Firestorm Solutions, LLC is a recognized leader in business continuity, vulnerability analysis, risk mitigation and crisis management.

Firestorm has developed step by step plans, processes, and procedures to assist companies in planning for and managing disasters and crises. Today, we are experiencing increased natural disasters, terrorism, and health crises/epidemics. Firestorm offers their franchisees the opportunity to take their management skills and use them to build a business with the entire US as their territory. Management, Staff and Expert Council are experts in the field and available to work with the franchisee in building any plan.

Franchisees utilize all capabilities and services of Firestorm — which provided the on-site crisis management support at Virginia Tech — including the Firestorm name and trademark; operational methodology including plans, policies, procedures and training; and access to its staff, Expert Council and Online Resource Center.

Firestorm is an exclusive franchise system that is awarded only to those individuals who can demonstrate senior leadership expertise, problem-solving skills, a commitment to help others and a desire to build a business based on a “Culture of Preparedness.’’

“We are extremely gratified to be able to offer this opportunity at this critical juncture in our nation’s history,’’ Firestorm Franchising President/CEO James W. Satterfield said. “The need for economic recovery is matched only by the need to rebuild our level of preparedness in the private sector, which controls 85 percent of our infrastructure.”

Firestorm offers an excellent opportunity to invest in a great concept with low overhead and minimal start-up costs.  To learn more about this excellent opportunity, contact an FBA Broker here.

Tom Nilsen

Thomas T. Nilsen has over 25 years leadership as a brand marketing executive for Coca-Cola, Sara Lee, Nestle, Miller/Coors, Kroger. In the most recent two years, Tom has been a ‘New Age’ brand promotion consultant to Fortune 500 CEOs in numerous industries. In response to the current economic climate (producing over 5 million displaced executives), Tom has shifted the focus of his consulting practice to delivering ‘best-in-class’ service to individuals seeking corporate job alternatives in franchise ownership. Helping people realize the alternative of moving from ‘employee to employer’ is both exciting and inspirational.

Mission:

TNT Franchises is committed to providing clients FREE independent (unbiased), comprehensive research & identification of franchises / business licensing opportunities which optimally match stated goals/needs/objectives. We commit to being a valuable resource from initial engagement through business launch.

Tom takes pride in:

Revealing new career paths to the ‘displaced’ in despair is meaningful and fulfilling work.

Tom became a member of FBA in July, and just closed his first deal with Color Glo. 
Congratulations, Tom!

In the franchise consulting industry, the industry standard is to purchase most of your leads through internet portals (there are many different ways to do this and several types of portals to use).  However, many consultants find the leads costly — considering the number of leads potentially needed to purchase to make a sale.  There are many lead generation systems you can use, we’ll cover new and different systems and lead generation options throughout this blog.

Last blog post, we discussed cultivating your current contacts and networking to create new ones.  Another excellent and inexpensive methods for promoting your service and generating leads is to become a speaker and industry expert on your topic.  Public speaking promotes your business two-fold, it builds awareness in your community and creates buzz about your brand, as well as solidifies you as an expert in your field.

For every audience member you present to, you have a potential client and their network of potential referrals and clients.  You will build a network of contacts, associates and colleagues in your local business community.

Use all of your local sources for potential speaking opportunities and engagements, including:

• Networking Groups — such as your Chamber of Commerce, Meetups, BNI and other local business networking organizations
  
• Local radio and TV — offer to be an expert they can contact for specific stories and beats
• Universities and Colleges — offer to be a guest speaker in business and other applicable courses
• Organizations that your services can assist — offer to hold conferences at their location, or offer to speak at their large events such as conventions and yearly meetings

If you, as most people, have some nerves about public speaking and where exactly to start when preparing your presentation, Entrepreneur offers some great advice to prepare a topic for a speaking engagement.  Content could include:

A solution to a problem or challenge in the industry
Mistakes people often make when not using your services
Real stories and examples
FAQs about your service, industry and business

Another piece of good advice is to use a handout, this gives the attendees something to take with them.  Make sure to gather contact information so you can follow up — THIS is where you get your connections and contacts.

Public speaking is a very effective and cost efficient way to build your network and lead flow, with a little work and dedication you can use it as an excellent source of promotion for you and your business.

Do you use public speaking and presentations as a lead generation tool?

When opening up your business, the most important aspect of ensuring your success is obtaining, building and sustaining a customer base.  Planning your recruitment initiatives can be both exciting and daunting, but also pivotal to the immediate and long-term success of your brand.  If you’re working with a limited budget, keep programs for building your customer base simple and add initiatives as your resources grow.

Two ways to keep your costs down while building your brand’s awareness are cultivating your current contacts and networking to make new ones.

As an entrepreneur, you probably have more contacts than you realize, don’t forget to use them.  Avoid “pitching” them, but do make sure they know what your new venture is and are aware of what services you provide.  They may not drink your smoothie, buy your franchise, want your consultation, or need your restoration services, BUT they may know someone who does.

“You’ve been looking into starting your own business, but worried about taking the leap?  My brother-in-law consults entrepreneurs, let me get you in touch with him and see if he can help.”

