Eunice Neubauer

Eunice had thought about being her own boss for years but life was comfortable having been with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans for almost 25 years. After much consideration she decided to launch her own business.

Her goals were clear from the beginning. To align the business with her values of faith, family and helping others; to work from home and have flexible hours; and do something that has meaning.

We quickly identified a business model that met her top criteria with Choice Connections, a no-fee placement and consulting service for seniors. The company matches seniors with senior living options such as assisted living, residential care, independent living, nursing homes and dementia care homes.

She works with seniors and their families to identify lifestyle preferences, health care needs, location and financial considerations. From there, she narrows the options to the most appropriate settings, schedules tours and assists throughout the process. In short, she reduces stress and time for seniors and their families as they make this difficult life event decision.

Eunice's background, skills and faith blend nicely as she works with families in the community as they go through the challenges that accompany the transition from the familiarity of home - to new surroundings that better suit them.

She offers her services in the Twin Cities south metro and would be pleased to answer any questions our E-Story readers might have. She can be reached at 651-261-5379 or www.choiceconnections.com.

Congratulations and blessings, Eunice.

Rich Frieder

As the former Chief Marketing Officer at Deluxe Corporation, Rich was looking forward to leveraging his experience to create more personal wealth and flexibility through business ownership.

Although his wife Adele has a wonderful idea for a children's recreational facility, they were inclined to take the route of franchising for their first venture to take advantage of established support and systems.

Ideally, Rich wants to be in a position to step away from the business by his mid-50s to start another venture, do more mission work or simply cut back.

Rich, who has strong people skills and is a very creative marketer was drawn to both business service and retail models. Recognizing there were pros and cons to each path, he quickly narrowed the field to business consulting and learning services.

Ultimately, he chose a retail franchise called LearningRx. LearningRx learning centers provide cognitive skills training that focuses on how students learn, empowering people of any age to learn faster and easier.

The demand is high. Since they opened in early January, Rich and Adele have been booked with appointments at their center located at the intersection of County Road 42 and Marketplace in Savage.

If you know of someone in the area who has a loved one who is struggling with learning barriers, the folks at LearningRx would be happy to offer a complimentary consultation. Visit their website or give them a call at 952-226-1115.

Congratulations and wishes for great success, Rich & Adele!


P.S. Another client, Baird Johnson, also opened a LearningRx center in Chanhassen recently so feel free to give pay him a visit if that's a more convenient location.

Brian Burnstein & Tony Selinger

Friends since childhood, Brian and Tony decided they wanted to strike out on their own and start a new business.

Fed up with the politics of corporate life, Brian had left his job after years of being a numbers guy doing credit analysis. He felt like he had a marketing side just waiting to get out and was looking for a more relationship-focused opportunity.

Tony was working at Wells Fargo Bank. With a baby on the way, he was ready to enjoy a more flexible work schedule and diversify and grow his income potential.

Before they were referred to me by Brian's career coach, Molly Conlin Peterson, they were looking into wine and liquor stores. After discussing their individual and shared goals and objectives, it became apparent that this would not be a business model that would help them accomplish their short-term and long-term goals.

"Carolyn does a tremendous job of getting to the root of each individual's interests, goals, strengths and weaknesses. She draws upon a vast history of success stories to help guide people like us who were overwhelmed with the idea of purchasing a franchise."

We agreed that it would be worth their while to attend the Minnesota Franchise Spectacular to expand their horizons. While there, they met their future franchisor.

They are now publishers of Town Planner, a community calendar that allows families to connect to their community and for sponsors to reach them on an everyday basis. The 2009 Town Planner Community Calendar will be distributed free of charge to nearly 30,000 homes and businesses in Maple Grove, Osseo, Edina and southwest Minneapolis. By 2013, their goal is to reach distribution to 100,000 homes and businesses.

Since they attended training in June, Brian and Tony are moving ahead at breakneck speed and are on their way to becoming "rookies of the year" for the entire nationwide Town Planner network.

If you would like to learn more, feel free to contact Brian at 763-528-8501 or burnstein@townplanner.com or Tony at 612-203-8189 or selinger@townplanner.com.

Executives Embark on Second Careers in Tough Economy

Current employment challenges provide opportunities for seasoned business people

Minneapolis, Minnesota (Grassroots Newswire) 10/6/08 -- For many people, searching for the next career move in today's rocky economy can been likened to pulling teeth. As more and more companies are being forced to tighten their budgets and cut staff - as in the recent loss of positions in the financial services area - there are career choices for the seasoned executive that capitalize on their experienced mindset that can be most rewarding – business ownership.

Despite the serious challenges in the current economy, however, Carolyn Herfurth, business coach with The Entrepreneur's Source in Minneapolis, says there's a light at the end of the tunnel for many seasoned executives looking to make promising career changes.

"The unemployment rate has soared within the past several months. Yet there are opportunities that can be pursued in business ownership, particularly in the franchise sector," Herfurth said. "Rewarding careers are available for business professionals with valuable experience; paths that can help them become successful in a new business venture."

With economic indicators projecting a downturn in the labor force and a trend toward leaner companies, the New Career Economy® is now a reality – where gone are the days when individuals work for one or two employers, receive lifetime benefits and retire boasting double-digit service time from one employer. The future, long-term security will be gained through individuals managing their own careers through self-employment and other alternative career options.

A recent CNN Money special report highlighted the fact that unemployment reached a four-year high as "employers trimmed payrolls for the seventh month straight in July" and how the overall jobless rate in the country rose over five percent. But, this doesn't have to be a career stopper for Minneapolis-area business executives and professionals, according to Herfurth, who said the small business ownership in franchising has especially proven to be a thriving outlet for downsized professionals or career changers to pursue.

The Entrepreneur's Source is a leading business coaching firm specializing in helping people discover the right business for their goals, needs and expectations and assist business owners to reach a new level of performance, Herfurth said. The Minneapolis office also provides executive coaching in areas including: opening a new business, communications and leadership, market and business planning, exiting a business, increasing profitability, expanding operations and exploring a new business. And with their new strategic partner, E-Myth Worldwide, using the business success systems they can help small business owners develop the strategic knowledge to start a business or take an existing business to the next level of success.

The Minneapolis location uses a "discovery process" to help people explore business options and uncover possibilities that match their personal objectives and income goals. According to Herfurth, 95 percent of the people who are helped by The Entrepreneur's Source become an owner of a business they would have never considered – or had discounted.

"For over twenty years now, I'm proud to say that The Entrepreneur's Source has been a reliable source for 'all things entrepreneurial' especially for business executives seeking a career change. The company has been the premier source for self-employment options, franchising information, education and training," Herfurth said. "We can help those individuals – who have worked in the financial, marketing or other business field for the majority of their careers – easily and successfully move into the rewarding option of entrepreneurship."

Paula Anderson

As a self-employed commercial realtor, Paula enjoys a great deal of schedule flexibility and earns a nice living. Her husband, David, loves his corporate career with Best Buy and intends to stay with them until he retires.

Paula and Dave were interested in establishing a family business that would allow them to continue their existing career paths, yet create a family business for their kids to participate in. They also wanted an equity building business model that has repeat and referral customers.

They found just the fit with Educational Outfitters. It's a retail business that provides school uniforms and spirit wear. They also offer athletic wear and corporate apparel (think golf shirts with company logos).

With Paula's sales and customer service abilities and Dave's retail background, they make a great team. Paula works "on" the business by focusing on building relationships with schools to ensure they have the right colors and uniforms in stock when the kids come to shop. Their employees work "in" the business and run the daily operations - serving the families who come to buy their school uniforms, doing screen printing and handling customer service. Dave is the behind-the-scenes guy monitoring the books and inventory. Neither Paula nor Dave works full-time in the business.

The kids roles? Well, all of the kids helped paint and get the store ready for opening. Today, their 15-year old daughter Lauren works on the floor selling, Jack is a stock boy and checks out customers and their youngest Grant, does a lot of the embroidery. As the business matures and the kids do to, there will be more for them to do to earn their keep!

So if your kids need uniforms or spirit wear - stop by their store in St. Louis Park on West 36th or give them a call at 952-927-6778. Not only are they ready to help, they donate 3% of sales back to your school!

