Awning Cleaning Business Case Study: Entrepreneurship 101 > NetSparsh

Home
>
Small Business
>
Awning Cleaning Business Case Study: Entrepreneurship 101

Awning Cleaning Business Case Study: Entrepreneurship 101

It is most fascinating to study how entrepreneurs spot opportunity in the market place. "My name is Lance Winslow and I am a serial entrepreneur, I admit I am addicted and need help." ..."Hello Lance." Let me explain how I formed one of my companies which became a franchise system in itself and became a module under the umbrella company I had formed many years the prior. I at first saw it as another business to fit into our growing niche of cleaning businesses. It was to be called the Awning Wash Guys. This is an interesting case study in how businesses form and how companies seek, find and exploit opportunity in the market place. Here is the story:

Many years back I got a call last from my franchisees in Denver, who had been doing very good after signing up all the John Elway Car Dealerships for car washing. My franchisee was a Car Wash Guys Franchisee specializing in car washing for car dealers at the time:

http://www.carwashguys.com/dealershipdiv.shtml

He told me that Auto Nation bought out the 46 Dealership Chain in the Denver Area and they continued our services and have actually added tons of new dealerships in other franchise areas for us to wash. Every car gets washed 2 Xs per week at $1.25-1.50 each. Some of these dealerships have almost 1000 cars on the lots. Needless to say with this big account this franchisee became our quickest success story that year.

Then they were approached by Brian Stillmock, who just happened to be one of two of the leading awning washing companies and experts in that field. As luck would have it, he wanted to sell his business. But he loved his company and would only sell it to a professional out fit, because his customers had a ten + year following. Our Denver franchisees had the $90,000.00 to buy the business due to great sales, and the fact that I also hired them at $2,000.00 per new franchise to train the new team members. They asked if they could buy the Awning Wash Guys Business, I said yes but I wanted to see the books, and warned them about cash flow in a only billed customers type business.

Most franchise agreements have clauses, which are quite specific as to what types of businesses franchisees are allowed to participate in. We sat down and made a plan and cash flow strategy, and I knew if things didn't work out I would have to financially bail them out otherwise they might also go out of business due to cash flow with their Car Wash Guys franchise. Brian the seller agreed to stay on board with me as a co-founder. His books were immaculate and scary. Never seen such well-documented books; great business and incredible revenues almost $160-200 per hour; gross.

So we built a web site and offered it as a co-brand to new and existing franchisees of car wash guys, with the understanding that it was a totally separate business and they would need to pay Brian for proper training and buy his patented equipment. Before that Brian was a BIZ OP and sold about 24 units and did not understand franchising. I did, having just co-authored Franchising 101 and joined the Board of Directors for the AAFD-American Association of franchisees and Dealers. We decided that once we formed the WashGuy.com franchise all 24 Biz Ops including an operator and manufacturer of awnings in Canada would join our network and we would agree to never sell those territories as long as those prior Biz Op buyers were in businesses that had previously bought from Brian. Brian also had manufacturers who he networked with doing 50+ million in sales per year, who referred jobs to him and some of his BiZ Ops people. So what the heck. We join forces and go after a totally untapped market.

It worked.

I regret that that business is a higher generator per hour than washing and detailing cars in an industry, which is dominated by 1000s of independents and price competitive. A little bit of an ego breaker it was for me, but the numbers did not lie, and if a door is open that wide I will damn well run through it; especially with Brian's network of manufacturers, repairers and our team to back us up 110%. We knew if this thing grew too big too quick that Brian and I could split our time and hire another Biz Op out of Florida called Awning Rejuvenation Systems to help with training, marketing and product distribution. Brian holds 4 patents on Awning Cleaning devises and I know franchising very well. And our first prototype was our Denver franchisees that were sticklers for quality and consistency.

Brian also had several tri-state contracts he had been unable to service, TGIF and Block Buster Video that would be in regions we could service without other franchisees until things were finalized as far as a franchise was concerned. This site contains mega data about what we do. Instantly we became the best assembled awning wash team on the Planet. This one was obvious and simply fell right in my lap and it took me less than three hours to decide to go for it. We did and it works. I would like to have 1 franchisee in every one of the 240 DMAs in the next ten years. The day we started we were the number one Awning Washing Franchise in the World; albeit the only one. I like that scenario, as an entrepreneur it has a nice ring to it indeed; I can certainly use that.

