Many of the opportunities have resulted from mergers and acquisitions. Century Business Services (www.cbizinc.com), for example, recently acquired Bratch Innovation Inc. (www.bratch.com), a Toronto-based Internet solutions firm. Bratch will be part of Century's new CBIZ Interactive division, which will provide consulting, website building and e-commerce services to small and mid-sized businesses. The web services will undoubtedly be a good addition to the business services Century already provides.
Then there are partnerships. Mail Boxes Etc. (www.mbe.com), the postal-service franchise, has teamed up with eBay (www.ebay.com), the popular auction site, and iShip.com (www.iship.com), a provider of Web-based shipping services. Under the recent agreement, Mail Boxes Etc will provide packing, shipping and inspection for eBay's buyers and sellers. IShip.com will provide them with information about shipping costs and options.
The franchise industry is also a market for other internet-services companies. Take comLinx.com (www.comLinx.com). The NorthPlainfield, NJ, company produces an Internet-based, interactive desktop meeting and presentation service called WEBinar. The target customer baser? You guessed it-franchises. Of course, there are other targets, including home-based businesses, manufacturers and distributors. But franchises are a big prospect for comLinx.com. President and CEO Eric Korb points out that franchisors can use WEBinar to recruit prospective franchisees, train new and current franchisees, and deliver UFOCs and other important documents.
Pinnacle Business Management, Inc. (www.pcbm.com), is putting the Web to work at home. The financial-services firm operates subsidiaries Fast Title Loans, Inc., Fast Paycheck Advance, Inc. and Summit Property Group, Inc. Its franchisees will soon be able to provide their customers with secure cash and loan administration services. They'll also be able to us Pinnacle's Personal Checks and Cash Card for Internet transactions.
So franchisors-at least some of them-are embracing the Internet. But I'm a little skeptical about their chances of attracting hot, Web-savvy employees and franchisees. Franchising is by nature structured and formulaic-not exactly the environment that attracts pioneers. And that's just what most Web stars are. They love the freedom the Web gives them. They're not likely to get that from a franchise.
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