Franchises to go: Miami Beach to host huge show

A big franchise show opens Friday at the Miami Beach Convention Center offering hundreds of business opportunities for investors.

Nanny Poppinz offers a business option for stay-at-home moms. LA Sunset Tan Productions is banking on the Hollywood celebrity connection. Salad Creations hopes to capitalize on the healthy eating trend.

Every franchisor has a pitch and that's what they'll be selling to prospective franchisees this week at Franchise Expo South. The International Franchise Association event kicks off Friday at the Miami Beach Convention Center with more than 250 exhibitors and is expected to attract 10,000 visitors during the three-day event.

This is the place to come if you've ever thought of owning your own business. The choices run the gamut from fast food to spas, tutoring services to doggy day care. If you're feeling overwhelmed by the choices, the expo also includes educational seminars like ``Choosing the Right Franchise.''

Neil Rodin thinks he has an advantage because the ''Sunset Tan'' name already has a following of 29 million viewers from its E! Entertainment network's reality television series. The show is based on the comings and goings at the five Los Angeles salons, where customers include celebs Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears.

South Florida will be the first franchise market for Sunset Tan, which offers a luxury experience for tanning. The goal is to have more than 30 locations in the tri-county area, said Rodin, co-owner of South Florida Tanning Enterprises, the area representative for LA Sunset Tan Productions. Average start-up cost for a franchise is $300,000.

''It's a new franchise, but one that comes with a built-in brand name from the show,'' Rodin said. ``The South Florida market really made sense because people here want to be out and look good.''

Franchise Expo South comes at a time when the industry has been booming. There are more than 3,000 established brands with 230 different types of businesses, according to FRANdata, which studies the sector.

In 2007, there were just under 270 new concepts nationwide, including 20 with headquarters in Florida.

Matthew Shay, president of the International Franchise Association, expects the current economic uncertainty and the downturn in the real estate market to give people more incentive to turn to franchising.

''People tend to look at franchising as an area where they can have control over that investment, unlike the stock market or real estate,'' Shay said. ``You're creating something of value and you have the opportunity to directly impact the value of that investment.''

FOREIGN INVESTORS

The event also aims to attract potential investors from Latin America and the Caribbean who are interested in acquiring the rights to a U.S. brand and taking it back to their country.

Through contacts made at last year's show, Salad Creations of Margate sold the franchise rights to development in Panama and part of Brazil. The company's estimated franchise start-up costs are $250,000.

''Everybody wants ideas from the states to take internationally,'' said Jeff Levine, chief executive and founder of Salad Creations, which currently has 38 stores open and 95 franchises sold. ``We see international as a big opportunity for us. There are a lot of very vain people in these countries that are into their health.''

While fast food remains the largest category in the franchise industry, the services category has seen the biggest jump in the number of new concepts.

These concepts run the gamut from child-related services to cleaning and pet care.

SERVICE SOCIETY

''There are a certain type of services that having consistency of delivery and a brand name makes it more appealing,'' said Darrell Johnson, president and chief executive officer of FRANdata.

Nanny Poppinz fits that bill. The Fort Lauderdale company started as in the mid-1990s as a South Florida nanny agency. A year ago it had two franchisees in South Florida; in the last six months it has grown to 15, thanks to a partnership with franchise consultants Findley Group hatched during last year's Franchise Expo South.

''They've really catapulted us to the next level,'' said Susan McCloskey, vice president of Nanny Poppinz, whose start-up costs run about $50,000. ”There is no national company that does what we do. Going nationwide we can help families everywhere. We also empower other women so they don't have to choose between work and family.''

Source: MiamiHerald.com

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