Here’s a sneak preview of a “soon to be launched” franchise website, US Franchise Opportunities & Small Business Directory. This new franchising site has a separate directory of franchises and business opportunities for each state in the U.S. Have you ever thought you found the perfect franchise opportunity only to learn that it was not available in your home state? My favorite part of the new site is that it brings you local weather, news, links and images from each state. Another great feature is the ability to easily page through each franchise opportunity that meets your criteria.
Of course, it is not unusual for a franchise directory to include a state filter. In fact, Franchise Solutions offers a several methods to filter your franchises by location. Use the first-of-its-kind Franchise Finder to filter your franchise search by industry, investment, and state. There is also the “3 Step Franchise Finder” to guide you through your selection process. Or you can visit our USA Franchise Directory and select the state you are interested searching for your dream business.
Here’s our monthly list of the top ten franchise businesses for February, 2009. The Top 10 List is produced from the most downloaded franchises on the Franchise Solutions directory. The Top 10 List is not in any way stating that these are the best franchises or most lucrative franchises. These are simply 10 of the currently hottest franchises on the market today.
Here is the top ten franchises list for February 2009:
Subway - Fast and casualfoods, sandwiches, and healthy deli sandwich franchise
Ecowash Mobile Car Wash Franchise** - a waterless car washing system which couples uncompromised quality and convenience with environmental sustainability
Pro Energy** - Energy auditing trhough the use of thermographic imaging to determine wasteful energy use
Former President Bill Clinton spoke to the franchise industry at the IFA Franchise South Expo last week and endorsed Barrack Obama’s economic stimulus bill (formerly know as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009). President Clinton feels that the effects of the stimulus package will start being felt as early as 15 months, but may take up to two years. He believes that the franchise and small business community should be “optimistic”, and expects the economy to “come out on the other side stronger than ever.”
Clinton feels that the economic stimulus plan will have to accomplish a couple of major goals. First the housing industry has to rebound. The recovery bill should rewrite home mortgages so they are affordable, while simultaneously providing more TARP funds to banks for home loans (that is if the banks are actually using the relief to lend money!). Next, the recovery bill will have to buy the toxic assets that are clogging up the money lending pipeline. These “assets” can be sold after the economy recovers for profit, Clinton theorizes.
However Clinton did criticize the recovery plan for not providing enough stimulus to the franchise and small business community. “More loans could be made available to small business” said Clinton. The ex-president urged the franchising and small business community to make their voices heard, “Go back to Congress and the White House” and lobby for more support from your representatives for small business.
So how does former President Clinton think we can recover from the current economic recession? It can be summed up with one phrase, “lending and spending”.
College Hunks Hauling Junk, the leading trash removal franchise in the country, is helping The Oprah Winfrey Show find guests who have a clutter problem clean up their homes. Oprah has started the “Clean Up Your Messy House Tour” and is looking for the messiest rooms and houses in America. If you, or someone you know, has a serious clutter and hoarding problem and would like to appear on The Oprah Winfrey Show, please send your story and photos to PR@1800JunkUSA.com.
If you want to help those with a clutter or trash problem, you might consider a commercial cleaning, residential cleaning, or junk removal franchise. College Hunks Hauling Junk was ranked in the top 30 new franchise opportunities for 2009 by Entrepreneur Magazine.
Many laid-off executives and managers that have found themselves the victims of ‘downsizing‘ are turning to franchising to find stability in an uncertain economy. This is especially true of older, more experienced workers who are afraid that they won’t be able to find a comparable job because of their age and the current down economy.
When you buy into a franchise business, you get marketing, advertising and training support you typically do not get with an independent business, said Alisa Harrison, spokeswoman at the International Franchise Association in Washington.
She said a franchised business allows an entrepreneur to take advantage of a proven business model and a proven brand.
“In good times and bad, a franchise allows you to go into business for yourself but not by yourself,” Harrison said.
