A Wise Franchise???

A friend and I were chatting yesterday about another friend who is looking into buying a franchise. This is an opportunity where my friend would be a hands-on owner/operator of a franchise. He’s hoping to find a franchise opportunity which will allow him to not only draw an income and serve as an investment … but also give him and his family the opportunity to pursue other, more noble causes.

This got me thinking – what franchise/franchise concept would I find attractive?

I immediately went to Entrepreneur’s website to see their Top 500 Franchise listings. After looking at their list, I surmised operating a service and not a restaurant would be more appealing to me. I find service businesses more attractive because they help consumers SOLVE some problem they have. Usually these are 'problems' people will have for long periods of time, if not their entire life. Plus, I think it would be easier to manage a service-based business than a food-based business given all the complexities that go into running a remarkable restaurant franchise.

After spending twenty minutes thinking about this, the three franchise opportunities I found most attractive are:

SELF STORAGE FACILITY | This is a seemingly easy business to operate. People accumulate stuff and need a place to put stuff. Self storage solves that problem. One doesn't need special expertise to run a Self-Storage facility beyond basic business management know-how and a good understanding of financials. However, collecting from deadbeats may require special skills.

DRY CLEANING | Not just any dry cleaner ... an upscale dry cleaner using enviro-friendly processes would be a worthwhile franchise that solves a consumer problem in a better way for the earth. An enviro-friendly version of Bibbentuckers in Dallas would serve as a great model. I'm not sure if such a franchise exists.

GREAT HARVEST BREAD COMPANY | I like this franchise. Yes, it is a food-based business but they give their franchisees lots of freedom (or so I've read). I can rally behind the 100% natural product and because bread has been around for eons, it will be around for more eons to come. Great Harvest is a 'hippie'-minded and very open business that relies upon passion more than experience from their franchise operators.

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Now that you’ve spent 60 seconds thinking about this … what say you? What franchise opportunities/concepts do you find most attractive?

Comments

[Joe]

I think one of the keys of successful franchises is to avoid oversaturated markets. If you must go into a saturated market, then you'll have to differentiate yourself from the competition. Take self storage for an example. Go beyond the storage closet or simple garage style building. Offer climate controlled facilities, moving services, boat and RV storage, etc.

[Don Ball]

What about an organic lawn care service? I certainly would like to keep my lawn looking nice, but (1) I don't have the time,(2)don't care enough to make the time and (3) don't want to use nasty chemicals. There has to be more people like me wondering if there's a better way.

[Spike]

I've always loved 1-800-Got-Junk (www.1800gotjunk.com).

Very cool people. Very cool concept. Very cool culture. Enough so that I almost started my own. Almost.

[Dustin]

The problem with self-storage is we're reaching the pinnacle of the material-gathering era (if we haven't already reached it) and people are going to be looking for ways to sluff off their items. I think a combination storage/consignment would be a good idea. Once you've decided you could live without the stuff, why not sell it?

[Dustin]

Sorry, deviated from what you were asking.

I love Sonic Drive-Ins. They're great for people in a hurry (which seems to be a growing demographic) and I've had great experiences with them. Not sure that I'd want to run one of these though.

I'd be interested in the Interiors by Decorating Den franchise. I've always been an artist of various media, and my wife and I are constantly redecorating/remodeling (Yes, I said WIFE. Just because I'm a guy interested in interior design, don' get any ideas). Besides, based on the mass appeal of Trading Spaces and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, looks like people are interested.

The PostNet service would be enticing as well. I see people running away from USPS in droves!!!

[Tom Asacker]

Ebay Storage. Pay your monthly bill, or we'll find someone who will. ;)

[Heath Row]

You might be interested in Great Harvest's Recipe for Growth and The Greener Cleaners.

[johnmoore (from Brand Autopsy)]

And this article about Great Harvest from INC is also a worthy read.

[Alexoid]

Surely restaurantsm help people solve a problem they have. They're hungry and lazy, you feed them. ;)

[johnmoore (from Brand Autopsy)]

Of course restaurants solve a consumer’s hunger problem. I just wouldn’t be able to stomach the daily hassles of running a food-based franchise. Food-service is a tough business with lots and lots of complexities.

[Alexoid]

Completely agree. I've seen so many restaurants fail miserably that I'd definetly think twice about opening one. But it must supremely gratifying to watch your first customer leave your establishement, satisfied, satiated and food-poisoning free. While many franchisees try to "guarantee" success they're just feeding (hey!) rubbish to get you to sign up. Nothing is safe, we've had Domino's Pizza and Subway, two of the more reliable franchises fail miserably here.

[Keith Shewbert]

I am also interested in low cost franchise. Did 8 years in the foode service business and believe me you want no part of it. The franchise that jumped out at me was the Kumon Math and Reading franchise. Low cost, low saturation, opportunuity for family members to participate. Also gives you plenty of warm fuzzies when your customers realize their goals. Not bad.

[Cary Goldwasser]

In a conversation about branding and franchisors, I have to bring up The Crack Team. Foundation repair isn't exactly a sexy or glamorous business to promote, and there certainly isn't anything funny about a home with a wet basement. But with mascot Mr. Happy Crack and his slogan "A dry crack is a happy crack!", the 20 year-old company literally put a friendly face on a common and very scary problem for homeowners. Franchisees are attracted by the reality of owning a year-round, in-demand service. They also love the fact that Mr. Happy Crack attracts so much positive attention - and that once you've seen him, you don't easily forget him. He even has his own website and line of apparel. www.thecrackteam.com

[johnmoore (from Brand Autopsy)]

Stop Cary ... you are cracking me up. Seriously, the whole Crack Team idea follows the law of remarkability -- remarkable things get remarked about. Cool stuff Cary ... very cool stuff. Thanks for sharing.

[JoshA]

I don't know, self storage seems like a problem itself... or rather, the answer isn't spending more money to take up more space with your overflow of excess. Get some counseling.

[Jim Blake]

Calgary's 714-HAUL, other wise known as Custom Junk Solutions, has a great way of doing business that involves using all environmental resources available for creative and inexpensive waste disposal. Very cool approach check them out at www.customjunksolutions.ca

[Steve Quiggle]

So, what are the top self storage franchises??

[Tina]

I am so glad I quit my job and started a franchise years ago. I wouldn't be financially independent and I'd still be putting in long hours at someplace I didn't want to be. A franchise is the safest and best option for any entrepreneur.

[Charles fawcett]

Looking for Self Storage franchise information