"YOU ARE DOING WHAT!? That's the question we heard most when we told our friends and families that we were franchising a Shear Madness Haircuts for Kids," says Janon Otto CEO of Shear Madness Haircuts for Kids Franchising - as well as a multi-unit franchisee for Shear Madness Haircuts for Kids. "They would also ask us what franchising is, and if we had gone crazy! Looking back, it's obvious that although there are franchises all over the place, most people have no idea what a franchise is. That's why the Shear Madness Haircuts for Kids franchising toolkit (available below) is so important. It really helps explain what franchising is, as well as the advantages of owning your own franchise business."

Ultimately though, it's important to understand that a franchise is a business model. When a business owner decides to expand their business, they have options.  One of those options is to franchise.  Franchising allows others to own their own company yet use the name, logo, and systems of the franchise business owner (the franchisor). And although a franchisee is responsible for the success or failure of their franchise location, there are some significant advantages to franchise ownership. This includes the following...

1. The franchisee doesn't not have to come up with their own unique business idea!
2. The franchisee can use the systems that have already been developed and used successfully by others, which dramatically shortens the learning curve!
3. The franchisee gets training and support with a business partner who knows and cares about the success of their new business.
4. If the franchise system is progressive, the franchisee doesn't have to worry about ongoing costs or keeping up with trends needed to develop the concept further, as the franchisor is responsible for this. Meanwhile, as the system grows, the name brand recognition grows - thus growing the business of the franchisee!
5. Tools to use for advertising and graphic design / marketing is usually provided as well.

And there is a BIG bonus to being in touch with business owners who are all trying to do the same think you are is a wonderful thing - many heads are much better than one!

Shear Madness Franchising franchises Shear Madness Haircuts for Kids salons. We have worked with franchise stores in providing franchisee support (in order to encourage continual growth and business success), and have sometimes seen the unexpected happen! When it does, we help by identifying and helping with challenges that might arise for franchisees. Additionally, we work to present options that can help prevent these events as well. As many franchise owners may not have opened a business before, having someone who can advise them is a significant advantage of franchise ownership!

Are you interested in learning how YOU can join the Shear Madness Haircuts for Kids family and run your own successful small business? We are one of the fastest growing kids hair salons in the industry today! If you would like to learn more about this franchise opportunity or small business marketing, great marketing strategies, resources for small businesses, franchise success, how to grow your small business or how to become a successful owner of your own kids hair salon franchise business, please click below or call 1-888-98 GONE MAD

The past several years have been EXCITING years for our team! Owning and operating a kid's shear madness salon franchise has it's share of hurdles and challenges, but we maintain a positive attitude and outlook as we keep pressing forward! It has been fun to see all our hard work paying off as we now celebrate having 10 locations open (with more on the way)! Our incredibly COOL salon concept for kids has franchise locations now in Lees Summit MO, Albuquerque NM, San Antonio Texas, McAllen Texas, Amherst New York, Humble Texas, West Des Moines and Ankeny Iowa and a NEW location in Lake Forest, California - all thanks to our dedicated and enthusiastic franchisees and our team. Now we would like to take a moment and recognize some of our fabulous franchise owners and their families. To our ever growing Shear Mad-tastic Family - here's to you!

Shear Madness Franchise Owners

Todd Danni: Todd has spent a career developing and managing a real estate portfolio in Buffalo, New York. In addition, Todd and a partner developed a successful Fitness Concept from two million in revenue to over 18 million when he was in his twenties. Most recently, Todd signed an Area Development Agreement to open multiple locations in New York State, Pittsburg, PA and Cleveland Ohio - with his first store opening in Amherst, New York! “We are excited to bring Shear Madness Haircuts for Kids to the East coast,” said Todd Danni. “We feel like Shear Madness has a unique business model and we look forward to expanding the concept in the northeast.”  Todd is opening his second location in August of this year!

