In 1986, Dodson became frustrated about large companies obtaining better prices and service on air express, long distance and office supplies than smaller businesses. He responded by forming a group purchasing organization and the SaveItNow! programs. With the buying power of the group, he negotiated Fortune 500® volume discounted prices of up to 40 percent and service guarantees with major national vendors. Today, more than 4,000 small to medium-size businesses take advantage of his group-buying solutions.

By franchising, Dodson says, SaveItNow! will have an even better opportunity to build its brand and take advantage of an ideal economic setting for group buying discounts – minus the capital investment needed for expansion of sales staff. He sees the development of a franchise sales distribution network as the natural next step to grow the $12 million company.

“Our franchisees will build relationships with prestigious industry leaders such as Airborne Express, DHL Worldwide, United Stationers and Qwest Communications,” Dodson said. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for business professionals who want to control their own destiny by building their own business for long-term value.”

Making a difference
Dodson and his two lifelong friends/co-executives of SaveItNow! are living proof that nice guys don’t finish last. From the company’s core purpose of helping “the little guy” save money and be treated better by suppliers, to a myriad of charitable efforts, a spirit of benevolence underlies their every move.

In 1992, they established the Sycamore Foundation, which helps organizations become more effective through collaborative efforts and promoting best practices. To date, it has raised nearly three quarters of a million dollars for programs that serve the poor, programs that serve youth, and programs that promote business entrepreneurial skills to solve social problems.

“There is a purpose behind what we do,” said COO and co-founder Jay Geshay. “We feel strongly about giving back to our community and making it a better place. We look forward to having an even greater impact with franchisees who share our mission giving back to their communities nationwide.”

All systems are go
A SaveItNow! franchise is a prime example of a ground-floor opportunity with a veteran industry leader. In its 16 years of operation, SaveItNow! has developed and perfected sound operational engines, including strong back office systems for billing, tracking and all other types of customer service, stellar sales training programs and strong relationships with nationally recognized vendors.

The company has also invested over a million dollars into technology that allows a seamless and convenient mechanism for customers to conduct business. Today, more than half of its customers ship, order, conference, and transact business online through the custom web-based application.

“We have everything in place to allow our franchisees to get off the ground quickly and support them with a strong backbone on all levels of their business,” Geshay said.

Tom Jackson, vice president of sales, emphasized the value of a “Solutions Selling System” that derives key information from clients necessary to provide them with optimal service. SaveItNow! introduced a technology solution for customers that will help them not only save money, but manage their costs. For example, emails alert them to purchases made out of traditional bounds. SaveItNow! offers the solution via an ASP model so that customers won’t have to dedicate their own IT resources.

Marketing campaigns will include monthly email blasts, custom telemarketing programs, annual product catalogs and customer satisfaction surveys.

Three heads are better than one
Another stability source for SaveItNow! is a successful management team that are not only lifelong business partners, but friends that date back to college. They each bring different skill sets, and backgrounds, to the table, ranging from financial, operational, marketing and sales.
All three see the deep-rooted friendship as a strong point for the company.

“We all know how each other operates, and each other’s hot buttons,” Geshay said. “I truly believe three heads are better than one. We’re in sync. We have worked together for 16 years, but we also spend personal time together with our families. It makes for shared values, which transfers in the development and implementation of ideas and strategies. It certainly adds to the stability of the company.”

Home sweet home
With no inventory (orders are shipped directly from a vendor warehouse) and the latest technology, SaveItNow! franchisees have the ability to work from home. The franchise fee is $25,000, with an overall capital requirement of $51,000 for one territory. Multiple territories are available, with each territory containing 12,500 businesses to serve within each territory.

Because companies purchase products through SaveItNow! on a regular basis, franchisees can depend on recurring revenue. Historically, SaveItNow!’s clients remain with the program for an average of five years.

“People have often said, ‘who can say no to saving money?’ They’re right,” Dodson said. “SaveItNow!’s franchise opportunity is truly recession proof and offers tremendous potential for growth. For people who like to work with professionals and build relationships, the sky’s the limit. We’re excited to extend that earning potential to others through franchising.

Click Here For More Information on the SaveItNow! Franchise Opportunity

Source: SaveItNow!