Business Opportunities Journal | January 2014

JANUARY 2014 | ISSUE 529

COMING TO ASTREET CORNER

NEARYOU

RETAIL real estate SHOWINGPROMISE

Cell Phone RepairBusiness Booming

Holiday Coaches forSmall Business Retail

Green Jobs on the Rise

Business Owners PolledAbout thoughts on ACA

2 Business Opportunities Journal January 2014 www.boj.com

BOJ.com

PUBLISHERMuir Capital, Inc.

EDITORIALEditor: Mark Adkins

Phone: 760.930.1033

Email: [email protected]

CONTRIBUTORSAshley Hause

Ian Gere

Marren Roy

Phone: 760.930.1033


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Sean White

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Phone: 760.930.1033


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The ToronTo STock exchange: A Big Opportunity for Small Business

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Big winners of past lost in ‘08 . . . .Resale stores flourish. . . .Some businesses thrive when the economy dives . . . .

‘09 Bleak for Venture Capital. . . . Masters in renewable energy

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Pet RelatedOpportunitiesSpecial Report Section

www.boj.com January 2014 Business Opportunities Journal 3

BUSINESS AS USUAL

18Hot Off the PressThese are franchise

opportunities that are

either very new, recently

registered in certain key

states, or are making

news right now.

24Holiday CoachSmall business prepares for the holiday rush in a new fashion.

26Green Jobs Are Showing GrowthClean energy and clean

transportation projects are

on the rise.

31Weighing InFranchise and non-franchise business owners are polled on thoughts about the ACA.

CONTENTS

JanuaryFeatures

In Need of RepairThe cell phone repair industry was estimated to rise an

average of 10.9% last year. However, growth in 2012

exceeded that projection with 13.7% and totalled $1.1 billion.

4

Coming to a Street Corner Near YouThis restaurant-on-wheels phenomenon has caught on

in several major U.S. cities, including New York, Austin,

Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Louis, San

Diego and Tampa.

8

Franchise NewsFind out what is going on in the Franchising world. Stories

about specific franchises big and small.

20

Retail Real Estate Shows PromiseThe FPL Associates, LP has released their 2013 International

Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) North American Retail

Estate Compensation Survey.

6

Things Are Great...For NowA new recent report, the Restaurant Industry Snapshot,

shows positive same-store sales for restaurants during the

month of October.

14


BUSINESSOPPORTUNITY

The cell phone repair

industry was

estimated to rise an

average of 10.9% last

year.

Rise In Smartphone Use Creates Surge In Need For Repairs

In Need of RepairOwning a smart phone and mobile device

is the norm in American society today. The expectation that you can be reached and communicated with instantaneously is common and consistent.

According to a recent study by IBIS World, changes in technology has motivated consumers to buy the latest versions of smartphones and tablet devices, and with a higher average price and replacement cost. As a result of this, the cell phone repair industry is growing at a faster rate than expected.

The cell phone repair industry was estimated to rise an average of 10.9% last year. However, growth in 2012 exceeded that projection with

13.7% and totaled $1.1 billion. This trend combined with the increases in mobile device consumers is spurring growth in electronic repair companies like CPR Cell Phone Repair. Founded in the late 90’s, CPR has been recognized as the fastest growing wireless technology franchise in the

Story by Ian Gere


country with over 150 locations globally. In the last 3 years, CPR Cell Phone Repair has grown at a rate of 2,091 percent. Additionally, Entrepreneur Magazine listed the company as one of the hottest trends in franchising for 2014.

Changes in technology

Cell Phone Repair was founded in 1996 because we recognized a need and realized that we could meet the demand with our skills and services,” said Jeremy Kwaterski, founder and CEO of CPR Cell Phone Repair. “Since franchising our

locations around the country, we’ve only seen growth in that demand. Smartphones and technology are becoming increasingly complex and fragile, which forms a sort of irony since we are so dependent on these devices, and the minor accidents that cause them to break or become damaged can leave us completely helpless.”

Spurring growth

As much as we hate to admit it, our mobile devices have become extensions of ourselves. They house a

Increasingly complex

digital life that many of us feel we cannot live without. Even though some devices are being priced lower, the replacement value to purchase a new smartphone is often more expensive than repair costs. Furthermore, the loss of personal information and photos that often comes with discarding a damaged phone is more of a personal loss than many users are willing to bear.

