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2009 Free Seminars

These FREE educational seminars will help you make the right decisions during your franchise research. Free seminars are approximately 1 hour.
For easy guidance, each description is related to a specific category. The legend below will help you understand the meaning of the symbols listed with each seminar description.
Buying a Franchise Currently Franchising
Franchising Your Business Three Party Franchising
Franquiciando para el Mercado Hispanoamericano (Franchising for the Hispanic Market)

Symposium 4: 5 Habits of the Highly Successful Franchisor (separate fee required)
10:00 AM - 1:30 PM
Presented by: Brian Schnell, Partner, Faegre and Benson , Kevin Hein, Partner, Faegre and Benson Heather Carson Perkins, Partner, Faegre and Benson and Danell Olson, Associate, Faegre and Benson

 Most franchisors have implemented a number of best practices that make them successful. But what habits make a franchisor HIGHLY successful. Undying devotion to the brand, knowing and balancing the interests of the franchisor, franchisee and franchise system as a whole, and empowering franchisees are just a few highlights that will help a franchisor take their system to the next level. In today’s economy, most franchisors do not have hundreds of thousands of dollars to invest in new strategies or initiatives. This dynamic session will identify best practices that franchisors can apply – without significant financial investment – to achieve a powerful impact in the near future and over the long haul. Click here for more details.
How to Evaluate Franchises: Risks and Advantages
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Presented by: Jorge Barragan, President, Franchises & Strategies

Buying a franchise can be a life-changing opportunity. There are many aspects you should consider while making this decision, including: making sure you understand the system from a franchisee perspective, the franchise risk vs. other entrepreneurial opportunities, subjective and objective aspects, key considerations regarding franchisor expertise and how to use the FDD. This seminar will also address the question of how much risk you can manage, what might be the best franchise for you, questions to ask the franchisor and franchisees, as well as an overview of laws and industry regulations.
Franchise Marketing in the 22nd Century
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Presented by: Mark Siebert, CEO, iFranchise Group and David Omholt, Certified Franchise Executive, The Entrepreneur Authority

 Franchise marketing has changed radically over the last decade. The proliferation of brokers and the new dominance of the Internet have redefined the franchise lead generation process. For the new franchisor, this maze can be even more daunting. This seminar will include a discussion of the marketing funnel, how to generate leads through public relations, print advertising, internet advertising (both pay per click and site optimization), direct mail, trade shows, and referrals.
Beyond Single Unit Franchising: Expanding Franchise Systems Through Multiple Unit And Third Party Arrangements
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Presented by: Carl Zwisler, Principal, Gray Plant Mooty and Kevin Moran, Principal, Gray Plant Mooty

 Many franchisors chose to expand their franchise systems through direct, single unit franchise agreements. Although common, this approach may not be best suited for franchisors desiring rapid growth, international development or expansion with more limited resources to sell or service franchises. This seminar focuses on some of the most popular multi-unit expansion models, including multiple unit development arrangements, area developer arrangements and master franchising (also called sub-franchising). We will discuss the basic components of each model, as well as their respective advantages and challenges, and how these may vary depending upon whether an arrangement is for a territory in the United States or abroad. We will also describe best practices for getting the most out of each of the different expansion models.
A New Source for Quality Labor
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Presented by: Gregory Braniff, NISH

This session will introduce you to a national network of Nonprofit Agencies that train and employ people with disabilities. You will learn how to set up a partnership with a Nonprofit Agency to provide your franchise operation with workers that are trained to your requirements and motivated to be successful. This is a simple way to significantly lower labor costs associated with high employee turnover rates. It is predicted that there will be a shortage of 10 million workers in the United States by 2012; take action now to be an employer of choice for an available and reliable workforce.
10 Things No One Tells You When You're Shopping for a Franchise
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Moderated by: Julie Bennett, Author, The Franchise Times Guide to Selecting, Buying & Owning a Franchise
Panelists: Eric Stites, President, Franchise Business Review, and Richard L. Rosen, Rosen Law PLLC

 This lively panel will disclose why you have the upper hand in the franchise search process and reveal what really happens when you contact a franchise company. They will also provide tips for dealing with salespeople and brokers and how franchise contracts may be changed in your favor. A current franchisee will talk about lessons learned during their own franchise search.
Role of the Operations Manuals
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Presented by: Dan Levy, Senior Consultant, Operations, iFranchise Group

The Operations Manual plays many roles in the franchise program. From being the textbook for franchise training and a reference tool for the franchisee, to being an extension of the legal documents and a franchise sales tool, the manual has a big role in preserving the franchisor’s brand standards and ensuring franchisees have the information they need to operate the business successfully.
Revitalizing Your Franchise System: Proactive Use of the Franchise Resale Process to Improve the Health of Your System
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Presented by: Gaylen Knack, Principal, Gray Plant Mooty and Max Schott, II, Principal, Gray Plant Mooty

