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One of the most understated advantages of franchise ownership is the very simple fact that when you buy a franchise you are starting a new business that is already supported by years, often decades of practical experience.  Much of that experience come into play right from the start and is incorporated into the overall business structure dictated by the franchisor.  However, there is a greater undercurrent of practical knowledge available for those wise enough to search it out and build a strong network of peers within the franchising organization

Inherent Knowledge

Your franchisor wants your business to succeed.  Quite simply, if your business flourishes then so does theirs.  The better your sales, the more they make in royalties and associated fees from your franchise.  Beyond that, every successful franchise boosts their overall statistics and makes them more appealing to new investors.  Therefore, you can be fairly confident that the business strategy they present you (and to which you are contractually obligated to follow) is truly in your best interest.

The overview provided by your franchisor, as well as the specifics of procedure and policy are not spontaneous fabrications, obviously.  These strategies and guidelines have been carefully generated over the course of the trademark’s existence.  It comes from careful and diligent research conducted by the franchisor and it comes from real experience in the field from franchise owners just like you.  These alleviates the need for a trial-and-error approach on your end.  The trials have already been tried and the errors have already been made.  Again, it is in the franchisor’s best interest to provide you with the best tools available to help your business succeed, and it is in your best interest to follow the game plan provided for your business.

Personal Experience

Beyond the scope of the overall scheme provided by your franchisor, based on years of experience over a large number of franchises, comes the very real experience of your peers within the franchising organization.  Chances are, unless you have signed on with a very new label, that business owners in your area and parts beyond have been running the same business as you for years, sometimes even decades.  There is absolutely no substitute for practical, real-life experience and know-how.  However, you need not rely on your own experience when there is a large network of businessmen who have already grown successful franchises under the same business plan and guidelines as yourself.

However, it is highly unlikely that any of your fellow franchise owners are going to call you up and offer you advise on how to run your business.  It is up to you, as a proactive business owner, to seek out and build these connections.  In fact, it is highly advisable that you start building these relationships and gaining the insight of other owners in your own area (and similar locations) well before you ever commit to the franchisor.

The Difference is You

When you buy a franchise you are starting your business with a vast wealth of knowledge and experience, even if you have never owned or operated a business before.  However, it is up to you to flesh out that knowledge with real life experience.  No franchisor, no matter how well established and knowledgeable, can make your business succeed.  It all comes down to you and your determination to use the tools available to your advantage.

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http://ezinearticles.com/?Filta-Franchise—Learning-From-Your-Experiences&id=3138009″> filtafry</a>.

When either discussing the prospect of opening a franchise with a representative at a franchise expo, or when meeting with a potential franchisor for the first time, you should expect to be given a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD).  Franchisors are legally obligated to provide these documents to potential franchisees.  If you are not provided with one, you should ask.  These documents contain some key data that will prove useful in determining if the intended franchise is truly suitable to your needs and business goals.

By law, the franchisor is required to present this documentation written in “plain English” (i.e. without legal jargon or highly technical terms).  There are very clear guidelines as to what information must be included in the FDD.  As such, there are some very specific areas of the document you should acquaint yourself with as you decide if the franchising organization is the right one for you.

Company Information

The initial sections of the FDD are concerned with giving an overview of the franchising company.  In these sections you will find information about the company’s history and its internal structure.  The FDD will also disclose any litigations against the company, as well as any bankruptcies.  This information is definitely worth becoming familiar with as you decide if the company you are looking at is really suitable for your needs.
These section of the FDD can be very telling as to the way that the company operates internally, as well as how it relates with and resolves disputes with its franchisees.  Not all franchisors are created equally, and hitching your wagon to an unstable star can prove disastrous.  It is important not only to note how issues have been resolved, but to notice if there are patterns that might adversely affect you and your business.

Financial Disclosures

The law also stipulates that certain financial aspects of the franchisor/franchisee relationship be disclosed in the FDD.  It is important to understand that the franchisor is not obligated to provide information speculating what you might expect as a Return On Interest as a franchisee.  In fact, many companies refuse to do so and wisely so.  Giving concrete figures on expected ROI opens the company up to possible legal accountability should the franchise fail to live up to expectations.
What the company is required to disclose is information pertaining to the cost associated with becoming a franchisee.  This is information relating to liquid capital requirements (start-up costs), total investment requirements, franchise fees and the like.  There will also be financial information included showing the average earnings of franchises operating in different localities.  These figures should be viewed as speculative earning potentials and not as any sort of definitive statement of what you might expect to earn.

