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2011 Top 10 Franchises

2011 Top 10 Franchises

Entrepreneur.com regularly publishes various lists of Top 10 Franchises. Below are three: (1) Top 10 [overall]; (2) Top 10 Homebased; (3) Top 10 Low Cost. Following is a snapshot of one homebased/low cost franchise and how it measures up to another business opportunity.

Top 10 Franchises for 2011
1. Hampton Hotels……………………………………… $3,716,000-13,148,800
2. ampm…………………………………………………… $1,786,929 – $7,596,688
3. McDonald’s………………………………………….. $1,057,200 – $1,885,000
4. 7-Eleven, Inc……………………………………………….. $30,800 – $604,500
5. Supercuts…………………………………………………… $119,350 – $196,550
6. Days Inn…………………………………………………. $192,291 – $6,479,764
7. Vanguard Cleaning Systems……………………………… $8,200 – $38,100
8. Servpro……………………………………………………… $127,300 – $174,700
9. Subway……………………………………………………….. $84,300 – $258,300
10. Denny’s Inc…………………………………………. $1,125,609 – $2,396,419

Top 10 Homebased Franchises for 2011
1. Vanguard Cleaning Systems……………………………… $8,200 – $38,100
2. Servpro……………………………………………………… $127,300 – $174,700
3. Jan-Pro Franchising Int’l. Inc……………………………… $3,145 – $50,405
4. Jazzercise Inc…………………………………………………… $2,980 – $75,500
5. Matco Tools…………………………………………………. $79,926 – $188,556
6. Stratus Building Solutions…………………………………. $3,450 – $57,750
7. Snap-on Tools………………………………………………. $17,906 – $278,492
8. CleanNet USA Inc…………………………………………… $6,655 – $92,950
9. Bonus Building Care………………………………………… $9,020 – $41,919
10. System4………………………………………………………… $5,460 – $37,750

Top 10 Low-Cost Franchises for 2011
1. Vanguard Cleaning Systems……………………………… $8,200 – $38,100
2. Jan-Pro Franchising Int’l. Inc……………………………… $3,145 – $50,405
3. Kumon Math & Reading Centers……………………. $36,538 – $145,250
4. Jazzercise Inc…………………………………………………… $2,980 – $75,500
5. Stratus Building Solutions…………………………………. $3,450 – $57,750
6. CleanNet USA Inc…………………………………………… $6,655 – $92,950
7. H & R Block………………………………………………… $34,438 – $110,033
8. Bonus Building Care………………………………………… $9,020 – $41,919
9. System4………………………………………………………….. $5,460 – $37,750
10. ServiceMaster Clean……………………………………. $47,072 – $141,303

When I look at this list of Franchises, I shudder at the investments required. It is true that buying the traditional franchise has advantages. The system is a proven system with many of the bugs worked out. On the down side, there are often many rules and regulations you must follow that can be frustrating, not to mention the investment, cash liquidity, and net worth requirements (McDonald’s requires a cash liquidity of $500k above the $1.0-1.8 million investment upfront).

I have a relative by marriage that has started and operated multiple hotel properties, mainly Hampton Hotels, and know firsthand the costs and challenges involved in getting one up and keeping it running. They can be profitable, but they require a lot of managing.

Franchises come with fees, costs, and other requirements beyond the start-up investment. Notice these from Jan-Pro Franchising (as per Entrepreneur.com).

Total investment: $3,145 – $50,405
Franchise fee: $2,800 – $44,000
Ongoing royalty fee: 10%
Term of agreement: 10 years, renewable
Net Worth Requirement: $1,000-14,000
Cash Liquidity Requirement: $1,000

Compare these typical franchises, start-up costs, ongoing royalty fees, and so on to an opportunity I recommend people look into; Main Street Marketing Machines.

Fee/Membership: $2,997
Ongoing royalty fee: 0%

MSMM is a business that helps local small businesses with their internet marketing. The typical small business owner knows little about online marketing. And, with more people using the internet to find local businesses than the phone book, small businesses must get on top of their online presence or face hard times ahead.

Anyone can start a Main Street Marketing Machine business, even those with no prior internet marketing experience (because all the tools & training is included in the business). A firefighter from Albuquerque, NM started his own MSMM biz last year and made $5,000 on his first job. He came up with a really ingenious way of approaching business owners that got them to compete for his help. You can see Fireman Mike and other real people talk about their experiences and life changes here.

Here is the bottom line: There are many business opportunities available. You should pick one that fits your passions and desired lifestyle…and wallet.

Steven
www.DeatonMedia.com
www.LouisvilleSocialMarketing.com

 

Full Disclosure: I own the first version of Main Street Marketing Machines and will be compensated if you click one of the links and invest in your own MSMM business. The opportunity is available this week and the shopping cart will close April 23.

Effective Website Marketing

Website marketing can be a tricky thing. Do you pay for Google AdWords and get nickeled and dimed to death? Or do you spend countless hours writing articles and submitting them individually to each article directory?

The better solution is to give customers and the search engines what they want, namely video.

Video is the most consumed content on the internet. The search engines like it and move it up in the organic listings where it will rank high.

Still, a video by itself submitted to one or two sites…or even three or four…will not get the job done. You need a web cast on the web.

Video should be the cornerstone of your website marketing; however, it should not be the only brick in the building. The search engines also measure how many sites have your content. So, you need to submit to dozens of video sites and article sites and podcast sites and social networking sites and social bookmarking sites.

How can you get the time to do all of this when you have business to run?

Turn it over to an expert who can get it all done for you.

We can produce and distribute content on the internet through our unique software to about 100 authority sites. The submissions are timed to appear natural, not robotic, to the search engines. To, because we have carefully selected only sites that are recognized as internet influencers, the search engines pick up the content quickly. We have seen results in less than 5 hours. This does not always happen, but it is not out of the question for the right content in the right niche.

You can see our Content Distribution Network here.

You can see recent examples of our campaigns here.

Should Your Business Be On Facebook?

Yes.

Here’s why.

According to the Nielsen Company, in November 2009 internet users in the US were online an average of 66 hours. Of that time, Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft sites were surfed 2 to 3 hours each. Users spent over 6 hours on Facebook.

Since there are over 200 million internet users in the US, and they spend an average of 6 hours a month on Facebook, that is over 1200 million user hours. That’s a lot.

Your business needs to have a presence there. We are not recommending Facebook advertising. Rather, your business needs to have its own page. Put your information there: name, contact info., web address, services and products offered, and so on. Post updates about your industry, your service offerings, and occasionally some personal-interest comments.

Make friends with others and comment on their sites, especially as it relates to your industry. Be a true help to folks, build relationships, and watch your business grow.

What Is My Interest In Your Business?

Ask the company you are looking to hire for the job what interest they have in your business. There needs to be some level of commitment to you.

I personally love to see people succeed. I have consulted with a variety of business owners: physicians, fitness club owners, membership organizations, commercial real estate brokers. The underlying factor for me is their success. It gives me a thrill to know they are thriving.

I also like a challenge.

However, I there are some industries I will not work with. Alcohol, gambling, adult to name a few. I have to respect the business and people I work with.