Having retired after 30 years from a lifelong business in the large auto franchise arena with all the heavy brick and mortar, large personnel and operational headaches one could handle, I was ready for something that would bring me back to a simpler time and lifestyle. That meant a simpler business model that I could run with just one employee, that employee being me. I wanted something that I could grow to a size that I could be comfortable with and still justify the income based on the work load. In other words, life, business and income simplified.
I, like you, was considering an ACFN franchise and after meeting with Jeff Kerr and the staff at ACFN I quickly became a franchisee. Like you, I was full of doubt and anxiety in regards to the viability of this business and was wondering if partnering with ACFN was the right way to go. I can now say, emphatically, the answer is Yes!
It will be almost two years since I signed my franchise agreement in San Jose, Ca. Now, I can truly say that without the ACFN franchise relationship and support I would never have been able to survive let alone prosper in the ATM industry. I believe this would be true for all but a very select few individuals. The credibility and experience that Jeff Kerr and his ACFN franchise brings to the table is impossible to duplicate on your own. Without ACFN's support there is no way that I would have been able to land the quantity or quality of locations that I have today.
No matter how hard I might have worked, I could not have had this success. I credit ACFN's marketing team led by Kristen and Jim. These guys make it all happen for the franchisee. You prospect and they close the deal. After we visit prospective locations and approve them they [ACFN] handle everything including; setting up the initial meetings, negotiating the deal, writing the contracts and getting them signed. All the franchisee has to do is smile, shake a hand or two and say thank you and then collect your income stream. To me this is a no brainer.
I would be remiss to not mention that without the talented and patient tech support team led by Gershon and Juanita, I would have been lost. I am sure, like me, most new franchisees would never have gotten out of the gate without these guys.
To top it off, you have ACFN's accounting department to handle all the details in regards to your
basic book keeping and accounting, watching out for SEC and banking issues, filing your comvelopes, keeping you current on new regulations, handling your orders for ATMs and parts, getting you a month end statement, getting you your year-end 1099 and so much more. All, you the franchisee really has to do is get your income check, oh by the way they handle that for you too. Not to mention that they get a correct check out to your locations on time as well.
So basically, if you put all the ACFN parts together, you the franchisee gets a small business with a multimillion dollar staff handling all your business needs. It took me twenty years to put this together in my past business life. This is what makes your individual brand so professional and legitimate. This is why you will be able to get those quality, high paying locations. In my humble opinion, it just doesn't get better than this. If you don't see the value here, you need to find another business to get into.
I quess by now, you are wondering how I have done? Well, I spent the first few months making what seemed like endless prospecting drops. Six months in and I had three quality locations. Today, not quite two years as a franchisee, I will be installing location number twenty.
By the way, I have no secret formula, no special connections and no past experience in this industry. I rely strictly on the ACFN’s formula. I keep it simple. I make drops and keep looking for new opportunities and I think outside the box when exploring potential locations in my areas. Some of my best locations are not hotels. Let your franchise partner ACFN do their part. Jeff and company has a proven formula in the ATM business that is truly golden.
Like all things in life, it’s what you the individual make of it. I work hard two days a week and enjoy a very good income. I let ACFN be my "ace in the hole". With ACFN I found my simpler business life. I wish all current and future franchisees the best of luck in achieving their individual goals in the ATM business.
