system. This feature eliminates the need for manual data entry, saving time and effort. Once the booking is retrieved, advisors can easily manage and update it within CP Maxx.
Hotel Tool Enhancements: Cruise Planners is introducing a new feature called Hotel Sheets for 2025, complementing its existing Hotel Comparisons tool. Hotel Sheets enables travel advisors to select specific rooms and rates from over 2 million properties worldwide, providing clients with tailored options. This tool utilizes live pricing, as well as markup capabilities, ensuring that clients see the most current rates for their chosen room categories.
Additional CP Maxx Enhancements
More new features include Maxx Snippets, the ability to save blocks of text that are frequently used for easy access. Additionally, Maxx Shortcuts allows advisors to bookmark favorite tools and reports within CP Maxx, personalizing the CP Maxx experience for greater efficiency.
CP Maxx Mobile Enhancements: Maxx Intelligence, an AI tool powered by ChatGPT launched in 2023, is now available in the CP Maxx Mobile app. It allows advisors to access ChatGPT 4.0 from within their mobile device and from anywhere. Advisors can also easily upload videos from iOS or Android devices to the CP Maxx Video Library, streamlining the process and enabling quick sharing in emails or marketing materials.

During this year’s convention, Cruise Planners will host a variety of engaging panels and exciting events throughout the week. Highlights include the highly anticipated Cruise Line Executive Panel featuring senior sales executives from eight major cruise lines, Top Producer panels, a social media presentation with an industry expert, networking opportunities, educational breakout sessions, and much more.

“As we kick off this year’s Cruise Planners convention, it’s truly inspiring to see over 900 of our dedicated franchise owners and travel advisors gathered here. This year’s theme, ‘CP World: You’re a Star,’ is a celebration of the collective success of Cruise Planners and each advisor’s unique role in creating their own blockbuster success story,” said founder and CEO of Cruise Planners, Michelle Fee. “Our north star at Cruise Planners is to provide best-in-class marketing, technology, training, support, and a community that empowers our advisors to reach new heights. Introducing over 20 new and innovative initiatives highlights Cruise Planners as a leader in the travel industry, paving the way for increased efficiency, creativity, and success for our advisors in the years to come.”

More information to follow. Follow #CPCon24 for additional updates.

Company Background: Cruise Planners was founded in 1994 and is the nation’s largest home-based travel agent franchise network. As a leader in the travel franchise industry, Cruise Planners positions a nation-wide network of 2,500 franchise owners for success by providing innovative marketing programs, proprietary and cutting-edge booking and technology tools, as well as professional development and hands-on training with the industry’s top executives. The company continues to be an industry leader and was named the No.1 travel franchise by Entrepreneur magazine for 18 consecutive years and awarded by Franchise Business Review as “Best-In-Category” for 2 years.

Cruise Planners received a 99% franchise owner satisfaction report from Franchise Business Review for 2024. Franchise Business Review also ranked Cruise Planners #3 OVERALL on their list of Top 200 Franchises of 2022. Cruise Planners was recently featured in Entrepreneur as one of the top 30 franchise innovators in technology, has been consistently named as one of the Top Women-Owned Businesses by the South Florida Business Journal, is on the Inc. 5000 list as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America, and was recognized as one of the Top Workplaces by the Sun Sentinel.

Visit our website, www.cruiseplanners.com, for more information or to view the complete list of awards and honors. For those interested in becoming a franchise owner, please visit https://www.cruiseplannersfranchise.com/.

26 09, 2024

Cruise Planners’ CP Cares Initiative Supports Blood Cancer Awareness Month

Paul Zboichyk2024-09-26T21:44:19-04:00September 26th, 2024|Tags: Cruise Planners, home based franchise, travel advisor franchise network, vacations and travel experiences|

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. — September marks Blood Cancer Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness and supporting the fight against leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. Cruise Planners, the nation’s leading travel advisor network, is proud to reaffirm its commitment to this cause through its philanthropic initiative, CP Cares, and longstanding support of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).