Understanding the FDD

Fully comprehending the information disclosed in a company’s FDD is an absolute necessity for any prospective franchisee.  There is a reason that companies are legal required to make this information available and accessible in plain speech.  This document is your key to deciding if a company is a good fit for you and your business goals prior to contractually tethering yourself to a franchising organization.  Read it, discuss it with your attorney, understand it and arm yourself with the knowledge necessary to make an informed financial decision about your investment.

Have additional franchising questions? Get more franchise information with a real business example at Filta Fry . Additionally, you can get more information about an emerging franchise by going to filtafry.

Filtafry Offers One More Support

For a franchise already known for its vast guidance and support in the industry, you’d think that Filtafry would be resting on its laurels a bit. However, not so, as this is one franchise that franchisees can always trust to keep them informed, educated and in the loop on the latest in company goings on. There are several offerings from Filta that make this franchise one of the most involved in its franchisees initial acclimation to the system but also to their continued success.

The Filta system of training is all encompassing. The initial training prepares you to face all manner of things involved in how the franchise is run, but also technical, general administrative, service, health, safety, marketing and finance. Initially, franchisees have a one on one visit from a Business Development Manager that works with the new business owner, getting their territory ready to have a solid base of customers. This is in addition to the full week working with an already established business under the guidance of a trainer that is also a Filta success story themselves. They will show the franchisee the ropes as they take them through the course of their day, helping them learn about all the different operating styles of the customers and their fryers, oils and every manner of running a successful Filtafry franchise.
This is generally done directly after your training courses at the facility if possible, but also made to be as close to your own location as possible for convenience.

Super Support

When there isn’t someone right by your side to help, there is always the exclusive, toll free number that will be able to help you to speak with someone at headquarters who will help you with your needs. In addition to that, there is also Filtanet, a Filta Franchisee Support Intranet which came to be in June of 2004. This gives you a direct line into just what’s happening in the Filta Group and also, the ability to interact with other franchisees just like yourself. With Q and A sections, topic oriented discussion forums, an extensive business document library and useful business links, as well as online lists of chains already being served by Filtafry technicians and on line monthly reports, you will always have the information you need right at your fingertips.

The Filta Group knows that many of the franchisees they help to succeed are in business for the very first time and this is not something that goes unnoticed. They do everything in their power and go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that this is a mutually beneficial and profitable business, not just for them, but for the franchisees as well. After all, if you don’t succeed, they don’t succeed, and from the Initial Support Commitment right on through your successful franchise running smoothly- Filta is with you every step of the way.

Investing is a hazardous business.  It comes with a lot of risks, but offers the possibility of great rewards.  Good investments are not all about luck.  They are based on knowledge, research and good business sense.  Nowhere are these attributes more important than in the realm of franchise ownership.  Owning a business is more than just a financial investment, it is an investment of time and energy.

Franchise ownership requires a great deal more commitment than other, more passive forms of investing such as real estate and the stock market.  Franchise ownership requires you to not only put your money on the line, but also your time, your energy and very possibly even your livelihood.  However, business ownership also offers the chance for a significantly greater return on this investment than any passive investment ever could.   This Return on Investment (or ROI), is your bottom line in deciding whether or not a franchise is right for you.  You should have a clear idea of what you expect to get back from your investment of time and money, and should do the research to find out if the franchise you are looking at is capable of meeting those expectations.

Setting Expectations

It is important to set some realistic goals and expectations for what you want to get from your business prior to even starting up the search for an appropriate franchisor.  Realistic, however, does not mean that you should settle for less than want.  Looking to see a 15-30% return on your investment over the first few years of operation is not going beyond the realm of possibility.

It is important to keep in mind that what you can expect from your business relies on more than just the company your sign your contract with.  It is true that there are certain reasonable expectations you can establish for any given franchise.  However, whether or not your business meets its full potential depends largely on your own skill in running the business.

