I hope you had a joyous
Thanksgiving and that you're looking forward to the holidays that are just
around the corner. This time of year, many people want to share their good
fortune with others in need by gifting to charities or special causes.
Over the years, I've had clients
tell me that they wanted a business that made a difference in the community or
allowed them to donate part of their profits to specific causes. Our
entrepreneur of the month was attached to a franchise model that gave a
percentage of each sale to a charitable cause.
Congratulations Dan and welcome
to the world of entrepreneurship!
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Dan
Goosen
Gourmet Giving
I first spoke to Dan Goosen in
December of 2007. He was 46 at the time, had an associate degree in printing and
worked as a color printing press operator. He told me that he had thought of
owning a business for a long time. He just didn't know what kind of business he
wanted. He knew he wanted the challenge and opportunity to be a business owner
rather than work for someone else. Dan wanted the chance to reap the benefits
and be rewarded for his efforts.
We started our "journey of
discovery" looking at business models that were in Dan's investment range and
his interests. Our initial thoughts were to find a business that would replace
his current job. While Dan was learning about his business ownership options,
the economy took a turn as the great recession was starting to show its ugly
head. Even though Dan had a strong desire to get his feet wet in the business
ownership pond, he decided that now was not the right time. His fear of failure
and the unknown and the uncertain economy overcame his desire.
This is not unusual. I see it all
the time. Most people are risk adverse. No one wants to buy a business and take
that risk. They just want to own and run a successful business. This basic fear
of failure is what holds so may people back from pursing their dreams. So many
people think that entrepreneurs are risk takers. There is some truth to that.
But what they really are is educated risk takers. They are willing to take an
educated risk to reap the rewards.
When someone buys a stock, they
are taking a risk. They are making an investment in a company and the stock can
go up or down. They can do their homework, but there is nothing they can do to
affect the outcome. This is a reactive investment. Business ownership is a
proactive investment. You have a say in the success or failure of your business.
If you work hard and do what needs to be done, then you have an input in the
success of the business and hopefully will be rewarded for your efforts.
I wished Dan well and told him to
keep the dream alive. I mentioned that he could take some classes or read books
to prepare him for the future.
Fast forward 5 years. In August
of 2012 I got a call from Dan telling me the itch of business ownership hadn't
gone away and that he'd like to renew his "discovery journey" and explore
business ownership again. He felt he was ready.
We discussed Dan's goals and why
he wanted to be a business owner. He told me, "I would like to get my feet
wet, possibly in a part time situation and see how I do. Confidence is an issue,
so I would need a company that would provide support to help me make this dream
come true.My wife and I always talked about owning our own business. I was
looking for a business we could do together and still keep our jobs."
So this time around, we
concentrated our search and education on businesses and franchises that Dan and
his wife Peggy could do part time. This would allow Dan to get his feet wet and
learn what business ownership is all about while still allowing him the security
of having a paycheck.
There are two business/franchise
models that allow one to run a business and keep your job. The first type is the
semi-absentee owner model. This is a business where you would hire a manager to
run the day-to-day, and you would manage the manager and do the bookkeeping and
promotions for the business. Examples of this type of businesses are hair
salons, massage-tanning-spa type businesses, even some fast food franchises. The
theory would be to invest the profits from you first location as a down payment
on a second location and replicate that by adding more locations over time. Once
you have several locations operating, you would hopefully be generating enough
to quit your job or continue to build your business as an investment stream.
The second part-time business
model is something like vending machines. This would include food type, DVDs,
ATMs and specialty vending. This model appealed to Dan and was more in tune with
his investment range.
We explored various vending types
but it didn't take long before a gourmet coffee vending machine business came to
the forefront. The other factor that was important to Dan and Peggy was the fact
that a percentage of each sale would go to charity chosen by the host
location.