“Our company slogan is that ‘we save your mobile life,’” added Kwaterski. “We entrust these small devices with everything personal to us, and far too often we don’t take the time to back them up. At CPR we revive the data, the memories, that consumers often come so close to losing when a phone is damaged.”

BUSINESSOPPORTUNITY

www.boj.com

werecognizeda need


“The healthy pace of hiring, in which approximately 70% of participants expect to see an increase in the size of their overall employee headcount in 2013, combined with the fact that nearly four-fifths of companies expect fiscal year 2013 to be better than 2012 in terms of overall performance, suggests a healthy and competitive environment across the retail real estate industry,” noted Jeremy Banoff, senior managing director of FPL Associates. “Consequently, more than three-times the amount of participants reported increases in cash-bonus payouts

RetailReal

EstateShows

Promise

They found that the

median retail real estate

salary increase for 2013 is

rising up 3% from the prior

year, yet the same as 2012’s

pace.

The FPL Associates, LP has released their 2013 International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) North American Retail Estate Compensation Survey. They found that the median retail real estate salary increase for 2013 is rising up 3% from the prior year, yet the same as 2012’s pace. The survey was based on compensation trends and policies for 92 companies and 100 positions ranging from executive to junior-level.

“The retail real estate industry is finally operating

on all cylinders with strong leasing prospects, low supply of space, improving rent and cyclically-high net operating income,” said Michael P. Niemira, chief economist and vice president of research for ICSC. “With that as a backdrop, the latest industry survey found a healthy 3% gain in the pace of compensation for 2013 and an expected continuation of that pace into 2014,” Niemira added.

REAL ESTATESPOTLIGHT

Story by Ian Gere


REAL ESTATESPOTLIGHT

compared against those that reported decreases, year-over-year,” added Banoff.

These results are from the fifth annual compensation study for the North American retail real estate industry. The 2013 compensation study covers a variety of compensation program design topics, benefits/perquisites, as well as individual compensation data

project management, property accounting, property operations and facility management, real estate transactions, security, technology and more.

including base salary, annual incentives and long-term awards for 100 retail real estate positions in accounting, audit and tax, asset management, corporate finance, development, executive management, human resources, leasing, legal, marketing,

“More than three-times the amount of participants reported increases in cash-bonus”


FRANCHISESPOTLIGHT coming

to a street corner near you

Today, at all times during the day, you will see food trucks overtaking urban landscapes in some of

America’s biggest cities. Anywhere that potential customers might be, there they are – office buildings, college campuses, industrial parks, auto repair shops, movie sets or military bases. Some cater to specific meals, such as breakfast or lunch trucks; some offer specific types of food, like a dumpling or taco truck.

This restaurant-on-wheels phenomenon has caught on in several major U.S. cities, including New York, Austin, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Louis, San Diego and Tampa. Currently, Chicago is the only U.S. city which does not allow food

Anywhere that potential customers might be, there they are – office buildings, college campuses, industrial parks, auto repair shops, movie sets or military bases.

Today’s food trucks have grown

from a quick grab-

and-go bite to an

experience.

Story by Ashley Hause


trucks to cook on board and have set other restrictions such as distance from other restaurants and amount of time it can sell food in one place. In other parts of the world, food trucks are also becoming more common, as in the case of Australia, Canada and Asia.

Food trucks first became popular in the 1890’s when night lunch wagons would cater to night-time workers, especially in bigger cities such as New York City. Later versions of the food truck, which came about in the late 1950’s, were known as mobile canteens. These were primarily authorized and operated by the U.S. Army and could be seen across many American military bases.

While these “roach coaches” have been

around for years, it was until the latest economic recession that they reached a new level of popularity. With chefs being laid off and a decline in the construction workforce leading to a surplus of food trucks, the concept of a mobile food truck was revisited and revamped. Looking back, experts believe that 2008 marked the unofficial beginning of the phenomenon.

Today’s food trucks have grown from a quick grab-and-go bite to an experience.

Still known for their affordability and convenient

locations, food trucks can now be seen in both urban and rural areas of the U.S., however the quality of food and variety has changed dramatically. You will not just find an ordinary taco at modern-day food trucks. Food trucks today are gourmet, creative and put an emphasis on the experience with the food and with the truck’s brand.

