Messenger Xtra: Going Independent or Going Go Mini's

By Michael Lohman

Going into business for yourself has always been known to be a risky venture. One way to enter entrepreneurship is to start your own business or buy into an existing one. Another is to choose the franchising model and buy into a proven system with a known brand name and large network of operators. Each path has its own promise, as well as perils. Once the choice is made, the question becomes what type of business do you really want?

Passion and enthusiasm are obvious ingredients in steering a business from startup to success. Many customers of their favorite sub shop or pizza place think, “I’d love to own one of these!” That is, until they realize they’re not cut out for retail, managing teenagers, or spending 60 or 70+ hours a week in their new restaurant for a year or two…or three. Choosing a business and a business model should be a business decision. “After all, you’re in to make money, right?”

Go Mini’s Moving & Portable Storage is one of those unique types of businesses that provides that proven franchise system that most entrepreneurs seek. It’s a franchise system that doesn’t require many employees to operate and allows you to work from your home or an office. What makes Go Mini’s really unique is the fact the company is owned and operated by existing franchisees, a true entrepreneurial culture like no other. The system that was created by its owners over the last few years empowers new operators to think “outside the box” and be creative when operating in their local territories. We like to think of ourselves as a new kind of franchise system where the franchisor and franchisee get to enjoy a mutually beneficial relationship with the same goal in mind investing and building a better future.

There are numerous other benefits that come with a owning a Go Mini’s franchise. First, we can help do- it-yourself customers avoid the hassle and the expense of renting a truck—not to mention the anxiety of driving a large vehicle. Storage renters can make fewer trips with their belongings, taking extra care with their sometimes fragile goods. Moreover, portable self-storage users can pack at their own pace, while avoiding the need to carry heavy boxes and bulky furniture up ramps and into moving trucks. In addition, once goods are in storage, these customers don’t have to make even a single visit to the storage facility, unless, of course, they need to add or remove items from their portable storage containers.

Being part of a franchise system or large family as we like to call ourselves at Go Mini’s benefits the new entrepreneur in a variety of different ways, you may be the best at what you do, but do you know how to manage a business, hire and train employees, market your product or service, keep the books, etc.? When you start your own business, you must learn all these things on your own, with “rookie mistakes” as part of the learning curve. The Go Mini’s franchise system provides new franchisees with extensive training in every aspect of their new business, from renting containers to which software system to use. Go Mini’s also offers advanced training to help you stay on top of your business as it grows.

Keep in mind most entrepreneurs, franchised or not, love what they do. In fact, they’re rather do what they love, which can result in neglecting how they manage their business. Additionally, caught up in the day-to-day details of such “mundane details” as taxes and supplies, they fail to innovate and to develop as leaders and executives. Go Mini’s provides field support specialists to help keep their franchisees on track, training them to become managers and leaders “working on the business, not necessarily in it.”

One of the most important factors in deciding the right business model is where do you go and who do you ask questions to get answers, get support or stay connected with the latest technology? If you own your business, you can join the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, or other local business organizations, so you’re not completely alone. As a Go Mini’s franchisee, you receive ongoing support not only from Go Mini’s corporate, but also from your fellow franchisees. This can be locally, regionally, at annual national conventions, through an online support network, or just by picking up the phone. Local business groups are invaluable for the networking connections they can provide, but who better to ask for help with your business than someone who’s already solved the problem you’re facing for the first time?

Lastly, and most importantly, selling an independent business can be very lucrative – but the pool of potential buyers is much smaller than with a known brand. When faced with a choice between Carl’s Jr. and Brad’s Burger Boat, prospective business owners often opt for the safety and familiarity of a known brand over a private business, just as consumers do when looking for a burger. And in tough times if you need to sell you may have to do so at a bargain basement price – if you can find a buyer at all. With a Go Mini’s franchise, there’s always a potential buyer of last resort: the franchisor, who can potentially buy your unit and run it as a company store until they find a suitable buyer, the options for a profitable exit as a franchise business are unlimited.

Passion and enthusiasm are evident amongst the 220 Go Mini’s territory owners throughout North America. After all, it was the independent business owners within the Go Mini’s network who decided in early 2012 that the franchising business model was the ultimate key to success in the moving & portable self-storage industry.

For more information on the Go Mini’s Franchise opportunity, please visit www.gominisfranchise.com or call (805)716-6464.

Go Mini’s awards & accolades include the following: