Private Mailbox Rental in Demand At PostalAnnex+

Customers ask for a private mailbox rental at a PostalAnnex+ mailbox franchise for a variety of reasons:

• They want a professional appearance for their business, a street address indicating more permanency than a post office box address.
• They are one of the 6.6 million home-based businesses in the United States, and don't want customers showing up at their home, especially when they're not.
• They own rental properties and don't want tenants bothering them or their family at home.
• They buy merchandise or supplies for their business but don't want them left on the front porch to be stolen.
• They lead an organization, like a community sports league, that needs a central mailing place for communication.
• They are concerned about identity theft, and don't want to leave their incoming mail unlocked in the mailbox in front of their home.

These reasons and more are why people get a private mailbox rental at a PostalAnnex+ mailbox franchise.

The benefits:

• We'll receive packages from FedEx and UPS, an option not available with a p.o. box.
• Many locations offer "caller service" or email notification, letting you know when a package or other important mail has arrived.
• 24-hour service is available at many PostalAnnex+ stores.
• Your mail is under lock and key, twice.
• Your privacy is ensured. Store owners do not disclose to the public who rents from them.
• Complementary services. PostalAnnex+ offers many more services in additional to private mailbox rental that save you time: packaging and shipping, postal services and stamps, copy services, key duplication, notary public service and more.

So private mailbox rental is just one of the valuable services offered at a PostalAnnex+. To find the location nearest you, visit the company's website.

For information on franchising a PostalAnnex+, visit PostalAnnexFranchise.com.

PostalAnnex+ Shipping Franchise Offers Customers a Choice

You might be asking, "How is PostalAnnex+ different than any other shipping franchise?"

It's a good question, as not all shipping franchises are equal.

Simply put, PostalAnnex+ offers its customers choices in shipping. UPS, FedEx, Postal Service and in some areas even DHL for international shipments. At some of our competitors, they offer only one carrier for shipping. Is that what's best for the customer? We don't think it is.

For example, FedEx limits insurance on shipments containing jewelry to $1,000 while UPS can insure for up to $50,000 (see carrier's tariffs for complete information). If you were at a location that only ships FedEx, you might be out of luck on a $2,000 piece of jewelry missing.

On the other hand, your overnight letter of concert tickets is covered by UPS for a replacement cost only up to $100 while FedEx covers up to $50,000. You'd be out of luck if you were at a store that only ships UPS and it cost more than $100 to replace lost or delayed tickets.

So you see, having a choice allows the customer to choose the carrier that is best for their shipment. Certainly cost is one important factor, but coverage in case something goes wrong is important, especially in the rare occurrences when help is needed.

A PostalAnnex+ shipping franchise offers customers that all-important choice....a very important difference when looking to buy a franchise.

If you're interested in knowing more about owning your own business, listen to testimonials from some of our franchisees on why they chose PostalAnnex+.

PostalAnnex+ Shipping Franchisee Thanks VetFran for Assistance with Civilian Life Transition

San Diego, CA (November 2, 2009)--"Everything you are taught in the military is very valuable to being a business owner," says Mike Turner, an Army veteran and current PostalAnnex+ pack and ship franchisee in Monument, Colorado.

Turner and many other military veterans are finding opportunities in starting and running their own business through a program called VetFran. Started by Don Dwyer, founder of the Dwyer Group of franchise companies, VetFran offers veterans substantial discounts from franchisors on initial fees. Turner received nearly $6,000.

"Getting a discount on the startup fee was sure helpful," said Turner. "But what really made an impact on me was the acknowledgment for all our servicemen and women. What a generous 'thank-you' gift."

VetFran is a voluntary program of member companies of the International Franchise Association (IFA), the nation's largest trade group for franchising. With nearly 400 franchisors offering discounts to military veterans, the VetFran program won the 2008 Summit Award from the American Society of Association Executives. To date, more than 1,400 military veterans have transitioned to civilian life in business for themselves using the program.

Former U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson said, "Two hundred thousand servicemen and women separate from military service annually, and it's up to all of us…whether in the public or private sector…to help them start…or re-start…their civilian careers."

In addition to the VetFran program, the IFA also has a Veterans Scholarship Fund which awards $2,500 annual scholarships to a qualified veteran of the U.S. military, to continue his or her study of entrepreneurship.

