Once you complete training, you will be skilled and equipped to begin your business. All necessary equipment for your initial training in Las Vegas is provided. The initial fee is $11,500. You will need to budget $1,500 for additional equipment and supplies to get started upon completion of your training. The various necessary additional equipment can include: goods for resale such as collars, leashes, muzzles, etc; starter kits for affiliate programs; and various other business management tools.
Your initial fee includes your Franchise fee, Sit Means Sit (SMS) certification training including housing, ongoing education and support via conference calls, internet and phone; our National Trainers Tour featuring Regional Seminars with no tuition fees.*
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Being a Sit Means Sit (SMS) franchise owner requires daily interactions with people, they are your sole source of income. You have a signed contract to modify the behavior of their dog and your clients expect you to fulfill that contract “to the letter.” You charge a premium for your time and you have a set schedule.
In other words, there are more than a few things that can go wrong in the course of your day. When things go wrong, clients are affected, usually in a way that complicates the equilibrium of the company/client relationship. Heated disputes with clients are rare for SMS franchise owners. Our training system works and that is the basis for being hired by a client in the first place. Our price is contracted, too, so disputes over money are atypical. Therefore, conflicts are minimized.
Yet things happen, so Customer Service skills are necessary.
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Ballpark, what’s my buy-in expense for a license?
The typical Trade Area (territory) is $11,500 for a one-time license fee (owner training and equipment is an additional launch cost; see Capital Commitment section for information on start-up expenses).
Do You Offer Financing?
The Fee balance may be financed over thirty-six (36) month period at an Annual Percentage Rate of 7%, on approved credit. Past due balances are subject to a $25.00 late fee in addition to the accumulated financing charge.
Do I need a minimum net worth to be licensed by SMS?
Yes, at least $50,000USD plus liquidity of $20,000USD.
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Will dog training be my sole source of income?
No matter what business an entrepreneur enters, there is selling involved. There are always competitors soliciting against you, often at rates below yours. But that is okay, you can prosper with a minimum of experience. It is more the level of your commitment rather than selling skills that win the day. Many leads will come from people calling after seeing your Sit Means Sit brand, whether through advertising, word-of-mouth or direct contact. You, your dog and your clients become walking advertisments wherever they go. Referrals are a consistent source of sales leads. Do good by a client and they’ll do good by you, referring their friends, neighbors and complete strangers to you.
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At some point your business franchise will grow to a point where you will need to add a trainer. The initial training you received in Las Vegas as a business franchise owner will greatly ease the new burden you face with an employee. The curriculum for franchise owners anticipates your inevitable growth in training staff and prepares you for it.
When you invest time in staff training, it obviously keeps you from your other responsibilities as a business franchise owner. Surely you will put in as many hours after training as you put into staff training and that can prove burdensome. In business terms, the return on your investment in time is an obvious advantage.
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While you do business as a Sit Means Sit franchise, we recommend new entrepreneurs incorporate to take advantage of liability protections and secure tax advantages, unless your individual circumstances are more complex. Yes, there are plenty of forms to fill out and submit, along with fees to pay, no matter in which state you intend to operate your franchise. But certain services (like LegalZoom.com) can simplify the process and provide you forms to file with your state.
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Entrepreneurs successful at building a Sit Means Sit operation did not necessarily come to us from a sales and marketing background. What they lacked initially in selling skills is offset with drive and determination.
It is not a prerequisite that a prospective SMS franchise owner know all there is to know about sales and marketing. Of course, the ultimate success of a SMS franchise is in direct proportion to an owner’s ability to develop and maintain consumer patronage. While having the underpinnings of leadership, will surely prove helpful when a focused entrepreneur sets out to grow their SMS business, executing techniques proven successful by other owners in other markets, will win the day.
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We have a guarantee for those that are attending our dog training school for franchisees that some people in the industry think is just plain crazy!
Our guarantee states:
"Should Licensor (Sit Means Sit Franchise Inc.) determine that Licensee’s or any of Licensee’s employees’ progress during the Initial Training Program is unsatisfactory, Licensor may terminate this Agreement in which case it will refund the Initial Fee, less the sum of $2,000 plus all direct and indirect costs and expenses incurred by Licensor prior to such termination. (License Agreement § 6.1.2)"
We’ve heard all the arguments from people in the franchise business about why they think this is absurd. A few of them that come to mind are:
1. ‘Refunding their money at that time, would in essence have given them a free education’.
2. Have you ever had to refund anyone?
3. Couldn’t they go out and try to then just start a business on their own?
4. You are willing to put that in writing?
The answer to all of these questions is ‘Yes!’.
Why do we have such simple, pervasive guarantee and put it in writing?
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As you evaluate this franchise opportunity, it’s likely you will create a spreadsheet to forecast expenses and revenues for your Sit Means Sit franchise.
On the revenue side, you have three streams of income to forecast:
- Obedience training fees from consumers
a) for those locations that are zoned appropriately, board and train packages are a steady staple of income.
- Sit Means Sit collar sales
- Product sales (inventory from our online store) SMS owners buy all products at wholesale prices, allowing significant profit from resale (see local tax officials to see if you need a sales tax license for such sales).
A price sheet will be included in your new owner packet.
In addition to the above revenue streams, Sit Means Sit is continually working to expand your income potential through partnerships with like-minded companies. The affiliate programs offered through Sit Means Sit allow for supplemental income through passive income streams. Your bottom line is increased through minimal effort on your part.
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Few successful entrepreneurs work without a goal to motivate their tireless efforts. For some, becoming a business owner is a means to provide for their family. For others, it’s less practical and more personal — they don’t want to answer to someone else’s orders. Still others fully intend to build a business so they can sell it for a profit.
