Franchise Articles and Press Releases

Liberty Tax Recommends a Quick Check

bison.com — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Making Work Pay economic stimulus measure may boost the income of over 110 million American workers slightly this year. It may also cause a surprise for some taxpayers who discover that they need to adjust their withholding amounts, or owe at tax time.

Taxpayers who have more than one job and families with two working spouses may be having too little withheld. Working dependents, pensioners who have earned income, and some employees receiving Social Security, SSI, Railroad Retirement or Veteran’s Disability payments may also be in this category, and find it beneficial to check their withholding amounts.

“With the Making Work Pay credit in effect through 2010, it’s a good time to check and possibly adjust the withholding amount from your paycheck to match your tax liability. You can adjust the withholding amount and the allowances you are claiming by filling out a new Form W-4 Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate and giving it to your employer,” said John Hewitt, CEO and Founder of Liberty Tax Service.

Other life changes such as marriage and divorce, birth of a child, and changes in employment and income may mean too little or too much tax is being withheld. To increase withholding, decrease the number of allowances you claim on Form W-4. To decrease your withholding, increase the number of allowances that you claim on Form W-4. An employer should make the withholding changes within 30 days of receiving a revised Form W-4.

More About the Making Work Pay Credit
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 ushered in the Making Work Pay credit as an economic stimulus for working taxpayers this year and in 2010. The credit was designed to give a refundable tax credit of up to $400 to working individuals and $800 for working married couples. Working Americans are benefitting by seeing slight increases on their paychecks because the withholding tables have changed. The credit applies in full for individuals whose modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) does not exceed $75,000 or $150,000 in the case of married couples filing jointly. The credit is phased out at a two percent rate above that limit.

About Liberty Tax Service
Liberty Tax Service is the fastest growing retail tax preparation company in the industry’s history. The company plans to open up to 500 new offices in January 2010. Founded in 1997 by CEO John T. Hewitt, a pioneer in the tax industry, Liberty Tax Service has prepared over 7,000,000 individual income tax returns. With 41 years of tax industry experience, Hewitt stands as the most experienced CEO in the tax preparation business, having also founded Jackson Hewitt Tax Service (NYSE:JTX).

Liberty Tax Service provides computerized income tax preparation, electronic filing, refund loans, and online filing through eSmart Tax. Each office offers customers audit assistance, a money back guarantee, and free tax return checking. The Liberty Tax Service franchise opportunity has climbed to #3 on the latest Entrepreneur “Franchise 500.”

Great Clips Opens Hair Salon Franchise in Pekin, Illinois

bison.com — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Great Clips Opens Hair Salon Franchise in Pekin, Illinois

Great Clips franchise located in the Pekin Wal-Mart Shopping Center

Rob Goggins, vice president of franchise development for Great Clips, Inc., announced the Grand Opening of the company’s newest franchised salon in the Pekin Wal-Mart Shopping Center, in Pekin, Illinois.

“Our manager-run salon is conveniently located in the Peoria DMA just off State Road 9 in Pekin on the eastern bank of the Illinois River,” said Goggins. “This retail shopping center is anchored by a Wal-Mart Supercenter and, of course, our Great Clips salon.” The demographics of the area are well suited for our value-priced, no appointment necessary service.

“Our franchise owners open to a $55-billion hair-care industry. With more than $700 million in total system-wide sales, Great Clips is the industry leader and our business model is recession resistant. We just recorded our 20th consecutive month of same-store-sales growth.”

About Great Clips:
Great Clips is North America’s largest hair-care brand with nearly 2,800 salons conveniently located in high-visibility strip malls in nearly 140 markets. Great Clips consistently ranks among Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500Ò. Entrepreneur also ranks Great Clips as one of their Fastest Growing and one of America’s Top Global Franchises for 2009. For more information, go to

elements therapeutic massage to Debut Largest Store in Fountain Valley, Calif.

bison.com — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

elements therapeutic massage, inc., a national massage therapy franchisor, has announced that it will debut a new store next month in Fountain Valley, Calif. The studio, located at 18303 Brookhurst St., will be the first franchise in that market for the fast-growing massage chain and is almost twice the size of a traditional studio in its national network of 77 studios.

Local residents Kelly Berman and Deb Greene were awarded the franchise agreement. They will be co-owners of the Fountain Valley studio and also serve as area directors to grow the brand to 20 more locations from Santa Barbara to San Diego.

The Fountain Valley location will feature 12 massage rooms and offer six types of therapeutic massage from certified massage therapists: deep tissue massage, trigger point work, prenatal massage, hot stone massage, sports massage, Swedish massage and chair massage.

The decision to test a larger studio in the market was the result of attractive prices for premium commercial real estate in Fountain Valley and a strong demand for massage therapy services across the national elements therapeutic massage franchise network. The company has grown rapidly, opening locations in 21 states in less than three years, and was ranked on Entrepreneur magazine’s 100 Fastest-Growing Franchises list in 2009.

Kyle Gjersee, chief operating officer and senior vice president of elements therapeutic massage, said, “While the economy is struggling, our business is thriving across the U.S. as more people turn to massage therapy as a way to relieve pain and stress in their everyday lives. Our goal is to meet that need at a price people can afford. And we see a huge opportunity to do that for customers in Fountain Valley and throughout Orange County.”

Part of the $500-billion wellness industry, elements therapeutic massage is answering a growing demand to treat sore muscles and escalating stress in a society looking for options that don’t involve the high price and side effects of prescription drugs. Revenues have risen as much as 15 percent at the independently owned and operated elements locations across the country with more customers listing pain relief, stress reduction and therapeutic benefits as reasons for their visits.

Greene and Berman say they look forward to bringing that holistic service with a national reputation to their community.

“Today, massage therapy isn’t just about a 30-minute pampering session that you splurge for on a vacation,” said Berman. “It’s also about accessible pain management and deep muscle treatment to help refresh and restore good health as people get through their hectic lives. The perception of our industry is changing and that has opened the floodgates to serve a greater good.”

Situated in the Fountain Valley Promenade shopping center, elements therapeutic massage Fountain Valley will have a superior retail presence alongside complimentary businesses including 24-Hour Fitness, TJ Maxx and Ralph’s Grocery store.

