Month: June 2015

The Story Behind Weed Man

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When looking into franchising opportunities, being able to relate to the brand and the background of the company is imperative; and so, for any of you who don’t know how Weed Man came to be, this is our story…

In 1970, over four decades ago, Weed Man was founded by a couple named Des and Brenda Rice. The name ‘Weed Man’ happened coincidentally when Des decided to start a weed control business within his local community. The kids would yell “Mom, the weed guy is here,” “Dad, the weed man is here!” any time Des pulled up to a home, ready to start a job. This eventually led Des to the bright idea of keeping it simple and naming his company after his nick name, inspired by the neighborhood children. In 1976, Weed Man started franchising in Canada. Years later, in the summer months, Des and Brenda were having a barbecue and their neighbors, the Mongeons, were over for a bite to eat. While everyone was socializing in the yard, Roger Mongeon, now the CEO of Weed Man, and Des, were discussing business in the basement. At the time, Roger was actively pursuing business opportunities and after much debate between different industries and reviewing Des’ business plan, he decided to franchise with Weed Man in 1986 and he couldn’t have made a better decision! From there, the business grew quickly. Roger purchased seven more territories in Montreal and gathered a group of shareholders to expand into Ontario. Soon after, in 1992, Weed Man franchises were sold out in Canada. Roger’s daughter, Jennifer, and her partner Chris, were in university, when Roger asked them both if they wanted to join in on his venture with Weed Man. They both saw the wealth and success of the business and knew it would be a great opportunity. Now, Jennifer Lemcke, COO of Weed Man and her husband Chris Lemcke, National Technical Director, are seeing nothing but ongoing success in their future. Weed Man is now an international brand, having expanded into the US after selling out in Canada and even opening locations in the UK. Weed Man is the top lawn care franchise in North America and was just recently named one of the “Best Franchises to Buy” by Forbes. You can read more on Weed Man’s history here.

Weed Man is proud to have started several partnerships with franchisees across the nation and helped them all achieve the success and freedom they deserve. If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about franchising with Weed Man, visit www.weedmanfranchise.com.

Making the Decision to Franchise

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When looking into franchising opportunities, it’s imperative that you develop a good feel for the company and the brand itself before making your final decision. Franchising is not a get-rich-quick solution, although if you work at it, you can certainly be successful. Just like starting any business, though, it is an investment – one that could change your life. So, do your research and get your feet wet before jumping right in! Here are some tips to review before taking the plunge.

1. Speak to existing franchisees (as many as you can). Even pay them a visit if it’s feasible. Make up a list of questions that could help you determine whether the franchise is for you or not. Ask questions like, ‘Why did you choose to franchise here?’ or ‘What did you do before you started with the company?’ or ‘How has this choice affected your day-to-day life?’ And lastly, one of the best questions to ask is, ‘If you could do it all over again, would you?’ This will allow you to get to know the franchise owner on a personal level, so you can relate to him or her and get a feel for whether or not the franchise brand in question would suit your lifestyle, values, and direction.

2. Next, talk business. Ask about franchise costs and revenue, how long it has taken other franchise owners to get where they are now, how they deal with their employees and what they are paid, etc. These are all questions that you can reference if you decide to buy into the company in the future; and the answers you receive will allow you to get a sense of how successful you could be.

3. Create a rating system. Another way to gauge their experience with the company is to ask franchisees to rate, on a scale of 1 to 10, how they feel about various aspects of the business. This could include anything from how useful initial training was to how effective the systems are. If you speak to a handful of franchisees and their ratings are similar, you can begin to rely on the numbers and develop a well-researched picture of what to expect. You can also do some digging to see if there are any reports, such as this one, where Franchise Business Review rates Weed Man.

4. Use the tools at your disposal. In today’s technology-driven world, the Internet is a great resource for doing research. Aside from speaking with franchisees, get online and check out the company website, customer reviews and how they compare to their competitors. Be thorough when reading over any important documents, such as the business plan and what your investment includes, so you can grasp where your money is going and what you’ll get out of it.

5. Don’t forget to reflect. Lastly, when all of your research is done, take some time to reflect on your findings. Determine whether you can relate to the company and the franchisees, whether you see yourself being successful with the material provided and whether or not you would enjoy owning a franchise with the company. If you are confident that the company can help you achieve your dreams and goals, you’ve got a winner!

If owning a business is something that you’ve seriously considered, or if you already own a business and are looking for an additional profit center, Weed Man is a great option. We would be happy to meet you, guide you and help you form a strategic partnership! For more information on franchising with Weed Man USA, visit http://www.weedmanfranchise.com.