 This session will explore tactics successful franchisors employ to maintain a vibrant franchisee community through use of a proactive franchise resale program. The speakers will address the importance of succession planning with franchisees, and using the franchise resale process to confront financially troubled and operationally challenged franchisees. The speakers will also provide insights as to the development and staffing of an internal franchise resale program, and the communication of this program and its guidelines to the franchise system. Finally, the speakers will provide best practices in implementing a franchise resale program, covering topics ranging from pricing and disclosure, to risk management and dealing with false information and other franchisee mischief in the resale process.
Symposium 3: The Use of Technology in Franchising (separate fee required)
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Presented by: Lee Plave, Partner, Plave Koch PLC and Theresa Huszka, CFE, Director of Franchise Sales Development, TSS Photography

 This Symposium will explore the way in which prospective and currently franchising companies can harness developments in electronic, telecommunications and internet technologies to enhance their business and franchise relationships. Click here for more details.
Choosing the Right Franchise
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Presented by: Marc A. Kiekenapp, Senior Partner, Kiekenapp & Associates

Much is said about finding a business that involves what you love and enjoy and success will follow. Is falling in love with a business important for business success or is this a false expectation that keeps people from achieving their goals through business ownership? This seminar is about taking a completely different approach to finding a business. Instead of finding a business to fall in love with, we will discuss a proven strategy to help you find a business that you can manage, market and promote. Using this approach to finding a business will allow you access to more of what you love, enjoy and value most.
Cómo estructurar su Franquicia en USA, desde el punto de vista legal
2:45 PM - 3:15 PM
Presented by: Julian F. Montero, Esq., Partner, Roth Rousso & Katsman, LLP

Durante esta conferencia, el Dr. Julian Montero, le explicará detalladamente las distintas formas legales y operacionales a utilizar, una vez que Ud. haya elegido una franquisia. Le ayudará a decidir qué tipo de entidad legal es la más apropiada para operar su franquisia. Explicará las diferencias entre las Corporaciones tipo “C” y Corporaciones tipo “S” y la Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada , tipo LLC. Discutiremos los diferentes conceptos legales de cómo proteger su negocio, también cómo establecer acuerdos entre socios para proteger la entidad legal de su negocio, así como los diferentes tipos de acuerdos operacionales para establecer la funcionabilidad de su empresa. También se discutirán los componentes más importantes del Documento de Ofrecimiento de Operación de una Franquisia.
Best Practices in Franchise Sales for the New Franchisor
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Presented by: Mark Siebert, CEO, iFranchise Group, Inc. and Robert Stidham, President, Franchise Dynamics

 With nearly 3,000 active franchisors and hundreds of franchisors joining the fray every year, new franchisors are facing an increasingly competitive franchise sales marketplace. This seminar will provide insight as to the franchise sales process for the new franchisor. Topics will include lead handling, documentation, legal compliance, qualification, Discovery Days, handling objections as a new franchisor, and closing the sale.
Basic Concepts to Establish a Business in the USA
3:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Presented by: Alan Lips, Partner, Gerson, Preston, Robinson & Company, P.A.

This seminar will address some basic US tax concepts of opening a US business and doing business in the US. Specifically, it will address US business and personal tax filing requirements and US tax residency.
How To Enhance Your Success in Launching or Expanding Internationally
4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Presented by: Brian Schnell, Partner, Faegre & Benson and Jeff Brimer, Special Counsel, Faegre & Benson

 Whether you are considering international expansion for the first time or have an established international presence, this session will focus on five best practices to adopt and five common mistakes to avoid. We will address the business and legal issues attendant to these best practices and common mistakes with a “how-to” approach that will result in a strong likelihood that execution on all ten will make a difference in your international franchise program.
Factores Claves en la Seleccion de una Franquicia
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Presented by: Jorge Barragan, President, Franchises & Strategies

Este seminario le ayudara a explorar los Factores Claves de Exito en la implantacion de una franquicia: Diferenciacion,Innovacion y Velocidad. La importancia del Valor Agregado en un mercado con segmentos cada vez mas exigentes. Las soluciones unicas/originales dentro de un escenario altamente competido .La anticipacion de tendencias dentro de una dinamica cambiante. El alineamiento Franquiciante/Franquiciado/Consumidor. La ejecucion oportuna y asertiva.
Leyes de Inmigración y de Inversión desde el punto de vista migratorio en los Estados Unidos de America
4:15 PM - 4:45 PM
Presented by: Leonard A. Roth, Esq., Principal Partner, Roth Rousso & Katsman, LLP

Durante esta conferencia, el Dr. Roth, abogado experto en inmigración explicará las leyes de inmigración y las distintas estrategias de inversión en una franquicia desde el punto de vista migratorio en los Estados Unidos. Se discutirán las distintas opciones para personas de negocios con deseos de establecerse en los Estados Unidos y las visas más apropiadas, tales como L-1, visa E-2 y las visas basadas en trabajo, visa H-1B, tanto como el permiso inmigratorio basado en parentesco familiar.
Cómo tener éxito al establecer su Negocio en el Mercado Norteamericano
5:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Presented by: Jesus Antonio Aveledo, Principal Partner, Abogados Aveledo Urdaneta & Asociados

El Dr. Aveledo explicará detalladamente cuáles han sido los errores más comunes cometidos por empresas y empresarios Latinoamericanos en el mercado estadounidense y le enseñará cómo evitarlos al momento de establecer su propio negocio