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Getting Started
Step by step guide
Step 1 - Contact Us
There is no time like the present. Simply click on the contact tab, fill out the simple form and submit it. You have nothing to lose and maybe everything to gain. Your contact information is kept confidential and is not sold by Pepin Valley Consulting to anyone.
Step 2 - Questionaire
One of our consultants will contact you to setup a time to discuss your goals and needs. This will take between a half hour and 45 minutes and can be accomplished over the phone. This questionnaire is key in understanding your particular goals and needs and will allow us to find the best opportunities for you.
Step 3 - We Research
We take the information you provided, research available franchises and match them with your goals and needs. There are hundreds of franchises and our goal is to identify the best 2-3 franchises that match your requirements.
Step 4 - Recommendations
We present to you the recommendations we have identified in our research. If any of the recommendations are of interest to you we will arrange an introduction directly to a qualified representative of the franchise. (We don't take you through the "front doors"; we take you "upstairs.") If none of the recommendations are of interest we will clarify your goals and needs we identified in step 2 and redo steps 3 and 4.
Step 5 - Introduction to Franchiser
For each of the recommendations that you have an interest in, we will introduce you directly to a qualified representative of the franchise. This begins a give and take process in which you will learn about them and they will learn about you. Most likely they will send you a questionnaire to be filled out. They will also send you the Uniform Franchise Offering Circular (UFOC), which is a disclosure document for their franchise.
Step 1 - You Research
At this point you will continue to research the company. If you haven't already, you will be encouraged to visit their Website, to visit a store location. You may be invited to a teleconference or sent DVD's about the company, etc. Each company is different about the way they chose to market their company. One more important thing you will be given is a list of franchises to call. Obviously this list will contain successful franchises with good things to say about the franchise but the reason to call them is to find out how they became successful. Then you can determine if you can do the same things that they did to be successful.
Step 7 - Review of Information
It is important to understand that as you are reviewing information they gave you to determine if you want to become a member of their franchise, the franchiser is reviewing information you gave them to determine if they want to award you with a franchise. This is a two way street in which both of you will have to determine if you want to join together. During this process Pepin Valley Consulting will remain in touch with both parties to assist in making sure the process goes smoothly or to begin the process over again if it is decided the opportunity is not right by either party.
Step 8 - Consultation with an Attorney and Accountant
We strongly recommend that you consult with an attorney and accountant before making a decision. You will want to make sure they are familiar with the UFOC and state rules and regulations pertaining to franchises.
Step 9 - Discovery Day
Most franchises have a Discovery Day. This is a date in which they will invite you to their home office. You will get additional information about the franchise and get a chance to meet the staff that will provide you with your initial training and continued support down the road.
Step 10 - Decision Time
If you've made it to this point the franchise is willing to award you a franchise. By now you have enough information to make a reasonable and informed decision on if buying this franchise is the right choice for you. Every eight minutes of every business day a new franchise is opened, hopefully it's your turn now.