The Entrepreneur's Source® in Minneapolis offers Virtual Coach for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

FranchiseMatch.com launched as the pinnacle of powerful portals helping people find their fortunes in franchising

Minneapolis, MN (Grassroots Newswire) August 21, 2008 -- Carolyn Herfurth, a Business Coach with The Entrepreneur's Source in Minneapolis, now has a sophisticated ‘online’ tool to help aspiring entrepreneurs determine what business would be best suited for them with the recent launch of the company's virtual business coach, FranchiseMatch.com.

A unique, powerful information portal, FranchiseMatch.com (www.FranchiseMatch.com), unparalleled in the franchise industry, has been launched as a virtual coach guiding people through an online process of creating an individual, customized profile of franchise concepts that match their goals, needs and expectations.

Designed around a unique five-step process, FranchiseMatch.com takes each visitor through a series of questions that narrow down the possible franchise concepts which will ultimately match their lifestyle requirements, location preferences and available capital.

“After people complete the five-step process will I then personally assist them with the next steps in the discovery process at no obligation," said Herfurth.

“In the franchise industry, FranchiseMatch.com is now the Gold Standard of online educational portals offering visitors an unprecedented amount of information across all industries and hundreds of franchise opportunities available today,” Herfurth said. “This very unique portal site draws on our franchise opportunity experience and allows a visitor to build a customized profile that is matched with franchise concepts that meet their long-term personal and business goals. I'm very excited to be able to offer this service to potential entrepreneurs in the Minneapolis area."

Beyond the volume of industry information, the site also contains facts and figures provided by the International Franchise Association (IFA).

FranchiseMatch.com is one of many coaching tools offered to aspiring and established entrepreneurs by FSBI, the country’s leading educational franchise and Business Coaching firm. Over 200 Business Coaches based in North America provide Business and Franchise Coaching, and through a partnership with E-Myth® Worldwide, entrepreneurs have access to the largest franchise network providing business success education and business coaching.

The Entrepreneur's Source is a leading business coaching firm specializing in helping people discover the right business for their goals, needs and expectations and assist business owners to reach a new level of performance. Herfurth provides executive coaching in areas including: opening a new business, communications and leadership, market and business planning, exiting a business, increasing profitability, expanding operations and exploring a new business.

Julie & Gary Vadnais

Gary and Julie began their franchise search in their quest for stability and control of their destiny - fearing that either of them could lose their job in this down economy. And because their income had leveled off in corporate America, they were looking for a little extra income to "put them over the top" to secure their retirement.

After investigating several franchises that would require one or both of them to quit their jobs - they just couldn't get comfortable with that approach. So we went back to the drawing board and researched options that would allow them to keep their full-time jobs and work their business on a part-time basis..

We found just the fit for them with a Happy & Healthy Products franchise. Gary and Julie are distributors for Fruitfull - the most amazing, tasty, out-of-this world frozen fruit bars you ever laid your taste buds on. And they're healthy too!

"When we started our quest to find just the right business for us we were unsure of how to even the start the process. Luckily for us we found Carolyn from The Entrepreneur's Source to help us sort through all the options available and eventually find the right fit for us. She was an instrumental part of the process and we believe hiring her was the first good business decision we made."

Julie and Gary supply grocery stores, coffee shops, convenience stores, museums, attractions, movie theaters, schools and hospitals with these delicious, healthy treats. You can find them at Mercy Hospital, The River Market and The Daily Grind in Stillwater along with all 3 of the Lakewinds Natural Foods locations and Fresh and Natural in Plymouth - to name a few. If you don't find them where you shop, be sure to ask the proprietor to visit www.rumriverfoods.com to request the product.

"We are looking forward to growing our business because it is an outstanding product and we can't wait for everyone in the Twin Cities are to try it."

Find 'em. Taste 'em. Love 'em. Congrats, Vadnais'!

Wayne Welke

For seventeen years Wayne enjoyed the sales, negotiations, relationships and problem solving that went with his job. But he was burned out due to a schedule that regularly required long, inflexible hours. He was ready to take control and seek out a new, refreshing career.

As the father of two young kids, he was primarily interested in a flexible schedule that would allow him to attend their events during the week, spend weekends on the land that he and his wife, Sue own on Lake Vermilion and someday build a cabin there. Simply put, to be happy and healthy.

Professionally, he wanted to maintain flexible business hours and have a business that did not require employees.

Wayne chose Expense Reduction Analysts, a cost management consulting franchise that helps companies boost profits through the reduction of overhead expenses. ERA averages about 20% savings per project they complete and work on a contingency basis for their clients. If there are no savings found, there are no fees paid. He works from his home office, has flexible business hours and doesn't need employees. A match!

"I found that The E-Source's process and expertise saved me much time & money in my franchise selection. It was very beneficial to work with them."

If you know of a business that would like to reduce their overhead expenses, please drop Wayne a line at wwelke@expensereduction.com or call him at 952.226.1577. I'm sure he'd appreciate the referral.

Congratulations, Wayne!

Generation Y: Entrepreneurial Leaders of the Future

How young adults are preparing for their future by starting businesses of their own

Minneapolis, MN (Grassroots Newswire) June 26, 2008 -- An increasing number of young adults, specifically recent college graduates, are more interested in growing a business of their own rather than working for a company, trends are showing. In fact, according to an article on www.NPR.com (National Public Radio), 18- to 24- year-olds (called Generation Y) are starting their own businesses at a quicker rate than 35- to 44- year-olds.

"Starting a business at a young age comes with many advantages," said Carolyn Herfurth, Minneapolis business coach for The Entrepreneur's Source. "Young business owners are at an early stage in life where they can take that 'chance' without worrying about other financial responsibilities such as a mortgage, a spouse and children."

In today’s new career economy, according to a government study, people from ages 18-38 will have on average 10 jobs in their lifetime. And from an employer perspective, each year about one third of the nation’s workforce changes job, largely to take advantage of better opportunities.

There are many examples of entrepreneurs who became successful during their young adult years, including millionaire Bill Gates, who founded Microsoft in his early 20s. Herfurth said young entrepreneurship, including franchising, brings with it many advantages:

• Guaranteed learning experience – As entrepreneurs, young individuals will grow their overall skill set through complete responsibility for every facet of their business. During the start-up phase and throughout the growth of the business, Herfurth said they will learn from their decisions around organization, finances, leadership challenges and brand building.

• No resume, experience, or references necessary – When seeking employment positions with companies, the proper interview skills and other related protocols are not only important, but necessary. However, if someone wants to start his or her own business, they are the primary decision-makers and do not need to "apply within" or interview for a position. A business owner determines the role and future of their company, but can oftentimes benefit from the guidance and support of business coach in making the right decisions.

• Franchising, a proven system – Franchising can be a good choice for young people because instead of building on an idea of their own and completely starting from scratch, they are investing in an established concept that has proven successful for others. Each franchise typically comes with a good amount of training and support to help a start-up get their business up and running.

• Financial benefits – Business owners are limited only by their imagination and ability to think of new ways to profit, and all the while growing a company that has potential value. In addition, there are tax advantages that a young entrepreneur can reap, which will help them keep the money they earn.

According to Carolyn, "Instead of choosing traditional employment positions in the corporate world, they’re choosing a more personally rewarding option such as running a business of their own. They have more of an opportunity to learn and invest in success at a young age, which is the start of a promising future.”

The Entrepreneur’s Source is a leading business coaching firm that specializes in helping people to discover the right business for their lifestyle, goals and needs. Business coaches, such as Herfurth, offer services such as finding the right business, increased profitability, communications and leadership, marketing and business planning, exiting a business, and expanding operations.

Entrepreneurship - Women Driving the Surge

The trend with women in business continues to increase in the United States

Minneapolis, MN (Grassroots Newswire) May 21, 2008 - Creating a lifestyle that allows for balance between family and work life is a main priority for women, especially when considering what they want their professional life to look like. In today’s new career economy, where business ownership is usurping the once glamorous corporate managerial positions, women are a driving force behind the rise of self-employment statistics, according to CarolynHerfurth, Minneapolis business coach for The Entrepreneur’s Source. Herfurth says that women bring strong advantages to managing a business, such as flexibility and the ability to multi-task; helping them ultimately achieve the work life balance they require.

