Posted by Jess Saba on Fri, Jan 22, 2010 @ 10:00 AM
Franchise Characterisitics and Variables
When Entrepreneur.com ranks the top 500 franchises of the year, they hire an independent CPA to analyze a number of criteria to determine the strongest franchise opportunities.
As you look for the best franchise to fit with your personal goals, lifestyle, interests, investment capabilities and financial expectations be sure to do plenty of research.
Start by analyzing and comparing the following criteria for each franchise you are considering:
Financial Strength and Stability: How are the existing franchises preforming? How long should you expect as a franchisee to see a reasonable return on the initial investment?
Growth Rate: How many new franchises are adopted each year? What is the growth from one year to the next? What is the potential future growth for the franchise?
Size of the System: How many franchises are in operation across your state, the country or the world? Is the market saturated or is there room for growth?
Number of years in Business: The experience a franchisor can offer is one of the most valuable assests available to a franchisee. The franchisor should have at least three years of financial statements for your assessment.
Litigation History: Most businesses have a history of litigation. Read the UFOC for litigation disclosures, the less time a company spends in front of the court, the better.
Additional Research
Once you have narrowed down a list of potential franchises be sure to complete the following research:
Read the UFOC: The Uniform Francise Offering Cirular which includes a detailed background on the company, financial assessments and franchisee agreements.
Speak with current franchisees: Are they satisfied with their investment and the structure of the franchise? Ask about the quality of the training and assistance programs.
Interview the management: Determine if the level of involvement from the corporate office matches your expectations. Would you like more guidance or more freedom?
If you would like to start researching the possibility of franchising with Camp Bow Wow, visit our franchise information page 
Posted by Jess Saba on Wed, Jan 20, 2010 @ 01:15 PM
Camp Bow Wow Ranked among 2010 top 500 Franchises by Entrepreneur.com
For the last 31 years Entrepreneur magazine has been ranking the top 500 franchises and the 100 fastest growing Franchises of the year. This year Camp Bow Wow ranked #445 of the top franchises and #87 fastest growing franchises.
Entrepreneur ranks each company based on financial strength and stability, growth rate and size of the system. They take into consideration the number of years a company has been in business and the length of time it's been franchising, start up costs, litigation, percentage of terminations, and whether the company provides financing. All information is analyzed by an independent CPA to determine the strength of the company.
To view Camp Bow Wow's ranking click on the link below: Entrepreneur ranks Camp Bow Wow #445 of 500 top franchises
If you would like more information about owning a Camp Bow Wow franchise, please click on the following link Franchise Information
Posted by Jess Saba on Tue, Dec 15, 2009 @ 12:33 PM
Customer Relations: Personalized vs. Efficient Holiday Cards
The holidays are a great time to connect with your clients. The month of December marks the end of the year and holiday cards are a great way to recognize the year's successes.
Many companies send holiday cards to show clients their business is appreciated. But, the fact that sending personalized cards can be time consuming and expensive often results in more 'efficient' cards. Cards are often sent with generic statements and automated signatures. Is it better to send an impersonal computerized note than to not send one at all?
Whitney Johnson, a blogger for The Harvard Business Review, published an article addressing the "Holiday Card Quandary." Johnson describes the challenge of finding a balance between efficiently sending holiday mail and making the cards personal enough so the receiver feels genuinely valued.
If you have the time... Starting just after Thanksgiving, ask each of your employees to choose a number of clients they work with regularly. Provide a company holiday card and ask employees to write a sentence or two and to sign the card.
While it may take time and resources to create, address and send a holiday note, it shows important clients you value their business and your relationship with them.
Happy Holidays!
Posted by Jess Saba on Wed, Dec 09, 2009 @ 02:12 PM
Every salesperson knows the importance of being prepared for unexpected situations during a sales meetings. After you have contacted a lead, presented your initial pitch and scheduled a more formal meeting, it is important to be ready for anything in your face to face meeting.
Below is a list of essential items to bring with you to your next sales meeting to ensure you are focused on the sale, not the stain on your shirt:
1. Confidence: If you believe in the product you are selling it will be much easier to sell. If you do not like or trust the product neither will the people you are trying to sell to.
