In 1996 I started teaching the COMPUTERTOTS program (3-5 year old) part-time as I was attending classes at Rowan University completing an Education Degree. I fell in love with the franchise and in 1997 purchased my first territory in Burlington County, NJ. I was raising three young children and this was the perfect fit. My husband and family were very supportive and the children loved working with the curriculum and software I was introducing to my students. My husband has a strong technical background so he was always available to assist with any hardware needs that needed to be addressed.

In 1997 I decided to expand my franchise and I purchased my second territory in Philadelphia PA. I enjoyed working in the city and the opportunity to work with Head-Start programs. I visited many inner city schools and at the end of the day I really felt like I contributed and made a difference in their lives.

Our corporate office was located in Virginia which was only a 3 hour drive. I volunteered as a Franchise Advisory Council member for several years and then Franchise Advisory Council Chair. I enjoyed working closely with the corporate team and appreciated the opportunity to get to know the entire franchise system working with them on various projects. When the franchise was acquired by the International Center for Entrepreneurial Development and moved to Houston Texas I decided it was time to make the move as franchisee to franchisor and my family and I moved from New Jersey to Texas!

Owning a franchise requires social and networking skills. You need to be a good communicator with an outgoing personality. Networking is easy and something everyone can do. Who do you know and the ability to share your enthusiasm and passion about your franchise should come easy. Another skill needed is to be a good listener. Analyzing what does your client need and then delivering a quality service or program. A desire to work with children, technology, and a passion to make a commitment to invest time and energy. 

We offer an extensive training program focusing on consultative approach of selling exploring the needs of each individual day-care center/school and the franchisee will provide a curriculum and technology gap analysis to them at no charge. Once the analysis is complete, the franchisee will provide a proposal for their service. Our franchisee’s work closely with the corporate office using a pricing program that will assist with the proposal presentation. We have a Customer Call Center program and Direct Mail program that assists the franchisees setting appointments with their potential customers.

Initial franchise fee: $35,000
Pre-paid operating fee: $9,300
Start-up fees (covers all training expenses): $5,200

We offer a three week training where the franchisee works directly with the operational team completing a task list of items to prepare them for business. When that is completed the franchisee will attend two week training at our corporate office. We monitor and assist their progress once training is completed by conducting eight weeks of post training calls. Again we work through a task list of items they need to complete for a successful launch of their business. The new franchisee will receive a field visit with an experienced franchisee to assist them in their territory with marketing/sales visits, interviews of staff, etc.

We offer a no interest flex financing opportunity. A new franchisee can finance $20,000 without an interest rate to the amount being flex-financed so long as timely payments are made (3% of monthly gross sales).

Deb Evans - President
Phone Number: 800-531-5053
Email address: devans@iced.net
Website : www.computerexplorers.com