“According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, women make up over 32 percent of the country’s 12.2 million business owners. They are climbing the entrepreneurial ladder without a glass ceiling to shatter,” Herfurth said. “Whether it is a full-time, home-based business or self-employment opportunity limited to weekend hours, or a 9 to 5 schedule, women are choosing their lifestyles and business ownership oftentimes complements their wants and needs.”

Nearly half of the privately-held businesses in the U.S. are owned by women, says the Center for Women’s Business Research. That translates to over 10.5 million businesses and generates over $2.5 trillion, the Center reports. For many women – particularly moms – the flexibility that comes with owning their own business is becoming more and more appealing.

And according to a ProGroup, Inc. study, women-owned businesses employ over 19 million people nationwide.

“Women make for great networkers when it comes to promoting their businesses.” says Herfurth. “They understand the value of making a connection with people. It also explains the popularity of online women’s business networking sites such as WEBB – Women Empowered by Business,” (www.WomenEBB.com).

Herfurth said sites like WEBB promote women’s success in business ownership by offering opportunities for the exchange of ideas, resources and experiences. WEBB is committed to providing career growth opportunities in business ownership and support for existing entrepreneurs seeking to increase the results of their own business. The WEBB Web site offers many resources including monthly webinars, lessons from successful women, opportunities to participate in Mastermind groups, organizational tips and book reviews for creating success in life.

“There is no doubt that women entrepreneurs are having a tremendous impact on today’s economy,” says Herfurth. “We are proud to say that The Entrepreneur’s Source has provided career and business coaching services to hundreds of women helping them find the right business or making their existing business become more profitable."

The Entrepreneur’s Source is a leading business coaching firm that specializes in helping people discover the right business for their lifestyle, goals and needs. Business coaches, such as Herfurth, offer services such as finding the right business, increased profitability, communications and leadership, marketing and business planning, exiting a business, and expanding operations.

Bill Weber

He knew it would happen eventually. The company Bill worked for made several acquisitions over the years. He continually managed to keep his position as Vice President of Sales for Tyco until they reached a tipping point and needed to slim down their executive ranks. At a crossroads, Bill still had plenty of opportunities to work in corporate America, but he was emotionally "done" with it and was interested in finding something he could enjoy doing for himself.

Bill and his wife, Bernita enjoy spending a fair amount of time in Nevada and plan to eventually buy a home there. Their goal was to find a business that, in 6 to 10 years, was either saleable or sustainable by an absentee owner so that they can step out of the daily operations of the business and live full-time in Nevada.

Fortunately, we found a couple of different business models that would allow them to achieve their goals. When it came right down to it, he opted for a mobile business that is scalable and has no income limit - CertaPro Painters. He's responsible for managing and marketing the business - not to physically do the painting jobs himself. To grow, he simply adds resources as necessary - such as salespeople, painters, vans and some equipment. It's all within his control.

Here's the rest of the story - Bill initially told me that he wasn't particularly interested in CertaPro because he wasn't sure if he liked the idea of driving around in a "little white truck" all day long thinking it might be repetitive and boring. Since he's started his business, he's found that the business, the people and the work are all very interesting. He claims that the business goes way beyond paint and he enjoys hearing people's stories and solving tricky problems.

If you've got that paint job just waiting for some attention, Bill's crews will travel to all corners of the metro area. They do residential interior, exterior and light commercial. Give Bill a call at 651-437-0316 or e-mail him at bweber@certapro.com and he'll gladly pay you a visit!

Poor Marketing, Business Planning a Threat to Businesses

Implementing a strategic plan is critical to a successful business

Minneapolis, MN (Grassroots Newswire) March 20, 2008 -- It might be hard to believe, but over 50 percent of companies admit to doing a poor job of marketing and planning before opening a new business, according to research conducted by Southern Methodist University. Without a good understanding of the market, the competitors and possible partnerships, businesses, unfortunately, tend to fail at a higher rate, says The Entrepreneur Source.

Carolyn Herfurth, Minneapolis business coach from The Entrepreneur's Source, says the main reason for failure in marketing and business planning is the lack of marketing exposure and business acumen of new business owners. In many companies, marketing is an under-valued function mainly because it is not understood and is considered an overhead expense and not a true necessity to success.

"There are countless business professionals in the field today who do not fully understand marketing and the value of having a plan," Herfurth said. "Our research indicates that 98 percent of all salespeople don't follow a consistent sales and marketing methodology. However, the other 2 percent who do follow a steady plan produce 45 percent more revenues. A strong marketing plan, supported by solid execution, will 'grease the wheels' for a boost in sales."

The Entrepreneur's Source, a leading coaching and advisory firm, specializes in helping a business owner create and build value for their business by understanding what is putting their business at risk, explore options that will help them see their company more objectively, and implement systems and processes that will reduce expenses and increase productivity resulting in a healthier bottom line.

Industry leader Terry Powell, founder of TES, recognizes the fact that an overwhelming 90 percent of businesses have unsolved and potentially fatal problems. Business coaches, like Herfurth, provide executive coaching to business owners in the vital areas including opening a new business, communications and leadership, market and business planning, exiting a business, increasing profitability, expanding operations and exploring a new business.

"Businesses in the local area benefit by our services because we help pinpoint existing problems and create a long-term vision for their business," Herfurth said. "We have a one-on-one coaching relationship that over a period of several months helps implement strategic inititiaves to build and increase the value of their business. There are many dangers and threats to small and midsize companies that need to be addressed immediately. Having the right partnerships in place when you need them are key to businesses' success – and that is what we are here for."

No Sales Revenue = No Business

How an underperforming sales team will lead to an unsuccessful business

Minneapolis, MN (Grassroots Newswire) January 23, 2008 -- A nonproductive sales team is among the top common dangers that cause many small businesses to fail.

Analyzed studies reveal that a large percentage of small businesses are unsuccessful because of underperforming sales people who bring in, at a minimum, 50 percent less revenue than top performers, said Carolyn Herfurth, Minneapolis business coach for The Entrepreneur's Source – who cites research conducted by Dr. John Sullivan, professor of Economics at San Francisco State University. Herfurth expanded on the fact that the sales team is oftentimes the core driving factor for revenue generation.

"A business owner's job as a leader is to recruit sales 'hound dogs' and teach them how to hunt," Herfurth said. "Studies indicate that a common reason for poor performance in the sales department is a lack of focus and poor time management. It's vital for struggling small businesses to get their sales team on the right track."

According to Herfurth, the sales department's role is to focus on their job – selling. Oftentimes, sales people are given other duties by management, like customer service or product development tasks, which leave less time for them to sell and make money for the business. This greatly impacts the amount of deals that a company loses.

Herfurth shows an example of the losses by a typical salesperson:

1. If a salesperson makes 15 appointments a week, he or she is likely to get three to four sales out of those appointments – that's nine appointments with no sales.
2. The average income per sale is $1,000, which is a low average.
3. The lost revenue by this representative in one week would be $9,000.
4. If you have 10 representatives, that equals $90,000 in lost revenue in one week.
5. Multiply this times 52 weeks and that's $4.6 million in lost revenue in one year from sales your team didn't close.

"January is a good time for small businesses to review the performance of their sales team and make their sales objectives clear for the coming year," Herfurth said. "The Entrepreneur's Source believes that it is important for business owners to know how many sales calls it takes to land a new client. Once that is calculated, then they are headed in the right direction."

Herfurth says traditional consultants are more skilled at identifying problems than implementing solutions, and they are often limited to only their field of business. However, the Entrepreneur's Source is a leading coaching and advisory firm that specializes in helping business owners remove the blinders, see their company more objectively and make fact-based decisions to increase performance.

"We specialize in offering Rapid Impact Solutions to help Sales Managers make better hiring decisions, increase the bench strength of their sales team and maximize profits," Herfurth said. "I want the small business owners in the Minneapolis area to know how to expect more from their sales teams and therefore meet their financial objectives."

Barb Castagna

Barb was proud of reaching her goal of becoming Principal of a private Catholic school. And she accomplished this while working through the loss of her husband and raising her two kids on her own. But she wanted more.

She wanted the ability to create more financial security for a nice retirement and provide the kids with a college education.