If I enter an Industry, I want to be the leader in 18-36 months. If I can't I will collect all the data I can, read everything I can find and hire franchisees to do data searching. I read 160 magazines in every industry and collect articles and categorize them so when I am ready I will attack with the power of knowledge, this is what we did here. Richard Branson has 150 Brands, so 22 is a good start for a 35 year old who wanted to wash everything in the world and clean this place up. While Branson is flying around the World in a Hot Air Balloon, we are kind of had the fancy of washing the World below to better his view of things

This gives you a real live example of how co-brands are formed and how markets are won. It gives an entrepreneur a little insight as to how the real world works. Often enough if you listen to the college business professors, government brain dead regulators and lawyers giving you advice you would swear that building a business is something totally different indeed. As an entrepreneur you need to change the way you think and attack markets and how you seek, find and exploit markets. I hope this little story will help you see that point. Good Luck and continued success, think on it.

"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs

In The News:

Export Opportunities For Small Businesses And Help For Getting Started ForbesExporting is one of the best ways to grow any business—small, medium, or large. Fortunately, there are plenty of resources available for the wannabe exporter.

Workshop aids small business owners Santa Cruz SentinelSANTA CRUZ — Small businesses are one of many things that bring life to Santa Cruz County. Full of entrepreneurs, artists and other creative ventures, small ...

2019 Small Business Outlook Survey Shows High Optimism Business WireQuickBridge survey shows small business owners are confident about their future growth prospects.

What is Cash Flow and Why is it Important for Small Business? Small Business TrendsSmall Business Trends contacted several experts to get an answer to, "What is cash flow?" and why it's so important to your success.

New ThinkPad L390 Series Laptops Designed for Small Business Users Small Business TrendsThe New Lenovo ThinkPad L390 Series are now more affordable for small businesses. Here's what they offer for an affordable price.

From beer to planes, small businesses feel shutdown pain. Here's how to get some financial wiggle room CNBCMany non-government-related small businesses are feeling the effects of the federal shutdown, as the processing of necessary paperwork comes to a halt.

Small Businesses’ $2 Billion Problem: Government Shutdown Leaves Loans in Limbo Wall Street JournalThe Small Business Administration has stopped approving routine small-business loans, forcing some entrepreneurs to consider costlier sources of cash.

Five small business trends for 2019 IOLGiven the state of the economy and the rapid change in the business environment, 2018 was a tough year for many SMEs.

Intuit QuickBooks and GIPHY Team Up to Celebrate the Small Business Community in “BACKING YOU” Campaign Business WireIntuit QuickBooks unveils first GIF collection specifically designed for small business owners and independent workers, featuring Danny DeVito.

Boostpoint Launches Open Beta Stage Digital Ad Solution for Small Business PRNewswireLANCASTER, Pa., Jan. 17, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Building a brand name isn't just for big businesses with big budgets. Boostpoint has launched the open beta ...

7 tips to make your small business an Instagram star USA TODAYGet out your pink paint. Or your coral, or yellow or teal. By the time you finish reading this column, you're going to be painting one wall of your small business a ...

Small Business Adds 89K Jobs in December 2018 Small Business TrendsAccording to the December 2018 ADP Small Business report, small business employment numbers skyrocketed with 89K jobs added during the month of ...

Small business outlook for 2019 in the Monadnock Region Monadnock Ledger TranscriptFunding and the lack of population density in rural communities remain as some of the largest challenges for those looking to start small businesses in the ...

Square unveils new debit card for small-business customers MarketWatchSquare Inc. on Thursday announced a new debit card for small-business owners, a move that enables the fintech company to further participate in the ...

GoL, LBDI Sign US$2M Small Business Pro-poor Development Loan Scheme Liberian Daily ObserverThe Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) along with Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) and the ...

Interests of Big and Small Businesses Are Sometimes at Odds Hawaii Business MagazineBig businesses generally have greater infrastructure and management depth that allows them to delegate specific issues (like labor law, contracts and taxes) to ...