As a result, an entire business sector has sprung up. Food truck franchises have begun to form and food truck rallies are growing in popularity. Gourmet Streets, one of the largest and most respected food truck franchises in the U.S., has been at the forefront of this food truck revolution. Food trucks have been caught national attention, garnering their own television shows,

The quality of food and variety has changed dramatically.

FRANCHISESPOTLIGHT


such as the Great Food Truck Race and Eat St.

On August 31, 2013, Tampa hosted the world’s largest food truck rally with 99 food trucks attending. The industry has even spurred the creation of associations to help support and protect business rights, as exemplified by the recently-formed Philadelphia Mobile Food Association.

Food trucks are even Zagat rated

The phenomenon of food trucks has also grown with the emergence of social media. With the help of Facebook and Twitter, anyone can find the location of a gourmet food truck on a moment’s notice. Some food trucks even have apps to allow customers to get up-to-the-minute updates on specials, menu changes or location changes. Many experts believe that social media is one of the biggest contributing factors to the success of food trucks today.

five years. By 2017, food truck revenue is expected to increase to $2.7 billion.

In a 2011 Entrepreneur article, Aaron Noveshen, co-founder of Mobi Munch – a LA-based company that helps develop mobile platforms and runs several food trucks in California estimated that, “Ten percent of the top 200 restaurant chains will have a mobile presence in the next 24 months.” Noveshen went on to say that people today are time-starved and mobile food helps to fulfill that need. Some of today’s largest brands, including Taco Bell, Dairy Queen, Jack in the Box, Qdoba, Subway, Carl’s Jr., In-N-Out Burger and Sizzler have put together food trucks or trailers to use for special promotional purposes.

Food trucks are so popular, in fact, that they have made their way into weddings, birthday parties and other public gatherings such as festivals and movie nights. To take it a step further, food trucks are even Zagat rated.

Forbes recently ranked the “25 Coolest Food Trucks”, which included San Francisco’s Nom Nom Truck, New York’s Rickshaw Dumpling Truck, Washington DC’s Rito Loco, Portland’s The People’s Pig, LA’s Border Grill, Austin’s East Side King, and Denver’s Biker Jim’s Gourmet Dogs.

In the case of the Rickshaw Dumpling Truck, the mobile

Trends show that while food truck enthusiasm

may be stronger on the West Coast and in the Northeast, there is still consumer demand in the South and Northwest. According to the National Restaurant Association (NRA), food trucks are part of a larger trend within the restaurant industry.

“One important driver of restaurant industry sales has been and continues to be convenience,” said Hudson Riehle, the NRA’s senior VP of research. “When you think of consumer needs for conveniences, food trucks are a natural evolution of the growth of the off-premises market.”

Economic research shows that food trucks now represent a $1 billion industry that employs more than 35,000 people. Today, nearly 31,000 food truck businesses are in operation. Demand for food trucks and street vendors has soared over the last five years, totaling 3.9% annual growth from 2008-2013. Data shows that there is no slowdown in sight. Revenue and demand is expected to grow steadily during the next

FRANCHISESPOTLIGHT


Food trucks now represent a $1 billion industry that employs more than 35,000 people.

truck became an offshoot of the company’s original dumpling bars which can be found in several locations around Manhattan. When owner, Kenny Lao, was looking for a location for his second branch he was faced with high rent prices of $200-300 per square foot. That’s what led him to explore the idea of starting a food truck. For the startup cost of about $150,000, Rickshaw Dumpling Bar became fully operational and now serves its three unique types of dumplings across New York. Over the last few years, the company’s revenues have grown into the millions.

For many chefs or aspiring food truck operators, one of the biggest barriers to entry

is the competition. Permitting and parking also present challenges. Each municipality within a city has unique rules about where trucks can park and how long they can serve, along with other Department of Health regulations.

Still experts agree that with the lower startup costs, association and dependence on social media and the overall convenience, food trucks are here to stay. While the rate of new food trucks opening may slow, existing trucks will continue to innovate and producer higher

quality cuisine to keep up with consumer expectations.

All in all, food trucks now dot our cities and towns’ streets offering convenient, high-quality, low-cost delicious, unique food. What more could you want?

FRANCHISESPOTLIGHT


THINGS AREGREAT...FOR NOW

WHILE OCTOBER PROVED TO BE ARELATIVELY GOOD MONTH FOR THERESTAURANT INDUSTRY, REPORT DATASHOWS THAT THE POSITIVE GROWTH

COULD BE SHORT-LIVED.

