The Franchise Center is a part of the Entrepreneurial Studies Program at the Sydney Lewis School of Business, Virginia Union University. Its Mission is to provide entrepreneurial educational programs, consulting services and executive coaching to franchise owners, individuals considering buying a franchise and entrepreneurs considering franchising their business.

Our mission supports the university's mission of expanding our involvement in the community and supporting economic devlopment and opportunity for citizens of Virginia and the nation.

What is The Franchise Center?

The Franchise Center is an outreach program that educates students, teachers and aspiring business owners about the benefits of entrepreneurship through franchising. The centerpiece of The Franchise Center is the Franchise Management Certificate Program. This 2½-day program is an innovative and intense step-by-step course in franchising that seeks to increase entrepreneurial activity locally, regionally and nationally. The program consists of 12 sessions each designed to give participants an awareness and understanding of the skills necessary to become successful franchisees or franchisors. Individuals such as students, teachers, veterans and current business owners will appreciate this type of program and all that it has to offer.

Who created The Franchise Center?

The Franchise Center was established at the University of Texas at El Paso in 1994 under the vision of Frank Hoy, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Business Administration. The program is held at UTEP twice a year. Since 1994, the program has graduated 425 participants who have gone on to either open a franchise business or teach franchise education at their schools or universities.

Why was The Franchise Center developed?

A trend with many businesses today is to consolidate operations and take advantage of economies of scale. The security many people sought in working for many companies no longer exists in today’s downsized economy. During these times, small businesses have become the backbone of the American economy. A large percentage of “laid-off” individuals and college graduates have become entrepreneurs through franchising thereby creating their own job security by opening a franchised business.

The Franchise Center was developed at UTEP to satisfy both academic and community entrepreneurial needs. By working with the local business community in conjunction with community organizations, the Franchise Center has been able to increase business ownership in many underutilized communities while educating their participants on becoming entrepreneurs. This has been a win-win situation for everyone involved.

Facts about The Franchise Industry:

1. Generates more than $1 trillion a year in sales
2. Accounts for nearly 50% of all retail sales
3. Provides jobs to over 9 million Americans
4. Covers more than 80 industries
5. A franchise business operates on 1 out of every 3 corners in the U.S.

Why Virginia Union University?

Demand for the Franchise Management Certificate Program at UTEP has grown continuously since its inception. Managers of that program sought a means by which it could partner with other universities to have them offer the same services in diverse locations. So far, they have been successful in expanding to California, Croatia, and Richmond, Virginia. The Sydney Lewis School of Business was selected because of its close ties with the African-American community, where franchise expansion is desperately needed, and the desire of the Executive Director, L. Allen Connatser, to see the East Coast Franchise Center housed at an HBCU.

Goals of The Franchise Center:

The Major Goals of The Franchise Center at VUU are:

1. To educate students about career options through franchise ownership
2. To help franchise businesses develop locally, nationally and internationally
3. To become an advocate for small business ownership through franchising
4. To become the premier university that offers a Franchise Management Certification Program in Franchise Education on the east coast
5. To assist in the development of education and training programs, research facilities, advising services, and the vitality of franchising as a form of business creation

Benefits of The Franchise Center:

The Major Benefits of establishing a Franchise Center that offers a Franchise Management Certificate Program are:

Virginia Union University (VUU)

1. VUU will become the premier university on the east coast for people looking to attend a Franchise Management Certification Program that is certified by the International Franchise Association (IFA)
2. VUU’s Franchise Center will be an entrepreneurial education program that will have various funding sources ranging from paying participants to endowments, grants and donations
3. VUU will be providing an outreach program that will not only benefit their students but will benefit the surrounding community by spurring economic development and job creation within the City of Richmond
4. VUU will be recognized as an institution known for advocating entrepreneurship while helping to start a new generation of business owners locally and nationally through its Franchise Center
5. VUU will be able to create a network of potential business owners including the pooled expertise from established franchisees as well as local business leaders that will assist students and graduates

Students

1. Students will learn the pros and cons of business ownership in franchising
2. Students will gain more confidence in presenting themselves to their peers
3. Students will learn alternative career options through small business and entrepreneurial education seminars
4. Students will be allowed to gain ‘real-world’ experience by working with a franchise company either through an internship program at their corporate office or getting on-site experience with a local franchisee
5. Students will receive small business planning assistance from The Franchise Center staff as well as local and national business professionals who will volunteer their time

Community

1. Community will benefit by the economic growth of the area through business ownership and job creation
2. Community will benefit through the opening of various businesses that will provide needed products and services to the area
3. Community will benefit through the educational services that will be offered to area residents that are looking to open a business
4. Community businesses will benefit when additional brand name franchise businesses are opened in the area
5. Community schools (high schools & middle schools) will benefit through entrepreneurial education seminars provided by the University’s Franchise Center staff

Corporate Sponsors

1. Sponsors will be affiliated with an educational outreach program that will receive not only local and national attention but international as well
2. Sponsors will be able to establish personal and professional relationships with future and current business owners who participate in the program
3. Sponsors will be able to advertise their products and services at Franchise Center Educational Events throughout the city and state
4. Sponsors will be able to establish themselves as life business partners with VUU’s student business owners and the local business community
5. Sponsors will play a major part in becoming a partner with VUU’s historic program that will have a long-term positive affect on our city and many of its communities for years to come