Dan and Peggy chose Gourmet
Giving, a franchise that believes that profitable philanthropy is not an
oxymoron. The Gourmet Giving franchise helps any size business support their
favorite charity without costing that business any money. The franchisee sets up
a Robotic Barista™ at the business (called a Host) without any cost or
obligation.
Once in place, the Robotic Barista™ produces the finest full 10 oz. freshly ground gourmet coffee beverages available anywhere. The Robotic Barista's™ custom burr grinder produces freshly ground lattes, cappuccino, espresso, mochaccino, coffee and hot chocolate at the push of a button, and for about half what you'd pay at a name brand gourmet beverage venue. These gourmet beverages are then purchased by people involved with the Host location. These people could be employees, customers, visitors, clients, staff, etc.
The franchisee then donates a
full 20% of the gross revenue to the charity chosen by the Host. The donations
are made monthly. The Franchisee puts the Host's name on the check and includes
a letter to the charity explaining that the donation was made possible by the
Host Location. The charity then recognizes the Host, who in turn gets the
emotional satisfaction of supporting their favorite charity. And again, all of
this is accomplished at no expense to the Host. The Robotic Barista™ is designed
and programmed for dependability and ease of use, and is durable, requiring
minimal maintenance.
The following is what Dan told me
concerning this discovery journey and why he picked Gourmet Giving. "Marty
worked closely with my wife and me to better understand what type of business
would best suit our situation. From beginning to end Marty provided the
necessary coaching and assistance. Marty worked with us through the process and
found the best fit for our lifestyle." He went on to say, "I spoke with Horst
Grau, the owner of Gourmet Giving. He personally came up to Wisconsin from
Charlotte for a visit with us. My wife and I were very impressed by his
personality and honesty. We felt like we had known Horst a very long
time."
Dan's business territory is
located in western Wisconsin around the Chippewa Falls - Eau Claire area. He
started his business about a year and a half ago with one machine and now has
three machines. He has plans to grow his business to 10 machines in the near
future.
Reviewing his first year in
business Dan told me, "It was harder than I expected and was a real learning
experience. I never thought I could make a cold call since I had no sales
experience. I enjoy the challenge and I'm growing every day."
Dan has donated over $900 to the
various charities of his host companies and hopes to double that this year.
Presently he has his machines in a manufacturing facility, a dance studio and a
gymnastic facility.
Dan couldn't say enough about the
franchisor and the concept. "The owner has been phenomenal with support.
He's always there for me whenever I have a question or need some help. I like
the giving part of the concept. I believe that once you start giving you'll get
back. It's been a lot of fun. Running this business gets me excited about the
future and balances out my current job that is not all that
stimulating."
"I'm becoming a more
effective sale person. I have met many people, and have helped many non-profits
with income from our service. This is a really cool deal for all. I have set
goals and continue to strive for more equipment capital in the future and
becoming a household name in the Chippewa Valley. Hard work wins the
day!"
Dan named his business entity
"Grounded and Giving." He has a Grounded and Giving Facebook page you might want
to check out. Dan can be reached at 715-226-0703 or dgoosen776@gmail.com. Let him know if you'd like a Robotic
Barista™ placed in your business. The coffee and lattes are great, and you'd
have the satisfaction of also helping a charitable cause. Definitely a
win-win!
Like a good cup of coffee, Dan's
business ownership desire never went away. It just needed to be brewed until the
time was right. He took the steps to make his dream of business ownership come
true, and you can do that too.
Success doesn't happen
overnight. It's a process taken one step at a time. Whether you are a corporate
executive, manager, office clerk, mechanic or working mom, and if you have a
vision or desire of being your own boss and being self-sufficient, reply back or
give me a call so we can discuss your life goals and aspirations. Are you
ready?
In the spirit of the
holiday season, I hope you will take the time to help those in need with the
gift of yourself, food or monetary contribution. Dan does his gifting, a little
every day.
Wishing you and your family
a joyous holiday season and happy, healthy and prosperous New Year..
Your comments and feedback
are always appreciated.
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