About elements therapeutic massage, inc.:
elements therapeutic massage, http://corp.touchofelements.com, is headquartered in Highlands Ranch, Colo., and owned by Fitness Together Holdings, Inc. The parent company oversees Fitness Together Franchise Corporation, a one-on-one personal training fitness franchise that began franchising in 1996, and elements therapeutic massage, a massage therapy franchise that began franchising in 2006. Today, the combined franchise network has sold hundreds of franchises across the United States, Costa Rica, Israel, Ireland and Canada.

Great Clips Opens Hair Salon Franchise in Oakville, Ontario, Canada

bison.com — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Rob Goggins, vice president of franchise development for Great Clips, Inc., announced the Grand Opening of the company’s newest franchised salon in the Foxcreek Plaza Shopping Center, in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.

“Our manager-run salon is conveniently located in the Toronto metro area on Third Line and Dundas Street in Oakville, on Lake Ontario,” said Goggins. “This retail shopping plaza is anchored by a Price Chopper Supermarket and, of course, our Great Clips salon.” The demographics of the area are well suited for our value-priced, no appointment necessary service.

“Our franchise owners open to a $55-billion hair-care industry. With more than $700 million in total system-wide sales, Great Clips is the industry leader and our business model is recession resistant. We just recorded our 20th consecutive month of same-store-sales growth.”

About Great Clips:
Great Clips is North America’s largest hair-care brand with nearly 2,800 salons conveniently located in high-visibility strip malls in nearly 140 markets. Great Clips consistently ranks among Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500Ò. Entrepreneur also ranks Great Clips as one of their Fastest Growing and one of America’s Top Global Franchises for 2009.

Great Clips Records 20 Straight Quarters of Same-Store Sales Growth

bison.com — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Great Clips Inc., North America’s largest single-brand hair salon franchisor, recorded its 20th consecutive quarter of same-store sales growth in October, according to Rob Goggins, vice president of franchise development.

“This is a remarkable and validating accomplishment for our franchise owners over any period of time, but particularly these last several quarters with the economy in such turmoil,” said Goggins. “When we promote our franchise brand as recession-resistant, we can back it up.”

"This is an impressive statement about the performance of the Great Clips brand," added Darrell Johnson, president & chief executive officer of FRANdata. "Especially considering the challenging economic environment of the last few years, it's rare to see such a consistent increase in store sales."

Becoming a successful Great Clips salon owner isn’t about being an expert in hair; it’s about being a strong leader.

“Our typical franchisee invests in Great Clips in order to transition out of corporate America. The business model allows individuals to keep their day jobs while building their salon businesses on the side,” said Goggins. “Successful franchisees usually come from the middle- and upper-level executive ranks of industry. They possess strong management, leadership, communications and people skills. And, they don’t cut hair. They are CEOs of their Great Clips, managing people and expanding their businesses.”

Metropolitan Detroit franchisee Raine Campeau has seen firsthand the success of the Great Clips system.

“Our Great Clips franchise organization, Sanra, Inc., is up 10 percent in dollars this time over last year, and customer count growth is up 7.4 percent this year,” Campeau remarked. “Our organization is making so much money we bought property on a lake in the Hilton Head, S.C., area and plan to build a winter home there in a few years.”

Great Clips leads the hair salon business with nearly 2,800 franchised units throughout North America, and is ranked 90th in system-wide sales by Franchise Times magazine in its annual Top 200 listing of worldwide franchise chains.

"We have experienced significant growth in all our markets, even during this recession,” said Kyle Eckmann, multi-salon owner in Montana. “Customer counts are up about 10 percent this year, and we are looking for additional opportunities to expand and gain market share. Great Clips provides franchisees with a fantastic business model that thrives in both good and bad economic times."

Great Clips’ success, in turn, has benefitted companies with whom it works closely, such as IRH Capital.

"The success of IRH Capital, to a great extent, depends upon partnering with quality franchisors such as Great Clips,” says Keith Rabin, managing member, IRH Capital. “Great Clips has continued to prove its strength and commitment even during this challenging environment and we are not surprised by its continued success."

About Great Clips:
Great Clips is North America’s largest hair-care brand with nearly 2,800 salons conveniently located in high-visibility strip malls in nearly 140 markets. Great Clips consistently ranks among Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500Ò. Entrepreneur also ranks Great Clips as one of their “Fastest Growing” and one of “America’s Top Global Franchises” for 2009.

Proforma Asks, "What Are you Thankful For"

bison.com — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Coming off of what was a challenging year for businesses and consumers alike, Proforma is turning the focus from the negative to the positive with the “What Are you Thankful For?” promotion. Launching on 11-10-09, the promotion encourages people across the country to submit photos of the things for which they are the most thankful.

Not only is this a chance for people to share what is important to them, every 100th submission will receive a digital photo frame as a thank you from Proforma.

“We realize that this was a tough year for lots of people! With this in mind, there are still plenty of aspects of life that we should be thankful for,” said Greg Muzzillo, Founder of Proforma. “I am thankful for my family and for each and every member of my Proforma Family.”

According to Muzzillo, the concept behind the promotion is to get people to focus on the important things in life instead of the negativity that was dominating the news this past year.

“Our theme for 2010 is ‘Share the Vision,’ and we are embracing the opportunity to encourage others outside of our organization to be thankful for what they have and to look to 2010 with a renewed vision. Whether it relates to work, family or a combination of both, the New Year is going to bring with it a wealth of opportunity.”

About Proforma
With over 30 years of experience, Proforma remains clearly focused on providing solutions to North American businesses for their graphic communications needs. A leading provider of promotional products, printing services, business documents, and eCommerce solutions, Proforma has received numerous awards and is recognized as one of the top five largest companies in our industry. Proforma serves approximately 50,000 clients through more than 700 member offices in North America. The Proforma Worldwide Support Center is located in Cleveland, Ohio.

Mr. Handyman Named in Top 50 Franchises for Minorities

bison.com — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In the recent survey published by the National Minority Franchising Initiative, Mr. Handyman, the country’s leading full-service home repair and maintenance franchise and the No. 1 employer of handymen worldwide, was named as one of the top 50 franchise opportunities for minority business owners.

