“I never really thought about it until one day, randomly, someone asked me if I owned my own business. That’s when I started to really think about owning a business,” Cox said.
Aside from the benefits from owning a franchise, like the ability to be her own boss, Cox hopes it will help the region’s economy.
“I’d like to see more business come to Buffalo and I want to see it thrive again, like major cities like Baltimore. My husband and I plan on having a family, and I’d like to see my children be able to find decent employment in the area and be able to support their own families,” Cox said.
Cox was among the 60 people attending a franchising seminar Tuesday hosted by the Buffalo Economic Renaissance Corp. and the International Franchise Association at the Pearl Street Grill and Brewery.
The idea for the event developed from interest expressed by area residents and small businesses to Mayor Byron Brown at neighborhood meetings.
“At the meetings, many residents and small businesses interested in franchising options had two main questions; how do I purchase a franchise or how do I turn my business into a franchise,” said Tim Wanamaker, president of the BERC.
After hearing from residents about their business aspirations, a chance encounter between Brown and a franchising expert at a conference led to Tuesday’s seminar.
“I met Mayor Brown in Atlanta about a year ago at the National Urban League Conference,” said Stan Friedman, chairman of the IFA’s Minority and Franchise Committee. “Once I saw how committed he was to small business development, I committed to bringing the IFA to Buffalo to help economic growth in Buffalo.”
The event drew a range of franchise vendors, like Little Caesars and Children’s Technology Workshop.
“Buffalo has an entrepreneurial spirit and a lot of residents and small business are looking toward franchises as an opportunity to gain economic advantages” Wanamaker said.
The number of franchises in the United States continues to grow every year according to the IFA’s Web site. Among the most popular types of franchises are senior-care services, enrichment learning programs for children and e-Bay drop off stores.
In Buffalo’s 27th and 28th Congressional districts as of 2001, there were 6,685 franchises, creating more than 94,000 jobs with combined payrolls in excess of $2 billion, according to the IFA.
Len Rosen, business development manager for Children’s Technology Workshop, was promoting the growth in childrens’ learning enrichment franchises at the event.
Many parents are now looking into ways to make sure their children have a better life than they do. Now more parents are turning toward enrichment programs that are integrated in the classroom and in after-school programs,” said Rosen.
“Buffalo is a great place to develop this franchise because it’s a small market and there is room for a lot of growth.”
For many, interest in purchasing a franchise stems not only from the ability to be their own boss, but as a way to move ahead in life.
“There are a wide variety of people who enter into a franchise. There are people who want to become entrepreneurs; there are people who use it for a second career. There are also people who use it as a way to transition between careers,” said Kathryn Oldham, director of communications for Little Caesars.
Phil Wilkins, entrepreneur and consultant, said he expects franchising to continue to grow.
“There is already a built-in infrastructure when a person enters a franchise. Also, there isn’t the amount of risk involved as there is if a person were to go into business privately. The amount of support from a corporation is attractive to people, as well as the fact they are going into business for themselves,” Wilkins said.
By Christopher Michel BUFFALO NEWS BUSINESS REPORTER
