Anytime Fitness Franchise - Business Opportunity for 2010

Anytime fitness was started in 2002 by co-founders Jeff Klinger and Chuck Runyon, because they believed that the fitness industry needed some revamping. They realized that with peoples hectic schedules today, that many people wanted to work out but couldn’t with the restrictive gym schedules and often high membership prices. The though that there could be a gym that was not only affordable, open 24 hours and allowed people to workout on their own schedule but also allowed people to work out in any city they travelled to, was the idea that sparked Anytime Fitness.

Anytime Fitness is able to offer such good prices and 24 hour access because it compressed the basic needs of the average gym member and removed the mostly unused features like swimming pools and racquetball courts and kept things like high quality and equipment and tanning facilities. Anytime Fitness features member access software and high-tech security and surveillance offers members a safe environment to enjoy even with a greatly reduced staff. Anytime Fitness also prides itself on being involved with the community, which is why Anytime Fitness can flourish in many small towns that are usually ignored by large scale gyms. The reasonable prices and 24 hour convenience fuels the growth of Anytime Fitness, especially in these small towns. Anytime Fitness also includes innovative features like cashless vending that allows members to charge purchases to their member account.

FACTS AND FIGURES

Anytime Fitness is a mostly North America franchise with 1,087 of its 1,110 stores in the U.S. and Canada but has plans to expand internationally. A health club franchise is usually considered a solid business model to open considering nearly 1 million people a year join a gym. Anytime fitness has had solid increases growing in 2007 from 308 locations to 593 locations. Nearly 60% of franchisees own more than one location partly because of the time freedom offered by the self-run system with low staff requirements. The prime locations of Anytime Fitness gyms, like strip malls with large grocery chains offers maximum exposure for the franchisee.

Some of Anytime Fitness awards are #75 of top 500 franchises, #13 for fastest growing, #19 for lowest cost and #70 for top global franchises. Anytime Fitness has also won the Franchise Satisfaction Award 3 years in a row from Franchise Business Review and was #35 in Franchise Times magazine’s ‘Fast 55’ list.

Anytime fitness requires a franchisee to have a minimum net worth of $10,000 and also a $10,000 initial cash investment. The average total investment is $142,000 but can be up to $249,000. Part of the initial investment is an initial franchise fee of $18,000 with an ongoing royalty/advertising fee of $419/mo. The number of employees needed to run the gym is 1 full-time and 2 part-time.

An initial contract term of 5 years is needed with the option of additional 5 years renewing terms after the initial term. Anytime Fitness is one of few franchises that allow passive ownership, which means you don’t have to be physically present and involved with the operation on a daily basis. A corporate staff of 80 helps with tasks like site selection, advertising, marketing, data processing, inventory, newsletters, 800 help line and other needed processes. The franchisee also needs to attend a 1 week training in Hastings, MN.

To see other lucrative business opportunities that don't require the huge up-front capital and can be run online with automated systems visit http://www.AlternativesToFranchising.com

7-Eleven Franchise - Business Opportunity for 2010.

7-eleven is the largest chain store in the world beating out even McDonald’s by 1,000 stores. 7-eleven has also been a leader in the franchise business for over 40 years with 7,500 stores in North America and Canada and over 36,000 locations world wide in 18 countries. Stores are still expanding at an incredible rate with a new location opening every 4 1/2 hours. 7-eleven opened in 1964 and has plans to be fully franchise owned by 2013. Their business system is focused on serving the customer faster and more effectively than the competition. 7-eleven is a subsidiary of seven and I Holdings Co. of Japan.

A quick history of 7-eleven. Originating in 1927 in Dallas, Texas when an employee of an ice-manufacturing plant (Joe C. Thompson, Southland Ice Company) started selling milk, bread and eggs from a dock at the manufacturing plant. Joe found that selling these items became very popular because of the ability of the ice to preserve the items. He did well because it prevented people from having to travel to grocery stores even though there were stores present in the area. Joe eventually raised the money and bought South Land Ice Co. The name was changed to Southland Corporation and oversaw multiple locations in the Dallas area. The stores were originally called Tote ‘Em because the customers would tote their purchases away, but since the store were opened from 7am to 11pm, which was unheard of at the time, the name 7-eleven stuck and was started in 1946.

7-eleven has world-wide recognized products like the Slurpee and Big Gulp and constantly looks for new products like Movie Quik, an in store movie rental service, and Speak Out Wireless, a prepaid phone service that can be purchased and activated in the store.

7-eleven promotions and marketing are both traditional and original. They use traditional marketing like sponsoring the #11 car in the Indy Racing League and using a sponsor from the Dallas Mavericks. Part of the marketing with the Mavericks included giving fans that visited the 41 home games, free 7-eleven coupons as they left the stadium. Also, a promotional agreement with the Chicago White Sox was started that included starting their home games at 7:11pm.

An original marketing campaign included changing 12 of its stores to “Kwik-E-Marts” for the release of the 2007 Simpsons Movie. Those stores and about 6,000 other stores promoted the movie by selling Simpson’s products like Buzz Cola, Krusty O’s Cereal, Squishees and other well-known Simpsons icons. Other products like coffee and sandwiches were promoted with Simpsons wrapping. The promotion gave the ‘Kwik-E-Mart’ converted 7-elevens a 30% increase in sales, drawing Simpsons fans from hundreds of miles away to purchase the Simpsons themed products. So, that gives you an idea of how dedicated 7-eleven is to finding new successful marketing campaigns.