The NMFI selected the 50 winners from a list of over 300 companies. Each franchisor’s Franchise Disclosure Document and marketing packages sent to prospective franchisees were evaluated. Companies were also required to complete a questionnaire which highlighted such topics as minority leadership roles, minority representation within franchise system and minority incentive programs offered.

Final selection was a function of many factors that included historical performance, brand identification, market dynamics, franchisee satisfaction, the level of initial training and on-going support and financial stability, as well as the results of the questionnaire.

“Being recognized by such a prestigious national organization for our dedication to actively recruit and support minorities within our system is truly a great honor,” said Mr. Handyman President and CEO Todd Recknagel.

With 75 percent of American homes more than 25 years old, Mr. Handyman is growing to meet the needs of its customers in the $100 billion home service industry. For the past four years, the company has opened a new franchise every week and plans to reach at least 315 locations by the end of the year through franchise expansion. Currently, Mr. Handyman is seeking franchise owners for available territories across the United States including St. Louis, Atlanta, Miami, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, San Antonio and Kansas City to continually fill the need for professional and reliable handyman services across the country.

This opportunity is ripe, given U.S. Census Bureau data showing that six out of 10 homeowners have home improvement lists and most Americans have an eye on seven or more projects at any given time.

“Mr. Handyman will continue to expand its high quality, value driven brand with qualified individuals,” Recknagel added. “We provide our franchisees with the support tools of a proven system that includes initial and ongoing training, ongoing research and development of new practices and effective marketing promotions.”

About Mr. Handyman
Mr. Handyman is a network of independently owned and operated franchises with 300 locations nationwide that provides commercial and residential property maintenance and repair services. Founded in March 2000, Mr. Handyman is a member of Service Brands International, a group of service companies that provide a variety of timesaving services ideally suited for today’s active consumer. Mr. Handyman was recently recognized as one of America’s fastest growing, service-oriented franchise systems and the No. 1 handyman service in Entrepreneur magazine. Mr. Handyman enlisted famed handyman TV persona Richard Karn, the former Al Borland from ABC’s sitcom ‘Home Improvement,’ to serve as the national spokesperson and face of the Mr. Handyman brand.

Snap Fitness Recognized as One of Twin Cities' Fastest Growing Companies

bison.com — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Snap Fitness, the fast growing franchise system featuring compact, state-of-the-art fitness centers has ‘muscled’ its way to the top of the Minneapolis/St.Paul Business Journal’s “Fast 50”.

Unveiled on October 22, Snap Fitness leads the list fastest-growing private companies in Minnesota with a growth rate of 638 percent since 2006 and 2008 revenue of nearly $32 million.

“We are truly honored to be recognized as the fastest growing company in our home state,” said Peter Taunton, Founder and CEO of Snap Fitness. “We look forward to building on our continued success and growing worldwide in 2010.”

Launched in 2003, Snap Fitness offers members a fast and convenient workout alternative to traditional “big box” health clubs, including access 24 hours a day, seven days a week and the industry’s best equipment, allowing members to get the same quality workout experience at a lower cost and with no contracts.

“Our more than 400,000 satisfied members, combined with our triple-digit revenue growth, proves we're honed in to what consumers want and expect from their fitness program,” Taunton added.

Today, Snap Fitness has nearly 2,000 locations open or under development worldwide and consistently opens 300-400 new clubs each year. Company plans call for a total of 2,500-3,000 centers within the next five years. In addition to being in nearly every state, Snap Fitness also operates clubs in Canada, India and Mexico, and recently launched its expansion into Australia and New Zealand.

About Snap Fitness, Inc.
Fresh off its #3 ranking on Entrepreneur Magazine's list of Top New Franchises and recently ranked #1 on Franchise Market's Top 100 New Franchises, Snap Fitness is experiencing phenomenal growth with more than 1,800 locations sold nationwide and some 30-40 new stores added monthly. Founded in 2003 by CEO Peter Taunton, the Chanhassen, Minn.-based franchisor offers compact, state-of-the-art, 24/7 express fitness clubs that emphasize fast, convenient and affordable workouts in neighborhoods across America and world wide.

Home Helpers and Direct Link Recognize Outstanding Franchise Owners

bison.com — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Home Helpers, the nation’s leading senior care franchise specializing in non-medical and personal care and companionship for seniors, recently presented 19 deserving franchise owners and caregivers with awards recognizing everything from excellent customer service to outstanding marketing initiatives to dedicated leadership. Each individual was honored at the company’s annual national conference in Orlando, Fla., on October 14, 2009.

The 2009 outstanding franchise owners include:

Home Helpers Presidents Award – Bill and Janet Dean of Chillicothe, Ohio Recognizes the franchisees who have demonstrated a strong commitment to their own franchise, as well as the entire franchise community.
Direct Link Presidents Award –Michelle Brown, Andy Brown and the late Adam Brown of Drexel Hill, Penn. Recognizes the franchisees who have consistently shown dedication to the continued growth of their business and excellent customer service.
Adam Brown Spirit of Home Helpers Award – John Squires of Delaware County, Penn. Recognizes the franchisee who has exhibited the Home Helpers spirit while growing their business, making significant achievements and contributing to the system as a whole.
People’s Choice Award – Shawn and Kathy Spence of Willow Sheet, Penn. Nominated by peers, recognizes the franchisees that unselfishly mentor others while continuing to develop their business.
Caregiver of the Year Award – Rebecca Hatfield of Chillicothe, Ohio Selected through a nomination process, recognizes the caregiver that demonstrates hard work, dedication and service to others.
Marketing Excellence Award – Becky Pickett of Greer, S.C. Recognizes the franchisee who consistently executes a broad marketing plan and its many facets.
Pioneer Award – Ed Kerfin and Ross Novak of Lockport, Ill. Recognizes the franchisees who utilize innovative ideas and creative approaches to make a difference and grow their business.
Rookie of the Year – Robert Harter of Middle, Tenn. Recognizes a new franchisee that has shown enormous growth potential, excellent customer service and strong sales growth.
Shooting Star Award – Ted Cooley and Debbie Morris of Hilton Head, S.C.; Johnny and Barbara Causing of Las Vegas, Nev.; Randy and Gail Stathers of Yorktown, Va. Recognizes franchisees in each region who consistently grow their business through operational efficiencies, client satisfaction and service.

