September
2007 Newsletter
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Domain
Names/URLs for Sale at www.FranchisingURLs.com! |
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Last
week, Source Book Publications launched a new website
- www.FranchisingURLs.com.
The initial listing included over 80 domain names that
are particularly well-suited for the franchising industry.
Since that time, we have been inundated with both interested
buyers and sellers. The current list has grown to 217
domain names. They run the gamut from www.FranCity.com
($500) to www.MonsterFranchising.com ($5,000) to an industry
icon www.Franchising.org ($20,000). |
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To
browse the complete list of domain names/URLs (Uniform
Resource Locators) that are available for sale, please
visit www.FranchisingURLs.com.
In addition, we have set up separate lists that are specifically
appropriate for New
Lead Generation Sites, Attorney
Sites and Lender
Sites. Lastly, for those companies that wish for a
turn-key Lead Generation portal site that includes numerous
and specific sub-industry categories, we have cobbled
together numerous URLs that would provide exceptional
domain names for the “Best
Franchises” (includes 29 separate URLs that
start with Best, as well as 31 separate URLs that start
with Best-Franchises)
and numerous URLs that would provide exceptional doman
names for the “Great
Franchises" (includes 34 separate URLs that start
with Great). |
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Most
of those listed have been warehoused by various franchise
industry companies either to protect their own websites
or secure a potentially valuable domain name for the future.
Few have been activated. Hopefully, some URLs will strike
your creativity and result in a profitable, well-visited
website. My guess is that most domain name holders expect
potential buyers to negotiate over the suggested selling
prices noted on the site. |
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If,
after looking at the listing, you have any questions,
please contact Christine Kimmel at (800) 841-0873. |
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Where
Do the Major Lead Generation Websites Rank on the Major
Search Engines? |
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NEW
FEATURE IN THE LEAD GENERATION REPORTER ™ |
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The
reality is that there are over 150 lead generation sites
ready to provide you with the freshest, most qualified
and best-heeled prospective franchisees. Are you advertising
on a lead generation site that is aesthetically designed,
user-friendly and informative? That's great, but if that
site doesn't have clout (through Search Engine Optimization,
purchasing key words, etc.) with the search engines, it
probably doesn't justify your investment. We're living
in the age of internet search, where potential investors
turn to the Google Toolbar, rather than Consumer Reports,
as their primary research source. |
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Picking
the optimal lead generation websites on which to advertise
is both time consuming and, ultimately, a test of faith.
There are no guarantees as to the number or, more importantly,
the quality of the leads generated. The best lead generation
websites do a good job of “screening” prospective
franchisees. Some do no qualifying whatsoever. |
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What
this means for you as a franchisor is simply the following:
if the site you're advertising with doesn't show up
in the first 30 search results, the likelihood that
potential investors will peruse that site (and, accordingly,
your franchise) is woefully slim. |
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Realizing
the importance of advertising with a lead generation
site that ranks highly on the major search engines,
Source Book Publications has added a new feature to
the Lead Generation Reporter™ - Search
Engine Rankings. Upon ordering the Lead
Generation Reporter™, you'll gain access to the
Lead Generation Search Engine Rankings Report, which
will detail where various lead generation sites land
on major search engine search results lists when prompted
by nine, frequently-used keywords/terms. By studying
this Report, you'll be further equipped to decide where
you ought to place your advertising dollars. |
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Please
click
here to learn more about this new feature. |
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You
can download a sample Search Engine Rankings report here.
Please click
here to order the Lead Generation Reporter ™. |
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Earnings
Claim Hall of Fame: LearningRx |
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Source
Book Publications has long argued (with very modest
success) that all franchisors should be required to
submit an earnings claim statement (Item 19) in their
UFOC. Given that submission of an Item 19 is entirely
voluntary, only 20% of franchisors choose to do so.
The reasons for non-submission range from the ludicrous
to vaguely plausible.
