Highlights from Day Two of the 1st Annual International Summit for MatchPoint Consultants in Oxford, May, 2011.

Three days, Monday 9^th to Wednesday 11th, of sponsor presentations and workshops provided the best in networking opportunities for both franchisors/sponsors and MatchPoint consultants. This year`s event is the first of many International Annual Summits we plan for our rapidly growing international network of franchise consultants.

Highlights from this important event in the Group`s calendar included UK brands presentations and presentations by Sponsor representatives Snap Fitness, Sopra Brands, DLA Piper, Platinum Property Partners, Tutor Doctor and WSI Internet Franchise

Day Two events commenced with a presentation by Keith Gerson, CFE, Chief Operating Officer of Sopra Brands, titled “Leveraging Surrogate Behaviours To Build Trust”, Keith Gerson has over thirty five years of executive level franchise expertise in building rapid-growth companies able to generate sustainable profits.  Recognized in franchising circles for his extensive leadership experience within the franchise industry, Keith has guided companies to record levels of franchise development, the acceleration of multimillion-dollar revenue growth (and resultant royalties) along with significant EBITDA.

In his role as Chief Operating Officer for Sopra Brands, based in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, Keith oversees the Presidents of each of Sopra Brands companies which includes HouseMaster Home Inspection, EarthFruits Yogurt, Hogi Yogi, Teriyaki Stix, Lunchboxers and GFEazy. Sopra also acquires and grows companies and provides management and consulting services to companies in the franchise industry. Keith’s exceptional track-record of business success, revenue growth and profit improvements are based on his commitment to creating alignment around key strategies and accomplishing results through a strong interdependent relationship between franchisor, franchisee and all stakeholders.

Monday closed with a fun evening pre-dinner event “Hunting in Oxford.”  The event was based on the popular board game Monopoly and sent the six teams of five all over the historic city to locate clues. Team members were provided with a list of photo challenges that included taking a photo of their team with ten strangers, taking a photo with a celebrity lookalike and taking a photo of the team performing an optical illusion. The evening ended with a fabulous dinner at La Tasca restaurant and a viewing of all of the team photos provided exceptionally lighthearted entertainment. The winning team was Team 2 led by Senior Vice President of Operations of MatchPoint, Victoria Conte. The event and dinner was sponsored by Sopra Brands.

MatchPoint Franchise Consulting Network was born out of a vision shared by a group of leaders within the franchise industry, that there could be a better way of helping individuals find the franchise opportunity of their dreams and a better way of helping franchisors identify efficiently the best potential franchisees. Match Point`s goal is to build the world’s most successful international network of franchise consultants representing the industry’s premier franchise brands, delivering value as a trusted partner to the best franchise brands, and offering high-value services to  prospective franchisee clients.

Nigel Mayne Wraps Up The First Annual International Summit for MatchPoint

The first Annual International Summit for the MatchPoint Franchise Consulting Network has just concluded, May 8 through to May 11, at The Oxford Belfry Hotel, Milton Common, Thame, Oxfordshire in England. The three days included an intensive schedule of sponsor presentations, workshops and networking opportunities for both franchisors/sponsors and the MatchPoint team of consultants.

This important event in the Group`s calendar, offering the best of best practices material developed by industry experts especially for MatchPoint, together with UK brands presentations, is the first of many International Annual Summits we plan for our rapidly growing international network of franchise consultants. The formula for the Summit, the excellence of the speakers and the appropriateness of their presentations, together with the opportunity for one on one meetings with the sponsors, was praised by all in attendance.

Day One events featured a presentation by Gary Findley, Snap Fitness Chief Operating Officer, titled “Handling Fear and Other Obstacles” and directed at why consultants need to be sensitive to the three greatest fears and five greatest obstacles a potential franchise owner must overcome. Snap Fitness was the Summit sponsor.  A franchise expert with over 25 years of experience, Gary has a wealth of experience in helping new and experienced entrepreneurs get on the right track to growing their business. Since joining the company as COO, Gary has been instrumental in expanding the concept into seven countries, while managing day-to-day operations at the corporate headquarters with a staff of over 50 employees.

Phil Heaven, the UK Regional Vice President, introduced the Summit with opening comments and later in the day was Moderator for a best practice workshop “Matching the Candidate to the Best Brands”  Phil joined MatchPoint on January 1^st and is one of the top performing consultants.

Mark Dobson, Co-Founder WSI Internet Franchise, presented on the power of the Shapes profiling system that MatchPoint uses to determine their candidates natural strengths and weaknesses. Mark has been with WSI since its inception in 1995. He has an extensive background in business development in several industries dating back to the early seventies. His knowledge of the development of human potential and the understanding of behavioral patterns has been instrumental in developing the unique franchisee screening and selection process utilized by WSI.

