We recently exhibited at the Franchise & Business Opportunities Expo in both Atlanta, GA and Ft. Lauderdale, FL. I was delightfully surprised by the outcome and results of each expo! There was such a wonderful mix of people, many were potential entrepreneurs looking for the next gateway that will lead them down a new path of success. They ranged from serial entrepreneurs with gobs of success in their wake to graduates fresh out of college.
Some loved the simple businesses that were easy to understand and relied more on equipment than anything else. Others enjoyed complex businesses with very little competition because of the obscurity. Some were young, some were old, all were curious!
As they strolled about the aisles, two things were certain: they all wanted something different than what they have now and they all needed help.
In a world where we are “sold” 24 hours a day, we sometimes need a little guidance through the maze. Most prospective business owners have done very little planning with regard to the time, energy and money they will invest in their new business. They haven’t thought about how they will manage the pieces of the business and who will handle the parts the they don’t enjoy or aren’t trained in. They haven’t thought of how many hours they would work or the employees they will have. They haven’t determined the break-even point and the sales goals they will need to reach in order to have the stable life they dream of. And who could blame them?
As the saying goes “You don’t know what you don’t know.”
Each passerby that stopped to talk to the franchise consultants that bustled about our booth was shocked and impressed with what they learned. It seems that service is still alive and well. Our Franchise Consultants were able to show these curious visitors about all of the expensive services they were providing at no cost to them. Services like legal counsel, accounting consultations, regular sales training for their employees, demographics studies, research help, profitability studies and more.
It was as if a wave of relief washed over them. They were grateful and receptive to the support of these professionals. Through the process they engaged in next, the entrepreneurs were provided with everything they needed to educate themselves on the proper franchise for them. They were provided with a team of professionals, tools, education and ultimately peace of mind. They felt secure in their decision and knew that with the support of the franchisor and the Franchise Brokers Association’s ongoing small business programs their success was much more likely.
Needless to say, if there is a Franchise & Business Opportunities Expo in your city, make sure to stop by. You will be delighted with what you find. We will be attending the show in September in Chicago, IL. We hope to see you there!