It’s fair to say there are as many goals as there are entrepreneurs. Part of going into a business is deciding how you intend to leave your business in the long-term.
If you are 50 years or older, you need to align the fruits of any entrepreneurial effort with your retirement (though many spirited entrepreneurs intend to work until the day they stop breathing). If you want to pass your Sit Means Sit (SMS) franchise on to your heirs, plan around that eventuality. If you plan to sell the business, plan around that goal, too.
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Does Sit Means Sit offer financing?
Yes. The fee balance may be financed at a 7% Annual Percentage Rate (on approved credit) over a thirty-six (36) month term. Past due balances are subject to late charges in addition to the accumulated finance charges. Additional conditions apply; complete terms and conditions of financing are available in a separate document — Fill out the Sit Means Sit Franchise Business Application to obtain a copy of the FDD (Franchise Disclosure Document).
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Why should I buy a franchise with Sit Means Sit?
Starting a dog training franchise with Sit Means Sit allows you to capitalize on the largest and most successful U.S. based dog training company in the History of the United States. If you’re looking for an excellent national company providing a unique top-notch service in a recession-proof multi-billion dollar industry, this is it. This is the “next great business opportunity” and you won’t want to miss it. Sit Means Sit can make you a leader in the industry and help you make your dreams a reality! You receive a lot more than just learning how to effectively train dogs; you learn how to make a living in the dog training business. There is a BIG difference. As a Sit Means Sit Franchisee you receive all the training protocols, business support and knowledge developed over years of success. In addition to becoming a Sit Means Sit dog trainer, the franchise system includes branding, advertising and marketing assistance, sales training, add-on products and more. Read more about franchise opportunities with Sit Means Sit...
Every franchise requires a dog trained in the Sit Means Sit system, for use as a demonstration of the program.
Due to the strength of the SMS training regime, there are few finite requirements for the “Demo Dog”.
We encourage you to retain a healthy dog that clearly shows qualities such as an even temperament around strangers, children, adults (men and women), other dogs and overall moving traffic. The dog should be of the high-energy variety and be kept in good physical condition to meet the demands of working a full work week, as well as have the genetic work-ethic to be a solid performer. The dog’s age can range from 6 months up to four years old. There are rare cases, on either side of the range, that are unique, however do not count on that as the norm.
Overall you are advised to think in no uncertain terms, that your “Demo Dog” is a business partner and as such, you cannot afford anything less, than a solid partner to operate successfully.
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There are few decisions entrepreneurs face as important as adding staff. It may happen before you plan for it. As your business grows, you’ll need to bring someone into the business to assist you, lest you under-perform to the point that it affects the quality of the service you deliver to your clients. You need help with sales, scheduling or managing the flow of paperwork. You could use an office manager, training assistant or perhaps a full-time trainer beside yourself.
Obviously there are consequences when you add payroll.
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What start-up expenses can I expect?
This depends on the business model you implement: completing training at a client’s home and/or conducting training at your own facility. Either way, you will need to attend our 3-week training course in Las Vegas. The initial fee is $11,500 (not including the cost of travel to and from Las Vegas, meals, or incidentals).
Once you complete training, you’ll be equipped to start your business. Training equipment for your inital Sit Means Sit training is included. But budget $1,500 for equipment and supplies to get started — you’ll need a variety of supplies including: goods for resale, affiliate program kits, and branded apparel among many others.
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After your initial 3-week training in Las Vegas, additional support is available to you from Sit Means Sit Corporate as you launch and manage your franchise. However, Sit Means Sit Corporate will not take it to the point of being invasive nor having us play the role of an “armchair” quarterback to your business.
Remember you can repeat basic training anytime without any additional tuition fee (though travel and living expenses associated with training are your sole responsibility).
Sit Means Sit also holds an annual conference for all Franchise owners. The 3-day agenda includes discussion of marketing, Demonstration skills, dog training skills, product enhancements, pricing, and business trends that impact operations of a franchise.
Sit Means Sit holds a National Seminar Tour featuring Regional ‘Trainers Only’ Gatherings. These seminars are hosted as weekend events. This venue provides an intimate setting for honing your dog handling skills and refining your business operations. We use video as a critical tool to induce the learning curve on all levels of your “Demo Dog” as well as sales.
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What experience and skills are required to be successful as a SMS Franchise operator?
The following attributes are proven to be indispensable for success:
Financial literacy: you must understand budgets, cash flow, and bookkeeping. Creating and working with spreadsheets (Excel, Open Office, Word, Quickbooks, etc.) is a mandatory skill for an entrepreneur.
Leadership: You alone are in charge of your business. Pressures abound since a single decision can grow a business or cripple it.
Commitment: Staying focused on the financial success of your company spells the difference in success and failure. It’s that simple.
Integrity: You are handling a client’s money. They have contracted for your service.
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Any breed of dog can by trained using the revolutionary Sit Means Sit training regime.
Pet dogs, puppy training, hunting dogs, police dog training, competitive dog training, blind service dog, even dogs with special challenges (blind or deaf) can be training by Sit Means Sit. Even those dog handlers that are somewhat physically challenged find tremendous success with Sit Means Sit.
As a new franchise business owner, you’ll learn how to correct bad behaviors covering common things such as (but not limited to):
- Biting
- Barking
- Jumping on guests
- Housebreaking
- As well as normal obedience manners
You name it; we have the ability to modify nuisance or unsafe behaviors in all dogs.
Our secret to our success is the complete combination package. Our safe, time tested and proven training regime, along with our specifically designed packages, and lifetime guaranteed, Sit Means Sit training collar.
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