CP Cares, the charitable arm of Cruise Planners, has been a driving force in the company’s efforts to give back to the community. Through CP Cares, the Cruise Planners family has helped raise over $3 million for LLS and blood cancer research, thanks to the support of its travel advisors, staff, and industry partners.

Cruise Planners’ founders, Michelle Fee and the late Vicky Garcia, were both honored as “Women of the Year“ by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for their remarkable fundraising efforts. Vicky Garcia raised $115,000 followed by Michelle Fee who raised a record $292,000, during her campaign. Their leadership and commitment have inspired the entire Cruise Planners network to rally around the cause, with fundraising efforts continuing to grow year after year.

Through a variety of activities, CP Cares has brought the Cruise Planners community and fellow travel partners together to raise funds and spread awareness about blood cancers:

Light The Night Walks: Cruise Planners advisors, clients, and team members have participated in LLS’s Light the Night events across the country. These walks honor survivors, remember loved ones lost, and raise vital funds to support cancer research.
Local Events & Auctions: From silent auctions to charity dinners, Cruise Planners has hosted countless events to raise funds for blood cancer research. These events not only support research but also build awareness in local communities.
Corporate Matching: Cruise Planners Home Office has amplified the impact of its fundraising by matching donations made by advisors and employees, doubling the contributions to LLS and other blood cancer charities.

Blood cancers affect millions of people globally, and many within the Cruise Planners network have been personally touched by these diseases. “At Cruise Planners, we know that the fight against blood cancers is personal,” said Michelle Fee, CEO and Founder of Cruise Planners. “Our commitment to supporting research and patient services through CP Cares comes from a place of deep empathy for those impacted by these life-threatening illnesses.”

In honor of Blood Cancer Awareness Month, Cruise Planners encourages the community to get involved. Whether through donations, participating in a local fundraising event, or simply spreading awareness, every action makes a difference. Together, we can bring hope to those battling blood cancers.

For more information on how to get involved or to donate, please visit Cruise Planners CP Cares.

Cruise Planners was founded in 1994 and is the nation’s largest home-based travel agent franchise network. As a leader in the travel franchise industry, Cruise Planners positions a nation-wide network of 2,500 franchise owners for success by providing innovative marketing programs, proprietary and cutting-edge booking and technology tools, as well as professional development and hands-on training with the industry’s top executives. The company continues to be an industry leader and was named the No.1 travel franchise by Entrepreneur magazine for 18 consecutive years and awarded by Franchise Business Review as “Best-In-Category” for 2 years.

Cruise Planners received a 99% franchise owner satisfaction report from Franchise Business Review for 2024. Franchise Business Review also ranked Cruise Planners #3 OVERALL on their list of Top 200 Franchises of 2022. Cruise Planners was recently featured in Entrepreneur as one of the top 30 franchise innovators in technology, has been consistently named as one of the Top Women-Owned Businesses by the South Florida Business Journal, is on the Inc. 5000 list as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America, and was recognized as one of the Top Workplaces by the Sun Sentinel.

Visit our website, www.cruiseplanners.com, for more information or to view the complete list of awards and honors. For those interested in becoming a franchise owner, please visit https://www.cruiseplannersfranchise.com/.

12 09, 2024

Neighborly® Empowers Veterans Through Franchise Ownership Opportunities at Upcoming Military Thriving™ Convening

Tatyana Stemkovski2024-09-12T20:53:56-04:00September 12th, 2024|Tags: home based franchise, home services franchisor, Neighborly, Neighbourly, owner operated franchise opportunity, residential and commercial clients|

Kick-off event in Hampton Roads, VA, in partnership with ZeroMils, supports the region’s new Military Thriving initiative.

WACO, Texas — Neighborly®, the world’s largest home services company, is proud to support the upcoming Military Thriving™ event, taking place on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, at “The Hive” in Virginia Beach. Organized by ZeroMils, the event aims to empower Veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs, with a particular focus on franchise ownership opportunities available through Neighborly’s extensive network of home service brands.