While she was somewhat open, she preferred a business that was in the educational field so her search began there. Unfortunately, none stacked up for her. Not that the businesses weren't good, they just didn't fit the criteria we had established. So we took a break, thinking that perhaps franchise ownership wasn't the right path for her based on her expectations.

About a year later, my phone rang again. You guessed right - Barb was ready to take another run at it. We revisited and redefined her criteria and decided to investigate a business model that would allow her to keep her full-time Principal position while starting her business on the side.

Once we hit on that model, we knew we were on the right path and things fell into place rather quickly.

Last weekend, Barb opened her new business - a full-service hair salon called Fantastic Sams. I'm sure you noticed that it is not an education-related franchise. How did that happen? We focused less on the industry and more on Barb's role in the business and its impact on her family life. It is a service business that can run without her working in the business. She continues her role as a Principal during the day and as the business matures, will simply check in on the business a couple of times a week.

When I stopped to visit her, she was grinning from ear to ear. She is having fun, is thrilled with the number of folks who have already come in for services and is looking forward to building her new business. Barb's store is in Eden Prairie off of Highway 169 and Pioneer Trail. If you live in the area, be sure to bring the family.

Congratulations, Barb!

Peter Rigsbee

Peter spent his career in the technology field, most recently with Cray as a product marketing manager for super-computer systems and computer storage.

He had been interested in starting and running his own company for several years and finally decided that the risk of staying in a "comfortable" job would be greater than NOT pursuing business ownership. Peter had been investigating wine store franchises prior to contacting us.

"What I'm looking for an honest assessment of me as a franchisee, some objective information about finances and an honest assessment of the opportunities I've been looking at. While I might be open to hearing other opportunities, I'd prefer not being pressured."

Peter's goal is to diversify his portfolio and have fun doing it. He and his wife, Georjean would like to move to Hawaii in 3-5 years so they don't want to jeopardize that goal.

When he attended the Minnesota Franchise Spectacular in February, he met a representative from what would become his franchisor - PostNet.

PostNet is a full-service, diversified business center that offers basics such as copying, packing, shipping to digital services such as graphic design and computer time rental.

"The main benefit I got from working with you was to be able to have an objective third-party to help assess whether franchising was a good fit for my background and personality, and to help make sure I considered a number of options."

Peter opened the doors of his new PostNet franchise last week at 779 Bielenberg Drive in Woodbury. He is located in the new Tamarack Hills Center on the corner of Tamarack Road and Bielendberg Drive - just east of the I-494.

If you live or work in the area, be sure to visit PostNet for your printing, copying, packaging & shipping needs - particularly convenient for those holiday letters and packages!

Sandy Pawlyszyn

Sandy and her husband Michael make a great team in more ways than one. For over seven years they've worked together at Oracle selling business applications software to companies in a 7-state area. They have enjoyed the financial rewards associated with their success, but the extensive travel and long hours were taking a toll on the time they could spend with their two young children.

They came to The E-Source seeking a better quality of life. A quest to strike a balance that would allow them to maintain the kids as their primary responsibility and for Sandy to have the same income potential as she did at Oracle.

Short-term, that means working like crazy while having flexibility with her schedule. Longer-term, it's being able to cut back to 20-hour weeks so that she can be involved with her kids' school activities.

Sandy is a master of executing against a plan and understands the importance of not falling victim to the E-Myth. From the beginning, she vowed to work "on" the business, not "in" it.

With that in mind, Sandy and Michael quickly found the business model that suits them. They chose a franchise called CL!X Portrait Studios - a "fun, friendly & hip" digital photography business. They were attracted to the CL!X model because it offers a unique combination of studio portraiture, event photography and digital technology. No other company offers the range of services with immediate turnaround of product and the customer friendly environment as CL!X.

Their plan is to open 5 studios in the Western Twin Cities and grow the Events on-location business to include many 'CL!X mobile units'. The first studio will open in The Fountains at Arbor Lakes shopping mall in Maple Grove in early 2008.

In the meantime, the Events business is already flourishing! Sandy and her team are busy offering on-location photography to daycares, sports teams and dance studios. She is also scheduling Holiday photo fund raisers, Winter Dance and even Prom appointments for next Spring. So if you'd like to freshen up the look of the photographs at your next event, give Sandy a call at 612-234-8777.

P.S. When you call, be sure to ask about their additional services- such as digital "scrapbooking" and their Cover Girlz and All Starz parties for kids.

Joe Horwath

After twenty years in the produce (fruit & veg) business, Joe was burned out. He felt stagnant and didn't like that he was "renting" a job.

As the father of two college-aged kids and husband of Patrice who enjoys a successful career with Medtronic, Joe's goals are straightforward. He wants to control his destiny and direction, enjoy freedom and flexibility and build equity in his business. He also didn't want to take any crazy chances or reinvent the wheel which is what led him to explore franchising rather than starting a business from scratch.

He enjoys people interaction, building relationships, not being tied to an office, direct sales, negotiating and problem solving.

As we began to look at business models, there were aspects that Joe liked about each of the franchises we were exploring. Now what?

Well, Joe followed the instructions for a "decision matrix" from our Buying A Franchise book and the answer to which business model to choose became crystal clear.

Ultimately, it came down to his preference for a low investment, business-to-business, repeat business sales model that allows him to work from a home office with a flexible schedule and doesn't require employees.

Joe chose Profit-Tell, an advertising/marketing firm that specializes in showing and telling businesses how to increase profits through creative custom on-hold messaging and state-of-the art website audio tours. This is some cool, cool stuff!

If you know someone who's looking to improve their company image, reduce caller hang-ups, inform, educate and motivate callers and cross-promote their products and services - give Joe a call! He can be reached at 651-343-5063 or jhorwath@profit-tell.com.

Please join me in wishing Joe success in his new business!

In search of a "hot" franchise

Subway has been one of the world’s most popular franchises for the past 10 years. According to the company’s director of development, Subway received 148,000 franchise inquiries in 2003.

Of these, only 4,363 franchises were awarded—and only 1,200 went to new franchisees. That’s less than 1% of the inquiries.

Clearly getting in on what’s “hot” isn’t easy. What’s more, just because a franchise is hot today doesn’t mean it will be tomorrow.

When looking for a franchise that won’t cool off, consider:

Staying Power. Businesses that offer products or services that customers always need are better bets than “trendy” enterprises. What can’t people do without? Dry cleaning, office supplies, auto repair, haircuts, ______________ and _____________.

Demographic trends. Aging baby boomers make up a huge segment of today’s population. What businesses serve these people? Assisted-living homes, meal-prep services, travel agencies, house cleaning services, ________________ and _____________.

Societal trends. People are concerned about their health, their financial security and their ability to help their kids achieve their potential. How can you capitalize on these trends? Weight-loss centers, tax-planning services, tutoring, _________________ and ___________________.

Jeanne, Kate & Mark Oster

Kate Oster cleaned houses for extra money when she was in high school and continued to do so through college. Even when she graduated from the College of St. Benedict and took a full-time social work job, she kept cleaning part-time. As demand grew, her sister Jeanne started cleaning with Kate in addition to her full-time job as a brand assistant at JC Penney.

Once they realized that they could make a living doing this full-time, they quit their jobs and took the plunge into full-time self employment.

For seven years they enjoyed earning a nice living working for themselves. Then early last year, their cousin, Ed McMenomy suggested that they consider a business model that would provide systems and support to allow even more growth for the future. (That's Ed on the left in the photo.)

They got their brother, Mark, involved and by March 2006, were headed to Omaha to meet the fine folks at The Maids Home Services. By June 2006, they opened the doors of The Maids and now serve Rosemount, Lakeville, Farmington, Burnsville, Prior Lake and Apple Valley.

They now hire teams of workers to do the cleaning. Kate and Jeanne focus primarily on quality control, the daily operations and communication with clients and employees. Mark handles the finances, insurance and works with his sisters to set and meet goals.

A year into it, they are right on track as to where they thought they’d be. They see even more growth in the future. They are pleased with the support, systems, marketing tools and advice they receive from their franchisor and fellow franchisees.

Kate and Jeanne acknowledge that as The Maids franchisees, the business gives them a more solid future than they would have accomplished on their own. They are building recurring revenue that doesn’t rely on them cleaning and they are building equity in a business that they can eventually step away from or sell.