The 3 Rs

From the very minute you decide to explore the possibility of franchise ownership it is important to learn and adhere to “the 3 Rs”.  These are, quite simply:  Research, Research and Research Some More.  If you end up with a lemon, chances are you have yourself to blame for not informing yourself to the best of your ability in the initial exploratory stages.

Where to Find Information

There is a wealth of information out there, but it is up to you to search it out.  There are numerous websites dedicated to collecting data on franchisors and most financial publications collect and distribute data as well.  Once you have a good idea what you are looking for, ask your potential franchisors for their Franchise Disclosure Documents.  These documents will help give you an overall view of each franchises strengths, weaknesses and earning potentials.

Statistics and figures can only tell you so much, though.  If you really want a good view of what you can expect from a franchise, talk to those who already own them.  There is no substitute for practical experience in the field.

Owning a franchise is an active investment, and a wise investor gets active from the very start.  Making an informed decision based on thorough research can make the difference between success and failure.  The keys to success are there, but it is up to you to decide to pick them up.

Since the 90s, the Filta Group has been helping food service owners and managers save money in their daily operations with the eco-friendly FiltaFry cooking oil and fryer management service.  In 2008 Filta expanded their influence from the fryer to the cooler with their exciting new line of FiltaCool products and services.  FiltaCool offers all of the great maintenance and savings that has made FiltaFry a globally known name in fryer management.

The sophisticated FiltaCool filter system, designed especially for commercial refrigeration units, lowers the concentration of harmful gases, regulates humidity and reduces unpleasant odors in walk-in coolers and other cold storage devices.  FiltaCool will also keep your units running longer and more efficiently.  Let’s take a closer look at just how FiltaCool can save money for your business.
Food Savings
Restaurants and other commercial kitchens spend an average of 30 percent of their annual revenue on food costs.  FiltaCool provides a way to save big on your food costs.  FiltaCool filters extend the life of perishable food items, thereby helping you control food costs.

Let’s say that your restaurant brings in $1,000,000 annually.  That means that your food costs will be around $300,000.  Of that $300k, nearly 35% ($105k) will be spent of fresh produce, a good deal of which will end up in the dumpster after spoiling.  If FiltaCool filters saved you just 2% on the cost of produce, then you would be saving $175 each month ($2,100 annually) on just produce.  In reality, you would most likely see even greater savings.

Energy Savings
The potential to save you money doesn’t stop there.  Independent tests show that FiltaCool helps coolers run more efficiently and lowers cooler temperatures by 2-5 degrees.  FiltaCool filters have been demonstrated to reduce the energy use of coolers by as much as 10 percent.

The average walk-in cooler uses 20,000 kWh of energy per year.  At the national average of $0.11/kWh, the cost of running a cooler for one year comes out to around $2,244.  Using FiltaCool can reduce that figure, saving around $224 per cooler per year.  Your business will be able to proudly boast of your “greener” way of doing business while saving money.

Equipment Savings

Using less energy can lead to even greater savings as well.  FiltaCool users also report reduced spending on costly repairs and maintenance.  Because your equipment will have to work less to maintain a stable temperature in your coolers, its life can be extended by as much as 33 to 44 percent.

The cost of a 1.5 HP compressor and a 8200 BTU evaporator with 2 fans averages at around $3,000 with a 5 year life expectancy.  Filta can extend this systems use by 40%, adding on another 2 years of life and saving the owner $172 in equipment costs each year.  Filta can help you realize the full potential of your cooling systems and see them running longer.

From the minute FiltaCool filters are installed in your units you will start saving money.  Your produce will last longer, generating less waste and bigger profits.  Your equipment will run more efficiently and last longer.  FiltaCool is yet another way that Filta helps improve the way you do business in a “greener” and more cost-effective way.

You may already have been doing some reading and decided that perhaps you would like a little more information about what to expect from the Filta Discovery Days you are about to attend. This information packed inside look into just what happens with a Filta Franchise may be the final step in your decision making process, or it may bring about some more questions you have. Either way, there is always someone waiting just to give you the answers that you need to enable you to decide if a Filta Franchise is right for you.