Two fun social events organized for the evening of Day One were thoroughly enjoyed by sponsors, consultants, spouses and guests and sponsored by SOPRA Brands.

Watch this space for a report on Day two activities, giving more details on the Speakers and their presentations and the workshops.

MatchPoint Franchise Consulting Network was born out of a vision shared by a group of leaders within the franchise industry, that there could be a better way of helping individuals find the franchise opportunity of their dreams and a better way of helping franchisors identify efficiently the best potential franchisees. Match Point`s goal is to build the world’s most successful international network of franchise consultants representing the industry’s premier franchise brands, delivering value as a trusted partner to the best franchise brands, and offering high-value services to  prospective franchisee clients.

MatchPoint Franchise Consulting Network was founded in 2006 with a mission of matching individual Franchise buyers with the Franchise opportunity that is best suited to them. MatchPoint services are provided free to the Franchise buyer, helping individuals save both time and money while finding their ideal business.

 To view more details about Nigel Mayne, or to get in touch with him, visit

www.matchpointnetwork.com

The First Annual International Summit for MatchPoint

We have just released the agenda for the first Annual International Summit, this year taking place in Oxford, England. This is to be the first of many International Summits planned for our rapidly growing international network of franchise consultants. We expect the Summit will be a popular and important annual event offering the best of educational and networking opportunities for both franchisors/sponsors and the MatchPoint team of consultants. The Summit and attendee events have been organized by Victoria Conte, Senior Vice President of Operations of MatchPoint and her team.

The Summit is booked for May 8 through to May 11, at The Oxford Belfry Hotel, Milton Common, Thame, Oxfordshire.  Summit sponsor is Snap Fitness, and sponsors for other events during the three days of speakers, presentations and workshops are Platinum Property Partners, SOPRA Brands, DLA Piper, Tutor Doctor and WSI, Internet Consulting and Education.  Speakers include franchise expert Gary Findley, COO of Snap Fitness, and Phil Zeidman, Senior Partner, DLA Piper, who will be speaking about the legal landscape, both in the U.S. and International.  Day 2 includes a two-part workshop on the highly topical subject of Social Media. In addition to speakers addressing the specifics of building a franchise brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland, there will be special presentations of UK brands and time scheduled for one on one interaction with exhibitors and sponsors.

As well as some fun activities before dinner events, Summit attendees will relax with a range of extracurricular activities including Golf and an onsite Spa, and spouses have a program of a collection of activities to choose from including as the opportunity for sightseeing in and around the Oxford area.

Watch this space for timely reports during the Summit, giving more details on the Speakers and their presentations and the workshops.

MatchPoint Franchise Consulting Network  was born out of a vision shared by a group of leaders within the franchise industry, that there could be a better way of helping individuals find the franchise opportunity of their dreams and a better way of helping franchisors identify efficiently the best potential franchisees. Match Point`s goal is to build the world’s most successful international network of franchise consultants representing the industry’s premier franchise brands, delivering value as a trusted partner to the best franchise brands, and offering high-value services to  prospective franchisee clients.

Nigel Mayne`s Start Up Plan for the Successful Small Business Franchisee

In the last 30 years, the franchise has grown into one of the most recognized and reputable business models on a worldwide basis.  According to the International Franchise Association, there are over 767,000 franchises in the U.S. alone, providing nearly 10 million jobs and contributing $624.6 billion in business annually. In the UK, the franchise industry is growing at twice the rate of the entire economy according to a NatWest/British Franchise Association study released in 2009.

While business ownership has traditionally been just a dream for many, franchising has opened the door for ordinary people to build their own small business and reap the rewards.  But how does that ordinary individual cope with the challenges of a business start up?  Shopping for the right franchise is in itself a steep learning curve for many new franchisees. One way to facilitate the process is by  searching out the guidance of experts on the process of qualifying as a potential franchisee and in taking the first steps as a new business owner.

Here are some suggestions on actions you should have underway when signing up for your new franchise.

• Turn your business plan, the same plan you used to obtain the financing that qualified you as a franchise buyer, into a detailed blueprint for your first two to three years in business.  
• Ask the franchisor for any checklists they have for new franchisees, along with their estimated timeframes. Year one should have high-level detail plotted out with Years two and three being more big picture.  
• Milestones to mark out include:

o    Final negotiation of the contracts for the desired location, equipment and fittings. If this is your first lease negotiation, spend quality time understanding all your rights, obligations and additional start up costs, and review them with your legal advisor. 

o    Overlay all your task related activities with the timetable of the training requirements of the franchisor.  This will help you set the first major milestone of opening day. 

o Working backwards from this major event, you will be able to determine the desired lease date and the date by which you should have your key staff on board.