2. Snacks and Water: Stay hydrated and get your glucose levels up! Make sure to eat at least fifteen minutes before your meeting in order to balance your blood sugar so you can stay focused and comfortable. Carry a piece of fruit, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or an energy bar.
3. Emergency kit: Prepare the following kit to deal with travelers breath, exotic food discomfort or runny noses. Carrying the items below will make your sales meetings much more enjoyable. Also, being able to offer a tissue or anti-bacterial wipes when asked will show you are ready for anything. Carry a small bag with the following items:
- Mints: Altoids or lifesavers
- Advil or Tylenol
- Anti-acid tablets
- Chapstick
- Antibacterial wipes for your handshakes
- Tissues
- Stain remover (Try Shout wipes or the Shout Stick)
- Cough Drops
- Bandages
4. Your most updated business card: Always provide your contact information after the meeting on your way out the door.
5. Thank you notes: Address and stamp an envelope ahead of time. Fill out the 'thank you' note after your meeting and mail it on your way home.
Remember preparation is the key to being comfortable, confident and focused during your most important sales meetings.
How else do you prepare for sales meetings?
Posted by Jess Saba on Tue, Nov 10, 2009 @ 11:10 AM
The Importance of Effective Management Teams
Small business owners know employing an effective workforce is important in eventually satisfying the needs of the customer. But, attracting, interviewing and hiring great employees is only a part of the formula for success. Great workers can quickly become inefficient and unproductive if managed poorly.
The Manager's Role
A manager's fundamental goal is to ensure the long term health of a company. By managing people effectively, a manager can act like the lubricant between the gears to motivate employee efficiency and keep the company running smoothly.
One of the most important skills a manager can have is the ability identify and develop individual core competencies and work habits and to place the right employees in the right jobs based on those stregnths. A hockey coach would not place a natural offense man in the goal. The same is true for the office. Each employee has different experiences, traits and skills that will benefit different objectives.
Qualities of a Great Manager
Managers must lead by example and rely on their reputation to be fair, make sound judgments and decisions, and to assert their power only when necessary. The way employees view their manager determines the quality of their work and performance and commitment to company objectives.
Managers must be able to put their faith in their subordinates. In order to build trust in employee's work, start with smaller tasks and give more responsibility after each success.
Small successes can build employee confidence in their work. After each acheivement employees will be more comfortable completing subsequent tasks while managers will become more comfortable handing off important projects and will assign tasks the employee has proved they can complete.
When an employee makes an error,it is important to work with them in private to identify the misunderstanding that led to the error without making personal judgments.
The manager's goal is to build confidence, not destroy it in order to make employees feel enabled to complete their work.
What do you think are the most important qualities of effective mangers?
Posted by Jess Saba on Tue, Nov 03, 2009 @ 07:32 PM
Hiring for Small Businesses
Hiring the right employees is especially important for small businesses. Choosing the right employees can influence the overall productivity, quality, employee and customer satisfaction and employee retention within a company. Since each new hire requires capital and time and energy to train and assimilate the employess to corporate culture, it is important to make the process as efficent as possible and to try to make the most informed decision for each new hire.
Small Business Hiring Advantages
Small businesses have certain inherent advantages over large corporations when looking to attract and hire the most qualified employees. While large companies can entice candidates with persuasive benefits packages and the perception of stability, small businesses have the ability to offer a greater quality of life. For example, small businesses can offer employees flexibility, the option to telecommute, the opportunity to influence growth and development and the chance to be creative.
Hiring for small businesses tends to be a much more personal experience. Hiring professionals have the opportunity to develop more relaxed and personal relationships with candidates and the final decision can be made with less bureaucracy and red tape and can hand pick the employees who fit well with the office culture.
Where to look for candidates
Ask internally for references: Current employees understand the company and have an idea of the qualifications for each position. Ask employees to recommend qualified candidates to apply.
Network: Look to your professional network and ask around to people who know your business personally before relying on recruiting companies, job boards or employment sites.
College Career Services: Each college and university has an office dedicated to placing their students in jobs for which they are most qualified. Recent college graduates tend to make great employees because they are eager to make a good impression are willing to work hard to build their reputations.
Finding what you are looking for
Once you define which qualities you are expecting in a candidate by outlining the job description, requirements and salary you can begin to look for qualified candidates.