This all-day convening will unite local government officials, corporate and nonprofit partners, regional economic development centers, Veteran employment centers, and educational institutions to drive impactful solutions that meet the needs of Veterans and military spouses, fostering a more resilient and thriving military community. Neighborly’s participation aligns with its broader mission to support Veterans transitioning to civilian careers through franchise ownership.

Event Highlights:

Date & Time: September 17, 2024, from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM EDT
Location: The HIVE, 140 Independence Blvd. Virginia Beach, VA 23462
Focus: Building Military Thriving cultures and empowering Veteran and military spouse entrepreneurship

The event will feature panel discussions that will provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of Veteran employment, strategies for leveraging diverse partnerships, and innovative solutions to bridge skills gaps. Breakout sessions will cater specifically to aspiring Veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs offering attendees in-depth, practical insights on franchising, starting and purchasing businesses, and securing financing for business growth led by franchise professionals and current Neighborly Veteran franchise owners.

For more than 32 years, Neighborly has been dedicated to helping Veterans transition to small business ownership through its Veterans Transition Franchise Initiative (VetFran) program, offering franchise opportunities and financial incentives to honorably discharged Veterans. With over 5,500 franchise locations, Neighborly operates more than 30 brands and currently has existing franchise availability in the greater Hampton Roads area across the following established brands:

HouseMaster®
Junk King®
Lawn Pride®
The Grounds Guys®
Window Genie®
Five Star Painting®
Mr. Appliance®
Aire Serv®
Mr. Electric®
Rainbow Restoration®
Real Property Management

Neighborly’s Veteran incentive programs make franchise ownership more accessible, supporting Veterans in their transition to civilian careers. Interested prospects can find out more information here.

For more information about the Military Thriving movement and to register for this event, please visit ZeroMils at zeromils.com/nbly_pr

About Neighborly®: Neighborly® is the world’s largest home services company with more than 30 brands and 5,500 franchises collectively serving 12 million+ customers in six countries, focused on repairing, maintaining, and enhancing homes and businesses. Through Neighborly.com and the Neighborly mobile app, Neighborly connects consumers to local service providers that meet rigorous franchisor standards across 19 service categories. More information about Neighborly®, and its franchise concepts, is available at Neighborlybrands.com.

About ZeroMils: ZeroMils is a term of both science and art, used in the military to describe a state of perfection that accounts for accuracy and effectiveness. Once attained, ZeroMils allows you to achieve maximum impact on a target. ZeroMils’ mission is to create Military Thriving cultures and communities by serving alongside their partners and clients in the places where they live, work and serve. ZeroMils is intentional in its efforts to serve alongside organizations and leaders who focus on what they know to be true: that although Veterans and their families face unique challenges, the vast majority of us overcome them and thrive as a result of our service and not in spite of it.

5 08, 2024

Cruise Planners Named to Franchise Business Review’s 2024 Culture100 List

Paul Zboichyk2024-08-05T19:05:32-04:00August 5th, 2024|Tags: Cruise Planners, home based franchise, travel advisor franchise network, vacations and travel experiences|

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. — Cruise Planners, the nation’s largest home-based travel advisor franchise network was recently named to Franchise Business Review’s (FBR) fifth annual “Culture100” list. The list recognizes the top 100 franchise brands in its 2024 research on the Best Franchise Cultures.

Franchise Business Review, a franchise market research firm that performs independent surveys of franchisee satisfaction, is the only provider of franchises rankings based solely on actual franchisee satisfaction and performance. FBR publishes its rankings of top franchises semi-annually in its Guide to Today’s Top Franchises, as well as industry reports throughout the year that highlight research on the top franchises of specific sectors.

Cruise Planners was among more than 360 franchise brands, representing more than 36,000 franchise owners that participated in FBR’s research on the best franchise cultures. Franchisees were surveyed on 33 benchmark questions about their experience and satisfaction regarding critical areas of their franchise systems. The brands that were selected received the highest overall ratings based on 17 unique areas that contribute to a strong company culture, including leadership, core values, franchisee community, and engagement. Cruise Planners also received a 99% franchise owner satisfaction report from Franchise Business Review for 2024. Along with Cruise Planners boasting a 99% franchise owner satisfaction report, they were also named as a Top Franchise in 2024 by Franchise Business Review.

