An Australian Franchisee Case Study
Franchisee: Tony Tinaglia
Location: Illinois, USA
Franchise: The Interface Financial Group
Why did you go down the franchise route? And why did you choose your franchise?
I was interested in self-employment after 29 years in the Corporate world. The more I investigated, the more I liked the franchise option.
“I chose Interface due to; No cold calls on clients, very healthy ROI, Business to Business, flexible schedule, and if for some reason it did not work out or I did not like it my exposure/investment was minimal vs other opportunities.”
What did you do before taking up a franchise?
Worked for a global manufacturer for approximately 29 yrs. Starting in Inside Sales and eventually becoming a Division Manager for the America’s.
How did you raise the finance?
Some liquid cash but most from a 401k plan.
What training and support did you receive initially and ongoing?
Initially, Interface provided formal training in the US Headquarters followed shortly by Field Training in my local community. This was immediately followed by a weekly coaching call.
Ongoing support is provided by the respective department, however, since Interface partners with the franchisee in every transaction, there is continuous support from the Transaction Support Team.
What is a typical day for you as an IFG 50/50 franchisee?
Meet with a few referral sources and depending on the day of the week, talk to or meet a prospect, and touch base with existing clients.
Also, I may attend a networking meeting, Industry Association meeting or a Chamber of Commerce event.
What challenges have you faced?
Dealing with local computer issues.
Has becoming a franchisee changed your life, if so how?
Yes, I shifted from long hours with a significant amount of travel including overseas trips where I missed many of my kid’s activities to; less than 40 hours per week, a flexible schedule, attending and being actively involved as a coach for my kids sports activities.
In addition, I have the time to volunteer and be involved in my local community.
What marketing/promotional tools do you use to grow your franchise?
Besides the promotional material provided by Interface, my number one so called marketing activity is a quarterly lunch with key referral sources.
What differentiates your IFG 50/50 franchise from the competition?
For our clients; it’s easy to use, a simple structure with limited paperwork and very flexible.
While we serve a wide range of industry types, as franchisees we are fortunate to serve a market niche with very little competition in construction.
In your opinion, what makes a successful franchisee?
Someone who is proactive, a positive thinker and willing to follow a process. Also, a franchisee who sets goals and creates and works their plan.
What advice would you give to someone thinking of buying their first franchise?
“If you decide to go forward, remember one of the reasons to buy a franchise is you don’t have to create everything from scratch. So, follow the model and don’t try to reinvent the wheel.”
What are your plans for the future?
I plan to continue working for another 5 years and then retire.
Would you do it again?
Most definitely.
Request information on franchise ownership of
Interface Financial Group 50/50 franchise