FACTS AND FIGURES

7-eleven id regularly featured in entrepreneur’s franchise 500 and has been selected as the #1 overall franchise. Also rated #38 fastest growing franchise and #2 in low cost franchises. In 2008 7-eleven was rated the #1 franchise over even Subway which held the position for 15 years.

7-eleven wants you to concentrate on satisfying the customer so things like bookkeeping, daily cash reports, store audits, payroll processing, and paying invoices is handled by the corporate staff. There are also corporate staff employees that visit your store twice a week to answer questions and give suggestions for improving sales.

What is the cost of starting a 7-eleven franchise? The cost varies a lot because the franchise fee is based upon last years sales, and since you don’t have a ‘last years sales’ its going to be based upon sales for other stores in the area. Its usually going to be between $50,000 to $350,000 but may be outside of that range depending on the sales of other stores in that area. Also, a one time gasoline fee will be charged in addition to the franchise fee of $10,000 to $50,000, which is also based upon last years sales. A partial cash down payment is expected for the store inventory,licenses, permits and bonds while the rest of the cost 7-eleven will finance. You’ll be expected to have a minimum net worth of over $15,000 and run the store for a contract time of 15 years. They will also help with finding a location for your new store.

To see other lucrative business opportunities that don't require the huge up-front capital and can be run online with automated systems visit http://www.AlternativesToFranchising.com

Little Caesar's Pizza Franchise-Business Opportunity for 2010.

Little Caesar’s pizza was founded by Michael and Marian Ilitch in 1959 in Garden City, Michigan and started franchising in 1962. Little Caesar’s original name was ‘Little Caesar’s Pizza Treat’. The famous advertising catch phrase ‘PIZZA! PIZZA!’ was started in 1979 which began because two of Little Caesar’s pizza’s costing the same as one pizza at the competitors. The two pizzas were originally packaged together in a single long package, but was changed to the traditional pizza box when the original package was found to inconvenient and bulky. Little Caesars also began a new hot-n-ready slogan, referring to their pre-baked pizzas ready for immediate take out with a low $5 price in most areas.

Little Caesars were known for being located in K-mart stores (K-mart also being founded in Garden City, Michigan coincidently). Little Caesars ran into financial trouble in the 90’s, made worse with the fact that K-mart also ran into financial troubles and was the location for many of the Little Caesars stores. K-mart has replaced many of the Little Caesars pizza stores with their own ‘K-cafe’ food brand shops. The company is trying to aggressively expand its 2000 locations which has dropped from about 5000 in the 90’s, especially in the Denver, Indianapolis, Minneapolis and Pittsburgh areas that that Little Caesars was forced to leave because of its financial troubles. Examples of this are the return of Little Caesars in a very saturated Pittsburgh location which has Pizza Hut, Domino’s, Papa John’s and other smaller mom and pop pizza shops competing. Little Caesars had two locations and one in a K-mart in this same neighborhood before its financial troubles. Little Caesars has also selected New Orleans as a main market to grow the franchise opportunity.

Little Caesars advertising is very recognized with its ‘PIZZA!PIZZA!’ slogan and the widely recognized Caesar character, something that the other chains lack, being recognized world wide. Little Caesars has international locations from the U.S. to Mexico to countries like Korea, Japan, Kuwait, Egypt and many more that recognize the Little Caesars slogan ‘PIZZA!PIZZA!’ except in Canada where it can’t be used because of a pizza chain with the name ‘Pizza Pizza’. Also, services like Little Caesar’s Love Kitchen, a mobile semi/pizza kitchen that provides food for the homeless and hungary, shows the companies involvement in community service.

FACTS AND FIGURES

Starting a Little Caesars has advantages on its side like being one of the worlds favorite foods, being involved in a $30 billion industry and the fact that family and friends usually get together to have pizza, making it common that multiple pizzas are usually ordered. 98% of Little Caesars franchisees agree that Little Caesars provides a proven system to follow that works and that Little Caesars is one of the best concepts in the pizza business industry. Little Caesars was voted ‘Best value for money’ of all quick serve restaurant chains. Another interesting fact is that many corporate employees of Little Caesars end up becoming franchisees after seeing the success that current franchise owners experience.

The cost to start a Little Caesars franchise is an average total of $380,000 with a cash investment of $50,000 from the franchisee. The franchisee is expected to have a net worth of at least $150,000. Royalties are an average of $20,000 with an initial franchise fee of $15,000-$20,000. A freestanding building or strip mall location is prefered and needs to be 1400 square feet. The average Little Caesars requires 1 full-time employee and about 15-30 part-time employees. The initial contract length is 10 years with a 10 year renewing contract length. There is a corporate staff of 300 that takes care of ads, promotion, inventory control and other corporate tasks. An initial 6 week training is also required for the franchisee. If you meet these criteria and want to proceed with a Little Caesar’s Franchise you can submit an application at their website under the franchise opportunities link.

To see other lucrative business opportunities that don't require the huge up-front capital and can be run online with automated systems visit http://www.AlternativesToFranchising.com