“Finding the right culture fit is an important part of any franchise investment decision, but it can be difficult to gauge,” said Michelle Rowan, president & COO of Franchise Business Review. “That’s why we gather data on how current franchisees rate a brand’s culture. It tells you whether franchisees believe the franchisor cares about their success and how well the community of support staff and franchisees work together to achieve their business objectives.”

“We are honored to be recognized by Franchise Business Review for our exceptional company culture,” said Michelle Fee, founder and CEO of Cruise Planners. “Our travel franchisee owners are the heart of our business, and we are committed to providing them with the best support, tools, and community to ensure their success. This recognition is a testament to the collaborative spirit that defines Cruise Planners.”

Cruise Planners was founded in 1994 and is the nation’s largest home-based travel agent franchise network. As a leader in the travel franchise industry, Cruise Planners positions a nation-wide network of 2,500 franchise owners for success by providing innovative marketing programs, proprietary and cutting-edge booking and technology tools, as well as professional development and hands-on training with the industry’s top executives. The company continues to be an industry leader and was named the No.1 travel franchise by Entrepreneur magazine for 18 consecutive years and awarded by Franchise Business Review as “Best-In-Category” for 2 years.

Cruise Planners received a 99% franchise owner satisfaction report from Franchise Business Review for 2024. Franchise Business Review also ranked Cruise Planners #3 OVERALL on their list of Top 200 Franchises of 2022. Cruise Planners was recently featured in Entrepreneur as one of the top 30 franchise innovators in technology, has been consistently named as one of the Top Women-Owned Businesses by the South Florida Business Journal, is on the Inc. 5000 list as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America, and was recognized as one of the Top Workplaces by the Sun Sentinel.

Visit our website, www.cruiseplanners.com, for more information or to view the complete list of awards and honors. For those interested in becoming a franchise owner, please visit https://www.cruiseplannersfranchise.com/.

22 07, 2024

Cruise Planners Named a Top Franchise in 2024 by Franchise Business Review

Paul Zboichyk2024-07-22T23:48:20-04:00July 22nd, 2024|Tags: Cruise Planners, home based franchise, travel advisor franchise network, vacations and travel experiences|

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. — Cruise Planners, the nation’s largest home-based travel agency franchise network, is proud to announce its recognition as a top franchise for 2024 by Franchise Business Review (FBR); this is the 14^th time Cruise Planners has been recognized as a top franchise by FBR. This esteemed accolade is a testament to Cruise Planners’ commitment to excellence, innovation, and franchisee satisfaction.

This prestigious ranking by Franchise Business Review is based on comprehensive surveys of franchisee satisfaction and performance. Franchisees were asked to rate their franchise on various factors including leadership, training, support, operations, and financial opportunity. Cruise Planners excelled across all these categories, highlighting their dedication to providing its franchisees with the tools and support they need to succeed.

“We are thrilled to be recognized again as a top franchise by Franchise Business Review,” said Michelle Fee, founder and CEO of Cruise Planner. “This award reflects our unwavering commitment to our franchise owners and their success. We pride ourselves on offering world-class support, best-in-industry technology and marketing, and a supportive community that empowers our franchisees to thrive in the travel industry.”

Cruise Planners’ ongoing investment in innovative technology and comprehensive marketing and training support programs plays a critical role in the success of its franchisees. The proprietary CP Maxx technology platform provides robust tools for booking and customer relationship management, enabling franchisees to deliver exceptional service to their clients. Additionally, the intensive STAR University training program and continuous support from the Home Office Team ensure franchisees are well-prepared to navigate the dynamic travel landscape.

