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Q&A:
Tell us about the business model of the franchise.
At Assisted Living Locators, we offer a community-oriented service that frees you to focus on the best care options, information and resources available to you in finding care for your loved one. Without cost or obligation, and with no contract to sign, you can depend on us to make finding the right community.
Why did you choose this industry?
My grandparents are my why. Over the years, I have been through a lot with them including hospital stays, etc., and I was always given a list of options. My goal in starting my business and choosing this industry was to eliminate the need for the list and offer families a real-life person to help them along the emotional journey.
What was the process of starting your franchise?
Starting a brand-new business from scratch is the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life, but also the most rewarding. I had to start first with funding, which was very difficult but I ended up finding the Nebraska Enterprise Fund, which was an amazing experience! After that, I purchased and attended training in Scottsdale, Arizona. Once I completed training, I hit the ground running!
What challenges have you faced?
Owning a business has a lot of ups and downs and is not for the faint of heart. I have faced many challenges starting at the very beginning when I needed to secure funding. It’s much harder than one might think. It’s also hard to start a business when you are a single woman with no other household income, so I’ve always said and believed that failure was not an option for me because it really wasn’t.
What have been your biggest wins?
The ability to say I’ve helped over 500 families is my biggest win hands down. I also celebrated five years of business in 2023! Also, being honored in the top five franchises in 2022 and consistently in the top 10 in the entire franchise system.
How have you grown?
Being out in the community and meeting everyone possible to share the good news about the service I am able to provide families. My reputation in the community is also very important to me so making sure that I am always doing what I say I will and treating every family and senior just like I would my own family.
What does the future hold?
I am committed to my business and absolutely love what I do! I plan to be in business for many years to come.
Senior living advisor and placement service | Year franchise opened: 2018 | Number of employees: 1
Phone: 402-926-9505 | Website: http://www.assistedlivinglocators.com/omaha | Franchise Fee: $50,000
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What’s Hot in Franchising and Why
People willing to pursue an entrepreneurial life with more freedom and flexibility than working for others often want to know why they should consider franchise ownership. Consultants like me are quick to point out that there are essentially three paths to becoming your own boss. You can “build, buy, or join,” but only franchising provides you with comprehensive training, ongoing support, and a proven business model to follow — basically you’re a roadmap to success. Usually, the next question is, what’s hot in franchising and why?
Obviously, the answer to this subjective question will always be open to interpretation and economic factors, but there are a few sectors worthy of my current recommendation.
One stalwart category of franchises that will always be a safe choice are any business opportunities classified as either recession or inflation resistant. Think haircuts, home repair, water damage restoration, healthcare, or auto repair — concepts that provide services based on needs, not wants. Staffing businesses are also a hot commodity at the moment, where plenty of franchise concepts are thriving as they work to solve labor shortages. Health and wellness franchises are booming as they treat the obesity epidemic in America (now 40% of the population). And lastly — the education and/or youth-enrichment sector — any business addressing children’s physical and cognitive activities. As for non-brand specific trends, look for platform franchise brands — those with multiple industry-related concepts under one umbrella – they have a big advantage in technology, purchasing power, and field support.
As always, outside influences like inflation, unemployment, and especially interest rates are part of the equation. If interest rates drop, lending activity picks up, freeing up capital to finance entrepreneurial ventures. Even though rates have increased in recent years, the SBA’s updated lending guidelines offer more leeway designed to increase the pool of creditworthy candidates.
Blake Martin owns FranNet of the Heartland, an Omaha-based consultancy that provides no-cost, no-obligation franchise consulting for entrepreneurs and those involved in career transitions to help them establish business ownership of their own. Martin helps produce transformative outcomes for candidates who commit to positive change.
For more information, visit
https://frannet.com/franchise-consultant/blake-martin.