SAN DIEGO, Dec. 15 The economic climate has taken a toll on the growth of small business, and the franchise industry has also felt the pinch. The credit crisis has made loans for brick and mortar businesses challenging, limiting existing franchise expansion and inhibiting new establishments.
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Yet some franchises, such as San Diego, CA-based Stroller Strides, the country's largest and fastest-growing stroller exercise program for new moms, continues to thrive, leading some to believe the future of franchising is the home-based business model.
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Started by Lisa Druxman in 2001, the Franchise 500� fitness company has enabled its more than 300 franchisees - most of whom are moms - to own and operate a rewarding business from home. In fact, until recently, the Stroller Strides corporate office was headquartered in Druxman's own residence.
A low-cost and lifestyle-friendly option, the model enables franchisees to create their business hours around the needs of their family, and they don't incur the expenses and liability of a brick and mortar office.
And while home-based businesses may have once been seen as less credible, the growth of technologically-advanced companies like Stroller Strides has changed these perceptions. A recent article in Business Week found that home-based businesses account for more than half of all U.S. businesses and employ more people than venture-backed companies.
This success is attributed to the competitive edge these businesses gain in sustaining lower operating costs than their counterparts occupying commercial spaces, as well as the technological advancements that have made it feasible to run a business from virtually anywhere.
For Stroller Strides, technology is key in maintaining success and franchisee satisfaction, offering solutions to challenges associated with the home-based business model. To stave off feelings of work-at-home isolation, the company offers online chat groups to keep franchisees connected.
And answering critics who believe home-based businesses are light on infrastructure, Stroller Strides provides franchisees with resources and support comparable to larger businesses, from a localized PR system to an online, automated business center for accessing email, toll-free phone numbers, files, templates and more. The fitness company even conducts new exercise trainings online.
"Stroller Strides proves that home-based businesses can be both low-cost and high-tech," Druxman said. "It's the best of both worlds."
For more information on Stroller Strides franchising, visit www.strollerstridesfranchise.com.
SOURCE Stroller Strides