If you live in the south metro and are looking for a healthy, thorough housecleaning service, give them a call at 651-322-2217. You’ll be happy you did!

Ian McDonald

Ian had no intention to leave the mortgage office that he successfully runs. Rather, he was looking for an opportunity that would offset the highs and lows that define the nature of the mortgage industry.

As the parents of two young children, Ian and his wife, Kathy place great importance on sharing quality time with their kids. Any business that interferes with that family time was out of the question.

So the puzzle to solve was: how do we diversify income sources and build equity without sacrificing family time?

We quickly found an ideal fit. Ian chose to become a franchisee of Interface Financial Group, a company that offers invoice discounting services to growing businesses.

Ian is able to leverage his network and relationships that he has built over the course of his years in the mortgage business. Those folks refer growing businesses to Ian, who then evaluates their suitability to take advantage of his financing services.

Ian's Interface business can be done during regular business hours so it doesn't take his time away from the kids; provides a new income stream to complement, not interfere with his mortgage practice; and establishes an equity-building business that he can potentially sell down the road. A trifecta, of sorts.

After hearing about the amazing start to his business since January, my bet is that this isn't the last we'll hear of Ian McDonald. I believe he's just getting warmed up.

Second Annual Minnesota Franchise Spectacular

Over 500 people braved the bitter cold and poured into the Doubletree Hotel on February 10th to learn more about franchising at the Second Annual Minnesota Franchise Spectacular.

Every seat was filled for the popular panel discussion that was comprised of folks who purchased franchises with guidance from The E-Source as a result of last year's event. With the help of panel moderator, Michael Myhre, State Director for Minnesota Small Business Development Centers, they shared stories about their journey to franchise ownership and answered additional questions from the crowd.

Once the doors opened to the exhibit hall, the volume level went up and so did the heat. It was shoulder-to-shoulder with attendees hustling from one booth to the next - trying to take in as much information as possible. Some franchisors and business partners were out of breath and a few lost their voices before we even broke for lunch.

Lunch, sponsored by Best Buy For Business, offered a respite for attendees and exhibitors alike. Michael Myhre from Minnesota Small Business Development Centers educated the crowd on the services that Minnesota SBDC counselors offer and David Anderson shared Best Buy For Business' philosophy for serving their business clients.

At the end of the day, we all walked away having learned more about ourselves, as well as learning of new possibilities. I anticipate sharing the many stories to come about the attendees who make the leap from employee to entrepreneur as a result of this event.

Thanks to all who participated!

Jerry Jensen & Jeff Barr

After twenty-odd years, Jerry and Jeff had about all they could take of corporate America.

Their request was simple. They wanted to work in an ethical environment, make a decent living, send their kids to college and build some equity in a business they’d be able to sell when they retire.

Jerry has a successful sales track record. Jeff is a strong operations guy. They knew that whatever “it” was, Jerry could sell “it” and Jeff could deliver on “it”.

"We tried working with a franchise broker with no luck. Without the E-Source we might still be looking. They kept us focused and always organized with our approach to the future goal of owning and operating a business."

“It” turned out to be Navis Pack & Ship Center, a business-to-business, commercial warehouse operation that provides specialized packaging and shipping services. And when they say specialized, they mean it! They pack and ship fragile, large, awkward and valuable items.

Imagine…you need to ship your great-great grandma’s antique glass curio cabinet across the country. Or let's say your business computer leases are up and you need to have 25 computer stations picked up, packaged and returned to Dell. These are both perfect projects for the Navis team. These guys know exactly what to do to pack it and get it safely to its destination. They do everything from one-time shipments for ordinary folks like us – to repeat business with companies that regularly send difficult-to-ship items.

If you know someone who can use their services, give them a call at 651-491-8557. I know Jeff & Jerry will jump at the opportunity to help.

Count on the fact that these two are going places!

Steve Schumacher

Steve worked in the non-profit world for two decades. Frustrated with the tight financial environment of non-profits, Steve knew it was time to move on and was determined to go to work for himself. He was raised in an entrepreneurial family and was itching to try his hand at his own thing.

Steve was seeking the independence to make his own decisions and not have to get approval through a committee. He wanted the flexibility to be at home with his three daughters to get them off to school at their varying start times. He also enjoys working with people and partners to make things happen.

Although he and his wife, Penny, had plenty of concerns, they did a terrific job of acknowledging and discussing each issue. This took some doing because they didn't always agree.

For example, Penny thought that one of the business models that we were considering was "dumb". Steve and I had a long talk about respecting her opinion without defeating his search. We agreed that he would research the business and we'd talk again in a week.

The next week Steve said, "I've had a complete turn around."

He had spent the week diligently speaking with the franchisor representative, several franchisees and potential clients in his area. What he learned is that the business model met his lifestyle and financial goals. He also recognized that he'd probably be pretty darn good at it!

"Carolyn made me really think about each opportunity and helped me to make sure I saw things from many perspectives."

Ultimately, Steve chose that "dumb" business called Our Town America. He partners with area businesses to deliver gift certificates for complimentary products and services to new residents. His territory includes most of the suburbs west of Minneapolis.

Steve already started making sales just two days out of training. This is a testament to his skills and abilities, the training provided by the franchisor and to the strength of the programs that he's offering. If you know a business owner who might benefit from such a program, give Steve a call at 763-545-8988 to learn more!

Leave My Comfort Zone Alone

I cleaned out my bookshelves last weekend and ran across an oldie-but-goodie, "DO IT! Let's Get Off Our Buts" written by Peter McWilliams. After re-reading it, I couldn't resist sharing a key message with you that my successful clients must embrace in order to achieve their goal of business ownership: stepping outside of the Comfort Zone.

Take, for example, Roseanne. After working for 3M for 25 years, do you suppose she's had to step outside of her comfort zone to leave a cushy job and start her new business? Or Jeff, who went from being a stay-at-home dad to starting his new venture last spring? Or ask Chuck, who had held high-level leadership positions in corporate America, if moving to a new city and starting a chain of service stores two years ago didn't take him a step or two outside of his comfort zone?

Why aren't more of us acheiving our goals?

According to McWilliams, "because there is something we are trained to honor more than our dreams: the comfort zone."

Market research firm Harris Interactive asked American workers who consider starting a business, why they have not yet followed through. Here are the main excuses:

• 37% lack the funding
• 28% fear losing job security
• 23% had no viable business idea or plan

These sound like logical reasons, right?

They may sound legitimate, but in reality, they are excuses used to rationalize (aka rational lies) why we stay in our Comfort Zone. Even when our Comfort Zone isn't so comfortable.

There are, of course, valid reasons for being cautious when starting a business. As you long-time readers know, The E-Source advocates following a fact-based, analytical process in investigating options.

Unfortunately, rather than stepping outside of the Comfort Zone to gather the facts necessary to validate or invalidate those excuses, many folks give up before even starting. They stay in their "jail" because it's easier than taking the initiative to explore their options. Or plain old don't know where to start.

What if Anne Lindquist hadn't stepped out of her Comfort Zone? Despite the fact that she didn't think she could afford a business, she attended a self-employment seminar I gave. While there, she learned that she could use her retirement account to fund a new venture. What if she had chosen to stay in her Comfort Zone that day? It's quite likely that she wouldn't be a business owner today.

It takes commitment and action and the conscious choice to break out of our Comfort Zone. And along the way, it's tempting to quit or get distracted. Forging ahead, however, expands our comfort zone and even strengthens our commitment to our dream.

When you're 75 years old, how would you like to answer this question, "Throughout my life, did I pursue what I wanted or did I do what was comfortable?"

Don't let your dreams die. Take the first step. I'll be waiting for you on "the outside".

Mark McKee

After working sixteen years as a mechanic for Northwest Airlines, Mark decided to opt out of corporate America and take on a new challenge – to work for himself. He contacted us late last June in anticipation of taking a severance package in July.

This wasn’t the first time we’d worked with Mark. He contacted us in 2003 to investigate franchise opportunities at that time. He even got about 70% of the way there. Then, he and his wife Cindy decided to start a business for her instead, so Mark’s plans were put on hold.

“I’ve decided leave Northwest so I knew I needed to call my good friends again at The Entrepreneur's Source.”

