Popular Franchise opportunities

[aceduecetrey]

no joke.... pumping out septic tanks....

You can make a decent living just having one truck that does that and also restaraunt oil.

Have a good friend that does it and makes 100k, but is worried with all these people that are now running their trucks off of spent vegetable oils.

 

[shdw01]

Does Tim Horton's franchise? I read that in this thread but can't find info on it. I'm referring to being able to buy franchises for U.S. cities.

http://www.timhortons.com/en/join/franchise_us_program.html

 

[FairWarning]

How about opening a slew of in an out stores in Waikiki name them say abcd stores.........LOL

Loved seeing the abc store in Planet Hollywood.

I was surprised at their prices. They could really gouge, but was very competitive.

A possibility is a laundromat. Another one is a limo service.

 

[Doug]

How about something simpler ?

an old-fashioned ice cream truck.

no expensive storefront, minimal start-up costs,warm weather most of the year,tourists with money to spend.

 

[shdw01]

As far as a laundromat, I'm not sure if this is a thing in Hawaii...

but every condo/apartment that I have ever seen has either:
1) Washer/Dryer in their unit
2) Washer/Dryer on every floor (coin-op)
3) A group of Washer/Dryers downstairs (coin-op)

I have seen a few close down and can only think of one that is still running. I have to think these are used by people whose machines broke and cannot afford a new one.

(FWIW, very ghetto inside, not like ross/rachel doing laundry)

 

[shdw01]

How about something simpler ?

an old-fashioned ice cream truck.

no expensive storefront, minimal start-up costs,warm weather most of the year,tourists with money to spend.

That sounds like a good/fun idea.

I don't know why but I do not see ice cream trucks anymore. I bet they charge a pretty penny for their treats.

 

[lionking]

sheetz

must be from PA!!

i have already looked into opening a couple of these up, they dont franchise unfortunately

 

[HiPockets]

drive the brown truck

Short term stay away from all the 'pay for convenience' franchise heavys like food, gas, and coffee. You could start a franchise refinancing failures in this sector over the next years. Franchise means branding means more expensive, and maybe ok for parking whale money in easy times but suicide for small timers in constricting economies. I totally agree with the septic truck type essential service logic if it flies above the reach of immigrant labor- ie requires finance on an expensive truck or requires expensive machinery or is industry /governmental protected like fishing/crabbing rights. Energy is the new technological elephant and the good news is that its demands and opportunities will open large windows to small timers.

 

[buddyboy]

your #1 problem on that rock is gonna be RENT or MORTGAGE payments...

figure out what you can afford and where then that will give you an idea of what you can put there.

big difference between a place right on lewers street and one in Waianae.

 

[SSI]

i own a successful convenience store, keeping your overhead in check is everything.

 

[shdw01]

your #1 problem on that rock is gonna be RENT or MORTGAGE payments...

figure out what you can afford and where then that will give you an idea of what you can put there.

big difference between a place right on lewers street and one in Waianae.

100% agree.


That is why there is a rift in thinking. If I want to capitalize on tourism in hawaii (wealthy foreigners esp. since the $ isn't too strong), then I will need something of significant lease expense. And if I'm looking at this then the best way might be to hit up a franchise with a big name so that people go. One that amazes me with the everyday business-flow is Cheesecake factory. People from all over + tourists go there to no end. Any given day during dinner you are looking at a 1hr+ wait.

But on the other token, I want to keep overhead down and minimize my risk. low overhead not only reduces risk but increases likelihood of success. To do this, I will have to locate away from tourists (maybe far away) or provide a service (which also alienates tourists...except for the baby equip rental idea).

Very tough...i need to start calling some of my friends that went into marketing....but not the idiot ones that would always call me to get drunk during college....lol

 

[Doug]

How the Hell is gasoline cheaper in Hawaii than the $3.80 it costs in CT ?

Don't they refine it in like Louisiana, have to ship it via tanker through the Panama canal,etc. ?

I'd think it would be $5+ there ?