Cruise Planners’ franchisee survey data highlighted the following:

Overall Franchise Satisfaction Report Score: 99%
Training & Support: 91%
Technology: 92%
Marketing & Promotions: 91%
Owner Enjoyment: 93%
Would Recommend Cruise Planners: 93%
Trust in Leadership: 94%

“Franchisee satisfaction continues to be the leading indicator of franchise performance and system health, and we are pleased to report that our latest research shows satisfaction has remained at some of the highest levels in the past 19 years. In fact, our survey results show that three out of four franchise owners would recommend their brand to others. That’s extremely encouraging news for franchise owners and anyone considering investing in a franchise,” said Michelle Rowan, president and COO of Franchise Business Review. “As an independent research firm, Franchise Business Review is committed to helping prospective franchisees get an objective view of the best franchise opportunities available based on actual feedback from the people who own them. Each of the award winners on this year’s list of the 200 Top Franchises received stellar ratings from their franchisees in the areas crucial to success in operating a franchise, including training and support, leadership, innovation, culture, and financial opportunity.”

About Cruise Planners

Cruise Planners was founded in 1994 and is the nation’s largest home-based travel agent franchise network. As a leader in the travel franchise industry, Cruise Planners positions a nation-wide network of 2,500 franchise owners for success by providing innovative marketing programs, proprietary and cutting-edge booking and technology tools, as well as professional development and hands-on training with the industry’s top executives. The company continues to be an industry leader and was named the No.1 travel franchise by Entrepreneur magazine for 18 consecutive years and awarded by Franchise Business Review as “Best-In-Category” for 2 years.

Franchise Business Review also ranked Cruise Planners #3 OVERALL on their list of Top 200 Franchises of 2022. Cruise Planners was recently featured in Entrepreneur as one of the top 30 franchise innovators in technology, has been consistently named as one of the Top Women-Owned Businesses by the South Florida Business Journal, is on the Inc. 5000 list as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America, and was recognized as one of the Top Workplaces by the Sun Sentinel.

Visit our website, www.cruiseplanners.com, for more information or to view the complete list of awards and honors. For those interested in becoming a franchise owner, please visit https://www.cruiseplannersfranchise.com/.

29 06, 2024

Neighborly® Announces Mike Davis as its New CEO

Paul Zboichyk2024-06-29T12:16:47-04:00June 29th, 2024|Tags: home based franchise, home services franchisor, Neighborly, Neighbourly, owner operated franchise opportunity, residential and commercial clients|

WACO, Texas — Neighborly®, the world’s largest home services company, announced today that Mike Davis will become its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective July 8. Jon Shell, who has served as interim CEO since September 2023, will resume the role of Chief Financial Officer.

“Mike is a highly successful CEO with a phenomenal track record of success across various industries, including significantly growing franchise businesses,” said David Brandon, Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors. “Mike brings an aligned strategic vision and commitment to innovation, making him the ideal leader to build on the incredible achievements and growth Neighborly has experienced.”

Davis’s career has focused on growth, driven by product or service enhancements, pricing strategies, marketing excellence, and customer service. He most recently served as the CEO of Mathnasium® Learning Centers since 2022, where the company advanced its mission of education and empowering franchise owners while experiencing record-setting KPIs across same-center growth, systemwide sales, lead generation, and conversion and expanded the network across three new countries. Before that, Davis was the CEO of Valpak, a franchised network and direct mail and digital marketing leader, where he helped revamp their business model, which ultimately drove significant growth.

“Working closely with the Board and the leadership team, Mike will refine, enhance, and execute the company’s existing strategy and roadmap, with a commitment to expanding the footprint of Neighborly’s service brands and driving awareness to strengthen its presence in key markets,” said Felix Gernburd, Neighborly Board Member and Partner at KKR. “He is the right leader to help guide the execution of key enterprise initiatives and the digital transformation in progress aimed to elevate Neighborly as a trusted provider to customers and an attractive investment for prospective franchise owners.”

Davis has more than two decades of leadership experience, including 13 years with Universal Music Group (UMG), where he became Executive Vice President and General Manager. He led a division during a disruptive time that outperformed nearly all others within UMG for four consecutive years. He has consistently driven profitable growth. His leadership has spanned companies across diverse fields, including multi-unit franchising, B2B, B2C, eCommerce, direct-to-consumer, third-party logistics, digital platforms, and media.