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By now you will have easily identified a number of the steps that need to be taken concurrently.

•          Turn to your franchisor for any assistance in marketing and promotional activities to make your opening day a grand success and keep your new customers coming back for more. This key event is worthy of a detailed plan of its own.
•        Now budget for each milestone in rough terms, so that you have the bones of cash flow control that you can flesh out as you learn more during the franchisor training sessions.
•       Allow a slippage factor in all milestone dates and budgets.
•        Your detailed business plan should be updated or adjusted two or three times a year or immediately should circumstances change.

 If at any stage you feel a little overwhelmed by processes that are new to you or perhaps not your greatest strengths, remember that just as you don`t skimp on the prime location nor should you skimp on having the right people in the right places in your new business venture. Recognise your business weaknesses and compensate for them in the quality of your business relationships and key staff. Whether it is the actual hiring of staff, setting up your back-room operations or dealing with the detail of cash flow management, you must meet these challenges with the same energy, leadership and enthusiasm you have for the franchise itself.

The risks of failure in the small business franchise are the same as those in any new and legitimate business model and range from issues relating to the personality and strengths and weaknesses of the business owner to intellectual property matters, general contract disputes and failure to attend adequately to fiscal responsibilities, as well as misrepresentation and commercial fraud by third parties.  A solid plan for start-up and year one goes a long way to laying out the areas where the new franchisee needs to call on expert guidance.

MatchPoint Franchise Consulting Network was founded in 2006 with the mission of building the world’s most successful international network of franchise consultants representing the industry’s premier franchise brands.  We achieve this through delivering value as a trusted partner to the best franchise brands, and offering high-value services to our prospective franchisee clients.

The advice offered freely to franchise buyers by MatchPoint consultants is vital to the buyer in making a better, more prudent, buying decision.  The advice offered by our consultants does not make us lawyers; it is there to help the investor with a high quality due diligence process.  It is an effective hedge against misrepresentation and fraud sometimes propagated by less than reputable business opportunity marketers.   

Nigel Mayne on the Franchisee of the Future

In recent trips to Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Mexico during 2010 as part of our international initiative to expand our consulting services into these “future-growth” markets, we confirmed the growing acceptance of the franchise model in many countries as an exciting opportunity for small business investors.  Yes, there is perceived risk, but it is a well controlled risk.

There are several European countries,  such as Spain, France, Belgium and Italy, with strong franchise disclosure laws, as well as several in the expected high-growth international markets with a mix of franchise laws and ”good faith”  laws to enforce fair dealing , including in the pre-contractual due diligence and negotiating period. 

The areas of concern for you, the intended franchisee, over and above those of any proposed business investment, may range from issues relating to the termination of the franchise to intellectual property matters, general contract disputes, misrepresentation and fraud.  The franchise documents themselves can be intimidating in size, as the franchisor would not want to be penalized for perceived inaccuracies resulting from abbreviation.

Currently, there are over 3,500 franchising opportunities in the U.S., an estimated 1,000 each in  the UK, Mexican and Brazilian markets, and twice that in the Euro Zone – that`s an enormous pool of opportunities for you to sift through to narrow down leads.

This may be the one of the largest financial investments of your life.  Which is why it makes good sense to call on the expertise of a franchise consultant or franchise broker, who’s services are paid for by the franchisor, to help weed out the more problematic leads and match you and your goals with the best fit franchise.

I founded MatchPoint Franchise Consulting Network in 2006 with a mission of helping companies expand their franchise networks and improve their system profitability.  That mission also included improving the quality of new Franchisees coming into the system.  Advice is offered freely to franchise buyers on our website and by MatchPoint consultants in the field and is vital to you in making a better, prudent, buying decision.  The advice offered by our consultants does not make us lawyers; it is there to help you with a high quality due diligence process.  It is an effective hedge against the misrepresentation and fraud sometimes propagated by less than reputable business opportunity marketers in all business models. 

MatchPoint consultants trained by Nigel Mayne know the red flags in the investment field.  It takes the very few promoters that practice business fraud to taint the dream of an individual and their family.  

That`s why seeking the independent advice of an expert franchising consultant is wise and invaluable from the start of your due diligence process. 

Nigel Mayne’s Tips on How To Buy Your Franchise

It’s never a bad time to launch your own business. Let’s face it, a start-up venture in a booming economy will always be the better choice, but the smart selection of a franchise opportunity can mean success in good or tough times.

 The franchise business model comes with a level of transparency that increases your chance of success when compared with other small business opportunities or multi level marketing schemes, which are often fraught with potential misrepresentations and fraud.