PostalAnnex+ has been a member of VetFran since 2004. According to Steve Goble, vice president of marketing communications for Annex Brands, franchisor of the PostalAnnex+, Handle With Care-Packaging Store and Sunshine Pack & Ship brands, the company chose to partner with VetFran because it helps those who have served in our country get back on track when they are looking for a successful career.

"We have many people who have gone through the VetFran program and have found our business formula to be a great match. From our tested methods of site selection to ongoing advertising and support, our veteran franchisees like Mike have found the experience to be very rewarding," Goble said. "With Veterans Day on November 11th, we offer our veterans not just the thanks of a nation, but also the resources to transition back to, and continue in, civilian life."

Turner spent 25 years in the Army before choosing PostalAnnex+. He said he chose the shipping franchise because of its simplicity. "From managing time and personnel to waking up and getting to work on time, having experience in the military has really benefited me in this business," said Turner.

For more information about Annex Brands, please visit www.AnnexBrands.com. For information on franchising, visit PostalAnnexFranchise.com.

About Annex Brands
Annex Brands, Inc. is a franchisor of the PostalAnnex+, Handle With Care Packaging Store and Sunshine Pack & Ship brands. Formerly known as Postal Annex+, Inc, Annex Brands is headquartered in San Diego, California. Its brands offer shipping through UPS, FedEx and the USPS, custom boxing, crating and shipping of extremely fragile, large, awkward and valuable items, business services such as private mailbox rental, notary public service, document services such as high-speed copying, scanning, shredding, binding and laminating, 4-color digital printing, office supplies, faxing service, key duplication, greeting cards, gifts are more, all in a convenient, service-oriented environment. To find out more about the company, visit www.AnnexBrands.com.

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Financing For Shipping Franchises

With the economy showing early signs of recovery, now is a good time to consider small business ownership, including shipping franchises. But getting financing requires a little more legwork and information than it used to.

SBA-guaranteed loans are a common form of financing in shipping franchises, available from many banks, including your local, community bank.

Our shipping franchises meet the basic requirements of SBA-backed loans:

o   Must be operated as a for-profit entity.
o   Must be organized as a sole proprietorship, corporation or
     partnership (including LLP's and LLC's).
o   Does business within the U.S. or its possessions
o   For retail businesses up to $21.5 million in annual sales

The loan terms are defined by the use of funds:

o   Building Improvments = 25 years
o   Leasehold Improvements = 10 years
o   Machinery & Equipment = 10-20 years
o   Inventory = 7 years
o   Working Capital = 7 years

Many SBA loans use the assets purchased with the proceeds of the loan as collateral for the loans.

However, SBA requirements can also include the owner to:

o   have at least 20% equity in the business from personal savings,
     family loans and other non-bank sources;
o   possess an accetable, good personal credit history;
o   pledge personal assets as collateral for the loan.

Terms vary by lender and by loan, so borrowers should consult their local bank for more details.

Just last week, President Obama asked Congress to send him legislation that would lower the cost of funds to banks from 5% to 3% for those that submit a small business lending plan. In harder-hit communities experiencing higher job-loss or underserved rural and urban areas, Obama is asking for an ever lower 2% cost-of-funds rate.

These moves are intended to loosen the capital markets and encourage lending for small business creation.

So whether you're evaluating shipping franchises or another business concept, it appears the growth of small business is now on the radar of the Obama Administration.

(Note: credit for some material in this post to California Bank & Trust in San Diego, CA)

What Is "Due Diligence" in the Franchise Evaluation Process?

by Jason Gerhke, Director
Franchise Advisory Centre

At the point of receiving disclosure documentation, many potential franchisees are recommended by their franchisors to use the Franchising Code's 14-day waiting period to undertake their due diligence on the franchise investment.

The problem for many potential franchisees at this point is that they don't know what due diligence is and may have never heard the term before. They may figure due diligence must be something that is expensive and complicated and therefore done by the lawyers or other professional advisors that they might engage to handle "the paperwork" of the sale.

In other words, it's something difficult done by somebody else. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Due diligence is no more complicated than looking at the facts of a deal from all angles to make sure they stack up.

In short, due diligence assesses the risks and opportunities of a proposed transaction, be it buying a business or entering some other arrangement.

Conducting a building inspection and title search as a condition of buying a house is an example of due diligence in a real estate transaction.

Getting engaged and taking the time to know someone before getting married is a form of due diligence (occasionally supplemented today by Googling a potential partner's details, or searching their Twitter and Facebook pages, etc).

Most people who buy a secondhand car insist on first taking it for a test-drive, conduct a title check, get a mechanic to look over the vehicle, and ask questions of other people who have owned the same type of car. This is considered natural behaviour when buying a car and forms part of our pre-purchase due diligence.

By comparison, why wouldn't a potential franchisee or business buyer want to do the same thing when going into business for the first time?

Unfortunately, many franchisors can recount examples of franchisees who have been too eager to join the system and then conducted little or no due diligence - with the result that their businesses failed to meet their expectations and both franchisor and franchisee become estranged.

Here are some other definitions of due diligence to help potential franchisees understand the concept:

• The process of investigating a potential investment;


• The care a reasonable person should take before committing to a transaction;


• An assessment of the desirability, value and potential of an investment opportunity;


• Background research to determine the worthiness of an acquisition.

Who is responsible for undertaking due diligence?

The potential buyer is responsible for undertaking due diligence. Although there is a statutory requirement for disclosure under the Franchising Code of Conduct, franchisors are not required to ensure that franchisees actually undertake due diligence.

Even where a statutory disclosure obligation exists under the Code, buyers should - as much as possible - seek to independently verify information presented to them in order to reduce the risk of making a purchase decision based on false, out of date or incomplete information.

Buyers will usually involve professional advisors to assist in the due diligence process. These will generally include accountants (to assess financial data and issues), lawyers (to assess legal, contractual and mandatory compliance issues) and specialists relevant to the industry or market sector in which the business operates.

Irrespective of the use of advisors, the buyer takes ultimate responsibility for the decision to invest in the business offered. The buyer takes full responsibility both for the investment decision, and for the completeness of the due diligence process which gave rise to that investment decision.

Buyer to act in own interest
In any commercial transaction, the buyer has a choice to proceed or not proceed with the deal. It is expected that a seller will act in their own interest to maximise their benefit from the transaction, and by the same token, so should buyers.

However, many people who buy small businesses or franchises have little or no prior experience in undertaking such deals. As a result, they may have little or no understanding of due diligence, and instead rely solely on their accountants and lawyers, and the veracity of the information provided by the franchisor.

Unfortunately, without an adequate knowledge as to what a proper due diligence process should involve, the buyer is limited in their ability to protect their own interests. They may fail to seek professional advice in the first place, or fail to understand the advice provided. More importantly, they may simply fail to verify the information provided by the franchisor, and rely on untested detail.

If the buyer does not act in their own interests, they cannot expect that their advisors alone will be able to do so, or that sellers will either.

The cost of due diligence
There are at least two types of cost involved in conducting due diligence: hard and soft costs.

Hard costs are cash outlays, which can be substantial. It requires an investment of time and cash to research information and pay advisors. The Franchise Advisory Centre recommends that potential franchisees be prepared to pay at least between 2-5% of the cost of a franchise on due diligence alone.

In other words, if the franchise costs $100,000, then the potential franchisee should be prepared to spend between $2,000 and $5,000 on their due diligence. If, after conducting a due diligence process a buyer decides not to proceed, then the cost of due diligence will be significantly less than the potential losses the buyer would have incurred if they had proceeded with the business and it subsequently failed.

By far the greatest cost of any due diligence process is the cost of professional advisors (ie. accountants, lawyers and other professionals engaged for their expertise). These advisors will usually work on a per hour or project rate, and so it stands that the greater the investment, the more diligence required, the greater the advisor costs will be.

It goes without saying that professional advisors acting for the buyer will require payment whether or not the buyer completes the sale.

While this could mean that the buyer will "lose" the cost of the due diligence by not completing the sale, this might be a very small loss compared to the cost of buying an unsuitable or unsustainable business.

Soft costs are the costs of the buyer's time. Time spent researching a business is not something a buyer can expect to be paid for or have deducted from the purchase price of the business.

The buyer invests their time and energy in considering the transaction, and should the transaction not be completed, the buyer at least is usually better-prepared and more experienced to undertake the next due diligence process.

As a general rule, potential franchisees should make a due diligence soft cost investment of one hour of time per $1,000 to be invested in the business.

This can be spent on researching the specific business opportunity, as well as the industry and business in general and will ensure that a reasonable amount of time is allocated to assessing the risks and opportunities of the proposed transaction.