Andrew and Mary Elmasri: Andrew and Mary signed an Area Development Agreement covering 5 counties in Southern California, with their first store opening in Lake Forest, California! Doctor Andrew Elmasri of Lake Forest, California, is a managing partner of California Children’s Salons, LLC and President of CA Anesthesia of Laguna Niguel California. “We have a growing demographic of young families in Southern California, and we are excited to bring the unique concept Shear Madness Haircuts for Kids offers to this area,” commented Elmasri. “After visiting with management in Kansas City earlier this year, we feel like the opportunities for positive expansion is a great fit for our area.”

Jackie Perkins: As a former supervising manager of a Fortune 500 company in the Oil and Gas industry, Jackie was interested in more than just a business - she was looking for an opportunity to use her talents and business skills. Several of Jackie’s friends owned Franchises, which gave her added motivation to start her own business. Drawn to Shear Madness Haircuts for Kids for their fun and positive model, Jackie now has her own amazing store in the Humble/Kingwood, Texas area! Jackie is having fun with her new location and currently has her eyes on a location for her second location!

Brenda and Eduardo Morales: Our very first Shear Madness franchise owners, this couple opened their first salon in San Antonio TX at the Village in Stone Oak in San Antonio, TX in November 2012. Brenda and Eduardo have faithfully endured many of the early franchising growing pains with good humor and a willingness to learn. Their store has steadily seen growth despite the tough competition in their area. Their birthday parties have been a very successful addition to their haircutting business. We are so grateful for this caring, enthusiastic, and extremely hard working couple.

Michelle and Tom Vick: This couple came to us in 2012 looking for an opportunity to grow our concept in a brand new market in Albuquerque NM. To our delight, Shear Madness in Albuquerque, NM opened in October 2013 with much local anticipation and enthusiasm! Their salon is steadily growing, and with the help of their Fantastic Staff they are successfully building a great reputation with their local people. They also own a construction company. Shear Madness provides diversity to their income.

Elsy and Jorge Garcia : Owners of the Shear Madness at the Forum in San Antonio, TX, this couple moved to the United States from Monterrey, Mexico. Opening their first Shear Madness location while moving their family and and enrolling 4 children in school was challenging - but worth the effort. They have a super location in a high traffic area with fantastic stylists! Their store has been converted completely from a previous children's hair salon into a fantastic Shear Madness Haircuts for Kids!

Erin Nanke: Erin was a full time marketing executive for a large television station and owner of our new location which opened November 2013 in West Des Moines, IA! Her store sits across from Jordan Creek Mall in West Des Moines, and across from the popular local favorite Scratch Cupcakery. Partly due to her incredible location and partly to her mega marketing skills, this franchisee is building her salon into "the place to be" in Des Moines, Iowa! Erin also opened a second location in Ankeny, Iowa! We are honored to have such knowledgable and determined franchisees on our team.

Our Franchisees in McAllen TX: This young couple was super excited to open their first Shear Madness in McAllen, TX! They have a beautiful store that not only offers great haircuts - but cool retail too! It's definately the destination for lots of kids and their parents in the McAllen/Edinburg area. Be sure to check it out!

Janon and Jim Otto: This extremely hardworking husband and wife duo diligently work behind the scenes not only as Shear Madness franchisors, but as salon owners as well! They opened their first location in Lee's Summit, MO in May 2013, and have been successfully building their salon business since. This Madtastic couple sells, supports, oversees, and executes every aspect of Shear Madness Franchising, LLC. No detail is too big or too small for the Otto's. Jim and Janon strongly believe in the kid's hair salon concept and the future of Shear Madness.  The Otto's have just signed a lease to open their second location in Liberty, MO - so look for that in early summer!

Paula Thurman (far right): The founder of Shear Madness Haircuts for Kids, Paula Thurman has built her kid's hair salon and boutique concept to be what it has become today. As owner and operator for over 18 years, she is an expert when it comes to customer service, managing employees, payroll, retail, and many other salon related issues. Paula personally oversees all training for new franchise locations and their employees. She is committed to the success and vision of becoming the very Best Kid's Hair Salon Franchise - "The Standard by Which All Others are Measured!" Paula co-owns the original Shear Madness Haircut for Kids, Olathe, KS location.