Small business usually need fewer people with more specialized skills. Look for candidates with past experience which may contribute to your companies initiatives. Assess the skills already available within the workforce and create a list of desirable traits in a new hire that would balance out the workforce.
For example: If you have great idea people, search for candidates who are great at implementing ideas. If you have great team players, look to hire a team leader.
During the interview outline skills required for the position and ask candidates to offer specific examples of how their skills match what you are looking for.
Start early, interview many candidates and take the time to make the most informed decision based on how the candidate's skills match the position requirements.
Posted by Jess Saba on Tue, Oct 27, 2009 @ 05:25 PM
The Importance of The Marketing Plan
For small
businesses the marketing plan is one of the most important tools
available to ensure a company is on track to create and keep new
customers.
A well developed marketing plan will help companies
attract target customers by offering products and services that satisfy
customer's needs, demands and wants then delivers exceptional customer
service, convenience and value to keep them returning to the business.
The
key to creating and implementing a successful marketing plan is to
remain customer focused rather than profit driven. The marketing team's
job is to foster a relationship then to hand the customer to the sales
team to encourage a purchase.
Define Target Market:
In order to point your marketing efforts in the right direction spend
time researching to determine, as specifically as possible, who you are
offering your product or service to. Determine the demographics, the
buying behaviors and needs of your customers.
Ask For Feedback: Speak to your customers. How did they hear about you? Do they like your product? What could you improve?
Build Relationships:
Find creative ways to make your customer feel special and valued.
Developing long term relationships will help create repeat customers.
Attracting New Customers
Despite
tight marketing budgets, small businesses have many opportunities to
effectively and creatively reach their customers. Below are a few
ideas to get you started:
Send Press Releases: News
stories are a great way to gain free attention for your business. When
sending a press release make sure you have an interesting angle and
your story is newsworthy.
Create a Newsletter: Email makes
it easy to stay in contact with your customers. Build your email list,
ask for permission to contact each customer, then distribute a monthly
newsletter to stay on their radar.
Offer Samples: Where does your target demographic spend time? Go there and offer samples to
Keeping Your Customers
After
you spend time and energy to attract a customer to your business it is
vital to find ways to keep customers coming back. Small businesses have
an advantage over larger companies with their ability to stay in close
contact with customers and their ability to quickly change managerial
tactics.
By offering a superior and unexpected quality of
customer service, value and convenience your return customers may
become your biggest asset.
Creating a culture of great customer
service requires training employees to take care of and listen to
customers, to offer personal attention and focus on service.
For more information read: 
Posted by Jess Saba on Thu, Oct 15, 2009 @ 11:33 AM
Saving money is like raising capital - without the interest
As a small business owner you know how much easier it is to spend money than to make it. Each dollar your business earns is a result of years of hard work, education and experience, hundreds of conversations with potential customers, time networking with other business people and the careful development of a product or service.
Since it takes valuable time and resources to make money, it is important, as a business owner, to make sure each dollar spent contributes to the growth and development of your business.
The best way for you business to fail is by running out of money. Saving where you can and using your resources as efficiently as possible will help ensure you have enough money to reach a higher valuation.
Bootstrapping: Using your capital to its fullest potential
Bootstrapping is a skill set which allows entrepreneurs to decide where to allocate funds and to find creative ways to use the resouces they have available in order to save money and create additional revenue sources to stay operational and viable.
Goal of bootstrapping is to save money, find new ways to use your resources to generate new revenue streams and to avoid unnecessary expenses.
Vinturella and Erickson, the authors of "Raising Entrepreneurial Capital" suggest six ways to bootstrap:
Generate Sales Quickly:
In order to become operational quickly look for small niche markets to which your business can offer a auxiliary servic.
Generate Cash Flow Quickly:
Cash flow is more important to start-ups than profits because cash flow will help pay bills and fund growth. Focus your attention on products and projects that will bring money in quickly.
Sell High-Valued Products and Services:
Selling high valued products to fewer customers is a better use of time than selling low-cost products to many customers. Since bootstrapping involves the most efficent use of time as well as money, focus your attention on gaining customers for your high value products.
Create the Best Team You Can Afford:
In the early stages of your business focus on attracting enthusiastic employees with an entrepreneurial spirt versus expensive executives and professionals. Your management team will grow as cash flow increases and your business gains credibility.