Verify disclosure information
Potential franchisees will rely primarily on information provided in the franchisor's disclosure document, and should make every attempt to independently verify each item in the document to ensure that the information presented is current and correct. It is important to remember that disclosure documents under the Code are required to be updated within four months of the end of the financial year (which for most systems will be October 31 for the preceding 12 month period July to June).

Consequently, a franchisee who receives a disclosure document in July, August or September in any given year could be looking at information which is 12 months or more old.

If this is the case, the potential franchisee may choose to request a more recent disclosure document, or defer a purchase decision until after the disclosure document is updated.

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About the Author
Jason Gehrke is a director of the Franchise Advisory Centre and has been involved in franchising for 18 years at franchisee, franchisor and advisor level. He provides consulting services to both franchisors and franchisees, and conducts franchise education programs throughout Australia. He has been awarded for his franchise achievements, and publishes Franchise News & Events, Australia’s only fortnightly electronic news bulletin on franchising issues.

Shipping Franchise Recognizes Build a Better Image Week

Company offers free faxing for resumes and tips during national awareness campaign

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (September 3, 2009) - In today's competitive job market, making a good first impression is more important than ever. Job seekers, therefore, must make it a priority to perfect their presentation with an effective resume.

"In honor of Build a Better Image Week, which takes place September 20th – 26th, 2009, we invite job seekers to stop in to one of our franchise locations and send their resumes via fax – for free," said Steve Goble, vice president of marketing communications for Annex Brands, franchisor of the PostalAnnex+, Handle With Care-Packaging Store and Sunshine Pack & Ship shipping franchise brands. "This is our way of showing our commitment to the business community. We want professionals to have the resources they need to succeed at their fingertips."

Goble adds that although faxing alone may not be the best way to contact an employer, using a faxed resume as part of an overall, comprehensive communication strategy can be quite effective. "Job seekers should utilize various channels, including regular mail, email, telephone and fax in order to make their message clear," said Goble.

Goble recommends that professionals take the following steps to ensure that their resume gets the attention it deserves:

• Send it the Right Person – When submitting a resume, it is crucial to get it into the hands of the proper contact at the company. Don't just assume that a human resources representative is the best choice; do some homework and send it to the head of the particular department in which the job opening exists.


• Get to the Point – Since most readers make a judgment on a candidate within seconds of viewing a resume, the first 10 to 15 lines of the document are crucial. These lines should include your job objective and summary of skills, which essentially should sell your track record and accomplishments.


• Pay Attention to Appearance – When mailing in a hard copy of a resume, the actual format and feel of the document can speak volumes. Every mailed resume should be freshly printed on high quality paper and should contain plenty of open space. A font style that is easy on the eyes – such as Arial 12 – is preferred.


• Draw the Eye to the Important Points– Important details should jump out at the reader. Attention-getters such as borders, bullets, bolds and underlines should be incorporated but not overused. Use them wisely.

"The appearance of a resume – from its layout to its method of delivery – can make or break an employer's decision to further investigate the candidate," added Goble. "Job seekers simply should not assume that their current resume is sufficient. That type of passive approach only increases the risk that their credentials will get lost in the shuffle."

Offering services ranging from document binding to laminating to the building of customizable Web site templates, PostalAnnex+, Handle With Care Packaging Store and Sunshine Pack & Ship are the area's one stop shops for professional development. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned business professional, the locations have a wide range of offerings that can be used to enhance your business image.

For more information about Annex Brands and to find participating locations, please visit AnnexBrands.com.

About Annex Brands
Annex Brands, Inc. is a franchisor of the PostalAnnex+, Handle With Care Packaging Store and Sunshine Pack & Ship brands. Formerly known as Postal Annex+, Inc, Annex Brands is headquartered in San Diego, California. Its brands offer shipping and business services such as moving van, freight shipping, small parcel and overnight document delivery services, private mailbox rental, notary service, high-speed copying in black & white and color, office supplies, web site/e-commerce services, faxing service, printing, stationery, rubber address stamps, key duplication, greeting cards and assorted gift items, all in a convenient, service-oriented environment. To find out more about the company, visit AnnexBrands.com. For information on shipping franchise opportunities, visit PostalAnnexFranchise.com.

Where This Shipping Franchise Began - PostalAnnex+ Store #1

It’s been over 24 years since Jack Lentz opened the doors of the first-ever PostalAnnex+ shipping franchise in San Diego, CA, but there are some things that never change.