Would you like to sign up for our Monthly newsletter? If so, click HERE!

Are you interested in learning how YOU can join the Shear Madness Haircuts for Kids family and run your own successful small business? We are one of the fastest growing kids hair salon franchise systems in the industry today! If you would like to learn more about this franchise opportunity or small business marketing, great marketing strategies, resources for small businesses, how to grow your small business, or how to become a successful owner of your own kids hair salon franchise business, please click below or call 1-888-98 GONE MAD

Many business owners will often take a look at their business and ask, "how can I grow?". Friends will look at them and say "Hey!  You ought to franchise!".  Sounds good - franchise your business!  Easy, right?!  Just find some people who want to do what you do, teach them to do it, and then sit back and collect all that royalty! Wow - So Easy!

WRONG!  Running a franchise is work!  It is running a business that is totally different than the business that you are franchising. If you're someone who is thinking of starting a franchise, or buying into one, you'll want to remember the list of the seven important things that the franchisor had better be offering their franchisees. If they aren't, then the system is not worth doing or investing in!

1.  Putting franchisee profits first!  

2.  Staying current with all marketing methods, evaluating them as they relate to the franchise business, and teaching franchisees about them.

3.  Continuing to develop the concept so that it stays up to date with the times and trends.

4.  Developing standards to help all franchisees evaluate their success or areas that need improvement. As an example from a salon business standpoint, this would be such relevant information as how many haircuts should a stylist perform in a given time period, how to figure out what to pay your stylists, what products to offer in your store, etc.?

5.   Developing benchmarks  for success.  How is each franchise doing compared to others in the system?  Are all franchisees given access to the best information?

6.   Continually developing new content that potential customers see as fresh.  Website, social media platforms, in store materials, etc.

7.   Constantly improving franchisee support - both access, systems, & communication.

Shear Madness Franchising franchises Shear Madness Haircuts for Kids salons. We have worked with franchise stores in providing franchisee support (in order to encourage continual growth), and have sometimes seen the unexpected happen!  When it does, we help by identifying and helping with challenges that might arise for franchisees. Additionally, we work to present options that can help prevent these events as well. As many franchise owners may not have opened a business before, having someone who can advise them is a significant advantage of franchise ownership!

Would you like to sign up for our Monthly newsletter? If so, click HERE!

Are you interested in learning how YOU can join the Shear Madness Haircuts for Kids family and run your own successful small business? We are one of the fastest growing kids hair salon franchise systems in the industry today! If you would like to learn more about small business marketing, great marketing strategies, resources for small businesses, how to grow a small business, or how to become a successful owner of your own kids hair salon franchise business, please click below or call 1-888-98 GONE MAD

New businesses are formed every day.  And businesses close their doors every day as well!  The chances of starting a blockbuster business on your own are small.  This is why the whole idea of buying a franchise business is a popular one!  Those businesses should have a track record of being successful, and should have systems in place that you can replicate. 

Running a business can be hard work, and it can encompass many challenges that most people have never encountered. But it's arguable that when you invest into a  franchise system, you have a greater chance of success. Plus, most  franchises (like Shear Madness Haircuts for Kids) do offer the advantage of a successful business history and scalability. However, as implementing a salon franchise system does take effort, you'll want to make sure all your questions are answered through doing a little research. 

How can you research a franchise system?  Because our expertise is in a salon franchise - we will address that situation directly, however most of these apply to any type of franchise system.

1.  Contact salon franchises, reach out to the franchisors, and compare business models!  Which one suits your interests?  Which one has the best opportunity for financial success, etc.

