Franchise Outlook 2018
Franchise businesses anticipate healthy growth during the JVTPUN `LHY HZ H Z[HISL LJVUVT` HUK JVU[PU\LK NVVK WYVÄ[Z encourage investor interest in franchise opportunities. Cruise Planners already has franchisees of its home-based travel franchise in all 50 states and anticipates further growth nationally in 2018, according to CEO Michelle Fee. The Coral :WYPUNZ -SVYPKH IHZLK JVTWHU` VќLYZ H SV^ JVZ[ UV inventory business opportunity that franchisees can work at full-time or part-time.
“People are always traveling, and Cruise Planners trains franchisees with no travel industry experience and turns them into travel professionals who can book all types of vacations, not just cruises,” Fee says. The concept attracts both Millennials, who appreciate being able to work on the go with Cruiser Planners mobile apps, and retirees who are looking for HU LUJVYL JHYLLY [OH[ VќLYZ H ÅL_PISL ZJOLK\SL ZOL HKKZ *Y\PZL 7SHUULYZ HSZV YLJLU[S` HUUV\UJLK P[Z ÄYZ[ HY[PÄJPHS intelligence initiative. The program will help its network of home-based travel advisors with voice-activated, virtual personal assistants compatible with Amazon Alexa devices. Another AI initiative is designed for consumers to help generate leads. “Additionally, we have the support team in our business development department to hold franchisees’ hands every step of the way,” Fee says.
:UHW -P[ULZZ PZ H Ä[ULZZ JS\I MYHUJOPZL I\ZPULZZ [OH[ features a simple, turnkey system, low startup costs, and JVTWYLOLUZP]L Z\WWVY[ MYVT [OL JVYWVYH[L V JL ¸ >L have a proven concept that makes it easy for franchisees to succeed,” says Peter Taunton, CEO and founder of the Chanhassen, Minnesota-based franchiser.
By the start of 2018, Snap Fitness anticipates having approximately 3,000 locations open or in development in at SLHZ[ JV\U[YPLZ ¸ >L»YL HSS V]LY [OL ^VYSK ^P[O WSHUZ [V continue expanding into new markets in 2018,” Taunton says. Mosquito Joe has 128 franchisees operating in 234 territories in 32 states and will expand to 33 states in 2018, according to *OPLM 6WLYH[PUN 6 JLY 3V\ :JOHNLY ;OL SV^ JVZ[ ZJHSHISL businesses service a high-growth market providing mosquito control to homes and businesses.
Franchisees of Virginia Beach-based Mosquito Joe receive full training and support that allows them to succeed without WYL]PV\Z WLZ[ JVU[YVS L_WLYPLUJL ¸>L MLLS VWLYH[PUN HZ H seasonal business is of tremendous value since it provides a great quality of life, earning in seven to nine months an amount of revenue that would normally take 12 months,” Schager says. Dream Vacations has more than 1,100 travel agency franchise locations across the U.S. and anticipates adding 100 more locations to that total, says Janet Harris, senior MYHUJOPZL KL]LSVWTLU[ ZWLJPHSPZ[ ^ P[O [OL -VY[ 3H\ KLYKHSL Florida, company.
Franchisees, who can also opt instead to do business under [OL *Y\PZL6UL IHUULY LUQV` SV^ Z[HY[\W JVZ[Z ÅL_PIPSP[` H complete training program, and discounts on their own travel. “Being home-based also enables Dream Vacations franchise owners to set their own hours and create the ideal work/life balance that suits their lifestyle,” says Harris. The company VќLYZ ZWLJPHS KLHSZ MVY TPSP[HY` ]L[LYHUZ ZOL HKKZ Discovery Map has 132 locations, mostly in the East and >LZ[ JVHZ[ HUK 9VJR` 4V\U[HPU YLNPVUZ HUK 7YLZPKLU[ 7L[LY Hans expects to add 8 to 10 more in 2018. Franchisees of [OL >HP[ZÄLSK =LYTVU[ IHZLK JVTWHU` W\ISPZO OHUK KYH^U maps that direct visitors to local attractions. Discovery Map is a home-based business requiring a modest time commitment. “It’s very much a lifestyle business,” Hans says.