Mixed Reviews of October’s Restaurant Industry Snapshot

A new recent report, the Restaurant Industry Snapshot, shows positive same-store sales for restaurants during the month of October. October’s results represent the largest monthly increase (1%) in same-store sales since March 2013. Same-store traffic was not as positive (-1.4%) but still showed improvement for the fourth consecutive months.

While October proved to be a relatively good month for the restaurant industry, report data shows that the positive growth could be short-lived.

October proved to be a relatively good month for the restaurant industry as measured

by same-store sales and traffic, but there are also signs that the growth could be short-lived, according to the latest Restaurant Industry Snapshot results.

Although the October results might be easily considered as very optimistic signs for the industry, these should be put in the context of what was happening throughout vast regions of the country at the end of October last year as hurricane Sandy hit our shores,” commented Victor Fernandez, executive director of insights and knowledge for Black Box Intelligence and People Report.

The report also pointed to Texas

Story by Ashley Hause

INDUSTRYOUTLOOK


THE SOUTHWEST AS A WHOLEREPORTEDTHE WORST

PERFORMANCE WITH BOTH

SAME-STORE SALES AND

TRAFFIC BELOW LAST MONTH’S

TOTALS.

as the top performer among the U.S., with same-store sales reaching 2.2% growth. The Southwest as a whole reported the worst performance with both same-store sales and traffic below last month’s totals. Another positive note was on the job growth front which has showed positive signs over the last four months.

The Restaurant Industry Snapshot is a compilation of real sales and traffic results from over 180 DMAs from 100+ restaurant brands and approximately 16,000+ restaurants that are clients of Black Box Intelligence. Currently, data is reported in four distinct segments: casual dining, upscale/fine-dining, fast casual, and family dining. Black Box Intelligence is a sister company to People Report, which tracks the workforce analytics of one million restaurant employees.


HOT OFFTHE PRESS

Bowl of Heaven

Bowl Of Heaven is a fast casual restaurant serving fresh, frozen, and healthy açaí bowls and smoothies. Açaí, a superfruit, is great tasting, healthy, and can be served with a multitude of toppings. The initial investment for a Bowl Of Heaven franchise ranges from $135,500 to $328,500. There are currently 6 Bowl of Heaven locations (including a food truck), three of which are in Southern California.

Hot Off the Press Franchise: Board and Brew

Board and Brew is a fast casual sandwich shop that started in 1979 in Del Mar, California. With a “cult following and mass appeal”, the restaurant

has seen recent expansion in San Diego and San Clemente, yet has just begun to offer franchise opportunities. The initial investment for a Board and Brew franchise ranges from $254,500 to $512,500. There are currently 4 Board and Brew locations. The company is accepting

applications for franchises outside of San Diego County.

HOT OFF THE PRESSOur latest feature! These are franchise opportunities that are either very new (hot off the press), recently registered in certain key states, or are making news right now. An exclusive BOJ.com feature.

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FRANCHISE NEWS

Franchise Aims to Make Roads Safer

Fresh Green Light has announced it will offer franchises for its cutting-edge Driver Training Centers, which offer more effective training programs for teen drivers.

“We’ve built a better driver training model that delivers better outcomes,” said Laura Shuler, CEO of Fresh Green Light Franchise Partners. “By franchising

our model, we can provide a more effective driver training solution in communities across the country.”

Founded in Rye, New York in 2009 by Shuler and her husband Steve Mochel, Fresh Green Light has since expanded into Centers in Greenwich and Darien, Connecticut.

“Our students report dramatically fewer accidents compared to the national average,” said Mochel, President and Chief Development Officer. While accident rates for new teen drivers are reported to be as high as 50% during the first year

of driving, only 12.5% of Fresh Green Light students report having an accident their first year on the road. “That’s a 75% reduction in accident risk,” Mochel said.

In 2012, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration featured Fresh Green Light’s program in a report on global best practices in driver training. In

the study, they described it as “above and beyond most basic driver education programs.” Fresh Green Light was the only United States driving school to be

mentioned in the report.

“Despite the fact that accidents are the number one killer of teens in the U.S., Driver’s Ed hasn’t changed in over sixty years,” said Shuler. “Driver’s education offered through the majority of high schools and commercial driving schools is

not effective at reducing teen accident risks.”

