Wer awee will lake Bon thi sale pexi ine: or, nd th m ed’ sa ‘ade zach ‘an hon} Portal .Thsog sndted al tly : Seley with Lal sale nt _— aceat tm des se :i qis | iar Ly bay named * he ateed The Face Of Small Business In America (NAPSA)—Years ago, mom- and-pop stores dominated the retail landscape. In manyrespects they still do; they just look different. Today, many entrepreneurs, including those looking to start a family business, often turn to a franchise concept. According to research conducted by PricewaterhouseCoop- business owners. After learning chise Association (IFA), there are bought her first The UPS Store franchised small businesses, which create jobs for more than 18 million people. Franchising now she purchasedher secondcenter. ers for the International Francurrently more than 760,000 U.S. spans 75 different industries and generates in excess of $1.5 trillion in U.S. economic output. Such diversity has opened the field so much that there’s virtually something for everyone. If you’re looking to start a small business, chances are there’s a franchised version of it out there somewhere. “Franchising is a direct by-prod- uct of the American entrepreneurial spirit,” says IFA President Matthew Shay. “The concept was developed by successful entrepreneurs looking to expand their businesses rapidly. Today, the franchise phenomenon has gone global and attracts a broad rangeof individuals.” Stuart Mathis, president of Mail Boxes Etc., Inc., the UPS subsidiary company that fran- the business as an employee, she location at age 22. Two yearslater, “T thought about opening a coffee stand or pizza place, but scout- ing locations around town, I could see what was needed and where. The UPS Store seemed right for me,” she says. Further along the spectrum are Nicole and Steve Byrne, who saw franchising as an opportunity to explore a new career path and leave a family legacy. The Byrnes recently opened a location inside the Flamingo Las Vegas hotel. “We were looking to start a family business and were thrilled about the unique opportunity offered through a nontraditional loca- tion,” says Steve. The IFA’s Shay says military veterans are catching the entrepreneurial spirit as well. Since the organization implemented its VetFran program, nearly 300 veter- Shay’s comments. “From young people in their twenties looking to ans have signed on for a “tour of duty” with one of more than 140 participating franchise organiza- to civilian life, to people leaving listing” more than 70 new fran- amongourfranchisees,” he says. One of those budding entrepre- the storefront might be a highly recognized brand, the person chises The UPS Store, echoes make a name for themselves, to military personnel transitioning corporate careers to start a business, we see amazing diversity tions. The UPS Store has been among the most successful, “en- chisees through the program. So, even though the name on neurs is Melissa Cocks, who “inherited” the entrepreneurial behind the counteris likely to be a small-business owner whois help- ther, both of whom were small- entrepreneurship in America. spirit from her father and grandfa- ing to maintain a long tradition of