“Each one of these owners and caregivers serve as a role model for our entire system,” Emma Dickison, president of Home Helpers, said. “Whether through their dedication to excellent customer service, involvement within their local communities, willingness to mentor other owners and all around commitment to bettering the franchise community, each honoree embodies the Home Helpers mission of ‘Making Life Easier.’ We are proud to have them as members of our franchise family and applaud them for their extraordinary accomplishments.”

Home Helpers offers free in-home consultations and works with individual clients and their families to tailor flexible care plans to meet their specific needs and budgets. Services offered may include companionship, grocery shopping, meal preparation, transportation, assistance with bathing and dressing, medication reminders and light housekeeping. Direct Link® Help At The Touch Of A Button? is a personal emergency response system that enables seniors to feel safer and live independently, 24/7, in the comfort of their own home longer than might otherwise be possible.

ABOUT HOME HELPERS
Founded in 1997, Cincinnati-based Home Helpers is the nation’s leading senior care franchise specializing in non-medical and personal care and companionship for seniors, new mothers, those recovering from illness or injury and individuals facing lifelong challenges. Home Helpers currently has a presence in more than 500 markets across North America and is seeking qualified franchise candidates in strategic markets throughout the country. Home Helpers was recently ranked the #1 Senior Care Franchise and “Best of the Best” by Entrepreneur magazine for the fourth straight year and continues to lead the way in the senior care industry. Home Helpers is affiliated with Direct Link® Help At The Touch Of A Button?, a 24-hour in-home emergency monitoring system that enables seniors to feel safer and live independently at home for longer than might otherwise be possible.

Cartridge World Adds Rod Young to Board of Directors

bison.com — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Cartridge World, the world’s fastest growing ink and toner remanufacturing retailer and franchisor in the $80 billion printer cartridge industry, announces the addition of Rod Young to their Board of Directors.

Young, who has been a key advisor to some of Australasia’s leading groups, transforming smaller businesses into national and international chains and steering larger organizations in using franchising, will be supporting the brand’s development initiatives around the world. As a leading member of the international franchise community, throughout the US, Australia and Asia, Young will work closely with existing board members to escalate the company’s global standing.

“Rod Young is a versatile management professional with a broad range and depth of experience leading a consulting conglomerate developing networks and brands,” said Peter Hasko, Executive Chairman of Cartridge World. “We are thrilled he has taken on this new role to strengthen the Cartridge World brand utilizing his widespread knowledge of the franchising industry.”

With over 30 years of experience in franchising, licensing and business development in Australia, Europe, China, South East Asia, India and the United States, Young is considered one of the world’s leading franchise consultants. Young founded DC Strategy, the region’s premier franchise consulting, legal and research firm, providing a specialist range of management, marketing and strategic consulting, legal and research services to the franchise and broader business community. His extensive familiarity of the franchise industry, coupled with his widespread knowledge of both national and international franchise systems, will lay a strong foundation for the next phase of Cartridge World’s strategic growth.

“Cartridge World is the perfect opportunity to get involved with a well-known international brand that is experiencing tremendous success,” Young said. “The company provides customers with superior service and an alternative to help them reduce their impact on the millions of cartridges that end up in landfills each year.”

Young is endorsed by the Franchise Council of Australia as well as being on the Board of the Indian Franchise Association and a Visiting Professor of Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai, PRC. He also develops content and presents parts of the US International Franchise Association Certified Franchise Executive Program in the United States and is a regular speaker at International franchise conventions around the world.

About Cartridge World
Emeryville, CA – based Cartridge World is the world’s fastest growing ink and toner refilling retailer and franchisor in the $80 billion printer cartridge industry. The company refills and remanufactures inkjet and toner printer cartridges, using state-of-the-art processes and high quality inks and toners. It offers consumers and businesses a more affordable option to buying new, provides a 100% s500, Cartridge World has more than 1,700 franchised retail locations in 61 countries.

Young Masters Supports Struggling Art Programs Across America

bison.com — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Young Masters, a national franchise that showcases children’s artwork on lasting keepsakes recently launched its first national art contest, giving elementary schools an added incentive to support art education for their students.

Through December 4, 2009, all elementary school students in the U.S. participating in the Young Masters program are eligible to enter the national art contest. Teachers submit pieces of artwork from grades K-2 and 3-5, with each school allowed up to four nominees. A team of Young Masters judges will select a winner from each level, with the winning school receiving $500 for its art department and a pizza party. Each winner will also take home a host of products showcasing their winning art work, including a tote bag, puzzle, postcards, t-shirt, bag tag, key chain, notepad holder and a 4-foot WallPix.

With Young Masters, children create original artwork during class, which is then transferred onto mugs, mouse pads, sweatshirts, tote bags, postcards and a variety of other useful products as memorable keepsakes or gifts for parents and families. Schools that work with Young Masters receive a percentage of the proceeds from product purchases to support their art departments.

“Art education is a critical part of a young student’s learning experience,” said Joe Lindenmayer, President of Young Masters. “Our national art contest is another way for Young Masters to help support the schools that are in need of additional funds to sustain their art programs.”

The Young Masters process was designed to be simple and hassle-free for participating schools. Students create their artwork on special paper provided by Young Masters using the teachers’ art lessons or free lessons developed by Young Masters. The franchise owner collects the artwork and creates a customized order form for each child featuring his or her artwork. Next, the forms are sent home to parents and families to review, where they can choose from dozens of products featuring their child’s artwork. Finally, the order forms are sent to the school or organization, the Young Masters franchise owner collects them and delivers the lasting keepsakes back to the school.

About Young Masters
The Young Masters program was founded in 2005 and became a franchised business in late 2008. Currently, 23 Young Masters franchise owners across the country work with art educators in their communities to transform students’ artwork into lasting memorabilia and to help raise funds to support fine arts and other school programs endangered by budget cuts.

KOKO FITCLUB'S INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION BEGINS IN CANADA

bison.com — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The future of fitness will arrive soon in Ontario Canada. Hailed by Club Business International as “The next big thing in fitness,” and by BusinessWeek as “Just what the fitness industry needs,” Koko FitClub LLC, the technology company that is reinventing the fitness franchise business, today announced a multi-unit deal that marks the beginning of the company’s international expansion. RosKo Fitness, Inc. will operate Koko FitClubs in the Ontario area with its first Club planned to open outside Toronto in Oakville by the end of this year.

Through its patented Koko Smartraining System™ Koko FitClub replaces expensive personal trainers with technology that precisely analyzes each member’s unique fitness level, designs a customized training plan based on individual fitness goals and ability, and guides members through every workout using Koko’s interactive video screen on its proprietary strength and cardio equipment. The system packs all the benefits of a 60-90 minute personal training session into just 30 minutes or less.

The Smartraining technology also enables club owners to offer a high level of service to their members without the burden of keeping expensive personal trainers on staff. This technology allows Koko FitClubs to be run by one person during daytime hours and can operate in no-staff, self-service mode during off-peak hours without any difference in service levels to its members.

“International expansion was not an immediate focus for us,” said Mike Lannon, co-founder of Koko FitClub. “But Tony Rossi and Chris Kotsos, the RosKo partners, understood the incredible opportunity we offer both consumers and franchisees and aggressively pursued the rights to open Koko FitClubs to Canada. Together they bring such an unparalleled set of skills, experience and passion for fitness, that we accelerated our entry into the international fitness arena.”

Rossi and Kotsos have been business partners for nearly a decade, currently at their company SpinCycle Marketing Solutions. Both have extensive sales and marketing backgrounds as well as experience and expertise in management and operations. Tony Rossi has more than twenty years experience in corporate Canada including positions as VP Sales and Marketing, Konica Minolta, GM of Epson Canada and Director of Retail Sales for Rogers Communications. For more than twenty years, Chris Kotsos owned and operated his own sales and marketing company.

“We were looking for a retail business and were intrigued by Koko FitClub’s potential to be a game-changing fitness industry leader for millions of Canadians,” said Tony Rossi, RosKo partner.

“We relentlessly pursued the opportunity because no other fitness franchise offers anything akin to the Smartraining System,” added Chris Kotsos.

Koko FitClub has invested nearly $10,000,000 in developing the one-of-kind technology since 2003, which provides Koko FitClub’s co-ed membership with world-class personal strength and cardio training for at a fraction of the cost of traditional gyms.

About Koko FitClub
Koko FitClub, a technology company that is completely reinventing the fitness franchise business, is designed for franchisees that want to be at the forefront of an entirely new concept of fitness, health and technology. Its patented Smartraining System technology, developed by founders Mike Lannon and Mary Obana with assistance from the Director of the MIT Center for Sport Innovation, enables Koko to provide consumers with unlimited personal training at a remarkably low cost and provides franchisees with an end-to-end system to run the operation. Today, after more than 100,000 exercise sessions completed and millions of calories burned, the Koko Smartraining System is recognized as the most dynamic automated strength and cardio personal training system in fitness. In 2008, the company received the coveted Nova7 award for industry innovation in the fitness industry. Koko FitClub is the exclusive fitness franchisor to offer the Smartraining System.

PuroClean Secures Home Base in Toronto, Aims to Lower Property Claims for Insurance Providers

bison.com — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

After experiencing record growth and helping to reduce property damage insurance claims in the U.S. for the last eight years, PuroClean, the nation’s fastest growing property emergency services franchise, has announced an aggressive expansion strategy calling for 40 franchise locations throughout Canada in the next five years.

“As of late 2008, we completed the infrastructure necessary to support fast-paced franchise growth throughout Canada,” said Keith Gerson, COO and president of PuroClean. “We have the right service providers, vendors, and contractual agreements in place; now, we’re focusing on educating the insurance industry about our capabilities and expanding our franchise system.” Gerson will visit with Canadian property insurance underwriters throughout Ontario on October 21 – 23 to further assess the needs of the Canadian insurance industry.

Within the last six months, the 300 unit franchise specializing in the mitigation of property damage related to water, fire, mold, and other trauma events, opened a Canadian headquarters in Markham, ON along with six new franchises in the Toronto market for a total of seven existing franchises in the province. Additional markets targeted for expansion include Vancouver, BC; Victoria, BC; Calgary, AB and Edmonton, AB.

“Our Ontario franchise locations are posting some of the fastest early growth figures in PuroClean history,” Gerson said. “With the support of our new headquarters in Markham, our Canadian Franchisees are able to achieve faster responses, higher project capacity and more than 95 percent excellent customer satisfaction rates. PuroClean is poised to become the leading property emergency services franchise throughout Canada as we meet insurance professionals’ demand for consistent and efficient mitigation services for their policy holders.”

PuroClean enjoyed a record-setting 2008, opening 76 new franchise locations and grossing more than $68 million in revenues, up from $51 million in 2007. Most impressive were sales gains at existing franchise locations, up an astounding 19 percent from 2007 to 2008. The numbers for 2009 have been equally impressive. Consumer sales are up 23 percent, with 72 Franchisees already opening this year.

About PuroClean
PuroClean, the fastest growing franchise in the U.S. with more than 300 locations serving the property damage restoration industry, first expanded into Ontario, Canada in 2005. Currently, seven franchise locations and a Canadian home office in Markham, Ontario service the country’s $10 billion property damage claims industry. Known as the “Paramedics of Property Damage™” among insurance professional and property owners, PuroClean certified technicians provide emergency services to restore properties damaged by water, fire, smoke, mold, and biohazard events. With 2008 system-wide revenues exceeding $68 million, PuroClean continues to attract entrepreneurial-minded individuals looking for a personally and financially rewarding business opportunity in the recession-proof insurance property claims industry. Entrepreneur magazine ranked PuroClean #119 in its coveted 2009 Franchise 500® ranking of top franchise companies in the world. PuroClean also received the prestigious Franchise Research Institute’s World Class Franchise™ designation for the fourth consecutive year in 2008.

