While the poorest performance was here in the USA, due primarily to the lack of credit and the continuing fear that the economy could worsen.  Past Coffee News sales in the USA was fueled by rising home values, easy credit in the form of low cost equity loans and credit cards.  But, falling home values and credit tightening have all but cut off demand from those who need to borrow start up money to buy franchises.  We expect to see credit to become more available in the fourth quarter of this year.

The recent introduction of the Coffee News financing program has helped to increase our sales in recent months.  We sold 27 franchises in July and 12 in August.  While this is good news, the “great news” is demand for franchises is at an all time high driven by the higher unemployment numbers.  Applications are way above normal for us due in part to a quadrupling of our advertising budget this year and the fact we are one of the best low cost franchises to start.  Buyers just need help with financing and be willing to make a commitment to self employment.

The key to our growth at this point will be improvements in small business financing opportunities and improvement in consumer confidence.  Obviously, these are areas over which we have no control. Regardless, we believe the Coffee News franchise is well postured to weather the economic conditions to provide quality support to all publishers.   We are told that our franchise system is one of the best!

Every time they ask I am reminded of what a potent business Coffee News is.

Coffee News is not an expensive business to purchase, it’s perceived to be an easy business and it is. Coffee News can give you a better return on investment that most of the huge concepts out there. The best part about Coffee News is that you don’t need the bank to start your own business.

But can you make it?

Can you make Coffee News a success?

The concept is a success.

More than a 1100 Coffee News areas exist and the concept has run for more than 20 years. The concept is not the issue.

What is the issue then?

The only variable I have no control over is you. I have no idea who and what make you tick. But when you start Coffee News I will quickly know who and what you are. Coffee News is real life. It’s an affordable business but it’s a business. And people running a successful business like themselves.

Any business will expose your lack of self worth. If you value yourself highly, if you believe in your own abilities, if you have confidence, if you have guts, then you will make it running Coffee News. If not, then Coffee News, and any other business you may want to run, will expose your lack of self worth.

That’s good.

At the end of the day nothing matters more than realizing your own self worth.

Have fun and expose your limitations because that’s they only way you’ll overcome them.

Johan Horak

Image by be OH be via Flickr

Allow me to recap:

You know that Coffee News is a small business opportunity allowing work from home moms, dads and others to publish a weekly one-page newspaper. This newspaper is distributed to local or community restaurants. The content consists of ‘news to amuse’ and takes less than 8 minutes to read. On the left, right, front and back page edges of the paper are 32 business-card sized ads where local businesses promote their business.

Currently more than 8 million people read this newspaper across the world every week. This is a significant publication with a reach stretching 52 countries.

My questions:

Are we utilizing the true power of Coffee News?

Why not add value to this amazing publication?

This is my suggestion:

1. Create a reason for readers to subscribe to an online newsletter via a blog
2. In addition to the paper version publish a shortened e-version with different news.
3. Create Google Adwords like ads for the local advertisers and publish it on the edges of the e-newsletter.

Just think about the opportunity:

• We have a captive audience having fun getting a Coffee News newsletter weekly.
• We have small business advertisers who get more exposure
• Coffee News marketing agencies can add more value to their sales pack.

What are the negatives?

Let me know what you think…..