The Process

You probably have sent in your contact information and are looking over the packet of information you were already given, perhaps you’ve had a look at the informative DVD, as well. Many feel that the DVD covers the questions they may have asked, but just in case, there are many more steps to come. Once you’ve done all of this, you will then go on to fill out the Preliminary Information Form and the Franchise Inquiry form you’ve likely already seen online. Once that is done, one of the Franchise Development Managers will talk to you, going over any points you weren’t quite clear on and answering any more questions that you have about the information you have already seen, or perhaps what you’d like to know that wasn’t talked about. From there, you arrange the trip down to sunny Orlando Florida where you will then get a real hands on look at everything there is to know.

Filta Discovery Days

Once you’re there, you’ll stay in a hotel that is paid for by the Filta Group and get a little shut eye the night before. That day, at seven a.m. sharp you’ll have breakfast with an experienced existing franchisee who can tell you all about what its like to run your own business using Filta’s system. At seven forty five, you’ll experience the “Day in the Life of a Franchisee” demonstration, where you’ll get to take in a small slice of what it is like to really see things in action. From there, you’ll go to the Cooperate offices for a look at the documents and materials you will be looking into and a presentation from the CEO followed by a working lunch.

As you can see, even before you begin, the Filta Group is committed to giving you all of the information you need to succeed. But it’s not all breakfast chats and working lunches- from there, you’ll head on out to tour the cooperate training center, warehouse and have a look at Future Products and Service. Then, finally, you’ll sit in on one of the most informative question and answers sessions that is out there for potential franchisees and, from there you can either go back to the airport to head home or perhaps stick around an enjoy Orlando a bit.

Since 1996 Filta has been helping save money and reduce waste in commercial kitchens through its innovative and widely acclaimed FiltaFry oil and fryer management service.  In 2008 The Filta Group unveiled its newest line of energy efficient kitchen solutions.  The introduction of the FiltaCool line of products and services has opened up a whole new means for commercial kitchens to save money by decreasing waste and increasing energy efficiency.

“Filta is dedicated to saving our clients money, creating a safer work environment, and providing our partners with the tools to increase the quality of their product, all the while preserving the environment.” True to the Filta Mission Statement, FiltaCool provides all of the innovation and savings that have made FiltaFry an globally recognized name in fryer and oil management to the field of cold storage.

Moisture Management

One of the biggest problems in cold storage is the issue of humidity regulation.  Too little moisture leaves goods shriveled and dried.  Excessive humidity destroy compromises the cellular integrity of your foodstuffs, causing them to deteriorate more rapidly.  Furthermore, when moisture condenses and freezes on cooling coils it causes them to operate less efficiently.  This results in higher temperatures and extended defrosting cycles.

Moisture can also create hazardous and unhealthy conditions for staff and supply personnel.  Collected pools are also breeding grounds for dangerous and destructive bacteria.  FiltaCool filters regulate the humidity in your walk refrigeration units.  Your coolers will run more efficient and your perishable goods will last longer.

Optimizing Temperatures

Fluctuating temperatures can also present a problem in refrigeration.  Excessively low temperature can damage your products at the cellular level, leaving them mushy and unusable.  High temperatures in your cooler accelerate the growth of bacteria that destroys your produce and meat products.  The optimal temperature range for commercial cooling falls between 35-38 degrees Fahrenheit.  Achieving this can be difficult with inefficient coolers.  FiltaCool improves cooler performance so that your refrigeration unit can operate at ideal temperatures while using less energy.

Eliminating Odors

When food items are stored in close quarters with more pungent items, they can begin to absorb odors.  Certainly no one wants their produce to smell like fish, nor will your customers particularly care to eat it.  Unpleasant odors can accumulate over time and create an disagreeable environment for your staff, as well.  With FiltaCool, noxious odors can be eliminated, leaving your cool smelling fresh and preserving the quality of your foodstuffs.
Gases and Bacteria

Factors such as bacteria, oxidation, Ethylene gases and Pectin gases can accelerate food spoilage.  While these processes are occur naturally and cannot be prevented, they harmful effects of accumulation in confined coolers can be reduced.  FiltaCool filters control the level of gases in your cooler and help create a less active breeding ground for bacteria.

