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It’s been a real banner year for minorities: America’s first black president was inaugurated and this week, the first Latina, Sonia Sotomayor, was nominated for the Supreme Court. Equally there’s probably never been a better time for minorities in franchising, thanks to programs like the IFA’s MinorityFran.

Did you know the multi-cultural market is valued at nearly $2 trillion? That staggering sum shows just how much potential exists in franchising for minorities. For this reason, franchisors looking to expand their base of minority franchisees might be interested in the various initiatives being organized by MinorityFran.

In the coming weeks, the IFA’s Franchise Opportunities Seminars for Women and Minorities series will be visiting a number of American cities. There’s an event being held on June 17 in St. Louis and another in on June 23 in Canton, Ohio. The St Louis sessions will feature the St. Louis Minority Business Enterprise Center/Minority Business Development Agency. It will offer a great opportunity for local franchisors to consider how to expand their appeal to minority franchisees.

These minority outreach programs are one of the many initiatives that MinorityFran sponsor. Operating since 2006, MinorityFran connects minorities with exciting franchise opportunities. MinorityFran has a wide body contacts with the minority business world and partners with the Urban League, the Association of Small Business Development Centers, the U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce, and the Minority Business Development Agency,to offer clear channels to qualified minority prospects interested in franchising

As the incomes of minorities grow and grow, there is no better time than right now to try and connect this growing demographic with an ideal franchise opportunity. Learn about MinorityFran here.

We are delighted to announce another milestone in the history of Franchise Direct: the launch of Franchise Direct Canada. This site will be the ultimate resource for Canadians looking to start a franchise. Not only will Franchise Direct Canada provide access to the best franchises in Canada, but it will feature extensive information on the Canadian franchise industry.

Franchise Direct Canada is our sixth national site: we are already connecting franchises and entrepreneurs in the US, the UK, Germany, France and Spain. Franchise Direct is a truly a world-leading franchise portal and one of the most trusted names in the industry.

Canadians who are keen to make a start in franchising can rest assured that Franchise Direct possesses an in-depth understanding of their national franchise scene. Franchise Direct brings together an informed and savvy international team highly-knowledgeable in local franchise markets. Franchise Direct Canada will have a distinct Quebec flavour, as it will be headed up by chief business developer Marie-Andree Maurice, a former Montreal native.

It couldn’t be a better time to launch Franchise Direct’s Canada site. Franchising continues to grow and grow in Canada, with some of the most established brands and innovative franchise concepts thriving there. At the same time, economists have predicted that Canada’s economy will recover faster than others from the global recession. Franchising has proven to be a vehicle for economic recovery during past recessions and Franchise Direct will help Canadian entrepreneurs connect with some of the most exciting business opportunities available today.

Not only does Franchise Direct help entrepreneurs find the perfect business, it’s also an invaluable resource for people trying to stay informed with the latest developments in the franchise industry. Learn everything you need to know about franchising as you read Franchise Direct’s exclusive franchising studies. Franchising is one of the most proven and profitable methods to start a successful business. With Franchise Direct, Canadians will now be able to access the best the industry has to offer.

We couldn’t be more excited to be operating in Canada, and we’d like to celebrate Canada in a small way by linking to the video below.

Yesterday, we were offering franchisees free advice. Sometimes prospective entrepreneurs need a more bit more than advice to get their business dreams off of the ground, though. For that reason, we’ve compiled a list of some of America’s top online entrepreneurial courses.

For those people working full-time and raising families, yet all the awhile dreaming of controlling their financial future and owning their a franchise, doing an online entrepreneur course offers a sensible path towards a clear goal. Take an individual course or do an BA or an MBA if you like. Some of the best online opportunities are available online.

MAJORS
Washington State University: Online entrepreneurship major (info here)
“You know you have a million-dollar business concept. But do you have the knowledge and skills to make it a reality? WSU’s online major in entrepreneurship provides the foundation you need to be successful.”

Must University: Entrepreneurship major (info here)

This internationally accredited online university features an entire major based on entrepreneurship. Have your degree in three months if you have the time.

MASTERS

Northeastern University’s MBA in Innovation Entrepreneurship (info here)

Partnering with the Online Education Database, Northeastern has one of the most unique online offers. If you already have a business degree and are really looking to further your education, this course is for you. The OED also have a number of partnerships with other colleges if you are interested.

SCHOOLS

Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper Business School (info here)

Carnegie Mellon is known as one of America’s top science universities, but its Tepper Business School is world-renowned for excellence in launching the best business ideas of tomorrow. Take courses like Entrepreneurship and Business Planning  from the comfort of your home

MIT’s Sloan School of Management (info here)

MIT is a global leader in innovation, which makes some of the online offerings from the Sloane School of Management so exciting. Learn from some of the best in their intriguing Open Source education plan.

COURSES

University of North Carolina: Entrepreneurship (info here)

This online course from the University of North Carolina is one of 165 business courses that UNC offer.

Atlantic International University: Entrepreneurship (info here)
“The idea of starting a business is appealing to many people. This course will introduce the many aspects required to create a successful new venture.”

OTHER TRAINING

SBA Online Training (info here)

It’s not only America’s college and universities that are offering online entrepreneurship courses. The Small Business Administration has a solid training course as well.

Franchise Direct is a great resource for advice on starting a franchise.

It’s a difficult decision and we will guide you every step of the way until you get your business off the ground. For people with questions about owning a franchise, every question you’ve ever needed answering is here. We also like to pass on pertinent advice when we come across it, which is why we thought this story in the Idaho Statesmen was of particular importance. Pete Gombart, CEO of Ballihoo, a marketing automation solutions business to franchise-based companies provided some of his experiences on working with the franchising industry. He had this bit of insight for new franchisees:

[T]he most important observation I’ve made in working with franchisees is that a franchise’s success is most highly correlated to the people who run it, and not necessarily to the national brand or system.

Gombart’s advice is to focus on the local market instead of getting too caught up in trying to implement a national system. That’s sound advice, and to that end, franchisees might be interested in some research on advertising in the soft economy. A new study by Ad-ology says that 48% of Americans think that a  business’s failure to advertise is an indicator that the business struggling. We all know that success is a contagious, and perhaps this study shows that keeping a presence in public advertising spaces does a lot to spread positivity. It’s an important thing for small franchisees to consider as budgets tighten. If you have any questions about franchising, don’t be afraid to ask in the Comments section below. [Hat tip to the Franchise King]

In this week’s Franchise Update we are wishing Little Caesars a Happy Birthday, as well as reporting on the success of a Minuteman Press franchisee.

Click here to download this week’s Franchise Update, or watch in the player below:

Little Caesars recently celebrated their 50th Birthday. The food franchise was originally started by husband and wife duo Michael and Marian Ilitch and today is one of the largest pizza restaurant franchises in the US.

Joanne Miner has been announced as one of Broward County’s 100 outstanding women. Ms Miner is a Minuteman Press franchisee and is a celebrated businesswoman in Broward County.

Thanks for watching.