As the new year approaches, let’s take a look at the business trends and growing industries that potential franchisees should consider before buying a franchise. Many of these trends are being fueled by the aging baby boomer generation while others are driven by the movement towards environmentally friendly products and healthier lifestyles. Here are a few of the franchise industries that should continue to grow in 2009 and beyond.
Whether we are talking environmentally-friendly, earth-friendly or energy efficient, Americans are trying to lower their carbon footprint and recycle as the ‘go green’ movement takes hold.
As the baby boomer generation moves into retirement and reach their senior years, they will fuel health care, in-home care, and fitness franchises for the next decade.
After having already banned smoking in public places, now local governments are passing laws to ban trans fats in restaurants from fast food to high end restaurants.
Business Alliance provides franchise consultations that assist potential business owners in finding the franchise that matches their interests, business skills, investment level and personal and career goals.
“One of the most important benefits of franchise consulting is that it is recession-proof. Franchise consulting is not negatively affected by a down economy…This is also one of the businesses that actually performs even better in a down economy, because among other factors, downsizing drives people to franchise ownership,” he said.
The Leading Company in a Growing Business
While franchise consulting businesses (overall) are experiencing high growth, Business Alliance is the largest and most successful franchise consultant business in this sector. The company has been in operation since 1991 and currently boasts over 240 franchise consultants in North America and Europe.
“Business Alliance has had tremendous success in the franchise consulting industry because the company has relationships with the best franchise companies in the industry…and only works with the franchises that have the best success rates and the best training and support systems”. “We work with more of Entrepreneur Magazine’s Top 500 franchises than anyone else.,” Reis went on to explain.
A Tried and Proven Business Plan
Business Alliance franchise consultants have the additional advantage of a business that is very flexible when it comes to the owners personal lifestyle. Business Alliance is a home based business allowing their consultants to work directly from their home office.
In addition, consultants can work part-time or full-time, adding even greater flexibility. Consultants do not need a retail location and the proven system requires no employees, no inventory and no travel.
Business Alliance offers a complete training program, which is the best in the industry. If you are well organized, have good analytical skills, are a good communicator and have a strong desire to help others, you would make an ideal candidate for Business Alliance ownership. Join the leader in the growing franchise consulting field, while helping others meet their goals of business ownership.
Barack Obama or John McCain, who will do the most for small business as the President of the United States? With so much rhetoric and mischaracterization of the opposing candidates positions, it can be very difficult to discern who stands for what, and who would be better for small businesses and franchises. Here are some excerpts from each candidates plans for small business, taken directly from Obama’s website and John McCain’s website (although McCain’s website is having some technical difficulties at the time of this writing). Today we’ll focus on issues directly relating to small business taxes and the cost of doing business.
Obama
McCain
• Repeal income tax cuts for those making over $250,000.
• Cut corporate tax rate from 35% to 25%.
• Eliminate taxes for senior citizens with incomes of less than $50,000.
• Double the exemption for dependents from $3500 to $7000.
• Eliminate capital gains tax for small businesses and start-up companies.
• Reduce the estate tax to 15 percent.
• Increase minority and women-owned small business access to capital.
• $10 million exemption for families to retain their businesses.
• Reduce taxes for rural small businesses through a 20% tax credit.
• Allow 1st year deduction (expensing) of equipment and technology investments.
Start a business that offers the latest GPS anti-theft technology products with a Millenium Plus distributorship business from CyberAutoTrack. With this GPS technology product you will know where your car is at all times. You will know whenever your car is moved, whether it is by a car thief, a member of your family, or by your local car repair shop. Soon, GPS units will be in every car sold in America. Why not take advantage of this growing industry? This is a home based business opportunity that will allow you to set your own hours, and set your own weekly schedule. Offer you clients peace of mind and enhanced safety with a CyberAutoTrack GPS business.