2.  Look at the Franchise Disclosure document and the Franchise Agreement.  Many people confuse these documents.  The Franchise Disclosure document lays out the facts about a franchise, how much it costs, the fees, history, current franchise locations, etc.  This document also lays out the details of the training that they offer - this is an important area to compare systems.  The more training, the better!  The Franchise Agreement is the document that you must sign to become a franchisee of the system.  Here is where the fine print details lay.  How is the Royalty collected, how can I advertise, what is my territory, etc.

3.  Talk to current franchisees.  These are the ones who have been through what you are thinking about pursuing.  They are free to tell you actually more than the franchisor can tell you!  The franchisor is bound by rules the FTC puts out about what they can and cannot say to any prospective franchisee.  But, the franchisees can tell you whatever they would like to tell you!

4.  Seek out a franchise business that currently has a long track record of success. Keep in mind that the franchise system itself may be younger than the actual concept itself.  Find out how long the franchisor has had a history with the concept itself.  Have they really figured it out before offering the franchise? For example, here at Shear Madness Franchising, we franchise Shear Madness Haircuts for Kids salons the Franchise system was started in late 2010, but the first salon has been inexistance since 1997!  

We have worked with our franchisees in growing their business, and truly want to help ensure sure they are on a path to franchise success. Why? Because we understand that having someone who can offer expert advice on growth and scalability is one of the significant advantages of franchise ownership!

Are you interested in learning how YOU can join the Shear Madness Haircuts for Kids family and run your own successful small business? We are one of the fastest growing kids hair salon franchise systems in the industry today! If you would like to learn more about small business marketing, great marketing strategies, resources for small businesses, business tips, how to grow a small business, or how to become a successful owner of your own kids hair salon franchise business, please click below or call 1-888-98 GONE MAD!

What are prospective franchise buyers looking for when it comes to buying into a franchise system? We opened this question up to some of our Shear Madness Haircuts for Kids franchisees, and this is some of the feedback we received. We hope it helps you as much as it did us!

1. Communication is Key: It may seem like a given, but it's true! Franchise communication is important through all aspects of franchising - from being able to effectively communicate with customers, to being able to have great communication channels between potential area developers, franchisors, franchisees, and everyone in between. As such, franchise buyers should be looking for a communication system that ensures consistency and timeliness of communication. Similarly, a means by which franchisees throughout the system can easily and effectively communicate with each other is also very helpful. Many franchisees join a franchise for the systems and support, so it's critical they get it!

2. Process Support and Education: Running your own franchise can be a challenging, yet rewarding experience. That's why when a Franchisee needs help, especially during the start-up phase, there's a tried-and-true system in place that gives them the support they need. This includes great communication channels with the franchisor and other franchisees, as well as franchise training provided through conferences and monthly meetings.

3. First Class Marketing: Franchisees want to know their marketing dollars are going toward creative, expressive messages that effectively reach their customers and help build their business. Some of these marketing efforts might include social media advertising, traditional advertising (newspapers, magazines, ads in sporting venues), posters for the store to use, banners for outdoor advertising, and much more!

4. Transparency: Franchisees want to clearly see evidence of the franchisor's support of the franchisee's efforts to attain and maintain success. There needs to be the feeling in the franchisee's heart that every day, everyone is working towards success.

5. Independence, Flexibility and Personal Challenge: Many franchisees are seeking to escape the politics, rigidity and frustration of working for others. But they also don't want the risk and harsh learning curve of trying to start a business entirely on their own. Franchisees are also highly motivated by achieving results directly linked to their own creativity and hard work. A successful franchise system allows for all these things!

6. Respect: Each franchisee is going to have different motivations, but ultimately they need to be treated like business owners, and not employees. Franchisees desire the respect of friends, family and peers, and are often a helpful force in the development of new initiatives and programs. Their experience and desire to succeed can also identify emerging trends in their respective industries.

7. Making a Difference: Franchisees often treat their staff as extended members of their own family, and take pride in helping them grow personally and professionally. They also get great satisfaction in helping customers and making a contribution to their local communities!

