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Smart Media is a Research and Survey Company created to verify the
validity of advertising content, claims and representations.
In business since 1998, Smart Media serves as an Industry Watchdog,
actively working to verify the back- ground and histories of the companies
that place the advertisements.
This research data enables us to establish the levels of consumer interest
and the efficacy of advertising and promotional campaigns.
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*Surveyed Sites for the week of
Please Note: The Surveyed Sites
featured
below have passed Smart Media Research Services
stringent business guidelines and have earned
our recommendation. Use this link
to review
these guidelines.
Click on Company Name for Contact Information
Candy
Bouquet
Specialty “floral bouquets” made out of candies
Year began: 1989 Franchising since: 1993
Flowers and candy have always gone together, but for Margaret McEntire,
that combination created a business that now boasts storefront and homebased
franchises in 49 states and 44 countries. Candy Bouquet was born in
a Little Rock, Arkansas, garage, where McEntire created arrangements
using candies and chocolates in place of flowers. Now franchisees worldwide
sell, ship and deliver the bouquets, which can also include cookies,
balloons and stuffed animals. Candy
Bouquet is a privately-held company with 30 employees.
Total investment: $7.3K-44.1K
Express/kiosk option available
Franchise fee: $2K-27K
Ongoing royalty fee: $none
Term of agreement: 5 years, renewable
Renewal fee: 25% of original fee
Jiffy
Lube Int'l. Inc.
Oil-change service
Year began: 1979 Franchising since: 1979
The decline of full-service gas stations in the 1970s left many consumers
without their traditional sources for oil changes. Jiffy Lube began
under Jim Hindman in 1979 as an association of seven fast-lube centers
in the western United States. Today the franchise is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Pennzoil-Quaker State Co. and has locations nationwide.
Total investment: $174K-194K
Franchise fee: $35K
Ongoing royalty fee: to 5%
Term of agreement: 20 years, renewable
Renewal fee: $17.5K
Talking
Book World
Sales and rentals of audiobooks on cassette and CDs
Year began: 1993 Franchising since: 1995
Talking Book World was founded in 1993 by Richard Simtob and Tyrone
Pereira. In 1995 the company added a new partner, Jonny Kest, and registered
to sell franchises. The privately held company is based in Bradenton,
Florida. Talking
Book World is a privately-held company with 5 employees.
Total investment: $150K-225K
Franchise fee: $25K
Ongoing royalty fee: 5%
Term of agreement: 15 years, renewable
Renewal fee: $5K
Show
Me PCs
In-home and at-work computer training
Year began: 1999 Franchising since: 1999
Founded by Mark Cameron and Allen Brehm in 1999, Houston-based Show
Me PCs provides adults with one-on-one computer training in their homes
and offices. Franchisees work with a variety of clients, teaching them
how to use a variety of computer software and programs. Through the
company’s system, Show Me PCs clients learn how to send and receive
e-mail, shop, do research, track stocks, play games and develop Web
pages on the Internet. A variety of offline skills are also taught,
including how to create and publish documents, make cards and banners,
and scan and print photos. Show Me PCs is a privately-held company with
6 employees.
Total investment: $21.5K-40.5K
Franchise fee: $9.8K
Ongoing royalty fee: 7%
Term of agreement: 5 years, renewable
GNC
Franchising Inc.
Year began: 1935 Franchising since: 1988
Vitamin and nutritional products stores. GNC now focuses on vitamins
and nutritional supplements.The “GNC Live Well” store format offers
a full line of supplements plus aromatherapy, bath and spa products.
Franchisor is a public company with 600 employees.
Total investment: $132.7K-182K
Franchise fee: $40K/30K
Ongoing royalty fee: 6%
Term of agreement: 10 years, renewable
Renewal fee: Current franchise fee
Ziebart
Auto appearance services and accessories.
Year began: 1954 Franchising since: 1963
Ziebart International was founded in 1954 by Kurt Ziebart. A German
mechanic, Ziebart developed a process to stop corrosion and opened the
first Ziebart store in Detroit. The private company began franchising
in 1963 and has more than 600 locations in 55 countries. In 1989, Ziebart
acquired Tidy Car, a franchise company offering similar services, and
sold franchises under the name of Ziebart Tidy Car until 1999, when
the name changed to Ziebart. The company has co-branding relationships
with Speedy Auto Glass and Rhino Linings USA. Ziebart
is a privately-held company with 60 employees.
Total investment: to $170K
Franchise fee: $25K
Ongoing royalty fee: 8%
Term of agreement: 10 years, renewable
Renewal fee: $3.9K
Dental
People Franchise
Dental People has developed a specialized niche within the dental industry
that can provide you with an opportunity to build a very successful
business. Most healthcare staffing companies specialize in medical
without a priority on dental staffing. Everything we do is geared to
meet the staffing needs of a dental business. We screen and hire only
the best and brightest candidates, typically employees who work full
time and adapt skillfully to various practice cultures and logistics.
Total investment: $60K-100K
Franchise fee: $30K
Ongoing royalty fee: 5%
Term of agreement: 10 years, renewable
easyInternetcafe
Retail Internet access
Year began: 1999 Franchising since: 2001
easyInternetcafé offers self-service, low cost Internet access
to the masses!
We are a completely automated and staff-less operation whose aim is
to offer the cheapest way to get online. We are a convenient Internet
access point with the ability to deliver the Internet to customers at
a very low cost.
easyInternetcafé is a privately-held company with 20 employees.
Total investment: $33.3K-218.9K
Express/kiosk option available
Franchise fee: $13.4K-64K
Ongoing royalty fee: 5%
Term of agreement: 4 years, not renewable
More Surveyed Sites
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