“An honest, careful analysis of traditional driver education can lead to only one conclusion: It doesn’t teach driving, let alone good driving. Its philosophy, psychology, content and method are wrong. The damage it causes is crippling

and permanent.” (Autoweek, 2006)

In the majority of states, teens must complete formal driver training as a requirement for licensing, however, it is offered in fewer than 30% of high

schools. This results in commercial driving schools being the primary resource for satisfying mandatory training. “The commercial driving school industry is

largely made up of mom-and-pop operators, many of whom provide a less-than-optimal experience; and there currently isn’t a strong commercial driving school

franchise offering.”

“We believe the franchise model is the best way to grow Fresh Green Light because it puts the brand in the hands of people who want to make a meaningful impact in their local communities,” said Shuler. ”At the end of the day, we know

we’re doing something that’s saving lives. That’s a pretty powerful way to make a difference.”

FRANCHISE News

Story by Ian Gere


franchise partnered with VCC, I

decided to try applying again with

their help. We began the process

in April and received VA benefits

by August. The VCC made it easy

and understandable for my family,

so I feel confident offering their

expertise to my clients.”

Thommarson currently provides

home care for eight clients who

have qualified for the benefits,

and another seven who are

pending approval.

Home HelpersAssists Veterans inReceiving Benefits

Visit: www.boj.com

The national senior in-home

care franchise, Home Helpers,

has partnered with Veterans

Care Coordination (VCC) to assist

qualifying veterans and surviving

spouses obtain the Department of

Veterans Affairs’ Pension with Aid

and Attendance Benefit.

“What many veterans and their

spouses don’t realize is they may

be eligible for up to $24,648 per

year of tax-free money to pay

for home care services,” Home

Helpers president Emma Dickison

says. This benefit helps cover

medical expenses, which includes

home care services such as

bathing, dressing, and feeding.

“What many veterans and their spouses don’t realize is they may be eligible for up to $24,648”

“What makes this partnership

unique is the fact that we can offer

interest-free loan assistance to

Home Helpers clients that cannot

afford up-front, out-of-pocket

“The average veteran who qualifies can receive as much as $1,732 per month”

expenses for home care,” Veterans

Care Coordination president Kyle

Laramie says. “Our experts guide

clients through the complicated

application process, making it less

stressful.” VCC makes the process

much simpler by pre-screening

clients for eligibility and collecting

the required documents.

According to the Veterans Affairs

website, the average veteran who

qualifies can receive as much as

$1,732 per month, and a surviving

spouse can receive up to $1,113 a

month. A healthy veteran with an

ill spouse can receive up to $1,369

per month.

“I paid out of pocket for my

own parents’ care because I

found the application process too

overwhelming and complicated,”

said Mark Thommerson, owner

of Home Helpers & Direct Link

in Corsicana, Texas. “When my

FRANCHISENEWS

Story by Ian Gere


FRANCHISE NEWS

FRANCHISE NEWS

Children and adults alike enjoy the premier party experience that GameTruck delivers.

GameTruckFranchise Delivers

GameTruck, a leader in video game entertainment had a very successful “Month-Of-Giving” campaign in August. As a result, the company has donated $17,000 to Make-A-Wish® that will go towards granting the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. GameTruck has continued to support the children’s organization after launching the program last year. This year, the company added an additional $20 for each party booked throughout August. Even though the month-long campaign ended, GameTruck franchisees continue to participate in Make-A-Wish chapter events through June of 2014.

“We are extremely proud of the tremendous team work across all of our franchises throughout the country, who participated in this year’s August ‘Month of Giving’ campaign, and exceeded our goal,” said Scott Novis, founder and CEO of GameTruck. “We made a considerable financial contribution to Make-A-Wish which we know will

bring smiles to these children’s faces through the incredible experiences the organization develops.”

Children and adults alike enjoy the premier party experience that GameTruck delivers. The interactive, multiplayer environments can accommodate at least 16 players at a time. Each trailer is equipped with over three dozen of the latest multiplayer video game consoles. A GameCoach is on hand to manage each event and promote fair play. A standard GameTruck event consists of two hours of play for ages 6 and up. Parents are able to peruse the library of games and remove any they deem unacceptable for their children.

“We are very grateful for companies like GameTruck and their support for Make-A-Wish,” said David A. Williams, president and chief executive officer of Make-A-Wish America. “GameTruck has once again proven its dedication to our mission and we look forward to working with them again next year as well.”