Energy and Maintenance

As with all Filta services, FiltaCool offers a cost-effective and eco-friendly solution to cooler maintenance and regulation.  Because your cooler will run more efficiently, they will suffer less wear and tear and will use less energy.  Users report as much as a 10 percent reduction in the energy required to operate their cools when using FiltaCool filters.   These same businesses also report a 33%-44% increase in the life of their equipment.

FiltaCool offers businesses a whole new way to “go green” and save money.  With FiltaCool filters your business will use less energy, reduce waste due to spoilage, and extend the life of your coolers.

Does getting the energy bill for you food establishment make you break out in a sweat?  Is constantly losing money on spoiled produce and other perishable food goods burning you up?  Are costly equipment repairs and maintenance on your coolers melting away your profits?  FiltaCool has a solution.
In 2008 the internationally renowned Filta Group unveiled its new line of FiltaCool products and services.  This exciting new offering from Filta is aimed at bringing all of the great service and savings that FiltaFry brings to fryer management to your restaurant’s cold storage systems.

FiltaCool can help you reduce your energy costs, keep your coolers running better and more efficiently and extend the life of your perishable foodstuffs.

FiltaCool’s advanced cooler filters are designed specifically for the needs of commercial refrigeration and walk-in cooler units.  This unobtrusive, eco-friendly units regulate humidity while filtering out harmful gases that can accelerate the decomposition of perishable goods.  FiltaCool filters also reduce unpleasant odors that can sully food quality and create an unpleasant work environment for your staff.
Restaurants spend an average of 30 percent of their revenue on food costs.  FiltaCool offers big savings in helping to control food costs by extending the shelf life of food.  Your goods will stay fresher and great tasting for longer, reducing the amount of waste in your kitchen.

Peter Adams, Chef/ Instructor and Manager of the Illinois Institute of Art Culinary School has seen such a drastic improvement that FiltaCool has been incorporated into his curriculum.   “[FiltaCool] has increased the amount of product we can keep on hand because it stays so much fresher,” says Adams.  “Because of this, [FiltaCool] is now being integrated into our purchasing and cost control classes.”

The potential to save with FiltaCool doesn’t stop there.  Independent tests show that FiltaCool lowers cooler temperatures by 2-5 degrees.  This helps reduce compressor run-times and can reduce your kWh usage.

“Even the smallest amount of money saved on energy is critical,” declares Ramin Foramarzi, the Project Manager of Southern California’s Edison Refrigeration and Thermal Test Center.  “If you can improve energy consumption you’re essentially improving profit margin.”  FiltaCool filters have been demonstrated to reduce the energy use of coolers by as much as 10 percent.

This reduction in energy use has other implications for savings as well.  Because your equipment won’t have to work as hard to keep temperatures and humidity stable within the optimal ranges, the life of your cold storage units is extended.  “Reducing cooler run time by 10% willprolong equipment life by approximately 33% to 44%,” states the Burbank Electric Company out of Burbank, CA.   Filta can help you realize the full potential of your cooling systems.  FiltaCool users also report reduced spending on costly repairs and maintenance.

FiltaCool offers a comprehensive means of reducing the cost of maintaining your refrigeration units and minimize loss due to wastage in your business.  Not only will you save money using FiltaCool filters in your coolers, but your foods will stay fresher and taste better, and your kitchen will be safer for staff and suppliers.  FiltaCool can help you attain happier customers, happier employees and a happier bank account for your business.

In the face of global climate change and rapidly dwindling resources, it has become clearer than ever before that each and every one of us must make a personal effort towards more environmentally friendly living and reducing our negative impact on the planet.  We face a dark future unless each of us is willing to play a role in promoting positive change both in daily life and the way we do business.

The Filta Group understands the importance of reducing our negative impact on the planet through minimizing waste and using our resources more efficiently.  Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions provides the means for restaurant owners to not only take a stronger stance environmentally, but to do so in a way that proves financially beneficial.

Less Waste

Every day restaurants and other commercial kitchens produce thousands of gallons of used cooking oil.  Significant improvements have been made in the reuse and recycling of these waste oils, but there remains a continuing need to use less.  Since 1996, FiltaFry filtering services has been making this a very real possibility.

FiltaFry uses an advanced micro-filtration system to purify used cooking oils.  This process removes 99% of carbon and other particulate matter that can break down oils.  This means that your oil will not only taste better, but will last twice as long.  Depending on how heavily you use fryers in your establishment, having a Filta technician clean your oil and fryers once or twice a week could reduce your oil usage by 50%.  Imagine the long-term effects, not only environmentally, but financially.

