Choose your own adventure

If you like …

Hey, most of have interests outside of the green industry. It’s OK to admit it. We won’t hold it against you. So why not try and make some money off those interests?

We gave Paul R. Segreto, president & CEO, Franchise Foundry, a list of hobbies, and he gave us franchises you might want to investigate.

“My advice is not to always look at the obvious as the connection between what you like or enjoy, and what you’d like to do in a business,” Segreto says. “Often, it’s what the business provides to specific target audiences that may be more in line with what you love or what you’re passionate about. Think outside the box to explore those opportunities.”

Sports or Hunting
You should look into franchise opportunities of either a competitive nature or whose environment takes you outdoors. Sports-type franchises are truly the best of both worlds. Since the spirit of competition can remind you of your younger days, consider a youth sports franchise. I9 Sports is one franchise opportunity that immediately comes to mind. It offers sports leagues, camps, clinics and after-school programs. Activities include flag football, soccer, basketball, t-ball, cheerleading and more.

Cars
Even parked, a sparkling Ferrari just looks fast. If you’re a gearhead at heart, look at franchise opportunities focused on car appearance. Franchises like Ziebart and AltaMere immediately come to mind.

Ziebart has been around a long time but its service has evolved. No longer just a rust protection service, the company offers professional detailing, paint protection, underbody sound barrier, sprayed-on bed liners, automotive glass repair, architectural film, window tint, truck accessories, electronics, and scratch and scuff repair services. 

Alta Mere is an auto window tinting and high-tech accessories franchise. Its typical customer loves his car and wants it to look and sound great.

Exercise
You should focus on one of the many fitness franchises popping on the scene including Snap Fitness or Anytime Fitness.

But there are many other less obvious choices focused on specific demographic groups. That is where an individual who likes fitness should direct their attention to specific target audiences they would be inclined to work with, including fitness franchises focused on women (Lucille Roberts and Curves), children (Gymboree and The Little Gym) and moms (Fit4Mom), or specific training such as kickboxing (CKO Kickboxing) or boxing (Title Boxing).

A statement in Kiplingers on this franchise segment puts the growing trend in perspective, “America’s health and fitness kick – partially a response to mounting concerns about obesity, bad eating habits, and high health care costs – is fueling solid growth opportunities for franchises that focus on healthy living and well-being.”

Food
There are many franchise opportunities to explore. But it's the unique concepts that I would recommend focusing on. Many have been developed with focus on health, ethnic fare, convenience and of course, let's not forget food trucks. Americans are passionate about the food they eat and more so when there's an experience to go along with it. A few franchises that come to mind are Garbanzo Mediterranean Grill, Sub-Zero Ice Cream and Sweeto Burrito. The QSR (Quick Service Restaurant) space is ripe with new, unique opportunities. If you're interested in getting in on the ground floor and possibly being affiliated with the next Five Guys Burgers, then I highly recommend a QSR franchise for your future.

Technology
You should avoid what might be a fad or with something that might be outgrown rather quickly. Think eBay-related franchises. And, also think about the changing world of print franchises.

Instead, I’d suggest focusing on franchises where technology is part of the offering services. One that clearly comes to mind is PostNet as this brand has evolved with the times and utilizes technology to assist small businesses.