Owning a Franchise: A Feasible Option for Graduates

Cheap initial investments and low-risk industries make franchises a realistic dream

Via University of Salford, flickr

By: Magdalene Arthur

We’re getting older. Yes, people around us have been trying to convince us that, although we’re edging closer to 30, we still have all the time in the world to figure things out. Fact: we can never get back lost time. However, let us not dwell on our ever-blossoming age or the grey that is slowly but surely taking over our scalps. Let us instead harness our energy into the decisions that will determine whether or not we’ll be able to retire in style. Have you ever considered owning a franchise?

I recently started working for a magazine that focuses on Canadian and Quebecois franchises (yay me!).  Much to my dismay, their readership is mostly composed of middle-aged men. What happened to the youngins (and women)? Starting a business from the ground up can be quite daunting for most, especially recent graduates who do not necessarily have a huge capital to work with. Purchasing a franchise could be a very feasible option that comes with a team of experts ensuring the success of your venture.

In your franchise selection process, it is essential to think like a student since students generally lead busy lives, similar to professionals, and since we were or still are in that position, we can easily draw from that experience. Here are a few franchise options that may be interesting if we are to think along those lines.

During those hard, busy, coffee-drenched times, you needed to:

– Take care of your pet (if you had one)

[pullquote]In your franchise selection process, it is essential to think like a student since students generally lead busy lives, similar to professionals[/pullquote]

Aussie Petmobile

Aussie Petmobile is a multi-national company focused on pet services. Founded in Australiain 1996, it expanded to the States in 1999, and in 2006, graced Canada with its presence. The great thing about this franchise is that it does not require a real estate investment. Professional groomers drive to the client’s home and groom their furry friend in an environment it is familiar with. The pet industry is low-risk as every one who has a pet (arguably) loves it and wants to keep its hygiene at a healthy level. In fact, this industry is the 7^th largest in North America.

In Canada alone, there are over 8 million cats & dogs. Aussie Petmobile offers a repeat service, requires few employees and is at the head of its industry. The one downside would be the $100,000 initial investment, which, to its credit, does cover the costs of two solar-powered Mercedes Benz vans, outfitted with air conditioning, heat, electricity, water and environmentally-friendly products, and exclusive territory rights. However, if you get an awesome job after graduation, it can be quite an interesting opportunity. There are also pay-as-you-go options.

–Clean your apartment because your landlord promised to throw you out if your didn’t maintain the cleanliness of the premises

Merry Maids

Merry Maids is a housecleaning company started in 1979 in Nebraska. The minimum cash requirement is $25,000. Everyone needs a home, but some people just don’t have the time or don’t make the time to keep things tidy. That’s where Merry Maids comes in.

– Drink more coffee, but coffee shops are quite pricey, so Coffee News will have to do.

Coffee News

Coffee News is a world-wide publication that grants you the opportunity to work from home. It is published weekly and delivered to coffee shops, restaurants and motels. Your job as a franchisee would be to sell ad space to small businesses in your region. Start-up costs are only a few thousand dollars. The actual content, described as light and entertaining, is fully taken care of by the franchisor. Entrepreneur Magazine has listed Coffee news as #1 in Advertising Services. It has been in business since 1988 and offers training and support to all its franchisees.

There are various franchise options out there, and you can definitely find something that fits your interest and budget. You will need to consider the risk factor, along with the average investment required to launch your business. Remember, think like a student!