Whether you’re targeting strong international or local franchise brands, your initial research should be as broad as possible, leaving the narrowing down to the industry and location for your business for later and here`s a few tips why.

Simply choosing a well-known brand franchise may not automatically lead to success if it is not the right franchise for you.  Effective franchisors promote their franchises to qualified investors in a number of ways - trade shows, franchise shows, trade missions, the internet, targeted public relations, print advertising and through the use of franchise consultants or brokers.  The draw back to the do-it-yourself approach to narrowing down your best fit is the amount of time you'll need.  The right franchise needs the right location. Location is still key when establishing a small business.  Don’t skimp on the prime location because even the most viable franchise may still fail if it is off the path of the buying public.  .

A good concept in a saturated market is no longer a good concept. Even if you are in a country where the franchise business model is still a novelty and the number of franchises as a percentage of other small business is in a strong growth stage, the level of competition must still be researched.  Look into the proximity and strength of competing business in the territory outside of the franchise.  If the market is already saturated with like business, then consider locating to another area or to  a franchise in another industry entirely.

Make sure your customers know you exist. Don`t assume that the brand recognition coming with the franchise is enough.  Even though your franchisor may offer you the chance to buy into a marketing campaign there is always a need to allocate funds to promote locally.

The most effective approach for you to find the  best fit franchise involves the use of brokers specializing in franchise matchmaking in your region.  Brokers’ fees and commissions are paid by the franchisor, who relies upon the consultant to bring forward the qualified or serious franchisee buyer with financing ability.

I founded MatchPoint Franchise Consulting Network in 2006 with a mission of helping companies expand their franchise networks and improve their system profitability.  Its mission included improving the quality of new Franchisees coming into a system.  Advice is offered freely to franchise buyers by MatchPoint consultants and is vital to youin making a better, prudent, buying decision.  The advice offered by our consultants does not make us lawyers; it is there to help you, with a high quality due diligence process.  It is an effective hedge against misrepresentation and fraud sometimes propagated by less than reputable business opportunity marketers.

  

MatchPoint consultants trained by Nigel Mayne know the red flags in the investment field.  It takes the very few promoters that practice business fraud to taint the dream of an individual and their family.   That`s where seeking the independent advice of an expert franchising consultant is wise and invaluable from the start of your due diligence process. 

Nigel Mayne and the small business franchise in 2011

We’re now well into January 2011 and those New Year resolutions likely are forgotten dreams.  Except for that one significant promise, to become master of your own destiny and invest in your own business. 

If owning your own business is one of your goals this year, there are some trends in your favour.  Slow to moderate overall economic growth in many countries hard hit by the recession is forecast to continue through 2011.  In the US, the small business sector remained in recession in 2010, lagging in recovery, but is predicted to see stronger demand and better business conditions this coming year.

 

Key trends seen as driving the growth of small business through 2011 are

·        small manufacturing businesses in niche markets  aided by technology  making barriers to entry lower,

·         the weak dollar aiding US manufacturing cost competitiveness,

·       the internet becoming more widely known to small business as a low cost way of sourcing and selling goods and services,

·         small business growing more familiar with and making greater use of social media in their local marketing efforts -think Groupon Inc and its highly successful coupon business supporting local deals!

When time is not on your side, the resilient and proven franchise business model allows you a faster way to generating positive cash flow.  As the old adage goes, it’s your own business, you just don`t have to go it alone.  Strong viable franchise opportunities are there for the qualified buyer, so how to join that select group?

 

Access to financing from traditional sources is expected to remain tight in the US throughout 2011, in spite of the Government’s continuing efforts to support small business through tough times.  We recommend that potential franchise buyers be cautious when selecting companies to do their 401(k) rollovers or when selecting a financing company – with all of the fraud that has occurred in the banking sector over the last several years, finding a reputable company to provide you financing is more important than ever and a 

winning point in your favor with franchisors.

I founded MatchPoint Franchise Consulting Network in 2006 with a mission of helping companies expand their franchise networks and improve their system profitability.  Its mission included improving the quality of new Franchisees coming into a system.

Advice is offered freely to franchise buyers by MatchPoint consultants and is vital to you in making a better, prudent, buying decision.  The advice offered by our consultants does not make us lawyers; it is there to help you, with a high quality due diligence process.  It is an effective hedge against misrepresentation and fraud sometimes propagated by less than reputable business opportunity marketers. 

 

MatchPoint consultants trained by Nigel Mayne know the red flags in the investment field.  It takes the very few promoters that practice business fraud to taint the dream of an individual and their family.   That`s why seeking the independent advice of an expert franchising consultant at the start of your due diligence process is both wise and invaluable.