“Neighborly has established itself as a trailblazer in franchising with some of the most respected and leading home services brands in the industry,” said Davis. “The company has been served by outstanding leaders, most recently with Jon Shell, and prior to that with the late Mike Bidwell. I look forward to joining this great organization and building on the meaningful impact they have made.”

For more information about Neighborly’s service brands, visit www.neighborlybrands.com.

About Neighborly®
Neighborly® is the world’s largest home services company with more than 30 brands and 5,500 franchises collectively serving 14 million+ customers by repairing, maintaining, and enhancing their homes and businesses. Through Neighborly.com and the Neighborly mobile app, we connect consumers to local service providers that meet rigorous franchisor standards across 19 service categories. More information about Neighborly, and its franchise concepts, is available at Neighborlybrands.com. To learn about franchising opportunities with Neighborly, click here.

9 04, 2024

Neighborly® Expands Across the Dallas and Oklahoma City Markets, Offering Opportunities for Aspiring Entrepreneurs to Join Our Established Hub for Home Services

Paul Zboichyk2024-04-09T23:23:03-04:00April 9th, 2024|Tags: home based franchise, home services franchisor, Neighborly, Neighbourly, owner operated franchise opportunity, residential and commercial clients|

World’s largest franchisor of home service brands has territories available for more than 100 locations in Dallas, Oklahoma City and surrounding areas, to award at least 30 new franchises by June 13, 2024

WACO, Texas — Neighborly^®, the world’s largest home services company, today revealed its plans to expand its presence in the Dallas and Oklahoma City markets. With a commitment to fostering entrepreneurship, Neighborly is offering aspiring business owners in the area opportunities across 16 of its 19 established brands.

The growth initiative also includes the introduction of LawnPride® franchise availability in Dallas, Oklahoma City and surrounding areas, further solidifying Neighborly’s position as the premier hub for home services in the region. With this addition, the region will now boast a total of 19 Neighborly brands dedicated to serving their local communities’ home service needs.

Dallas, with its commitment to fiscal responsibility reflected in one of the lowest property tax rates in the state, provides an ideal environment for franchise expansion, supported by Dallas County’s efforts to boost small business opportunities. Similarly, Oklahoma City’s remarkable growth and reputation as a livable city offer entrepreneurs fertile ground to thrive and make a meaningful impact in their communities.

“As the world’s largest home services company, Neighborly is dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs and driving economic growth in communities we serve,” said Brad Stevenson, Chief Development Officer at Neighborly. “Because the markets we’re strategically targeting boast a business-friendly environment, low cost of living and a skilled workforce, prospective small business owners are set up with unparalleled opportunities for success with Neighborly across a wide range of established brands in a recession-resilient industry.”

Neighborly’s expansion efforts in Dallas, Oklahoma City and surrounding areas represent a significant step toward enhancing the local economy while meeting the increasing demand for home services in the region. By introducing more than 100 available opportunities including LawnPride® franchise availability, Neighborly aims to cater to the evolving needs of local residents, offering high-quality home services backed by trusted brands and the Neighborly Done Right Promise™.

In seeking out potential franchise owners to drive its growth initiatives with a goal of awarding at least 30 new franchises by June 13, 2024, Neighborly is looking for motivated candidates dedicated to team leadership, mentorship and ultimately cultivating a significant presence within the communities they serve by following Neighborly’s established franchise model.

Neighborly franchise brands’ initial investments range from $70,800 to $652,980, depending on the specific Neighborly brand, see item 7 of the current FDD for full details, with incentive programs available for U.S. military veterans. Interested prospects can find out more information here. To learn more about owning a Neighborly franchise, visit www.neighborlybrands.com.

