The Ins and Outs of Franchising

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

4:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Larimer SBDC – Rocky Mountain Innosphere
320 E. Vine Drive
Fort Collins, CO 80524 (Map It!)

Are you considering buying a franchise but do not know where to
begin?  Come hear from our franchise panel from those that have been
there and done that as they share their experience and expertise to
educate you as you explore the amazing world of owning a franchise.

We’ll cover topics such as:

                Why would you choose a franchise instead of building a business from the ground up?
                What are the essential personal and professional qualifications of owning a successful franchise?
                How do you find the ideal franchise?
                What are the costs involved in owning a franchise and can I obtain financing for a franchise?
                What are Franchise Disclosure Documents and Franchise Agreements?
                Can I replace my current income and how long will it take?

Our Panelists

 Jim McWilliams


Jim McWilliams graduated from the University of Nebraska with a Bachelor’s in Business. He worked for Goodyear in various positions for over 19 years. Positions included managing retail stores, Division Sales Training Manager supervising up to 20 retail stores and Franchise Business Manager. Jim owned up to four retail Goodyear Stores in Fort Collins, Loveland and Cheyenne during a 24 year period. He sold the business in October 2007. Also, during this period, Jim owned a Duds and Suds laundry mat franchise and Mail Boxes Etc. franchise.

 Charlie Morris
Charlie Morris has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business.  He
has worked in retail in various positions for the past 48 years. 
Positions included managing retail stores, store design, fixture design and
opening new stores. As VP of Retail Store Operations, he was responsible
for 34 retail stores, which included personnel training,
marketing, inventory purchasing, inventory management and
distribution.   For the past 19 years, he has owned and operated a
retail franchise “Learning Express Toys” in Fort Collins. 
During these 19 years, he also served on the Franchise Advisory Council,
Marketing Advisory Board, conducted cash flow and inventory management seminars
at Learning Express Conventions.  He sold his business in July 2017. In addition, he
has been a member of the Fort Collins Breakfast Rotary Club for the past 14 years, serving a variety of board positions including Community Service, PR and
Membership.

 Thea Moeller

Thea Moeller, owner of Your Franchise Business, is a franchise consultant on a mission to match aspiring entrepreneurs with the best franchise option to exceed their goals.  She works with her clients from day one of dreaming to the actualization of their own business; providing research, education, resources, and support along the way.  Thea graduated from Cornell College, with bachelor’s degrees in Business & Economics, and Wellness.  After graduation, she spent over 10 years developing her knowledge in sales as a representative, specialist, trainer, and manager for large corporations.  Grateful for the experience, but dissatisfied with the growth limitations and having no work-life balance, she opened Your Franchise Business to help others seamlessly transition from employee to employer. 

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