New Franchises For a New Year - Part 2
With American brands like McDonald's and Subway circling the globe, you might think that most new franchise opportunities are the product of American "Yankee ingenuity". Our focus on new franchise opportunities debunks that myth with a look at a new franchise opportunity which was launched in Spain and has been imported to the U.S. with plans to transform dental service in America. We also interview one of the hottest new automotive franchises to hit the streets.

Spanish Franchise Targets U.S. Market

Vital Dent is a multi-national company which launched its dental services business in Spain in 1989. With an estimated 168 franchised dental offices in Spain and Portugal and recent entry into Italy, Vital Dent has now set its sights on the enormous U.S. market.

Dylan Jeannotte, in-house counsel for Vital Dent, explains how dental services are dominated by a hodgepodge of fragmented practitioners. "Dental practices are set up by specialties. You go to one place for dental cleaning and routine work like fillings. Another specialist handles root canals and oral surgery. Orthodontists are yet another separate dental specialty. At Vital Dent, we combine all these practices under one roof to make it convenient for the dental customer," states Jeannotte.

The idea of putting all the dental specialties under one roof is credited to onetime dental technician Ernesto Colman Mena, founder and president of Vital Dent. "Vital Dent is not the first company to put multiple services under one roof for the convenience of the customer. Look at what Wal-Mart is doing in retailing. Having everything under one roof makes a lot of sense. It's all about customer convenience and value," says Jeannotte.

Dental Practice With Convenience Store Hours
The most dramatic difference cited by Vital Dent customers is the friendly hours. "Our locations are open 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday. To see a dentist in most dental practices, you have to take a day off work. At Vital Dent, customers come in at a time that is convenient to their schedule," reports Jeannotte. Vital Dent currently operates two company-owned offices in Manhattan (NYC). Vital Dent plans to locate additional offices in highly visible high traffic areas that are convenient for customers. With multiple services under one roof, Vital Dent offices will be larger than traditional dental offices.

Vital Dent is able to offer customers significant savings on their dental services because of the economies of scale. "Having longer hours is a convenience to the customer but it also allows us to utilize our facilities better spreading the fixed cost over a larger base. We also utilize the staff more efficiently so that reduces the overhead. Dentists do not get bogged down with administrative duties, they focus on their patients," says Jeannotte. Dentists enjoy working at Vital Dent because their time is with the patients and not running the business.

Vital Dent is a great place for dentists starting a career in dentistry. "A dentist coming out of dental school may have school loans to pay off and not have the finances to open his/her own practice. Vital Dent has the latest technology and techniques and lets the dentists develop their skills rapidly because they spend their time with patients and not on administrative duties," states Jeannotte. Vital Dent also offers a turnkey solution which completely takes care of setting up and staffing the franchise dental office.

Most dental practices are not large enough to have professional marketing campaigns. Vital Dent uses several marketing strategies to increase the brand awareness and get new customers. Television, fliers, mailings, and outdoor advertisements are all used to get the word out on Vital Dent and its unique approach to dental services. An especially valuable feature is that new patients receive a thorough examination free of charge as an incentive to come to Vital Dent. In fact, the company advertises "24 Free Services" which are given to patients either on the first visit or when visiting the office for treatment.

Proven Results Provide Effective Franchise Marketing
The dental office franchise is a unique niche that has many in the industry skeptical. "When you introduce a concept like Vital Dent, that is so different but has so many advantages, certainly there will be naysayers. With our results in Spain and Portugal, we feel there is a lot of potential here in the States," says Jeannotte. Vital Dent was introduced to the dental community at a recent New York dental conference where the new dental concept provoked much interest.

New York City seemed like a natural launching pad for an international franchise company entering the U.S. market. Federal law requires that certain requirements be met in order to sell franchises. Vital Dent worked closely with an attorney specializing in franchise law to register company trademarks and develop a Uniform Franchise Offering Circular. In addition, FranchiseHelp, Inc. assisted Vital Dent with all the necessities of organizing a U.S. business which included staffing, setting up banking arrangements, selecting suppliers and even organizing a lavish launch party at the Plaza Hotel.

Vital Dent also learned that in addition to franchise regulations, the company had to deal with state laws on requiring dentists to own dental practices. "The biggest difference is that in Europe you do not have to be a dentist to own a dental practice. Here in the U.S. many states require a separate professional corporation that is owned by a dentist," says Jeannotte. With hundreds of Vital Dent dental franchises already successfully operating in Europe, Vital Dent sees the possibility for thousands of locations in the United States.

Contact Information: Dylan Jeannotte, in-house attorney for Vital Dent (212) 967-2400, www.vitaldent.com, djeannotte@usa.vitaldent.com

"Pimp My Ride"
Modifying automobiles to achieve a unique and interesting look is not a new idea. Automobile enthusiasts express their individuality by adding accessories, custom paint and trim to "cookie cutter" products that roll off the assembly line. The automotive customization hobby has now hit mainstream with MTV's hit television show "Pimp my Ride". The program features West Coast Customs transforming vehicles sorely lacking style into ultra-hot rides with options that boggle the mind. Drive-N-Style is a new franchise concept that turns the "Pimp My Ride" idea into one of the slickest, new franchise concepts.

Drive-N-Style Installs Uniqueness
The franchise appeals to franchise prospects who like cars and are looking for a business-to-business model. Drive-N-Style franchisees add accessories and trim to new and pre-owned vehicles, enhancing their style and making the vehicles different from the vehicles on the competitor's lot, while increasing the dealer's profits. Using specially equipped mobile workstations, franchisees sell and install wood or stainless steel steering wheels, dash kits, grilles, rear deck spoilers and stainless steel or chrome trim. Primarily, their customers are individuals of new and pre-owned vehicles, automobile rental agencies, auctioneers, and automotive sales and service businesses.

The total investment for the franchise ranges from $50K to $60K, including a $9500 franchise fee, $30K territory fee, and three months working capital. Large, exclusive territories are awarded to help ensure the franchisee's growth plans and success. Comprehensive training focuses on sales, management, and technical programs by a staff of industry professionals. With an experienced staff of franchise professionals at Automotive Franchise Systems Company, Drive-N-Style is looking to quickly go from zero to sixty.

Contact Information: Butch Davis, Vice President, Operations, Drive-N-Style (248) 477-3097