Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

Are you a franchise player?

As baby boomers retire, franchising opportunities open up.

Todd and Lisa Orenstein work long hours at their Jersey Mike’s sub shop in Huntington Beach. But to the young couple, the hard work will pay off after their first year.

It’s not just about the money,” said Todd. “We both hated our jobs, and then Lisa lost her job. We had some savings from her grandmother, but we didn’t want to spend it just trying to live. That’s when we started looking for franchise opportunities, before we lost our nest egg.”

From Jersey Mike’s to Cold Stone Ice Cream to 7-Eleven, buying into a franchise takes hard work, some cash, and some patience.

“We owned a 7-Eleven for a few years in a less desirable neighborhood,” said Jackie Winston of Spring Valley. “We split the profits with corporate and after years of hard work we barely made even. You have to put up with employee theft as well as customer theft as well as all the other headaches that go with a store open 24 hours. It’s not easy.”

Sponsored
Sponsored

Winston said she sold her store and the new owner — who doesn’t have small children like she does — is faring better than she and her husband.

“I think a young couple without a family or a couple with a lot of family members that they can hire and they trust will do well as franchisees,” she said. “It’s good for some people, but go in with your eyes open.”

Going in also will take your checkbook. In 2012, the total initial investment necessary to begin operations of a Jersey Mike’s franchised restaurant ranged from $243,337 to $492,732, according to their website.

Subway, one of the more popular franchises has start-up costs listed at a cool $150,000

If that’s a little too much bread, an H & R Block franchise will run you about $31,000 and up, depending on the neighborhood and previous sales.

Of course most of these franchises deal with the public and employees. If you are not a people person, you should probably stay in your cubicle.

Franchise Resales, a resource for franchise information and sales, said in a press release that “changes in America’s economy and demographics have created a “perfect storm” of conditions for buying a franchise. Members of the baby boomer generation own more than 100,000 franchise businesses. As these individuals age and begin to make the transition into retirement, they are putting their businesses on the market for potential buyers. The increased availability of startup funds and confidence in an improving economy have also contributed to the creation of an ideal franchise market.”

Most franchisees don’t make millions- unless they own 10 or 20 stores. And average gross profit split with 7-Eleven is 48-52, with the franchisee earning the 48%. Chik-fil-A splits the profits 50/50 with their franchisees.

Before you get your hands dirty with ice cream, mayo, or cherry Slurpee, download the Small Business Association’s hand guide on becoming a franchisee. There can be some hidden costs in the long contract. Often, franchisees don’t realize that the company has more control than they do over their day-to-day operations.

“When it came down to it they told us what to do and when to do it,” Winston said. “I felt more like an employee than an owner,” said Winston.

But the Orenstein’s are happy with the name recognition and the banners and ads taken out by their corporate company and say that they couldn’t do as well if they opened their own sandwich shop. “They have our back and we sell a great product,” Todd said. “Is everything perfect? Absolutely not, but I went into this with my eyes wide open. I’m here to work hard and make money for my family while I enjoy the process. As my dad always said, ‘It’s called work for a reason.’”

The latest copy of the Reader

Please enjoy this clickable Reader flipbook. Linked text and ads are flash-highlighted in blue for your convenience. To enhance your viewing, please open full screen mode by clicking the icon on the far right of the black flipbook toolbar.

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

San Diego Dim Sum Tour, Warwick’s Holiday Open House

Events November 24-November 27, 2024

Todd and Lisa Orenstein work long hours at their Jersey Mike’s sub shop in Huntington Beach. But to the young couple, the hard work will pay off after their first year.

It’s not just about the money,” said Todd. “We both hated our jobs, and then Lisa lost her job. We had some savings from her grandmother, but we didn’t want to spend it just trying to live. That’s when we started looking for franchise opportunities, before we lost our nest egg.”

From Jersey Mike’s to Cold Stone Ice Cream to 7-Eleven, buying into a franchise takes hard work, some cash, and some patience.

“We owned a 7-Eleven for a few years in a less desirable neighborhood,” said Jackie Winston of Spring Valley. “We split the profits with corporate and after years of hard work we barely made even. You have to put up with employee theft as well as customer theft as well as all the other headaches that go with a store open 24 hours. It’s not easy.”

Sponsored
Sponsored

Winston said she sold her store and the new owner — who doesn’t have small children like she does — is faring better than she and her husband.

“I think a young couple without a family or a couple with a lot of family members that they can hire and they trust will do well as franchisees,” she said. “It’s good for some people, but go in with your eyes open.”

Going in also will take your checkbook. In 2012, the total initial investment necessary to begin operations of a Jersey Mike’s franchised restaurant ranged from $243,337 to $492,732, according to their website.

Subway, one of the more popular franchises has start-up costs listed at a cool $150,000

If that’s a little too much bread, an H & R Block franchise will run you about $31,000 and up, depending on the neighborhood and previous sales.

Of course most of these franchises deal with the public and employees. If you are not a people person, you should probably stay in your cubicle.

Franchise Resales, a resource for franchise information and sales, said in a press release that “changes in America’s economy and demographics have created a “perfect storm” of conditions for buying a franchise. Members of the baby boomer generation own more than 100,000 franchise businesses. As these individuals age and begin to make the transition into retirement, they are putting their businesses on the market for potential buyers. The increased availability of startup funds and confidence in an improving economy have also contributed to the creation of an ideal franchise market.”

Most franchisees don’t make millions- unless they own 10 or 20 stores. And average gross profit split with 7-Eleven is 48-52, with the franchisee earning the 48%. Chik-fil-A splits the profits 50/50 with their franchisees.

Before you get your hands dirty with ice cream, mayo, or cherry Slurpee, download the Small Business Association’s hand guide on becoming a franchisee. There can be some hidden costs in the long contract. Often, franchisees don’t realize that the company has more control than they do over their day-to-day operations.

“When it came down to it they told us what to do and when to do it,” Winston said. “I felt more like an employee than an owner,” said Winston.

But the Orenstein’s are happy with the name recognition and the banners and ads taken out by their corporate company and say that they couldn’t do as well if they opened their own sandwich shop. “They have our back and we sell a great product,” Todd said. “Is everything perfect? Absolutely not, but I went into this with my eyes wide open. I’m here to work hard and make money for my family while I enjoy the process. As my dad always said, ‘It’s called work for a reason.’”

Comments
Sponsored

The latest copy of the Reader

Please enjoy this clickable Reader flipbook. Linked text and ads are flash-highlighted in blue for your convenience. To enhance your viewing, please open full screen mode by clicking the icon on the far right of the black flipbook toolbar.

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Second largest yellowfin tuna caught by rod and reel

Excel does it again
Next Article

San Diego Dim Sum Tour, Warwick’s Holiday Open House

Events November 24-November 27, 2024
Comments
Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

This Week’s Reader This Week’s Reader