FranchiseOpportunities

Diversified Restaurant Holdings, which operates Bagger Dave’s and several Buffalo Wild Wings franchises, announced the opening of its Bagger Dave’s franchise in Novi, Michigan.

DRH, which is the parent company of Bagger Dave’s, plans to offer franchises of the fast-casual restaurant and bar throughout the Midwest shortly. The company is currently offering franchises in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana.

“Novi is one of the fastest growing and most affluent communities in Michigan and is considered a major shopping destination for many of the more than four million people in the Detroit metropolitan area,” Michael Ansley, CEO of DRH, said. “We felt strategically it was the best choice for our newest and largest Bagger Dave’s location, and we intend to build on the success we’ve enjoyed in Berkley and Ann Arbor to make the Novi store a success as well.”

The location in Novi will be the first Bagger Dave’s location to offer a breakfast menu.

DRH has pushed its Bagger Dave’s brand aggressively in 2010 after Buffalo Wild Wings’ fourth quarter 2009 profits fell short of expectations. The chain did make a profit, but it did not draw the kind of business it expected.

FASTSIGNS, a leading retailer of signs and graphics, announced February 23 that it has signed three new franchises, which will open in the first half of 2010.

The stores will be in Hendersonville, Tennessee, St. George, Utah and Lima, Ohio. The company began an initiative in 2009 to rapidly expand the chain by purchasing independent shops and developing new centers.

All FASTSIGNS franchises have full access to training, marketing and operations resources that allow small companies to grow and develop new business opportunities.

“The current economic climate presents a great growth opportunity for FASTSIGNS, as graphics and signage are key components of any business to attract customers and establish brand identity,” said Brian Wieters, assistant vice president of franchise development for FASTSIGNS. “We are excited to start the year off with these new locations and look forward to continuing our growth throughout 2010.”

FASTSIGNS plans further growth in Ohio and throughout the Midwest.
Potential franchisees in the state received good news recently when Huntington Bank announced a $360 million small business lending increase over the next three years. The loans will average $150,000 and should help about 150 small businesses grow.

If you intend to have something different take place in your life in 2009, do something this year that you haven’t done in past years.

To not do something different yet expect different or improved results is the definition of insanity.

You’re somehow considering opening a business of your own or you wouldn’t likely have run into this article.

I encourage you to “Just Do It” as Nike says.

Over the weekend the Wall Street Journal had an article titled “Yearly Job Loss Worst Since 1945″.

You know who didn’t get laid off or fired first during this contraction (or any other)?

The owners.

That’s right. The owners do the layoffs and only lose their jobs so to speak if things get really, really bad.

So what does that tell you?

It should say something like “I may as well be the owner instead of the employee”.

So Just Do It.

Search, consider, gather information on your next business.

Then do something!

Only then will your 2009 be different than your 2008.

Atlanta, Ga. (Franchiseopportunities.com Nov. 14, 2008) – The Corporate Cleaning Group has reduced the total franchise investment, cutting the initial franchise fee by more than half.

Devin Dollar, CEO of the Corporate Cleaning Group, says that in today’s economic times he is lending special attention to financial components which enable future franchisees to become successful within not only the organization, but also their communities.

“We are lowering our fee from $30,000 to $12,000 to help the business people who have wanted to, but never been able, to take the plunge into franchising. This is a great time to get away from the corporate America business model and open your own business,” Dollar said.

The Corporate Cleaning Group has enjoyed success through a niche market model in general janitorial service. Focused on touching every corner of schools, churches and hospitals with specialized cleaning tactics, the Group considers its business model to be highly adaptive during hard economic times.

“Although I believe we are some-what recession-proof, there is no question that margins in every arena will be more competitive during these times,” Dollar said. “And being in a smaller niche market gives our business owners that much more of an advantage.

Another of the many advantages of being a Corporate Cleaning Group owner is the environment in which you operate. In corporate America, it’s all about the money, Dollar says, but in his market it’s not; it’s a different playing field with different attitudes. One of Dollar’s favorite examples is a story of one franchisee who cleans a local church and, in turn, is invited to multiple social functions, including their Christmas party. He’s like a member of their family, Dollar says.