Announcing the “New” BizSugar, Here's a Sneak Peak Small Business TrendsWe're excited to announce some big news about our sister site BizSugar.com. There's a brand new BizSugar! Here's what you can expect.

N.S. tax credit to boost startup, small business investment TheChronicleHerald.caNova Scotia has launched a new tax credit aimed at spurring more investment in startup companies and small- and medium-sized businesses. Effective ...

Small Business Social Media Do’s and Don’ts Business 2 CommunityWhen you compare your social media statistics to your competition what are you measuring? Do you consider the accounts with the highest number of people ...

Cañon City in top 10 for Small Business Revolution KOAA 5CAÑON CITY – A Southern Colorado city is in the top 10 for a contest that aims to revitalize small towns across America. The Small Business Revolution ...

Timing, planning key for small-biz tax considerations Cleveland Jewish NewsWhen the new year rolls around, many individuals have their minds on taxes. But for small businesses, tax planning is often a year-round endeavor.

Want To Keep Your Business Small? Paul Jarvis Is Your Man ForbesTell your entrepreneurial friends you want to turn your business into the next Epic Games, Magic Leap or Instacart and you'll get plenty of social reinforcement.

Roundup: Entergy refunds / Small business loans / Offshore tops onshore shale Greater Baton Rouge Business ReportDollars and cents: Entergy customers in Louisiana will receive refunds on their power bills in January, February, and March after the Louisiana Public *Service* ...

Opinion: GOP Efforts to Undermine Obamacare Threaten a Small Business in La Jolla Times of San DiegoInvalidating the Affordable Care Act pushes our healthcare system to the brink and threatens hundreds of thousands of small businesses.

Three online tips for small businesses IOLIn a time when most people make purchasing decisions while browsing their smartphones, business owners cannot afford to not be online.

Alternative funding solution to Brexit finance problems for small businesses http://smallbusiness.co.ukSmall businesses may be feeling the uncertainly of Brexit but financiers are focussed on the sector to survive and grow.

5 Easy Steps to Start a Freelance Business Small Business TrendsStarting out as a freelancer? Here's what you need to budget for right away so you can find success with your freelance startup.

Starting a Small Business in China China Economic ReviewChina is a country with an economy that is growing and developing quickly, and it's viewed as one of the strongest economies in the world, second only to the ...

Small business owner adopts the families of two government workers ABC Action NewsAs federal workers struggle to pay the bills during the ongoing government shutdown, one small business owner in Pinellas County is stepping in to help two ...

New Facebook Small Business Podcast 3.5 Degrees Launches Today Small Business TrendsThe new Three and a Half Degrees podcast launched today by Facebook aims to pass on unique small business learnings that can help other entrepreneurs.

9 Tools for More Effective Content Marketing Campaigns in 2019 Small Business TrendsThese days a digital marketer has to balance social, *content*, email, and other inbound marketing tactics. Here are 9 *content* tools to help.

Conflicting Research Leaves Doubt Over Small Business Confidence pymnts.comNew research presents a conflicting and complex picture of small business optimism as hiring plans, economic outlook and political uncertainty change.

Victorian Small Business Commission launches its first video conference mediation The Border MailVictorian Small Business Commission launched its first video conference mediation.

Turning Pointe Academy receives Small Business of the Year Award Journal & CourierTurning Point Academy was awarded the 2018 Small Business of the Year Award Wednesday night during a ceremony held at Midtowne Oven.

Hermann Wurst Receives Small Business Award — By Hermann Chamber of Commerce The MissourianThe Hermann Area Chamber of Commerce awarded Hermann Wurst Haus the Distinguished Small Business Award Jan. 10 at the Gerald Engemann Memorial ...

WKU TOUTING SMALL BUSINESS ACCELERATOR WCLUWestern Kentucky University in Glasgow is excited to announce their new Student Business Accelerator. Often times, students plan on becoming entrepreneurs ...

Small Business Forum – presented by BizTimes Media BizTimes.com (Milwaukee)In this new event, local and national business owners will speak candidly about growing and building small businesses. A keynote presentation by John ...