PostalAnnex+ #1 still shares a common wall with the United States Post Office branch in the University City neighborhood.

Jane Reilly, a fixture in the store for 20 years, bought the store from Lentz in 1988, and last year sold the business to another fellow PostalAnnex+ shipping franchise owner in order to downsize her responsibilities. However, Jane loves the customers and the area so much that she still works in the store, now as an employee instead of owner.

“Working gives me direction,” Reilly said. “I don’t understand why some people spend their entire lives looking forward to their retirement.”

Apparently, having the Post Office on the other side of the wall hasn’t interfered with her business the past 20 years. Reilly has long made a point of creating a friendly relationship with the postal staff, including one she’s known for all twenty years. It’s not unusual, then, that the Post Office frequently will refer one of its customers to her.

If the cutoff time for an overnight package has passed at the USPS counter, they’ll send customers over to PostalAnnex+ where both FedEx and UPS have later pickup times the same day. Or, a P.O. clerk will send a customer to Reilly for packaging service that the USPS doesn’t provide at the counter.

With so many years as a PostalAnnex+ shipping franchise owner, Jane has helped hundreds of thousands of customers looking for solutions to their small business and shipping needs. Working hard and having a good support system certainly help, she says, but it takes more than that to be profitable.

Over the years, she has come to believe that relationships are at the heart of what she does.

“I think doing well depends on common courtesy and common sense,” Reilly said. But she also comments that she couldn’t have done this alone. “I have been so comforted and touched by the help and support that the PostalAnnex+ Home Office has given me.”

Jane is a cornerstone of the PostalAnnex+ franchise system, showing for 20 years that smart thinking, hard work, and a strong support system from the franchisor helped her turn her dreams of small business ownership into a long, satisfying part of her life.

Impact on Postal Franchise Industry of USPS's Consideration of Closing 10% of Locations

The US Postal Service has identified a list of 3,243 post offices and retail locations for possible closure. That's nearly 10% of those type of locations, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.

Expecting to make decisions by October 1, 2009, the USPS said the possible cutbacks follow a Quarter 2 YTD loss of $707 million. Mail volume continues to decline as more people pay bills online and email supplants traditional mail delivery.

What does this mean for the postal franchise industry?

Less competition. If all 3,243 locations are indeed closed within a relatively short period of time, that's 3,243 fewer places for consumers to get their postal needs met. And after all, one of the postal franchise business’ tenets is convenience….you don't have to travel as far to a US Post Office by visiting a postal franchise instead. In return, a modest convenience fee was added.

Especially at today's prices for gas, the hard cost of gasoline for a trip to and from the post office often can be more than the typical $1.50 convenience charge on a book of stamps. Not to mention the time savings from avoiding a longer drive. And a postal franchise like PostalAnnex+ usually offers more services such as copying, faxing, notarizing, packaging and other home and office services---making the convenience all the more valuable.

And with the USPS considering the elimination of normal mail pickup and delivery on Saturdays, a postal franchise such as PostalAnnex+ that is open on Saturdays provides a valuable alternative for its customers.

What will happen to all the post office box holders in facilities that close? Many are landlords, small business owners, real estate agents and other professionals that don't want people showing up at their house. Fortunately, they'll be able to continue their privacy and receive even more benefits with a private mailbox rental at PostalAnnex+ and other postal franchise locations.

So while 3,243 possible closures sounds bad for consumers, it could end up being a very good opportunity for the postal franchise industry.

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Resources to Help You in Your Search for a Shipping Franchise

In a search for a new career? Franchising offers some great features, and a shipping franchise from PostalAnnex+ is a great option.

But before we tell you about our business, we'd like to offer you some resources that will help you during your search process, regardless of where you end.

Resources for:

• Creating business plans (you'll need this if you're getting a loan): Free Sample Plans at www.bplans.com and www.businessplans.org


• Financing assistance from the Small Business Administration: www.sbaonline.sba.gov


• Free Small Business Help from Retired Executives: www.Score.org


• Information about Franchises: From the Industry's trade association at www.franchise.org

We think you should choose PostalAnnex+ because of our:

• Experience: You'll benefit from our 24 years of experience.
• Company Culture: You are the entrepreneur of your own business. We help you fulfill that dream.
• Systems: Well developed systems help you manage and run your shipping franchise.
• Marketing: You'll have access to Co-op Marketing Funds along with award-winning talent and expertise to drive an effective advertising campaign for your store.
• Training: A two-week training program will equip you with the tools you'll need to build your new business.
• Support: You'll have access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to the support you'll need to help you grow your very own shipping franchise.