They may not want to buy your product or service, but they do want to see you succeed.  Contacts you don’t want to overlook:

• Former colleagues, associates, supervisors and employers
• Fellow university alumni
• Anyone you built a relationship with that would be interested in hearing how you’re doing and what you’re involved in

When you create your list and generate your first communication, make sure your message conveys a tone of announcement (i.e. “Dear Friends and Colleagues, I would like to share some exciting news with you!  I’ve recently invested in/started XYZ entrepreneurial venture.  I’m looking forward to owning my own business, helping others realize their business goals, and I wanted to share this with you.”) instead of “I started this service, here’s why you should buy it from me.”  Your contacts will be happy to share in the news with you and may send along referrals.

Another way to garner referrals and increase exposure of your new business is through networking.  You can grow your contacts and maintain a database of people you can update on news and information and can help spread the word about your offerings.  Your local chamber of commerce, business groups, trade shows, charities and associations are all good outlets for networking.  Online communities where you can share information and expertise are also helpful.  Some events and organizations will come at a premium compared to others; weigh the cost to benefits and decide which will give you more bang for your buck.

You are your biggest promoter when you open your doors, by tapping into your current contacts and your community, you’ll build loyal supporters and followers that will help in your campaign to build your business.

How have you built your customer base?

Without the right resources, connections and knowledge, financing a franchise can seem like an impossibility. Bankers and lending institutions are more stringent in their qualifications than ever before. Many otherwise worthy borrower-candidates have been declined for funding, for numerous reasons.

Macro Business Capital has a solution

Macro Business Capital is a Minneapolis-based 13-year-old financial services company that specializes in providing unsecured business lines of credit, requiring NO COLLATERAL. This funding process has allowed many franchisee candidates, who would not otherwise have qualified for SBA financing, to achieve the needed funding for their franchise.

This type of funding is ideal for any franchise candidate who has a good credit rating, but may lack sufficient liquidity, real estate collateral, income-to-debt ratio, employment tenure, etc. required for traditional bank financing. None of these are required for Macro’s Business Line of Credit (BLOC) program, and funding is available for 100% of any project. Target amounts range up to $150K for an individual, or up to $300K for two partners, such as husband and wife. Macro also offers a 24 hour approval period.

Why put your assets at risk if it isn’t necessary ?

Most banks require real estate collateral to secure the loan for a franchise. Macro’s BLOC program requires no collateral. Requirements are simply a good credit history and a proper corporation entity. Macro also assists in setting up the necessary corporation, if needed.

Some highlights of the Macro Business Capital funding program:

* Funds can be used for any purpose, any industry

* Multiple lender relationships are established

* Lines of credit may be used again and again

*Interest rates are competitive with traditional financing

*Introductory rates as low as zero percent

*Simple application process, limited documentation needed

*24 hour approval process

* All credit reporting is to the business credit file, not to the borrower’s personal file

In times of strict financing requirements, Macro Business Capital’s BLOC program can be the difference in a potential franchisee being approved for funding or being left on the sidelines. They welcome all inquiries from franchisors, franchise consultants, startup franchisee candidates, as well as existing franchisees who wish to expand.

“I want to thank you. I was skeptical that you could get me $100K, let alone in 90 days. But you have proven yourself. I am happy to report that my new business will open next week.” Jerry G. , Bloomington, MN.

“I have worked with Macro Business Capital since the first part of 2010 in referring potential franchise candidates for funding. I have found their service to be very effective, and their guidelines to be more flexible than traditional means such as the SBA loans.”   John Briches, Franchise Consultant, Sarasota, FL.

To contact Macro Business Capital call (800) 980-0790 or email melcooksey@mbcfunds.com or visit www.macrobusinesscapital.com/ssi

Whether you’re starting a consulting business, or investing in a business opportunity that allows you to operate under your own brand, choosing a name for  your new venture is important.  After all, the name IS the company, will inevitable provide your potential customer with a first impression of your business and services, and it will be your trademark and brand.

When starting a company and needing a name, you have two choices: come up with one on your own or hire a naming firm.

A naming firm will save you time and a great deal of legwork.  However, if you have the ability, time and motivation to research and choose your own company name, you’ll save yourself quite a bit of money.

The pivotal first step is brainstorming, as Entrepreneur states “the more minds, the merrier.”  Have your friends, colleagues and partners join you in coming up with words that describe your business.  Use all points of reference (think thesauruses, dictionaries, etc.) to come up with as many words as you can.

When listing words that will help you choose your name, consider your services, your customer, your industry and your competitors.  Once you’ve got a full list of name-generating words, start matching them up and putting them together.  Pull a solid number of names together that you like and think will portray your services well (5 – 10 is a good goal), then follow Eat My Words’ “Smile & Scratch” test.  According to EMW your company’s name should make you “smile, not scratch your heads”! (Heed their advice, they’ve come up with some pretty nifty names).