A “ready, set, go” market and extensive training is not the only help the Corporate Cleaning Group is ready to provide future franchisees It supplies marketing and inside sales support along with developed, preferred vendor relationships that will enable franchisees to purchase chemicals, supplies and equipment at very affordable prices.

For more information about the opportunities with the Corporate Cleaning Group, visit FranchiseOpportunities.com.

Flip Flop Shops has hit another benchmark. Team 1040 Sports Radio show host Scott Rintoul, along with his wife, Fiona, heard that the FFS planned to open five stores in Vancouver within the next five years, and they jumped on the opportunity. The five stores are a part of a planned 12 stores in British Columbia alone. The couple is the first franchisee of an exclusively flip flop and sandal retail chain in the entire Maple Leaf country. The store is targeted to open in March.

“Vancouver is such an active community and flip flops symbolize an active lifestyle. Whether you’re going to the beach, the pool, the office or just out for a stroll around the city, there’s flip flops for every occasion. They’ve really become a way of life,” said Scott, who happens to be a flip flop size 8.

“Flip Flops are very well suited to the West Coast lifestyle – laid back and casual,” added Fiona, who is a Vancouver native and a size 7. “People work hard here, but they enjoy their out-of-work, leisure time.”

Flip Flop Shops was conceptualized in 2004, and began franchising in January 2008. If you live in Canada or are interested in what Canada could offer you in a change of lifestyle, ask for more information from Flip Flops Shops by filling out the form on their FranchiseOpportunities brochure page.

And just for fun fact’s sake, Vancouver is tied with Zurich Switzerland for the highest quality of life of any city in the world.

Until next time,
Amy

What youth-interest industry is hotter than video games right now? Ask any kid about the Xbox360, Playstation 3 or Nintendo Wii, and you might as well pull up a chair. What could be better than combining the hottest industry with something a kid will remember for the rest of his or her life — a birthday party?

A franchise out of Austin, TX is bringing a whole new meaning to birthday parties. Games2U is a mobile concept that brings a video game lounge and lazer tag to your doorstep. You provide the people, and it provides the entertainment. As a franchise, Games2U already has a presence in six states, and is coming soon to seven more. If you’re interested in the gaming industry, love kids (and acting like one) and think this could be a fun lifestyle, fill out the form on the FranchiseOpportunities.com Games2U web brochure.

Have the Summer Olympics got you feeling a tad lazy this summer? Is watching Michael Phelps dominate the pool and seeing how hard the beach volley teams work reminding you that you need to get out and work on your fitness? The Olympics may be good motivation for exercise, but they’re about half way over. What will you do for motivation after the closing ceremonies?

Investing in a health and fitness franchise is a great way to not only help motivate others, but also keep yourself involved. The Snap Fitness franchise system is a great opportunity for someone who is getting into franchising for the first time. This particular franchise company has worked to make this a fitness franchise that is convenient to American neighborhoods with its 24-hour, key-card access concept.

Investing in a health club franchise may not have you ready for London in 2012, but it’s sure to buff up your lifestyle and keep you feeling good…in more ways than one.

Until next time,
Amy

The extremely successful pizza franchise, Little Caesars, is opening new locations all over the country. Its simple business model, innovative concept and value niche market is attracting business investors like customers to its pizza. The experienced restaurant investment group, Restaurant Management Group, has recently purchased 16 stores in Tennessee and Virginia. But the expansion doesn’t stop there. The Group has also signed contracts to open more stores in North Carolina and Georgia…making a move toward 20 additional restaurant openings in the next 5 years.

Little Caesars has also recently expanded with its US Veteran franchise incentives. Check out its page at FranchsieOpportunities.com to see what else it has going on.

Until next time,
Amy

If they’re not there already, the kids are getting ready to go back to school. And the parents are getting ready for some real “me” time. Who wouldn’t want some time alone after running around all summer to camps, sports practices or friends’ houses? Now is the time to look into something for you. Something that you can control. Owning a franchise unit or taking advantage of a business opportunity enables anybody to be their own boss and make their own schedule!
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Our country just celebrated the Fourth of July, and Veterans Day is not too far away. There is no doubt that we have appreciation for our heroes, on the home-front or away at battle, retired, reserved or active duty. And that shows even in the franchising industry. Today, military veterans have extra financial incentives to buy a franchise.
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