Magazine Franchise Brings Community Information to Seniors
SENIOR Magazine was founded by Josh Cates who recognized an information gap between seniors and information focused on their healthcare needs and other issues. Cates published his first magazine, Denton County Texas Senior Resource Guide which is now known as Denton County SENIOR, in the spring of 2006. The publication was well received by readers, advertisers and healthcare facilities alike which prompted Cates to spend the next three years working with an advisory team and reader review boards to refine the idea and create SENIOR Magazine.
Following the original publication in 2006, three additional regional publications were added. Based on the success of all four publications, SENIOR Magazine began offering their system through franchising in 2009 in an effort to bring the magazine into new markets all across the country.
“Our original vision was to bring relevant information to seniors and their families in a local community. This vision has not changed but the quality, content and presentation have been refined over the past three years based on feedback we have received from hospitals, advertisers and readers,” explained Cates.
As the “baby boomer” population ages, SENIOR Magazine continues to fill a need in a growing market by providing healthcare-related businesses a way to directly market to their consumers.
“By advertising and writing in our premier, full color magazine, our clients are aligning themselves with an elite company who affectively helps them reach a large quantity of potential clients, at a very affordable price. Our publication is focused and targets a valuable demographic which is readers 50 and older with middle to upper incomes,” Cates says.
Cates believes good candidates for a SENIOR Magazine franchise are those with ambition, self confidence, personal drive, motivation, desire and perseverance. In addition, a desire to be involved in the local community and to be an asset to advertisers and the senior population is key according to Cates who says their ideal candidates typically fall into two categories.
Cates explains, “The first is a stay-at-home mom or retired person who wants to supplement their income through a single territory which should be a part-time job and still allow freedom and flexibility. The second candidate is more of an entrepreneur who wants to build a full-time business with more income potential through multiple territories.” With either category, the franchise offers three magazines to fit various market sizes and allow for growth.
Start-up costs for a SENIOR Magazine franchise are relatively low including a $30,000 franchise fee and $6,700 start-up kit. The fees include the right to use the SENIOR Magazine name and everything needed to get started including an individualized magazine template, ad specification sheets, media kits, marketing materials, initial in-house training and more. The franchise does not charge a royalty fee but rather a flat fee to produce each magazine allowing franchisees to have a fixed cost of goods sold.
Since December 2006, the franchise has awarded 11 territories in Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana. “Our model has been well received and our franchisees are providing validation to our training and model,” says Cates. “We see controlled growth of 10 to 12 franchisees per year over the next few years, and being in every state by the tenth year.”
According to Cates, new franchisees can have their first magazine produced within three to six months of signing on.
For more information visit http://www.franchisegator.com/Senior-Magazine-franchise/
About the Author
Suzanne Musial
Public Relations/Marketing Associate
Franchise Gator
www.franchisegator.com
Mobile Video Game Theater