Online 'franchising basics' course offered

The U.S. Small Business Administration and FranNet are offering a free introduction to franchising course online.

The course covers 10 essential areas related to franchising, including How to Choose a Franchise and Is Franchising Right for You? Options, strategies for growth and pitfalls also are covered.

The course can be accessed from www.sba.gov, under the Free Online Training icon. Select Franchising Basics in the Starting a Business section. The course can be learned at the participant's own speed and on their own time. A certification of completion is given to participants who finish the course.

MosquitoNix looks to the Springs

MosquitoNix, touted as the nation’s leading mosquito-control franchise, is looking to expand into Colorado — starting with Colorado Springs. Josh Johnston, franchise development director for the Dallas-based company, said MosquitoNix hopes to have a franchise here by summer at the latest. The company has 14 franchises in five states and has plans for 100 more locations by 2010. MosquitoNix sells an automated misting system that uses a botanical insecticide to eliminate mosquitoes and other flying insects, thus limiting the spread of the mosquito-borne West Nile virus.

Meet Tony Mand, local franchisee

Looking for tips on how to become a franchise owner? Tony Mand, owner of a dozen Domino’s pizza stores in southern Colorado, will be at the grand reopening of the Domino’s at 6870 Galley Road, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. If that’s not enough incentive to drop by, Giggles the clown will be there making balloon animals from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Miracle Method added 23 franchises in 2006

Colorado Springs-based Miracle Method, already the nation's largest bathtub, tile and countertop refinishing franchiser, added 23 locations in 2006 and increased gross sales by more than 20 percent to $22 million. "Individual franchises' double digit sales growth," said Miracle Method president Chuck Pistor, "is due to the growing number of homeowners, hotel operators and property managers using surface refinishing as a more cost-effective alternative to the removal and replacement of bathtubs, tile surrounds and countertops." The cost of resurfacing a tub is $400 to $500 compared to $2,000 to $4,000 to tear out a tub and replace it.