Franchise companies are offering potential franchisees a variety of incentives to buy a franchise. Pointing to the current economic climate, franchisors are offering two for one specials, lower franchise fees, and help with franchise financing to help lure new investors. Some franchise companies are also offering their current successful owners bonuses for recommending potential franchise buyers. Franchisors are also becoming more creative in helping potential business owners buy a franchise because the competition among franchise concepts has grown in recent years. The International Franchise Association estimates that there are over 3000 franchise concepts currently available for sale. So if you are looking to invest in a business, be sure to do your research and be aware of the creative incentives being offered by the franchise companies.
This list of the top ten franchises for sale and small business opportunities received the most interest on the Franchise Solutions website for August, 2008:
Subway - Deli Fast Casual Food and Healthy Sandwiches
According to the Sarah Palin for Governor website, the governor of Alaska is very concerned with small business owners and franchises. She believes that successful small business owners and franchises are critical to our regional economies. Small business owners should be as involved in local politics and regional policies as large corporation executives are. Small businesses and franchises actually employ more workers than large companies do. As Mayor and CEO of the growing city of Wasilla, “my team invited investment and encouraged business growth by eliminating small business inventory taxes, eliminated personal property taxes, reduced real property tax mill levies every year I was in office, reduced fees, and built the infrastructure our businesses needed to grow and prosper” (original content from www.palinforgovernor.com).
Franchise Solutions has announced the re-launch of its website devoted to women business owners (and those women that want to start their own business). Franchise Solutions for Women provides a franchise directory of businesses that are geared towards women. The site takes a lifestyle oriented approach to finding the right franchise or starting a business. You’ll gain insight into the requirements and lifestyle issues of running a franchise through testimonials from current women franchise owners. Other sections of the site include a Q&A section, She-zine Newsletter, and helpful, lifestyle-focused search tools. Click here to visit Franchise Solutions for Women.
AIS Media is an internet consulting business that offers an interesting alternative to the typical internet consulting business. The company has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, CNN, CNBC, MSNand scores of other published articles and newspapers for our industry expertise. AIS Media was created for entrepreneurs and current businesses owners that want to capitalize on the growing demand for Internet services – without the high costs, hassles and restrictions associated with owning a franchise.
NO franchise fee (your up-front licensing fee serves as a performance deposit only, which you can earn back over time)
NO royalty fees (you keep 100% of your profits)
NO middlemen (work directly with AIS Media)
NO restricted territory (enjoy the freedom to do business with any customer)
NO minimum sales quotas (enjoy the freedom to work full or part-time)
One of the most common questions I hear is, “How do I start a Starbucks franchise?”. Sorry to disappoint you, but Starbucks Coffee is not a franchise. Personally, I love Starbucks, and wish it were available to be franchised. But the best we can do is enjoy their coffee. Here is a Starbucks Coffeehouse locator. Follow this link if you are interested in researching other available coffee franchises.
Here’s a sneak preview of a “soon to be launched” franchise website, US Franchise Opportunities & Small Business Directory. This new franchising site has a separate directory of franchises and business opportunities for each state in the U.S. Have you ever thought you found the perfect franchise opportunity only to learn that it was not available in your home state? My favorite part of the new site is that it brings you local weather, news, links and images from each state. Another great feature is the ability to easily page through each franchise opportunity that meets your criteria.
endorsed Barrack Obama’s 
business community. “More loans could be made available to small business” said Clinton. The ex-president urged the 
College Hunks Hauling Junk
Business Alliance provides franchise consultations that assist potential business owners in finding the franchise that matches their interests, business skills, investment level and personal and career goals.
consultants to work directly from their home office.
Franchise companies are offering potential franchisees a variety of incentives to buy a franchise. Pointing to the 
According to the 
encouraged business growth by eliminating small business inventory taxes, eliminated personal property taxes, reduced real property tax mill levies every year I was in office, reduced fees, and built the infrastructure our businesses needed to grow and prosper” (original content from www.palinforgovernor.com).
AIS Media
you can earn back over time)