When we reconnected, Mark’s goals hadn’t changed. He wanted to maintain his standard of living and spend time with his wife and twin daughters. He preferred regular business hours, no “sales”, repeat business and potential for expansion.

Since we had narrowed the field the first time we worked together, it made the second lap go more quickly.

Within a few weeks, Mark was on a plane to visit the headquarters of two franchise systems to meet the executives and support staff of each franchise. It was a tie. Upon his return, he visited with the local franchise owners and made his choice.

He chose Maaco. In his conversations with franchise owners, he learned that one of the franchisees was interested in selling his business so the negotiations began. As is the case with some resales, there was a lot of “hair” on it so the timeline continued to expand.

“It’s all in good humor.”

I heard this line no less than 17,283 times over the course of Mark’s acquisition experience. Well, perhaps that’s an exaggeration. But to say that Mark has the optimism of an entrepreneur and the attitude to “not sweat the small stuff” yet “tend to the small stuff”, leads me to believe he’ll be a great success.

Please stop by and introduce yourself to Mark if you’re in the neighborhood. He’s located at 7004 Oxford Street in St. Louis Park. I can assure you that it’ll all be in good humor.

Jeff & Trish Johnson

When Jeff’s work as a computer systems contractor ended with Honeywell, he became a stay-at-home dad for their two boys, which he’s been doing for the last several years. Then, when Trish learned that her technical analyst job was being eliminated, they decided to use it as an opportunity to explore business ownership.

They were open to whether one or both of them would work the business but knew the long-term goal would be to work together once the business got into full swing. Of highest importance was for one of them to have flexible hours so that they could tend to their boys and be available whenever the need arose.

Both are extremely friendly, customer service oriented and enjoy working with people. Their preference was to avoid retail hours, start with few or no employees and avoid a business that would require heavy cold-calling. They live in Avon, Minnesota, a small town that is within a stone's throw of St. Cloud, a larger city.

Prior to learning about The E-Source they had been looking online and trying to sort through list after list of franchise opportunities. They admitted it was overwhelming and didn’t know how to narrow down which franchises to explore.

“Without your process, we would still be looking for a business today. If left to our own devices, we would have only explored similar businesses that held emotional appeal and not given ourselves contrasting business models to consider. We would still be spinning our wheels.”

Instead, Jeff and Trish were able to select a business within just a few months.

They chose CertiRestore, a full-service furniture restoration business that offers a non-chemical removal system and a unique restoration system that allows them to guarantee their work for 50 years. They serve businesses such as restaurants, moving companies and churches. In addition, they help consumers who are simply looking to restore Grandma’s old rocking chair or the dining room table.

The hours are flexible and there is no real need for employees quite yet, as Jeff can both sell and perform the restoration until the business builds up. Trish will be able to join Jeff once the business is ramped up or when they add an additional territory, should they choose to expand their business even further.

I visited Jeff at the Home Show in St. Cloud this past weekend. The franchisor supplied Jeff with a professional trade show display and samples of restored furniture. Jeff exhibited his natural, friendly style and wove it into the knowledge he’d gained in training. He literally looked and sounded like he’d been in business for several years.

You’d never guess that he was only halfway through his training (yes, you read that correctly - halfway). Not only is that a testament to the power of franchising – it is a testament to finding the right franchise to suit your strengths and goals. What a great foundation for building a solid business. Congratulations, Johnsons!

Minnesota Franchise Spectacular

We held the inaugural Minnesota Franchise Spectacular at the Downtown Crowne Plaza on Saturday, February 4th. The feedback was outstanding:

"Great atmosphere - thoughtful, accommodating, attentive - information rich." - Frani Z.

"Better than I expected. The E-Source appears to be a valuable resource." - Eric B.

"Wonderful content & opportunity - thanks!" - Marlys M.

Our panel, moderated by Michael Myhre, State Director for Minnesota Small Business Development Centers, was comprised of E-Source clients who discussed why they chose franchising, how they approached their search and tips for potential franchise buyers.

Our panelists included Doug Carter of Dry Cleaning Station, Rick Toboz of Maaco, Gary Russell of Signs By Tomorrow, Erv Zinter of Cartridge World, Denise Shaw of Gotcha Covered Blinds and John Richardson of Fantastic Sams.

The one thing that all six panelists had in common is that NOT A SINGLE ONE would have chosen the business that they're in if they had not worked with The E-Source. Yet all claim that their chosen business model fits their goals.

The message in all of that? Explore your options based on your goals and keep an open mind.

Following the panel discussion, attendees had the option to listen to brief overviews by the various franchisors and business partners, as well as speak one-on-one with each exhibitor in the main hall.

The event was a great way for the "curious" to freely explore franchising without pressure.

The Entrepreneur's Source

AT THE ENTREPRENEUR’S SOURCE, we’re passionate about business ownership. Why? Because we’ve seen countless individuals struggle to find their way through a mind-numbing maze of information when searching for a business – and witnessed the profound difference it makes when people have access to the right resources at the right times.

Whether you’re in the early stages of educating yourself or deep into exploring viable business models, we serve as experienced, savvy sounding boards every step of the way.

So, if you’re excited about owning a business but feel overwhelmed, call us. We’ll quickly assess your situation—one issue and opportunity at a time.

Carolyn Herfurth

Since 2002, Carolyn has helped over 500 people make thoughtful choices about self-employment and business ownership. After a successful 13-year sales career with companies including Oracle and Rand Worldwide, she followed her dream of owning a business and established the Minneapolis office of The Entrepreneur's Source, a growing, thriving franchise.

In addition to advising clients, she speaks extensively to groups on self-employment and business ownership. Organizations include the University of St. Thomas, College of St. Catherine, National Association of Women Business Owners, HIRED, Small Business Development Center, SCORE, Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, outplacement firms and numerous job transition groups.

Carolyn was recently recognized by Upsize magazine for Best Practices in Customer Relations and honored by the National Association of Women Business Owners.

Carolyn is currently co-authoring a book brimming with tips and tools for choosing a franchise.

Q&A with Carolyn

What are the current trends in franchising?
According to FranData, 141 new franchise systems were introduced in the first two quarters of 2005 and another 173 new systems in the third quarter alone! Of those 314 new franchise concepts that have been introduced this year - the top 3 sub-sectors were sub shops (9), children's educational programs (6) and commercial / residential cleaning (6).

What is the "hot" franchise?
Subway has been at the top of the Franchise 500 list for over ten years. That could be considered hot, right? Well, if you are seeking that sort of lifestyle, there's no guarantee that you'd get in on the action.

According to Subway's Director of Development, Subway had 148,000 franchise inquiries in 2003. They awarded 4,363 franchises (3% of inquiries). Of those franchises awarded, only 1,200 went to new franchisees (less than 1% of the inquiries).

What's hot for one person doesn't necessarily mean it's hot for the next person. So my advice is to start by defining your goals, needs and expectations and then investigate business models that suit those objectives.

Don't I need a lot of money to buy a franchise?
Franchises that require brick-and-mortar, specialized equipment or major assets such as a fleet of vehicles do run in the six-figure range. However, there are many franchise opportunities that can be purchased for $50,000 to $100,000.

It's also important to know that you might only need to come up with the cash for 20-30% of your total investment if you qualify for financing.

Why should I pay royalties?
As a franchisee myself, I view my franchisor as my R&D department in addition to serving as my support system. If I had to keep my website updated, stay on top of franchise developments, create marketing materials and handle all of the other things required to run my business - I'd never have time to sleep!

What if I don't want the overhead associated with a retail franchise?
Not all franchises are storefronts. Many franchisors are offering products and/or services that are not as sensitive to location, such as business-to-business, mobile and in-home service.

For some examples, visit http://carolyne-sourcecoach.blogspot.com and check out my client stories about Arends, Cooper, Woodard and Kohorst.

What franchises do you sell?
None! I simply provide options based on my client's goals and then guide them through the process of evaluating those options. It's up to the franchisor representatives to do the selling.


How are you different than a franchise broker?
Franchise and business brokers represent the sellers. I am an advocate for the buyer's interests.

Greg & Laura Arends

Thirteen years with Menards gave Greg Arends an in-depth knowledge of all aspects of retail management. He rose through the ranks from Trainee to General/Store Manager where he was responsible for managing all of the functions to open and operate five stores with revenues between $19-35 million.