Story by Ian Gere


FRANCHISENEWS

Fresh Healthy Vending Franchise Opens East Coast Branch

The leading healthy vending franchisor in North America, Fresh Healthy Vending, has announced it is opening its first satellite office on the East Coast. Set to open in Rockville, MD., a suburb of Washington D.C., the office will allow Fresh Healthy Vending to grow face-to-face franchise sales and local presence in markets along the entire East Coast

Senior Director of Franchise Development Aaron Goldberg will head the new location, which will be staffed with East Coast-based franchise development representatives and territory managers. This gives potential franchisees the opportunity to visit the offices, meet with representatives, and use the machines, all before becoming a franchisee.

Goldberg has extensive franchise and sales development experience, working with AT&T Wireless, Pizza Hut, T-Mobile, and Boardwalk Fries in the past. He brings this knowledge of the industry and market to the Fresh Healthy Vending team.

“It is with great pleasure that I join the Fresh Healthy Vending family and establish the company’s long-anticipated presence on the East Coast,” said Goldberg. “Our mission to provide healthy snacks to our Nation’s youth and public resonates strongly with me as a father, uncle of 13 and active member of my community. I am eager to connect with future Fresh Healthy Vending franchisees in embracing the concept of social entrepreneurship in some of the largest markets in the US.”

Story by Ian Gere

Fresh Healthy Vending CEO Alex Kennedy noted, “Although our machines are located throughout much of the East Coast already, not having a corporate presence there has made interaction and testing of our machines challenging for interested franchisees. Being on the East Coast will give us the bandwidth and opportunity to maximize our interactions at local discovery days, industry trade shows and franchise seminars, as well as launch some of our own industry events down the line.”


HOLIDAYCOACHING

“The holidays can

be a busy, crazy and profitable

time for many small

business owners”

Small Business Prepares for the Shopping Rush

Holiday CoachSmall Business Saturday is just days away. Consumers are

encouraged to shop small retail businesses and eat at local, independent restaurants. The Growth Coach Franchise is busy helping those small businesses prepare for the holiday season, as well as the next 12 months.

“Small business owners have always been my heroes and the work that they do every day is vital to our country and our respective communities. They are the economic and employment engine of this country and we are truly a small business nation,” said Dan Murphy, CEO & Founder of The Growth Coach.

Dan continued, “The holidays can be a busy, crazy and profitable time for many small business owners, but it’s important for them to think about and plan out next year as well. They need to be strategic, not just reactive. For greater success, they need to be able to execute on their short-term plans as well as craft their long-term plans. It’s our year-round coaching and accountability process that helps these retailers and service providers, and all industry sectors for that matter, successfully achieve the optimal balance

between tactical execution and strategic planning.”

As 2014 is approaching, small business owners are preparing for the New Year, and The Growth Coach is helping by offering free downloads of the e-book “Becoming A Strategic Business Owner.” The business coaching franchise is also giving out free coaching sessions in local communities to prepare them for the coming year.

The Growth Coach started out as a small business in Cincinnati in 2003, and is now an important business and sales coaching

Story by Ian Gere


franchise. Currently operating in 140 markets, the franchise serves thousands of small business owners/leaders, managers, self-employed professionals, and sales people each year. Entrepreneur Magazine named The Growth Coach the #1 Business Coaching Franchise in 2013, and has since included the company in the publication’s “Franchise 500” and “Best of the Best”, as well as “Top Home-Based Business.”

Clarity, confidence, and capabilities

Glen Smith, the owner of the Houston location, says his small business clients typically face three challenges: marketing, human resources, and cash flow. Because of this, they need greater clarity, confidence, and capabilities to manage these vital areas. This is especially true as they attend to the influx of customers during the holiday season.

Help small business

“Most small business owners get into business because they have a trade or technical skill – something they have a passion for – that they want to share with the community, but they need a little help marketing themselves, putting systems in place, and handling the other aspects of the business,” Smith said. “Through our proven coaching process, we can help small business owners successfully navigate all the key challenges of running a business. They don’t have to do it alone.”

“Small business owners are special because they don’t just own their businesses – the businesses are their lives. They are mentally and emotionally invested and that’s a blessing, challenge and a curse. Working with a Growth Coach, and our proven year-round coaching and

accountability process, clients can make a real difference in their lives and businesses,” Smith added.

