Making the leap to entrepreneurship can be a challenge. You might be concerned that you’ll be left alone to deal with all the questions and all the decisions all of the time! With Scooter’s Coffee®, you’ll always have a team that’s got your back. We care about our franchisees and their business and strive to create a place where they are inspired to grow and succeed. Still, it’s important to have a few key business professionals by your side as you go through the process.
Find a good lawyer. Sound legal advice is invaluable. Legal wording can be confusing, especially when there are pages and pages of it. Scooter’s Coffee prides itself on working to keep a quality and open relationship with our franchisees, throughout the process and beyond. Once a mutual decision is made to move forward, we’ll send you our Franchise Disclosure Document for you to look over. Before you sign anything, we’re happy to answer any questions you (and your lawyer!) have until you are completely satisfied. We’d also like to meet with you face to face. That’s why we invite our potential franchisees to Discovery Day at our headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska. Another Tip: Consider hiring a lawyer that specializes in franchises. They’re out there.
Get to know your banker. According to the Wall Street Journal, “…most bank loans to new franchisees occur when a borrower has established relationships with a banker…” They also prefer businesses with brand names and long track records, so your choice of a franchise system can help or hurt you. Scooter’s Coffee has been around since 1998. We’ve been franchising since 2001. We try to make it as simple as possible: Our franchisees must believe in our brands and our concepts.
Hire an accountant. Having an accountant on your franchise team is something to consider. Besides helping you put together your financing, an experienced accountant could be an invaluable help come tax time. A good accountant should be a trusted advisor and someone you can call at any time with questions. Another Tip: The best way to find a good accountant, according to Entrepreneur, is to get a referral from your attorney or banker. You can also check in with your state’s professional organization or society of certified public accountants.
Locate a Real Estate Broker. Scooter’s Coffee knows that site selection is key. That’s why we’ll happily assist you and your real estate broker with site selection and lease negotiation. We’ll make sure all the site requirements are there; you and your broker will have the inside track on promising locations. Things to look out for: You’ll want to pay particular attention to traffic patterns and find out about any future developments planned for the area.
Get to know other franchisees. Talking to people who’ve “been there and done that” is priceless. You’ll gain advice that doesn’t cost you anything. Scooter’s Coffee has a built-in network so you can learn from and share with other franchisees. We encourage you to talk with other franchise operators and find out more about their experiences.
And don’t underestimate the power of a conversation with the corporate team too! Franchisees always have access to the Franchise Support Team for ongoing training, questions, and advice. We have annual and quarterly franchise meetings to give franchisees and their management teams the opportunity to learn about new programs, sample products, receive training and share information. Another Tip: Consider joining a professional franchising organization, your chamber of commerce or other local business organization.
It all begins with you. The first step is always yours to make. If you’ve never been to Scooter’s Coffee before, pay us a visit! Sample our delicious, hot, shade-grown coffee or grab a refreshing Iced Latte. When you’re ready, visit us at www.ownascooters.com and we’ll get to brewing up your success!
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