Control Your Growth:
Growing too fast may force you to invest in anticipation of sales and create a need for outside financing. More moderate growth may allow you to self finance your business and grow at a more sustainable pace.
Manage Your Accounts Receivable:
One way to improve your cash flow, which will reduce your need for expensive outside financing, is to get customers to pay in advance and to be diligent about billing customers who owe money for a product or service you have provided.
To successfully bootstrap find ways to do more with less, stay flexible by viewing each situation as an opportunity and save money by avoiding unnecessary expenses.
Resources available to entrepreneurs include capital, employee expertise, network connection, skill sets and personal relationships.
Posted by Jess Saba on Wed, Oct 07, 2009 @ 04:21 PM
If you have ever moved to a new town you know that it takes time and effort to establish a presence in your community and to meet a new people. The hope is to develop relationships with people who will introduce you to new people, invite you to events and look to you for advice and guidance.
Social networking online for your business is the same idea.
The goal of social networking is to create mutually beneficial relationships where information, experience and contacts can be shared.
The hope is that by sharing resources and industry knowledge your business will be looked to as a credible supplier of relevant and useful information and you will be able to benefit from the help of others in your network.
The benefits of a potent social network include insight into your demographic's opinions, increased opportunites to make business connections and access to a diversity ideas which may spark innovation and creativity.
Social networking introduces you to people with diverse worldviews who may be able to offer new ideas and may challange your perceptions with can trigger creative and innovative energy.
The challenge is to create a credible, dependable and trustworthy online presence that encourages people to look to you as a source of unique information and connections. The secret is investing time and energy to expand your online network and reputation.
The consequences to your business of underdeveloping your social network include a loss of credibility, risk of fading into obscurity in your market and losing relevancy. Also, underutilizing the potential of social networks increases your chances of missing opportunities to grow and innovate.
Developing a network
Offering readers remarkable content which can be shared with other industry professionals, potential customers, business partners and the interested public is the secret to expanding your social network.
What do you know?
Evaluate the unique knowledge your company has. What information can you share with readers that will be new, interesting and difficult to get from another source? Information that feels private is most appealing and will foster interest in the information your company decides to share.
Who do you know?
Do you have access to industry professionals who may be able to contribute to your content? Visit other blogs and suggest an article the author might be interested in.
Be involved.
Be sure to read other blogs and leaving relevant and analytical comments. The more comments your leave, the more developed your reputation as a thought leader will become.
Posted by Jess Saba on Thu, Sep 24, 2009 @ 10:44 AM
Document Design
When you write a document at work it is important to present information in a clear, concise and easy to follow format. Your ability to capture and maintain the readers attention will depend on the document's visual appeal and design.
The design of the document can help project a positive, professional image of you, your product and your company which can lead to increased credibility.
Visual cues are design elements which bring attention to important information. Bolding, chunking, italics, lists, and the use of white space and headers help direct reader's attention to the main points of the document.
Design Elements:
- Chunking and headings help break up the monotony of text and allow a
reader to anticipate visual stopping points before a new idea is
introduced.
- Chunking: The use of smaller paragraphs opposed to large blocks of text.
- For the reader, looking at a block of text is like running down a perfectly straight, flat road. The distance ahead is apparent and daunting when no rest stops or stopping points can be seen.
- Use the design elements listed below to create mental stopping points to give readers a rest and help maintain their interest.
- Headings: The best way to organize ideas. Headings are brief descriptive words that introduce a new concept or summarize the paragraph below.
- Make sure your headings are either bolded or a larger font than the rest of the document and be sure each heading matches. Headings can ask a questions, make a statement or offer keywords to help the reader quickly get an idea of the information.
- Lists: Help divide, rank and organize information to emphasize important points. Lists can be numbered, bulleted or lettered.
- Typeface: Choose a legible, attractive, functional font that matches the message. Do not switch fonts throughout the document, this will make the information seem disorganized and unprofessional.
- Use bold and italics only when attracting attention to the information that is very important.
- White Space: The key to page layout is to visually organize information by finding a balance between text, illustrations and white space. White space is the areas on the page free from text and graphics.
Do not be afraid of white space.
- Often times it is better to use addtional pages with carefully organized information as opposed to cramming all the information on as few pages as possible.