UFG Honors Franchisees on World Entrepreneurs & Franchise Appreciation Days

    WEST PALM BEACH, FL, August 21, 2018 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Just a year and five months after celebrating their one-year anniversary as Fully Promoted franchisees, Erica and Jude Yahn are excited about how far they have come and where they are going as entrepreneurs. What drew them to franchising was the idea that they were investing in themselves. After years of putting their time and efforts into other people's businesses, owning a Fully Promoted allowed them to do something for themselves. It has also brought them the flexibility they never had before. Jude is part of his daughter's elementary school's Dynamic Dads program, which organizes monthly activities and allows him to spend time volunteering in his daughter's classroom.

"Other jobs would not have afforded me that opportunity," says Jude matter-of-factly, referring to his years working demanding, inflexible jobs. Erica echoes his sentiments: "It's nice to make our own hours, I coach lacrosse so I'm able to leave in the afternoon to coach my girls and the business keeps running."

On August 21st, World Entrepreneurs' Day and on August 25th, Franchise Appreciation Day, United Franchise Group (UFG), which is comprised of over 1600 franchisees in more than 80 countries, will honor the women and men who, like the Yahns, have made the dream of owning their own business a reality.

"Nobody embodies the spirit of leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship more than our franchisees," said UFG's founder and CEO Ray Titus. "We celebrate them every day by supporting and encouraging their efforts." Year-round, UFG celebrates its franchise owners by offering continuous comprehensive training, marketing support and ongoing collaboration and assistance to help ensure that they are successful.

"Having that consistent connection with stores similar to mine, where we share and learn together, has brought my business to another level after 15 years," said Signarama Franchisee Maggie Harlow. "What I have always valued about their philosophy is that they are available to help. As long as I protect the brand and remember I'm part of something bigger, they give me the space and encouragement to reach for whatever goal I choose."

Starting out a business of your own can be a scary affair, but the rewards, say the franchisees, are greater than the fear. "We are a one-stop shop for small to medium sized businesses for all of their marketing needs and we are excited about what the future holds," says Erica. As were the Yahns, Maggie was also unsure what to expect when she embarked on her journey as a franchisee.

"I remember contemplating the decision to make this leap, but then it was replaced with a high sense of drive to start once my training was completed and the store was built out and ready; there was a daily feeling of being "shot out of a cannon" and doing important work every day – learning about products, making new clients, learning how to manage the business," she said.

Since he got started as a Fully Promoted franchisee in 2014, Mike Besaw has built a business he is proud of. Although they all wear a lot of hats, they acknowledge there are a lot of tradeoffs.

"We are most proud of our involvement in the community and the way we have helped change the community," he says. Between Mike's two businesses, he employs 11 people, something he doesn't take lightly in his town of just under 40,000 people. "Owning a business gives you the satisfaction of knowing that you are supporting 11 families in your area."

Just last year, Titus helped form the Titus Center for Franchising at Palm Beach Atlantic University to encourage entrepreneurship and franchising for future business leaders. The center teaches franchise-specific coursework to college students interested in pursuing a career in the franchise industry. A portion of the students involved will serve internships at UFG to gain hands-on experience and knowledge of the industry. This year, UFG has a target goal of welcoming 500 new franchise owners to its team.

About United Franchise Group
"The Global Leader for Entrepreneurs." United Franchise Group is a group of affiliated companies and brands. Led by CEO Ray Titus, United Franchise Group is home to a variety of internationally recognized brands including Signarama, Fully Promoted, Experimac, Jon Smith Subs, Venture X, SuperGreen Solutions, Transworld Business Advisors and The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill. With over three decades in the franchising industry and more than 1600 franchisees throughout the world, United Franchise Group offers unprecedented leadership and solid business opportunities for entrepreneurs.

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