SMILE - qualities of a powerful name

Simple – one easy-to-understand concept
Meaningful – your customers instantly “get it”
Imagery – visually evocative – creates a mental picture
Legs – carries the brand, lends itself to wordplay
Emotional – empowers, entertains, engages, enlightens

SCRATCH it off the list if it has any of these deal-breakers

Spelling-challenged – you have to tell people how to spell it
Copycat – similar to competitor’s names
Random – disconnected from the brand
Annoying – hidden meaning, forced
Tame – flat, uninspired, boring, non-emotional
Curse of Knowledge – only insiders get it
Hard-to-pronounce – not obvious, relies on punctuation

Basically…don’t make your potential customers think too hard about the name.  Make it easy for them to refer you, your company and your website.  Make sure YOU’RE passionate about it; if you’re not, how do you expect your customer to be?

After you choose a name you love, it passes the Smile & Scratch test and is available for your use, get on trademarking it, buying the domain names and starting your business!

Franchise Brokers Association to Host
Local Franchise Investors Roundtable & Workshop

Roundtable Scheduled to Increase Jobs and
Promote Business Opportunities in Local Economy

Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. – August 11, 2010 –On Thursday, September 9, 2010 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. the Franchise Brokers Association (FBA) will be hosting a Franchise Investors Roundtable & Workshop.  The event is organized to educate attendees on entrepreneurship, provide tools for wise investing and improve local economic and business development. The roundtable targets individuals interested in learning about franchise and business opportunities, options available for business investment and how to begin the qualification process.  Workshop co-sponsors include The Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, and the SUN Business & Support Program.

Franchise Investors Roundtable & Workshop
September 9, 2010
Held at:
The Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce
512 N.E.  3^rd Street
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301

Speakers will include members of the FBA’s Board of Directors, each of whom is a successful business owner and has been involved with the franchise industry for many years.

Sabrina Carter, Executive Director and Founder of the FBA, is a long-time, accomplished entrepreneur, franchise consultant and franchisee.  She will be speaking on Franchise Ownership and Business Development.

Carl L. Gould, FBA Board Member, is an internationally renowned entrepreneur, business coach and mentor.  Carl has co-authored with bestselling authors Ken Blanchard & Steven Covey, and has recently published his latest book The 7 Stages of Small Business Success; he will be discussing “Getting  Ready for the Right Opportunity.”

Eric R. Riess, Esq., is an officer of a very successful corporate practice law group in St. Louis, Mo. As a franchise attorney and a certified public accountant, Eric brings considerable business experience to his clients who are looking to purchase a franchise business. He is well-known and a respected leader in the franchise industry; he will discuss “What You Always Wanted to Know About Franchising But Were Too Afraid to Ask A Lawyer to Learn.”

A financial advisor from the greater Ft. Lauderdale area will be in attendance to discuss the financial industry and business financing options.

Cost of the event is $20 at the door; however, those who pre-register for the event on-line at www.franchiseBA.com/Roundtable will receive FREE admission.

There will be opportunities to ask specific questions during the workshops as well as learn about specific franchise opportunities in South Florida.

The job market is full of candidates that have been downsized, laid off, their company has closed, they’re in a career-transitioning period of their life, or they are looking for a new opportunity to be their own boss; this event is designed to answer their questions and encourage entrepreneurial success.

About Franchise Brokers Association

Franchise Brokers Association is an Orlando, FL based trade organization.  The FBA supports all members of the franchise community and can facilitate all steps in the franchise process, from franchise development to unit sale.  FBA was founded in 2008 by franchise consultant Sabrina Carter and has grown to over 550 consultant and franchise members.  The FBA’s purpose is to provide support and improve the industry standards for franchise investment, development and sales.

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Contact

Bio Green was developed to serve communities with biologically sound, environmentally safe fertilizers that will improve the quality of soils, lawns and landscapes across the country.

The lawn service industry cares for the lawns of 10.5 million households in the U.S.  While this only represents 15% of total households, it represents 75% of the $3 billion lawn care market.  Do-it-yourselfers represent the remaining 25%.

Industry Facts:

• Approximately 48 million acres of land in the U.S. are devoted to turf Grass.
• Approximately 70 Million tons of synthetic fertilizer are applied to American Lawns Annually
• Approximately 35% of synthetic fertilizer is used by plants (realization rate)
• 40% to 60% of synthetic fertilizers used, run off or leach into the soil, contributing to non source-point pollution.

Bio Green uses fertilizers that are 100% safe for the environment, children and pets.

Bio Green is listed as a designated BioPreferred product by the USDA BioPreferred program, and has been chosen as the fertilizer to be used on the grounds of the USDA Headquarters in Washington, DC.

Bio Green USA, Inc. is committed to:

• Developing innovative and flexible solutions.
• Striving to buy, sell and use environmentally friendly products.
• Recognizing that fiscal responsibility is essential to our futures.
• Instilling environmental responsibility as a corporate value.
• Measuring and monitoring their progress for each project.
• Understanding issues and sharing information with their Licensees.
• Encouraging all Licensees to share in their mission.
• Protecting the territories of the Licensees.
• Striving to ensure the success of all Licensees

Want to learn more about Bio Green?  Find a consultant here.