Franchises Spotlighted at Entrepreneur Expo
Pinched by the recession, Phil Busman of Mission Viejo has been looking for a way to earn more money.
His search took him to the annual Entrepreneur Expo in Long Beach earlier this summer. “The way wages and salaries are going,” he said, “you’d be better off to try working for yourself.”
The same fair will open at the Anaheim Convention Center on Saturday for a two-day expo that will showcase product- and service-related companies looking to attract prospective entrepreneurs.
Interest in starting a business appears to be on the rise. This year’s Long Beach fair drew more than 8,000 people--about 8% more than last year.
“We’ve definitely noticed a lot more people are looking for a part-time income,” said Chris Huke, whose company takes the expo to 25 cities every year.
The idea of working at home is particularly appealing to Southern Californians frustrated by traffic, Huke said.
Among those exhibiting with the expo as it travels from city to city is Citizen CPR, a Seattle company that trains individuals and companies in cardiopulmonary resuscitation. With a $3,000 one-time investment, franchisees can earn from $1,000 to $9,000 a month by giving CPR training, said Steve Young, owner of the Manhattan Beach division of the company.
Though some franchises cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, those represented at the Entrepreneur Expo are priced considerably lower, ranging from a few hundred dollars to $25,000.
Franchises are among the most successful small businesses, Huke said. About 63% of new enterprises fail within 6 years, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. But the International Franchise Assn., a Washington-based trade group, cites an Arthur Andersen survey showing that about 97% of franchises opened in the last five years are still operating.
Huke said that people who buy franchises have an advantage because they can typically turn to the parent company for help with legal matters, equipment and material, and marketing techniques.
This summer’s expo has been drawing browsers as well as those ready to buy.
The Anaheim show runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $6 for adults, free for children under 12.