Small business revenues fall as govt shutdown persists WTOPSmall companies across the country are losing business because of the shutdown. Federal contractors, especially those who rely on the government for most of ...

Entrepreneurship and Small Business Critical in Diversifying W.Va.'s Economy West Virginia Public BroadcastingJohn Deskins, Director of the West Virginia University Bureau of Business and Economic Research, joins host Suzanne Higgins for a discussion on the state's.

Federal shutdown impacts millions in local small business loans Cincinnati Business CourierAlice Boykin had secured financing through banks and HCDC to buy an Over-the-Rhine building and open up a first-for-Cincinnati Japanese spa with plans to ...

6-billion-peso credit package announced for small business owners Mexico News DailyPresident López Obrador has announced a microfinance program of interest-free, one-year loans for small business owners.

Durant welcomes Small Business Revolution co-host and team KXII-TVDURANT, Okla. (KXII) -- The city of Durant is in the running to be featured in an online show where several small businesses downtown would get a half a million ...

How 2020 Presidential Hopeful Kirsten Gillibrand Has Fought for Small Businesses Inc.Kirsten Gillibrand thinks she can defeat President Donald Trump in 2020. No, it's not too early to skim her résumé for indicators of her understanding of key ...

Cañon City to host rally as part of Small Business Revolution and you're invited (#mycanoncity) Canon City Daily RecordIf you haven't heard what all the buzz is about downtown, you might want to consider binge watching the Small Business Revolution - Main Street series online ...

Description of the Small Business Investment Company Debenture Program - January 2019 JD SupraA Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) is a privately owned and operated company that makes long-term investments in American small businesses and ...

Canadians bring solar power to off-the-grid Africa The Globe and MailA schoolchild reads with the help of a solar-powered light. M-Kopa customers in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda pay for their solar panel units in small increments ...

New Rules for Small Business Government Contractors | McGuireWoods LLP JD SupraOn Dec. 17, 2018, President Trump signed the Small Business Runway Extension Act of 2018 into law. It amends § 3(a)(2)(C)(i)(II) of the Small Business Act “by ...

Tributes to the voice of small business in Mid Devon, Chris Prentis Devon LiveHe pioneered the concept of the garden trampoline, bringing them to the UK with his Supertramp business.

Can Alexa for Business Help Your Small Business? Small Business TrendsThe Amazon Alexa for Business *service* allows employees to streamline and automate work production and carry out certain tasks from home or other locations.

Small business owners work 17 days’ overtime per year HR NewsSmall business owners in the UK work an average of 2366 hours per year in order to make their business a success, compared to 1950 for an average UK.

Alternative Small Business Finance Provider Capify Receives £75 Million Credit Facility From Goldman Sachs Crowdfund InsiderCapify, a UK-based alternative small business financing provider, announced on Thursday it received a £75 million credit facility from Goldman Sachs Private ...

What Congress Giveth to Small Business, the SBA Says Not So Fast JD SupraIn our December 26, 2018 blog post, we addressed the Small Business Recovery Extension Act of 2018, by which Congress extended to five years the lookback ...

Love Or Hate Glitchy Chatbots, There Are Big Benefits For Small Businesses ForbesWhether you're checking out a website or logging into your bank, chatbots are often clamoring for your attention in the corner of your screen, promising help and ...

Small Business Contributes to Massive Christmas Season on Amazon Small Business TrendsThe final 2018 holiday season sales on Amazon was one for the record books. And small and medium businesses contributed to more than 50% of the items ...

The Federal Government Shutdown Is Blocking Almost $200 Million in Small Business Loans Per Day Inc.With each new day of the government shutdown, hundreds of additional small business owners are left without a crucial source of capital.

Starting a small business in UAE? Here are the many costs to consider gulfnews.comSmall business owners run their business out of their understanding and experience. However, certain avoidable wrong practices or an inadequate ...

Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year: SPARK45 ignites passion for health and wellness Coastal View NewsThe Carpinteria Valley Chamber of Commerce will award SPARK45 Small Business of the Year honors at their annual Community Awards Banquet on Jan. 26.

5 Retail Lessons from Holiday 2018 Small Business TrendsThe holiday shopping season is in our rear-view mirror. Get ready for 2019 with these lessons from the 2018 holiday retail trends.