8. Utilizing Expertise: A franchisee wants to leverage upon the expertise of a franchisor, as well as using the name of an established brand that a franchisor has acquired. A franchisee also expects the franchisor to provide assistance in helping with staffing, training, business planning, operational and business related troubleshooting. This is so the franchisee can accomplish their business goals through an organized business mechanism in the minimum possible time!

There you have it!  If you are evaluating several franchise opportunities this will give you an idea of what to ask about!

Are you interested in learning how YOU can join the Shear Madness Haircuts for Kids family and run your own successful small business? We are one of the fastest growing kids hair salon franchise systems in the industry today! If you would like to learn more about small business marketing, great marketing strategies, resources for small businesses, how to grow a small business, or how to become a successful owner of your own kids hair salon franchise business, please click below or call 1-888-98 GONE MAD!

Despite franchising being a safer way of doing business, it doesn't mean that it's risk free! Because of this, it's important when researching franchises to carefully look at your options, and find out which franchise systems could cause you major problems over the long run - and which franchise systems will provide you with a great formula for franchise success! Below are some of the top problem areas in why a franchise might struggle.

1.  Lack of Systems: Franchising is all about systems. Being able to replicate a successful franchise system is what makes a business franchiseable. An ethical franchise has everything documented and systemized so that it can easily be passed on to others for successful implementation. If a business doesn't have any systems and instead relies only on the skills of individuals within the business, then it shouldn't be franchised. However, some businesses will ignore this and try to franchise their business anyway. Unfortunately, these companies usually are only interested in a quick buck, and aren't overly concerned in who may or may not have the required skills for the successful operation of the franchise.

2. No Track Record: A business can only be franchised if it has a track record. We're often amazed at the amount of people who have an idea for a franchise, but then don't actually have a business! Remember: the business comes first - it's not conceived at the same time as the franchise! Those usually wanting to start a franchise without having a business are again looking to make money fast. Make sure that the franchisor has an established track record of running a business, along with a great reputation of success in franchising!

3.  Location: Half the battle of owning a successful franchise is finding the right location for your business. And depending on the nature of your business, not all franchisees need to be in a city center location or shopping mall. However, a good franchisor will help you study local demographics and work with you to find a great location.

4.  Lack of Marketing: Good franchisors will spend money on promoting the brand nationally as well as in the local area. Ask the franchisor about their marketing activities, and what they plan on doing to help gain recognition and awareness for your franchise. In today's environment there are many ways a franchisor can help market your business in your local area, if they don't plan to help you with that it is another red flag.  A franchise system should have data on local marketing efforts of other franchises in the system, access to that information saves you lots of time and money!

5.  Competition: Check out the competition for your franchise in the local market. If there isn't any competition, there might not be a demand for the product - which may result in it not having much future market potential. On the other hand - you may have discovered the perfect franchise for your area!  There may be a real need for this business, and being first to market can be a great advantage for you.  Additionally, if there's too much competition, introducing a new franchise might be a struggle as well. Be sure to look into markets similar to your own where the franchise is operating in order to judge how well it might do in your local area.  A good franchisor should have access to information that can help you decide whether the competition factor in your area is a plus or a minus.

6.  Insufficient Funds: One of the biggest reasons franchises can fail is that the franchisee has under-estimated how much money is needed to buy and run the franchise. It's not just about having money for the investment, but about the costs you'll incur when running the business. For example, how will you plan on paying staff salaries or having enough for supplies? If your franchise business is not making money initially, you'll need to make sure you have anough money for day-to-day operating costs, as well as paying your own bills. Over-estimating what you need is a good way to calculate the cost of running a franchise.

Are you interested in learning how YOU can join the Shear Madness Haircuts for Kids family and run your own successful small business? We are one of the fastest growing kids hair salon franchise systems in the industry today! If you would like to learn more about small business marketing, great marketing strategies, resources for small businesses, how to grow a small business, or how to become a successful owner of your own kids hair salon franchise business, please click below or call 1-888-98 GONE MAD!