Although he liked the variety his job offered – he didn’t care for the stress or hours of retail life. His long days prevented him from getting to spend much quality time with family so he felt like he was missing out on seeing his two daughters grow up.

By the time Greg was laid off, he and his wife, Laura were ready for him to leave retail life behind. They wanted to control their destiny and avoid the insecurity of Greg losing his job again. There were some concerns about self-employment, however.

“We were worried about financing a business and being able to meet our monthly expenses while ramping up. The E-Source taught us about various funding sources and ultimately, found us a franchise that actually offered financing to help us get started.”

The Arends had moved many times over the years to open new stores, which fueled their desire to settle down and enjoy longevity in one location. They were ready to move back to the Brainerd Lakes area where Laura grew up and one day build a log home on the land they own there. Laura was interested in being involved in the business - whatever it took to allow them to both spend more time with their active daughters, Emalee and Nicole.

“Throughout this process you were there as a counselor, ally and a supporter as we narrowed our choices to two and ultimately the one franchise that we selected as the best fit for our skills, temperament, and personal and financial objectives."

The Arends found an ideal business model with SERVPRO, a residential and commercial cleaning, deodorization and restoration service for premises and contents damaged by fire, water and other causes. They also offer mold mitigation – a hot button for many folks these days.

"After researching the business model and recognizing how well SERVPRO fit our goals and objectives, we realized that we'd be crazy not to do this."

Due to the nature of the business, there is an enormous amount of variety. Greg spends his days on anywhere from 3 to 7 projects. And when he gets booked up, Laura leaves the office work behind and handles the overflow jobs. They use temporary help or sub-contract work to get jobs done in a timely, professional manner which sometimes comes from family members when they’re available.

This September will mark the Arends’ 2-year anniversary with SERVPRO of Brainerd and Park Rapids and they are pleased that their goals have been realized with this business. Greg is averaging 30-hour weeks; they have each coached their daughter’s sports teams and are gearing up to build that log home next year.

So if you own a property in the Brainerd Lakes or Park Rapids areas and the sump pump quits, the basement floods or the bonfire gets too close to the house – be sure to call Greg & Laura's SERVPRO van to your rescue!

Rick Toboz

Much of Rick’s career was spent with the likes of mammoth corporations including The Pillsbury Company, Heinz USA and Cargill Inc. The bulk of his responsibilities were strategic initiatives that ranged from evaluating new business units to selecting and implementing new HR, trade marketing and supply chain management systems. He was even recognized, not just once but twice, for his outstanding achievement in support of the Pillsbury Bake-Off contest. Not many folks can claim that sort of recognition!

When we met, Rick was in a career transition. He was burned out on global travel and was truly interested in making a difference. He wanted more control, a feeling of accomplishment, a new challenge and the financial rewards that come with business ownership. His two sons were both college-bound and he knew he had a big nut to crack with funding their education.

As the son of an entrepreneur, he admitted that the ongoing question in his mind was, “Why haven’t I considered this path a long time ago?” His answer was that sometimes you just need to be at a career crossroads to allow yourself to look in other directions. And in other directions he looked.

"Once I committed to exploring my options in the franchise world, it was nice to have a few targeted businesses to investigate - rather than trying to figure out the best starting point on my own."

We quickly identified a business model that came very close to meeting Rick's goals and expectations but the first year projections fell a bit short of his aggressive income goal.

Knowing that he had a viable contingency plan with that franchise model – but hoping to get closer to his first-year income criteria – we turned to a well-known name in the automotive business, Maaco. Rick really liked the business model. And as crazy as it sounds, he thought the oven technology that “bakes” the cars was pretty cool too.

During the course of his validation with existing franchisees, Rick spoke with a local Maaco franchise owner who wanted to scale down from two stores to one and was just waiting for the right, trustworthy individual to buy one of his locations. Bingo!

The remaining challenge was negotiating a fair price and terms for purchasing the business. Rick is the sort of guy who can do anything he sets his mind to. His ability to communicate, look at all of the angles and think strategically allowed him to complete his intensive franchise training as class valedictorian in February and close on his business in March.

Rick has flown out of the gates. He had positive cashflow after his second week in business, is meeting his forecast and is already concocting new ways to expand the capacity of his store.

Who would have guessed that a fella who went from earning recognition from Pillsbury for Bake-Offs will soon be earning recognition from Maaco for the volume of cars his shop “bakes”?

The next time your car body needs some attention, stop by and visit Rick at his store near the corner of Wentworth & Robert Street in West St. Paul. You'll meet a guy who is having more fun than he ever imagined and facing his challenges like a true entrepreneur!

Carla & Chuck Karpinske

Chuck spent years working as an executive for fast-paced, start-up companies. After helping orchestrate the sale of Recovery Engineering to Proctor & Gamble, he went on to help raise tens of millions of dollars of venture capital as the CFO for SimonDelivers. Meanwhile, Carla developed amazing customer service acumen after spending twenty-five years working as a nurse and running the front-office for an oral surgeon.

They enjoyed their lifestyle in the Twin Cities but wanted to be near their son and his family who live in Des Moines. Their decision to move prompted them to pursue a new adventure – business ownership.

Carla and Chuck had been working with several business brokers for the best business or franchise opportunity when they contacted us about our services.

“After only a few meetings, we felt like you knew who we were, felt comfortable with the process you described and trusted that you were sincerely interested in our future versus your own self-interest.”

On a personal level, it was important for the Karpinskes to maintain their lifestyle and enjoy a certain degree of flexibility.

On a business level, they wanted to network and assimilate themselves into their new community, develop employees, have the opportunity to grow and expand their business as well as create a recurring revenue stream that would provide an annuity in 10-15 years when they’re ready to slow down.

“After investigating only the few franchises that you recommended, we were able to select a business that matched our skills perfectly. On our own we would have never even looked at the type of business we selected.”

In January 2004, Chuck and Carla purchased an exclusive right to a Martinizing Dry Cleaning territory – allowing them to develop multiple stores in and around Des Moines, Iowa.

They knocked the cover off the ball when they opened their first store in June 2004. When they found “the perfect site” for a second location, they dove in head first and built their second, full plant store less than five months later.

“Although there have been a few rough moments, overall, it has been a challenging and very, very exhilarating experience.”

According to Frank Knowles, Director of Franchise Development, "Chuck and Carla have such enthusiasm for the business and with their phenomenal first year sales they have become the poster children for our franchise system."

Chuck is such a humble guy that he might not readily admit it, but he and Carla are on pace to exceed any prior first-year sales records in Martinizing’s 50+ year history.

What he will acknowledge is that he should have followed Carla's lead and bought more comfortable shoes a lot sooner!

Wayne Cooper

If you’ve ever met Wayne Cooper you already know about his days as a successful event planner and producer. Some of his notable accomplishments include helping establish the St. Louis Blues Hockey Club, bringing touring Broadway shows to the Midwest and creating dozens of community festivals around the country.

After 25 successful years in the event business – he decided it was time to retire so he and his wife Peggy bought a house on the golf course in Palm Desert, California. After a couple of years, two things happened - he became bored with retirement and the stock market tanked. It was time for Wayne to get back to work.

Wayne was 67 years old when he contacted us in early 2003. He wanted a business that he could work for 2-4 years and then sell. The business needed to generate a decent part-time income and allow the freedom to enjoy winters in Florida.

“Before contacting The Entrepreneur’s Source I had tried my hand with franchise brokers who tried to sell me everything from decorating to printing to restaurant businesses. They didn’t listen to me. They didn’t understand what I was trying to accomplish and just tried to push me toward what was in their inventory.”

It made sense for Wayne to leverage his communication skills, have a flexible work schedule and allow for people interaction. It didn’t take us long to find a business model that fit all of his criteria.

Wayne chose the Interface Financial Group which offers invoice discounting services to growing businesses. Franchisees spend about 20 hours per week networking with their referral sources and evaluating deals that have been referred to them.

“The E-Source process came through for me. I immediately liked the opportunity because there would be a lot of people interaction, I could work flexible hours and I knew we could still spend winters in Sarasota.”