FROOTS Continues International Expansion

bison.com — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

FROOTS, a rapidly growing quick service food and smoothies franchise, is excited to announce the addition of Juana Esmeraldina Rodriguez as a master franchisee charged with developing the franchise in the Dominican Republic.

Mrs. Rodriguez, an attorney, spent 19 years with the telephone company but had a strong entrepreneurial desire to own her own business. She did a great deal of research into U.S. businesses that might be appropriate for the Dominican Republic and when she discovered Froots, she knew it would offer her just the type of opportunity she wanted.

“The Dominican Republic is a beautiful island located in the center of the Caribbean,” explains Mrs. Rodriguez. “People here enjoy a healthy eating style and they appreciate finding restaurants that help them make food choices that include fresh fruits and vegetables. I know that Froots will be very well-received in my community.”

FROOTS, which was created by David Lopez, has been franchising since 2004 and continues rapid growth by offering a unique menu featuring fresh and healthy foods. Diners have many options for low fat and low calorie meals, and the very popular smoothies are made with fresh fruit. Smoothie add-ins are also available like energy, fat burning and protein blends. Menu items reflect a variety of cultures and new items are added frequently to keep the offerings exciting.

“I’m very happy to be bringing Froots restaurants to this location,” says Mrs. Rodriguez. “Many Dominican Republic residents enjoy a healthy lifestyle and we will be able to give them the option of healthy meals that are also delicious and convenient. Froots uses natural ingredients and our menu is large enough to satisfy a variety of appetites. Along with the quality of our food, Froots is also known for the personalized service offered to customers so I expect our restaurants will be a very welcome addition. My plan is to be able to open a number of stores within a few years.”

About FROOTS
FROOTS is a quick service restaurant offering a variety of fruit smoothies, healthy gourmet wraps, salads and Paninis. Using only fresh ingredients, FROOTS creates unique flavor profiles to satisfy a culturally-diverse clientele. FROOTS Franchising, Inc., is headquartered in Davie, FL and is a privately owned company. The concept was created in 2001 by its founder and CEO, David Lopez and has been franchising since 2004. Currently there are over 50 locations in the US and international locations in Honduras, Panama, Guam, Turks & Caicos and Iraq. Locations in Singapore, UAE and Oman are in development Expansion plans include opening an additional 500 locations in the next five years.

Local Business Owner Poised to Help Community with a Coupon Boost

bison.com — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Business owner James McInerney of Rockville, Maryland opens his doors to the Bethesda and Chevy Chase business community and is ready to give his local economy a boost.

McInerney knows that to help the economy bounce back, shoppers have to spend money. However, consumers are being more discriminating on where they spend their dollars, favoring merchants who offer discounts. A recent direct mail survey conducted by DMNews and Pitney Bowes indicates that 64% ousiness as the medium to help merchants maintain their customer base in addition to winning over more customers from their competition. “The purpose of any good business is to be able to solve a problem or fulfill a need” said McInerney. “With BCC SuperCoups, I feel confident that I can do both for my local community.”

McInerney has attended training at SuperCoups headquarters in East Taunton, Massachusetts, and is ready to provide his community with his services.

“We’re looking forward to the opportunity to work with James develop his business” said Bill Matthews, President of SuperCoups. “We are confident he can make a difference in the Southern Montgomery County Market by helping consumers save money on products and services they need and helping business owners attract and retain more customers. It is a pleasure to welcome James to the SuperCoups family.”

About SuperCoups:
SuperCoups, a Valassis company, is a leading direct mail franchisor throughout the United States. Since 1982, SuperCoups has delivered local savings coupons to consumers. Currently, the company mails over 1.3 billion offers in over 60 million envelopes to 17 U.S. states. Franchisees are professionally trained to assist advertisers in developing effective offers and campaigns to maximize sales results and growth. SuperCoups is headquartered in a state-of-the-art 62,000 s/f facility at 350 Revolutionary Drive in East Taunton, MA 02718.

About Valassis:
Valassis is one of the nation's leading media and marketing services companies, offering unparalleled reach and scale to more than 15,000 advertisers. Its RedPlum media portfolio delivers value on a weekly basis to over 100 million shoppers across a multi-media platform - in-home, in-store and in-motion. Through its interactive offering - redplum.com - consumers will find compelling national and local deals online. Headquartered in Livonia, Michigan with approximately 7,000 associates in 28 states and eight countries, Valassis is widely recognized for its associate and corporate citizenship programs, including its America's Looking for Its Missing Children(R) program. Valassis companies include Valassis Direct Mail, Inc., Valassis Canada, Promotion Watch, Valassis Relationship Marketing Systems, LLC and NCH Marketing Services, Inc.

BrightStar of DuPage County Acquires Always There Resources Home Care Clients

bison.com — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

BrightStar of DuPage County, a full-service healthcare staffing agency that provides medical and non-medical home care, announced that as of October 5, 2009 it has acquired the home care clients and caregiver employees of Always There Resources, locally owned by Nat Truitt. Always There Resources opened in 2006 and has provided residents of Wheaton, Glen Ellyn and the surrounding area with premium service for in-home non-medical care. Their core business is helping seniors continue to live independently in their homes.

Jim Flickinger, local owner of BrightStar of DuPage County met Always There Resources’ owner Nat Truitt while laying the ground work to open his business in 2008. Always There Resources has specifically provided non-medical care services to seniors while BrightStar has offered medical and non-medical in-home care to seniors, new mothers, and patients recovering from surgery or illness.

“We are very excited to be partnering with Nat, his staff and clients,” said Jim Flickinger of BrightStar of DuPage-Wheaton. “Nat has built an organization that is synonymous with quality senior care. Their reputation for providing such care is as good as it gets in this area.”

Over the past year, Nat and Jim became business associates and have shared networking and marketing information in order to establish and grow their clientele base throughout DuPage County. Earlier this year, it became clear to Nat and Jim that their organizational cultures, service scope and geographic service area match together very well and decided that in order to better service the community it would be ideal to merge. BrightStar has also established a strong name and resources throughout the surrounding area and they will continue to be committed to providing quality medical care that complements the non-medical care client's of Always There clients have become accustomed to.

