North Carolina Residents Find Success With Franchise Brands

The franchise industry is currently blowing up. Everywhere you look there is a new restaurant chain opening up or a cleaning service brand ready to tidy up a home. And according to a report from the ADP Research Institute, it’s a viable and sustainable industry that added 48,600 jobs in December 2015 alone. That growth, when compared to November’s metric of 25,600, is a sign that the industry is showing no signs of slowing down.

Lending a helping hand to the economy is not the only reason why franchises are seen as a monetarily-successful business investment for hungry entrepreneurs. They also represent a safe bet for interested investors and a way to create a nest egg for families for years to come. The Charlotte Observer profiled two couples from North Carolina who had the same idea about franchises, and they both encompass what it means to be a smart investor.

Success with MOOYAH

John and Robin Ficara are your typical couple who felt the plight of tough economic times when the recession hit. John Ficara was in finance and worked for a builder in Virginia during that time.. Ficara and his wife decided it was time to reevaluate their resumes and look for new options—more delicious options, if you will.

The Ficara’s hungry eyes turned to “better burger” franchise brand MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes. The brand, which was started in 2007, offers customers an array of burger and milkshake options. When looking at different franchises, Ficara said one of the things that drew him to MOOYAH was the quality products it offered to the customers.

“When evaluating all the franchise opportunities available, I fell in love with MOOYAH because of its strong brand, food quality and experienced management team,” Ficara said.

He went on to say his franchise bakes its own bread in house and milkshakes are made from 100 percent real ice cream. But being a franchise rookie was a bit tough at first. Ficara related that when the store first opened in February 2015, he was a bit overwhelmed taking on the roles of both owner and manager. His stress has simmered down over the past year after they brought on a new general manager, and he credits the corporate side of the business for providing top-notch training and operational assistance.

Feeling at home with Mosquito Joe

An established infrastructure is one of the many reasons why investors are drawn to the franchise model. The business plan is already lined out for them, they have training manuals to help their staff and corporate is just a phone call away to help with any issues. Those are some reasons why Heather and Mike Ward wanted to hop on the franchise bandwagon. The couple moved from Tampa to the Charlotte area in 2014 and they started talking with a franchise consultant about investment opportunities.

Many investors will reach out to a franchise consultant. These experts will help prospective franchisees find a business that will not only be perfect for their business acumen, but ones that they will enjoy. The Wards chose mosquito control treatment franchise Mosquito Joe. Along with having distaste for those pesky bloodsuckers, the Wards found the company’s corporate atmosphere to be helpful and the cost in investing, which runs to about $83,000.

A hefty investment can turn off any potential investor, but banks have been a bit more helpful in assisting the past few years. Nick Powills, CEO of No Limit Agency* and publisher of 1851 Magazine, told The Observer that banks are a bit more relaxed to lenders these days and that is thanks to franchisors having a more rigid vetting process in trying to find potential franchisees.