Check out what some of current franchisee have to say in their
testimonials about why they chose PostalAnnex+ for their next stage in life. We know you have many questions, including about franchising in general. So we'd love to be able to answer any questions you have at your convenience. Give us a call toll-free, at 1-866-964-3142 or leave us a note on our shipping franchise website.

Retiring but Not Done? Buy a Franchise!

According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, more than 600 employees of the City of San Diego have put in for retirement this year, triple the number last year.

Is it because the baby boomers are now creating a wave of retirees? Possibly. But the article attributed the large increase to a cut in city benefits that take effect this month.
By retiring now, these employees are locking in better rates for their pension payouts and healthcare coverage.

But are these employees done?

Not so. And with many of these retirees in their fifties, they’re bound to be looking for the next place to utilize their experience and skills.

One popular choice is to buy a franchise. Franchising offers a prospect the ability to join a tested system rather than start a concept from scratch. In exchange for a franchise fee to start, and ongoing royalties and advertising fees, franchisees get support in the areas of:

o operations
o computers
o customer relationship building
o skill-building
o networking
o marketing planning
o advertising materials
o setting up a store's website
o marketing co-op funds
o ...and more.

To buy a franchise usually requires a level of net worth, depending on the type of franchise. PostalAnnex+ has a relatively low investment, compared to all the options available, ranging from $138,800 to $200,050.

PostalAnnex+ also offers its franchisees a Matching Funds Program in which a portion of the advertising fees paid are returned to the franchisees for qualified advertising expenditures.

In addition, when people buy a franchise from PostalAnnex+, they get assistance with site selection, directions in financing, comprehensive training both pre-and after opening, award-winning marketing materials, and more.

One of the first best steps for a retiree or anyone else seeking to own their own future and buy a franchise is to check out the Company’s franchising website.

Franchising Offers a Good Solution to Career Question, "What Next?"

By Steve Goble
Vice President of Marketing Communications
Annex Brands, Inc.

San Diego, California (April 17, 2009) -- With baby boomers getting set to retire, and with unemployment at levels unseen in decades, many are looking to the next season in their lives. One option with growing interest is taking more control of one’s future through small business ownership, specifically with franchising.

But why franchising?

Edgar Harris, a PostalAnnex+ postal & shipping franchise owner in Oceanside, CA explained: “When I retired from the military, I knew I had the skills to try my hand at owning a business. But I didn’t want to learn from scratch. Franchising offered me the great opportunity of ownership without having to do it all on my own.”

According to an economic impact report published by the International Franchise Association (IFA), in 2005, the latest year of government data available, more than 900,000 franchised establishments in the U.S created 11 million jobs and generated over $880 billion in economic output. And when you add in jobs that support franchising, such as durable goods manufacturing, financing and construction, another 21 million jobs and $2.3 trillion have been created. That's more than 1 out of every 7 private sector jobs in America owing to franchised businesses.

Harris investigated several franchising concepts before deciding on buying a PostalAnnex+ franchise, a mail and parcel, business services franchise. “I knew I didn’t want to go home smelling like grease and have to manage a large staff, so this franchise was perfect for my personality.”

Steve Goble, vice president of marketing communications for Annex Brands, Inc., the franchisor of PostalAnnex+, said Harris found a great fit for his personality and skills. "Edgar really enjoys coming to work each day, and he cheers up everyone who visits his store," commented Goble. "Even his wife Dori has joined in the family business, and now they have two stores. Their customers love them, the neighboring businesses love them and the community loves them.”

Andrew Hack, a Handle With Care Packaging Store franchisee for over 20 years in Troy, MI says the support is what he enjoys from being a franchisee. “Owners of Handle With Care Packaging Store come from all walks of life. I have to say the support is the best thing that this franchise has given us. They’re always there for you, always there to lend a hand, always willing to work with you.”

Hack says having access to his brand’s other franchisees through an intranet system has allowed sharing of ideas and experiences he finds beneficial to his business.

