United Franchise Group (UFG) Launches Franchise Services Division

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--United Franchise Group (www.unitedfranchisegroup.com), developer of award-winning business-to-business brands and franchise programs announces the creation of a new franchise services division to extend the benefit of the Company’s 30 years of successful franchising experience to other business owners.

“We’re in this for the long-term relationship. We help fine-tune the business model and even advise clients if they’re growing too fast.”

The division includes three branches designed to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses into successful domestic and/or global brands: Accurate Franchising, where a franchise is born; Franchise Greenhouse, where a franchise grows; and World Franchisors where a franchise “gets a passport.” UFG’s services division provides a logical ‘continuum’ of services designed to support franchisee success, whether domestically or internationally, using proven concepts.

“In my years of helping U.S. franchises expand internationally, I was frequently asked how domestic businesses could turn a successful concept into a national franchise as well,” says Tony Foley, president of United Franchise Group Services. “We realized there was a great unmet need and that our years of successful franchising made us the logical resource to meet that need.”

Accurate Franchising

Launched in June 2007, Accurate Franchising (www.accuratefranchise.com), is the first step in the continuum, helping business owners go from concept to franchise. The process begins by analyzing the business concept to ensure it will translate into a successful franchise.

“Not every good idea can be a franchise,” says Foley. “The business concept must have a unique element, it must be easily replicated and the business owner must be profitable. With these elements in place, Accurate Franchising can help transform a business into a brand.”

Drawing upon their 30 years of experience successfully franchising UFG brands like SIGNARAMA and EmbroidMe, Accurate Franchising consultants provide strategic planning, sales support/training, marketing, operations, legal, financing and real estate assistance – all designed to help business owners grow. To provide the personalized and time-intensive consultation required, Accurate Franchising currently limits the program to five clients at a time.

Franchise Greenhouse

Once a franchise has been successfully established, it can be considered for Franchise Greenhouse (www.franchisegreenhouse.com) to expand throughout the United States quickly and cost effectively. The experienced sales force at Franchise Greenhouse functions like an in-house franchise sales department that identifies and cultivates the most qualified leads – both financially and temperamentally – with a high rate of closure.

“Building on our own experience, we do what it takes to sell clients’ franchises in the United States – from screening and working leads to offering marketing and discovery day consultation,” says Foley. “Owners gain a faster-growing brand that can become a national category leader.”

Like the other UFG services, Franchise Greenhouse is selective and will only represent a maximum of eight clients at any given time to ensure that each client’s franchising efforts will be successful. Clients may come from any industry and must either be graduates of Accurate Franchising or meet certain criteria for the number of franchises and level of working capital available.

“Unlike business brokers who get a lead, post it and just facilitate the sale, we actually assume the role of franchise development, seeking out and qualifying prospects,” adds Foley. “We’re in this for the long-term relationship. We help fine-tune the business model and even advise clients if they’re growing too fast.”

World Franchisors

The last in the continuum of UFG services, World Franchisors (www.worldfranchisors.com), was actually the first established, having begun in 2004 to help SIGNARAMA expand internationally.

Now 21 years, 50 countries and hundreds of international locations later, SIGNARAMA is the world’s largest sign franchise. Leveraging this success, Foley developed World Franchisors to help other franchise organizations expand internationally, reach more customers, enhance profitability and be first to a particular market. World Franchisors can target specific countries clients have selected or analyze and identify those countries that pose the best potential.

“The nature of franchising is aggressive yet careful expansion,” says Foley. “International growth is the future of franchising – but it’s one that requires a very specialized set of skills and experience.”

World Franchisors acts as each client’s representative to sell master licenses and establish a strong international presence – in a resource- and cost-effective manner. The group also develops an implementation plan to map out the expansion, attends key trade shows, creates exhibit materials, qualifies in-person and online leads and negotiates the legalities of the master franchise agreement to ensure that each client’s interests and core values are reflected and protected in all documentation.

“We’ve ‘been there and done that’ in more than 50 countries, so we understand the opportunities and challenges,” adds Foley. “We’re well acquainted with the nuances of individual cultures, as well as the regulations that may hinder a new entry into each market.”

About United Franchise Group:

United Franchise Group (www.unitedfranchisegroup.com) is a $500 million dollar franchising expert with 30 years of experience and 1,400 franchise locations in 50 countries. Brands include SIGNARAMA, EmbroidMe and Billboard Connection, as well as two new brands -- FranchiseMart, a retail location to research business opportunities before investing; and Plan Ahead Events, a home-based corporate event planning franchise. Additionally, UFG’s continuum of franchise development services helps entrepreneurs grow their businesses domestically and/or globally with Accurate Franchising, Franchise Greenhouse and World Franchisors. Information on franchising opportunities is available at 800-286-8671 (U.S.) or 001-561-640-5570 (international).