Truitt will still be a part of the overall business development, but has decided to take a step back to focus on other business ventures which includes technology services for seniors. BrightStar has assumed all of Always There Resources clients as caregivers including primary Care Manager Susan Wolski MSW and Care Manager Hanneke Schiffleger. They will continue to be the prime contacts and managers for the in-home care clients of BrightStar DuPage County.

According to the United States Government, healthcare spending is projected to reach nearly $3 trillion by the end of 2009. While senior citizens make up the majority of BrightStar’s private duty clientele, the company also works with pediatric and worker compensation cases, long term care and Veteran clients, as well as private trust and public guardian payers. BrightStar also provides medical staffing services for a variety of medical service organizations. Whether it’s assisting clients who require high levels of medical care or simply providing a loved one with companionship, BrightStar strives to improve their clients’ quality of life, maintain their dignity, and relieve the stress that their families face on a day-to-day basis, all while remaining in the comfort of their own home.

About BrightStar
Based in Chicago, BrightStar is a full-service healthcare staffing agency with over 125 locations that provide medical and non-medical homecare to private clients within their homes, as well as supplemental healthcare staff to a variety of medical organizations. Our well-qualified, attentive caregivers provide peace of mind to clients and their families. We truly do “Make More Possible.” We work to understand the needs of our clients and provide a customized care plan to match them with a qualified, pre-screened caregiver who is compatible with their needs. BrightStar is one of the few home healthcare providers that offer both medical and non-medical homecare, available to all clients 24 hours/7 days a week.

Aussie Pet Mobile Franchise Expands North American Market to Include Canada

bison.com — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

With North American pet owners spending an estimated $50 billion on pets this year alone, Aussie Pet Mobile, the world’s largest mobile pet grooming service, has announced expansion into Canada. The growth plan extends the brand’s footprint in North America beyond its 300-plus units primarily in the United States, providing a proven investment opportunity for investors seeking to enter the steady and resilient industry.

Based on the success of its current U.S. and overseas operations, Aussie Pet Mobile’s growth plans call for 37 new mobile pet grooming units to be in operation in Canada by the end of 2010. Overall, company plans include opening more than 300 franchises throughout Canada, projecting to corner the mobile pet grooming niche with its commitment to quality care, convenience and attention to pets of all shapes and sizes, keeping pets ‘clean ‘n’ cute’.

“As pet spending continues to soar throughout North America, the potential for success as an Aussie Pet Mobile franchise owner has never been better,” said Richard Avis, President and CEO of Aussie Pet Mobile of Canada. “Aussie’s strong brand recognition in a market that presents little competition offers tremendous opportunities for Canadian business owners who want to capitalize on the recession-resistant industry.”

The convenient mobile pet grooming service offers one-on-one attention in an inviting and relaxing atmosphere not typically found in store front grooming locations. The Aussie Pet Mobile, a custom designed Mercedes Benz van fully self contained with air conditioning, heat, electricity, and water, relies on no outside electrical or water hookups, making the unique service easy for apartment or condo residents as well as homeowners. The van’s ramp and spacious interior help pets maneuver easily and enhance the groomers’ ability to ensure all of the pets’ needs are met. Aussie Pet Mobile is also an avid user of eco friendly products, which turns the grey water into an environmentally friendly composition, easily dispersed through natural resources versus a sewer or septic tank.

Aussie Pet Mobile’s certified and trained groomers pamper pets with an exclusive 15-step spa treatment that includes a professional customized shampoo utilizing the patented custom built and trademarked hydro bath, massage, towel and blow dry, brushing, and nail clipping, just to name a few treats.

“With family obligations and extracurricular activities, it can be hard for pet owners to balance their work and life activities,” added Avis. “Aussie Pet Mobile offers a convenience to the consumer while meeting the demand for mobile pet grooming services.”

A scaleable business requiring no commitment to real estate or retail shop leases, franchise investors would require between $100,000 to $119,000 in capital for a single unit franchise operation, with multi-unit operators needing between $154,000 to $172,000. Multi-unit franchise investors can commit to purchasing several vans within their exclusive territory, which is defined by postal codes, as each existing van grows towards its monthly “capacity.”

About Aussie Pet Mobile
Founded in Australia in 1996, Aussie Pet Mobile is the world’s largest mobile pet grooming business servicing more than 500 exclusive territories in the U.S. and nine overseas countries including Japan, Ireland, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea, the United Kingdom, and Canada. In 2009, Aussie Pet Mobile was voted the World’s #1 Pet Service by Entrepreneur Magazine.

Aussie Pet Mobile’s certified and trained groomers pamper pets with personal, one-on-one attention in the comfort of their own surroundings. This ensures the pet is not spending the day ‘caged’ in a stressful store environment and affords the owner the luxury of not having to make repeat trips from their house to the grooming salon for drop off and collection.

Alison McElroy Named General Counsel of Snap Fitness

bison.com — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Snap Fitness, the world’s largest and fastest growing franchise featuring compact, state-of-the-art fitness centers, announces the appointment of Alison (Ali) McElroy as general counsel of the company, effective June 2009.

McElroy, who most recently served as an attorney in the corporate group at Faegre & Benson LLP in Minneapolis, will be responsible for various strategic initiatives with Snap Fitness, including the company’s international expansion and general legal needs.

"With Snap Fitness’s shift into a new phase of profitable growth, Ali brings a wealth of experience as general counsel,” said Peter Taunton, Founder and CEO of Snap Fitness. “Her deep legal experience and sound business judgment make her an excellent choice which complements our senior team at this critical moment in Snap Fitness’s mission to become the world’s largest and fastest growing franchise in the multi-billion dollar fitness category.”

McElroy joined Faegre & Benson in 2005, where she advised clients on a variety of matters, including franchise and distribution law, international business transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and international corporate counseling. Prior to joining Faegre & Benson, she served as a judicial clerk for retired Chief Justice Kathleen Blatz of the Minnesota Supreme Court.

“Snap Fitness’s rapid growth, the quality of its leadership and the talent of its people have the company poised for continued success," McElroy said. “I couldn’t be more excited about joining such a dynamic brand and my new role in enhancing a franchise network that is poised for unparalleled growth.”

