ABWA Beachwood Ohio

With over 20 years of progressive Marketing, Direct Mail and Product Management experience gained through both non-profit and private industry sectors, Jim Cermak opened the doors on Cermak Marketing in 2005. Cermak Marketing has helped small to mid-sized businesses in consumer products, manufacturing, distribution and health & wellness grow through strategy and the utilization of multiple marketing tools.

Prior to starting Cermak Marketing, Jim was with non-profit consulting group CAMP for five years, first as the Direct Marketing Manager, and later moving into the position of Product Development Marketing Manager. While with the product development group, Cermak worked with Cuyahoga County Department of Development to develop, market and manage the $1 million Cuyahoga County Product Innovation Loan Fund.

In 2004, he was personally trained by “American Inventor” judge Doug Hall, founder of the Eureka! Ranch, to facilitate Innovation and Marketing Coaching workshops.

He is the author of Shift Into Drive: Get Your Life in Gear with Prayer (2004, Lulu Publishing). Shift Into Drive is being used in various churches and ministries, and many plans are underway for further group use.

Jim currently lives in Parma with Mary Ann, his wife of 17 years, and with his children Brittany (13) and Jake (8).

Jim Cermak  Marketing & Direct Mail Professional  President - Cermak Marketing

The turn out wasn’t huge, but the meeting was a hit. If you were ever curious about what franchising was all about and how to get into it, tonight was the night to come.

Joel Labava explains that looking at franchising is a lot like deciding how you want to bake your cake: Do you want to go to the supermarket and go through each isle picking out each ingredient, or do you want to pick up a cake mix box? Franchising is like that cake mix box.

As described in his handouts, “The franchising business is a licensing system by which the owner (franchisor) of a product or a service licenses others (franchisees) to market and sell the product or service within a defined territory, following the guidelines established by the franchisor.”

Joel explained about the three ways to acquire a business: 1.) From scratch - doing all the hard work, with no support, trying to figure out everything on your own, 2.) Purchase and existing Business - could be risky and cumbersome, you have to negotiate with the current owner, and it is hard to tell what you are getting, or 3.) Invest in a Franchise - if done correctly, it can be the easiest and fastest way to build wealth.                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Franchises can start at $100,000 to $150,000, and figure that you won’t make money in the first year. If you are lucky, you will have a working spouse to get through the slim times. Financing is more forgiving when you consider franchising - no venture capitalists to consult, and the banks are more willing to lend. Of your sales, 4% to 12% will go to the franchisor.

Joel suggests doing your homework - and lots of it! If you are interested in a franchise, call franchise owners not in your intended area. How do they like it? What were their struggles? How long did it take to break even? Questions like these can help uncover if this is an investment you are willing to take on.

If you would like more information, please contact him at 216-831-2610, franpro@sbcglobal.net, or check out his website at http://www.theohiofranchisecenter.com/.

Hey! Check out the slide show at the bottom right of this page. See the new pics that I took at today’s meeting: February 20th, 2007!

-Tracy