While the majority of The Growth Coach’s services are provided through group coaching workshops, coaches are also available to provide one-on-one coaching, as well as through phone and online avenues. Growth Coaches are also available to assist CPAs and human resources professionals to earn their continuing education requirements with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy, Society for Human Resource Professionals and HRCI certified workshops.

Mentally and emotionally invested

“More than 97 percent of all businesses have less than $5 million in revenue and fewer than 100 employees – and we are thrilled to serve and help several thousand of these small businesses each and every year,” said Dan Murphy, Growth Coach CEO & Founder. “I love working with these owners and entrepreneurs as they are passionate and true creators: creating jobs, innovations and products and services that help make a difference in the lives of millions.”

HOLIDAYCOACHING

Businesscoachingfranchise


Green JobsShowing Growth

ORGANIZATIONS AND COMPANIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE ANNOUNCED

OVER 80 CLEAN ENERGY AND CLEAN TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS IN THE THIRD

QUARTER OF THIS YEAR.

Third quarter green jobs are showing positive growth

Collectively, they could create more than 15,000 jobs, according to a report released by the non-partisan group Environmental Entrepreneurs.

The announcement comes from 30 states in industries ranging from solar power generation to recycling, to clean-energy related manufacturing and biofuels. The top sectors were renewable power generation, announcing it had gained 6,700 jobs, and 3,300 in the manufacturing fields.

The report shows that industries are benefiting from strong state-level renewable energy policies. However, the scheduled end to an important federal policy in the wind industry is slowing job progression in that sector.

“Clean energy continues to put Americans to work,” said Judith Albert, Environmental Entrepreneur’s executive director.

Leading the country in clean energy and clean transportation job announcements are California and Nevada. Several Southeastern states including South Carolina, Tennessee and Florida were in the top 10 states announcing job growth.

“Clean energy and clean transportation jobs aren’t limited by geography or politics,” Albert said. “Our quarterly reports and our www.cleanenergyworksforus.org Web site make that obvious.”

While there were positive developments, thanks to state-level renewable energy policies, E2’s latest jobs announcement shows continued

Story by Ian Gere

GREEN JOBGROWTH


“CLEANENERGY AND

CLEAN TRANS-PORTATION JOBS AREN’T LIMITED BY GEOGRAPHY OR POLITICS,”

problems nationwide in the wind industry, which is about to experience the expiration of the wind energy Production Tax Credit at the end of this year.

“Clean energy policies have a real impact on workers across the country,” Albert said. “Washington, D.C., may be far removed from what’s happening in the heartland, but wind industry workers there will feel the pinch as the wind tax credit expires, the project pipeline dries up, and wind jobs become scarce.”

Despite federal policies holding growth back, some states policies are having a positive effect on jobs. Of the top 5 states for job announcements, only Texas has no statewide renewables procurement standard. The top 5 states were: California (2,467 jobs announced), Nevada (2,081), New York (1,807), Michigan (1,100) and Texas (774).

Environmental Entrepreneurs has tracked clean energy and transportation jobs since November of 2011. The 15,000 jobs announced this quarter are much more promising than the 10,800 of the same quarter last year. This difference may be attributed to Environmental Entrepreneurs tracking recycling announcements for the first time. Over 1,300 jobs were announced in that sector, many in southern states that had previously not posted large quarterly job announcement numbers.

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ACAIMPACT

64% of business owners believe the law

will have a “negative

impact”

Franchise and non-franchise owners polled on ACA

Weighing InWhile the Affordable Care Act (ACA), has been

widely talked about over the last few months and weeks, new research shows real feedback from business and franchise owners on the new law.

Public Opinion Strategies surveyed more than 400 business owners with between 40-500 employees throughout September and October. Survey results from small business and franchise owners found that 64% of business owners believe the law will have a “negative impact” on their business. Only 5% of those surveyed anticipate a “positive impact”.

Results from non-franchise businesses was not much better with 53% believing it would have a negative impact and 12% thinking it would be positive.

The poll also finds that 27% of franchise businesses and 12% of non-franchises have already begun replacing full-time employees with part-time help in order to comply with the law’s upcoming employer

mandate. Other businesses show that they are capping their full-time workforce at 49, so as not to have to worry about the insurance mandate for companies with 50 or more employees.

Lastly, the survey also found that one in four businesses will “likely” drop their insurance coverage and pay the $2,000/employee penalty in 2015 when the employer mandate is scheduled to take effect.

Story by Ashely Hause

Documents

Business Opportunities Journal | January 2014