Why choose franchising over starting an independent location? Franchising offers prospects several advantages:

· a franchise model is a tested model; it can save you from an expensive learning curve;
· a franchisor offers support in many areas of your business which you may not be able to master without larger support, including creating helpful operational and marketing programs
· a franchised system creates economies of scale with other franchisees, often leading to better discounts with suppliers;
· a franchise may offer instant brand recognition in a market, bringing in customers more quickly than if you have to educate them in what you do;
· lenders may afford franchises more favorable terms due to a better-known path of experience;
· a franchise offers a peer network where you can share ideas and opportunities, and ask questions relating to your business as well;
· franchises may set forth a more defined level of investment required to start a business.

There also are some structured aspects of franchising that don’t always appeal to independently minded businesspeople:

· franchisees agree to adhere to defined rules and standards as part of the relationship;
· franchisees might be limited in the products and services they can offer to the public;
· fees such as royalties and marketing fees must be paid to the franchisor for their support and programs.

And while a franchise is an investment, it’s a career as well. Goble recommends that a prospect interview the franchisor similar to a job interview, and talk to current franchisees as well. “Ask what kind of support is offered, what degree of flexibility is allowed," he said. "Get a list from the franchisor of people in their system similar to your background and compare notes.”

Goble also said franchisees benefit from the assistance of the IFA, the industry's largest trade association. "The IFA has been very visible in front of Congress, promoting franchising as an integral part of the American economic recovery," he commented. "Imagine having an advocate before your U.S. senator or congressman, promoting your business at no additional cost to you...all because you belong to a franchise system in which your franchisor is footing the bill. There aren't many associations like that looking out for you as an independent."

Matthew Shay, president of the IFA, commented, "In every line of business, and in every state, franchising is a major source of jobs and a critical engine of economic growth." Shay recently outlined a five-step plan the IFA submitted to Congress that will help franchise businesses be an integral part of the economic recovery. These suggestions include steps to promote better access to credit and capital, provide health insurance for employees and to provide clarity and certainty in small business tax law. Established in 1960, the IFA represents franchise concepts in over 75 industries, counting over 1,200 franchisors, 10,000 franchisees and 500 suppliers as members.

Certainly franchising is an attractive option for many right now, from the retiring seeking a second career to those who seek more control over their future after a layoff. For more information on franchising and small business ownership, consult the IFA’s website at http://www.franchise.org/ and the US Small Business Administration at http://www.sba.gov/.

About PostalAnnex+
PostalAnnex+ is a one-stop support center for packaging, shipping and office supply needs. Headquartered in San Diego, California, and founded in 1985, there are more than 275 locations operating nationally and internationally. All PostalAnnex+ locations are owned and operated by licensed franchisees. For more information on services or for franchising information, visit http://www.postalannex.com/.

About Handle With Care Packaging Store
Handle With Care Packaging Store (HWCPS) was founded in 1984 in Denver, Colorado. The average tenure of a HWCPS owner is over ten years, showing a depth of experience in handling the proper packing and shipping of fragile, large, awkward and valuable items. Typical items shipped include pieces of fine art, antiques, single pieces of furniture, electronic equipment and more. Currently, there are 60 franchises located across 25 states, including Alaska and Hawaii. For more information on services or for franchising information, visit http://www.gopackagingstore.com/.

About Annex Brands
Annex Brands, Inc. is a franchisor of the PostalAnnex+, Handle With Care-Packaging Store, Sunshine Pack & Ship and SPS Moving brands. Formerly known as Postal Annex+, Inc, Annex Brands is headquartered in San Diego, California.

Its brands offer shipping and business services such as moving van, freight shipping, small parcel and overnight document delivery services, private mailbox rental, notary service, high-speed copying in black & white and color, office supplies, web site/e-commerce services, faxing service, printing, stationery, rubber address stamps, key duplication, greeting cards and assorted gift items, all in a convenient, service-oriented environment. To find out more about the company, visit http://www.annexbrands.com/.

About the International Franchise Association
The International Franchise Association, the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising, is the preeminent voice and acknowledged leader for the industry worldwide. Approaching a half-century of service with a growing membership of more than 1,200 franchise systems, 10,000-plus franchisees and more than 500 firms that supply goods and services to the industry, IFA protects, enhances and promotes franchising by advancing the values of integrity, respect, trust, commitment to excellence, honesty and diversity. For more information including the 2009 Economic Outlook report, visit the IFA Web site at http://franchise.org/.

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