An Economy in Peril Propels an Experienced Finance Manager Into Franchise Ownership

An Economy in Peril Propels an Experienced Finance Manager Into Franchise Ownership

After a February 2009 layoff left Long Island, NY finance manager, Donna Dirks out of work for the first time in her 20-year career, she knew she had to take action.

"I'd never lost a job before…and the recruiters- who had been calling five times a day when I was employed- had nothing…Now I'm getting calls again, and I am starting a job as a finance manager in two weeks, but for six or seven months the phone didn't ring. I thought 'I can't go through this again, I have to have something else to fall back on', so I began searching for a business to own," Dirks explained.

Franchise.com Helps Make The Search For an Affordable Business to Own, Quick And Easy

"I went online and searched 'open a business or open a franchise' using Google. Franchise.com came up as the second or third result…Once I went to Franchise.com I didn't need to go anywhere else. Franchise.com provided me with exactly the information that I needed in minutes…I was able to search by the specific dollar amount that I wanted to invest. …I knew that I wanted to make a relatively small investment in a business that would back me up. I was happy with what I found on Franchise.com. It was quite easy, it was great," Dirks recalled.

After submitting her contact information to three of the concepts that met her search criteria and speaking with representatives from those companies over the phone, Dirks ultimately decided to purchase a Young Masters franchise. Young Masters is an art program that showcases children's artwork on keepsakes such as coffee mugs, puzzles, magnets and other items, and serves as a fundraising tool for schools.

A Flexible Business And a Rapid Launch

"I looked into the business one month ago and officially purchased my Young Masters franchise last week," Dirks said. "Since then I've been calling schools and explaining the program to them. I've already had a few sales and have scheduled appointments."

Dirks plans to initially focus on her Young Masters business on a part-time basis, "Four days a week I'll be at my finance management job and will have flexible hours. On my day off I'll schedule face to face appointments for the Young Masters business. I'll be working on the Young Masters business every day in some form, making calls or visit schools before I go to work, during my lunch hour and after work. Young Masters is an easy business to operate, I will be dropping materials off and picking them up; I don't need to be there all day. In a couple of years I may do finance management part-time and focus on this business the rest of the time," she said.

A Unique Fundraising Program

"There is really no direct competition here on Long Island," Dirks said. "The only competitors are other fundraising companies that sell things like candy and wrapping paper. My son is older now, but when he was younger he'd sell candy and wrapping paper for school fundraisers. I didn't want to buy those things, but if he had come home with the Young Masters order form and said, 'You can get this artwork that I drew put on all of these different keepsakes' I definitely would have bought this. The keepsakes are something personal that I'd have for the rest of my life. You can't walk into a store and buy this... This is worth more than candy or wrapping paper."

Extensive Training And Excellent Support

Dirks attended YM University, Young Masters' extensive two-day franchisee training program, "The curriculum is excellent, it covers every aspect of the business. I met with all of the departments…and received sales training that included role playing. The salesperson that provided the sales training is coming here next week to go on appointments with me so I can see firsthand how he does it," Dirks said.

"The support from the home office has been great. When I call them I get answers right away. I've been very impressed. They also provided me with a whole list of contacts at schools," Dirks said. "They give you everything you need to know. It saves you a lot of time and research."

Like Dirks, prospective Young Masters franchisees should feel comfortable, "Talking to people, cold calling and explaining the program. You have to be confident and persistent," she observed. "You can't be shy, I'm not shy. Once you get someone's ear, you're fine. The program is free for the schools- in fact they get money out of it because it's a fundraiser. It doesn't cost them anything. You're selling them a way to make money."