To
us, it seems entirely one-sided to ask a prospective
franchisee to invest in excess of $200,000 (on average)
to “buy” a franchise without providing him
or her with a clear understanding what he or she might
earn from the investment. Although there are numerous
variables that preclude franchisors from coming up with
an exact projection of future Net Operating Income,
the franchisors clearly have the ability to determine
the historical sales and related expenses for operating
units currently within their system. At a minimum, they
can work backwards from royalty payments to come up
with a gross sales figure. To the extent that they closely
monitor and support their franchisees, they should have
a good sense of average operating costs as well. Given
this information and the latitude they have to provide
as much detail as they see fit, they can break out summary
operating data for those franchisees or company-owned
units that have been around for say 5 years, 10 years,
etc.
Our
sense is that the FTC will ultimately acknowledge the
need for a mandatory Item 19. Given the difficulty from
industry to industry to provide a workable template
for the submission of information, the FTC will continue
to allow franchisors to provide as much or as little
information as they deem necessary. Those franchisors
that do in fact provide real, in-depth information will
clearly enjoy a competitive advantage over those that
do not. At any rate, those franchisors that go to the
trouble of including an Item 19, even if only cursory,
should be acknowledged and applauded.
As
an on-going feature of future newsletters, World Franchising
will publish an exemplary Item 19 each month. This month,
we honor LearningRx
for the exceptional detail that they provide in their
Item 19. My guess is that the rapid growth and success
of their system has a great deal to do with the forthrightness
with which they celebrate the success of their existing
franchisees. To view their Item 19, please click
here.
Those
companies who feel they provide exceptional disclosure
in their Item 19s are free to submit their Item 19 electronically
for consideration in subsequent newsletters.
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Industry
Focus: Staffing Services |
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Today's
fast-paced world allows companies little time to
effectively fill the gaping holes left by former
employees. Consequently, staffing and personnel
services franchises have become invaluable resources
for a multitude of employers. Read on to learn about
specific franchise opportunities in this dynamic
industry. |
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Source
Book Publications Video Feature |
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Prompted
by the increasing importance of Web 2.0
media and the desire to keep all of us
from becoming too serious, we thought
we would add a monthly feature that highlights
an incredible new on-line video each month.
To
view this month's video, click
here.
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Source
Book Publications |
1814
Franklin St., Suite 440, Oakland, CA 94612 |
(800)
841-0873; (510) 839-5471; Fax (510) 839-2104; www.worldfranchising.com |
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In
This Issue |
URLs
for Sale at www.FranchisingURLs.com! |
New Feature in the Lead Generation Reporter! |
Earnings
Claim Hall of Fame |
Industry
Focus |
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Franchise
Spotlight |
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Express
offers an opportunity to be successful
with a proven business model. Our owner-operator
model lets you create your own definition
of success by designing what engages and
excites you. This business-to-business
franchise with weekday operating hours
and no out-of-town travel has four service
lines in one agreement.
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Established
in 1962, Glass Doctor is the largest chain
of full-service glass replacement providers
in the nation. Recognized by Entrepreneur
magazine among its "Franchise 500,"
Glass Doctor franchisees offer complete
glass replacement, service and repairs to
the automotive, residential and commercial
markets at more than 400 locations in the
United States and Canada. Glass Doctor is
part of The Dwyer Group family of companies,
which also includes Rainbow International,
Mr. Rooter, Aire Serv, Mr. Electric and
Mr. Appliance.
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IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) is the
world's global hotel company. Operates or
franchises more than 3,700 hotels and 558,000
guest rooms in more than 100 countries.
Franchisor of INTER-CONTINENTAL HOTELS,
CROWNE PLAZA HOTELS, HOLIDAY INN, HOLIDAY
INN EXPRESS AND STAYBRIDGE SUITES HOTELS,
CANDLEWOOD SUITES and HOTEL INDIGO.
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World's largest quick-service restaurant
with a chicken-dominant menu. KFC offers
full-service restaurants and non-traditional
express units for captive markets.
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The RE/MAX real estate franchise network,
now in its 33rd year of consecutive growth,
is a global system of more than 5,455
offices worldwide, engaging more than
116,800 members. RE/MAX sales associates
lead the industry in professional designations,
experience and production while providing
real estate services in residential, commercial,
referral, relocation and asset management.
For more information visit www.remax.com.
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