About Neighborly®
Neighborly® is the world’s largest home services company with more than 30 brands and 5,500 franchises collectively serving 12 million+ customers in six countries, focused on repairing, maintaining, and enhancing homes and businesses. Through Neighborly.com and the Neighborly mobile app, Neighborly connects consumers to local service providers that meet rigorous franchisor standards across 19 service categories. More information about Neighborly®, and its franchise concepts, is available at Neighborlybrands.com. To learn about franchising opportunities with Neighborly®, click here.

7 03, 2024

Cruise Planners CEO and Founder, Michelle Fee Secures Spot in South Florida Business Journal’s Top 250 Power Leaders List

Paul Zboichyk2024-03-07T17:56:37-05:00March 7th, 2024|Tags: Cruise Planners, home based franchise, travel advisor franchise network, vacations and travel experiences|

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. — Cruise Planners the nation’s largest home-based travel franchise network, proudly announces that its founder and CEO, Michelle Fee, has been recognized as one of South Florida Business Journal’s Top 250 Power Leaders for 2024, a testament to her outstanding contributions in the tourism and hospitality sectors.

This prestigious accolade acknowledges influential leaders whose contributions have shaped industries and communities. Michelle Fee’s inclusion in the Top 250 Power Leaders list highlights her dynamic leadership and her significant impact on the broader business landscape.

As the driving force behind Cruise Planners since 1994, Michelle Fee has steered the company to unparalleled success, establishing it as a trailblazer in the travel industry. Her innovative approach and dedication to excellence have not only positioned Cruise Planners as a travel industry leader but have also made a lasting impact on the economic development of South Florida.

“I am truly honored to represent Cruise Planners on the Top 250 Power Leaders list. This recognition reflects the collective efforts of our dedicated team, our advisor network, and their commitment to excellence in the travel industry,” said Michelle Fee, founder and CEO of Cruise Planners. “Cruise Planners will continue to innovate and contribute to the economic and social development of our community.”

Cruise Planners continues to be a driving force in the travel industry under Michelle Fee’s leadership, and her inclusion in the Top 250 Power Leaders list solidifies the company’s position as a key player in South Florida’s business landscape.

About Cruise Planners

Cruise Planners was founded in 1994 and is the nation’s largest home-based travel agent franchise network. As a leader in the travel franchise industry, Cruise Planners positions a nation-wide network of 2,500 franchise owners for success by providing innovative marketing programs, proprietary and cutting-edge booking and technology tools, as well as professional development and travel agent training with the industry’s top executives. The company continues to be an industry leader and was named the No.1 travel franchise by Entrepreneur magazine for 18 consecutive years and awarded by Franchise Business Review as “Best-In-Category” for 3 years and ranked in the top 20 on Travel Weekly’s 2022 Power List.

Franchise Business Review also ranked Cruise Planners #3 OVERALL on their list of Top 200 Franchises of 2022. Cruise Planners was recently featured in Entrepreneur as one of the top 30 franchise innovators in technology, has been consistently named as one of the Top Women-Owned Businesses by the South Florida Business Journal, is on the Inc. 5000 list as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America, and was recognized as one of the Top Workplaces by the Sun Sentinel.

Visit our website, www.cruiseplanners.com, for more information or to view the complete list of awards and honors. For those interested in becoming a franchise owner, please visit https://www.cruiseplannersfranchise.com/.

19 02, 2024

Neighborly® Surpasses $4 Billion in Systemwide Sales Amid 2023 Filled with Historic Private Equity Activity

Paul Zboichyk2024-02-19T18:07:50-05:00February 19th, 2024|Tags: home based franchise, home services franchisor, Neighborly, Neighbourly, owner operated franchise opportunity, residential and commercial clients|

The company experienced significant achievements last year, highlighted by a multitude of territory acquisitions from leading private equity firms, and foreshadowing more growth in 2024 across its brands.

WACO, Texas — Neighborly^®, the world’s largest home services company, announced today during this year’s annual International Franchise Association (“IFA”) convention that it officially surpassed $4 billion in systemwide sales and 5,500 franchises globally in 2023, a milestone year during which the company’s continued success garnered an unparalleled wave of private equity investments across the global franchisor’s flagship brands.