How to Succeed as a Franchisee

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When it comes to owning your own franchise, there are many factors you should consider. Franchising is not a get-rich-quick solution – it requires work and determination to reach your goals and become successful. Sure, there are several perks to franchising, but you need the skills, the attitude and the passion in order to succeed.

Weed Man USA has several success stories to tell – and that’s something we take pride in as a company. Our franchisees know what it takes to be successful and they do their best to achieve their goals. At the end of the day, it’s the small stuff that separates the top performers from the mediocre results.

Check out these 8 tips for success for more information on how to be the best business owner you can be!

Passion

You must have the passion for the product you’re selling or the industry you’re working in, otherwise the novelty of owning your own business will wear thin fast.

People Skills

You must have great people skills and provide excellent customer-service. This is imperative in any business. If you do not treat the consumer with respect, they will not come back. In fact, they’ll go buy from your competition and then, you’re not only losing their business, but you’re also giving your competitor the upper hand.

Follow the System

In a franchise, the systems are there for a reason. The company has invested money in perfecting the business model and that is essentially what you’re paying for, so if you decide not to follow the system, you are likely not to be successful.

Marketing

Don’t sit back and just expect success with no work. Marketing is a huge aspect to any business. The more marketing, the better. Offer new customers a discount for their service, sponsor a local event or throw a barbeque for your existing clients. Have fun with it!

Network

Be active in your community and make as many connections as you possibly can. The more people you know, the more business you’ll get. Word-of-mouth means a lot.

Sub franchisor, Phil Forgarty discusses Weed Man‘s company culture of giving back to the community in big and small ways through events. Check it out!

Ask for Help

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. When you buy into a franchise, the company wants you to succeed. If you have a question, ask it! Fellow franchisees can also be a great resource.

Attitude

Having a positive attitude in life (and in business) will help you in any situation. Nobody wants to work with a Negative Nancy. Put a smile on that face!

“Attitude is everything” is a phrase many of us have heard before. Click here for tips on how to coach yourself and your team to stay positive and enjoy coming to work!

Employee Relations

Your employees are the face of your company. Make sure you treat them right and they will be loyal to you.

When it comes to learning styles, no two employees are alike. Click here for more information on pumping up your team and acknowledging your employees’ needs.

If owning a business is something that you’ve seriously considered, or if you already own a business and are looking for an additional profit centre, Weed Man is a great option and we would be happy to meet you, guide you and help you form a strategic partnership! For more information on franchising with Weed Man USA or to read our many Success Profiles, visit http://www.weedmanfranchise.com.

Franchising – Is It a Strategy That Fits You?

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Have you ever thought about owning your own business? Well, if you have, you are right alongside the 70 per cent of others who have also considered it. There are many reasons people may think seriously about becoming an entrepreneur and starting a business. Owning a business, if successful, allows you to control your own financial freedom and create more time for yourself and your family. The two go hand and hand, don’t they? In addition to these perks, owning a business can create emotional fulfillment of building your own dream, help build a legacy for your kids, create opportunity to work with family, remove threat of job loss and so much more.

Not everyone is as business-minded as Donald Trump and not everyone has a business idea worthy enough to be featured on the TV show Shark Tank, but that’s where franchising comes in. Franchising is not a business or industry itself, but instead a business strategy, designed to penetrate and dominate a marketplace. With franchising, people can receive all of the perks we listed above, as well as all of the business support, systems and proven models. It’s a package deal!

For instance, when you decide to hop on the franchisee train with Weed Man USA, we provide you with a successful brand – one that’s widely known across North America, an effective operating system – all which have been tested, refined and ultimately proven to increase efficiency and profitability, as well as all of the support you could ever need – fellow franchisees and franchisors are just a phone call away. Your Weed Man franchise will still be yours, but you won’t be doing it alone!

Other advantages of franchising include: reduced risk – proof of success is already in place; the opportunity to collaborate – share your best and worst practices with your fellow Weed Man franchisees; systems continually being adjusted and improved, for your success; extensive training provided by the experienced and knowledgeable staff at Weed Man USA Headquarters; sales and marketing strategies and systems; manuals and other documentation for your reference, if you ever need a memory refresher; letters, contracts, agreements and documents all in place, meaning less work for you; and last but definitely not least, purchasing power – we get the best rates for the best products!

If owning a business is something that you’ve seriously considered, or if you already own a business and are looking for an additional profit centre, Weed Man is a great option and we would be happy to meet you, guide you and help you form a strategic partnership! For more information on franchising with Weed Man USA, visit http://www.weedmanfranchise.com.