The Interface business has fulfilled Wayne’s short-term goals and he is now on the home stretch toward achieving his final objective – which is to sell the Interface business. Wayne and Peggy have decided to retire – this time for good – and recently bought a new home in Mississippi.

Wayne is putting his business up for sale and will be introducing the new buyer to the referral network that he has developed over the past two years. Should you know anyone who might be interested in such an opportunity – I’d be happy to make the introduction to Wayne.

Happy trails, Wayne!

Bob & Don Kohorst

Bob and Don Kohorst had operated several family businesses together. Initially, they took over their father’s beer distributorship and ran that business for 13 years. They also operated two Napa stores for over 12 years. Most recently, they successfully operated a trucking and transportation business for 14 years. When they sold that business in early 2004, they began looking for their next venture.

Bob and Don really enjoyed working together. Their skill sets are very complementary. They wanted to find a business in which they could utilize their combined skills to generate a significant income. They also wanted a business in which they could build equity, giving them an asset they could sell in the future. Finally, they wanted a business that would give them a flexible schedule. Both Bob and Don wanted to have time to focus on their very active families, not to mention get in some duck hunting!

The problem was, Bob and Don had run into a brick wall. Having spent nearly a year working with business brokers, they were frustrated by the lack of worthwhile opportunities. They needed some assistance. They needed to get “outside their box”.

“After selling our trucking company, we were looking for a different business. The Entrepreneur’s Source helped us keep an open mind. They helped us stay on course and research different opportunities. It's easy to have a preconceived idea about any industry. But, The Entrepreneur’s Source continually reviews your goals and encourages you to do your homework. They coach you to ask the right questions. We found ourselves interested in business opportunities we would have never looked at on our own.”

Today, Bob and Don are excited to be the new owners of a Swirl Drink distributorship. Swirl Drink provides real juice beverages and machines in locations such as schools, restaurants, gas stations and resorts. This business is the ideal opportunity to blend their past experiences, present needs and future goals.

Just weeks out of training, Bob and Don have already placed 18 Swirl Drink machines in businesses near their homes in Sauk Centre, Minnesota and are placing an order for another 20 machines. At the rate that these two are working, don’t be surprised to see Swirl Drink in your Twin Cities neighborhood soon!

Kyle Heitkamp, David Maenke and Rich Westerberg

These guys had already hit a homerun once.

In 1996, Kyle Heitkamp and David Maenke were among four co-founders of a computer and wireless device repair business. When they sold it to Teleplan Wireless seven years later, they had revenues of over $50 million and 700+ employees.

Kyle and David weren’t ready to retire at such a young age nor were they looking for desk jobs.
Prior to being referred to The Entrepreneur’s Source, Kyle and Dave had already started to explore existing businesses that were for sale. After investigating several businesses, they discovered that most lacked discipline and structure - and had plenty of skeletons in their closets to boot. In light of this, the proven systems of franchises held some appeal for them.

“After selling our company, we thought we would take a break and enjoy life for awhile. Once we realized we needed to get back into the game, we contacted Carolyn. We originally went into the process on a fact finding mission. Carolyn made the process so comfortable that we continued step by step until we found the company that fit our needs.”

Over the course of a couple of meetings, they crystallized their goals and expectations for any new business venture they might consider. At the top of that list was to work the business actively, but on a part-time basis rather than full-time. Flexibility in their schedule was extremely important to them. They also wanted a business that would offer a growth opportunity and provide a challenge that would take them out of their comfort zone.

“Carolyn took the time to sit down for hours of conversation to truly understand not only our business needs, but also our personal needs.”

Based on their business experience and their interest and ability to build “something from nothing”, Carolyn introduced them to the concept of Master Franchise Development. A Master Franchisee owns the rights to develop multiple stores or territories in a large region, such as a major metropolitan area or an entire state. The Master Franchisee, to a large degree, plays the role of the franchisor within their territory. They are responsible for recruiting new franchisees and supporting their existing franchisees.

As it turns out, this was the ideal path for them to pursue. After conducting an initial validation of a handful of Master Franchise opportunities, they began to zone in on one franchise that met their goals and business criteria.

“The E-Source process made sure we did not jump ahead or make preconceived judgments regarding any of the opportunities that were presented. We did not feel pressured at any point throughout the process. It made me feel comfortable that I knew we could take a break or even discontinue the process at any time and Carolyn would have been fine with our decision.”

In the process, they recognized the need for another partner to effectively develop the territory. They brought in former colleague and sales and service pro, Rich Westerberg. As Rich worked with Kyle and Dave to complete their investigation of the business, they each identified their respective responsibilities within the newly forming organization.

Today, as Master Franchisees for Dry Cleaning Station, Kyle, Dave and Rich own the rights to develop the Twin Cities and surrounding areas. They opened their environmentally-friendly plant facility to coincide with the opening of their first franchisee’s store in late December, 2004. They project the growth opportunity of their market to accommodate up to 75 stores.

“We have enjoyed the relationship with The E-Source and Carolyn so much that it has now grown into an ongoing business relationship. We are now using The E-Source to assist us in building out the Twin Cities’ market for the Dry Cleaning Station.”

And the flexibility they desired? Kyle was able to attend nearly every Gopher football game this year – including road games. Dave has been traveling to warmer locales this winter to work on his golf game. And Rich had time to continue serving as the 8th & 9th Grade Commissioner of the Eden Prairie Baseball Association while harvesting a bumper crop in his garden.

Play ball!

Gary Russell

When Gary Russell contacted The Entrepreneur's Source he was ready to take control of his destiny and his family's future.

After rising through the ranks of a retail services business and serving as its president for several years, the parent company decided to sell Gary's division. He had grown that start-up division from zero to $9 million in revenues in less than 2 1/2 years and established efficient procedures for the field and back office.

During his career transition he considered his options. Gary enjoyed controlling business decisions in his role as president. He felt he was beyond the point of reporting to someone else and had a compelling desire to build something for himself this time. His choices were to start a business or purchase a franchise.

"I found the coaching and guidance from Carolyn to be extremely valuable, from the explanation of the franchise industry to a better understanding of my specific interests."

Gary's goal wasn't to make millions. His objective was to maintain his standard of living, contribute to his childrens' college education, and enjoy evenings and weekends at home with his family. And squeeze in some golf, of course!

Gary's strong sales, customer service and operations background in the retail sector made his ultimate choice an ideal match. After diligently investigating several business models, Gary chose a franchise that operates Monday through Friday during business hours, allows him to work with local businesses and utilize all of the skills he had honed in his years in the retail sector.

There were several hurdles that could have kept Gary from achieving his goal of business ownership. He travelled extensively for work which minimized his time to investigate his opportunities. His mother passed away which some people might use as an excuse to "put things on hold" . And several close family friends were experiencing personal problems that impacted Gary's attention. These distractions did not stop Gary. Rather, they gave him more resolve. He was committed to his goals and diligently, decisively pursued his investigation - albeit more slowly than he expected.

"At no time during the process did I ever feel pressured to move more quickly or to make decisions without fully researching and discussing the topic. Carolyn was very patient and supportive throughout the entire process knowing when to back off and when to push a bit harder to ensure tasks were completed on schedule. The experience I had in following The Entrepreneur’s Source process with Carolyn was an exciting and, at times, laborious journey. But I enter a new stage of my business career with a great amount of confidence due to the research I completed with the watchful eye of Carolyn."

On his 50th birthday, Gary's birthday present to himself was to submit his franchise agreement to Signs By Tomorrow.

Gary will be opening his doors for business at the end of January 2005 at 6419 Penn Avenue South in Richfield. His understanding of how businesses should effectively promote themselves makes him the ideal consultant to organizations that will be fortunate enough to do business with him. Be sure to stop by to congratulate Gary when his new store opens in January!

"Without the assistance of Carolyn I would not have completed the journey to purchase a franchise. I am also certain that I would not have selected Signs by Tomorrow without the introduction of this opportunity from The Entrepreneur’s Source."

Please let us know if you encounter someone who might be in a similar situation as Gary. Business ownership is easier, more affordable and safer to attain than many people believe. The key is to become educated about the possibilities and to obtain support. The Entrepreneur's Source specializes in providing education, coaching and knowledge of business and franchise opportunities for our clients, allowing a safe and thorough exploration of all options.