SFA welcomes funding to support small business develop ecommerce platforms Mayo AdvertiserThe SFA welcomes the announcement to support a further 3000 small/micro businesses with funding and training to develop their online capabilities in 2019 ...

Irish Small firms are struggling with recruitment General, news for Ireland, Ireland,StartUps, Business WorldThe Small Firms Association (SFA) today launched a new online platform as part of its National Grow, Scale, Succeed campaign to empower small firms to ...

Sandia Labs ups small business spending in New Mexico Albuquerque Business FirstSpending with small New Mexico firms jumped by nearly $50 million in FY18.

Koleen Hassey: As town prepares for 'Small Business Revolution,' please take down boards Canon City Daily RecordTo the building owner at Fourth and Main streets: With the competition for "the Small Business Revolution" heating up, now is the time to join the community and ...

10 Tips for Learning and Growing as an Entrepreneur Small Business TrendsShares. |. Print This Article. Email this Article. 0. Shares. Email this Article Print This Article. Successful entrepreneurs know the importance of lifelong learning.

Small Business workshop | Local Business The Trinity JournalThe Small Business Development Center will hold a free Financial Management Workshop from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29, at the Shasta College Trinity ...

Small businesses thrive in East Nashville WKRN News 2As East Nashville evolves, some people are being pushed out of the area to make room for the new, but some local businesses remain constant.

Government shutdown leaves breweries, small businesses in limbo Dayton Daily NewsAs the partial shutdown of the federal government enters its 25th day, the closure has created a small backlog of Small Business Administration loans, affecting ...

Main Street weathers government shutdown—for now—but small businesses start to feel pinched CNBCAs the U.S. government shutdown enters its third week, on the verge of becoming the longest in history, Main Street is getting creative to stay afloat.

Amazon's Relationship with Small Business Owners: Is the Platform Beneficial? Atlanta Small Business NetworkIn light of the recent Amazon Growth program, small business owners have to decide if the platform's benefits outweigh the potential costs.

Small business government shutdown cheat sheet Fox BusinessSmall business owners share tips to survive the partial shutdown.

The Top Five Small Business Trends To Monitor In 2019 ForbesAs we welcome 2019, attention is shifting to what's on the horizon for small businesses in the year ahead. The reality is that the nature of work is evolving. During ...

Small-business tax deduction has CPAs scratching their heads Star TribuneNEW YORK — Millions of small business owners will be in uncharted waters this tax season as they try to determine if they qualify for a deduction that could ...

Wix Ascend Launched to Help Small Businesses Grow Their Brand Small Business TrendsWix Ascend helps SMBs directly connect with customers with new tools such as SEO, price quotes, marketing, and live chat with customers.

NJCPA Supports Governor Murphy's Drive to Foster Small-Business Growth But Not Full Minimum Wage Rise InsiderNJNJCPA Supports Governor Murphy's Drive to Foster Small-Business Growth. But Not Full Minimum Wage Rise. Statement by Ralph Albert Thomas, CPA (DC), ...

Small businesses across Ontario have bumped up their minimum wage Daily HiveOntario businesses that offer staff $15 minimum wage, alongside (at least two, often more) paid sick days and fair scheduling are growing in number.

Jacksonville small businesses bearing brunt of government shutdown Jacksonville Business Journal"It reminds me of consulting we had to do in '08 and '09," said Janice Donaldson, regional director of the Florida Small Business Development Center at UNF.

LendIt Fintech Releases New White Paper on Small Business Banking Lend AcademyMuch has been written about the innovations in consumer banking and how fintech has changed the retail banking landscape dramatically in the past decade.

Evernote Promises To Fix A Long List Of Problems...And Other Small Business Tech News This Week ForbesHere are five things in technology that happened this past week and how they affect your business. Did you miss them? 1 — New Evernote CEO vows to spend ...

'Downward spiral': Push for training, apprenticeships rethink The Sydney Morning HeraldSmall businesses are seeking a national blueprint for workplace training and apprenticeships in 2019 amid claims business owners are being forced to do more ...