“The substantial private equity investments we’ve attracted across our flagship brands is a major achievement that reinforces the market’s confidence in our strategic vision and highlights Neighborly and our brands as a valuable investment,” said Jon Shell, interim Chief Executive Officer of Neighborly.

The record-breaking year brought notable investments from multiple private equity sponsors:

In May of 2023, Eagle Merchant Partners announced its investment in Impact Home Services, an independent owner and operator of three franchises within Neighborly, serving Metro Atlanta and broader Georgia. Impact operates franchises for leading brands Mr. Rooter® Plumbing, Mr. Electric® and Precision Garage Door Service™.
August of 2023 saw the transformative sale of Trades Holding Company, LLC, a leading Ohio-based franchise of Mr. Rooter Plumbing and Mr. Electric, to CPC, a private holding company.
October of 2023 brought a groundbreaking partnership between Franchise Equity Partners (FEP) and the management of Reliable Residential HoldCo, the largest franchise owner-operator within Neighborly.
In November of 2023, Sydnic, LLC, a leading franchise owner of Precision Garage Door Service™, announced its acquisition by SBJ Capital, a private investment firm based in the San Francisco Bay Area, showcasing the strength and appeal of the Neighborly brands.
Most recently, Highland Arms Enterprises took on a strategic growth investment from Main Post Partners, a leading private equity investment firm. Together, they plan to invest further into additional Precision Garage Door Service franchise locations and additional Neighborly brands.

“These transactions combined represent investments of more than $400 million by leading private equity sponsors are a testament to the growth potential in the residential services market, and the strength of the Neighborly brands and the entire Neighborly system,” added Shell. “Each one of them is looking to further penetrate existing markets, invest in new markets, and add additional Neighborly service brands across our diverse portfolio of 19 service verticals.”

Among the many factors that positioned Neighborly as so attractive to investors, the company accomplished another year of strong same-store sales growth and exceeded its franchise development targets selling a record-breaking 468 franchises globally in 2023. As Neighborly looks ahead, the existing strategy remains the roadmap, with a commitment to expanding the footprints of its service brands and driving awareness to strengthen its presence in key markets.

Other 2023 noteworthy developments include:

Launched version 2.0 of the Neighborly App aimed at providing customers with a frictionless experience beyond big search platforms by making it easier to find and schedule services specific to their needs, creating more cross-branding opportunities, and driving more leads.
Strengthened ties with the Veteran community by engaging existing Veteran Neighborly owners at a local level and establishing partnerships with organizations like the Service Academy Career Conference (SACC) and ZeroMils.
Received recognition for Neighborly and its franchise brands in top industry rankings, highlighted by 18 Neighborly brands included in the Entrepreneur Franchise 500 rankings, six brands ranked #1 in their category, and 14 brands recognized for offering incentives and other programs to help veterans become franchisees. Click here to view additional awards highlights.
Accelerated adoption of new recruiting and retention platforms, partnerships, and tools for franchise owners.
A brand refresh for Window Genie® capturing the robust service offering, including residential and commercial window cleaning, window tinting, pressure washing, gutter cleaning, and holiday lighting.

“Last year was also an extremely difficult and emotional time for so many of us with the sudden passing of our CEO, Mike Bidwell, in September,” added Shell. “Mike would have been extremely proud to see how this organization rallied together to achieve such great things. We miss Mike more than words can express and we will continue to carry his vision for Neighborly forward.”

For more information about Neighborly’s service brands, visit www.neighborlybrands.com.

About Neighborly®

Neighborly® is the world’s largest home services company with more than 30 brands and 5,500 franchises in six countries that have collectively served 14 million+ customers by repairing, maintaining, and enhancing their homes and businesses. Through Neighborly.com and the Neighborly mobile app, we connect consumers to local service providers that meet rigorous franchisor standards across 19 service categories. More information about Neighborly, and its franchise concepts, is available at Neighborlybrands.com. To learn about franchising opportunities with Neighborly, click here.