<table class="PriceTable" style="border-bottom: 0px none;" cellspacing="0" width="98%"><tbody><tr><td class="selected">Regular Gas</td> <td class="menu">Midgrade</td> <td class="menu">Premium</td> <td class="menu">Diesel Fuel</td> </tr> <tr class="Sidebarheader"> <th colspan="4">Lowest Regular Gas Prices in the Last 72 Hours</th> </tr> </tbody></table> <table class="PriceTable" cellspacing="0" width="98%"><tbody><tr class="DetailTableHeader"> <th width="35"> Price</th> <th colspan="2" width="150"> Station</th> <th width="75"> Area</th> <th width="75"> Time</th> <th width="75"> Thanks</th> </tr> <tr class="PTableRow"> <td class="PColLow" rowspan="2"> </td> <td class="PStation" align="left"> Aloha </td> <td class="PFind" rowspan="2" valign="top"> </td> <td class="PList" rowspan="2" width="75">Whitmore</td> <td class="PList" rowspan="2">Sat
9:20 PM</td> <td class="PList" rowspan="2">Tekken
</td> </tr> <tr class="PTableRow"> <td class="PAddress" colspan="1">1203 Whitmore Ave </td> </tr> <tr class="PTableRow"> <td class="PColLow" rowspan="2"> </td> <td class="PStation" align="left"> Costco </td> <td class="PFind" rowspan="2" valign="top"> </td> <td class="PList" rowspan="2" width="75">Waipio</td> <td class="PList" rowspan="2">Mon
2:45 PM</td> <td class="PList" rowspan="2">carpat
</td> </tr> <tr class="PTableRow"> <td class="PAddress" colspan="1">Ka Uka Blvd </td> </tr> <tr class="PTableRow"> <td class="PColLow" rowspan="2"> </td> <td class="PStation" align="left"> Aloha </td> <td class="PFind" rowspan="2" valign="top"> </td> <td class="PList" rowspan="2" width="75">Mililani</td> <td class="PList" rowspan="2">Sun
7:28 PM</td> <td class="PList" rowspan="2">Tekken
</td> </tr> <tr class="PTableRow"> <td class="PAddress" colspan="1">95-280 Kipapa Dr </td> </tr> <tr class="PTableRow"> <td class="PColLow" rowspan="2"> </td> <td class="PStation" align="left"> Freedom </td> <td class="PFind" rowspan="2" valign="top"> </td> <td class="PList" rowspan="2" width="75">Mililani</td> <td class="PList" rowspan="2">Sun
5:15 PM</td> <td class="PList" rowspan="2">oki
</td> </tr> <tr class="PTableRow"> <td class="PAddress" colspan="1">Kam Hwy & Kipapa </td> </tr> <tr class="PTableRow"> <td class="PColLow" rowspan="2"> </td> <td class="PStation" align="left"> Tesoro </td> <td class="PFind" rowspan="2" valign="top"> </td> <td class="PList" rowspan="2" width="75">Mililani</td> <td class="PList" rowspan="2">Sun
7:28 PM</td> <td class="PList" rowspan="2">Tekken
</td> </tr> <tr class="PTableRow"> <td class="PAddress" colspan="1">95-1141 Ukuwai </td> </tr> <tr class="PTableRow"> <td class="PColLow" rowspan="2"> </td> <td class="PStation" align="left"> Chevron </td> <td class="PFind" rowspan="2" valign="top"> </td> <td class="PList" rowspan="2" width="75">Pauoa</td> <td class="PList" rowspan="2">Sun
11:50 PM</td> <td class="PList" rowspan="2">hawaii5oh
</td> </tr> <tr class="PTableRow"> <td class="PAddress" colspan="1">1909 Nuuanu Ave & Pauoa Rd </td> </tr> <tr class="PTableRow"> <td class="PColLow" rowspan="2"> </td> <td class="PStation" align="left"> Aloha </td> <td class="PFind" rowspan="2" valign="top"> </td> <td class="PList" rowspan="2" width="75">Waipio</td> <td class="PList" rowspan="2">Sun
7:35 PM</td> <td class="PList" rowspan="2">Tekken
</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[fhmesq44]

cheesecake factory doesn't franchise, they are all corporately owned and publicly traded. Same with PF Changs and all those places like that.

You could run the rental business I referenced above out of your house. It would be up to you to deliver the stuff, not the customers to pick it up, so your garage would work just fine. I will try to find the place we used when we were last in Hawaii. Which Island are you on?

 

[HiPockets]

I drove an off brand ice cream truck in Levittown PA and broke even, even after I worked a deal with the local Good Humor driver to carve up the streets (that 'll teach the little basta*#@! with their 'we're waiting for Good Humor' mocks). It was one of those old style bell-ringers where you had to stop the truck and walk around to the back freezer door. It was a plug-in meaning that you had to run an extension cord to house power at night. No money in the sleepy hour afternoon routs. Nightime sports events 'territories' were a necessity. Never wore the 'whites' but I did sport one of those waist belt coin clickers.

 

[shdw01]

Doug, not sure how they come up with gas prices but the gas station by my house charges $3.98/3.88/3.78 for the 3 grades....saw this morning. I agree....thought hawaii would be the highest....if it makes you feel better, the other islands pay more than oahu.

fmesq44, yeah, there was no way i would even think of opening a cheesecake factory (didn't even check to see franchise or not)....just pointing out one of the newer companies to come here and do great...they are in waikiki and have a HUGE lot on the main drag there (in the hotel/shopping complex). I would consider getting a public storage box or something. Although if I had a huge house would be good cause I could deduct a portion of my mortgage for this. live on oahu.


HiPockets...you might have just told me why this won't work in hawaii....if you had to do all that to break even....yikes...imagine with today's gas prices and the fact hawaii has no major sporting events!

 

[fhmesq44]

Shdw,

Here is the place we used when on Maui.

http://nanaenterprises.com/

Looks like it would have been $150 for two cribs plus the toys. You could do this in your spare time.

 

[Doug]

I drove an off brand ice cream truck in Levittown PA and broke even, even after I worked a deal with the local Good Humor driver to carve up the streets (that 'll teach the little basta*#@! with their 'we're waiting for Good Humor' mocks). It was one of those old style bell-ringers where you had to stop the truck and walk around to the back freezer door. It was a plug-in meaning that you had to run an extension cord to house power at night. No money in the sleepy hour afternoon routs. Nightime sports events 'territories' were a necessity. Never wore the 'whites' but I did sport one of those waist belt coin clickers.

Might be a lot different in Hawaii, though... esp. if little competition ?

 

[harman]

rita's water ice. only open from late march-mid october. tasty shit. $300K or so

 

[Matt24]

red robin..... yummmmmmmmmmm

 

[shdw01]

red robin..... yummmmmmmmmmm

ironically, this is the one that started my interest. I saw a commercial and thought, "why the fuck are there red robin commercials in hawaii and no red robins".....

and I actually like the food, the environment, and think it might do pretty well here.....looked it up, and I don't think they franchise.....

now it is like we have all the collective rx minds together.

on a side note, we should have someone organize an rx operation in vegas where we each invest for a portion of our company....rich bastards like joey can contribute more than poor guys like me....hehehe