McElroy is a 2001 graduate of the University of Notre Dame and a 2004 graduate of the University of Minnesota Law School.

About Snap Fitness, Inc.
Fresh off its No.16 ranking on Inc. Magazine’s annual ranking of the country’s 500 fastest-growing private companies, Snap Fitness is experiencing phenomenal growth with more than 1,800 locations sold nationwide and some 30-40 new stores added monthly. Founded in 2003 by CEO Peter Taunton, the Chanhassen, Minn.-based franchisor offers compact, state-of-the-art, 24/7 express fitness clubs that emphasize fast, convenient and affordable workouts in neighborhoods across America and world wide.

KOKO FITCLUB SIGNS MULTI-UNIT AGREEMENT FOR IDAHO

bison.com — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Koko FitClub, LLC, the company that is reinventing the fitness franchise business, today announced that Sweat Equity, Inc. owned and operated by Idaho native, Douglas D. Roberts, has signed a multi-unit area development agreement to operate Koko FitClubs in Idaho. The first Koko FitClub location in the state is slated to open in Meridian this October.

According to Sweat Equity CEO Doug Roberts, “Koko FitClub has accomplished what no other fitness franchise can do: it uses technology to customize and completely automate a personal training workout.” Koko replaces costly personal trainers with computer programming, totally changing the workout experiencefor members. For owners, the company’s technology provides an easy-to-operate franchise business. For Roberts, Koko also provides the benefit of a better work-life balance, as years of owning and operating a manufacturing business began taking a toll on his family, and his wellbeing. “I still wanted to be my ownboss, but within in a positive, healthy environment that would help me live longer, rather than kill me,” said Roberts. “The ability to help others – and my family – live better makes Koko FitClub the perfect opportunity for me.”

Through its patented Koko Smartraining System™—which was developed with assistance from the MIT Center for Sport Innovation—Koko FitClub’s technology precisely analyzes each member’s unique fitness level and designs a customized training plan based on the individual’s fitness goals and ability. The System then delivers unique workouts on its proprietary strength and cardio equipment, packing all the benefits of a 60-90 minute personal training session into just 30 minutes or less. The computer becomes a personal trainer, motivating—but never intimidating—members while they work to reach their goals.

And for franchisees, Koko’s Smartraining System enables a Club to operate with just one part-time staff member, yet still provide a very high level of service that members can’t get elsewhere. The technology does most of the daily work on-site, so owners can focus on growing their business, not on running it.

Said Mary Obana, co-founder of Koko FitClub, “Koko FitClub has invested nearly $10,000,000 since 2003 in developing our one-of-kind technology, which provides our co-ed membership with world-class personal strength and cardio training for a fraction of the cost of traditional gyms – our monthly membership is less than what the typical personal trainer might charge for just a single session. Our technology enables us to simplify the running of the business. And our team provides unparalleled support for our franchisees.”

About Koko FitClub
Koko FitClub, a technology company that is completely reinventing the fitness franchise business, is designed for franchisees that want to be at the forefront of an entirely new concept of fitness, health and technology. Its patented Smartraining System technology, developed by founders Mike Lannon and Mary Obana with assistance from the Director of the MIT Center for Sport Innovation, enables Koko to provide consumers with unlimited personal training at a remarkably low cost and provides franchisees with an endto-end system to run the operation. Today, after more than 100,000 exercise sessions completed and millions of calories burned, the Koko Smartraining System is recognized as the most dynamic automated strength and cardio personal training system in fitness. In 2008, the company received the coveted Nova7 award for industry innovation in the fitness industry. Koko FitClub is the exclusive fitness franchisor to offer the Smartraining System.

HouseMaster Home Inspections To Hold Franchise Open House in Jacksonville, FL

bison.com — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

HouseMaster, the first and one of the largest home inspection organizations in North America, will hold a free franchise open house on Thursday, October 1, 2009, at the Homewood Suites Jacksonville Downtown-Southbank in Jacksonville, Fla. from 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. The event will introduce attendees to the HouseMaster brand and provide an open forum to learn about franchise opportunities while highlighting current opportunities in the marketplace.

Kathleen Kuhn, President of HouseMaster, and Chuck Jones, HouseMaster’s Vice President of Franchise Development, will be available to discuss franchising opportunities available at HouseMaster. In addition, attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the company’s culture and history, as well as receive information on HouseMaster’s comprehensive training and support programs.

“The relationships that we have built with our franchisees, some of whom have been with us for over 20 years, are among our proudest achievements,” said Kathleen Kuhn, President of HouseMaster. “Given the rise in activity in the marketplace and never before seen incentives for buyers this is an amazing opportunity for potential franchisees. We are truly excited about the prospects for continuing to expand the HouseMaster family.”

Low prices, coupled with the $8,000 first-time homebuyers federal tax credit, have encouraged many aspiring home owners to enter the market, providing a surge of activity in the marketplace. With homes sales on the rise for the fourth month in a row, there has never been a better time to become a HouseMaster franchisee.

HouseMaster focuses on franchisee relationships, support, technical proficiency, proven marketing methods, aggressive risk management tools and cutting edge technology. As the first company to franchise in the home inspection industry, HouseMaster truly is the most established and trusted name in home inspection services. The company was recently ranked one of the top 50 franchises by Franchise Business Review’s Franchise Satisfaction Survey and has been a reliable and trusted resource to media outlets such as The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, CNN, HGTV, The Today Show, and Good Morning America.

Additional advantages to becoming a HouseMaster franchisee include:

Low start-up costs
No inventory
No construction experience needed
Home-based business
Low risk

About HouseMaster:
Headquartered in Bound Brook, N.J., HouseMaster is the oldest and one of the largest home inspection franchisors in North America. With more than 365 franchised areas throughout the U.S. and Canada, HouseMaster is the most respected name in home inspections. For 30 years, HouseMaster has built upon a foundation of solid leadership and innovation with a continued focus on delivering the highest quality service experience to their customers and providing HouseMaster franchisees the tools and support necessary to do so. Each HouseMaster franchise is an independently owned and operated business. HouseMaster is a registered trademark of DBR Franchising, LLC.

For more information please call: (800) 526-3930