The FiltaCool cold-storage filter system can help reduce waste in your coolers as well.  This unobtrusive filters are cheap and easy to install and drastically improve the longevity of your perishables.  They regulate humidity and remove many of the gasses that ultimately decompose you cold-stored goods.

Increasing Efficiency

Filta’s dedication to reducing waste doesn’t stop and reducing a restaurant’s production of waste.  Filta agents will also work with a dining establishment to find ways of eliminating waste in production and in finding ways to more efficiently use fryers and coolers.  Untold kilowatt hours of energy are wasted daily through improper use of fryers and ineffectively regulated coolers .

Incorrect heating and filling techniques, wastefully heating when not in use, improper loading and many other factors add to an rising wastage of energy by fryers.  FiltaFry can help to trace, spot and correct these wasteful practices, leading to increased savings and reduced energy use.

FiltaCool filters can keep coolers running longer and more efficiently.  Humidity in cooling units freezes on cooling coils, making them work harder to regulate temperature.  FiltaCool filters remove excess moisture from the air so that your systems can perform better while using less energy.

None of us are going to save the world on our own.  What we all now understand is that it takes everyone doing their parts, and doing everything we can, to make a difference.  Together with Filta, your business can start making a difference.  Even better, not only will you be helping to save the planet, you’ll be saving a lot of money in the process.

Across industrialized nations thousands of gallons of waste oil are generated from food service establishments every day.  Towards the end of its life, oil begins to lose its purity of taste and can negatively affect the quality of foods fried in it.  Foods begin to taste more like what they are fried in instead of what they truly are.  As a result, oil has to be frequently discarded to maintain quality standards.

FiltaFry has a better way.  Using a comprehensive oil filtration and fryer management service like FiltaFry is your first line of defense against waste, inefficiency and bad taste.  However, there are things you can do on your own to help save money and maximize the life of your cooking oil.  Here are a few simple guidelines you can implement in the use of your fryers that will reduce waste preserve the integrity of your oil.

Food Handling

The foods you fry have a direct effect on the chemical constitution of your oil, as do extraneous elements added into the oil.  Moisture left on foods rapidly deteriorates oil and reduces its usability.  It is critical that foods be thoroughly thawed and dried before frying.

When preparing foods, cut portions into uniform sizes to reduce burning.  Never season foods over the fryer.  Salts and seasoning powders will burn in the oil and create more carbon contamination.  If your establishment uses multiple sized fryers, use the smallest necessary for the food being prepared.  You can further minimize oil loss by fully straining foods after frying.

Fryer Optimization

Learning to properly use your fryers will also reduce waste.  It is vital to make sure that fryers are never overfilled.  Be careful not to overheat your oil.  Check your temperatures often and only heat oil to the appropriate for the food item being prepared.  While the fryer is in use, frequently strain out small pieces that break free.  When fragments are left to burn it creates carbon, one of the major factors in accelerated oil decomposition.

When fryers are not in use, keep the heat turned low.  When operational, frequently check the temperature of the oil and prevent dangerous and wasteful overheating.  Ask your FiltaFry technician to help you identify the settings and operational parameters that are best suited to your kitchen.

Equipment Care

The maintenance of your equipment will also affect its overall efficiency.  While no one can get you fryer working better than FiltaFry, there are things you can do between visits to keep you fryers running smoothly.  Always pack shortening tightly into the lower section of the fryer, being mindful to not leave pockets of air around the heating coils.  Finish packing before applying heat, and use only low heat to melt the shortening.

Strive to keep your fryers clean.  Skim the oil at least once every shift and clean the fryers at least once a day.  Your FiltaFry technician will gladly offer suggestions to your staff on how to keep your equipment running at peak performance and will inspect your equipment each week.

Of course the most important thing you can do to maximize your oil taste, quality and longevity is to have FiltaFry micro-filter your oil at least once each week.  FiltaFry’s advanced filtration system can help eliminate one half of your business’s oil costs and save you money while simultaneously improving the overall quality of your food.  FiltaFry offers your business savings you can taste.