In This Week’s Newsletter:

• 🔫 Rifle vs. Shotgun - What’s the Deal with Properly Exploring Franchises?

• 🍦 Breakdown of the Alsies (Ice Cream Truck) Franchise Opportunity

• 🗞️ 3 Top Franchise Industry Headlines

What’s the Deal…

_{With Exploring Franchise Options…The Right Way???}

I met with a client earlier this week who asked me to show him additional franchise options.

He was somewhat interested in a handful of the initial batch of franchises I presented to him. These were options I presented because they matched his financial & lifestyle goals, budget & financial qualifications, management style, preferences, and so on.

My client had an initial meeting with each franchise he chose to speak with, then we met up over Zoom to debrief, strategize, and prep for next steps.

But, not surprisingly, after only 1 30-60 minute intro meeting with each brand…he was not head over heel in love with any of the brands he spoke with.

Guys. That’s. Normal.

How could he know if any of those options are ultimately going to be “the one?” He hadn’t learned anything yet! He hadn’t really given the franchises a fair shake.

He hadn’t talked to franchisees yet, he hadn’t learned the in’s and out’s of the support they provide, he hadn’t met the leadership team, he hadn’t conducted competitive analysis in his market. None of that had happened yet.

I totally understand why he wanted me to present some additional options. I get it. Nobody wants to go down the path of vetting franchises and buy the wrong brand...or buy a brand they feel good about only to find something they feel is even better.

Still, I recommended that we stay the course. I recommended that we go deeper with the brands already in process before removing any chips from the table.

If after that, interest level wasn’t growing and we couldn’t narrow down to a brand he was getting increasingly excited about, I told him that we could absolutely look at a new batch of options.

Yet I explained why it’s better to take a Rifle instead of a Shotgun approach to exploring options.

Here’s why…

Why a Rifle Approach Beats a Shotgun Approach

The natural urge that plagues many aspiring franchisees is the urge to take a shotgun approach—firing in all directions, looking at too many options, and hoping something sticks.

But it’s impossible to thoroughly vet 20+ opportunities. Paralysis by analysis will ensue. Frustration and overwhelm will set in. The process will likely be abandoned. Nothing changes. Goals are left unachieved.

Instead, a rifle approach—a focused and methodical strategy—allows a franchise buyer to do the proper homework.

Here’s why it’s better to go deep with your top 3-4 targeted brands your franchise advisor recommends (based on your criteria) instead of trying to go “wide” with 20+ opportunities that you ultimately stay surface-level with and learn very little about…

1. By narrowing your focus, you can conduct more thorough research on a select few franchises. You’ll have the bandwidth to analyze financial performance, talk to existing franchisees, and assess franchise disclosure documents without feeling overwhelmed.

2. It takes time to vet opportunities. Between meeting with the franchise director 1-2 times per week for an hour, talking to franchise owners, reading over FDD’s, and more…the process takes TIME.

3. Adding multiple brands into the mix can be a lot. By focusing on the top 2-3 opportunities, you’ll be able to do your homework. Franchisors appreciate serious candidates who show up prepared to meetings and who have done their homework.

Show focus instead of casting a wide net. Reduce decision fatigue. Minimize overwhelm.

Final Thought: Ready. Aim. Fire.

Go Deep, Not Wide. Exploring franchises isn’t about seeing what’s out there and hoping for the best—it’s about identifying the right fit based on careful consideration. Taking a rifle approach ensures you invest in a franchise that truly aligns with your vision, rather than settling for something that just happens to be available.

If you’re ready to take a focused and strategic approach to franchise ownership, I can help guide you through the process. Let’s find the right opportunity—together.

Be a Rifle…not a Shotgun.

-Christian Dadulak, Franchise Advisor

Franchise Deal of the Week

Alsies

Brand Story: 

Alsies is essentially the Uber of Ice Cream.

They’re a mobile, technology-enabled franchise which has reimagined the ice cream truck industry, offering customers that same nostalgic experience, with an unparalleled user experience by offering a mobile app for:

• real-time tracking and route information

• on-demand visits

• notifications when a truck is nearby

Alsies’ mission is to bring a smile to people’s faces and make each day a little brighter, sweeter and happier – one special treat at a time.

Alsies is a premium experience with delicious products - gourmet ice cream sandwiches, nostalgic classics and characters, as well as a customizable offering of popsicles tailored to each local market.

Alsies offers a turn-key solution for franchises to build a successful business with an inviting and recognizable ice cream truck, a proprietary technology system to manage all aspects of the business (routes, events, bookings, marketing, staff), a mobile app for customers, a LED screen menu board and access to robust marketing and operations support.

In addition, Alsies has developed a proprietary marketing tool to allow customers to sign up for alerts and send automated text messages when an Alsies truck will be in their neighborhood.

Alsies’ business model was created to maximize the returns on investment with an industry low initial investment, little to zero additional labor overhead, almost no fixed costs, and a scalable, high margin business.

It also offers the unique opportunity for franchisees to blend a flexible work schedule, all while being a cherished part of the community and spreading happiness everywhere they go.

By the Numbers:

Minimum Financial Requirements…

(You need to meet these requirements at a minimum to be considered for this franchise)

Net Worth - $150,000

Liquidity - $50,000

Item 7 - Estimated Initial Investment Range

This range typically contains everything to get the business up and running, including the franchise fee and 3 months of working capital

Single-Territory Investment Range: $84,004 - $173,500

Three-Territory Investment Range: $178,912 - $406,800

Approximate Down Payment w/ SBA Loan: $16,800 - $34,700 (assuming 20% down - HOWEVER, most SBA lenders are looking for a minimum loan size of at least $100,000 AND most franchises require the entire franchise fee to be paid at the time of signing the franchise agreement)

Fees:

• Royalty: 6% Gross Revenue

• Brand Fund: 1% Gross Revenue

• Franchise Fee: $47,000

Total Locations Open: 

Number of Franchisees: 0 (with many territories awarded around the country - most are in the process of going through training, getting set up, etc.)

Real Estate Requirements: None - 100% mobile-based franchise

Employees Needed to Start:

• 1 Ambassador (Driver)

Territory: 100,000+ People

Final Thoughts:

Alsies is an emerging brand that is fresh off the presses, so this is a brand for franchise buyers that are comfortable with an emerging brand.

The benefits of being so new is that territory availability is wide open - you have the first pick of prime territories all around the country.

And even though this is a new franchise, it’s incredibly simple. It’s difficult to mess up selling pre-packaged ice cream at events and along pre-planned driving routes. No scooping or building complex sundaes required. No brick-and-mortar required.

This brand also has a great answer to the question “What am I getting in exchange for my franchise fee & royalties?”

The answer: technology. Alsies invested a TON of money into their proprietary app. The technology alone is worth the franchise fee.

This model requires a tremdendously lower amount of capital than most franchises, especially brick-and-mortar franchises. Want to grow? Add a track, get another driver, expand into new territories. No need to go build out a new location like you would need to in order to scale a fast food franchise.

Alsies isn’t for everyone, but for those that are looking for a low-investment, low overhead, simple, technologically-forward, highly scalable franchise model with a tremendous founder & leadership team…Alsies might be the right fit.

Recent Franchise Headlines

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Reply to this newsletter or schedule a meeting with me via the link below…all at no cost to you, ever. All of my help is 100% complimentary - I get paid a referral fee by the franchises if you buy into their brand.