Research reveals third of Manchester’s small businesses at risk of overpaying tax Business Up NorthA tax-return software provider has revealed that, with just two weeks to go, almost a third (29%) of Manchester's small businesses are still yet to submit their ...

Budget 2019: For These Small Businesses In Gujarat, Loans Take Far Too Long BloombergQuintDelayed loans and late subsidy disbursal make business difficult for small and medium manufacturers in Gujarat.

Working with McConnell: Contracting opportunities at Wichita’s military city Wichita Business JournalRecurring contracts at McConnell Air Force Base represent millions of dollars in potential value for Wichita businesses.

Google Maps deterring outback tourists, say small firms BBC NewsTourism operators in Australia claim inaccuracies in Google Maps are deterring potential visitors, by making remote attractions appear further away than they ...

Small Business Real Estate Platform Truss Raises $15M American InnoChicago startup Truss, a commercial real estate platform that helps small businesses find office space, just raised a new round of funding to grow its technology.

How to Survive a Government Shutdown: A Guide for SMBs Business.comHere's how your small business can survive a protracted government shutdown and overcome the cash flow challenges associated with it.

The Brexit Effect: How Will Small And Medium Sized Businesses Cope? ForbesBrexit for many has been nothing but doom & gloom; thus prevented people from making necessary decisions; i.e. business expansion , buying property etc.

GST burden on small businesses eased The HinduThreshold for businesses in most States doubled to ₹40 lakh; small firms allowed to file annual returns.

Minimum Wage 2019 -- What's the Law in Your State? Small Business TrendsDid you know that 22 states raised their minimum wage 2019 rate rules? Here's a rundown of where each state stands currently.

Trends for Small Businesses to Leverage in 2019: Voice and Philanthropy Small Business TrendsThese 2019 small business trends are going to be important for owners to consider, especially how they impact customer engagement and employee ...

Small Business Revolution gets raucous welcome Durant Daily DemocratSpeaking at the Student Union on the Southeastern Oklahoma State University Campus Tuesday night, Amanda Brinkman gave her evaluation of Durant's ...

Cyber Readiness Institute Tackles Lack Of SMB Readiness Small Business TrendsTo combat a lack of small business cybersecurity readiness, a new program aims to embed cyber policies and processes into every organization.

Labor’s trust tax ‘to hit small business the most’ The AustralianThree of the top five seats most affected by Labors plan to impose more than 17 billion in tax on family trusts over the next decade are Labor or Greens, ...

China tackles trade war with tax cuts for small business The Australian Financial ReviewChina has put private sector tax cuts at the frontline of President Xi Jinping's battle to combat a slowdown in the world's second-largest economy, as trade tariffs ...

One-third of Small Businesses Start with Less Than $5000 Small Business TrendsThe latest startup funding statistics show that close to a third of entrepreneurs get going with less than $5000. Here's a look at all the numbers.

Spotlight: vidbuild Offers Video Ad Solution for Small Businesses Small Business TrendsIf you need video ad making software for your small business, vidbuild is looking to provide the answer. Here's what they offer.

‘This is ridiculous’: Small-business owners can’t get loans as shutdown enters Day 20. Washington PostBrooks Troxler is a small-business owner in North Carolina who's known as “Trox the tech” for his ability to fix any computer problem. Business is growing and ...

The 2019 Government Shutdown and What it Means for Small Business Small Business TrendsHow long will the 2019 government shutdown last, and how will it affect your small business? Here are some answers for owners.

The new Congress will do nothing for small business – and that's fine by us The GuardianWith Democrats and Republicans each controlling one chamber, gridlock is a certainty – which is great because small business hates uncertainty.

The big problem of micro and small enterprises Business StandardRead more about The big problem of micro and small enterprises on Business Standard. Under pressure, many banks are in perennial search of Mudra loan ...

Five Factors To Concentrate On When Growing A Small Business ForbesGrowing a small business can be difficult. For entrepreneurs just starting out, it can seem as if there are infinite factors that need to be accounted for. But no one ...

Gigs, ghosts and apps: The top 3 small business trends on the rise in 2019 USA TODAYAs has become an annual tradition, I am once again looking into my crystal ball to detect the top trends that look most likely to affect your small business over the ...